Resurrection of the Devil's Advocate

by supraman on Nov 23, 2009 9:10 AM PST

This was posted on May 4th 2009.

Gather round members. Here's how are offseason went so far, from the other side of the bridge. No 49er bias included in this story.

1. Hiring Singletary

A fiery emotional HOF linebacker that gave the 49ers the motivation to go out 5-4 through the last 9 games of the season. Or did he? Could it be possible that this was the affect Shaun Hill had on the team. I give credit to Singletary for benching JTO, but is it possible that if Nolan was still there that Shaun Hill could of went on to have the same 5-3 starting record? Now, I've never liked Nolan since he's been the HC for the 49ers, mainly because the 2005 1st Overall pick who's name shall not be mentioned. It was sort of enjoyable to watch the 2 feud, but that's about all the good that came from Nolan. Singletary's only mistake so far was not getting that timeout at the end of the Cardinal, which I think he still kicks himself over. The 49ers have been competitive ever since the pants incident, nice to know you can expect a team that "wants it" when they walk out onto the field on game day.

2. Hiring Raye

Is he the right guy for our players, unlike Martz? Still unsure about this one. It's not too assuring when your 1st choice Scott Linehan rather go to the Lions then become a OC for who some would say is an maybe a playoff contender in 09. What I don't understand here is, is that Scott Linehan's offense is known for passing. It's no Martz scheme but Linehan does run a moderately heavy pass offense. Census would believe Jimmy Raye is bringing a completely different offense to the table. Raye If I remember correctly was only interviewed once and was pretty much hired on the spot. Was it a desperate move by SF or was Sing that sold on Raye?

3. PreDraft - FA

Key additions: Marvel Smith, Brandon Jones, Damon Huard, Demetric Evans. Marvel Smith is a cheaper Jonas Jennings. Brandon Jones an overpaid run-blocker that hasn't done anything in his NFL career to earn 3 mil a year, would've been cheaper to keep Bryant Johnson. Huard a good signing predraft. Demetric Evans adds depth, an okay signing predraft.

4. THE DRAFT

The Draft through my eyes went as follows. "With the 10th overall pick of the 2009 NFL draft the 49ers select Michael Crabtree." There were mixed feelings with this pick. It's difficult to not like the potentially great Crabtree but there were other needs. With 8 more picks to go I had full confidence that McCloughan would address them. Trade 2nd round and 4th round pick to the Panthers with Brown, Barwin, Beatty still on the board, for a future 1st? Seattle just traded their 2nd round pick straight up for a future 1st with the Broncos!? It was just the beginning, in the 3rd round the 49ers select Glen Coffee. Coffee not even the best back on Alabama selected too early here, a reach possibly because McCloughan traded away our 4th round pick. 5th round, Jamon Meredith who was a projected 2nd rounder is still on the board, maybe McC foresaw this drop?Instead McC goes McKillop. Seeing Green Bay select Meredith was the dagger. Nate Davis, Bear Pascoe, Curtis Taylor, Ricky Jeanfrancois. 1 of 4 needs selected on draft day.

The perfect draft would of been: Oher, Rashad Johnson, Deon Butler, Sammy Lee Hill, Duke Robinson, Nate Davis, Kevin Ellison, Tyrell Sutton, Maurice Evans.

5. UDFA

Finally something McCloughan got right. He said that these would be the best UDFA signings and they were, congratulations our practice squad is arguably the best in the league. Now, only if the 49ers were arguably the best team in the league.

6. Postdraft FA

Hope we the fans aren't suppose to expect anything out of Marques Harris.

Brandon Jones and Demetric Evans signings now seem irrelevant.

I guess the 49ers are carrying 4 QBs this year? (2005 1st overall pick, Hill, Huard, Davis) How many RBs? (Gore, Clayton, Robinson, Sheets, Coffee)

--------------------------

By the way, my prediction on the season record has always been 6-10.

For the people who said Sanchez is better than Stafford.. (MStafford 11TD/14INT, MSanchez 10TD/16INT)

We're almost eliminated from the race to go to the playoffs. Which means I'll be on NN full-time again, spewing my pessimism in every story and every FanPost.

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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Comments

Couple things

I think its impossible to review a draft so soon, but on principle I would say that picking for need with a #10 pick will usually be the wrong way to go……you need to grab top talent there, unless its a total redundancy like QB or LT. I like how Crabtree has turned out, but we’ll see how that goes over the years.

And Demetric Evans got a good bit of playing time yesterday, and was in on a couple of plays. Lots of rotation on the DL giving guys like him and Balmer a chance to play.

by Stoned Slacker on Nov 23, 2009 10:30 AM PST reply actions

BEAR PASCOE WAS OUR FUTURE

Well, we're waiting....

by drummer on Nov 23, 2009 10:36 AM PST reply actions

Did I read the Lions are a likely playoff team?

by bignerd on Nov 23, 2009 10:38 AM PST reply actions

clarification

I think he meant to say Lions rather THAN (as opposed to then). So I’m guessing that sentence is saying the 49ers were a likely playoff team?

by David Fucillo on Nov 23, 2009 10:39 AM PST up reply actions

Exactly what I meant

http://www.49ersboard.blogspot.com

by supraman on Nov 23, 2009 1:01 PM PST up reply actions

Draft

I can’t fault the draft. Crabtree is going to be a star. McKillop has looked good in the time he’s gotten. Nate Davis showed some good moves in the preseason and may be a good QB. The others haven’t gotten any playing time (not unusual for late draft picks), so I can’t fault the draft decisions.

by smileyman on Nov 23, 2009 11:32 AM PST reply actions

I personally lay a lot of fault at the draft.

watching the Patriots trade down twice in the first round and eventually ending up with 4 2nd round selections, made us look stupid IMO to draft Crabtree at 10. I will argue all day that plenty of teams were salavating at Crabtree that were drafting behind the niners. Oher could have been had, plus an additional 2nd for (take your pick) and still being able to complete the trade with the Panthers for a 2010 1st rounder. Leaving our QB under better protection, and lets face it to date Crabtree’s presence has not helped this team muster up any wins. We have had a lot of injuries, Gore has not had enough carries despite missing three games, is it possible Oher and a D Back or an additional OLB could have made our team more fundamentally sound? People criticize our team not running a spread offense, but fail to realize that it takes away too much from Gore. Our offense not being able to pass downfield with a QB lined up under center is the biggest reason we can only pass downfield in the spread. Jones, Hill, Morgan, and Bruce would have done just fine especially with Smith or Hill given time.

In regards to the Hiring of Sing, I still think it is why the niners went 5-4 down the stretch, benching Hill and putting the grip on Martz being so pass happy. What kind of OC ignores V Davis as a passing option when he is still our best receivin option. As far as jimmy Raye is concerned I really feel that he knows his time here will be short and will be followed up by our QB coach within the same system which will bode well for the offense moving forward. Davis has amassed more TD receptions this season than his whole career (8 this year and 9 for his career, close enough). Yeah thats Raye’s offense the same happened to Gonzalez (check the stats, still one of his best seasons to date.)

At least we do have that 1st rounder in 2010, but we again are looking around the corner at next year and that fault I lay on the draft of 05-09. Willis, Gore, Staley, Lawson, and maybe one other player are good picks, but passing on D Jack for Balmer remains to be a thorn every time he shows his butt off for the Eagles. We need to pay attention to the fact that you can’t teach speed, but with the right position coaches it can be molded into a beneficial player (doesn’t have to be a hall of famer)

I will be right here supraman, just call me optimist prime, still believing that the numbers indicate the Niners can get to the playoffs this season.

"Optimist Prime"
I'll say it over and over Crabtree was not the pick we NEEDED, at least until he scores with 100yds receiving.

by rlott#42 on Nov 23, 2009 1:24 PM PST reply actions

I think the jury is still out on Crabtree

Yes rlott#42, Crabtree...can block

by 10forTech on Nov 25, 2009 6:50 PM PST up reply actions

Atleast he's an honest pessimist

"Bar None!" - William Floyd

by maveric_87 on Nov 27, 2009 4:48 PM PST reply actions

IT WAS DEFENITELY SHAUN HILL THAT WON THOSE GAMES, WAKE UP NINER FANS !!

I defenitely give Mike Singletary huge credit for motivating the team and the kick ass defense, but Shaun Hill won those 7 out of 10 games by himself, with hardly any help from the Offensive line or the poor play calling…

Why did the 49ers win and Alex Smith look so good all of a sudden ? Real simple ! Just put him in the Shotgun position and stop running the ball every down with a crappy Offensive line. The Shotgun formation gave Alex Smith more time to look around and pass. Shaun Hill was winning when he was in the Shotgun formation also. But then he was forced to come up to center and hurry every play. And they was running on 1st and second down also, leaving Shaun Hill in a stressful situation, to try and make up for the loss of yards, on 3rd down when the Defense knows you are going to pass, so they set up pass formation to stop you. So now Alex Smith gets Shaun Hills job because of poor play calling. Sounds very unfair to me…. SHAUN HILL ROCKS !!

by KORY SHEETS WAS OUR FUTURE on Dec 7, 2009 12:03 AM PST reply actions