Why didn't Baalke draft a QB last year ?

Originally posted by OnTheClock:
Because there weren't any QB's worth drafting. Out of the entire class, there were about 5 in total I would've considered.

Only one was ready to start immediately, and two others needed at least more than half a season to really be ready to go.

It still baffles me why so many people don't take this into consideration. That whole if you need a QB now draft one now mentality drives me nuts. Why not look ahead a bit???

Of course this is coming from someone who in March 2005 wanted us to draft Braylon Edwards and save the QB pick for the next year and draft Jay Cutler. But alas, our leadership fell for the good ol draft a QB now cus you need one now line of thought.

I too think last Aprils' QB class was pretty weak too. I didn't want Alex Smith, but I did not want a QB drafted last year either

There are certain things that susweel and I do not agree on, but he brings up a very good point about Baalke.

It would seem that, by not addressing the QB situation other than by signing Troy as a backup, Baalke also thought Alex was solid enough to be the 49ers' QB in the immediate future (if they only got the OL fixed).

Given susweel's opinion of Alex for a long time, I can see how he feels uncomfortable with Baalke's ability as a talent evaluator, and as a future architect of the team.

You can include me as a current wait-and-see skeptic of Baalke, but perhaps for reasons different than susweel's. If our fears prove correct, then heaven help this team for years to come.

Originally posted by danimal:

Originally posted by OnTheClock:
Because there weren't any QB's worth drafting. Out of the entire class, there were about 5 in total I would've considered.

Only one was ready to start immediately, and two others needed at least more than half a season to really be ready to go.

It still baffles me why so many people don't take this into consideration. That whole if you need a QB now draft one now mentality drives me nuts. Why not look ahead a bit???

Of course this is coming from someone who in March 2005 wanted us to draft Braylon Edwards and save the QB pick for the next year and draft Jay Cutler. But alas, our leadership fell for the good ol draft a QB now cus you need one now line of thought.

I too think last Aprils' QB class was pretty weak too. I didn't want Alex Smith, but I did not want a QB drafted last year either

At the very least we could have some bodies at the position to potential back ups later. And who knows one those kids could have possibly developed into a stop gap rather then have Carr as the only QB on the roster. Im not saying we needed to draft a QB in the first round.

Originally posted by Sjceruti:
Who were we gonna draft? Jimmy Clausen. I'm sure Baalke knew he was gonna suck. I'm glad we waited.

I was going to ask the same thing.

Anyway, the real answer is:

We don't know.

Speculate if you want, but it won't get you far. Even if you ask Baalke, I'd take his answer with a grain of salt.

cuz he n sing f**ked up, they invested all their faith into asmith

Originally posted by susweel:

Originally posted by danimal:

Originally posted by OnTheClock:
Because there weren't any QB's worth drafting. Out of the entire class, there were about 5 in total I would've considered.

Only one was ready to start immediately, and two others needed at least more than half a season to really be ready to go.

It still baffles me why so many people don't take this into consideration. That whole if you need a QB now draft one now mentality drives me nuts. Why not look ahead a bit???

Of course this is coming from someone who in March 2005 wanted us to draft Braylon Edwards and save the QB pick for the next year and draft Jay Cutler. But alas, our leadership fell for the good ol draft a QB now cus you need one now line of thought.

I too think last Aprils' QB class was pretty weak too. I didn't want Alex Smith, but I did not want a QB drafted last year either

At the very least we could have some bodies at the position to potential back ups later. And who knows one those kids could have possibly developed into a stop gap rather then have Carr as the only QB on the roster. Im not saying we needed to draft a QB in the first round.

it would not have made any sense to draft a QB in any round last year. It did not take much forethought to see that Raye and Sing were on the hot seat...so it was pretty predictable that we would end up in this situation now. New HC, New OC...etc etc ...so now is the time to draft a QB....last draft would have meant that QB would have to switch systems in just his 2nd year

Originally posted by susweel:
If Baalke was calling the shots last year in the draft why didnt he draft a QB at some point in the draft last year. He knew Smith was in his last year and Hill had already been traded. If he was the one calling the shots why didnt he plan ahead, especially since the uncertainty of the CBA was looming.

Right now the way things stand and our 2011 season may be f**ked because nobody planned ahead. Many people were praising Baalke on his draft last year but I screaming for him to draft a QB because number 1 I knew Alex was gonna fail and number 2 even if he had succeeded you still dont want to bare at the most crucial position.

Because quarterback is not the most important position on the team. OL that can maul and impose their will on the opponent are the most important players on the team. Any dummy can play quarterback but you need winners that can impose your will on an opponent are what wins games.

Baalke took over for McCloughan, he wasn't officially GM at the time. He was being tactical. The worst thing for him to do was to be ultra contentious with what the coaching staff feel that they needed from the draft. I think Baalke went with mostly what Sing wanted. No one realized at the time that our backups were so inept. Davis didn't really improve enough from his 'learning disability', Carr couldn't catch onto the new offense fast enough to be effective. Smith didn't come in until late in training camp. We would have been slightly better if A. Smith not got injured. With the injury it exposed an even worst situation than A. Smith's inconsistency-- our utter lack of capable backup qb.

Originally posted by OnTheClock:
Because there weren't any QB's worth drafting. Out of the entire class, there were about 5 in total I would've considered.

Only one was ready to start immediately, and two others needed at least more than half a season to really be ready to go.

This and Mr. QB is no more important than the other 10 guys on the field.

Originally posted by FILTHpigskin:

Originally posted by carlgo:
Singletar evidently had a lot to say about the draft. He wanted and got linemen to run the smashmouth running game. Remember, the QB isn't an important position...

Smith was eager to please and the others weren't going to play. Sing didn't even practice those guys!

Which is why we have Jim Harbaugh here and we're drafting a quarterback now. Not to mention we'll probably pick up at least one veteran QB. Let the guru help decide which QB Baalke will draft.

That is what makes this entire mess even worse. In order to save this next season, we may have to give up a high draft choice for a short-term QB solution instead of using that choice for a player that will be here for 10 years as a solid starter. There just aren't any vets around that are going to win games. It is looking more and more like the choice is David Carr and a rookie. Giving up a 2nd for a totally unproven QB or aging vet is just not good future planning either.

Originally posted by Sjceruti:
Who were we gonna draft? Jimmy Clausen. I'm sure Baalke knew he was gonna suck. I'm glad we waited.

I agree, I would have been pist if he took Clausen. He has a week arm and throws a lot of floaters which usually turn into interceptions at the next level. Maybe I'm wrong but I don't think he can be a starter in the NFL. Don't think we'll pick a quarterback in the first round this year either.

Originally posted by susweel:



At the very least we could have some bodies at the position to potential back ups later. And who knows one those kids could have possibly developed into a stop gap rather then have Carr as the only QB on the roster. Im not saying we needed to draft a QB in the first round.

We had just drafted a quarterback project the year before.

Think about this for a second, susweel.

Maybe Baalke is smarter than you think he is. Maybe he's smarter than you are. Maybe he's smarter than all of us. Maybe he's even smarter than me!

It doesn't matter the reason, but the result is beneficial. Harbaugh is going to want his quarterbacks. Who would you rather have picking our quarterbacks? Baalke or Harbaugh?

Think about it. Just for a second.

Originally posted by susweel:

Originally posted by danimal:

Originally posted by OnTheClock:
Because there weren't any QB's worth drafting. Out of the entire class, there were about 5 in total I would've considered.

Only one was ready to start immediately, and two others needed at least more than half a season to really be ready to go.

It still baffles me why so many people don't take this into consideration. That whole if you need a QB now draft one now mentality drives me nuts. Why not look ahead a bit???

Of course this is coming from someone who in March 2005 wanted us to draft Braylon Edwards and save the QB pick for the next year and draft Jay Cutler. But alas, our leadership fell for the good ol draft a QB now cus you need one now line of thought.

I too think last Aprils' QB class was pretty weak too. I didn't want Alex Smith, but I did not want a QB drafted last year either

At the very least we could have some bodies at the position to potential back ups later. And who knows one those kids could have possibly developed into a stop gap rather then have Carr as the only QB on the roster. Im not saying we needed to draft a QB in the first round.

A partial answer is that it isn't like they didn't bring in some QBs. However, guys like Pickett just didn't have a chance when you have a former defensive back trying to tutor quarterbacks. Much of the blame falls on poor position coaching.

Originally posted by Wodwo:

Originally posted by susweel:



At the very least we could have some bodies at the position to potential back ups later. And who knows one those kids could have possibly developed into a stop gap rather then have Carr as the only QB on the roster. Im not saying we needed to draft a QB in the first round.

We had just drafted a quarterback project the year before.

Think about this for a second, susweel.

Maybe Baalke is smarter than you think he is. Maybe he's smarter than you are. Maybe he's smarter than all of us. Maybe he's even smarter than me!

It doesn't matter the reason, but the result is beneficial. Harbaugh is going to want his quarterbacks. Who would you rather have picking our quarterbacks? Baalke or Harbaugh?

Think about it. Just for a second.

I know what you are saying but given the circumstances with the uncertain CBA, it would have made sense to plan ahead.

But I guess the main question is who really was calling the shots Baalke or Sing in the drafting process. From everything I have read it all points to Baalke.

Originally posted by susweel:

Originally posted by danimal:

Originally posted by OnTheClock:
Because there weren't any QB's worth drafting. Out of the entire class, there were about 5 in total I would've considered.

Only one was ready to start immediately, and two others needed at least more than half a season to really be ready to go.

It still baffles me why so many people don't take this into consideration. That whole if you need a QB now draft one now mentality drives me nuts. Why not look ahead a bit???

Of course this is coming from someone who in March 2005 wanted us to draft Braylon Edwards and save the QB pick for the next year and draft Jay Cutler. But alas, our leadership fell for the good ol draft a QB now cus you need one now line of thought.

I too think last Aprils' QB class was pretty weak too. I didn't want Alex Smith, but I did not want a QB drafted last year either

At the very least we could have some bodies at the position to potential back ups later. And who knows one those kids could have possibly developed into a stop gap rather then have Carr as the only QB on the roster. Im not saying we needed to draft a QB in the first round.

They did everything possible to boost Alex's confidence last off season. They didn't draft a qb b/c they didn't want him to feel threatened or any competition. They got rid of Shaun hill for a 7th rounder b/c they didn't want Smith to feel pressure and have any competition. They bring in a back up in Carr that they don't even let back Smith up b/c they didn't want Smith to feel any pressure. they really tried hard to set Smith up for success and he still failed. Thus the front office failed the team in the long run. But hey we did draft a safety that can't play safety in the 2nd round. Hope that makes you feel better about his talent evaluation.