So many unknown draft picks. | Page 3

theninermind · 2015-08-21T22:07:41-07:00

This season hinges on so many unknown draft picks that this is clearly Trent Baalke's magnum opus. If we win this year it means that Trent hit on the following draft picks: Joe Looney, Marcus Martin, Brandon Thomas, Carlos Hyde, Quentin Dial, Tank Carradine, Aaron Lynch, Nick Moody, and Keith Keaser. That's EIGHT unknown draft pick starters that have to hit in order for us to win. Otherwise known as a third of the starters. If they win, how is he not executive if the year? I didn't even mention the coach, an unknown.

Originally posted by Byisgod:
You know what's funny? Looking at that line-up, I actually feel confident in the team. That is, despite all the players we've lost this offseason, I still think this team has plenty of young talent and can do some serious damage once the regular season begins. Perhaps I'm in the minority, but I'm pretty optimistic, or, at the very least, I'm not pessimistic.

Agreed. If you spend time analyzing the roster and depth and the amount of playoff experienced veteran starters we have coupled with the experience so many young players got from last year d/t all the injuries, I think we stack up very well across the NFL with starters and depth (not so much 3rd stringers though). Almost every position has a veteran starter and most young players already have had significant time developing within our systems and all have big upside!

Originally posted by NCommand:
Great topic...let's take a look at how much we're REALLY going to rely on young players:

Offensive Personnel:
QB: Colin Kaepernick; Blaine Gabbert - No young guys here we need to rely on and Gabbert continues to grow/improve which is great news for us worried fans.
RB1: Carlos Hyde; Mike Davis - Mild concerns here but let's be honest too...Hyde's worked his tail off at learning to be a patient runner and on blitz pickup from Gore. He's ready. And now with a returned emphasis to runs inside as well as off tackle in the ZBS (Hyde's strength), I don't think too many fans are worried about the youth here. Davis already looks like some serious depth here as well. And Rathman coaches them...enough said!
RB2: Reggie Bush; Kendall Hunter & Jarryd Hayne - Tons of experience here and lots of upside for Hayne as well (as a pass catching back, short yardage and goal line and ST ace).
H-Back: Trey Millard - Here's a young one who adds tons of athleticism and security in case Miller were ever to go down again. But he's a package back so we won't lean on him too much at all.
TE: Vernon Davis; Vance McDonald & Blake Bell - You have the full package here...experience, speed, proven play making ability, catching, blocking and upside and Sporano coaching them all on their weaknesses (note catching reports on McDonald). No youth to rely on here.
FB: Bruce Miller; (Trey Millard) - Best veteran FB in the game with real depth now (first time ever).
X WR: Torrey Smith; Quinton Patton (Jerome Simpson) - zero youth here; lots of proven veteran experience.
Y WR (SLOT): Bruce Ellington; DeAndrew White - here is some youth but not inexperience with Ellington; White could also be electric in the slot as added depth. But again, we aren't relying too much on 3rd and 4th WR's given we'll stay centered around the short passing game, timely deep shots and running the ball and TOP.
Z WR: Anquan Boldin; Dres Anderson (DeAndre Smelter) - Big bro coaching up these two (esp. Baby Boldin) along with Henry? This could only be an issue if Boldin goes down with an injury and we have to rely on the young kids but most likely, Patton would slide over.
LOT: Joe Staley; (Alex Boone) - No youth here.
LG: Alex Boone; Jordan Devey - No youth here.
C: Joe Looney; (Marcus Martin & Daniel Kilgore) - Looney's settled in as the starter (looking good too) and certainly has some proven experience behind him in Kilgore and Martin (versatility).
RG: Brandon Thomas; Marcus Martin - Here we go! Here is a projected starter who is young and unproven and Thomas and Martin are going to battle this out until the end and perhaps against Tiller and Devey (proven starting veteran).
ROT: Erik Pears; Trenton Brown - No youth here we need to rely on unless Pears goes down. But even then, we most likely slide Boone over to RT and insert another proven veteran in Jordan Devey at LG.

Defensive Personnel:
RDE: Quinton Dial; Tank Carradine & Arik Armstead - Dial IMHO is already 'proven.' And now he's playing his natural end spot. Carradine shined the final 4 games he got to start. While both are younger player, they've been with us for a while now and year 3 and 4 is when DL players typically make a big jump esp. with more playing time and opportunities (see Okoye/Purcell this year as well). Anyone really worried about the DL, depth, rotation and specialty players?
NT: Ian Williams; (Glenn Dorsey & Quinton Dial) - No youth here.
LDE: Glenn Dorsey; Darnell Dockett - Certainly no youth here.
WILL: Ahmad Brooks; Eli Harold - All-pro but if Brooks does go down, We're going to be very young here very quickly (despite Eli's upside).
TED: Michael Wilhoite; Nick Moody - Veterans here as well.
MIKE: Navarro Bowman; Nick Bellore - No youth here either.
SAM: Aaron Lynch; Corey Lemonier - Lynch is another player I consider "proven" as well and Lemonier is decent depth at the SAM (no-pass rushing OLB).
RCB: Shareece Wright; Dontae Johnson & Kenneth Acker - Veteran + another "proven" young player in Johnson with tons of upside in Reaser and Acker. Again, not relying on youth here unless we choose to go that route with Reaser/Acker.
SLOT (S/CB): Jimmie Ward; Keith Reaser - Ward didn't get to fully establish himself in this role d/t injuries and Fangio playing to his weaknesses. But now Brock is sliding over and Wright also is a proven slot CB as well (maybe his best spot). In short, lots of competition here and we may end up having veterans here as well.
LCB: Tramaine Brock; (Dontae Johnson) - No youth here
FS: Eric Reid; L.J. McCray (Jimmie Ward) - No youth here unless Reid goes down but McCray and Ward have been developing for 2+ years and FS is a more ideal spot for Ward anyhow (playing to his strengths).
SS: Antoine Bethea; (Jaquiski Tartt) - No youth here unless Bethea goes down.
HYBRID (SS/ILB Robber on NICKEL/DIME): JaquiskiTartt - Youth reliant package NICKEL/DIME player. I get the impression McCray may also be learning this package position as well in case needed. McCray is an underrated stud IMHO. This position, at most, will be on the field in place of an ILB 60% of the time.

Special Teams:
LS: Kyle Nelson - No youth here
PK: Phil Dawson; (Bradley Pinion) - Certainly no youth here. LOL
P: Bradley Pinion - Rookie!

PR/KOR: Jarryd Hayne + Reggie Bush (Bruce Ellington & DeAndrew White) - Youth + Veteran

So in short, let's review the players you tabbed:
Joe Looney - Currently our starting C and looking great. Paved the way for 158 and 144 yards for Gore last year and looked very good against the Texans. I wouldn't label him as an unknown but I know what you mean.
Marcus Martin - I don't even think this guy starts anywhere on the OL but he got a lot of snaps last year and is in great shape and has worked really hard.
Brandon Thomas - Agreed, this one really is an unknown coming off the ACL and just starting to round into football shape again.
Carlos Hyde - We all know this one well; he's ready to be the workhorse.
Quentin Dial - Stud (not an unknown)
Tank Carradine - Rising stud and package interior pass rusher who can also be an every down RDE if needed
Aaron Lynch - proven (not an unknown) but needs avoid the sophomore slump
Nick Moody - backup
Keith Keaser - backup most likely

So really, only Brandon Thomas is an unknown and unproven talent. The rest are all backups pushing starters or knowns who are finally getting FT reps with plenty of depth and rotational players behind them.

Thoughts?

I think Reaser starts, and we still see a lot of Tartt, Ward and Acker on the field. I also hope we see some Harold out there.

and did Looney really play well at the end of last year? I wasn't really watching for him.