Passing game: what is the biggest weakness?

[MW49ers5]

Better than Graham and Gronkowski? Are you out of your mind? Davis couldn't catch a cold and the first guy that hits him always brings him down. he's not close to Gronkowski or Graham.

Ghost, this kid Gronkowski reminds me a lot of Bavaro...

 

[Flyingiguana]

Gates' numbers really arent down that much, especially considering he is playing injured and missed a few games.

Vernon Davis is just not in the same league as Gates, Gronkowski, And Graham. His probably a tier or two down from them.

the thing that seperates davis from those guys is hands. but then graham looks like a complete freak, i dont think anyone is on his tier. scary thing is, he's still learning the position

 

[Mozart'sGhost]

Ghost, this kid Gronkowski reminds me a lot of Bavaro...

Ya, I remember a Monday Night game way back when where Bavarro was running down the field with three 49ers on his back and others falling by the wayside. Looked like a bunch of cavemen trying to bring down a wolly mammoth.

 

[deep9er]

You don't think a QB has any effect on a TE's numbers? I think it is a big factor. I think Davis is right behind Gates and probably as good or better than the other two.
How many tiers below Brady, Brees and Rivers is Alex Smith?

Davis isn't an elite receiving TE because of Alex Smith, because of Harbaugh, because of the O-line, because of play calling, because of..........

yes, they all play a small part in it, but if Vernon Davis was an elite receiving TE, we wouldn't have to look at stats and we wouldn't have to look at everything else not named Davis. in his sixth season, we of all fans would know it no question.

 

[sayheykid1]

Better than Graham and Gronkowski? Are you out of your mind? Davis couldn't catch a cold and the first guy that hits him always brings him down. he's not close to Gronkowski or Graham.

Vernon has led this team in receiving more than once and finished second multiple times as well. Even if he isn't as good as Graham or Gronkowski, I don't think those guys are on another level.

 

[deep9er]

the thing that seperates davis from those guys is hands. but then graham looks like a complete freak, i dont think anyone is on his tier. scary thing is, he's still learning the position

hands is probably the biggest reason, but can't help think route running, awareness, adjustment (reading the D), etc. also play a part.

Vernon Davis is a good TE, just not an elite receiving one.

 

[NinerSickness]

Davis is an elite TE IMO. Is he the best all-around TE in the league? Probably not. Does having an average QB hurt him VS Brady / Brees / Rivers? Sure. Either way he's close to the top in terms of his overall game IMO.

 

[deep9er]

Davis is an elite TE IMO. Is he the best all-around TE in the league? Probably not. Does having an average QB hurt him VS Brady / Brees / Rivers? Sure. Either way he's close to the top in terms of his overall game IMO.

agreed cause you're looking overall game. for our team, blocking takes on a little more importance.

 

[sayheykid1]

Davis isn't an elite receiving TE because of Alex Smith, because of Harbaugh, because of the O-line, because of play calling, because of..........

yes, they all play a small part in it, but if Vernon Davis was an elite receiving TE, we wouldn't have to look at stats and we wouldn't have to look at everything else not named Davis. in his sixth season, we of all fans would know it no question.

What kind of numbers would Gronkowski have put up on the 49er teams of the past few seasons?


I think it is a tough comparison to make.

 

[sayheykid1]

Davis is an elite TE IMO. Is he the best all-around TE in the league? Probably not. Does having an average QB hurt him VS Brady / Brees / Rivers? Sure. Either way he's close to the top in terms of his overall game IMO.

Average is pretty generous description of the QB play that the Niners have had for most of VD's career.

 

[Mozart'sGhost]

Vernon has led this team in receiving more than once and finished second multiple times as well. Even if he isn't as good as Graham or Gronkowski, I don't think those guys are on another level.

I was gonna respond to this but instead I'm just gonna quote "DeepNiner" in post 66 as to why Davis is not on their level because it says it all:

"hands is probably the biggest reason, but can't help think route running, awareness, adjustment (reading the D), etc. also play a part"

 

[MW49ers5]

Ya, I remember a Monday Night game way back when where Bavarro was running down the field with three 49ers on his back and others falling by the wayside. Looked like a bunch of cavemen trying to bring down a wolly mammoth.

LMAO!!...Yep! I was yelling for someone to just shot the bastard because he was close to dragging all of them them into the end zone! One of those 49ers happen to be Ronnie Lott. It was the only time I saw someone get the better of Lott in that way.

 

[Mozart'sGhost]

LMAO!!...Yep! I was yelling for someone to just shot the bastard because he was close to dragging all of them them into the end zone! One of those 49ers happen to be Ronnie Lott. It was the only time I saw someone get the better of Lott in that way.

Ha ha, ya Lott was on Bavarro's back beatin' him with his fists and tryin' to trip him with his legs. That was an amazing run. The worst thing though was that the Niners led that game 17 to nothing at the half and lost it 21 to 17. I was so pissed!

 

[MW49ers5]

Ha ha, ya Lott was on Bavarro's back beatin' him with his fists and tryin' to trip him with his legs. That was an amazing run. The worst thing though was that the Niners led that game 17 to nothing at the half and lost it 21 to 17. I was so pissed!

I dunno about you, but I would take Mark over Vernon in a New York second!

 

[Mozart'sGhost]

I dunno about you, but I would take Mark over Vernon in a New York second!

Me too. He was a great weapon in the middle of the field and a devastating blocker too.

 

[southbaysportsfan]

Davis is an elite TE IMO. Is he the best all-around TE in the league? Probably not. Does having an average QB hurt him VS Brady / Brees / Rivers? Sure. Either way he's close to the top in terms of his overall game IMO.

Until Davis is more consistent catching the ball, he will "only" be above average. I think he has the physical tools to be the best TE in the league, but the easy drops that he has won't allow him to be Elite IMO

 

[Crimsoncrew]

What kind of numbers would Gronkowski have put up on the 49er teams of the past few seasons?


I think it is a tough comparison to make.

I haven't seen a ton of Gronkowski, so take it with a grain of salt, but I think he would struggle without Brady. My sense from the little that I've seen is that he struggles to get really open, but benefits from his size and Brady's pinpoint accuracy. Now, Gronkowski has shown tremendous hands, concentration, and power after the catch, but I don't think Smith throws to him in a lot of the situations Brady does.

Re: Davis, I don't know what's up this year. He had really taken strides in terms of catching the ball over the past two years - especially last year when he showed real signs of becoming a complete TE - after struggling early on, but this year he's back to dropping easy balls. It just seems like the team can't catch the ball at all sometimes.

 

[Crimsoncrew]

I think we could benefit from some more height at the receiving positions. Davis is 6'3" or so, but most TEs are in the 6'5"+ range. Crabtree has decent height at 6'1" to go with freakishly long arms (thankfully, given Smith's penchant for overthrowing him), but those are our tallest guys other than Edwards who hasn't done anything. Both Davis and Morgan have impressive vertical leaps, but we just don't seem to excel at jump balls. Of course, part of that could be Smith's struggles throwing to the sideline and putting air under his deep balls (without just throwing ducks).

 

[MW49ers5]

I haven't seen a ton of Gronkowski, so take it with a grain of salt, but I think he would struggle without Brady. My sense from the little that I've seen is that he struggles to get really open, but benefits from his size and Brady's pinpoint accuracy. Now, Gronkowski has shown tremendous hands, concentration, and power after the catch, but I don't think Smith throws to him in a lot of the situations Brady does.

Re: Davis, I don't know what's up this year. He had really taken strides in terms of catching the ball over the past two years - especially last year when he showed real signs of becoming a complete TE - after struggling early on, but this year he's back to dropping easy balls. It just seems like the team can't catch the ball at all sometimes.

LOL!!! I will give you credit for one thing Crimsoncrew, you do have a knack dressing up the obvious and making it sound intelligent. Although I think Gronk might do very well in our offense with as tall as he is and as high as Smith likes to throw his passes - just a thought.

 

[Crimsoncrew]

LOL!!! I will give you credit for one thing Crimsoncrew, you do have a knack dressing up the obvious and making it sound intelligent. Although I think Gronk might do very well in our offense with as tall as he is and as high as Smith likes to throw his passes - just a thought.

Obviously he wouldn't be as good, but I think he would be very ordinary in our offense. That might be a statement of the obvious, but I don't necessarily think so. Gronkowski is a tremendous fit for the system he is in. Tough to say how he'd look outside of it.