Why WR? Trade up | Page 3 | 49ers Webzone Forum

Micky6 · 2015-04-28T10:30:08-07:00

I have read a ton of reports saying more or less that the 9ers are going to draft Armstead out of Oregon... or the best WR on the board... OR... trade up and grab a WR. I don't really understand this logic. In Armstead's case... he hasn't really produced a ton in his college career and I personally think he is a reach at 15. In terms of WR... why did the 9ers in Smith to such a large FA deal if they didn't expect that both Smith and Boldin would carry the WR spots this season and next? I know Bolden isn't getting any younger, but he is still very, very productive and that productivity might even go up with Smith on the opposite side of the field. So it begs the question, why draft a WR in the top half of the first? Are the 9ers going to open things up with 3 WRs regularly on the field? With Vernon Davis and Bush do they not have a ton of weapons for Kaep? When you look at the names the 9ers have lost this offseason and the holes they left and what the team has to back fill, WR seems pretty far down the list. To me they have only depth players on the interior of the OL (especially with the loss of Iupati). The middle of their D lost McDonald, Borland and Willis... and leading into the draft you have to consider J. Smith in there too. I know they have drafted DBs early in the last two drafts, but neither guy is really a CB and they lost both their starters. Other than Brock I feel that their CBs are depth guys at best. I think the 9ers need to target guys that can fill holes immediately. WR is deep in this draft and can be found later. This draft appears to be weak at ILB... so if they target somebody I feel it should be DL, OL, and CB. With all the guys the 9ers drafted last year that were 'redshirted' I feel that they have a ton of depth already... I personally think they should target and maybe move up. With that said I feel strongly that the 9ers should trade up and try to land G/T Brandon Scherff with the idea that they could keep him inside and move him to T in a couple of seasons (Hyde running behind Davis and Scherff could bring a lot of headaches). If Trae Waynes (CB) drops past the 8th or 9th spot the 9ers should definitely trade up and get him. The only knock on him is he is light... he'll put on weight for sure with his frame and he hits like a ton. Danny Shelton (NT) is the other guy I think the 9ers should target (it is certainly possible that one of these three drops to 15, but I doubt it). Shelton is huge... He could play nose in the 9ers 3-4. He is a great athlete for his size and was very active in the offensive backfield last year. The 9ers desperately need to retool the middle of their D which used to be the strength of the entire team (Smith, Willis, Borland, McDonald all gone). I see Shelton as the kind of player to allow the 9ers to remain a top run defender for years... and if Justin Smith comes back... the D line would continue to be the class of the team.

Apr 30, 2015 at 7:15 AM

#31

NYniner85
Veteran
Posts: 118,982

Originally posted by Micky6:
Sorry... I missed Jones. I stand corrected. Did that post on the fly... [I agree with your list of top 5] I'm actually rather surprised at that list because there are some great WRs not on that list. Then again it goes to show that the offense and QB really factor into production of WRs. I'm not convinced that many of the names would have put up big numbers in SF over the past several years. One thing is for sure... you gotta block if you wanna play in SF.

There is no question that over the past 4 years, the 9ers were one of the top teams. They didn't win the SB but they are a top team as they were consistently right there (last season aside). You might argue that with a top WR on one of those teams they might get over the hump... I agree with that. But I also say that without a top tier front 7 the 9ers don't even make the playoffs. Unless the team is going to completely change its identity I believe strongly that it must maintain a top flight front 7 and be very strong up the middle, or ensure that the team has a road pavers up front on O. That's why they have been competitive in the past and that's why Seattle has been dominant. They win in the trenches. I don't see either the defensive nor offensive front being as strong and I think they need to be addressed.

But... maybe they WR and the offense turns into a juggernaut... maybe Kaep turns into a QB that can hit receivers coming out of their breaks this year. Either way I don't see either of the TOP WRs going later than 7 or 8... and I doubt the 9ers trade up that far.

Rating a WR on their blocking ability is ridiculous and one of the last things you worry about when evaluating one in the draft....besides Cooper/White both are good blockers already.

I agree maybe those WRs don't put up those numbers in SF, but what would make you think a less developed WR drafted in the 4th or later would produce anything for SF then?

Kap NEEDS a good WR that can get constant separation, has reliable hands, get's open on 3rd-downs, and can catch contested balls all of the top tier WRs can do this...Kap isn't making mediocre WRs great it's the other way around.

One more thing look at our offense the year we went to the SB...we were the 11th ranked offense that year. We had a healthy Crabs, VD,Moss,Walker, Gore etc...we were a balanced team. Defense didn't help SF beat Brady in NE, or GB in the playoffs, or allow us to come back in the SB.

Moss commanded safety help all the time, regardless if he caught balls or not teams had to game plan for him. Who did defenses have to worry about last year? Our top red-zone threat had been VD for years...guess how many targets he had in the red-zone last year? 2 lol...teams took away our best play making threat and our o-line & Kap suffered because of it.

No more developmental picks on play makers we needs quality not quantity, I hope Baalke feels the same

[ Edited by NYniner85 on Apr 30, 2015 at 7:21 AM ]

Apr 30, 2015 at 7:18 AM

#32

cjsmoove
Veteran
Posts: 755

Originally posted by NYniner85:

Originally posted by Micky6:
Sorry... I missed Jones. I stand corrected. Did that post on the fly... [I agree with your list of top 5] I'm actually rather surprised at that list because there are some great WRs not on that list. Then again it goes to show that the offense and QB really factor into production of WRs. I'm not convinced that many of the names would have put up big numbers in SF over the past several years. One thing is for sure... you gotta block if you wanna play in SF.

There is no question that over the past 4 years, the 9ers were one of the top teams. They didn't win the SB but they are a top team as they were consistently right there (last season aside). You might argue that with a top WR on one of those teams they might get over the hump... I agree with that. But I also say that without a top tier front 7 the 9ers don't even make the playoffs. Unless the team is going to completely change its identity I believe strongly that it must maintain a top flight front 7 and be very strong up the middle, or ensure that the team has a road pavers up front on O. That's why they have been competitive in the past and that's why Seattle has been dominant. They win in the trenches. I don't see either the defensive nor offensive front being as strong and I think they need to be addressed.

But... maybe they WR and the offense turns into a juggernaut... maybe Kaep turns into a QB that can hit receivers coming out of their breaks this year. Either way I don't see either of the TOP WRs going later than 7 or 8... and I doubt the 9ers trade up that far.

Rating a WR on their blocking ability is ridiculous and one of the last things you worry about when evaluating one in the draft....besides Cooper/White both are good blockers already.

I agree maybe those WRs don't put up those numbers in SF, but what would make you think a less developed WR drafted in the 4th or later would produce anything for SF then?

Kap NEEDS a good WR that can get constant separation, has reliable hands, get's open on 3rd-downs, and can catch contested balls all of the top tier WRs can do this...Kap isn't making mediocre WRs great it's the other way around.

One more thing look at our offense the year we went to the SB...we were the 11th ranked offense that year. We had a healthy Crabs, VD,Moss,Walker, Gore etc...we were a balanced team.

Moss commanded safety help all the time, regardless if he caught balls or not teams had to game plan for him. Who did defenses have to worry about last year? Our top red-zone threat had been VD for years...guess how many targets he had in the red-zone last year? 2 lol...teams took away our best play making threat and our o-line & Kap suffered because of it.

No more developmental picks on play makers we needs quality not quantity, I hope Baalke feels the same

Apr 30, 2015 at 7:22 AM

#33

BuckFarry16to80
Veteran
Posts: 212

Originally posted by hohbie:
I think in part it has been because we have been looking for a number one receiver since TO. Boldin is amazing, but well past his prime and likely done soon. Crabs was solid, but no where near a number one guy. Smith is good, but once again not a number one guy. If you see a receiver who you believe can be a top guy in the league it is worth it. AJ Green, Calvin Johnson, Dez all make their teams offense go. If you put a top guy like that with Kaepernick our offense becomes 1000x more dangerous.

WR has also been one of our biggest issues stopping us just short of winning the Superbowl while Harbaugh was here. Seattle has had nothing to fear from us on the outside, which has caused some big issues for us when playing them.

I agree that our talent has depleted a bit on defense, but I also think Balke has a much better eye for talent on defense than on offense. I would trust a late D pick by Balke to make an impact much more than a late pick on offense. If he sees one WR that is cant miss and can be had than I trust him to use those late picks to bring in contributors on the defensive side.

Yes! Had the team had the 01-04 TO in 11-14, 2 rings!!!! Maybe 3.

[ Edited by BuckFarry16to80 on Apr 30, 2015 at 7:23 AM ]