2014 Team Needs - Updates

add to the Duke above: and push BT right off the roster...right after he trades Gabbert to one of 5-8 teams with no QBs or imitation QBs....for that high pick of #1 CB...wherever/whoever that might be.

Go back to NFCC game and as noted before our D did not play well enough to win. Front 7? they sure as hell played well enough to win. But the back end, well, they let us down, and that will be where TB/JH move up to get their #1 CB and again to get their #2 CB...and Gabbert is going to facilitate that with a team having no QB. It has to be why we picked him up. Maybe in a different setting Blaine will end up doing well. I just don't see that ever happening here.

Sure, kap threw into a crowd of 3 DBs (including the best CB in the league), and ended the game. But we shouldn't have needed that pass to win. We needed our CBs knocking balls down, not tackling guys after a 10 or 12 yard gain. SEA literally moved up and down the field at will, and we played our DBs off. Why? I have no idea. Reid played well. But he alone was playing well in the DBackfield.

Originally posted by pasodoc9er:

add to the Duke above: and push BT right off the roster...right after he trades Gabbert to one of 5-8 teams with no QBs or imitation QBs....for that high pick of #1 CB...wherever/whoever that might be.

Go back to NFCC game and as noted before our D did not play well enough to win. Front 7? they sure as hell played well enough to win. But the back end, well, they let us down, and that will be where TB/JH move up to get their #1 CB and again to get their #2 CB...and Gabbert is going to facilitate that with a team having no QB. It has to be why we picked him up. Maybe in a different setting Blaine will end up doing well. I just don't see that ever happening here.

Sure, kap threw into a crowd of 3 DBs (including the best CB in the league), and ended the game. But we shouldn't have needed that pass to win. We needed our CBs knocking balls down, not tackling guys after a 10 or 12 yard gain. SEA literally moved up and down the field at will, and we played our DBs off. Why? I have no idea. Reid played well. But he alone was playing well in the DBackfield.

Bolded is right on point. Unfortunately, this seems to be a reoccurring theme w/ our DBackfield in big games the past three years. NY Giants marched up and down the field against them in '11, they made Fluko look like a HOF QB in the Super Bowl last year, and this year they got pushed around by Seattle's average at best receivers.

I think it's a combination of the CBs blowing coverages in crunch time and not making enough (or any) plays on the ball and also Fangio going prevent mode too soon and playing his CBs too far off for long stretches.

Can't say I was too upset when we loss all those guys in our secondary this year. I think it's time for a change and to inject some young blood and more playmakers in the back end and it appears the FO thought so as well. It's a great time to have six picks in the top 100 in a DB heavy draft.

^^^ Agreed you two...Fangio, for the first time, is going to have personnel where he can play both press coverage up tight and physical/distruptive at the LOS AND off coverage. With the extra benefit of pass rushers of Carradine and growth of both Skuta and Lemonier and the depth/experience along the DL, it's going to be fun to watch. They are going to make some mistakes but if should pay off in the end.

Letting Whitner go may have signaled Reid's ability to take over responsibility for Safety calls...or they know Bethea well enough to let him take over. Assuming they take at least two CBs and one safety in this upcoming draft the defensive backfield will be stocked with young, fast guys who, as NC say, will make mistakes...but they may have speed to make up for them. The coaches seem ready and able to create a dynamic backfield...again!

2010: Goldson, R Smith, Spencer & Clements (8 Ints)
2011: Goldson, Whitner, Brown & Rogers (12 Ints) (added two former 1st round picks)
2012: Goldson, Whitner, Brown & Rogers (7 Ints)
2013: Reid, Whitner, Brown & Rogers (8 Ints)
2014: Reid, Bethea, Culliver (if not incarcerated) & Brock (guessing)

Behind these guys (in 2014):
CBs
Cook
Cox
Morris
Swanson
Wright (hoping Wright will really push for a starting job)
Rookie
Rookie
Safeties
Campbell
Dahl
Spillman
Ventrone
Rookie

Just adding to dtg's thots, I think the die was cast for our draft in the NFCC game, when Whitner et al, made great tackles on the receivers...unfortunately after the catch. The SEAhawks? Unnnhhh....they DEFENDED the passes, not necessitating a tackle and we went 3 and out. After that 2nd half, it was so apparent our CBs needed to be LIKE THE SEA CBs. Big strong guys who could be shut down corners, preventing the pass, not tackling the receiver once he caught the ball. Lot of folks remember Kap's last throw. I remember the ease with which SEA moved up and down the field on us in the second half and the difficulty we had completing passes against the best DBs in the league. It got JHs and Trent's attn. too. Bethea was a great get. He will make Whitner be forgotten after the first two games.(IMO)

Ok. The draft it is for two STARTING CBs. That is going to take some serious number of picks plus gabbert to get what they want...in a draft fat with CBs. But I am betting they want the best. Not a great one but the two best. We'll see shortly.

Originally posted by dtg_9er:
Letting Whitner go may have signaled Reid's ability to take over responsibility for Safety calls...or they know Bethea well enough to let him take over. Assuming they take at least two CBs and one safety in this upcoming draft the defensive backfield will be stocked with young, fast guys who, as NC say, will make mistakes...but they may have speed to make up for them. The coaches seem ready and able to create a dynamic backfield...again!

2010: Goldson, R Smith, Spencer & Clements (8 Ints)
2011: Goldson, Whitner, Brown & Rogers (12 Ints) (added two former 1st round picks)
2012: Goldson, Whitner, Brown & Rogers (7 Ints)
2013: Reid, Whitner, Brown & Rogers (8 Ints)
2014: Reid, Bethea, Culliver (if not incarcerated) & Brock (guessing)

Behind these guys (in 2014):
CBs
Cook
Cox
Morris
Swanson
Wright (hoping Wright will really push for a starting job)
Rookie
Rookie

Safeties
Campbell
Dahl
Spillman
Ventrone
Rookie

Yeah, our $7M+ starting CB had 2 INT's, 8 DP's and 47 tackles last year. And Brown had ZERO INT's last year, 10 DP's and 32 tackles. To put that into perspective, our 7th rounder who crossed the border in Cooper alone had 3 INT's, 18 PD's and 44 tackles on a crappy defense in KC and zero time to adjust to their playbook. Brock off the bench had 5 INT's (including a pick-6), 13 PD's and 37 tackles.

In short, it was time to move on and create salary cap $ (for our core) and give the young guys a chance to shine/develop.

we need to add 2 CBs in this upcoming draft

Originally posted by Frisco69ers:
we need to add 2 CBs in this upcoming draft

No doubt and Baalke, I'm sure will add a couple more as UDFA's and perhaps, an older FA veteran on the cheap.

Originally posted by Frisco69ers:
we need to add 2 CBs in this upcoming draft

while some people are slashing their wrists i think it will be so much fun to see the guys we have already mix it up with the kids we draft for the cornerback spots! and as NC wisely said,,, when we have a titch more cash after june first, maybe add a cheap vet in whatever area. we will see what the team looks like after the draft and a may mini camp before we do that I think

Originally posted by cciowa:
while some people are slashing their wrists i think it will be so much fun to see the guys we have already mix it up with the kids we draft for the cornerback spots! and as NC wisely said,,, when we have a titch more cash after june first, maybe add a cheap vet in whatever area. we will see what the team looks like after the draft and a may mini camp before we do that I think

I don't disagree, but remember...these guys are really a young group! The two starters will likely have 7 years experience between them (Culliver and Brock). Wright and Cook are our wily veterans...7 and 5 years experience respectively. Morris is my hope for a third guy to cover the faster WRs. With a year under Donatell he may make a huge jump. Seriously, any of these guys could be pushed by a top flight draftee. So...I want three WRs and three CBs with our first three picks! They can play both ways!

Originally posted by cciowa:

Originally posted by Frisco69ers:
we need to add 2 CBs in this upcoming draft

while some people are slashing their wrists i think it will be so much fun to see the guys we have already mix it up with the kids we draft for the cornerback spots! and as NC wisely said,,, when we have a titch more cash after june first, maybe add a cheap vet in whatever area. we will see what the team looks like after the draft and a may mini camp before we do that I think

I'm just going to repost this as a reminder: "Yeah, our $7M+ starting CB (Rogers) had 2 INT's, 8 DP's and 47 tackles last year. And Brown had 0 INT's last year, 10 DP's and only 32 tackles. To put that into perspective, our 7th rounder who crossed the border in Marcus Cooper (didn't make our team) alone had 3 INT's, 18 PD's and 44 tackles on a crappy defense in KC with zero time to adjust to a new defensive playbook. Brock off the bench had 5 INT's (including a pick-6), 13 PD's and 37 tackles and instantly became our #1. In short, it was time to move on and create salary cap $ (for our core like CK, Aldon, Crabree and Iupati) and give the young guys a chance to shine/develop."

People that are ready to slit their wrists need to consider, can the above production (Rogers and Brown) be replaced? The resounding answer is HELL YES! Brock alone doubled up our two "starters" stats and he didn't start the whole year. A 7th rounder who was cut by us put up much better numbers on-the-fly with a new team as well. And now we're going to add 2 blue-chip CB's and develop a few more over the next year (i.e. like Cox, Brock, Culliver, Morris, Wright, etc.). Don't overlook Wright, Cooper, Morris, Swanson, etc. either.

At the end of the day, all we REALLY need is a #2 CB. That's it. Brock is clearly locked in as the #1. We already have our #3 and #4. It will be an epic battle for the #2 between Culliver (who can also play the slot like Rogers did) and Wright and Cooper and probably 2 blue-chip CB's. Whoever doesn't make the #2 will most likely be pushed down to the #3 and Cox already has the #4 locked up and could push hard for the #3.

So in short, chill out...watch it all unfold. We will soon have the youngest, quickest, fastest, strongest, most physical and most versatile CB's we've ever had during the Harbaugh era. Just the fact that these CB's have the ability to play both press and off-coverage is HUGE for Fangio's scheme. As a result, we should see many more contested passes, breakups, INT's, etc. TO's in the secondary the past 2 years have been very low.

And also, keep in mind, Brock, Cox, Wright and Morris are very well versed in our system as well. These are not rookies. They will have a large advantage over the rookies who do come in.

Originally posted by dtg_9er:
I don't disagree, but remember...these guys are really a young group! The two starters will likely have 7 years experience between them (Culliver and Brock). Wright and Cook are our wily veterans...7 and 5 years experience respectively. Morris is my hope for a third guy to cover the faster WRs. With a year under Donatell he may make a huge jump. Seriously, any of these guys could be pushed by a top flight draftee. So...I want three WRs and three CBs with our first three picks! They can play both ways!

i wonder if any wr, cb or safety we draft will have some sort of return skills in them or do the niners just retain james and hope he improves in the punt return game?

Originally posted by cciowa:

Originally posted by dtg_9er:
I don't disagree, but remember...these guys are really a young group! The two starters will likely have 7 years experience between them (Culliver and Brock). Wright and Cook are our wily veterans...7 and 5 years experience respectively. Morris is my hope for a third guy to cover the faster WRs. With a year under Donatell he may make a huge jump. Seriously, any of these guys could be pushed by a top flight draftee. So...I want three WRs and three CBs with our first three picks! They can play both ways!

i wonder if any wr, cb or safety we draft will have some sort of return skills in them or do the niners just retain james and hope he improves in the punt return game?

I have this as an absolute combo-need. Ideally, I'd like (ala John Taylor) a top notch WR or CB "with" dynamic (not serviceable) return abilities. It's been the one missing personnel issue for us the past 3 years now; and on the contrary, it's been the one thing every team we've lost to has had and it hurt us badly.

You know what would be fun...for all the peeps who are upset over the FA period...again...they should revisit the list of 2013 signings (FA's and trades: names plus $) and see how many panned out value-wise (grade them: original fan grade plus actual season's-end grade).

I would imagine someone like Boldin would get a grade of B- or C+ (original fan grade) but the overall grade would end up being an A+

FA and the draft is all about "value"...not "name."