49ers Roster Bubble Watch: Melvin Oliver
Melvin Oliver is a guy who raises a lot of questions for the 49ers. He played a lot his rookie season in 2006. He followed that up with a torn ACL, missing the entire 2007 campaign. I started this blog in late December 2006 and by the time we really got going, Oliver was out for the count. In the NFL, if you're not a name-brand player, a missed season can be a career killer. When you're not a starter, it's easy to get shuffled out of the rotation. Manny Lawson had the injury issue last season, but he's slotted right back where he was before. In a Q&A, Maiocco made the best point:
Question: How do you see Melvin Oliver fitting in on the "D" line? and is he pretty much ready for camp? Love your blog, keep up the good work.
Answer: He's getting there. I think it'll be difficult for Oliver to stick. Remember, he started a lot when the 49ers played primarily 4-3. I don't believe he is suited very well for a 3-4.
While you can never have too much depth, the 49ers are in an interesting position along the defensive line. The switch to a 3-4 has reduced the need for defensive lineman. However, if Justin Smith is going to see a lot of time at outside linebacker, an extra defensive lineman would be very important. The problem for Oliver is that he'll be competing with Ray McDonald AND Kentwan Balmer for backup snaps at the end. If Balmer gets time at nose tackle that would certainly open up some more time.
What does Oliver bring to the table? His scouting report said the following:
He has good size, plays with leverage and can anchor against the run at end. He takes adequate pursuit angles and can close down cutback lanes. He has decent lower-body strength and flashes the ability to collapse the pocket. He has some lateral mobility, can redirect inside and runs line stunts well . . . He anticipates the snap well enough and has some gap-shooting quickness when he slides inside. He is maturing and should continue to improve. But Oliver lacks ideal quickness and speed at end. He doesn't have ideal size at tackle and doesn't shed blocks quickly.
I think the biggest problem Oliver faces is the simple numbers game. It'd be nice to keep him around, but not at the cost of another position. Of course, it also depends on how much confidence you have in Balmer and McDonald as back ups. McDonald showed a lot late last season. However, Balmer is a rookie with a lot to learn. The defensive line is built on quality rotations, so that is definitely a big factor playing Oliver's favor. Right now, I don't think he makes the roster, but it's a lot closer than I thought when I first did the 53-man roster projection.
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Why keep him?
It seems like he’s got a lot working against him. He doesn’t have Ray McD’s freakish quickness—which adds to his versatility as a Nickel DE when they go to a 4-man line or Balmer’s upside (nor the huge investment by the team that the 9ers made when they drafted Balmer in the 1st round). So, a few questions for you Fooch:
1) From a stat standpoint, he didn’t exactly set the world on fire in 2006; forgive my bad memory, but why was the team so high on him? Who was he spelling? Were there games when he looked like the best DL on the field?
2) When he played in 2006, did he primarily line up at DE or DT? How well does he 2-gap?
3) Given all you’ve said, I’m not sure what’s making you say that it’s a lot closer than you thought when you did the 53-man roster projection? Just the need for quality rotations and J.Smith’s OLB adventure?
by grantmp on
Jun 25, 2008 6:32 AM PDT
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Mel Oliver
I’ll call him Mel as I am on a personal level with him, just kidding..
First of all, before his ACL injury he was a good prospect, the 49ers were ready to make him a starter.
Secondly, ACL injuries can be hard to come back from. A deaf friend of mine had an ACL injury on his right knee and he thought it was fixed until his left knee was hit hard by a softball (oh, those new bats!), bruising it and he went for an MRI because it felt like it was partially dislocated, and he requested an MRI on his right knee too, sensing that the ACL repair job didn’t completely fix it..he was right, he has to re-do it having a 2nd ACL surgery. He’s not a quitter, and plans to return to softball..until his body tells him to quit.
If Mel comes back stronger from his ACL injury, that’s commendable to his surgeon and that is his only chance to re-take a spot. However I like the new players that have filled up the roster, and it’s pretty tight now, the question now is, even if Melvin comes back, can he play the 3-4 defense?
We have to remember that even if the 49ers employ a 3-4 defense they will at times switch to the 4-3. Our lineup should be able to switch back and forth from the 3-4 to 4-3 anytime or we have to put players from the bench into the game.
"We Have a God who delights in impossibilities."
by 16to80endzone on
Jun 25, 2008 8:29 AM PDT
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