Niners Nation Scouting Report: Dwayne Jarrett

Two weeks ago, we debuted the scouting report with Louisville defensive tackle Amobi Okoye. Okoye has certainly made a name for himself since then with impressive Senior Bowl workouts, followed by a solid Senior Bowl game performance. He is definitely on our radar and would make one heck of an addition.
However, it's possible the 49ers could fill the holes on our front seven through free agency, as this is an especially strong year for defensive free agents. If that happens, the team may decide to snag a wide receiver with that 11th pick. The two primary considerations at WR that would be available at the 11th pick are Dwayne Jarrett and Ted Ginn. Today, with a little help from SB Nation's USC blog, Conquest Chronicles, we present 5 questions about Dwayne Jarrett.
NN: Clearly Jarrett is quite a talent. However, the Rose Bowl showed an attitude that might discourage a team that has been burned by bad apples in the past (TO in the 49ers case). Was that just excitement for a big game (and his last college game as it turns out)? Or is this something that has been an issue in the past and could continue in the future?
CC: That was not typical at all, and it is deeply irritating that people who saw him in one game are making TO comparisons. It's unlikely to continue in the future, and he's certainly no T.O. When I think of quintessential Jarrett plays, I think of him catching the 4th & 9 pass against Notre Dame in 2005, or the catch he made for a TD in the 2006 Rose Bowl when 2 Texas players came at him so hard that they injured one another, and he stayed upright and then got the score.
NN: It's hard to get a handle on the type of speed Jarrett brings to the table. Mel Kiper said, "...Also has better quickness out of his break than people give him credit for." Is he a deceptively fast guy or does he have clear cut break away speed? Or in the NFL would he become a guy who mostly goes over the middle?
CC: He's both deceptively fast and has good breakaway speed. He accelerates very quickly after making the catch, so he can be used for short-yardage slants into space, passes over the middle into coverage, and longer passes.
NN: (This was asked before Smardzija decided on baseball, but CC's answer tells us more about Jarrett) In his current big board, Mel Kiper has Jarrett 14th overall and the 3rd receiver behind Calvin Johnson and Jeff Samardzija. He says he would drop him to 4th if Ginn declares for the draft. Assuming Johnson is off the board, what does Jarrett bring to the table that a big guy like Samadzija, or a speedy guy like Ginn might lack, or might need to improve?
CC: I don't rate Samardizja that highly, I think he's a show pony: makes good catches, but you can't count on him to take the punishment. When Jarrett dropped the ball in the end zone during the Rose Bowl, I was frankly stunned -- usually he can take a beating and hold onto the ball. Jarrett may not be as fast as Ginn or make quite so many circus catches as Johnson, but he's a pretty complete receiver in terms of the types of passing routes that he can run. In terms of areas of improvement, he wasn't the go-to guy for clinical route-running, that was Steve Smith, so that's one area for improvement.
NN: Will Jarrett join many WRs in taking 2-3 years to really break out, or will he be an instant impact guy?
CC: I think he can be an instant impact guy if whatever teams takes him can get the schemes right. If they try and start him as a precision route-runner, it's going to take a while. If they take advantage of his speed after a catch and ability to reel in iffy passes, he can contribute pretty soon.
NN: Where in the first round do you see him going and realistically (taking your USC hat off for a minute) what kind of career do you foresee for him?
CC: I'd be surprised if he wasn't in the top 20 -- he's the sort of guy that anyone could use, and if I was a team with lower draft picks and gaps at receiver I'd seriously consider working some kind of deal to get him. In terms of career, I think it's going to depend on how well he copes with change. When Jarrett came to SC, he struggled with the change of moving to the East Coast and adapting to college. At the beginning of this season, he was not as productive as usual. Some of that was attributable to injury, and some of it was attitude -- he had been tight with Matt Leinart on and off the field, and I had the impression that he was struggling with not being the automatic go-to guy. If he focuses on getting to camp and managing the football side of things, hopefully he can minimize the effects of all the other changes, and given a decent start I can see him having a pretty good Pro-Bowl kind of career.
So there you have it. Personally I wouldn't mind a legit threat like Dwayne Jarrett in the red and gold. I think he would improve the rest of the receiving corp, and in turn Alex Smith. And if THAT happens, that means defenses will have to play a little more honestly and not stick 8 men in the box knowing they won't get beat deep. Win, Win, Win. So thanks again to Conquest Chronicles for discussing Jarrett. And just a reminder, if you want to post here, just Click Here to create a new account and post to your heart's content.
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17 comments
Comments
ring
by creekside on Jan 31, 2007 9:16 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
looks like the real thing
by nostocksjustbonds on Jan 31, 2007 10:21 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
tru
by creekside on Jan 31, 2007 10:32 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
i want it
by creekside on Jan 31, 2007 10:40 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Correct me if I'm wrong
I think Okoye is our guy at 11 if he's gone I do like the idea of two mid-ish first round picks.
by methodrampage on Jan 31, 2007 9:20 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
11 Too High For Jarrett?
by norcaldevilasu on Jan 31, 2007 9:31 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Jarrett won't get past Minnesota
I'd pass on Ginn at 11, even though he's the fastest WR in the draft. I'd prefer Okoye, Branch (if he slips that far) or a DB, like Leon Hall or Darrelle Revis at that spot, though I'd prefer Jarret if he's available there. It all depends on what the 49ers spend their FA dollars on. If they can get a CB, they won't take one at 11, though it seems Assante Samuel will get a franchise tag and may not be available. CB Nate Clements is our #1 FA target, but will cost a bundle so we may not get him.
There will be other WR's available in the later rounds of the draft, like Steve Smith, Anthony Gonzalez, Jason Hill or Craig Davis.
Dwayne Bowe, Sidney Rice and Robert Meecham probably won't slip out of the first round, but conceivably could fall to the early 2nd round.
by nostocksjustbonds on Jan 31, 2007 10:18 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Re: Jarrett won't get past Minnesota
I'm also on the anti-Ginn wagon. The guy just doesn't make you believe he can be a great WR. Sure, he's fast, but what more does he have? I would definately take Jarrett over Ginn. At #11, though, is an entirely different story.
If Okoye, Branch, or LaRon Landry are gone by #11, I'd like to see the 49ers trade down. Trading down about 10 spots may still land them guys like Michael Griffin (S, Texas), Paul Posluszny (OLB, Penn St.), or Marcus McCauley (CB, Fresno St.).
by sfgfan on Jan 31, 2007 10:40 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I agree
True, but that route rarely ends well.
I'm with you, and just about everyone else here so far -- I'd rate Jarrett over Ginn, but I'm not really into either of them at #11. If they really want a WR, I think they should either try to trade up to snag Johnson (the only true gem at WR in the draft), or trade down and take Bowe, who I think is the most underrated WR in the draft (though that could easily change in the combine). Otherwise, they should go for D with that first pick.
by Josh from Hollywood on Jan 31, 2007 11:59 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
trading up
- Raiders - if they don't go with a QB, they'll pick Johnson. They still have an option of trading down. If they trade down, it'll take a bit to get them to: this year's #1 and probably next year's #1 as well and probably one or more of the other picks we have in this draft. That seems like a lot to give up. If we do it without giving up next year's #1, it'd be worth it.
- Lions - I seriously doubt that the Lions take anything other than a QB or Joe Thomas, the OL from Wisconsin. They will not be taking an WR at #2, not with their history. Big money is on a QB. If the raiders take Quinn over Russell, Thomas seems like a more likely pick here.
- Browns - The Browns could conceivably take Johnson at #3. He is a special player, but they need a qb a lot more and the projections have them going with a DL or an RB like Adrian Peterson at #3.If Russell is available here (unlikely) they could grab him.
- Bucs - If Johnson falls to #4, the Bucs will take him. They need a big play WR, but they also need help at QB as Simms is a question mark and Gradkowski isn't the future. If Russell is available here (unlikely) they could grab him.
by nostocksjustbonds on Jan 31, 2007 12:30 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
the team needs too much
by methodrampage on Feb 1, 2007 7:52 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Re: I agree
From what I've read Dwayne Bowe is a WR thats willing to do what it takes to get to the ball. That sounds like the kind of wideout Nolan would like. I believe Matt Maiocco of The Press Democrat noted in his coverage of the Senior Bowl (where he got to sit in with a couple of 49ers offense and defensive meetings), WR Coach Jerry Sullivan has taken a liking to Bowe. It was also noted, however, that just because Sullivan likes the kid, it doesn't mean the team will go after him (using Sinorice Moss as an example).
by sfgfan on Jan 31, 2007 2:19 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
stadium
by creekside on Jan 31, 2007 10:18 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Newsom Affair
Here's the article
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/01/31/BAGM3NSFGQ7.DTL
by Fooch on Jan 31, 2007 10:38 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
crazy
by creekside on Jan 31, 2007 10:50 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Please
- Trade up for Alan Branch. So far, I've seen Don Banks and Todd McShay project him to the Dolphins at number 9 and Mel Kiper Jr. has him going to the Skins at number 6. I don't see him going before pick number 5, so that may be the spot to trade to. If he falls past the Skins, trading up two spots to the Dolphins pick isn't a bad idea.
- Draft Amobi Okoye if he's available at pick number 11. McShay and Banks agree again here, with Okoye at 13 to the Rams, while Kiper has him going 18th to the Bengals. If he's there, he's my choice.
- Trade down if Okoye is gone. I'd look to the Patriots and try to pickup their two 1st round picks. If we have to include a mid round pick, I'd do it. Players I'd look for there: WR's Robert Meachem of Tennessee and Dwayne Bowe of LSU, and LB's Patrick Willis of Mississippi, Lawrence Timmons of Florida State, Stewart Bradley of Nebraska, Quentin Moses of Georgia, and Anthony Spencer of Purdue. With the likelihood of Adalius Thomas being tagged, we could find a suitable OLB to pair with Lawson in the 3-4 and add a solid WR to boot.
by gatling on Jan 31, 2007 10:41 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
I couldn't agree more...
I really hope the team can sign Clements. I know he won't come cheap, but there's a reason for this. He is really good.
Note to John York. You have to spend money to make money. Go talk to your brother in law about that.
by 42Blackout on Feb 3, 2007 6:59 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

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