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49ers: Condolences to ex-QB Shaun Hill |
For a year or two, fans of the San Francisco 49ers passionately debated whether Shaun Hill or Alex Smith should have started at quarterback for the team.
All can agree on this: Condolences go out to Hill and his family after Hill’s father, Ted, died Saturday at age 60 from injuries suffered during a fall from a rooftop. “The 49ers wish Shaun Hill and his family well in this tough time,” wrote Bob Lange, the 49ers’ director of public relations. “What a great guy his dad was. Stay strong Shaun.” Subscribe to our feed!. Posted in 49ers-news | Comments Off
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Draft hindsight: Aaron Rodgers and beyond |
DALLAS — Every Aaron Rodgers touchdown pass and playoff victory makes the San Francisco 49ers look worse for drafting Alex Smith over Rodgers back in 2005. A victory for Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl 45 would only sanction additional mutilation of this rotting equine carcass. Some criticism is justified, obviously, but with Rodgers and key Packers scheduled to make their Super Bowl media debuts Monday afternoon, another line of thinking occurred to me. The 49ers weren’t the only ones to bypass Rodgers and other key players in this Super Bowl. Why should they absorb such a disproportionate amount of the blame? The Green Bay players making Super Bowl media appearances Monday — Rodgers, Donald Driver, A.J. Hawk, Greg Jennings, Clay Matthews and Charles Woodson — all qualify for analysis and reflection. Let’s take a look at them through NFC West lenses, beginning in chronological order: 1998 Draft: Charles Woodson, CB, Michigan Round: First (fourth overall, by Oakland) NFC West spin: The Cardinals passed over Woodson to select defensive end Andre Wadsworth third overall. The decision seemed defensible at the time. Wadsworth was a freakish talent at a premium position, but chronic knee injuries prevented him from approaching his potential. Wadsworth underwent microfracture knee surgery after only his third NFL season. He never played again, despite a 2007 comeback attempt. First-round selections in the division:
1999 Draft: Donald Driver, WR, Alcorn State Round: Seventh (213th overall, by Green Bay) NFC West spin: Good for the Packers. They found a steal in the seventh round. Driver developed into a full-time starter in 2002, his fourth season. He has 698 career receptions. Driver reflects well on the Packers, but not negatively on anyone in the NFC West. Seventh-round selections in the division (Seahawks did not have a pick): 2005 Draft: Aaron Rodgers, QB, California Round: First (24th overall, by Green Bay) NFC West spin: Only the Seahawks, who held the 26th choice that year, escape second-guessing for this one. To be fair, however, the Rams’ Marc Bulger was coming off a breakout 2004 season in which he had thrown 21 touchdown passes while leading St. Louis to the playoffs. There was no reason for the Rams to target a quarterback in the 2005 first round. Rodgers might have wilted in St. Louis while the organization crumbled around him (a fate that might have awaited him in San Francisco as well). The Cardinals could have used a young quarterback to build around, but they signed Kurt Warner to a free-agent contract that offseason. Warner went 2-8 as a starter in 2005, but the Cardinals eventually went to the Super Bowl with him under center. Warner even edged Rodgers in the playoffs following the 2009 season. First-round selections in the division:
2006 Draft: A.J. Hawk, LB, Ohio State Round: First (fifth overall, by Green Bay) NFC West spin: The 49ers in particular were monitoring this choice closely. They were picking sixth overall that year and trying to find weapons for their second-year quarterback. Tight end Vernon Davis, chosen sixth overall, is becoming a perennial Pro Bowl choice. Hawk was an all-rookie selection, but he has not played well enough overall to cause much second-guessing in NFC West circles. The Cardinals ultimately whiffed on a quarterback that year, but no one is telling them they should have drafted Hawk instead. First-round selections in the division:
2006 Draft: Greg Jennings, WR, Western Michigan Round: Second (52nd overall, by Green Bay) NFC West spin: The Cardinals and Rams passed on Jennings in the second round, but that was understandable. Both teams were already strong at receiver. Looking back, however, the Rams certainly would have gone in another direction. They whiffed on tight end Joe Klopfenstein six spots before the Packers took Jennings. Second-round selections in the division (49ers traded their pick):
2009 Draft: Clay Matthews, OLB, USC Round: First (26th overall, to Green Bay) NFC West spin: This draft hurts. Surely the Seahawks and Rams could have put Matthews’ pass-rush ability to use even if he didn’t fit their schemes precisely at the time. Both teams passed on him. Worse, the Packers used an additional 2009 first-round choice, this one ninth overall, for another key contributor, B.J. Raji. First-round selections in the division:
Aaron Rodgers touchdown pass and playoff victory makes the San Francisco 49ers look worse for drafting Alex Smith over Rodgers back in 2005. A victory for Rodgers and Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl 45 would only sanction additional mutilation of this rotting equine carcass. Some criticism is justified, obviously, but with Rodgers and key Packers scheduled to make their Super Bowl media debuts Monday afternoon, another line of thinking occurred to me. The 49ers weren’t the only ones to bypass Rodgers and other key players in this Super Bowl. Why should they absorb such a disproportionate amount of the blame? Rodgers’ case isn’t the only relevant or interesting one along these lines. The Green Bay players making Super Bowl media appearances Monday — Aaron Rodgers, Donald Driver, A.J. Hawk, Greg Jennings, Clay Matthews and Charles Woodson — all qualify for analysis and reflection. Let’s take a look at them through NFC West lenses, beginning in chronological order: 1998 Draft: Charles Woodson, CB, Michigan Round: First (fourth overall, by Oakland) NFC West spin: The Cardinals passed over Woodson to select defensive end Andre Wadsworth third overall. The decision seemed defensible at the time. Wadsworth was a freakish talent at a premium position, but chronic knee injuries prevented him from approaching his potential. Wadsworth underwent microfracture knee surgery after only his third NFL season. He never played again, despite a 2007 comeback attempt. First-round selections in the division:
1999 Draft: Donald Driver, WR, Alcorn State Round: Seventh (213th overall, by Green Bay) NFC West spin: Good for the Packers. They found a steal in the seventh round. Driver developed into a full-time starter in 2002, his fourth season. He has 698 career receptions. Driver reflects well on the Packers, but not negatively on anyone in the NFC West. Seventh-round selections in the division:
2005 Draft: Aaron Rodgers, QB, California Round: First (24th overall, by Green Bay) NFC West spin: Only the Seahawks, who held the 26th choice that year, escape second-guessing for this one. To be fair, however, the Rams’ Marc Bulger was coming off a breakout 2004 season in which he had thrown 21 touchdown passes while leading St. Louis to the playoffs. There was no reason for the Rams to target a quarterback in the 2005 first round. Rodgers might have wilted in St. Louis while the organization crumbled around him (a fate that might have awaited him in San Francisco as well). The Cardinals could have used a young quarterback to build around, but they signed Kurt Warner to a free-agent contract that offseason. Warner went 2-8 as a starter in 2005, but the Cardinals eventually went to the Super Bowl with him under center. Warner even outplayed Rodgers in the playoffs following the 2009 season. First-round selections in the division:
What do you guys think about this. Posted in 49ers-news | Comments Off
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Q&A: Matt Kopa |
It’s been quite a year for Miami Dolphins offensive tackle Matt Kopa.
The former Elk Grove High School graduate earned an engineering degree from Stanford University. Because of a broken foot suffered in the 2009 season opener that knocked him out for the rest of that schedule, he was hoping for a medical redshirt so he could play in 2010. That was denied, so Kopa signed on as a free agent with the San Francisco 49ers last May. He spent the first half of the season on the 49ers’ practice squad, and then the second half of the season on the Dolphins’ 53-man roster. In Miami, Kopa primarily backed up left tackle Jake Long and right tackle Vernon Carey.  But, he took some reps at guard and center, too. Last week he visited his parents in Elk Grove and had some remarkable stories to tell about his experiences this season – from staying at a five-star resort in northwest London for a week when the 49ers played the Broncos at Wembley Stadium, to attending the play Lombardi on Broadway along with the entire Dolphins team, to getting the VIP treatment at exclusive restaurants in South Beach, to taking an air boat ride in the Everglades, to having a reunion with many of his former Stanford teammates and watching Stanford beat Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl. Kopa spoke to the Citizen last week for an in-depth interview. Q: The 49ers had drafted two offensive linemen in the first round of last year’s draft, yet they signed you and then later sign you to their practice squad. Were you okay with that situation? A: I know both Mike (Iupati) and Anthony (Davis) are great players and I knew in my mind I could stay with them physically, despite my foot, yet I knew I was ready and I was getting there. I knew I could compete with anyone first round pick or veteran. It was quite a competition. Those guys are great players. Being out there, we became pretty close. Q: So were you fine with being on the practice squad? A: It was okay, but like I think Miami knew, I had talent and just because I broke my foot, didn’t play much the past couple years, didn’t get drafted, I wasn’t going to let all that limit me from becoming the great player I want to be. I could have been drafted in the first round if I would have stayed healthy, so I think the practice squad wasn’t really where I wanted to be. My goal the whole season was to make the active roster and I worked towards that goal. Q: The first few weeks (of last season) the Niners fired its offensive coordinator, the team started 0-6. What was it like to be in the 49er locker room during that time? A: It was a little disappointing. When we started the season everyone had such high hopes. The 49er team is so talented, with a bunch of great players, so it was disappointing to start off that way. We tried to stay together and support one another, but there’s nothing that hurts worse than losing. Q: The first week of November you signed with Miami. What happened? A: When you’re on the practice squad, any team has a chance of pulling you away to an active roster for a minimum of three weeks. The Dolphins contacted my agent. They offered me what I wanted all year, the chance to make an active roster. On Monday I was in a meeting with the Niners and my agent called me to say Miami wanted to pick me up today. “You have a seven o’clock flight to go to Miami tonight,†he told me. So it happened in the blink of an eye. I was with the Niners one morning and with the Dolphins the next day. Q: What was your role this year with Miami? A: They brought me in pretty fast and I was learning the offense really fast and I was pretty much a backup to all the other offensive linemen. I was inactive the first seven weeks I was with them and then I was activated and suited up the last week against New England. I played center for the first time and that was an interesting experience. I also played left guard, right tackle and left tackle so I got a little bit of everything. Q: Interesting that after you leave San Francisco they fire (head coach) Mike Singletary and hired your college coach, Jim Harbaugh. Looking back at it, do you wish you stuck it out with the 49ers so you’d be playing for Harbaugh again? A: I love Coach Harbaugh. He’s a winner. He’s a competitor and through everything I’ve been through, he’s been great. I really like my situation at Miami and the coaching staff there. It would be awesome to play for Coach Harbaugh again, but it isn’t the end of the world for me. Q: Miami supposedly also tried to hire Harbaugh. But, they’ve kept (head coach Tony) Sparano. Did that leave a funny feeling with everybody connected to the Dolphins? A: He signed a two-year extension (after the Harbaugh incident). I love Coach Sparano. When we found out (that he had signed a contract extension), we congratulated him. There’s no doubt in our minds that he’s a great coach. (The attempt to hire Harbaugh) didn’t make a difference to our team at all. Q: You’re 6-8 and 303 pounds. Your dad (wrote to the Citizen) that they want you to gain another ten pounds. How do you add more weight to 303? A: I’m actually eating right and lifting a lot of weights. They want me around 310 to 315. I can get there. I actually weighed around 310 when I was at Stanford. Q: What have the coaches in Miami told you will be your role next year? A: Everything is kind of up in the air because of this (threatened) lockout. They’ll define my role more after OTA’s in the spring. This should be a good year for me. Q: You’ve had a chance now to see lots of the NFC and, through Miami, see some of the AFC. Who’s going to win the Super Bowl? A: I think Aaron Rodgers is playing really well for Green Bay. Pittsburgh’s defense is doing really good. Anyone can win it. Q: Which team that you faced this year was the best team? A: That’s a tough question because they are all so good. New England is probably one of the better teams. The Jets is a good team. We beat them in New York. That was a close game. Even when we played a team with not a great record, you still had to bring it because you just didn’t know. Any team can beat any team, they are all talented. We encourage your feedback and dialog, all comments will be reviewed by our Web staff before appearing on the Web site. Comment Below!. Posted in 49ers-news | Comments Off
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Why 49ers are publicly lauding Alex Smith |
Even Alex Smith’s supporters would have to admit, at least on some level, that the quarterback’s time with the San Francisco 49ers might have run its course.
Alex Smith#11 QB
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Welcoming Bobby Engram back to West |
Years ago, when San Francisco 49ers linebacker Jeff Ulbrich was tackling Seattle Seahawks receiver Bobby Engram, the NFC West rivals probably never thought they would coach against one another.
They will in 2011, with a twist: Engram will be coaching for the 49ers, who hired him as an offensive assistant Friday, against a Seattle team featuring Ulbrich as assistant special-teams coach. Not every player wants to grind away at coaching. It’s good for the game when players as respected as Ulbrich and Engram do decide to go that route, even if it’s strange for the rest of us to see them wearing unfamiliar colors. This is Engram’s first coaching job. He played for Chicago from 1996 through 2000, then with Seattle through the 2008 season. He finished with Kansas City in 2009. Engram’s strong rapport with Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck would become a natural storyline if San Francisco pursued Hasselbeck in free agency. Engram’s background in the West Coast offense makes him a natural hire for San Francisco. Niners coach Jim Harbaugh had long since left the Chicago Bears by the time Engram arrived as a receiver, but they’ll speak a similar language from a scheme standpoint. Engram and 49ers offensive line coach Mike Solari were together with Seattle in 2008. Running low on time today, i’ll be back tomorrow hopefully with some more news. Posted in 49ers-news | Comments Off
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