On Saturday, April 14, 49erswebzone.com and 49ersparadise.com held a chat session with draft guru Colin Lindsay of GBN Report. Attendees were able to ask Colin questions regarding the NFL Draft from a 49ers fan's perspective. Below are some key points that Colin hit during the chat session. These questions were asked by 49ers fans from the two fan sites.
You have projected Arkansas DE Jamaal Anderson as our pick at #11 over Ole Miss LB Patrick Willis, Michigan DT Alan Branch and Nebraska DE Adam Carriker. Can you explain your reasoning? Can Anderson hold up vs. the run in a 3-4 defense?
Colin: That was a tough call; at the time we felt that JA was simply the best player available at that point and while not a prototype 3-4 certainly has the size to play the position; we've had some later updates and right now I am not sure that both all three guys you mention now rate ahead of JA but it appears to vary by team.
Do you still believe he will be the 49ers’ #1?
Colin: This is a real tough draft to pick because so many players all over the board. I think today if I had to make that pick, it would be between Carriker and Willis...Carriker is the better fit but Willis may be the best player available.
You have projected Miami S Brandon Meriweather as our pick at #42 pick. Although a superior talent, he has character issues. Do you think coach Nolan would overlook them?
Colin: While Meriweather has had some issues I don't think they are bad enough to take him off the board and at #42 he'd be great value but I really don't think in the real world he gets anywhere near that unless there is stuff out there we haven't heard about.
Who do you think will trade with us for Smiley?
Colin: There are a number of teams with big problems along the OL that could be interested in Smiley. Certainly Miami comes quickly to mind and they have extra picks.
What is your take on Brown LB Zak DeOssie and what round will he get picked? It seems he has potential to play either ILB or OLB in the 3-4.
Colin: Good call; put a player with those kind of measurable on a USC or Michigan and you'd have a 1st round type... I would expect DeOssie to last into the 4-5 area where he would be great value because of his versatility; he's also a smart kid who is a hard worker.
Do you see trading back into the second round as an option for the 49ers? If so, who would we target assuming we take Meriweather?
Colin: Of course it all depends on who is available etc. We had the 49ers taking Meriweather at #42 because he'd be such good value then however I doubt he's still around then. Assuming the 49ers get a DE type at #11 I would expect the 49ers to target a WR in round two like Steve Smith, Craig Davis of LSU and possibly Sidney Rice. This is a deep draft at WR however I expect a run on them early in Rd 2 so one may not want to drop too far.
If the Niners go WR in the second round, who do you see them going for? South Carolina’s Sidney Rice or Washington State’s Jason Hill?
Colin: Again, it is going to depend largely on who is available but Rice would be a possible steal although he will take a little time to really learn the nuances of the pro game. In fact there are 4-5 very good second tier WRs who might be available at that time including Hill if the likes of Rice and Smith were gone.
Everyone states that a big weakness of Patrick Willis as not being able to fight off blocks. Can you elaborate on that a little bit and how does he compare in that regard with other 3-4 ILB prospects?
Colin: Willis is a tallish MLB and he did have a few problems at time staying low and getting thru the traffic but it’s not a major issue. I also expect it would be more of an issue as a 4-3 LB for Willis. Plus he's the kind of guy you could slide outside on 3rd down as a potential pass rusher.
What's your take on Michigan LB David Harris? Do you like him as the 49ers second round pick?
Colin: David Harris is a poor man's Patrick Willis and would be another great pick at #42 but I really doubt he lasts that long; the problem at MLB is that after Willis and Harris, there really is a big drop-off so they will be in demand.
What is your take on wide receivers Paul Williams from Fresno State and Legedu Naanee from Boise State? When do you think they will get drafted? Do you think the Niners might be interested in one or both of them?
Colin: As mentioned earlier, this is a very good year for WRs and teams should be able to get a useful player at the position right into the second day. Williams is a special athlete who disappeared at times last fall; still should be an early 3rd round type. Legedu also has a very good size/speed ratio and could be had in the late 4th early 5th round area.
Do you feel that Sydney Rice’s lack of top end speed will hurt him? How an extra year in college have made him a high first rounder as people claim?
Colin: Rice has average (4.50) speed for a WR but is very physical and an athletic leaper. He's also a little raw as a receiver, so may have benefited by an extra year in that regard. However 2008 could be a sensational year at WR and Rice likely wasn't going to be in the top group next year no matter how much he improved this year if he stayed in school.
If the Niners decide to target offensive lineman in round 4, who do you like that would still be available?
Colin: This is not necessarily a very good year along the OL, so in the 4th, you might look for a sleeper type like Allen Barbre who is very athletic; you might also get a look at Ryan Harris of Notre Dame who has pretty good skill but he's a bit of an odd one! Others to consider might be Corey Hilliard of Okie State; Mansfield Wrotto of Ga Tech and C Dustin Fry of Clemson.
Who are some possible replacements for Allen at guard? Maybe a guy like Texas Tech’s Manuel Ramirez?
Colin: Really like Ramirez who is a big guy with very good feet; not a mauler but will lock on; very good pass blocking OG so yes would be a good choice with one of the #3 picks. It is a better year at OG than OT.
Do you believe Oklahoma State DT Ryan McBean can play at 3-4 end and where do you see him being drafted?
Colin: Not sure if McBean is physical enough to be an NFL starter but would be a useful second team DE in a 3-4 scheme. looks like a 5-6 type guy. As for 2nd tier 3-4 DE types guys like Ray McDonald and Turk McBride would look to be better suited as every down types.
What’s your take on Walter Thomas? Is the 370lb NT out of NW Mississippi C.C., a legitimate prospect? How high will he get drafted?
Colin: He's intriguing with that size but isn't very quick at all; nice story, but more likely to be available as an undrafted free agent.
If Penn State OT Levi Brown were to fall, do you see the 49ers drafting him with defensive players like Carriker, Willis, or Branch still on the board?
Colin: That's another one of those tough calls as Brown is all over boards around the league. I'd be surprised if the 49ers took him over guys like Willis or Carriker. We aren't big Brown fans. Rugged road grader type but really isn't very nimble in pass protection and we wonder if he can handle the left side.
If Louisville RB Michael Bush is still available at #76, should we take him?
Colin: Because the 49ers have extra picks, they can afford to take a gamble or two and that would be interesting. Not sure that Bush isn't a tad overrated though. Even when healthy he wasn't very fast and had a rep as not being a very hard worker and had weight problems in his career.
Are there any other 3-4 teams looking to get Willis?
Colin: There are reportedly a number of teams looking at Willis probably starting with Miami at #9; Buffalo right behind the 49ers are also really interested. The scary thing for the 49ers would be if some team picking a little later traded up with say Houston. The consolation prize if you like though if you miss out on Willis, it means that other good players are going to be available at #11
How far does Carriker drop if we don’t pick him up and why?
Colin: Hard to see Carriker dropping much past Pittsburgh at #15.
Any chance of Tennessee DT Justin Harrell making it to the Niners #2 pick? Would he be a good fit in our defense?
Colin: Maybe if he breaks his leg in the next couple of weeks!!! He'll go somewhere in the final 10 picks or so of the opening round. Plus he's a prototype 4-3 DT so would not be a great fit for the 49ers. It’s not a great year for DTs but Tank Tyler might get a look in the second round or more likely Mebane in the 3rd.
This close to the draft, do you anticipate much movement or change in draft boards across the league?
Colin: Right now, there is a really lousy mix between team needs and value boards especially early in the draft so I suspect there may very well be a lot of trades although most will likely come during the draft.
Special thanks goes to Colin Lindsay of GBN Report for taking the time out of his busy schedule to attend this chat session. Thanks to Bryan Hersh of 49ersparadise.com for managing the chat and keeping it organized.
