DB Dontae Johnson North Carolina State

He has a really good shot at making it.

I hope he works really hard.

Make or break. I think he's on a contract year too.

Contract years force players to perform.

Looks like Reaser is ahead of him on the depth chart. I don't think he will make the team unless he has a real strong camp and pre season.

I have a feeling they may be moving Ward back to CB while that's why they are looking at Byrd

Originally posted by StubbyNBY:
Looks like Reaser is ahead of him on the depth chart. I don't think he will make the team unless he has a real strong camp and pre season.

I have a feeling they may be moving Ward back to CB while that's why they are looking at Byrd

I would be pissed.

That would be a shame.

Johnson is this year's Quinton Patton, in that this will be the year everyone scratches their heads and wonders why they spent the past couple years so high on this guy despite him never really showing any reason for it.

Should've stuck w/ Kenneth Acker instead of him

Terrific breakdown of DJ's strengths and weaknesses in here by thl (and against some very tough competition and in many cases, not as a regular "starter").

http://www.49erswebzone.com/forum/niners/181749-offseason-all22-film-study/page57/

In short, I think Reaser is the one that no longer fits the scheme with the addition of Williams and Redmond now healthy. Saleh loves his long outside CB's in Robinson, Johnson and Witherspoon. Johnson will probably win the starting spot as Witherspoon is still raw and his college HC noted he'd need 18 months before he starts reaching his full potential (strength/conditioning/diet + playbook/technique).

Fans read WAY too much into "starting lineups" this early per the media reports on the days they are allowed to even view practices. In most cases, the veterans will be given the first team reps...in other cases, players like Reaser and Fusco (splitting with Garnett at RG) are a way to get an early look at players they don't have a lot of film on and want to see them in action and at specific positions.

My guess is that your two starting outside CB's will be Johnson/Robinson with a fierce competition inside between Williams/Redmond.

Saleh's system should benefit DJ , he has the height and length that is required of CB's in this new aggressive 4-3 scheme , and with a better pass rush, and stronger front 7 , our DB's will be able to make some plays and suffocate WR's, I'm liking our chances of putting a solid defense on the field this year

Originally posted by pdizo916:

Originally posted by StubbyNBY:

Looks like Reaser is ahead of him on the depth chart. I don't think he will make the team unless he has a real strong camp and pre season.

I have a feeling they may be moving Ward back to CB while that's why they are looking at Byrd

I would be pissed.

I wouldn't overthink it. Byrd is being looked at for depth so that the only competition for backup FS isn't just one UDFA.

Originally posted by walker807:
I wouldn't overthink it. Byrd is being looked at for depth so that the only competition for backup FS isn't just one UDFA.

Yup.

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by walker807:

I wouldn't overthink it. Byrd is being looked at for depth so that the only competition for backup FS isn't just one UDFA.

Yup.

Is Byrd really trying to come here to be a backup? Now with Leon Hall in the mix, I'm a lil confused. Cause it seems to me they're trying to see what player will give us the better combo. Byrd at FS and Ward back to CB, or Ward stays at FS and we sign Hall to CB... or we seriously are considering both. In DJs case, Hall visit isn't a good thing.

Originally posted by SmokeCrabtrees:

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by walker807:

I wouldn't overthink it. Byrd is being looked at for depth so that the only competition for backup FS isn't just one UDFA.

Yup.

Is Byrd really trying to come here to be a backup? Now with Leon Hall in the mix, I'm a lil confused. Cause it seems to me they're trying to see what player will give us the better combo. Byrd at FS and Ward back to CB, or Ward stays at FS and we sign Hall to CB... or we seriously are considering both. In DJs case, Hall visit isn't a good thing.

I highly doubt ward is moving back to CB, they didn't draft a single FS for a reason...we simply have zero behind Ward and he's not exactly known for being an iron man. Byrd and hall both played FS (hall played in the slot in NY last yr).

It would be very very very bad if they were looking at either guy as their starting single-high FS at this pt.

I'll also add that teams workout guys like this just so they know more about them...if one of our own guys get injured in camp, then they'll simply call one up and sign them.

Originally posted by NYniner85:

Originally posted by SmokeCrabtrees:

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by walker807:

I wouldn't overthink it. Byrd is being looked at for depth so that the only competition for backup FS isn't just one UDFA.

Yup.

Is Byrd really trying to come here to be a backup? Now with Leon Hall in the mix, I'm a lil confused. Cause it seems to me they're trying to see what player will give us the better combo. Byrd at FS and Ward back to CB, or Ward stays at FS and we sign Hall to CB... or we seriously are considering both. In DJs case, Hall visit isn't a good thing.

I highly doubt ward is moving back to CB, they didn't draft a single FS for a reason...we simply have zero behind Ward and he's not exactly known for being an iron man. Byrd and hall both played FS (hall played in the slot in NY last yr).

It would be very very very bad if they were looking at either guy as their starting single-high FS at this pt.

I'll also add that teams workout guys like this just so they know more about them...if one of our own guys get injured in camp, then they'll simply call one up and sign them.

I don't think it's bad at all if they were waiting for Byrd to get fully healthy. Hall has ability to give us depth and push start at CB&FS but I agree with what you said in terms of try out in case you need later. Also with the CBA, I think you can wait till a certain date to sign guys so the minimum guarantees are different and the signing not affecting the compensatory pick formula.

I fee like we're just fine at the slot.. and I don't see either guy coming as pure backups. DJ,Reaser,Williams all put on notice IMO. On paper, Hall makes more sense if he's better than Williams at the slot, and better than DJ/Reaser outside.