49ers select Kaelon Black, RB, Indiana at no. 90

Originally posted by 9ers4eva:
A 9.14 RAS is a strong positive. Probably was underrated a bit on boards with those numbers because of not being at combine.

ok be it that he could be the next JOSH JACOBS.. then what?

Originally posted by 9moon:

Originally posted by 49ers81:
It occurs to me that with all of this handwringing and bedwetting about where Black was selected. It's probably worth remembering that the team has had pretty good luck assessing and finding good RBs in the late rounds or as UDFAs. Brieda, Mason, Kiner - who looked like he was going to make the team before he got hurt. Morris was an UDFA for another team wasn't he before the Niner's picked him up. Admittedly, their 3rd round RB picks have been absolutely cursed, but they seem to have found their share of good ones, which means they at least have an eye for the position. If Black turns out to be the guy who finally allows them to take CMC off the field more frequently and becomes a solid contributor for a few years, I hardly think it will matter that he wasn't perceived as a "good value" pick.

drafting Black basically means that Ground Jordan done... sad... and if Jordan not done, then Black a wasted pick..

No it doesnt. They are two different players.

Black replaces Robinson Jr

James is effectively a CMC-lite style player

It's insurance for CMC who is a player with a LOT of tread on his tyres who is entering his 30s in a run heavy system.

Originally posted by KiwiM:

Originally posted by 9moon:

Originally posted by 49ers81:
It occurs to me that with all of this handwringing and bedwetting about where Black was selected. It's probably worth remembering that the team has had pretty good luck assessing and finding good RBs in the late rounds or as UDFAs. Brieda, Mason, Kiner - who looked like he was going to make the team before he got hurt. Morris was an UDFA for another team wasn't he before the Niner's picked him up. Admittedly, their 3rd round RB picks have been absolutely cursed, but they seem to have found their share of good ones, which means they at least have an eye for the position. If Black turns out to be the guy who finally allows them to take CMC off the field more frequently and becomes a solid contributor for a few years, I hardly think it will matter that he wasn't perceived as a "good value" pick.

drafting Black basically means that Ground Jordan done... sad... and if Jordan not done, then Black a wasted pick..

No it doesnt. They are two different players.

Black replaces Robinson Jr

James is effectively a CMC-lite style player

It's insurance for CMC who is a player with a LOT of tread on his tyres who is entering his 30s in a run heavy system.

so you see Jordan and Black as the future of our running game?

Originally posted by Giedi:

Originally posted by OnTheClock:

I did not scout Black so I couldn't make any commentary on his actual ability, I only hated the fact that we took another running back when we already have CMC, Jordan James, Patrick Taylor, and Guerendo. Unless he leapfrogs to be RB2, he will likely get 0 or close to 0 snaps, and I'm not OK with using a third rounder in that scenario.

After watching Black, I see a lot of positives on why they like him. I do not think he is the 5th/6th that NFL.com analysts tabbed him as. I would say he is a least a round higher, R4. A breakdown below:

Positives:
-Fast and explosive
-Pinballs off contact
-Similarly sized build to Frank Gore
-Absolutely yoked, strong AF
-Quality pass protector
-only one fumble lost in his college career

Negatives:
-Runs into his OL's back too much for my liking
-Not a proven pass catcher
-Wants to just fly as soon as he touches the ball, lacks patience
-Almost gets going so quick sometimes it's like he starts losing his feet from out from under him

Some similarities to Bayshul Tuten.

Overall, not a bad player, but still extremely hard to justify unless we know CMC is not going to be around much longer.

I think Maioco or Kawakami asked John whether he thinks Black could develop into a good pass catcher and he pretty confidently answered yes. I hope he does, otherwise - as you pointed out - CMC won't last another year with the 2025 kind of workload.

Thier other justification for picking Black was that our RB's are usually dinged and they needed the depth. FWIW.

I mean, they must have a strong belief that 1) Black is better than James, and 2) Patrick Taylor and Guerendo are unlikely to make the team. If the patience issues I saw were isolated and not the norm, he's going to be a good player IMO.

The issue is, we saw with guys like Jordan Mason, starting caliber RBs just get buried, never play, and then when they get a chance they do well and we trade them away and then repeat the process all over. It's so dumb.

Originally posted by KiwiM:
No it doesnt. They are two different players.

Black replaces Robinson Jr

James is effectively a CMC-lite style player

It's insurance for CMC who is a player with a LOT of tread on his tyres who is entering his 30s in a run heavy system.

Think you got that backwards. James is much more the workhorse style of back. Black is the better athlete.

Originally posted by OnTheClock:
I mean, they must have a strong belief that 1) Black is better than James, and 2) Patrick Taylor and Guerendo are unlikely to make the team. If the patience issues I saw were isolated and not the norm, he's going to be a good player IMO.

The issue is, we saw with guys like Jordan Mason, starting caliber RBs just get buried, never play, and then when they get a chance they do well and we trade them away and then repeat the process all over. It's so dumb.

Mason biggest issue was he was a mediocre pass blocker and didn't have great hands. Black at least has one of those 2 things. We'll see on the hands.

Originally posted by 9moon:

Originally posted by KiwiM:

Originally posted by 9moon:

Originally posted by 49ers81:
It occurs to me that with all of this handwringing and bedwetting about where Black was selected. It's probably worth remembering that the team has had pretty good luck assessing and finding good RBs in the late rounds or as UDFAs. Brieda, Mason, Kiner - who looked like he was going to make the team before he got hurt. Morris was an UDFA for another team wasn't he before the Niner's picked him up. Admittedly, their 3rd round RB picks have been absolutely cursed, but they seem to have found their share of good ones, which means they at least have an eye for the position. If Black turns out to be the guy who finally allows them to take CMC off the field more frequently and becomes a solid contributor for a few years, I hardly think it will matter that he wasn't perceived as a "good value" pick.

drafting Black basically means that Ground Jordan done... sad... and if Jordan not done, then Black a wasted pick..

No it doesnt. They are two different players.

Black replaces Robinson Jr

James is effectively a CMC-lite style player

It's insurance for CMC who is a player with a LOT of tread on his tyres who is entering his 30s in a run heavy system.

so you see Jordan and Black as the future of our running game?

I see CMC Jordan and Black as the future of our running game yes

Originally posted by 9moon:

Originally posted by WildBill:

Originally posted by 9moon:
drafting Black basically means that Ground Jordan done... sad... and if Jordan not done, then Black a wasted pick..

While I did not care the pick, they are two different types of RB. Plus you can never have enough RB.

will NOT argue about this, but we had other holes to fill... we attacked this draft as if we won the Super Bowl and only needs developmental players for the future.. . Shanny and Lynch seem to have gotten lost that we are chasing teams that are power house in the making in the NFC..

I disagree, he is filling a need that Kyle hopes to fulfill, a bruiser that will punish soften up the other side. Someone to get the short yardage or make them think they are going to run, but pass instead.

Originally posted by 9ers4eva:
Think you got that backwards. James is much more the workhorse style of back. Black is the better athlete.

According to the analysis Black is a bruiser, with pass blocking skills. His hands as a receiver needs to be explored.

Originally posted by KiwiM:
I see CMC Jordan and Black as the future of our running game yes

I agree, Issac Guerendo's had two years to show what he has and it - unfortunately - hasn't been much considering his injuries and fumbles and lack of production etc... Kyle's telling Guerendo his time is almost up. Bill Walsh was also notoriously famous for clearing out players he didn't think could contribute to the team wins. Walsh traded for Steve Young when he thought Montana (back surgery) couldn't cut it anymore in 1987 - as an example of how ruthless Walsh was with player performance.

Originally posted by Giedi:

Originally posted by KiwiM:
I see CMC Jordan and Black as the future of our running game yes

I agree, Issac Guerendo's had two years to show what he has and it - unfortunately - hasn't been much considering his injuries and fumbles and lack of production etc... Kyle's telling Guerendo his time is almost up. Bill Walsh was also notoriously famous for clearing out players he didn't think could contribute to the team wins. Walsh traded for Steve Young when he thought Montana (back surgery) couldn't cut it anymore in 1987 - as an example of how ruthless Walsh was with player performance.

RB is a pretty easy position to evaluate in the NFL, its harder to evaluate from college to NFL.

Originally posted by 9ers4eva:

Originally posted by OnTheClock:

I mean, they must have a strong belief that 1) Black is better than James, and 2) Patrick Taylor and Guerendo are unlikely to make the team. If the patience issues I saw were isolated and not the norm, he's going to be a good player IMO.

The issue is, we saw with guys like Jordan Mason, starting caliber RBs just get buried, never play, and then when they get a chance they do well and we trade them away and then repeat the process all over. It's so dumb.

Mason biggest issue was he was a mediocre pass blocker and didn't have great hands. Black at least has one of those 2 things. We'll see on the hands.

Mason also had horrible awareness of the sticks and danced a lot instead of just plowing ahead. Good player still.

Black being around the same size as Gore but faster is interesting. For everyone's sake, I hope he succeeds and stays.

Originally posted by 49ers81:
Not so sure about that. Stroud was terrible for lengthy stretches last year and almost certainly cost them the opportunity to advance in the playoffs in spite of the terrific play of their defense. What did he have, like five turnovers in that game?

Stroud's been in the playoffs his entire career, Tagovalloa has been in the playoffs 2 out of 6 years. Demeco still has a job, Mike McDaniel is now a Jim Harbaugh employee. A franchise level QB is a great security blanket for a Head Coach's career in the NFL.

Originally posted by WildBill:
According to the analysis Black is a bruiser, with pass blocking skills. His hands as a receiver needs to be explored.

I believe he did it prior to transferring to Indiana; so he has the skill set. Just wasn't asked to do it there I guess

Originally posted by OnTheClock:

Originally posted by Giedi:

Originally posted by OnTheClock:
I did not scout Black so I couldn't make any commentary on his actual ability, I only hated the fact that we took another running back when we already have CMC, Jordan James, Patrick Taylor, and Guerendo. Unless he leapfrogs to be RB2, he will likely get 0 or close to 0 snaps, and I'm not OK with using a third rounder in that scenario.

After watching Black, I see a lot of positives on why they like him. I do not think he is the 5th/6th that NFL.com analysts tabbed him as. I would say he is a least a round higher, R4. A breakdown below:

Positives:
-Fast and explosive
-Pinballs off contact
-Similarly sized build to Frank Gore
-Absolutely yoked, strong AF
-Quality pass protector
-only one fumble lost in his college career

Negatives:
-Runs into his OL's back too much for my liking
-Not a proven pass catcher
-Wants to just fly as soon as he touches the ball, lacks patience
-Almost gets going so quick sometimes it's like he starts losing his feet from out from under him

Some similarities to Bayshul Tuten.

Overall, not a bad player, but still extremely hard to justify unless we know CMC is not going to be around much longer.

I think Maioco or Kawakami asked John whether he thinks Black could develop into a good pass catcher and he pretty confidently answered yes. I hope he does, otherwise - as you pointed out - CMC won't last another year with the 2025 kind of workload.

Thier other justification for picking Black was that our RB's are usually dinged and they needed the depth. FWIW.

I mean, they must have a strong belief that 1) Black is better than James, and 2) Patrick Taylor and Guerendo are unlikely to make the team. If the patience issues I saw were isolated and not the norm, he's going to be a good player IMO.

The issue is, we saw with guys like Jordan Mason, starting caliber RBs just get buried, never play, and then when they get a chance they do well and we trade them away and then repeat the process all over. It's so dumb.

Those are good points, and I hope they (and you) are right about Kaelon Black too. I won't know either until I see him play in preseason and beyond.

Agree also that we have starting caliber RB's and never play and when they do well we trade them away. Welcome to the post Eddie Debartolo Salary Cap World. That's the thing about the cap. You develop these players to be great depth pieces that pretty much play sparingly because they aren't the actual starters. Now when their contract ends - boom they leave the team (via trade or free agency) due to the cap constraints -- and you are back to square one. I don't like it either.