SBN NFL Mock Draft pick: Flexibility with an offensive lineman?

by David Fucillo on Mar 31, 2009 11:00 AM PDT in NFL Draft

So, late last week I put up a post asking for suggestions of who I should select with the 49ers pick in the SB Nation NFL Mock Draft. First off, thanks to everybody who offered suggestions. The Packers ended up going with Everette Brown, so that eliminated that pick as an option.

Given the situation present at that point, I decided to go with Michael Oher, the big, burly offensive tackle out of Ole Miss. In reality, (and I stated this accordingly), I think a trade down remains a distinct possibility. However, given the context of the draft (no trades, which I am fine with), I think Oher was probably the best option available. I realize some folks were screaming for Sanchez, but I just can't pull that trigger. First, I don't see it happening and second, I really would prefer it not happen.

The folks at Mocking the Draft had some interesting analysis about the Oher pick:

I don't necessarily agree with Fooch on San Francisco's quarterback situation. New coach Mike Singletary, could hedge his success on Sanchez (who would be immediately popular with the general fan base). Oher, though, is a sound pick. If the 49ers want to improve, Frank Gore has to have a better line in front of him. Oher could start immediately at left tackle or guard if the team goes with Smith in free agency.

I submitted the pick before the official announcement of the Marvel Smith signing. However, it might still remain a possibility that the team goes for an offensive lineman if Oher or Andre Smith is available at #10. The question though is playing time. With a potentially healthy Marvel Smith slotted for right tackle, do you really want an offensive tackle making top 10 pick money sitting on the bench?

MTD's comment about Oher possibly starting at guard got me thinking about that possibility. Of course, in the current situation, that still could mean Oher/Smith sitting their rookie year. Chilo Rachal is firmly establishing himself as the 49ers right guard and the team has David Baas at left guard. Baas is in his final year under contract, but that still means he'll be around this coming season.

Do the 49ers really want to have a second straight season of a relatively inactive first round pick? Is that the most efficient decision? Because it certainly seems like a very real possibility if the 49ers go with an offensive lineman in the first round. I realize you want to try and draft the best player available, and you want to have as much depth as possible at every position. However, there are financial and playing time issues that do have to play in to any decision. Am I missing something?

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I'd rather have a QB sit for a year than a OT

Just saying.

Don't sweat it. I'm illiterate.

by methodrampage on Mar 31, 2009 11:03 AM PDT reply actions

Would you...

… rather have Maybin or Sanchez? Just curious, as I’m slowly warming up to the idea that Sanchez may be a better option than an OT (only because I still think it’s pretty ridiculous to pay a RT the money a #10 pick gets).

by sfgfan on Mar 31, 2009 11:08 AM PDT up reply actions

Sanchez over Maybin

I’m not at all sold on Maybin. I at least think Sanchez has a high ceiling, whether he comes close to it remains to be seen but the potential is there.

Don't sweat it. I'm illiterate.

by methodrampage on Mar 31, 2009 1:23 PM PDT up reply actions

Makes sense.

I think I’d lean toward Maybin, but who knows how long that’ll hold out for.

by sfgfan on Mar 31, 2009 1:32 PM PDT up reply actions

The thing that I don't get

Is why is it ok for an OT, taken 10th overall, to sit the bench for a year but Balmer is labeled as a bust for doing so.

Don't sweat it. I'm illiterate.

by methodrampage on Mar 31, 2009 7:59 PM PDT up reply actions

Balmer

I think people’s disdain for the pick’s lack of flashiness (for lack of a better word) have made people a little more harsh on the pick. Also, the 49ers didn’t help their cause by originally suggesting/hinting that Balmer may get in on the action at NT (when very clearly to most knowledgeable fans, he wouldn’t be able to play a single snap at NT).

Balmer can definitely surprise a little this year if he is what the 49ers think he could be by taking him in the first. He’s due to split time with Evans, so he’ll get plenty of opportunity to play, I think.

by sfgfan on Apr 1, 2009 9:13 AM PDT up reply actions

Let's give Balmer some time

by Neon on Apr 1, 2009 9:51 AM PDT up reply actions

Agree

With the following players gone (Brian Orakpo, Andre Smith, BJ Raji, Michael Crabtree, Eugene Monroe, Aaron Curry, Matt Stafford, Jason Smith, Everette Brown) and Marvel Smith in the fold my preferences would be (in order):

1. Trade down
2. Maclin (kick returner, deep threat and future #1 receiver to pair with Morgan and Hill)
3. Aaron Maybin (even if he only plays on 3rd down for the first couple years that’s more than a back up OT)
4. Mark Sanchez (agree with methodrampage that I’d rather have a QB sit for a year than an OT)

We can pick up an OT to sit and develop in the 2nd round.

by kiyoshi on Mar 31, 2009 11:11 AM PDT reply actions

+1

Except for Maclin being a kick returner this year, we already have a pretty good one. Maybe down the road, but not right away.

Blind devotion.

by ProfessorBigelow on Mar 31, 2009 11:18 AM PDT up reply actions

Same

I don’t like Maclin for the 49ers, either. I do like the other options, though.

by sfgfan on Mar 31, 2009 12:31 PM PDT up reply actions

OT

You draft on OT in the first round so he plays right away. That’s the way it works in the NFL, that position is easiest to transition. An OT only has to react to one player at a time on the field.

Drafting a QB to sit for a year on the other hand? That makes sense. There is a lot more to learn to that position, not just technique and strength like an OT generally has to improve upon in his rookie season.

I would definitely like to see the 49ers trade down, and pick up Josh Freeman if they are going to sit a QB for a year. Stafford and Sanchez both put out the vibe that they can and will want to start right away. Freeman, on the other hand, is the next Daunte Culpepper, where he’ll need a year to sit before he flourishes. Consider Stafford this draft’s Matt Ryan, Sanchez this draft’s Joe Flacco, and Freeman as this draft’ss Chad Henne.

In other words, Stafford will start right away for a team that will rebound from the previous season. See: Detroit Lions.

Sanchez will start and efficiently not lose games for a team that thrives on defense. See: New York Jets.

Freeman will get drafted by a team needing a franchise QB for the future, but not necessarily immediately. See: San Francisco 49ers, Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears.

That’s my take anyway. I know Henne was drafted by the Dolphins and they landed Pennington miraculously after, but its debatable that Henne wasn’t drafted to start immediately. Plus he was the third QB taken, and Freeman will likely be the 3rd off the board as well.

by Andrew Davidson on Mar 31, 2009 11:19 AM PDT reply actions

Also

I’d like to offer the following trade scenario:

San Francisco trades Pick #10 (1300) and Pick #146 (33) to the New York Jets for Pick #17 (950), Pick #78 (195) and Pick #81 (185). The 49ers actually lose 3 points, but they have a 5th round compensatory selection to make up for the 5th rounder they trade to the Jets.

The 49ers would then have 5 selections in the first 3 rounds to address needs: OLB, OT, DB, WR, RB. Or they could take a chance on a QB like Freeman among those picks, and still address 4 absolute needs in the meantime.

by Andrew Davidson on Mar 31, 2009 11:35 AM PDT up reply actions

that'd be fine by me

by foosball4949 on Mar 31, 2009 11:56 AM PDT up reply actions

I wouldn't mind that

That’s a pretty smart analysis. Even though I tend to get wrapped up in the excitement of an early pick at times, I like the thought of even more picks in the first 2 or 3 rounds way better.

by jonesin25 on Mar 31, 2009 3:58 PM PDT up reply actions

really?

“An OT only has to react to one player at a time on the field.”

Tell that to Dick LeBeau. Not that I’m disagreeing about it being an easier transition, but its not quite that simple.

by Chuckcottle on Mar 31, 2009 1:40 PM PDT up reply actions

Well

an OT isn’t assigned to block two players at a time. He’s usually given assignment to one guy on a play. I’ve never heard of an offensive scheme built for an OT to block two guys at once.

by Andrew Davidson on Mar 31, 2009 1:43 PM PDT up reply actions

Two-gapping OTs!

by sfgfan on Apr 1, 2009 9:14 AM PDT up reply actions

One of the biggest mistakes teams make

is being shortsighted in the draft. You can’t draft by what players you have that year but you have to anticipate moves and personnel changes later down the line. That’s part of what makes the Pats so successful. I, for one, am not counting on Marvel Smith for just about anything, especially long term. Draft the best player available and improve your overall team, then fill gaps short term through FA.

by foosball4949 on Mar 31, 2009 11:57 AM PDT reply actions

But long-term, is RT still a bigger need than QB? A lot of people have talked about the fact that Smith and Hill are only under contract for two years and I personally expect neither to be a career pro-bowler. If you consider Marvel Smith and either QB the stop-gap, which position is a bigger need long-term? And remember, teams commonly find starting RTs later in the draft. If the player is going to sit, I’d rather go with the QB, as the odds of later-round QBs becoming decent starters are miniscule.

When it's all said and done, America will be remembered for three things: The Bill of Rights, jazz, and baseball.

by cornball on Mar 31, 2009 12:04 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm not sure the Starter argument should be used a barometer

At this point no matter what position we draft in the 1st round there is a strong chance that player won’t start right away.

QB – Umm, No
OLB/DE – Has to get past Manny and Paris who will both be probably given a month to prove themselves.
NT – At best would rotate in with Franklin
WR – Maybe, at least in the rotation
OT – Probably not, but lineman tend to get hurt so expect this pick to be starting a few games in the least
CB – rookie CB in the game . . . watch out
RB – No, but will get some downs

by bignerd on Mar 31, 2009 12:18 PM PDT reply actions

Huh?

Oher could start immediately at left tackle or guard

Really? Move Staley BACK to right tackle or draft at guard at the ten spot? Who is this joker?

by daveofferson on Mar 31, 2009 1:03 PM PDT reply actions

Please use reply

Blind devotion.

by ProfessorBigelow on Mar 31, 2009 1:13 PM PDT up reply actions

he's not replying to anybody

He was just quoting from the post I have above.

by David Fucillo on Mar 31, 2009 1:19 PM PDT up reply actions

Was thinking the same thing about Staley

I recall some mention somewhere about Staley going back to right tackle, but I really don’t see that happening.

by David Fucillo on Mar 31, 2009 1:20 PM PDT up reply actions

The only...

… justification anyone has for moving Staley back to RT is because of the salary hierarchy. Staley, in my opinion, is a great asset to the team not only because he’s shown he can handle left tackle, but that the fact he can frees up millions for the 49ers to spend on other aspects (not offensive line related). Taking a tackle in the top 10 kind of kills that additional value Staley has to the team.

by sfgfan on Mar 31, 2009 1:33 PM PDT up reply actions

All this really points to a pass rusher being the best choice in the first round. We don’t want to see a QB taken and we seem to be OK at OT for the short term. That leaves an OLB as the one who would give the best immediate impact.

by Chuckcottle on Mar 31, 2009 1:41 PM PDT reply actions

That doesn't justify moving Staley to RT

Saving money doesn’t justify moving a player from one position to another especially if it effects the performance of the o-line. Resigning Staley is something will have to worry about in two years and although a solid lineman he hasn’t proven to be the franchise type yet and its not like we dont have the cap space to retain are young players. If Orakpo & Everette are gone at #10 then we need to pick up a OT he would still getting playing time. It would be a Miracle if our o-line was healthy the whole year. Qb would be a waste at that pick for this year at least we have other concerns to address before that and unless Crabtree is available then no thank you on the rest of the wr’s at 10.

by niners83 on Mar 31, 2009 2:17 PM PDT reply actions

Marvel Smith- The Lord's gift

Marvel Smith’s addition to the 49er franchise is a blessing, especially if you are drafting at #10. Maclin is the pick. Loadholt should be there in the 2nd round. Maclin is faster than any receiver we have. His speed is freakish, it reminds me of Rice (No Real COmparison) Jerry that is, when he has the ball he runs at a different speed. He will stretch the field for the RB’s, make life easier for Smith( yeah Smith, I’m thinking this will be like the Grossman situation, Owner or GM just can’t let it go that you wasted the pick)

I’m thinking the Raiders will take Maclin since they missed out on Calvin Johnson.

1 Maclin

by rlott#42 on Mar 31, 2009 4:36 PM PDT reply actions

OT

I am perfectly fine with drafting an OT. Even if they don’t start
1. Could have a year or 2 to develop
2. Marvel Smith could mentor him
3. If he could be apart of a rotation to rest Staley/Smith
4. He take Smith’s job if he’s injury

by iaalexeeff on Mar 31, 2009 6:59 PM PDT reply actions

QB

We need a QB.. Singletary said he wanted to get backto what made the 49ers dominate in the 80’s and that was a proficient passing attack supported by a srong running game. Alex Smith is a bust and they shoud just admit it. Sanchez would be a perfect fit for this team… He ran the offense in college and I guarantee will be a pro bowler by his third year if he isn’t sitting. Smith never played under center in Utah and can’t adjust…he only seems to be accurate in the 2 minute offense. And with injuries the last two years to his throwing shoulder..it a wash..he cant stay healthy..A Hill is just not the answer..And there are plenty of quality OL’s in this years draft. 2nd rd is better option to find one.

by SimpleePoetik on Apr 1, 2009 12:58 AM PDT reply actions

I would love to see you guys pick Alex Mack

if only to keep Cal players in the Bay Area like Aaron Rodgers and Desean Jackson should’ve been!

In other words, Go Bears!

by royrules22 on Apr 1, 2009 3:12 AM PDT reply actions

Not another QB

This team really isn’t that far away from being a legit NFC contender and the shift from Martz/O’Sullivan to a ball control offense is instantly worth +1 in the win column in my opinion.

If we take Singletary’s gameplan into consideration, it appears that the Niners need help the most in three areas: Pass rushing DE, Physical CB, Power HB

These are the only players I see that fit those areas and are worth a top 10-15 pick:

DE Everette Brown
DE Aaron Maybin
CB Malcolm Jenkins
HB Chris Wells

I’d rank them in the above order.

I think CB is fairly deep this year and the Niners can pick up a solid guy in the 2nd/3rd rounds. With either Brown or Maybin likely available, you take that and build the draft from there.

2nd round hopefuls: CB Vontae Davis, FS William Moore, CB/FS Sean Smith, DE Michael Johnson, OG Herman Johnson, DT Fili Moala

3rd round hopefuls: OLB Clint Sintim, CB Victor Harris, HB Andre Brown, DE Paul Kruger

Rays in '08.... Desmond Jennings - the breakout continues.....

by youALREADYknow on Apr 1, 2009 4:46 PM PDT reply actions

Hopefuls

I think your hope for Davis to be there in the second is an extreme wishing kind of hope, as he’s set to be the second DB off the board (probably after Jenkins). Heck, some people believe he may actually be the first DB off the board.

I’d be okay with Brown if Raji and Crabtree were both off the board. I’d be okay with Maybin and Jenkins if Orakpo AND Brown were off the board. I’m pretty iffy about Wells at #10, though. Matter or fact, I’d much rather them take Vontae Davis than Wells.

by sfgfan on Apr 1, 2009 4:50 PM PDT up reply actions

Agreed

I’m assuming that Raji, Orakpo, and Crabtree are long gone by pick #10. I’d put Vontae Davis in the same class as Wells since both are players I wouldn’t spend a top 10 pick on.

Rays in '08.... Desmond Jennings - the breakout continues.....

by youALREADYknow on Apr 1, 2009 5:42 PM PDT up reply actions