49ers ranked 5th in Football Outsiders Organizational Rankings

by David Fucillo on Jul 14, 2010 4:15 PM PDT in San Francisco 49ers News

A couple days ago, over at ESPN.com, Mike Sando posted a chart looking at the average age of every NFL team. The 49ers came in 18th with an average age of 25.90. The Rams were the youngest in the division at 25.61, while the Cardinals (26.27) and Seahawks (26.18) were both older than the 49ers.

This information is certainly interesting enough on its own, but I thought we'd take a look at some other analysis on the topic. Football Outsiders occasionally puts together posts for ESPN.com and they put together a ranking of organizations based on their 25-and-under talent. In light of our discussion this morning about FO's 2010 49ers predictions, I thought we'd look at some of their more subjective commentary in in relation to this age issue.

FO took a list of every player that will be 25 or younger as of September 1 and analyzed the group on issues like " upside versus established production, quantity versus quality, and current staff versus historical ability to develop rookies when it comes to evaluating the talent available to each NFL franchise."

The top of their list included the Texans, Panthers and Chiefs. What's more intriguing is that they ranked the 49ers fifth. That ranking was obviously based quite a bit on having Patrick Willis lining up in the middle. In addition, Dashon Goldson's big year last year certainly helped out, and they recognized Tarell Brown lurking behind Nate Clements on the depth chart. We've had plenty of discussion about Brown, so we'll see how he develops in training camp.

The big help for the 49ers youth movement has been on the offensive side of the ball:

The biggest hole in the organization was on the offensive line, and the 49ers invested their top two picks this year in linemen: Rutgers tackle Anthony Davis and Idaho guard Mike Iupati. With effective 25-year-old left tackle Joe Staley returning from injury, the Niners should have one of the league's better lines by 2012.

One interesting aspect of this is that it doesn't even include Vernon Davis in these rankings because he turned 26 in January. However, having 22-year old Michael Crabtree and 25-year old Josh Morgan certainly puts the 49ers in a good position as far as the skill positions are concerned going forward. Bill Barnwell (the author) even referred to this trio (Davis/Crabtree/Morgan) as "one of the best trios of receiving talent in the game today." Certainly high praise.

What are your thoughts on the 49ers youth movement? The biggest concern is contracts, and it's hard to not think about potentially losing young talent to free agency. However, in terms of simple on the field talent, the youth movement seems to be developing in full force.

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Also Alex Smith turned 26

In May. IMO if it’s worth mentioning about VD it’s worth mentioning about Smith.

by Deelron on Jul 14, 2010 5:28 PM PDT reply actions

questionable

If Alex Smith has a bust out year this year then I think it’s definitely worth mentioning. The difference for now is that Vernon Davis blew up last year.

by David Fucillo on Jul 14, 2010 5:42 PM PDT up reply actions

Well,

Alex not being in the evaluation probably helped the Niners rate higher.

by TIM___ on Jul 14, 2010 6:35 PM PDT up reply actions

Not Really

Alex Smith hasn’t done 1/10 of what VD has done on the field. Smith hasn’t done anything yet to distinguish himself. VD has been to two pro bowls

by robyn k on Jul 14, 2010 7:08 PM PDT up reply actions

"VD has been to two pro bowls"

Robyn, are you certain of this. I know that he went at the end of last (2009) season, but I don’t recall him going previously… forgive me if I’m wrong…

After all was said and done, a lot more got said than done.

by OldJock on Jul 15, 2010 12:36 AM PDT up reply actions

pro bowl

He was an alternate in 2008. I don’t think he ended up actually going.

by David Fucillo on Jul 15, 2010 8:39 AM PDT up reply actions

He's certainly done more then Tarell Brown

Or Josh Morgan, both 25. It’s just worth noting that he’s nearly as young as they are and has accomplished about as much (or more). How different our view of Smith would be if he was a 3rd year pro, 4th round draft pick?

by Deelron on Jul 14, 2010 7:28 PM PDT up reply actions

People would be going crazy about how great he's going to be

But he hasn’t begun to touch the talent he CAN display. He’s a cerebral player and this is his first year in the same offense. He’s going thermonuclear this season

Gimme 1 round!

by ItBurnzWhenIP on Jul 14, 2010 10:49 PM PDT up reply actions

Did you read the reason why they listed VD's age?

The authors are only considering players 25 and younger. Many readers would object if VD weren’t mentioned, so they explained that he is over the age limit for consideration in this piece. I don’t think they expected anyone to complain about alex smith.

by spenczar on Jul 15, 2010 8:15 AM PDT up reply actions

hijacking this for a defacto ESPYs thread?

might happen…

by foosball4949 on Jul 14, 2010 6:11 PM PDT reply actions

I like this

Our young players are not only young but they are good too.

by manraj7 on Jul 14, 2010 6:23 PM PDT reply actions

They need to learn fast and i think they will. Alex Smith will have his best year this season, ’ thats assuming the o-line holds up ’? Vernon,Gore,Crabtree,Morgan,Coffee….. Thats points baby!!!! Money!!! Our defense is very strong, Patrick Willis!! Enough said….. We need some help in the secondary!!!! Special teams could use some work as well… Im thinkin Ted Ginn will help there… All in all we make the playoffs!!!

by gr8dane#1niner on Jul 14, 2010 6:34 PM PDT reply actions

Our ST were good

Other then the catching the ball part.

by manraj7 on Jul 14, 2010 6:45 PM PDT up reply actions

Like I always say...

The future of this organization sure looks bright ! Ownership,Front office,Coaching and roster !).

by TIM___ on Jul 14, 2010 6:36 PM PDT reply actions

Singletary's Smashmouth

Although I do love the direction the young players are going, I have to question if repeated years of an extra physical system will wear them down eventually.

If Vernon for instance has to take the abuse of run blocking alot over several years, I think he will hit his peak alot ealier than he would have in a different system.

The power running game seems like a good idea now, but I feel like to actually build a dynasty we need keep our players injury free. A more balanced offensive attack perhaps?

by SnakesOnAPlane on Jul 15, 2010 12:14 AM PDT reply actions

Injuries happen no matter what

Singletary wasn’t coach when Jerry Rice got his knee blown out on a rogue facemask via Warren Sapp on a reverse.

Gimme 1 round!

by ItBurnzWhenIP on Jul 15, 2010 6:44 PM PDT up reply actions

Lumped with the Texans, Panthers and Chiefs.

In that case I’d rather they ranked the 49ers 32nd.

by bignerd on Jul 15, 2010 12:49 AM PDT reply actions

Maybe it's me

but I see the Texans and Niners as very similar. I see both teams as young up-and-comers that haven’t made the playoffs in many years……trying to reward their passionate fan bases….trying to build through the draft and do it with stability in the front office…….both posting their best record in a while last season (or ever in one case). I would definitely lump them together as teams with their windows opening….but that may just be me.

"Lord, beer me strength."

by TexansDC on Jul 15, 2010 1:20 AM PDT up reply actions

If the topic is an “organizational ranking” why is it good for the 49ers to be ranked next to the two organizations with coaching staffs (Texans & Panthers) who barely escaped being fired last year and severely on the hot seat this upcoming season. The Chiefs are even worse, haven’t been on solid footing in years and are trying to make “Hot Head” Haley and a Belichick disciple work (BTW, I like Haley but whose plan is it to give him a DT & FS while the crappy pieces he had on offense disintegrate?).

by bignerd on Jul 15, 2010 2:08 AM PDT up reply actions

Yeah, that's not really true

Gary Kubiak received an extension this off-season, so he’s not on the hot seat. Panthers went 13-3 two seasons ago and had a dip but still ended up 8-8 which is the same as how the 49ers finished last season so I don’t know why they are so bad. The Chiefs are the only one where I could understand not wanting to be like, but this article is not about coaching staffs or front office personnel, it’s about teams having a core group of players under the age of 26 that they can build upon. I see being ranked fifth as a good thing.

by ZeroOneInfinity on Jul 15, 2010 2:19 AM PDT up reply actions

It's a good comparison

and I like that they are building polar opposite teams and that there is no one way to do it in the NFL. Texans have a great offense (I think Tate will help fix their rushing problems) and their defense having pieces in place to build upon whereas the 49ers have a great defense (slightly suspect passing defense but shutting down the run and making a team one-dimensional is a big plus) with pieces in place on offense where the only question mark is QB. The Texans being a finesse team whereas the 49ers are a smash-mouth/physical team. Texans run a 4-3 while the 49ers run a 3-4.

I would like to see a 49ers/Texans Super Bowl because it could the next great rivalry if these teams can become perennial Super Bowl contenders. It will probably be a battle of the best defense in the league versus the best offense in the league (if they both make it to the Super Bowl), which would make for some great games to watch.

by ZeroOneInfinity on Jul 15, 2010 2:10 AM PDT up reply actions

We all know that the 49ers had a dynasty through the 80s and 90s...

We went to the playoffs 16 times in 18 seasons (‘81-’98 inclusive), and 18 times in 22 seasons (‘81-’02 inclusive). A dynasty such as this requires constant “reloading”. As an example, I picked a position almost at random to demonstrate what I mean: at LG, the starter ‘79-’86 (inclusive) was John Ayers, then ‘87-’88 was Jesse Sapolu (before he was switched to center), ‘89-’93 was Guy McIntyre, ‘94-’95 was Sapolu again, then ‘96-’01 was now assistant Offensive Line Coach Ray Brown, in ’02 Eric Heitmann took over before being switched to center…

We let Hall of Famers (and fan favorites) such as Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Ronnie Lott, and Roger Craig (well, he SHOULD be in the HOF) go before they reached the end of their careers while they still had a little left in their tanks when we had a promising replacement, not risking losing the replacement because of over-sentimentally retaining the legends too long. It hurt to lose those stars, it hurt even more to see three of them in Raiders unis, but that’s what’s necessary to build a dynasty, to continually “reload”.

I’ve take quite a bit of heat from a couple of you for suggesting in older threads that we release Moran Norris (age 32) in favor of either Brit Miller (age 23) or Jehuu Caulcrick (age 26), and Michael Lewis (age 30) in favor of Taylor Mays (age 22) and either Reggie Smith (age 23) or Curtis Taylor (age 24) [this suggestion in part because of Lewis’ history of concussions and concern over the quality of his post-football life].

Yes, these are TOUGH decisions, but they are the decisions made by teams that become dynasties…

After all was said and done, a lot more got said than done.

by OldJock on Jul 15, 2010 2:15 AM PDT reply actions

Really?

I’ve take quite a bit of heat from a couple of you for suggesting in older threads that we release Moran Norris (age 32) in favor of either Brit Miller (age 23) or Jehuu Caulcrick (age 26), and Michael Lewis (age 30) in favor of Taylor Mays (age 22) and either Reggie Smith (age 23) or Curtis Taylor (age 24) [this suggestion in part because of Lewis’ history of concussions and concern over the quality of his post-football life].

I thought that more people than not were of this opinion here at Niners Nation. I know that I’d show Norris the door if it was me, and I’d probably show Lewis the door as well (I definitely wouldn’t bring him back in 2011).

Logic merely enables one to be wrong with authority

by smileyman on Jul 15, 2010 2:23 AM PDT up reply actions

Lewis is the new Roman?

May return as a backup next year if he stays healthy.

by Mood_Indigo on Jul 15, 2010 9:54 AM PDT up reply actions

No

Lewis has a big salary so in order for him to return in 2011 one of three things has to happen:
1. He takes a pay cut
2. He plays out of his mind and has a career year
3. Mays, Smith and Taylor all regress/don’t move forward and aren’t ready to start.

What we've got here is a failure to communicate.

"I'm just like you, but 10 times better"

by SportsChicken on Jul 15, 2010 10:14 AM PDT up reply actions

The ONLY reason I'd keep Lewis

Is that unless I’m mistaken his salary is guaranteed, so the 49ers don’t really gain anything by releasing him.

I know what I'm talking about, I started at right guard for the 1992 College Park Falcons.

by Johnnysixnut on Jul 16, 2010 12:20 PM PDT up reply actions

Nope

Back in 2007 he signed a six year, $30 million deal. The guaranteed money was $10 million which has already been paid.

He’s scheduled to earn $4.105 million this season, $5.6 million in 2011 and $6.7 million in 2012.

People rip on Nate Clements all the time for his supposed huge contract but nobody ever complains about Lewis’ monstrous contract, especially for what we’ve gotten for it.

Logic merely enables one to be wrong with authority

by smileyman on Jul 16, 2010 10:02 PM PDT up reply actions

Personally, I think Clements has played pretty well under the circumstances (0 Safety help over the top, 1v1 on other teams best receiver all game, inconsistent pass rush)… If Clements stays healthy this year I think he’ll turn some perceptions around because I think he’ll get more help.

Lewis..I don’t seem him starting very many games this year, if they do keep him, they need to get him the hell off the field on 2nd and 7 or more. Against passing teams I wouldn’t even want him on the field on first down. I also don’t think he has much value as a backup because he has no versatility. Pretty much I’d maybe only want him on the field in obvious run situations, but if I were the other team, I’d key on him and audible a hot read to whoever I thought he had coverage on.

Maybe he’s out there because he’s great at directing traffic, calling assignments, leadership or something else we don’t really see as fans, but just looking at his play last year..I just think that Safeties who can’t cover anyone have been obsolete since Wilbur Marshal.

I know what I'm talking about, I started at right guard for the 1992 College Park Falcons.

by Johnnysixnut on Jul 23, 2010 8:15 AM PDT up reply actions