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Proud
Members of
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Forty-Niners
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Reported:
| Offense |
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WR |
The
Niners were smart to lock Arnaz Battle up in a five year contract
extension when the season ended. Battle has a combination of toughness
and hands that the team loves and should be a playmaker in the future.
Brandon Lloyd may be more talented that Battle but is a ticking time-bomb
and a locker room headache. They locked him up in a deal for the 2006
season, but may show him the door in when the season is over. The
Niners are going to need add some difference makers at this position
if QB Alex Smith is going to have a shot at developing into a legitimate
NFL QB. It would be great for the Niners to bring in a veteran wideout
to bring along the youngsters in free agency. A guy like Joe Jurevicius
would be a great mentor for the youngsters but may not fit the Niners
offense. If the Niners think that they won't keep Lloyd around after
the 2006 campaign, they might want to think about drafting a young
WR on the first day of the draft and let him get acquainted with the
NFL for one season before taking over for Lloyd in 2007. |
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OL |
The
Niners started rookie Adam Snyder at LT in 2005 and Alex Smith paid
dearly for it. Snyder is a tough and smart player, but he may not
be a starting left tackle in the NFL. The Niners have a solid right
side of their offensive line in Kwame Harris and David Baas, but the
left side, tackle in particular, may need some help. This year's draft
class is fairly strong at the tackle position and the Niners could
be in position to draft a quality tackle when their second pick comes
around. A player like Eric Winston or Daryn College could be available
when they are on the clock in the second round. If one of these guys
were there, the Niners should race to the podium and announce the
pick. |
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QB |
We're
not saying that Alex Smith is a total bust...yet. The youngster has
to be given a chance and the Niners need to do a better job of surrounding
him with talent. He would also be helped out by a veteran teaching
him the ropes of the position. The Niners should bring in a veteran
QB to push Smith and to teach him the intricacies of running an NFL
offense. The team would be best served to bring in a veteran like
Ty Detmer back, who could act as a mentor to the young QB. Both Jesse
Palmer and Ken Dorsey are unrestricted free agents, so the Niners
will need to bring someone in to be a backup. It might as well be
a guy like Detmer, who is a veteran with experience in the Niners
offense. |
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| Defense |
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LB |
The
release of LB Julian Peterson is one of the big reasons for this need.
Peterson was a force on the Niners defense, but never was the same
after his Achilles tendon injury. It may play out that the Niners
were wise to pass on signing Peterson to a huge, long term contract.
The Niners do need linebackers though if they are going to run the
3-4 defense. They made a good move at signing Jeff Ulbrich to a new
deal after the season is over, but the still need to get more impact
players at this position. Don't be surprised if the draft NC State
DE Mario Williams and convert him to an outside linebacker. Williams
is a great athlete and can rush the passer, two qualities that are
key for a linebacker in the 3-4 defense. |
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S |
Ben Emmanuel and
Mike Adams are the current starting safeties for the Niners and they
have to be feeling a little insecure about their jobs. You tend to
feel that way when your pass defense ranks dead last in the NFL. The
Niners have plenty of room under the cap and there are some attractive
free agent safeties out there in the market this year. Don't be surprised
if the Niners take a shot at signing Wil Demps, since Mike Nolan is
familiar of him from his days in Baltimore. They could also shock
some people and select Michael Huff, of Texas in the NFL draft who
can either play safety or corner. |
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Niners 2006 Free Agents
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Player
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Pos
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Status
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| Travis Hall |
DE |
UFA |
| Joe Nedney |
K |
UFA |
| Brandon Moore |
LB |
UFA |
| Derek Smith |
LB |
UFA |
| Julian Peterson |
LB |
UFA |
| Anthony Clement |
OT |
UFA |
| Jesse Palmer |
QB |
UFA |
| Ken Dorsey |
QB |
RFA |
| Steve Bush |
RB |
UFA |
| Trent Smith |
TE |
RFA |
| Brandon Lloyd |
WR |
RFA |
| Jason McAddley |
WR |
UFA |
Niners
2005 Season Ending Depth Chart
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OFFENSE
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WR Arnaz Battle
Otis Amey Jason McAddley
LT Adam Snyder
LG Justin Smiley David Baas
C Eric Heitmann
RG David Baas Tony Wragge
RT Kwame Harris Patrick Estes Harvey Dahl
TE Terry Jones Billy Bajema Steve Bush
WR Brandon Lloyd Rasheed Marshall
QB Alex Smith Ken Dorsey Cody Pickett
RB Kevan Barlow Frank Gore Maurice Hicks
FB Chris Hetherington Fred Beasley
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DEFENSE
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NT
Anthony Adams Isaac Sopoaga Ronald Fields
LE Bryant Young Travis Hall
LOLB Julian Peterson Corey Smith
RE Marques Douglas Travis Hall
LILB Brandon Moore Jim Maxwell
RILB Derek Smith Saleem Rasheed
ROLB Andre Carter
LCB Derrick Johnson Bruce Thornton
RCB Shawntae Spencer B.J. Tucker
SS Ben Emanuel Keith Lewis Marques Anderson
FS Mike Adams Keith Lewis
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SPECIALISTS
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K
Joe Nedney
KR Maurice Hicks Rasheed Marshall Jason McAddley
P Andy Lee
PR Rasheed Marshall Otis Amey Jason McAddley
LS Brian Jennings Steve Bush
H Andy Lee
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