Reggie Bush, the three QBs, Mario Williams, D’Brickashaw Ferguson, A.J. Hawk … I think that by now we’re all acquainted with the players projected to the top five of the draft, you know, the usual suspects. Allow me, please, to introduce another name, someone who’s putting on a late sprint as we head for the far turn. His name hasn’t been widely mentioned, but a lot of personnel people are re-thinking their first impressions.
Vernon Davis, TE, Maryland. No, I can’t tell you which team told me he might be its first pick, and that would be way up high. That would be scooping myself, since once again I’ll be doing that pre-draft handicapping box. But the guy I talked to said, “Every time I look at him, he gets better and better.”
Oh sure, it’s nice to have a good active linebacker or quick-footed offensive tackle, but we’ve all seen what a keynote tight end can do for an offense—Antonio Gates, for instance, or Jeremy Shockey when he’s healthy. Davis, who is 6-foot-2 1/2, 250, runs a 4.38, a freak number for sure for such a big guy.
Well, I heard one scout say he’s not really 250. He’s a pumped up 230-235. Who cares, if he can split a seam with that speed? I’ve heard that he needs work on his blocking, and I have to laugh at that one. There are no great blocking tight ends. OK, I’ll amend that, there are no great pass-catching tight ends who worry the defense with their blocking. Guys like Kyle Brady or the Chiefs’ Jason Dunn can block, and so can H-backs such as the Vikings’ Jim Kleinsasser and the Redskins’ Mike Sellers, but you won’t see them catching any 30-yard TDs. Just keep it in mind—Vernon Davis, TE, Maryland.
Draft’s Hidden Gem [Dr. Z]
Christ the Terp? [Klackner]
niner said:
I like VD and all, i just wouldnt stand next to you in a lightning storm
32 mins after the fact.crazy49erfan said:
Honestly, the whole Jesus/Davis comparison is pretty insulting. Especially posting it on Good Friday easter weekend. I don’t mean to play the part of the devout person who is overly critical, but showing a little sensitivity towards blasphemy would be nice. The Jesus/Davis comparison is insulting and ridiculously unnecessary.
2 hours after the fact.Matt said:
Gotta disagree with the above tone there. “showing a little sesitivity towards blasphemy” implies that you believe it to be blasphemy. Just because you believe it to be so, does not make it true. Is it blasphemous for a non Christian (or a lighthearted Christian)to make a joke about Christianity? If so, then the reverse is true and all of us who believe that the printing of the Islamic cartoons represented freedom of speech/press are guilty of blasphemy as well.
On a lighter note, I’m torn. I really hope we draft Vernon Davis but the smarter thing might be to grab defensive help.
2 hours after the fact.Unknown said:
Damn that religious guy just got pwned.
The 49ers will draft V.D. first round, then draft Darnell Bing in the 2nd. Then a LB and DE/DT in the 3rd.
3 hours after the fact.Michael F said:
now they are projecting Bing to be a third round pick like a late third round pick.
3 hours after the fact.MJ said:
To the person who posted as “Unknown,” dawg you are a pimp. YES, we need VD at our #6 pick in the first round and Bing as our second round pick. A LB and DE/DT in the 3rd….........dude its like you are reading my freaking mind! I am praying that it happens exactly that way, oh how sweet it would be. I would even go as far as say I want Davis over AJ Hawk and Mario Williams even if they were available! VD is the man people, he is for real!
3 hours after the fact.shane rojek said:
Vernon in the first, bobby carpenter in the second, then darnell bing along with maurice stovall in the 3rd… how sweet would tht be…
4 hours after the fact.shane rojek said:
Also another idea… Michael Huff in the first, Carpenter in the seond, then get Stovall and Fasano in the thrid…tht would also be nice and possible as well.
4 hours after the fact.SB said:
VD is going to be a impact player from day one,so hopefully we do draft him at #6. I would consider defensive help with the first pick, but it would’nt matter if we had the #1 defense in the league. IF WE CANT MOVE CHAINS WE WONT WIN!Besides i dont feel like our defense had enough credit given to them last year.They were on the field 75% of each game,starters were injured and to say the lease our supposed “no talent” DB’s stoped marvin harrison from breakin’ rice record in our house.So lets get Davis to add to our offense,our revamped O line and unleash gore with the starting spot.I bet Alex smith has already put his vote in for VD,especially after the stone handed TE’s he’s had last yr…So No, ofcourse davis is not Jesus.. but niners fans better hope he grace us with his 4.38 speed in a red & gold jersey next yr(because our linebackers will for sure get toasted by him if denny green picks him up for arizona).
4 hours after the fact.crazy49erfan said:
Pick VD, YES. Just don’t think the Jesus comparison is necessary that’s all. No harm no foul.
4 hours after the fact.Forrest said:
Doesn’t 6’2 235 seem a little small for a tightend? If the Niners are going to be primarily a running team, I would take size over speed on the line. Give me a big slow tightend with sure hands.
5 hours after the fact.Vin said:
Bing is projected on some charts to be moving into the bottom of the first round. And I think that may make Nolan a little bit uneasy. If his plan was to go for VD in the first and then take Bing in the second, that plan could be in jeopardy.
Carpenter is another one of those players who are climbing the charts as well. He may even go bottom of the first.
I (still) think Nolan should take Hawk or Huff with #6, and then take Marcedes Lewis (TE, UCLA) at the top of the second round. Lewis is a better blocker, from what I’m reading, and he’s pretty good as a receiver as well.
5 hours after the fact.steve said:
‘IF WE CANT MOVE CHAINS WE WONT WIN!’
i do recall one baltimore ravens superbowl team which overcame this problem
6 hours after the fact.Rizo said:
M.Lewis from UCLA SUCKS! ! !
11 hours after the fact.The niners coaching staff were getting so sick of him droping the ball in the senior bowl practices..
Norv Turner kept shaking his head every time he droped the ball. Niners will not draft him ! ! !
Anonymous said:
1. Vernon Davis
12 hours after the fact.2. Darrell Bing
3. OLB/DE (unless Demetrius Williams is still on board)
4. OLB/WR/DE
SB said:
Steve, your right the ravens did win a super bowl with mainly they’re defense.. But lets not forget that same ravens team had a pro bowl TE in shannon sharpe, a capable QB in trent dilfer,with ok hands but lightning quick wideouts in Q.ismail and jermain lewis who also was the best return man that year.
15 hours after the fact.MJ said:
What the hell is the Michael Huff at #6 business? COME ONE PEOPLE, WEAKE UP! Vernon Davis is the way we need to go and I will say it again, “ANONYMOUS” you hit it right on the head. VD then Bing in the second round. As for someone who mentioned earlier Bing may make it into the late first round…...I actually read he may make the early third. We should be ok to get him in the second round.
1 day after the fact.Also, “SB” dawg you are a pimp as well. YOU CAN NOT WIN A GAME WITH JUST A DEFENSE! Just look at the game with Arizona from last year! Two forced fumbles and touchdowns by the defense but nothing from the offense. We lost that game by the way, for you defense oriented fellows. VD is what we need now.
We can really all talk as much as we want but when it comes down to it I think Nolan is going to shatter my offseason hopes by drafting defensively. (He was a defensive coordinator after all.) Look at our games last year, why the hell did we punt on 4th down and 2 yards (For example) halfway through the 4th quarter when we were down by like 30? Nolan would have the defense play the whole game if he could, you is a twit when it comes to our offense. If we draft Huff I will be pissed as hell. I am hoping I am wrong about Nolan for now, the draft will only tell. VD, VD, VD
Corey said:
we did just swoop up sammy davis, i’m not saying he is as athletic as huff, but thats one less corner we need.
2 days after the fact.Anonymous said:
deducing falsification.antiques!exerting fluorescent?...
22 days after the fact.