2010 49ers Roster Projections: Wide Receivers
by David Fucillo on Jun 28, 2010 7:01 AM PDT
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PrintAs we continue rolling position-by-position through the 49ers roster projections, we now arrive at the wide receivers. To date we've discussed the inside linebackers, the offensive line, the defensive line, the quarterbacks, the running backs, the fullbacks, the safeties, and the cornerbacks. The 49ers wide receivers have as much "potential" as any unit on this team. At the same time, they have as much to prove as virtually any unit on this team. Certain members have taken steps forward, while others often seem to be running in place, or falling off the treadmill entirely.
Locks
Michael Crabtree, Josh Morgan, Jason Hill, Ted Ginn, Jr.
Bubble
Kyle Williams, Brandon Jones, Dominique Zeigler
Longshot
Bakari Grant, Jared Perry, Scott Long
In 2009, the 49ers elected to keep six wide receivers at the start of the season: Isaac Bruce, Josh Morgan, Arnaz Battle, Jason Hill, Micheal Spurlock, and Brandon Jones. If the 49ers had signed Crabtree prior to the start of the season, Spurlock likely would have been released much earlier. The important point is that the team went with six wide receivers.
As I go look through the 49ers wide, we know that Michael Crabtree and Josh Morgan are the big two for now. Morgan still has plenty to prove, but for now he's taken positive steps forward and at this point has earned that #2 spot behind Crabtree. For those that disagree, I point to his improvement from year 1 to year 2 as evidence that he's moving in the right direction. He's got a ways to go still, but you can't tell me he isn't improving.
The real question is how the wide receivers shake out after Crabtree and Morgan. I'll ignore the longshots at this point because even if the team keeps six receivers, Grant, Perry and Long's best shot is at the practice squad.
Some folks may view Ginn as more of a bubble player. Personally, I think Ginn is a guy the team is desperately hoping can succeed in at least the punt return role, but also as a potential deep threat. A guy like Michael Crabtree makes his living on yards after the catch, particularly when snaking his way through the belly of the defense. If you can have a legit and successful burner occupying the secondary, it opens up big holes underneath. Ginn certainly has his hands issues and that is something I'll definitely be paying attention to throughout August. However, I really think the team is going to give him every last chance to make an impact.
Jason Hill is another guy that some may view as a bubble guy at best. He's spent chunks of time in Coach Singletary and Coach Sullivan's respective dog-houses over the last year and a half. After a solid sophomore season in which he made 30 catches (all after Singletary took over), Hill took a step back in 2009. My optimism comes in part from this report from Maiocco following training camp:
89-Jason Hill: Hill and Jones needed to impress with good offseasons. Jones did not take advantage of his opportunities. Hill did. In his first three seasons, Hill was never able to show much on the practice field. He was always seen as a "gamer" who played well when given his opportunities. But Hill practiced very well this offseason and has placed himself in position to seriously compete with Ginn for the job as the No. 3 receiver. In the past, he has shown his value as a good special-teams player, too.
If he is in fact showing improvement in practice, that would likely be sufficient to get him permanently out of the Singletary/Sullivan doghouse. If that happens, he'll find himself seeing more playing time right off the bat. And if Ginn's hands continue to betray him in training camp, I don't think anybody should be all that surprised to see him permanently move into that #3 position.
The remaining three (Williams, Jones, and Zeigler) are a tough group to figure out. Williams and Zeigler are both looking to bring something to the table on special teams to give the team one more reason to keep them around. When we last discussed Zeigler, I posted the following from Maiocco's minicamp recap:
17-Dominique Zeigler: He was back returning kickoffs on the final day of minicamp. You get the feeling that if Sullivan had his way, Zeigler would be among the receivers he carries on the team. Zeigler is always drawing praise from Sullivan on how he runs routes. And when others aren't as precise, Sullivan will advise them to watch Zeigler. He had a pretty good offseason program. He and Jason Hill had roughly the same number of catches behind starters Crabtree and Josh Morgan.
The battle between these three guys will be really interesting to watch. For Brandon Jones, his time in San Francisco has been quite the nightmare (minus the cashing of the paychecks, of course). After a solid start, injuries derailed his preseason, and they seem to be continuing on this year, as he suffered an ankle sprain a few weeks ago that kept him out minicamp drills. He's got serious ground to make up, and it remains to be seen if he can do it in the month of training camp. Odds can't be strong for him.
Given all of this, I've put together a poll looking at these final three wide receivers.
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Initial reaction:
I wet my pants when I saw the Zeigler was bubble and not long shot. I’m now sitting in my own, happiness induced waste. It’s a good thing. Now off to actually read the post..
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Well... some thoughts.
This is the last year that I say “Morgan could have a breakout year.” I’m being a little harsh, but the kid has had very high expectations, and while he’s improved, he’s improving slowly. It’s easy to get frustrated with him (It came down like a punt, after all), but I don’t think I’m being unreasonable when I say his status of “definite roster spot” comes into significant question next year if he doesn’t perform.
I think Kyle Williams is also a lock to make the roster – that brings it to Crabtree, Morgan, Ginn and Williams in my mind. Hill can be easily perceived a lock, or he could easily be perceived as dead weight that never quite reaches its potential. My reasoning for Williams is that he really is the only slot receiver on this team, and so far has looked the most steady in fielding punts in OTAs.
So my attention goes to Zeigler. In my mind there is only room for five wide receivers on this roster. The battle is truly between Zeigler, Jones and Hill after Crabtree, Morgan, Ginn and Williams. Zeigler brings something to the receiving game that isn’t on the roster with his route running, jump ability, height and hands but it would seem Hill has more special teams value as a gunner. Jones, in my mind, is done as a 49er.
I’d go with Crabtree, Morgan, Ginn, Williams and Zeigler, personally and I really – REALLY like Jason Hill. I just don’t see it though. He’s basically Josh Morgan, but faster – though you really only see that speed on punt returns when he’s a gunner on coverage.
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Oh and I voted for Williams, because of those three he is the most likely. If it was between Jones, Zeigler and HILL, however, I’d go with Zeigler.
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replying to yourself now too?
i’ve infected you
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You reply once you think you've found something witty -
or to actually reply to yourself. I just left a bit out.
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that made a lot of sense
in opposite land
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Morgan is like a lesser Houshmandzadeh
I mean playing style-wise. He knows how to position his body to go up for the ball, but because he does that, he doesn’t get much YAC. Now if only he could manage to do that in the endzone on a consistent basis.
Morgan
I’ll try and find a link on it, but the general refrain is a wide receiver breaks out around year 3 (FO has changed that a bit, but it’s somewhere in that range of time based on age).
I see high expectations coming from the fans after he started so strong in training camp last year. It’s an extension of why some folks were all about Thomas Clayton. Morgan was a 6th round pick after all and he jumped from 20 reception to 52 receptions in year 2. Given that he’s only been in the league 2 years, I don’t think that qualifies as improving slowly. If he was healthy and had 10 catches this year, I could see his roster status being in doubt next year, but I really don’t see that happening.
His numbers may not jump dramatically but a) it’s likely because Crabtree will be getting a large number of catches (along with Vernon Davis), and the team really doesn’t need some monster 90 or 100 catch season from Morgan. He’s the third receiving option on this team and I think people need to keep that in mind.
by David Fucillo on Jun 28, 2010 7:27 AM PDT up reply actions
Morgan needs to be a threat though
otherwise let’s throw someone else there who commands respect from DB’s. I like his blocking, fysicality, I think he can beat press coverage pretty well because of it. As long as he’s doing his job, meaning getting open, then as far as the passing game goes, I’m fine with him.
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threats
That’s also one reason the addition of Ted Ginn could help. If Ginn could learn to catch the ball, he represents the biggest deep speed threat, while I see Morgan as more of a physical deep threat.
by David Fucillo on Jun 28, 2010 7:32 AM PDT up reply actions
I guess it's also...
…something in my head. When I watch Morgan, I don’t see anything remarkable. He doesn’t look like much. He doesn’t inspire a whole lot of ‘wow’ factor and that’s huge for the way fans view wide receivers, I suppose.
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About the 'wow' factor
I think it’s because his average is so low, only 10.1 yards per catch. His 52 receptions was good enough for 41st best among WR last season. Considering their are 32 teams, 41 is fairly solid for a #2 WR. But his 10.1 ypc ranked all the way down at 207. That includes TE’s and RB’s, so it would be higher among only WR’s, but you still get the idea.
Don't trust this guy. He lies.
Considering their are 32 teams, 41 is fairly solid for a #2 WR.
For a team that:
1. Had turmoil at the QB position
2. Never had a great QB
3. Had two excellent TEs who combined for 99 receptions
4. Had a RB that’s good out of the backfield (52 receptions)
5. Had a pretty sucky offense overall
Yeah… 41st in the league is pretty good from your #2 receiver. I don’t expect he’ll improve on that number by much. Expecting 90-100 receptions is a little outlandish. Only 9 players a year reach 90 receptions, and that includes the top receivers in the league like Johnson, Fitzgerald, Welker, Wayne, etc.
I just hope he gets to 60 receptions for 700-800 yards. If he’s putting up those numbers, I’d be surprised not to see Alex Smith approaching 4,000 yards.
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by Dubs fan in Boston on Jun 28, 2010 10:58 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
I didn't say it was good, I said it was solid
If their are 32 teams, that means their are 32 #1 WR’s. 41 – 32 = 9. That’s solid for a #2 WR no matter who the team is.
Don't trust this guy. He lies.
Hill did have as many TD's as Crabs
But with alot fewer chances. I like Hill and he didn’t get a fair shake from Sing. Sing was pissed that he kept getting small injuries that he viewed as being weak. That is the reason he didn’t like Hill. When Hill is in the game, he makes plays. I think they should keep 6 WRs and not use Delanie Walker as much. Walker usualy lines up off the line in a slot position. I see Hill or Williams being more effective as a WR than Walker.
by ericalancanty on Jun 28, 2010 10:56 AM PDT up reply actions
Note that I really do like Hill a lot. He’s my second favorite WR. I just think Ziggy is being severely overlooked.
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by James Brady on Jun 28, 2010 11:00 AM PDT up reply actions
If I am not mistaken,
wasn’t D. Clark a precise route runner with average speed. Do good teams have, (or wish they have) that type of WR. A big, precise route runner, with good hands. We will keep & USE him. Watch & see. I really believe that with the continuity of the same OC, same playbook, the weapons on offense. The way Raye-Raye will use these weapons (remember this man has over 20 years of football experience) will surprise people. We have really good players that have not gotten a fair shake for five or less years, with learning a new OC & playbook every year. Everybody is more comfortable now, they know the “Book.” All the coaches is going to coach the hell out of them, as they have been doing. I’m rambling forgive me. I have much more to ramble on about, but my point is we will be BIGGER, BETTER, & BADDER! The road to the SB, for years to come, will once again come down HY101.
Well that’s the way I see it.
"Moving Forward."
this is a decent point
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Morgan, Hill, etc. put up much better numbers this year with the continuity they have in the system, with the QB, that the QB has in the system, that the system has in the system (ok, got it out of my system)
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LJ, you took away my thunder. From the moment I read "the WOW factor", I planned on posting
about Dwight Clark. NO WOW factor there, but we’ve retired his #87, that about says it all…
In the OP, Fooch addressed Ginn’s “hands issues”. I know I post this a lot, but he also has courage issues, which is why I’ve been railing against him ever since we traded for him. To repeat something I wrote about him earlier: “he has tremendous physical tools, but NO fysical tools”. As for his punt return prowess, Miami replaced him as their PR last year because of his lack of production in that role.
If we keep 5: The locks (4): Crabtree (starter), Morgan (starter), Hill (big special teams contributor and always contributes of “O” when given the chance), Williams (only prototypical slot receiver on roster, possible PR), and the bubble: either Zeigler (best route runner, tallest) or Jones (due to last season’s injury, didn’t really have a chance to show his stuff). If we keep 6, then keep both Zeigler and Jones.
Waive Ginn, Perry, Long. PS Bakari Grant (who showed potential by making a couple of outstanding grabs during OTAs).
After all was said and done, a lot more got said than done.
Wow
Ginn not even making the team? I think he has a chance because he’s a speed receiver and none of the locks are that. Plus, he is a proven quality KR which the 49ers need badly.
by ZeroOneInfinity on Jun 28, 2010 9:19 PM PDT up reply actions
That is, of course, if I was the decision-maker, and the decision had to be made NOW...
But training camp is still to come, and camp is all about playing yourself onto, or off of, the final roster, so I’ll retain an open mind, to the extent that I’m able, until the very end…
You said “none of the locks are that”… You really think that Crabtree’s not a lock?
After all was said and done, a lot more got said than done.
I think he has a chance because he’s a speed receiver and none of the locks are that.
That is referring to a speed receiver.
by ZeroOneInfinity on Jun 29, 2010 12:35 AM PDT up reply actions
Thanks for the clarification.
After all was said and done, a lot more got said than done.
There's not a single chance that Gin gets waived
None whatsoever
Logic merely enables one to be wrong with authority
Eh. Not so sure.
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Nope, not gonna happen
there is absolutely no reason to waive him, especially not in favor of the other guys on the roster who he’ll be competing with.
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I'm not sold on it being impossible.
I didn’t say it was going to happen. A wide receiver who showed shaky return skills and even shakier hands in OTAs. He will be treated as a fifth round pick – if he doesn’t perform he will be cut. It’s possible.
The 49ers are realizing what he is. He’s a receiver who will make you love him a few times a year, but in between that disappoint time and time again. A guy like that is never guaranteed a roster spot.
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Kyle Williams could easily be a guy who gives Ginn a run for his money
"I'm blessed..... Thanks, God bless" ...hey, it worked for Tim Tebow.
I'll give you that
but he’s the only one I could possibly see knocking Ginn off and I think we keep both Ginn and Williams.
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my take
Williams is on the line between lock and bubble. Unless once the pads go on he plays opposite of what we’ve heard from him thus far (and no, this off-season isn’t the only thing I’m basing this on, he was pretty good in college too, ya know). He’s looked the best of an admittedly-not-so-great crop of returners and is the mold of a true slot receiver. We don’t have someone who offers those things presently.
Hill found ways to get open in limited time last year and is a tough cookie. Gunner, plays about all special teams I believe…I just dont know…he’s like Morgan (which James said above) in that he’s just a solid guy. Not so sure he can’t be replaced without a major dropoff though.
Jones, gone…too little too late if he even IS able to play well in camp.
Zeigler has played special teams before, so he could probably step into some of the roles that Hill currently has (or someone else slides into Hill’s ST role and Zeigler takes their spot). He is like Williams in that he offers something to the receiving corps that we don’t have: Height (to go along with routes and hands).
Conclusion: Williams and Zeigler make roster, rounding out MAX of 5 WR’s kept.
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Agree, I definitely do not see more than five wide receivers this year. If we keep six it’s because one of those long shots absolutely blows the ST coordinator’s mind and he absolutely has to have him.
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Hill is a much more consistent ST guy than Zeigler
Zeigler is going to get cut baring some kind of injuries to the other guys.
I don't know how you can assume that?
In Zeiglers very limited time he was consistently down field making solo tackles, and he’s being tried as return option.
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To add to that...
…Hill’s sole asset on special teams is being a gunner on punt returns. Zeigler actually makes very solid tackles.
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really?
for some reason I thought he played kickoff and return teams too?
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No he's there..
…but so is Zeigler. Hill ‘stands out’ as a gunner. That’s it.
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I stand out amongst midgets
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and people of intelligence.
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by James Brady on Jun 28, 2010 10:01 AM PDT up reply actions
crickets
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Yeah, they're more of your level of intelligence.
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by James Brady on Jun 28, 2010 10:07 AM PDT up reply actions
I like 6 WR on the roster because of ST
I think there is a misconception floating around that Ginn is on the 49ers to return punts. I think that will be Williams job, and why he makes the roster while he learns the slot receiver job at the NFL level. Ginn is the KR until he loses the job—-look at his statistics while at Miami—-one of the best KRs in the league, with a 2 TD game against the Jets in that role. We have a history of injuries at WR, so keeping the 6th if 4, 5, and 6 all play ST makes sense, and is consistent with everything Coach Singletary has said about how roster slots will be allocated.
Most teams don't keep 6 WR.
It’s just too much, the only reason you do that is when you’re hoping that one of them is, by chance, a great WR. The 49ers had two legitimate threats emerge last season in Vernon Davis and Michael Crabtree, and therefore do not need six this time around.
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You can't really count Vernon as a WR.
by ericalancanty on Jun 28, 2010 11:02 AM PDT up reply actions
Well...
He’s a receiving threat. Thus, we don’t need to have extra receivers on the roster in the hopes that we might have a second receiving threat out there. We’ve got Morgan who’s shown to be a solid receiver. We’ve got Crabby who’s a really exciting threat. And we’ve got Davis who’s a big time receiving threat. Our base package is set. Not to mention that Walker is no slouch and Gore is excellent out of the backfield. What we need from the rest of the receivers are backups. We don’t need to somehow find a starter among them. Other positions need back ups too. Adding a 6th receiver when you will rarely need him is probably not the best use of the roster spot.
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by Dubs fan in Boston on Jun 28, 2010 11:09 AM PDT up reply actions
Not happening
Plus KR/PR is just a fraction of Special Teams. The majority of it will be on coverage and blocking. A linebacker (or former linebacker in Britt Miller’s case) or defensive player will have the advantage of making it as a special teams player over a WR
Any chance that Ginn is one of the WR being cut? With Kyle Williams and (I’m really hoping) LeRoy Vann, we might be set at KR and PR. I’d love to see a wide receiver corps of Crabtree, Morgan, Hill, Williams, and Zeigler.
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by theghostofjasonellison on Jun 28, 2010 8:30 AM PDT reply actions
Really don’t think so. He does have a lot of potential, and the coaching staff wants to do their due diligence. He is virtually guaranteed a roster spot.
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I think the best use of Ginn is PR/KR deep package wr
I would not plan to use him as the #3 WR, Hill is way better suited to that role.
Brandon Jones is star crossed in SF, I think he will always be viewed by the coaches as McCloughan’s guy, and never given a fair shake. It is important to remember that he was a legit #3 on a playoff caliber team, Tennessee, before he came to the Niners. He has value in the league.
I have been very disappointed by the use of the WRs on the Niners for the last year.
Having all these guys in the mix has reduced the amount of practice reps each guy gets individually. This cuts down the efficiency and timing that the top four WRs get with the QB, and hinders the passing game.
If I was GM, I’d offer Jones back to Tennessee for a draft pick, or to the Bears for Danieal Manning. Tennessee knows what he’s capable of, and the Bears are STARVING for better WRs.
I’d plan on Kyle Williams to the practice squad , and give Ginn the job of returning punts/Kicks.
My final WR corps would be:
Crabtree
Morgan
Hill (I think he is an overall better WR than Hill, and should be 2)
Ginn
Zeigler
Williams on the practice squad in reserve.
They're called RUNS for a reason.
I can't see Williams on the PS
I know he was a 6th round pick with limited college game experience but he is the definition of a slot receiver and this was a very deep draft. Ginn hasn’t looked great in punt returns thus far and wasn’t even doing them in Miami the past (two?) years.
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How does Ginn compare to Hill? (not rhetorical)
From the sound of Ginn’s output reports from OTA’s and minicamp, I still don’t see why Ginn is a lock. I like Ginn and all, but I have to admit he hasn’t done much with his opportunities to play. Jason Hill who is also very fast and possibly deals with contact better than Ginn, has done a lot with his opportunities and already has the experience of being in last year’s Niner offense.
I quietly don't see Ginn as a lock
but the floodgates open if I ask that
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Amigo and Tre, I'm awfully happy to see that I'm not alone on this... TGJrINOF
After all was said and done, a lot more got said than done.
Fooch was talking the other day ...
… about players who achieve cult status on NN. Bear Pascoe, Kory Sheets. Has Ziggy definitively attained Niners Nation cult status now? I have to tell you, it doesn’t look good for him if so, based on the track records of the previous incumbents of that title.
LondonNiner - member of the legendary David Carr thread, 6 March 2010.
+1
What has Zeigler ever done besides not making the roster? He’s not particularly fast and doesn’t get great separation, and doesn’t provide much on ST’s, so why keep him around other than to teach guys how to run routes like Sullivan wants them to be done?
there's a reason he wants routes run that way
good routes get you separation, if for a moment while the DB is recovering. Timely throws to a good route runner can be great plays (see: Rice, Jerry). Plus he’s tall with good hands. In single coverage he’s a jump-ball threat.
Yes, he’s a cult hero by now. All we can do is drool at this point anyways, so what.
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Do you know anything about Zeigler? He’s plenty fast, he’s the tallest WR on the team, he provides more on special teams than most of the other players, in his limited game time he made good tackles and was the first one there, he is probably the best route runner on the team, has a great jump, and has solid hands. Like, I definitely don’t understand the ’doesn’t provide much on STs’ considering he makes good tackles + returns, whereas Hill only tries to down a punt.
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I hear he uses a special lotion on them
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Hand model time.
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by Hoopers Judge on Jun 28, 2010 5:39 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Zeigler can accually catch the ball
I like him, but will not cry if he doesn’t make it. I want him over Jones.
by ericalancanty on Jun 28, 2010 11:07 AM PDT up reply actions
wr corp
id have crab, morgan, ginn as the starters with williams, hill, and ziggy coming off the bench…i think ziggy will be too good to keep him on the ps…someone will definitely scoop him up
I don't think Ziegler can go on the PS
He either has to make the roster or be waived for good. Which is why I’m thinking he makes the team over Jones. Granted it’s only been one season for both guys and there have been injuries in regard to the latter, but for the little extra production and the much smaller price tag he demands, I’d be in favor of Ziegler.
48 days to go. . .
this
he cannot be on the PS anymore. He has been there two years (off and on mixed in with some actual roster time)
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This is my thinking too
Jones has done absolutely nothing while he’s been with the team. Even when he came back from his injury he couldn’t get any catches. He’s been hurt again this off-season and unless he has the best training camp ever I don’t see how we keep him over a younger guy who has promise and isn’t hurt all the time.
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Does anyone know or have a guess
What was the FO thinking when they signed Jones? $2-3M a year, $5.4M guaranteed for a guy that at best was putting up 3rd WR stats in Tenn. Granted he had come off his best year when he came here, but there’s no way that one year warranted that kind of money!
47 days to go. . .
it's a wrap on Ziegler
The team wants storng receivers that can block downfield. That is another reason why Morgan is the No. 2 Receiver. We will only keep 5 WRs: Crabtree, Morgan, Ginn, Hill, and Williams. Jones is gone because unfotunately he has the injury bug and can’t shake it. He is not worth his price tag. Ziegler will not make it to the practice squad, because obviously he has talent.
Ginn despite his “catching” issue will cause defensive nightmares, because he can stretch the field and it will be too difficult to come up with a scheme to cover Crabs, VD, and Ginn. The field will open up a lot more. Hoping for a great season this year!
If we have room on the roster for the position of "decoy", THEN we keep Ginn (only then)
After all was said and done, a lot more got said than done.
that is ridiculous
He is our KR first and foremost, so he will make the team. A “decoy” is something every team wants. When other teams have to take time during the week to gameplan, then he is worth being on the team. (Even if they have to gameplan for that one play a game, it is still worth it)
by stevie steve on Jun 28, 2010 5:02 PM PDT up reply actions
Zeigler was on the practice squad last year
therefore, he was available to all the other teams all season, yet none of them signed him to take a roster spot. So far, they don’t seem to think he is anything special.
They're called RUNS for a reason.
That happens with a lot of players.
The coaching staff LOVES Zeigler.
And then God created Saturn... and he liked it, so he put a ring on it.
Twitter me and what not.
and I don't think he has any more eligibility
"I will speak at times, when it's necessary, but I don't believe in talking just because you can." - P-52
Let's talk on Twitter
I think we will have 6 WR's on the roster and we should.
I think it should be WIlliams, Ginn, Hill, Crabtree, Morgan, and Ziegler. We have to be able to play 4 wide, plus we need more than one returnman and Vann is the only defensive option I consider. It would be wise to go forward with 6, and cancel Jones and get VD signed, highest paid TE, he is due, I wouldn’t wait for him to have a better season and demand more and get it elsewhere, we would quickly see that his mismatch is the best one on the team, and our entire offense will and has benefited from him.
Black Sand Ninja!!!
Teams without a good TE go 4 wide.
And then God created Saturn... and he liked it, so he put a ring on it.
Twitter me and what not.
4 active maybe....
With Smith throwing out of the gun more, I think that they should have 6 WR. Who cares if they have 2 great pass catching TEs. If a WR gets hurt…and they do..(Seattle)…Vernon and Delanie don’t know the WR positions. It is a mute point to bring up the TE position when talking about the WR position and how many they will keep.
by ericalancanty on Jun 28, 2010 11:48 PM PDT up reply actions
TE is not a moot point
because we are talking about Vernon Davis. Do you think Davis does not move around in different formations? Davis has split out wide, he’s played the slot, played in Trips formation, you name it, he’s probably done it. He moves around and it’s smart to move him around because he’s our best mismatch when he’s on the field. Even Walker can line up in the slot and do other things. The point is I don’t want to see Davis off the field unless he is tired and with that guy’s athleticism, that doesn’t happen often. So you do not need many extra pass catchers when you have a great pass catching TE. Do you think a #4-6 receiver would be a better choice on the field than Davis? Even if we go 4 wide, one of those slots will probably be a TE. We did it last year and had good success with it so I don’t see them changing that.
And if there is an injury bug that happens to take out 2 or more receivers, they can just sign FAs.
by ZeroOneInfinity on Jun 29, 2010 1:50 AM PDT up reply actions
I don't think there is urgency to sign Davis because his price could go up
He is already going to receive a contract that will make him in the range of top 3 highest paid TEs right now and even with a better season, he will only go to highest paid TE. The price as the highest paid TE is not going to continue to rise. So the only reason to sign Davis early is to make him happy, which the 49ers sound like they want to do.
by ZeroOneInfinity on Jun 29, 2010 12:51 AM PDT up reply actions
I think this is our roster too
Williams and Ginn focusing on returns, Ginn in on the occaisional 3rd and very long. Crabtree #1, Morgan and Hill fighting over #2 and #3, with Ziegler there for insurance.
Logic merely enables one to be wrong with authority
Jones is as good as gone.
He was never a very good receiver anyway. He was a bad receiver on a titans team that only had one good receiver. Then the Niners signed him in free agency and he has proved to be less that stellar! Injuries played a large part, but the effort regardless was lacking. I cant believe Ziggy is gonna get his shot this season! I like Ziggy. He might not be the fastest or smartest, but he’s got game and he works hard on his game all the time. I really hope he has a breakout season!!
Another year, another chance to hope for the team !!
Morgan
I see Morgan as a potential John Taylor to Crabtree. Not the greatest skills but a solid goto guy nonetheless. Ziggy has the best leaping ability to grab those tight TD pases kinda like shorter Fitzgerald. Williams and Ginn as return men and slot recievers. That leaves Hill as the 6th and Jones is done…..not sure hi contract status. Bakari Grant sighned a 4 year contract so he will be a project with great size at 6’4.
Said Kyle Williams and Brandon Jones
I don’t think Zeigler is all that. In preseason he’s seemed okay… but just okay.
Madden Football doesn’t count James. lol
"I'm blessed..... Thanks, God bless" ...hey, it worked for Tim Tebow.
I don't base it off of Madden football.
I base it off of what the coaches say and what I’ve seen. You really think Brandon Jones brings more to this team than Zeigler? Jason Hill, Josh Morgan and Brandon Jones are all the same receiver. Except one blocks better and one is allegedly faster.
And then God created Saturn... and he liked it, so he put a ring on it.
Twitter me and what not.
by James Brady on Jun 29, 2010 10:36 PM PDT up reply actions
And one is hurt all the time.
I don’t think there’s any “allegedly” about Jason Hill’s speed. I think he’s definitely faster than Morgan, but I think Morgan has better hands.
Hill might have better situational awareness, but that’s hard to tell because of how little game time he gets.
Logic merely enables one to be wrong with authority
I personally think Hill is better than Morgan.
And then God created Saturn... and he liked it, so he put a ring on it.
Twitter me and what not.
Well...
I have my biases toward Brandon Jones… so yes, to answer honestly, I do believe Jones is better than Zeigler. Zeigler couldn’t even get on the field with a subpar WR corp. Jones was pretty awesome in college…. and when he had chances with the Titans he did well also. He has actual pro experience. Zeigler may never get that opportunity.
"I'm blessed..... Thanks, God bless" ...hey, it worked for Tim Tebow.
One of the better receiving corps in years??
I just feel like this is going to be one of the better ones we’ve seen in a while. Two, maybe three of these guys (Crabs, Hill, Morgan) look like they’re going to play inspired ball and the rest may very well end up following suit. They’ll be fun to watch.
46 days to go. . .
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