49ers Players Under 30
by David Fucillo on Dec 31, 2011 6:00 AM PST
in 49ers Roster
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PrintAs the 49ers prepare to wrap up their 2011 regular season and get ready for the coming postseason, it is always interesting to consider how the team was compiled and what it holds for the future. The 49ers entered the 2011 season with one of the younger 53-man rosters in the NFL. The roster ages have changed a bit across the league since then, but there has been nothing too dramatic.
As of the 53-man roster cutdown, the 49ers had the ninth youngest team. They had the third oldest special teams unit, but according to Sando's research, the 49ers offense and defense are among the youngest in the NFL. Heading into next season, if the roster stayed intact, the 49ers would have only twelve players 30 years or older.
The average age of the roster will fluctuate as we move towards the 2012 season due to existing players gaining a year and some older and younger players coming and going, but the 49ers should remain a relatively young team.
A couple days ago, a writer for the Chicago Sun-Times put together a breakdown of the Top 30 players under 30 in the NFC North. Although there is still plenty of football left to be played, for a random Saturday I thought it would be an interesting debate to look at the "best" 49ers players under 30. I've emailed the other three blogs in the division, so maybe we can come up with a top 30 for the entire division.
For now, after the jump I've got a list of all the players that will be under 30 at the start of next season, as well as a ranking of the top ten in my opinion. It's an entirely subjective exercise, but if you want to throw out your own top ten, feel free. This is simply a matter of ranking who you think are the best players and not necessarily the most important to team success. We are looking at players basically in a vacuum.
I was originally going to provide specific rankings for the top ten 49ers under 30, but I'm honestly not sure how best to do it at the moment. Instead, here are the ten best 49ers under 30 in no particular order (although Bamm Bamm would remain on top in an actual top ten).
Top Ten 49ers Under 30
Patrick Willis
NaVorro Bowman
Dashon Goldson
Frank Gore
Donte Whitner
Michael Crabtree
Aldon Smith
Mike Iupati
Vernon Davis
Ray McDonald
Looking through the list below (in order of age), am I missing anybody? I was thinking of including Joe Staley, and Anthony Davis has an argument as well, but that's the beauty of debate. If you want to order them specifically 1 through 10, go to town.
49ers UNDER 30
Frank Gore, RB
Ahmad Brooks, OLB
Blake Costanzo, ST
Vernon Davis, TE
Dashon Goldson, FS
Tavares Gooden, ST
Parys Haralson, OLB
Ray McDonald, DE
Alex Smith, QB
Joe Staley, OT
Delanie Walker, TE
Tarell Brown, CB
Ted Ginn, Jr. , WR/KR/PR
Larry Grant, ILB
Joshua Morgan, WR
Brett Swain, WR/ST
Donte Whitner, SS
Patrick Willis, ILB
Ricky Jean Francois, DL
Chilo Rachal, OG
Reggie Smith, S
CJ Spillman, S/ST
Alex Boone, OT
Michael Crabtree, WR
Anthony Dixon, RB
Demarcus Dobbs, DL
Mike Iupati, OG
Colin Jones, ST
Colin Kaepernick, QB
Joe Hastings, WR
Daniel Kilgore, OL
Bruce Miller, FB
Scott Tolzien, QB
NaVorro Bowman, ILB
Tramaine Brock, CB
Chris Culliver, CB
Kendall Hunter, RB
Mike Person, OL
Kyle Williams, WR
Anthony Davis, OT
Aldon Smith, OLB
Ian Williams, DL
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We already have a list of the best 49ers under 30.
It’s the Linebacker section of the roster.
We don't need 8 in the box. We have 52 in the box.
When 10 needs to have 10A-10G
This is a hard one!
Not all of these guys may seem deserving based on stats or previous seasons but hey, some I included on improvement or value in non stat areas of the game and I threw in Miller based on this being his first year ever at his position which leads me to believe that his game will just keep improving … So here is my 10B – 10G.
Alex Smith, Joe Staley, Delanie Walker, Joshua Morgan, Bruce Miller, Anthony Davis,
Oh, You Mean The Top Ten 49ers Not Named Justin Smith.
Why you want to exclude the Cowboy? That’s messed up man, and I think a little ageist.
"When they pull the chains off, I’ll come back just as strong as when I left, if not better" - 52
Yea, he's one of the only 49ers not 30 or under
Besides the Kickers, there are only 4 players on the 49ers who are over 30. Justin Smith, Moron Norris, Johnathan Goodwin, and Justin Peele.
When you list the Top Ten 49ers under 30 you are literally listing the Top Ten 49ers not named Justin Smith, Issac Sopoaga, or Carlos Rogers. All you’re doing is cutting the list of available players down to 48.
"When they pull the chains off, I’ll come back just as strong as when I left, if not better" - 52
It's not age but how you play
Same as LIFE. Including Justin is fine. Maybe one day he’ll look into the mirror & say OH S****, but until then he’s an honorary kid.
I don't see Shawntae Spencer on your list of 49ers under 30
He isn’t 30 until February.
"When they pull the chains off, I’ll come back just as strong as when I left, if not better" - 52
next season
The list is players that will be under 30 at the start of next season. I also don’t have Andy Lee and Adam Snyder.
by David Fucillo on Dec 31, 2011 10:24 AM PST up reply actions
Ah ha, I see. Missed that line, sorry.
"When they pull the chains off, I’ll come back just as strong as when I left, if not better" - 52
Andy Lee isn't on this list either
I’d have him above Whitner, but maybe I’m not seeing everything Whitner does?
"When they pull the chains off, I’ll come back just as strong as when I left, if not better" - 52
next season
For now, after the jump I’ve got a list of all the players that will be under 30 at the start of next season,
by David Fucillo on Dec 31, 2011 10:25 AM PST up reply actions
But Andy Lee ages like wine or cheese.
Attack this day with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind. ~ Jack Harbaugh
by Virginia9er on Dec 31, 2011 12:17 PM PST up reply actions
I don't see our Right Guard.
Maybe you rushed this list?
"When they pull the chains off, I’ll come back just as strong as when I left, if not better" - 52
As for the fans, I am the No 1 member of NinersNation in the 30-40 bracket. Manraj is the top performer in the 12-and-under category. Ninjames is way better than anyone else in the 65-and-over.
Ha Ha I listened to a British man blast Americans for an Hour and a Half last night
At Cobb Comedy club. It was Hilairious. He was blasting Tim Teebow and Idaho. Suddenly I want to become a comedian in Britain, and just make fun of the British. It would be so fun, and so easy.
"When they pull the chains off, I’ll come back just as strong as when I left, if not better" - 52
Ha ha – yes, you should! We have a couple of American comics working here full-time at the moment, pretty much taking the mickey (as we would put it) out of the British: Rich Hall and Reginald D Hunter. Do either of those guys have profiles in the US? They are basically doing what you describe above – Americans ripping on the Brits. They are very popular here.
by LondonNiner on Dec 31, 2011 10:22 AM PST up reply actions
victory is mineeeeeeeeee
And when we win, we want to dominate. We want to take guys out. We want to hurt guys. We want to win. We just want to dominate, hit them in the mouth. - Rathman
Follow @manraj76
Magic number For bye week (1 for Saints) For NFC West division title 0 (NFC WEST CHAMPIONS) worst seed possible (3rd seed)
Niners first-round curse (with Mr Patrick Willis honourably excepted).
by LondonNiner on Dec 31, 2011 10:24 AM PST up reply actions
Jonathan Goodwin, Justin Smith, Carlos Rodgers, Donte Whitner, Ahmad Brooks, and David Akers
What do they all have in common?
Out of 24 starters (offense, defense, K, P) those 6 players are the only free agent acquisitions. Unless I did my research incorrectly, every other starter is a draft pick from the 2004 draft onwards. Think about that.
75% of the starting roster built through the draft. We seem to be pretty happy with this year’s draft class, but also keep in mind that Bruce Miller is the only one starting. Aldon Smith will eventually be one. Hopefully Chris Culliver and Kendall Hunter will be too one day. So we have plenty of depth.
As exciting as this season has been, I still feel like we’re in the midst of a learning and feeling out process. We’re still just starting to get things together. There’s still a lot of room to grow, and the rest of the league is in for a rude awakening after that happens.
pretty much every fan base thinks there's opportunity for an "awakening" on their team
rarely all comes together though, the big position is QB. If Kaepernick can be a legitimate pro bowl QB, then everything changes.
Otherwise it’s always a balancing act between erosion and improvement. In busts and hits.
Not counting Alex, 49ers have 4 free agent starters, none of which have a back-up or draft in wait. ( in fact 2 of their back ups are free agents also ).
It’s safe to assume that the team’s insane turnover ratio will be much closer to even next year. They will need legitimate improvements on the offensive side of the ball if they want to keep this year’s magic going.
Draft: 1. Kendall Wright 2. Trumaine Johnson
FA: Smith, Morgan, Brooks, Rogers, Snyder
by whistlingmountain on Dec 31, 2011 10:02 AM PST up reply actions
I'd assume that the fact we have a good team now will help us keep a few of those free agents.
What you’re saying about a balancing act between erosion and improvement certainly makes sense, but I think it applies much more to older teams. When you’re on the younger side, I think you are likely to see improvement, especially if you believe in your coaching staff.
It's funny that Frank is included in this youthful group but he's an "old man" in RB years :P
Affectionately,
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar,
NBA’s All-Time Leading Scorer
by afrikabamboodle on Dec 31, 2011 10:29 AM PST reply actions
And 11 - 1st rounders on this team, amazing !
Drafted in first round:
Alex Smith
Vernon Davis
Michael Crabtree
Ted Ginn
Joe Staley
Mike Iupati
Anthony Davis
Justin Smith
Aldon Smith
Willis
Carlos Rogers
Has there ever been more 1st rounders on any playoff team?
And they just cut a first rounder in Braylon
They got first rounders to spare.
With Braylon, the 49ers had three of the top ten picks in the 2005 draft.
Alex, Carlos, and Braylon.
I'm sure there have been...
Still, an underrated theme of this team has been, rather than late round picks playing like first rounders, first rounders playing like first rounders.
I'm just a simple Giants fan trying to make my way in the universe.
by Tim Lincecum's Bong on Dec 31, 2011 11:03 AM PST up reply actions
I'm still waiting for that part
From anyone on offense.
Every time Jamie Dukes says something enlightening and informative about football Jerry Rice and I mount up on our flying grizzly bears and claim pirate treasure from the moon. That's how often it happens.
Well...Joe Staley elected a Pro-Bowler by his peers
which says a lot… because Im not sure if Joe had enough fan votes to get in?
Meh, Pro Bowl says nothing
Every year it’s the Name Recognition Bowl. We could have had the exact same performance from Staley this year but if the defense played worse and we were 8-8 he wouldn’t have sniffed a pro bowl selection.
Every time Jamie Dukes says something enlightening and informative about football Jerry Rice and I mount up on our flying grizzly bears and claim pirate treasure from the moon. That's how often it happens.
You forgot Dante Whitner
Interestingly, if you draw those first-round picks (including Whitner) into two lists, the list of players who would be in the conversation for our best overall players contains more names we didn’t ourselves draft than players we did. The list of players who haven’t been a total, unmitigated success contains all players actually drafted by the 49ers.
Hard to argue they have been a total success: Alex Smith, M Crabtree, J Staley, M Iupati, A Davis
Would be in the conversation for our best players: V Davis, T Ginn, J Smith, Aldon Smith, P Willis, C Rogers.
You could argue with pretty much anything above, of course. But it seems like we have a better record of turning round the careers of first-rounders who haven’t pulled up trees elsewhere than we have of making our own first-round picks into all-stars.
(puts on tin hat)
by LondonNiner on Dec 31, 2011 11:50 AM PST up reply actions
For the record, and since I forgot Whitner from my own list, I’d include him on the best players list.
by LondonNiner on Dec 31, 2011 12:10 PM PST up reply actions
and some more 1st rounders who were released....
*Manny Lawson
*Nate Clements
*Tikeo Spikes
One more....David Carr
We should be named the San Francisco…. 1st Rounders!
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