With 13 picks the San Francisco 49ers are in a position of power in the 2013 draft. Sure their first pick isn't until #31, but with their second pick at #34, in the beginning of the second round, you can assume that the 49ers can make some impact moves, if they don't trade up, down or all around.
But that is the million dollar question in this draft; Where and when will the 49ers trade up?
With 13 selections only 3 picks are untradeable (a 4th and two 7th round compensatory picks). This leaves 10 picks for the 49ers to play with.
They can trade up in the first round, which all the latest rumors have them doing. For some reason this doesn't seem like what I thought they would do. The 49ers are notorious for being extremely tight lipped about all their personnel moves so nobody truly knows what their plans are but they value draft picks from past drafts evidence. With this draft being notorious for not having top-tier talent in the first round but excellent depth expected into the 4th round, it would seem more logical for the 49ers to trade those 10 picks to make more selections in rounds 2-4.
If the 49ers do plan on trading up in the 1st round there are only a few players I would hope that they are targeting; OLB Dion Jordan I think is a stud, DL Sheldon Richardson is a version of Justin Smith because of his non-stop motor, and Safety Kenny Vaccaro the problem with Vaccaro is that this draft is insanely deep with safeties so there is no reason to trade up for him. If the 49ers do trade up you can bet they love the guy they are going after considering all the players they could be targeting in the 2nd round.
A few of my draft crushes that may fall out of the 1st are; DB Desmond Trufant, DB Johnathon Banks WR Keenan Allen, DE Tank Carradine, S John Cyprien, S Matt Elam, S DJ Swearinger, S Phillip Thomas, DT Johnathon Jenkins, and DT Kawann Short. Now you see why having more picks in round 2 or 3 would behoove the 49ers.
Bottom line the 49ers will be one of the most talked about teams during the 2013 draft. Keep in mind that they WILL make moves so anything could happen at any moment. They have been targeting Special teams players this off season, which could mean they are looking for more special teams players (considering special teams has let them down the past two years in the playoffs). And the 49ers still need a safety, don't believe the Dahl hype.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Saturday, March 16, 2013
I Tried To Warn Them
The 49ers signed former Rams free-agent safety Craig Dahl on Saturday and fans are up in arms. 49er fans are wondering why? And rival fans are laughing.
I already stated on this blog before; be patient.
I GUARANTEE this signing is nothing more than having a veteran at the safety position to fill a momentary void left by Goldson. This signing is MORE about Dahl playing special teams than it is him having to fill Goldson's shoes.
My prediction is that the 49ers are very confident in the safety depth in this upcoming April draft and they plan on snagging one, possibly even two.
Dahl on the other hand, along with newly signed LB Dan Skuta, are being brought in to plug up holes on special teams. Special teams is where the 49ers have fallen short the past two seasons in the playoffs and have been big contributors to the 49ers losing.
So laugh all you want rival fans, and get your heads straight 49er fans. Relax, it's not even April yet.
I already stated on this blog before; be patient.
I GUARANTEE this signing is nothing more than having a veteran at the safety position to fill a momentary void left by Goldson. This signing is MORE about Dahl playing special teams than it is him having to fill Goldson's shoes.
My prediction is that the 49ers are very confident in the safety depth in this upcoming April draft and they plan on snagging one, possibly even two.
Dahl on the other hand, along with newly signed LB Dan Skuta, are being brought in to plug up holes on special teams. Special teams is where the 49ers have fallen short the past two seasons in the playoffs and have been big contributors to the 49ers losing.
So laugh all you want rival fans, and get your heads straight 49er fans. Relax, it's not even April yet.
Thursday, March 14, 2013
49ers Fix
The acquisition of Anquan Boldin was a real high the day before free agency opened. Like a drug addict taking his first hit, you just didn't want to come down. Excuse the metaphor but sometimes honesty is the first step to recovery.
High, I'm Paul, I'm a 49eraholic.
Free Agency in the NFL has brought loads of rumors, projections and analysis on what teams are going to do. Fans and sports bloggers/writers are all over the place in a frenzy about who will get signed next and where that player will end up. I caution you 49er faithful to sit-back, relax and enjoy the show because free agency champions don't get trophies, just ask Daniel Snyder.
Dashon Goldson is gone, and Ricky Jean-Francois appears to be on his way out, while Isaac Sopoaga and Delanie Walker have already committed to other teams. Immediately people have started to write frantic articles and post worried comments on message boards about what the 49ers will do!?! Again, relax, it's going to be okay.
GM Trent Baalke and coach Jim Harbaugh are extremely methodical. (Watch any interview either has ever given to anyone in the past 3 years, very methodical.) I can assure anyone that they anticipated losing these players.
Should the 49ers sign Ed Reed or Charles Woodson to replace Goldson? I don't like either move because of age. What about LaRon Landry? he's a poor mans Goldson. Louis Delmas? knees.
How do the 49ers replace Delanie Walker who apparently became one of the most versatile tight ends in the NFL, according to reports, this offseason?
And what about the two pillars on the defensive line the 49ers are losing? Surely they must nab someone quick to replace them in free agency! Right? The 49ers have signed Glenn Dorsey the former #5 over-all pick out of LSU.
There are some players in free agency that would help the 49ers. All of the sudden there are so many veteran FA cornerbacks that you could build a whole secondary from scratch and have one of the best units in the league. There are some defensive linemen that would be nice fits in a rotation with the 49ers, and possibly some wide receivers and running backs too. But you need to breathe, close your eyes and then open them and watch other teams spend big money.
In the end patience will pay off, why? Those veterans that have been cut by teams or haven't been signed will get left behind in a few weeks wondering why they couldn't find a home, their price will drop and then the 49ers will be in position to swoop in and get bargain deals.
What if these players all get signed? The 49ers have 14 picks in April. Let me put that in perspective; there are only 7 rounds in the draft, the 49ers can average 2 picks a round if they used all their picks.
But losing those 4 players is going to hurt us so bad!
Okay, after you get past the sentimental stage then try to jump into business mode and realize the 49ers can 'possibly' get 4 more compensatory picks for the 2014 draft. These picks would be given to them between rounds 3-7. The 49ers could be realistically looking at extra picks in 3rd, 4th and 5th rounds!
But the 2014 draft is next year?
FYI draft experts and analysts are projecting one of the deepest NFL drafts in years in 2014; the 49ers want extra picks!
So, again, sit back, relax and come down from your chemical high and maybe try some herbal remedy because until Thursday April 25th I don't think you'll see just how big of an off-season the 49ers front office is going to have, even if the 49ers sign Ed Reed, Nnamdi Asomugha and Jerry Rice to contracts. Ultimately right now the 49ers are using the cliche "we have them right where we want them."
High, I'm Paul, I'm a 49eraholic.
Free Agency in the NFL has brought loads of rumors, projections and analysis on what teams are going to do. Fans and sports bloggers/writers are all over the place in a frenzy about who will get signed next and where that player will end up. I caution you 49er faithful to sit-back, relax and enjoy the show because free agency champions don't get trophies, just ask Daniel Snyder.
Dashon Goldson is gone, and Ricky Jean-Francois appears to be on his way out, while Isaac Sopoaga and Delanie Walker have already committed to other teams. Immediately people have started to write frantic articles and post worried comments on message boards about what the 49ers will do!?! Again, relax, it's going to be okay.
GM Trent Baalke and coach Jim Harbaugh are extremely methodical. (Watch any interview either has ever given to anyone in the past 3 years, very methodical.) I can assure anyone that they anticipated losing these players.
Should the 49ers sign Ed Reed or Charles Woodson to replace Goldson? I don't like either move because of age. What about LaRon Landry? he's a poor mans Goldson. Louis Delmas? knees.
How do the 49ers replace Delanie Walker who apparently became one of the most versatile tight ends in the NFL, according to reports, this offseason?
And what about the two pillars on the defensive line the 49ers are losing? Surely they must nab someone quick to replace them in free agency! Right? The 49ers have signed Glenn Dorsey the former #5 over-all pick out of LSU.
There are some players in free agency that would help the 49ers. All of the sudden there are so many veteran FA cornerbacks that you could build a whole secondary from scratch and have one of the best units in the league. There are some defensive linemen that would be nice fits in a rotation with the 49ers, and possibly some wide receivers and running backs too. But you need to breathe, close your eyes and then open them and watch other teams spend big money.
In the end patience will pay off, why? Those veterans that have been cut by teams or haven't been signed will get left behind in a few weeks wondering why they couldn't find a home, their price will drop and then the 49ers will be in position to swoop in and get bargain deals.
What if these players all get signed? The 49ers have 14 picks in April. Let me put that in perspective; there are only 7 rounds in the draft, the 49ers can average 2 picks a round if they used all their picks.
But losing those 4 players is going to hurt us so bad!
Okay, after you get past the sentimental stage then try to jump into business mode and realize the 49ers can 'possibly' get 4 more compensatory picks for the 2014 draft. These picks would be given to them between rounds 3-7. The 49ers could be realistically looking at extra picks in 3rd, 4th and 5th rounds!
But the 2014 draft is next year?
FYI draft experts and analysts are projecting one of the deepest NFL drafts in years in 2014; the 49ers want extra picks!
So, again, sit back, relax and come down from your chemical high and maybe try some herbal remedy because until Thursday April 25th I don't think you'll see just how big of an off-season the 49ers front office is going to have, even if the 49ers sign Ed Reed, Nnamdi Asomugha and Jerry Rice to contracts. Ultimately right now the 49ers are using the cliche "we have them right where we want them."
Friday, March 1, 2013
What Will the 49ers Do Now?
With the announcement that Alex Smith will be traded to Kansas City for a 2nd draft pick this year, and conditional 2nd or 3rd round pick in 2014, the sports world is ablaze with what the 49ers next move(s) will be.
Where the 49ers are at;
They officially have 11 picks as of 3/1/13. Once Smith is officially traded (March 12th) the 49ers will have another 2nd round pick, 12 total. Then around the end of March or beginning of April the NFL will announce the compensatory picks for teams that lost free agents. The 49ers expect 3 picks with one being in either the 3rd or 4th round and the other two being 7th rounders. The total expected picks for the 2013 draft are 15!
Possible scenario's;
49ers trade draft picks for Darrelle Revis
Rumors that are swirling focus mainly around NY Jets CB Darrelle Revis. It is widely believed that the Jets are making Revis available in a trade due to their lack of salary cap room and the high salary that Revis is expected to demand after the 2013 season. Reports are that Revis will want to be the HIGHEST PAID defensive player in the NFL, a number that will start around 17 million.
Why I don't like Revis and 49ers deal;
Revis missed the majority of last year with a knee injury, he has questionable locker-room presence because of his ego as evidenced with demanding to be the highest paid NFL defensive player, and he wants top money after 2013. The 49ers just don't need this and it is not their style to go after veteran players who demand big money. I also don't like the idea of giving up a huge number of picks for a guy that might possibly only be around for 1 season. The 49ers have rebuilt through the draft and have done a good job so far, I don't think they should stray from that formula.
49ers trade draft picks for Percy Harvin
Another rumor is the 49ers trading for Vikings WR Percy Harvin. Like Revis it is widely believed that Harvin is going to demand big money after the 2013 season when his contract is up. Harvin would bring a deep threat ability to the 49ers and fill the need for a dangerous kickoff and punt return specialist.
Why I don't like Harvin and 49ers deal;
Much of the same reasons as Revis; money, ego, and loss of picks. The 49ers would be gambling that Harvin would be able to be resigned after 2013, which is no guarantee, especially if he proves to be a key piece to a Super Bowl winning team.
49ers trade ALL draft picks for BOTH Revis and Harvin
In both Revis and Harvin trades it would be expected that the Niners would still have a decent amount of picks left to draft with, but if they were to deal for both players then they would have very little picks left that would most assuredly be late picks.
Why I don't like a Revis & Harvin deal;
As stated above I'm not wild about the 49ers taking on these players individually over drafting younger, cheaper players, so surely I am not wild about the 49ers giving up almost all their picks to obtain these two veterans.
49ers stay put with all their picks and draft 15 rookies in the 2013 draft
If you look back at the 49ers recent draft history then you'll see that the team has not been shy about wheeling and dealing on draft day.
Why I don't like (or believe) this will happen;
The 49ers have been willing to move up AND move down, as well as trade away picks for future selections in past drafts there is no reason to think that they will suddenly stop this pattern. 15 rookies in camp would NOT all make the team, the 49ers simply don't need to add this many players to a team that is already solid.
49ers wheel and deal during the 2013 draft moving up and obtaining future picks
In this scenario I have the 49ers moving up and getting future picks. Why? With a strong class of safeties, corners, defensive linemen and tight-ends the 49ers could afford to give up multiple picks to move up higher and get the best prospects available at the positions they desire. It should also be mentioned that some experts expect next years draft to be very deep as well, giving value to a team that might simply trade picks this year for next years picks.
Why I like this;
Most people will agree that the 49ers can't use 15 rookies on a team that has approximately 18 starters returning next year from an NFC Championship team. I put so much stock in the 49ers draft picks for one reason and one reason only; this 49ers front office has proven to be excellent talent evaluator's. Remember that Trent Baalke has been with the organization since 2005. In his time with the team the 49ers have had solid draft classes. With that in mind, along with the great reputation Harbaugh has for eyeing talent I think it is essential for the 49ers to fill their roster with prospects and then pepper in free-agents that are willing to play for less money.
The 49ers could possibly go another route but right now these are the most possible scenario's that are logical. If there is one guarantee that I can make about what the 49ers will do in the coming months it's that they will not stay pat with 15 picks in 2013, so expect movement or deals of some kind. I think it should also be noted that this front office staff is not shooting from the hip, they have a plan for what they're going to do. We just have to wait and see what that plan is.
Where the 49ers are at;
They officially have 11 picks as of 3/1/13. Once Smith is officially traded (March 12th) the 49ers will have another 2nd round pick, 12 total. Then around the end of March or beginning of April the NFL will announce the compensatory picks for teams that lost free agents. The 49ers expect 3 picks with one being in either the 3rd or 4th round and the other two being 7th rounders. The total expected picks for the 2013 draft are 15!
Possible scenario's;
49ers trade draft picks for Darrelle Revis
Rumors that are swirling focus mainly around NY Jets CB Darrelle Revis. It is widely believed that the Jets are making Revis available in a trade due to their lack of salary cap room and the high salary that Revis is expected to demand after the 2013 season. Reports are that Revis will want to be the HIGHEST PAID defensive player in the NFL, a number that will start around 17 million.
Why I don't like Revis and 49ers deal;
Revis missed the majority of last year with a knee injury, he has questionable locker-room presence because of his ego as evidenced with demanding to be the highest paid NFL defensive player, and he wants top money after 2013. The 49ers just don't need this and it is not their style to go after veteran players who demand big money. I also don't like the idea of giving up a huge number of picks for a guy that might possibly only be around for 1 season. The 49ers have rebuilt through the draft and have done a good job so far, I don't think they should stray from that formula.
49ers trade draft picks for Percy Harvin
Another rumor is the 49ers trading for Vikings WR Percy Harvin. Like Revis it is widely believed that Harvin is going to demand big money after the 2013 season when his contract is up. Harvin would bring a deep threat ability to the 49ers and fill the need for a dangerous kickoff and punt return specialist.
Why I don't like Harvin and 49ers deal;
Much of the same reasons as Revis; money, ego, and loss of picks. The 49ers would be gambling that Harvin would be able to be resigned after 2013, which is no guarantee, especially if he proves to be a key piece to a Super Bowl winning team.
49ers trade ALL draft picks for BOTH Revis and Harvin
In both Revis and Harvin trades it would be expected that the Niners would still have a decent amount of picks left to draft with, but if they were to deal for both players then they would have very little picks left that would most assuredly be late picks.
Why I don't like a Revis & Harvin deal;
As stated above I'm not wild about the 49ers taking on these players individually over drafting younger, cheaper players, so surely I am not wild about the 49ers giving up almost all their picks to obtain these two veterans.
49ers stay put with all their picks and draft 15 rookies in the 2013 draft
If you look back at the 49ers recent draft history then you'll see that the team has not been shy about wheeling and dealing on draft day.
Why I don't like (or believe) this will happen;
The 49ers have been willing to move up AND move down, as well as trade away picks for future selections in past drafts there is no reason to think that they will suddenly stop this pattern. 15 rookies in camp would NOT all make the team, the 49ers simply don't need to add this many players to a team that is already solid.
49ers wheel and deal during the 2013 draft moving up and obtaining future picks
In this scenario I have the 49ers moving up and getting future picks. Why? With a strong class of safeties, corners, defensive linemen and tight-ends the 49ers could afford to give up multiple picks to move up higher and get the best prospects available at the positions they desire. It should also be mentioned that some experts expect next years draft to be very deep as well, giving value to a team that might simply trade picks this year for next years picks.
Why I like this;
Most people will agree that the 49ers can't use 15 rookies on a team that has approximately 18 starters returning next year from an NFC Championship team. I put so much stock in the 49ers draft picks for one reason and one reason only; this 49ers front office has proven to be excellent talent evaluator's. Remember that Trent Baalke has been with the organization since 2005. In his time with the team the 49ers have had solid draft classes. With that in mind, along with the great reputation Harbaugh has for eyeing talent I think it is essential for the 49ers to fill their roster with prospects and then pepper in free-agents that are willing to play for less money.
The 49ers could possibly go another route but right now these are the most possible scenario's that are logical. If there is one guarantee that I can make about what the 49ers will do in the coming months it's that they will not stay pat with 15 picks in 2013, so expect movement or deals of some kind. I think it should also be noted that this front office staff is not shooting from the hip, they have a plan for what they're going to do. We just have to wait and see what that plan is.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Really J.J.?
I hate to rehash this moment for 49er fans but I saw an awkward moment on the NFL network today when the NFL AM anchors interviewed Super Bowl hero Jacoby Jones. They asked him to go back through the infamous kickoff return for a touchdown to start the 3rd quarter. During this playback they told him to "walk them through" what happened. I kid you not, they froze the frame on this (without the spot shadow)...
As you can see Jacoby is breaking through for his dead sprint to the end-zone Jones stated "there was great blocking."
The foul being committed is better seen here a step later...
As Jones breaks away these two players are nearly tackling Miller which is a DIRECT path for Jones to take the kickoff to the house. Miller is being held for nearly 15 yards in live playback!
Even after the fact it is amazing the blindness that people are willing to have in such moments that took place on the worlds biggest stage. The 49ers lost the game, the Ravens should have never been that far ahead but there is no doubt that plays like this helped the Ravens cause tremendously. The fact that a network with the NFL logo representing it can show such blatant errors in the game and say nothing about it is not only awkward but disappointing.
This was one of two major mistakes that I said were more damaging than the final "no-call" on Crabtree. The other being the 2 turnovers (INT by Kaepernick, fumble James).
As you can see Jacoby is breaking through for his dead sprint to the end-zone Jones stated "there was great blocking."
The foul being committed is better seen here a step later...
As Jones breaks away these two players are nearly tackling Miller which is a DIRECT path for Jones to take the kickoff to the house. Miller is being held for nearly 15 yards in live playback!
Even after the fact it is amazing the blindness that people are willing to have in such moments that took place on the worlds biggest stage. The 49ers lost the game, the Ravens should have never been that far ahead but there is no doubt that plays like this helped the Ravens cause tremendously. The fact that a network with the NFL logo representing it can show such blatant errors in the game and say nothing about it is not only awkward but disappointing.
This was one of two major mistakes that I said were more damaging than the final "no-call" on Crabtree. The other being the 2 turnovers (INT by Kaepernick, fumble James).
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Offensive Line: 2013 Draft Crush
I was able to watch some of the offensive line run their 40's and go through other drills at the NFL combine this morning, on the NFL Network. I already have two early draft crushes on guys that would fit well for the 49ers.
Kyle Long- OG 6'6" 304lbs Oregon (4.94 sec 40). If the last name "Long" sounds familiar that's because it should. Kyle is from football royalty of sorts with his father being the great HOFer Howie Long, and 49er fans should also be familiar with his brother being the pro-bowl stand out DE for the St. Louis Rams, Chris Long. Kyle looked long, muscular, and athletic. He is listed as a guard but can also play tackle, versatility that the 49ers not only would welcome but usually demand of their players. Long is projected as a 2nd rounder but could fall to the 3rd because of the uncertainty of his position at the next level. Keep in mind the 49ers are expected to have 4 3rd round picks.
http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/30262
Brian Schwenke- C 6'3" 307lbs CAL (4.99 sec 40). Maybe I'm just being a "homer" but Cal's center Brian Schwenke looked great going through all his drills saturday morning at the combine. Current 49ers center Jonathan Goodwin is a prime candidate to be cut for salary purposes and was graded as having one of the worst games in Super Bowl XLVIII. The 49ers will be looking for a replacement which they may have already in last years pick Joe Looney but Schwenke would be a good fit to be the anchor for Kaepernick for the next 10 years.
http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/30374
Some may ask why I would think the 49ers should target offensive linemen when most experts claim the 49ers have the best group in football. As stated above I think Goodwin very well may be cut soon and the depth on the line is in question after losing Leonard Davis to free agency. The 49ers will be looking for depth here and these two guys could possibly be a 3rd round steal where the 49ers will have 4 selections, enough picks to begin looking for depth.
Kyle Long- OG 6'6" 304lbs Oregon (4.94 sec 40). If the last name "Long" sounds familiar that's because it should. Kyle is from football royalty of sorts with his father being the great HOFer Howie Long, and 49er fans should also be familiar with his brother being the pro-bowl stand out DE for the St. Louis Rams, Chris Long. Kyle looked long, muscular, and athletic. He is listed as a guard but can also play tackle, versatility that the 49ers not only would welcome but usually demand of their players. Long is projected as a 2nd rounder but could fall to the 3rd because of the uncertainty of his position at the next level. Keep in mind the 49ers are expected to have 4 3rd round picks.
http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/30262
Brian Schwenke- C 6'3" 307lbs CAL (4.99 sec 40). Maybe I'm just being a "homer" but Cal's center Brian Schwenke looked great going through all his drills saturday morning at the combine. Current 49ers center Jonathan Goodwin is a prime candidate to be cut for salary purposes and was graded as having one of the worst games in Super Bowl XLVIII. The 49ers will be looking for a replacement which they may have already in last years pick Joe Looney but Schwenke would be a good fit to be the anchor for Kaepernick for the next 10 years.
http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/30374
Some may ask why I would think the 49ers should target offensive linemen when most experts claim the 49ers have the best group in football. As stated above I think Goodwin very well may be cut soon and the depth on the line is in question after losing Leonard Davis to free agency. The 49ers will be looking for depth here and these two guys could possibly be a 3rd round steal where the 49ers will have 4 selections, enough picks to begin looking for depth.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Giants 2013 Starting Rotation
With the announcement yesterday from Manager Bruce Bochy that Matt Cain will be the Opening Day starter it is now fairly easy to project the 5 man rotation to open the 2013 season.
Bochy likes to divide up his lefties so we can expect that Madison Bumgarner and Barry Zito will not pitch in consecutive games. Bumgarner had the second spot in the rotation last year, he has done nothing to lose that position. Ryan Vogelsong will be pitching in the WBC which will probably give the Giants reason to give him a little rest before his first start, that makes him a candidate for the back end of the rotation. And just in case anyone was thinking there was a chance Tim Lincecum is "fighting for a spot in the rotation" after his worst season, you can put that to rest, he has reportedly showed up in great physical shape and is focused for the season already. This allows us to assume his spot in the rotation is more than safe, it's guaranteed.
With this logic you can assume the Giants 5 man rotation will be;
Matt Cain
Madison Bumgarner
Tim Lincecum
Barry Zito
Ryan Vogelsong
What's exciting about this rotation is that the Giants get to pitch Cain, Bum, and Timmy against the rival Dodgers (in LA) to start the year. Also, this is a great opportunity for Zito who, in this scenario gets a chance to be the starter for the home opener. After the up and down (and now back up) relationship he has had with Giants fans since his infamous 100 million plus contract he now can expect a big ovation from the Giants fans after his big renaissance last year.
Giants fans all should have expected Cain to be the opening day starter after his perfect game last year, tie for team lead in wins, team lead in era and whip, and he was the pitcher on the mound for all 3 play-off game clinchers. After the last 4 years of seeing Lincecum take the ball on opening day it was pretty clear that Matt Cain had earned the right for this season, which is good because if the southpaw Madison Bumgarner continues to progress at the rate he is going he should be next in line for a long run at the honor of taking the ball opening day for the S.F. Giants in the future.
Bochy likes to divide up his lefties so we can expect that Madison Bumgarner and Barry Zito will not pitch in consecutive games. Bumgarner had the second spot in the rotation last year, he has done nothing to lose that position. Ryan Vogelsong will be pitching in the WBC which will probably give the Giants reason to give him a little rest before his first start, that makes him a candidate for the back end of the rotation. And just in case anyone was thinking there was a chance Tim Lincecum is "fighting for a spot in the rotation" after his worst season, you can put that to rest, he has reportedly showed up in great physical shape and is focused for the season already. This allows us to assume his spot in the rotation is more than safe, it's guaranteed.
With this logic you can assume the Giants 5 man rotation will be;
Matt Cain
Madison Bumgarner
Tim Lincecum
Barry Zito
Ryan Vogelsong
What's exciting about this rotation is that the Giants get to pitch Cain, Bum, and Timmy against the rival Dodgers (in LA) to start the year. Also, this is a great opportunity for Zito who, in this scenario gets a chance to be the starter for the home opener. After the up and down (and now back up) relationship he has had with Giants fans since his infamous 100 million plus contract he now can expect a big ovation from the Giants fans after his big renaissance last year.
Giants fans all should have expected Cain to be the opening day starter after his perfect game last year, tie for team lead in wins, team lead in era and whip, and he was the pitcher on the mound for all 3 play-off game clinchers. After the last 4 years of seeing Lincecum take the ball on opening day it was pretty clear that Matt Cain had earned the right for this season, which is good because if the southpaw Madison Bumgarner continues to progress at the rate he is going he should be next in line for a long run at the honor of taking the ball opening day for the S.F. Giants in the future.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Free Agent Surprise
Rumors are whirling that the 49ers could be trading for wide receiver (WR) Percy Harvin, or target top WR free-agents such as Greg Jennings or Dwayne Bowe. There is going to be an obvious void at WR once Randy Moss and Ted Ginn Jr. hit Free Agency but what interests me more is who is available at running back (RB) in this years free agent class.
If recent history holds with the 49ers front office the team will be looking for a big bruising runner to compliment Frank Gore. The 49ers already have two smaller quick backs that are a nice change of pace in Kendall Hunter and LaMichael James, but last off-season they coveted having a bigger guy to get the tough yards. The 49ers remedied this by signing Brandon Jacobs. So, who is available this year? Steven Jackson and Michael Turner.
Turner is not nearly the tough explosive back he was two years ago, and to be honest he doesn't excite me much. In fact, I would not be surprised if Turner can't find a home in 2013 and quietly retires from the NFL after his drop off in production in 2012. He still could bring something to the table in a specialized role with a team that is ready to win. If Turner is willing to take a dramatic pay cut and play for a contender then he might get a shot. Turner may also be very motivated to show everyone he's not quite done, and with limited playing time he could go hard in that position.
Steven Jackson is the real prize in my book. Jackson runs hard and violently like Marshawn Lynch but he has more size! Jackson has been on some awful Rams teams for his whole career and especially the last few years, imagine how productive he could be on a team that's already built to win. Like Turner, Jackson would not be called upon to carry the load, they would only want him for specialized situations which could extend his career, be low risk health wise, and give him a shot at a ring. Jackson would have to be willing to except a massive pay cut and diminished role as a player but with talk of retiring the opportunity to win a championship may be too much to pass up on.
Lets face it Frank Gore hasn't been the pillar of health either. If the 49ers can get one of these two backs on the cheap they would be ideal insurance for the 49ers ground game. This would probably make things hard for Anthony Dixon to remain on the team as a 5th RB, considering the 49ers only run with 4 RB's, and Dixon is a special teams standout so there are obstacles, but the 49ers did sign Jacobs last year so I expect them to be looking to try and acquire a similar big bruiser this year. I would be very impressed if that bruiser were Steven Jackson.
If recent history holds with the 49ers front office the team will be looking for a big bruising runner to compliment Frank Gore. The 49ers already have two smaller quick backs that are a nice change of pace in Kendall Hunter and LaMichael James, but last off-season they coveted having a bigger guy to get the tough yards. The 49ers remedied this by signing Brandon Jacobs. So, who is available this year? Steven Jackson and Michael Turner.
Turner is not nearly the tough explosive back he was two years ago, and to be honest he doesn't excite me much. In fact, I would not be surprised if Turner can't find a home in 2013 and quietly retires from the NFL after his drop off in production in 2012. He still could bring something to the table in a specialized role with a team that is ready to win. If Turner is willing to take a dramatic pay cut and play for a contender then he might get a shot. Turner may also be very motivated to show everyone he's not quite done, and with limited playing time he could go hard in that position.
Steven Jackson is the real prize in my book. Jackson runs hard and violently like Marshawn Lynch but he has more size! Jackson has been on some awful Rams teams for his whole career and especially the last few years, imagine how productive he could be on a team that's already built to win. Like Turner, Jackson would not be called upon to carry the load, they would only want him for specialized situations which could extend his career, be low risk health wise, and give him a shot at a ring. Jackson would have to be willing to except a massive pay cut and diminished role as a player but with talk of retiring the opportunity to win a championship may be too much to pass up on.
Lets face it Frank Gore hasn't been the pillar of health either. If the 49ers can get one of these two backs on the cheap they would be ideal insurance for the 49ers ground game. This would probably make things hard for Anthony Dixon to remain on the team as a 5th RB, considering the 49ers only run with 4 RB's, and Dixon is a special teams standout so there are obstacles, but the 49ers did sign Jacobs last year so I expect them to be looking to try and acquire a similar big bruiser this year. I would be very impressed if that bruiser were Steven Jackson.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Giants Are Up
It's 2013 and the 49ers have just finished an amazing run to the Superbowl which ended in a heart wrenching defeat. Fortunately fans can take their 49er Superbowl caps off and replace them with Giants Champions hats, not too shabby.
This upcoming season has lots of promise for a team that has won 2 of the last 3 World Series. There are also some big obstacles. The most exciting note is that the Giants are on the brink of being considered a dynasty, in a time when Bay Area professional sports seems to be entering a "Golden Age." Here are the following pro's and obstacle's on my mind entering the 2013 MLB season;
Obstacle's
-The Los Angeles Dollars, whoops, I mean Dodgers have spent a TON of money bringing in top talent from all over MLB. They have a "who's who?" line-up and pitching staff in place, and have been coined "The Yankee's of the West." The problem for the Dodgers is that the the Yankees have won only 1 World Series in the past 12 years despite being head and shoulders above every team in baseball in spending, this spending spree is nice when you want to sell tickets but DOES NOT mean you will win championships. The Dodgers also have no mature proven leader. Look, I know I'm biased but any true Dodger fan would admit that this is true. Who will they turn to for leadership on this team, and before you point to Mattingly remember he's the coach, championship teams need players that are leaders as well. Plus, Mattingly is still unproven as a manager.
-The Atlanta Braves & Washington Nationals are damn good. There's no denying that no matter how much better the Dodgers may be this season the Giants will have to keep an eye on the NL East. These two teams are going to win a lot of ballgames no doubt.
-What will Scutaro and Pagan bring this year? These two veterans played out of their minds last year, can they possibly repeat their respective individual performances again this year? Or even better, for the next 3 to 4 years? This will be a situation to monitor closely as the Giants shelled out good $ for players that might not be able to play to the level of their contracts. Keep a close eye on prospects Joe Panik and Gary Brown, they may be the answer if the veterans start to stumble.
-Pablo Sandoval's weight can be an issue again. Bochy already has told reporters that "(Sandoval) has some work to do." This is not good news. Sandoval has been playing baseball all off season and has stayed at the top of his game but at some point he may drop off if he is out of shape and tired from the non-stop schedule of playing ball.
Pro's
-This is crazy but the Giants have yet to play with a healthy Buster Posey and Pablo Sandoval for one full season! The sky is the limit for these two if they can stay healthy. It will be wild to see how much production the Giants get out of their two young all-stars for a whole year.
-The Brandon's have arrived. Brandon Crawford and Brandon Belt are going to be more settled in their roles this year as the starting short-stop and first baseman for the defending champs. Expect Crawford to be among the leaders for the NL gold glove at Short and for Belt to build upon his .275 BA and power swing now that they have security (even though Belt will have to either sit or play out of position occasionally for Posey to play first base).
-The Giants won their division and World Series last year while Tim Lincecum had his worst year. Lincecum can't get any worse, and if he's remotely back to where he was before last years disaster then the Giants will be that much better. Bottom line; if Timmy is "on" this team can be close to a 100 win team!
-What will Hunter Pence do? Not only may we get to see what Sandoval and Posey can do for a full year together but let's not forget that Hunter Pence is an all-star caliber player. He had his worst season last year as a pro and still helped the Giants win the World Series! If Pence can get back to his career .285 BA and also hit 25-30 HR's with 90 plus RBI's while batting behind Sandoval and Posey then this offense can soar.
This upcoming season has lots of promise for a team that has won 2 of the last 3 World Series. There are also some big obstacles. The most exciting note is that the Giants are on the brink of being considered a dynasty, in a time when Bay Area professional sports seems to be entering a "Golden Age." Here are the following pro's and obstacle's on my mind entering the 2013 MLB season;
Obstacle's
-The Los Angeles Dollars, whoops, I mean Dodgers have spent a TON of money bringing in top talent from all over MLB. They have a "who's who?" line-up and pitching staff in place, and have been coined "The Yankee's of the West." The problem for the Dodgers is that the the Yankees have won only 1 World Series in the past 12 years despite being head and shoulders above every team in baseball in spending, this spending spree is nice when you want to sell tickets but DOES NOT mean you will win championships. The Dodgers also have no mature proven leader. Look, I know I'm biased but any true Dodger fan would admit that this is true. Who will they turn to for leadership on this team, and before you point to Mattingly remember he's the coach, championship teams need players that are leaders as well. Plus, Mattingly is still unproven as a manager.
-The Atlanta Braves & Washington Nationals are damn good. There's no denying that no matter how much better the Dodgers may be this season the Giants will have to keep an eye on the NL East. These two teams are going to win a lot of ballgames no doubt.
-What will Scutaro and Pagan bring this year? These two veterans played out of their minds last year, can they possibly repeat their respective individual performances again this year? Or even better, for the next 3 to 4 years? This will be a situation to monitor closely as the Giants shelled out good $ for players that might not be able to play to the level of their contracts. Keep a close eye on prospects Joe Panik and Gary Brown, they may be the answer if the veterans start to stumble.
-Pablo Sandoval's weight can be an issue again. Bochy already has told reporters that "(Sandoval) has some work to do." This is not good news. Sandoval has been playing baseball all off season and has stayed at the top of his game but at some point he may drop off if he is out of shape and tired from the non-stop schedule of playing ball.
Pro's
-This is crazy but the Giants have yet to play with a healthy Buster Posey and Pablo Sandoval for one full season! The sky is the limit for these two if they can stay healthy. It will be wild to see how much production the Giants get out of their two young all-stars for a whole year.
-The Brandon's have arrived. Brandon Crawford and Brandon Belt are going to be more settled in their roles this year as the starting short-stop and first baseman for the defending champs. Expect Crawford to be among the leaders for the NL gold glove at Short and for Belt to build upon his .275 BA and power swing now that they have security (even though Belt will have to either sit or play out of position occasionally for Posey to play first base).
-The Giants won their division and World Series last year while Tim Lincecum had his worst year. Lincecum can't get any worse, and if he's remotely back to where he was before last years disaster then the Giants will be that much better. Bottom line; if Timmy is "on" this team can be close to a 100 win team!
-What will Hunter Pence do? Not only may we get to see what Sandoval and Posey can do for a full year together but let's not forget that Hunter Pence is an all-star caliber player. He had his worst season last year as a pro and still helped the Giants win the World Series! If Pence can get back to his career .285 BA and also hit 25-30 HR's with 90 plus RBI's while batting behind Sandoval and Posey then this offense can soar.
Monday, February 4, 2013
The Day After
Unfortunately I woke up today. That's how it feels the morning after your favorite sports team loses in the biggest game, on the biggest stage in the whole world; the Super Bowl. Yes the 49ers lost, but as most experts said leading up to the big game, the 49ers were the better team. The Ravens weren't even top 5 this year, I challenge anyone to say the Ravens were a "better team" than the 49ers, Seahawks, Broncos, Packers, Falcons, or Patriots. Remember the "better team" doesn't always win every game, that's why they play the games and as I've stated before that's what makes sports so interesting; can the underdog be the victor?
The 49ers were not focused and have no one other than themselves to blame for the Super Bowl loss. The Ravens came out pushing and shoving, knowing that they were out matched talent wise, that attitude allowed for them to establish the tempo early. The 49ers fell behind as they had all post-season, it finally caught up to them. Kaepernick looked rattled like he had against the Seahawks and Rams in the regular season, he brought it back in the second half but the damage was done. No team should expect to win in the playoffs when they give away 2 turn-overs and get 0 turn-overs. The opening second-half kick-off for a touchdown was the whole game in a nut shell, the Niners were just not in the right place at the right time. On the final goal-line stand the 49ers passed on 2nd, 3rd, and 4th down when they had displayed one of the best running games all year long in the NFL, this was possibly because they wanted to keep enough time on the clock in case they didn't score and needed to try and get the ball back, bad decision. And then there was the "no-call" on Crabtree in the end-zone. That was blatant "defensive holding," not to be confused with "pass interference." The defender never let go of Crabtree and even was stretching his jersey as they went beyond 5 yards, the refs decided they didn't want to be the difference in the game or to Ray Lewis' career. This is a sad reality, how sometimes in this country we put athletes on such high pedestals we're willing to ignore their obvious imperfections and deceits in order to see them achieve goals we never could. Despite all this the 49ers nearly won the Super Bowl, which is a testament to how talented they are.
As I do with all my teams, I slowly rummaged through my gear and picked out my 49ers hat to wear today. I always wear my teams gear the day after their season ends so that people know that I'm a true fan. Although this loss hurts worse than any I can recall, or chose to recall, I will sport my black SF hat all day and nod at the hecklers because I love the 49ers and I'm proud of all the players and coaches and what they accomplished this year even though they fell short for the second year in a row of what they were capable of.
The 49ers were not focused and have no one other than themselves to blame for the Super Bowl loss. The Ravens came out pushing and shoving, knowing that they were out matched talent wise, that attitude allowed for them to establish the tempo early. The 49ers fell behind as they had all post-season, it finally caught up to them. Kaepernick looked rattled like he had against the Seahawks and Rams in the regular season, he brought it back in the second half but the damage was done. No team should expect to win in the playoffs when they give away 2 turn-overs and get 0 turn-overs. The opening second-half kick-off for a touchdown was the whole game in a nut shell, the Niners were just not in the right place at the right time. On the final goal-line stand the 49ers passed on 2nd, 3rd, and 4th down when they had displayed one of the best running games all year long in the NFL, this was possibly because they wanted to keep enough time on the clock in case they didn't score and needed to try and get the ball back, bad decision. And then there was the "no-call" on Crabtree in the end-zone. That was blatant "defensive holding," not to be confused with "pass interference." The defender never let go of Crabtree and even was stretching his jersey as they went beyond 5 yards, the refs decided they didn't want to be the difference in the game or to Ray Lewis' career. This is a sad reality, how sometimes in this country we put athletes on such high pedestals we're willing to ignore their obvious imperfections and deceits in order to see them achieve goals we never could. Despite all this the 49ers nearly won the Super Bowl, which is a testament to how talented they are.
As I do with all my teams, I slowly rummaged through my gear and picked out my 49ers hat to wear today. I always wear my teams gear the day after their season ends so that people know that I'm a true fan. Although this loss hurts worse than any I can recall, or chose to recall, I will sport my black SF hat all day and nod at the hecklers because I love the 49ers and I'm proud of all the players and coaches and what they accomplished this year even though they fell short for the second year in a row of what they were capable of.
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Good News for Top Teams
ESPN is reporting that a record number of underclassmen have applied (and have been approved) for the 2013 NFL Draft. The number of applicants is 73 including;
"Matt Elam of Florida, tight end Zach Ertz of Stanford, tackle Luke Joeckel of Texas A&M, defensive end Bjoern Werner of Florida State, linebacker Jarvis Jones of Georgia and cornerback Dee Milliner of national champion Alabama.
Also approved were former LSU cornerback-kick returner Tyrann Mathieu, a 2011 All-American who was kicked off the Tigers before last season."
The good news is for the top teams like the San Francisco 49ers. Since the draft is in order of record, and the playoff teams in order of how they finish, the top teams choose last, including the Super Bowl victor selecting last in every round. Now that a record number of underclassmen have applied for the draft we can assume that the talent will run deep in this draft, considering that underclassmen don't declare for the draft unless they are highly talented and projected to be drafted high. Add in the Seniors that should expect to be drafted high as well and now you have a solid and deep class of incoming NFL rookies. Expect teams like the 49ers, Patriots, Ravens, etc., etc. to be able to get great value through the first few rounds.
The 49ers have a unique edge in this news because they have 14 draft picks in this coming April Draft. That's right, seven rounds and 14 picks! Expect the 49ers to reload after a great run this season.
"Matt Elam of Florida, tight end Zach Ertz of Stanford, tackle Luke Joeckel of Texas A&M, defensive end Bjoern Werner of Florida State, linebacker Jarvis Jones of Georgia and cornerback Dee Milliner of national champion Alabama.
Also approved were former LSU cornerback-kick returner Tyrann Mathieu, a 2011 All-American who was kicked off the Tigers before last season."
The good news is for the top teams like the San Francisco 49ers. Since the draft is in order of record, and the playoff teams in order of how they finish, the top teams choose last, including the Super Bowl victor selecting last in every round. Now that a record number of underclassmen have applied for the draft we can assume that the talent will run deep in this draft, considering that underclassmen don't declare for the draft unless they are highly talented and projected to be drafted high. Add in the Seniors that should expect to be drafted high as well and now you have a solid and deep class of incoming NFL rookies. Expect teams like the 49ers, Patriots, Ravens, etc., etc. to be able to get great value through the first few rounds.
The 49ers have a unique edge in this news because they have 14 draft picks in this coming April Draft. That's right, seven rounds and 14 picks! Expect the 49ers to reload after a great run this season.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
3 Key's to the 49ers Post Season Run.
At the beginning of the year I was sure of 3 things about the 49ers; they would have the best defense, Alex Smith would be the starter all year long, and they were definitely going to the Super Bowl. Statistically they were not ranked the #1 defense and Smith was replaced by Kaepernick, the last point that remains to be seen is if the 49ers will go to the Super Bowl or not. Even with the switch to Kaepernick I was pretty confident that the Niners were destined for their 6th trip to the big game, and through the first half of the Patriots game I was as sure that the Niners were headed there as I had been all year long; then Justin Smith got hurt. The 49ers went on to play the worst football in the second half against the Patriots and all through the Seahawks game since Harbaugh took over as coach. And my confidence was crushed.
Luckily the Niners finished the season against the lowly Arizona Cardinals and won in convincing fashion, even getting the chance to pull their starters in the 4th quarter. Now my confidence resides in no-man's land. I don't know what to think. I'm definitely not as confident as I was at the beginning of the year and I'm surely not as confident as I was at halftime of the Patriots game, but I also am not as down as I was at the end of the Seattle game. So again, I don't know where I stand on the confidence meter. What I do know is that the Niners can hang with any team in the league on any given Sunday, so ultimately I still like their chances of going all the way, but now there are big keys to their playoff run that will determine how far it goes. Among the most important keys to what the 49ers have to do are the following 3;
Key #1
Justin Smith's health, Justin Smith's health, Justin Smith's health and a little more of Justin Smith's health. The report is that Smith will be able to play. The danger is that reportedly Smith could tear the remainder of his triceps on any given play. So Ninernation will be holding its collective breath at the end of every defensive play to see if Smith is still on the field or not. Mark my words; if Justin Smith goes down the 49ers go down. Smith is that important. He makes the whole machine go.
Key#2
Get Vernon Davis and Frank Gore involved. Gore has been involved but it feels as if his touches have been down towards the end of the season. Obviously this could be by design, with the 49ers coaching staff hoping Gore will be fresh come playoff time. Well, it's playoff time so it's time to hang your hat on Frank. And where the hell has Vernon Davis gone? The "keeping him fresh" excuse does not come into play here, Davis hasn't been relevant since the Bears game. Yes, he always contributes as a blocker but he also MUST be involved in the passing game, no excuses.
Key #3
The kicking game has got to be solid. David Akers has killed us this year. I love Akers as a human being and have a lot of respect for who he is and what he's been through but at some point you have to call a spade a spade and make the move. If it was a "no brainer" for Harbaugh to keep Kaepernick starting over Alex Smith then what's the term we should use to explain Harbaugh replacing Akers? We easily have two more wins with him being more consistent this year. Billy Cunduff, oh sweat Jesus.
It's awesome that we got the bye this week and have an extra week to rest up, get healthier, and make the moves necessary at the kicking position. Now we just have to see if the Niners can get back to where they were in week 1 when they went into Green Bay and showed the football world they were for real.
Luckily the Niners finished the season against the lowly Arizona Cardinals and won in convincing fashion, even getting the chance to pull their starters in the 4th quarter. Now my confidence resides in no-man's land. I don't know what to think. I'm definitely not as confident as I was at the beginning of the year and I'm surely not as confident as I was at halftime of the Patriots game, but I also am not as down as I was at the end of the Seattle game. So again, I don't know where I stand on the confidence meter. What I do know is that the Niners can hang with any team in the league on any given Sunday, so ultimately I still like their chances of going all the way, but now there are big keys to their playoff run that will determine how far it goes. Among the most important keys to what the 49ers have to do are the following 3;
Key #1
Justin Smith's health, Justin Smith's health, Justin Smith's health and a little more of Justin Smith's health. The report is that Smith will be able to play. The danger is that reportedly Smith could tear the remainder of his triceps on any given play. So Ninernation will be holding its collective breath at the end of every defensive play to see if Smith is still on the field or not. Mark my words; if Justin Smith goes down the 49ers go down. Smith is that important. He makes the whole machine go.
Key#2
Get Vernon Davis and Frank Gore involved. Gore has been involved but it feels as if his touches have been down towards the end of the season. Obviously this could be by design, with the 49ers coaching staff hoping Gore will be fresh come playoff time. Well, it's playoff time so it's time to hang your hat on Frank. And where the hell has Vernon Davis gone? The "keeping him fresh" excuse does not come into play here, Davis hasn't been relevant since the Bears game. Yes, he always contributes as a blocker but he also MUST be involved in the passing game, no excuses.
Key #3
The kicking game has got to be solid. David Akers has killed us this year. I love Akers as a human being and have a lot of respect for who he is and what he's been through but at some point you have to call a spade a spade and make the move. If it was a "no brainer" for Harbaugh to keep Kaepernick starting over Alex Smith then what's the term we should use to explain Harbaugh replacing Akers? We easily have two more wins with him being more consistent this year. Billy Cunduff, oh sweat Jesus.
It's awesome that we got the bye this week and have an extra week to rest up, get healthier, and make the moves necessary at the kicking position. Now we just have to see if the Niners can get back to where they were in week 1 when they went into Green Bay and showed the football world they were for real.
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