Drj820 wrote: ↑26 Apr 2020 13:18
The problem with this is that we really didn’t do anything the Niners did to get where they are. They drafted OL and DL very high early, then drafted WR very high, then hit homeruns in the mid/late part of the draft to get guys like the fb and kittle. Kittle was a 5th round pick! Plus they have brought in FAs like Sherman and traded for sanders, Trent Williams etc.
We went qb at 1 which they didn’t do, went rb at 2 which they haven’t done. They’ve made streets guys stars bc of their scheme and great OL, TE, and FB play. We have a need for speed at WR and ignored it again.
I’m just saying we didn’t actually do a lot of the things they have done to get where they are.
OL and DL early... sounds like... 2019? Gary and Jenkins
Brought in free agents.... sounds like the Smith Bros and Amos?
It's also not HOW you get there. We already have a good OL, so we're only supplementing it. We may have used 3rds not 5ths on our TE and FB spots, but that's still "mid round" and the difference is fairly negligible. We may have used a 2nd on a RB, but they paid a journeyman backup RB (Coleman) $7M a year.
We rolled the dice on an athletic ILB who had injury problems, they rolled the dice on athletic ILB in the mid rounds (Warner).
They traded a second round pick to get a QB. We have one now and used the 26th pick to secure one for later.
You're consumed by process right now. But the point is that this draft helps fill some voids that we have for our offensive scheme. We needed an upgrade to Vitale for that role--and someone who can EXPAND that role. We didn't NEED a power back, but we needed better backs than we have behind Jones and we opted for a different variation.
I, too, want speed. I want team speed. I want a dynamic playmaker like a Deebo, who I loved last year; or the development potential of Hurts, who I loved last year. I get that. No one is going to be able to find a TE who loves to block and runs a 4.50 in the mid rounds like they did on demand. But we also have Adams and they have no one close to that. Our strengths and weaknesses don't have to be identical. Our processes don't have to be identical. Frankly, I want an offense MUCH better than theirs. But we added players that fill important roles in the offense we run and they run.
I encourage everyone to look at our offenses against the 49ers, the Rams, and the Chiefs (maybe the Eagles, if they get it together) in terms of west-coast based schemes that have some relation to each other--and especially the 49ers and Rams. I encourage people to look a little less at process and a little more at scheme.
The Rams spread things out more than the 49ers do or more than we do, but that's a good look, as well.
So let's line it up: Packers, Rams, 49ers...
QB: Aaron Rodgers, Jared Goff, Jimmy Garapolo
WR1: Davante Adams, Robert Woods, ?? Deebo Samuel?
WR2: Allen Lazzard?, Van Jefferson?, Kendrick Bourne? Barndon Ayiuk?
Slot: Devin Funchess, Cooper Kupp, Jalen Hurd?
RB1: Aaron Jones, Cam Akers, Tevin Coleman
RB2: AJ Dillon, Darnell Henderson, Raheem Mostert
TE: Sternberger, Tyler Higbee, George Kittle
TE/FB: Duguara, Gerald Everett, Kyle Jusczyk
Like, HONESTLY, when you pile up all of our weapons alongside other teams who run these similar offenses, do we pale in comparison? Do we not have the best WR1 and RB1 by a landslide? Do we not have the best QB by a landslide? Are our supporting WRs particularly far below the likes of Kendrick Bourne, Jalen Hurd, Cooper Kupp, and rookies like Ayiuk and Van Jefferson?
We have unproven TE/FB/H-backs right now. All three teams have some young receivers who we need to see more of to evaluate. We have less speed than the 49ers, but easily as much as the Rams.
Now let's look at the Chiefs:
QB: Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes
WR1: Davante Adams, Tyreek Hill
WR2: Allen Lazzard?, Sammy Watkins
Slot: Devin Funchess, Mecole Hardman
TE: Jace Sternberger, Travis Kelce
TE/FB: Josiah Deguara, Null
RB1: Aaron Jones, D. Williams
RB2: AJ Dillon, Clyde Edwards Helaire
RB3: Jamaal Williams, D. WIlliams
Ok, so here... we see a VAST difference in WR speed. Do we still have the best WR1 and RB1? We do. The Chiefs, like the 49ers, have the benefit of the rare elite TE (there are only 3 or 4 out there). While Watkins and Hardman are "meh" players for starters, they're speedy. We saw when we played them we were forced into "big play containment mode" which limited our ability to stop them from making smaller gains.
We don't need to completely emulate this, either (there are only a couple players who could replicate Hill's impact, anyway, and the only one in this draft went FAR earlier than we had a chance at). But there is something to be learned here, which is the benefit of having a Hill and a Hardman on the team, threatening to turn any play into a big one, all the while a regular-degular WR like Sammy Watkins can win the matchups remaining.
I'd like to add some players like these, as well. I think it would continue to fit nicely into what MLF wants to do. The good thing AND the frustrating thing is that it may only take one or two players like this to be all we need to see the impact. On one hand, that means we can do it. On the other hand, that makes it more frustrating that this offseason didn't produce one. Maybe Tyler Ervin can grow and develop into something of the sort--he is FAST and he can be used in the slot as well as the backfield.
But I understand the want, the need, the desire to add these playmakers around the offense. But as the 49ers and Rams comparisons show, it's not necessarily needed to fit this scheme.
