One of the topic was the 49ers' passing on DeSean Jackson to select Kentwan Balmer and Chilo Rachal. (Actually, the receiver the 49ers considered taking in the second round was Limas Sweed.)
Anyway, this is what Nolan said about the
"We liked the two players we took. We did like him as well, though. I don't want to take anything away from him. He's a very good player. He was over here. We met with him. We spoke with him. He was pleasant. He was good. I remember it was a good experience in speaking with him. At the time we had a couple other players we felt we - not necessarily need - but we thought would help us more quickly. But he's a good player. He's done a good job. He's the explosive player we thought he'd be."
(I'm sure that remark is going to raise some eyebrows. In fairness, how much would Jackson be playing if he were with the 49ers? He was forced into action with the Eagles due to injuries to Reggie Brown and Kevin Curtis. It's probably similar to what happened with Josh Morgan in the exhibition season. When Morgan was pressed into action, he played well. But when the veterans got healthy, he became the No. 4 wideout.)
Q: Were you wary of his size?
Nolan: "I wouldn't say wary, but we thought he'd fit a specific role, as far as where he'd line up in the slot and all that. That is an important role. We at no time diminished his importance just because of his size, because he is an explosive player."
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Here are some other highlights of Nolan's press gathering:
--The Eagles use the same West Coast system they've run for quite a while. Defensively, under coordinator Jim Johnson, they do a lot of blitzing. (The Eagles lead the league with 20 sacks.)
--When asked if the 49ers like to face a team that does a lot of blitzing because of the potential of hitting on some big plays, Nolan said, "Be careful what you wish for." He said the philosophy is to react to what's being dished out. (After all, the Saints didn't do a lot of blitzing, and they got to QB J.T. O'Sullivan to the tune of six sacks.)
--Nolan said he has a lot of respect for Johnson's work as a coordinator. He said that Johnson is an innovator in the way he brings blitzes from all different angles.
--Nolan said the offensive line played a game last week worthy of a winning effort. That unit will certain have its hands full against the Eagles.
--With RB Brian Westbrook nursing two broken ribs, Nolan said that is not something that is pointed out in defensive meetings. He said the game is a physical game, and players tackle with aggression. He said he has never mentioned injury situations to his players.
* * *
The 49ers' walk-through practice is in progress. Later today, they'll practice. The following players are not expected to practice:
RB Frank Gore and CB Walt Harris (coaches' decisions), LB Roderick Green (stomach virus), S Michael Lewis (elbow), LB Manny Lawson (hamstring), T Jonas Jennings (shoulder) and CB Shawntae Spencer (knee).
Nolan said he hopes to have all those players (with the exception of Spencer, who is out for the year) available for Sunday's game.
* * *
The 49ers signed LB Eric Bakhtiari to the practice squad to take the spot vacated when they released Larry Birdine. Bakhtiari (6-3, 285) was originally signed by the Chargers as a rookie free agent out of
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From the community relations desk . . .
The Foundation announced $1.5 million will be distributed in grants and contributions this year to various non-profit agencies throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. This is the second year in a row the 49ers Foundation has donated $1.5 million totaling over $7 million over the past six years. . . .
Isaac Bruce teamed up with international hunger relief organization Feed The Children to provide 400 families with a 25 pound box of food and a box of personal care items. The distribution took place at Willow Oak Elementary in
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Nolan thought Rachal and Balmer would help him faster? Glad to see that has worked out so far. Jackson will probably have a career day against the 49ers. My guess 200+ yards and 2+ T.D.'s. Nolan will say "We won from my delusional standpoint, I wish we would have won from a reality standpoint." Matt... Will Nolan be fired @ the bye week? Everyone knows we're going to lose the next three games. In fact the only games I think they can win the rest of the year is the Rams games. I certainly hope to be proven wrong. Most people have told me that the orginization doesn't have the courage to, or they would have axed him last year. Is that the way it is? McCloughan said changes would be made if they didn't start 3-1 or 4-1. Was that realistic?
A little off topic here, but I need to know about this rumor going around about T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Any truth to our interest in him Matt? Also, the same question in regards to the DET WR Roy Williams. I really appreciate your response.
Matt..Thanks for the new and improved blog site. I hope this helps keep the trolls away.
I really don't think that the 9ers will be trading for any WR. Linemen. They need linemen on both sides of the ball.
Drew - Matt doesn't think the Niners will get any receiver before the trade deadline.
So lets see;
The Eagles lead the league with 20 sacks.
And if I am reading nfl.com right:
The 49ers lead the league in sacks allowed, also at 20.
Perfect opportunity to Alex Smith to come in save the day after JTO gets knocked out :-)
Matt - Nolan is actually right on Jackson. SF has taken too many flyers on WRs. (See Detroit.) The problem, of course, is that Nolan's history of evaluating linemen - a team need - is quite bad. So passing on Jackson for two linemen unable to play ... a wash for now.
Matt - thanks. I'm enjoying the new site.
When discussing draft picks and their relative success (or lack thereof), as well as all the busts we've drafted, it's worth remembering that McNolan drafted Lawson to be a pass-rusher - passing on Kiwanuka in the process, who turned out to be a pretty good pass-rusher) - only fro Manny to turn out to be much better in coverage. Also, VD, drafted to be a dangerous, down field pass catcher, turns out to be a great blocker, but leaves a lot to be desired in the receiving threat stages. So, even when they did draft reasonable players, the skills they were drafted for have not materialised at all, and they were lucky they had other aspects to their game, otherwise they would've earned the "total busts" label. No-one was talking about VD's blocking coming out of college, nor Manny's pass coverage ability.
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I don't think all the niner draft picks are poor. Walsh didn't hit on all his picks(remember his first ever pick was James Owens). The Niners just need their lineman to be coached into playing better. The sack number was going to be high because of Martz's offense and the FACT that they have a bunch of guys starting in new positions for the first time(only 5 games together). Martz's offense would be a challenge for an established line. This goes to the question: what young players has this coaching staff made into better players. I'm beginning to wonder what the defensive coaching staff does for a living. We haven't seen much improvement over the last four years. Jim Johnson doesn't have all-pro players at every position and he's gotten pressure on the qb with different players over the years. He's a coach willing to play an agressive defense not a PASSIVE Nolan scheme. I think the niner's problems are more the coaching and/or scheme than the players lack of ability.
Glad they finally got the kinks out of the registration.
Am I the only one thinking it would be smart to start Shaun Hill in this game . . . otherwise we might end up starting Shaun Hill in all the games after this.
Hi. Thanks for getting the kinks out. First off to all 49ers fans/Maiocco, my apologies for my attitude. I've been out of work for sometime, but I finally got back on the job. Unfortunately, Mike Nolan is proving me right each week as when we take on a big team, we lose to a big team. Now even though the Eagles are 2 and 3, they still have beaten us handily 2 times with Mike Nolan. After losing to the Saints for a 3rd time with Nolan (NFC South+2 rematches), nothing surprises me of what Nolan does.
I still have hope we can win, but I have lost all faith in Nolan and his work ethics. I hope we fire Nolan by Bye Week or this team is in danger of moving to LA. Face it, if Santa Clara votes down the stadium, where else does the team go? I hope we stay in the Bay Area, I don't want York moving us to LA.
I thought we should've drafted DeSean Jackson or Sweed. We keep missing the boat.
Interesting topic.
The Nolan critics have a right to question this season's draft and Alex Smith. But wasn't it the GM who actually made the picks this past draft? Besides, Nolan can point to Gore and Willis, a potential all-pro and rookie of the year.
Be interesting to read something that puts into perspective the all the team's drafts since Nolan took over five years and see how many starters emerged from them. It may change many minds over Nolan, but it would a nice analysis.
This is off topic, but what pick or picks would it take to get TJ or Roy Williams and what would their contract size be when they were resigned long term?
I think it's important for people to realize that it's the GM's job to bring in the prospects. It's the coach's job to turn the college prospects into NFL players. Willis and Gore have panned out so quickly because RB and MLB are the two positions that are based most highly on talent, not coaching, and they are spectacular talents.
McLoughan can only bring in the undeveloped talent, he can't actually develop them. He has been correct in assessing our big free agent signings in Clements and Smith. He was even right on Jennings, despite all of his injury woes, as Jennings has proven to be a great lineman when healthy.
Big M makes some good points, but there is a complicating factor. Before this past year, McCloughan wasn't GM. Nolan had the final say. Even so, a good GM has plenty of input from the Coaching staff. It makes no sense to draft players that don't fit what the Head Coach wants to do.
I agree that Nolan's staff has not seemed to do much to develop young players. They also seem to be reluctant to play them because they might make mistakes. It all seems to fit with Nolan's philosophy of preventing the "big play" and not being aggressive.
Matt - Is there any way to tell whether the young players (eg. Golston, Balmer, et al) are getting any real coaching/teaching during the season? What about the practice squad players?
Matt- Nice improvement to the site.
I agree with Berger - I love the sign-in system. Goodbye, chaos...this is Mike in Glendale, by the way. I figured since I've moved, and the blog's been rebooted, I might as well grab a new handle. Hope to see a return to the old days here!
Great look to the new blog. Hopefully, this will keep out many of the flame throwers that come in from the 49er Webzone through the link they provide. Many regulars have given up that site and are now finding you direct through the PD website.
Congratulations on the far improved blogosphere.
It enhances our world.
Yeah Rachal and Balmer have helped us so much faster. Rachal can't get on the field to help a junior-varsity O-line, and Balmer plays about 10 snaps a game....or, does he? Nolan is such a jag. The more the guy talks behind his lies, the more sick of him I get. I can't wait for the day they can him.
Just want to add my kudos to the new blog format. It’s too bad that the immature stuff from less than 5 per cent made it necessary. I look forward to some intelligent discourse on “things Niner”. I hope to see some thoughtful comments (including from MM) on whether Nolan should go; who might replace him; is O’Sullivan the right long term QB; if Martz goes does O’Sullivan follow him; and I suppose the ultimate question is what can be done about absentee ownership that doesn’t seem to have the passion for winning.
Nice site Matt.
This is a big game, if we lose it means 2-4 and almost a certain loss in NY as west coast teams haven't won this year on the east Coast and the Giants are for real.
Let's see if Martz can run the ball this week.
Wut up Matt?! 'diggin the site! I'm Off target here a bit to say that WR's are not the Problem. Whether we land TJ/Roy should be the least of anybody's worries. Whatta cluster **bleeeep** it'll be if we get another WR. Like momma used to say, "If it ain't broke, don't try to fix it". Even if we do nab Housh or Williams, what happens in '09 when they become free agents??
Love the new site Matt!
A little off topic, but I was wondering if you had read Nolan's weekly Q&A over on the 49ers website. I found it unbelievable how good he is at not actually answering the questions asked. Multiple questions addressed the "softness" or non-agressiveness of the defense and not once did he reject or agree with that claim. All he seems to be able to come up with is "the errors are from a mental and technique standpoint." He absolutely refuses to shoulder some of the responsibility on himself. I think at some point the blame has to be placed directly on him.
Long Time Berger, welcome back!
Since when are draft picks fairly judged after 5 games into their rookie seasons? It is just now becoming fair to talk about Rodgers and Smith . . . not going well for the 49ers by the way. Talking about Jackson's worth compared to Balmer or Rachal is, well, just an ignorant discussion for about three years.
Matt-- I realize that this question is rather trite but it just further points to my inability to understand the way this organization operates. Spencer is done for the year, correct? No ifs and or buts? So why hasn't he been put on IR?
I know the team's explanation is that there's no one to add to the 53 man, but do they really feel like NO player on any other team's practice squad or elsewhere is worth basically a free year of development? If he's not going to make the game roster, fine, but it's still basically an extra practice squad spot.
On another note:
I doubt Matt is game to put odds on who the 49ers coach will be next year, but that doesn't mean the rest of you aren't. So what would you say the odds are of the following being head coach of the 49ers is next year (feel free to add your own):
Mike Holmgren
Jim Schwartz
Steve Mariucci
Mike Singletary
Mike Martz
Josh McDaniels
Matt, this is a rather large request, as it would involve a bit of research, but maybe you could take it on when you don't have anything else to do (ha ha):
With all the talk about 49er draft failures, and in view of the possibility that a good draft is more a matter of luck than skill,the question that may be most significant is: How have other teams-- particularly the ones in our div-- fared with their draft picks, overall? And, conference wide, has any team consistently out-drafted other teams? This might give an indication of how our coach/gm rate as talent judgers compared to others.
GilroyAl is right. Bill Walsh struck out on some high draft picks for sure. BUT I think you have to evaluate talent pickers on how many they HIT on, because all teams miss on any number of draft picks. Four drafts and really only Willis and Gore look like "special" players. That's not only not good enough, that kind of record will NEVER result in a winning team. I kind of hate to quote MISTER Davis here (who has been a disaster as a drafter for TWENTY FIVE YEARS now), but he once said a long long time ago about winning - "Great players making great plays in great games." Bill Walsh simply got GREAT players - even in later rounds - guys like Michael Carter, Charles Haley - MONSTERS on the football field - tremendous players - of course, Montana, Clark, Lott, Wright, Williamson, Rice, Brent Jones, etc etc. McNolan hasn't done the job. Four drafts is a lotta time to do it. And we have two really good ones. But not at the key positions of pass rusher, quarterback or defensive back (I'm tlaking about GREAT players here). And the free agent aquisitioins? Paying HUGE sums of money for ordinary players. Or maybe you think Justin Smith or the other high price guys have an effect on a game like previous aquisitions Deion Sanders, Fred Dean, Jack Reynolds and Steve Young. You can draft or trade/sign them, but if you don't get some great, impact atheletes, you will generally lose to the teams that do. I'm not saying we should have drafted Desean Jackson - but he MAKES A DIFFERENCE in winning a game. Isn't that the point in getting new players?
I wrote this on my blog and tracked back to the blog as the blog registration was not working. Seems like trackback is still not working =( Anyways, here is what i wrote here: http://zuhaiblog.com/2008/10/08/49ers-lack-of-draft-talent-during-the-nolan-era
Its not just the lack of 1st round talent on the 49ers that is lacking, but if you look overall at all the rounds of the drafts and they all have come up short. We have had a few guys standout, Gore is the one most point too, but just take a look at our starting players and you will see the guys that made any impact are going to be FA pickups outside of the O-Line and LB. And its not like the O-Line has been playing great or the OLB been able to produce presure (MLBs with Spike and Willis are set but again we have had a hard time finding someone to pair with Willis fo a while). For someone that talked about building thru the draft what we have seen instead is a team built with other team rejects FA with a few high price FA mixed in with a draft class that never lived up to hype. I am worried that this team is still in need of roster mix up, and I dont know if Nolan and company are willing to do that.
An important point to make in all of this Draft evaluation stuff is, the money that goes into the positions you Draft. To me, the smart evaluators (Parcells) use one important measuring tool, and that rests with the guy who wants to win, not the guy that may have won in college and wants to be paid. Parcells has an uncanny ability to check egos and find players that fit a model. I'll give them a pass on Alex as no one would move up for the top pick, but if you truly want to build through the Draft, you need to evaluate the not so obvious college players who really WANT to play at the next level. Gore and Willis are obvious hits, perhaps Staley too. It's as much on scouting as GM and HC. Target a position of need and address it directly. Best available looks good on the Draft Day stage, until you realize all the athletes can't complete the model. We take the cake in terms of converting players and wasting picks. Balmer may appear to be another Seymour-type but what is the model Nolan and McCloughan have him slotted to fit?
I seem to hear a lot about Davis being a bust, being unable to catch, run routes, etc., but I can't help but wonder if it's all on him, or perhaps a function of play calling as well. Watching Bush tear up the Vikings, not as runner (the position at which he was drafted) but as receiver, made me wonder why an offensive genius can't figure out how to get the ball into Davis' hands. Bush wasn't running great routes, and as a pure running back, he'd be considered a bust. The Saints have been creative though, in finding ways to get him the ball, and look what is happening this year! Can anyone honestly say that if Davis got the ball on a few quick outs, screen passes, flares, etc., that he couldn't make plays!? Seems to me that if your QB is getting hammered before he even get's his 3rd step in, you would want to get the ball out quick, and let play makers make plays! Between Gore and Davis, the 9ers have two players that, at least as far as I can tell, should be getting the ball a whole lot more than they are.