Popeyejones":2uaunwz9 said:
Under Baalke the 9ers have done a really good job of finding role players (and better -- Boone, Cooper for the Chiefs) at the back-end of the draft and with UDFAs. Oddly and sadly enough, Hawks fans are starting to see some of that through guys like Tukuafu and Dobbs. :lol:
Nice! Yes, we have a mini-cast of SF castoffs, between Mike Rob (last couple years), Lockette, Tukuafu, and now Demarcus Dobbs.
I think it speaks to overall strength of Niners roster and talent. A guy from your scrap heap gets into the Seattle DL rotation and is productive for us immediately. (Dobbs) A castoff FB gets in our lineup immediately. (I think he may be doing some DL snaps too, just haven't noticed.) A castoff WR (Lockette) becomes our ace ST gunner. Some of the credit goes to our coaching, to find what these guys do well, and use them for their strengths and then coach them up. Part of it is probably scheme/fit, that Seattle and SF place different value on different player attributes.
Bruce Irvin this year, his 3rd year, is becoming the poster boy for guys progressing under our coaching staff. Super-raw out of college, now useful as an every-down linebacker with cover skills, and edge rusher and can actually set the edge vs. the run. His first year, all he could do was speed rush.
For our DC, getting a guy like Dobbs for free at this point in the season was like getting a free injection of (name your favorite drug here).
Baalke/Niners FO must have done a good job of putting together a strong top-to-bottom roster. Even after losing Willis, Bowman, etc. your LBs seem to be getting it done.