thrashard340

IrishDawg's 3rd Collaborative Mock Draft has just wrapped up for 2011. Special "Thanks" to Irishdawg for taking the time to put this together. Once again, I represented the 49ers. For the last 3 years, I have taken this opportunity as a role playing exercise to hypothesize who the 49ers will select in the upcoming drafts. Here was the strategy for this year's draft.

The 49ers primary needs are QB, Rush OLB, NT, CB, FB. Secondary needs were RB, G, WR, K.

QB - GM Trent Baalke already indicated that he wil lean heavily on HC Jim Harbaugh for QB guidance. It's hard to geta  read on a first year HC, but there was a lot of media making its way around locally which led me to believe that Harbaugh was going to apply some Bill Walsh principles to his draft selections. This impacted my decision to pass on Blaine Gabbert in round 1.

The rest of the draft is run by Baalke. There isn't much difference between what Baalke did last year and what he will do this year. He will draft physical players based on tape. Size does matter, but smaller players aren't entirely excluded.

The 49ers will be moving to a run heavy, WCO under Jim Harbaugh, a 3-4 ZBS under Vic Fangio.

1st rd, #7) Robert Quinn, OLB, North Carolina - 1st team all-ACC 2009, Quinn is a standout DE at North Carolina. The general consensus is that he may be the best "pure" pass rusher in the draft. Pass rush is one of the 49ers top needs. Quinn had one good year in college before he was suspended. I believe Quinn's character checks out. The bigger question is if he can make the transition to 3-4 OLB. Quinn has great measurables to go along with good tape. My feeling is that there will be a little bit of a learning curve, but he can ultimately make the transition. I feel the 49ers are high on him as well. Baalke admitted that many successful NFL 3-4 OLB's are converted college DE's. Quinn is no exception.

2nd rd, #45) Colin Kaepernick, QB, Nevada - WAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2010 & 2008, only player in college football to rush for 4,000+ yards and pass for 9,000+ yards in a career. Kaepernick's college resume is outstanding. However, as with any 2nd round QB, he has question marks. Some think that Kaepernick may be overdrafted here. I feel the QB is the most overdrafted position period. Based on what I've been reading about the 49ers, I feel that this pick could either be Kaepernick, Dalton, Stanzi or Ponder. All of these QB's have a degree of athleticism and intelligence that Harbaugh would favor. None of these QB's are wildly inaccurate either. Kaepernick's accuracy will be questioned, however I chose to look at his improvement between his Jr and Sr years.

3rd rd, #76) Johnny Patrick, CB, Louisville - Big East 1st Team selection 2010. There is popular belief that Patrick Peterson will be the pick at #7. In this mock. Peterson is gone by then. And this could very well be the case on draft day as well. I chose Patrick, not necessarily for his upside in man coverage, but his ability in zone coverage which may suit the 49ers new ZBS better. I was also specifically looking at CB's who logged INT's last year.

4th rd, #108) Kendall Hunter, RB, Oklahoma St - 2 time All American, runner up for Big 12 Offensive Player of the year award. Finished college with 4,181 yards and 37 rushing TD's. The 49ers are looking for a RB to spell Gore and provide a change of pace. Brian Westbrook was a solid back up last year. Hunter reminds me of Westbrook. I thought Hunter would've been drafted by this spot, so I was pleasantly surprised that I was able to make this pick. Hunter doesn't have size to his advantage, but he is a "special" player and that is the exception Baalke would be looking for.

4th rd, #115) Ricky Stanzi, QB, Iowa - 26-9 as starter, steps up in big games. OK...I doubt the 49ers would take a QB in the 2nd round and then another in the 4th. However, I do believe that it's possible they will take two QB's, just further apart. Stanzi was the best player here. I think he's capable of going in the 3rd round. So like Hunter, I was a little overzealous when making this pick. I see Stanzi as a similar prospect to Dalton. Neither has the booming arm. I do believe if the 49ers do not land a QB in the 2nd round, then Stanzi has a good shot of being drafted by the 49ers in the 3rd.

5th rd, #141) Rashad Carmichael, CB, Virginia Tech - Here's another value pick that fits a need. Like Patrick, Rashad excels in zone coverage and may fit the scheme well. The knock on Carmichael is that he isn't very physical, but he's a ballhawks and one of my favorite players in this year's draft.

6th rd, #174) Andrew Jackson, G, Fresno St - 1st team all WAC in 2009. Hobbled by injuries in 2010. Jackson isn't a prototypical Guard by any means, but he does have some quickness which may translate well to a WCO-type zone-blocking scheme. He's a physical player that Harbaugh will like and can challenge Rachal with proper coaching.

6th rd, #190) Anthony Sherman, FB, Connecticut - There are more than a handful of quality FB's in the draft. However, there isn't a great necessity meaning that you could wait until the 6th or 7th round and grab a good FB. I chose to draft one here and come away with one of the better FB's in this year's draft. Sherman is a solid blocker, has decent receiving skills and is a special teams demon. He will fit the WCO quite nicely.

7th rd, #211) Marc Schiechl, OLB, Colorado School of Mines - There were two players I was looking at here, Schiechl...and Steven Friday. Like Quinn, both are college DE's who have to transition to OLB. Friday had a good year at VT, however I looked at what Schiechl did over his career (All time DII sacks leader with 46) and feel that there may be another James Harrison here.

7th rd, #233) Raymond Webber, WR, Arkansas Pinie-Bluff - Caught 101 balls as a SR for 1,429 yards. 49ers need more WR's with size and Webber gives them that (6'2", 218 lbs.).

7th rd, #241) Kris Durham, WR, Georgia - Durham has size (6'5", 214 lbs) and would make him the tallest WR on the 49ers' roster. Durham played second fiddle (understandably) to A.J. Green. Durham fits the mold of a tall, red zone-type possession receiver.

7th rd, #252) Kai Forbath, K, UCLA - Smi-finalist for Lou Groza award, 2nd team all-PAC 10, .842 career percentage. 49ers current K is Joe Nedney. Nedney has been a steady, reliable K over the the years, but it's time to search for his replacement. There are several teams that brought Forbath in for visits leading me to believe he will be drafted.

The 49ers had 12 picks total. 9 of these picks were in the back half of the draft (4th or later). It's difficult to imagine finding starters late in the draft so the focus was on project players who could play certain roles...Hunter - 3rd/passing downs, Carmichael - Nickel and Dime, Sherman - passing downs and ST, Durham - red zone/3rd and short. There was an emphasis on need, but I only took players which I valued at certain spots. With the exception of QB, I believe that none of the other picks were "reaches".

Hopefully, there is enough contributions at various levels from the top down. There were a couple of things that I didn't do because the opportunities didn't present themselves. First, I didn't engage in any trades. I did not feel that there was enough popularity on Kaepernick or Dalton to make a move. I was able to stand pat on my picks. Second, I wasn't able to come away from this draft with a NT. I firmly believe that the 49ers would value a 2 down, NT later in the draft. However, in this exercise NT's went early.

Because movies ruined them for me. Yes. As silly as this sounds, I just finished watching Southern Comfort again and it reminded of how many movies have made visiting the rest of the world somewhat undesirable. I can't believe how many are right here in the U.S. Most of these are very beautiful places. Unfortunately, odds are good that I will never visit them. Here are my top 10.

1) Lousiana (Southern Comfort) - I guess if you stay in New Orleans for Mardi gras, you might be safe. If you stray anywhere into the Bayou, watch out! Because the Cajuns will hunt you down claiming that 100+ square miles worth of swampland is there backyard and you're trespassing.

2) Brazil (Tourista) - I'm always hearing what a beautiful place this is to visit. Not if you've seen Tourista. I'm not going any place where there's a nutcase Anti-American doctor ready to carve you up for your organs. I don't care how damn beautiful those waterfalls are.

3) West Virginia (Wrong Turn) - I guess if you stay away from the short cuts, then you'll be OK. If you're in a hurry, be prepared to battle indestructible inbreds with uncanny bow & arrow skills who will hunt you down to be their next meal.

4) Insert any war-torn Eastern European country (Hostel) - Oh boy. Don't get suckered into going into this country because the babe to male ratio is supposed to be off the charts. Some hot chick will seduce you, drug you and then you'll wake up in a solitary chamber where crazy people pay to torture you for fun. Plus, the kids in this country are downright mean unless you give them bubble gum.

5) Insert any rural backwoods region in America (Deliverance) - So you want to take a canoe and camping trip into the woods? This movie will make you think twice about camping anywhere besides a campground. Ask Ned Beatty...SQUEAL LIKE PIG!

6) Paris, France (American Werewolf in Paris) - If you're old and you don't go clubbing anymore, Paris may work out well for you. If you're young and into the underground clubbing scene, then stay home. These crazy Parisians will trick you by saying they love Americans (yeah right) and lure you to an underground party where they lock the doors at midnight. Then you'll be dismembered and eaten by Werewolves.

7) Somewhere in the New Mexico desert or anywhere else they've done nuclear testing (The Hills Have Eyes) - This is another one where a short cut can lead you to trouble. You will find yourself stuck in the middle of nowhere and murdered by a clan of irradiated mutants.

8) Australia (Wolf Creek) - Stay near the coast. Don't let anyone talk you into adventuring into the outback. It's almost a given that your car will break down. Then a serial killer in a tow truck will offer you help where he then proceeds to kidnap and torture you.

9) Barrow, Alaska...or any other town that loses sunlight for 30 days (30 Days of Night) - VAMPIRES! All I can say is Vampires.

10) India (Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom) - I love food as much as the next guy. However, Chilled Monkey Brains and Eyeball Stew aren't exactly at the top of my list of must eats. The worst part is being kidnapped by a cult where the leader rips your heart out and shows it to you before sending you to a fiery death.

So consider this fair warning. Feel free to add to the list.

I think 49ers fans, for the most part, are happy with the 49ers' draft. There are 3 potential day 1 starters in Davis, Iupati and Bowman. The others, Mays (Dime and Quarter packages), Dixon (goal line, short yardage, clean up), Byham (blocking TE), and Williams (PR, #4 or 5 WR) could contribute right away as role players. We gave up our 5th round pick for Ginn, who will be used primarily at KR.

There is also a lot of talk on how our NFC West counterparts did as well. I must say for the most part, the entire NFC West probably had the best draft as a division. Let's look at our opponents.

Arizona Cardinals

#26) Dan Williams, NT, Tennessee
#47) Daryl Washington, LB, TCU
#88) Andre Roberts, WR, Citadel
#130) O'Brien Schofield, DE, Wisconsin
#155) John Skelton, QB, Fordham
#201) Jorrick Calvin, DB, Troy
#233) Jim Dray, Stanford

I'm a fan of Williams. I wouldn't have mind one bit if we used our #17 pick on him instead of Iupati. Williams will be a solid NT and it will be interesting to see how Iupati stacks up against him. Some considered Washington to be better than Sean Witherspoon. Washington will strt right away in place of Dansby. I've talked about Roberts on another post. He's my favorite "lesser" known WR's. He is a good PR and he probably has the best hands in the draft. Schofield is good wher ethey got him. He has good upside if he can overcome his injury. He tore is ACL before the Senior Bowl. Skelton has a good arm and a quick release. The Cards did well. I'm still penciling them in as a favorite to win the NFC West even without Warner. They filled their holes on defense (and possibly improved it). It's going to be more of a run-based team with the ability to stretch out with 3 good WR's on passing downs. The first 3 picks will be significant contributors this year.

Seattle Seahawks

#6) Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma St
#14) Earl Thomas, SS, Texas
#60) Golden Tate, WR, Notre Dame
#111) Walter Thurmond, CB, Oregon
#127) E.J. Wilson, DE, North Carolina
#133) Kam Chancellor, FS, Virginia Tech
#185) Anthony McCoy, TE, USC
#236) Dexter Davis, DE, Arizona St
#245 Jameson Konz, WR, Kent St

I saw all the analysts raving about the Seahawks draft and can't understand what all the hype is all about. Let me add that the Seahawks had a very, very good draft. However, the Seahawks have a lot of holes to fill so it's much easier declare that the Seahawks filled their needs through the draft expecially when the talent level was low to begin with. My favorite pick is Okung. The Seahawks were lucky to get him at #6. Golden Tate was also a steal for him. I think he has the chance to be special even if he doesn't have the measurables. He has good ball awareness and he is a good returner. I'm on the fence about Earl Thomas. He's going to be a ball hawk. I don't why's he's listed at SS. I still think he is on the small-ish side and think he's more of a late first round guy, so it borderline where they took him. He'll be fine as a FS though where he doesn't have to take a pounding. Thurmond's upside is off the charts, but for a guy that relies on agility and cutting, he sure tore a lot of ligaments. I don't foresee him making any impact in the first couple of years. I though Henderson was a bit of a reach. However, Chancellor was a steal where they got him. He has upside at SS. The Seahawks nabbed 2 starters and Tate will be a solid contributor in year one. The Seahawks are still a work in progress. I don't see more than 6 or 7 wins out of them this year as they try to string their system and roster together.

St Louis Rams

1) Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
33) Roger Saffold, OT, Indiana
65) Jerome Murphy, CB, S. Florida
99) Marty Gilyard, Cincinnati
132) Michael Hoomanawanui
149) Hall Davis, DE, La-Lafayette
170) Fendi Onobun, TE, Arizona
189) Eugene Sims, DE, West Texas A&M
211) Marquis Johnson, DB, Alabama
226) George Selvie, DE, S. Florida
254) Josh Hull, LB, Penn St

The Rams also had a very good draft. They kicked it off by taking a franchise QB. Bradford seems like the real deal, but he was surrounded by a lot of talent in College. It will be a couple of more years before the Rams will be able to properly stock Bradford with the tools to win. Saffold was my favorite pick. They now have options with Barron...move to Guard or let him go. Murphy and Gilyard were excellent where they were drafted. hall davis was another solid pick. I'm not sure where Selvie fits. The Rams are playing the #'s game. They had a lot of late picks and hope to hit on a couple. They are still another couple of years away from competing, but 4 or 5 wins is not out of the realm.

All the NFC teams turned out very good drafts. I still think the Cards are still 10 win capable and will be the 49ers greatest challenge. It will come down to the 49ers/Cards matchups this year to decide which on takes the NFC West. The Seahawks are at least another year away from competing and the Rams another year after that.

1. Rams - Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma - QB's just aren't popular #1 overall picks anymore. However, the Rams need one. They really can't go wrong with Suh or Bradford. Both are franchise needs for the Rams. The Lions demonstrated last year that teams will always value QB as the key building block in building a franchise. The Rams grabbed their future LT, Jason Smith last year and will now grab their future franchise QB.

2. Lions - Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska - The Lions need help on both lines. Although, their greatest weakness last year came from the defensive side of the ball. The Lions spent their two first round picks on offense and now they will direct their attention to defense. If not for the Rams franchise need at QB, Suh would be the clear cut #1 pick. The Lions get lucky and Jim Schwartz gets his version of Albert Haynesworth to help out the Lions #25 ranked rush defense. Suh should be instrumental in collapsing the pocket on passing downs as well.

3. Buccaneers - Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma - The Buccaneers are in a good position here. They will get one of the top two DT's or the best Safety. The Bucs need starters at both spots. McCoy should be the pick as this defense starts at the front four. McCoy's draws comparisons to Warren Sapp...and Sapp was an excellent fit in Tampa's Cover 2 defense. The Bucs had the worst ranked rush defense in 2009 and McCoy should help the team improve in that area.

4. Redskins - Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma St - The Redskins traded for QB Donovan McNabb who is a virtual plug and play in Shanahan's offense. The offensive line has been simply offensive over the past couple of years. McNabb will need better protection. Okung is the best all-around LT in the draft and the most NFL ready as well.

5. Chiefs - Eric Berry, S, Tennessee - I believe the Chiefs will try to trade out of this spot. If not, it's hard to imagine GM Scott Pioli reaching for another player as they did with Tyson Jackson last year. Berry is clearly the best player at this point. The question will be if they can provide him with a decent supporting cast in 2010.

6. Seahawks - Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa - The Seahawks are in full rebuild mode. Seahawks fans scoffed at me when I predicted they would win 6 games last year. They disappointed and only won 5. The Seahawks have many needs, and like the Redskins, neglected the offensive line for too long. Bulaga fits what the Seahawks want to do on offense. He's intelligent, hard working, and most of all, he fits the zone blocking scheme. I wouldn't even consider Clausen here. The Seahawks have too much vested in Charlie Whitehurst.

7. Browns - Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma St - Browns fans don't freak out here. Mangini didn't want to gamble on Crabtree last year due to maturity issues. Holmgren on the other hand, has been known to choose talent over character. He did it with Koren Robinson and Jerramy Stevens in Seattle. Bryant is a much better prospect than either of those guys and doesn't have the legal issues. Trading Braylon away last year was a blessing in disguise. Bryant's hands are much better.

8. Raiders - Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma - My gut instinct tells me to put Bruce Campbell here. Will Al Davis continue to make athleticism the be all end all? If Williams goes here, it will be a solid pick. Williams measurables were slightly less than Campbell's, but Williams has a lot more tape. Then again, maybe I'm overthinking it.

9. Bills - Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame - The Bills find themselves in a similar situation as the Rams and the Seahawks. The Bills experienced quite a housecleaning in the front office and coaching staffs. However, the talent level is better than the other two aforementioned teams. Normally, having the #9 pick in this position leaves more to be desired. The Bills are fortunate. The majority of teams in the top 10 this year do not have an immediate need at QB. Clausen is arguably a close second behind Bradford. Clausen is also more Pro ready and intelligent enough to adapt to any offense that new coach Chan Gailey can muster up.

10. Jaguars - Earl Thomas, S, Texas - I keep hearing how more and more teams are jumping on the Earl Thomas bandwagon. Typically, smallish Safeties tend to drop into to bottom third of the first round, or even out of the first round altogether. The Jaguars have a pressing need at Safety and do not shy away from smaller players. Thomas will be ready to start from day one. His versatility (FS, SS, CB) also benefits a defense that has to match up against Peyton Manning twice per year.

11. Broncos - Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama - The Broncos may have solved their D-line issues as long as Jamal Williams can stay healthy. They cut ties with ILB Andra Davis who started to play really well after the first few games of the season. Now they will draft McClain to fill that void. This is a similar defense that former Defensive Coordinator Mike Nolan installed in San Francisco. McClain will be to the Broncos what Patrick Willis is to the 49ers.

12. Dolphins - Sergio Kindle, OLB, Texas - Kindle was one of the lone bright spots on Texas' defense in the National Championship game. Kindle may be Parcell's next L.T. OK, maybe that's stretching it a bit. However, Kindle does offer a skill set that would fit well in the Dolphins 3-4. Kindle has the abilities to become a star for the Dolphins. He has good instincts and he is very athletic. That combination had my attention in the National Championship game and I'm sure Dolphins' scouts noticed as well. Kindle comes with some baggage, but he can be a star in the making much like DeMarcus Ware for the Cowboys.

13. 49ers - Joe Haden, CB, Florida - If you would've asked me a year ago, I would've said "no way" GM Scot McCloughan drafts a CB this high. Well, McCloughan is no longer making decisions for the team. The new regime may be a little more generic in their decisions. At this point, Haden is the best player available and fills a lesser need.

14. Seahawks - C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson - What better way to solve a multitude problems on offense then to add a multi-dimensional threat in Spiller? The combination of Bulaga and Spiller on offense will increase longevity for Hasselbeck and reduce the need to start Whitehurst right away. Spiller will be to Seattle what Reggie Bush was at USC. OK, poor analogy. However, had Bush been draft here instead of top 10, we wouldn't be calling him overrated. Spiller is a solid pick here.

15. Giants - Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee - The Giants need a lot of help on defense. They could use an ILB and DE as well. Outside of McClain, there isn't another ILB worth taking at this spot. the Giants need immediate help on the line. Williams would be a solid upgrade and would be a valuable contributor in his first year. Williams will command some double teams and help to free up the Giants' DE's to do their jobs.

16. Titans - Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida - The Titans have their offense squared away. The obvious issues lie on the defensive side of the ball. Losing Haynesworth last year was bigger than most people realized. The Titans could use an upgrade at DT, but wil also need help at DE after parting ways with Vanden Bosch. Fisher is a defensive guru and the Titans do a good job of developing these athletic types of players. Pierre-Paul has shot up the charts in recent weeks and could serve as the Titans next "Freak".

17. 49ers - Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers - I sense the 49ers are really high on Davis. They could even justify grabbing him at #13. However, with Seattle taking Bulaga at #6, the threat of the remaining teams taking Davis in between are slim. Davis has the potential to be the best LT of the bunch. He may instantly be the best run blocker, which must warm to Singletary. Davis interview with the 49ers will be the x-factor here. Singletary must be convinced that he can get through to Davis psychologically.

18. Steelers - Mike Iupati, G, Idaho - The Steelers have lacked a true mauler at Guard since they let Alan Faneca leave via free agency two seasons ago. The Steelers just haven't seemed as physically dominant as we are used to seeing them. Iupati should change that. He plays with a certain nastiness. He is also a very smart player. This is a wise investment for the Steelers. Iupati may be the best Guard to come out of college since Steve Hutchinson.

19. Falcons - Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech - The Falcons missed the playoffs last year, but I wouldn't say they regressed. Their schedule was brutal. The Falcons will need to address their 28th ranked pass defense by adding a pass rusher. Morgan should make a solid bookend to aging John Abraham. Morgan is a solid all around end and will be a stalwart at DE for the next 8-10 years.

20. Texans - Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise St - The Texans need work in the secondary. They were content to let their former standout CB Dunta Robinson walk. Some have tabbed Kyle Wilson as the best CB in this year's draft. If not, he's a close second behind Haden.

21. Bengals - Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma - The Bengals are a solid well-rounded team. The most pressing need would be to surround Carson Palmer with more weapons. Last year's 3rd pick TE Coffman is a promisong prospect, but not on the same level as Gresham. Having two athletic TE's is a good problem to have. The Bengals will have to be absolutely sure that Gresham is fully healed before they make this pick.

22. Patriots - Jared Odrick, DT, Penn St - No matter how much of a defensive guru, Belichick's defense will not work without having quality linemen up front. Standout DE Richard Seymour was traded to the Raiders and the capable Jarvis Green signed elsewhere. Odrick fits what the Patriots do on defense and Belichick can turn him into an All-Pro.

23. Packers - Charles Brown, OT, USC - The Packers aren't in bad shape overall. However, they do need to address long-term concerns at OT and CB. The Packers bring back OT's Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher. Both are getting up there in years. Both have missed starts in recent years due to serious injuries. The Packers gave up 51 sacks leading the league in sacks allowed. Brown is probably a better pass protector than run blocker, but the pass protection is much needed to protect their franchise QB Aaron Rodgers.

24. Eagles - Taylor Mays, S, USC - Mays is quite the physical specimen. College players typically stay in school their Senior years to improve draft stock. Mays may be the rare exception where his stock took a dive by staying in school. Mays is an intriguing project and it will be interesting to see him implemented into the Eagles defensive scheme. Mays will be a boom or bust pick and offer nothing in between.

25. Ravens - Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers - The Ravens seem to have addressed many of there offensive needs in free agency.They traded for Anquan Boldin and signed Donte Stallworth to the receiving corp. The attention now turns to the defense where upgrades can be made at CB. McCourty fits what the Ravens do on defense.

26. Cardinals - Brandon Graham. OLB. Cardinals - Graham was a quick riser on draft boards throughout the offseason. He has the pass rush skills and athleticism to work as a 3-4 OLB. The Cardinals get good value here and have a long-term replacement after newly signed Joey Porter retires.

27. Cowboys - Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland - If there were any other owner drawn to ahtleticism as much as Al Davis, it would be Jerry Jones. To Jones credit though, he has taken more "calculated" risks. Campbell will be a project as he only has 17 starts at LT. However, the athleticism is too enticing to pass up at this spot. Like Mays, Campbell is a boom or bust pick.

28. Chargers - Ryan Mathews, RB, Fresno St - Spiller may be the most electrifying RB in this year's draft, but Mathews is more of the typical every down RB that teams are looking for. Mathews may not have L.T.'s upside, but he will be more than effective in the Chargers' offense. He can run and catch. He has the potential to be an effective pass blocker too. Mathews also clocked a 4.40 40 time at the combine so he has deceptive speed as well.

29. Jets - Jerry Hughes, OLB, Texas Christian - I truly believe the difference between winning and losing in January's AFC Championship game against the Colts was due to an inconsistent pass rush. Vernon Gholston hasn't panned out and hasn't really flashed the potential that made him a top 10 pick. Hughes has a much more productive college career and should do well in Rex Ryan's 3-4.

30. Vikings - Chris Cook, CB, Virginia - With Brett Favre, it's difficult to find a weakness with the Vikings. They are one of the most talented teams in the league. However, the Saints were able to carve through the Vikings secondary in the NFC Championship game. If Favre returns (and he will), the Vikings will most likely matchup with the Saints in the playoffs this year. They will need to bolster the secondary. Cook does that. He won't need to be the #1 or #2 CB this year, but he will upgrade the Nickel and Dime defenses.

31. Colts - Maurkice Pouncey, C, Florida - GM Bill Polian believes the greatest single factor that caused the Colts to lose the Super Bowl was the offensive line. If it wasn't for Peyton's high football I.Q. and quick release, he would have sack totals rivaling Aaron Rodgers. Well maybe not, but you get the picture. Pouncey is listed as a center, but can play and contribute at the Guard spot immediately. C Jeff Saturday isn't getting any younger either.

32. Saints - Sean Witherspoon, LB, Missouri - Why fix what isn't broken? The Saints have the best offense in the league so it makes sense that defense will be addressed early. Witherspoon is the quick, fast type of LB that works in Greg Williams defense. Witherspoon can play the run, cover and rush the passer.

Some additional notes...

- I juggled with the idea that the Rams would make Clausen #1 due to fit. If what the critics say about Bradford being as accurate as Troy Aikman, then he is the clear cut #1.

- Historically, teams tend to shy away from DT's early for various reasons. I believe this year will be the exception to the rule. Both Suh and McCoy are hard workers. Some mocks have the Lions taking Okung, but Saffold will be there in round 2.

- I never once believed that Shanahan would pick a QB at #4. That offensive line is too horrible to ignore. The trade for McNabb reaffirms this.

- Dez Bryant going to the Browns is my "surprise" pick. It seems many have him falling out of the top 10, or even top 20. Even though the talent is richer in this year's draft, Bryant is a more attractive prospect than Michael Crabtree.

- I was very much tempted to drop Campbell or Mays into the Raiders slot. It started with the McFadden pick in 2008, and then Davis took it to the next level with Heyward-Bey in 2009. 

 - The Dolphins need a NT. The reason I didn't drop Williams into their slot is because Parcells has never used a high draft pick on a NT. He has, on multiple occasions, used them on pass rushers.

Hello Everyone. Here are the reults for the 49ers in Irish Dawg's 2010 Collaborative Mock Draft. The philosophy I took with the 49ers is an 8-8 team with a front office that needs to bring in impact players to help make the playoffs. This is the same front office regime since 2005, so it's do or die now. Another losing season for the 49ers may spell the end for the current front office and even HC Mike Singletary. The 49ers under Nolan/McCloughan have taken calculated risks on talent over character over the years. Vernon Davis (immaturity), to Antonio Bryant (insubordination), to Tarell Brown (minor brush ups with the law) are a few examples. I tried to take the same approach. Here are the results.

http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/
entry/13992344/14213465?tag=header;quickLinks

1st rd, #13 - Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers - My feeling is that the 49ers are very high on Davis. Davis has the talent to be the best OT in this year's draft, even over Okung and Bulaga. Character issues dealing with motivation and immaturity have gradually knocked Davis out of the top 10 and possibly even lower on some teams boards. However, the 49ers felt Crabtree was the second best player in the 2008 draft. Davis may not be that high up the 49ers board this year, but I'm thinking that the approach is similar in terms of how he is ranked. Davis' issues are the kind that Singletary excels in dealing with. I don't have any idea how Davis interviewed with the 49ers, so this will be the x-factor come draft day. Why didn't I wait until #17 to draft Davis? Seattle trade out of #6 and still needed an OT at #14. Davis doesn't really fit the zone blocking scheme, but there was still the risk of losing him to Seattle. There is the possibility that current LT would move back to RT if Davis excels at LT.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiL8DSVAUJQ

1st rd, #17 - Taylor Mays, SS, USC - This was my first controversial pick. I think most of the GM's that participated in this mock feel that Mays is grossly overrated and that I reached on him early. I can understand the positioning of some teams. I also feel that Mays can have the best and quickest success in the right system. I believe the way that the 49ers have utlized Michael Lewis the last two years typifies what Mays would be asked to do. Mays quite possibly would be more successful than Lewis do to the difference in athleticism. Coincidentally enough, Mays and Lewis are similar in size. Lewis is a very large SS as well. If the 49ers really draft Mays, it will be with the intention of moving him to SS. Lewis is in the final year of his contract, so Mays would not need to start right away. This goes against the immediate impact player philosophy I described above but with two picks in the first round, I can see a team taking more chances on a project with great athleticism. It's a luxury pick. And let's be realistic, was Mays performance in 2009 really that bad? He made some great plays and he made some poor ones. The poor ones seem correctable with good coaching and the 49ers secondary coaches have done well grooming FS Dashon Goldson and CB's Shawntae Spencer & Tarell Brown in recent years.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWroHILuG-I&feature=fvst

2nd rd, #49 - Perrish Cox, CB, Oklahoma St - If there was a truely great controverial pick, it was this one. Cox has great talent. I think he was one of the best returners (if not the best), in this years draft crop. He also has immense talent as a CB. I feel that Cox has shutdown ability. This combination of talent at CB and return ability really attracted me to him. Also, CB's were flying off the board at this point. From a talent perspective, I do not think any CB drafted after this spot is better from a pure talent standpoint. Now on to the negatives. Cox has major character issues. He had repeated discplinary issues. He also has 3 kids and was popped for driving on a suspended license. I did research the insubordination and disciplinary issues. I felt that a strong locker room (which the 49ers have) along with Singletary as coach would help. What I admittedly missed on is the 3 kids and driving infraction. Had I caught this, I would've passed as I dont' think that's what Singletary would approve of. The general consensus was that I reached on him...and I agree. Cox could've probably been had anywhere between rounds 3-6 because of character concerns.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ma_n9K3stn8

3rd rd, #79 - Jon Asamoah, G, Illinois - This was a rather "safe" pick, but BPA at #79. However, it was also very much needed. The team hasn't committed long-term to Baas. It's possible that Baas breaks out in 2010, but he will also be an UFA. Asomoah is the second best Guard prospect available. John Jerry's name is being mentioned as well, but he is also a Tackle. Asomoah seems to have the mentality that a Singletary coached team would want. He plays with nastiness. Asomoah is also very intelligent and a good locker room personality. Asomoah may be able to play both G spots. he would compete against Baas right away.

4th rd, #113 - Andre Roberts, WR, Citadel - I was questioned about taking Roberts a little early. However, at the rate that WR's moved off the board in the 2nd and 3rd rounds, I thought Roberts was good value in the middle of the 4th round. Bigger names like Taylor Price, Carlton Mitchell, Marty Gilyard, Jordan Shipley and Jacoby Ford were all off the board. Roberts one true greatest asset is his hands. His greatest knock is the lower level of competition. He had a good showing at the combine. Roberts performed well at the Senior Bowl, which the 49ers like to see. This also alleviates some of the lower level of competition concerns. Plus, his final college production #'s are just astounding. His value as a punt returner combined with his hands may even get him drafted earlier.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=An5rP_BiEdg

5th rd, #145 - Micah Johnson, ILB, Kentucky - Going into the 5th round, things tend to get a little more muddled in terms of valuing prospects and where they whould be drafted. You start seeing players here that should have been gone in the 3rd round or a player that may not even be drafted. Micah Johnson could swing on either side of that pendulum. Johnson has been plagued by injury throughout his entire collegiate career. He may developed into a 3rd round prospect without all of his setbacks. At the same time, some teams may just knock Johnson off their big board altogether. The reason I drafted Johnson is that he reminds me a little of Takeo Spikes, except not as athletic. The 49ers need a big, strong LB to matchup with the FB and Johnson has these traits. The 49ers also drafted Scott McKillop in the 5th round last year. He's shown some flashes, but Spikes' replacement still remains unsettled. Plus, 49ers love those SEC players.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGUlgQ2Q_Sw

6th rd, #182 - Antonio Coleman, OLB, Auburn - Another SEC player and an outstanding pass rusher. 49ers re-signed Ahmad Brooks for two more years, but Manny Lawson is on the fence. The 49ers did well in tieing for 3rd in sacks for 2009. However, those sacks came in bunches and the 49ers have not established an elite pass rusher. Those sacks were by committee. Coleman was a dominant force in the SEC. Coleman is Auburn's #3 all-time sack leader. A minor injury hobbled him in 2009. He will be a project as a 3-4 OLB, but the skillset is there...especially with his pass rushing skills.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxZIk6FTwis

6th rd, #207 - Crezdon Butler, CB, Clemson - This was the 49ers' comp pick. This was more of an insurance policy if Cox doesn't get his head on straight. I don't think CB is the weakest position on the 49ers in terms of talent, but it is the position that gets hit the hardest by injury every year. Butler was part of a defense that ranked 15th in the nation last year. he was the CB that QB's avoided so he didn't put up guady statistics. The challenge will be much tougher in the NFL. He has decent size (6' & 195 lbs) and speed (4.4 40 range).

7th rd, #224 - Ekom Udofia, NT, Stanford - Udofia is projected to be a rotational player at best. However, his strength and size are his best attributes. These are similar traits to 49ers current NT, Aubrayo Franklin. Franklin had a breakout year yet the team has not committed him to a long-term deal. franklin was also a 6th round pick leading me to believe that Udofia is capable of a similar career path. There are reports that the 49ers are bringing him in for a workout.

Before the draft, I had identified the top needs as RT, LG and KR/PR. Lower priority needs for depth and long-term replacements for other positions include CB, SS, ILB, NT, and C. I walked away from this mock draft feeling pretty good about addressing those needs and prioritizing them accordingly. Davis and Asomoah would compete right away at RT and LG respectively. At the same time, Cox and Roberts would provide immediate help in the return game. Mays, and the other remaining selections address positions that do not have immediate needs, but will in the near future.

There were certain philosophies I tried to maintain last year while Scot McCloughan was the GM. I had read that McCloughan didn't feel particularly comfortable drafting CB's in the first round. He also likes "larger" RB's. He feels that the NFL is a "big man's" game. However, McCloughan is gone. If McCloughan were still calling the shots this year, I would've guessed that Haden and Spiller would be far down on the big board. But McCloughan isn't with the team anymore and to be quite honest, I haven't a clue on how his replacements may act on draft day. They could very well take Haden or Spiller.

With regards to "questionable" character, my feeling is that Singletary will take a chance on talent over character provided they are more closely related to immaturity instead of criminal issues. That's why I would predict Davis will could be drafted and miscalculated on Cox. Anyways, let me know your thoughts.