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On this post-draft episode of the Better Rivals podcast, we evaluate all 10 selections in the first draft for John Lynch & Co, identifying where each player wins, where they could improve, and where they fit on the 49ers’ roster. Where does first-round pick Solomon Thomas fit in with the incumbent defensive linemen? Which players are primed to make an early impact? And what themes did we pull from San Francisco’s draft as a whole? All that, plus draft-trade values, Paarag’s role, and bad name puns.
Sample Film Tweets
Solomon Thomas
That burst off the ball man pic.twitter.com/csOtT5btOc
— David Neumann (@NeumannNFL) April 29, 2017
Thomas won most frequently as a pass rusher with inside moves. Likes this swim move. pic.twitter.com/IIpTeE1ayD
— David Neumann (@NeumannNFL) April 29, 2017
Other major knock on Thomas: Tough to find a good snap vs. double team so far. Lining him up as LEO in base would help limit number he sees pic.twitter.com/boWlyHUX1K
— David Neumann (@NeumannNFL) April 29, 2017
Reuben Foster
Foster’s pursuit is awesome. Has power and explodes through the end. Able to create violent contact. pic.twitter.com/hI5ZGxuRuW
— Oscar Aparicio (@BetterRivals) April 28, 2017
Foster processes things so quickly. Calls out late TE motion, reads the wham block, and fills like a heat-seeking missile pic.twitter.com/sxH7r1XMyr
— David Neumann (@NeumannNFL) April 30, 2017
With Foster at Will, he’ll need to drop into coverage. Here he’s in zone and displays click and close to recognize and break to the receiver pic.twitter.com/Kc43RtLMak
— Oscar Aparicio (@BetterRivals) April 28, 2017
One worry with Reuben Foster is missed tackles. He leaves his feet often and sometimes one arms it. Missed 16 tackles last year. pic.twitter.com/ShJ41teIJV
— Oscar Aparicio (@BetterRivals) April 29, 2017
Ahkello Witherspoon
Ahkello Witherspoon’s coverage chart. Only allowed 3 catches on 30 deep targets. #49ers pic.twitter.com/KUDRRJfiVM
— David Neumann (@NeumannNFL) April 30, 2017
Ahkello Witherspoon - Textbook use of the boundary here. Squeezes WR out of the play. Makes play on ball. Effectively becomes the WR #49ers pic.twitter.com/zc5u4j3Cwc
— Oscar Aparicio (@BetterRivals) April 30, 2017
Witherspoon was targeted 18 times on slant/in routes in 2016, allowed just 7 catches. Locking up John Ross here. pic.twitter.com/ZBg5rYXwh7
— David Neumann (@NeumannNFL) April 30, 2017
Ahkello Witherspoon channeling his inner soccer player here. Wants NO part of that tackle lol pic.twitter.com/p9mhCDLOmK
— Oscar Aparicio (@BetterRivals) April 30, 2017
George Kittle
good lord George Kittle that is someone's child: pic.twitter.com/Pvi7fCSNu0
— Connor Rogers (@ConnorJRogers) March 26, 2017
Kittle’s a stud in the run game. Looks like Iowa ran a lot of zone too, so get to see him executing same blocks he’ll be asked to do in SF. pic.twitter.com/LSZzd5TL9B
— David Neumann (@NeumannNFL) April 30, 2017
Joe Williams
Joe Williams - Displays great vision. Plants his foot and explodes through a crease generating additional yards. #49ers pic.twitter.com/Qfhuc8I57R
— Oscar Aparicio (@BetterRivals) April 30, 2017
Joe Williams: Almost beats King (an athletic freak) to the edge. Could display better balance after contact. Turned nothing to something pic.twitter.com/4XrX4c8WaH
— Oscar Aparicio (@BetterRivals) April 30, 2017
So uhhhh… maybe we shouldn’t put Joe Williams in on passing downs right away. #49ers pic.twitter.com/WyvGq1bc9r
— Oscar Aparicio (@BetterRivals) April 30, 2017
Trent Taylor
Okay, so this dude just catches everything apparently, noted pic.twitter.com/WgRonxwACs
— David Neumann (@NeumannNFL) April 30, 2017
gotta play big to win as a little dude in this game pic.twitter.com/EDexNEhNav
— David Neumann (@NeumannNFL) April 30, 2017
Taylor might not be his teammate Carlos Henderson after the catch, but still averaged 7.7 yards after the catch per reception in 2016. pic.twitter.com/jZtHOEjnPL
— David Neumann (@NeumannNFL) April 30, 2017