Safe travels MM. It would be interesting to find out if there are any combine sleepers that emerge throught the weekend, i.e. players that haven't been getting a lot of pre-draft attention, but could be impact players in the NFL.

I'm curious of which of the top 4 OTs (Oher, Monroe, A.Smith, J.Smith) will be participating in the workouts and in which activities.

I've read that Oher would be there, but it wasn't clear if he was planning to workout or just go through the interviews.

Have fun in indy MM... and when ever you find something interesting or something of importance... thats what I want to know. Thanks a lot.

--Dom

What type of interaction is there between the staffs from different teams? Do they talk about the combine players at all or pretty much just catch up on gossip? What do the players do outside of the combine activities while they are there? Do lasting friendships form or is it more just do your own thing and get out of there? Do players meet with staff outside of formal combine activities?

Matt, I'm not so much interested in what the players do -- because I can watch that for myself on TV. What I'd love to read about is what I can't see in the TV frame: what drills or player groups are McCloughan or Singletary watching and did they show a reaction to anything?

I'm with Rich, I'd like to know what the niner heads are watching so we have something to whet our appetites for the draft.

I am intersted in the four OT, especially as how they will fit at RT on our team. My understanding is we are going to be a run over you team, and so i want to know if any of the 4 top OT look like they can be big bruising earth paving Brutes who are gonna push the DE's all around even if they know the run is going to the right.

Other than that I would love to hear about the LB's specifically the OLB who has been mentioned several times with regards to us drafting him as a pass rusher in the 3-4, and the ILB from USC... forgot his name.

Lastly i am also very interested in DT. In particular I had an early interest in Raji... but he was quite underwhelming in the senior bowl... so in addition to how does he look, who else is massive and might fight well as a NT in the 9ers 3-4.

Oh yeah... I know there are an awful lot of trade rumors swirling around during the combine, as well. If you could get us any scoop on that side, that'd be great.

Ok i too like Rich's idea.... please use your powers of esp, and keen ovbservation, in order to read coach sings mind and tell us who you think he is most interested in or who impressed him the most.

Incidently I enjoyed your road piece from awhile back so please add in a section about the best eats at the combine, or your favorite/worst combine meal.

Matt, I love the blog. I'm a native Santa Rosan myself. I have a few things that I think might be really interesting for niners fans to follow heading into the draft:

(1) Physical corners with natural ball skills that lack the top-end speed to play corner at the next level, but have the size/mental moxy to eventually be molded to play free safety. I think Goldson can be good, but he can't seem to stay healthy. It's hard to look at stats for those guys, because often no one throws at them so they don't have the #s you would like, especially if they come from smaller schools.

(2) The competition between Orakpo, Maybin, and Brown (and perhaps English/Sintim?) as edge pass rushers.

(3) Ranking in Raji v Lauranitis v Cushing v Maualuga (v Jerry?) as interior difference makers... Who will be the best player

(4) 2-3 round OT

I don't expect Frank Gore to carry the full load this year, in an an effort to keep him healthy. I'm interested in the RBs! Can you somehow find out what type of RB the 49ers are looking for? A Power RB or Change of Pace RB?

American Idol, really?

I don't think I can look at your blogs in the same way ever again...

Matt,

I think looking at safeties would be a good position to cover. My favorite being David Bruton out of Notre Dame.

Thanks,
MJ

I want to know the top five 40 yard dash times at the combine thnx

Matt,

Are you hearing any rumblings that the 49ers are one of the four teams that Julius Peppers will agree to be traded to? Man, I would certainly trade that 10 pick to try and land him. Your thoughts?

MATT? Could you find out from the grapevine in Indy how the College QB's seem to be rated? Just #1 to whatever you think?

Could you find out why Devin Moore wasn't invited to the combine? He could have been this year's Chris Johnson.

Definitely interested in getting the measurements/workout numbers on Brian Orakpo

Definitely interested in getting the measurements/workout numbers on Brian Orakpo

Matt. How do you think Tatiana will fare in the 40? Do you think she'll get McCloughan's attention?

Matt,
I'd love to know how Mark Sanchez and Matt Stafford are doing in their interviews with teams generally and obviously, the 49ers. Thanks.

Matt, I'd like for you to follow Bill Polian around with a video camera while wearing a New England Patriots jacket until his head explodes. That would be fine entertainment.

Matt,

Travel safe. And, as you said this is a Niners Blog so I'd be interested in your take on FA and trade rumors relating to the Niners and your view of players at their positions of need - OT, pass rusher, nose tackle, SAM inside linebacker and sleeper QBs. I expect the Niners to address the safety position and perhaps OT and wide receiver in FA.

Another update, as far as franchise tags go:

--Buccaneers franchise former 49er Antonio Bryant, allowing safety Jermaine Phillips to test the waters as one of the top two rated free agent safeties.

Hey Tim, I don't know if we were reading the same thing but I saw that those 4 teams were Dallas, 2 NFC South teams, and 1 AFC team. I wouldn't mind adding Peppers but I wouldn't trade our #10 for him.

What type of interaction is there between the staffs from different teams? Do they talk about the combine players at all or pretty much just catch up on gossip? What do the players do outside of the combine activities while they are there? Do lasting friendships form or is it more just do your own thing and get out of there? Do players meet with staff outside of formal combine activities?

Everything that is wrong with the USA is displayed in American Idol. Nothing is more disgusting on Television.
Of all the things to do with your life and you choose to watch a show that actually causes people to lose IQ points. Games to play with the kids books to read things to do.
I thought this was a safe place to hang and get away from MSM and the stupidity of Prime Time Network TV.
The whole country has gone to poo.

Is Otogwe going to get franchised?

Careful out there in Indiana, Matt. Those people are animals!

I guess what I would find interesting about the combine would be the stuff I can't get elsewhere. I can get the workout results from draft sites, but I would love to hear personal up-close impressions of these guys. Unverifiable rumors, juicy vignettes, amusing anecdotes, and outright gossip.

The AZ Cards just promoted LB's coach Billy Davis to D-Coordinator. The light at the end of the NFC West tunnel is looking brighter and brigher for the Niners everyday.

Matt, I got a couple suggestions to get you started.

1. Insight on the potential dratees to take up the #2 RB spot.
2. DE/OLB Prospects.
3. Let's get some detailed analysis of internet superstar Jarron Gilbert, and see if he can really lift 600 pounds, do 30 bench reps, and the all important superhuman-jump.

And of course, any good quotes from McSing!

Pretty brassy admitting a guilty pleasure in public(I've renamed the show" Idol Americans " but you know I've got my silly arsed fav's too so I'll shut up about it!) Matt very interested in how Mike Reilly QB fares :Kenny Britt ;Connor Barwin;Jarron Gilbert as well!I would also be interested in any rumblings about Greg Micheli-Mount Union QB(The all time highest rated passer in college history QB who wasn't invited) and Nate Kmic the Mount Union RB-(who is college football's alltime leading rusher and wasn't invited!)-does anybody know they exist!

Hi Matt, love your blog.

Among the 49ers many needs, the biggest need IMO is a pass rush stud - And in a 3-4 defense, that means an OLB, someone like Shawne Merriman or DeMarcus Ware. (Also, typically, it means converting a college DE into a 3-4 OLB.) This year, there are 2 terrific prospects ranked in the 9 to 19 range: Everette Brown and Aaron Maybin. Both are early declarants, but Maybin appears to be even younger and less experienced than Brown.

NB: Merriman & Ware both were drafted between 10 and 20, IIRC.

Can you give us your thoughts on these guys, especially which would fit better with the 49ers?

I would be very interested to see how this year's combine athletes compare to years past. Is such information available? Are the combine "tests" consistent enough on a year to year basis that comparison is warranted?

A good Wednesday evening chuckle - I don't see what they saw in him (twice): The New England Patriots have signed free agent linebacker Tully Banta-Cain to a new contract.

I'm from South Bend, Indiana- Animal is not a word I would choose to describe myself. Unless ofcourse you regard a man who enjoys listening to Yngwie Malmsteen and Iron Maiden, a huge fan of Notre Dame and the San Francisco 49ers, favorite beer Amstel Light, favorite city Amsterdam,Netherlands and favorite food pizza an animal. If you would like to hook up for dinner at my house Matt you are more than welcome. Only 3hr drive. Take care dude.

I hope we draft Everette Brown at #10. He'll fill in the Forty Niners' pass rushing void. He can play great alongside Justin Smith With the next few picks, we can get Michael Hamlin, FS/SS from Clemson to strengthen the secondary, and maybe Derrick Williams from Penn State, who's got 4.3 40 speed and can play WR and KR (in case Rossum doesn't return). A QB with potential that can develop with us the next few years out of the 4th-6th round won't be bad either.

Remember to bring your cleats and kick Rich Eisen's butt in the 40!

hahaha, you got me there!

There are no animals dumb enough to eat razors.

hey matt...this isn't 49er-related but i thought you might be interested in this site: http://www.votefortheworst.com/

it's a great site that exposes american idol...it's not a real competition but you just have to view it as entertainment.
anyway, check it out!

The Rams have franchised Atogwe :(

Ha ha ha, with that kinda of razorwit you would think your name(gw2?what is that a reference to guild wars 2 or maybe it stands for got 2 warts)would be halfwit,nimwit,or dimwit.

Also, I should add to the list.

4. The Alex Smith situation. If I remember correctly McSing previously said they would talk with Smith's agent sometime during the combine. Am I right on that? If so updates on that would be great as well.

5. Have yourself a great time at the combine.

Sorry, but if you haven't paid, I'm not allowed to argue anymore.

Barrows wrote that the 49ers wont make a splash in free agency like they did the last 2 years because the "names" aren't as big. There are potentially 2 guys on defense that would help this team greatly! Peppers and/or Haynesworth. Sean Jones is another guy they should be looking at. Jones is 26 and has had 14 ints in the past 3 seasons. That is, let me think, 13 more picks then our current safety. We should get this guy. Peppers is a no brainer and so is Haynesworth. I remember when we got Clements, there was no talk of the 9ers being players in free agency yet we made one of the biggest splashes. So we should take that with a grain of salt.

We are going to get an impact player at 10. We have to! I like Everette Brown. The best guy would be Aaron Curry. But he is a top five guy. I would also like a tackle at 10. We will get Malcom Jenkins, Eugene Monroe, Andre Smith, Aaron Maybin, Brian Orakpo or Michael Oher. That is my guess. A lot of mock drafts have us taking Sanchez. I don't see it. How do you guys feel??

i also see a lot of mock draft of the niner grabbing Sanchez. I feel that the niner WILL NOT pick sanchez. they will pick an offensive lineman or defensive linemen. maybe a linebacker, but my gut feeling right now is a player from the line. but a lot can happen from here until draft day.

I dont feel that the niner will pick sanches or anybody with the position, QB. i have a gut feeling that the niner will pick a lineman, offensive or defensive with the 10th overall pick. (just dont know who exactly, if i do niner will win the superbowl every year, LoL).

I would love to see the top five layers in each position, what their scores and times were.

Sanchez would be a risky pick! but he may be the best chance to draft a player who might conceivably develop into one of the NFL's elite QBs in time.

If they wait for next year, the stars in that class will be top-10 picks for sure, and even if the Niners win just 2 more games this year, they could be drafting too low to get one of them.

I like Shaun Hill, but an upgrade is needed. I think Sanchez would have to be seriously considered if he's there at #10.

"Peppers is a no brainer and so is Haynesworth."

Not counting his rookie year in which he had to earn a starting spot, he has started in 11, 10, 14, 10, 12, & 14 games, respectively.
That is 71 out of a possible 96 starts (74%).
He averages 11.8 starts per season.
He will collect a contract that pays him over 12.5 million per season.
So he will be earning more than a million dollars per start. despite missing, on average, a quarter of the season.

Still think he is a no-brainer?

hey Matt! It would be great if you could spend some time on who of the DTs (aside from Raji) could play NT in the NFL. Aside from Ron Brace everybody seems to be too light to play that role. Am i wrong? I sure hope so!

I wouldnt have thought a boy with such an imaginative name like gw2 would allow himself to be rented like a mule.

Can you watch to see how much attention the 9ers pay to Rashad Jennings (6'1 234 lbs),RB?

McCloughan mentioned that he wanted to add a big back, so he seems to fit the bill and most likely be a mid round pick.