ILB, Chris Borland, Wisconsin

Originally posted by LifelongNiner:

But shouldn't we have traded the Borland pick (along with the Aaron Lynch pick) to move up and get a number one receiver? Isn't that what Baalke should've done?

Glad to see people are finally coming around on the 2014 draft.

very *very* good point. I was one of those folks who wanted Mike Evans or maybe even the NY Giant's #1 WR pick. Glad I'm not the GM. Defense wins championships!

Originally posted by JoeBart324:

Originally posted by LifelongNiner:

But shouldn't we have traded the Borland pick (along with the Aaron Lynch pick) to move up and get a number one receiver? Isn't that what Baalke should've done?

Glad to see people are finally coming around on the 2014 draft.

To be fair, receiver was perceived as a very big weakness going into this season. In addition, linebacker was anything but a perceived weakness.

That being said, full credit needs to be given to Baalke for sticking to his drafting philosophy and taking the players he wanted. It's really proven to be a boon this year. Ward, Hyde, Lynch, Borland, all are making big contributions to this team.

Just my opinion, but I read an article (sorry no link) a long time ago in the off-season, I would say around January of this year before we played Seadderall in the NFC CG. Eddie was quoted in the article as saying he didn't want the team getting old around Colin, and I think Jed , Harbaugh, and Baalke listened to Eddie and when they couldn't get the top of the line WR, they sat back and used all their draft picks to get younger. What a nice 2014 draft so far. On top of the WR free agents!

Originally posted by Giedi:

Just my opinion, but I read an article (sorry no link) a long time ago in the off-season, I would say around January of this year before we played Seadderall in the NFC CG. Eddie was quoted in the article as saying he didn't want the team getting old around Colin, and I think Jed , Harbaugh, and Baalke listened to Eddie and when they couldn't get the top of the line WR, they sat back and used all their draft picks to get younger. What a nice 2014 draft so far. On top of the WR free agents!

Now we are going to work on getting some younger WR targets aside from Bruce and QP.

Originally posted by SnakePlissken:

I think the 49ers have an '86 Bears D next season.

Did you mean the '46 bear defense?

Borland is the Russel Wilson of Linebackers.

Overlooked in the draft b/c of height. From Wisconsin, and outplaying vets like crazy

Originally posted by m_brockalexander:

A perfect example of why you draft players based on their performance on the field, not their Combine numbers. Wish the Niners would have done the same with Jordan Mathews, Kelvin Benjamin, or another instant impact rookie WR.

Keep it up, Chris! This team is still in the playoff hunt because of you and the rest of your defensive mates.

I think the philosophy of this front office is to draft top of the line defensive talent, and work in good - moderately talented athletes - on the offense. I.e. they draft for defense and they will just use low round draft pics and free agents for offense. I think its for cap purposes. As much as I'd have liked a Mike Evans or an Odell Beckham, you can't go into the playoffs with a weak defense.

Originally posted by BrianGO:

Originally posted by fortyninerglory:
I'm sure this was brought up many a time but did you guys notice how eerily similar the goal line stand yesterday was to the Atlanta goal line stand last season?

The direction of the throw, the deflection in the air, the interception by a 49ers linebacker. The only thing missing was the 95 yd return for a td :P

Borland channelling his inner Bowman! And the announcers were correct in their assessment that the first interception by Borland was Patrick Willis'esque

It was Borland'esque. I have't seen Willis make an interception like that in a long time.

Willis had a spectacular diving interception of RW @ Seattle a few years back. Of course, we got destroyed in that game lolz.

Chris Borland's Madden Rating is a 90.

I guess you can say, things are getting pretty serious.

Originally posted by Giedi:

Originally posted by m_brockalexander:
A perfect example of why you draft players based on their performance on the field, not their Combine numbers. Wish the Niners would have done the same with Jordan Mathews, Kelvin Benjamin, or another instant impact rookie WR.

Keep it up, Chris! This team is still in the playoff hunt because of you and the rest of your defensive mates.

I think the philosophy of this front office is to draft top of the line defensive talent, and work in good - moderately talented athletes - on the offense. I.e. they draft for defense and they will just use low round draft pics and free agents for offense. I think its for cap purposes. As much as I'd have liked a Mike Evans or an Odell Beckham, you can't go into the playoffs with a weak defense.

Not sure they are that predictable. Baalke has supplied mid-level talent in free agency when necessary--DBs, LBs, WRs--but when he gets a chance to move for a guy he likes--Reid--he jumps. When there is no clear guy they want they sit back and take the BPA that would likely help the team--Borland, M Martin, Hyde, Thomas--then with the rest they scarf up guys others are avoiding for one reason or another, who may have talent beyond the spot.

This gives them a lot of latitude in what they are going to do. If a top WR had dropped into their lap I think they would have taken him after they filled their most pressing needs. But they traded for Johnson and had Lloyd lined up so they didn't have to worry about it.

Of course, when you have a million picks...hard to go wrong. 2012 resulted from having few picks and having to reach.

Originally posted by Imfasterthanur:
Chris Borland's Madden Rating is a 90.

I guess you can say, things are getting pretty serious.

but what's his speed rating, doe......

Looking back at past drafts, 2012 is the only bad draft after 2009 (a disaterous draft!). Baalke was director of player personnel in 2008-9, then promoted to VP of Personnel. Wonder how much influence Singletary had in 2008-9?

Originally posted by pdizo916:

Originally posted by Imfasterthanur:
Chris Borland's Madden Rating is a 90.

I guess you can say, things are getting pretty serious.

but what's his speed rating, doe......

still, that's got to be at least a 10 point bump since Madden was released

Steady, WZ, steady. Borland has been excellent for these past three games, for sure. But we can, and shouldn't, expect this crazy rate of production for every single game going forward. I just hope that the Zone doesn't turn on him if things go wrong for him on a play or two. Like when he got caked on the goal line against Denver. It will happen.
Also I am concerned about the wear and tear on his body with the costant pounding he's experiencing. He does apparently have a weak shoulder. I just hope it doesn't cause him to miss games this year. Especially at a crucial juncture. If he makes it to the off season OK, I'll be feeling a lot more secure for next season. Niners will then have the time to make sure, whatever the problem, it's addressed.

I was at the game and when we were waiting for the train back they were playing the Giants post-game analysis on the big screens outside the stadium, and one of the Giants analysts came out with "We need to look at how we are building our teams in the draft, where's our Borland?" - you can tell the the impact he's having when other team's homer analysts are asking why they can't find that kind of player in the draft!

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