Grading the San Francisco 49ers’ Quarterbacks

Fellow 49er fans,
Do you remember the days when the LAST thing any of us had to worry about was our quarterback?
When you stop and think about it, we were really quite lucky.
We went from Joe Montana, the best quarterback in the history of the NFL (my friends who are Dolphin fans HATE this, but how many rings does Dan Marino have again?), to Steve Young, who would have gone done as one of the best QBs in the NFL history if it hadn’t been for a stint in the USFL and a nightmare run with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Ever since then, it’s been kind of rocky for Frisco fans, especially when it comes to signal callers.
Jeff Garcia came in and did a nice job for a while, but the front office, in its infinite wisdom, decided to let Garcia go.
We the fans have been suffering ever since.
Tim Rattay, Ken Dorsey, Cody Pickett, Alex Smith, Trent Dilfer, Shaun Hill, Chris Weinke, J.T. O’Sullivan.
Pardon me while I vomit…
OK, that’s better, but not really.
With that out of the way, I figured I’d hand out grades to the SF QBs.
Just to be clear, in evaluating guys like Hill or Smith, who have been with the club for a while, this grade is based solely on their production in a 49er uniform. If it’s a newcomer like Jamie Martin (is that REALLY the best we can do?), the grade is more indicative of that person’s career and potential impact on the team.
If you can stomach it, I think I can. Let’s get into it.

Matt Jones’ Ideal Home? The City by the Bay

I’m a firm believer in second chances.

In my mind, guys like Plaxico Burress, Michael Vick, and the like shouldn’t be NFL pariahs forever because of their indiscretions.

My life has been filled with second chances. If the people in my life didn’t believe in redemption, I wouldn’t be married. I wouldn’t have a job in the journalism field. I wouldn’t have many friends.

Another guy is desperate need of a second chance is Matt Jones.

Living in Jacksonville, I understand why the Jaguars felt like they needed to let Jones go. New General Manager Gene Smith is trying to build a team that is founded on character, and released a number of guys who had character issues.

Jones was one of those casualties.

In case you don’t know the full story behind Jones and his release, let me fill you in.

The converted quarterback from Arkansas was taken in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He was drafted solely on potential and athletic ability, with the hope that he would be able to make a successful transition to WR.

For Jones’ first three seasons in the River City, it looked like Jacksonville made a critical mistake. His best year was 2006, when he caught 41 passes for 643 yards and four touchdowns. Not exactly the numbers you want to see out of a first-round draft pick.

In the summer of 2008, Jones was back in his college town when he did something that would change his life forever.

Apparently, Jones was in his car in the wee small hours of the morning cutting up cocaine with a credit card. He was arrested on a charge of felony possession of a controlled substance.

At this point, I thought Jones was done in Jacksonville. First, the guy doesn’t produce. Then he gets busted with coke? Game over.

But he stuck with the team for the 2008 season and had a breakout year. He had career highs in receptions (65) and receiving yards (761), despite the fact that he missed four games last year.

It’s amazing what a little motivation can do for you, huh?

About three months after the end of the season, Jones was back in Fayetteville, Ark., playing golf with a friend.

In what could either be construed as a momentary lapse of judgment or evidence of stupidity, Jones drank beer on the golf course.

By itself, having a few cold ones on the golf course is not that big a deal.

But when you’re on probation, and one of the terms of your probation is not to drink alcohol, and your face is probably the most recognizable in the state of Arkansas (it’s not a big state), a few beers on the range becomes a VERY big deal.

It’s unclear if someone tipped off his probation officer, or if he just failed a random test, but the troubled wide receiver ended up back in jail for violating his probation.

That was the final straw, as the Jags cut ties with the 26-year-old WR.

So far, no team has been willing to give Jones a second chance.

As a 49er fan, I hope my team is willing to assume the risk and get this guy for a number of reasons.

First, we don’t have a lot of wide receivers. Isaac Bruce is a good receiver, but he’s getting really old. Michael Crabtree has tremendous potential, but who knows when he’ll blossom?

After that, who do we have? Brandon Jones? Jason Hill? Arnaz Battle? Josh Morgan?

Wide receiver is probably the weakest position on the roster. If there’s a chance to get a cheap and talented player at that spot, I think we have to take advantage of the opportunity.

Second is the emergence of the Wildcat formation.

Not too many people remember what Jones did when he was at Arkansas. As effective as he was passing the ball, he was equally effective running the ball.

I went to school at the University of Florida, and vividly remember watching a young Jones run wild on the Gator defense in 2004.

Florida was up 38-7 at one point, but Jones led a furious rally. My Gators held on to win the game 45-30, but Jones was lights out in that game (threw for 252 yards and a score, rushed for 68 yards and another score).

Jones would be a perfect fit in the Wildcat. He has tremendous speed (4.39 at the combine) and ample experience at quarterback.

In addition to being a great QB in that formation, we have arguably the best running back in the league in Frank Gore. Having that running threat at QB and RB makes the Wildcat extremely difficult to stop (just ask the New England Patriots).

Lastly, Jones will be tremendously motivated.

We already saw the kinds of numbers he put up when his roster spot with Jacksonville is in jeopardy.

Now imagine how motivated he will be, knowing that the team he eventually signs with (because a team will sign him at some point) could be his last chance to make a living playing a game.

I can’t guarantee that Jones would pan out in a 49er uniform. But the reward could be tremendous, while the risk would be fairly minimal.

And everyone deserves at least one second chance.

The Best Second-Round Draft Picks of the Last 10 Years

On Monday, I wrote an article about Maurice Jones-Drew and his incredible production during his first three years in the NFL.
As Jaguar fans well know, MJD chose the number 32 because he didn’t get drafted until the second round. All 32 teams passed on him at least once, and that created a tremendously large chip on his shoulder.
Obviously, Jones-Drew was a steal in the second round, and that got me thinking: Who are some other top-flight players who were passed in the first round?
So without further adieu, here are the best second-round picks of the last 10 years in chronological order, not counting the 2009 draft.

Who Will Spell MJD at RB?

When Maurice Jones-Drew joined the Jaguars in 2006, Jacksonville suddenly had one of the best running back tandems in the NFL.

Fred Taylor and MJD would take turns wearing defenses out. When the running game was on, there wasn’t a defense in the league that could stop it.

The one game that really sticks out in my mind is the 2006 home game against Indianapolis. I’ve never seen a running attack be so effective on the NFL level.

In that 44-17 win, Jones-Drew rushed for 166 yards and two scores on just 15 carries. Taylor only toted the ball nine times but had 131 yards and a score. That performance typified how dominant the running game could be with Taylor and Jones-Drew in the backfield.

In Jones-Drew’s rookie season, Jacksonville was ranked third in the NFL in rushing yards per game with 158.8. The next year, the Jaguars were second behind only Minnesota with 149.4 yards per game.

Last year, the production dropped off dramatically. Jacksonville rushed for 110.9 yards a game. Seventeen NFL teams rushed for more yards per game than the Jaguars in 2008.

Obviously, much of that decline can be attributed to the decimated offensive line. But Jacksonville faces a new challenge this coming season, as the team released Taylor and signed MJD to a four-year, $31 million deal with $17.5 million guaranteed.

“Pocket Hercules” certainly deserved to get a pay raise. His rookie contract had him making about $500,000 a year, a bargain when you consider his production.

But with great money also comes great responsibility, and Jones-Drew will be the featured back in 2009. Even though he’s the starting RB, he can’t do it alone.

Someone will have to spell Jones-Drew every now and then, and that’s a point of concern when you look at Jacksonville’s roster.

In addition to Jones-Drew, the Jaguars have five other running backs on the roster: Kyle Bell, Rashad Jennings, Montell Owens, Chauncey Washington and Alvin Pearman.

Jennings and Bell are both rookies, while Owens and Pearman are best known for their contributions on special teams. Last season was Washington’s rookie campaign, and he didn’t see much action.

Owens got two carries last year, both of which went for touchdowns. The memorable one came on a trick play in the 30-27 overtime win against Houston.

Owens is entering his fourth year in the league, but last year was the first time he’d ever carried the ball.

Pearman didn’t carry the ball one time last year and has 58 career carries. The most carries he’s ever had in a season was his rookie campaign in 2005, when he toted the ball 39 times.

Washington, the running back out of USC, carried the ball four times for a grand total of nine yards during his rookie season.

With a lack of RB experience on the depth chart, it’s hard to project which of these backs will step up and step in to the backup role.

One possibility is to see fullback Greg Jones carry the ball more. He hasn’t had the same kind of burst since tearing his ACL in 2006. But he’s still a load to try and tackle and could give MJD a quick breather.

The word coming out of OTAs is that Jennings has been very impressive. Jaguars.com writer Vic Ketchman wrote that the rookie RB from Liberty “has been eye-popping so far this spring.”

Having had a chance to watch some film on Jennings, he looks like a tough runner with good field vision and decent speed when he gets through the hole.

It’s hard to tell how much of his ability was magnified by the fact that he played against lesser competition. But don’t be surprised if the 6-foot-1, 234-pound back emerges as the No. 2 guy.

Fred Taylor Finds Motivation, Responsibility with New Team

During Fred Taylor’s tenure with the Jaguars, he had his own training regimen.

That consisted of going to Miami and doing his own thing until he had to be in Jacksonville.

But in his first year up in Foxborough, Mass., Taylor is bucking his old habits and has joined his new teammates for organized team activities.

“This is all voluntary,” Taylor told Vito Stellino for an NFL notebook in the Florida Times-Union. “If I’m going to be able to play with the guys that are on the team, then you volunteer to come on and try not to get ahead, but not be behind, not get yelled at too much. 

“I decided to come out here with the rookies and the other guys returning to the team. It’s fun getting to know my teammates, getting to know the different faces around here, the coaches.”

There are a plethora of reasons for Taylor to be around the Patriots as much as he can during the offseason—learning the plays, mentoring the younger running backs, getting accustomed with the coaching staff, etc.

Most importantly, Taylor understands that his stint in New England represents his best opportunity to win a Super Bowl before the sun sets on an illustrious career.

The relationship between Taylor and the Pats is mutually beneficial. New England gives Taylor a chance to win a championship and pass Jim Brown on the all-time rushing list, something he’s said he really wants to do before he retires.

Taylor gives New England an established running back who can take the team’s offense to the next level. Last year, the Patriots employed a backfield platoon of Sammy Morris, Kevin Faulk, LaMont Jordan and BenJarvus Green-Ellis.

The 12-year veteran is already a considerable step up from all the aforementioned names. The fact that he’s going the extra mile this year will ensure he has a great deal of success.

Five Plays That Sum Up Jacksonville’s 2008 Campaign

When I started thinking about the most successful offensive plays from Jacksonville’s 2008 season, there was a long pause.
(Pause)
(Pause)
(Pause)
After a great deal of racking the brain, copious amounts of research and tons of Red Bull, I came up with what I thought were signature plays for the Jaguars in 2008.

Shaun Hill Paid His Dues: Let Him Start

San Francisco Head Coach Mike Singletary has made it clear that no one is safe.

After taking over as head coach in the middle of last season, he discovered that same of the players had become fat and happy. He quickly changed the personality of the team, and helped lead the beleaguered team to a 5-2 finish.

At the forefront of San Fran’s improvement was the play of Shaun Hill. The eight-year pro out of Maryland was rarely spectacular, but always solid.

After the J.T. O’Sullivan experiment flamed out in predictable fashion, Singletary called on Hill and he answered the bell.

Hill started eight games (and played extensively in that Seattle loss, Singletary’s first game) and posted very respectable numbers (62.8 completion percentage, 13 TDs, 8 INTs, 87.5 QB rating).

Actually, Hill had earned the right to be the starter in 2008. He only started three games in 2007, but he completed 68.4 percent of his passes and threw five touchdowns to just one interception.

There was a revolving door at QB in 2007, but Hill was clearly the most effective in the stat that matters most: wins and losses. San Fran only won five games last year. Hill won two of those, despite playing in just three games.

But Mike Martz’s arrival in the City by the Bay put Hill’s rise on hold. And I can understand that.

Martz (who was far more successful than I thought he’d be, by the way) runs an incredibly complex system, and O’Sullivan had an instant advantage because he was with Martz in Detroit.

Once Hill got up to speed, he showed that he was capable of running that system. Now imagine what Hill could do with some weapons.

If Michael Crabtree lives up to his potential, he will be the best wide receiver the team has had since TO. And Isaac Bruce’s veteran presence should only help Crabtree’s development.

If Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker can get with the program, the offense could be dangerous for the first time since I don’t know when.

Supporters of Alex Smith are quick to point out that he’s had four different offensive coordinators in four years, and is working with his fifth in Jimmy Raye.

But I don’t have a lot of sympathy for Smith, because Hill has thrived in two completely different systems.

He performed well under Jim Hostler (whose offense was basically “run on first and second down and throw on third”) and Mike Martz (whose offense is harder to learn than calculus).

Even though the two systems were night (more like dark ages) and day, Hill thrived in both. That says a lot about his character and desire to learn, whereas Smith’s inability to adjust to different OCs speaks volumes about his football IQ and his internal drive.

I know that Hill is not the sexy pick. I know that Smith was the overall No. 1 pick. But at some point, coaches have to forget about that stuff and make their decision based on production. Advantage, Hill.

Competition is the cornerstone of any successful team, but Hill has proven his mettle time and time again. 49er fans everywhere should hope that No. 13, not No. 11, is under center when the season begins.

Dre’ Bly Signing Shows SF 49ers Front Office Is Finally Paying Attention

Since the dawn of the new millennium, the one word that sums up the 49ers front office is “ineptitude.”

Chasing Mariucci and Garcia away to placate TO, letting TO get away for virtually nothing, hiring Dennis Erickson, drafting Alex Smith over Aaron Rodgers, drafting a tight end with a top-10 pick who proceeded to blubber like a little girl (and has played like one).

I could continue, but I feel an ulcer coming on.

So when I read a Bleacher Report piece about Walt Harris being done for the season with a torn ACL in his right knee, I thought that the 49ers would rest on their laurels and plug Shawntae Spencer into the starting lineup.

A scary proposition for any SF fan, but the past nine years have taught me to prepare for the worst (it feels longer than nine years, doesn’t it?).

Much to my surprise, I was wrong.

The 49ers got intelligently aggressive and picked up Dre’ Bly, signing the 10-year vet to a one-year deal Wednesday.

I think my favorite part of this signing is the fact that Bly has a chip on his shoulder. The guy’s had a pretty esteemed NFL career, but new Denver Coach Josh McDaniels (who has already shown his ability to make friends and endear himself to his players) let Bly go.

“(I’ve) never been released. That was humbling to me,” Bly said in a San Francisco Chronicle article written by John Crumpacker. “The fact that happened, I’m so hungry. …At this point in my career, it’s not about money, it’s about the opportunity to come in and compete.”

49ers coach Mike Singletary, seemingly looking to capitalize on Bly’s hunger, will not just give Bly the starting corner job when he walks in the door. He basically told Bly that the position is up for grabs between him, Spencer and Tarell Brown.

You have to love the fact that Singletary isn’t playing favorites, nor is he just giving the spot to the big name. These are the little things that will make Singletary an excellent NFL head coach.

Before Wednesday, I cynically would have wondered if Singletary would have still been in San Fran when he put it all together.

But with the Bly signing, maybe, just maybe, York and Co. are starting to figure it out. Hey, it only took about a decade.

Dungy Can Redeem Vick’s Wayward Career

The Internet and sports talk radio airwaves have been rife with speculation about Michael Vick’s return to the NFL since he was released from Leavenworth this morning.

I’ve heard countless theories about who should pick Vick up, who shouldn’t sign Vick, whether he should sit out a year, what the backlash would be for the team that signed him, and countless other conjectures about the QB.

One thing I haven’t heard today, amidst all the speculation and pontificating, is the profound affect Tony Dungy’s influence will have on Vick’s possible return to NFL prominence.

There are two reasons that Dungy could very well be the catalyst for Vick’s redemption. First, the former Tampa Bay and Indianapolis coach is a tremendous role model for anyone to follow.

Earlier this month, Dungy visited Vick in prison. During his time in the NFL, Dungy has been well-known for his character and his spirituality, two characteristics that Vick seems to lack at this point in his life.

Dungy has dealt with slings and arrows in his life, most notably the suicide of his son in 2005. Despite any cross he’s had to bear, he’s always handled himself with class and dignity. Those are two more characteristics Vick will need to adopt as he tries to move on with his life.

The other positive impact Dungy can have on Vick is directly related to Vick’s football career. Dungy is one of the most well-respected men in the NFL. If he vouches for Vick, it will go a long way in helping Vick’s long, difficult journey back into professional football.

It’s important to point out that there are two factors that are out of Dungy’s control. The first is Roger Goddell’s decision regarding reinstatement. Since becoming the NFL Commissioner, he has taken a hard line with any player misconduct. Although Vick is nearly done paying his debt to society, will Goodell believe that Vick is truly remorseful? And more importantly, will he decide that the NFL is better off without Vick in it?

The second factor is Vick’s remaining football ability. He is still a relatively young man (he will turn 29 in June), but he hasn’t played any football in two years. About all Vick could have done in prison was lift weights. Can he still move like he used to? Has he lost any of his football IQ? Vick’s ability to perform on the highest level is far from a sure thing.

But, if he has Dungy in his corner, Vick’s chances of getting back into professional football are much better than if he was trying to make it back on his own.

Hayward Never Had Anything to Worry About

There was a very interesting article about Reggie Hayward in today’s (May 19) Florida Times-Union.

The article, written by Vito Stellino, dealt with Hayward’s concerns during the off-season about staying in Jacksonville. He saw big-name veterans Fred Taylor, Mike Peterson, and Paul Spicer leave the team, and thought he saw the writing on the wall.

“You get nervous when some of the older big dogs are deciding to vacate,” Hayward said in Stellino’s story. “You start looking round the room. You are on deck.”

I found it fascinating that the soon-to-be nine-year vet be so frank about his perceived future with the franchise.

Perhaps what is more interesting is the fact that Hayward ever seriously thought his spot with Jacksonville was ever in jeopardy.

On one hand, Hayward did have some cause for concern. His production has slipped in recent years. After recording 8.5 sacks in his first year in Jacksonville, he has only had eight total sacks in the past two seasons. He tore his Achilles tendon in the first game of the 2006 season, and hasn’t been the same since.

On the other hand, Paul Spicer’s departure (he ended up rejoining former teammate Bobby McCray in New Orleans) left Hayward as the most experienced defensive end on the team. Hayward’s influence as elder statesmen of the DEs is especially important for two up-and-coming guys in Quentin Groves and Derrick Harvey.

If Hayward can tutor the duo and help them develop, Jacksonville’s pass rush could be very formidable.

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