Ray Fittipaldo, of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, reports San Francisco 49ers RB Michael Robinson said he will embrace his role as a running back. Robinson added,
“I won’t resist the chance because I understand the way the world works. I think for you to be successful on any level you have to be a football player first. You can’t just limit yourself to whatever role you want to play.”
He said he will be used as a third-down running back-type and a slot guy who would come out of the backfield to do some thing. The team has said they would give him a shot at quarterback.
Rd 1. (6) – Vernon Davis, TE, Maryland – [Draft Bio]
Rd 1. (22) – Manny Lawson, OLB, North Carolina St – [Draft Bio]
Rd 3. (84) – Brandon Williams, WR, Wisconsin – [Draft Bio]
Rd 4. (100) – Michael Robinson, WR/RB/QB, Penn St. – [Draft Bio]
Rd 5. (140) – Parys Haralson, DE, Tennessee – [Draft Bio]
Rd 6. (175) – Delanie Walker, WR, Central Missouri St – [Draft Bio]
Rd 6. (192) – Marcus Hudson, FS, North Carolina St. – [Draft Bio]
Rd 6. (197) – Melvin Oliver, DE, LSU - [Draft Bio]
Rd 7. (254) – Vickiel Vaughn, SS, Arkansas – [Draft Bio]
With the 46th pick in the 7th round, No. 254 overall, the Niners select Safety Vickiel Vaughn…
Height: 6-0, Weight: 205, 40 Speed: 4.53
Position: Safety, College: Arkansas
Biography: Has been a regular on the field for Arkansas the past four seasons, gaining recognition as a versatile and nvaluable performer for the Razorbacks. Also has been their most durable player, as he never missed a game due to an injury. He began his career as a free safety, but has also started at strong safety and weak-side outside linebacker. The hard-hitting safety also has been a force on special teams. Led Arkansas defense with four interceptions – returning one for a touchdown – and was second on team with 83 tackles in 2005 after leading team with 66 tackles in 2004, when he tied for the team lead with two interceptions, returning one 52 yards for a touchdown against South Carolina. Played in all 13 games of his sophomore season at linebacker after beginning his Arkansas career at safety in 2002, when he played in all 14 games as a true freshman. In 49 games at Arkansas, Vaughn started 21 times. He recorded 175 tackles (118 solos) with two stops for losses of 8 yards and two quarterback pressures. He had seven interceptions for 105 yards in returns, including a touchdown and deflected nine passes. He caused four fumbles and had a pair of fumble recoveries. Vaughn’s father, Ezekiel, was a high school teammate of Arkansas coach Houston Nutt.
Positives: Ran well at his Arkansas Pro Day, recording a time of 4.09 seconds in the short shuttle and 6.65 seconds in the three-cone drill. Is a well-defined athlete with a lean waist and muscular upper-body frame. Makes quick decisions in coverage and has the deep speed to stay with receivers through their routes. Has recovery quickness and adjusts well to the ball, and can catch it away from his body with large, soft hands. Is a textbook tackler and delivers big hits with good form.
Negatives: Seems a little hesitant in run support, generally losing his balance when getting bounced around by blockers in tight quarters. Despite good technique, can get a little sloppy at times in his wrap-up tackling form, tending to grab at the receivers rather than trying to secure during his hits. Susceptible to the quarterback’s pumps and fakes. Needs to show a more fluid motion when changing direction, as he appears to hesitate before redirecting.
Analysis: A seasoned but unpolished player who has the skills to play center field at the next level but needs to develop a more fluid style. Has proven to be a good all-around football player in college and the 49ers are anxious to see what he’s capable of around better talent and coaching amid the pro atmosphere.
With the 28th pick in the 6th round, acquired from Jacksonville, No. 197 overall. The Niners select DE Melvin Oliver… (the Niners traded the 213th, and 236th, which was originally acquired from Jacksonville for Winborn to move up to 197.)
Height: 6-3, Weight: 279, 40 Speed: 5.10
Position: Defensive End, College: Louisiana State
SUMMARY
Oliver was a frustrating player to grade because he would occasionally flash the ability to make plays, but most of the time he was not involved in the play. He has quick feet and the agility to defeat one-on-one blocks out in space. He can accelerate to full speed quickly when chasing in pursuit and has the playing speed to chase down ball carriers before they can get back to the line of scrimmage when he does not have to defeat a blocker to make the play. The trouble is that he lacks the quick burst and explosiveness off the ball to make an impact as a speed/edge rusher and lacks the power/strength to be an effective pass rusher when he slides inside to defensive tackle. Overall, Oliver is ideally suited to be tried as a strong-side defensive end because he has the strength to hold up as an end and the athleticism to avoid pass blocking offensive tackles out in space. The trouble is that he struggles to consistently get free from blocks in time to make plays. Oliver should not be drafted because of his inconsistent production and ‘Tweener’ status, but can be signed as a free agent because of his athleticism, size for a defensive end and his competitiveness.
STRONG POINTS
He is a good athlete with the quick feet and playing speed to chase down ball carriers on runs away between the offensive tackles. He flashes ability to beat one-on-one pass blocks with hand use and quick feet. He has good instincts, which combine with his athleticism to let him ‘Peel’ off rush to pick up the running back on short dump-off passes. He is a versatile defensive linemen who has experience lining up at end and sliding inside to defensive tackle on passing downs.
WEAKNESSES
Oliver is a ‘Tweener’ who has the size and strength that is ideal for a defensive end, but he lacks the quick burst and explosiveness off the ball to threaten the corner asa speed rusher. He lacks the size and playing strength to play defensive tackle and can be driven off the ball too easily. He gets pinned inside by side/seal blocks and driven down the line of scrimmage. He does not use his hands well vs. blockers and struggles to shed quick enough.
This is the pick that they traded Tim Rattay for.
With the 23rd pick in the 6th round, No. 192 overall, the Niners select free safety Marcus Hudson…
Height: 6-1, Weight: 193, 40 Speed: 4.50
Position: Free Safety, College: North Carolina State
SUMMARY
Hudson is an interesting player because of hishis strong play as a safety in 2004, but was not as enamored with his play as a cornerback in 2005. He is a tall safety with the long arms—when he covers the tight end in man-to-man coverage, he can stay right on his hip and can reach in front to break up the pass consistently. When he is playing aggressive, he consistently reads the play fast, breaks on the ball and closes fast to make the plays—he makes hard and physical tackles/hits. An added bonus is that Hudson is good on special teams coverage units—played gunner on Punt Cover, gets down the field in a flash and can break down and tackle well out in space. He also is a solid kickoff returner—he’s not a home run threat, but consistently runs hard and fights until he is on the ground. Overall, Hudson is being evaluated as both a cornerback and safety, but he will be most successful as a safety in the NFL. He will not be a premier, game-changing player, but will be good in all areas and will add versatility to the defense. He will be able to drop down to cover slot receiver in three receiver alignments so the defense will not have to go to nickel coverage every time.
STRONG POINTS
Hudson is a versatile athlete with the quick feet, acceleration and playing speed that is tough to find in a safety. His instincts combine with his athleticism to let him get outside to make tackles vs. the run and to make plays on the ball vs. deep, outside passes. In zone coverage, he does a good job of planting, driving and closing fast and can make hard hits right after the ball arrives. He has the hips to turn and run with the tight end without losing a step, has the speed to stay with him deep and uses his front hand to break up passes. When he is aggressive, he comes up quickly in run support and can make hard hits/tackles.
WEAKNESSES
Hudson’s biggest weakness is that he does not maintain focus all the time and it leads to him staying upright and missing tackles he should make. He does not consistently come up aggressively in run support and becomes a catch tackler too often. When he is not aggressive, he does not make plays on passes nearly as often.
With the 6th pick in the 6th round, No. 175 overall, the Niners select WR Delanie Walker…
Height: 6-1, Weight: 241, 40 Speed: 4.62
Position: Wide Receiver, College: Central Missouri State
SUMMARY
Walker is clearly a good athlete with the quickness, burst and playing speed that is hard to find is such a well-built receiver, but he is not a consistently productive receiver. While he has shown the hands to make tough catches when he stays focused on the ball, he is not a natural receiver and often drops passes because he fights the ball—struggles the most with passes within his frame. Is a very well-built receiver with the size and playing strength to keep his feet against hard hits, runs through arm and grab tackles, and breaks tackles consistently. Despite his athleticism, Walker does not run good routes and it hinders his ability to get open despite having physical tools to do so. Overall, a team would really want to try and develop Walker’s physical tools, but would be cautious not to over-draft him because most players with his issues never develop their skills. Has the physical tools to become a starting receiver if he can learn to get off the ball better, run more precise routes and catch the ball more consistently. In the end, he may not develop into the player he is capable of being because few receivers really improve their hands once they get to the NFL, and without doing that he will not last long.
STRONG POINTS
Walker is a big receiver with good natural athleticism. Once he catches the ball he accelerates to full speed fast and has the playing speed to score long touchdowns. Has the quick feet and agility to stop and start quickly to make tacklers miss, and has the balance to keep his feet against hard hits and gains yards after contact. Has flashed the ability to reach away from the body to make the tough catch at times. Is a good kickoff returner whose acceleration, playing speed, strength and balance make him dangerous when running with the ball.
WEAKNESSES
Despite natural athleticism, Walker is not a natural pass catcher and drops too many balls. On passes within his frame, he has a tendency to try and body catch the ball, but too often lets the ball into his body and ends up fighting it. While he has good acceleration, Walker does not explode off the ball into route. He runs choppy and raw routess which hinders his ability to get separation from defender despite the natural quickness and speed.
With the 7th pick in the 5th round, No. 140 overall, the Niners select DE Parys Haralson…
Height: 6-0, Weight: 248, 40 Speed: 4.80 E
Position: Defensive End, College: Tennessee
SUMMARY
Haralson is a very good athlete who can defeat offensive tackle pass blocks consistently with his variety of pass-rush moves, closes quickly on the quarterback and makes hard hits on the quarterback. He is a very active and competitive defensive end who consistently goes all out on every snap and has the playing speed to chase down running plays in pursuit. Despite his lack of size, he is stronger than expected and if he bulks up by adding 10-15 additional pounds, he will be very strong at the point of attack. Overall, Haralson is no doubt going to need to bulk up and become more consistent in his get-off at the snap, but weight can be added and he will become a good all-around defensive end for a team that plays a 4-3 defense. As a rookie, he will be a backup who will contribute mostly as a pass rusher and on special teams, but in his second or third season, he will become a good starting defensive end. Additionally, if Haralson goes to a team that plays the 3-4 defense, he will make an immediate impact rushing the quarterback and will become a dangerous starting rush linebacker within a season.
STRONG POINTS
Haralson is a very good athlete with the speed to get the corner and the burst to close on the quarterback and get the sack. He is aggressive attacking the quarterback and does not hesitate to make very hard hits on the quarterback right after the pass is thrown. He has better strength than you expect for his size and has shown ability to aggressively club the offensive tackle out of the way and can beat him inside to get to the quarterback. He does a very good job on runs away. He maintains backside contain until he checks off the quarterback and backside cutback and then explodes down the line of scrimmage and makes the tackle.
WEAKNESSES
Haralson’s biggest weakness is that he is undersized and will have trouble at the point of attack in the NFL. While he has good strength for his size, once NFL offensive tackles lock up on him, he will struggle to consistently shed and get free. He does not deal well with down/side blocks and can be driven down the line of scrimmage and out of the play too easily. He does not consistently use his hands to protect his legs and can be cut to the ground too easily by low/cut blocks. Despite his athleticism and lack of size, he lacks the explosive burst off the ball needed in an undersized defensive end.
With the 3rd pick in the 4th round, No. 100 overall, the 49ers select, Michael Robinson
Height: 6-1, Weight: 226, 40 Speed: 4.55 E
Position: Wide Receiver, College: Penn State
SUMMARY
It is always hard to predict how a player will do playing a position that he has not played a ton of in college. Robinson is definitely athletic and smart enough to make the switch, but learning the nuances of a new position in the NFL is extremely difficult. Teams will need to be careful not to over-draft him based on his post-season workouts because he is still an athlete trying to make a position switch. For every Hines Ward or Drew Bennett, there are many who never were able to make the switch—Woody Danzler and Eric Crouch are just a few of the recent big names to fail. In the end, Robinson should succeed in his switch to receiver—he will develop into a good No. 3 receiver who can make big plays after the catch because of his open-field running ability.
STRONG POINTS
Robinson is a top-notch athlete with the foot quickness, explosiveness and playing speed to make big plays as a receiver. In limited opportunities, he has shown good hands and the ability to pluck the ball easily away from his body. He is a dangerous open-field runner and will be able to turn short passes into big plays. He is a tough football player who has consistently taken hard hits and stayed in the lineup. He is a smooth and fluid athlete who can make very sharp cuts—as he gains experience as a receiver, he will be able to burst out of cuts to get separation easily.
WEAKNESSES
Robinson’s only glaring weakness is that he was primarily a quarterback at Penn State and, even though he played receiver at times in career, he will need to learn to play the position at the highest level possible. While he has shown real toughness as a quarterback, it is impossible to predict his willingness to go up and make tough catches on high passes in traffic.
ESPN is reporting that Robinson will be used at the running back position.
