Which would you prefer? Great OL, mediocre WR, or mediocre OL, great WR?

I think 49ers currently are constructed with a great WR, mediocre OL design. Does everyone agree with that, or would you do things differently?

So far, it seems that everyone is in agreement with me. Having a great OL is more important for the 49ers than great WR. Let's face it, we don't throw the ball to them enough to justify it.
I would also argue that WR are currently overvalued in today's NFL market. Each year, a ton of talented WR enter the NFL draft, often from spread offenses that have given them plenty of opportunities to hone their skills. The 49ers can probably have a decent WR core by just drafting one in the 2nd or 3rd round each year. But the OL helps the passing game, keeps your QB healthy, and most importantly would be a force multiplier to the 49ers strong rushing attack.
This past year, the only area we could run effectively against a run defense was the left side of the OL which made us too predictable. With a stronger OL, we could have had great success rushing to either side, forcing defenses to sell out to stop the run, which would then open up the passing game more.

Originally posted by fryet:
So far, it seems that everyone is in agreement with me. Having a great OL is more important for the 49ers than great WR. Let's face it, we don't throw the ball to them enough to justify it.
I would also argue that WR are currently overvalued in today's NFL market. Each year, a ton of talented WR enter the NFL draft, often from spread offenses that have given them plenty of opportunities to hone their skills. The 49ers can probably have a decent WR core by just drafting one in the 2nd or 3rd round each year. But the OL helps the passing game, keeps your QB healthy, and most importantly would be a force multiplier to the 49ers strong rushing attack.
This past year, the only area we could run effectively against a run defense was the left side of the OL which made us too predictable. With a stronger OL, we could have had great success rushing to either side, forcing defenses to sell out to stop the run, which would then open up the passing game more.

Purdy was 5th in passing yards. Now, to be fair, he was 20th in attempts, but isn't that the benefit of great WR? If you are convinced that the system is the system and we'll never pass more, imagine what the passing production would look like WITHOUT great WR? Why wouldnt this cause defenses to sell out even more vs the run? Hell, at this point, why even pay the QB, right?

This question all depends on how you define mediocre. Obviously you don't want elite WR and crap OL, and you don't want crap WR and elite OL. The balance is somewhere in the middle, and that balance is likely to shift through the course of a teams window depending on they can best maximize their resources.

As currently constructed, I would have liked to upgrade our OL more, but not at the expense of the WRs

The way games are being called and the focus on passing I would rather have great WR. Rules are really tilting the advantage to passing so why fight the current. Go with the flow

Great HC and QB

I actually think the great offensive line is better. Which is the opposite of how this team builds. But it keeps biting us in the Super Bowl against the elites. So you see how that goes. Shanahan thinks he can just keep adding more WR's and that's the answer. I think it's terrible and costs us. It's not why we lost. A 1st round WR was not what we need. But I hope for the best for the Pearsall pick.

Originally posted by SanDiego49er:
I actually think the great offensive line is better. Which is the opposite of how this team builds. But it keeps biting us in the Super Bowl against the elites. So you see how that goes. Shanahan thinks he can just keep adding more WR's and that's the answer. I think it's terrible and costs us. It's not why we lost. A 1st round WR was not what we need. But I hope for the best for the Pearsall pick.

Shanahan is following the old ways of finding gems on the O-line. When they had 2nd to late round picks on their O-line, Bubba Paris, Fred Quillan, Jesse Sapolu, Randy Cross, Dave Fiore and so on.

Although we came up short, we are always in the hunt, 4 championship game appearances along with 2 super bowl appearances. So I would argue that average OL line and good/great wr is working. There are other teams whose OL that are rated better than us, yet have not had the success that we have had. Case in point the Cowboys.

Finding a really good WR is not as easy as people think despite the influx. Case in point, just look at the other teams being talked about still needing a WR. Plus you want the kind of WR that fits your style and attitude that the niners want. We also had some busts to prove that point. If the WR can't get open, the D is going to tee off on you whether you run or pass. Mahomes is one of the greatest QBs currently, you think he doesn't miss Hill? If it was so easy, they would have replaced Hill already.

Plus, we took McGlinchey really high, how did that turn out? People complained. Using this year's draft, what kind of talent would you have gotten at 31? I really doubt you would gotten someone that would contribute and make a big impact, unless your line was ssssooooooo really bad. As the saying goes draft BPA and need are the best, otherwise BPA, never just need, otherwise you are going to keep needing. Plus the niners are playing 4D chess. Preparing for when Deebo or Aiyuk or both are not here.

People also need to realize the Niners are looking for a certain type, just because the person is rated high on the draft board of some prognosticators board doesn't mean the player fits and can play in their style.

Originally posted by SanDiego49er:
I actually think the great offensive line is better. Which is the opposite of how this team builds. But it keeps biting us in the Super Bowl against the elites. So you see how that goes. Shanahan thinks he can just keep adding more WR's and that's the answer. I think it's terrible and costs us. It's not why we lost. A 1st round WR was not what we need. But I hope for the best for the Pearsall pick.

That there is the key. The players didn't make the plays at times. Not the philosophy of team building. The niners are in the hunt, better than some teams that are not in the hunt and have better lines.

QB can't throw from his back

Originally posted by 49erFaithful6:
Great HC and QB

If the Chiefs have proven anything it's this.

Originally posted by ChuckLeavy32:

Originally posted by 49erFaithful6:
Great HC and QB

If the Chiefs have proven anything it's this.

To be fair I think they have a better pass blocking offensive line than us. Ours is not very good.

Originally posted by SanDiego49er:

Originally posted by ChuckLeavy32:

Originally posted by 49erFaithful6:
Great HC and QB

If the Chiefs have proven anything it's this.

To be fair I think they have a better pass blocking offensive line than us. Ours is not very good.

We have to consider the style of offense that Kyle prefers. He likes to run as much as possible but bsically has a balanced offense. A lot of lineman can run block better than they pass block so it's nit surprising that a team that likes to run doesn't have a great pass blocking line. The short patterns that are a staple of this offense don't require linemen to hold their blocks for long. It's really more about Purdy finding the open guy quickly and getting the ball out.

Originally posted by SanDiego49er:

Originally posted by ChuckLeavy32:

Originally posted by 49erFaithful6:
Great HC and QB

If the Chiefs have proven anything it's this.

To be fair I think they have a better pass blocking offensive line than us. Ours is not very good.

Their OL gets bailed out more often than not

Originally posted by Hoovtrain:

Originally posted by SanDiego49er:

Originally posted by ChuckLeavy32:

Originally posted by 49erFaithful6:
Great HC and QB

If the Chiefs have proven anything it's this.

To be fair I think they have a better pass blocking offensive line than us. Ours is not very good.

Their OL gets bailed out more often than not

Sometimes it does. They do a lot of outrageous holding. That they get away with in the playoffs especially.