(Unless, they take a guy who is going to just walk around all day and tell Frank how great he is. In that case, they'll be getting a running back to compliment Frank.)
Here is what coach Mike Singletary told me at the combine about what he envisions: "Frank is a special running back. But I think it would help to have someone come in and share that load, maybe someone who has a different style - someone who adds another dimension to our running game. That would be very advantageous for us."
* * *
The 49ers have brought in two running backs for pre-draft visits and another is scheduled for later in the week. This is all part of their background checks. Each of these running backs has been considered a "character risk." As part of doing all the research, the 49ers - and every other team in the league - try to learn as much about every player as possible:
Arian Foster,
Kory Sheets, Purdue (5-11, 208): Sheets publicly criticized the Boilermakers' offensive game plan and quarterback Curtis Painter after a loss to Northwestern. He was banned from speaking to the media for the remainder of the season. The guy can flat-out run. He clocked a 4.38 time in the 40, and Rang projects him as a fourth-round pick.
Mike Goodson,
* * *
We don't know if the 49ers will have any interest in those aforementioned players after they have completed all of their homework.
But we checked in with Rang, the draft expert, for his insights into players who appear to be better fits for the 49ers. Here is what he said:
"You're seeing more and more teams that are trying to match up a speed guy with a power guy. Frank can do a little bit of everything. I think Shonn Greene from
"If you want a wild-card guy at No. 10, there's Beanie Wells. That's a size-speed guy. That's my shocker of the top 10. I have him going No. 9 to
"Obviously, the 49ers have Frank Gore and he's a superstar. Considering Gore's durability over the years, and I don't know his contract (he's signed through 2010). I have a hard time thinking they would do that because I think they have too much respect for what Frank Gore brings. They don't want to (upset him). But Beanie Well is a spectacular talent. He's a Larry Johnson - almost an Adrian Peterson -- kind of talent. But he needs to be coddled, and Mike Singletary's strength probably is not in coddling players.
"The more likely choice would be Shonn Greene. This isn't a great class for the powerful guys. Andre Brown from
"There are a lot of guys who are a little undersized who are just good football players. Javon Ringer, maybe in the third round, from
"There are two guys I can see McCloughan going for: Rashad Jennings, he's from
* * *
USC quarterback Mark Sanchez is scheduled to arrive in the They are believed to be the only quarterbacks scheduled for pre-draft visits (not including those who might attend the April 17 local pro day).
* * *
Congrats to Jim Schwantz, an incredibly nice guy who played for the 49ers in 1997. He was elected mayor of
* * *
Ok Matt,
With all the Best player Available talk we've been having for the last few weeks, where do you honestly think the 49ers would go if we these guys were still available at #10....
Beenie Wells
Andre Smith
Josh Freeman
Mark Sanchez
Knowshawn Moreno
Crabtree
Gotta pick one this time Matt, what say you??
It sounds like Rashad Jennings is a "cheaper" version of Beanie Wells. Kory Sheets would be a different change up from Jennings in relation to speed rather than brute force. It's goingto be very intersting what kind of back the 49ers select in the draft.
I know I'm not Matt (glad we got that outta the way) but it's gotta be Crabtree in that scenario. He's a future perennial Pro Bowler.
Question: where do you honestly think the 49ers would go if we these guys were still available at #10.... Beenie Wells Andre Smith Josh Freeman Mark Sanchez Knowshawn Moreno Crabtree
My response: Crabtree, and I'm not sure it's close. --Matt M.
Matt, your response, "Crabtree, and I'm not sure it's close," is intriguing and makes me curious. What if Orakpo, BJ Raji, Oher are there as well with the others mentioned, who do you think the 9ers will pick then?
Ian Johnson, Boise State. He will be a great team player and is an excellent receiver out of the backfield. 4-5 round
Crabtree is no worse than the third-best prospect in this draft.
I think Rob Rang's right on the money with Shonn Greene. Nobody could keep him under 100 yds last year! and Arian Foster is like a poor man's Shonn Greene. Can't agree with Rang that Foster is still on the board in the 7th round! Both of these guys are the big bangers that McSing have said they are looking for. Jennings too maybe, but he runs too upright and lacks wiggle.
There will not be a RB drafted in the top 10. Green Bay taking Wells at 9 is a joke. I hope we draft someone to help our pathetic Offensive / Defensive lines, leave the overrated QB's for some other chump this year and grab one of the better ones next year.
Matt,
Your boy Barrows is reporting that speedster RB Kory Sheets is coming in today for a visit.
Matt,
Any talk or thoughts of PJ Hill from Wisconsin? Big back, lots of production and experience.
Thanks.
I have to disagree with Mr. Rangs' assessment of "Beanie" at pick 10. IMHO Moreno is the only back in this draft worthy of that high a pick at RB. Nate Davis might be available in round 7. This obsession for a big back hopefully will not preclude us from taking the best back available when its our turn.
Drafting a RB in the top 10 is pure nonsense. Many teams have proven a 3rd round back is more than adequate. This is a QB league and guys who can rush for 5 yards behind a good line are a dime a dozen.
Comment: (There's a report) that speedster RB Kory Sheets is coming in today for a visit.
My response: Sheets arrived in the Bay Area yesterday, and yesterday is when I initially reported it.
http://blog.pressdemocrat.com/49ers/2009/04/qb-talk-freeman-visits-with-49ers.html
Here's my newspaper (Web site) article with a report of all the visits and scheduled visits:
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090408/sports/904089877
--Matt M.
DUDE,
Just don't be too upset if the 49ers go in another direction at #10.
Touche' Matt.
DW... I agree with Matt. Check out this list by Mayock (NFL.COM).
http://www.nfl.com/nflnetwork/story?id=09000d5d80d41b6d&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true
So basically Crabtree over anyone except Curry or Monroe who will have absolutely no chance to get to no. 10. Crabtree at 10 is a steal. Its like when we got Gore, he had injuries that put him out of the top, McGahee got the call. The only thing is Crabtree will not slide that much.
Rashad Jennings is my poor man's Knowshon Moreno just like I see Connor Barwin as a poor man's Aaron Curry.
Jennings can do it all & I believe has the speed to run to the outside on sweeps unlike Gore. Plus he's durable enough to take over the every down back role from Gore if he's not around for some reason at contracts end in 2010. Watching his clips he can make some good cuts & has SOME elusiveness to him. He's no Donald Brown. Good for a man his size. Now Shonne Green, isn't he a straight line runner?
Jennings is my guy in the 2nd or 3rd RD. I think there's a good chance he will be gone by the 3rd RD. I know 2nd's a reach but I'd be tempted to go ahead & take him there (unless the smaller more elusive Donald Brown drops & we're considering him = complimentary change of pace RB) then try to get Tupou RT in the 3rd or next best OT if we haven't picked ours up with the #10 pick yet.
Shonn Greene is more than a straight line runner. He lacks top end speed and will be run down by NFL secondaries, but he's got a real nice kickout that gets him 10 or 20 yards before they do it! and he punishes tacklers.
Arian Foster is much the same, and has some soft hands in the bargain. Greene wasn't thrown to much, so hard to tell how good his hands are.
I only saw Jennings at the Senior Bowl. He stood out, but he's not my back if I can get Greene or maybe even Foster. It seemed to me that it's Jennings who is the straight line runner.
None of these guys are in Knowshon Moreno's class!
Hi Matt, Many people are saying this is a weak draft and I agree, how many guys are worth trading up for? However, the player you target at 8 could be available at 15 or even 20. Some first round prospects may slip to the second round. The 49ers are in an enviable position at 10 especially if Stafford or Sanchez free fall. One of the posts mentioned slogans in the locker room, back in the Coach Walsh era there was one that read, "We will not be out hit",
is it still there Matt?
gw2 - I just checked out a number of vids on various RB's. The only thing I question about Greene is with that running style how long he's gonna last. Gotta love that toughness though. He's a human bowling ball.
Your right, Jennings is more of the straight line guy. If he puts on a move it's usually one, maybe 2 cuts then he explodes forward. But he's tough, durable, catches well, & has good speed. He does have some breakaway speed.
OMG....what I just discovered is one of the guys Matt brought up. I just turned into a big Kory Sheets fan. Now that kind of speed, explosiveness, & playmaking is what I'm talking about! That's a legit change of pace guy plus he's bigger than Sproles at 208 lbs. Sheets is the type of players this team needs BADLY. What I've heard is he has some off the field issues which is why his stock has dropped so of course we have to check that out thoroughly. If their not too serious & can be correctable sign this guy up!!
Kory Sheets highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gMwSSLrzSg
nice find Mike! and that was one of the godliest jukes I've seen at the end of the vid very impressive.
Aaah, so I see that Schwantz has moved from the special teams to the special interests!
WOW!
Just saw the "Kory Sheets Morning Show" Mike and I agree with Shield that this is the kind of RB that would compliment Gore with deadly speed. I don't know if the 49ers can afford to wait until the 3rd round to pick him.
Those highlights make me think he was playing as a man amoung boys. He should be available.
What about someone who plays between the tackles?
opps.. didnt intend that to be a reply comment
Matt just tweeted about drafting Nate Davis in the middle rounds as our QB prospect. I wouldn't mind as long as it is a 4th or 5th rounder. Not many of those players have worked out for the 9ers in the past. He is short and comes from a spread offense, so he would need 2 years before he would be ready to play ball. He needs to learn and convert to a pro style offense
Matt, great insights on RB's. My question is how much input Tom Rathman has on this draft. Have you been able to speak with him to get his thoughts?
Tom and the other assistant coaches are off limits to media for the time being. one of them was a naughty boy so they all got punished.
Your right Shield. I forgot about the big mouth. I trust Rathman. He knows what takes.
Matt -- Is it wise or unwise to assume that when a guy never gets off the practice squad he's not the answer as the back up to Gore? Or is it a case where you just don't know until he's had a chance to perform in regular season action? I bring this up because, heading into the draft, it seems we don't really know what we have in Clayton (or in Jimmy Williams or A Brooks, in some respects) -- but perhaps we do? I'd love your thoughts on this.
Are you tired of watching highlight clips of players making great plays against the Cal Polys of the world? The Fl State end must have had 7 sacks against some lame team. The Purdue back looked great against somebody I didn't recognize. Show us big guys against the best. Orakpo, for example, is said to have faired badly in two games against a solid tackle & a tight end.
F49er - IMO I wouldn't go any higher than the 3rd RD for Sheets. Plus I think he will be there. I think the reason for that is it's questionable whether he can be an every down RB at the next level. I think it's 50/50, maybe 60/40 yes he can having solid productive stats to show. I like him more as a complimentary back which is how we'll use him. Looking at the highlights I see him as a dangerous runner out in space but don't know how he is in tight spaces between the tackles & can he hold up to the pounding? Check out the off the field issues & if he passes we could take him in the 3rd. Then you have 2 choices. 1) Go after a late round 2nd workhorse to Gore. Someone like Matt's guy above Arian Foster/TENN...has decent size at 226 lbs & looked good as a runner. I always think highly of SEC guys. Or 2) Take your chances with Gore/Clayton/Sheets/Robinson & if Clayton isn't panning out in TC/pre-season games go after another FA VET RB.
There's so many holes on this team it's difficult to grab additional playmakers while we're still trying to rebuild our O/D Lines. I'd like to grab another FAST WR if possible, someone like a Mike Wallace in the 4th RD as an option. He's another sub 4.4/40 SEC guy (Ole Miss) who has real football speed & really came on towards the end of the season. Great size/weight measurables & has a high potential upside ceiling.
More info on Kory Sheets from Walters:
UPDATE 1/3/09: Sheets had an underrated senior year, rushing for 1,131 yards and 16 TD's. He also caught 37 balls for 253 receiving yards. UPDATE 10/18/08: Prior to playing Penn ST & Ohio ST, Sheets had rushed for more than 5 yards per carry against his first 4 opponents. He has 8 TD's & 16 receptions on the year as of Week 7. UPDATE 5/21/08: Kory Sheets rushed for 859 yards & 11 touchdowns in 2007. He also caught 30 passes for 216 yards & 2 more scores.
The only thing that would burn my bong would be if the 49ers reached for a player out of need in rounds 1-4. I want BPA and according to the only scout I trust Mike Mayok here are the top 10:
1.Curry
2.Monroe
3.Crabtree
4.J.Smith
5.R.Ayers
6.Moreno
7.Pettigrew
8.Stafford
9.Maclin
10.Orakpo
11.Raji
12.Sanchez
He (Mayock) sure likes Ayers. He said he see's him as the best defensive player out of this draft 3 years down the road. He still isn't putting him in the top 10 of his Mock.
I also would love to know what we have in Clayton. He performed well in preseason last year. He definitely would fulfill the "speed guy" need.
Mike,
That's exactly how I think the 49ers would use Sheets as a compliment & change up to what Gore does. Get Sheets out in space & let him do his thing. Looks like from his highlights that he would really be dangerous on screen plays. I also agree if the 49ers do not go for Sheets style then they definetly go with a "bruiser" between the tackles like Rashad Jennings.
Razor,
It might not even come to that from what Mel Kiper seems to believe & that is the 49ers trade out of the #10 spot for more picks. You got several teams behind the 49ers that need a QB so I wouldn't be surprised at all if that happens. If doesn't I don't believe the 49ers would reach from the list you posted.
IS THIS THE NEW JERSEY???
I work right by Santana Row and saw Lewis and Young yesterday after having lunch. Michael was wearing this jersey which is similar to the 94 throwbacks. Hmmm????
http://www.49ers.com/pressbox/news_detail.php?PRKey=5229§ion=PR%20News