Solomon Thomas--Stanford

Originally posted by ChazBoner:

I really don't think Lynch/Shanahan will give two s**ts about going DL for the 3rd year straight. They're looking at is as a clean slate.

Chaz aint lying. While Biderman in that article was focused on the the 49ers drafting three straight DL, this is a completely new regime. What Baalke did or didnt do is pretty much irrelevant.

Originally posted by tjd808185:
And Michael Bennett was undrafted that doesn't stop you from trying to clone him with the 2nd pick. The odds of finding Sherman in the 5th are next to nil. It's something we'll have to do somewhere because you only have so many 1st rounders but you can't bank on it. I know edge rusher will most likely require a high pick so upgrading the line when it's not even a finished product to me makes little sense.

Oh god are you really bringing up where guys were drafted now?

Tom Brady was drafted in the 6th round...guess teams should stop drafting QBs with #2 overall now?

We don't need Sherman in the 5th if our front is playing lights out.

Originally posted by genus49:

I think we'd all love for him to turn into an all pro. But we shouldn't assume that will happen. Have to go on what we've seen so far and so far it's been hot and cold and unfortunately more cold last year.

We can't pass up on a guy who can really help this team and is a perfect fit for what the coaches/front office want in players/people just because we're hoping Arik works out. As I mentioned before worst/best case depending how you want to look at it is after next year we have 3 stud defensive linemen who all need playing time. Can always trade one of them or have the coaches find a spot for them. It's an issue all teams would love to have.

The way i see it is Armstead is a physical freak but he doesn't fit this defense as much as Buckner/Thomas do and he doesn't have the same drive. Thomas to me will only get better with time and could end up being the best defensive player in this class. I want that on this roster. I want that passion for the game because it's contagious.

When you're a player and you see the guy next to you going 100% all the time it pushes you. Sign me up...

How is everyone so sure Thomas is a sure thing?

Originally posted by NYniner85:
AA was the bum...so bringing in Earl Mitchell makes our DL amazing all of a sudden? lol please.

You're also ignoring the injuries to Bowman, Rey Rey. Buckner was a rookie. The entire front 7 was in shambles. No, I don't think Earl Mitchell is the answer but Soloman Thomas isn't going to fix that is he. This is a multi year rebuild.

Originally posted by SteveYoung:
How is everyone so sure Thomas is a sure thing?

He's not, nobody is.

However he's got the athletic ability, the physical tools and the great off the field intangibles and he gives his all while on the field. Typically guys like that have a much higher chance to succeed.

The guys that end up falling out either can't handle the mental part of the game, don't work hard enough or physically can't do what needs to be done to do their job at an NFL level. Thomas has all those traits and yet he's still raw which makes it even that more exciting to see what he can do with time.

Originally posted by genus49:
Oh god are you really bringing up where guys were drafted now?

Tom Brady was drafted in the 6th round...guess teams should stop drafting QBs with #2 overall now?

We don't need Sherman in the 5th if our front is playing lights out.

In reply to someone. Don't jump in and cherry pick. Sorry bro Richard Sherman was Richard Sherman before Avril, Bennett and Irvin got there.

Originally posted by NYniner85:
So then we should just stick with a s**tty AA? Sometimes 1st rd picks don't turn into game changers and become good rotational guys. This FO has zero ties to him...I got no problem rolling with Solomon and AA splitting snaps or having AA be a backup to Buck at the 5-tech. No one is saying he's a strictly a LEO.

He's not making top end money and we can afford it. IF he does decide to actually be good then trade him....the Pats do that s**t all the time.

I am mostly responding to people who are saying they envision him to be a LEO. Which he shouldn't be.

If they draft him, most of his snaps and reps should be at the 3-tech or the 5-tech. His weight should also stay where it is. Don't drop weight to try and play EDGE. The coaching staff would just prove that they are clueless if they did that and it would mirror the Carradine mistake.

But again, it makes Armstead redundant like you said. As long as people are okay with that, its fine I guess

Originally posted by SteveYoung:

How is everyone so sure Thomas is a sure thing?

Nobody is a sure thing but Thomas is one of the better prospects Ive seen in the years Ive been following the draft.


Usually you have some major tradeoffs to make with a prospect.


You get a guy that is incredibly athletic but very raw with little pass rush technique.


You get a guy who was extremely productive in college but isnt super athletic for the next level.


You get guys with the athleticism and skillset but without the necessary awareness, guys with injury issues....etc.



The biggest drawback on Thomas is that he is a bit of a tweener but he is an incredibly complete DL otherwise. Outstanding athleticism to go with terrific hand use and an array of pass rushing moves, intelligence and a motor that doesn't quit. He us a pure football player through and through and I see him as one of the safest picks in the draft along with Garrett and Adams.

Originally posted by tjd808185:

Originally posted by NYniner85:
Who said we can't upgrade all over? they brought in Smith at LB, who knows the D and we have 9 more picks. You bring up Sherman, Avril, Wagner, and I'll even throw in Chancellor...all were not 1st rd picks. They just spent their top pick in 2015 on Clark who plays the same role as Bennett and they draft Reed with the 49th pick last yr...they're spending picks on DL just the same.

And Michael Bennett was undrafted that doesn't stop you from trying to clone him with the 2nd pick. The odds of finding Sherman in the 5th are next to nil. It's something we'll have to do somewhere because you only have so many 1st rounders but you can't bank on it. I know edge rusher will most likely require a high pick so upgrading the line when it's not even a finished product to me makes little sense.

Tony Jefferson 5th overall safety
Barry Church 10th overall safety...were both UDFA what's your point?

Who you drafting as a edge rusher at two?Drafting the 2nd best player in the draft is what needs to be done and it so happens he's a perfect fit for our defense, he can stuff the run and rush the passer...if you thought we were actually good at both last yr then you didn't watch many games.

Like I said if we can trade down it changes things...this is about who's the best talent at two and we need talent.

Originally posted by genus49:

There is really no one way to build a team but there are guidelines which the more you get right the better your chances of winning are.

1. Elite QB. So important in today's game. This guy alone will get you 5 wins if you surround him with even mediocre talent.

2. Top flight defense.

Well #2 doesn't happen with out the ability to stop the run and rush the passer up front. 4-3 defense means the front is there most of the magic happens.

Drafting 3 linemen in 3 years may not be ideal but much worse than that is ignoring a top tier talent who fits perfectly with what your team is trying to do because you drafted 2 linemen in the 2 years prior while running a different scheme with a different coaching staff and one of them hasn't shown to be worth his draft selection.

Mike Williams isn't Calvin Johnson, he's not Julio Jones. He's a big body who can go up and get the ball. I'd love to have him but at the end of the day hell yes I'd rather have Solomon Thomas and Zay Jones if that's the option. Would not surprise me at all to see him have a better career than Williams.

Plus once again what WR has made that much of an impact on his team and helped them win a SB? Hell how many top 2 WRs have been worth the pick?

There is no way in hell Williams is BPA. If you're drafting him there it's purely a need pick and that's a perfect way to wind up with a crap roster.

Pretty sure a week ago you were in here saying Thomas is BPA. What changed?

What changed?? I hate the fact of drafting 3 DL in 3 years and ignoring other positions yet again. Even Justin Smith said as much.

We are rebuilding. We might as well see what AA can do when healthy. Give him a year to prove it. What do we have to lose? What if he blows up and plays to his potential? He won't get the chance if he is sitting on the bench. If he stinkns then play Mitchell and Blair and get a UT next year. By all accounts he was owning everyone in camp last year. All the veteran Olinemen said as much. He needs a chance to prove himself.

There are guys like Soloman Thomas who come out every year.

I think we are the perfect example of why teams need elite playmakers at WR. We'd probably have 1 maybe 2 more Superbowls if we had a 6'3 red zone beast of WR.

Originally posted by tjd808185:
You're also ignoring the injuries to Bowman, Rey Rey. Buckner was a rookie. The entire front 7 was in shambles. No, I don't think Earl Mitchell is the answer but Soloman Thomas isn't going to fix that is he. This is a multi year rebuild.

We gave up 100 yards to Fozzy Whitaker for crying out loud with most of those guys healthy. You're assuming all these guys stay healthy next year or beyond.

DL is one of the most important things on a football team especially when ours was so awful last year...give whatever excuses you want but the facts are we were historically bad. So the idea that a stud defensive lineman who can play the run and rush the passer and whose arrow is pointing up would be a bad choice is crazy.

Originally posted by genus49:

We gave up 100 yards to Fozzy Whitaker for crying out loud with most of those guys healthy. You're assuming all these guys stay healthy next year or beyond.

DL is one of the most important things on a football team especially when ours was so awful last year...give whatever excuses you want but the facts are we were historically bad. So the idea that a stud defensive lineman who can play the run and rush the passer and whose arrow is pointing up would be a bad choice is crazy.

How many 3 and outs did out pathetic offense go out on putting our D right back on the field?

What makes an elite defense? A good offense.

Originally posted by SteveYoung:
What changed?? I hate the fact of drafting 3 DL in 3 years and ignoring other positions yet again. Even Justin Smith said as much.

We are rebuilding. We might as well see what AA can do when healthy. Give him a year to prove it. What do we have to lose? What if he blows up and plays to his potential? He won't get the chance if he is sitting on the bench. If he stinkns then play Mitchell and Blair and get a UT next year. By all accounts he was owning everyone in camp last year. All the veteran Olinemen said as much. He needs a chance to prove himself.

There are guys like Soloman Thomas who come out every year.

Justin Smith is entitled to his opinion but he's not a GM.

Who said guys like Thomas come out every year? Find me another one recently, I'll wait.

Guys like Mike Williams do come out every year. Hell a very similar player was available in free agency this year and we decided not to pursue him in Alshon Jeffrey.

We are rebuilding, it doesn't mean we should sit back and see how all of Baalke's picks shake out even if they haven't shown clearly that they can be counted on. Armstead can prove himself. As I said before it would be a great problem to have if we have Thomas, Armstead and Buckner all going beast mode out there.

Drafting a WR who may not even be the best in this class at #2 just so you don't draft DL 3 years in a row is silly. If we were still running a 3-4 then I could see the issue but having two sky scrapers out there on the DL isn't typical. Relying on Armstead is a big risk and one we shouldn't make.

Originally posted by SteveYoung:
How many 3 and outs did out pathetic offense go out on putting our D right back on the field?

What makes an elite defense? A good offense.

A strong defensive line that can stop the run and rush the passer helps a lot more though

Ravens D in 2000 did ok with Trent Dilfer and their running game.

Denver defense did pretty well two years ago despite Manning being the worst QB in the league that year.

Don't over think it man. You were right a week ago when you said Mitchell and Armstead shouldn't be counted on. If they work out, that's awesome. But the results last year say we need major upgrades on the line. The DL in a 4-3 scheme is even more important so we absolutely need as many studs out there as possible.

Kyle Shanahan has proven he can make chicken salad out of chicken chit on offense. We don't need a historical offense out there, we'll work our way up to it. Redskins didn't have Julio Jones and they were getting it done. Zay Jones or someone else later in the draft can get us there.

Not to mention any rookie would need time to learn the offense so WR at #2 would not necessarily shine as quick as you'd want.

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

Originally posted by ChazBoner:
I really don't think Lynch/Shanahan will give two s**ts about going DL for the 3rd year straight. They're looking at is as a clean slate.

Chaz aint lying. While Biderman in that article was focused on the the 49ers drafting three straight DL, this is a completely new regime. What Baalke did or didnt do is pretty much irrelevant.

Good points by u both, New regime!! and new philosophy brings about what may appear to be redundancy initially. If this guy can be our LEO end, then im all for it !