Alex Smith Traded: My Thoughts

By: Brian Sanchez
Follow me on Twitter @BrianSanchezDU
Like my Facebook page The Sports Report

     The first words that come to mind when I think about the proposed Alex Smith trade are highway robbery. Luckily for the 49ers, this is a, "what have you done for me lately" league. Because of that, the fact that Alex Smith was one of the worst quarterbacks in the league for the first five years of his career is completely forgotten. There's even another way in which the 49ers are lucky, and that is the fact that the QB draft class this year is not exactly what you would call dominant. Because of that, the team with the first pick in the draft, a team that is desperate for a new QB, felt that they had to go elsewhere to get that piece. That made the Chiefs and 49ers natural trade partners.
     The trade as most understand it now is Alex Smith for a 2013 2nd round pick (34th) and a conditional early round pick in 2014 (2nd or 3rd round). The trade can not be official until March 12th when the new league year begins. That means there is still a chance another team can come in and make a better offer. This is highly unlikely for two reasons:

1. This is a very lucrative deal for the 49ers and it is hard to believe a team would give up more to acquire Alex Smith.
2. The 49ers want to do right by Alex Smith if they can. The Chiefs were reportedly on his short list of teams he would like to be traded to. So, Smith is happy, the 49ers are happy, the Chiefs are happy, everybody is happy happy happy. 

     As for the trade itself, both teams receive passing grades. The 49ers receive an A-. It is a second round pick and not a first rounder. Yes, it is the second pick in the second round. However, the argument that the second pick in the second round is basically a first rounder means I could say that the second to last pick in the first round is practically a second rounder. So I don't want to hear that. What I do want to hear is it is absolutely a pick of consequence in which the 49ers can draft a role player that can pay immediate dividends.
     The Chiefs receive a grade of a C+. I say that because that is exactly what I think Alex Smith's value is. He is a slightly above average QB. He will struggle in KC, because even though they do have some talent, they also have a lot of garbage. Is Smith an improvement? Of course. But that's not saying a whole lot. The question now becomes can Alex Smith thrive in a pass first offense? I have my doubts.
     As for my thoughts on Alex Smith being gone, I really have none. He was he, he happened, he was terrible, then he was decent, and now he's gone. It's not nearly as big of a deal as most are making it out to be. I have nothing against the guy. He took his benching like a champ. He is worse than Colin Kaepernick who was not given the job as much as he took it away. He said and did all the right things, and for that I applaud him. Now he's gone. So what. We have kid wonder Kaepernick at the helm and I expect something very productive to come from the picks we are going to get. Everybody gets what they want, especially Luke Joeckel, and with the exception of Geno Smith of course.

Alex Smith: Reading Between the Lines

By: Brian Sanchez
Follow me on Twitter @BrianSanchezDU
Like My Facebook page The Sports Report

Since the NFL Combine started, Jim Harbaugh and Trent Baalke have had to talk to the national media for the first time since the Super Bowl. The bulk of the conversations (or lectures in Harbaugh's case) have been about Alex Smith and what the 49ers plan to do with him. The 49ers coach and GM have come out with the clear agenda of letting everybody know that they are comfortable keeping Alex Smith. Do I believe them? Not for a second.

Nobody has supported Alex Smith as much as Jim Harbaugh

    I have watched enough episode of Pawn Stars to understand the idea of negotiation leverage. The 49ers are making sure they are controlling and setting the market for Alex Smith. The 49ers should not keep Alex Smith this season because he would cost them $9.5 million. That is a lot of money to put in to a back-up for a team trying to find money to keep their All-Pro Safety and keep TE Delanie Walker around. The rest of the league knows that too, so they are willing to wait until March, when Smith's contract becomes guaranteed, as they expect Smith to be released and then he can go anywhere he wants. If that were the case, the 49ers would have little to no negotiating power. They would be asking for a 5th, 6th, maybe even a 7th round pick, just to get something in return. So, why would other teams trade for Alex Smith if it would be ludicrous for them to do anything else but cut him? Because Jim Harbaugh is that crazy guy who just might do it.

49ers GM Trent Baalke

     I would give it a very slight chance, but if there was any coach willing to keep a back up QB for $9.5 million it would be Jim Harbaugh. And that is precisely why Alex Smith will get traded. Other teams know it would be crazy to keep Alex Smith this season. Those same teams also know that Jim Harbaugh is absolutely that crazy. So just Jim Harbaugh's personality alone sets up a sellers market.
     What should ease the minds of 49er fans everywhere is the fact that GM Trent Baalke is a little more sane and incredibly smart. He understands the important of depth and has shown a tremendous ability to build a roster. He knows that he can't lose a guy like Dashon Goldson in favor of a back-up QB. He is also smart enough to try and pit organizations against each other. He can tell teams like the Browns, Jaguars, Cardinals, and Chiefs that they don't have to wait and try to win Alex Smith in free agency, they can have him right now if they trade. Then, once he gets one offer he can orchestrate the auction and come out a winner.

Bonus: What do I expect to receive for Alex Smith? Ideally, a player who can play now. I'm not sure exactly who Baalke would target from each team, but they would do more than a pick. Now, if they were to receive picks I would imagine they would be conditional picks for 2014. This year the 49ers have the most picks in the draft and they don't have that many roster spots open. The conditions of the pick could depend upon wins or completions.

Follow me on Twitter @BrianSanchezDU
Like My Facebook page The Sports Report

Attention 49er Fans:

Chill Out
By: Brian Sanchez

Please, please, please just enjoy this draft!  Jim Harbaugh and Trent Baalke have done nothing to make you think they are going to mess this up.  Enjoy the fact that we are the third to last team to pick, it's because we won.  And we won a lot.  Harbaugh has only been a part of the draft process for one year, but Baalke has been the GM for two drafts.  And if you don't remember, he took over as GM a short time before his first draft and he still succeeded.  Trust these guys.  Enjoy the draft.  Whoever they pick it's going to be a good player.  Not who you projected?  Not the guy you wish they got?  Believe me, Baalke and Harbaugh know more about football than you, if they make a pick, it's the right move.  Don't believe me?  Let's take a look at the past two drafts.

2010 NFL Draft (49ers picks of consequence)


Round 1, pick 11- Anthony Davis, T Rutgers
This is more of a Singletary pick than it is a Baalke pick, but he did sign off on him.  Let's be fair:  Davis was terrible year one but improved to being decent in year two.  He is very young (22 years old now and 20 when we drafted him) and very big.  He has the quick feet and long arms you love to see in the tackle. Even if he goes through a modest improvement this year he will be good, especially since he is a RT.





Round 1, pick 17- Mike Iupati, G Idaho
Iupati is a beast.  He is one of the better LG in the league.  When he pulls on he power-o runs that Harbaugh loves so dearly he is a run away locomotive.  Sure the 49ers doubled up on linemen in this draft, but it worked.  Those two are guaranteed to be starters barring injury so this first round is definitely a success in my book.









Round 2, pick 49- Taylor Mays, S USC
You caught me here, Mays was not a good pick.  But how will i defend myself.  It was stated by everyone in the franchise that this was purely and solely a Mike Singletary pick.  I will also remind you that once Singletary was gone, Baalke promptly traded Mays away because he did not see anything in him.  So, it may have been a bad pick but the trade proves Baalke has great talent evaluation.









Round 3, pick 91- Navorro Bowman, MLB Penn St.
Hello!  Winner winner chicken dinner!  My theory is correct!  Bowman is awesome.  Last year Bowman lead the team in tackles, and yes, that means he had more tackles than Patrick Willis (who for what it's worth I consider the best LB and best defensive player in all of football).  We didn't even need a LB but we took him anyways and then, boom! All-pro LB.  Seriously though, how can he be a first team All-Pro LB but not make the ProBowl team?  Doesn't matter, he's a stud and a great pick.







Round 6, pick 163- Anthony Dixon, RB Mississippi St.
Ok, so he hasn't panned out as a RB like the 49ers hoped.  At one point people thought he would be the heir apparent to Frank Gore.  That is not going to happen.  But he has played a very important role on the SF special teams.  49er special teams are truly special and a big reason why they win.  The 49ers had to win the field position battle, and they often did thanks to guys like Anthony Dixon.





2011 NFL Draft (49ers picks of consequence)


Round 1, pick 7- Aldon Smith, OLB Missouri
We didn't need defense, we needed offense.  If we did take someone on defense it had to be Prince Amukamara because we did not need linebackers we needed defensive backs.  Take Gabbert or Locker because Alex Smith is played out and we need a new young QB.  We may not have "needed" Aldon Smith, but we got him, and he is a gem.  There was not a lot of positive feedback when this pick was made but now everybody loves it.  Smith will be the starting OLB and pass rush specialist coming off of a 14 sack rookie year.  He is my prime example of just trust whatever Harbaugh and Baalke do.

Round 2, pick 36- Colin Kaepernick, QB Nevada
We have no reason to say whether or not this is a good pick, but we have reasons to believe it is.  First, Harbaugh is clearly magic with QB's.  He made the 49ers trade up to get him so he obviously sees something in Colin.  Colin is big and athletic with a rocket for an arm.  He could be something special, especially with a couple years on the bench and learning from Harbaugh.  Another good pick.



Round 3, pick 80- Chris Culliver, CB South Carolina
Cully in the house!  Chris Culliver was good in his time on the field in the 2011-2012 season.  He is a very fast and athletic CB.  He mostly played in the nickel and dime packages, but was forced to start a few games because of injuries.  He will start this season as the No.3 CB and if he continues to improve he could be starting sooner rather than later.









Round 4, pick 115- Kendall Hunter, RB Oklahoma St. 
Hunter is a good solid change of pace RB.  He is not dominant or even one of the best small running backs in the league (although he certainly could develop).  But this pick signified that Harbaugh and Baalke saw a need for a faster RB in the rotation so they went out and got one.  Hunter will more than likely be on the team as a scat back making him a decent 4th round pick.



Round 5, pick 163- Daniel Kilgore, G Appalachian St.
This could be a 5th round gem.  Kilgore is a very physical linemen who is more nasty than he is fundamentally sound.  That is why Jim Harbaugh loves him.  If he plays across from Mike iupati we are talking about a potential for two run away locomotives on the O-line at the same time.  Kilgore as of right now is the starting RG.  The 49ers are expected to draft another one or sign a veteran to start a competition with Kilgore for the starting spot.

Round 7, pick 211- Bruce Miller, FB Central Florida
This guy was a pass rush specialist at UCF and was one of the best defensive players in all of Conference-USA.  Looks like we might have found a good defensive player in the final round.  Or Harbaugh can turn him in to a FB and make him an absolute stud.  Miller was, is, and will be the 49ers FB and a member of the very special, special teams.


Don't forget to tune in to the show Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. on radio.dominican.edu.  You can also follow me on Twitter @SportsReportDU.  For updates on the show and all the links you need, go like The Sports Report Facebook Page.

49er Free Agency

Better or Worse?
By: Brian Sanchez
March 28th, 2012


Jim Harbaugh says it best: You either get better or you get worse, but you never stay the same.  Sure the 49ers have signed names that people know, but how much did they really improve?  Let's take a look at the new players that will be wearing the red and gold this season.

Mario Manningham
(2 years $7.38 million)

     This is, in my opinion, the best signing the 49ers have made so far.  Manningham is coming over from the World Champion New York Giants where he was a part of a great receiving corps which included Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz.  Manningham will either be a solid No. 2 WR or one of the better slot receivers in the league and gives the 49ers a good down field threat.  Last year he had 39 catches for 523 yards and 4 touchdowns.  But those numbers can not really be taken in to account.  Sure he had to compete with two other really good receivers for touches, but all of them had one thing in common: Eli Manning.  It wouldn't matter who your fellow receivers are, if Eli Manning is your QB you are going to have good stats.  I expect his stats to drop off under the poor quarterbacking of Alex Smith, but I also expect him to be the most consistent wide out for the 49ers and is certainly a better deal than keeping Josh Morgan who got more money per year and more years coming off an injury that made him miss the whole season.


Randy Moss
(1 year approx. $1 million)

     Moss is definitely the biggest wild card for the 49ers.  If he can be vintage Randy Moss, the 49ers got a steal.  But what are the chances that they get that?  He didn't even play last year because nobody (49ers included) wouldn't sign him.  But now that the 49ers are seemingly a good receiving corps away from being Super Bowl contenders he is worth the risk.  And the last time he was in the league he hardly looked like someone who deserved to be a starting WR.  But he comes in with the Harbaugh stamp of approval and I have to believe if he wasn't in shape to be a starter the 49ers would have never signed off on the acquisition.  Will he only be a deep threat (if he can manage that) or will he actually produce?  Again this is directly tied to whether or not Alex Smith can produce.

Brandon Jacobs
(1 year $2 million)


     This is the move that people like and I don't.  This just successfully made this backfield older and slower than it already was.  Gore's years are numbered and people are looking for the heir apparent.  Kendall Hunter is only a change of pace back.  Anthony Dixon is not good enough to be a NFL RB that receives a good number of touches.  Jacobs is yet another import from the NY Giants but he is not like Manningham.  Mario is peaking in his career.  Jacobs is almost done and provides no explosion.  The best he could be is a back that picks up a lot of short down yardage and possibly goal line touches. Gore is still the main goal line back I have to think because he is still a receiving threat out of the back field and Jacobs is not.  But there is no speed in the backfield.  Hunter is quick, but he does not play with much raw speed.  I think Jacobs will have minimal impact on this team and still expect the 49ers to draft a RB.

Perrish Cox
(2 years unspecified low amount)


     This is a guy who was a big time talent in college at Oklahoma St.  But a lot of 49er fans are expecting him to make a big impact on this team.  That's not going to happen, not this year anyways.  He got cut from the Broncos for more than just his off field issues.  He was also not in shape and was not playing at a NFL level.  He had the talent of a 1st or 2nd rounder but went in the 5th and has never been able to get his life in order enough to focus on football and realize his potential.  The 49ers do not expect him to really be anything more than the No. 4 CB if he even wins that spot.





     In my opinion, the 49ers have gotten better but not by much.  Manningham is the most exciting new face, but can Alex Smith take advantage of having a good stable of receivers?  I'm not convinced he can.  I don't expect anything from Randy Moss, and whatever I get from him will be icing on the cake.  I see no impact from Jacobs that will make this team any more of a Super Bowl contender.  And Perrish Cox?  I'm not even sure I'll see him on the field.

Be sure to tune in to The Sports Report Tuesdays from 6-8 p.m. on radio.dominican.edu.  You can follow me on Twitter @SportsReportDU.  And you should like The Sports Report Facebook page too. Keep checking this Blog, Mock Draft 3.0 will be coming soon.

QB Competition in SF

Smith vs. Johnson vs. Kaepernick 

By: Brian Sanchez

3/22/2012

HC Jim Harbaugh (left) and GM Trent Baalke (right)
will have to make a decision together about the QB position

Ladies and Gentlemen, there is officially a QB competition in San Francisco.  Yes, the 49ers did just sign QB Alex Smith to a 3 year $24 million contract.  So what?  This is Harbaugh's team, not Smiths'.  First SF kept Smith on a yo-yo while they tried to court Peyton Manning (who absurdly picked Denver).  In that time Smith went to Miami to visit the Dolphins and try and apply pressure to the 49ers to sign him and for more money.  Fail.  The Dolphins decided to sign David Garrard who hasn't thrown a pass in an NFL game in nearly two years.  Then when Manning chose the Broncos Smith had to come crawling back to the 49ers and sign a 3 year deal for only $8 mil a year.  That is basically nothing for a starting QB and an insult to Smith as far as saying they do not believe he is "elite" like they mentioned last year because they are paying him like an average QB.  Jim Harbaugh has made it very clear that Smith is the starter going into the season.  But if Smith struggles and Johnson shines in training camp and preseason play you'd better believe Harbaugh will make the switch.  It appears that now the real battle will be between Kaepernick and Johnson to be the No. 2 QB and be ready to supplant Smith if he drops from being a decent QB back to being a terrible one.

Let's take a look at the 3 Quarterbacks:

Alex Smith
(6"4' 217 lbs. 1st round No. 1 overall pick in 2005 out of Utah)

2011 starter and projected 2012 starter Alex Smith

Smith was the No. 1 overall pick and hasn't, and probably will never, live up to the billing.  He struggled for 5 years in which he had a new Offensive Coordinator in every year.  This was a common excuse but did not account for his poor arm strength and pocket presence.  Smith had his best year by far last year setting a new career high in QB Rating (90.7) completions (273) attempts (445) completion % (61.3) and yards (3144).  While those were career highs they are not terribly impressive.  Also he attempted the fewest passes among starters who started at least 12 games and while he only threw 5 interceptions he only threw 17 TD.  That is bad.  The 49ers did however have a 13-3 record last year and made it seemingly within one punt return of making the Super Bowl.  Now whether that was because of Smith or in spite of Smith is up to you.

Josh Johnson
(6"3' 205 lbs. 5th round pick in 2008 out of University of San Diego via Oakland Tech in Oakland, California)

Harbaugh (left) and Johnson (right) are very familiar
with each other after spending 3 years together at USD

Johnson signed a two year deal with the 49ers just one day after Smith signed his 3 year deal.  Johnson spent 3 years playing under Harbaugh at USD where he still holds 4 different passing records.  Johnson is believed to be in a battle with Kaepernick to be the main back up in case Smith were to get hurt or be (even more) ineffective.  But, Johnson did say in a statement that he chose his new team based off of where he thought he would have the best chance to become a starter.  He could have been banking on Smith being bad, he could have based it off of Harbaugh loving competition and knowing JJ, he could have based it off of knowing he will outwork Smith and earn the job straight up.  Whatever the case may be, he will get a fair shot as long as Harbaugh is involved.

Colin Kaepernick
(6"4' 230 lbs. 2nd round (4th) in 2011 out of Nevada)

Kaepernick (above) is regarded by many coaches and fans
as the future QB of the 49ers

Kaepernick has widely been seen as the future at the QB position for the 49ers.  It seems that he is the reason the 49ers signed Alex Smith to such a cheap contract.
that way Smith would be easily cuttable if it became time for Kaepernick (or Josh Johnson) to take over.  The 49ers traded up to the top of the 2nd round to make sure the got their hands on this kid.  Colin is a big, athletic, fast, and very smart QB with a rocket arm.  He did come from a spread system in college.  It is believed that he is just not ready to pick up NFL schemes and blitz packages yet.  When he finally does play he will open up the playbook for Harbaugh because of his arm strength and ability to make any throw on the field.

Be sure to tune in to The Sports Report with me, Brian Sanchez and my Co-Host Case Donahue Tuesday from 6-8p.m. only on radio.dominican.edu.  You can also follow The Sports Report on Twitter @SportsReportDU for all of the sports info you'll ever need.  While you're at it, go ahead and like The Sports Report FaceBook page for updates on the show and the World of Sports.

Manning and the 49ers

By: Brian Sanchez
3/16/2012

Peyton Manning talking to Alex Smith after a Colts win over the 49ers 

It seemed like the 49ers were going to be destined to have Alex Smith behind center once again for better or for worse.  Fans begged the 49ers to go after Manning and it seemed like they wouldn't.  I heard a lot of "I can't believe the 49ers won't go after Manning".  I would hear this, while being skeptical about the durability of his neck, and ask, "How do you know the 49ers aren't going after him?  Just because the 49ers go after him does not mean they have to go public about it."
     They really seem to want Peyton,  but at the same time they don't want to estrange Alex Smith.  This is a smart move.  If you do end up having to sign Alex Smith you don't want him to come in mad at the organization.  He worked hard to get himself to be an average QB and a little drama could derail his progress.  Also, the QB market in free agency is so poor that if Smith goes somewhere else they could be left up a creek without a paddle.  Then they would turn to Buccaneers back up QB Josh Johnson who played for Harbaugh in San Diego.  The Niners might not want to let it come to that.

A concept design of the new Santa Clara stadium

     But now we get to financing.  Can the 49ers afford Manning?  Absolutely.  Even after inking Carlos Rogers to his new 4 year $31 million contract the 49ers have $18 million in cap room.  They also have a new stadium coming in 2014 in which Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News reported via Twitter, "I've been told the 49ers could add well more than $100M in increased revenues starting in 2014, if stadium is done by then."  That's a lot of money and could lead towards matching the alleged contract offered to Manning by the Denver Broncos of 5 years at $90 million.  So monetarily the 49ers can make it work.
   

Potential Manning weapons:  Crabtree (left) and Davis (right)

     Now, why should Peyton choose to rock the red and gold?  Well, if he wants to win a ring and catch Eli the 49ers are the obvious choice.  They have one of, if not the best defense in football with all starters returning from last year.  A servicable group of WR lead by Michael Crabtree and now including the Wild Card of Randy Moss.  A top line group of TE in Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker, which are nightmare matchups.  A running game with Frank Gore that can take pressure off of Manning.  A solid offensive line that will be improving with a new RG instead of Chilo Rachal.  And most importantly on the offensive line, a great set of blind side protectors in Joe Staley and Mike Iupati. Phenomenel special teams which will win the field position battle and convert field goals when Manning can't get it all the way into the end zone.  He is human people.  He'll have the opportunity to open up the new Santa Clara Stadium.  I also believe he is not the kind of person that wants to play the Colts a lot.  He loves that franchise which is a problem for the Tennessee Titans.  How about the guy he worked out with yesterday?  That's right, before he worked out with the Broncos today he visited the 49ers and Coach Jim Harbaugh.  Harbaugh is a fiery personality who can combine his brilliance with that of Manning and really make them Super Bowl favorites.  There are a lot of reasons for Manning to come to the city by the bay.

Be sure to catch all the information on Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. on radio.dominican.edu.  You can also stay updated by following The Sports Report on twitter @SportsReportDU.  And of course, like the Facebook Page to get poll questions, updates, and listen to previous shows.