Who Are The Ten Best 49ers?

I think Vernon Davis edges out Lee as their second best player because I think he’s the best TE in the league and Lee is the second best punter to Lechner. However, I think Justin Smith and Frank Gore are both more valuable to the team as far as wins and losses. Gore may even edge Willis if you look at it from the perspective of what player would it be most damaging to have out for one game because there’s such a drop off between Gore and whoever would replace him because none of the other backs on the 49er’s roster (and a very small number of backs in the league) can do everything Gore can do. It great how many starters the 49ers now have that are considered “Top 5” at their position or may be close to breaking into the top 5.

Also, are you sure that’s why TKO get’s excused from practice? I thought it was because they were trying to get the RBs and Guards through a full season.

The offense runs through him.

Ned the leg deserve an honourable mention?

Also, have we ever done a top 10 of all time? We picked the all-time team, but not a top 10. This is a good format – all-time team means you cannot have Montana and Young, can’t have all three of Rice, Taylor, Owens, whatever. Not that I’m saying TO would be in my top 10. Kory Sheets would be though, and you had better believe that truth, Ruth.

Ninjames, maybe not the exact order. But I think a more pertinent list or ranking ought to be ranking our “10 worst” players on the roster… might take some research, or figuring out whether to rank the 10 worst from last year, or after this year’s team is cut down to 53- but then we may get a better idea of improving the lowest common denominators.

On a side note, Heitmann should be on the list for multiple talents, football and music in particular. :) I can’t personally put Staley on there yet because he couldn’t contribute almost all last year. Not his fault though. I’d like to see Clements finally get some mention. Again, the injury bug keeps him off, although if he was healthy last year, I think it would have been a different story. He was starting to come around before he went down.

1. P. Willy — best in the league at what he does
2. V. Davis — top 2 in the league at what he does
3. A. Lee — top 2 in the league at what he does
4. Tie Gore and J. Smith — Both are top 5 at what they do.

1. Patrick Willis – I’d love to be controversial and vote for another player, but there’s no chance in hell.
2. Justin Smith – Maybe this is a slight overrating on my part, but if you take away Smith, the DLine becomes absolutely ordinary.
3. Frank Gore – Despite Vernon Davis’ breakout 2009, Gore is still the best offensive weapon in my opinion.
4. Vernon Davis – Any time you have a TE that can be such a game changer, good things happen.
5. Takeo Spikes – Another slight overrating on my part, but his veteran presence is backed by notable production.
6. Aubrayo Franklin – The hulking NT doesn’t make it to the stat sheet much, but he does his job well.
7. Eric Heitmann – Have to agree with James on this one, he’s the best lineman San Francisco has.
8. Michael Crabtree – It’s only a matter of time before Crabs cracks the top 5.
9. Joe Staley – What can I say? Staley is going to look like an all-pro with Iupati beside him in 2010.
10. Dashon Goldson – If he can fix his whiffing problems, he’ll deserve the big contract he seeks.

Honorable Mentions: Nate Clements, Michael Lewis, Shawntae Spencer, Alex Smith, Ahmad Brooks, Parys Haralson.

NOTE: My top 10 list of players doesn’t necessarily reflect the players I think will impact the team most. In other words, it’s going to take more than the 10 best players on this team for the 49ers to make the playoffs.

1. Patrick Willis – of course.
2. (had we been smart) Kory Sheets – I cried the day he was taken from us
3. Frank Gore– Has made our offense go, despite mediocrity everywhere else these past few seasons. He deserves the recognition as the only fuel for the fire.
4. Justin Smith – How can you not love this guy? An absolute beast of a man, and part of a dying breed: The silent leader.
5. Vernon Davis – Ever since “The Talk” he’s become the TE that everyone thought he could be and then some. A physical specimen, and has matured mentally.

for me it was either Gore or Smith. VD just hasn’t been consistent enough to vote as the second best overall player.

Eventually I had to go with Gore.

1. Patrick Willis
2. Frank Gore
3. Justin Smith
4. Vernon Davis
5. Aubrayo Franklin
6. Eric Heitmann
7. Andy Lee
8. Nate Clements
9. Shantae Spencer
10. Dashon Goldson

2. Andy Lee- big believer in field position being a huge part of any game
3. vernon davis- wins any match up versus any one on the field. Can’t wait till he torches revis.
4. Gore- great running back. can create his own runs, doenst need the line to break one out but needs a good line to be consistently great.
5. Justin Smith- all motor all the time
6. crabtree- catches everything thrown his way. Runs perfect routes. Average speed
7. franklin- destroyer of running backs
8. Heitmann-winner of most underrated player in the ncf west
9.joe staley- only gonna get better too, already very good
10. manny lawson- needs to stay healthy, if he does can be a terror with his speed

1. Willis
2. Vernon Davis
3. Frank Gore
4. Justin Smith (tempted to put him third… but ultimately couldn’t move Frank down)
5. Joe Staley (solid LTs are hard to find)
6. Eric Heitmann
7. Aubrayo Franklin
8.Manny Lawson
9. Michael Crabtree
10. Dashon Goldson
10a. Andy Lee (I think he’s absolutely one of the very best punters in the game, but I just couldn’t justify ranking a punter higher than this)

Why I’m so excited by this offseason: I don’t think it’s unreasonable to believe that the top three players we drafted this year could all be on a list like this sooner rather than later… and that’s not because we’re lacking in talent anymore.

1. Patrick Willis, best football player on the field almost every down he plays.
2. Frank Gore, Top five running back with very high yards per carry for a seasoned veteren.
3. Aubrayo Franklin, has so much football knowledge on the defensive line he has become unreplacable. How did he miss out on the pro bowl? Maybe they thought he was too small/old. We know better.
4. Takeo Spikes, I bumped him up because of his past performance which translates into good football player even if his age is catching up.
5. Michael Crabtree, we all expected an attitude but instead he has shown us a guy who works hard. He will be great. I have him here for his routes and hands.
6. Vernon Davis, a physical freak of nature and one of our top 3 weapons, I think he is still learning and has to develop his routes and hands. Thats scary for the other teams. Great blocker.
7. Justin Smith, he is hard to block, uses his football skills better than anyone.
8. Dashon Goldson, I think he surprised everyone last year. Saftey is a tough position to master.
9 and 10. Shawntae and Nate, these guys are pretty good at their position and I can’t tell which one is better I just know they are different. Shawntae seems a little quicker but Nate is usually around the ball.

No offensive linemen because they didn’t impress as a unit which is very important for them. Also, I would hesitate to rank Kickers and Punters with other players. I would prefer to rank them against other Kickers and Punters. I’ll give Heitmann the props for holding the line at center, he is a solid veteran. I can’t get a read on Alex Smith, He could be one of our best or just mediocre. He’s needs to grow huge b@#$$.

1. Willis
2. VD
3. Gore
4. Lee
5. J smith\
6. Franklin

now these imo can be put in any order

7. Spikes
8. Hietmann
9. Crabtree

10. I will say Clements because I hope this year he is awesome but Goldson and Lawson could be here too.

1) Pat Willis (duh)
2) Frank Gore (still our best offensive weapon)
3) Vernon Davis (best passing game weapon)
4) Justin Smith (dude is a absolute beast)
5) Andy Lee (see below)
6) Dashon Goldson (had a good 2nd half last year)
7) Aubrayo Franklin (eats up blockers)
8) Michael Crabtree (best WR)
9) Eric Heitmann (most consistent O-Lineman)
10) Takeo Spikes (gettin’ older, but still good)

Willis is obviously the best player on the Niners, he also may have a argument to best overall player in the NFL.

Gore still is a Top 5 RB who while get his 1000 yards easily this year, also a good reciever and blocker.

Vernon is IMO, the most complete TE in the league. A devastating blocker, too fast for LBs, too big for DB to cover. Though he only has average hands at best, and penalty prone.

Justin Smith gets the nod over Franklin because he can some serious pressure on the QB. And for a 3-4 DE, that’s amazing, when his primary purpose is eating blockers.

Andy Lee is #5 because of the field position advantage he gives us. He makes opposing offenses have to drive on longer fields, giving the D breathing room. Conversely, if the D does it’s job, our offense will on average have shorter fields to score. He’s to invaluable to leave off the list just because he’s a punter. A punter every team in the league would love to have.

Dashon Goldson had a good 2nd half but needs to carry that over to this year if the D any chance to progress to a Top 5 unit. He needs to work on tackling and his coverage skills if he wants to get the contract he thinks he deserves.

Franklin is a good NT, a rare position to find an impact player at. I don’t think he’s long for the Niners because he’s going to fetch a hefty price on the free agent market.

Michael Crabtree is the best WR we’ve had since TO. He’ll have a 1000 yard season this year without a doubt in my mind. He runs good routes, gets good separation from defenders, and has amazing hands. His only weakness is that he doesn’t have blazing speed. That isn’t much of a problem though.

Eric Heitmann is our most consistent O-Lineman. He’s incredibly smart, which is important for Centers. He also has no weakness in his game.

TKO is aging, though he is an invaluable part of the D. He does his job and doesn’t make many mistakes. He also allows Pat to be unimpeded in run defense.

Honorable mention:
1) Alex Smith: If he has a good year, he could find himself in the Top 10 list.
2) Nate Clements & Shawtae Spencer: Both are good starting CBs but both aren’t anything to write home to mother about.
3) Josh Morgan: Good run-blocker and does his job well. Really not an exceptional player.

I figured you would throw him in there at least as an honorable mention but I guess you left the man-crush out of this. Pretty good list and I can’t see myself changing much of anything but adding a few more honorable mentions. I think Nate Clements belongs in there. He may not be great but but I would put him in a top 15.

1. Patrick Willis
2. Vernon Davis (kills me to rank ahead of Gore)
3. Frank Gore
4. Justin Smith
5. Aubrayo Franklin
6. Michael Crabtree
7. Nate Clements (I still believe)
8. Manny Lawson
9. Joe Staley
10. Takeo Spikes

Heitmann, Lee & Goldson outside looking in.

1. Patrick Willis
2. Patrick Willis’ aura
3. Vernon “The Disease” Davis
4. Frank “Frank” Gore
5. Andy Lee
6. Michael Crabtree
7. Justin Smith
8. Dashon Goldson
9. Shawntae Spencer
10. Josh Morgan

Honorable Mention:
Jay Cutler, MVP of our win over the Bears last year.

1. Patrick Willis
2. Vernon Davis
3. Frank Gore
4. Michael Crabtree
5. Justin Smith
6. Alex Smith
7. Dashon Goldson
8. Shawntae Spencer
9. Aubrayo Franklin
10. Eric Heitmann

Top 15
11. Joe Staley
12. Takeo Spikes
13. Nate Clements
14. Taylor Mays
15. Delanie Walker

Top 22
16. Mike Iupati
17. Josh Morgan
18. Ahmad Brooks
19. Manny Lawson
20. Chilo Rachal
21. Isaac Sopoaga
22. Anthony Davis

Notable Mention if he is even the starter
Moran Norris

PEOPLE ALWAYS OVERLOOK THE MOST CRITICAL POSITION ON THE TEAM IN MY WORDS AND THAT IS THE LONG SNAPPER AND F/G SNAPPER AND THAT IS BRIAN JENNINGS AND I AM BRAIN FARTING, DOES HE SNAP ON F/G’S, BUT HE IS IN THE TOP TEN BY FAR.

CUT-N-DRY……….BOOK-IT-DANO

DREW K…BRIAN JENNINGS IS DEF IN THE TOP 22