Niners' Moves Should Result in Playoff Appearance
Team-By-Team Offseason Roundup
San Francisco 49ers
Players Released:
Antonio Bryant, WR
Renauld Williams, LB
Free Agents Lost:
Jeremy Newberry, C
Eric Johnson, TE
Sammy Davis, CB
Lance Legree, DT
Anthony Adams, DT
Deke Cooper, S
Mike Adams, S
Traded For:
Darrell Jackson, WR
Free Agents Re-Signed:
Bryan Gilmore, WR
Moran Norris, FB
Tony Wragge, OL
Hannibal Navies, LB
Free Agents Added:
Nate Clements, CB
Michael Lewis, S
Aubrayo Franklin, DT
Ashley Lelie, WR
Tully Banta-Cain, LB
Colby Bockwoldt, LB
Draft:
Rd. 1 (No. 11 overall) Patrick Willis, LB, Mississippi
1 (28) Joe Staley, T, Central Michigan
3 (76) Jason Hill, WR, Washington State
3 (97) Ray McDonald, DE, Florida
4 (104) Jay Moore, DE, Nebraska
4 (126) Dashon Goldson, S, Washington
4 (135) Joe Cohen, DT, Florida
5 (147) Tarell Brown, CB, Texas
6 (186) Thomas Clayton, RB, Kansas State
Analysis:
The San Francisco 49ers were on the verge of being a playoff contender last season, and no team in the league has done more this offseason to improve itself.
The 49ers were aggressive in free agency, particularly when they handed out an eight-year, $80 million contract to cornerback Nate Clements. They also made significant free agent moves by signing safety Michael Lewis, defensive tackle Aubrayo Franklin, linebacker Tully Banta-Cain and wide receiver Ashley Lelie.
They traded for veteran wideout Darrell Jackson, and they remained aggressive during the draft by trading up for a second first-round pick. That yielded Central Michigan offensive tackle Joe Staley to go with Mississippi linebacker Patrick Willis, whom the 49ers had gotten with the 11th overall selection.
The result should be a playoff participant. Willis gives the club a sure tackler around which to build the defense, and Clements and Lewis greatly solidify the secondary. Staley can immediately become a security blanket for young quarterback Alex Smith, and Lelie and Jackson give him a set of receivers with both speed and reliability. Tailback Frank Gore and tight end Vernon Davis make for a varied, dangerous offense. It might be a bit of a stretch to think the 49ers can vie for NFC supremacy quite yet, but this clearly is the conference's rising power.
By Mark Maske |
June 4, 2007; 10:29 AM ET
| Category:
49ers
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Posted by: Gonzo, MD | June 4, 2007 11:24 AM
I meant to say division, not conference. The NFC West.
Posted by: Gonzo, MD | June 4, 2007 11:26 AM
I have nothing against the Niners, but I'm hoping for something like 6-10 this season which would give the Pats around the 10th pick in the 2008 draft to go along with their own first rounder (I'm not going to claim that'll be the 32nd, but I can hope).
Posted by: PatsFan | June 4, 2007 11:27 AM
With so many changes on the 49ers roster it may take some time to gel, but by the end of the year, they will be one of the stronger teams in the NFC. They are built for a strong 3 - 5 years when this rookie crop and free agent crop added to the promising youth (Gore/Smith/Davis, etc) that they currently possess, have had a chance to grow as a team. 9-7 for '07, but lookout in '08 and beyond.
Posted by: nova4ess | June 4, 2007 2:02 PM
As another has said "there is nothing like an informed fan and Gonzo is clearly not".
If the Seahawks had been healthy last year instead of having their MVP RB on the limp, a revolving rotation at LG, C, RG, & RT, and their Pro Bowl QB out for 4+ games their conference result would have been better than just winning their division. In the end they were an OT FG away from going to conference finals as the loss to the Bears was close.
The NFC-W is better conference than most are prepared to admit. It is clear the 49ers are on the rise however they have a good ways to go. The Cards are each year annointed as being finally ready for prime time with their infusions of draft talent; and the Rams are steady at #2 never able to show much defensively. Of course it is easy to writeoff the Seahawks because they're a team from waaaaay out west so they must suck. If you take them lightly you do so in error. They are the class of the division by a very long way they will be there this year at the end. Just wait and see.
BTW the Seahawks beat the Rams in both divisional games but lost two games to the Niners. I'd be surprised if that happens with the Niners again this year.
Posted by: jammer | June 5, 2007 2:35 PM
As another has said "there is nothing like an informed fan and Gonzo is clearly not".
If the Seahawks had been healthy last year instead of having their MVP RB on the limp, a revolving rotation at LG, C, RG, & RT, and their Pro Bowl QB out for 4+ games their conference result would have been better than just winning their division. In the end they were an OT FG away from going to conference finals as the loss to the Bears was close.
The NFC-W is better conference than most are prepared to admit. It is clear the 49ers are on the rise however they have a good ways to go. The Cards are each year annointed as being finally ready for prime time with their infusions of draft talent; and the Rams are steady at #2 never able to show much defensively. Of course it is easy to writeoff the Seahawks because they're a team from waaaaay out west so they must suck. If you take them lightly you do so in error. They are the class of the division by a very long way they will be there this year at the end. Just wait and see.
BTW the Seahawks beat the Rams in both divisional games but lost two games to the Niners. I'd be surprised if that happens with the Niners again this year.
Posted by: jammer | June 5, 2007 2:35 PM
While the Seahawks did suffer a fair amount of injuries, so do most teams. It's not a good excuse it happens every year.
The Niners had a big O-line rotation as well since our top 2 lineman were injured the first quarter of game 1. The difference is the Niners have a ton of depth along the o-line, THAT makes a better team....depth.
So don't blame injuries.
That said, the seahawks are still the best in the division until they are unseated. If the niners get a few wins earlyon, be careful...because when they all start gelling, they will be a big threat to take the division.
Posted by: MasterShake | June 5, 2007 4:39 PM
If I by split with the Rams you mean Josh Brown ripping their hearts out in St.Louis and then losing to the two headed monster of Seneca Wallace and Mo Morris, than yes the Rams and the Seahawks split last year.
Rams haven't beat the Seahawks in 2 years.
Posted by: theguy | June 5, 2007 6:43 PM
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It's not much of a conference either. Seattle is the reigning power, but barely made the playoffs last year - they were swept by the 49ers and split their two games with the Rams. The Rams are - the Rams. They really need to be rebuilt. The Cardinals may be growing, but probably won't make the playoffs until next year. The way is clear for the 49ers if their performance matches their offseason hype frenzy ... then again ...