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Day 1
[1-10] WR Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech
[3-74] RB Glen Coffee, Alabama
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Day 2
[5-146] ILB Scott McKillop, Pittsburgh
[5-171] QB Nate Davis, Ball State
[6-184] TE Bear Pascoe, Fresno State
[7-219] FS Curtis Taylor, LSU
[7-244] DT Ricky Jean-Francois, LSU
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Did the day 2 of the Draft always start at 7:00 AM? I'm not surprised that I got up at 6:45 AM but I am surprised how easy it was to get up. Calling it early last night probably helped. Anyway, rounds 1 and 2 were riveting and filled with drama, mystery, suspense, surprises, disappointments (especially for Raiders and Broncos fans), and a lot of happy 49ers fans. I would've blogged everything last night but I was swept up in the rivetingness of the Michael Crabtree pick. So for now, I'll be blogging my thoughts as Day carries on...
• With the first pick of Day 2, the New York Jets trade up and select RB Shonn Greene. This is huge because Greene is the first of the 3 mid-round RBs that I had the Niners targeting to be selected. Greene's powerful running style would have been enough to warrant a 2nd round pick so I believe the Jets got some very good value. Is he really better than the other 2 RBs that were projected to be picked around this time (Andre Brown & Rashad Jennings)? From a production perspective (the most imporant perspective), I'd say yes. Andre Brown didn't produce much on the field and Rashad Jennings never didn't show a lot against top tier competition. Either way, one of those two should surely be available at #43, where the Niners should be strongly considering picking one of them.
• With the 43rd selection of the 2009 NFL Draft, the San Francisco 49ers select... RB Glen Coffee. Well Scotty Mac just put me in my place. Yes, I'm a little surprised. Disappointed? Not at all. In a way, this pick justifies my analysis from earlier. The two knocks I explained on Andre Brown and Rashad Jennings were lack of production and lack of experience against top competition, respectively. Scotty McCloughan has said many times that the #1 source in determining a player's value is the game tape. Take away the Combine numbers and all the measurables, and just compare these 3 players' game footage, and Glen Coffee would surely come out as the best RB. While he doesn't necessarily fit the build of the type of RB that McC was looking for, he plays BIG and can afford to pack on some muscle. He's not as big as Brown and Jennings, but he plays like he is as big, if not bigger. More importantly, he produced as an All-American in the toughest conference in college football, something the other two did not come close to. I've gotta hand it to Scotty to sticking to his guns and picking a power RB that can complement Gore and can help in rotation. Now, another question: If Shonn Green were still on the board, would he have been the pick? As much as I like the Coffee pick, it'd be hard to believe that he was rated higher than Greene.
• "I love contact... If I see you in the hole, I won't think twice about lowering my head... I think I'd like to put on more pounds, and I can carry more pounds. I'd like to get up to 220, 218 ([pounds]." -- Glenn Coffee, RB. Also, Coffee wears a full cage face mask on his helmet. Players of his position don't wear full cages unless they plan on hitting people hard and often.
• Since the Niners don't pick for a while, it'll be pointless to predict who they'll go for with their next selection. They still have needs on the O-line, especially at RT. OG Duke Robinson, OG Herman Johnson, OT Gerald Cadogan, and OT Fenuki Tupou can all contribute to a line in need of depth. However, it's very possible that all four will be picked by the time the Niners are back on the board. The Niners are also expected to draft a PSR at some point. OLB Lawrence Sidbury, a workout warrior, has yet to find a team, although I question his ability to stand up in the 3-4. Also, the team should address the need for future replacements of ILB Takeo Smikes and CB Walt Harris. ILB Jasper Brinkley, ILB Scott McKillop, ILB Darry Beckwith, ILB Worrell Williams, ILB Josh Mauga, ILB Antonio Appleby, and ILB Frantz Joseph all fit the role needed to be a thumper in the 3-4. With the depth of players at the position, I think the team can afford to address it with later. Also, another surprise of the draft is the fall of CB DJ Moore, who was ranked as a top 5 CB entering the draft. His drop is a little odd, but there must be a reason behind it and it'll be interested to see which team takes a chance on him. Whoever it is will be getting a very talented CB. Other quality guys at the position would be San Jose native Coye Francies, Macho Harris, Mike Mickens, and Greg Toler. Finally, both McC and Sing have stated their desire to add another QB. There are some guys still available, but you'd have to think the 49ers might be looking to address the need next year, maybe with one of their 1st rounders...
• A RB duo as dynamic as Frank Gore and Glen Coffee must have a nickname. I think Matt Barrows nailed it with his proposed nickname: Frank and Beans.• Yesterday, the 49ers traded their 2nd and 4th round picks (43 and 111) to the Panthers for their 2010 1st round pick. With those picks, the Panthers have selected DE Everette Brown and RB Mike Goodson. Brown is a PSR that a lot of 49er fans coveted. However, I've always thought of him as a one-dimensional defensive player with poor measurables. Yes, the production was there, but it was inconsistent. I'm glad the 49ers decided to pass on him. If only Rey Maualuga lasted two more picks... With #111, the Panthers then selected RB Mike Goodson. Goodson came in for a visit with the 49ers prior to the draft. However, he doesn't fit the mold of a power RB at all and is known more for his speed and agility. Now the real question: Would you rather have DE Everette Brown and RB Mike Goodson or an extra 1st round pick in the 2010 Draft. I'd go with the first rounder with 3% hesitation. Next year's draft will be a lot deeper, and I believe we'll still be able to address our other needs with the remaining picks.
• Just saw a clip of QB Rhett Bomar, who's being portrayed as an acclaimed prospect. I never want to see him in a 49ers uniform. The guy has Phillip Rivers douchebag written all over him. Plus, his accuracy sucks and I don't see him becoming a very succesful QB in the NFL.
• I'm highly caffeinated, restless, and too antsy to study so I'm gonna blog a little more. For those curious, I had my top 10 looking like this:
1. OLB Aaron Curry, Wake Forest
2. WR Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech
3. OT Jason Smith, Baylor
4. OT Eugene Monroe, Virginia
5. QB Matt Stafford, Georgia
6. QB Mark Sanchez, USC
7. DE Tyson Jackson, LSU
8. DT BJ Raji, Boston College
9. DE Brian Orakpo, Texas
10. OT Andre Smith, Bama
Thus, I'm ecstatic that we were able to grab Crabtree. It's not a huge need, but again, you NEVER draft for need in the 1st unless the BPA fills a position of need.
• With the 146th selection of the 2009 NFL Draft, the San Francisco 49ers select... ILB Scott McKillop. With guys like OG Duke Robinson and OT Fenuki Tupou on the board, I expected the 49ers to draft an O-lineman with this pick. Regardless, I was very happy with this selection. Out of all the ILBs I listed earlier, McKillop is the most complete prospect. He's highly intelligent and the most productive player on one of the best defenses in the nation. He's not as explosive as some of the other guys, but at this point, he's probably the better linebacker and is more likely to contribute right away. This is critical because TKO has a concerning injury history and the team might need McKillop's to contribute sooner than later.
• Two picks in a row, the Eagles have stolen away two players that I've been targetting since the offseason began: CB Macho Harris and OT Fenuki Tupou. I'm guessing O-line with the next pick. Some players to look out for: Gerald Cadogan, Cornelius Lewis, and Duke Robinson. I take that back. Panthers just took Duke Robinson.
• With the 171st selection of the 2009 NFL Draft, the San Francisco 49ers select... QB Nate Davis. And there you have it folks. Everyone knew the Niners were going to take a QB. The Niners HAD to take a QB. It was definitely a need, even though the degree of need varied depending on who you talked to. I believe the 5th round was the perfect spot to grab one. I had the Niners selecting him at this exact pick in my mock draft. He has tremendous talent, questionable technique, a concerning learning disability, and plenty of time to learn Jimmy Raye's offense, which should fit Davis well. Another pick, I'm genuinely happy about.
• 49ers are on the clock. They're going to take an O-lineman named Gerald Cadogan. I'm calling it. I'm probably wrong.
• ...and I was wrong. With the 184th selection of the 2009 NFL Draft, the San Francisco 49ers select... TE Bear Pascoe. A lot of people in the 49ers organization, including fans and reporter, wanted this guy in a 49ers uniform. With the departure of blocking specialist Billy Bajema, a blocking TE became a big need going into the offseason. If anything, that's what Bear excels at. Coffee + Bear means the 49ers running game just got a whole lot better. I had the Niners picking him in the 7th round, but obviously the 49ers valued him much more. Again, it's a pick I love, but I'm a little concerned about the lack of upgrades on both sides of the line.
• One round left to go... I'm loving this draft so far. Target players for the last two picks: CB Coye Francies, OT Gerald Cadogan, OT Cornelius Lewis, DT Myron Pryor, LB Nick Reed, OLB Phillip Hunt, OLB Sulak Stryker. Who do I want? By now, I've already claimed my desire to get Cadogan, but I also really like Reed, the Ducks career sacks leader. He reminds me of Parys Haralson as another pass rusher with a blue collar attitude.
• With the 219th selection of the 2009 NFL Draft, the San Francisco 49ers select... FS Curtis Taylor. Many, many mock drafts ago, I had the Niners selecting Taylor at this exact pick. I started to wane on my prediction due to my belief that FS wasn't as big of a need anymore and that Curtis Taylor's ability as a FS wasn't enough for him to make much of an impact. However, as Coach Sing said in his end of season press conference, finding a FS with some range would be a priority at some point in the offseason. Even with the emergence of Dashon Goldson, depth is needed, especially if Mark Roman leaves. It would also allow Reggie Smith to go back to CB, where some depth is also needed. Not my favorite pick of the draft, but Taylor has all the tools of a prototypical FS with the range, ball skills, and explosive hitting ability.
• I got lazy and I didn't finish this post. The Niners picked DT Ricky Jean-Francois with their last pick.
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