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TheDuke007 · 04-03-2022, 03:02 PM

(04-03-2022, 10:59 AM)Bullseye Wrote:
(04-02-2022, 11:22 AM)TheDuke007 Wrote: I will also start with Marty's as the base as I largely agree. My additional comments:

1. If we're using over 50% as the definition of a starter, I would predict Zay Jones as well. He'll surpass it as I think he'll likely start early in the year over a rookie and even if beat out mid-season, would still get significant playing time as a top reserve and a situational player

2. I agree with 2 immediate starters in the draft. I think we take Hutchinson who will start. I think an inside linebacker taken early would also be an immediate starter. I think a wide receiver and an interior offensive lineman would eventually become starters but may not win the job immediately against a veteran.

3. I would add Walker Little to the list of draft picks from last year that will probably move into a starting role this year.

4. The new starters this year are a combination of being a bad team last year and the fact that we had a lot of resources this year including a ton of salary cap space for free agents, extra draft picks and drafting first in each round. I don't see scheme change as a major factor. I largely see these as positions we would have wanted to upgrade anyway regardless of scheme.

5. I don't like Baalke, so I would consider Pederson's influence as a good thing, but I'm not sure I'm too focused on it. I'm confident that it will be a collaboration, so I think we're talking about shades of grey here.

6. I hated the decision to keep Baalke and will discuss it in a thread specifically related to him. However, I don't like being a "Negative Nancy". The decision on Baalke has been made. At this point, I largely work on the assumption that he will do the right thing. If he doesn't, I'll criticize him on draft day. As much as I dislike Baalke, honestly, my answer to these questions likely wouldn't be significantly different right now if we had someone else. You have to assume that the current GM will do the right thing.

7. Although I think we draft our center of the future, I don't think we draft our left guard of the future. I know you said one position, but I would also note for those that want us to draft a replacement safety for Jenkins that I don't think that is addressed either.

1. I would say based solely upon his prominence as a free agent, Jones could be a starter, though I don't have much faith in him (Zay Jones) at this stage.

2. We are in agreement about ILB. I think one thing Baalke has proven able to identify over the years, especially in the middle rounds, is linebacker (Navarro Bowman). As I theorized in a different thread, ILB is deep in this draft.

3. Agreed.

4. Agreed mostly with your analysis, here, with minor differences regarding the relationship between scheme and the changes in starters. The roster was so bad, we would have wanted to upgrade the positions anyway, I think scheme played a role in terms of the importance placed on different positions (i.e. Pederson's offense emphasizing the TE position). How long as this team needed to improve the TE position?

5. Fair answer, though I might caution against putting too much faith in the collaboration between Baalke and Pederson. Baalke supposedly did not collaborate with many of the other coaches in San Francisco.

7. That answer is somewhat curious, especially since Pederson has placed so much emphasis in the trenches throughout the offseason thus far. But of course, we have so many needs and, at the moment only 4 picks in the first three rounds, some position might go lower than one might think.

What do you find curious? Drafting a center or not drafting a guard? I see center as a big need. I think Shatley is a good backup caliber player, but not a quality starter. He will also be 31 by the time the season starts. Even if the rookie center can't beat out Shatley initially, he would provide valuable depth which we also desperately need at that position. It would also allow Shatley to move to guard if an injury were to occur. As far as not drafting a guard, it is a case of too many needs and not enough picks. I would take Hutchinson with the #1 overall pick. We then have 3 day two picks. I would predict wide receiver, inside linebacker and center in whatever order made sense. Which one of those positions would you replace with a guard?