Marcus Maxwell...DAMN

by Fooch on Jun 23, 2007 4:45 PM PDT in News

I'm going to preface with the understanding that this was against NFL Europe competition and not full on NFL competition. However, Marcus Maxwell certainly made a statement heading into training camp this afternoon. The Hamburg Sea Devils defeated the Frankfurt Galaxy 37-28 in World Bowl XV due in large part to Marcus Maxwell's 5 receptions for 127 yards and 2 TDs. Redskins quarterback Casey Bramlet was the game MVP after going 20-27 for 347 yards and 4 TDs, ending the game with a QB rating of 155.5.

While Bramlet was the MVP, Maxwell has certainly helped his cause going into training camp. As we all know, he could very easily be a victim of the numbers crunch. The team has 4 guys in DJax, Lelie, Battle and Hill that are likely entrenched. That leaves no more than 2 WR spots for Maxwell, Jacobs, Gilmore and Williams. The guys that earn those spots will have to show a dedication to not only improving as receivers, but also passionate play on special teams. Jacobs and Gilmore have never really impressed in their short NFL careers. I'm more than willing to go on record as hoping Williams and Maxwell get the two WR spots on the roster. While the World Bowl is not the Super Bowl, it still takes a little something to step up on a relatively big stage and make an impact.

Maxwell made an assortment of catches from big plays for touchdowns to short grabs that netted first downs. Obviously this is a very small sample size, but considering he had a solid season over 11 games, I'm obviously giving him the benefit of the doubt. He has popped up on my radar as a guy to keep track of in training camp and the preseason. If he isn't able to make the 49ers roster, I definitely think he'll latch on somewhere else. We'll see how it plays out.

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Amen

Fooch, I'm with you 100%. Williams and Maxwell should get the spots on the roster.
As I recall, Williams was drafted primarily for his punt return abilities. That's reason enough to keep him around. Furthermore, all the reports of his progress in OTAs have been stellar.
Maxwell, who's still only 23, was an unfinished product when he was drafted. The fact that he played so well this spring should serve as an indication that he has matured into a player McNolan suspected. What I like most about him is what he said about his goals in Europe - he actually cared about winning the World Bowl. On a continent that could care less about American football, in a league that by all estimates has a season or two before folding, Maxwell had enough competitive spirit to say "it would really be a great opportunity to play in the championship game and represent Hamburg," as if anyone in Hamburg even knew they had a team.
Meanwhile, Gilmore and Jacobs are two guys who aren't getting any younger and haven't seemed to get any better in their time with the team. Neither has a special teams value like Williams and neither has the physical attributes of Maxwell (who nfl.com currently lists as 6' 4"). With the question marks regarding the health of D-Jax and Lelie, it's conceivable that the 4th and 5th receivers could see some playing time. I'm with you in hoping that time goes to Williams and Maxwell.

by Nineraguan on Jun 23, 2007 6:42 PM PDT 0 recs

amen too

Well put. I have been to Hamburg and I saw bunches of banners and such, but it's not represented entirely. Maxwell should get the last spot, in my opinion. We haven't seen much of Gilmore or Jacobs in the past years, so I think a guy that has proved himself on a big stage elsewhere can make it on our team.

Maxwell is an underdog we all can root for.

by jtoj on Jun 23, 2007 9:01 PM PDT up 0 recs

Maxwell in Lelie out.

Lelie won't be around for game one. Nolan will be sick of his b.s. by then and go another direction. Maxwell looked great today and I would love to see him make the team. Hill and Maxwell can fight it out for the #3 spot and Williams, Gilmore and Jacobs can fight for the last two spots.

The Niners are a playoff team this year but not a contender, let the young guys mesh with Smith for next year when we make a run at the Bowl.

by jjham15 on Jun 24, 2007 12:44 AM PDT 0 recs

Problem

The 49ers just gave Lelie ~$2M in signing bonuses. Nolan, while he loves to put the best players on the field, is not one to waste money either. I think Lelie would easily surpass either Gilmore or Jacobs on the roster, both of whom have smaller hits if they're released.

Nolan's going to at least get one year of performance out of Lelie. Even if it's in the 4th WR or as a 5th/emergency WR, he's going to be on the roster.

by sfgfan on Jun 24, 2007 7:28 AM PDT up 0 recs

That's crazy

The niners have known about Maxwell for a couple years now. How does someone go from a pratice teamer to a team's #3 WR. In your scenario Williams, Gilmore and Jacobs would be fighting for the #5 & #6 WR spots. I have no problem with the niners carrying 6 WRs but why in the world would you want Gilmore or Jacobs over Lelie?

So here's my vote, add Maxwell and carry 6 WRs; Jackson, Lelie, Battle, Hill, Williams and Maxwell.

by methodrampage on Jun 25, 2007 9:13 AM PDT up 0 recs

Nolan has proved he doesn"t care about money.

If Lelie is going to be a sissy, he's not going to make the team. There are reasons why a first round pick is on his 3rd team in six years. I like his big play potential but there is no way he is going to be content with being a 4/5 guy. With Hill and Maxwell along with Vernon Davis, Battle and Jackson the niners have plenty of depth and guys that can grow for the future. I hope Lelie turns it around but his past actions lend me to believe that we wasted 2 million on this guy and he won't ever see a regular season game.

by jjham15 on Jun 24, 2007 10:09 AM PDT 0 recs

Well

I don't like what Lelie's done in the past on other teams, but I'm going to wait until he actually sours things with this chance before I wirte him off.

I mean, I gave Antonio Bryant that much... it's the least I can do for Lelie...

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

by howtheyscored on Jun 24, 2007 10:45 AM PDT up 0 recs

How do you not like

628, 1084, 770 yards from a #2/#3 WR? Strike last year off the record. Vick isn't going to help any receiver's numbers.

I don't think Lelie is going to be a world beater but I do think he's going to provide a dynamic to this offense. He's going to spread the field and if Smith can get him the ball I see no reason why he won't put up good numbers.

by methodrampage on Jun 25, 2007 9:18 AM PDT up 0 recs

I agree

I don't think Ashley Lelie is a bad receiver. He's had a couple solid years, just not quite what you'd expect from a first round pick. I think the expectations should be down a little for Lelie. We're getting a guy at a decent price but not first round money by any stretch.

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by Fooch on Jun 25, 2007 10:05 AM PDT up 0 recs

1st round pick

The good news is that he wasn't our 1st round pick, athlough Lelie has vastly out produced Woods (a former 49er first round pick).

But I do think Nolan et al know what they're getting with Lelie now, unlike the Bronco's during the draft. And I think Lelie will prove to be worth his contract.

by methodrampage on Jun 25, 2007 11:19 AM PDT up 0 recs

Oh

I haven't been completely turned off by his performance as a #2/3 receiver in the past.

What I was talking about more was that he's more or less soured his way out of his welcome twice already and that I haven't liked his behavior.

But also that I am giving him the benefit of the doubt about that here to see how he produces, unless he fouls things up here, too (I mean, if his atitude becomes a biger problem than his usefulness to the team is, well, useful.

We'll see, though. My point was that I'm not going to count him out on account of his whiny mouth/acting in the past. Because he cn produce.

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

by howtheyscored on Jun 25, 2007 10:31 AM PDT up 0 recs

Fair enough

If he brings along a detrimental attitude I see his stay in SF being a short one.

Personally I don't see his attitude being much of a problem this year, at least I'm really hoping that it's not going to be. It's apparent I think the guy can play just hope he shuts up and just does that, play.

by methodrampage on Jun 25, 2007 11:09 AM PDT up 0 recs

Lelie

While Lelie hasn't equaled his first round ability, he has shown some big play abilities. In 2004 he caught 54 passes for 1084 yards. If he could put up a season with 20 yards a catch I'd be pleased.

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by Fooch on Jun 24, 2007 12:08 PM PDT up 0 recs

wow

Maxwell has a good game in the World Bowl and now he should definitly be on the roster. Maybe we can get Woods back, i mean he did have 7 td's in 1 game in college!!! If not we can always cut lelie and williams for the sabercats starting wideouts, I hear tthey are having great years.

by enut21 on Jun 25, 2007 11:08 AM PDT 0 recs

maxwell

I'm not saying Maxwell belongs on the team over Williams or Lelie. It's more just that he clearly has some talent and why not go with that over quickly washed up retreads like Taylor Jacobs and Bryan Gilmore? We're talking about a 5th or 6th receiver at best right now. Maybe we can get a contribution out of him.

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by Fooch on Jun 25, 2007 12:28 PM PDT up 0 recs

Fooch

I was responding to the first couple of comments to this post, not your intial post. Yeah its good to see maxwel1 playing well in Europe, but lets not get too excited. He is going up against guys who couldn't make NFL teams last season.

by enut21 on Jun 25, 2007 2:04 PM PDT 0 recs

gotcha

Thanks for the clarification. As much as we'd like to hope he'd follow in the footsteps of Kurt Warner and Adam Vinatieri as NFL Europe success stories, the odds are clearly not in his favor.

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by Fooch on Jun 25, 2007 2:41 PM PDT up 0 recs

Or...

While Warner and Vinatieri are the very top you can hope for from NFL Europa success stories, I'd quite happily take Maxwell emulating Brian Finneran, who was named in the All-League team following his season with the Barcelona Dragons, and then established himself as a more than useful possession receiver.

by spikydavid on Jun 27, 2007 2:36 AM PDT up 0 recs

excellent example

I hadn't looked into some other success stories, but Finneran is clearly a solid receiver. If Maxwell produced anything remotely like that, he'd have to be considered a success.

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by Fooch on Jun 27, 2007 9:41 AM PDT up 0 recs