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Thursday, May 6, 2010
The Best Month of the Year
April is the best sporting month of the year. You could argue that October is (and if it were October now, I would probably agree), but April is pretty amazing. NBA and NHL Playoffs are among us, and in the Bay Area, our Sharks are making mincemeat out of the rival Detroit Red Wings (I would like to write a more in-depth article on the Sharks, but I don't consider myself any kind of expert). The Warriors…ehh, not so much. Furthermore, Major League Baseball has begun, which allows Giants fans to mutter the words: “Maybe next year our offense will be better.”
If April was just filled with those three sports, I would still agree with my first statement. Fortunately, it’s not. The NFL Draft occurred two weeks ago, finishing off the quad-fecta of sports. The 49ers were one of four teams to have two picks in the first round, and they targeted their needs in a big way (and I mean BIG).
Prior to the draft, there were five essential needs that the 49ers needed to attack to not only win the NFC West (why are we so content with winning the worst division in football?), but most importantly, compete in the playoffs.
1. The Offensive Line: With Joe Staley already anchoring the blind side and Eric Heitmann at center, we needed to secure two of our other three line spots through the draft. There were four names that stood out at a tackle position (Okung, Williams, Davis, and Bulaga), and we got our hands on Anthony Davis, a future right tackle who was originally thought of as the best tackle in the draft merely two months ago. Well, some character issues allowed the 49ers to trade up and get him at 11 (was the trade up REALLY necessary, though?), and new Player Personnel director Trent Baalke got the man they thought would make an instant impact protecting our quarterback.
Mike Iupati is a behemoth that can immediately bring toughness to our LG position, and his fiery side fits in perfectly with the intensity that coach Mike Singletary shows each and every day.
These two additions should immediately help the Niners on the offensive side of the ball, allowing us to play the clock-management game and thus exhausting opposing defenses throughout the fourth quarter.
2. Defensive Backs: I’d say we went 1 for 2 here, with the addition of Taylor Mays (but as much as I like him for the potential, we shouldn’t be expecting a Ronnie Lott-like impact in his first year in the league). Mays has a lot to learn, and he “may” be a big project (no pun intended).
3. A Return Game: Without a return game, I figured anyone during the offseason would be a vast improvement. Two weeks prior to the draft, we trade a 2010 5th round pick for Ted Ginn Jr. and immediately upgrade the position. Even if his impact is minimal in the passing game, his returning abilities (as long as he can improve on punts) instantly improve us for this upcoming season.
4. A Quarterback: Say what you want, I am still not a believer. It’s not that I don’t want to be, it’s that Alex Smith has not given me a reason to be. When Alex Smith excelled in 2009, we had to change our offense and playbook to get him going. If we want to be the running team that Singletary wants to be, the spread offense will not succeed. Frank Gore is not a “draw” running back, and we are taking away our best offensive player by spreading out the offense.
Smith will have to learn how to play under center. I don’t know how we didn’t go after Donovan McNabb who would have given us the best chance at a Super Bowl berth in 2010-2011.
5. A Change of Pace Back: Frank Gore, Glen Coffee, and Anthony Dixon are all big, powerful, downhill runners but they don’t flash the burst that a change of pace back (CoPB) would bring. Hopefully we bring in a pass-catching CoPB via free agency (or a rookie), to show the 49ers the need for an elusive, explosive runner.
For those upset that LeGarrette Blount bailed on the 49ers, understand that he was fourth in line on the totem pole with three eerily-similar power backs ahead of him. His best chance to play was with a Tennessee Titans team sans LenDale White.
All in all, it’s been a successful offseason for the 49ers. I believe there is still a need at the QB position, but like most 49ers faithful, I’m hoping that Alex Smith can be the answer.
What are your thoughts? Can Alex Smith lead an improving defensive team to a playoff win or three?
Tune in to read up on the Giants and their fast start to the 2010 season. Coming soon…
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