Build through the draft like this

[TwoCentPlain]

SF hasn't won anything yet and they might be on the verge of imploding. Supposedly, the GM and the HC aren't even on speaking terms. Harbaugh is a prima donna coach and very difficult to work with according to some. Kaepernick wants $20M/yr and, by the way, might be under investigation for crime. Aldon Smith is a certified nutjob who might be gone this year. A SF DB just got arrested for using brass knuckles and threatening someone who chased him down after the DB hit a bicyclist. One of their best LB Bowman might not even be able to play until Christmas. Boldin is an old WR who is close to the end. Same with Gore.

If Kaepernick would happen to get hurt early, that team would be lucky to get to 4-12. Blaine Gabbert is the backup and he makes more money than Kaepernick.

 

[dallasdave]

You bring up the 49ers I think their recipe for success is pretty simple. They were able to trade back in prior drafts to stockpile picks, especially the past two years. The ability to do that and still hit on you picks is much easier said than done. Aside from that they built up the power run game on offense, and the front seven on defense. Similar formula to what Seattle has done. Keep in mind neither of these teams have been considered elite for very long, just the past 2-3 seasons. Before that they had a lot of top picks.

I wish the Cowboys could build like the 49ers and Seahawks have done lately.

 

[Nova]

Who's to say the 49ers will continue to draft well?

Guys age out, or get poached in Free Agency. A single weak draft class could hinder success, force some bad moves from the 9ers to stay competitive in a year and BAM, they're not that far ahead any longer.

Who's to say that's not that far away? I mean if you look at the 2012 draft they had, it's unimpressive.

 

[gimmesix]

I keep hearing and seeing everyone say we have to build through the draft. I think you have to build through draft but add key pieces in FA. However I have a question for some of you roster and draft gurus. We've been 8-8 for three years, have been stuck in the middle of the pack, and have a few extra picks in the 7th round. The 49ers have been to several championships, been considered to be a top 3 team, are stacked everywhere. This year they have 6 picks in the first three rounds. It's impossible to catch up with a team this great, when they are ran as good as they are and keep stacking up in the draft like this? How are they doing it? If we need to build through the draft, how do we do it like they are doing it?

If you look at San Francisco's recent drafts, they are not all that good (other than 2010) ... but the 49ers did manage to grab a few key pieces. The guys I've bolded are clear hits.

2013 - San Francisco 49ers
RD SEL # PLAYER POSITION SCHOOL
1 18 Eric Reid FS LSU
2 40 Cornellius Carradine DE Florida State
2 55 Vance McDonald TE Rice
3 88 Corey Lemonier LB Auburn
4 128 Quinton Patton WR Louisiana Tech
4 131 Marcus Lattimore RB South Carolina
5 157 Quinton Dial DE Alabama
6 180 Nick Moody OLB Florida State
7 237 B.J. Daniels QB South Florida
7 246 Carter Bykowski OT Iowa State
7 252 Marcus Cooper CB Rutgers
2012 - San Francisco 49ers
RD SEL # PLAYER POSITION SCHOOL
1 30 A.J. Jenkins WR Illinois
2 61 LaMichael James RB Oregon
4 117 Joe Looney G Wake Forest
5 165 Darius Fleming LB Notre Dame
6 180 Trenton Robinson FS Michigan State
6 199 Jason Slowey T Western Oregon
7 237 Cam Johnson LB Virginia
2011 - San Francisco 49ers
RD SEL # PLAYER POSITION SCHOOL
1 7 Aldon Smith LB Missouri
2 36 Colin Kaepernick QB Nevada-Reno
3 80 Chris Culliver DB South Carolina
4 115 Kendall Hunter RB Oklahoma State
5 163 Daniel Kilgore G Appalachian State
6 182 Ronald Johnson WR USC
6 190 Colin Jones DB Texas Christian
7 211 Bruce Miller RB Central Florida
7 239 Mike Person G Montana State
7 250 Curtis Holcomb DB Florida A&M
2010 - San Francisco 49ers
RD SEL # PLAYER POSITION SCHOOL
1 11 Anthony Davis T Rutgers
1 17 Mike Iupati G Idaho
2 49 Taylor Mays SS USC
3 91 NaVorro Bowman LB Penn State
6 173 Anthony Dixon RB Mississippi State
6 182 Nate Byham TE Pittsburgh
6 206 Kyle Williams WR Arizona State
7 224 Phillip Adams DB South Carolina State
2009 - San Francisco 49ers
RD SEL # PLAYER POSITION SCHOOL
1 10 Michael Crabtree WR Texas Tech
3 74 Glen Coffee RB Alabama
5 146 Scott McKillop LB Pittsburgh
5 171 Nate Davis QB Ball State
6 184 Bear Pascoe TE Fresno State
7 219 Curtis Taylor DB Louisiana State
7 244 Ricky Jean-Francois DT Louisiana State

 

[thunderpimp91]

I wish the Cowboys could build like the 49ers and Seahawks have done lately.

You'll be waiting at least another year for that to happen. Those teams play very aggressive defense, and control the clock with the run game on offense. That's almost the exact opposite of what the Cowboys do. They are very pass heavy on offense and play to avoid the big play on defense. Not saying that's a good or bad thing, but the philosophy of each team differs drastically on the field.

 

[Doomsday101]

I wish the Cowboys could build like the 49ers and Seahawks have done lately.

Me too.

 

[coult44]

We're all Cowboys fanatics and love our team. With that being said, stop with the homer hate!!!! We would all trade every piece if our puzzle straight across for theirs...Players, coaches, brass, etc., Three NFC championships in a row, a SB, and we all know they will compete again this year.... This is where we want to be, follow the blueprint and get there. Don't reinvent anything, just follow the plan...

 

[Longboysfan]

It is simple: Make good picks and take the best players you can.

Just pick good players. If a guy who your scouts tell you is really talented is there at your pick, then just take him. If he is that much head and shoulders above everyone else, then move up a few spots and take him. The cost isn't so high that it is worth missing a guy that you're sure is a perfect fit for your team. Had they done that even after trading back from McCoy, then at least they would have got out of the 2009 draft with Max Unger, who would have been a career solid starter for them. Instead they had 12 picks and not one of them were worth a ****.

This is the way the Cowboys used to draft.
This is the way the Giants currently draft. Guess where they took a clue from.

 

[xwalker]

I keep hearing and seeing everyone say we have to build through the draft. I think you have to build through draft but add key pieces in FA. However I have a question for some of you roster and draft gurus. We've been 8-8 for three years, have been stuck in the middle of the pack, and have a few extra picks in the 7th round. The 49ers have been to several championships, been considered to be a top 3 team, are stacked everywhere. This year they have 6 picks in the first three rounds. It's impossible to catch up with a team this great, when they are ran as good as they are and keep stacking up in the draft like this? How are they doing it? If we need to build through the draft, how do we do it like they are doing it?

Bad teams often catch up because they get better pick by being bad.

The Cowboys are going to follow that plan Except with the salary cap instead of picks. The could have created another 20M in cap space and retained Ware and Hatcher to a 20M cap charge in 2014. Instead they are saving the 20M and can use it to double up in 2015.

Would you prefer to spend 20M in 2014 and again in 2015 OR spend 40M in 2015?