Q: Why on earth would the Niners be interested in David Carr?
A: That’s a fair question. While the Niners are claiming that Carr will be Alex Smith’s back-up, I’m not so sure. I know that Donavan McNabb’s name has been linked as a possible trade target but I think Carr gives the Niners a legit back-up who could also push Alex Smith for the starting job. The guy was taken number one overall so we know he’s got talent. He hasn’t found the right environment yet but he definitely adds depth at our most important position.

Q: Does the Carr signing mean the Niners won’t draft a QB?
A: I would say that is probably true unless a top QB lands in their lap. But, I see the Carr signing as a signal that the Niners will go to camp with four QB’s: Smith, Carr, Shaun Hill, and Nate Davis. Plus, I don’t think there is one QB in this draft that is a sure-thing and the Niners probably don’t want to use a high pick on a question mark.

Q: Josh, do you think Carr is a good signing for the Niners?
A: Well, I can’t say I’m too excited about it but then again, I am all for adding depth. Carr definitely brings depth and a legit, relatively young back-up quarterback to a team with a second-tier starter. So, while I’m not thrilled, I’m also not disappointed.

Q: Do you think this is the biggest splash the Niners will make in free agency?
A: Dear god I hope not. If it is, let’s just say, it will be tough to get excited about adding back-ups.

Final question -
Q: Do you think the Niners will be contenders in the NFC West?
A: Are you kidding?! Definitely. Arizona is sinking like a Cardinal whose wings have been clipped, the Rams are bottom-feeders unless they prove otherwise; and the Seahawks I don’t think will be contending for anything for at least another two years.

Thanks for your imagined interest. If you have real questions, please send them over. We’ll keep track of what happens in the offseason and as the NFL Draft nears.

1. Wow, it would be pretty cool to have two former #1 overall picks;
2. Wait, who cares. Carr has been no better than a back-up his entire career;
3. Why are the Niners spending their time looking at a back-up QB as guys like Julius Peppers and Brandon Marshall are going to other teams?
4. Sucks for Shaun Hill… well, it is Shaun Hill
5. Damn, Josh Cribbs re-upped with the Browns

As you can see, after I thought about it a bit, I became uninterested. Who really cares that much about a back-up QB, no offense Carr. If it makes our team deeper, I’m all for it. If he is a better solution down the road than Alex Smith, I’m definitely for it. I don’t think he’s the answer though, ultimately.

At least free agency gives us stuff to talk about… hopefully big, exciting things to come.

As part of the Fanball Mock NFL Draft, with C.J. Spiller taken only a few picks prior, it seemed logical that the Niners would go defensive back or offensive line. That is definitely the logical choice.

But sometimes when a top-five player is sitting at number 16, you gotta take a risk.

I have seen Bradford in one of the ESPN mock drafts as high as number four and he is considered by many experts to be the top rated quarterback in this draft. Now, this is not a knock on Alex Smith but if both Clausen and Bradford are off the board at 16, the Niners definitely look elsewhere.

But come on, nobody can look me or anyone in the eye and say they feel 100% comfortable with Alex Smith as our starting quarterback for the entire year. Nor could you say that he’s the QB of the future. Alex Smith is the “QB of the present because we don’t have anyone better right now.” That’s the truth!

In his most recent full year (Junior year – 2008) before getting hurt and winning the Heisman Trophy, Bradford threw for over 4,700 yards with 50 touchdowns and 8 interceptions.

The pick is a little bit of a risk but not much. Niners go all offense with the Running back and QB of future and the top players at both of those positions.

To view the full Fanball Mock Draft board, check out: http://rotojunkie.com/forums/showthread.php?t=102759

The Fanball mock draft is well underway and the Niners have selected C.J. Spiller with their first pick. This was a tough call as offensive line and defensive back/safety is certainly more of a need than running back.

But the top three o linemen were already off the board as well as the top safety and CB so I went with the best running back in the draft to give the Niners offense another big playmaker.

What we learned last year was that Frank Gore spends 70% of his time running between the tackles and could not avoid the injury bug. Glen Coffee, the running back the Niners selected last year, was a very similar runner to Gore and did not perform particularly well in Gore’s absence.

Spiller gives the Niners a big-time player who can run outside of the tackles. His senior year at Clemson he had over 1,700 total yards with 16 touchdowns. And, if he can play special teams, especially in the return game, he brings another important dimension to the team.

With the emergence of Vernon Davis, Michael Crabtree and some of the other young players, Spiller helps take more pressure off of Alex Smith and boosts the Niners offense.

Stay tuned for your San Francisco 49ers selection…

 2006 brought a new year, with renewed optimism for Alex Smith and the
49ers.  Since he had a year of seasoning under his belt, some people were predicting a huge leap in his production.  I would like to find these people and find out who they’re predicting to win the playoff games this weekend, and bet against them.  He did manage to throw 16 touchdowns to go with his 16 interceptions, but that’s not exactly a great year.  With an average of 180 passing yards per game, opposing teams were able to focus on shutting down the Niners’ running game since Big Al wasn’t beating them through the air.  San Francisco was lucky enough to have Frank Gore rush for almost 1700 yards, which allowed them to salvage some face on offense. 
Gore also managed to snag 61 passes coming out of the backfield, which sadly equaled almost 1/4 of Alex Smiths’ total completions.  It was time to turn our attention to 2007 and delude ourselves into thinking we would see a different Smith.
 
 2007 brought a different year, but the same production from Smith.  Injuries and ineffectivness limited Smith to only 7 games that season.  His final stat line was; a completion percentage of less than 49%, 914 yards passing (130 yards per game), 4 interceptions and ONLY 2 touchdowns.  Even the most optimistic 49ers fan had to be doubting we’d ever see #1 overall production from Smith, with the cynics calling for his release and the signing of a veteran or the drafting of a replacement.  When all was said
and done, Smiths’ contract would be a big cap hit to release so he was given one more year to prove himself.

 Enter 2008… A shoulder injury and subsequent surgery ended his season
before it began, forcing the 49ers to go with a committee of J.T. O’Sullivan and Shaun Hill under center.  At least Smith made it through 2008 without throwing more interceptions than touchdowns! 

 Coming into 2009, the starting quarterback job belonged to Shaun Hill.  Alex Smith had a history of injuries and ineffectiveness while Hill was the upstart with the hopes of a city riding on his shoulders.  Unfortunately for him he didn’t live up to expectations.  After 5 games with less than impressive numbers, the starting job was handed back to Smith.  In all probability it was the last chance he would receive in a Niners uniform. 
Luckily for him, he took the chance and ran with it.  He lead the team to an 8-8 record, the first time in 7 years they finished the season at .500.  His 18 touchdowns marked the first time Smith had managed to throw more than 1 per game in his career.  Alex wound up with 12 interceptions in 11 games, the first time he ended a season with more TDs than INTs.  2009 was also the first time Smith managed a completion percentage of 60% or higher.  All in all, we saw marked improvement in every measurable category, providing a glimpse of the talent and potential we saw way back in 2005.  Is his 2009 production enough to afford him more opportunities?  What are the chances he continues his progression next year and doesn’t regress?  These are the questions to watch in 2010, because if he keeps the job in 2010 and doesn’t improve, he probably won’t be here in 2011.
- Dana (DWhipps)

Granted, the Niners’ second pick will depend on their first pick, but I will endeavor to give you the players most likely to be targeted.  If you missed my article yesterday I identified their most glaring weaknesses as; Safety, Offensive Tackle, Outside Linebacker, and a Punt/Kick Returner.  There is room for argument that these are the most pressing needs in San Francisco, but I think we can agree that they are, in fact, needs.  In no particular order, some of the players most likely to leave the draft as a 49er are:

Taylor Mays, Safety (University of Southern California) – at 6′3″ 235 lbs, he’s big for a Safety.  While not as highly regarded as Eric Berry or Earl Thomas, his size may allow him the versatility to be more valuable in the long run.  A smart, hard-hitting Safety, Mays is fast enough to run with Wide Receivers and big enough to slow down Tight Ends.  Unfortunately, he doesn’t project as the type of guy who will help in the return game.

Bryan Bulaga, Offensive Tackle (Iowa University) – For a guy who is 6′6″ and 312 lbs., he moves pretty well.  Bulaga’s upper body strength is impressive and his demeanor lends itself well to an offensive lineman.  Many teams are interested in acquiring his services, and while he’s not the top rated Offensive Tackle, he projects as a solid NFL contributor with Pro-Bowl potential.  This is the type of guy you want watching your Quarterback’s blind side for the next ten years.

Navorro Bowman, Outside Linebacker (Penn. State University) – He’s a little under-sized at 6′1″ and 230″, but he plays like a man much bigger.  He has been a consistent producer during his time under Joe Paterno as evidenced by his nine tackles in the Capital One Bowl.  He has a quick first step for a Linebacker, he reads the field well, and is a superior tackler.  Adding him to the team would give Patrick Willis some help rushing the passer for the next decade, while also contributing in coverage.

Sergio Kindle, Defensive End/Outside Linebacker (Texas University) – While at the University of Texas Kindle spent time at Defensive End, but he projects as an Outside Linebacker at the next level.  At 6′4″ 255 lbs. he’s got prototypical Linebacker size.  While he may not be as quick off the end as Bowman, he makes up for it with great tackling form and the ability to deliver the big hit. 

Well I can’t guarantee that any of these players will still be available when the Niners make their second selection, there is a decent chance that they will be.  Depending on where San Fran goes with their first selection, there’s a lot of talent available that can plug a lot of holes.  Next week I will be examining the Niners’ second round pick.  I’d love to hear from all of you
on what positions/players you think will be bound for San Francisco after the draft.

-Dana (DWhipps)

There are always decisions to be made when drafting a player.  This person could conceivably be the missing link that helps your team make it to the playoffs or even win a Super Bowl, so you want to make sure you pick the best man for the job.  With rookie salaries getting more and more ridiculous it’s important to make sure that whoever you draft is worthy of the money and that they provide a serious upgrade over the options you already have.

With so many holes on both sides of the ball, it’s hard to know exactly where the Niners are going to but it obviously depends on the teams that draft before them.  The Niners’ needs most often identified are; Safety, Offensive Tackle, Outside Linebacker, and a Punt/Kick Returner.  The talent available at these positions is relatively deep, but here are a few names that may leave the draft as the 13th overall pick and a member of the San Francisco 49ers…

Earl Thomas, Safety (University of Texas) – At 5′10″ 197 lbs, Thomas isn’t the biggest Defensive Back in the draft, but he’s fast and delivers hits like a much bigger man.  He is generally considered one of the top 3 available DBs, and after Eric Berry (Tennessee), the best available Safety.

Dez Bryant, Wide Receiver (Oklahoma State University) – He stands 6′2″ 215 lbs and is an extremely quick player.  While some people may immediately dismiss him based on the fact the Niners selected a Wide Receiver in the 1st round last year (Michael Crabtree), that would be a mistake.  Bryant would provide a HUGE boost in the return game, along with possibly being a game-breaking receiver.  It’s hard to dismiss a player who could help a Special Teams unit that ranked 23rd in Kickoff Returns and LAST in Punt Returns.

Anthony Davis, Offensive Tackle (Rutgers University) – At 6′6″ and 325 lbs he definitely has the size to be an effective lineman in the NFL.  Most scouts love his combination of size, strength and agility, while also praising his work ethic and competitive spirit.  With a north/south Running Back in Frank Gore and a maturing Quarterback in Alex Smith, the Niners are looking to upgrade their O-Line and provide protection and holes.

Of course there are other directions the team could go, but in my opinion these are the players (assuming another team doesn’t draft them first) most likely to wind up the #13 pick… We will examine San Francisco’s other 1st round pick a little later.

-Dana

What can you do with a QB who was drafted #1 overall but hasn’t lived up to the hype?  What do you do with a malcontent tight end who would rather give great sound bytes to the media then give great production to the offense?  What do you do with a talented rookie receiver who is holding out for more money because he knows your team needs his production?

My answer to all of those questions: I have NO idea… but then again, I’m no Mike Singletary.  Sure, some people look at me and think “Wow, he would be a dead ringer for Mike Singletary if Mike was pale white, short, prematurely bald and well under six feet tall!”… What can I say, there are crazy people everywhere.

With another year under his belt, who knows what we can expect from the Niners? Is a trip to the playoffs a reasonable goal?  Considering the division in which the Niners play, I wouldn’t say it’s outside the realm of possibility.  All the players in the locker room believe in Coach Singletary and that’s good enough for me.  If you disagree, it’s probably because the players have seen a side of Mike that you and I haven’t… his ass.

Thank goodness for small miracles!

- Dana

 How about Michael Vick?  Say what you want about his personal life and
some of the decisions he’s made, but the man can flat out play.  The only quarterback to rush for over 1000 yards in a season was essentially a forgotten man on the Eagles.  With Donovan McNabb safely entrenched as their QB, Philadelphia was only looking for a spark off the bench and a pair of legs to run the “Wildcat” (or whatever pun-ish name they decided to call it.)  Even with limited snaps Vick managed to post 4 yards per carry.  Granted, that’s not exactly earth-shattering, but this is a player who is averaging an amazing 7.2 yards everytime he tucks the ball and runs.  Anyone is capable of busting a big run here and there to pad their stats, but Vick has managed to keep this average over 550 attempts!

 Would it help Alex Smith perform consistently if there was a proven
playmaker pushing him on the depth chart?  The answer is; It doesn’t matter.  The whole point of adding a veteran to push Smith is to have a back-up who can step in if he regresses in his development. 

 Let’s give Big Al the benefit of the doubt; he definitely has the talent to be   a franchise quarterback in the NFL, but will he ever put it together for a full NFL season?  Even if he does stay healthy and productive for an entire year, the Niners can improve on the Eagles plan.  Send Vick in there for 5-7 plays a game, in a San Fran version of the “Wildcat” (the Goldcat? the Wild Vick?… they’re not great but who cares? As long as it doesn’t have the word “Dog” in it) and see what kind of production they can squeeze out of him.  I think it would provide some much needed variety to the Niners’ offense, while also giving Alex Smith a few plays off to pow-wow with Mike Singletary during a drive.

 If it doesn’t work, then it doesn’t work.  It wouldn’t take much to get him
from the Eagles and he would either show immediate results or be gone at the end of the year…

 The bottom line is this: Alex Smith needs competition.  If he grows complacent, expect to see more inadequate play and more lapses in concentration.  For all the long suffering San Fran fans out there, an 8-8 season was a start, but it will take more than that before we see a return to glory.
- Dana