49ers add QB O'Sullivan, RB Foster, LB Thomas (1 Viewer)

[duece2626]

http://49ers.pressdemocrat.com/default.asp...036049&mode

Niners plenty active at the start of free agency

The 49ers have not been passive at the start of free agency, as several fairly significant things are in the works, including a visit from Bengals free-agent DE Justin Smith tomorrow (Friday). He has not agreed to terms with anyone, and he also is reportedly making a trip to meet with the Vikings.

There is word that the 49ers have agreed to terms with QB J.T. O'Sullivan (Lions), LB Dontarrious Thomas (Vikings) and RB DeShaun Foster (recently cut by the Panthers). Terms of these deals are not known.

Things are getting fast and furious.

The 49ers' signing of Thomas should put an end to any discussion about the club pursuing high-priced Bears LB Lance Briggs. Thomas is listed at 6-2, 241 pounds. He would play the position previously occupied by Derek Smith.

Here's a quote about Thomas from the Mel Kiper Jr. Free Agent Data Sheet: "This former second-round pick hasn't been able to materialize into the type of starter they were hoping for coming out of Auburn, but he has proven to be a pretty solid backup and a good special teamer."

ESPN.com has the terms from some of those 49ers deals. As previously noted, the 49ers have also struck a deal with return specialist Allen Rossum.

The deals according to ESPN are: Foster two years, $1.8 million; O'Sullivan one year at the league minimum, plus $40,000 to sign; and Thomas two years.

* * *

O'Sullivan is a good pickup as the No. 3 QB (at worst) for his familiarity with Martz's offense, having spent last season with the Lions. O'Sullivan completed 13 of 26 passes for 148 yards with one TD and two interceptions last year. He played collegiately at UC Davis.

 

[trader jake]

The San Francisco 49ers are the new Washington Redskins.

Is that good or bad?

 

[thecatch]

I've always been a JT fan. Pretty good signings IMO, they weren't forced to spend a substantial amount of money on any of them.

 

[Chachi]

The San Francisco 49ers are the new Washington Redskins.Is that good or bad?

1.8 mil for Foster, minimum for JT. How you figure. Redskins would have given Foster a 5 year, 50 million deal.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Will be interesting to see what Dontarrius Thomas can do in the 3-4.

They nailed it when they said he underachieved in Minnesota.

Speaking of the 3-4, will the 49ers stick with it, or go to the 4-3?

 

[Chachi]

Will be interesting to see what Dontarrius Thomas can do in the 3-4. They nailed it when they said he underachieved in Minnesota.Speaking of the 3-4, will the 49ers stick with it, or go to the 4-3?

Sounds like they're sticking with the 3-4. They're going after Justin Smith who is a 4-3 guy, IF (and it's unlikely) the 49ers picked up Smith and Lance Briggs I don't see how they could stick with a 3-4.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Will be interesting to see what Dontarrius Thomas can do in the 3-4. They nailed it when they said he underachieved in Minnesota.Speaking of the 3-4, will the 49ers stick with it, or go to the 4-3?

Sounds like they're sticking with the 3-4. They're going after Justin Smith who is a 4-3 guy, IF (and it's unlikely) the 49ers picked up Smith and Lance Briggs I don't see how they could stick with a 3-4.

So if they get both, you take it as a sign they're switching to the 4-3?

 

[Chachi]

Will be interesting to see what Dontarrius Thomas can do in the 3-4. They nailed it when they said he underachieved in Minnesota.Speaking of the 3-4, will the 49ers stick with it, or go to the 4-3?

Sounds like they're sticking with the 3-4. They're going after Justin Smith who is a 4-3 guy, IF (and it's unlikely) the 49ers picked up Smith and Lance Briggs I don't see how they could stick with a 3-4.

So if they get both, you take it as a sign they're switching to the 4-3?

If they got both I would, Briggs sounds really unlikely at this point though. Smith and Briggs are natural 4-3 guys, and I'm positive that Patrick Willis and Manny Lawson would have no problems going into a 4-3.

 

[Sugar Huddle]

Why would the 49ers want Foster? Michael Robinson has flashed a lot of promise in his short amount of playing time. What does this do for his status on the team?

 

[Chachi]

Why would the 49ers want Foster? Michael Robinson has flashed a lot of promise in his short amount of playing time. What does this do for his status on the team?

Robinson and Foster will backup Gore. I don't think the Foster deal can be criticized as it's 1.8 million over 2 years. Foster would likely get more plays than Robinson.

 

[thecatch]

Will be interesting to see what Dontarrius Thomas can do in the 3-4. They nailed it when they said he underachieved in Minnesota.Speaking of the 3-4, will the 49ers stick with it, or go to the 4-3?

Sounds like they're sticking with the 3-4. They're going after Justin Smith who is a 4-3 guy, IF (and it's unlikely) the 49ers picked up Smith and Lance Briggs I don't see how they could stick with a 3-4.

So if they get both, you take it as a sign they're switching to the 4-3?

If they got both I would, Briggs sounds really unlikely at this point though. Smith and Briggs are natural 4-3 guys, and I'm positive that Patrick Willis and Manny Lawson would have no problems going into a 4-3.

Do you have a link for that? I follow the team pretty closely and haven't heard a whisper of them switching back to a 4-3.

 

[derek19]

I don't see how they could switch to a 4-3 but, I'd be surprised if they didn't use 4-3 at least 25%. If they do sign briggs and smith, the 49ers will have at least 4 players who are true 4-3 players. Smith, Briggs, Manny & Willis.

 

[jasonbay]

I like the Foster signing. I hope the O'Sullivan deal leads to them cutting Trent Dilfer which leads to him retiring, can't believe he's still in the league.

 

[BaBastage]

Why would the 49ers want Foster? Michael Robinson has flashed a lot of promise in his short amount of playing time. What does this do for his status on the team?

I hear that a lot, but personally I didn't see it other than at the beginning of 2006 when Gore had Fumble-itis.Robinson went 26/121 for a 4.7 YPC last year, but those stats are skewed by week 4 when he had a single carry for 28 yards. Normally I don't subcribe to "But if you take out X plays... look at this..." logic, but I think it's acceptable when you only have one carry the whole game, and the overall carries are low.In 2006, he went 38/116/3.1 Not exactly eye popping either.I'm not making much of an argument for Foster yet, but at the minimum I don't see much of a downgrade here. I would expect Robinson / Hicks fight it out for RB3.

 

[thecatch]

I don't see how they could switch to a 4-3 but, I'd be surprised if they didn't use 4-3 at least 25%. If they do sign briggs and smith, the 49ers will have at least 4 players who are true 4-3 players. Smith, Briggs, Manny & Willis.

Even if they sign Smith and Briggs, they will still lack talent on the DL and will have a ton of talented LBs. I think they would want their best front 7 in the game, even if a guy like Briggs might be more optimally suited for a 4-3

 

[Riffraff]

Why would the 49ers want Foster? Michael Robinson has flashed a lot of promise in his short amount of playing time. What does this do for his status on the team?

I hear that a lot, but personally I didn't see it other than at the beginning of 2006 when Gore had Fumble-itis.Robinson went 26/121 for a 4.7 YPC last year, but those stats are skewed by week 4 when he had a single carry for 28 yards. Normally I don't subcribe to "But if you take out X plays... look at this..." logic, but I think it's acceptable when you only have one carry the whole game, and the overall carries are low.In 2006, he went 38/116/3.1 Not exactly eye popping either.I'm not making much of an argument for Foster yet, but at the minimum I don't see much of a downgrade here. I would expect Robinson / Hicks fight it out for RB3.

Robinson had one "big game" with 2 TDs. That's been his career highlight. He is a solid special teams guy but not much more.Hicks is a free agent.Clayton Thomas (or is it Thomas Clayton?) is the 4th RB for development purposes.

 

[hacman]

Why would the 49ers want Foster? Michael Robinson has flashed a lot of promise in his short amount of playing time. What does this do for his status on the team?

I hear that a lot, but personally I didn't see it other than at the beginning of 2006 when Gore had Fumble-itis.Robinson went 26/121 for a 4.7 YPC last year, but those stats are skewed by week 4 when he had a single carry for 28 yards. Normally I don't subcribe to "But if you take out X plays... look at this..." logic, but I think it's acceptable when you only have one carry the whole game, and the overall carries are low.

In 2006, he went 38/116/3.1 Not exactly eye popping either.

I'm not making much of an argument for Foster yet, but at the minimum I don't see much of a downgrade here.

I would expect Robinson / Hicks fight it out for RB3.

Hicks will be gone. They've signed Allan Rossum to return kicks and Foster back up Gore.

 

[thecatch]

Interesting article: Martz on JT O'Sullivan

Highlights:

- Martz compares him to Marc Bulger

- Says despite his journeyman status, he's capable of being a starter in the league

- He's in a legit QB competition with Shaun Hill and Alex Smith

 

[49ersFan]

Add Takeo Spikes name to the list because he is visiting the Niners today. You all know how they don't like to let free agents leave unsigned. I like the Foster signing. Robinson really hasn't panned out. Foster will be a nice fill in guy for Gore to give him a break and keep him fresh. I don't like the Rossum signing. He is another Michael Lewis, an old kicker returner that isn't that good anymore.

As for the QBs, I will be disappointed if anyone other then Smith is our QB. Dilfer sucks, plain and simple. Hill is a good backup, and he won't make it as a starter. I think the same could be said for O'Sullivan. Now matter who starts at QB the Niners still haven't gotten anyone one for them to throw too. Jackson is the newest version of J.J. Stokes. All he does is drop passes. Bruce is old and probably is nothing more then a #2 at best. I like Davis, but he gets hurt every season. So until they get a decent receiver the starting QB won't be that great. Also they need to keep an OC for more then just one season.

 

[LionsFan78]

Hill is a good backup, and he won't make it as a starter.

From a fan's perspective, could you elaborate on what you've seen so far to draw you to that conclusion? Just a gut feeling?