Director of player personnel Trent Baalke invited the local media to 49ers headquarters on Thursday afternoon to break down film on each of the new 49ers draft picks.
Baalke spent about an hour and a half analyzing around seven plays for each player. Here are a few analyses he made on each of the draft picks.
OT Anthony Davis
- "He has quickness off the ball...great foot quickness. He's a big man with strength."
- Despite Davis playing left tackle, Baalke said that the right tackle spot is set for the more physical and powerful type of players. Looking at film, it seems like that Davis could transition into that role.
- "Davis is great at the snap of the ball; good depth between him and the quarterback. He has great balance with sliding feet and learning. He has to learn to play a little lower and keep knees bent."
- The overall assessment of Davis was that he has a lot of instincts at the snap of the ball. From the clips, he was already in motion to protect the quarterback at the snap. His balance looked really good and has great instincts on where he was in the pocket.
OG Mike Iupati
- A few of his highlights showed Iupati throwing down the opposing linemen like a rag doll. Baalke said that that was a good trait because for a school in a lower conference, seeing dominance is very important in evaluating a player's skill.
- Iupati had great skills in opening up holes. "If we get Frank (Gore) those on Sunday, we'll be winning a lot."
- "This guy has potential to be special at his position."
- Iupati's best skill was his ability to help maintain a strong pocket. What was most impressive was how he was able to lock up his assignment and help provide protection and holes for the offense.
S Taylor Mays
- "He has to be reading the quarterback. He has good ball skills."
- One aspect of Mays' game that Baalke talked about was his tackling. Baalke said that in the NFL, you can't just go for the hit. Mays has a tendency to just go for the hit rather than securing a tackle. Even though Baalke said that that trait could be coached, Mays still has a great eye in reading the quarterback.
- Mays can match up well with tight ends and has to be able to diversify his skills as a safety. He has to be able to play high or low.
- Overall, Mays is a work in progress. From what went on during the film session, Baalke said that Mays can do a lot as a safety once he starts working on some things. We should expect Mays to focus on tackling during camp this year.
LB Navorro Bowman
- "We like his instinct; we like his feet. He plays physical and plays with passion."
- Baalke talked about how he liked Bowman's balance and use of hips. His range is great, but his footwork could use a little tweaking.
- The film showed Bowman's intelligence in finding the ball. In many play runs, Bowman did not lose stride in pursuing the ballhandler. On pass plays, he was able to block off passing routes well.
- Byham will compete with Scott McKillop to serve as Takeo Spikes' backup.
RB Anthony Dixon
- Baalke praised Dixon's quickness, vision, patience and burst of speed at the line. The clips showed that Dixon's speed for a power back was something that Baalke really liked. Also, Baalke said that Dixon, when given that hole, can be very dangerous.
- Baalke highlighted Dixon's ability, like Glen Coffee and Frank Gore, to catch balls out of the backfield.
- When asked about Dixon's stamina, Baalke said he wasn't too worried. Dixon carried the ball 910 times in his four-year career at Mississippi State. Baalke said that his size should be able to handle that load, whereas a smaller back might not be able to.
- Dixon didn't do much blocking in college and didn't fumble the ball much despite all the carries. Baalke was excited about Dixon's "active feet through contact" while watching film. Looking at Dixon, he can be a bruiser.
TE Nate Byham
- "This guy likes to block.. he has the mentality for it."
- Baalke confirmed that even though Byham isn't known as a pass catcher, having him on the field can open up the offense. If the 49ers use a third tackle instead of a blocking tight end, the defense can figure out that that tackle won't be catching passes.
- When I asked about special teams, Baalke said that Byham could serve in some capacity with special teams.
- There is a hope that Byham will work out and not end up like last year's draft pick Bear Pascoe. Baalke said that Byham provides better strength and size than what Pascoe did. The team hopes that Byham can prove his worth to the 49ers.
WR Kyle Williams
- "He's a smaller body guy with great speed and great quickness."
- The films showed Williams in the slot and what he did was pure speed. Not many players at the slot position could catch the ball in stride and elude tackles. That was what was so impressive about watching Williams on tape. "To compensate for lack of size, this guy has great quality."
- When talking about his punt return skills, Baalke said that Williams didn't take any punts for touchdowns, but his 10-yards per punt average is still very impressive.
- As a speed demon, Williams has a lot of potential from what I saw in the film. If he can make those catches in the open field, he can be a huge weapon for the team.
CB Phillip Adams
- We were only able to see two clips from Adams-- a relative draft unknown. Finding scouting reports on him online was difficult on draft day.
- Baalke said that he liked how Adams knew how to decide whether to defend the ball or man. In one clip, Adams broke off a receiver and went for the ball on an errant pass for a touchdown.
- Adams seems to have a very intelligent trait in determining whether or not he should continue pass coverage or break in to stop the ball runner.
- With Baalke's assessment of Adams' "good instincts", it looks like Adams has already put himself in a position in where he can test his skills against the offense and show his worth.
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After the film session, undrafted rookies QB Jarrett Brown and CB/KR LeRoy Vann spoke with the media. Here are some highlights of what they said.
QB Jarrett Brown
When asked about his feelings about not being drafted, Brown said that he was disappointed.
"I thought I was good enough to be drafted on a team," he said. He talked about how since he was not drafted, he had an opportunity to choose a team to play for. "I think it worked out for the best for me; to go somewhere where a team wants me, for a team that I wanted to be on."
Brown said he couldn't remember which teams were trying to sign him after the draft, but he recalls how 49ers quarterbacks coach Mike Johnson talked with him and how he was excited to be a 49er. Brown met Johnson when he was a junior and was convinced after talking with him that San Francisco would be a good place for him.
Brown said he didn't know who he can say his style of play is like, but he said growing up, he liked watching Troy Aikman. He also said he was a fan of watching Tom Brady and Peyton Manning.
When asked about trying to get noticed with two former #1 overall picks on the team, Brown simply said "I have to worry about Jarrett Brown."
Brown talked about how he needed to improve on his mentality as a football player as well as ability to learn the offense and progress during this weekend's rookie camp. When asked about trying to compete with current third string quarterback Nate Davis, Brown said he didn't want to think too far ahead.
"I just want to worry about me and my role on this team. I want to make this team better."
Brown didn't say too much throughout the whole interview, but it was clear that he was ready to play.
CB/KR LeRoy Vann
Vann was asked about about his thoughts joining a team that had already traded for Ted Ginn and drafted Kyle Williams. Vann said he just wanted an opportunity to compete and that he wanted that competition to see how well he could be. He said that since the 49ers needed help in special teams, this was a good opportunity for him.
"Every man should want somebody to compete against," Vann said. "I never want to make it feel easy."
I asked Vann about whom he had talked to from the organization before signing with the team. He said he talked with head coach Mike Singletary, special teams coach Kurt Schottenheimer and defensive back coach Vance Joseph.
"They said they were going to take me," Vann said. When he realized that the seventh round had passed and the 49ers didn't draft him, he knew that he was going to be signed as an undrafted free agent. "They said they were going to take me as an undrafted free agent and I was like like 'that's cool'. I just need the opportunity; that's all."
Vann said that while playing at Florida A&M, he was used as a wide receiver, punt returner, kick returner, running back, safety and cornerback. He even jokingly said that during practice, he booted a 55-yard field goal.
With his tremendous skillset, Vann said that he was open to any position the coaches want him to play.
"I'm just looking for a way to leave my mark on the field," he said. "Whatever they want me to do, I'm going to do it."
Vann was very pleasant to speak with and very willing to elaborate on his thoughts and hopes for his future with the team.
Original Story:
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