Like most fans I am keeping track of all movements that are going on in the NFL, whether it's CBA news, 2011 prospects and of course free agents. Recently more and more franchise tags are being used to ensure teams keep their best players. New England was first to act even though there is uncertainty with CBA talks not taking place and NFLPA officials questioning the validity of the franchise tags. Regardless I have listed the players tagged so far and will keep updating this as we hear more information:

Continue reading this post »

After the 21-0 defeat at home by the Bucs and the first shutout since 1977 I started to think about where this team really needs to improve to avoid another horrible loss  I expect the Packers to wipe the floor with the team that played on today. After the jump I will rank the positions that need improvement and should be addressed as crucial to turn this team around to what we have been expecting to see for the past 8 years... a contender.. I will only include my top three choices for each position.

Continue reading this post »

I am all for intensity and Fisical football, but this team cannot run on rah rah coaching. Singletary needs to take a step back and become a coach. If he cannot do it we at least know where we can find a pregame or halftime motivator. Someone needs to teach these players how to win and if Singletary can't teach, only motivate..., I believe Coach Gruden and Cowher are available and can do both.

Continue reading this post »

Initially this great nugget posted by Ninjames made me wonder why this topic has not been discussed in detail as we approach the 8th of June where Santa Clara's voters will hit the polls and vote either yes or no on Measure J. Voters will decide the fate of a much  needed New Stadium for this great franchise who is among the storied franchises in sports but have failed to built the facility that it deserves as well as received any type of help in the past or in the future from the NFL (@ 6:25 interview talks about the 49ers stadium) who has prospered in due part to the success of this great franchise in the 80s.  But I digress, as the Press Democrat mentions the naming rights to the stadium will be key to the stadium's principle financing. which brings the main objective of this post. Who do you think will have the best chance of naming a new 49er stadium in the bay area.

    With 4 days and counting until this year's draft I wanted to post this last draft to get a sense of what others might feel a reach may be and to evaluate myself on how close I can get to the actual picks. So enjoy and go at it....

     1 (1)    Rams- Sam Bradford QB                     
    2 (2)    Lions- Ndamukong Suh DT                    
    3 (3)    Buccaneers- Gerald McCoy DT                
    4 (4)    Redskins - Trent Williams OT                
    5 (5)    Chiefs- Rolando McClain ILB                         
    6 (6)    Seahawks - Russell Okung LT                      
    7 (7)    Browns- Eric Berry S                  
    8 (8)    Raiders - Bruce Campbell OT              
    9 (9)     Bills - Bryan Bulaga OT                   
    10 (10) Jaguars - Joe Haden CB                        
    11 (11) Eagles from Broncos via Bears - Earl Thomas S     
    12 (12) Dolphins- Dan Williams NT                           
    13 (13) Broncos from 49es via Eagles-Maurkice Pouncey C/OG                    
    14 (14) Seahawks(From Broncos) - C.J. Spiller RB                
    15 (15) Giants    - Mike Iupati OG              
    16 (16) Titans    - Derrick Morgan DE                     
    17 (17) 49ers (From Panthers)- Devin McCourty CB                        
    18 (18) Steelers     - Anthony Davis LT                       
    19 (19) Falcons    -  Pierre-Paul DE                   
    20 (20) Texans    - Ryan Matthews RB                         
    21 (21) Bengals    - Jermaine Gresham TE                        
    22 (22) Patriots    - Dez Bryant WR Brandon Graham OLB                         
    23 (23) Packers    - Kyle Wilson CB                                 
    24 (24) 49ers from Broncos via Eagles (and 45th pick)- Rodger Saffold OT                 
    25 (25) Ravens    - Jared Odrick DT                       
    26 (26) Cardinals    - Charles Brown OT                          
    27 (27) Cowboys    -  Terrence Cody NT                              
    28 (28) Chargers    - Taylor Mays S                            
    29 (29) Jets    -  Sergio Kindle OLB                     
    30 (30) Vikings    - Jimmy Clausen QB                
    31 (31) Colts    -   Brian Price DT             
    32 (32) Saints    - Sean Weatherspoon OLB

After the jump I have the 49ers picks from rounds 1-3 with explanations of why they would be the best pick and  trade. Also for rounds 4-7 I see players taken from the following positions: OLB, CB (again), and RB maybe even a FB (Manase Tonga)

Continue reading this post »

What if? Now if you thought the headline was breaking news [howtheyscored changed it so you wouldn't be confused]. We have options this upcoming draft and trade-able players in Lawson, Jones and possibly Clements. As I read this article this morning, I started thinking about what to do with the 2 picks in the 1st round and possibly trade players.

Continue reading this post »

I was roaming around NFL.com searching for anything that had 49ers news. It seems everything was injuries and bad practices, so to cheer me up, I started looking at some photos and I made a discovery. The state of Florida have the best looking cheerleaders. Don't get me wrong I am a big fan of our Gold Rush but if I'm ever in Florida I think I'll buy tickets just to watch these girls move. So then I pose this question who has the best Cheerleaders??

According to Espn the Browns traded their #6 Overall pick in the 2004 draft, Kellen Winslow to the Bucs. Obviously they did not see enough production from their starting TE to keep him around for another year. This brings to mind another high draft pick at the TE position who has not met expectations from his team or fans. Let's remember Winslow only played 2 games his rookie and sophomore seasons so they have played the same amount of years. To compare stats:

                                    KELLEN WINSLOW                                  VERNON DAVIS

                                               6 yrs                                                            4yrs

                      (played 2 games from 2004-2005)

Games:                                      44                                                             37

Receptions:                             219                                                          103

Yards:                                    2,459                                                       1,132

Touchdowns:                             11                                                             9

With Delanie Walker as a back up and potential starter can VD be seen as trading bait in 2010 if he has decent numbers in the 2009 or 2010 season as his contract expires? All eyes will be on VD this year, if his production does not improve look for history to repeat itself and the niners be rewarded with a couple of draft picks for the 2010 or 2011 draft.

EDITOR'S NOTE 12:25pm - The 49ers defense is clearly becoming a matter of urgent concern.  I've wanted to open this area up for discussion and this FanPost seems like a perfect way to do it.  My opinion is that I'm willing to give the team the MNF game after the bye before completely losing faith.  I'm hoping that the big issue is scheming and the Seahawks game was simply the final breath of the Nolan regime. 

I realize the pass rush is atrociously bad, but not every good defense has a great pass rush.  I simply think adjustments can be made in terms of blitzes and whatnot to compensate for the pass rush.  Of course, if they give up another 30+ points I'll go stand in the corner.  Thanks to bayboy for posting this.

__________________________________

Through the Nolan administration we have seen the defense develop into young, hard hitting, athletic unit with a fast paced style of play... (Willis fits into all these catergories, but we've seen flashes from others on D).. but the rankings have not shown it. We can always come back to the same argument, inconsistency from the QB and OL positions as well as a dismal group of receivers.

This year the offense is "ok" or better yet average but the D seems to be sloping downward. Why? We can thank our FA acquisition Justin Smith and McDonald's promising pre-season prompting the D's scheme to be altered. With McDonald's injury and this scheme not working, will this promote a resurgence of the pure 3-4 scheme used for the most part last year, or will we continue to see the same hybrid 3-4/4-3 we have been seeing this year?

I hope Coach Singletary can make a couple of changes during the bye week by promoting and starting Goldson at FS and Haralson at OLB. Does anyone see these changes happening? Any thoughts on what has caused the defense to go from "promising" to what has now been referenced by Florida Danny as a "swiss cheese" defense?