49ers QB issues: Marc Bulger for the short term anyone?
by David Fucillo (Fooch) on Nov 24, 2009 10:00 AM PST
in News
72 comments
Before anybody loses their lunch over this, or flips out on me, I'm just posting this out of curiosity. I'm not advocating one way or the other on this. So take a deep breath before posting your response.
The Rams announced yesterday that QB Marc Bulger is likely to miss 3-6 weeks with a broken tibia. In reporting on this, Mike Sando commented that this could be the end for Bulger in St. Louis. He's scheduled to make $8.5 million next season and has three years after that worth almost $30 million. As Sando said, it "was going to make it tough for the Rams to justify keeping him unless Bulger played at a high level while the Rams won a few games down the stretch." Over the course of this season, Bulger has had two good to really good games: last week against New Orleans (26/40, 298 yards, 2/1) and a few more weeks before that at Jacksonville (22/34, 213 yards, 1/1). Not great, but certainly some skilled performances.
Is that enough to warrant bringing him back in St. Louis? I don't know their cap space, and I don't know what their plans are with what will be a very high draft pick. But say St. Louis decided to release him to start clearing up cap space. I've said it in the comments somewhere else, and I'll say it again, the current crop of free agent quarterbacks is rather miserable. Your two best QB options are Kyle Orton and Jason Campbell. Some may like one or the other, but clearly this is not a high caliber group.
And so I thought I'd at least put this out there for people to chew on. Say the end of the season arrives, and Alex Smith has not really shown enough to warrant keeping him around. And say you improve the offensive line in the offseason, because whomever is there will need to be kept alive in some fashion. Whether you go look to groom Nate Davis, or you decide to draft a young QB high in the draft, would you bring in Bulger for a Chris Chandler type of role (mentoring Steve McNair)? A guy who can play for a year or two and bring more than Trent Dilfer brought to the table. A guy who can help you develop that young QB.
I'm not saying this has any remote chance of happening. And even if it was on the radar, I'm not saying I'd agree or disagree with such a move at this point. Bulger has struggled the last three or so years, but one can say that has coincided with some miserable Rams teams that have combined for 6 wins during that time. I'm not saying it would work, but is anybody intrigued by such an option? Or is this a pointless exercise?
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No thank you
They call their best player "Kung Fu Panda" and they complain that people aren’t taking them or the game seriously enough? -Nick
No Way
I still think Smith needs some time behind a decent OL that doesn’t have him on his back every other play. If he’s comfortable, he can make all the throws. You can’t blame him for running for his life everytime the ball is snapped. If Smith doesn’t pan out, I’d like to see Davis out there. I don’t think we need to draft a QB this year and I don’t think we need a quick fix. We should be trying to develop our future QB, be it Alex Smith or Nate Davis.
by return2greatness on Nov 24, 2009 10:11 AM PST reply actions
I would rather have Smith than Bulger right now
49ers Al Grito De Guerra!!! hahaha
by 49erSalvatrucha on Nov 24, 2009 10:19 AM PST up reply actions
Isn't
Jeff Garcia unemployed at the moment? If you’re looking for a mentor type, why not one who’s had somewhat consistent success and a history with the franchise?
We'll see them again in the playoffs! What channel is it on?
bad thought.
I don't know about that, to the groin.
by howtheyscored on Nov 24, 2009 10:41 AM PST up reply actions
no
no.
no.
no.
no.
no.
no.
no.
…..
no.
STEVE HOLM! refuses to be the odd man out.
by UnleashTheGore on Nov 24, 2009 11:01 AM PST up reply actions
No.
Never thought too much of him as a player, even at his peak. Guy simply can’t stay healthy now. Imagine if we had the OT injury situation with FAs we’ve had the last few years at QB. people on NN would flip their #@$%^
QB not a problem
Right now, the Niners need consistency more than anything else. It is clear that the Niners can make plays every now and then. Alex Smith is playing at a decent level right now when he has time to throw. People think that he makes more plays when he’s in spread shotgun, but he actually made some plays behind center too. The difference is always protection.
Unfortunately, at this point in time, the Niners are beat to crap and don’t have much depth on the O-line. You take what your personnel gives you. This means Max Protect all the way on passing plays. More and more teams are doing this anyways because of the elite defenses that are out there now. Don’t stick Nate Davis in a situation where he can get clobbered unless you have to.
That being said, I’m glad Dennis Dixon isn’t starting against the Ravens. It’s a bad game to start your career with.
I don't think we're talken;
Like this actually is going to happen.
by Natural Red on Nov 24, 2009 10:37 AM PST up reply actions
Vince Young
You can be as elusive as Vince Young or Steve Young, but will still get sacked if you don’t have any protection. Marc Bulger is certainly not that elusive and holds onto the ball too long.
Let's fix the O-Line and Defense...
and maybe draft another WR before we go quarterback shopping again. Considering Smith has played 4.5 games this season, he’s doing well. He’s made some bad decisions and there have been some timing as well as communication issues but mechanically, Smith is much improved – his accuracy is better, he’s releasing the ball quicker, he’s moving around the pocket.
Let’s give everyone some time to develop chemistry before we just go and junk it and start over, again, for the 5th time in 5 years.
The OL definitely needs to be fixed and also they need time to work together
As is the OL needs the time to learn to work as a unit and Smith and the receivers also need.
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, either way, YOU'RE RIGHT !"
Marck?
I don't know about that, to the groin.
by howtheyscored on Nov 24, 2009 10:52 AM PST up reply actions
Could be short for Marcus
Would you trust him if he called himself “Marcus”?
We'll see them again in the playoffs! What channel is it on?
I would very much like to have Orton or Campbell, both solid Q/Bs, and I think Campbell has just been stuck with a really lousy team. I’d much rather try to use our draft picks to clean up the offensive line, and sign one of these two for a few years at Q/B.
STEVE HOLM! refuses to be the odd man out.
by UnleashTheGore on Nov 24, 2009 11:02 AM PST reply actions
Texas Tech
Let’s get Harrell from the CFL and reunite him with Crabtree.
Campbell’s high interception rate this year is alarming, but in a really lousy offense he’s putting up easily the best season of his career in nearly every other significant statistical category. It’s hard to say whether he’s turned the corner or not, but he could absolutely benefit by getting the heck out of Dodge. Dodge being Washington in this case.
I don't know about that, to the groin.
by howtheyscored on Nov 24, 2009 11:14 AM PST up reply actions
I'd rather Dante Culpepper than Bulger.
Well, we're waiting....
by drummer on Nov 24, 2009 11:12 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
I like thinking that both of those nouns are actually verbs in this sentence.
I don't know about that, to the groin.
by howtheyscored on Nov 24, 2009 11:14 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Bulger? Why not? She’s not my sister.
I don't know about that, to the groin.
by howtheyscored on Nov 24, 2009 11:25 AM PST up reply actions
Nate is Gr8
Get a good o-line. Stick Nate in there, Why spen money on wash up qb that don’t get the job done..
I'd take him
If he falls to the 6th round.
by return2greatness on Nov 24, 2009 12:02 PM PST up reply actions
Do we really need to cut another late-round tight end?
"It came down like a punt, Coach!" - Josh Morgan
I'd rather have Tebow under center than Marc Bulger
I’d also change the line of scrimmage cadence so Tebow has to look in the backfield each play and yell out to Gore, “Florida is the new U”.
No Bulger
No Alex Smith
No Shaun Hill
I want none of them on our roster next year. I want our first 3 draft picks to be tackle, pass rusher, and guard. If we cannot do that we will be 7-9 or worse next season.
Lately
I have been bagging on Alex Smith but Smith isn’t the problem it’s the offensive line. Injuries and bad depth have really hurt this line if we can get couple free agent OL and defensive help we should be way better. Smith is alright, I only say this cuz there is no good qb option this year via free agency say for instance a Tony Romo, or Donovan McNabb. I’m not saying they would leave there respective teams but I’m only saying if they WERE free agents which there not.
by 49ersAllTheWay on Nov 24, 2009 12:20 PM PST reply actions
How about they release Hill and sign Rhett Bomar from the NY Giants practice squad?
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, either way, YOU'RE RIGHT !"
That way the 49ers would have two young QBs that can possibly be a QB of the future..
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, either way, YOU'RE RIGHT !"
And 2 totally unproven young guys behind Smith should...
his shoulder get ruined again. Even if the line is upgraded next year, there’ll be guys that don’t have a lot of time together and maybe some rookies. It’ll probably be something of a challenge keeping the QB upright next year, too, although hopefully a smaller one. I’d sign Orton. He isn’t going to eclipse Montana or Young or even Jeff Garcia, or anything. All the same, strangely enough, both the Bears and the Broncos so far seem to have ended up with better results with him under center than they did with Cutler. In the case of the Bears, he was certainly better than Grossman. Denver was also better with a lamed Orton last Sunday than they were with a fresh, relatively healthy Ryan Simms. The offense became noticeably more efficient when they sent Orton limping onto the field. It would be sort of like having a version of Hill that has a slightly better arm and can make a few more throws. Orton’s put together one or two 300 yard games, which Hill never will, and Smith hasn’t managed yet.
Also noticed that Jacob Bender OT/OG is on the Giants practice squad..
He did ok before…
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, either way, YOU'RE RIGHT !"
"he did ok before..."
Did he? I don’t recall him ever seeing the field.
"It came down like a punt, Coach!" - Josh Morgan
Case Keenum
probably could get him in 3rd round or later too
We don't need short term answers we need long term
Alex needs to prove that he can string together complete games
Thank you Al Davis for Michael Crabtree!!!!!
revamp the o-line with guys who 'know' how to block, then
d-line…because while our QB situation is questionable, the blocking up front is only ‘occasionally’ there. IF Alex had more time in the pocket…who knows? Look on the bright side though, our o-line in 2005 was far worse back then versus where it is now and half of the games we’ve lost this year have been decided by 3 or 4 pts. We’re on the cusp of something good here…just missing a few pieces.
as for Bulger, I'd have to pass.
he’s not a Ryan Leaf but he’s no Joe Montana either. let him be some other team’s experimental QB.
thats a no go for Marc
I really do not think he would be the short term answer; it has been in my experience as an football fan that old and slow do not work unless your name is Brett Favre(whom I’d hate to say is having an mvp year…21 and 3?..wow). I think the 49ers would be better off letting Alex Smith handle that offense for the next couple years under raye(yes raye will be there next year).
I really have been impressed with what Alex Smith has done so far this year. It has not been great but i feel he’s the best option for the 49ers at the moment. And I disagree with anyone who thinks the 49ers should draft a qb in the first round. The 49ers need much more than a qb at the moment; i mean if the qb was the answer of all problems on a nfl team the Detroit Lions would be much better(and stafford is a good qb). I would not be surprised if the 49ers draft 2 lineman in the first round..oline and dline respectively.
"Of all the things in the world losing isn't so bad; it just starts to feel like it does when you do it for so long"
in other news
Matt Roth is on the waiver wire. He was stellar at Univ. of Iowa and part of the playoff team for Miami last year. Plays in a 3-4 well.
Many teams will put in claims. With spikes going down and having nagging injuries, coupled with some lack of performance from our OLB’s…might be worth putting in a claim.
Matt Roth
not a bad idea. Which means: good idea i guess. Do we have roster room? (who would you cut?)
There aren't enough healthy DBs to cut Roman.
If Roth were signed, I’d cut Balmer.
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