Niner Empire: A San Francisco 49ers Franchise

[Patriots#12]

July 25, 2009, 1:15 PM

Free Agency Recap & Draft Picks
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Thomas Taylor

Departures

The following are players who were released by the 49ers in the 2009 off-season:

PLAYER	POS
Tully Banta-Cain	LB
Keith Lewis	S
Jonas Jennings	OT
Kirby Freeman	QB
Jimmy Williams	S
Lewis Baker	S
Matthew Huners	C/G
Babatunde Oshinowo	DT
Thomas Clayton	RB

Free agents

The following are players whose contracts expired at the end of the 2008 season:

PLAYER	POS
Billy Bajema	TE
Damane Duckett	T
Ronald Fields	DL
DeShaun Foster	RB
Roderick Green	LB
Bryant Johnson	WR
Jamie Martin	QB
JT O'Sullivan	QB
Allen Rossum	RS
Sean Ryan	TE
Donald Strickland	CB
Zak Keasey	FB

Additions

The following are players signed by the 49ers in the 2009 off-season:

PLAYER	POS	Contract
Brandon Jones	WR	5 yrs/16.5 mil
Moran Norris	FB	1 yr/540k
Demetric Evans	DE	2 yrs/3.8 mil
Diyral Biggs	LB	1 yr/450k
Khalif Mitchell	DT	2 yrs/600k
Dré Bly	CB	1 yr/850k

San Francisco 49ers' 2009 NFL Draft selections

RD	PK	PLAYER	POS	SCHOOL	Contract
1	10	Michael Crabtree	WR	Texas Tech	5 yrs/25 mil
3	10	Glen Coffee	RB	Alabama	3 yrs/4.5 mil
5	10	Scott McKillop	ILB	Pittsburgh	4 yrs/2.8 mil
5	35	Nate Davis	QB	Ball State	3 yrs/1.8 mil
6	11	Bear Pascoe	TE	Fresno State	Not Signed
7	10	Curtis Taylor	S	LSU	3 yrs/1.8 mil
7	35	Ricky Jean-Francois	DT	LSU	4 yrs/1.2 mil

[Patriots#12]

NFL Power Rankings: Training Camp Edition
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ESPN.com

Training camps are opening. Rosters are bursting at the seams with prospects, each hoping to make that final cut before Week 1.


Why not wait until Week 1 to consider the league's hierarchy? This has been one of the busier offseasons in memory. Here we are with your ESPN.com NFL Power Rankings: Training Camp edition.

We've streamlined operations this season. Instead of 12 experts weighing in weekly, we have four who will cast their votes.

Little has changed from the top of the May 2009 Offseason Power Rankings, when the Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles and Indianapolis Colts owned slots No. 1-5, respectively. Our panelists are counting on the likes of Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and Philadelphia halfback Brian Westbrook to overcome their respective offseason issues.

The symmetry ends at No. 6, where the San Diego Chargers displaced the Baltimore Ravens.

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On the upswing: the Minnesota Vikings. In anticipation of Brett Farve's signing with the Vikings -- as we write this, the former Green Bay Packers and New York Jets quarterback still was undecided -- our voters moved Minnesota up five spots to No. 9 overall.

Other teams receiving significant promotions include the Seattle Seahwaks (up four spaces to No. 18 overall) and San Francisco 49ers (also up four places, from No. 26 to No. 22, Seattle's old slot).

Nothing much has changed at the bottom of the rankings, where the Oakland Raiders, St.Louis Rams, and Detroit Lions occupy slots No. 30, 31 and 32, respectively.
Look for our next edition of the offseason rankings just before Week 1.

2011 Power Rankings: Offseason

	RK (LW)	TEAM	REC	COMMENT
	1 (1)	Steelers	12-4	They won the Super Bowl. What else do you need to know? (Chadiha)
	2 (2)	Patriots	11-5	Tom Brady won't throw for 50 TDs, but he has too much firepower to throw for fewer than 30. (Clayton)
	3 (3)	Giants	12-4	So who is Eli Manning's go-to WR now that Plaxico Burress is gone? Maybe Michael Irvin can offer to make a reality show out of that search. (Clayton)
	4 (4)	Eagles	9-6-1	The Eagles' ownership did the right thing giving Donovan McNabb a contract extension. (Clayton)
	5 (5)	Colts	12-4	Reports of the Colts' demise are exaggerated. Bill Polian and Peyton Manning remain in place. (Kuharsky)
	6 (6)	Chargers	8-8	The Chargers could have the easiest path to a division title of any team in the league, and that's just being polite. (Kuharsky)
	7 (7)	Titans	13-3	The second year of Mike Heimerdinger's offense can provide the jump needed to offset their defensive losses. (Kuharsky)
	8 (8)	Falcons	11-5	With a healthy line, this offense should know no bounds with Tony Gonzalez joining Matt Ryan, Michael Turner and Co. (Sando)
	9 (9)	Vikings	10-6	They're ranked this high in anticipation of Brett Favre joining them. (Chadiha)
	10 (10)	Ravens	10-6	The Ravens lost OLB Bart Scott, S Jim Leonard, K Matt Stover and D-coordinator Rex Ryan. Expect a decline. (Chadiha)
	11 (11)	Panthers	12-4	Power rankings voters are still trying to shake visions of Jake Delhomme tossing all of those INTs in the playoffs. (Sando)
	12 (12)	Cardinals	9-7	The defending NFC champs barely crack the top 12 and that came only with an assist from their generous divisional blogger. No respect. (Sando)
	13 (13)	Bears	9-7	Jay Cutler can't do it alone. The Bears need to show they have legitimate WRs before they enter the top 10. (Chadiha)
	14 (14)	Cowboys	9-7	Tony Romo dumped Jessica Simpson. Jerry Jones dumped T.O. Maybe the Cowboys can concentrate on football. (Clayton)
	15 (15)	Dolphins	11-5	Many teams that go from worst to first experience a three-game drop the next season. The Fins are fighting the odds favoring an 8-8 record this fall. (Clayton)
	16 (16)	Texans	8-8	The Texans have made defensive upgrades, but the secondary remains a concern. (Kuharsky)
	17 (17)	Packers	6-10	A lousy defense in 2008 is switching from a 4-3 to a 3-4 this fall. Don't expect a quick turnaround. (Chadiha)
	18 (18)	Seahawks	4-12	Matt Hasselbeck's back held up through minicamps and OTAs, the first small step toward Seattle moving up in the rankings. (Sando)
	19 (19)	Saints	8-8	One of the NFL's oldest teams needs better luck with injuries to rebound and contend for the division crown. (Sando)
	20 (20)	Redskins	8-8	The Redskins made the best free-agent signing in DT Albert Haynesworth. They need a better offense to make the playoffs. (Clayton)
	21 (21)	Bills	7-9	T.O. should be good for double-digit TDs. Trent Edwards must cope with double-digit headaches and one-sided shouting matches. (Clayton)
	22 (22)	49ers	7-9	First-round draft choice WR Michael Crabtree gets a training camp crash course after rehabbing a foot injury. (Sando)
	23 (23)	Jets	9-7	New coach Rex Ryan will make the defense better, but expect the offense to struggle as the Mark Sanchez era begins. (Clayton)
	24 (24)	Bengals	4-11-1	Big question: Can Carson Palmer and Chad Ochocinco become a dangerous duo once again? (Chadiha)
	25 (25)	Jaguars	5-11	The Jags made good strides in adding youth and character, but that will take a while to translate into victories. (Kuharsky)
	26 (26)	Buccaneers	9-7	The Bucs have fallen faster than any team this offseason, but they don't have to be this bad. Steady play at QB would fix a lot. (Sando)
	27 (27)	Broncos	8-8	Maybe the Broncos' changes actually are ingenious and they're on the upswing, but it's hard to see it. (Kuharsky)
	28 (28)	Browns	4-12	The same Rob Ryan who did a dismal job of running the Raiders' D is in charge of the Browns' unit. This can't be encouraging. (Chadiha)
	29 (29)	Chiefs	2-14	It's hard to forecast a quick turnaround, but it's happened before when there's good leadership in place. (Kuharsky)
	30 (30)	Raiders	5-11	The Raiders seem dysfunctional on many levels, but Denver and K.C. might be in their range. (Kuharsky)
	31 (31)	Rams	2-14	The Rams' projected starting O-linemen earned the highest average Madden 2010 ratings in the division. Hmmm. (Sando)
	32 (32)	Lions	0-16	The Lions lost every game last season. What else do you need to know? (Chadiha)

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Last edited by Patriots#12; 03-22-2012 at 05:53 PM.

[Patriots#12]

Pre-season Position Battles

Below are some of the position battles that our coaching staff will be keeping an eye on in San Francisco this pre-season. While most of the battles are for backup positions a good showing will be looked upon favorably during next seasons battles.

Position: Quarterback
NAME	OVR		STATS
Shaun Hill	70
Alex Smith	78
Nate Davis	(R)
Analysis: Shaun Hill is the incumbent starter after leading the 49ers to a 5-3 record when he took over in week 10. The coaching staff however has made the decision to hand the keys to whoever has the best showing in training camp and preseason. This might be Alex Smith's last season to prove his worth to the team and fans who have dubbed him a bust. Favorite: Shaun Hill

Position: Halfback
NAME	OVR		STATS
Michael Robinson	68
Glen Coffee	(R)
Analysis: While Frank Gore is the unanimous starter, the role of backup has to be determined between these two. During training camp Coffee has shown explosiveness, great carrying, and excellent vision running the football. However he will have to show the skills on the field to displace Robinson as Gore's backup. Favorite: Glen Coffee

Position: Wide Receiver
NAME	OVR		STATS
Michael Crabtree	(R)
Arnaz Battle	72
Brandon Jones	71
Jason Hill	69
Analysis: Issac Bruce and first year man Josh Morgan have secured positions in the starting lineup but that leaves four receivers battling it out for position in the receiving core. Michael Crabtree is highly praised by the coaching staff and is expected to earn a starting spot but will this hold true. Favorite: Michael Crabtree

Position: Nose Tackle
NAME	OVR		STATS
Kentwan Balmer	72
Ray McDonald	71
Khalif Mitchell	(R)
Analysis: Aubrayo Franklin is going to be the starter without doubt. However the backup role is up for grabs between three hungry young players. Kentwan is a favorite to win the position but Ray's speed and Khalif's block shedding can't be ignored. Favorite: Kentwan Balmer

Position: Middle Linebacker
NAME	OVR		STATS
Jeff Ulbrich	70
Matt Wilhelm	67
Scott McKillop	(R)
Analysis: Patrick Willis and Takeo Spikes are going to be the starting inside backers in our 3-4 defense the role of backup is up for grabs. Ulbrich should emerge on top but his production has fallen off in recent years. Which leaves an opening for Wilhem who has five interceptions over the last three years and McKillop to grab the spot. Favorite: Jeff Ulbrich

Position: Strong Safety
NAME	OVR		STATS
Reggie Smith	64
Curtis Taylor	(R)
Analysis: Michael Lewis is our starter but the backup role is up for grabs between two young players. Reggie has a slight edge and slightly more experience but he could easily lose the competition to Taylor. Favorite: Reggie Smith

[Patriots#12]

From the office of Reuben Douglas

San Francisco 49ers Offices
Candlestick Park
Jamestown Avenue, California, 94124
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Team Goals
Franchise Evaluation

Contents

1. Lower the Salary Cap by removing overpayed
players:

• Nate Clements - being payed like a shutdown corner when he's obviously not.
• Shawnte Spence - an average corner making way to much money.
• Michael Lewis - a decent safety being payed a lot of money.
• Issac Sopoaga - Making a lot even though he's not a premier pass rusher.
  
• Brandon Jones - A receiver whose probably not going to start making this kind of money is not right.
  

Unfortunately cutting any of them would result in huge cap penalties so I'm stuck with them for now.


2. Get over .500 this season
If we manage to stay over .500 this season theirs a good chance we can make the playoffs since the NFC West is arguably the weakest division in the NFL.

3. Defeat the Cardinals
The 49ers got swept by the NFC Champions last season. Beating them would be a step in the right direction.

4. Lower the Number of Sacks Surrendered
Part of this will depend on the quarterback getting the ball out faster but we will need to have better offensive line play to ensure our guy isn't always on the ground.

5. Improve our points scored and yards gained
We ranked 22nd and 23rd in these categories which is unacceptable. I would like our team to be at least in the mid to late teens in these rankings this year.

6. Pound the Rock
While I'm content for the moment with our 13th ranked passing attack. This team ranked 27th in the run game which is terrible considering the playmaker we have in Frank Gore. I definitely expect this to improve.

7. Improve the Defense
We have a good defense which is why this season I'd like to be a top ten run stuffer and at least 15th against the pass.

8. Build the Nucleus of the Team
Many of the players currently on our squad won't be around next year. Finding our key playmakers to build our team around is key.

[Patriots#12]

Updated: July 26, 2009, 1:13 PM ET

'Niners Mine for Talent
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Associated Press

2009 San Francisco 49er Signings

PLAYER	INFO
	Maurice Williams Right Guard 6'5" | 302 Williams was drafted in second round of the 2001 NFL Draft by the Jaguars. In the '07 season Williams started two games at left tackle, and eight games at right guard.
	Yamon Figurs Wide Receiver/Return Specialist 5'11" | 185 Figurs averaged 24.8 yards on returns last season. He finished the year with one returned kick, and one punt for a touchdown.
	Chip Vaughn Safety 6'2" | 215 A two-year starter who earned All-ACC accolades, who has developed a reputation for making big plays in crucial situations during his collegiate career.
	Mike Mickens Cornerback 6'1" | 190 Mickens was a four-year starter with the Cincinnati Bearcats who led his team in interceptions last year with four.

[Patriots#12]

Updated: July 27, 2009, 5:30 PM ET

Reunited
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Associated Press

Smith

SANTA CLARA, Calif. --The San Francisco 49ers have been very busy during the free agency period adding new pieces to their roster. Just a few minutes ago we received word that the 'Niners have signed Deangelo Smith who was just cut from the Cowboys this morning.

This move makes Smith the second Cincinnati Bearcat to join the team and the third addition to the secondary this offseason.

The signing also reunites Smith with former Bearcat Mike Mickens who were quite a formidable duo in college intercepting twenty-six passes over a two year span. In 2007 the pair led the NCAA with a combined fourteen pass thefts. They combined for 26 interceptions during their careers together, more than any other active duo in the NCAA in 2008.

Both were drafted by the Dallas Cowboys, Smith in the fifth round and Mickens in the seventh. While the duo was expected to improve the teams fifth ranked pass defense neither lasted very long on the roster. So after washing out with "America's Team" it will be interesting to see if the pair make the cut in San Francisco.

49ers Notes

In order to make room for Smith ten year veteran cornerback Dré Bly was released.

[Patriots#12]

2009 NFL Regular Season Predictions

AFC East	W	L
y-New England Patriots	10	6
New York Jets	9	7
Buffalo Bills	5	11
Miami Dolphins	3	13
AFC North	W	L
y-Pittsburgh Steelers	12	4
x-Baltimore Ravens	11	5
Cincinnati Bengals	6	10
Cleavland Browns	2	14
AFC South	W	L
z-Indianapolis Colts	14	2
x-Tennessee Titans	10	6
Houston Texans	8	8
Jacksonville Jaguars	5	11
AFC West	W	L
y-San Diego Chargers	10	6
Denver Broncos	8	8
Oakland Raiders	6	10
Kansas City Chiefs	4	12
NFC East	W	L
y-Philadelphia Eagles	11	5
x-New York Giants	10	6
Dallas Cowboys	9	7
Washington Redskins	6	10
NFC North	W	L
y-Green Bay Packers	12	4
Chicago Bears	9	7
Minnesota Vikings	7	9
Detroit Lions	2	14
NFC South	W	L
z-New Orleans Saints	13	3
x-Atlanta Falcons	11	5
Carolina Panthers	6	10
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	3	13
NFC West	W	L
y-Arizona Cardinals	10	6
Seattle Seahawks	8	8
San Francisco 49ers	7	9
St. Louis Rams	0	16

OperationSports.com

x - clinched wild card, y - clinched division, z - clinched home-field advantage

[Patriots#12]

Updated: July 27, 2009, 9:50 PM ET

Adjusting the Line
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Associated Press

Isdaner

Tupou

New GM Reuben Douglas made it clear earlier this month that he wasn't happy with offensive line play. He brought in veteran guard Maurice Williams to help the struggling line now.

To help improve the position later he has brought in undrafted rookie free agents Greg Isdaner and Fenuki Tupou to be the future.

The GM had this to say. "Were weak at the offensive line position and we need to get better fast. If were going to contend against pass rushing clubs like the Giants and Eagles our OL play needs a major overhaul. In order to do that those who weren't contributing or practicing hard were cut in favor of these rookies who will fight for a spot on the depth chart. My belief is that competition breeds progress and success. We'll see soon enough!"

LG Tony Wragge and RT Tony Pashos were the casualties of the 49ers latest move.

49ers Notes

With the recent acquisition of Maurice Williams former starting LG David Baas is now competing with second year man Chilo Rachal for first string RG.