Only a FS Jimmie Ward-Houston Texans

Originally posted by Mertonschickendance:
Does he have long arms?

http://www.hustlebelt.com/2014/5/7/5688174/2014-nfl-draft-jimmie-ward-dont-believe-the-height

Originally posted by brodiebluebanaszak:
Why burn a first rounder for Ward when Robey was on the board, rated 6.1? Ward was 5.7 We could have drafted Robey, then traded up to get Ward in the second round if we really loved him.

We got scared when Dennard Verret went off the board bang bang.

Ward seems like a risk. Playing for a mid major, with surgery, a little light upper body. Like his aggressiveness, hope it translates to the big time and won't land him on IR.

Because from an athletic standpoint Ward is right up there with guys like Roby and Verrett, has great cover skills, is very competitive + brings a lot more versatility to this team.

If Ward is able to put on 10lbs of muscle, which I fully expect him too, then he has the chance to develop into a very scary DB to play against.

Here are his Pro Day Numbers he put up with a fractured foot.

40 Yrd Dash 4.47
10 Yrd Dash 1.56
Bench N/A
Vertical 38
Broad 10´05"
20 Yrd Shuttle 4.24
3-Cone Drill 6.89


Look at his tape against Dri Archer who many believe is the fastest player in this draft. Ward stayed step for step with him throughout the game.

Well, isn't there a difference in measurables between Verret and Ward? The highlights we're watching are against MAC teams. You know, this guy can be a good player for us, especially if he's not afraid to hit. But It just seems like we could have used the choice for Ealy,Roby, and Ward might still have been there at 40, 45.

Originally posted by DeUh:
Because from an athletic standpoint Ward is right up there with guys like Roby and Verrett, has great cover skills, is very competitive + brings a lot more versatility to this team.

If Ward is able to put on 10lbs of muscle, which I fully expect him too, then he has the chance to develop into a very scary DB to play against.

Here are his Pro Day Numbers he put up with a fractured foot.

40 Yrd Dash 4.47
10 Yrd Dash 1.56
Bench N/A
Vertical 38
Broad 10´05"
20 Yrd Shuttle 4.24
3-Cone Drill 6.89


Look at his tape against Dri Archer who many believe is the fastest player in this draft. Ward stayed step for step with him throughout the game.

Okay thanks for the numbers.

Originally posted by 21SandersMoss84:
First of all, safeties ARE DBs, so I don't know why you're using the terms exclusive to each other. Secondly, the pick addresses the need for a slot CB with the departure of Tarrell Brown and Carlos Rogers. This move also signals HarBaalke's intention to have the slot CB drop back and forth to the S position in a defensive audible situation. This arises from the current offensive trend of the the uptempo no-huddle (Broncos, Pats, Eagles, etc). Now Fangio won't have to worry about his defensive personnel mismatches when opposing offenses try to prevent defensive substitutions with the uptempo no-huddle. It's staying in front of an offensive, league-wide tendency, and they picked a hell of a talented player to do it. Drafting Jimmie Ward is a clever move.

Completely agree. This will help shore up our secondary for years in a way a pure corner couldn't. Plus there are still plenty of good corners available today,

Originally posted by TexasNiner:
Completely agree. This will help shore up our secondary for years in a way a pure corner couldn't. Plus there are still plenty of good corners available today,

Lets start taking them then.

Looks like they are backing Culliver with this pick. Him and Brock are the two starters coming into training camp, IMO.

At first I was unsure about the pick, felt it was a reach and that we could've picked him up in the second. However, the more I learn about the kid, the more I like the pick. Not to mention, I think he might fill in nicely as our slot corner. I still know very little about Mr. Ward, but a slot corner is very important in this division. We need someone to glue to Percy Harvin, Tavon Austin and Patrick Peterson (whenever they put him in on offense), and not to mention Ted Ginn.

The slot receiver has been our kryptonite these past few years. I'm not sure what Harbaalke's plans are, but I'm thinking this pick will pay off. Now, we need to get to work on Day 2: there's lots of depth and great picks we could get in rounds 2 and 3, we better start trading up because 11 rookies will not make this team.

Originally posted by Young2Rice:

Originally posted by buck:

Originally posted by Young2Rice:
Right i understand coverting players like culliver and miller, esp in later rounds.

DBs often convert to safites and sometimes visa versa. But i'm trying to think where a guy was drafted in round - 1 to change positions and also to learn his natural position.

Its just bizarre to me. Why not focus on one position, especially because we are desperate at cb.

Baalke, in an interview talked about the fact that Ward had played nickel back at Northern Illinois and at the Senior Bowl. Baalke was impressed with the ability that he showed when playing the position.

Thats what i was hoping. He was here to be db. But why is baalke saying he will learn to play nickle AND safety? That just seems odd and indesicive to me. Ive never heard of a first rounder drafted as a safety, to learn how to play nickle and safety. It sounds like baalke was spitting gum and hoping it sticks somewhere with this pick.

It sounds like Baalke is saying he will learn to play those positions at the NFL level because he did it at the college level.

Originally posted by 21SandersMoss84:

Originally posted by Young2Rice:

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

Originally posted by Young2Rice:

Thats what i was hoping. He was here to be db. But why is baalke saying he will learn to play nickle AND safety? That just seems odd and indesicive to me. Ive never heard of a first rounder drafted as a safety, to learn how to play nickle and safety. It sounds like baalke was spitting gum and hoping it sticks somewhere with this pick.

He's got a background in both positions, its not like they're asking him to play WR and then move to OLB, there's a lot of overlap between cornerback and safety, the skills he develops as a nickel corner will also aid him as a safety as well.

Gotcha. So he will get a chance at db and if that doesn't work out, then he will move to safety?

First of all, safeties ARE DBs, so I don't know why you're using the terms exclusive to each other. Secondly, the pick addresses the need for a slot CB with the departure of Tarrell Brown and Carlos Rogers. This move also signals HarBaalke's intention to have the slot CB drop back and forth to the S position in a defensive audible situation. This arises from the current offensive trend of the the uptempo no-huddle (Broncos, Pats, Eagles, etc). Now Fangio won't have to worry about his defensive personnel mismatches when opposing offenses try to prevent defensive substitutions with the uptempo no-huddle. It's staying in front of an offensive, league-wide tendency, and they picked a hell of a talented player to do it. Drafting Jimmie Ward is a clever move.

Cool. Thanks for the info. And my bad for using db when i meant to say cb. I was/still am drunk.

I was a bit perplexed at this pick at first, but the more I think about it the more it really seems like a Baalke/Harbaugh move. It looks like Ward has the ability to play both the slot corner position and safety and special teams, all while being a pretty sure tackler. Two things Baalke and Harbaugh value tremendously are versatility and tackling ability. This guy brings all that to the table and I think will be a nice addition to the team.

Originally posted by brodiebluebanaszak:
Why burn a first rounder for Ward when Robey was on the board, rated 6.1? Ward was 5.7 We could have drafted Robey, then traded up to get Ward in the second round if we really loved him.

We got scared when Dennard Verret went off the board bang bang.

Ward seems like a risk. Playing for a mid major, with surgery, a little light upper body. Like his aggressiveness, hope it translates to the big time and won't land him on IR.

What college did our All-Pro/Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Staley attend? Did Frank Gore have injury concerns when we drafted him? Or Ray McDonald. We got a really good player here.

Also, considering Trent Baalke's track record with DBs I trust his evaluation over anyone else's.

Very pleased with this pick. Been calling Ward a 1st round talent for months. SF needed a really good NCB for a long time. Now we have one.. and he can develop over time as a safety to play next to Reid.

Originally posted by buck:

Originally posted by OregonNiner87:
3) Ward was the last player on the 49ers' board with a first-round grade. The rest of the league had taken all the team's potential first rounders.

http://blog.sfgate.com/49ers/2014/05/08/why-the-49ers-picked-another-safety-with-jimmy-ward/

This statement is not attributed to any particular person; it can not be taken at face value.

Harbaugh said this last night on KNBR.

Ward is NOT the 30th Best Player in this Draft. I really think Baalke blew it this time. This guy is too skinny. And played against gimmicky mid major offenses in College. Could Have and should have had Tuitt right there or trade up for Denard?