stanford's ben gardner shines at pro day...but...

...he's a bit of a tweener. not big enough for a legit 5 technique; not rangy and explosive enough for a legit 4-3 end; a bit thick to cover large areas as a 3-4 olb--but, here's the deal--he actually reminds me of a couple big, old inside linebackers: ted johnson and matt millen. i think he deserves a look at 3-4 inside linebacker. he's actually quite agile for his size, and reacts and moves in defined areas well. might be a guy you can get into the high 250 lb-low 260 lb range and increase his mobility. i just see possibilities for him at ilb; he has the mobility to hang. he'd be worth a sniff at te if he had hands. anyway, he's a versatile athlete worth testing out. rd 6 or 7.

some numbers: 4.83s/4.88s in the forty including a 10-yard split of 1.67s. 4.23s in the short shuttle, 6.83s/6.78s three cone as well as a terrific mark of 39.5 inches in the vertical jump and 10-2 in the broad. During drills, Gardner practiced to those numbers, looking quick and fluid.

well, ben...i guess you're not a popular guy.

LOL...I love the guy but don't see him as a fit for the niners. But who knows? Only the Shadow...er...Baalke!

A lot of these guys had really good days, Josh Mauro, Ed Reynolds, Trent Murphy, David Yankey, all did well.

He would be a great pick in the 7th

We don't draft stanford players for whatever reason. Maybe that's the root cause of the friction between Baalke and Harbaugh

Gardner would be a great developmental pick-up in the later rounds.

Pass.

Originally posted by OnTheClock:
Gardner would be a great developmental pick-up in the later rounds.

What position would you peg for him? He seems the kind of over acheiver everyone, including me, loves; but will struggle at the next level when he can't just outwork everyone.

Originally posted by dtg_9er:

What position would you peg for him? He seems the kind of over acheiver everyone, including me, loves; but will struggle at the next level when he can't just outwork everyone.

He's a great athlete, jumped 39.5" vert at 260 lbs!

Sounds a little like Bruce Miller when he came out. Just sayin.......

i have us taking him in the 7th if he were still available, which there is a good shot of.

Originally posted by dtg_9er:
LOL...I love the guy but don't see him as a fit for the niners. But who knows? Only the Shadow...er...Baalke!

Agree. He can bulk up and one day be a Justin type.. but I'd like to think we already have that in Tank. What we need (if anything) is a RayMac type, and we are not in an urgent hurry.

Originally posted by Mr.Mcgibblets:
Agree. He can bulk up and one day be a Justin type.. but I'd like to think we already have that in Tank. What we need (if anything) is a RayMac type, and we are not in an urgent hurry.

This is what I was thinking as well! When I watch him play his motor is always going...very much as J Smith's. It could take him a while to bulk uip, or he could be maxed out now...Justin is a very special athlete and not all guys are capable of gaining that strength. At some point you just have to shake your head and say "genetics!" LOL! I could have lifted weights for twenty years and never come close!