49ers 2012 Free Agency Review: Tight Ends
by David Fucillo on Feb 3, 2012 12:00 PM PST
in 2012 49ers Free Agents
Email
Print
Today we move to a position of strength for the 49ers as we take a look at the tight ends that spent time on the 49ers roster in 2011. This was kind of a bizarre year for the 49ers tight end position. In hiring Jim Harbaugh, the 49ers were bringing in a coach that loved his tight ends at Stanford. The Cardinal used two and three tight ends fairly consistently, and to great success.
In 2011, the 49ers went to two and three tight end sets quite frequently. Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker are known for their receiving skills, but both have developed into incredibly solid blockers for the team. Two of my favorite plays this season were when Delanie Walker placed strong blocks on Ndamukong Suh to spring Frank Gore for a pair of big gains.
The 49ers went with two tight ends in their base offense, which allowed them to get Walker and Davis on the field fairly consistently. They went with Justin Peelle as the third tight end after second year tight end Nate Byham went down with a torn ACL in training camp. The 49ers have Vernon Davis locked up through 2015, Delanie Walker through 2012, and Nate Byham through 2013. Justin Peelle is a free agent this year.
After the jump, we'll take a look at the individual players and how their seasons played out, and then ask you how you feel about the position going forward.
Vernon Davis
The 49ers charismatic leading tight end had what can best be described as an up and down season. It seemed at times like the 49ers coaching staff was struggling with how best to utilize the versatile tight end. Davis brings a combination of speed and power that can matchup with most any tight end in the NFL. Alex Smith has often looked to him as the team has moved down towards the end zone, with the seam route being one of their most prominent plays in recent seasons.
And yet, 2011 saw Vernon Davis all over the place in terms of weekly production. He did have his share of drops, which remains a bit of an issue at times, but there were also times where it just seemed like the 49ers were not looking his way on offense.
And then the postseason happened. Davis had his two biggest games of the year, and really two of the biggest games of his life when it mattered most. He had two bad penalties in the Giants game, with the personal foul being particularly bizarre. The penalties didn't hurt the team from a production standpoint (they got a first down after the roughing penalty before eventually punting), but they were just not the things team leaders need to be doing. Well, the roughing one was particularly stupid, but the celebration after his big touchdown was over the top.
Nonetheless, those two games showed exactly what Vernon is capable of and has me scratching my head to a certain extent about the regular season when the offense sputtered at times.
Delanie Walker
The 49ers number two tight end had arguably his best season as a pro in the Harbaugh/Roman offense. While his receptions and yardage numbers were down, he had a career-high three touchdowns, and received as much playing time as any previous point in his career. The 49ers went to a base two tight end set that allowed them to keep defenses on their toes with the receiving/blocking skills of both tight ends.
This was sort of a tale of two seasons once Walker went down with his broken jaw in the Seahawks game. The 49ers beat the Rams and Saints without Walker, but one has to wonder if Walker was completely 100% for the Giants game. He had a pair of receptions, but a knowingly 100% Walker remains one of the small what if's of this magical season.
We have discussed plenty of issues related to the 49ers need for a wide receiver, but having Davis and Walker put the 49ers in a position where they might not feel the need to overload at the wide receiver position. Walker played wide receiver in college and we know Davis has the speed and size to split out wide on occasion. However, there are enough times where the team does not seem to utilize these two huge weapons nearly enough given their talents. How best can they utilize Walker and Davis to optimize their skills?
Justin Peelle
He had a quiet year receiving, but was a solid enough third tight end when it came to blocking. When Walker went down, Peelle moved into the number two spot, and given the 49ers use of multiple tight ends, it led to a sizable increasing in playing time.
Peelle is unlikely to be back in 2012 given the return of Nate Byham and the competition Konrad Reuland will likely bring to the position in training camp. It is possible he could get a chance to compete given his year in the system, but I would be a little surprised.
Nate Byham
The 49ers sixth round pick in 2010 tore his ACL early in training camp and never really had a chance to show his stuff for the new coaching staff. He will likely enter 2012 training camp as the leading candidate for the number three tight end role. Given the prominence of power formations, Byham will get a lot of opportunities to get on the field in 2012 if he wins the role.
Konrad Reuland
The former Stanford tight end spent much of the season on the practice squad. Barring a huge step forward that moves him past Byham, I think Reuland ends up getting waived late in training camp with the team hopeful he clears waivers and can end up back on the practice squad.
157 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Yes please!
I don’t care what position they draft him for, just draft him.
I could see the following scenario:
Niners have 3rd and 2 to go.
2 TE set with Davis and Fleener with Gore & Walker in backfield, and Morgan (or I hope Meacham) split out wide.
Davis, Walker & Fleener all split out before they set…hike.
BAM!!! Big play for the offense!
by kailuakid9er on Feb 3, 2012 12:49 PM PST up reply actions
We wouldn't need to jump up to get Fleener, he's likely going in the 2nd.
It’s dumb to draft a 3rd string TE in the 1st or 2nd regardless when we have much bigger needs at OL, WR, and defensive depth.
Another would improve the team more than another WR
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
Good gosh no.
Davis is one of the best in the league and Walker is a very good 2nd stringer, making for one of best TE tandems in the league.
We have one of the worst WR corps in the league. With one of the worst #1 and #2 duos in the league, and probably the outright worst depth at the position in the league. 3 TE sets aren’t going to fix our passing game. Better WRs will.
Oh, I thought you were joking.
Fleener isn’t athletic enough or fast enough to play WR. There’s better prospects that are actually WRs in the draft.
He's not a burner, but...
I thought I saw somewhere that he runs a 4.5-4.6 in the 40. That’s not blazing speed, but fast enough to get downfield and use his size to make a play on the ball.
Where did you get that?
He ran a 4.6 coming out of highschool
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
well according to scout.com
4.4 http://stanford.scout.com/a.z?s=18&p=8&c=1&nid=2844507
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
CBS has him as 4.77
Low and high were from here:
http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/profilexnews.php?pyid=69875&draftyear=2012&genpos=TE
i call BS on that other site
scout.com
is the most reliable college scouting website. He didn’t run a 40 recorded 40 since then.
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
Scout.com
Also has him at 220. Now draft sites have him at around 245 to 250. Things change when you put 25-30 pounds on a frame.
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.
thats true
but will adding 30 lbs make you slow down .4 seconds in a 40?
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
I'll wait for the combine and not talk about 40s instead of talking about projected 40s
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
you recorded it with a stopwatch?
or are you going off of projected 40s still
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
its more accurate than a projected 40
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
Uh, no.
No it isn’t. For reasons stated above. He might wow some people and run below a 4.6, but I highly, highly, highly doubt he’s running a sub 4.5.
You don't need blazing speed when you line up against Lbs.
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
You guys were talking about him being a WR.
As I said earlier, he’s not fast enough or athletic enough to be WR.
Can you succeed as a WR running a 4.5-4.6? Sure. Fleener doesn’t have the skill set to do that though. He’s going to be a TE, and as a TE, he doesn’t offer us anything we don’t already have.
Here's waht I said:
Yes please! I don’t care what position they draft him for, just draft him.
I could see the following scenario:
Niners have 3rd and 2 to go.
2 TE set with Davis and Fleener with Gore & Walker in backfield, and Morgan (or I hope Meacham) split out wide.
Davis, Walker & Fleener all split out before they set…hike.
BAM!!! Big play for the offense!
This whole comment tree stems from me
talking about him being a WR. Sorry for assuming, that’s my fault.
All those player bunched up together sounds awful.
It would make it hard to run and in the limited time we usually have to pass due to our o-line, our WRs would still be all bunched up together. There’s no spreading of the defense.
Only 1 WR in my scenario
VD & Fleener @ TE
Walker in backfield
Then they 3 of them split out
As for running, thats pretty much what they ran out of this year. 2 TE sets with an extra lineman or Soapoaga
Not really
Are they bunched up in base defense or forced to go to nickel to account for two deep threat TEs?
They would start out bunched
but then if you shift a TE from the inside to the outside someone has to follow him or he is all by himself. At least I would assume so. I mean picture VD lined up next to the T like he normally is. A LB/S would be on him because they aren’t going to let him run solo. If we shift VD outside then the LB who was on him would have to follow him. Then we would essentially have VD against a LB on the outside.
Logically that what can happen. Not sure if it would work in nature though.
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
What usually happens
Is with the defense facing a new formation the entire back end coverage gets an audible — what might have been a comfortable situation to run a Cover 2 might now be looking at a possible 3+ verticals which would be a big disaster.
Even if you wanted the matchup of your LB on the TE your base reads would dictate the coverage responsibilities change so that you don’t give away your coverage just because a guy jogged 5 yards East/West.
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.
What would you audible too?
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
Depends
If there isn’t a good possibility of 4 verts and we don’t have any trips looks I’m probably looking for a quarter / quarter / half Cover 3.
Basically all that happens is the corner on the motion side now has to deep drop and he and the safety to his side split up that half of the field and the linebacker that was on the TE now has the flat responsibility that the corner had.
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.
I never said that either
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
As I said, this whole comment tree
comes from me talking about him being a WR. I assumed you guys were arguing his validity at that position.
Obviously I'm not saying he is going to run a 4.4
I said he on MTD that he will run between a 4.5 and 4.6. But to say he will run a 4.8 is crazy talk.
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
And I never said he'd run a 4.8
that’s what his lowest possible time was. I think he’ll run a 4.65 to a 4.75.
We are a TE offense
and like Oug continuously posts covering 1 good TE is extremely difficult so can you imagine covering two? Then there is so much more you can do if you have a good enough TEs
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
Or it could be Harbaugh's offense
Its what he did in Stanford too.
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
but the TEs do work in the NFL
note Saints and Patriots
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
Patriots WRs are quite average
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
Welker is a top 10, all-pro WR
The rest aside from Branch aren’t amazing, but their depth isn’t too bad.
Point is, their WR corp as a whole is a lot better than ours.
Note also
That the Saints and Patriots use them as 4 WR (2TE / 2 WR) sets and do not regularly use a fullback in addition to two tight ends.
You line up like we do with 2 TE (only one of which is a serious receiving threat), two running backs (neither of which are a serious receiving threat), and only 1 wide receiver (who is only periodically a serious receiving threat) and there is a world of difference in how a defense can limit you.
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.
Hey Oug
do you think with the evolution of the TE that the LB will be more important? Because they are one of the main positions to cover TEs?
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
Not really
Less important.
If you have to face spread teams more and more often you start backing off to a 3-3-5 and only running a 6 man front. By that point your 3 backers are pretty much slightly bigger safeties who can blitz.
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.
When you say spread teams do you mean when they line up their TE as a WR?
Because wouldn’t that be just an oversized WR instead of a TE?
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
No I'm not talking about the formations
Talking about the general philosophy of getting as many playmakers out into space as possible to stretch the zones and make life hard on linebackers.
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.
Harbaugh was TE oriented at Stanford out of necessity too.
Explosive skill position recruits are rare there.
Aaron Curry is the first Seahawk since Walter Jones to have a legitimate shot at Hall of Fame induction - John Morgan
by Fearless Frog on Feb 3, 2012 2:43 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
He still had decent WRs
as your seahawks found out
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
Baldwin was an undrafted free agent diamond in the rough, and an afterthought as a HS recruit.
If anyone expected him to be this good, he would have received far more scholarship offers and would have been drafted in the first couple of rounds as the 3rd or 4th best WR in the draft.
Aaron Curry is the first Seahawk since Walter Jones to have a legitimate shot at Hall of Fame induction - John Morgan
by Fearless Frog on Feb 3, 2012 2:57 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Bigger need in passing game than O-Line
Speaking of O-Line What do you guys think of moving Davis to G and having Boone start at RT? We could keep Snyder as backup G/C and maybe one of the guys we signed to a futures contract could move into the swing tackle position.
That won't work
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
You can't just shift o-linemen around like it's Madden.
I don’t think Anthony Davis ever played Guard in college.
I don't think he ever played RT in college
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
Think he played LT in college
I just posed the question because I’ve seen it suggested in the comments a few times and wondered “what if.”
No, he started some games at RT as a freshman IIRC.
Moving between tackles positions is a lot different than going from tackle to guard regardless.
He played both in college
A lot of NFL teams had him rated as a round 2/3 pick as a G.
a lot of teams?
You install spy cams in NFL team’s war rooms?
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
so a leaked big board that may or may not be fake
is many teams.
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
Yes
Right along the lines the 49ers drafted Kaepernick because the war room couldn’t recover from Dalton being stolen out from under them.
Do you think we can spread a rumor that says that many teams had Griffin as the #1 QB?
So if Luck doesn’t turn out great we can troll the Colts?
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
Sean Lee is a very good LB.
I don’t know what you’re talking about. Maybe not as good as Bowman, but they’re pretty close.
Would you prefer to keep him at RT where he's
struggled from time to time?
True he got better once they replaced Rachal with Snyder next to him at G, but it’s been suggested Davis would be better at G.
Also it wouldn’t be the first time the Niners moved an OL to different position. They’ve had good results with it too. Jesse Sapoulu was a G before they moved him to C.
No. I'd prefer him to be a back-up. He's pretty bad.
I’m not against moving him to guard, but I wouldn’t expect much from the move.
He's been good in run blocking.
But he’s struggled with some speed rushers on the outside. If he was moved to G maybe we could utilize his strength (run-blocking) and minimize his weakness (blocking against speedy edge rushers).
You almost make it sound like he's failed at Chilo Rachal level proportions
I don’t think he’s been anywhere near THAT bad.
You don't have to be a flaming bag of feces like Chilo Rachal to be considered a bad lineman.
Aaron Curry is the first Seahawk since Walter Jones to have a legitimate shot at Hall of Fame induction - John Morgan
by Fearless Frog on Feb 3, 2012 2:50 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Davis was a top guard prospect
Coming out of high school. He played right guard for Rutgers his first year. Second year they moved him to left tackle because he was the best lineman they had left. He played left tackle for the 2008 and 2009 seasons but still looked like a guard playing tackle.
He still looks like a guard playing tackle. He has to open his hips and sell out to the sideline in order to stop anything remotely resembling speed — and anytime you have your shoulders parallel to the sideline and still haven’t made contact you are beat — either around the corner or the inside swim is going to get you.
This is where Snyder comes in. Snyder is pretty good at helping Davis with any inside double move so he can sell out further to take away the outside. This teamwork was the improvement that led to a better second half of the season.
The problem with moving Davis to guard is that Boone is a better match for the LT position than the RT position — on the left side he plays against speed where he can match it with his athleticism — on the right he has to play against power and when he plays against power and starts getting tired he gets too high and on the line the low man wins.
So if we move Davis to guard where I think he could be an All-Pro we still have to find a right tackle.
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.
by Ougadas on Feb 3, 2012 1:47 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Hmm, my mistake.
Could’ve sworn it was RT he moved from. You’re right though, he was a guard coming out of HS and moved from that position.
Either way, it’d be great if I didn’t have to watch him at RT anymore. Your post makes me feel a bit better about moving him to RG than I did before. We could potentially move him to G and sign a free agent RT.
There’s also the option of moving Staley to RT and Boone up to LT, but I don’t like that. Too much shifting around.
Move Staley to Swing Tackle.
And Boone to LT. Haha!
I actually didn’t like Staley much at LT this season. He seemed to get beat too often.
Yeah, he definitely didn't deserve a Pro Bowl, but
I still think he was our best lineman. Him and Iupati definitely form the better side of our o-line for running and pass protection. They’re better together than they were last year, and I think they’ll improve again this year.
Just goes to show what a joke the Pro Bowl has become.
Aaron Curry is the first Seahawk since Walter Jones to have a legitimate shot at Hall of Fame induction - John Morgan
by Fearless Frog on Feb 3, 2012 2:54 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Thanks Ougadas
For the quality feedback.
So he could be a quality G, but we’d still need a good fit at RT to replace him.
I dunno , I don't think Davis can get out of the blocks fast enough to do what the Niners like ...
… which is to pull the gurads alot , he would be a bit slow and stands too tall to be a great guard at this level and that’s what he would have to be to justify paying him tackle money to play guard …!!
I'm your " Huckelberry "...it's just my game ..( .AleX ) was asked , what do you think about all the game manager talk ... AleX i guess i just managed myself a VIctory ... Extend the Man ...!!
No. Better o-line gives Alex more time to pass and gives us the capability
to actually be able to make conversions on short yardage situations. An o-line that doesn’t blow would help our offense tremendously. Bigger holes to run through, more time for WRs to get open, etc.
I like the idea of Davis at RG, but
Ultimately trust the judgement of the coaching staff and FO on this one. If they move Davis inside and get either Boone or a new RT then it’s good. If they continue with the Davis experiment and get a new RG then that’s good too.
I hope they go OL with their first pick and I think the candidates at 30 will be Mike Davis (Move Davis inside), Cordy Glenn (play guard, or RT), Kelechi O (G), Konz, start at G and move to C when Goodwin is done.
I like signing a guy to play RG or drafting one in the first.
Hoping that his play will make Anthony Davis look better.
The right side of the line has been complete s*** the past 2 years, maybe one guy that doesn’t blow goats will make the other look better.
They will continue the Davis experiment
I have a good feeling they will continue many of our experiments.
Now that they have a whole off-season to work — there just isn’t much time after the pre-season.
This off-season we get to see if Kilgore added enough size and power to play the position in the pros or if the coaching staff think they can install a brain in Rachal’s skull.
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 may be right - re: in 2nd Round, but...
Think we jumped up and got V Davis – and how has that worked out. If one is good (VD), then two would be soooo much Mo’ betta! This kid is bigger and faster – which is hard to believe. Just sayin’ – I can dream, so please don’t wake me.
We didn't jump up and get VD.
And good lord DO NOT compare Fleener as a prospect to VD as a prospect.
Fleener is taller, but not bigger or faster
Remember everyone was saying what a freak athlete VD was. Fleener is athletic, but he’s no freak athlete.
I don't think we'd have to jump up to get him.
He’d be available at 30, or somewhere in the mid-2nd round.
Checking out the "so-called" Xperts
No Draft Expert is remotely indicating any team “needing” a TE desparately (as to be expected). So standing pat would be Baalke’s move I’m sure. Besides, jumping up would cost us something I know. Oh, well.
this
if we dont get a WR in the 1st. and get Fleener in the 2nd.
49ers 2012 Offseason: HELP WANTED at WR, DBs, & O-Line
4
I already feel we have the 2nd best tandem in the league(NE Pats 1st). I like our guys more, but that’s my heart talking. I would love to see a third outstanding TE, because of the creativity that Harbaugh and Roman already displayed this year. In Maiocco’s chat transcript, someone suggested three amazing TE’s who could bunch up at the LOS and based on the D’s personnel, spread out if they load the box and check to a pass, or if the D prepares for a pass, keep it tight and pound it up. I bet Alex could run an impeccable 2 min. offense with that type of versatility.
by ninerchip on Feb 3, 2012 12:32 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
Who would put 1
it should all be 4 and 5s.. especially after watching Alex and Vernon click in the playoffs. Gotta imagine that will only get better
The guy is 6' tall. How many starting TE in the league are 6'?
"I believe in you guys in the media. I believe that you will find a way to doubt this team. Just as long as what's written is written against us we'll be happy." - Jim Harbaugh
by SanFranciscoKnights on Feb 3, 2012 5:54 PM PST up reply actions
I don't think he'll be a number one TE on any team
Considering he is a WR.
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
by manraj7 on Feb 3, 2012 6:40 PM PST via iPhone app up reply actions
My thoughts exactly...
And probably would have worded it exactly the same.
Byham coming off a torn ACL does not scare anyone and likely has about zero impact/playing time for this team considering how often we cycle in linemen to block.
If not for Davis being as good as he is, this group would jump to a 1 or 2 as a result of our WRs being equally as bad. The passing offense lacks weapons, period.
by 9thevolution on Feb 3, 2012 12:50 PM PST up reply actions
Do we have a tight end on the roster?
Vernon is an over-sized receiver who is best running the deep routes on mismatches.
Walker is an H-Back who we use mostly on pulls and releasing into the flat on PA — almost more of a fullback.
Byham is a straight up blocking specialist.
Do we have a tight end on the roster? A guy who’s going to make those tough third down catches and drop a shoulder into a safety to get us the first? A guy who’s also not a liability playing up on the line?
Do we even have a tight end on the roster?
I don’t think we do.
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.
by Ougadas on Feb 3, 2012 1:14 PM PST reply actions 2 recs
I’d take Vernon at the tightend position over a lot of “traditional” TE’s in the league. He is no liability on the line, but I agree that we don’t really have that go to guy on 3rd down.
Vernon is a liability on the line
Not because of his blocking skill but because of the opportunity cost and inviting the blitz.
Anytime we don’t send him into a route, we lose our best receiver. Anyone see the Detroit keeping Megatron in to catch the blitz while the other receivers run routes?
Since he’s our best receiver there are usually a couple guys assigned to keep an eye on him — and if he’s staying into block many teams will go ahead and blitz one or both of those guys and usually not at Vernon — so most of the time he’s standing out there blocking air while while the rest of the line has to find a way to deal with the heat.
I’m not saying get rid of Vernon. But put him with the wide receivers where he belongs and bring in a true tight end. Vernon Davis is the WR we are looking for and we’re wasting him at tight end.
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.
meh its questionable that he's our best receiver
he was our best receiver in the playoffs. I disagree on moving him because he can block well on the line.
Having VD at TE gives us the mismatches at safety and linebacker that we want.
He’s also not a bad blocker. If we could just get a true playmaking WR like Bowe that would help him and our offense a ton.
If we had Megatron, I’d s*** my pants. I wish Alex could just lob balls to him and watch him bring them down like Stafford does.
lol
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
He is. Bowe had a good year with trash throwing him the football.
If he can reel in his drops he’d arguably be a top 10 WR.
couldn't you say that of any WR?
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
No, of course not.
For instance, Michael Crabtree’s problems extend beyond just drops.
Aaron Curry is the first Seahawk since Walter Jones to have a legitimate shot at Hall of Fame induction - John Morgan
by Fearless Frog on Feb 3, 2012 3:08 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
I already know that's the play where he let off in the route without looking.
1 play doesn’t discount the seasons he puts in.
This play is literally the only thing you guys ever talk about with him.
He gets crushed every season in KC for plays like this
I think its Michael Lombardi who bashes him more with his “he never gets open, I don’t know why KC keeps passing to him.”
Never gets open, yet gets two 1100+ yard years in a row.
and one season with 15 receiving TDs.
If Crabtree could catch manage to get 8 TDs I’d cream my pants.
Maybe KC fans have higher standards?
That he wouldn’t have to live up to here?
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're implying that he isn't.
Aaron Curry is the first Seahawk since Walter Jones to have a legitimate shot at Hall of Fame induction - John Morgan
by Fearless Frog on Feb 3, 2012 3:09 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
he's definitely a TE/WR hybrid
He’s not a bad tight end — he’s a good blocker and a great match up against linebackers and safeties. But you’re right that Davis isn’t a short yardage target or someone who barrels through defends. All the more reason the niners should grab a TE to back up walker and eventually become that short yardage/goal line target they don’t have now.
I don't agree with this at all , Vernon playing T.E. gives them much more versatility and that's where he creates more mis-matches with Lb's and one on one with safeties ...!!
I'm your " Huckelberry "...it's just my game ..( .AleX ) was asked , what do you think about all the game manager talk ... AleX i guess i just managed myself a VIctory ... Extend the Man ...!!
you're totally right
and i think, to some extent, the niners also don’t have a WR on the roster. Vernon would be less of a liability with a real (every down) threat on the outside.
problem w/ Vernon as WR is his hands. literally not catching with his hands limits much that he could do as a WR. i feel that he becomes more of ‘a real TE’ with a ‘real #1WR’ on the outside.
by t p on Feb 3, 2012 2:11 PM PST up reply actions
Bingo , most Cb's they.ve played didn't have much respect that the Niners could take the top of their Defense ...
… which allowed them to play closer to the box , which they wanted too anyway because of Gore , so they didn’t have to play honest in the back end …!!
I'm your " Huckelberry "...it's just my game ..( .AleX ) was asked , what do you think about all the game manager talk ... AleX i guess i just managed myself a VIctory ... Extend the Man ...!!
Hardly a need, but an opportunity is there
John Carlson is a free agent and coming off an injury. He could sign at a real discount. I think he’s a classic two-way TE who would be a real asset.
by hammystyle on Feb 3, 2012 1:24 PM PST via mobile reply actions
very interesting
The Dude: Oh boy. How ya gonna keep 'em down on the farm once they've seen Karl Hungus.
Well considering Alex can only throw to TEs, lets get as many as possible
"And thank you to God for making me an Atheist." - Ricky Gervais
by MichaelClutchtree on Feb 3, 2012 2:14 PM PST reply actions
Prove it.
"I believe in you guys in the media. I believe that you will find a way to doubt this team. Just as long as what's written is written against us we'll be happy." - Jim Harbaugh
by SanFranciscoKnights on Feb 3, 2012 6:01 PM PST up reply actions
Sign Jermichael Finley if the Packers let him go
Draft Fleener
Crabtree, VD, Finley, Fleener
"And thank you to God for making me an Atheist." - Ricky Gervais
by MichaelClutchtree on Feb 3, 2012 2:18 PM PST reply actions
Finley kind of sucks.
Analysts have been on his balls since that playoff game against the Cardinals, but he’s more of a name than a quality player.
Aaron Curry is the first Seahawk since Walter Jones to have a legitimate shot at Hall of Fame induction - John Morgan
by Fearless Frog on Feb 3, 2012 3:12 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Yeah, Packer fans were saying top 5 TE the past two years.
lol
Now some of them want him off the team.
What the 49ers need to do is trade a sandwich for DJ Williams if the Packers aren’t going to use him.
would have to agree
Finley on IR and Quarless as TE, Packers win SB…Quarless out and FInley in, first game exit lol
by sanfranfanmdk on Feb 3, 2012 6:45 PM PST up reply actions
That's not going to work ...
… because AleX sucks so hard he couldn’t hit them if they were standing rite in front of him …!!
I'm your " Huckelberry "...it's just my game ..( .AleX ) was asked , what do you think about all the game manager talk ... AleX i guess i just managed myself a VIctory ... Extend the Man ...!!
TE on this team is one of the lowest priorities on the team. No on Fleener.
1. Kelechi Osemele, OT/G, Iowa State
2.Xavier Rhodes CB FSU/ Vinny Curry OLB/DE Marshall/ LaMichael James*, RB, Oregon
3. Brandon Boykin, CB/KR/PR, Georgia/ Alex Okafor*, DE, Texas
4. DeMarlo belcher WR Indiana
5. Casey Hayward, CB, Vanderbilt
6. Marvin Jones WR Cal
7.T.J. Barnes*, DT/NT, Georgia Tech
Looking at our chances
I dont like our leftover selections for a WR at the end of the first round. I say we trade down, and pick up a good defense pick on a CB or a D-line, and Coby Fleener as the other 2nd round pick. We can pick up almost the same quailty WR in the 3rd, as we would of at the end of 1st.
49ers 2012 Offseason: HELP WANTED at WR, DBs, & O-Line
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Niners Nation
Related FanShots on Niners Nation
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Shutdown Corner - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
- Former high-school star Brian Banks does serious time on trumped-up charge, now hopes for an NFL shot
- Former ‘idiot kicker’ Mike Vanderjagt in trouble after accosting junior-high heckler
- Adrian Peterson blows teammates away in footraces; appears to be on the mend
- UPDATE: Charlie Sheen didn’t buy Lawrence Taylor’s Super Bowl ring
- Alex Smith gets blown up by Jon Beason over Cam Newton comments
