Oct 8

Written by:
10/8/2007 9:45 AM 

While everyone is trying to "Bury" the offensive coordinator, let's look at the facts.  While the 49ers have drafted defensive players well the last few years, they have only drafted one single threat on offense.  (Frank Gore)

Look at who they've taken the last three years at the "Skilled Positions" since 2004:

• WR Derrick Hamilton, 3rd round
• WR Rashaun Woods, 1st round
• TE Billy Bajema, 7th round
• TE Patrick Estes, 7th round
• WR Marcus Maxwell, 7th round
• WR Rasheed Marshall, 5th round
• RB Frank Gore, 3rd round
• QB Alex Smith, 1st round
• WR Delanie Walker, 6th round
• WR Michaeil Robinson, 4th round
• WR Brandon Williams, 3rd round
• TE Vernon Davis, 1st round
• RB Thomas Clayton, 6th round
• WR Jason Hill, 3rd round

Quite a group.  Other than Gore, none of them would be in anyone's conversation when thinking about putting together an offensive team.  Heck, none of them other than Gore would even be higher than a 6th round pick in a Fantasy league.  All nice guys, I'm sure, and all play football much better than I can write, but that isn't the point.  If you don't have the players to run your plays, you could be Bill Walsh, and it wouldn't matter. 

Anyone who knows anything about even PEE WEE football knows that you need at least three skilled players on offense to keep a defense honest; a QB, a RB and a WR.  A TE is a bonus, but he can't change the game.  Take Tony Gonzalez for example, he puts up great year after great year, but he doesn't change a game on one play.  Neither did Kellen Winslow.  Wasting a 1st round pick on a tight end is a waste of time.  If that is all you have to draft, trade the pick to some other sucker who wants to waste a 1st round pick on a TE.  There will be another one in the 5th round that will be able to block and catch a pass near the goal line when you need it.

What does this mean to 49er fans like me, it means that unless the 49ers decide to spend some serious dollars on a Star, and I mean Star Wide Receiver, someone that can get open no matter who is covering him, not Ashlie Lelie or Darrell Jackson, it won't matter who the offensive coordinator is or what play he calls.

Now before you remind me that Norv Turner and how great the offense was last year, other than Gore, the offense stunk.  Think about it, remember the Ram game, Nolan didn't even think about risking the game on another offensive play, he kicked a field goal instead.  In fact, here are some other games where the offense barely put up a fight:

At Chicago, 10 points
Minnesota, 9 points
At Detroit 19 points
At New Orleans 10 points
Green Bay 19 points

They scored when the opposing defense stunk, but if the opposing team had some players, not even Norv Turner and all of his magic could change anything.

As always if you have something to say good or bad, feel free to post a comment, I can take it.  After all it's only a game. 

Copyright ©2007 Foggy Lou