It's almost here... we've got six more days until we start finding out who the new faces of the 49ers are going to be.
Are you as excited as I am? It doesn't seem like it can get here fast enough. In spite of being in the middle of a lockout that seemingly will not end, the draft will bring a bit of normalcy to the NFL again... even if for just three days. Maybe the excitement of the draft will make both parties realize how ludicrous this all is.
In any case, the 49ers need help. They need help in a few areas. Specifically, at the cornerback position. There's been a lot of debate about who the Niners will ultimately wind up with. Will it be Peterson? Can he fall? Or will the 49ers decide that Prince Amukamara is a bit more versatile as a defender? Or will there be something completely different than a defensive back early on that will shock everyone? We will find out real shortly.
After the jump, we'll preview the first-round prospect Prince Amukamara out of Nebraska.
Amukamara, as seen here has some extremely high measurables. Despite the departure of Ndamukong Suh from the defensive line last year, the Nebraska corner continued to thrive in a so-so defense. At one point in there year though, he was exploited for his weaknesses against Oklahoma State. Had Justin Blackmon come out this year, he would have easily been selected in the top three at his respective position. In viewing that game, it put a very big question mark over Amukamara's head. Will he be able to hang one-on-one with the NFL's elite receivers? It's certainly a question that owners and coaches will be asking themselves. Should the buyer beware? Or was it a fluke? He did have a very strong season despite that one game. And just judging on talent alone, the ceiling is very high. A good coach can turn him in to a star.
Here are his career stats at Nebraska:
Stats Overview
Tackles
Misc
Interceptions
YEAR
TOT
SOLO
AST
SACK
STF
STFY
FF
BK
INT
YDS
AVG
LNG
TD
PD
2007
4
2
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.0
0
0
0
2008
32
19
13
1
0
0
2
0
0
0
0.0
0
0
0
2009
60
38
22
2
0
0
1
0
5
63
12.6
40
0
0
2010
59
36
23
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.0
0
0
0
2010 Regular Season Game Log
Tackles
Misc
Interceptions
DATE
OPP
RESULT
TOT
SOLO
AST
SACK
STF
STFY
FF
BK
INT
YDS
AVG
LNG
TD
PD
9/4
Western Kentucky
W 49-10
3
1
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.0
0
0
1
9/11
Idaho
W 38-17
7
2
5
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.0
0
0
1
9/18
@Washington
W 56-21
3
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.0
0
0
1
9/25
South Dakota State
W 17-3
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.0
0
0
0
10/7
@Kansas State
W 48-13
6
2
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.0
0
0
2
10/16
Texas
L 20-13
4
2
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.0
0
0
1
10/23
@Oklahoma State
W 51-41
3
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.0
0
0
0
10/30
Missouri
W 31-17
2
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.0
0
0
3
11/6
@Iowa State
W 31-30
7
5
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.0
0
0
0
11/13
Kansas
W 20-3
2
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.0
0
0
1
11/20
@Texas A&M
L 9-6
10
8
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.0
0
0
0
11/26
Colorado
W 45-17
2
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.0
0
0
2
12/4
Oklahoma
L 23-20
8
8
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.0
0
0
0
2010 Postseason Game Log
Tackles
Misc
Interceptions
BOWL
OPP
RESULT
TOT
SOLO
AST
SACK
STF
STFY
FF
BK
INT
YDS
AVG
LNG
TD
PD
BRIDGEPOINT EDUCATION HOLIDAY BOWL
@Washington
L 19-7
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.0
0
0
0
Summary: I have been going back and forth on how I would feel if the 49ers were to select Amukamara with their seventh overall selection. Part of me is concerned... but then the other part has a lot of confidence in Trent Baalke and Jim Harbaugh's judgment. Harbaugh brought in some extremely gifted athletes while at Stanford. Baalke had a very successful draft last year in taking over for Scot McGloughan on short notice. With both their heads put together, I feel very confident in heading in to the draft with them making the choices for the franchise. So, with that, if they were to select Amukamara at seven (assuming Patrick Peterson was gone), then I would be okay with that. There are only a few directions that they could go that would make me change my opinion of them this year. But I have faith that they are smart enough not to go in certain directions.
PREDICTION: 1st Round.