49ers Don't Want Sanchez Thread

[Walter]

You knew it was coming!

I've gotten lots of anti-Sanchez e-mails from 49ers fans. Will be posting them here instead of putting them into Draft Mailbag entries.

[Walter]

From John Doe:

Quarterback situation
The 49ers have restructured Alex Smith's contract so that he's not making $9 million+ for a back-up. They also signed Damon Huard last week, so three quarterbacks are already on the roster. The Niners haven't ruled out the possibility of drafting a QB, but if they do it would be in the middle to late rounds. Why would the Niners risk drafting a QB that high when they already have a proven game manager/playmaker and a former No. 1 pick who is still 23 years old? I still think it's too early to call Smith a bust because of age and circumstance (injuries/four OC's in four years/Nolan is retarded/etc.).

New philosophy
With Mike Singletary in charge and Jimmy Raye at OC, they've made it clear that they want to establish a smash-mouth identity. They want their QB to manage the game, not be the centerpiece of the offense. Shaun Hill did a great job (just look at his stats) filling that role last year. Yes, you can point to guys like Flacco and Ryan who filled similar roles for that type of offense, BUT their offenses were already set up around them to succeed, a la Big Ben during his rookie year. The Niners aren't quite there yet.
They're very young, albeit promising, up front but are still missing a right tackle. They have a new OC after Martz played Madden 2009 with second-rate skill-position players. And they recently resigned the fullback (Moran Noran) who helped Gore rush for over 1,600 yards a few years ago.

[Walter]

From Sammy M.

Where were you when my Niners announced re-working Alex Smith's deal? Well, Brother, they have. And just moments ago I checked in your (as of March 10) really nutty and bizarre notion that the Niners would take Sanchez. Whatever you're smoking, pass it along. Why in the name of all that is Holy would a team in absolute desparate need of a: Pass Rusher; Right Tackle and Free Safety in the worst way possible go and take a QB with their very first pick - puh-leese!! (and to top it off, he's a frigging Junior - a very, very good one - but still a Junior for crying out loud.) Wow! You really need to explain that one to me - and every one else that follows the Niners.

Other than that major prognasticting Boo-Boo - I enjoy your work.

[Walter]

From Frank M.

Ok...it's time to end this Sanchez business. For better or worse, Alex Smith signed a new 2-yr contract at a dramatically reduced salary. They now have three signed QB's on their roster. They'll most likely still draft one...but, as I've been saying all along, it'll be in the later rounds. So, here's how I believe Singletary will approach his 1st draft:

- 1st -- If both Brown and Orakpo are off the board, then the pick will be Oher. He'll play RT, with Staley staying at LT.

- 2nd -- Sintim's the right idea...but, believe they'll grab Barwin.

- 3rd -- Shonn Greene. Why? Singletary and OC Raye want a power running game. Greene would give them that and compliment Gore very well. He'd also improve what's been a weak short ydg game (coupled with FB Moran Norris).

- 4th -- Jasper Brinkley, ILB. Even though they signed Takeo Spikes for 2 years, Brinkley would be a smart pick to eventually take over.

[Walter]

From Shadow W.

I'm a niners fan and i feel like sanchez is overrated and i don't like him going to us i'd rather run with shaun hill this season besides we have too much money on QBs, I'd rather see malcom jenkins there or someone like B.J raji, these are my niners big ne No1 WR, NT, extra sack artist, RT, FS, and a back up to frank gore...............forget QB we need someone who could really help us even though i personally want B.J raji or malcom jenkins or maybe vontae davis

My Response:

If anything, Mark Sanchez is underrated. How people have a pro-style quarterback slipping into the late teens is beyond me. I see no reason why Sanchez would bust.

You can't take a right tackle over Sanchez; that would not be responsible because no right tackle offers more positional value than a quarterback. Given that the 49ers have a new coach and GM, it looks like QB will be on their radar; you mentioned that they already have a ton of money at the position, yet they were willing to offer Kurt Warner about $15 million a year.

[Walter]

From Dan M.

I really enjoy reading your website. However, I’m going to be one of the negative emailers on the Sanchez pick.

I think the need to obtain a RT to essentially complete the OL will supersede the need for a future QB.

1)RT is definitely a need position and the 49ers did not even send out feelers to RTs in free agency.
2)QB situation: I really believe that McCloughan is going to do everything in his power to demonstrate that Alex Smith was not a mistake on his part.
3)Singletary’s vision of a power running game.

Given the scenario that you painted in the latest mock draft, I believe it’s a pretty easy call that Andre Smith will be the guy. I know you don’t like Smith at all, for maturity and attitude reasons, but I think Singletary believes that he can mentor some of the younger, immature players. He’s hinted at that stuff this offseason. And I think Singletary has visions of a dominant run blocking right side of the line, with Rachal and A.Smith.

Just my two cents as a longtime 49er fan and observer.


My Response:


I considered Andre Smith for the reasons you mentioned - the running game, the need for a right tackle and the fact that Smith could be a Mike Singletary reclamation project.

However, the need for a right tackle never surpasses the need for a quarterback. The 49ers were willing to pay Kurt Warner near $15 million a year, so that shows they feel the quarterback position is a need. Singletary is a new coach and Scot McCloughan is entering his second year as the GM, so they may want "their guy."

Right tackles are a dime a dozen, and can be found in the middle rounds. That position is not one of high value.

That's why, in my opinion, Sanchez makes more sense than Smith, though the case for Smith can be made.

[EL Guapo]

I will hate you one day for this. However, right now anything other than Stafford.

[PuppyPuncher]

I'm ok with because I feel like with Singletary in house, they are more likely to take LT or Front Seven.

[Walter]

The last two I responded to... the first three I just received in the past couple of hours.

First of all, Alex Smith restructuring his deal has nothing to do with Mark Sanchez. I don't see why Mike Singletary would be the least bit interested in having Smith quarterback his team. Smith is very turnover-prone; Singletary benched Just Turnovers O'Sullivan because he coughed the ball up too much.

Alex Smith is from the old regime. I can't see him factoring into Singletary or McCloughan's plans.

If you need a franchise quarterback, you take him over a right tackle or free safety any day. Qbs just offer way too much positional value. As proof, the 49ers were willing to pay Kurt Warner $15 million a year. That tells me that they're not confident in Smith or Shaun Hill. And why would they be? Hill is an OK quarterback, but he lacks arm strength and will never lead a team deep into the Doggone Playoff.

Right tackles grow on trees, while an abundant amount of free safeties can be found in Round 2. As for rush linebacker, you can make the case for the 49ers to go that direction, but I don't have Brian Orakpo or Everette Brown available. Under those circumstances, do you really want the 49ers to pass up on a franchise QB coming out of a pro-style offense for a lesser talent like Aaron Maybin?

That sort of reminds me of the Eagle fans wanting Ricky Williams over Donovan McNabb; Falcon fans wanting Glenn Dorsey over Matt Ryan and so on.

[PuppyPuncher]

I dunno. I think Singletary is the biggest wild card in this class.