Coffee (6-0, 209) is a big back who has the frame to put on some weight. He's an inside-the-tackles runner.
* * *
We just spoke to Coffee on a conference call. He said he spoke to GM Scot McCloughan at the combine but he had no idea the 49ers were interested in him.
Coffee said he is excited about becoming a teammate of Frank Gore, whose style he admires. Coffee describes himself as a pounder - a player who would rather "run over you" than try to run away from defenders. "I'm passionate and I love contact," he said.
The 49ers had said they wanted to get a back to complement Gore who has a different style. I'm not sure Coffee is that kind of guy, but he does appear to be better-suited as a short-yardage back. He said he has the frame to put on another 8 to 10 pounds. He expects to play in the 220 range.
Coffee said he believes playing for Nick Saban at
He played three years at Alabama, and was granted a medical hardship because of a right knee injury. In 2008, Coffee started all 14 games, rushed for 1,383 yards (5.9-yard average) with 10 touchdowns. He caught 16 passes for 118 yards and a TD.
He grew up in
* * *
I'll be the first to write it: If this guy becomes the featured back, the 49ers' offense will turn into "Ground Coffee."
* * *
Now a word about the 49ers' draft board . . . in previous conversations I've had with 49ers GM Scot McCloughan, he has told me the 49ers have one draft board. It is arranged vertically by position and horizontally by rounds. There is enough space on the board to create some wiggle room, as the team considers its options, as far as comparing players at different positions.
The 49ers assign five different grades for the first round, two grades for the second round and one grade for Rounds 3 through 7. So what I believe that means is that with five picks until their spot at No. 43, the 49ers had three players who fit onto their board as players worth selections in the top half of the second round. If the Panthers had not stepped forward with a trade offer, the 49ers would have selected a player ahead of where they had him slotted.
The reason the 49ers' board was decimated at that point is because this draft is considered so weak. For instance, the 49ers had just 18 players rated as first-round values. There are probably more players who fit into the third-seven slots.
* * *
In case you haven't heard the news, the 49ers selected Michael Crabtree yesterday with the No. 10 overall pick. Click here to relive the moment, as the 49ers found someone who appreciates fashion to wear their new/old uniforms.
* * *
Meh-mediocre runner here!
He's a big, powerful runner who will occationally break one. He's good for some, tough btw the tackles running to compliment gore. 10 to 15 touches a game. Good pick. Watch his highlights, he was a Beast at the goalline. Didn't just try to smash people. When he made the cut he got in.
Matt -- Saw your tweet about watching out for RBs Andre Brown & Coffee earlier. Was that a guess, or did u found out something beforehand?
I like the idea of a running back here but 6 Ft 209 Lbs sounds a lot like Gore. I was hoping for a 230-240 Lbs RB as a change of pace for Gore. Like the NY Giants with Bradshaw and Jacobs.
Maybe they are expecting this guy to hit the weight room and muscle up to 220-230 Lbs.
Matt - Do you see anyone on the board where they would trade back into the 3rd or 4th round to take?
He's supposed to be able to pit on another 10-15 lbs with ease. That puts him at 220-225. They should get him on the Maybin workout plan. He'll then put on 25-30 lbs in 3 months.
Question: Do you see anyone on the board where they would trade back into the 3rd or 4th round to take?
My response: The one thing I've learned over the years of covering the draft is that NFL teams stack their boards a lot differently than some of the independent evaluators who publish their rankings. Therefore, I have really no idea how the 49ers view the majority of the players in this draft. --Matt M.
Hi Matt, There are no players our GM thought highly enough of to draft in the 2nd round. He said there were no players on the teams' "list". Meanwhile Belichick loads up on 4 in the second round and 3 in the third round. We are all 9er fans but whose decesion would you take Scottie or Belichick? If we were a contender I'd say it was a good move but this team needs bodies and that's 2 less going into camp.
So...how are they going to improve the pass rush this year?
This is a good pick:
Overview
Despite surprising many with his early declaration, Coffee should find NFL success with his combination of size, strength and surprising burst in the open field. Though he shared carries amongst 'Bama's talented stable of backs, Coffee emerged as the Tide's bell-cow back down the stretch, finishing with 1,383 yards (5.9 yards per carry) and 10 touchdowns. His total pushed him ahead of former NFL MVP Shaun Alexander for second on the Tide's single-season rushing list behind only Bobby Humphrey's 1,471 yards in 1986. Belying the traditional Alabama role of just a physical runner, Coffee is also a very good receiver out of the backfield, averaging 17 receptions for 130 yards the past two seasons. Had an arm span of 31 3/4 inches and a hand span of 9 1/2 inches at the combine.
This sure sounds like physical with an "F" and a runner that likes to impose his will:
Analysis
Positives: Well-built athlete. A bit of a slasher. Sees the hole and shows surprising burst to it, considering his height. Can make defenders miss in the open field, but seems to prefer physically taking them on at times. Lowers his shoulder into the defender and looks to intimidate. Runs with a chip on his shoulder. Good acceleration through the second level of the defense and into the open field. At least adequate straight-line speed. Good vision at the second level for the cutback. Experienced receiver out of the backfield. Good upper-body strength and effort as a pass blocker. Has been a weight room monster since high school.
Manny Lawson ;)
Comment: They should get him on the Maybin workout plan. He'll then put on 25-30 lbs in 3 months.
My response: And his 40 time would drop dramatically, too. --Matt M.
New England has only two 3rd round choices, not three (and no 4th).
http://www.nfl.com/teams/newenglandpatriots/profile?team=NE
I was being a bit facituous. One the Maybin plan you also get faster.
Matt, McCloughan made a comment about Crabtree and Morgan both playing the 'X'. Do you see them as the eventual starters, or is Crabtree going to have to supplant Morgan from the lineup because neither can play the 'Z'?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHjdSkjj2Rc
How many moves have the 49ers made since missing the playoffs last season? This does not seem like a team who is eager to right their wrongs. They pass on anyone who might have been able to help us in FA, then they trade away one of their most valuable picks. At what point do the 49ers get better this season? I'm still waiting.
I was hoping for Rashad Jennings...but, I notice he's still on the board and we're in the 4th round. Often, we buy into the hype and scouting on some of these players. I still like him as a player, but there must be reasons he's still available (beyond playing at Liberty).
As for Coffee, he's a good RB. Saw him play several times last year and in '07. If he can put on 10 lbs or so and not lose speed, we've got something here. One thing that shouldn't go unnoticed is he played very well in the toughest conference in the NCAA, the SEC. He also played for one of the toughest head coaches in Nick Saban. I think he's ready for the NFL.
He comes from Alabama so a good system to transition to NFL however he's a one cut and go guy with not much wiggle-and the knock on him is he goes down too easily -Herb Johnson would have given us as much IMO much later- we also had R.Jennings ;J Ringer:or say Cedric Peerman sitting there-but I'm armchairing it here my choice probably OT Meredith or Topou in third .But Coffee is a 49er now- so let's go!
McCloughan is doing his worst job yet! Crabtree may turn out to be all that we hope but that player just fell into his lap; it was nothing that he did except staff his team to a 7 win season and a #10 pick. He gave away high 2nd and 4th round picks for a low #1 next year when this team needs bodies now (forget the fantasies about parlaying this into a top tier QB next year). And then he drafts Coffee in Rd. #3, a player with a similar skill set as Thomas Clayton, a 2007 6th rounder. Now, all we have left are 5 - 7 round choices. Though occasionally you get lucky, those players typically provide little more than special teams depth, if they even make the team. I don't care how weak the draft, a team picking in the top ten with desperate needs at pass rush, DB and OL ought to do better.
Watched some Crabtree highlights this morning. While he doesn't have elite top end speed and out run everybody he does have quickness, routerunning and separation ability. What I like is his ability to get the YAC. He competes for the ball and he's gonna be a stud. It is interesting that we that Crabtree is listed as a SE. I think it is a motivational ploy to get him working. We have a bunch of bigger, stronger guys in Hill and Morgan, and Crabtree does block, so Sullivan just has to get them to work at the blocking.
Coffee!! They left several much better RB's on the board. Actually a lot of them. This kid could have been drafted much better, where is Peerman, Jennings, Brown? This combined with McGM's statement about the 2nd round pick is just baffling. Why you traded your 2nd is an easy answer, the phone rang and someone said we will give you our 1st for your 2nd, OK thanks, end of story, not because there was no value to be had. I mean the first 2 picks were autopilot picks, the draft fell in their lap, now the first pick they have to "think" about and they draft Coffee??
I am curious as to why they think we are fine with our O-Line and razor depth on the front 7 for Defense. We have a tough schedule this year, if they expect to build on last year or even come close to winning as many games than they are some gambling men with their jobs, if we go 5-11 McSing will be canned. These two are gutsy to say the least since they have done nothing to truly immediately improve our mediocre team from last year.
They didn't have to "think" about Coffee. I noticed they made the pick real, real quick - like they couldn't wait to get it done. He's the guy they wanted, no question.
Randy -
Thanks for the link. That brought chills down my spine and changed my opinion on this pick. Physical with an F!
Redzone dominance here we come.
Jason Watkins, OT from florida will be our next pick. Athletic, former tightend
Yup, we all wanted players in this draft, but the value of the late 1st round pick next year is in fact big.
Its clear this was not BPA but the niners and Singeltary really liked this guy.
Not like Clayton.. imo
Faith + Fisical = Sing's guy
Much better huh? I guess you know it all? Damn, why aren't you a GM then?
Truth is, we won't know how any of this is going to turn out until a year or two from now. These guys could be studs or duds, who knows...
Front 7 is pretty solid. Obviously, they're counting on Lawson providing the extra pass rush, now that he's finally getting his chance to rush the QB. As Singletary proved, we have a lot of the right horses now that they're actually being utilized properly, unlike Nolan. That in itself is an upgrade. Not to mention the draft isn't over quite yet.
Here's another one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfK6_E57__8&feature=related
Matt,
What are the chances the Niners will draft someone like Klingsbury out of Texas Tech?
Well than they just pulled an Al Davis and drafted a guy at least 2 full rounds to early while leaving much more talented RB's on the board. They took, at best, the #15 RB in this draft as the 6th RB taken. This was a huge reach and we can't afford reaching on anything.
I am fine with the trade and maybe the Crabtree pick, if they couldn't trade down, but they have done nothing to address the most important and weakest parts of our team from last year. We literally have a razor thin depth on the O-Line and front 7 of our D and half the guys we do have are barely starting NFL material.
Question: What are the chances the Niners will draft someone like Klingsbury out of Texas Tech?
My response: You mean Graham Harrell, and I'd say it's slim and none. --Matt M.
I see a little Marion Barber in those clips. Not a bad 2nd option at RB.
Now, let's get some OL help!
Sounds familiar – those were similar sentiments about Frank Gore when the Niners nabbed him in the third round.
Coffee was a three year starter in the SEC conference, under Nick Saban's tutelage, and a nose for the endzone. A pounder that will spell Gore.
What does this mean for Michael Robinson? I guess we love him too much on ST.
Yeah, I did mean Harrell. The brain did some major slip action there.
The Bears were going to draft Mitchell, but the Raiders beat them to it. Our Oline has good depth and so does our D. And where guys are rated on some "expert" chart is meaningless. You think you can judge the talent of the RBs available better than all the scouts and GM of the Niners? What a laugh. Keep posting your baloney. It's good for laughs.
Chances the 49ers take Nate Davis if he's there?
So the Raiders should have let the Bears be the laughing stock of the second round and draft a guy who was most likely going to a FA. That's besides the point. What baloney did I post BTW? That they drafted a RB much earlier then he should have gone or that there were not better RB's ahead of him? Or that we have terrible depth on both our O-Line and front 7? Care to elaborate why that's baloney or are you just going to leave it with we have good depth, because if you truly believe that then you're either just ignorant, lazy or completely blind to reality. Oh well par for the course around here, ignorant tools who post baseless drivel while hanging on the nut sack of everything the franchise does regardless of how much we keep losing and then calling people out who disagree.
Franchise, you're really going to use the Gore comparison? There is a difference between being lucky and hitting on a diamond in the rough and being a smart and savvy talent evaluator (i.e. Beilichik) If we had a pattern of turning picks into gold mines your comment might have some merit, but out drafts on whole for the last god knows how many years have been mediocre at best.
Matt, what about Nate Davis? I think the niners wont take him until at least the 6th round, but I'm sure he'll be gone by then. Thoughts?
Was waiting for the resident nut huger to chime in. Your arguments are always weak at best. You always chime in with "everything is fine and well you must be a know-it-all then" if anyone ever disagrees with anything this team does.
Let me ask you this? Do you think the only people with any authority on football are the 49ers organization? You honestly believe we have solid depth on the O-Line / front 7 of our defense. If Lawson, who I like but has yet to prove anything, gets hurt then what? We run a 3-4 and currently have only 4 proven NFL caliber LB's and have you seen our O-Line? Anyways you're right I am just a whinny know-it-all, whatever makes you feel better. At least I offer an opinion based on my own thoughts instead of just browsing this forum every day, year after year, waiting for someone to disagree with the organization and then jumping on them while adding nothing of substance to the debate ever other than short dismissive jabs.
When you and some of the others around here take McSing's balls out of your mouth maybe we can then have an honest debate.
You're the one who said our Dline and Oline had "razor thin depth." You did not "elaborate". Are you unaware of our 6 quality D linemen and the four quality backup O linemen we have? Wragge was our starter last year and can play all 3 interior positions. Snyder has been a starter at 3 positions and can play 4. Wallace was drafted last year to backup Heitmann. Sims may not make the team despite being a starter for most of his career. Soap and Franklin play NT. Evans and Blamer play LDE and Smith never comes off the field at RDE. McDonald is in the mix also. Who in the 2nd or 4th round would bump out any of them? Feel free to elaborate. You do know how to elaborate, don't you. You're certainly good at complaining and name-calling and displaying very little insight.
Does anyone else think with some luck the Panthers can have an 8-8 or 7-9 season? Their schedule is brutal this coming season. Fingers are crossed.....
Could they address Safey here with Emanual cook or Derek Pegues? Both were rated fairly high at one point...could be a nice grab in the 5th.
Skeebers - It always amazes me when people bring knifes to gun fights.
Personally I would like to see some more meat in the trenches, that has been me the whole draft season.
What is wrong with picking this kid "Fenuki Tupou" at OT.
I don't see why we do not have more USC players on our team. Those kids are brought up right at that school as far a football goes. Kevin Ellison out of USC at OLB would be a great pick going into round 5 the kid has miles of up side and will be DYNO-MYTE Special Teamer!
Then again I thought Danial Stubbs was a HOF.....
I think this is a great pick up. When we signed Gore I thought "wow we just got a steal". I mentioned to a friend that Gore was gonna be a value and that he had skills and look at him now a premier back.
Matt, Out of comparison is it possible to see what some of the people were posting about the gore pick up when we got him in the draft? I wasn't around here then and was wondering what others were saying then about him. I bet they were criticizing that one too.
I think too many people are thinking the sky is falling. The second round trade to next years first is an amazing deal.
With next years draft class gearing up to be full of quality players and the fact that whoever tops the south usually ends up at the bottom the very next year and the fact that CAR schedule is pretty tough I think this was the right move.
Even if CAR went to the SB (not likely to happen IMHO) it would be a fair trade based on how the points chart generally reads.
McC I am sorry I ever doubted you. I guess I was too busy lumping you in with Nolan in the past to look at you both individually.
Panthers are going 0-16 we will have the 1st overall next year...we are do. I think we are done shooting ourselves in the foot. Everybody seems to be on the same page now at 9er HQ. Young York is going to make this team the dream of the league again. Ahhhh spring and that feeling of eternal optimism!!
Weak at best? LOL. I live in reality and that is the fact that we finished the season strong at 5-4. What reason is there to sit here and cry like a little girly man like you do every freakin' day? Until we prove otherwise, you're nothing more that a whiner with nothing to suggest we're gonna fail this year. I guess if Nolan was still here, I'd be a little worried, but he's not. We got a HC that so far seems to know what he's doing.
I said I like our front 7. Our OL improved once Warhop was canned along with Nolan and Baas and Rachal were finally promoted into the lineup. Depth could always be better, but since apparently you haven't noticed, the draft is still going Mr. Clueless.
I've offered my opinions many times here over the years. I have no problem putting the haters in their place who do nothing that bitch and moan just for the sake of doing so. You are no different, kid.
Yes, which has the trade looking all that much better. Especially if we're able to draft our franchise QB next year ;)
For sure man, I'm liking Nate Davis though, but I'm not sold on Tebow as a QB. Thoughts?
Scott McKillop (ILB) Pittsburgh
this the where i pretend to know if he will be any good.. haha > Mayock seemed to like him, and who better to play for as a rookie LB than Sing.
Now lets not forget the secondary
I like the pick!!! I think this is a good Def pick up. Not flashy but sound in his fundamentals. This is a guy I would've thought would be picked up in the 3rd ... 4th at the latest.
Welcome Scott Mckillop
He needs to work on his strength though, but he seems like a solid pick.
You clearly didn't read anything I posted so I am not sure where to start. I said our front 7 depth was razor thin so that includes LB's not just the D-Line and what is your definition of "quality"? Of our LB's we have 4 that are NFL starting guys (Willis, Spikes, Haralson, Lawson) neither Soap or Franklin are even close to solid 3-4 NT's, Smith is a stud, Balmer has done squat thus far but at least he is being tried at DE, and Evans and McDonald are mediocre at best.
As for our O-Line, Staley is solid but would probably be better at RT, Heitman is decent and I think Rachal will be fairly good after that what do we have that's "quality"? Wragge was a starter out of necessity, Wallace was inactive for all 16 games last year, Sims is older than dirt, our RT is Smith who's effectiveness post injury remains to be seen, he played in 5 games last year, and his back up Synder is serviceable. I don't see a lot of quality in either list. I see a lot of serviceable depth but saying we have quality depth is a joke and before you worry about depth you need to focus on your starters.
Anyways, the O-Line / front 7 comment was an aside to my RB comment which I stand by. As for the 2nd and 4th rounders, as I posted in another thread I liked the trade if they can turn it into something valuable next year (i.e. OB / stud OT) and that may change my mind on the Crabtree pick, but the reality is this draft / FA has done nothing to immediately help this team this year so one has to question that going into this year without addressing our biggest weaknesses and with the schedule we have how well we really are going to do. I think if they had the luxury of a 3 year plan McSing might be able to work something out but if they finish 5-11 or 6-10 you have to think they don't last. So yeah it's a been a pretty gutsy offseason thus far by those 2.
And why is disagreeing with something complaining? Man you guys are all the same, if it's not rah, rah, it's go away.
Yeah right...The same manny lawson that has shown no pass rushing skills since being drafted. Hes a punt rusher not a pass rusher.
Serriously?, why dont you guys exchange phone numbers and save some digital ink on this the blog.
Phx49er you are one of the few who calls it like it is, These blind fans who chose to jump you because u state the truth andcall it like it is are more cheerleaders than knowledgable fans and they are an embarrasment to the fans who actually know ANYTHING about the game.
How many times did Nolan cut him loose? How many times was he sitting on the sidelines when Nolan was playing his lame azz big sub? Exactly... Got to at least give Lawson a chance.
Reality check? LOL. False advertisement mang.
As far as DB
What do you think about Michael Hamlin FS Clemson?
As far as DL
Michael Bennett?
Kid? You are such a tool. Read my posts in this place, I offer a lot of insight so go ahead and throw another star on your board of self reward.
You don't live in reality, I have read you drivel on here for years, you don't ever offer any insight, you just jump on people you deem to be haters, kid.
Bringing up our record last year is a perfect example of someone who doesn't pay attention to REALITY. That 5-4 has more to do with who we played and finally removing JTO. We beat a pathetic Rams team twice and BUF and the NYJ who both has monumental falls the second half of the year and we eked out a win against a flailing WAS team to cap the year. We did play AZ well and should have won that game but lets not get carried away, it's not hating, that's reality. But hey don't let the facts get in the way.
And FWIW I am not a hater, have been a die hard fan for decades and most fans I know who are 2nd and 3rd generation fans who have been following this team for decades feel much the same as I do. We have had 6 straight losing seasons, so don't call me hater for disagreeing with some of the moves they make.
Spoken like a true cheerleader, Randy u do a great job of dangling from the nuts of your mediorce heroes. Many of us are tired of waiting on players after 3or 4 years to produce, if a guy hasnt produced after 3 or 4 years its time to move on.Thats the view of a fan who can actually a fan the team and not the player. Manny Lawson is good but hes no pass rusher.Parlys Haralson has improved even single year under the same circumstances,Fans like you are an embarrassment and your ignorant boasts about a team that hasnt made the playoffs in what has been the worst division in football the last 6 years can only live in the world that we call "blogs". You and your other blind nuthuggers could only hold a conversation about your team with other nutthuggers. Get a grip!
McKillop is a pretty decent pick, probably won't ever be starting material but the kid plays his heart out and will make for a great back-up LB / special teamer.
Thought for sure me might take a stab at Nate Davis, but there is a reason he is falling so far, I guess his learning disability is scaring some off? He is headed down the Troy Smith path I am afraid.
I am thinking Michael Bennett at 171
Yeah, you're right. You know it all. Singletary had nothing to do with uncomplicating the schemes and making the necessary personnel changes that improved this team. 5-4 is a fact. A win is a win in the NFL. Am I tired of losing seasons? You bet. But, until he fails, there's no reason to predict all this doom and gloom. The culture is changing for the better. Most of us die-hards see that. Sorry you do not. Have a Kleenex.
Stealing PHX49ers' lines huh? Can't come up with your own? No surprise there...
So I guess you don't take his injuries into account? Damn him for not playing with a torn ACL! Damn him for not getting sacks while Nolan had him sitting on the sidelines playing big sub 24/7, wasting his talents... I guess you'd have a point if Lawson was given chances to sack the QB, but you don't. Speaking of ignorance...
Back to the false advertisement thing... Better luck next time. Until then, I'll stop picking on you kiddies on Matt's blog. After all, that's why we're here right? For HIS insights...
I have never pretended to know everything about anything nor have I been crying or predicting doom and gloom, are you OK? I simply stated an opinion about a 3rd round pick and the outcome of a tough schedule and the fact they have done little to improve upon our O-line / pass rush from last year. Anyways, whatever, you think I am wrong and I think I can live that.
Back to the draft...
If im not mistaking P.Haralson had injuries also,yet he has made progress and it shows, He doesnt need excuses and he has produced,And no your the one that says you will put "haters" in their place. Who the hell even uses that term anymore?...lmao. Fans can love the team they root for and not agree with the direction and any time you Randy decide to try put someone in their place i will be on your ASS. Just because i can. Show respect get respect.