2008 Picks after Balmer

by GTrain on Mar 11, 2009 2:37 PM PDT

I realize this is really just pouring salt on the wound but I can't help watching Balmer do nothing and think who could be taking his roster spot right now. Given our current draft needs I thought I'd list the guys at each position we could've had. RB was excusable, but I'd realllllllly like to have Kenny Phillips, Chris Lofton or Calais Campbell instead of Balmer.

S - Kenny Phillips, Tom Zbikowski, Dajuan Morgan, Tyrell Johnson

WR - Early Doucet, Mario Manningham, Donnie Avery, DeSean Jackson, Limas Sweed Eddie Royal, Devin Thomas, James Hardy,

LB - Chris Lofton, Dan Connor

RB - Kevin Smith, Matt Forte, Steve Slaton, Ray Rice, Jacob Hester, Tashard Choice

CB - Brandon Flowers, Terrell Thomas

QB - Chad Henne, Brian Brohm, (Dennis Dixon and Booty RD 5) (Brennan and Woodson RD 6)

TE - Jon Carlson, Dustin Kellar, Fred Davis

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 was hoping that’d we go for,
Chad Henne 1st round
Mario Manningham 2nd round
Dan Connor 3rd round

http://49ersboard.blogspot.com/

by supraman on Mar 11, 2009 2:46 PM PDT reply actions

Omissions

I realized I left out DE. Besides Campbell there were Quentin Groves and Philip Merling.

I left out OT too but I really don’t know much about late round OT’s or how theyre doing now

Here’s the link for anyone who wants to check it out http://www.mynfldraft.com/2008/round2/

by GTrain on Mar 11, 2009 3:10 PM PDT reply actions

We should have

Taken Kenny Phillips, and I was shocked when we didnt, but then again Nolan was still around so I supposed I shouldnt have been shocked with anything.

by pbra17 on Mar 11, 2009 3:21 PM PDT reply actions

Yeah, because, you know, it’s easy to judge how good a career will be after a player’s rookie season.

by Viliphied on Mar 11, 2009 4:01 PM PDT reply actions

+1

It’s a little ridiculous to call Balmer a bust at this point. He was in the rotation towards the end of the season.

by bignerd on Mar 11, 2009 5:02 PM PDT up reply actions

I don't think anyone is labelling him a bust

I certainly hope not. It is interesting to see some of the guys we could’ve had, because of the impact they made (or didn’t make) early on.

Balmer always had motivation issues in college until Butch Davis rolled into town. A pro coach got the kid to play hard. If anyone on this level can get something out of Balmer, it will be Mike Singletary’s staff.

I wasn’ thrilled when the 49ers took Balmer, it was the most unsexy pick possible at that point, but I’m eager to see his development in year 2.

by Andrew Davidson on Mar 11, 2009 5:42 PM PDT up reply actions

hindsight

is 20/20

give him time, DLs are notorious for having poor rookie seasons

by foosball4949 on Mar 11, 2009 5:10 PM PDT reply actions

Take a look at

Andre Carter’s rookie season, then look at his second season:

2001: 47 tackles, 6.5 sacks
2002: 54 tackles, 12.5 sacks

Ok, this was a bit of a bad example, because Carter’s rookie season was actually pretty impressive. However, he came close to doubling his sack total in his second season.

Not just DL, but most guys are better in their second year than their first. It’s not always an easy/smooth transition.

by Andrew Davidson on Mar 11, 2009 5:48 PM PDT up reply actions

and we all know that if Balmer doubles his stats

we can look forward to an impressive 14 tackles and (a dozen?) kick returns!!

by foosball4949 on Mar 11, 2009 6:04 PM PDT up reply actions

LOL.

@ the dozen kickoff returns!

by Andrew Davidson on Mar 11, 2009 6:19 PM PDT up reply actions

LoL

Balmer and D. Walker returning kicks. Sigh………

by Blank x2 on Mar 12, 2009 12:33 PM PDT up reply actions

The sad part is...

Balmer’s returns are by sheer happenstance. Walker’s returns are because the team actually believes he can return kicks.

by sfgfan on Mar 12, 2009 2:53 PM PDT up reply actions

lol

hope he gets a little more then that but that was funny

by 49ersAllTheWay on Mar 12, 2009 1:09 AM PDT reply actions

Hopeful

I’m not saying he’s a bust. For a guy who’s had motivation issues, having the coach who drafted him fired in midseason while developing can’t help. I agree if anyone can motivate and influence a defensive player it’s Singletary. On the flip side, as a first round pick he really provided nothing last year for a team that really needed help.

Obviously being in a brawl where you beat another player with your helmet might scare off some teams like the Niners on draft day, but I still wouldn’t mind having Phillips. Lofton was the leader on the Falcon’s D this year and I think Campbell would look great on our line. The Dolphins love Henne and expect him to take over for Pennington.

Anyway, I wouldn’t call him a bust yet, I was just looking at what could have been. Let’s hope something clicks this year.

by GTrain on Mar 12, 2009 7:54 AM PDT reply actions

Hmm.

I’m not saying he’s a bust. For a guy who’s had motivation issues, having the coach who drafted him fired in midseason while developing can’t help.

It can if said coach wasn’t really viewed as much of a motivator at all, anyway!

by sfgfan on Mar 12, 2009 8:51 AM PDT up reply actions

+1

Obviously being in a brawl where you beat another player with your helmet might scare off some teams like the Niners on draft day.

by 5-0 on Mar 12, 2009 10:52 AM PDT up reply actions

How exactly did you come up with your list?

I think I’d still take Balmer over Hester, Manningham, Thomas, Sweed, Hardy, Brohm, Henne, Zbikowski (I stop there and just leave it at that lot of the guys you listed haven’t done much more than Balmer).

It’s also pointless to throw in the names of late round picks unless you’re advocating that the Niners should have drafted Dennis Dixon or Colt Brennan with their first round pick in lieu of Balmer. Picking Balmer in the first didn’t stop the Niners from drafting any of you later round examples.
.

Don't sweat it. I'm illiterate.

by methodrampage on Mar 12, 2009 10:59 AM PDT reply actions

True about later round picks

I’m definitely not suggesting we should’ve taken Hester, Colt Brennan etc. in teh first round, you’re right. I didn’t really mean to suggest that when I started. I titled it “Picks after Balmer” and then started looking deeper for the sake of info. The three I listed up top were the main motivation.

Looking deeper, I wouldn’t mind having jets like Slaton’s to pair with Gore or Jackson returning kicks and running deep routes, or Henne on the QB depth chart. So I would’ve taken some of these guys, maybe traded down to take 2 of them, but it’s about half and half potential picks, or noteworthy picks after.

And I’m just the president of the Dixon fan club really.

by GTrain on Mar 12, 2009 11:10 AM PDT up reply actions