49ers 2006 Draft: I laughed, VD cried and Where We Go from Here

So I’m sitting in my room about 24 hours after the draft. I’ve been able to collect my thoughts on, what was, an exciting weekend to say the least for our team. I was thinking of doing one of those draft pick reviews, but seeing as how every website on the internet has one of those columns with an overall letter grade, I’m going to concentrate on two other things in this article from a fan and coaching perspective. The first is to revisit some of the thoughts on our draft in general, such as the happenings of the day because this was one of the most thrilling drafts I have watched in quite some time. Secondly, I want to discuss the future of the players we took and how I see the 49ers using some of them. And I’m going to do it using my point-by-point Training Camp Report style, because this is really just a collection of random but intriguing thoughts from a very excited and anxious fan.

– Was it just me, or could anyone else not sleep going into draft day? I guess it was the fact that Vernon Davis was on our radars and I had wanted this guy for the longest time. I spent much of the past two weeks spying on Green Bay Packers message boards, trying to find out anything I could about their interest in Davis. I was worried sick that he’d be taken before our pick, and eight hours before the draft were not going to go away with this thing humans call “sleep.”

– From the point when Vince Young was taken on, this draft became some of the most intense 30 minutes I think I’ve ever witnessed for the 49ers in quite some time. And that’s impressive considering not one single football was snapped on Saturday. From the Titans passing on Leinart, to the Jets potentially taking Leinart as their franchise QB, to waiting to hear who the Packers were going to take—- it was just, wow, gut wrenching. – When Sean Salisbury tried to egg William Henderson on how the Packers needed Vernon Davis as a target for Favre to which Henderson replied they would go with Hawk, things began to brighten up. When AJ HAwk was announced as going to the Packers by Taglibue, my friends and I went utterly insane. – Then when we actually made the Vernon Davis pick, we went insane some more. I gather that we weren’t the only ones judging by the videos of the 49ers’ Draft Party at the Santa Clara Convention Center. Wow….who the hell knew you could celebrate so much for a draft pick when he’s not even scoring a TD. – A similar reaction was apparent when we took Manny Lawson. The fact that we got the two players who most though would have the biggest impact and answer the two greatest needs on our team was incredible. You know, us 49er fans are accustomed to taking the Mike Rumphs and Kwame Harriss of the world when we’re picking in the later portion of the first round. So to get an athlete like Lawson at that 22nd spot was some draft magic. – Most people wanted Darnell Bing over Michael Robinson with our 4th round pick. I’ll admit, I was a fan of Bing’s going into the draft and actually proposed that we take him with our 2nd round pick when we had one a few weeks ago. However, this team needs impact players not just bodies. With Robinson, we get a guy who may not have the floor of a Bing, but Robinson gives us dimension and playmaking ability on the offensive side of our football team. For a day 2 pick, if he reaches his ceiling, we may have yet another exciting playmaker on offense. – Parys Haralson in the 5th was a steal. One day I envision Lawson and Haralson harassing QBs. – The NFC West just became the division of the Tight Ends. At least if they all pan out. We have Vernon Davis and Eric Johnson. The Rams have Klopfenstein and Byrd, and the Cardinals got a steal in 3rd round pick Leonard Pope. The best part is, I think Vernon Davis is going to be the best of them all. – Delanie Walker is a nice pick. 6’2, 240, and good speed. Yes, we have a ton of WRs on our roster. However, none of them are certainties outside of Antonio Bryant and perhaps Arnaz Battle. Competition, on a young football team that needs playmakers, is a good thing.

-Mark Hudson may have a greater impact at safety this year than most people think.

– Brandon Williams was a nice pick. I didn’t like this pick at first, but the fact that he gives us a reliable kick returner/punt returner and a slot WR who is different from our bigger targets makes me like him more after I’ve recollected my thoughts. – Vernon Davis crying. The last time we had an emotional player who teared up after embracing his team it was Terrell Owens. And Vernon Davis has the potential to give us what Owens provided on the football field—-a player that all defenses have to account for, and someone who is intense and confident in making the play. – Kudos to Mike Nolan, Scott McCloughan, and everyone else who did their homework and helped us have this draft. We really took some solid players who I think will be contributors on offense. We also answered our lack of a pass rush with two picks—Lawson and Haralson—and it’s nice to see the team put its emphasis on premium players for a change. – Alex Smith must be a happy guy after this draft and this off-season. First, he gets a physically dominant and mean lineman in Larry Allen to help protect him. Then he gets the draft’s best receiving threat and a guy who could be the best TE when all is said and done. – Norv Turner must be a happy guy after his draft too. – But the happiest people after this draft might just be the good ‘ole folks. I’m talking about you, me, and the rest of the 49er die hards. In my mind, this was one of the best drafts I’ve seen the team pull off in quite some time, and I have witnessed a few of them. While nothing can really be written in stone until these guys put on pads and then when the team goes through the 2006 season, there is a lot of hope and upturn in the vibe around here. When I turned on the radio this morning, I heard 49er praise and hope. That’s a change from the past few years. – Damn it’s good to be a 49er fan again. Not that anyone was jumping off the bandwagon. But with all these years of turmoil and cap casualities, it’s nice to see an upswing. Dare I say, the 49ers are a team on the rise.