Could the 49ers REALLY draft Fleener? (1 Viewer)

[Shutout]

I'm seeing a lot of mocks where the Niners get penned for Coby Fleenor. Obviously, its easy to connect the dots to Harbaugh and the offense DOES seem to be one that could do a lot in "12" personnel. But would they really do that? Over an o-lineman or over the chance to turn that into mike Wallace?

And, if so, do the Niners fans here see that as being a situation like what New England does, or does it become something that looks like the G-Men back in the 80's?

I'm trying to get an idea of how the Niner offense is trending and how guys like Vernon, Crabtree, and Gore might be used/benefit/not benefit.

Thanks.

 

[BeTheMatch]

I'm positive they won't draft Fleenor. Guaranteed.

 

[MAC_32]

Given the interior line talent available in round 2 I wouldn't rule it out, but I still think they take one of the Wisconsin guys with that pick.

 

[benson_will_lead_the_way]

How good of a blocker is Fleener?

 

[cstu]

How good of a blocker is Fleener?

It's his biggest weakness from what I've read.

 

[benson_will_lead_the_way]

How good of a blocker is Fleener?

It's his biggest weakness from what I've read.

Then I would say no. If he was a solid blocker...then it would make sense given the offensive structure of run/play action.

 

[Shutout]

How good of a blocker is Fleener?

It's his biggest weakness from what I've read.

Then I would say no. If he was a solid blocker...then it would make sense given the offensive structure of run/play action.

So, it sounds like you are leaning more towards using 2 TEs in the traditional sense with one being more of a blocker? No opportunity to use them like in NE?Do you guys think Fleenor would help/hurt Vernon, Gore, Crabtree, etc?

 

[Dr. Awesome]

SF ran more 2 TE sets than any other team last year. Delaine Walker is a free agent after this season.

Whether Fleener could become a solid blocker is a reasonable question. I'm skeptical SF will draft him but it's entirely reasonable to think it could happen.

 

[Banemorth]

No.

 

[domvin]

Anything is possible. I understand the Harbaugh/Stanford connection, but remember Doug Baldwin was not even offered a free agent contract from Harbaugh. The Stanford/Harbaugh connection carries little merit, if that is what they are basing it on.

Heard on Sirius that Pittsburgh is high on Fleener. Lot of smokescreens this time of year

 

[Shutout]

Anything is possible. I understand the Harbaugh/Stanford connection, but remember Doug Baldwin was not even offered a free agent contract from Harbaugh. The Stanford/Harbaugh connection carries little merit, if that is what they are basing it on.Heard on Sirius that Pittsburgh is high on Fleener. Lot of smokescreens this time of year

Good point re: Baldwin. Yes, I think that is e dots are connected a lot but I also hear people talking about how 2 TEs is a big part of the base offense the Niners like to run from.

 

[5Rings]

I hope not.

Those people trying to rationalize the pick with the "Well, NE is great with 2 TEs Theory" are forgetting that Brady makes NE great, not the TEs. We have Alex Smith.

The "Delanie Walker is a TE next year" argument (sorry DA)...can't see that flying because a) we went 2 TE set out of necessity due to lack of talent and health at WR, b) Walker is not going to break the bank to stay, and c) even if Walker was going to leave, a 2nd TE is a luxury the team can't afford with talent gaps at WR, OL, and CB. TE2 can be easily filled next offseason, not with a 1st rd pick this season.

Of course, JMHO. But I don't see the basis.

You want a "stanford connection"...as my amigo Uncle Humuna said, take a look at the team moving up for DeCastro if he drops to the 2nd half of round 1.

 

[RobertBobson]

I think this is mostly Mock Drafters being cute, because of the Harbaugh connection, that it's the part of the draft that Fleener is graded, and the revolutionary way NE has been using TE's they are trying to pick the next team to do it.

However, I just can't see the 49ers spending a first round pick on a position they are already strong in. Maybe they could go Charles or allen if they've slipped in a later round, but I can't think the 49ers are really going to make major personnel decisions based on whom Harbaugh coached in college.

If there is going to be any Stanford connection to where Fleener is drafted, I think it's way more likely to be the Colts. That would make a lot more sense to me, since it's a position of need for the colts ( one of many) and it would probably help Luck develop having someone he already has such a good rapport with.

 

[thecatch]

However, I just can't see the 49ers spending a first round pick on a position they are already strong in.

I don't think this will have anything to do with it. Lots of mock drafters have them taking DL, which they are even stronger in. They'll take the best player available and let the chips fall where they may. If Fleener is the best offensive weapon on the board at that point, I think they will take him.

 

[JohnnyU]

If the Giants don't take him at the end of the first round I see the Colts taking him early in the 2nd.

 

[RUSF18]

Anything is possible. I understand the Harbaugh/Stanford connection, but remember Doug Baldwin was not even offered a free agent contract from Harbaugh. The Stanford/Harbaugh connection carries little merit, if that is what they are basing it on.Heard on Sirius that Pittsburgh is high on Fleener. Lot of smokescreens this time of year

Good point re: Baldwin. Yes, I think that is e dots are connected a lot but I also hear people talking about how 2 TEs is a big part of the base offense the Niners like to run from.

But didn't Harbaugh come out and acknowledge that he really missed on Baldwin and should have drafted him? Obviously that doesn't mean anything in this particular case, but I suppose it's possible that he re-thinks how he assessed his former players' pro potential.

 

[benson_will_lead_the_way]

How good of a blocker is Fleener?

It's his biggest weakness from what I've read.

Then I would say no. If he was a solid blocker...then it would make sense given the offensive structure of run/play action.

So, it sounds like you are leaning more towards using 2 TEs in the traditional sense with one being more of a blocker? No opportunity to use them like in NE?Do you guys think Fleenor would help/hurt Vernon, Gore, Crabtree, etc?

They could use them in the same sense as NE, however the 49er offense is more predicated by running the football. 49ers run to set up the pass, NE passes to set up the run(generally).They could use Fleener to create mismatches with LB's/Safetys...however I just don't think he's physical enough, he has difficulty with physical defenders that are bracketing him or trying to bump him off of his route

 

[Shutout]

I think this is mostly Mock Drafters being cute, because of the Harbaugh connection, that it's the part of the draft that Fleener is graded, and the revolutionary way NE has been using TE's they are trying to pick the next team to do it. However, I just can't see the 49ers spending a first round pick on a position they are already strong in. Maybe they could go Charles or allen if they've slipped in a later round, but I can't think the 49ers are really going to make major personnel decisions based on whom Harbaugh coached in college. If there is going to be any Stanford connection to where Fleener is drafted, I think it's way more likely to be the Colts. That would make a lot more sense to me, since it's a position of need for the colts ( one of many) and it would probably help Luck develop having someone he already has such a good rapport with.

Really good post. Makes a lot of sense; thanks.

 

[cstu]

Dwayne Allen seems like a much better fit than Fleener. It seems a waste to have two receiving TE's and keep them in to block. Allen is an excellent blocker and would free up Davis to do what he's best at.

 

[5Rings]

However, I just can't see the 49ers spending a first round pick on a position they are already strong in.

I don't think this will have anything to do with it. Lots of mock drafters have them taking DL, which they are even stronger in. They'll take the best player available and let the chips fall where they may. If Fleener is the best offensive weapon on the board at that point, I think they will take him.

Bill Walsh just rolled over in his grave.

p.s. Their is no apostrophe in 49ers

 

[RobertBobson]

However, I just can't see the 49ers spending a first round pick on a position they are already strong in.

I don't think this will have anything to do with it. Lots of mock drafters have them taking DL, which they are even stronger in. They'll take the best player available and let the chips fall where they may. If Fleener is the best offensive weapon on the board at that point, I think they will take him.

1) What Mock Drafters have them taking has literally no direct relation with what the 49ers will do

2) DL, particularly DEs, are MUCH more important positions than TE. Teams require and desire much more depth in them.

3) The idea that teams only consider the BPA, and don't consider positional importance and team needs in making draft day decisions is absurd. Players values and grades are often quite similar, and things like team need and position WILL certainly be a factor in breaking a tie between two guys graded 6.9. If they have Fleener graded as the 7th over all player or something, that will be one thing. But, if fleener has a similar grade with other players available at 30, I can't envision them taking him. Taking Fleener would mean committing to revamping the whole offense, and since the offense added two high profile WRs, I really doubt this is the direction they are going to go.

 

[thecatch]

However, I just can't see the 49ers spending a first round pick on a position they are already strong in.

I don't think this will have anything to do with it. Lots of mock drafters have them taking DL, which they are even stronger in. They'll take the best player available and let the chips fall where they may. If Fleener is the best offensive weapon on the board at that point, I think they will take him.

1) What Mock Drafters have them taking has literally no direct relation with what the 49ers will do

2) DL, particularly DEs, are MUCH more important positions than TE. Teams require and desire much more depth in them.

3) The idea that teams only consider the BPA, and don't consider positional importance and team needs in making draft day decisions is absurd. Players values and grades are often quite similar, and things like team need and position WILL certainly be a factor in breaking a tie between two guys graded 6.9. If they have Fleener graded as the 7th over all player or something, that will be one thing. But, if fleener has a similar grade with other players available at 30, I can't envision them taking him. Taking Fleener would mean committing to revamping the whole offense, and since the offense added two high profile WRs, I really doubt this is the direction they are going to go.

1- that was a separate point (re mock drafter's being cute)2- generally, yes. But SF needs to be thinking in terms of offensive weapons. Walker is not good enough to keep the team from adding another playmaker.

3- the niners WR still suck. There is nobody in the WR corps who is good enough to demand to be on the field all the time, let alone 2-3 of them. There's a chance that Fleener will be the offensive player on the board most able to immediately help the team next year. If the niners see him as such, it wouldn't surprise me at all to see them take him.

 

[drummer]

I hope not.

Those people trying to rationalize the pick with the "Well, NE is great with 2 TEs Theory" are forgetting that Brady makes NE great, not the TEs. We have Alex Smith.

The "Delanie Walker is a TE next year" argument (sorry DA)...can't see that flying because a) we went 2 TE set out of necessity due to lack of talent and health at WR, b) Walker is not going to break the bank to stay, and c) even if Walker was going to leave, a 2nd TE is a luxury the team can't afford with talent gaps at WR, OL, and CB. TE2 can be easily filled next offseason, not with a 1st rd pick this season.

Of course, JMHO. But I don't see the basis.

You want a "stanford connection"...as my amigo Uncle Humuna said, take a look at the team moving up for DeCastro if he drops to the 2nd half of round 1.

Even if they go BPA, I don't think TE is high on that shopping list.

 

[daveR]

From a distance (cleveland), it seems to be a possibility from the standpoint that Walker was utilized well last year and Fleener would probably be an upgrade. On the other hand, it's hard to justify picking a (second) TE that high.

 

[Shutout]

However, I just can't see the 49ers spending a first round pick on a position they are already strong in.

I don't think this will have anything to do with it. Lots of mock drafters have them taking DL, which they are even stronger in. They'll take the best player available and let the chips fall where they may. If Fleener is the best offensive weapon on the board at that point, I think they will take him.

Bill Walsh just rolled over in his grave.

p.s. Their is no apostrophe in 49ers

thanks..fixed...and also, Their is spelled there in that usuage....Bazinga..

But, seriosuly..thanks.

 

[vesihiisi]

thanks..fixed...and also, Their is spelled there in that usuage....Bazinga..

But, seriosuly..thanks.

I'm probably taking this hook, line and sinker, but you spelled "seriously" incorreclty.incorrectly

 

[Shutout]

thanks..fixed...and also, Their is spelled there in that usuage....Bazinga..

But, seriosuly..thanks.

I'm probably taking this hook, line and sinker, but you spelled "seriously" incorreclty.incorrectly

LOL..good stuff..Thanks again.

There's a rumor the 49ers may open up against the packers in the season opener. thoughts?

I know that was the game I expected to see last year in the Conference title game.

 

[daveR]

thanks..fixed...and also, Their is spelled there in that usuage....Bazinga..

But, seriosuly..thanks.

I'm probably taking this hook, line and sinker, but you spelled "seriously" incorreclty.incorrectly

And "usage".

 

[Shutout]

thanks..fixed...and also, Their is spelled there in that usuage....Bazinga..

But, seriosuly..thanks.

I'm probably taking this hook, line and sinker, but you spelled "seriously" incorreclty.incorrectly

And "usage".

Very good. You guys got both of them Now go out and spread the word about how about 95% of people use I.e. incorrectly when it should be e.g.

 

[RobertBobson]

However, I just can't see the 49ers spending a first round pick on a position they are already strong in.

one for the bad guys!

 

[RobertBobson]

If there is going to be any Stanford connection to where Fleener is drafted, I think it's way more likely to be the Colts. That would make a lot more sense to me, since it's a position of need for the colts ( one of many) and it would probably help Luck develop having someone he already has such a good rapport with.

 

[Shutout]

If there is going to be any Stanford connection to where Fleener is drafted, I think it's way more likely to be the Colts. That would make a lot more sense to me, since it's a position of need for the colts ( one of many) and it would probably help Luck develop having someone he already has such a good rapport with.

We have a winner!!