My favourite thing about our defense

[imac_21]

First, I'll establish how many important players are included. There's the 11 starters, but also the guys that come in for sub packages. I believe that puts us at 14 (Reggie, Aldon and Culliver being the 3 sub guys). Basically the guys that play significant snaps.

Looks at how these guys were added. There are 2 guys we used first round picks on (Willis and Aldon). There is one big name FA (J Smith) but after that, it's mid round picks and other teams cast-offs.

The DL is made up of a big FA, a 3rd round pick and a 4th round pick.

The 5 LBs (including Aldon) are 2 first round picks, a 3rd a 5th and a FA we picked up that no one else wanted (Brooks).

The secondary is a FA that got little interest (Rogers), a 5th round pick (Brown), a 3rd round pick (Culliver), a 4th round pick that was signed in the pre-season (Goldson), a FA that drew minimal interest (Witner) and a 3rd round pick (Reggie Smith).

Now, you could argue that it has a bunch of top 10 picks all over the place (okay, top 11) with Willis, J Smith, Aldon, Witner and Rogers, but one of them is a rookie, and two were castoffs.

Now, compare that to our offense (including Snyder and Rachal at OG)

We have 2 FAs (Goodwin and Edwards) who were probably on about Witner's level in terms of league wide interest.

We have a first overall pick at QB
We have 3 first rounders, a high second rounder (Rachal) and a 3rd rounder (Snyder)
We have a 2 top 10 picks as eligible targets (Davis and Crabtree)
We have a castoff as a 3rd/4th WR (depending on how you consider injuries) in Ginn
We have two mid round picks at RB (Gore and Dixon) and a late rounder at FB
We have two late round picks contributing a skill positions (Walker and Morgan)

If we look at the offense based strictly on where the players were drafted, our QB/WR combo consists of a first overall pick, 3rd overall pick, 9th overall pick and 10th overall pick as well as a 6th overall pick in Davis at TE.

Looking strictly at what we invested to bring players in (money for FA, draft picks for "home grown" shouldn't the offense be significantly ahead of the defense?

On a side note, we have 3 of the top 10 picks from the 2005 draft on the roster. This would normally be considered a great thing, but as Niner fans know, the top 10 of that draft was not exactly special in a good way.

 

[clyde_carbon]

I lost you at favourite.

On a more serious note, I'd assume a #1 pick defensively is coming in the 2012 draft. Everyone assumes Secondary, but I wouldn't mind using one on the DL.

 

[threelittleturds]

I'd have to guess it all comes down to the revolving door at coordinator on offense, while the defensive coordinator stayed the same for the past 4 years. That probably helped the defense get ahead of the offense in the sense of development. I don't think Fangio's defense is that much different than Manusky's, language wise, so it was a really easy transition.

That is still a hell of an accomplishment for the defense, to be so good, without the high draft status of the guys on the offense.

 

[numone9er]

I lost you at favourite.

On a more serious note, I'd assume a #1 pick defensively is coming in the 2012 draft. Everyone assumes Secondary, but I wouldn't mind using one on the DL.

I am assuming you are taking the assumption that in this scenario any chance of getting Luck would be gone. I would be okay with us drafting DL in the first round, but which prospects do you think would be worth the pick? Also, i would say that he would probably need to be a NT or an eventual replacement for Justin Smith. I think we could find a CB in round 2 that could be of good value considering the CB class is fairly deep IMO.

 

[deep9er]

I lost you at favourite.

On a more serious note, I'd assume a #1 pick defensively is coming in the 2012 draft. Everyone assumes Secondary, but I wouldn't mind using one on the DL.

yeah ok, if Baalke's evaluation pans out most value is a defensive linemen, fine with me. obviously, we'd want NT first but even if its DE, fine with me.

wouldn't bet on this happening, but if it does....no problem.

 

[CalamityX11]

I lost you at favourite.

On a more serious note, I'd assume a #1 pick defensively is coming in the 2012 draft. Everyone assumes Secondary, but I wouldn't mind using one on the DL.

DL you say? Where exactly? interested prospects?

wait... no... no.... i am not in draft mode.... must resist!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[mem49er]

Favourite? If our defense was a colour, what colour would it be?