2014 Team Needs - Updates

NC and cciowa are the two man fan club of jon b

Originally posted by cciowa:
NC and cciowa are the two man fan club of jon b

Haha. After the film work provided by thl408, he's not near as poor as people thought esp. given he was given some low-% passing plays and played on-the-fly, so to speak. That said, the coaches should now know him and his skill set better and know how to utilize him esp. IF we do plan on expanding the offense. Use his ass in the RZ at least. With his size, you could even line him up in the TE positions or the slot to confuse defenses. He's an excellent blocker...could block-and-go at the LOS. Realistically, he is a longer shot but with the coaches familiarity with him, his comfort level with the playbook now and a full off season to just "play" vs. "think," there is always that chance that he and CK start building a solid chemistry and surprises everyone. Top draft picks are going to make it harder despite he, himself, being a former 1st rounder.

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by cciowa:
NC and cciowa are the two man fan club of jon b

Haha. After the film work provided by thl408, he's not near as poor as people thought esp. given he was given some low-% passing plays and played on-the-fly, so to speak. That said, the coaches should now know him and his skill set better and know how to utilize him esp. IF we do plan on expanding the offense. Use his ass in the RZ at least. With his size, you could even line him up in the TE positions or the slot to confuse defenses. He's an excellent blocker...could block-and-go at the LOS. Realistically, he is a longer shot but with the coaches familiarity with him, his comfort level with the playbook now and a full off season to just "play" vs. "think," there is always that chance that he and CK start building a solid chemistry and surprises everyone. Top draft picks are going to make it harder despite he, himself, being a former 1st rounder.

the comedy relief part of the two man jon b fan club agrees with everything in this post. i know you are all rolling out the shock and awe on that one

Originally posted by cciowa:

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by cciowa:
NC and cciowa are the two man fan club of jon b

Haha. After the film work provided by thl408, he's not near as poor as people thought esp. given he was given some low-% passing plays and played on-the-fly, so to speak. That said, the coaches should now know him and his skill set better and know how to utilize him esp. IF we do plan on expanding the offense. Use his ass in the RZ at least. With his size, you could even line him up in the TE positions or the slot to confuse defenses. He's an excellent blocker...could block-and-go at the LOS. Realistically, he is a longer shot but with the coaches familiarity with him, his comfort level with the playbook now and a full off season to just "play" vs. "think," there is always that chance that he and CK start building a solid chemistry and surprises everyone. Top draft picks are going to make it harder despite he, himself, being a former 1st rounder.

the comedy relief part of the two man jon b fan club agrees with everything in this post. i know you are all rolling out the shock and awe on that one

Oh you know I'm all about the dark horses...finding that gem or two. After all, we know what we have in everyone else and that's no fun. And some times, we end up being right too. Laugh with me cciowa!

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by cciowa:

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by cciowa:
NC and cciowa are the two man fan club of jon b

Haha. After the film work provided by thl408, he's not near as poor as people thought esp. given he was given some low-% passing plays and played on-the-fly, so to speak. That said, the coaches should now know him and his skill set better and know how to utilize him esp. IF we do plan on expanding the offense. Use his ass in the RZ at least. With his size, you could even line him up in the TE positions or the slot to confuse defenses. He's an excellent blocker...could block-and-go at the LOS. Realistically, he is a longer shot but with the coaches familiarity with him, his comfort level with the playbook now and a full off season to just "play" vs. "think," there is always that chance that he and CK start building a solid chemistry and surprises everyone. Top draft picks are going to make it harder despite he, himself, being a former 1st rounder.

the comedy relief part of the two man jon b fan club agrees with everything in this post. i know you are all rolling out the shock and awe on that one

Oh you know I'm all about the dark horses...finding that gem or two. After all, we know what we have in everyone else and that's no fun. And some times, we end up being right too. Laugh with me cciowa!

i to like going for the underdogs or the whipping boys on the zone,, that is why i really think jon b and eric wright will be great players for us. and that is why I am a big fan of craig dahl to. I have a big heart. I was also a fan of signing david boston so keep that in mind when you assess my credibility

I wanna know when the team is going to address a real need: the need to get rid of Adam Snyder!

And replace him with the next Guy McIntire. Looking at some of those gifs posted in threads by Jonnydel really shows Snyder missing on key blocks. What good is his knowledge of the playbook if he can't execute when he's in there?

Seems like there are plenty of OTs (Staley, Davis, Martin, Boone, etc.), but really need an interior lineman with some moxie, some nastiness to him.

Kilgore the answer? I hope so. And another hard nosed, athletic, strong and fast interior lineman is needed to sub in. Looney? How did Snyder beat either Kilgore or Looney for playing time last year? This draft should tell us something about Kilgore's and Looney's future. IMHO

Originally posted by oldninerdude:
I wanna know when the team is going to address a real need: the need to get rid of Adam Snyder!

And replace him with the next Guy McIntire. Looking at some of those gifs posted in threads by Jonnydel really shows Snyder missing on key blocks. What good is his knowledge of the playbook if he can't execute when he's in there?

Seems like there are plenty of OTs (Staley, Davis, Martin, Boone, etc.), but really need an interior lineman with some moxie, some nastiness to him.

Kilgore the answer? I hope so. And another hard nosed, athletic, strong and fast interior lineman is needed to sub in. Looney? How did Snyder beat either Kilgore or Looney for playing time last year? This draft should tell us something about Kilgore's and Looney's future. IMHO

Yes, that's a good one, indeed! Looney (sub'd in at RG for Boone) seemed to be the guy for sure until playoff time, in a pinch and naturally, the coaching staff went with the two veterans, Snyder and Rogers. Fail. I do like Looney's nastiness...thl408 also watched the film of him playing RG and he noticed the same...he doesn't stop blocking until the whistle (and a bit afterwards pissing off a few defenders).

It sounds like Martin is going to be a swing T and work in at G as well. Seymour is another guy I heard some from late last year. Also, T Luke Marquardt seems to have some serious upside as well. But in the end, I think we'll be looking at an interior lineman as well, potentially a C/G like Marcus Martin.

Originally posted by cciowa:
i to like going for the underdogs or the whipping boys on the zone,, that is why i really think jon b and eric wright will be great players for us. and that is why I am a big fan of craig dahl to. I have a big heart. I was also a fan of signing david boston so keep that in mind when you assess my credibility

You picked two I did as well as potentially surprising some in NT. Craig Dahl, David Boston? Hey, we can't win 'em all. LOL

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by cciowa:
NC and cciowa are the two man fan club of jon b

Haha. After the film work provided by thl408, he's not near as poor as people thought esp. given he was given some low-% passing plays and played on-the-fly, so to speak. That said, the coaches should now know him and his skill set better and know how to utilize him esp. IF we do plan on expanding the offense. Use his ass in the RZ at least. With his size, you could even line him up in the TE positions or the slot to confuse defenses. He's an excellent blocker...could block-and-go at the LOS. Realistically, he is a longer shot but with the coaches familiarity with him, his comfort level with the playbook now and a full off season to just "play" vs. "think," there is always that chance that he and CK start building a solid chemistry and surprises everyone. Top draft picks are going to make it harder despite he, himself, being a former 1st rounder.

You both may be correct about Jon...but I want to see the niner WRs excelling, not showing potential. I realize that we may not see this in a JH offense...but until we do I hate all of our WRs...JK! PLEASE! Jonny...be good!

Bill Polian just made three very interesting points on how Seattle's defense will change/affect the draft (copy-cat league):
1. He said they moved the 5-technique, the DE's who played within the blocks well but weren't good pass rushers, they put him above the TE and asked him to stuff the run. They created a position for that player.
2. They took the Leo End (the Robert Mathis), a guy who's 235-240 pounds and played him at the 7 or 9-technique, with the 5 opposite him, and let him be the designated pass rusher.
3. He said the most important thing they did though was how they used the big, long, man-to-man press CB. "Mug the receivers." He said that will be a position of influence among NFL rules this year (yeah right).

Things to think about with Baalke. All of the CB's we've shown listed interest in, have been at least 6'. Pass rushers? New design of the defense (i.e. ore single-high FS and press coverage)?

Good information for you last minute mock-makers:

San Francisco 49ers First-round spot: 30 » 49ers' 2014 draft picks | Draft history

The 49ers are loaded at virtually every position group, but -- despite already possessing Anquan Boldin and Michael Crabtree -- could use a receiver that can stretch the field vertically. Defensive line might also be an area addressed in the offseason given that productive, yet aging, defensive lineman Justin Smith can't play forever.

Jason Verrett, CB, TCU May 1: Mayock can see Verrett as 49ers' 1st-round pick NFL Media draft analyst Mike Mayock said during a teleconference that "I still believe (the 49ers will) trade up and target a cornerback or wideout." If the 49ers remain at No. 30 in the first round, Mayock said Verrett (5-foot-9 1/2, 189 pounds) could be the selection. He is the shortest of the top five corners, but that means he also could be the only one of the top quintet still available at No. 30. Verrett would be "by far the best value you can talk about at that point," Mayock said.

Odell Beckham, WR, LSU May 1: Report: LSU WR is a 49ers target The 49ers traded up last year to land a player from LSU in the first round. The same plan could be unfolding this year. This year, the object of their affection could be Beckham. The Niners are "very interested" in Beckham, a source told The San Francisco Chronicle. Beckham is considered a certain first-round pick.

David Fales, QB, San Jose State April 26: Harbaugh: Fales a top-five QB Fales worked out at the 49ers' team facility Friday with other local prospects. Most consider him a third-day pick and have concerns about his arm strength, but Harbaugh said he liked what he saw from Fales, especially his throwing motion and his accuracy on deep passes. The team recently traded for Blaine Gabbert to be their No. 2 quarterback behind starter Colin Kaepernick, but Fales could be an option in the later rounds.

Cody Latimer, WR, Indiana April 26: 49ers WR coach, Latimer met after workout Latimer put in a 16-minute workout for 25 teams Friday, but afterward spent 90 minutes with 49ers WR coach John Morton going over the San Francisco playbook, according to NFL Media senior analyst Gil Brandt. Latimer is one of the fastest-rising prospects in the draft, with some projecting him to be a late-first-round pick. Brandt reported that 10 wide receivers coaches attended Latimer's workout.

Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, OT, McGill University (Canada) April 24: Canadian prospect to meet with 49ers Duvernay-Tardif (6-foot-5, 310 pounds) is an intriguing Canadian prospect who has his own website. He is a medical student and his academic pursuits led to his college coaches reducing his practice time. He played well in the East-West Shrine Game in January but was not invited to the combine. He is athletic but raw and needs to better learn the nuances of the position. He is more advanced as a run blocker than as a pass blocker and plays with a mean streak. Duvernay-Tardif looks to be a third-day draft pick. The 49ers have one pick each in the fourth and fifth rounds, zero in the sixth and three in the seventh.

Aaron Lynch, DE, USF April 22: Underachieving DE meets with 49ers Lynch (6-foot-5, 249 pounds) didn't do all that much in his one season at USF after transferring from Notre Dame, where he played well as a true freshman in 2011. Lynch is athletic, has good size and has flashed pass-rush skills, but he was inconsistent at USF and has had maturity issues since he was in high school. While he was an end in college, he should be able to handle the move to a 3-4 outside linebacker. He remains an interesting third-day prospect because of his size and athleticism. The 49ers have one pick each in the fourth and fifth rounds, zero in the sixth and three in the seventh. With Aldon Smith's future in question, the 49ers could be in the market for two pass rushers in this draft.

C.J. Fiedorowicz, TE, Iowa April 21: Fiedorowicz visiting 49ers Fiedorowicz (6-foot-5½, 265 pounds) might be the best of the second-tier tight ends (behind a top four of Eric Ebron, Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Jace Amaro and Troy Niklas). Fiedorowicz was underutilized at Iowa, but he has excellent size, good hands, has shown an ability to get deep and can be a physical blocker. Still, he finished his career with only 91 catches, and it's tough to truly project him as a big-time receiving threat. In addition, the 49ers wouldn't seem to be in the market for another tight end. Fiedorowicz seems likely to go in the third or fourth round. The 49ers have three picks in the third round; if they truly like him, they also have two in the second round, with both coming late in the round.

Seantrel Henderson, OT, Miami April 18: Boom-or-bust OT met with 49ers Henderson (6-foot-7, 331 pounds) has great size and is an excellent athlete, but he had a checkered career at Miami and never came close to living up to his potential. Henderson might be at the very top of the "buyer beware" list in this draft. He has the potential to be a dominant lineman, but he also could be a wasted draft pick. While his upside would mean taking him on the second day, his lack of production and baggage should mean he is a third-day pick at best. The 49ers have one pick each in the fourth and fifth rounds, zero in the sixth and three in the seventh.

Matt Patchan, OT, Boston College April 17: Potential backup OT visited with 49ers Patchan (6-foot-6, 302 pounds) had a star-crossed six-season college career, but he's an athletic big man with a mean streak and an upside. He's a third-day pick, but are the 49ers looking for a backup tackle? They already have two high-level starters (Anthony Davis and Joe Staley) and acquired Jonathan Martin from Miami in March.

Aaron Colvin, CB, Oklahoma April 16: Injured CB meets with 49ers Colvin (5-foot-11, 178 pounds) tore the ACL in his right knee at a Reese's Senior Bowl practice, but he still is seen as a third-day pick. He played both corner and safety with the Sooners, and despite a lack of bulk, he is active in run support. San Francisco drafted two players in 2013 who were coming off knee injuries, defensive end Cornellius Carradine and running back Marcus Lattimore, and might think it's worth taking a chance on Colvin to add depth at corner. Colvin also has visited New Orleans and Philadelphia. possibility.

Demarcus Lawrence, DE, Boise State April 14: 49ers meeting with Aldon Smith replacement? There's a lot of buzz around Lawrence (6-foot-3, 251 pounds) of late, and he is seen by some analysts as a candidate to potentially sneak into the end of the first round. While he held up relatively well against the run at Boise State, Lawrence's main selling point is his pass-rushing ability, which seemingly means a move to outside linebacker in the NFL. He had a combined 20 sacks and 34 tackles for loss in 2012 and '13 at Boise State. Lawrence left Boise State after his junior season, and played at a junior college before signing with the Broncos. The Sacramento Bee reported that the visit was set up before Sunday's arrest of 49ers pass-rusher deluxe Aldon Smith, but Smith's situation could lead to San Francisco taking a pass rusher in the first round. The 49ers pick 30th overall, which seemingly now is in line with where Lawrence could go. At the least, he should be off the board by the end of the second round.

Storm Johnson, RB, UCF April 10: 49ers to host visit for UCF RB Johnson Johnson (6-foot, 209 pounds) was a key player for a UCF team that went 12-1 and beat Baylor in the Fiesta Bowl. He is seen by most analysts as a third-day pick, but he is a solid all-around back and some teams could think he is worthy of a third-round selection. While he's not a burner, he has enough speed to turn the corner and also is effective between the tackles. In addition, Johnson -- who began his career at Miami before transferring -- is a good receiver (30 receptions in 2013). The 49ers are deep at running back, though, and it would be somewhat of a surprise if they drafted him.

Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M April 2: Harbaugh: 'I'd welcome challenge of taking Manziel' Sometimes, a coach who would have no conceivable need for a particular player is far more willing to speak his mind about him. For example, 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh's take on Manziel. "I'd welcome the challenges of taking Johnny Manziel," Harbaugh said. "(He) sees the field like nobody I've ever seen see the field in college football. You'd love to work with that."

Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson March 29: Jeremiah: Niners have ammo to target Watkins The Niners have a need for an explosive wide receiver, and with the 30th pick, Brandin Cooks and Marqise Lee are two possible targets. But with six picks in the first three rounds, NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah says they have the ammunition to trade up and target a "difference maker" like Watkins, who is projected to go no later than the No. 7 pick in NFL.com's latest mock drafts. Should the Niners stay put, Jeremiah also names linebacker Ryan Shazier as a possibility, with NaVorro Bowman sidelined with a knee injury.

March 19: 49ers' Harbaugh at Virginia Tech's pro day 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh attended Virginia Tech's pro day, where he could have been following cornerbacks Antone Exum and Kyle Fuller, defensive end James Gayle and quarterback Logan Thomas.

Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M March 5: 49ers meet with Evans Evans has talked to the 49ers, who might be on the lookout for playmaking receivers in the draft. However, Evans also believes that he will be a top-10 draft pick -- recent mock drafts on NFL.com have Evans going anywhere from No. 9 to No. 13. That would require the 49ers -- who own the No. 30 overall pick in the first round -- to make an aggressive move up via a trade.

Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, Eastern Illinois March 4: Garoppolo has private workout with Harbaugh San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh was at Northwestern's pro day, reportedly to watch Eastern Illinois QB Jimmy Garoppolo in a private workout. Garoppolo, who is Mike Mayock's No. 5-rated quarterback, was at Northwestern's pro day because Eastern Illinois did not have its own event. The 49ers currently have only two quarterbacks on their roster -- starter Colin Kaepernick and McLeod Bethel-Thompson. They have the 30th pick in the first round.

Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Florida State Feb. 24: 49ers prefer players with long arms The 49ers take some of the measureables from the NFL Scouting Combine seriously, notably the length of a player's arms, The Sacramento Bee reports. Four of the team's draft picks in 2013 had arms 34 inches or longer, and the team's first-round pick -- Eric Reid -- had 33 5/8-inch arms (longest among safeties in the 2013 draft class). With a need at wide receiver, Benjamin (34 7/8-inch arms) could be in play for the team's No. 30 overall selection.


http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000324499/article/nfc-west-draft-winds-rumors-connecting-players-nfl-teams

Originally posted by DeUh:

Originally posted by NCommand:
This is interesting. I see that he's 5'9" 187 and runs a 4.36. Does he have return abilities? Can he work the slot? Take the top off once in a while?

Yes he is another one who I have an eye on. I recently had a little discussion with IdahoNiner about him who thinks that he has no business on a 53 man roster. I personally never saw him play so I´m not sure.

Here is what I could find

Devon Wylie 5´9 187
40 Yrd Dash 4.36
10 Yrd Dash 1.52
Bench 17
Vertical 39
Broad 10´03"
20 Yrd Shuttle N/A Pro day 4.16
3-Cone Drill N/A Pro day 6.82

2011 Punt return avg. 15.4 yrds

Scout Report from CBS Sports

Positives: Has a compact built and frame to beat the jam. Good burst after one or two steps. Shows exaggerated movements on jerk routes and the ability to quickly adjust to throws. Fights through trash well and is not afraid to take a hit in the middle of the field. Hits top speed immediately after the catch. A dynamic player from the slot and in the return game with experience on the outside.

Weaknesses: Wylie tends to run around contact at the line and struggles to win contested catches that force him to leave his feet. Has lapses in concentration that lead to drops on easy catches. He lacks an open-field wiggle, preferring to outrun defenders rather than making them miss in short areas. Routes can get rounded when facing bigger corners. Drifts a bit in soft zones. Disappeared in a few games as a senior and missed most of the 2010 season with a foot injury.

Originally posted by crake49:
He sure looks explosive in those highlights - real quick, real fast and turns on a dime. He also has an aggressive running style and he looks like he has good hands. When I look at that guy playing, I really don't know why anyone could be sure he doesn't belong on an NFL field.

I just found an old scouting report from OnTheClock about Devon Wylie for the 2012 draft in the DraftWarRoom.

" When you watch Wylie, you can't help but see a ton of Wes Welker in him. Another comparison is Danny Amendola, who gave teams fits. Only difference is Wylie can return kicks, and very well. That ability to get open underneath is special. Blessed with impressive quickness, balance, and speed, Devon is still far from a polished receiver, but his outstanding ST's ability (2 PR for TD this year) and ease of separating from defenders purely based on his talent make him a big-time potential late round steal. It's possible he could go much sooner, especially after an incredibly impressive East-West Shrine week where he was swarmed by scouts wanting to get to known him better, but if he's here, the 49ers could have a hard time passing on the local product. "

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by oldninerdude:

I wanna know when the team is going to address a real need: the need to get rid of Adam Snyder!

And replace him with the next Guy McIntire. Looking at some of those gifs posted in threads by Jonnydel really shows Snyder missing on key blocks. What good is his knowledge of the playbook if he can't execute when he's in there?

Seems like there are plenty of OTs (Staley, Davis, Martin, Boone, etc.), but really need an interior lineman with some moxie, some nastiness to him.

Kilgore the answer? I hope so. And another hard nosed, athletic, strong and fast interior lineman is needed to sub in. Looney? How did Snyder beat either Kilgore or Looney for playing time last year? This draft should tell us something about Kilgore's and Looney's future. IMHO

Yes, that's a good one, indeed! Looney (sub'd in at RG for Boone) seemed to be the guy for sure until playoff time, in a pinch and naturally, the coaching staff went with the two veterans, Snyder and Rogers. Fail. I do like Looney's nastiness...thl408 also watched the film of him playing RG and he noticed the same...he doesn't stop blocking until the whistle (and a bit afterwards pissing off a few defenders).

It sounds like Martin is going to be a swing T and work in at G as well. Seymour is another guy I heard some from late last year. Also, T Luke Marquardt seems to have some serious upside as well. But in the end, I think we'll be looking at an interior lineman as well, potentially a C/G like Marcus Martin.

Looney also seems to have the athletic ability (his 40 time at the combine was half a second--.5--FASTER than deCastro's! If he's got the right attitude and (by now) knows the scheme and his assignments, there's no reason he shouldn't step up.

I still think they will draft OL in the later rounds, looking for that hidden gem to develop for the future.

And hopefully it's the last we see of Snyder.

Originally posted by oldninerdude:
Looney also seems to have the athletic ability (his 40 time at the combine was half a second--.5--FASTER than deCastro's! If he's got the right attitude and (by now) knows the scheme and his assignments, there's no reason he shouldn't step up.

I still think they will draft OL in the later rounds, looking for that hidden gem to develop for the future.

And hopefully it's the last we see of Snyder.

Laurent Duvernay-Tardif OT/OG McGill

Originally posted by DeUh:

Originally posted by DeUh:

Originally posted by NCommand:
This is interesting. I see that he's 5'9" 187 and runs a 4.36. Does he have return abilities? Can he work the slot? Take the top off once in a while?

Yes he is another one who I have an eye on. I recently had a little discussion with IdahoNiner about him who thinks that he has no business on a 53 man roster. I personally never saw him play so I´m not sure.

Here is what I could find

Devon Wylie 5´9 187
40 Yrd Dash 4.36
10 Yrd Dash 1.52
Bench 17
Vertical 39
Broad 10´03"
20 Yrd Shuttle N/A Pro day 4.16
3-Cone Drill N/A Pro day 6.82

2011 Punt return avg. 15.4 yrds

Scout Report from CBS Sports

Positives: Has a compact built and frame to beat the jam. Good burst after one or two steps. Shows exaggerated movements on jerk routes and the ability to quickly adjust to throws. Fights through trash well and is not afraid to take a hit in the middle of the field. Hits top speed immediately after the catch. A dynamic player from the slot and in the return game with experience on the outside.

Weaknesses: Wylie tends to run around contact at the line and struggles to win contested catches that force him to leave his feet. Has lapses in concentration that lead to drops on easy catches. He lacks an open-field wiggle, preferring to outrun defenders rather than making them miss in short areas. Routes can get rounded when facing bigger corners. Drifts a bit in soft zones. Disappeared in a few games as a senior and missed most of the 2010 season with a foot injury.

Originally posted by crake49:
He sure looks explosive in those highlights - real quick, real fast and turns on a dime. He also has an aggressive running style and he looks like he has good hands. When I look at that guy playing, I really don't know why anyone could be sure he doesn't belong on an NFL field.

I just found an old scouting report from OnTheClock about Devon Wylie for the 2012 draft in the DraftWarRoom.

" When you watch Wylie, you can't help but see a ton of Wes Welker in him. Another comparison is Danny Amendola, who gave teams fits. Only difference is Wylie can return kicks, and very well. That ability to get open underneath is special. Blessed with impressive quickness, balance, and speed, Devon is still far from a polished receiver, but his outstanding ST's ability (2 PR for TD this year) and ease of separating from defenders purely based on his talent make him a big-time potential late round steal. It's possible he could go much sooner, especially after an incredibly impressive East-West Shrine week where he was swarmed by scouts wanting to get to known him better, but if he's here, the 49ers could have a hard time passing on the local product. "

Whoaaaa. We haven't had that speed in the return game since Ginn's @ 4.28 (probably 4.3's with us). He looks VERY natural returning kicks (zero hesitation) and he's elusive as well. And then in the slot, he looks as quick as fast and catches it in traffic.

Too bad we added him so late esp. with his real NFL experience. I'd take him right now over James returning kicks. Clearly, we didn't want to lose him or Okoye. That may mean something THIS year.

December 11th, 2013:

The Kansas City Chiefs originally drafted Wylie in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft. Following the draft, Arrowhead Pride took a look at six questions in connection with Wylie. They viewed him as a slot receiver and return man, with special teams being his primary value. As a rookie, Wylie appeared in six games. During that time he recorded six receptions for 53 yards, and also added nine kickoff returns for 191 yards and five punt returns for 26 yards.

The Chiefs released Wylie after final roster cuts, which AP considered a mild surprise. Wylie was a fourth round pick, but it is worth noting that 2013 featured a new general manager and coach, so they weren't exactly locked in to him. After his release, he spent time as a member of practice squads for the Arizona Cardinals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans and Seattle Seahawks. He was activated by the Titans to the team's 53-man roster on November 12, and saw playing time in two games, tallying five kickoff returns for 94 yards and two punt returns for four yards. He also had a critical fumble in the Titans 30-27 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.

and...

January 21st, 2014, 5:02p 46 Peter Aiken

The San Francisco 49ers took care of some business to start this week, signing six players to reserve/future contracts. We break down what it means.
The San Francisco 49ers had a few transactions become official earlier today. The NFL transaction wire came out and it listed several reserve/future contracts. The 49ers have announced these deals, but the NFL transaction wire indicates they are official. The 49ers signed the following players to reserve/future contracts:

OT Carter Bykowski
WR Chuck Jacobs
OT Al Netter
DT Mike Purcell
DB Dax Swanson
WR Devon Wylie

Earlier today, I wrote about how Matt Barrows reported Devon Wylie and Lawrence Okoye had signed reserve/future contracts. As was pointed out in the comments, the Okoye signing does not seem to make sense. He signed a three-year contract as an undrafted free agent, and then was waived/injured before the season started. He was not claimed, and with no injury settlement he reverted to injured reserve. I would think he remains on his three-year contract, but I'm not 100 percent certain. Either way, he will be around this offseason.

The group above includes six of the eight members of the 49ers practice squad when the season ended. The only players not signed to new deals are QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson and RB Jewel Hampton. McBLT is apparently in discussions with the team about another contract. I could see him coming back to compete in training camp, but I also suspect the 49ers invest a little more in the backup quarterback position.

Of the six players signed to reserve/future contracts, Chuck Jacobs intrigues me as much as anybody. He showed some great things in preseason action, but of course, it happened late in games. We don't know what the 49ers have planned at the wide receiver position, but Jacobs will get his opportunities. As it currently stands, the 49ers wide receivers under contract include Michael Crabtree, Quinton Patton, Jon Baldwin, Chuck Jacobs, Devon Wylie and Brandon Carswell (IR).

Everyone seems to want that speedy slot WR with dynamic return (HUGE NEED FOR US) abilities...some even want us to move UP in the draft for this position.

Well...did Baalke find a gem here? Let's watch closely on this one. Well done DeUh!