Solomon Thomas--Stanford

I'd prefer to swap a few spots with perhaps the Jets and get him and some change at around 5 to 10 but I don't think it's going to happen. Would be fairly happy picking him at #2.

Originally posted by Jasta:
I'd prefer to swap a few spots with perhaps the Jets and get him and some change at around 5 to 10 but I don't think it's going to happen. Would be fairly happy picking him at #2.

I'm sure we all would but two problems with that.

1. Who's to say someone will want to trade up?
2. Who's to say he'd still be available when we pick?

Obviously if the choice is drafting him at #2 overall or trading down and getting anther 2nd round pick and taking him around 5-10 I think we'd all go with that option ;)

Originally posted by Ninerfan84:

Originally posted by NYniner85:

Originally posted by SunDevilNiner79:

Originally posted by genus49:

It's all coachable though. The athletic ability at his size however is something you have to be born with.

He has the passion, he has the intensity and he's a smart kid who can certainly take to coaching. Guy should only get better regardless of where we play him.

I'm not disputing that Solomon Thomas is a great player with great athleticism.

What I'm disputing is that we will draft him at #2 to play him at LEO. We're either going to use someone with great length or an undersized speed rusher.

Yeah I agree he's not a true LEO...he's a monster on that DL though and I'm warming up to him as the pick.

We can still go for a that LEO pass rusher in the draft someone like Derek Rivers could fill that role in say the 3rd or 4th. He's got burst and crushed the combine. He had 41 sacks while at Youngtown St and will drop because of that and lack of true length.

I would put him at SAM in our scheme on base downs and you can put him in every front 4 position for nickel. I'm leaning towards Thomas as well if we stay at #2 but I get the feeling we want a draft haul like Cleveland got last year for #2. Goff and Wentz weren't surefire QB's last year just like Watson and Trub this year so there's no reason why teams won't try to make a move up.

If the Shalyn Masters think he is an IMPACT edge rusher, then we take him. But it better be at #2, because i don't see a way to get him at #4. #6 yeah, but i don't htink he makes it that far. So #2 if an IMPACT Edge....according to Shalyn.

There are many things we ain't got. But IMPACT players are at the top of that list. For all i know shalyn thinks WAtson is an IMPACT player It all depends on what our two guys agree on as an IMPACT player, because those guys are rarely sighted at 49ers Blvd. Joe S, Bow before the 2nd major surgery...and that's it. Joe is "maturing" , Bow is a two time under the knife guy...we are getting really short of IMPACT guys.

ONe thing we know for sure. Sol got really great coaching. Same for tomlinson (ala)

At 6'3" he's a bit short I think for the DE spot.

Originally posted by mayo49:
At 6'3" he's a bit short I think for the DE spot.

???

Most of the best edge guys are 6'3". Khalil Mack, Von Miller, Justin Houston, Cliff Avril, etc.

Length > Height

If anything, too much height can become a detriment to leverage. A taller player has a naturally higher pad level.

Originally posted by Heroism:

Originally posted by mayo49:
At 6'3" he's a bit short I think for the DE spot.

???

Most of the best edge guys are 6'3". Khalil Mack, Von Miller, Justin Houston, etc.

Yeah, I guess your right. Garrett is only an inch taller than him, so I guess he'll be fine.

Originally posted by mayo49:
At 6'3" he's a bit short I think for the DE spot.

Arm length matters more than height for defensive linemen. Arm length is correlated with height, so you tend to see taller players on the edge, but I'd have very little preference between a guy who is 6'2 and a guy who is 6'4 if they have the same arm length, but the guy who's 6'4 could probably support a little more weight/strength (so I'd have a slight preference). Thomas's arms are on the short end for a DE which could cause him to drop a few spots since he's also too light to play DT right now.

Robert Mathis is a good example of a guy who was short for DE, but had terrific length and good athleticism which allowed him to be successful as a pass rusher. He was 6'2 and relatively light, but had 34 1/2" arms.

Looking at the combine numbers, he measured in a 6'2 1/2". So he's arms are actually longer than normal (33") for a guy his height.

Originally posted by eastcoast49ersfan:

Originally posted by mayo49:
At 6'3" he's a bit short I think for the DE spot.

Arm length matters more than height for defensive linemen. Arm length is correlated with height, so you tend to see taller players on the edge, but I'd have very little preference between a guy who is 6'2 and a guy who is 6'4 if they have the same arm length, but the guy who's 6'4 could probably support a little more weight/strength (so I'd have a slight preference). Thomas's arms are on the short end for a DE which could cause him to drop a few spots since he's also too light to play DT right now.

Robert Mathis is a good example of a guy who was short for DE, but had terrific length and good athleticism which allowed him to be successful as a pass rusher. He was 6'2 and relatively light, but had 34 1/2" arms.

33 inch arms are not short. If they were in the 31 inch range like Melvin Ingram I would worry but where he's at is pretty avg compared to guys like Clif Avril.

Originally posted by mayo49:
Looking at the combine numbers, he measured in a 6'2 1/2". So he's arms are actually longer than normal (33") for a guy his height.

Curious where you're seeing 6'2 1/2...not that 1/2 an inch means sh*t.

His arms are fine, not freaking long like Garrett or Aldon but definitely not short. He's got longer arms than Charles Harris, Tim Williams, Carl Lawson and Derek Barnett.

Originally posted by mayo49:
At 6'3" he's a bit short I think for the DE spot.

His height and weight are perfect for 4-3 DE.

Originally posted by 21SandersMoss84:

Originally posted by mayo49:
At 6'3" he's a bit short I think for the DE spot.

His height and weight are perfect for 4-3 DE.

I think there's too much reliance on spot-fit. We'll run some 4-3, some 3-4, some 2-4-5, dime, ... we need defensive playmakers, pieces that can be moved all around. Buckner is that guy, AA remains to be seen. Lynch looked to be that guy, then he fell off pretty dramatically. Ward is that guy. Maybe Tartt can be too.

Point is, Thomas is definitely one of those pieces.

Originally posted by 21SandersMoss84:

Originally posted by mayo49:
At 6'3" he's a bit short I think for the DE spot.

His height and weight are perfect for 4-3 DE.

Yeah, I know.

Originally posted by Jasta:

I'd prefer to swap a few spots with perhaps the Jets and get him and some change at around 5 to 10 but I don't think it's going to happen. Would be fairly happy picking him at #2.

His stock is rising , I doubt he will make it past the top 3 picks , he only 21 too and smart guy Stanford , there is a lot to like

Originally posted by glorydayz:

Originally posted by Bluesbro:

Originally posted by SofaKing:

Originally posted by gold49digger:
This guy will ultimately be the guy we draft. He seems to fit all of what Lynch wants in a player.

Agreed

+1

I'm good with it, he's one of my guys!

looks like we're going to build our defense from the fountain of youth that is the draft. I look forward to possibly drafting some DBs and LBs also. Baalke must be kicking himself because this is the year to draft DBs because there is a plethora of them.

Thomas is also from Stanford, so that could influence Lynch even more. I wouldn't mind the pick at all, even if it is the 3rd year in a row that we draft a DE. He is the anti-armstead. Isn't an athletic freak but has the the motor and drive that you are looking for in a player.