DT Earl Mitchell thread

Originally posted by okdkid:

Earl Mitchell is yet another example that free agents will always follow the money.

Players don't care about winning. They care about getting paid. Winning is just nice to have.

Money and the fact that he had a relationship with Ryan and our DL coach played a part...if it was solely about winning in the NFL everyone would be playing on NE for min salary lol. Just like any business people want to get paid...I don't blame any player going for cash they have no idea if it will be their last season in the league or not.

Originally posted by NinerSickness:

Originally posted by Ryanoceros:

Originally posted by Hoovtrain:
Hopefully this doesn't mean they are not going to go after some of the top tier FA DL guys

I think it's just a depth signing. I really want Dontari Poe. He'd be a nice fit to go alongside Dorsey or Dial.

If Mitchell is in addition to a Poe or Hankins, I'll take back what I said about the signing.

Don't think that's the case. Even so, why are you complaining? We don't need to spend a ton of money on a position that does the dirty work. We are better off spending the money on more premium positions where we still have needs.

I find it funny that people complain that we are paying Mitchell 1 million more than what the Broncos offered in year 1 of his deal. Who knows how many years the Bronco deal was going to be? The good thing for us, is that after this season, we technically have him under control for 3 years and 10.5 million total. Seems kind of cheap for a guy who very well could be starting for most if not all of those 4 years, assuming he stays healthy.

We have the money right now, to continue front loading deals to make the total package more valuable. For example, we signed Mitchell to a 4/16 deal. We don't know the whole structure, but we do know the 1st year is 5.5 million, so lets just assume the final 3 years are 3.5 million a year to simplify it. So having his 4 year deal breakdown, lets go like this:

49ers deal: 5.5 million year 1, 3.5 million year 2, 3.5 million year 3, 3.5 million year 4. = 16 million total

Other team: 3.7 million year 1, 3.9 million year 2, 4.1 million year 3, 4.3 million year 4 = 16 million total

Now even though both deals are for 16 million total, the 49ers deal is technically worth MORE, because the more money you get early, is more valuable than the same amount later, due to inflation. The other thing the players look at, is that you want to guarantee as much money early as you can, because there is no guarantee you will be there all 4 years. The 49ers made his deal so team friendly after year 1, that Mitchell is still relatively cheap, if he becomes just a rotational player.

Originally posted by NYniner85:

Originally posted by okdkid:

Earl Mitchell is yet another example that free agents will always follow the money.

Players don't care about winning. They care about getting paid. Winning is just nice to have.

Money and the fact that he had a relationship with Ryan and our DL coach played a part...if it was solely about winning in the NFL everyone would be playing on NE for min salary lol. Just like any business people want to get paid...I don't blame any player going for cash they have no idea if it will be their last season in the league or not.

It's a past time for us, it's a business for them. I applaud guys that get paid. Their career is short and when it's over their bodies are trashed.

Originally posted by Bobdawg78:

I find it funny that people complain that we are paying Mitchell 1 million more than what the Broncos offered in year 1 of his deal. Who knows how many years the Bronco deal was going to be? The good thing for us, is that after this season, we technically have him under control for 3 years and 10.5 million total. Seems kind of cheap for a guy who very well could be starting for most if not all of those 4 years, assuming he stays healthy.

We have the money right now, to continue front loading deals to make the total package more valuable. For example, we signed Mitchell to a 4/16 deal. We don't know the whole structure, but we do know the 1st year is 5.5 million, so lets just assume the final 3 years are 3.5 million a year to simplify it. So having his 4 year deal breakdown, lets go like this:

49ers deal: 5.5 million year 1, 3.5 million year 2, 3.5 million year 3, 3.5 million year 4. = 16 million total

Other team: 3.7 million year 1, 3.9 million year 2, 4.1 million year 3, 4.3 million year 4 = 16 million total

Now even though both deals are for 16 million total, the 49ers deal is technically worth MORE, because the more money you get early, is more valuable than the same amount later, due to inflation. The other thing the players look at, is that you want to guarantee as much money early as you can, because there is no guarantee you will be there all 4 years. The 49ers made his deal so team friendly after year 1, that Mitchell is still relatively cheap, if he becomes just a rotational player.

Truth! I can see every one of our contacts this year being font loaded...win win for the player/agent/49ers.

Originally posted by Ninerfan84:

Originally posted by NinerSickness:

Originally posted by Ryanoceros:

Originally posted by Hoovtrain:

Hopefully this doesn't mean they are not going to go after some of the top tier FA DL guys

I think it's just a depth signing. I really want Dontari Poe. He'd be a nice fit to go alongside Dorsey or Dial.

If Mitchell is in addition to a Poe or Hankins, I'll take back what I said about the signing.

Don't think that's the case. Even so, why are you complaining? We don't need to spend a ton of money on a position that does the dirty work. We are better off spending the money on more premium positions where we still have needs.

You're probably right but Mitchell is still no dominant 2 gap immovable object. I want our Ted Washington in this 4-3 so that Buckner, AA and whoever our LEO is, can be turned loose and attack like John Lynch wants.

Originally posted by Niners99:
2 attempts, 2 signings. Its nice to be a desirable team to play for again.

You do not even know if they are good players or not. pretty sad when we are thrilled to death that the team just signs someone. forget the fact they were in injured reserved. forget the fact you do not that this earl guy or the cornerback we signed can even make it through camp. to me we signed two scrubs, big deal

Complaining before anyone sees him play in a 9er uniform...classic...

Originally posted by dald1:
Complaining before anyone sees him play in a 9er uniform...classic...

and elevating him into the starting lineup saying he replaces dorsey before he even signs a contract. thats classic

"As soon as Earl hit the open market, he became a priority for us to sign," 49ers G.M. John Lynch said in a release. "A man of high character, he represents everything we want to be as a football team. Earl is a tone-setter who plays the game with a tremendous passion and the effort necessary to win in this league. We believe those qualities are contagious and will help to make our team stronger. We look forward to the impact Earl will have on the field, in the locker room, and in our community."

That's a far different assessment than the one the Dolphins had of Mitchell. As Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald noted last night on Twitter, the Dolphins weren't impressed with Mitchell in 2016 and expected a decline in 2017.

And so the performance of Mitchell in 2017 will help the football-following world decide whether the Dolphins or the 49ers are better at evaluating veteran defensive linemen.

Originally posted by cciowa:

and elevating him into the starting lineup saying he replaces dorsey before he even signs a contract. thats classic

You don't pay someone 5.5 million to ride the pine. Just think about it for a second.

Originally posted by JBrack:

Originally posted by cciowa:

and elevating him into the starting lineup saying he replaces dorsey before he even signs a contract. thats classic

You don't pay someone 5.5 million to ride the pine. Just think about it for a second.

The 5.5 mil is a little misleading. Is it because he's worth 5.5 mil? Is it because the contract is front-loaded so we can add talent, depth, and still have a good cap situation over the next few years?

Originally posted by Lobo49er:

The 5.5 mil is a little misleading. Is it because he's worth 5.5 mil? Is it because the contract is front-loaded so we can add talent, depth, and still have a good cap situation over the next few years?

I think its very telling actually. The reason you back load contracts is to make sure the player performs well before getting into those big money years. This is just the opposite. I think they expect him to start and perform day one. Otherwise it doesn't really make a whole lot of sense to me.

Originally posted by JBrack:

Originally posted by cciowa:
and elevating him into the starting lineup saying he replaces dorsey before he even signs a contract. thats classic

You don't pay someone 5.5 million to ride the pine. Just think about it for a second.

of course you never start out paying someone that much to ride the pine.. often times they end up riding the pine and getting cut cuz they are not as good as were previously advertised.. i guess some people are just thrilled that we are spending money... when the team starts to invest in some players in a few weeks that could actually have a impact and not just people we hope will play and provide depth. thats is when i will believe they are serious about things.

Originally posted by JBrack:

Originally posted by Lobo49er:
The 5.5 mil is a little misleading. Is it because he's worth 5.5 mil? Is it because the contract is front-loaded so we can add talent, depth, and still have a good cap situation over the next few years?

I think its very telling actually. The reason you back load contracts is to make sure the player performs well before getting into those big money years. This is just the opposite. I think they expect him to start and perform day one. Otherwise it doesn't really make a whole lot of sense to me.

If he plays a lot of snaps, Nickel DT, rotates with DeFo, AA on base 4-3 downs, and rotates as 1 Tech, then does it matter if he starts? Not to me. We need DL talent, and we need DL depth, and we need it now. He's both. That's a Win, and I don't care what we spent on him. His contract is team friendly after this year (which is why I was saying the 5.5 number is misleading).

He might start, might not. If they think he can play like Mebane, a slanted 1T who, when 1 v 1, can penetrate, and when doubled, can hold his own more often than not, then yes, he'll start (and rotate in and out).

This 4-3 we're running uses a Nose Tackle. From what I can see and have read, Mitchell gets Owned on double teams. I hope I'm wrong and that's he's a stud. But, we all saw last year what happens when our nose can't handle a Double Team. Here are Carrols' words on the 1Tech:

"The nose tackle plays in the A gap to the tight end side of the field in our defense. We have done a number of things with this position based upon the opposition at times. We have put him right in the A gap, we have cocked him on the center at times, and as needed we have even played him in a direct shade technique right over the center at times. The way we play him on base defense is as an inside-foot to outside-foot alignment or a 1 technique on the center to the strong side of the alignment.
At Nose Tackle you have to find a player who likes to mix it up. We want a big guy in there who likes to get down and dirty. He is going to get doubled a lot on the run and pass and is going to get down blocked a lot. He has to be a tough player. This guy can be a short and stubby type of player."

Regardless of whether he starts or not, the answer is simple: We still need a Fat Guy. If Mitchell starts, then who's his backup? Who's playing Fat DT in Goal Line/Short Yardage? If Mitchell gets hurt, then who's our 1T? We have to draft or sign someone else. Since we spent this money on a guy that might play 1T, I'd say the odds of getting a premier NT in FA are much slimmer. So, I'm hoping we look to the draft. There is some really good 1Ts at all levels. At this point, I happen to like Vanderdoes from UCLA in the 5th/6th, a Fat Run Plugger that can be had late.