ESPN: 49ers on the clock

by David Fucillo on Apr 7, 2009 12:00 PM PDT in NFL Draft

I don't have any sound where I'm at so I haven't had an opportunity to view this. It was part of Mike Sando's On the Clock piece about the 49ers. Nothing wildly shocking about it. He lists several scenarios for the 49ers. The dream scenario is listed as either Crabtree with a slightly less dreamy scenario being if one of the top 4 offensive linemen fell to them given Marvel Smith's health history. Plan B is rolling the dice on a QB. While it's not an exciting pick, I'm leaning more and more towards just going OL to create considerable depth in 2009 and a new starter in 2010. More to come on that.

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If Crabtree is the dream scenario at 10, lets get him at 12

Assuming that Sanchez is still available, lets trade with DEN so they can snatch up Sanchez and we can get an extra 3rd rd pick for our troubles…Buffalo’s at 11, and I seriously doubt theyll draft a WR given that they have TO, Evans, Hardy (who they drafted early last year) and Parrish.

Needless to say I am excited about having a VD and Crabs receiving corps…even moreso than the thought of a Bush-Gore platoon 3 years ago

by VD cant be Contained on Apr 7, 2009 1:02 PM PDT reply actions

LOL...

That way our offense will give opposing defenses VD, Crabs or a BRUUUUUUUCE!

Joe and Steve were under the same system for years... don't expect Smith to be super so soon.

by bayboy on Apr 7, 2009 1:18 PM PDT reply actions

I'm officially sold now.

Gotta get Crabtree. That VD, Crabs or BRUUUUUUCE line was too awesome not to pursue. :-)

by Ovalshine on Apr 7, 2009 1:36 PM PDT reply actions

manny lawson

isnt a bad football player, he’s good when healthy

by Dub4lif3 on Apr 7, 2009 1:43 PM PDT reply actions

yeah

people just hate on him for not being a pass rusher. I always thought he was misused under Nolan. I still think he could be intriguing as a pass rusher, I’d like to see him go to DE in nickel situations.

by foosball4949 on Apr 7, 2009 3:07 PM PDT up reply actions

If he was misused under Nolan...

… how to you propose he should be used?

First of all, Nolan and/or McCloughan didn’t have many plans for Lawson as a pass rusher almost from the beginning. They lined up up on the strong-side when there was no really good weak-side candidate. What does this mean? The felt like he would be better utilized in coverage, rather than blitzing.

Secondly, during all of that big-sub nonsense of last year, the 49ers coaching staff apparently didn’t feel that Lawson was very good in coverage either, as they benched him in that package in favor of who? Oh yeah, it was Spikes, an aging veteran who isn’t regarded as an OLB anymore (in any system) because he doesn’t really have the quickness to keep up with today’s TEs.

Basically, yes, Manny Lawson has loads of potential (or is it had?). He has had plenty of opportunities (of all the rookies the 49ers draft, he was probably one of only a few who actually got to play early in his career) to take advantage of and has failed to. I’m not saying he’s a total failure, but unless he shows more, he’s definitely very replaceable.

by sfgfan on Apr 7, 2009 3:16 PM PDT up reply actions

I feel like it’s been universally agreed that Nolan’s hybrid 3-4/4-3 defense wasn’t a good defense. If that’s the case, how much stock should really be put into how Nolan used Lawson?

I'm thinking but nothing's happening.

by JRPhillips on Apr 8, 2009 10:15 AM PDT up reply actions

There's...

… nothing wrong with the scheme. The Patriots and Ravens, if I’m not mistaken, also use some sort of hybrid scheme. The difference between them and Nolan’s version of the 49ers, is that Nolan didn’t have the personnel to pull it off. Lawson is just a small part of that lack of personnel.

by sfgfan on Apr 8, 2009 10:50 AM PDT up reply actions

But if he was misused in that type of defense, could he still be used appropriately in a strictly 3-4 defense?

I'm thinking but nothing's happening.

by JRPhillips on Apr 8, 2009 12:33 PM PDT up reply actions

It's possible...

… but considering how many people feel he isn’t a pass rusher (which I think the 49ers front office, or at least McCloughan probably feels), what use does he have in a 3-4 OLB spot? If his coverage skills have proven to be decent at best, and he never showed enough of a pass rush ability to even be considered to be used as a pass rusher previously, is he really of any value?

I’m not writing him completely off. Lawson can surprise everyone, for all I know. I just think it’s highly unlikely. So unlikely that I don’t think you can pass up a good pass rusher if he’s at the top of your draft board just because Lawson exists.

by sfgfan on Apr 8, 2009 2:24 PM PDT up reply actions

It’s funny, I was thinking you can’t pass up a pass rusher at the top of your draft board because of Haralson, but you make a great point about Lawson. I just really want to see him become the man, but it doesn’t appear very likely, it sounds like…

I'm thinking but nothing's happening.

by JRPhillips on Apr 8, 2009 4:23 PM PDT up reply actions

I reallllllly...

… like Lawson. He’s a pretty high character guy (which is why I think Nolan and McCloughan were so high on him they traded up to get him). He’s my favorite LB in Madden other than Willis. I hope he at least turns out to be decent, but I can’t help but be skeptical.

by sfgfan on Apr 8, 2009 5:04 PM PDT up reply actions

I really want to argue that you must be wrong because he’s freakin’ awesome in Madden… But obviously what happens in Madden, you know… STAYS in Madden.

I'm thinking but nothing's happening.

by JRPhillips on Apr 8, 2009 8:36 PM PDT up reply actions

He's especially awesome...

… in Madden when you blitz him from the outside with no TE on it, and shift the defensive line that way and make them “crash” that way. Crazy speed around the edge!

by sfgfan on Apr 10, 2009 8:45 AM PDT up reply actions

Extra weight?

I’m curious if his extra weight (apparently he showed up ~250 lb. instead of the ~235 lb. he had been playing at) helps add power that could help in the pass rush.

I’m still open to him being a legit starter but I think this is his make or break year. If he doesn’t do much this year I think the Niners will need to make other plans at starting OLB.

by Neon on Apr 7, 2009 6:59 PM PDT up reply actions

I think that...

… coincidentally, he’s in his last year of his contract, no?

by sfgfan on Apr 8, 2009 8:53 AM PDT up reply actions

He may not be a bad football player...

… but he has definitely shown to be replaceable.

by sfgfan on Apr 7, 2009 3:12 PM PDT up reply actions

This

He’s certainly a useful guy, but he’s just not a great fit for our scheme. He looks more and more like 4-3 Sam and not a 3-4 rush OLB (which is what both OLBs need to be).

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

by cornball on Apr 8, 2009 6:01 AM PDT up reply actions

McCluin?

by Sultan of Seitan on Apr 8, 2009 10:04 AM PDT reply actions

Can we start referring to McCloughan as McLovin?

I’m just sayin’

by Neon on Apr 8, 2009 12:24 PM PDT up reply actions

consider me intrigued

Not sure if I’m sold yet, but I think that has definite possibilities.

by David Fucillo on Apr 8, 2009 12:34 PM PDT up reply actions

Is he a 25-year-old organ donor from Hawaii?

I'm thinking but nothing's happening.

by JRPhillips on Apr 8, 2009 4:23 PM PDT up reply actions

Allll depends on the draft...

Blind devotion.

by ProfessorBigelow on Apr 9, 2009 6:54 AM PDT up reply actions

So who is the face of the Niners - Singletary???

Winning teams have winning qbs that are leaders. Look at the the rest of the NFL.. The niners don’t have a leader with either Hill or Smith and neither is a franchise QB. Sanchez brings leadership and football instincts to the QB position. Sanchez is a player that is special and should be drafted if he is available. Still the issue with the OC is that Raye has no history of grooming qbs so the first year will likely be a waste but 2010 would be special if Holmgren is the GM then.

by Seattle49erfan on Apr 8, 2009 12:33 PM PDT reply actions

If Holmgren...

… becomes a GM, what does he have to do with grooming a QB? If Holmgren bypasses coaching to become a front office person, I doubt he’s doing it because he can’t get on the field as a coach, but rather, he doesn’t want to.

by sfgfan on Apr 8, 2009 2:25 PM PDT up reply actions