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San Francisco 49ers - NFC West

Texas Tech WR Michael Crabtree

By Staff

CollegeFootballNews.com
Posted Apr 27, 2009

San Francisco 49ers - NFC West, 2009 Draft Selections & Prospects

San Francisco 49ers

#	Pick
18	18	1st Round Michael Crabtree, WR Texas Tech 6-1, 215 (3^rd year Soph.) Everyone has fallen in love with Crabtree because of his size, desire, and his tremendous production at Texas Tech. However, there are major warning signs that he might not be the be-all-end-all No. 1 target. For one, he’s not as big as expected. Considered to be in the same category as Larry Fitzgerald, Calvin Johnson, and Andre Johnson, top receivers who went in the top three overall, Crabtree isn’t nearly as tall and he’s nowhere near as fast. And then there’s the foot issue. No one is considering for a second that there’s anything strange about the injury, the timing couldn’t be better. He’s not a 4.4 runner, and he’s more likely around a devastatingly stock-dropping 4.6. Is that for sure? No way, but it’s asking a lot to draft a wide receiver in the top 10 without knowing if he can run. He needs to get the ball in a quick-hitting passing attack and on the move. Randy Moss he’s not; he’s not going to get deep on any NFL starting cornerback. Ultra-competitive, he’s the type who’ll want to make himself better and he’s the one true No. 1 type of receiver in the draft. All the doubters out there and all the question marks are a major positive. It’ll all light a fire under him that could carry into an extremely productive pro career in the right offense. *CFN Value Rank:* First Round CFN Position Rank: 3
10	74	3rd Round Glen Coffee, RB Alabama 6-0, 205 Here’s the problem … what does he do at an NFL level? There’s nothing shifty about him, at least for the pros, with average quickness and speed. He only be used as a between-the-tackles power runner, but he’s not a blaster. While he’s a tough fighter with excellent strength and toughness, he’s just not big enough to be used on a regular basis to move the pile. If he has a good line in front of him he could be the type of back who shocks the world for a game or two when thrown into the fire, but he’s not anything more than a complementary back for a team that already has a No. 1 option. Even so, he appears to be one of the hotter prospects among the mid-level backs and might be overdrafted. *CFN Value Rank:* Fourth Round CFN Position Rank: 15
10	146	5th Round Scott McKillop, LB Pitt 6-2, 245 There’s no questioning his collegiate production, his toughness, and his instincts that made him an All-American, he doesn’t have the raw skills to be anything more than decent starter who’ll need to be flanked by excellent outside producers. While he didn’t do much to excite anyone in some of the off-season workouts, he was a bit of a stunner at the Combine running better than most of the star prospects, lifting 225 pounds 27 times, four more than Rey Maualuga and five more from James Laurinaitis, and jumped out of the stadium with a 35.5” vertical leap. Does it all translate to the field at an NFL level? That remains to be seen, but he’s a good enough football player to make himself a starter with a little bit of work. *CFN Value Rank:* Fourth Round CFN Position Rank: 4
35	171	5th Round Nate Davis, QB Ball State (Jr.) 6-1, 225 Welcome to this year’s Andre Woodson. Like the former Kentucky star, Davis was considered a possible first round prospect early on in the evaluation process before his stock started slipping, and sliding, and slipping some more after some average workouts. He’s not all that big and he timed slow despite showing good mobility in games. With a nice arm, he can make all the throws and is accurate on the move. However, he’s not all that big and he has yet to do anything in the off-season to wow anyone. There’s a limit on his upside; this might be it. He could still use some tweaking and some work on his mechanics, but he doesn’t appear to have the all-around ability to be more than a spot starter and a career backup. *CFN Value Rank:* Fifth Round CFN Position Rank:* 8*
11	184	6th Round Bear Pascoe, TE Fresno State 6-5, 260 The former star quarterback recruit rounded out into a tremendous all-around tight end talent. He’s a natural receiver who wants the ball and is good at fighting for it, and with his size he’s a strong blocker. Extremely strong, he could be used in two-tight end sets as a smallish third tackle if needed. The problem is the total lack of speed. He’s a plodder who can run good routes, but won’t do much once he gets the ball. His big catches will come around the goal line and on third and short. *CFN Value Rank:* Fifth Round CFN Position Rank: 11
10	219	7th Round Curtis Taylor, FS LSU 6-2, 208 The epitome of the Looks Like Tarzan, Plays Like Jane prospect. Out of central casting, he has the body, the size, and the look of a prototype safety, but he doesn’t hit and he’s not nearly as good an athlete as he sometimes appears to be. He ran a glacier slow 4.64 at the Combine and only came up with 13 reps on the bench, but he can jump out of the stadium and can cut on a dime. Staying healthy has been a problem and he makes too many mistakes, but he could be a superstar special teamer and he’ll be versatile enough to see time as a backup at both safety spots. *CFN Value Rank:* Sixth Round CFN Position Rank:* 14*
35	244	7th Round Ricky-Jean Francois, DT LSU 6-3, 295 (Jr.) Extremely talented and extremely disappointing, it looked like he was about to become a monster after dominating in the 2008 BCS Championship win over Ohio State, but it didn’t happen. Extremely quick with all the athleticism and all the skill to play inside or out, he’s one of the draft’s most versatile linemen with a sky’s-the-limit upside. But it’s not going to work. From major character issues to a lack of functional and weight room strength, there’s just enough missing from the equation to keep him from reaching his potential. He’s way too talented to simply ignore, but he appears to be yet another disappointing LSU defensive tackle, only more so. *CFN Value Rank:* Third Round CFN Position Rank: 10

2008

The Draft Was ... Lacking in sure things. DT Kentwan Balmer, OG Chilo Rachal, and DB Reggie Smith are good prospects, but they each have a huge downside. The Niner draft is really about Joe Staley, last year's pick in a trade with New England who spent the season getting his feet wet and will now move to the left side.
Best Value Pick: Josh Morgan, WR Virginia Tech. 6th round. While he didn't do much at Virginia Tech, he has the size and the speed to become a far better pro. He could eventually emerge as a strong No. 2 target.
Biggest Reach: Kentwan Balmer, DT North Carolina. 1st round. There's a huge, screaming bust tag just waiting to be put on the former Tar Heel if he doesn't find the fire, but considering how athletic 300-pound tackles are worth their weight in gold, he was a chance worth taking.
They Should've ... Worked on getting a top-flight receiver early. Chilo Rachal was a need pick for an O line that needs an upgrade, but finding a No. 1 receiver is more important. There might be a lot of explaining to do with James Hardy, DeSean Jackson, Malcolm Kelly and Limas Sweed still around in the second round.

#	Pick
29	29	1st Round Kentwan Balmer, DT/DE North Carolina Easily the toughest call among the tackles, Balmer went from being a nice inside presence for the Tar Heels to a major producer in his senior season. With his 6-4, 308-pound size and shocking quickness, he has the power to be an anchor who occupies a few blockers at a time, and he has the athleticism to dominate as an end in a 3-4 scheme. Now the question is whether or not he wants it badly enough. He looks the part, but he's the type of prospect who gets scouts fired or promoted depending on how he turns out. *CFN Value Rank:* First Round CFN Position Rank: 5

2nd Round Chilo Rachal, OG USC
He could've used another year in school, leaving early due to family medical issues, but he's just fine as a guard prospect if he's allowed a little time to develop. He'll have problems against quicker linemen and isn't a great pass protector, but he has good size and nice power for the ground game. If he has to be nimble and has to get on the move in a finesse offense, he won't fit. Ask him to hit someone over and over again on a second half drive and he'll get the job done.
CFN Value Rank: Third Round CFN Position Rank: 2

3rd Round Reggie Smith, CB/S Oklahoma
Smith's ability to play either corner or safety will allow a defensive coordinator to play around with him in several situations. A good hitter, he made plenty of stops over the last three years and became more of a ball-hawker last season when he settled into more of a corner role. Not a blazer, he can get beaten deep and he gave up way too many home runs when he was at safety. Basically, he's a good NFL prospect at several positions, but not great at any one.
CFN Value Rank: Second Round to Third Round CFN Position Rank: 10 (as a CB)

107

4th Round Cody Wallace, C Texas A&M
Extremely strong with a great attitude and work ethic, he's going to make himself an NFL player. One of A&M's top weightlifters, pushing people around isn't a problem. However, he doesn't always play as strong as he is and doesn't flatten as many defenders as he probably should. On want-to he'll be impossible to cut and will be a good backup, but he's limited and isn't going to do much against the better tackles.
CFN Value Rank: Fifth Round CFN Position Rank: 6

174

6th Round Josh Morgan, WR Virginia Tech
With a great size/speed combination he has the tools to become a sleeper who comes up with a productive ten-year career as a third or fourth receiver. He was never used enough at Virginia Tech, but he didn't always do well when he was forgotten about and disappeared at times. Basically, he went to the wrong school. Had he been a featured No. 1 receiver with all the attention that comes with it, he would've been a college superstar. While his numbers improved over his career, he never made the jump from good to fantastic. That could quickly change in the pros.
CFN Value Rank: Mid-Third to Fourth Round CFN Position Rank: 16

214

7th Round Larry Grant, OLB Ohio State
A JUCO transfer who did a decent job on the outside last year for the Buckeyes, he's a tough run stopper who holds up well against anyone no matter what the size. However, he's not all that big and doesn't have quite enough speed and athleticism to be a weakside defender in the pros.
CFN Value Rank: Free Agent CFN Position Rank: 41

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