49ers Hires, Combine Preview: Saturday
A hesitant search for a defensive coordinator has ended the same way with the 49ers promoting Nick Sorensen and hiring Brandon Staley as his safety net, as well as assistant head coach.
The double hiring isn’t a show of confidence in Sorensen as Kyle Shanahan tries to have it both ways in Sorensen to get player buy-in and Staley as a backup parachute.
Staley’s role presumably isn’t player-facing and that should help to avoid team culture concerns with his perfectionist personality. Staley will likely contribute to the defensive game plan and concepts. Shanahan gets Staley’s ideas but has Sorensen interacting with the players.
It's vintage Shanahan, too clever by half as he hires Dr. Settle and Mr. Hide: one-half player interaction, and other half strategy and concepts. Is it sustainable? It feels like a one-year experiment but we'll see how it works out.
Meanwhile, it’s a busy weekend at the Combine with testing at quarterback, running back, and wide receiver today, followed by offensive linemen tomorrow.
At quarterback, the Niners met informally with Michael Pratt and have talked with Kedon Slovis. The team met with ten running backs at Indy including 3rd round backs Audric Estime and Braelon Alen, and Frank Gore Jr., son of the Niners legend, projected as a mid-Day 3 pick.
At receiver, the 49ers had a formal interview with LSU’s Brian Thomas, the first top-20 talent the team has met with at Indy. He’s the receiver whose skill set most closely matches Brandon Aiyuk, so meeting with Thomas may be a precautionary move in case contract talks with Aiyuk break down.
Additional receiver meetings include a pair of speedsters, Oregon’s Troy Franklin, and Texas receiver/punt returner Xavier Worthy. The team has also met with Ladd McConkey, Jalen McMillian, Xavier Legette, and potential legacy picks Luke McCaffrey, Christian’s brother, and Brenden Rice, son of Jerry.
A big thank you to Steph Sanchez and her invaluable 49ers draft contact tracker.
Saturday 3-2
Quarterback
1. Spencer Rattler (S Carolina) Played well at Mobile and fits the Purdy blueprint.
2. Michael Pratt (Tulane) An early Day 3 Purdy clone, anticipation with escapability.
3. Taulia Tagovailoa (Maryland) A lesser version of his brother.
4. Joe Milton III (Tennessee) Cannon arm but inconsistent anticipation and accuracy.
5. Sam Hartman (Notre Dame) Solid leader with average tools and mechanics.
6. Austin Reed (W Kentucky) A broke man’s Purdy.
7. Kedon Slovis (BYU) Accurate with good mechanics, a weak arm, and shaky decisions.
Running Back
1. Audric Estime (Notre Dame) Slower downhill power back with contact balance.
2. Braelon Allen (Wisconsin) 6-2/245 sledgehammer with 10 speed, poor blocker.
3. Isaac Guerendo (Louisville) Track guy, ball of clay raw, speed with power, returner
4. Rasheen Ali (Marshall) He’ll test well but no, fumbles and hesitates to cut.
5. Frank Gore Jr. (S Mississippi) Quick feet with contact balance, lacks size and power.
6. Blake Watson (Memphis) Elite speed with lateral quicks but 5-9/189 lacks power.
7. Jawhar Jordan (Louisville) Explosive with good contact balance but he’s 25.
Wide Receiver
1. Brian Thomas Jr. (LSU) Great athlete at 6-4/205, acrobatic and contested catches.
2. Troy Franklin (Oregon) Long and fast, great routes and hands, lacks power.
3. Ladd McConkey (Georgia) Footwork technician, willing blocker, over 6% drops.
4. Xavier Worthy (Texas) Great speed, elite separator, no contested catch, great returner.
5. Xavier Legette (S Carolina) Smooth physical, big catch radius, lacks speed and YAC.
6. Jalen McMillian (UW) Elusive great acceleration competes, average hands 10% drop rate.
7. Brenden Rice (USC) Contested catch, willing blocker, poor separator before/after catch.
