Premature evalidation M&M? It happens. How much of these visits are smokescreens/going through the motions versus enuine interest?

Question: How much of these visits are smokescreens/going through the motions versus genuine interest?

My response: Probably about 50-50. The 49ers will do some of that, for sure. They will also bring in guys for legitimate medical evaluations. The trick is trying to figure out which guys are the smoke screens. --Matt M.

Thanks Matt, thats what we depend on you for.

I'd rather you didn't (try and see through the smoke screens) because the smoke's there to fool the other teams and not us fans. Would we have gotten Morgan last year if it was plastered all over the web that the Niners were high on him?

Matt -
Do you spend time done there at 49er Central or do you get reports from people?

Matt,

I asked this question this morning on your other article. If Oher is assumed to be the 4th best OT how much of a drop off do you think the the next 3-4 OT's in the draft are in your opinion?

Question: If Oher is assumed to be the 4th best OT how much of a drop off do you think the the next 3-4 OT's in the draft are in your opinion?

My response: Arizona's Eben Britton is generally considered the No. 5 tackle, and there is some question whether he'll make it into the first round. I'd expect him to be taken in the 20s because of the high demand of offensive tackles. But to answer your question, there seems to be the top four and then a pretty big dropoff in the way they're being evaluated. --Matt M.

Question: Do you spend time done there at 49er Central or do you get reports from people?

My response: I don't go to Santa Clara unless there's a reason to go down there. Otherwise, I just work out of my luxurious home office.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMXgis0YMPM

Just wanted to comment on the Smith signing (Marvel). I think it's awesome that we have a player who has the Super Bowl ring on our team. And that it is so fresh. This guy won the Super Bowl less than 2 months ago. This may help the 49ers with motivation, not that they'll need it with Singletary around.

Marvel Smith was on IR and did not suit up for the Super Bowl. He was a starter on the Steelers' Super Bowl XL winner against the Seahawks, though. --Matt M.

Hey Matt, do you happen to know what Cam Colvin ended up doing last year after the 49ers cut him? I know he didn't catch on with any team...is he going to make a second attempt at a pro career?

Would one of the local teams give him a shot in training camp? I'd like to see the 49ers give him another go-round more than a year removed from his ankle surgery and without school getting in the way of his availability.

"How much of these visits are smokescreens/going through the motions versus genuine interest?"

If it's 50/50, then I'm disappointed to see that Sanchez will not make the shortlist, even simply as bait for teams like NYJ to have an extra second or third round pick on hot standby.

Within the walls of 4949 Centennial, McGM can still give Alex a hug and reassure him that he's the leader in the Niners future. But the Jets don't have to know that.

FWIW, I doubt any of these scheduled visits are a smokescreen. It's possible that someone could leave such a bad impression as to make them unworthy of even a TC roster spot in our eyes. Otherwise, every player has their value.

For instance, you can argue that Oher is not worth a #10 pick, but believe he's a good pickup at #40, and a screaming genius move at #240. With the possibility of trading up or down, we may have more than 1 opportunity to take him.

This goes for the less touted players as well. Matt, have we brought players in pre-draft before who weren't even drafted, and picked them up later as UDFAs?

petaluman,

Oher is at least a top 20 player so now way he's there at #40.

Franchise,

I mentioned your theory a couple of articles ago about a "perfect" opportunity to raise the stakes in Gamesmanship if the 49ers were to invite Sanchez in for a visit. Teams like the Jets & Bucs would have to take notice & possibly hit the panic button to secure Sanchez thus giving the 49ers an extra 2nd or 3rd round pick. It makes total sense for the 49ers.

since sanchez is from usc, is it possible to count him towards a "local combine" visit?

F49er,
Did you get my point? It wasn't about the name or numbers I chose to use as an example. Every player that we bring in could at some point in the draft be a considered a reach, a solid value, or a steal.

F49er,

I don't post very often but I'm on this board every day reading posts. Congrats as you have motivated me enough to log in and actually type something. I have heard your "trade" talk of draft choices for the last couple months and they are HORRIBLE as to the logic behind them. Why would the Jets trade with US to get Sanchez if THEY wanted him. They would trade with the Packers, to get ahead of us to get him. If we wanted him, why would we give a team the chance to take him from us?

To all with the smoke screen stuff....I think the coaches have enough going on and are busy enough worrying about their own team to be worried about which team thinks we want which player. It's all speculation and with less than 30 days before the draft, we need to spend it on OUR picks, not trying to trick other teams. The head game stuff is why Nolan sucked. Let's just get OUR guy and play OUR brand of smash mouth football.

Matt, Keep up the good work. Thanks.