Flanker Needed!
by JHill26 on Feb 23, 2010 5:51 PM PST
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Hi all,
I recently took the time to research the wide receiver position a bit, and I think I may have stumbled upon some information that might be enlightening to a lot of people here, who I presume are like me and not too sound on the technicalities of football.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wide_receiver
After reading a bit about the wide receiver position, it has occurred to me that whenever I have said that the 49ers are in need of a wide receiver who can do the "big plays" or make the "long catches", I was unaware I was actually referring to the "flanker" position, which runs the Y patterns in an offensive lineup. By this logic, Jerry Rice was a flanker, as is Randy Moss. I believe that the wide receiver core of the 49ers, as it stands, consists of receivers that are geared toward the split-end position. Michael Crabtree is possibly the best of the wide receiver core not because he is Michael Crabtree, but because he appears to play the split-end position better than any of the other receivers and even seems to do decent as a flanker.
The 49ers are in need of a Jerry Rice/Randy Moss/Larry Fitzgerald (flanker/Y) type of receiver in order to make those big plays and/or long passes happen again.
Does anyone agree? Do you think Michael Crabtree can be the flanker we have needed? Who could the 49ers possibly draft to fill that role?
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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Flanker
Maybe smileyman can give us some discussion about the various wide receivers (flankers and whatnot) in a future Football University post. I think Crabtree could be a legit #1 post, but I’m honestly not sure at this point what to think of the different roles each receiver could fill. Something I need to research a bit more.
It All Depends
If you don’t consider Crabtree a player that can run a certain route or go "long just because the routes weren’t designed for him to, then of course we have no idea whether or not he can make those plays; but if you believe he is unable to make them, that is another story.
It also depends on whether or not we draft Spiller, because he can fill that supposed flanker role when lined out wide. Call it split end, flanker, the Z or whatever, it really doesn’t matter to me as long as we can have players that can complement the ability of other players. For example, if we were to draft/sign a player of the same skill set as Crabtree it wouldn’t make a whole lot of sense. Jerry Rice, John Taylor and Brent Jones all complemented each other, much like i believe VD and Crabs do. The problem is that it is hard to gauge what we need because we have only had a 10 game span to judge what Crabtree’s limitations are, if any.
My ideal plan would be to draft Spiller and sign a Owens/Bryant type
"Cannot play with them. Cannot win with them. Cannot coach with them. Can't do it. I want winners. I want people that want to win!!!"
by nocal81(Vincent) on Feb 23, 2010 11:05 PM PST reply actions
I think Jason Hill is the guy, and that Brandon Jones could do the job as well
My receivers ranked by skill:
Crabtree
Hill
Jones
Morgan
Zeigler
They're called RUNS for a reason.
I like the idea we've been talking about on the mock threads
of essentially getting 2 new WRs. I know some have been against it but I like the ida. The options that I have heard talked about are Demaryius “Bey-Bey” Thomas, Jacoby Ford, and Freddie Barnes (I think there are a few oher options as well but these are good examples) and has been noted before if we do get Spiller he can also run some “split” (I think) and slot back.
Imagine a field with Bey-Bey (or Ford) at LWR, Crabs at RWR and VD at TE and Spiller (or Barnes) in somewhat of a slot back position (up a bit closer to the QB) . From that position you have the option (if Spiller is your slot back) of Spiller block, going out for the pass on a slant or taking the handoff. Then Crabs running a hook, and Bey Bey running an up route. And VD can either block or run a slant. Those type of things could happen.
Maybe I wrongly don’t have faith in our current set of receivers but I feel that we have essentially a #1 and a 2 1/2 (Not sure Morgan would even be a 2 on some teams) and two 3-4’s in Hill and Jones.
Just my 1/2 a cent.:-)
by ChesapeakeBay9er on Feb 24, 2010 1:23 AM PST reply actions
Flanker is also a position in Paintball.
I was one when I played.
What we've got here is a failure to communicate.
by SportsChicken on Feb 24, 2010 7:49 PM PST up reply actions
Yeah we need a new receiver!
In my opinion we could more use a quick slot receiver rather than a #1
Jordan Shipley comes to mind . He seems to be able to get open underneath coverage quite easily ,and understands that when plays break down you need to come back to help the QB. I just havent seen that from our current wideouts!
Jason Hill is probably faster than Shipley.
Although I sort of like Shipley’s instincts.
What we've got here is a failure to communicate.
by SportsChicken on Feb 24, 2010 7:50 PM PST up reply actions
Jason Hill
Hill probably would win a race with Shipley ,I agree with that . But as I see it ,in the underneath routes quickness and suddenness are more important than strait line speed. I think Shipley would be a better fit in that position. Im not at all bagging on Hill either,I like him a lot and dont think we have even started to maximize his talent. I just think that Smith needs a great hands " go to" guy when things get ugly and we just dont have that kind of guy on the roster! Jacoby Ford might be another option, but Im not sure what position he played as a wideout at clemson!
My 2 cents
Did I hear someone regard C.J. Spiller the Clemson soon to be Rookie RB as a reciever?Holy Moly! I think we need a real reciever to play that position. We could use Frank Gore if that was the case. Why draft a back up RB to be our flanker.“Think McFly Think”. Once our O-Line is securely intact, and we draft a lagit RT, and Gore stays healthy, we will begin to see what Crabz,Morgan,Hill, and Jones can do. Josh Morgan has shown plenty ability in garbing deep passes. He just needs more time with our 10 game starter Alex Smith. 2010 we will be dangerous.
I wouldn’t be upset if we made a move to obtain Dez Bryant, or T.O. in the off-season. Either one of those guys would instantly make us a top 5 offensive powerhouse in the NFL…Peace….Stelf Bombz
Not full tim receiver I don't think any regulars were saying
we were just noting that he also had receiver skills along with RB and return skills. That’s what I read from most of us “regulars”
by ChesapeakeBay9er on Feb 25, 2010 8:49 PM PST up reply actions
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