Originally posted by SofaKing:
Good question. I don't think Spillman or Dahl is the answer. If I had to choose between the two, I'd say Spillman. He seems to be a better tackler in open space.
Obviously my preference is to bring back Whitner. If that doesn't happen, see if we can get an experienced vet on a 1-yr deal, and draft his replacement in rds 2-4.
I'd also like to see Dahl cut. He makes too much money as a 4th safety. $2.3 mil salary next year makes him one of our top 15 highest payed players. I was OK with the signing at the time because Reid wasn't on the roster yet, and FS was a big ? mark. Now we have no need for him. We can get a much cheaper player to do his job.
If we choose to be copycats at do what Seattle is doing we will either find a bruiser like Chancellor or a rangy guy like Thomas who can play center field. Brock and Culliver have man to man skills for matching up on the outside. That's why to me trades are becoming a reality. I see us taking a DB and then a WR really early in this draft unless address it in free agency.
Originally posted by Tru2RedNGold25:
Just go with Bucannon, It payed off with Reid starting this past year im sure starting him opposite side with Reid wont be a weak point in our D will be fine with both of those guys out there
And he'll probably still be there when they use their second second round pick.
I don't want them to go for an "enforcer." I want a guy with serious coverage skills. That's the way defense is evolving. The NFL is not going to allow these hits that are designed to separate a receiver from a ball he's catching. I think a lot of fans don't get it yet, but those days are gone. The emphasis is going to be on tight coverage. The Niners replaced a safety who was at the top of the unnecessary roughness penalty list and replaced him with a rookie who had more speed, better coverage skills and got zero flags thrown against him all season. That's the way to go - two safeties who can run, cover and not extend drives with big hits drawing flags.
Originally posted by Hopper:
Dahl shouldn't even be in the discussion. Why he started so many games for the Rams is beyond me.
I was very underwhelmed with Dahl. I expected him to be faster and have a better feel for where the ball was going. I think they should do the same thing they did last year - take one of the best strong safeties available in the draft. Reid's had a year to get comfortable and he's very smart - he can call the coverages.
Originally posted by crake49:
The top three or four strong safeties in the draft will still be there at the end of the second and into the third round. And, there's a Kam Chancellor type guy, 6-2, 222, who is a tweener - almost linebacker size, Nick Williams, who may still be there in late rounds.
Nick Williams will likely go undrafted. He'd be a good guy to try and develop over a couple years, put him on the practice squad and see what emerges.
Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:
Nick Williams will likely go undrafted. He'd be a good guy to try and develop over a couple years, put him on the practice squad and see what emerges.
I agree. The only reason I mentioned him is that he seems like the only guy in the draft who is close to Chancellor's size as a safety. But really, my first choice for a strong safety is another guy like Reid who is more of a coverage speed guy. As I said earlier, I think that's where secondaries are headed because I don't think the NFL wants "enforcers" anymore.
