Niners Nation: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:



Around SBN: Josh Wilson's Annotated Hit Parade Bar-right-arrows



Ashley Lelie: Jerry Sullivan's pet project?

I was checking out MM's blog earlier today and he threw out some tidbits about the team, with several specifically about the wide receivers and tight ends.  The issues of the wide receivers (henceforth to include tight ends as related to this discussion) obviously relate to the rest of the offense and particularly the quarterbacks.  However, I just wanted to look at the wide receivers as an isolated unit.  While there is not a single stud wide receiver, I feel there is enough talent across the board to make up for the lack of a true #1 receiver (for now).  Later in the offseason we'll look at the wide receivers as a whole, but a tidbit from MM's blog stood out:

Ashley Lelie spent his redshirt season re-learning the wide receiver position with WR coach Jerry Sullivan. Lelie, a low-key individual, was clearly frustrated. But at the end of the year, he said he thought he was vastly improved. (Sullivan said the same thing.) Lelie appears to be on the radar screen, so he'll get a chance to emerge in a crowded receiving corps that includes Bryant Johnson, Isaac Bruce, Arnaz Battle, Jason Hill and Josh Morgan.

So, what do people think the 49ers can expect from Ashley Lelie in 2008?  All I've read since the end of the season was how much Lelie improved under the tutelage of Jerry Sullivan.  Of course we didn't see this on the field as Lelie finished with 10 catches for 115 yards.  So will Jerry Sullivan's pet project pan out in 2009?

While Lelie has never had the huge breakout season, he has shown he can be a productive wide receiver.  In 2004 he finished the season with 54 receptions, 1084 yards and 7 TDs.  of course, since then his numbers have continuously dropped.  At the age of 28 he should be in the prime of his career.  Instead he's hanging on by a thread, continuing to get chances on his talent, not his production.

So, I've thrown up a poll here to get some predictions.  Rather than post predictions for numbers, I thought it'd be simpler to just see where he'll end up on the depth chart.  In addition to Lelie, the current receiving corp includes Isaac Bruce, Bryant Johnson, Arnaz Battle, Jason Hill, Josh Morgan and Jerard Rabb (undrafted free agent).  So where does Ashley Lelie end up?  Feel free to throw out statistical predictions in the comments.

Poll
Where on the depth chart will Ashley Lelie finish at in 2008?
#1
26 votes
#2
32 votes
#3
78 votes
#4
110 votes
#5 or worse
25 votes
Waived
26 votes

297 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 3 comments

Read Related

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

Disappointed

I was really high on Lelie coming out of college, even though he did go too high to Denver. But consider me skeptical that the light bulb will come on for him after all this time.

by lacrosse_cat on May 28, 2008 3:16 PM PDT   0 recs

Preferred Order of the 49er Wide Receiving Corps

The way I want the depth chart to show on the 49ers wide receiving corps:

1. Isaac Bruce
2. Bryant Johnson
3. Jason Hill
4. Ashley Lelie
5. Arnaz Battle

The top three are the receivers with blazing speed, and the bottom two receivers are the possession type receivers. Bruce and Johnson already can catch the ball and say “hola” at the end zone. Hill is a fast receiver, although unproven, or rather, untested. Lelie is in the middle of resurrecting his career, and Battle is a steady performer who kept us in the game along with running back Frank Gore.

But will Battle be a happy camper under Martz and the crowded WR corps?

by 16to80endzone on Jun 3, 2008 12:05 AM PDT   0 recs

Depth.

Bruce is no longer the blazer he once was. He’s probably no faster than Arnaz Battle is, that’s for sure.

Battle has the makings of a player that Mike Martz loves. He can do everything and do a very solid job doing so. I’d say that Battle is a sure-fire #3 if not a #2 on the current roster. He’s just that consistent.

by sfgfan on Jun 3, 2008 8:51 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Your 2008 49ers: Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recommended FanPosts

Turfshowtimes_small
Rams QnA with Turf Show Times

Recent FanPosts

Dave_small
Week 12 Prediction Games
Newman_avatar_small
Blogging The Boys Q & A
Small
McNabb may be available next year
Images_small
Building Finish
Park_small
Greatest moments against Dallas!
Small
49ers beat Rams Big freaking deal
Howtheyscoredcat_small
Week 11 Prediction Games: The Results
Ab_small
Discussion on Paraag Marathe
Duct_tape_bandit_small
AFTER FURTHER REVIEW...: A Look Back at Week 11
Dave_small
Aaron Rodgers-type money for Matt Cassell?

Post_icon New FanPost All FanPosts Carrot-mini


Head Ball Coach

Dave_small Fooch

Assistant Coaches

Duct_tape_bandit_small Josh from Hollywood

Howtheyscoredcat_small howtheyscored

L_8156dc899538f696a2b6020bffb8cd49_small Ninjames

Pixies_logo_small Florida Danny

ad

Site Meter