Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
Let's take a look back at the 49ers' 2011 Draft as a potential model---and when we do we can discern some very interesting parallels:
1-Following a miserable 6-10 season, the 49ers fired HC Mike Singletary in favor of hiring offensive guru Jim Harbaugh. While their defense was very good---their offense was generally ineffective.
2-The 49ers had addressed their primary needs on the offensive line in the previous draft.
3-While the temptation was there to reach for a QB at #7 (e.g., Blaine Gabbert, Christian Ponder---or one of the top offensive difference makers, especially to satisfy the new offensive-minded HC, they drafted a defensive difference maker at #7 in OLB/DE Aldon Smith. Smith was a down lineman at Missouri used at DE and DT, so scouts wondered about his transition to 34 OLB---but that did not deter the 49ers---they chose Smith over Robert Quinn, Ryan Kerrigan and Adrian Clayborn. This week the 49ers have said that Aldon Smith was their MVP this year.
4. The 49ers waited until the 2nd round to take Colin Kaepernick, the QB with the best arm in the draft---a QB who was very raw and had motion issues in college. But they liked the big arm and thought they could coach this kid up.
5. In the 3rd round they went back to defense and selected CB Chris Culliver, who would turn out to be their starting CB across from Carlos Rogers.
6. In the 4th round they took Kendall Hunter, a nifty RB from Oklahoma St, as a nice change of pace RB to Frank Gore.
7. From there they drafted two guards, a safety, a WR, a FB and another CB.
Now---this may seem surprising to you, so please bear with me---but with a slight switch in Rounds 3-4---look at how this draft could shape up for the Cardinals if they use the 49ers 2011 Draft as a model.
Round 1 (#7): DE/OLB Ezekiel Ansah, 6-6, 270, BYU.
There is no player in this draft who resembles Aldon Smith more precisely than Ziggy Ansah. What makes Smith so special is his combination of size (6-4, 264), speed and quickness to the ball. When you watch Ansah on tape, he gets to the ball as fast and quickly as Smith, and even though Ansah is raw---and let me remind you that so was Smith two years ago when he was drafted---wait until new defensive line pass rushing specialist Tom Pratt gets his hands on Ansah. That is a golden match---Ansah's talent and Pratt's mentoring.
Round 2 (#38): QB Tyler Bray, 6-6, 210, Tennessee.
Bray has the strongest arm in this draft and he throws the best deep ball, which is made to order for Bruce Arians' offense. What scouts question about Bray is his longer than desired 3/4 delivery. Well, the longer than desired 3/4 delivery has not hurt Philip Rivers. Bray is an accurate thrower---what he needs to learn, mechanics-wise, is the step more consistently forward into his throws, as he tends to do what most young QBs do---throw off his back foot. When I watched tapes of Colin Kaepernick two years ago, I saw the same things---longer than desired delivery, many times at 3/4 arm angles and throwing off the back foot. But the accuracy and RPMs (despite the back-fotted delivery) jumped out on tape---as it does with Bray.
Round 3 (#69): CB Tyrann Mathieu, 5-9, 179, LSU.
Here's our starter opposite Patrick Peterson, Honey Badger's best friend and supporter. Here is a first round talent who made some boneheaded decisions last year. He said he was depressed following the loss to Alabama in the NCAA Championship Game, so he was smoking weed. He says he's focused now, revitalized by PP's workouts and he is off the weed. With Mathieu, don't let his smaller than ideal size fool you. He has an eye-opening vertical---and tremendous instincts for finding the ball once it's in the air.
Round 4: (#100): RB Stepfan Taylor, 5-11, 209, Stanford.
If Bruce Arians could get 820 yards out of 5th round rookie Vic Ballard, imagine what he could do with Taylor. What Taylor is---he's strong, determined, consistent and dependable (as a runner, blocker and receiver). He's just not flashy, nor is he a home run threat---which is why, like Ballard, 6th rounder Alfred Morris (redskins' 1000 yard rookie rusher) and other non-flashy, non home run threat RBs, he will very likely be available at #100. Taylor is a winner---and he will get you that extra yard on short yardage situations.
Round 5: (#133): G David Quessenberry, 6-5, 292, San Jose St.
Played left tackle at San Jose St. and was regarded by many as the best pass blocker in the WAC. At the Senior Bowl he played guard and adapted to it very well. It would not surprise me that under Harold Goodwin's tutelage that Quessenberry would become the starting RG at some point next season.
Round 6: (#166): WR Denard Robinson, 5-11, 195, Michigan.
Tried to transition to WR at the Senior Bowl and despite an injured thumb, showed some flashes. With his speed, hands and open-field running ability, Bruce Arians could develop him in the way he developed T.Y. Hilton last year (WR hitches, screens, reverses, seam splitters). Plus, he gives you an exciting option as a red zone or situational read option QB---and what is sometimes overlooked, he could be the scout team QB for Russell Wilson as the Cardinals prepare for the Seahawks.
Round 6: (#167): S Duke Williams, 6-0, 185, Nevada.
Williams may not be as big as scouts prefer (which is why he will still be available in the 6th round)---but don't let that fool you. He forces the run from the SS position like a linebacker, and he has the quicks to dog receivers in the short and intermediate zones. These good Nevada defenders---they know how to step up and make plays. Very impressive.
Round 6: (#179): ILB A.J. Klein, 6-1, 240, Iowa St.
What's to like about Klein is that not only is a very good run stuffer, he's nifty in coverage. I believe he had 4 pick sixes to his credit at Iowa St.
Recap:
The Cardinals get a dynamic athletic speed rusher, the strongest-armed QB in the draft, a starting RCB, a solid rotation RB, a possible first year starter at RG, a slot WR threat/great athlete, good depth and potential at SS and ILB.
That's pretty much what the 49ers got two years ago.
1-Following a miserable 6-10 season, the 49ers fired HC Mike Singletary in favor of hiring offensive guru Jim Harbaugh. While their defense was very good---their offense was generally ineffective.
2-The 49ers had addressed their primary needs on the offensive line in the previous draft.
3-While the temptation was there to reach for a QB at #7 (e.g., Blaine Gabbert, Christian Ponder---or one of the top offensive difference makers, especially to satisfy the new offensive-minded HC, they drafted a defensive difference maker at #7 in OLB/DE Aldon Smith. Smith was a down lineman at Missouri used at DE and DT, so scouts wondered about his transition to 34 OLB---but that did not deter the 49ers---they chose Smith over Robert Quinn, Ryan Kerrigan and Adrian Clayborn. This week the 49ers have said that Aldon Smith was their MVP this year.
4. The 49ers waited until the 2nd round to take Colin Kaepernick, the QB with the best arm in the draft---a QB who was very raw and had motion issues in college. But they liked the big arm and thought they could coach this kid up.
5. In the 3rd round they went back to defense and selected CB Chris Culliver, who would turn out to be their starting CB across from Carlos Rogers.
6. In the 4th round they took Kendall Hunter, a nifty RB from Oklahoma St, as a nice change of pace RB to Frank Gore.
7. From there they drafted two guards, a safety, a WR, a FB and another CB.
Now---this may seem surprising to you, so please bear with me---but with a slight switch in Rounds 3-4---look at how this draft could shape up for the Cardinals if they use the 49ers 2011 Draft as a model.
Round 1 (#7): DE/OLB Ezekiel Ansah, 6-6, 270, BYU.
There is no player in this draft who resembles Aldon Smith more precisely than Ziggy Ansah. What makes Smith so special is his combination of size (6-4, 264), speed and quickness to the ball. When you watch Ansah on tape, he gets to the ball as fast and quickly as Smith, and even though Ansah is raw---and let me remind you that so was Smith two years ago when he was drafted---wait until new defensive line pass rushing specialist Tom Pratt gets his hands on Ansah. That is a golden match---Ansah's talent and Pratt's mentoring.
Round 2 (#38): QB Tyler Bray, 6-6, 210, Tennessee.
Bray has the strongest arm in this draft and he throws the best deep ball, which is made to order for Bruce Arians' offense. What scouts question about Bray is his longer than desired 3/4 delivery. Well, the longer than desired 3/4 delivery has not hurt Philip Rivers. Bray is an accurate thrower---what he needs to learn, mechanics-wise, is the step more consistently forward into his throws, as he tends to do what most young QBs do---throw off his back foot. When I watched tapes of Colin Kaepernick two years ago, I saw the same things---longer than desired delivery, many times at 3/4 arm angles and throwing off the back foot. But the accuracy and RPMs (despite the back-fotted delivery) jumped out on tape---as it does with Bray.
Round 3 (#69): CB Tyrann Mathieu, 5-9, 179, LSU.
Here's our starter opposite Patrick Peterson, Honey Badger's best friend and supporter. Here is a first round talent who made some boneheaded decisions last year. He said he was depressed following the loss to Alabama in the NCAA Championship Game, so he was smoking weed. He says he's focused now, revitalized by PP's workouts and he is off the weed. With Mathieu, don't let his smaller than ideal size fool you. He has an eye-opening vertical---and tremendous instincts for finding the ball once it's in the air.
Round 4: (#100): RB Stepfan Taylor, 5-11, 209, Stanford.
If Bruce Arians could get 820 yards out of 5th round rookie Vic Ballard, imagine what he could do with Taylor. What Taylor is---he's strong, determined, consistent and dependable (as a runner, blocker and receiver). He's just not flashy, nor is he a home run threat---which is why, like Ballard, 6th rounder Alfred Morris (redskins' 1000 yard rookie rusher) and other non-flashy, non home run threat RBs, he will very likely be available at #100. Taylor is a winner---and he will get you that extra yard on short yardage situations.
Round 5: (#133): G David Quessenberry, 6-5, 292, San Jose St.
Played left tackle at San Jose St. and was regarded by many as the best pass blocker in the WAC. At the Senior Bowl he played guard and adapted to it very well. It would not surprise me that under Harold Goodwin's tutelage that Quessenberry would become the starting RG at some point next season.
Round 6: (#166): WR Denard Robinson, 5-11, 195, Michigan.
Tried to transition to WR at the Senior Bowl and despite an injured thumb, showed some flashes. With his speed, hands and open-field running ability, Bruce Arians could develop him in the way he developed T.Y. Hilton last year (WR hitches, screens, reverses, seam splitters). Plus, he gives you an exciting option as a red zone or situational read option QB---and what is sometimes overlooked, he could be the scout team QB for Russell Wilson as the Cardinals prepare for the Seahawks.
Round 6: (#167): S Duke Williams, 6-0, 185, Nevada.
Williams may not be as big as scouts prefer (which is why he will still be available in the 6th round)---but don't let that fool you. He forces the run from the SS position like a linebacker, and he has the quicks to dog receivers in the short and intermediate zones. These good Nevada defenders---they know how to step up and make plays. Very impressive.
Round 6: (#179): ILB A.J. Klein, 6-1, 240, Iowa St.
What's to like about Klein is that not only is a very good run stuffer, he's nifty in coverage. I believe he had 4 pick sixes to his credit at Iowa St.
Recap:
The Cardinals get a dynamic athletic speed rusher, the strongest-armed QB in the draft, a starting RCB, a solid rotation RB, a possible first year starter at RG, a slot WR threat/great athlete, good depth and potential at SS and ILB.
That's pretty much what the 49ers got two years ago.
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