SF49ers.com Interview: Joe Cohen

by Fooch on May 14, 2007 10:08 AM PDT in Draft

The 49ers official website has been posting Q&A's with the various draft picks, and today's is the one I'm most curious about. They sat down with defensive tackle Joe Cohen to discuss his conversion to the defensive side of the ball and coming out to the west coast.

The one thing that concerned me was his discussion of weight issues and training and whatnot. About weight:

Q: Weren't you recruited originally to play fullback?
A Yeah, I was recruited to play tailback/fullback at Florida but I got there a little out of shape and overweight so I was playing catch up the whole season, and I mainly ended up playing fullback. I wasn't doing too good with the diet back then.

On converting to the defensive line:

Q: Once you converted to the defensive line, how much weight did you have to put on?
A: Since college, I probably gained about 70 pounds. That's a lot of weight huh? But at least on defense, you can eat what you want, when you want for the most part. You don't want to get too fat though.

On conditioning:

Q: How important do you think it will be for you to participate in the off-season program with the 49ers?
A: Very! I need someone to stay on me! I really am looking forward to training and getting ready for this rookie year. I think it's going to be very important for me. I think my conditioning and training is what will help me stand out and make an impact.

Hopefully he'll bust his butt in camp and as the season gets going. Just based on the Q&A he seems like a pretty low key, easy-going guy. I'm not sure how that will convert to the football field, but hopefully he can make an impact and prove the doubters (including myself) wrong. We'll close with the last Q&A, regarding what he brings to the table:

Q: What's your best asset as a player?
A: I've got a good combination of speed, size and power and I'm still learning. I feel like I've got a lot of growing to do still, and I'm looking forward to what I can learn from this coaching staff here.

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The more...

... I think about the pick, the more it makes sense. I'm not a huge fan of the pick, but I don't necessarily hate it either.

I don't know exactly what the 49ers saw in Cohen, but what I do see is a guy who can probably play any of the three positions on the 49ers line. The 49ers took McDonald in the third knowing pretty darn well that they're going to be looking into operations on his knees. If McDonald isn't ready to contribute, Cohen probably will be. Cohen will be able to back up Franklin and Sopoaga inside, and backup Young, Douglas, Fields, and Oliver on the ends.

He should be able to offer solid depth. My only question is what did the 49ers see in him that other scouts and "experts" didn't? What made him a "reach" in most people's books, but at least "value" to the 49ers? I know Nolan and Co. know what they're doing, and they have a plan.

by sfgfan on May 14, 2007 11:35 AM PDT 0 recs

By the way

When are camps? When do I get to start getting pumped!

I'm sure I could find a schedule online easily enough, but I'm just as sure that somebody here knows off the top of their heads.

I keep reliving the moment when Steve Young almost fell down... over and over...

by howtheyscored on May 14, 2007 6:11 PM PDT 0 recs

Minicamp

Mini camp was 5/4-5/6 and pretty quick. Looking into training camp.

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by Fooch on May 14, 2007 7:01 PM PDT up 0 recs

Camps and such.

Next team activities will be the second set of OTAs. It'll be a 3-week meeting beginning June 4. According to Matt Maiocco, most of the players that were held out of the recent minicamp weekend will probably be held out of the OTAs as well.

I would believe that following OTAs, it'll be training camp. I don't think any team has officially released their training camp dates yet, but usually they begin during the last week or two of July.

Between the end of OTAs and the beginning of training camp, I imagine there will be at least 2 to 3 weeks of downtime for players to rest up and get their last big of family in.

by sfgfan on May 15, 2007 9:11 AM PDT up 0 recs

What about Sam Adams

Sam Adams is available what about getting him to do some dirty work like when we had Michael Carter or Jim Burt. With the rest of the depth that would be an excellent fit for him and for us.

"Niners Are Back!!!"

by mississippininer on May 15, 2007 5:02 AM PDT 0 recs

Interesting.

If a defensive guru like Marvin Lewis let him go, he may not be much of a contributor anymore. Remember, Lewis coached him as a defensive coordinator in Baltimore previously, so he should know how to get the most out of him. Also keep in mind that Cincinnati just signed him to a 3-year deal last season. So they ate the remaining bonus money just to get rid of him, and get nothing back for it.

If he's willing to sign for really cheap, I could see Nolan going for it. Otherwise, he doesn't fit Nolan and McCloughan's M.O. They don't really like to sign older guys. This is especially true if the player plays a physically demanding position like DT/NT.

Remember, Adams is going to be 34 before training camp starts. He's played quite a bit of football, considering he's never been seriously hurt (I don't think) and has never missed any playtime. He's also consistently played with a playing weight in excess of 330+ pounds. Thats a lot of weight to carry every play for 12 or 13 years.

I think he could help solidify depth, sure. He may leapfrog Sopoaga on the depth chart, but I'd expect Franklin to get more snaps in than him. For the right price, like everything else, I can see Nolan going for this.

by sfgfan on May 15, 2007 9:23 AM PDT up 0 recs

330+

I meant to put 350+. He's always listed in media guides and team rosters around there, but from what I understand, it is almost always an understatement.

Kind of like Tim Lincecum being listed at 6 feet tall.

by sfgfan on May 15, 2007 9:24 AM PDT up 0 recs

older guys

sfgfan. nolan does sign older guys. Larry Allen right before training camp last year PRO BOWLER. What about Walt Harris? Nolan can use a big body like big Sam and if we thought Ice was the key why did we go out and sign Franklin or draft Cohen. We need a big body to dominate that middle.

"Niners Are Back!!!"

by mississippininer on May 15, 2007 2:38 PM PDT up 0 recs

Doesn't hold water.

Comparing Larry Allen or Walt Harris' signings to a Sam Adams signing doesn't hold water. They aren't the same kind of guy.

First of all, Allen was a consistent (read: darn near every year) Pro Bowler over the course of his career. He's go the character that Nolan covets. A player who treats people (and the game) with respect, but has a mean streak on the field. And as we all saw last season, he could still play.

Walt Harris is also another character guy that Nolan covets. He's willing to do all that is asks of him. He'll play safety if asked. He'll step inside and play the slot, he'll play the faster guy outside. He is willing to do anything it takes to help the team win. He's also willing to do all of this without demanding any drop of the limelight. Obviously Nolan really likes him, to the tune of 2 more years on top of his original deal. Also keep in mind that he isn't playing a physically demanding position with a physically demanding build.

I'm not saying the 49ers don't sign older guys. They do. They sign older guys that have solid character. The guys have to be useful, and the 49ers have to believe they will be before they sign them.

Sam Adams is old. He's big, and he's old. He's big, he's played A LOT big, and he's old. He's always overweight, he's big, he's played A LOT big, and he's old. As I alluded to, he probably isn't a solid contributor anymore. He's a big body definitely, but maybe thats all he has in the tank. As we learned from Sopoaga, size alone doesn't help.

Before Adams was released, the Bengals STILL needed to improve their defensive tackles. They went and signed Kenderick Allen, a journeyman who has been three teams in four seasons and has a recent injury history. They followed that signing by releasing Adams. He got supplanted on the depth chart by Domata Peko, a 4th rounder in last year's draft.

I never said Sopoaga is the answer. Franklin is the starter. Nolan signed him to be the starter. Sopoaga, Cohen and Fields will add to the rotation to keep everyone fresh. They are a solid bunch of backups to Franklin. Cohen and Fields can also play on the ends.

Did you read my first comment to the thread? I think Cohen was drafted primarily for depth. They knew in taking McDonald that they may not have a contribution from him this year, so they took another lineman. Cohen could play anywhere on the line, and that makes him a solid contributor, depth-wise.

by sfgfan on May 15, 2007 3:19 PM PDT up 0 recs

Rubbed Raw

Hey dude we are on the same team here. But I was quoting you when you said that Nolan MO was not to sign old players. I am not sold on Franklin. He was so deep down the dpth chart at Baltimore even his mom did not know he was playing in the NFL. Cohen is unproven and ICE is still a ways off. I like some of the other Niner nation does not feel confident about the DT on our roster. We need proven players in that middle. Maybe not Sam but a veteran who has PLAYED in a game would be nice.

"Niners Are Back!!!"

by mississippininer on May 15, 2007 8:45 PM PDT up 0 recs

My fault.

I didn't intend for my response to sound like an attack (or anything like that). I agree that the line may be the weakest part of the defense.

I'm just saying that Nolan shies away from guys who are old and have a lot of mileage on them. If he signs Adams, then great. He'll be another body and additional competition for the rookie(s) and the "young" guys (Sopoaga and Fields) on the line.

I don't think the line, as it is currently made up, is going to hurt this team. I've said this in numerous posts. I think that the mixture of youth and experience is good. I think that there will be plenty of energy, as the rotation at all three positions is pretty deep. They should be able to generate enough push, and eat up enough blockers to free up guys like Lawson, Banta-Cain, B. Moore, and Willis. I think that the overall improvement of the other 8 positions could make these three better.

Regardless of how the line performs this year, you can bet that this position (along with a backup halfback) will be on the top of the priority list for next off-season. It has to be with the "leaders" (B.Y. and Douglas) possibly walking off into the sunset.

by sfgfan on May 16, 2007 9:02 AM PDT up 0 recs

BOOOOOOO

I think football cannot get here fast enough. We are so anxious to see how the niners will do this year it has all fired up. We cannot be niners fan and don't see that we are on the verge of greatness again. We have suffered these last 4 years and it is time for the Niners to take its rightful place. On top.
Good discussion though, i need this to keep my competitive fire going since all i have is the nba to watch.booooooooooooooooo

"Niners Are Back!!!"

by mississippininer on May 16, 2007 1:27 PM PDT up 0 recs

Even then...

... I don't have much to root for in the NBA anymore. I do hope the Suns beat the Spurs. I don't really like Nash, but Spurs/Jazz? That would be horrible from an excitement standpoint.

I agree, though. Football can't get here soon enough. At least the Giants are on. I can't wait to watch the 49ers finally sweep the division again. Hey, it could happen!

by sfgfan on May 16, 2007 2:01 PM PDT up 0 recs