The 49ers completed their first round (barring a trade) by attempting to really rebuild their offensive line by selecting Idaho guard Mike Iupati. I'm a bit surprised the 49ers went with two offensive linemen, but given that RT and LG were two major areas of concern last season, I suppose we shouldn't be surprised.
Over at ESPN.com, Iupati got exceptional marks for toughness and run-blocking, with above average marks for awareness and pass blocking.
I realize some folks don't like this pick, particularly combined with Davis. However, when your biggest concern is the offensive line, I personally think the team has added some very interesting options. Baas and Snyder are on notice.
After the jump I've posted some background on Iupati, courtesy of the NFL.
While offensive tackle is generally considered the "glamour" position when professional teams analyze blockers eligible for the draft, many teams feel that it is an offensive guard who is the finest prospect among the 2010 draft’s "big men" - Michael Iupati.
By the end of his 2009 campaign, even the casual football fan recognized his ability to dominate the action in the trenches. As a senior, he became the first Idaho Vandal to earn All-American accolades since Hall of Fame offensive guard Jerry Kramer in 1957. Kramer received honorable mention while Iupati garnered numerous first-team mention.
Iupati was named one of three finalists for the 2009 Outland Trophy, alongside Russell Okung of Oklahoma State and eventual winner, Ndamukong Suh of Nebraska. Since the inception of the award in 1946, only major college players were bestowed that honor. The last time a non-BCS school featured a player who was even a finalist for the award was in 1992 – offensive tackle Willie Roaf of Louisiana Tech.
Iupati is no stranger to the media that covered the Western Athletic Conference, though. The two-time winner of Idaho’s Wayne Anderson Coaches Award, he was recently selected to the WAC’s All-Decade Team. He was the only active player chosen to that unit.
The left offensive guard led the major colleges with a blocking consistency grade of 90.38% in 2009, as he went on to solidify his "pedigree" with an excellent week of displaying his skills vs. the more publicized linemen during practices leading up to the Senior Bowl. He was just the eleventh player in school history to play in that prestigious all-star classic, and the first since 2000. Based on reports from every pro team, he certainly made a lasting impression.
"Mike's performance this season has established himself as potentially the best offensive guard in the upcoming NFL draft," Senior Bowl President and CEO Steve Hale said. "Anyone who watched him play this year knows that he was clearly a difference maker for the Vandals."
Niners Nation Big Board
1. Eric Berry, S, Tennessee - Kansas City Chiefs - #5
2. Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State - Seattle Seahawks - #6
3. Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska - Detroit Lions - #2
4. C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson - Buffalo Bills - #9
5. Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa
6. Joe Haden, CB, Florida - Cleveland Browns - #7
7. Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma - Tampa Bay Buccaneers - #3
8. Mike Iupati, OG, Idaho - San Francisco 49ers - #17
9. Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma - Washington Redskins - #4
10. Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers - San Francisco 49ers - #11
11. Earl Thomas, S, Texas - Seattle Seahawks - #14
12. Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma - St. Louis Rams - #1
13. Rolando McClain, ILB, Alabama - Oakland Raiders - #8
14. Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State
15. Taylor Mays, S, USC
16. Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State
17. Brandon Graham, OLB, Michigan - Philadelphia Eagles - #13
18. Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland
19. Charles Brown, OT, USC
20. Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame
21. Sergio Kindle, DE/OLB, Texas
22. Jahvid Best, RB, California
23. Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida - New York Giants - #15
24. Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech - Tennessee Titans - #16
25. Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee
26. Terrence Cody, DT, Alabama
27. Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers
28. Golden Tate, WR, Notre Dame
29. Maurkice Pouncey, C, Florida
30. Ryan Mathews, RB, Fresno State - San Diego Chargers - #12
31. Nate Allen, S, South Florida
32. Roger Saffold, OT, Indiana
33. Patrick Robinson, CB, Florida St.
34. Brandon Spikes, ILB, Florida
35. Vladimir Ducasse, OG, Massachusetts
36. Jared Odrick, OT, Penn St.
37. Carlos Dunlap, DE/OLB, Florida St.
38. Dexter McCluster, RB, Mississippi
39. Jerry Hughes, OLB, TCU
40. Sean Weatherspoon, OLB, Missouri
41. Toby Gerhart, RB, Stanford
42. Everson Griffen, DE, USC
43. Mardy Gilyard, WR, Cincinnati
44. Jared Veldheer, OT, Hillsdale
45. Brian Price, DT, UCLA
46. Jon Asamoah, OG, Illinois
47. Demaryius Thomas, WR, Georgia Tech
48. Kareem Jackson, CB, Alabama
49. Colt McCoy, QB, Texas
50. Chad Jones, S, LSU
51. Arrelious Benn, WR, Illinois
52. Koa Misi, DE/OLB, Utah
53. Morgan Burnett, S, Georgia Tech
54. Tyson Alualu, DT, California - Jacksonville Jaguars - #10
55. Chris Cook, CB, Virginia
56. John Jerry, OG, Mississippi
57. Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma
58. Brandon Ghee, CB, Wake Forest
59. Daryl Washington, OLB, TCU
60. Joe McKnight, RB, USC
61. Javier Arenas, CB, Alabama
62. Jonathan Dwyer, RB, Georgia Tech
63. Mike Johnson, OG, Alabama
64. Damian Williams, WR, USC
65. Jordan Shipley, WR, Texas
66. Perrish Cox, CB, Oklahoma State
67. Jacoby Ford, WR, Clemson
68. Tim Tebow, QB, Florida
69. Navarro Bowman, OLB, Penn State
70. Sean Lee, ILB, Penn State
71. Reshad Jones, S, Georgia
72. Ricky Sapp, DE, Clemson
73. Ciron Black, OT, LSU
74. Dominique Frank, CB, Oklahoma
75. Brandon LaFell, WR, LSU
76. Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, CB, Indiana (PA)
77. Selvish Capers, OT, West Virginia
78. Kyle Calloway, OT, Iowa
79. Eric Norwood, OLB, South Carolina
80. Corey Wooton, DE, Northwestern
81. Mitch Petrus, OG, Arkansas
82. Dan LeFevour, QB, Central Michigan
83. Cam Thomas, DT, North Carolina
84. Lamarr Houston, DT, Texas
85. Tony Pike, QB, Cincinnati
86. T.J. Ward, S, Oregon
87. Rob Gronkowski, TE, Arizona
88. Ben Tate, RB, Auburn
89. Greg Hardy, DE, Mississippi
90. Amari Spievey, CB, Iowa
91. Matt Tennant, G, Boston College
92. Taylor Price, WR, Ohio
93. Thaddeus Gibson, LB, Ohio State
94. Eric Decker, WR, Minnesota
95. Montario Hardesty, RB, Tennessee
96. Alex Carrington, DE, Arkansas State
97. Torrell Troup, DT, Central Michigan
98. Jamar Chaney, LB, Mississippi State
99. Marshall Newhouse, G, TCU
100. Jeremy Williams, WR, Tulane