San Francisco 49ers

Owner: Jed York
Founded: 1946
Stadium: Candlestick Park
2010 record: 6-10
Last playoff appearance: 2002, 10-6, won NFC West, W39-38 NYG, L31-6 TB
General Manager: Trent Baalke (2011 officially named GM)
Head Coach: Jim Harbaugh (2011)
Offensive Coordinator: Greg Roman
Defensive Coordinator: Vic Fangio
Defensive Alignment: 3-4
2010 NFL Rankings:
OFF: 19.1 PTS (24th)        313.3 YDS (24th)               209.8 PASS (18th)             103.6 RUSH (19th)
DEF: 21.6 PTS (16th)        327.8 YDS (13th)               231.1 PASS (24th)             96.7 RUSH (6th)
Pro Bowlers: Justin Smith DT, Patrick Willis MLB
2011 schedule:
  1 Sep 11 vs. Seahawks 4:15 PM Tickets
2 Sep 18 vs. Cowboys 4:05 PM Tickets
3 Sep 25 at Bengals 1:00 PM Tickets
4 Oct 02 at Eagles 1:00 PM Tickets
5 Oct 09 vs. Buccaneers 4:05 PM Tickets
6 Oct 16 at Lions 1:00 PM Tickets
7 Bye
8 Oct 30 vs. Browns 4:15 PM Tickets
9 Nov 06 at Redskins 1:00 PM Tickets
10 Nov 13 vs. Giants 4:15 PM Tickets
11 Nov 20 vs. Cardinals 4:05 PM Tickets
12 Nov 24 at Ravens 8:20 PM Tickets
13 Dec 04 vs. Rams 4:15 PM Tickets
14 Dec 11 at Cardinals 4:05 PM Tickets
15 Dec 19 vs. Steelers 8:30 PM Tickets
16 Dec 24 at Seahawks 4:15 PM Tickets
17 Jan 01 at Rams 1:00 PM Tickets

TEAM NEEDS: CB, S

Potential Free Agents:
Alex Smith QB – re-signed –
Troy Smith QB
Brian Westbrook RB
Barry Sims OT
Tony Wragge C – re-signed – 1 yr
Demetric Evans DE
Ray McDonald DE - re-signed – 5 yrs, 20 million, 7 guaranteed
William James CB
Dashon Goldson FS – Re-signed – 1 yr
Jeff Reed K

Free agent acquisitions:
Braylon Edwards WR (Jets)
Jonathan Goodwin C (Saints) – 3 yrs, 10.9 million, 4 million guaranteed
Carlos Rogers CB (Redskins) – 1 yr
Madieu Williams S (Vikings)
Donte Whitner S (Bills) – 3 yrs, 11.75 million, 4 million guaranteed
David Akers K (Eagles)

Free agent losses:
David Carr QB – Signed by Giants
Eric Heitmann OL -
David Baas OL – Signed by Giants
Aubrayo Franklin NT – signed with Saints
Takeo Spikes MLB – signed by Chargers
Travis LaBoy DE/OLB – signed by Chargers
Manny Lawson OLB – signed with Bengals
Nate Clements CB – Signed by Bengals
Joe Nedney K

Picks in 2011 Draft: (overall draft grade: C+): Trent Baalke was officially named general manager for this year’s offseason, but I’m not sure he got off on the right foot. Right now, I’m not liking the way the 49ers’ 2011 draft class is looking, but there is plenty of clear sky for the picks to soar into (nice metaphor, no?). Smith could potentially become a big pass rushing threat off the edge and if Alex Smith doesn’t work out, Kaepernick may be able to step up eventually to become the starter. I liked the Kendall Hunter and Ronald Johnson picks, showing the Niners’ best value picks in their class. Unfortunately, the value of almost all of their picks didn’t add up to more than a C+ grade in my eyes. Of course, true draft grades aren’t (or shouldn’t be) taken seriously until we actually see the players perform on the field at least two or three years in the future.

(! Indicates draft pick who was interviewed, had a private workout, etc. prior to the draft according to my compiled list):
Rd 1, Pick 7 (7) Aldon Smith DE, Missouri – This pick is made on the expectation of huge upside. The Niners lacked pass rush from OLBs last season, so this will help. His value isn’t this high though. If Smith busts, this pick will be highly regretted by Niners’ management and fans alike because Jake Locker and Blaine Gabbert were still available.
Grade: B-             Rated: 20

Rd 2, Pick 4 (36) Colin Kaepernick QB, Nevada! – He’s coming from the pistol offense, so I’m not sure he’ll be ready to play much, if at all, in 2011. Alex Smith must be getting another chance…or Andrew Luck to the 49ers in ’12.
Grade: C+            Rated: 67

Rd 3, Pick 16 (80) Chris Culliver DB, South Carolina – Culliver got injured and had his stock drop at the end of the season, but the 49ers saw him pre-injury and know he has good ability, plus return skills. He was just taken with too many other good corners left on the board, unless they plan on moving him to safety, which is where he played in 2009.
Grade: C              Rated: 165

Rd 4, Pick 18 (115) Kendall Hunter RB, Oklahoma State! – I like Hunter more than most. I think he’s got the vision, instincts, effort, and burst to be more than just a change of pace back.
Grade: A              Rated: 64

Rd 5, Pick 32 (163) Daniel Kilgore OL, Appalachian State – One of my favorite names in this year’s draft. Will play guard in the pros because of his short arms and lack of athleticism, but is a player with a nasty blocking attitude. Offensive line coach said he’ll be used at center mostly, a position he hasn’t played at since high school.
Grade: C              Rated: 214

Rd 6, Pick 17 (182) Ronald Johnson WR, USC – Injuries or something medically must have scared teams off with Johnson here. He’s got good hands and kick return skills.
Grade: A              Rated: 119

Rd 6, Pick 25 (190) Colin Jones DB, TCU – Strong special teams player, spent time at pro day with 49ers’ secondary coach Ed Donatell.
Grade: C                              Rated: NR

Rd 7, Pick 8 (211) Bruce Miller DL, UCF – very productive at UCF, with 34 career sacks.
Grade: C              Rated: 304

Rd 7, Pick 36 (239) Michael Person OL, Montana – Person will be solid depth behind an already strong offensive line for the 49ers.
Grade: B              Rated: 257

Rd 7, Pick 47 (250) Curtis Holcomb DB, Florida A&M – more help for a Niners secondary.
Grade: C              Rated: NR

2010 49ers’ Draft review:
(Future) GM Trent Baalke said that they had targeted OG Mike Iupati and OT Anthony Davis prior to draft. He had been concerned about someone else trading up ahead of them to get Davis. I really didn’t think they needed to trade up to get Davis, but he did start 16 games for them. He stated that Jacksonville didn’t want to trade with them because they had targeted their guy (Tyson Alualu) already and weren’t willing to trade down. Baalke was worried that Green Bay, among other teams, was going to trade up to get Davis. Quarterback wasn’t an option in the first. He answered that question from a media member with an emphatic “no.” Baalke also noted that they would’ve taken Iupati at 13 if Oakland had taken Davis at 9. They had a high first round value on Iupati and Davis. Baalke expressed that they try to address needs and try to go best available player. There’s a little bit of give and take between drafting for need and best available player was mentioned as well. Bowman was revealed to have been a best available pick. I also heard Baalke say something that I didn’t know before: you’re allowed 30 player visits.

Rd 1, Pick 11 (11)              Anthony Davis OT, Rutgers – started all 16 games, but has quite a bit to go.

Rd 1, Pick 17 (17)              Mike Iupati OG, Idaho – also started all 16 games

Rd 2, Pick 17 (49)              Taylor Mays FS, USC – 16 games, 6 starts, 38 TCK, 2 PD, 1 FF

Rd 3, Pick 27 (91)              NaVorro Bowman LB, Penn State – 16 games, 1 start, 46 TCK

Rd 6, Pick 4 (173)              Anthony Dixon RB, Mississippi State – 16 games, 70 ATT, 237 YDS, 3.4 AVG, 2 TD, 11 REC, 11 YDS.

Rd 6, Pick 13 (182)            Nate Byham TE, Pittsburgh – 14 games, 3 starts, 5 REC, 27 YDS.

Rd 6, Pick 37 (206)            Kyle Williams WR, Arizona State – 5 games, 1 REC, 8 YDS

Rd 7, Pick 17 (224)            Phillip Adams DB, South Carolina State – 15 games played, 13 TCK, 1 PD

Looking back at my grades for the 49ers’ 2010 draft class: It was a decent class for San Francisco. I didn’t like them trading up for Anthony Davis, because quite frankly, I don’t know why a team would trade up in front of them to take him. If Davis keeps his weight in check and works hard, he could be well worth the pick. Davis and Mike Iupati both started all 16 games for the Niners and that’s good value for any first round pick. I really liked where the Niners got NaVorro Bowman and Anthony Dixon, giving those picks A’s. Taylor Mays dropped to the second round, which most everyone thought would happen, so they picked him right in his draft range. He’s going to be a decent player and may become a feared defender if he can dish out huge hits like he did in school. The 49ers had a B draft grade: it was good, but not spectacular. I liked the Iupati, Mays, Bowman, and Dixon picks most, but trading away picks to move up to get Davis just wasn’t worth it. I’m going to stick with my original draft grade for the Niners: B

First Round Picks From Last 5 Years: Anthony Davis OT, Mike Iupati OG, Michael Crabtree WR, Kentwan Balmer DE, Patrick Willis MLB, Joe Staley OT, Vernon Davis TE, Manny Lawson OLB

2010 Stat Leaders
Alex Smith  204-342  2370 YDS  59.6%  6.9 YPA  14 TD  10 INT  82.1 RTG

Frank Gore  203 ATT  853 YDS  4.2 AVG  64 LNG  3 TD

Vernon Davis  56 REC  914 YDS  16.3 YPC  66 LNG  7 TD

Joe Nedney  11-13  84.6%  51 LNG

Patrick Willis  128 TCK

Justin Smith  8.5 SCK

Nate Clements, Takeo Spikes, Shawntae Spencer  3 INT

Out of Season Storylines (Because there is no offseason)
49ers Hire Former Stanford Head Coach Jim Harbaugh