Returners: Summary of PR & KR in draft

Some very interesting late round 6-7 (or FA) return guys: (see links below)

Trindon Holliday: WR/RB LSU: ... Runs 4.27 40 .... 17.7 yards per punt & 23.7 yards per KO return.

Leroy Vann: WR Fl A&M: Holds NCAA career record with 11 return TD’s (8 punts, 3 KO).

Brandon James: RB Florida: 4 punt return TD’s, 29 yds per punt return & 28 per KO return (2008)

Brandon Banks: WR K St: runs 4.28 40 ...... 28 yds per kick return,

Brandon West: RB West Mich: 28 yds per KO return

Joique Bell: RB: Rd 5? Good RB, but not returner?? http://www.49erswebzone.com/forum/thread.php?num=135039

We are sure to draft at least one returner this year, so I compiled this list of Returner Prospects:
CJ Spiller .......... RB __ Rd 1
Dez Bryant ....... WR __ Rd 1
Golden Tate ...... WR __ Rd 1
Jahvid Best ........ RB __ Rd 1-2
Mardy Gilyard .... WR __ Rd 2
Jeremy Williams WR __ Rd 2
Perrish Cox ....... CB __ Rd 2
Jordan Shipley ... WR __ Rd 2
Jacoby Ford ...... WR __ Rd 2-3
Arenas .............. CB __ Rd 2-3
Dexter McCluster WR __ Rd 3-4
Andre Roberts .... WR __ Rd 4
Kyle Wilson ........ CB __ Rd 4
Joique Bell .......... RB __ Rd 4-5 http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=67888&draftyear=2010&genpos=RB
Trindon Holliday ... RB __ Rd 6-7 http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/558554
Leroy Vann ......... WR __ Rd 6-7 http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=89034&draftyear=2010&genpos=WR
Brandon James .... RB __ Rd 6-7 http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1114603
Brandon Banks .... WR __ Rd 6-7 http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1630725
Brandon West ...... RB __ Rd 7 http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=68022&draftyear=2010&genpos=RB
Emmanuel Sanders WR__ Rd 7 http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/564943
Michael Smith ....... RB __ Rd 7-FA http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/565979
William Ford ......... RB __ Rd 7-FA http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/435597
LaMarcus Coker ... RB __ Rd 7? http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1675291
Price Miller ........... CB __ Rd 7-FA http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=65918&draftyear=2010&genpos=CB
Projected draft round from NFLDraftScout links on 1/1/10

One of the failings of the current management is their neglect for the return game. I set an email to McC a year ago begging him to pick up a ‘scat-back’ RB/WR/ return man. He kindly answered me, but he said he wouldn’t be drafting any ‘scat-back’ types because he believes football is a power game and you need to wear down the other team, so he would be looking for ‘power’ backs. I pointed out that a ‘change of pace’ back keeps the D off-balance and on their heels, but to no avail. Anyone that played medium-high level football knows the value of a shifty scat-back type. One man cannot tackle them, because they can juke anybody. But alas, McC played baseball, not football, so he doesn’t get it.

A return man touches the ball about 7-8 times a game on returns alone. Plus if you were smart, you’d also get that ‘scat-back’ type several touches from the LOS as a change-up from the power running of Frank Gore, to keep the D on their heels. We have enough depth at most positions, except OL and speed/return game. We should use two picks on speed guys, one WR and one RB.

You think Best will last until the 2nd? Im not so sure.

Also Joe McKnight could be good as well.

Originally posted by dman:
You think Best will last until the 2nd? Im not so sure.

Also Joe McKnight could be good as well.

I don't think Best returned anything this season. Not sure if he did last year or previous years, I can't remember.

Originally posted by dman:
You think Best will last until the 2nd? Im not so sure.

Also Joe McKnight could be good as well.

You’re probably right, I just copied Rd 2 from their site.

But it’s embarrassing that most college teams have a better return game that the 49ers. It shows a lack of football wisdom. I would consider getting two guys who can return and let them compete, since there’s some great return guys in rd 6-7

We have got to get us a returner this draft no matter what round we get him!

I highly doubt Vann will go in the 6th. He'll absolutely get a call as an UDFA, but he has too many things working against him to be drafted.

He's super small -- 5'8" 180 pounds
He won't time well -- Likely the high 4.5's to low 4.6's
He's from a super small school -- Florida A&M.

The positives however are that his field awareness and vision is incredible, as well as some versatility (DB/WR/KR). He could be a low-risk, high-reward player for some team. But for the 49ers, who seem incapable of evaluating talent, I don't think he's even an option -- sometimes it almost feels like Scottie is sitting around on his computers reading Scott Wright's draft "analysis" before making picks.

Originally posted by teeohh:
I don't think Best returned anything this season. Not sure if he did last year or previous years, I can't remember.

Best is a good return man. They just wanted him to concentrate on RB, and I think that’s smart. I know the 9ers want a PR/KR that can do other stuff, but isn’t it more imp to get a great returner, not a ‘jack-of-all-trades’? We could use a return SPECIALIST! They keep wasting picks on ‘big strong’ guys who can cover kicks, etc, but they are not great at anything, so they ride the bench.

Look what has happened to Devin Hester. In his first two years he scored 11 TD’s on returns, while specializing on returns. In his last two ears he has scored ZERO return TD’s while concentrating on WR, his return game has suffered! Perhaps they would have been better off leaving him as a return man?

A guy like Trindon Holliday would be a return SPECIALIST only, would only cost a Rd 5-6 pick, and would immediately solve one of our biggest problems. But McC won’t draft him because he’s ‘too small’ and shifty. Instead McC will try to convert a QB.

Originally posted by tohara3:
We have got to get us a returner this draft no matter what round we get him!

Spiller

Originally posted by OnTheClock:
I highly doubt Vann will go in the 6th. He'll absolutely get a call as an UDFA, but he has too many things working against him to be drafted.

He's super small -- 5'8" 180 pounds
He won't time well -- Likely the high 4.5's to low 4.6's
He's from a super small school -- Florida A&M.

The positives however are that his field awareness and vision is incredible, as well as some versatility (DB/WR/KR). He could be a low-risk, high-reward player for some team. But for the 49ers, who seem incapable of evaluating talent, I don't think he's even an option -- sometimes it almost feels like Scottie is sitting around on his computers reading Scott Wright's draft "analysis" before making picks.

So true!!!

I think McLuster offers the best bang for the buck.

I wish Barner from Oregon wasn't a freshman. Mighty impressive today on returns.

Originally posted by genus49:
I think McLuster offers the best bang for the buck.

I had to double check whether that was another nickname for McCloughan.

-9fA

Originally posted by OnTheClock:
But for the 49ers, who seem incapable of evaluating talent, I don't think Vann is even an option -- sometimes it almost feels like Scottie is sitting around on his computers reading Scott Wright's draft "analysis" before making picks.

49ers have NO speed threat at WR or RB. The WR’s are all big power/possession WR’s (Crabtree, Morgan, Hill, Jones, Battle). All of their RB’s are power guys (Gore, Coffee, Robinson, Norris). None of these 9 core 'skill' guys are speed burners or shifty return guys, yet they still can't run the ball, and they are not speedy, so they can't stretch the defense either. This is a sign of tunnel-vision ignorance by the guys constructing the team, and their infatuation with ‘power’ and their blindness to the value of speed and shiftiness. They fail to understand the balance, the yin-yang, that the threat of speedy/shifty guys opens up the power game.

The 9ers are so devoid of speed threats, I would suggest picking up BOTH a speed WR AND a speed RB. Perhaps a McCluster or Ford in Rd 3-4 and a Holliday, Banks or Vann in Rd 6 or 7. (Trade either WR Jason Hill or Jones)

Originally posted by maxsmart:

Originally posted by OnTheClock:
But for the 49ers, who seem incapable of evaluating talent, I don't think Vann is even an option -- sometimes it almost feels like Scottie is sitting around on his computers reading Scott Wright's draft "analysis" before making picks.

49ers have NO speed threat at WR or RB. The WR’s are all big power/possession WR’s (Crabtree, Morgan, Hill, Jones, Battle). All of their RB’s are power guys (Gore, Coffee, Robinson, Norris). None of these 9 core 'skill' guys are speed burners or shifty return guys, yet they still can't run the ball, and they are not speedy, so they can't stretch the defense either. This is a sign of tunnel-vision ignorance by the guys constructing the team, and their infatuation with ‘power’ and their blindness to the value of speed and shiftiness. They fail to understand the balance, the yin-yang, that the threat of speedy/shifty guys opens up the power game.

The 9ers are so devoid of speed threats, I would suggest picking up BOTH a speed WR AND a speed RB. Perhaps a McCluster or Ford in Rd 3-4 and a Holliday, Banks or Vann in Rd 6 or 7. (Trade either WR Jason Hill or Jones)

well im pretty sure that Vann is a DB anyway...so he doesn't make a valid point for any of you guys...he doesn't play WR last time i checked

Originally posted by OnTheClock:
I highly doubt Vann will go in the 6th. He'll absolutely get a call as an UDFA, but he has too many things working against him to be drafted.

He's super small -- 5'8" 180 pounds
He won't time well -- Likely the high 4.5's to low 4.6's
He's from a super small school -- Florida A&M.

The positives however are that his field awareness and vision is incredible, as well as some versatility (DB/WR/KR). He could be a low-risk, high-reward player for some team. But for the 49ers, who seem incapable of evaluating talent, I don't think he's even an option -- sometimes it almost feels like Scottie is sitting around on his computers reading Scott Wright's draft "analysis" before making picks.

Maybe we should forward him to the NFL Draft Scout site on CBS Sports.com..........