On Which Side of the Mountain is Sopoaga?
by Tre9er on Apr 13, 2010 9:52 AM PDT
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I like Isaac Sopoaga. He's of Pacific Islands descent, and for some reason, I like Pacific Islanders when it comes to football. He's also played exclusively for the 49ers and while quiet, done a pretty solid job.
The question at this point though is this: Talent-wise, on which side of the mountain is he?
Is he still climbing the mountain, not yet to the peak? Or has he already reached the summit and is now descending the other side?
With three picks in the first 50 spots, the 49ers may be faced with some interesting players available. Players who are not Offensive Tackles, Guards, or Defensive Backs. Maybe not even flashy pass-rushers, athletic wide receivers, or shifty running backs.
Most of us have considered the fact that a Nose Tackle could be a good pickup with Aubrayo Franklin being franchised and no long-term deal yet in place. In fact, the belief is that the 49ers will look for Franklin to prove his worth in 2010 before giving him a big money contract.
But have we thought of the other D-Line positions much? Sure the team has young, but as of yet unproven, talent in Kentwan Balmer, Ray McDonald and Ricky Jean-Francois. But none of these guys has really stepped up their game enough to warrant even challenging for the starting Left Defensive End spot.
Balmer is believed to be nearing a "last chance" state of his career with the 49ers while "RJF" was just a 7th round pick last year. No doubt the team could use a disruptive force opposite Justin Smith, especially if lucky enough to find a 3-down player to play opposite Smith.
So who's likely to be available that should be able to instantly come in and compete for the LDE spot? If the team were to draft someone who was able to supplant Sopoaga, does he have any trade value at this point? He is able to play Nose Tackle if necessary and is very solid in run support. 3-4 Defensive Linemen are hard to come by, especially with experience.
Just another topic to hash and re-hash as we anxiously await the draft next Thursday, Friday, and Saturday!
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'm torn
I think “Soap” is solid, if unspectacular. It’s not that I want him gone, think he sucks, etc…it’s just that we’ve been talking about what to do if the top OL’s are gone and the CB’s are a reach, etc…why not consider a guy like Brian Price or Jared Odrick who can come in and make an impact? Especially at 17 or 49 (or if there’s a trade down in the 1st or trade up in the 2nd)
"If I were to walk down a dark alley in a bad part of town, I'd want Ray Brown with me. And if I were to have a nice dinner at a fine restaurant, I'd want Ray Brown with me." The Late Great McKittrick
This
I would like to see us draft a guy who can challenge for a starting spot. Maybe with some motivation Sopoaga can turn his game on and become a great D-lineman.
Member of the legendary David Carr thread, 6 March 2010
I like guys like Price
because they’re known for push…TFL’s…Can’t remember who but one of the writers talked about how Soap was getting blown off the ball more than he should have been in 2009. That can’t happen in a 3-4, especially when you have high-motor guy like Smith on the other side. You have to have someone who can hold the point if not push it back a little, while staying with the blocker.
Price didn’t stand out to me in his bowl game, so that was a bit of a disappointment. I hope he’s not the kind of guy who takes plays off. Or is he destined to be a 2-down DL because of stamina?
Heard plenty good things about Odrick though. Love to have an upper echelon guy in there. What about Dan Williams? I know everyone says he’s a NT but could he slide out to LDE in a 3-4 you think? Cam Thomas? At least until we decide what to do with Franklin?
"If I were to walk down a dark alley in a bad part of town, I'd want Ray Brown with me. And if I were to have a nice dinner at a fine restaurant, I'd want Ray Brown with me." The Late Great McKittrick
Williams will be at the draft this year
Williams and Thomas might be able to move out. It’s a tougher adjustment I think to go from a NT spot which is entirely different responsibilities to a defensive end spot. I think that in a 4-3 that adjustment comes easier.
However both Williams and Thomas are within spitting distance of Sopoaga’s size. We originally thought Soapoga could play NT (he came from a 4-3), but bumped him out.
I don’t know how easily a NT could transition to DE.
Member of the legendary David Carr thread, 6 March 2010
what positions did they play in college?
I thought Williams was a 4-3 DT? Thomas was a true NT?
"If I were to walk down a dark alley in a bad part of town, I'd want Ray Brown with me. And if I were to have a nice dinner at a fine restaurant, I'd want Ray Brown with me." The Late Great McKittrick
Yeah Tennessee runs a 4-3
N. Carolina runs a 3-4.
A DE to look at for next year is Marvin Austin from NC. When you go through the NC highlights from 2009 you can see him all over the ball all the time. A little smallish but has room to bulk up.
Member of the legendary David Carr thread, 6 March 2010
cameron hayward from ohio state and adrian clayborne from iowa also both look really good. next year could be a good year for 3-4 DE’s.
by hellaninersfan on Apr 13, 2010 3:12 PM PDT up reply actions
clayborn is a beast
he’s been in trouble a little though. He seriously single handedly took over some games for the hawks
"If I were to walk down a dark alley in a bad part of town, I'd want Ray Brown with me. And if I were to have a nice dinner at a fine restaurant, I'd want Ray Brown with me." The Late Great McKittrick
see I think 4-3 DT can move outside to 3-4 DE
easier than a NT to DE. Because the 4-3 DT is a space eater, run stuffer, but a 1-gapper mostly, like the DE in a 3-4 (if the NT is good enough to occupy two blockers like designed)
"If I were to walk down a dark alley in a bad part of town, I'd want Ray Brown with me. And if I were to have a nice dinner at a fine restaurant, I'd want Ray Brown with me." The Late Great McKittrick
I thought I said that?
But yes, I agree. I think a 4-3 guy can go to a 3-4 DE easier than a 3-4 NT can move to either a 4-3 DE or a 3-4 DE
Member of the legendary David Carr thread, 6 March 2010
yeah
that’s why I was saying Dan Williams could play LDE and also be penciled in as future NT if/when Franklin bolts.
"If I were to walk down a dark alley in a bad part of town, I'd want Ray Brown with me. And if I were to have a nice dinner at a fine restaurant, I'd want Ray Brown with me." The Late Great McKittrick
Odrick is my sleeper for us at 13 or 17 now
depending on BPA
http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Jared-Odrick-fits-the-mold-for-a-lot-of-NFL-teams.html
"If I were to walk down a dark alley in a bad part of town, I'd want Ray Brown with me. And if I were to have a nice dinner at a fine restaurant, I'd want Ray Brown with me." The Late Great McKittrick
If they’re looking at Odrick I’d like to see them trade down to select him.
Although taking him at 17 isn’t exactly a reach.
What we've got here is a failure to communicate.
by SportsChicken on Apr 16, 2010 11:05 PM PDT up reply actions
Sopoaga is good
…but Balmer looks to have the explosiveness needed to get to the QB. His injury las year was very untimely, it looked like he was just getting into a rhythm.
Balmer is a future star
Soap is merely adequate
by mr. instigator on Apr 13, 2010 12:58 PM PDT reply actions
I have yet to see anything from Balmer to indicate future stardom
he was adequate in the time he had on the field last year but certainly didn’t show flashes of being a star.
Member of the legendary David Carr thread, 6 March 2010
Just throwing out a name
Corey Wooton may be the answer at LDE
Soap is meh, and so is drafting a 3-4 De in the first. LDE is not a glaring issue, but I would like to see Soap gone
Let me see that Belly Roll........ - Major Payne
Hmm..
Give Balmer more time. His 1st round selection status puts pressure on him, but hes a hard worker and is still getting a grasp on the NFL game.
Soap… well hes pretty solid but it kind of seems like hes peaked.
Franklin is gone after this season, mark my words.
I say if the right guy is there, draft a DT to groom for the future. Im all for getting Cody Wallace or Connor in the 2nd round… though i doubt either will be there.
"Im all for getting Cody Wallace"
Beat, do you mean Terrence Cody from Alabama? We already have Cody Wallace, he’s currently our #2 center….
After all was said and done, a lot more got said than done.
lol Sorry.
It appears i had a brain-fart while i was typing that.
Yea, i meant Terrance Cody =P
Sopoaga is easily the worst starter on the line.
He’s not a very good player. I LOVE Soap as a person and I used to think he was a good player, but when I really looked at it… He doesn’t rush the passer well, which is fine because he’s a 3-4 end, they’re supposed to stop the run. Well he’s not very good at stopping the run, I don’t have the stat on hand but he was in the bottom five or so starting defensive ends in the league against the run. So we have a 3-4 LE who can’t stop the run or rush a passer and routinely ends up on his back.
We didn’t notice how bad he was last season because Justin Smith and Aubrayo Franklin were so good. So maybe it’s not a huge need but a competent starter at LE could make out line that much better and maybe make our pass rushers more effective. Get rid of him. Backup at best on any other team and he should be here.
And then God created Saturn.. And he liked it, so he put a ring on it.
I won't disagree that he's the worst starter on the line
but I think that’s more a function of the other players.
Franklin has been a little atypical as a NT as he penetrates as much as he ties up blockers, while Sopoaga has played like a NT at his spot. I remember an earlier stat-related post about how good Lawson was at making backfield stops, which has a fair deal to do with Sopoaga tying up blockers.
I’d rather focus on more pressing needs and let Balmer/Sop fill in the end spot. If anything, a middle pick on a NT project is more important.
Note the lack of a hyphen.
Adopted father of Evan Crawford, leadoff hitter of your 2014 San Francisco Giants.
I don't buy it.
I don’t think Sopoaga has anything to do with Lawson being able to make the stops. Too many times when I rewatched the games did I notice Sopoaga being manhandled and tossed onto the ground by tackles and guards.
And then God created Saturn.. And he liked it, so he put a ring on it.
which is weird
considering his strength and size. Weighs around 300lbs. and is said to be one of the strongest players on the team. Doesn’t get low enough, poor technique I guess.
"If I were to walk down a dark alley in a bad part of town, I'd want Ray Brown with me. And if I were to have a nice dinner at a fine restaurant, I'd want Ray Brown with me." The Late Great McKittrick
Yup
I noticed some of the same things about Soap that Ninjames did.
He’s rumored to be one of the strongest men in the NFL but weight room strength doesn’t mean anything on the field, just like 40 times don’t mean you’re a fast football player
Member of the legendary David Carr thread, 6 March 2010
I think Soap needs to be replaced as soon as possible
He gets driven off the line of scrimmage on nearly every single down.
He’s just not a good player.
Quite possibly the worst starter on the entire defense (base 3-4)
What we've got here is a failure to communicate.
currently on the roster,
who would you plug in to replace him? McDonald or Balmer?
"If I were to walk down a dark alley in a bad part of town, I'd want Ray Brown with me. And if I were to have a nice dinner at a fine restaurant, I'd want Ray Brown with me." The Late Great McKittrick
Currently RJF listed as #2
But he seems a little light in the butt. Balmer could be interesting and will be interesting to see what goes on as far as some of our “lesser knowns” such as RJF, McDonald, Khalif Mitchell, etc. Be nice if we see the young guys start to pick up.
by ChesapeakeBay9er on Apr 15, 2010 8:59 AM PDT up reply actions
Peanut Butta Jelly Time!
"If I were to walk down a dark alley in a bad part of town, I'd want Ray Brown with me. And if I were to have a nice dinner at a fine restaurant, I'd want Ray Brown with me." The Late Great McKittrick
Ideally it should be Balmer
That’s kind of what he was drafted to do.
But we all know how that’s going…
Smileyman has mentioned that maybe McDonald can replace Sopoaga.
But he’s had injury problems in the past and has never been more than a situational pass rusher.
What we've got here is a failure to communicate.
by SportsChicken on Apr 15, 2010 2:25 PM PDT up reply actions
Yeah that's the problem with McDonald
I really like him as a pass rusher—just wish he could develop into a full-time starter.
Member of the legendary David Carr thread, 6 March 2010
That would be awesome
You think that maybe he can win over the coaches and earn more playing time in 1st and 2nd downs this season?
What we've got here is a failure to communicate.
by SportsChicken on Apr 15, 2010 8:18 PM PDT up reply actions
Well he did start back in 2008
so I think he’s got the potential. I don’t know if it’s a health issue or motivation, or what his deal is.
Member of the legendary David Carr thread, 6 March 2010
I'm guessing he was held back because he was coming off knee surgery
I hope to hear good things about him when Training Camp starts.
What we've got here is a failure to communicate.
by SportsChicken on Apr 16, 2010 12:50 AM PDT up reply actions
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