2016 Team Information (Needs)

Originally posted by SofaKing:
My top 5 (technically 6) needs:

1a. Quarterback
1b. Pass Rushers
2. Pass catchers
3. NT
4. ILB depth
5. D-line depth

Yeah, the needs are pretty easy to figure out this year with or without knowing who the HC/OC/DC will be.

Originally posted by Zachary13White:
every time I open an article then see it was written by Grant it makes me mad that I even clicked on it. that guy doesn't know JACK. He's almost as bad as Heath "I got CTE" Evans

Originally posted by SofaKing:
And he changes the narrative on a daily basis. One day he's trashing the team, the next all of a sudden he's overall optimistic. Its weird. He's way too generous in the evaluation of the roster in that article.

Can't stand him either...there's about 10% you can pull from his stuff that is both pretty accurate and insightful.

Originally posted by NCommand:
Happy Holidays to everyone in the Niner family.

Playing off this article by Aaron Erickson: http://www.49erswebzone.com/commentary/1631-planning-rebuild-what-pieces-keep/, who should we build upon for next year? Who are our core players (for the next 3-5 years)? Our bridge players? Our depth? Our Specialists? Key role players? These are the questions the new or old coaching staff will have to determine before they attack free agency and the draft. Naturally, with each year, many of these players will be upgraded but this is what I have as of 'right now.'

Bridge Players: --- 1
QB: Colin Kaepernick, Christian Ponder or Thad Lewis.

--- Obviously, everything hinges on who our HC will be and the system and philosophy they subscribe to but much also hinges on our own FO's decision on whether or not to move on from Kaepernick or Kaepernick himself, choosing to move on. Either way, we're going to need a veteran bridge QB. Lewis knows Kelly's system and now, Ponder has had a full year in the system as well. In doing my projection project, Kelly does seem to get similar production from any NFL QB he works with. My guestimate is this may bode well for a rookie QB starting in 2017 as long as Hyde and the OL stay in tact.
--- *Colin Kaepernick is currently on pace to throw for 3,512 passing yards, 26TD's & 6 INT's over a 16-game span under Kelly's system. That's well below in yards but close in TD's to his counterparts in Philly. He's currently on pace to have a 55% completion percentage with an 87 QBR. He's also on pace to take 44 sacks. (8 games; prior to the L.A. Rams game)

Core Players: --- 17
RB1: Carlos Hyde
TE: Vance McDonald
Y WR (SLOT): Jeremy Kerley
Z WR (RIGHT): Torrey Smith
LOT: Joe Staley
C: Zane Beadles
RG: Joshua Garnett
ROT: Trenton Brown
RDE: DeForest Bucker
NT: Ian Williams
LDE: Arik Armstead
MIKE: Navarro Bowman
SAM: Aaron Lynch
RCB: Jimmie Ward
SLOT (S/CB): Will Redmond
LCB: Rashard Robinson
S: Eric Reid

--- Carlos Hyde was on pace for 1,278 & 12 TD's, Vance McDonald 679 & 7 TD's and Jeremy Kerley (647 yard pace) and that's it on skill positions. Jeremy is only 28. We all know Torrey has proven potential and was massively underutilized. Staley still has at least 3 more years in him and he may be moved to RT soon (we saw Trenton Brown take snaps at LT yesterday). Also, Beadles is only 30 and as bright as he is (per Staley), this could end up being a Jonathan Goodwin-type signing. I'd like to see him stay there and push Kilgore to depth. Garnett & Brown are certainly young building blocks especially if we move back to power with 2-back sets, blocking TE's and extra OL blockers and adding a FB again. Andrew Tiller is another young player who could be a core starter if we move to power again.
--- DeForest Bucker & Arik Armstead are both key building blocks and we're all praying Ian Williams can return to 100% after off season surgery and rehab. That obviously leads us to Navarro Bowman, Aaron Lynch, Jimmie Ward & Rashard Robinson. While all of these players have flashed and will be ID'd by any coaching staff as core building blocks, they all face similar challenges in staying healthy to reach their full potential. I hesitate to add Will Redmond & Eric Reid to this list as we've yet to see Redmond 100% despite his upside and Eric Reid, while coaches seem to love this guy, is certainly not the play maker we'd like/need.

Depth Players: --- 20
X WR (LEFT): Rod Streater, DeAndre Smelter & Eric Rogers
Y WR (SLOT): Aaron Burbridge & Bruce Ellington
Z WR (RIGHT): Quinton Patton & Chris Harper
LG: Andrew Tiller
C: Daniel Kilgore & Alex Balducci
ROT: John Theus
LDE: Quinton Dial & Chris Jones
NT: Glenn Dorsey
WILL: Eli Harold
MIKE: Gerald Hodges
SAM: Ahmad Brooks
RCB: Tramaine Brock
LCB: Dontae Johnson
SS: Antoine Bethea

--- Really a mixed bag here of former starters, aged veterans, potential quality starters depending on the scheme/philosophy, some unknowns and major question marks, etc.

Role Players: --- 10
RB2: Shaun Draughn & DuJuan Harris
M/TE: Garrett Celek & Blake Bell
LDE: Ronald Blair
MIKE: Nick Bellore
TED: Ray-Ray Armstrong
SLOT (S/CB): Keith Reaser & Chris Davis
HYBRID S/ILB: Jaquiski Tartt

--- Celek seems to be a nice inline blocker and RZ target but "meh" the rest of the way. Bell showed flashes but again, can't stay on the field. Harris is tremendous as a pass catcher but was only used in 3 games this year. Draughn could be upgraded. Blair and Ray-Ray could be great nickel/dime players and the same goes for Reaser, Davis and Tartt. Tartt has had a couple decent games as a starting SS but he still seems to be too raw and lacks basic fundamentals to become a true SS (vision, proper angles, mental, form tackling, etc.).

Specialist: --- 4
LS: Kyle Nelson
PK: Phil Dawson
P: Bradley Pinion
PR/KOR: Jeremy Kerley
Coverage: Aaron Burbridge, Nick Bellore, Dontae Johnson, Quinton Patton, Keith Reaser, Blake Bell, etc.

--- Nelson and Pinion are locks but outside that, we certainly need a younger Dawson and a dynamic and reliable returner.

To play off of what Louis Riddick is noting here...he isn't noting the entire roster needs to be overhauled; he's saying there will have to be major overhaul at the most important positions in QB, edge rusher, ZWR, NT, ILB and maybe CB or S.

"Obviously, philosophical alignment and personal relations are going to be big here because, one, it's a massive overhaul that this roster needs to undergo at some very, very, very important positions," Riddick said Sunday on "NFL Insiders."

Terrific information on team needs, so this will focus on QB ONLY, our unquestionable #1 need. Closely behind are NT, pass-rushers, LBs, WR.

So previously we have noted we need a QB who :

1 Has good fundamentals
2 can make reads quickly
3 Can go thru his receivers rotations quickly
4 is Accurate

AND

1 Has started 3 yrs or more
2 Has led his team to major bowl wins.
3 Is well known for studying film and is a student of the game.
4 Is well liked by teammates and he is a natural leader.
5 Must be mature, well beyond his yrs.
6 Is devoted to football, has no interest in political protest. This is not one we would ever have had in times past, but that has changed now.
7 Graduates with his class

Find that guy and then he is a lock as our pick. It does however, cut out a huge majority of QB candidates, leaving somewhere between none and only 1 or 2. Some yrs no QB will qualify...which means we have to act accordingly, and may not get our FR QB in certain yrs. Also note nowhere is being able to throw the ball 90 yds in the air a prerequisite .

For NT, WR, ILB, OLB, C, CB, RB we really need impact players, but may have to settle with starters, not necessarily impact starters. The other thing is there are some prerequisites for QB that overlap for these other position needs.

1. Graduating, and with his class.
2. Recognized as a leader by his peers.
3 Been to and won Bowl Games.
4 has the good fundamentals for his position
5 Is good at studying film and is a student of the game
6 Must be mature and NOT one to become a protester.
7 Takes coaching well.

Those aren't the positions we need, but rather the qualifications of the players we need at the postions noted above. Until the Kap events that have occurred over the last few yrs, these requirements wouldn't have been anywhere near as important....and MATURITY is one of the most important. Also these are just some of the qualifications we need in players at the positions we obviously need. The point is we need to consider a lot more than "how far can a college kid throw a football?" That has cost us dearly over the last 4 -6 yrs and is a mistake we cannot afford to repeat. Had suggestions such as these been part of the screening process for FAs and draftees , maybe we would be in a lot better shape than this past 4-6 yrs. Also, having NON football people as part of this selection process is a fool's errand. IF Jed continues to use paraag as his advisor, then we have a bleak future ahead. Somewhere , sometime, Jed is going to realize that decisions like this require top flite football people to be in charge of picking our players, GM and HC.. Sadly, we aren't there yet. But there is always hope he eventually will get it.

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by NCommand:
Happy Holidays to everyone in the Niner family.

Playing off this article by Aaron Erickson: http://www.49erswebzone.com/commentary/1631-planning-rebuild-what-pieces-keep/, who should we build upon for next year? Who are our core players (for the next 3-5 years)? Our bridge players? Our depth? Our Specialists? Key role players? These are the questions the new or old coaching staff will have to determine before they attack free agency and the draft. Naturally, with each year, many of these players will be upgraded but this is what I have as of 'right now.'

Bridge Players: --- 1
QB: Colin Kaepernick, Christian Ponder or Thad Lewis.

--- Obviously, everything hinges on who our HC will be and the system and philosophy they subscribe to but much also hinges on our own FO's decision on whether or not to move on from Kaepernick or Kaepernick himself, choosing to move on. Either way, we're going to need a veteran bridge QB. Lewis knows Kelly's system and now, Ponder has had a full year in the system as well. In doing my projection project, Kelly does seem to get similar production from any NFL QB he works with. My guestimate is this may bode well for a rookie QB starting in 2017 as long as Hyde and the OL stay in tact.
--- *Colin Kaepernick is currently on pace to throw for 3,512 passing yards, 26TD's & 6 INT's over a 16-game span under Kelly's system. That's well below in yards but close in TD's to his counterparts in Philly. He's currently on pace to have a 55% completion percentage with an 87 QBR. He's also on pace to take 44 sacks. (8 games; prior to the L.A. Rams game)

Core Players: --- 17
RB1: Carlos Hyde
TE: Vance McDonald
Y WR (SLOT): Jeremy Kerley
Z WR (RIGHT): Torrey Smith
LOT: Joe Staley
C: Zane Beadles
RG: Joshua Garnett
ROT: Trenton Brown
RDE: DeForest Bucker
NT: Ian Williams
LDE: Arik Armstead
MIKE: Navarro Bowman
SAM: Aaron Lynch
RCB: Jimmie Ward
SLOT (S/CB): Will Redmond
LCB: Rashard Robinson
S: Eric Reid

--- Carlos Hyde was on pace for 1,278 & 12 TD's, Vance McDonald 679 & 7 TD's and Jeremy Kerley (647 yard pace) and that's it on skill positions. Jeremy is only 28. We all know Torrey has proven potential and was massively underutilized. Staley still has at least 3 more years in him and he may be moved to RT soon (we saw Trenton Brown take snaps at LT yesterday). Also, Beadles is only 30 and as bright as he is (per Staley), this could end up being a Jonathan Goodwin-type signing. I'd like to see him stay there and push Kilgore to depth. Garnett & Brown are certainly young building blocks especially if we move back to power with 2-back sets, blocking TE's and extra OL blockers and adding a FB again. Andrew Tiller is another young player who could be a core starter if we move to power again.
--- DeForest Bucker & Arik Armstead are both key building blocks and we're all praying Ian Williams can return to 100% after off season surgery and rehab. That obviously leads us to Navarro Bowman, Aaron Lynch, Jimmie Ward & Rashard Robinson. While all of these players have flashed and will be ID'd by any coaching staff as core building blocks, they all face similar challenges in staying healthy to reach their full potential. I hesitate to add Will Redmond & Eric Reid to this list as we've yet to see Redmond 100% despite his upside and Eric Reid, while coaches seem to love this guy, is certainly not the play maker we'd like/need.

Depth Players: --- 20
X WR (LEFT): Rod Streater, DeAndre Smelter & Eric Rogers
Y WR (SLOT): Aaron Burbridge & Bruce Ellington
Z WR (RIGHT): Quinton Patton & Chris Harper
LG: Andrew Tiller
C: Daniel Kilgore & Alex Balducci
ROT: John Theus
LDE: Quinton Dial & Chris Jones
NT: Glenn Dorsey
WILL: Eli Harold
MIKE: Gerald Hodges
SAM: Ahmad Brooks
RCB: Tramaine Brock
LCB: Dontae Johnson
SS: Antoine Bethea

--- Really a mixed bag here of former starters, aged veterans, potential quality starters depending on the scheme/philosophy, some unknowns and major question marks, etc.

Role Players: --- 10
RB2: Shaun Draughn & DuJuan Harris
M/TE: Garrett Celek & Blake Bell
LDE: Ronald Blair
MIKE: Nick Bellore
TED: Ray-Ray Armstrong
SLOT (S/CB): Keith Reaser & Chris Davis
HYBRID S/ILB: Jaquiski Tartt

--- Celek seems to be a nice inline blocker and RZ target but "meh" the rest of the way. Bell showed flashes but again, can't stay on the field. Harris is tremendous as a pass catcher but was only used in 3 games this year. Draughn could be upgraded. Blair and Ray-Ray could be great nickel/dime players and the same goes for Reaser, Davis and Tartt. Tartt has had a couple decent games as a starting SS but he still seems to be too raw and lacks basic fundamentals to become a true SS (vision, proper angles, mental, form tackling, etc.).

Specialist: --- 4
LS: Kyle Nelson
PK: Phil Dawson
P: Bradley Pinion
PR/KOR: Jeremy Kerley
Coverage: Aaron Burbridge, Nick Bellore, Dontae Johnson, Quinton Patton, Keith Reaser, Blake Bell, etc.

--- Nelson and Pinion are locks but outside that, we certainly need a younger Dawson and a dynamic and reliable returner.

To play off of what Louis Riddick is noting here...he isn't noting the entire roster needs to be overhauled; he's saying there will have to be major overhaul at the most important positions in QB, edge rusher, ZWR, NT, ILB and maybe CB or S.

"Obviously, philosophical alignment and personal relations are going to be big here because, one, it's a massive overhaul that this roster needs to undergo at some very, very, very important positions," Riddick said Sunday on "NFL Insiders."

Hello world (it's been about 2 years since I've posted). New baby, new job, and the Niners situation since Thanksgiving 2014 has been anything but encouraging. However, hope springs eternal, and I actually think that the franchise in general is poised to have a pretty quick turnaround if they can match a GM/HC that can coexist (apparently a big thing to ask for ) and hitting a home run with the #2 pick.

NCommand, you are still bringing it apparently . I appreciate this breakdown. I think it may be overly optimistic to count on Bowman or Redmond though.

Originally posted by NinerBuff:
Hello world (it's been about 2 years since I've posted). New baby, new job, and the Niners situation since Thanksgiving 2014 has been anything but encouraging. However, hope springs eternal, and I actually think that the franchise in general is poised to have a pretty quick turnaround if they can match a GM/HC that can coexist (apparently a big thing to ask for ) and hitting a home run with the #2 pick.

NCommand, you are still bringing it apparently . I appreciate this breakdown. I think it may be overly optimistic to count on Bowman or Redmond though.

My man! Welcome back and big time congrats! Hope to hear some more from you...

Great call Bowman and Redmond. A lot of these guys that ended up on I.R. this year were also on I.R. last year as well...or in Bowman's case, two years ago. Therefore, lesson learned. Don't hedge your bets on many of these guys making it through a full 16 games. Get as much quality depth as you can!

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by NinerBuff:
Hello world (it's been about 2 years since I've posted). New baby, new job, and the Niners situation since Thanksgiving 2014 has been anything but encouraging. However, hope springs eternal, and I actually think that the franchise in general is poised to have a pretty quick turnaround if they can match a GM/HC that can coexist (apparently a big thing to ask for ) and hitting a home run with the #2 pick.

NCommand, you are still bringing it apparently . I appreciate this breakdown. I think it may be overly optimistic to count on Bowman or Redmond though.

My man! Welcome back and big time congrats! Hope to hear some more from you...

Great call Bowman and Redmond. A lot of these guys that ended up on I.R. this year were also on I.R. last year as well...or in Bowman's case, two years ago. Therefore, lesson learned. Don't hedge your bets on many of these guys making it through a full 16 games. Get as much quality depth as you can!

Baby girl... she's 2 now and I forgot what a clean house looks like..

I work at NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center now as an Aerospace Engineer, and so stoked .

Originally posted by NinerBuff:
Baby girl... she's 2 now and I forgot what a clean house looks like..

I work at NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center now as an Aerospace Engineer, and so stoked .

Wow! The future's so bright you gotta wear

Congrats on both!

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by NinerBuff:
Baby girl... she's 2 now and I forgot what a clean house looks like..

I work at NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center now as an Aerospace Engineer, and so stoked .

Wow! The future's so bright you gotta wear

Congrats on both!

Thank you sir, and now onto getting this gigantic garbage fire we call the 49ers Organization under control....

Originally posted by NinerBuff:

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by NinerBuff:
Baby girl... she's 2 now and I forgot what a clean house looks like..

I work at NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center now as an Aerospace Engineer, and so stoked .

Wow! The future's so bright you gotta wear

Congrats on both!

Thank you sir, and now onto getting this gigantic garbage fire we call the 49ers Organization under control....

lol

Originally posted by NinerBuff:

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by NinerBuff:

Baby girl... she's 2 now and I forgot what a clean house looks like..

I work at NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center now as an Aerospace Engineer, and so stoked .

Wow! The future's so bright you gotta wear

Congrats on both!

Thank you sir, and now onto getting this gigantic garbage fire we call the 49ers Organization under control....

LOL. Totally!