Diyrall Briggs, Reggie Smith, Curtis Taylor, Alex Boone

"X" factors for the 49ers in 2010. I think these guys have the talent to make an impact in 2010 and could become young players that can step up their game ala Ahmad Brooks and Dashon Goldson.

Diyrall Briggs: Just read he put on 20pds and is at 250pds as he worked with the first team defense in OTA's. I like this kid, he was a terrific pass rusher at Bowling Green and in the Mac and really stood out last pre-season. Yes it was against 2nd and 3rd string guys but he just seemed like he had "it" as he had a nose for the football and showed some nice pass rush potential. I think he can make an impact as a backup and pass rush specialist.

Curtis Taylor: A "Reggie Sanders type". What is a "Reggie Sanders type" someone who looks great in a uniform. Taylor looks the part, again I saw a recent picture of him at OTA's and you think man this kid looks like a player. Now the question is he can turn his talents onto the field. He was inconsistent at LSU but did have some games where he looked like a player. As a rookie, he looked okay in the pre-season. He showed he could lay the wood and at 6'2" 209pds he runs like a deer. If he can improve his instincts and show more awarness in pass coverage, I think he can be a player and in player I mean a starter as early as 2011. At worse I think he can be a solid backup and ST's player.

Alex Boone: The talk of OTA's. A highly touted H.S prospect who had a solid career at Ohio State. Boone seems like he is totally focused and committed to football and I think this kid could be a solid starting RT in the NFL. I wouldn't bank on it and it doesen't mean the 49ers should change their draft strategy but I do think Boone can be a factor in the 49ers starting RT posistion.

Reggie Smith: The 3 guys above are playing with house money and really it would be a bonus if those guys become players. I think the team needs and expects Reggie Smith to contribute this year. He will be replacing Mark Roman (thank god) as the team's 3rd safety and possibly 5th DB. He is a talented kid, he was an early 3rd rd pick (was projected as a 2nd rd pick by a lot of services). He has good size (6'1" 203pds) very good speed (played cornerback in college and his rookie year) and he has shown he has a nose for the ball in the pre-season and has the range and ball skills to be a playmaker at FS or SS. His biggest problem has been staying healthy. I do think if he can stay healthy he would be a big upgrade over Mark Roman as our 3rd safety and 5th or 6th DB which is not saying much but I think this kid can be a player and even a starter at some point.

Just my .02

Damn...what if we draft an OT and Boone blows-up?!? Even more reason to draft Iupati!

[ Edited by doc_brown_ on Apr 1, 2010 at 20:00:30 ]

Originally posted by doc_brown_:
Damn...what if we draft an OT and Boone blows-up?!? Even more reason to draft Iupati!

What if he doesen't? If he does we have a quality backup and traid bait next year if we need it.

Reggie Smith has disappointed me. With his injuries slowing him, I think they slowed his development too. Dont know if he has enough experience to adjust to the speed of the NFL.

I believe Curtis is farther along than Smith.

YEAH, Go Rams my a$$

[ Edited by SFL49ER on Apr 1, 2010 at 20:07:27 ]

Originally posted by SFL49ER:
Reggie Smith has disappointed me. With his injuries slowing him, I think they slowed his development too. Dont know if he has enough experience to adjust to the speed of the NFL.

I believe Curtis is farther along than Smith.

YEAH, Go Rams my a$$

I can't get rid of that sig for some reason. Don't know how it got there and I can't get rid of it.

Briggs is one of the main reasons I don't think we should go with a passrusher in the first round. With Haralson, Lawson, Brooks, and Briggs we have enough firepower (and depth) at the postion. Although none of the above are "elite" passrushers they all are individually CAPABLE of a 8-10 sack seasons. Furthermore, our defensive ends are great (Smith and Sop).

Originally posted by PatrickJira411:
"X" factors for the 49ers in 2010. I think these guys have the talent to make an impact in 2010 and could become young players that can step up their game ala Ahmad Brooks and Dashon Goldson.

Diyrall Briggs: Just read he put on 20pds and is at 250pds as he worked with the first team defense in OTA's. I like this kid, he was a terrific pass rusher at Bowling Green and in the Mac and really stood out last pre-season. Yes it was against 2nd and 3rd string guys but he just seemed like he had "it" as he had a nose for the football and showed some nice pass rush potential. I think he can make an impact as a backup and pass rush specialist.

Curtis Taylor: A "Reggie Sanders type". What is a "Reggie Sanders type" someone who looks great in a uniform. Taylor looks the part, again I saw a recent picture of him at OTA's and you think man this kid looks like a player. Now the question is he can turn his talents onto the field. He was inconsistent at LSU but did have some games where he looked like a player. As a rookie, he looked okay in the pre-season. He showed he could lay the wood and at 6'2" 209pds he runs like a deer. If he can improve his instincts and show more awarness in pass coverage, I think he can be a player and in player I mean a starter as early as 2011. At worse I think he can be a solid backup and ST's player.

Alex Boone: The talk of OTA's. A highly touted H.S prospect who had a solid career at Ohio State. Boone seems like he is totally focused and committed to football and I think this kid could be a solid starting RT in the NFL. I wouldn't bank on it and it doesen't mean the 49ers should change their draft strategy but I do think Boone can be a factor in the 49ers starting RT posistion.

Reggie Smith: The 3 guys above are playing with house money and really it would be a bonus if those guys become players. I think the team needs and expects Reggie Smith to contribute this year. He will be replacing Mark Roman (thank god) as the team's 3rd safety and possibly 5th DB. He is a talented kid, he was an early 3rd rd pick (was projected as a 2nd rd pick by a lot of services). He has good size (6'1" 203pds) very good speed (played cornerback in college and his rookie year) and he has shown he has a nose for the ball in the pre-season and has the range and ball skills to be a playmaker at FS or SS. His biggest problem has been staying healthy. I do think if he can stay healthy he would be a big upgrade over Mark Roman as our 3rd safety and 5th or 6th DB which is not saying much but I think this kid can be a player and even a starter at some point.

Just my .02

To the extent it put the coaches on the field with the team, and allowed them a closer look at these guys--and the rest of the team (except for those who absented themselves)--the two OTAs appear to have been a success.

Briggs and Boone appear to show great promise, and if Smith can stay healthy, he may see alot more playing time this year as well.

Not so sure about Taylor.

Go Raiders!

Originally posted by King49er:
Go Raiders!

Lol. F**n April Fool's day pranks.

A very optimistic point of view about these four players. At the same time, I wouldn't be surprised to see three of these individuals off the roster by the start of the 2010 season.

If we don't sign Pitts, we could look at obtaining two OL picks in the draft. RT and OT/OG or OC/OG hybrid. You get two and Boone doesn't improve, he could be on the PS or cut.

If we draft a safety (and most likely a CB), then I could see either Smith or Taylor out. The 49ers may be inclined to keep 5 CBs and 4 FS/SS on the depth chart.

I think Briggs may have to beat out a candidate like Spikes or an ILB that has the ability to play OLB as well. The 49ers value flex players (which I disagree with) than pure players.

Originally posted by GEEK:
A very optimistic point of view about these four players. At the same time, I wouldn't be surprised to see three of these individuals off the roster by the start of the 2010 season.

If we don't sign Pitts, we could look at obtaining two OL picks in the draft. RT and OT/OG or OC/OG hybrid. You get two and Boone doesn't improve, he could be on the PS or cut.

If we draft a safety (and most likely a CB), then I could see either Smith or Taylor out. The 49ers may be inclined to keep 5 CBs and 4 FS/SS on the depth chart.

I think Briggs may have to beat out a candidate like Spikes or an ILB that has the ability to play OLB as well. The 49ers value flex players (which I disagree with) than pure players.

If this is not the time for optimism, then when?

You wanna talk negative, then lets talk about how slow and weak Snyder looked in that clip about the OL on Monday. He's a guy that needs to step up, or he may be gone. An he was our starting RT last season.

We carried four OLBs into last season. Lawson, Haralson, Brooks and that guy, Washington (?) from the Chargers who didn't last due to a hammie. So Briggs might make it as the 4th OLB this season. Test for him is gonna be in coverage and holding the edge on rush plays. IMHO.

Originally posted by oldninerdude:

Originally posted by GEEK:
A very optimistic point of view about these four players. At the same time, I wouldn't be surprised to see three of these individuals off the roster by the start of the 2010 season.

If we don't sign Pitts, we could look at obtaining two OL picks in the draft. RT and OT/OG or OC/OG hybrid. You get two and Boone doesn't improve, he could be on the PS or cut.

If we draft a safety (and most likely a CB), then I could see either Smith or Taylor out. The 49ers may be inclined to keep 5 CBs and 4 FS/SS on the depth chart.

I think Briggs may have to beat out a candidate like Spikes or an ILB that has the ability to play OLB as well. The 49ers value flex players (which I disagree with) than pure players.

If this is not the time for optimism, then when?

You wanna talk negative, then lets talk about how slow and weak Snyder looked in that clip about the OL on Monday. He's a guy that needs to step up, or he may be gone. An he was our starting RT last season.

We carried four OLBs into last season. Lawson, Haralson, Brooks and that guy, Washington (?) from the Chargers who didn't last due to a hammie. So Briggs might make it as the 4th OLB this season. Test for him is gonna be in coverage and holding the edge on rush plays. IMHO.

Marques Harris, yeah he was pretty bad. Briggs actually made the final roster the last month of the season but I don't recall him ever getting onto the field. I think there may be something there. Of course if we draft an OLB in the first 3 rds he may have a hard time making the final cut.

Originally posted by oldninerdude:

Originally posted by GEEK:
A very optimistic point of view about these four players. At the same time, I wouldn't be surprised to see three of these individuals off the roster by the start of the 2010 season.

If we don't sign Pitts, we could look at obtaining two OL picks in the draft. RT and OT/OG or OC/OG hybrid. You get two and Boone doesn't improve, he could be on the PS or cut.

If we draft a safety (and most likely a CB), then I could see either Smith or Taylor out. The 49ers may be inclined to keep 5 CBs and 4 FS/SS on the depth chart.

I think Briggs may have to beat out a candidate like Spikes or an ILB that has the ability to play OLB as well. The 49ers value flex players (which I disagree with) than pure players.

If this is not the time for optimism, then when?

You wanna talk negative, then lets talk about how slow and weak Snyder looked in that clip about the OL on Monday. He's a guy that needs to step up, or he may be gone. An he was our starting RT last season.

We carried four OLBs into last season. Lawson, Haralson, Brooks and that guy, Washington (?) from the Chargers who didn't last due to a hammie. So Briggs might make it as the 4th OLB this season. Test for him is gonna be in coverage and holding the edge on rush plays. IMHO.

How is what I said in any way negative? I am just saying is if we draft early prospects of those positions, their chances of making the 49ers main roster are slim to none.

This is the exact same reason why Glen Coffee and Michael Robinson are on the depth chart over Thomas Clayton.

Patrick...think you're spot on here...I was really encouraged about what I've read about all these guys. They should all have good opportunities to show what they've got. Also encouraged about Karl Paymah...he got a lot of time at CB and also lined up as a slot receiver...think he's a good addition to the secondary. He played nickel for the Vikes last year, so obviously has good abilities.

Originally posted by PatrickJira411:

Originally posted by doc_brown_:
Damn...what if we draft an OT and Boone blows-up?!? Even more reason to draft Iupati!

What if he doesen't? If he does we have a quality backup and traid bait next year if we need it.

I agree. It would be a bad idea to put all of your eggs in the basket with a PS player without having a plan B. BUT many believe Iupati can play OT if given the chance. Iupati wouldn't be a sexy pick but he would be a solid pick and would start immediatly for the team.