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.
Sunday, January 20, 2013
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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