It Cuts So Deep

In reading about the final roster cuts the 49ers have made, none of them were shocking. I probably would have been a bit surprised if Nate Davis had been cut… but he wasn’t. Michael Robinson was probably the biggest surprise from the list of cuts. He can probably thank Anthony Dixon for not having a job.

Robinson came into camp as the back-up running back after Glen Coffee announced his retirement. His release came as a result of a number of things including his fumble on the first carry of the first pre-season game; the Brian Westbrook signing; the Anthony Dixon phenomenon; and probably the fact that he was a great special teams player wasn’t quite enough to keep him on the roster. Too bad but not devastating.

Former third round receiver, Jason Hill from Washington State was a cut casualty as was Khalif Mitchell and Matt Wilhelm, both players I was hoping would stick. Hill marks another bust of a PAC-10 wide receiver chosen by the 49ers (see Stokes, J.J.).

Speaking of J.J. Stokes, It wasn’t a good day for other players with two letter, first name initials. T.J. Houshmandzadeh and J.P. Losman were cut from Seattle as was recent 49er cast-off Brandon Jones.

Over in Arizona, Matt Leinart made headlines for going from Kurt Warner’s protege to being cut by the Cards. Maybe now he can follow Warner’s footsteps (Literally) in Dancing with the Stars. Crazy! No other notable cuts on the Cards.

For the Rams, I didn’t recognize any players cut but to be fair, I don’t recognize many players on the Rams as it is.

Now it’s official – teams are set. No more preseason games. Bring on the Saints…

Tags: Anthony Dixon, brandon jones, Brian Westbrook, glen coffee, J.P. Losman, jason hill, JJ Stokes, khalif mitchell, kurt warner, Matt Leinart, matt wilhelm, michael robinson, nate davis, T.J. Houshmandzadeh

Your 49ers Fantasy Football Guide

I’ve got one draft tomorrow night and another draft on Monday. It’s time to start diving into Fantasy Football cheat sheets and rosters, injuries and handcuffs. Maybe you’ve already had your draft – many people have. I much prefer to wait until after the third pre-season game. Imagine if you drafted Matt Leinart already or Derrick Ward – you’d be pissed.

Anyway, I think there are a few 49ers that are very draft-worthy this year so here’s my guide to drafting 49ers. Don’t let your heart get in the way of your head but be cautiously optimistic at the same time. Here’s my list of 49ers you SHOULD consider drafting in order and what role they should play on your fantasy team.

1. FRANK GORE (RB) – No question, Frank Gore is once again the best 49er in Fantasy Football. Gore is ranked in the top 5 overall in a few places and in the top 10 everywhere. With the additions to the O-Line and with Alex Smith a little more comfortable, I think if Gore can stay healthy, he will have a BIG year. Definitely a #1 running back.

2. MICHAEL CRABTREE (WR) – Hard to know how good Crabtree can be. He’s been a bit banged up but there’s no question he’s the number one receiver in SF. My concern with Crabtree is how many TD’s will Alex Smith throw that don’t go to Vernon Davis. I think if you can get Crabtree as your third receiver, you are in pretty good shape. I think he’s a shaky #2 until he proves otherwise.

3. VERNON DAVIS (TE) – A top 2 or 3 tight end, no question. His big play ability almost makes him wide receiver’esque. If your league has tight ends in a separate category, Davis is a #1 TE for sure.

4. ALEX SMITH (QB) – Poor Smith. On most cheat sheets, he is ranked among the bottom of starting QB’s. I actually think he’ll have a pretty good year, especially given all of the targets he has to throw to, including Brian Westbrook out of the backfield. I think if you have an elite QB like Brees, Manning or Rodgers, I’d be ok with having Smith as a bye-week replacement with the potential to start based on certain match-ups.

5. SAN FRAN DEFENSE – Next is San Fran’s hard-hitting defense. I would be thrilled to end up with their D. Special teams TD’s might still be few and far between, which is why I don’t think they are elite yet, but they are definitely going to put pressure on the QB, force fumbles and keep the opponents scores low. Definitely a starting defense.

6. (TIE) BRIAN WESTBROOK (RB) & JOSH MORGAN (WR) – Not sure who I would take next but both of these guys I would consider toward the bottom rounds of the draft. I don’t think you are going to get consistent anything from either guy unless Crabtree or Gore get hurt but they could be nice fillers for bye-weeks or starters if the 49ers offense explodes.

Good luck with your fantasy draft and fantasy football season…

Tags: alex smith, Brian Westbrook, frank gore, josh morgan, michael crabtree, vernon davis

Thoughts on 49ers Game…From the Newspaper

As much as I consider myself to be a 49ers fan, I do have to admit that I was all mentally geeked to watch the 49ers take on the hated cross-Bay rivals, Oakland Raiders today. That was…until I opened the newspaper this morning and saw that the game actually happened yesterday. D’OH!! I did record the replay of the game but a replay of a pre-season game just doesn’t quite have that glamorous appeal.

So, I figured I would share a few thoughts based upon what I read in the newspaper and what the box score told me. Weak, I know. Here goes anyway:
1. Aubrayo Franklin signed his 1-year tender and is back with the team. My thoughts – THANK YOU, Ricky Jean-Francois for making Franklin expendable and completely removing his leverage. Now we have depth. Sweet!

2. Don’t think special teams is important? Well, rookie CB Phillip Adams’ punt return for a TD was the difference in the game. Would be sweet if this guy had a couple left for the regular season.

3. I believe in Frank Gore. And, I think once he believes in the offensive line, he’s going to enjoy a really nice year (you hear that fantasy drafters?)

4. Could Anthony Dixon be in line to steal goal line carries from Gore and Brian Westbrook? The guy does seem to have a nose for the end zone.

5. Patrick Willis is still a beast. 8 tackles, 1 sack, 1 QB hit. Is this guy for real? And, nice to see Travis LaBoy with another sack. This guy could be a nice offseason addition.

6. On the other side of the ball, nice to see that Alex Smith can hit his receivers when he has time. Zero sacks and 1 QB hit, although I’m not even sure it was on Smith. Sure helps that passer rating when you have time to throw.

7. Dude, Joe Nedney should not be missing any field goals under 40 yards. Where you at Shane Andrus?

Again, I think the 49ers are heading in the right direction and am glad to know they did not peak their first game this offseason. Can’t wait for opening day!

Tags: Anthony Dixon, Aubrayo Franklin, Brian Westbrook, frank gore, joe nedney, patrick willis, Phillip Adams, ricky jean-francois, Shane Andrus

The Face of the Franchise

I was watching SportsCenter last night when I saw a commercial starring made-up athlete Kenny Powers and real athlete Patrick Willis. The commercial was for K-Swiss and had Willis all yolked up running sprints with Powers timing him.

As I was watching I starting wondering when was the last time I saw a commercial or even a SportsCenter promo with a 49er… I can’t even remember but assume it was during the “Rice Years”. And I don’t think local Jack-in-the-Box articles with Jeff Garcia applies.

Then I read an article by Scout.com which ranks the top 200 players in the NFL by grade. Peyton Manning and Andre Johnson come in at numbers 1 and 2 but 8 players tied for third. Guess who one of them is… yep, Patrick Willis with a grade of 93. Other 93′ers include Darrelle Revis, DeMarcus Ware, Drew Brees, Joe Thomas, Larry Fitzgerald, Nnamdi Asomugha, and Tom Brady. Pretty elite company.

The next 49er on the list is Frank Gore and Vernon Davis tied for 51st with a grade of 85. To answer your next question, Alex Smith did not appear in the top 200 as he had a grade of 68 but Brian Westbrook and his 77 grade landed him tied for 171st on the list.

So, Madden ratings, KSwiss commercials and high grades have Patrick Willis emerging as the face of the San Francisco 49ers. Fun to have a legit superstar on your team. And no question about it, Patrick Willis is legit!

This is a dude you do NOT mess with

Tags: alex smith, Brian Westbrook, DeMarcus Ware, Drew Brees, frank gore, Joe Thomas, larry fitzgerald, Nnamdi Asomugha, patrick willis, peyton manning, Tom Brady Darrelle Revis, vernon davis

Post Viking Game: Juicy Niner Nuggets

Nice win for the 49ers (if you consider pre-season wins nice). But, some good things happened yesterday. Here are a few of the juiciest nuggets post Viking game:

1. Patrick Willis sack on Brett Favre: “Hey, old wrinkled Superstar, meet young ferocious superstar. Welcome back old man!”

2. Maybe Alex Smith Doesn’t Suck: 9 for 13 with 0 INT is much better than 3 for 9 with an interception. Smith still doesn’t give me all of the warm and fuzzies I would like, but at least I don’t have to put my hands over my eyes. That alone is cause for celebration.

3. Anthony Dixon is Not Tony Dorsett: Not yet at least. Even though Dixon scored, he did come back down to earth and showed that running lanes aren’t quite as easy against really good teams and against defensive starters. He’s still a VERY good third option.

4. Ted Ginn Jr. Could be a Sweet Pickup: I think the 60-yard catch yesterday is a glimpse of some highlight-reel plays Ginn will make this year. I don’t think he’ll ever be the #1 receiver the Dolphins hoped he would be. But as a second or third receiver with touchdown-making, big play ability, Ginn could be a huge addition this year.

5. I’m LOVING the 49ers/Seahawks Little Rivalry Thing: Seahawks picked up former 49er WR, Brandon Jones after getting cut from the team. This, on the heels of the Kentwan Balmer trade, Scot McGloughin transfer, Taylor Mays/Pete Carroll beef and this thing keeps getting better and better. I want the 49ers to pick up the next player the Seahawks cut… no matter who it is.

Raiders game is next. Someone better knock Kyle Boller back into Memorial Stadium…

Tags: alex smith, Anthony Dixon, brandon jones, brett favre, Kentwan Balmer, kyle boller, patrick willis, Ted Ginn Jr.

Get Ready for the Favre Circus

The 49ers play the Vikings on Sunday at 5:00PM. I would love to see the focus of the game be on how is Jimmy Raye going to use new 49er, Brian Westbrook; or if Alex Smith can have a bounceback game; or is Anthony Dixon the real deal; or how will Anthony Davis respond to his second professional game. I’ve got a lot more but I think all of these and other questions will be sub-plots to the bigger item: HOW WILL BRETT FAVRE LOOK IN HIS FIRST GAME OF THE SEASON?

No matter that Favre, at most, plays 1-2 series. No matter that there are so many other interesting questions and storylines surrounding this pre-season game. All of that is secondary to anything related to Brett Favre.

I’ll be honest, I totally admire Favre professionally. He is a true competitor and has haunted the 49ers in years past. I think the guy is great. I also think he has turned into a publicity hound. He’s like the Heidi Montag of the NFL. If he could have scored an ESPN special called “Retirement?” I’m sure he would have jumped all over it.

I, like many football fans, am so freaking tired of hearing Brett Favre’s name and seeing his scruffy mug on the front page of ESPN.com. I wish this guy would either play or retire as opposed to retiring, then playing, then retiring, then telling someone he will retire but then tell someone else he will play.

Just as LeBron made a mockery of the NBA and free agency, Favre is making a mockery of retirement. This game on Sunday will unfortunately be one big Favre circus… again!

Is it Brett? Is it really hard to say goodbye? How would you know?

Tags: alex smith, Anthony Davis, Anthony Dixon, brett favre, Brian Westbrook, jimmy raye

Can’t Fault Those That Want to Answer a Higher Calling

Now that Brian Westbrook is a 49er and Anthony Dixon has shown a lot of promise, the sting of Glen Coffee retiring after only one season of football appears to be wearing off. Apparently Coffee will do an exclusive sit-down with CSN Bay Area tonight to go into more detail about why he retired from the NFL after only one season into a very promising young career to focus on his ministry.

It seems so unbelievable that a player who beat the odds and made it to the NFL would not see that as the ultimate dream but rather a distraction from a different and ‘higher’ calling. I don’t know much about what football players do behind closed locker room doors or during their free time or on the road, but I can definitely see how it could be a lifestyle that does not resonate with the very religious. Despite the surprise, I actually give Coffee a lot of credit for following the path that he felt was right for him. After telling Singletary (that would be scary enough on its own), he said he had ‘total peace.’ Big props to Coffee for pouring a big hot mug of reality and authenticity (you know I couldn’t avoid the pun, right?)

But Coffee isn’t the only Bay Area athlete that has recently hung up his cleats for the robes. In January of this year across the Bay, Oakland A’s prized prospect Grant Desme walked away from baseball after winning the MVP of the Arizona Fall League to enter the priesthood.

An absolute minor league stud, Desme was the only player in the entire minor leagues last season with 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases.

And again, while kids growing up all the way through the minor leagues dream of getting called up to “The Show” (big Bull Durham flash back), Desme had no regrets about turning down the potential millions of dollars to do what he felt was his calling. “I love the game, but I aspire to higher things,” Desme said. “I know I have no regrets.”

To me, these are the kinds of stories that are most inspiring. Not the rags to riches story like the Blind Side, although that was pretty darn inspiring. But the riches to robes stories of guys that give up millions to follow their calling. It’s a great lesson for kids. It doesn’t have to be about the money. It’s about doing what you love and what you feel you were meant to do.

God speed Glen Coffee, Grant Desme and anyone else who follows the same path.

Glen Coffee gave up a very promising NFL future to focus on his ministry

Tags: Anthony Dixon, Brian Westbrook, glen coffee, Grant Desme

First Round Bomb-er

Today ends the Kentwan Balmer experiment. The first-round pick in 2008 has recently made a name for himself. Not on the field, although I guess if you total up his NFL tackles (19), that wouldn’t be bad for a couple of games – not one’s entire career, however.

But Balmer has been the topic of conversation not for what he has done… like play; but for what he hasn’t done – like show up. Sometimes you ride your first round picks in the hopes that they can turn into something down the road (see Smith, Alex). And some first round picks, you accept the fact that the player is either a bust or a bad fit on your team. Balmer falls into the second category.

He was traded today to the Seattle Seahawks (does anybody see super rivalry brewing?) for a sixth round pick…YIKES! Well, at least we got something in return.

Good luck Kentwan. I can’t wait to see Frank Gore, Brian Westbrook and Anthony Dixon run all over your AWOL Ass!!

Tags: Anthony Dixon, Brian Westbrook, frank gore, Kentwan Balmer

Exhibition Game #1: Highs & Lows

Ahhh, finally football season and more importantly 49ers season is back and it was pretty exciting to see NFL football back on the air. Given that this was an exhibition, and the first one at that, there are lots of things are not representative based on the final score and even individual stats. However, based on what I saw mostly in the first half, I thought I’d call out some highs and some lows on the Niners side.

First, the highs:
- Anthony Dixon: I know it wasn’t against the Colts top defense but Dixon had the most to gain from Coffee’s retirement and the guy looks legit. He never shied away from a hit but also showed some nice moves and a bit of speed. I loved watching him and hope he moves up significantly on the depth chart.

- 49ers Secondary: I really liked what I saw from most of the secondary. Not sure if anyone really stood out (outside of Reggie Smith and his TD against Painter so don’t get too excited) but it looks like the 49ers have a lot of depth in the secondary…finally.

- Kyle Williams: Still lots to prove but even though he’s from ASU (go Wildcats!), I was pretty impressed with this guy’s return game. We desperately need a return game.

- BONUS High: 49ers Run Defense: They were particularly stout against Donald Brown, who many consider to be pushing Joseph Addai for playing time. Not with 5 rushes for -4 yards he won’t.

Now for the lows:
- Anthony Davis: first real possession the 49ers had, Davis had a false start and let the pass rusher go right by him. Davis will get lots of ‘get out jail free cards’, especially at the beginning of the season but it’s never a good sign when an O-Lineman gets a lot of air time.

- Michael Robinson: Fumble on his first carry may have been nerves but he also dropped a pass from Alex Smith that hit him in the hands. If this guy is our #2 running back, I think we are in trouble.

- Alex Smith/49ers Receivers: I’m putting both because some of the ineptitude was because of Smith but some was the receivers fault. The most obvious was Smith’s miss on Vernon Davis, which would have been a sure touchdown. But the receivers did not help Alex Smith either.

And finally, the ‘don’t get too excited’ award goes to David Carr. Yes, Carr was 9 of 11 for 98 yards and a TD. But, it was against the second and third string defense and I am reminded of how slow and non-agile Carr is. With rookies on the line this year, it could be a reminder of his first season in Carolina, which was mostly spent on the ground. Carr is a good back-up but I don’t think fans should start calling for a change in starting QBs. Carr makes Alex Smith look like Michael Vick out there… get my drift.

Overall, some good signs but lots of work to do…

Tags: alex smith, Anthony Davis, Anthony Dixon, David Carr, Donald Brown, Kyle Williams, michael robinson, Michael Vick, reggie smith, vernon davis

Coffee’s Retirement is a Latte to Take In

Come on… have you seen anything written that didn’t have some play on words related to Glen Coffee’s name? Anyway, total shocker! Glen Coffee is retiring after one full season in the NFL. What the frapuccino is going on in Niner land?

Talk about coming out of complete left field, last year’s third round pick, Coffee was the back-up running back to Pro Bowler Frank Gore in an offense that is a running back’s dream. How bizarre, especially on the heels of Kentwan Balmer, the 49ers first round pick a couple of years ago just not showing up. Not a good representation of recent draft picks. I guess this is why it’s so important for teams to do their homework on a player’s background, huh?

So now what? Sixth round pick Anthony Dixon could be in the mix but from what I hear, he’s pretty raw. After scouring the free agent RB list, a couple of names stood out:

You can go super old with Ahman Green, the former Packer great. Although I’m not sure he’s got the speed to even turn the corner anymore.

What about Jamal Lewis? He is without a team and could be a really serviceable veteran back-up to Gore.

Another name I’ve been seeing a lot is Brian Westbrook, who could be a great back-up in this offense. A guy who can bail out Alex Smith and who still has something left in the tank. Would love to see the Niners reach out to him.

No matter which direction they go in, they should bring in a veteran soon, while the Coffee is still hot.

Tags: Ahman Green, Anthony Dixon, Brian Westbrook, frank gore, glen coffee, Jamal Lewis, Kentwan Balmer