Matt, do you think this is it for FA, or are there any more moves to be made? -- And none of that "I'm not keeping secrets" garbage -- a REAL answer!!!

Good rotational depth signing. Thanks, Matt.

Matt--when you get time to evaluate, would appreciate the Maiocco-low-down: is this a good move, and why?

Thanks, as always.

solid pick up!!

Looks a decent 3-4 d-line to me. Get a stud LB pass rusher in the draft and we'll be set on that side of the ball.

Yes it's a good pick up. Google his name and you should find some articles praising his run stuffing ability. Redskins used him as DE on 1st and 2nd down to stuff the run and DT on 3rd downs to rush the passer. He's a good fit for our defense because our phillips 3-4 defense uses our linemen to rush the passer more than 2-gap, so his responsibilities won't be too different than what he was doing with the redskins.

We basically just plucked a starter off the 4th ranked redskins defense on a cheap, low risk deal.

sure hope to see a LOT more from Balmer this year. I expected more from a first round DL pick.

I like it. What depth do the Niners have at LB and SS? Doesn't look like much. I see the four starters at LB - Willis, Spikes, Lawson and Haralson, but only Ahmed Brooks and Jeff Ulbrich as backups. Assuming they will draft a couple LB's. Only have 3 Safeties - Lewis, Goldson, and Roman. Is Strickland coming back? If so, than out CB position should be okay with Clements, Harris, Strickland, Brown, Hudson and Spencer.

Other than adding a RT and RB. Our offensive side of the ball looks good. Maybe a WR and QB as well, obviously.

Overall, a RT, S, DE/OLB, ILB, CB, RB, WR, QB in the draft? Whoops! That is eight picks. How many do we have?

Good pick up, it's good to see an identity developing too. I really hope they find a decent FA safety too this offseason.

Nice. Get some size at that LDE spot. I love Sopoaga, but we need a taller man. Get Sopoaga's 6'2" 330 on the NOSE, BABY!

Ronnie Fields signed a two-year deal worth $5 million for the Broncos. We signed a two-year deal worth at 3.8 million for Evans.

We lost a 4 year vet and signed a 7 year vet. I say we lost a little in the overall exchange

why are most of u so negative? Huard is just a mini camp arm. Those of you compkaining obviously have no clue! Why tire out Hill's arm, smith hasn't renegotiated, so he's not hitting the field. Canu say looking past the five feet infront of your face? We will grab a QB in the draft (probably in rd 4 - 7), probably with one of the comp picks. Yummy,go play ur Madden, u obviously don't know how the real world works. Don't forget that the build up to the draft is all about keeping the other 31 yrams guessing what u will do. Makes trades in our favor more of a possibility. I think we'll grab an OT with the #10, hopefully a back up RB with rd 2, and will use the remaing picks to strengthen our depth (best playets avl). I would like us to grab that safety from the Browns, if he's still out there. We could use a CB too... I'm sick of losing too, but it's through the tough times true fans prove themselves. Regardless of how this year goes, i'm sporting my 9er gear proudly. Don't forget the Steelers may have 6, but the niners are tge only the only team to have 5 and remain undefeated in the big game. Niner true 4 life! Go Niners!

Besides the age, Evans > Fields.

Open question for anyone thinking about D:

If you agree that last season's pass rush needs improvement, what do we need to acquire or adjust to accomplish this? Or are we done?

You got a good positive attitude. Myself, I think we should have looked at Sage Rosenfels who was snapped up by Minnesota or Byron Leftwich, both would have been solid backups at the least. Huard is not a good back up. We need depth at the position and we have none. Even if you have agood running game its not enough anymore. Bens pretty good and Warner too. I blame Jed York for not demoting or firing McCloughan. The man has not gotten it done, bottom line. He should have went when Nolan was fired along with Alex Smith and get some fresh faces in here. I do not see the holes being filled with any talent. More of the same with a different head coach. Jed is a boy in a mans game. Get someone in here who knows how to get it done.

We need another good pass rusher opposite Haralson who had 8.5 sacks last year. I'm hoping we take an OLB/pass rusher like Orakpo with the 1st pick in the draft. Problem solved :)

Has to be some type of OLB or NT. I'm leaning towards OLB because I think Franklin is developing in to a very good NT(he was dominant vs the run once we started playing a 3-4). Maybe add Jason Taylor through FA or grab an OLB(Barwin? English?) in the second to develop. If we don't go either of those routes then I'd go with Raji in the first because a dominant NT is another way to improve our pass rush.

We are clearly not done. Pass rush has nothing to do with the DL, other than tying up the OL. It looks like we're done with DL additions, so we can count on not drafting Raji. If we are going to upgrade the PR, we need to draft a OLB or DE at 10. Who knows, maybe we'll make a late run at Peppers.

Thanks for a crisp analysis. We should put you on contract for when Matt is AWOL :)

Really curious to see who gets moved to NT. Sop is a force at LT. Evans will obviously play there. I know some coaches have wanted to move Balmer to NT, but unless he added 20+ pounds in the off-season I just don't see it.

If any of you helpful sorts are up to it, maybe you could explain to me how "best player on the board" theory works. Never thought it made sense in all cases, but I may not understand what it really means. Seems relevant to the OL need.

PS Thanks to all for the helpful comments. A welcome break from the name-calling and whining that has been popular of late :)

Matt, Evans is gonna play behind Ice or Balmer at lde then?? Isn't 287 a little light for the position...he'd be the lightest 3-4 lde in the league I think.

An effective 3-4 requires a real stud at nose. Interesting the Niners would pick up an end and pass on the tackles that were available. They still don't have a dominant NT that requires a double team. Unless they think they'll get lucky with Raji falling to #10, they might try top move up in the draft.

We GOT the COACH NOW, we GOT the OWNER NOW, what We DON'T have is the GM! Someone really needs to explain why after losing out on Warner the 49ers don't turn to Jeff Garcia on a one year deal instead of Huard?????? Garcia was perfect here before in a "Run" first, short passing game offense, is mobile, and protects the football. A QB like that on this team and they are in the playoffs. The 49ers aren't far away, but they are a QB away. Shaun Hill does nice things, but again he doesn't score a lot of points because he is not a threat to score from anywhere on the field which limits possessions and puts pressure on the offense to score almost every time they have the ball. I see a lot of 21-17, 20-17 losses this season.

I like the signing of Evans, known for stopping the run, but I hope his 3.5 sacks shows he has more quickness than our current DE's to pursue the play. Except of course for Justin Smith.

To me, Sopoaga and Balmer look really slow in pursuit. Balmer also stands up and plays without leverage.

I sincerely hope Balmer is working out hard with the weights and agility drills. He showed last year why he dropped in the draft, hopefully he comes into his second season with a new confidence, form, and speed to make plays.

McDonald looked great last preseason, then dropped off in the regular season.

Matt, what are your thoughts?

Nice contradiction genius! McClueless made NO attempt to re-sign Fields, instead opting for FA Evans. Guess what Fields is? A WASTED draft pick by McClueless!!! So let me get this straight Randy, we will win the West next year? Win the NFC? Win the SuperBowl? Come back at eat YOUR crow when we blow another season numbnuts.

Mark, draft lesson 101:

When teams setup their draft board they rank the players from top to bottom, regardless of position. The "best player available" is just that. When a player is drafted, he comes off the board, when your pick comes up, you take the guy at the top of the remaining list.

For example, lets say the Niners board looks like this:
1) Aaron Curry
2) Crabtree
3) Jason Smith
4) Eugene Monroe
5) Raji
6) Stafford
7) Orakpo
8) Sanchez
9) Andre Smith
10) Jenkins
11) Maclin

and 1-9 are gone when the Niners get to 10, following the best player available model, the Niners take Malcolm Jenkins regardless of the fact that they really don't need a corner.

Most teams have other lists that rank player by position and by need. If it's close between two players, they will take the position of need.

Take a look at some of the pictures/video on draft day and see if you can capture some of the war room pics. You will see huge boards with hundreds of players on it. It is a very intense process.

Using the list above, the Niners would probably take Maclin over Jenkins since WR is a bigger need than DB.

Hope this helped...

Was Fields worth the money he was asking for?

What round was he drafted?

He won't be missed, not all draft picks work out, and in the NFL, their is freemarket, he can make more than what the Niners feel he is worth, let him go feed his family.

Does this really work--if you need an OL, not a second baseman ??? (And Thanks!)

Personally, i dont think this is a bad line for our D. I would love it if we can pick up a NT. i was hoping for Grady Jackson. yeah i know he is past his prime, and he has lost a step, but i think he would have plugged up that middle of the line and would have needed 2 lineman to pick him up on first and second downs. and then on 3rd down situations we could have slid over Sopo to our NT. i think it would have been a very strong line..
I hope we can find a NT in the Draft who is 6'4 335lbs or so.

Matt, love ur work, doing one hellova job!

Ninerlvr4lyfe

That's just it, best player available does not factor in what you need. You take the best player left on your board, regardless of what they play. Most teams use a hybrid of best player and position of need. An example for you. If the Packers are up at #9 and Sanchez is there and he is the highest rated player on their board, they are probably moving to the next player because they have so much invested in Rogers. This also is what causes teams to entertain trading down.

So, based on your OL need. If the Niners get to 10 and they have to choose between best player (Jenkins) and need and they feel that their need is enough to move a player like Michael Oher above Jenkins, they take Oher.

NinerKing, your last sentence contradicted everything above (which was great). In your scenario best available player says the 49ers take Jenkins over Maclin.

The theory is that first round players are sooo much better they will lift your team whatever position they play...

...except for kickers :-)

My own belief is that they'll take top of their board at #10 whether its a QB, CB, OT or LB. And they'd be right. Middle rounds are for need and last rounds are for projects.

Seems like "clump theory" would be more useful--this group of players (5? 10?)are about equal, and better than this group of players, who are about equal. . . but maybe that is what it becomes.

This is a solid signing...the Redskins are easily mesmerized with big FA names and they lose solid team players in the process. Evans is their loss and 49ers gain!

Now the niners need to add Jason Taylor to the mix, so he can assist in planting Warner's bum-bum into the grass!

Matt,

The niners still have not signed somebody they can depend on to give them double digit sacks. The pass rush has been a problem for years. How do you think they plan to address this problem?

Realfan49, just realized that... that sentance was supposed to go a couple paragraphs above (after the close players comment)

Mark, like Realfan49 said, your clumping really comes into play in the later rounds. You start getting player 51, 51a, 51b, etc... but in round 1, player 9 could be leaps and bounds above player 10. Plus you are talking about TONS more money in round 1, so you can't afford to miss. The exception, like I said above, is if you have already spent millions on a player at the same position.

I really appreciate your effort in educating me. And I am beginning to think that a mathematician's services might be useful in improving the odds of success. (Seriously). Be back soon in case there are follow-ups, thanks to all.

I watched Orakpo since he was a freshman. He was skinny but really fast in the first 3 years. Last year, he must have added 40 pounds and really became unblockable. I felt like he might have lost some long distance speed (40 time) but gained the 10 yard speed. Last year, there was only one game that he was somewhat contained, and that was the Texas Tech game where they held him the whole game. He then got injured in that game.

I don't know why reports are that the 9ers are not interested. I think he'll be really dominant in the NFL, a DeMarcus Ware type. I really hope he falls down to 10, and we pick him. I'd hate it if we have a chance to pick him and don't, and he turns out to be this year Ware.

Matt, do you know why the 9ers seem to overlook him?

T.O. has be CUT by Dallas. MM - Dare I ask?? Prepare for at least 8 posts asking the question.....

T.O Cut by the Dallas Cowboys! HAHAHAHA!!! I love it.

Matt,

The niners still have not signed somebody they can depend on to give them double digit sacks. The pass rush has been a problem for years. How do you think they plan to address this problem?

As you well know, the term "best player available" is something most fans don't want to hear. They almost always want the "need" picks.

And that can be a big mistake, especially when teams "reach" to fill that need.

A few years back the Cardinals, drafting 5th, kind of got lucky when Adrian Peterson was there for the taking. He was basically thought to go anywhere from 1 -3. When the Cards were on the board, he pretty much was the consensus "best available player."

The Cards had Edgerrin James and "needed" O-Line help so the "reached" for OT Levi Brown, who most thought would go from 10-15.

Peterson is considered the best RB in football, some people, like Lovie Smith say that he's the best player in the game.

Warner, Boldin, Fitzgerald AND Adrian Peterson would be almost unstoppable.

Brown is an underachieving Right Tackle.

It can be dangerous to reach to fill a need and bypass the "best available athlete."

BRING BACK TO!!!!!

I think it's a combination of best available and need. We all know what happen to the Lions when they pick 3 receivers in three consecutive first rounds. The last first round WR pick, Mike Williams, could have been used on DeMarcus Ware. If the Patriots had the first pick in the 05 draft and rated Alex Smith as the best player should not pick him. So I think it's about how much better is the best available than the next one in the need column. Poor GM like Millen took the old wisdom as literal rule instead of just a general guideline.

YES YES YES, Just heard too, T.O. outta Dallas. I'd take him back in an instant. Singletary would whoop him into shape!

So... What's up with that T.O. guy? He's been a cancer everywhere he's been, including that one place where he started his career, so at this point, with his skills diminishing, I don't really think it would be worth it. Is he better than anyone we have? YES. But we've been down that road before, and it wouldn't make much sense bringing him back in my opinion. He probably wouldn't want to come here anyway, so what does it matter? BUT, if for some reason, the Niners DID bring him back, I'd root for him, of course. Wouldn't we all?

I want Pat White drafted by the Niners. I hope he's there in round 2. Give him a year to learn and maybe even insert him when we do wildcat.

I agree about using a combination. And (to me) QB's are different. That's just my opinion. It's such a unique position Take this years Lions. Let's say that they feel that they have to finally have a franchise QB. In that case, that gives them license to take a guy like Stafford (best QB available) who is perhaps not the best consensus "Player" available.

It sounds contradictory, but that's how I feel (regarding QB). The problem, as in the Cards example above, is reaching to fill a need when there is a player available that almost everybody feels is the "best player available."

To me, this situation is most "critical" in the first round.

Werd up on Pat White, running wild cat with him and gore in the backfield with VD in motion...mmmhmmm

OH NOS! A wasted 5th round pick! We got what we could out of him. No other franchise has let a 5th round pick go before, have they? Please... Get a clue before you try and talk with the big boys, troll.

BTW, yes, I said we'd win the West this year. You saying that I claim to have said that we'd win the SB this year would be putting words in my mouth. Hey, at least you're good at something.

Good pick up for d-line depth but wasn't Evans a backup for the Redskins D? Is he good enough to start in our 3-4 rotation? Looking to the draft, Raji will be gone by the time the Niners come up, but they can hope for Brown or Orakpo. If both are gone, I'd take Oher (Andre Smith?) and look at English or Sintim next. The question remains at NT: Franklin, Sopoaga or do we need to look for Ron Brace in the 2nd?

Mike Singletary just issued this statement regarding TO:

"Can't play with him, can't coach with him, can's WIN with him." I WANT WINNERS (not WHINERS)!

when it comes to team oblitorator i'm with nancy reagan just say no

Ah, T.O. Don't want him, and don't want to play against him. How about he finds a home in the AFC? Raiders, maybe?

Maybe if we had TO we would've got Warner...jk!

we already have one "virus" in VD, I guess we don't need a "cancer" as well.

I think VD has a breakout year this year. He just hasn't had the right kind of coach before. He has that now with MS.

Jerry Jones is a buuute. You got to just love this guy. He brings in an old tired linebacker Thomas spends the whole season getting run over. Gives away a bunch of sweet picks to an overrated wideout Williams. Just gave a bunch of more money to an old D-line man...pacman..now cut's TO loose, ya know I am missing a buch of other things. This guy is a brilliant business man. His ego is so big he can't let a real football guy run his team
Say what you want about the Yorks, but at least John York was smart enough to give it to the young BucK The insanity with Jerry Jones is fun. If it were not for Jimmy Johnson the 49ers might have 8 or 9 trophies fellas. think about that!! OUCH!! Jerry you are the man!!!

I definitely agree with your scenario. There's a huge risk of not picking the best player available. And it's more true in the first round because that best available could be a great HOF player. But let's say the Vikings this year are on the clock, and a RB is the best available and a QB is the second best available player. I would pick the QB because that'll make them better. Millen would probably pick the RB.

Don't expect any more attitude issues w/ VD. Now he can start working on his hands. If he ever learns to really catch, I see Pro Bowl.

I bet Singletary is the ONLY head coach in the league that could keep TO under control. I would have said Parcells but he wimped out when he had the chance.

So 49ers go go go, fire up the jet, streched jeep on standby, go go go....

To me, the QB is completely separate as I stated earlier. It's (as we all know) the most important position on the field so (again, in my opinion) it's almost like a separate position.

Needing a QB and having a potential franchise one available to you, gives you license to "go for it" knowing full well that half the 1st rounders are busts (and some of the best like Montana and Brady come later)

Like when the Colts drafted Manning (and the Chargers Leaf). We all know how that worked out. And I'm pretty sure there were a few "better players available" than Manning.

Let's say (hypothetically) a team in picking eighth. This team has a young Antonio Gates, who just made the Pro-Bowl in his third year. Picking eighth, this team has a rookie available for them to pick, Tony Gonzalez at the 8th spot. By almost everybody's consensus, Tony is the "best available player" in the draft at number eight.

But this team doesn't need a TE because of Gates. They need a LB. The best LB in the draft is pretty much considered to be the 15th best player available.

Does this team in question pick Tony Gonzalez, who's the best available at #8 (even though they have a young Pro-Bowler) or do they reach and take the 15th best player, with the 8th pick, cause he's a LB and they need a LB?

It's tricky. There are no guarantees how any of these players will shake out. That said, I'd rather have two great TE's (you could trade one, it gives you insurance against injury to the other, and you can try to incorporate both into your starting line-up line-up) rather than one great TE and an average LB.

That said, the rookie wage scale, salary cap and FA in the future for each player complicates this situation more so than in the past.

It's all complicated.

To me, the QB is completely separate as I stated earlier. It's (as we all know) the most important position on the field so (again, in my opinion) it's almost like a separate position.

Needing a QB and having a potential franchise one available to you, gives you license to "go for it" knowing full well that half the 1st rounders are busts (and some of the best like Montana and Brady come later)

Like when the Colts drafted Manning (and the Chargers Leaf). We all know how that worked out. And I'm pretty sure there were a few "better players available" than Manning.

Let's say (hypothetically) a team in picking eighth. This team has a young Antonio Gates, who just made the Pro-Bowl in his third year. Picking eighth, this team has a rookie available for them to pick, Tony Gonzalez at the 8th spot. By almost everybody's consensus, Tony is the "best available player" in the draft at number eight.

But this team doesn't need a TE because of Gates. They need a LB. The best LB in the draft is pretty much considered to be the 15th best player available.

Does this team in question pick Tony Gonzalez, who's the best available at #8 (even though they have a young Pro-Bowler) or do they reach and take the 15th best player, with the 8th pick, cause he's a LB and they need a LB?

It's tricky. There are no guarantees how any of these players will shake out. That said, I'd rather have two great TE's (you could trade one, it gives you insurance against injury to the other, and you can try to incorporate both into your starting line-up line-up) rather than one great TE and an average LB.

That said, the rookie wage scale, salary cap and FA in the future for each player complicates this situation more so than in the past.

It's all complicated.

Not a spectacular free agency but not terrible either. Would have preferred Garcia over Huard though.

Something tells me T.O.'s head just got a little smaller :)

Here is the repercussion of ego's on the sideline relative to Jerry J.O..
I love the firm hand he has on the team and the puppets he controls with the other.
It's all about ego and spotlights in Dallas.
He enjoys the media circus almost as much as I enjoy watching him play cheerleader on the sideline and missing the playoffs.
For all the bashing we lay on the Yorks, they're newcomers at this stuff. Eddie wanted it kept in the family.
For that I keep a tongue in cheek approach much of the fumbling around. Nolan was a mistake, and was shown the door.
McCloughan has a lot riding on his shoulders right now, but I'll give him his due in April.
Jerry J.O. lost Parcells and likely spends another season trying to get it right.
Romo? How mant people see him as a top shelf QB?
He trades for Kitna?
Jones is an idiot, he deserved the T.O. show.
Let's put it this way, Scot vs. Jerry. One's a GM the other a meddling owner.
Who screws the team more?
The 'Boys haven't done jack since Jimmy Johnson was shown the door and his ego got more publicity then Jerry's did.
Wait til next year when DeMarcus wants to get paid.

I could teach him to catch. I'd have his ass out everyday after practice with one of those Juggs machines. He'd have to catch maybe 50 in a row. If he dropped one before 50, he'd have to start all over again.

Every day.

I'd make him carry a football everywhere he went in training camp, when he wasn't on the field.

It's like that old joke: "how do you get to Carnegie Hall? . . . Practice. Practice. Practice.

Comment: Something tells me T.O.'s head just got a little smaller :)

My response: Randy, is that a reference to a T.O. story I've told in the past? If it is, you're brilliant for remembering it. --Matt M.

Once again, for those who have been dissecting draft strategies (and pitfalls)--nice change from the name and blame game. Have been following with interest.

Matt, rotoworld listed WR-needy teams still not likely to pursue Owens: Chicago, Philadelphia, Miami.
Why is San Francisco not on that list?

You have a marvelous sense of humor.

Another disturbing FA development -signing! I'm getting sick watching the 49ers pick up underachievers & think they can turn them around. Plus they needed a NT! They already had Kentwan Balmer and Isaac Sopoaga at left defensive end (which is their better positon) Now they'll have to try to play NT. Demetric Evans was another crappy signing like Damon Huard. (sigh) ... I'm a 49er faithful for life but this sure makes it difficult to keep supporting & justifying that our "managment" team knows what they're doing! General manager Scot McCloughan is SKATING ON THIN ICE!!!

Watched GB-SF playoff replay on NFL channel tonite, just to see all the drops & goofs that T.O. made. Davis has better hands! And a better attitude.
I said days ago that it was a waste of time to discuss Warner. Likewise T.O.
Question: Should we trade next year's number one so that we can get a stud LB or RB to go along w our #10 RT?

Scot doesn't like T.O. so it will never happen. I wish he'd take more risks thopugh, not too many of those so called "Nolan guys" ever worked out anyway. Sometimes you just have to gamble a little bit. If anybody could control T.O. it's Singletary. Problem is our offense is in a state of flux right now and I really see no urgency from the GM to take care of those needs. This will be 4 years and still no franchise quarterback, no dependable RT, and no 1000 yard receivers. I'm really losing my patiance with our GM.

Zach Thomas gets torched by Baltimore and gets them bounced from the playoffs.
Ray Lewis is looking for a payday.
Jerry grabs a Concussion Prone Keith Brooking from Atlanta.
BRILLIANT!
Chris Canty got away to a Division rival.
Hurry Jerry, grab Jason Taylor.
Once again, Wade Philips is a puppet HC.
Can't wait for the Super Bowl or Bust talk out of Big Duh this Spring.

Even Singletary, with God on his side, couldn't handle TO.

TO is a GREAT talent, who has a "mental" problem. He reminds me of John McEnroe. Mac, no matter how hard he tried, could not control himself and his emotions and his outbursts.

That said, he fed off that. His "anger" helped fuel him.

But tennis is an individual sport. Football is the ultimate team sport. And that's why teams get rid of TO, who has as much ability as any receiver in the game (at least for most of his career).

Do we want Garcia and Owens back?
Move on, been there, done that.
For all the negative slants we endure with the York/Nolan era, we've gotten younger and hopefully more cohesive since Nolan was shown the door.
Granted, QB is an area of need, but when we didn't pursue Kerry Collins I thought they'd stay out of the FA market until Kurt arrived.
I wonder what the asking price would be for DMac?
Talk about a franchise needing WRs.
We've got more to look forward to then they do.
Fraction Jackson wasn't the answer IMO.
Good player, not a 1.

Barnes is in the area...he'd be a great pickup. I'd like to see the front office at least bring him in for a visit.

For those of you who don't think Huard's a good back-up, you need to check what he did with the Chiefs when he got his chance to play. The Vikes signed Rosenfels as much to start as to be a b/u. Childress has no confidence in Jackson. Totally different scenario than ours.

As for Evans, I'd say we got a good deal. He's experienced, has good size, and should be a positive contributor to the DL. Fields had a few moments with us, but really never got over the hump. Maybe a change of scenery in Denver will help him. This move also puts Sopoaga back at NT...where he belongs.

Frank,so your happy going in the season with Hill,The Bust,and Huard? Honestly, only Hill would play on another team and he only would be a back up. Smith couldn't even beat out JT. I"m sorry but the 49er brass are morons. Thier is much better free agent QBs then Huard. Let face it Scott afriad to draft a QB or pick up a real one,because he knows his boy The Bust wouldn't beat out any real Qb.

matt, i just read on the webzone forum that mc coughlan said they were keeping an open mind about keeping jonas jennings at the RT spot if he accept to restructure his contract. in previous post you were pretty affirmative that he would be release as soon as his injury would permit it.did it change your view?

MarkW: A better understanding of why teams use BPA might be found in the write-up I've copied and pasted from Great Blue North Draft Report...with many thanks and props to Colin Lindsay for his excellent site. Check it out at gbnreport.com

BPA: The most tried and true draft theory is also something of a misnomer; best athlete implies you are primarily taking a guy for his athletic ability - speed, vertical leap, weight-room strength etc. - when done correctly it really should read "best player available". Drafting the best player is also based on the notion that drafts are not primarily about fixing a weakness on the team for next year, but rather are part of a longer term building process.

Here's how BPA works, at least in theory. First, we give each veteran on a particular team a numerical grade which we will call their hypothetical player value (HPV) on a scale of ten. Then a team with a WR with HPV of 8 and an OG with a HPV of 6 and arrives at the draft and has a choice of two players: a WR with an HPV of 9 and an OG with an HPV of 8. Obviously by taking the OG the team would increase its value at that position by 2 points whereas by taking the WR their total HPV would rise only 1 point. In the short ternm the team would increase its total HPV by taking the OG. However, if a team did the same thing over a period of years, that is, took the player with a HPV of 8 at a position of need, but passed on a 9 at another position, at the end of a 5-year period, for example, that team would have a total HPV of 40 from the 5 picks, whereas the higher graded players would have added a total of 45, and everything else being equal a much better team. Given the incredible vagaries of pro football careers - injuries, FA defections, and the fact that all players develop differently and at different paces drafting the best player available simply maximizes your odds of having the best possible team over the long haul.

Of course, when a team makes its pick there is often not such a clear difference between players; in fact there may be several players with a similar ranking and that's when that team can focus on which of those players/positions will help that particular team the most.

The problem with BPA, however, is that, almost by definition, it does not do a good job of addressing problem areas. This can be be a major concern, particularly at positions like QB, left offensive tackle, RDE and CB where it is critical that a team have at least a competent player if they hope to be a serious contender. This is where free agency can, and should, come into play.

Two words for you Jed:

Terrell Owens!

Two words for 49erfitz-NO THANKS!i

I know that division rivals don't like to deal with one another too often, but if the Rams want to get something for Tory Holt...and they need someone to compliment OJ in their secondary, what is the possibility of a Holt-Roman trade?

Wow, you have a built-in excuse for every McClueless blunder, that's impressive. Waste of a pick on Fields - who hasn't wasted a 5th rd pick before? Wasted #1 pick on Smith that has wrecked the franchise - well golly gee didn't San Diego already do that with Ryan Leaf - big deal! McClueless can't find a franchise QB - ah shucks, how many teams don't have a franchise QB also? You are pure genius! Keep living in fantasyland Einstein!

It's great that we got Evans for more D-line depth but I can't believe the 49ers are done just yet. With all the OT's that are still available in FA I'm really surprised that the 49ers are not being more aggressive in getting that position shored up. I know I keep harping on this but 49er Empire what would you prefer... getting an OT that already has 4-5 years of NFL experience or drafting an OT in the draft (1st round) & shelling out alot of money for a player that hasn't proved himself? By getting that FA OT now then the 49ers can go in to the draft seeking Orakpo or 1 of the top WR's Macklin or Bey.

Hey Matt,
Should the 49ers go after Tory Holt if and when he is released?

I can see Tory Holt on the niners as the #1 WR. I think when healthy he's better than Coles.

Im rapidly learning that most blogs like this one is haven for some of the most uninformed fans who behave more like groupies than anything else, while there are many fans who are knowledgeable there are 3 times as many who are jusr plain ignorant. Bottom line is we are being led by GM who proves year after year that he is one the worst in the league. Why would we sign "depth" when our starters are below average? Why hasnt a Free Agent of need (starter quality tackle/safety) been brought in after nearly 2 weeks? And whats with Mark Roman? They have given him permission to seek a trade? That is obsurd! Who the hell will trade anything for Mark Roman? This organization is sickening and the media and fans who allow them to present us with a chronically bad product in comfort are as much to blame as McCloughan and Co.

Okay RealityCheck,

I you seem to have ALL the answers please enlighten us with your vast knowledge on what the 49ers should and should have done?

That exactly what im talkin about Mr F49er. Here you are defending a regime that is incompetent abd building a losing culture. There are a lot of things i would do or wouldve done differently> But unfortuately for the faithful im not in charge....LOL.

And Reality, start by learning when FA started (hint, less than a week ago). This is called screaming into the room and falling flat on your face.

RealityCheck has a point there. Over the past few years in regards to the Draft, we have been drafting guys for Depth or Projects, when we need guys that can step in and play/start right away. We know Nowin was running the show all the way up to this year, so no let's see if McCloughan has a clue or if he continues on the same clueless path as Nowin. The 9er brass need to go after guys (both in FA and draft) that can play right away - we don't need to pickup guys for depth behind guys that would be depth on another team.

Whiners4life its only common sense. Why recruit "depth" when your starters are below average. Why sign "depth" for a average recieving corps whose most productive reciever is on the brink of retirement? Why sign "depth" when u have one the worst QB situations in the NFL? Heck some of our starters would have a hard time making a NFL team.

RealityCheck,

First of all don't be putting words into people's mouth. Did I say anything that I was defending the 49ers? That's the 1st strike against you, secondly you came up with NOTHING as to what the 49ers should have done, that's the 2nd strike against you. Thirdly from your last post you bring absolutley ZERO to the table for solutions. That's your third & last strike and as far as I'm concerned you have lost ALL credibility from here on out.

"I can see Tory Holt on the niners as the #1 WR. I think when healthy he's better than Coles."

May be true but Coles is now the #2 WR for a reason and so should Holt at this point in his career.

Whiners4life its only common sense. Why recruit "depth" when your starters are below average. Why sign "depth" for a average recieving corps whose most productive reciever is on the brink of retirement? Why sign "depth" when u have one the worst QB situations in the NFL? Heck some of our starters would have a hard time making a NFL team.

The thing with Jenkins is some scouts project him to be an elite FS.

And as for the people who are complaining about the QB situation We got Hill who despite his limits physically wins games, we got Smith(who apparantly is labeled a bust after only playing enough games to total two full seasons and in his years in the league getting thrown under the bus by Nolan constantly), and Huard probably won't last through camp if we draft a QB(Which I think we do). Everyone wants this rebuilding to be successful but no one wants to be patient about it.

Nowin did leave putting the team in better shape than in 2004 but he failed to develop a lot of the talent not named Frank Gore and Patrick Willis. Because of that there is a bit of a set back with the development of a lot of these guys. I mean look Sing is offically head coach and finally Mark Roman is being benched, during the interim period we got to see very bright glimpses of Chilo Rachal(you know the guy who everyone questioned the selection of because he didn't play WR), Jason Hill and Josh Morgan should get more reps, Vernon Davis will have a great season bank on that. I also think Manny Lawson is due for a bounceback year if we go by the JP theory(Julian Peterson had the same injury in 2004, 2005 he wasn't as good, and in 2006 he was back to form).

Hi Geo!
I think VD's problem is really in his head. God knows he has the talent! Like T.O when he was a young receiver with the 49ers, he had all the talent needed to be a great receiver. But his head and and the stress he put on himself negated what he could really do.
I think MS has the time now to work with VD and calm the kid down. I think that was part of what MS was doing last year.
The kid is a great blocking tight end. The receiving will come when he realizes he needs to play within his talents and calm the stress. MS can give him the example he needs, the confidence needed by being MS''s man, and the professionalism that is necessary!

Now that we're into the FA process a little bit, where are The Niners in Available Cap Cash in dollars, and where do they stand in relation to other franchises? Who has what left?

And, any new visits planned to "4949"?

Who do we wish was visiting "4949"?

Hey Terry,

VD is a perfect example of what I call the "optical illusion" of NFL players. Ever hear somebody say "These (NFL players) are grown men. They don't need to be yelled at?"

NOTHING could be further from the truth.

Physically, these players are giants. However, most of them are young kids, who (because of their great talent) are spoiled rotten from getting their ass kissed since Pop Warner, and who are now, instant millionaires.

Some guys (Peyton Manning) can handle it; other guys (Ryan Leaf) can't.

All I know, from a distance is this.

MS (as we all know) blistered VD on national TV in the SeaHawk game. He did something I can't ever recall seeing, when he sent him to the locker room in the 3rd quarter.

The next week (MNF in Arizona) after VD made a great TD catch, he hugged MS on the sidelines. Later, he said that MS was "The best coach he has ever had."

Some players (like children) need a pat on the head; others a kick in the ass.

VD has long needed a kick in the ass and he has just the right guy (MS) to give it to him.

I see a breakout year ahead for VD (under MS)!