SB Nation - Bear Pascoe

San Francisco 49ers 2009 NFL Draft Grades: The national media's turn

Fooch — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 21:05:34 -0000

Early yesterday we rolled out grades for the 49ers draft overall and by player. Naturally these are very arbitrary given that they have yet to don pads for the 49ers. They could do nothing, they could be superstars. However, it's practically required for a team blog to grade it's draft results. I'm sorry, I don't make up the rules. I forgot earlier, but big thanks to wjackalope for a feeee-nomenal graphic for this.

Accordingly, I thought I'd also go through and find some of the various draft grades given to the 49ers. It's amusing how all over the place some of the grades can be. We're sticking with primarily national folks as a baseline. Due to length, most are after the jump. Thanks to Dre for the FanShot of the Yahoo grade average article as I made sure to include those grades. One reason to take these with a grain of salt (among many other reasons), is because of lazy comments like this from Clark Judge under "Biggest Losers":

The San Francisco coaching staff. Good luck with Crabtree, fellas. At least when Terrell Owens was a rookie, he was humble. Try telling Crabtree what to do.

Mel Kiper:

GRADE: B+
Obviously the 49ers hit the jackpot with wide receiver Michael Crabtree falling to them at No. 10. Running back Glen Coffee gives the 49ers a nice one-two punch with Frank Gore. Getting inside linebacker Scott McKillop in the fifth round was a steal. Bear Pascoe is one of the best blocking tight ends in the draft, and the two LSU kids (Curtis Taylor and Ricky Jean-Francois) were great pickups in the seventh round.

Todd McShay:

Best pick: WR Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech (first round, No. 10 overall)
Worst pick: ILB Scott McKillop, Pittsburgh (fifth round, No. 146 overall)
Bottom line: While San Francisco would have liked to address needs on the offensive or defensive fronts with its first pick, it's impossible to fault the 49ers for taking in Crabtree, one of the top three players in this year's draft who fell to them at No. 10. Making it an even better decision is any concerns about Crabtree's character or how he interviewed leading up to the draft should be erased with Mike Singletary at coach. While the QB situation in San Francisco is less than ideal, Crabtree will allow the 49ers to see if they have the right QB in-house as he should only bring out the best in the existing signal-callers. As for Day 2, RB Glen Coffee is a good change-of-pace runner and McKillop is limited but solid versus the run and should contribute on special teams. Finally, there's nothing wrong with taking a chance on developing QB Nate Davis in Round 5.

Charles Robinson:

Positive: Landing Crabtree without moving up.
Negative: Going with a running back with their second pick.
Bottom line: B-.
It looks like a draft that might only produce one starter in the next year or two, but Crabtree could be a great one. Coffee was a head-scratcher in the third round, considering the plethora of needs in other areas for the 49ers. If Nate Davis’ learning disability can be overcome, he could be a steal in the fifth round.

USA Today:

GRADE: C-
WR Michael Crabtree fell to them and they grabbed him. They did not have much to work with after that, though, and they may not have done much with what they had. RB Glen Coffee shows few measureable NFL skills, does not approach what they have in Frank Gore. LB Scott McKillop is essentially Coffee's equal, though he excelled in combine workouts. Looks like a journeyman. QB Nate Davis joins a carousel, decent value in fifth round.

NBC Sports:

Grade: C

Details: Michael Crabtree was the No. 1 player overall on several teams’ value boards and a steal at 10th overall. But the Niners' draft fell swiftly from there. Glen Coffee was productive in 2008, but benefited from D-I's best offensive line and his legs are too skinny. LB Scott McKillop got run over at the Senior Bowl.

QB Nate Davis probably is only practice squad material at this point, and TE Bear Pascoe lacks the athleticism to be more than a blocking specialist. LSU safety Curtis Taylor was underrated after an injury-marred senior season, but DL Ricky Jean-Francois has always been overrated. One pick doesn't make a draft.

Fox Sports:

Everyone referred to Texas Tech receiver Michael Crabtree as a "diva," but on the field he was the best receiver in college the past two seasons with 41 TD receptions while averaging 120.3 yards per game. The 49ers are definitely not worried about his foot surgery for a stress fracture. GM Scot McCloughan made a solid decision in swapping his second-round pick for Carolina's first-round pick next year.

The 49ers took a flyer on Ball State quarterback Nate Davis, who has dyslexia, in the fifth round. Davis passed for 56 TDs vs. 12 INTs in his college career. Davis has an unusual grip on the football — he never holds it by the laces. Alabama running back Glen Coffee has a strong upper body, but he has to learn that he can't take on tacklers at the NFL level. Pitt linebacker Scott McKillop could be a steal in the fifth round. He has 211 solo tackles in 25 starts for the Panthers. Grade: B-

CBS Sports - Prisco:

Grade: C-

Best pick: I really like sixth-round pick Bear Pascoe. He is a blocking tight end who is a former quarterback.

Questionable move: Taking Michael Crabtree. That foot makes it a risk. So does his diva act.

Second-day gem: Fifth-round pick Scott McKillop is a feisty linebacker Mike Singletary will come to love. He will be a special-teams star.

I'm just not enamored with what they did.

CBS Sports - Rang:

Grade: A+
While everyone will rightfully focus on the selection of wideout Michael Crabtree with their first selection, the 49ers' ability to add a first-round pick in next year's draft (from Carolina), as well as fill holes at essentially every position, was the key to their draft. For a young team like this, depth is often the critical missing element toward turning a struggling team into a division winner. The 49ers added many of the pieces in 2009 to accomplish that goal with underrated talents at running back (Glen Coffee), linebacker (Scott McKillop), safety (Curtis Taylor) and defensive line (Ricky Jean-Francois). A young quarterback with legitimate talent in Nate Davis and a blocking specialist to pair with Vernon Davis in Bear Pascoe only made this draft that much more impressive.

Peter King:

For a team that hasn't picked a great receiver since Terrell Owens, Michael Crabtree's a welcome choice. He's 6-2, 215 pounds ("a faster Boldin,'' one personnel man told me last week) and he finally gives the 49ers some respect in the passing game ... Glen Coffee may play more than you think if Frank Gore can't hold up.

Clifton Brown:

Grade: D

They were fortunate to get Crabtree, who will make life easier for the quarterback. The rest of their draft did not bring much help. This is a rebuilding team with plenty of holes.

And there you have it. Waaaaaay too many draft grades.

You hear that? Bears... Now you've put the whole station in danger...

ProfessorBigelow — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 18:00:12 -0000

It’s official; I have a new favorite rookie among the Niners. Now some of you may be thinking "ME TOO! CRABZ RULEZ!!! HELLLYEAAAAAAHHHHH NINERXZZZ BRAAAASSSSS!!!!!!1!1!!!1!" and don’t get me wrong, I love me some Crabs. However, for now let’s take a step away from crustaceans and into the mammal world; it’s a Bear market and I’m buying!

Bear Pascoe, the 6’5", 251 lb TE from Fresno State, the 184^th pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, picked by the San Francsico 49ers in the 6^th round has caught my eye since he popped on the big board. First off, he has one of the best football names in the NFL. As a last name, Pascoe just sounds like a smash-mouth, hard nosed, I-have-calcium-deposits-in-my-forehead-so-when-I-play-football-I-bleed all-over-my-face kind of name. As a first name, well, the last Bear involved in football had pretty good success, and the name itself just lends itself to countless puns, movie quotes and fantastically corny jokes.

But besides an aesthetically pleasing name, what does the Bear bring to the table? Why has the Bear become the top man among the rookie class? His ability to steal pic-i-nic baskets? His soft, yet protective fur? His impact on the financial market? Let’s get down to the Bear-Necessities.

Bear was born February 23^rd, 1986 in Porterville, California as McKenna Sean Pascoe, but was nicknamed Bear as a toddler by his parents because of his size, and because he "came out growling" (read as: born to play football). He grew up living a physical life, raised on a cattle ranch, where he learned how to work a rope and lasso and eventually became a champion cattle roper (He won a diesel pick-up truck as a 15 year old in a roping competition. His older sister had to drive it home for him - nobody laughed).

In high school, Bear lettered in track, competing in the shot-put and discus, and played as the QB at Granite Hills High School. In his senior year, he accumulated 1,851 yards and 16 TDs in a season where he was selected the 2003 East Yosemite League (EYL) Player of the Year. In 2002, he lead his team to the EYL title, the same year he was recognized as a First-Team All EYL for basketball. For a career, he accumulated nearly 3,500 total yards and 33 total TDs as a QB. Oh, and did I forget to mention that he also started as an outside linebacker? This guy is just a born athlete! Imagine the unexpectedness of a gadget play with Bear throwing a pass to Crabs! I think I just peed a drop or two from excitement.

He was recruited by Fresno State to be a QB, but they converted him to a TE when they saw his strength, size, and blocking ability. He was red-shirted freshman year, yet received the scout team offensive player of the year award for the team (read as: hard worker). From then on, he became a semi-regular part of the offense, playing in almost every game from that point on, and eventually moving to the regular starting TE role for Fresno State by 2006. Fresno State turned Bear into an offensive threat; that 2006 season, he averaged 14 yards per catch, had at least one reception in every single game, including a 75 yard TD reception against Hawaii and a seven-reception, 87 yard game against San Jose State (not incredible, but pretty good for a 251 lb TE). In 2007 he finished second on the team in receptions (45) and yards (553) even though he missed one game due to injury, and landed on the First-Team all-WAC list.

More on this Bear of a player after the jump...

Fresno State thought very highly of him. According to their website:

…projected by most college preseason magazines as one of the top tight ends in America ... one of the hardest working players on the team ... has developed into a major offensive weapon and big-play maker... has shown big-play capability … a very smart football player who has made immediate contributions as a blocker, receiver and special teams star early in his career ... one of the strongest tight ends ever to play the position at Fresno State and as a devastating blocker on the line ... will go down as one of the best to ever wear a Bulldog uniform.

To sum up his collegiate career, Bear had 112 receptions, earned 1,294 yards, 10 TDs, and blocked six kicks (he had an arm span of 33 3/4 inches and a hand span of 9 3/4 inches at the combine - he is the walking second amendment).

The Niners were lucky to get Bear when they did. According to the SF Chronicle (link forthcoming) the Bears (HA) wanted to draft him with their 199^th overall pick, and that would have been too perfect, so thank goodness we threw a wrench into that

I’ll be the first to admit I had no knowledge of this guy prior to him being picked by the team, but I can see why Singletary chose this man. He is big, a hard worker (whether playing regularly or not), is dynamic and is just an all around athlete. Many analysts are expecting him to be a pure blocking tight end, but after reading more about him, gauging his attitude and how he was used at Fresno State, I could see him being an every-other-game receiver, definitely in short yardage or goal-line situations. But seriously, the guy ropes cattle, was the hardest working scout-teamer at Fresno as a freshman, can whip out the big play, and would rather knock tacklers over instead of running away from them. This was a great pick, especially in the 6^th round, to fill the void that Billy Bajema left when he went to St. Louis.

To put a nice little bow on this Bear-love-fest, here is my favorite quote about Bear from the Mile High Report:

As a ball player, Pascoe is said to lack subtlety. He lacks top-end speed. He doesn't care, either. He isn't interested in running away from linebackers and defensive backs. He prefers just running them over. Gifted with excellent hands, a nasty football demeanor and top skills as a blocker, McKenna Bear Pascoe is the total package for those who are looking for a tight end who's both ravenous and skilled.

For those still interested in more on Bear, I included all the scouting reports I could find on the player:

FromNFLDraftScout.com:

Strengths: Good frame for the position. Good bulk and overall strength as a blocker. Uses his hands and leverage well as a blocker and provides as much effort as a blocker as he does as a receiver. Puts smaller defenders on their back and plays through the whistle. Able to reach linebackers at the second level. Former quarterback who understands where the holes are on the defense. Solid route-running in the short to intermediate zones. Uses his body to shield defenders. Natural hands catcher who can who fight for the ball and can track over his shoulder. Bullish runner who fights for extra yardage.

Weaknesses: Not an elite athlete in the Kellen Winslow mold. Lacks the straight-line speed to threaten the seam against NFL talent. Takes a few steps to get to top speed. Flashes the ability to make tough receptions with defenders draped over him, but needs to continue to work in this area. Leans forward when blocking, and needs to improve his balance facing stronger defenders. Defensive backs use their quickness to elude him while blocking in the open field.

CBS Sports:

"Good frame for the position. Good bulk and overall strength as a blocker. Uses his hands and leverage well as a blocker and provides as much effort as a blocker as he does as a receiver. Puts smaller defenders on their back and plays through the whistle. Able to reach linebackers at the second level. Former quarterback who understands where the holes are on the defense. Solid route-running in the short to intermediate zones. Uses his body to shield defenders. Natural hands catcher who can who fight for the ball and can track over his shoulder. Bullish runner who fights for extra yardage."

NFLDraftGuys.com:

“Once he secures the pass he immediately looks for a defender to punish, and he knows how to lower his shoulders and deliver a forearm blow. Bear is a big target that can be a devastating blocker once his hands are in place… But he's not incredibly athletic, and his aggressive play style can work against him when he's asked to block downfield."

San Francisco 49ers 2009 NFL Draft Grades

Fooch — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:00:15 -0000

More photos » by Paul Sakuma - AP

Browse more photos »

And so the 2009 NFL Draft is officially in our rear view mirror. Things got a bit heated at times (pretty much the entire time after the first round), but that's to be expected this time of year. Unless you're a Raiders fan, most teams' drafts leave some fans happy, some angry and some somewhere in between.

Naturally, the first thing we can do is grade the draft. I decided to wait a day so people could calm down and take a second look at the returns. Some of you will still be angry, but at least you've had a chance to sleep on it. Also, as you can see from the poll, we're including undrafted free agents in this group. While not part of the "draft class," they are a part of the San Francisco 49ers rookie class of 2009. Maybe they get lucky with some of them, maybe not. But we're including them anyways. On to the grades. A grade for the draft as a whole is at the end. And no pluses or minuses here. Just solid grades.

Michael Crabtree, WR - Grade: A
I realize the luck/Al Davis stupidity involved here. But sometimes it's better to be lucky than good. And in this case, the 49ers were exceptionally lucky. Crabtree was pretty close to #1 on my list of all players in the draft, and definitely #1 on the guys I wanted who I thought miiiiight slip to the 49ers. He's a gifted athlete who could be the 49ers #1 receiver before too long.

Obviously most any pick could be a bust, but there was simply no way the 49ers could pass up when Crabtree was dangled before them at #10. I think Michael Oher will end up having a very solid career in the NFL. Nonetheless, when it comes to what he brings to the table, he is no Michael Crabtree. Wide receiver was not a great need for the 49ers, but I won't even discount the grade because of that. He's the man and that's all there is too it.

Glen Coffee, RB - Grade: C
I'm not a big Coffee drinker but i actually like Glen Coffee. Based on what I've read and what some Alabama fans have told me (included in the above post), Coffee will be a very solid option for the 49ers as a backup running back. I like that he knows he can stand to put on about 8-10 lbs. That would put him at 6-0 and close to 220lbs. More importantly he loves to hit things and you know Singletary loves that.

The reason I discount this grade so much is that I'd imagine they could have had him a little later, or even gone with some other RB options late in the draft. Running back was a need for this team, in spite of what others might think. However, there were some serious players available here that left me a bit confused. In the end I can live with this pick because I do think the 49ers front office has some clue of what's going on (no snickers please). However, it was one that had me a little bit befuddled.

Scott McKillop, ILB - Grade: B
Barrows was pretty much on the money with this as he was pointing to McKillop and another ILB at this spot a few minutes before hand. People were screaming for Jamon Meredith as he was slip-sliding like crazy. The selection of McKillop resulted in a lot of Agggggghhhhhs. However, on reflection, people seem to be recognizing the value of the pick.

McKillop will start off as a special teams guy and a backup to Takeo Spikes. Jeff Ulbrich is running out of gas and is probably nearing the end of his 49ers tenure. Ulbrich could never snatch that Ted position, so now we've got another youngster who will get a crack at it. This is mostly about the future as McKillop is a sure tackler who probably has a good chance to eventually take over Spikes's position. Not a homerun pick but one that I view as very sound.

After the jump we wrap up the remaining four picks and undrafted free agents and give our overview.

Nate Davis, QB - Grade: A
The fifth round was all about looking to the future. The compensatory pick was used on a guy who might very well be a QB of the future. I was trying to decide between an A and a B and I just can't lower the grade. Nate Davis does have Alex Smith tendencies that we certainly don't want to see. The dyslexia is something that can be overcome in the NFL, but obviously is something to keep in mind.

And yet, I couldn't look past the wild productivity in college and the fact that he slipped into the end of the fifth round. Even if he doesn't end up as the long term answer, I like this pick no matter what. Over the last couple years Davis actually was considered a potential high NFL prospect. His draft stock slipped due to the dyslexia and probably the grip on the football. As a fifth round pick, this could end up being one of the steals of the draft.

Bear Pascoe, TE - Grade: C
I'm sure somewhere on Niners Nation I'm on record as being a fan of a tight end named Bear. He just sounds like a tight end and I fully expect him to ably fill the role of Billy Bajema, with maybe even a little receiving game thrown in. Sounds great for a late pick and I realize we can't complain too much about a sixth round choice. Maybe I'm being a bit too hard on the pick.

However, I kind of look at the sixth round as an opportunity to roll the dice on either character guys, or injury issue guys. In the end I'm perfectly fine with Bear Pascoe here because I am firmly convinced he'll contribute in the regular season. And yet, part of me wishes the team had been a bit more aggressive here. It's probably wanting to have my cake and eat it too, but such is life.

Curtis Taylor, S - Grade: B
I like this pick, in spite of the Mark Roman comparisons that were going on. Taylor seems like the type of guy you roll the dice on late in the draft. There are legitimate and obvious flaws in his game. However, when you know the flows, it can often be easier to fix them.

As a seventh round pick there is obviously no pressure on him to win a starting job. And yet, I think he'll give Dashon Goldson a fair amount of competition in training camp. What I found most interesting in his scouting report is that he's too aggressive, and yet he's not physical enough. I suppose I can see how that's possible, but it still sounds like an oxymoron somehow.

Ricky Jean-Francois - Grade: B
Where Bear Pascoe is a football name, Ricky Jean-Francois (RJF from here on out) is decidedly NOT a football name. I expect to see him smoking long cigarettes and insulting opponents with a thick French accent. Actually, he makes me think of Jean Girard from Talladega Nights.

However, RJF, like Taylor, seems like an upside guy that is worth gambling on in the 7th round. At 6-2, 295lbs he's probably a bit undersized for a nose tackle. However, I'd like to think he could pack a little weight on to his frame and possibly make some noise in that position. He's a bit taller than both Sopoaga and Franklin, but I don't know how his frame compares for adding such weight.

Undrafted Free Agents - Grade: A
I've included these as one group because I think the context of all the signings makes a little more sense. Thus far, they include Pannel Egboh (DE), Kory Sheets (RB), Alex Boone (OT), Jahi Word-Daniels (CB) and Carlos Thomas (CB). None of these guys is a home run hitter, or they would have gone in the draft. Question marks abound, but again, that's why they landed on the street.

It's waaaay too early to tell what will happen, but with a few extra pounds on his frame, I think Egboh could push Ray McDonald for a roster spot. McDonald has struggled in making his mark and with Kentwan Balmer and Demetric Evans getting their chances, the squeeze coud be on for Ray.

Kory Sheets was solid at Purdue, but he just doesn't seem to have the potential bulk that Coffee brings to the table. Sheets could find himself in a battle for Thomas Clayton's old practice squad spot. Meanwhile, you've got Alex Boone, who's had a few run-ins with the law. McShay projected him as a late fifth round pick, factoring in those character issues. So, just maybe, the 49ers might have a solid backup option. He'll be battling the likes of Joe Toledo and Jacob Bender for a roster spot, or maybe just a practice squad spot.

OVERALL - Grade: B
I'll bet good money a lot of folks disagree with me on this. I mentioned it in Since79's FanPost, but to reiterate, this was a very odd draft. It just had a weird feel to it, from top to bottom, even beyond the 49ers picks. Guys like Jamon Meredith were plummeting, and Al Davis was drafting guys not even in draft guides.

Beyond the Crabtree pick, the 49ers seemed to be drafting like a team just filling some depth needs, or more precisely, a playoff team with not a ton of concerns. That's certainly not the case and that is why many folks were getting furious. Personally, I wanted a Jamon Meredith or Duke Robinson. I would have liked a Shonn Greene.

However, when you factor in the undrafted free agents, this 49ers rookie class is very intriguing. I gave Coffee a C but that was more because it was a 3rd round pick, instead of a 4th or 5th round pick. You like to hit on those and it seemed like a bit of a gamble. However, I do like Coffee's upside as a backup RB. I don't think he's a guaranteed bust, like others.

People were surprised the team did not grab any offensive linemen or outside linebackers. While I don't know any more than any of you, I do think this indicates the team is obviously fairly happy with what they already have in place. Boone will get a chance to win a roster spot, but for now he's pretty far down the depth chart behind Smith, Snyder and Sims.

Finally, there's The Trade. I was amazed at the divide over this. Some love it, some hate it and very few are in between. I'm a fan of the deal. It cost some potential talent this year, but I like getting that extra first rounder next year. It's all a crapshoot in the end, so why not increase your odds of avoiding crapping out? If I didn't like this trade I would have definitely seen the point of giving the 49ers a C or a D given that it involved a 2nd and 4th round pick. However, I think the trade should prove beneficial in the long run, thus I maintain the B.

There is much much more to be said about this draft. Numerous questions are raised by the moves made this weekend. As long as this post is, I simply can't fit it all in. Over the course of this week and beyond, we'll have plenty of thoughts about what I think again many people would agree was a rather bizarre weekend.

Poll

What grade would you give the 49ers 2009 draft (including UDFA)?

A

636 votes

B

1072 votes

C

294 votes

D

44 votes

F

29 votes

2075 votes | Poll has closed

Golden Nuggets: Does Crabtree Make This A "Great" Draft?

Ninjames — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 10:30:16 -0000

Good morning! James here with your Nuggets for today. It occured to me that we more than likely will get a ton of new visitors tomorrow to see how the draft went and to all of you: welcome to the site, and I hope you end up registering and staying! That being said, holy links, Batman! I've got a little something for all of you, and that something is..a complete Nuggets article! Complete with me buying time and dragging on the intro to make it look even more complete! (See: the last sentence.) For real though, the draft is done with and I'm pretty excited, we had a good draft and we're being semi-agressive towards signing undrafted free agents... So here's some links, enjoy them while they last. Remember to check the comments for updates on more links throughout the day.

And so the draft is complete, and what better than to get Maiocco's take on it? (PressDemocrat.com)

Here's a nice pick-by-pick analysis for the draft, just click on a selection. (NFL.com)

ESPN provides analysis for just the NFC West. (ESPN.com)

They also take a look at what the NFC West didn't address. (ESPN.com)

Here's another recap, of the first day. (FoxSports.com)

And the guy from yesterday who doesn't know a thing about football's analysis. (CBSSports.com)

Meet our first round draft pick, WR Michael Crabtree. (SFGate.com)

McCloughan is very excited for what the team did on the second day. (SFGate.com)

What do you think? Is it a "bad" draft because we failed to address some needs? (SFGate.com)

Toughness is the theme in San Fran right now and the future. (SacBee.com)

I've got some grades of my own for our picks and our draft in general. Check it out. (NFLTouchdown.com)

Here's a transcript from the Crabtree press conference. (49ers.com)

Cris Carter says the 49ers have found a winner in Crabtree. (MercuryNews.com)

The 49ers signed some undrafted free agents, interesting picks in OT Alex Boone, RB Kory Sheets, and DE Pannel Egboh. (NinersNation.com)

And now some player videos in TE Bear Pascoe, QB Nate Davis, LB Scott McKillop and RB Kory Sheets. (NFL.com)

And yesterday's edition of Singletary's Notebook. (49ers.com)

To close (for now) here's conference calls with Nate Davis and Bear Pascoe. (49ers.com)

49ers draft pick conference call: 6th round pick Bear Pascoe

Fooch — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:26:17 -0000

While Bear might have gone a bit early, he was a definitely a guy on people's radar as a potential blocking tight end. If he makes the roster he'll be filling Billy Bajema's role.

RE: You’re from Porterville?

“Yes, sir. Yes, I am sitting down here right now at my parent’s place, I’m down at the barn just hanging out.”

RE: Down at the barn?

“Yeah.”

RE: How many acres do you guys have?

“We have about 30 acres here, 15 in oranges and 15 down the river where our horses and everything are.”

RE: What’s been your pro football team of choice through the years?

“As far as being a fan and everything…it’s kind of funny. I’ve always been a Dallas fan but now I got to switch teams. You know? I’m a niner fan now.”

RE: What’s your reaction on playing for a team that’s just a three or four hours up Highway 99?

“I am very excited. I’m stoked about where I’ve ended up. I’m looking forward to getting the opportunity to play for a great team with a lot of history to it. I can’t express enough how excited I am right now guys.”

RE: Bear Tell us about being a champion roper. Where does that come from and a champion where?

“You know I grew up on a cattle ranch and stuff so, my dad when he…in his day, you know, he rodeoed quite a bit and he just naturally taught it to me and my brother and sister when we’ve done it ever since we were kids and it’s something that we like to do and everything and it kind of goes hand in hand with our lifestyle.”

RE: Did you have much interaction with the 49ers in the lead up to this draft?

“No, not much at all. I spoke with a representative scout down in Houston at the East-West Shrine Game and back in Indianapolis and other than that I didn’t hear much from them so I wasn’t quite aware that they were very interested, but now that it’s all over and stuff, I’m very happy that they are and that they were.”

RE: After playing quarterback in high school, what was the conversion to tight end like? And whose idea was it?

“It was a rough transition the first couple years, or the first year anyways. But once I got into it and really started to understand it and learn the offense it kind of rolled along. But as far as decision, it was a mutual decision between me and the coaches at Fresno State. I figured…We decided, that if that was the best move to help the team, then let’s do it. Anything that will make that team better or any team that I’m at, I’ll do whatever I can.”

RE: You said it was a rough transition at the start. What was the hard part?

“Mainly it was just kind of learning the offense. But that came along a little easier than just learning technique and kind of being able to run out smoothly and using blocking techniques I just tried to manhandle guys at first and it’d get me in trouble but as I progressed and learned the tricks of the trade everything started to just flow right along and everything got a lot better.”

RE: Would you say you’re equally proficient as a receiver and as a blocker?

“I would say I’m pretty equal. I might be a little stronger in the blocking game than in the pass game. I think, when you look at the draft, I was one of the more well-rounded tight ends that was in the draft this year as far as both running and pass game go – and protection. Us tight ends, we don’t block a lot in protection, but when we do, we need to get the job done. And so, I think of my game as just well rounded all the way.”

RE: There’s a story going around that you were growling when you came out of your mother’s womb. Do you remember doing that?

“That’s just what I tell everybody when they ask me how I got the name Bear. I tell them I came out growling, ready to fight.”

RE: How would you describe toughness as it relates to your game? Can you define it Bear Pascoe style?

“I’d describe it as showing up to work every day and working hard, working through pain and injury, whatever it may be. Come to work with your hardhat on and get the job done. That’s one of the main things that I’ve hung my hat on these last couple years. Football’s a rough sport. There’s going to be injuries, but you have to play through them, play through the pain and learn how to handle it. And that’s probably one of my best attributes, is I’ve got a very high pain tolerance. I can handle whatever happens. That’s one of the definitions, Bear Pascoe style anyway.”

RE: The 49ers lost one of their blocking tight ends to free agency. Do you see a nice opportunity there to get playing time right away as a rookie?

“I’m darn sure going to try. I’m looking forward to meeting up with the guys, Vernon Davis and everybody and starting to jell with those guys and learn from them. They’ve been there longer than I have, so, I’ve got to know my spot. But, I’m darn sure going to come in and play my best and work as hard as I can, and play as a rookie. That’d be great. That’s my plan right now and that’s what I look forward to do.”

RE: One scouting service called you the best kick-coverage player in the nation. Can you tell us what that’s all about?

“Kick-coverage?”

RE: Yeah.

“I was never on the kickoff team, but I blocked six kicks in my career. So, that’s probably what he’s talking about.”

RE: Were those field goals?

“Yeah, all field goals and extra points. We just have got to – special teams is just one of those things we hang our hats on at Fresno State. And coach John Baxter there, he allows us players to be really involved in the scheme each week and allows us to really break down the film and look for the weaknesses ourselves and takes our input. I’ve been lucky to be in the right spot at the right time and being able to get the job done when it needs to get done.”

With the 184th pick of the NFL Draft, the San Francisco 49ers select Bear Pascoe, TE, Fresno State

Fooch — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 20:28:28 -0000

With the 11th pick of the 6th round, the San Francisco 49ers select Bear Pascoe, the aptly named tight end out of Fresno State. This was a guy I was thinking the 49ers might draft, but I wonder if it's a round too early for what will essentially be a blocking tight end in the mold of Billy Bajema.

Here's a scouting report from Draft Countdown:

Strengths: Great height with a large frame and adequate bulk...Super tough...Has reliable hands...Excellent blocker both on the move and in-line...Runs with power after the catch...Smart...Good awareness...A hard worker.

Weaknesses: Stiff and is not very athletic...Timed speed is well below average...Not very strong...Isn't a vertical threat and won't stretch the field...Doesn't get much separation...Not very elusive...Poor leaper...Limited upside.

A rather unique video of Bear Pascoe after the jump.

49ers Mock Draft: Seven Rounds, Nine Picks

briandean — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 18:27:27 -0000

More photos » by Scott Walstrom - AP

Northern Illinois defensive end Larry English could get his name called by the 49ers this weekend. (AP Photo/Northern Illinois University Imaging Services, Scott Walstrom, File)

Browse more photos »

As acting draft dude here at Niners Nation I should probably go on record with my official predictions on what the 49ers will come away with this weekend. Keep in mind, any resemblance to the actual outcome of the draft is purely coincidence. We (as in anybody who thinks they have the foggiest idea what might happen) are most likely all about to get our collective minds blown by what transpires for real.

1. Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss - OT is the most likely position here due mostly to the fact that there are 4 highly rated OTs and they can't all go in the first 9 picks. Mix that with the (F)ysical style of team Singletary is trying to put together and OT makes the most sense. Raji, Orakpo will most likely be gone while other defensive players like Brown and Jenkins seem to have fallen out of consideration at 10. So, OT it is, could be Oher or Smith, but I'll take the higher character/work ethic guy every time. And the 49ers were reportedly very impressed with Oher in a private visit. Crossing your fingers for Crabtree isn't completely insane.

Three teams drafting in the top-ten picks tell the National Football Post that Ole Miss OT Michael Oher will not fall past the 49ers at No. 10.

The 49ers reportedly "love" Oher and Mike Lombardi says he may go as high as Oakland at No. 7. The Packers would certainly give Oher a look at No. 9.

2. Larry English, OLB, Northern Illinois - I have finally talked myself into being okay with not taking a pass rusher at #10. If enough teams follow suit we could still get a good one in round 2. English is a beast at 6-2, 255 with a good burst, good strength for an OLB and great motor. Could become a Lamar Woodley type player with ten sack per year potential. Other possibilties are Connor Barwin and Michael Johnson or moving back into the 1st to get a falling Everette Brown (yes, please). DB, RB, OT (if we pass on one at #10) and a WR like Harvin, Britt, Nicks or Robiske are all possibilities as well.

3. Ramses Barden, WR, Cal Poly - I like Barden, but he is not without faults. It's possible that some team is in love with him and snatches him up in round 2, but I don't think it's very likely. We've discussed Barden many times, so enough about him. Today McCloughan mentioned he'd like to add a WR with speed, so maybe Barden doesn't fit the bill. This also might be the last chance to grab a starting caliber OT if someone like Phil Loadholt falls. CB, RB are again considerations.

4. Coye Francies, CB, San Jose State - I've been on the Francies bandwagon for a while now. Unfortunately for him, he only ran a 4.63 on the slow combine track. He still matches up well with size and quickness and had a good showing at the Senior Bowl. Can replace Donal Strickland on special teams and has potential for more. Again RB has to be considered, but there are just too many available to pass on these other positions.

5a. James Davis, RB, Clemson - Okay, here's your running back. Happy? This might be the best pick, value wise, to strike on a RB. I agree with the Scouts, Inc. mock draft and select Davis here. His stock has been falling, but he fits nicely with the description of what McSing is looking for in Gore's backup.

5b. Devin Moore, RB/WR/KR, Wyoming - The extra compensatory picks allow the 49ers to get creative. Moore certainly doesn't fit McCloughan's big man criteria at 5-10, 187, but he does give the 49ers a potential big play threat and return man. Wyoming's all-time leading rusher was snubbed for a combine invite, but threw down a 4.33 at his pro day.

6. Mike Reilly, QB, Central Washington - Another hold over from my mock in January. I liked him already and thought he would be a good developmental QB, but then came this little nugget from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, so you know McCloughan likes him too....second-tier?

"One of the coaches asked me that -- 'Coming from Division II, how is it coming to this combine?' " Reilly said this week. "I told him straight up, 'Hey, I think I'm the best quarterback in this year's draft.'

"I think I caught him off guard, because he looked at me kind of funny. Then I said, 'Hey, I'm not projected as a first-rounder. I'm coming from a small school. But if I don't have that kind of confidence, I'm never going to be able to compete at this level.' "

Score one for the big-armed quarterback from the little school in Ellensburg.

"You've got to love a kid with an attitude like that," said Scot McCloughan, general manager for the San Francisco 49ers.

But the 49ers rank players in three tiers, and they consider Reilly a second-tier player -- which puts him into the late third- to fifth-round category.

"I hear a lot of positive things about him," McCloughan said. "Our scouts think he's a pretty good prospect. Not a high-round guy, but a middle-round guy that's got some upside."

7a. Bear Pascoe, TE, Fresno State - Pascoe is your basic blue-collar type tight end. He won't do much in the passing game, but he can catch it if thrown his way. His calling card will be as a blocker. Solid replacement for former 7th rounder Billy Bajema.

7b. Michael Mitchell, S, Ohio - Mitchell is a sleeper safety from Ohio University. He's got great size (6-0, 221) and speed (4.45) and is a big hitter. Mitchell is unranked on a lot of draft websites. He's a guy who could impact special teams right away and has considerable upside.

Don't like it? Ask me tomorrow and I'll probably have a different opinion.

YouTube Saturday: Day Two tight end options

Brian Galliford — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 13:30:08 -0000

It's Saturday at Buffalo Rumblings, which means it's time for another version of YouTube Saturday. Today, we'll look at five day two tight end prospects in this year's NFL Draft that might pique the interest of our Buffalo Bills. And only four of them were collegians last year!

James Casey (Rice), Travis Beckum (Wisconsin), Jared Cook (South Carolina), Bear Pascoe (Fresno State) and Tony Scheffler (Denver Broncos) are profiled here. As always, these haven't been screened for NSFW music, so keep the volume low just to keep it safe.

Four more videos for you after the jump.

TE, Bear Pascoe, Fresno State

Jeremy Bolander — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 21:46:25 -0000

TE, Bear Pascoe, Fresno State

At A Glance
Position 1: Tight End	Height: 6-5
Position 2:	Weight: 251
Class: Senior	Age:
Projected Round: 6th-7th	40time: 4.96

Combine/Proday Results
Bench Reps: X	Vertical: 28.5
20yd Split: 2.87	Broad Jump: 8'11"
10yd Split: 1.69	20yd Shuttle: 4.56
3 Cone Drill: 7.65

Pros: Good frame for the position. Good bulk and overall strength as a blocker. Uses his hands and leverage well as a blocker and provides as much effort as a blocker as he does as a receiver. Puts smaller defenders on their back and plays through the whistle. Able to reach linebackers at the second level. Former quarterback who understands where the holes are on the defense. Solid route-running in the short to intermediate zones. Uses his body to shield defenders. Natural hands catcher who can who fight for the ball and can track over his shoulder. Bullish runner who fights for extra yardage.

Cons: Not an elite athlete in the Kellen Winslow mold. Lacks the straight-line speed to threaten the seam against NFL talent. Takes a few steps to get to top speed. Flashes the ability to make tough receptions with defenders draped over him, but needs to continue to work in this area. Leans forward when blocking, and needs to improve his balance facing stronger defenders. Defensive backs use their quickness to elude him while blocking in the open field.

Around MHR:

From "Tales from the Sunnyside: Bear Pascoe" :

You could make an argument that the toughest player in this year's draft is Fresno State TE Bear Pascoe. His given name is McKenna Sean Pascoe (son of Sean Pascoe, the former Colorado State linebacker), but his relatives insist that the nickname came as an infant when they noted his size and said that he "came out growling". He's now 6'5" and 260 pounds. As a ball player, Pascoe is said to lack subtlety. He lacks top-end speed. He doesn't care, either. He isn't interested in running away from linebackers and defensive backs. He prefers just running them over. Gifted with excellent hands, a nasty football demeanor and top skills as a blocker, McKenna Bear Pascoe is the total package for those who are looking for a tight end who's both ravenous and skilled.

Around SBNation:

Highlights:

Scouting Reports and Offsite Links:

Pascoe was not as pleased with his showing at the combine. In Indy, he ran a 4.95-second 40-yard dash. On Wednesday, Pascoe improved his time to a 4.82 second 40, which could make the difference in a signing bonus or a spot on the practice squad.

“I felt that I did very good [at the pro day],” Pascoe said. “I improved my times from Indy and that was my main goal.” [see more...]
Is a powerful, well-built tight end with a solid frame and good strength as a blocker. Showcases good technique and does a nice job getting his hands inside and driving defenders down the field. Is a former QB who knows how to find soft spots in zone coverage. A clean route runner underneath. [see more...]
McKenna "Bear" Pascoe is a throwback tight end with good receiving skills to move the chains as well as the size and strength to contribute as a run blocker. He had 85 catches for 953 yards and eight touchdowns over the past two seasons, earning first-team All-WAC in 2007 and second-team honors as a senior. He earns his nickname by running tough after contact and doubling as an award-winning cowboy (calf roping). Also a standout special team performer, Pascoe blocked six kicks over his career, including two in 2008. [see more...]

Tales from the SunnySide: Bear Pascoe

Emmett Smith — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 21:00:10 -0000

McKenna Bear Pascoe

Among the many things that conventional wisdom says that you can't coach, high on that list is toughness. It's an innate quality that some players have and some don't. Broncos fans love it, and point to such young players as Ryan Clady, Peyton Hillis and Wesley Woodyard as well as older ones such as instant favorite Casey Wiegmann.

Toughness is getting better in the 4^th quarter. Toughness is Weapon X, three-way player Spencer Larsen and Elvis Dumervil. Toughness wins ballgames.

You could make an argument that the toughest player in this year's draft is Fresno State TE Bear Pascoe. His given name is McKenna Sean Pascoe (son of Sean Pascoe, the former Colorado State linebacker), but his relatives insist that the nickname came as an infant when they noted his size and said that he "came out growling". He's now 6'5" and 260 pounds. As a ball player, Pascoe is said to lack subtlety. He lacks top-end speed. He doesn't care, either. He isn't interested in running away from linebackers and defensive backs. He prefers just running them over. Gifted with excellent hands, a nasty football demeanor and top skills as a blocker, McKenna Bear Pascoe is the total package for those who are looking for a tight end who's both ravenous and skilled.

Continued inside

Need proof? Hillis earned a name for himself, in part, by dragging his pickup while in high school, needing a challenge and a better workout. Pascoe spends his offseasons as a rodeo cowboy, roping and wrestling calves. He arrives at those events in a diesel-powered pickup truck that he won in a roping competition at just 15 years of age. Too young to drive it home, he had to ask his sister to help him out. No one laughed.

In his honor, Walterfootball.com has proposed a new rule:

"New rule: If you have a guy named "Bear" on your team, you automatically win 10 games. No questions asked. The Bear was fourth on the Bulldogs with 22 catches and second with 307 receiving yards."

Bear lost some ground on the draft during the 2008 season when he was plagued by an ankle injury that wouldn't heal. That didn't stop him from achieving All-American status and becoming a John Mackey Award Candidate in his senior year. He was also a returning first-team All-WAS player, the 1^st in Fresno State history. He had a total of 85 catches for 953 yards and eight touchdowns over the past two seasons, and earned first-team All-WAC in 2007 and second-team honors in 2008.

If his expertise at roping (which he learned from his competitive-roper father at the tender age of 5) doesn't convince you of his athleticism, the fact that he came to the Bulldogs as a quarterback might. He has a tight physique, powerful and well-built even at 260 lbs (he recently weighted in at 250 and 253, so there is some variance). His upper arms and shoulders are long and massive. He is one of the strongest tight ends in the draft, a dominating blocker and would be an instant performer on special teams, where he blocked four kicks over his collegiate career (nfl.com lists six), two of them last season.

Michael Pierce did a scouting report on him:

Pascoe's aggressive attitude and overall strength are his big assets. He plays with a killer instinct when blocking, going after passes in traffic, or with the ball trying to run you over to pick more yards. Pascoe's hands are outstanding; he catches the ball strong away from the body which allows him to make tough catches in traffic and with bodies draped on him.

He understands the importance of running good routes and applies himself to studying getting even better. He brings his intellect and knowledge from his QB days to reading and overpowering the defense, and quickly reaching the second level to in the fervent hope that he will get to level some ‘backers. He does take about three steps to reach top speed. After that, he's very hard to stop.

CBS Sports says,

"Good frame for the position. Good bulk and overall strength as a blocker. Uses his hands and leverage well as a blocker and provides as much effort as a blocker as he does as a receiver. Puts smaller defenders on their back and plays through the whistle. Able to reach linebackers at the second level. Former quarterback who understands where the holes are on the defense. Solid route-running in the short to intermediate zones. Uses his body to shield defenders. Natural hands catcher who can who fight for the ball and can track over his shoulder. Bullish runner who fights for extra yardage."

As a talented receiver who can catch the ball in traffic, Pascoe has soft hands and a hard attitude. NFLdraftguys.com added,

"Once he secures the pass he immediately looks for a defender to punish, and he knows how to lower his shoulders and deliver a forearm blow. Bear is a big target that can be a devastating blocker once his hands are in place."

"But," they added, "He's not incredibly athletic, and his aggressive play style can work against him when he's asked to block downfield."

It's an odd statement, because it's hard to say that a prize winning rodeo champion who was a star QB and is an All-American TE isn't athletic. It's understandable, though, because his natural athleticism didn't translate to good Combine numbers and Bear's draft stock took a hit. Pascoe said his goal was to run the 40-yard dash in the 4.7-second range, but that fell to 4.95 and 4.97. He improved his numbers on his recent Pro Day, though, and ran the 40 in 4.89 and 4.90, shaving off a tenth of a second. He also posted a 30.5-inch vertical, 9-foot, 4-inch broad jump, 4.52 short shuttle, 7.19 three-cone drill, and 14 bench-press reps. His long arms work well for shoving aside linebackers, but they doesn't translate well to the bench. If you doubt his power, though, just look at the film.

There are two sides to every coin, and Bear's natural aggresiveness can play against him. He can get out of position whie blocking in space, but that can be remedied by good coaching and the use of his natural football intelligence, which is considerable. He also played linebacker during HS, so he brings the awareness of three positions to the party. The film on him playing special teams brings immediate interest. He'll start there right away.

Speaking of film, he has two YouTubes that can be seen. In the first, he teaches you how to twirl a lariat. The second is of the infamous Mud Bowl highlights, which can be seen here. Bear just isn't your ordinary kind of guy.

Most have Pascoe dropping to the second day of the draft. He's been listed as high as 3rd among TEs, but usually lists out at about 9th. The more I watched and read, the more I thought that this is a triumph of the Combine over the skill level. While I understand, and generally agree that the Combine is a job interview and the tests are among the basic skills that a player should have in addition to his film, sometimes you see a man who is a football player. You know that he's going to love NFL special teams and you know that he's going to start. It's far more a question of when and where than whether.

Bear Pascoe is one of those players. He will need to get stronger in the weight room and he should try to work on his speed. His routes are good for college, but will have to be great at the next level. Still, he plays faster than he times and you just can't teach the kind of toughness that he has: Bear Pascoe has toughness like an irritable grizzly with fleas and a bad rash in the springtime before he eats. He's hungry, he's seriously determined and you really don't want to be in his way. Walterfootball.com jibed,

5/23/08: The Bear improved tremendously in 2007, collecting 45 receptions, 553 yards and four touchdowns. He also ate nine defenders.

If it takes until Day 2 of the draft, as most predict, some team is going to get a steal. If Bear Pascoe goes to Chicago, they are going to give him the keys to the city.

This story was written by MHR request - thanks, styg! If you have a player, coach or topic that you feel would make a good Tales, please email Doc at mhrtales@gmail.com