“The best player available.”
Those are the words coming out of Nolan’s mouth. Sure every team says that. But seems Nolan’s promise on this is one he plans to keep.
“Unfortunately, it’s safe for us to say we can truly take the best player available – other than maybe a quarterback – because we have needs at just about every spot,” 49ers coach Mike Nolan said. “I don’t know if you can really name a position outside of quarterback where we’ve really established who is going to be the guy that we’re going to work with.”
The 49ers have 10 draft picks, including two in the first round. They own four picks in the top 100 selections, and expect to land at least three starters in next weekend’s NFL draft.
Moreover, the direction the 49ers go in the draft might determine what kind of defensive scheme they employ this season.
“One of the greatest advantages of a 3-4 is that you can play a 4-3 at the drop of a hat,” Nolan said. “If the draft takes us in that direction, that is what we will do. We lost two linebackers, so that’s a real advantage, because we might fill one hole as opposed to two. It’s about value.”
[Draft Needs]
Nolan on Bryant
“There are a lot of pretty girls who play wide receiver, but as a defensive (coach), I don’t fear them,” Nolan said. “Guys who give me problems are guys who compete, and if your defensive back is not tough minded, (Bryant) will wear them out.”
Vernon Davis
“I want to revolutionize the tight end position,” Davis said in a telephone interview Friday night. “I want to be remembered as someone who changed the way people think about tight ends and what they can do.” “I want defensive coordinators to have to use their imagination to stop me from scoring touchdowns. I want to be the next big thing in the NFL.”
McCloughan on possibility of Young being there at 6
“If he does fall to six, we’re going to field some calls, and they (the Raiders) are going to know that,” McCloughan said. “If that’s the guy they’ve pinpointed, they’re not going to want to miss out on him.” The Raiders would likely have to part with their first- and fourth-round picks (No. 101 overall) to get the No. 6.
Nolan on Davis
“The league has shown how valuable a good tight end is,’’ Nolan said. “Tony Gonzalez is so critical to the success of Kansas City . . . but they use him correctly. They split him out, they get him on people. Vernon Davis, I believe, would do a lot of the same things.’‘
Nolan Talking Draft
“We are a football team that needs to add starters before we really concentrate on depth,’ explained Nolan. “Early on it’s not about how many guys, it’s about having quality guys. I think that’s what your best football teams do, they have very good starters and then over the course of time, and doing a good job on the second day (of the draft), they add the depth to those starters. This trade as it paints the picture, is more about getting starters and guys that come in and can be impact players than it does creating a whole lot of depth.”
