unsigned WR with massive potentential that no one is talking about

by sam23 on Aug 17, 2008 12:37 PM PDT

So despite Josh Morgan's impressive play in the preseason I remain convinced the Niners are still desperately lacking a receiver with the potential to be a legit #1 guy. There doesnt seem to be much hope for improvement in this area either, unless we throw mega bucks at Roy Williams in the offseason or are able to draft someone like Texas Tech's Michael Crabtree. It may be a bit outlandish as he has no football experience but why not save most of that money and the draft pick and see if world record sprinter Usein Bolt has any interest in playing wideout? He obviously has the speed, and unlike other sprinter turned WR projects he has the size as well, standing 6'5". It might be a little late to bring him into camp now, but bring him in and let him spend a year on the practice squad learning to run routes and catch balls.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Niners Nation's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Niners Nation's writers or editors.

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I hadn't even though of that

I’m not sure if I agree but it is definitely an interesting option. Of course as this is a copy-cat league, if one team expresses interest somebody else is bound to as well.

If I’m Bolt I’d want to go to a place where I’d get a lot of national/international media attention, which probably wouldn’t be with the 49ers. Intriguing idea though. The problem with the practice squad is that anybody else can sign him off the practice squad. Is there one team out there that’d be willing to put him on the 53-man roster?

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by Fooch on Aug 17, 2008 12:50 PM PDT 0 recs

Jerry Jones

will likely beat us to the punch

by sam23 on Aug 17, 2008 1:46 PM PDT up 0 recs

taking whis Olympics WR performance, his 40-yard dash is like a 3.6 or something

Formerly known as phutmasterflex

by PHUT! on Aug 17, 2008 1:09 PM PDT 0 recs

3.9 I think

hearing that last night is what got me thinking.

by sam23 on Aug 17, 2008 1:33 PM PDT up 0 recs

yeah

Lets sign Yao Ming too! He would be deadly target in the red zone. Also, we should sign Beckham to do kickoffs.

by enut21 on Aug 17, 2008 1:33 PM PDT 0 recs

sprinters

arent exactly unheard of at WR in the NFL. its thinking outside the box, but its not THAT crazy.

by sam23 on Aug 17, 2008 1:45 PM PDT up 0 recs

They’re not unheard of, but they do tend to at least have a football background, which I think is more of what enut is getting at than anything else.

My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.

by howtheyscored on Aug 17, 2008 4:17 PM PDT up 0 recs

yep

Bolt has zero football background. Most sprinters are from the USA and had some football background (HS, JC). Also, name these sprinters who didn’t play college football, who have had success in the NFL?

by enut21 on Aug 17, 2008 6:30 PM PDT up 0 recs

in fact

I’d be surprised if Bolt DOESNT get an NFL offer in the next couple years with his size and speed.

by sam23 on Aug 17, 2008 1:45 PM PDT up 0 recs

Why settle for Bolt? What about Michael Phelps?

by Rocktopus on Aug 17, 2008 2:03 PM PDT 0 recs

Then the Niners can finally get the gold medal they’ve been dreaming about for years.

by Rishi on Aug 18, 2008 7:56 AM PDT up 0 recs

Bolt

Would be a great NFL WR. Although, people can underestamate the technique and skill involved in football. It’s not all physical talent. Michael Phelps seems to be more of a basketball player. He’s built like Buike, 6’4, long arms, powerful, extremely coordinated.

According to the comminsioner of the nfl, 104 people retired last year. 7 due to age, and the rest because of Patrick Willis

by montasmob69 on Aug 17, 2008 5:36 PM PDT 0 recs

-.-

Michael Phelps seems to be more of a basketball player. He’s built like Buike, 6’4, long arms, powerful, extremely coordinated.

…seriously? Your sarcasm detector seems to be switched off or broken.

by shlecko on Aug 17, 2008 8:44 PM PDT up 0 recs

Barrows on Bolt

From Barrows post today:

So how insanely fast was Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt’s 9.69-second finish in Saturday’s 100-meter dash? Kings beatwriter Sam Amick helped me put it in football terms. If 100 meters were broken down into 40-yard segments – what players run at the combine and at days – Bolt’s time translates to 3.54 seconds. Put another way: Vernon Davis’ 40 time in 2006 was 4.38 seconds. Over 100 meters, that translates to 11.98 seconds.

Of course, you have to keep in mind that the first half of the 100 meters is slower than the last half. And you have to also keep in mind that Davis is better at sealing off the defensive end than Bolt. I see Bolt as a kick returner, and of course, I see him in a Chargers uniform …

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by Fooch on Aug 17, 2008 7:22 PM PDT 0 recs

well

he looks pretty good against the packers, but since it preseason it mean shit. If he is that good, we got no qb to throw him the ball.

by warriorfan4life on Aug 17, 2008 10:22 PM PDT 0 recs

Uh...what??

by Rocktopus on Aug 18, 2008 12:03 AM PDT up 0 recs

oh my bad

I meant to say doesn’t meant shit. We don’t know who our qb is right now. I don’t think any of 3 qb is going to take our offenese anyway.

by warriorfan4life on Aug 18, 2008 1:22 PM PDT up 0 recs

I think the problem is that you were talking about a quarterback and this thread was about signing Usein Bolt as a WR.

Trent Kline: Decentish. Also, my website is called ChatterBalks Dot Com and on it I make jokes about things.

by groug on Aug 18, 2008 5:53 PM PDT up 0 recs

I think he was talking about

Josh Morgan. Apparently he only read the first few words of the post before responding.

by sam23 on Aug 19, 2008 12:00 PM PDT up 0 recs

No, he’s talking about Usein Bolt’s preseason performance agains the Packers.

by Rishi on Aug 20, 2008 9:50 AM PDT up 0 recs

With all due respect to Bolt and his amazing talent, I don’t think it translates to football at all. Watching his races he isn’t that fast of a starter, the first 40-50 meters he’s right around the pack. Then he blows them away, but unless we can find a place to consistently run 70 yard fly patterns, a QB to throw them and a defense that won’t play bump converage, then his tremendous talent isn’t really all that useful.

And that doesn’t even cover the fact that he’s rail skinny, and would probably get destroyed on an NFL football field.

by Kraut182 on Aug 17, 2008 11:28 PM PDT 0 recs

190 lbs

He’s 6’5 190 lbs. That’s certainly not jacked up, but I wouldn’t say rail skinny….of course I don’t think I’ve ever seen anybody in person who has those measurements so what do I know.

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by Fooch on Aug 17, 2008 11:41 PM PDT up 0 recs

6'5" 190

Is pretty skinny, I think. Different sport and all, but the only good example I can think of: Jonathan Sanchez is listed as 6’2" 190. I think he originally listed somewhere in the 6’2" 175 area. He’s always looked really thin and still does this season (even though he’s added a little bit of bulk/muscle).

Different sport again, but Kobe Bryant is listed as 6’6" 205 on Wikipedia (take that for what it’s worth, lazy research skills FTW). He definitely doesn’t have a NFL-esque build, either.

I guess I could also say, “what do I know.”

by sfgfan on Aug 18, 2008 9:09 AM PDT up 0 recs

theres not really any reason to think

he couldnt bulk up a little if he decides to try the NFL path. I dont think it would take much for him to add another 10-15 pounds, and while he’d still be thin for his height, 200-205 isnt tiny. Moss is only 210. I’d also like to point out to many those criticizing this idea that I didnt say he’d be a great receiver, only that he has massive potential. With all due respect to some of the solid receivers on the roster like Bruce and Battle, we need to find someone who is a real threat at receiver. I’m not convinced that Jason Hill, Josh Morgan, Ashley Lelie, or Bryant Johnson, while all young and talented, will ever produce. Of course I dont know how well Bolt could run routes, time his patterns, catch, take a hit, or even if his speed would translate once you got him in pads. I’m just saying I think he has far more potential than anyone currently on the roster. I’d rather see them waste 3 years trying to develop Bolt than waste another year on a guy like Lelie.

by sam23 on Aug 19, 2008 12:09 PM PDT up 0 recs

For what it's worth...

… bringing in Bolt to try him on the practice squad and teach him the position (not much different from what the 49ers have done with Duckett the past few years) isn’t a bad idea at all. If there is a “bidding war” going on in terms of an actual contract and he has to be a part of the 53-man, though, I don’t think he’s worth that kind of investment.

The question is, would he rather bobsled or play football?

by sfgfan on Aug 19, 2008 12:28 PM PDT up 0 recs

Not a bad idea...

But it could go seriously wrong. Most NFL players have been beating up other football players their whole lives. They know how to take hits. In other words, I would be afraid of Bolt getting zapped.

I think I pulled my swagger muscle...

by BawLa on Aug 18, 2008 12:51 AM PDT 0 recs

It’s a crazy idea, although the idea of a sprinter returning kicks is exciting.

by Rishi on Aug 18, 2008 7:57 AM PDT 0 recs

Allen Rossum sez hai

as he’s running to the end zone…

by bondslegend on Aug 18, 2008 11:09 PM PDT up 0 recs

It sounds cool and all but...

Running with out weight is one thing and also it’s not just straight up running. You need to know when to slow down, when to speed up, break, cut, and juke. Not to mention ball control, catching, and body awareness. Plus honing and conditioning your body to take a hit and having the strength to get off bump and run. I wouldn’t mind seeing what he turns into but perhaps he would be more potent as returner till he learns the ropes.

by StrictlyFootball on Aug 18, 2008 10:08 AM PDT 0 recs

Healthy Wide Receiving Corps..

Really, what we need is a healthy wide receiving corps so all the receivers on the rosters can showcase their talents.

If Bolt can take the pain and rebound after each game with bruises, nickers, and the frequent sprains and hamstring pulls, Bolt would be what he is..

A bolt to the end zone!

"We Have a God who delights in impossibilities."

by 16to80endzone on Aug 18, 2008 11:13 AM PDT 0 recs

Really, what we need a mistake-free QB, a solid O-line, a healthy WR-corps, strong and fast-RBs, an overpowering D-line, a shutdown secondary, and powerful linebackers. Then we’ll have a good team.

by Rishi on Aug 18, 2008 12:00 PM PDT up 0 recs

well

bro, we got all pro Secondary, linebacker duo, and an very near unstoppable1-2 punches of rb . Our D-line isn’t that bad either. They could learn as the season progess. 3 1/2 out of 7 isnt that bad. haha

by warriorfan4life on Aug 18, 2008 1:27 PM PDT up 0 recs

I don't know...

All-Pro secondary? I don’t think a secondary that contains an aging veteran who may not be able to keep up with the faster WRs in the NFC West (Harris) and potentially a second-year player who doesn’t have a whole lot of starting experience (Goldson) is really an All-Pro secondary. Even if you put in Roman (a veteran who is pretty good at being average and doesn’t make a whole lot of plays) in for Goldson, the secondary isn’t anywhere near All-Pro. Solid? Perhaps, but All-Pro is wayyy beyond pushing it.

Unstoppable running backs? The 49ers are just an injury to Foster and/or Gore away from being a top 10 rushing attack to being a bottom 10 attack. There’s not a whole lot of room for error there, either. Similarly, Spikes has been pretty banged-up and/or particularly ineffective the last couple of seasons, and there’s no guarantee that’s going to change in San Francisco. So what linebacker duo are you speaking of? It can’t possibly include a second-year player (i.e. Lawson, who is technically a third-year player but missed pretty much all of last year) who hasn’t proven himself or the big question mark that is the W-OLB?

by sfgfan on Aug 18, 2008 2:19 PM PDT up 0 recs

umm?

Every team is an injury away from having a bottom 10 rushing attack.

by enut21 on Aug 18, 2008 4:53 PM PDT up 0 recs

Well...

… that MAY be true, but this team is even more susceptible to that pitfall, as the offensive line isn’t some league-dominating unit. I guess I should have just stuck to: “this running back tandem is far from ‘unstoppable’.”

by sfgfan on Aug 19, 2008 8:45 AM PDT up 0 recs

+1

I’m a huge Gore fan, but I wouldnt say unstoppable. Not sure its even top 5 in the league.

by sam23 on Aug 19, 2008 12:12 PM PDT up 0 recs

Yes, and the Patriots are a Tom Brady injury away from having a bottom-ten passing attack.

by Rishi on Aug 20, 2008 9:52 AM PDT up 0 recs

Bottom-ten?

I don’t think so. Matt Cassel is more than capable of getting the ball to the many weapons that offense has. Maybe they fall out of the top 10 (but even then, I think it could be difficult), but they won’t fall into the bottom 10.

Good job on making a redundant remark, by the way.

by sfgfan on Aug 20, 2008 11:15 AM PDT up 0 recs