Hindsight: Reviewing the 2018 Offseason + NFL delays Steelers v. Titans as more players test positive for COVID-19
Reviewing John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan's performance in 2018, as well as updates on injury statuses for Week 4. Plus, COVID-19 takes a spotlight as the Tennessee Titans have an outbreak.
San Francisco 49ers/YouTube
(Santa Clara) - On Sunday, the 49ers face maybe the only team that can claim they are more injury ravaged than themselves. The Eagles had a total of one healthy WR practice today, which is tragic for the troubled Carson Wentz - who is one of the worst QBs in the league at the moment. While the Eagles do not seem to be having any good news - the injury report of the 49ers poses a stark difference.
Injury Report:
49ers:
Out:
Jimmy Garoppolo, QB
Raheem Mostert, RB
Jordan Reed, TE
Dee Ford, DE
Emmanuel Moseley, CB
Ahkello Witherspoon, CB
Dre Greenlaw, LB
Questionable:
K’Waun Williams, CB
While the IR list for the 49ers is still massive - George Kittle has said he will play Sunday. Shanahan also said today that Deebo Samuel will make his 2020 debut against the Eagles on Sunday, which should be fun to watch. Samuel practiced every day this week. He will not be on a snap count either, so expect him to get involved in the offense and early. However, Shanahan also added they will be careful with him.
The negatives: Garoppolo, Greenlaw, Moseley, Witherspoon.and Mostert not playing. We knew in advance that Reed and Ford would be going on IR, But Moseley and Witherspoon hurt because that means Dontae Johnson will likely start opposite Jason Verrett on Sunday, which is a recipe for disaster. Mostert was scheduled to play this week, but it looks like his injury is a little more long term than originally thought. Unlikely to play as well.
Eagles:
Out:
DeSean Jackson, WR
Alshon Jeffery, WR
Avonte Maddox, CB
Trevor Williams, CB
Questionable:
Jason Peters, OT
Doubtful:
J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, WR
The Eagles might be one of the only teams that can claim they are more injury-ravaged than the 49ers. Leave alone Jalen Reagor, Dallas Goedert, Brandon Brooks (all-pro), and Andre Dillard on IR, the Eagles will have these WRs active on Sunday, assuming Arcega-Whiteside does not play:
Carson Wentz has struggled but his team has done him absolutely no favors. The Eagles defense, however, looks to be fine. They have Brandon Graham, Fletcher Cox, Josh Sweat, Javon Hargrave, Derek Barnett, and Malik Jackson on a fearsome and deep defensive line - and with Darius Slay lurking back in the secondary, their defense is a tough matchup.
In other 49ers news, practice squad tight end Chase Harrell was suspended yesterday for 6 games due to performance enhancing drugs - costly mistake for a fringe player. . Kyle Shanahan also mentioned that Joe Walker, the backup middle linebacker would likely be called up from the practice squad in light of Ford and Reed going on IR. And finally, Brandon Aiyuk was nominated for Rookie of the Week after his stellar performance against the Giants, with over 100 all-purpose yards and a TD. Vote for him here.
The biggest news and update regarding the NFL: The NFL has officially postponed the Titans v. Steelers game to an undisclosed week - which spells massive logistical problems. The proposed course of action is:
And regarding Minnesota’s testing because they played the Titans last week, no players have tested positive so far. 3 new Titans players tested positive yesterday morning, and 2 this morning, bringing the grand total to 7 players and 6 coaches/personnel. The Steelers after this week will have to play 13 straight weeks - an absolutely brutal schedule.
In response to this challenge, the NFL has outlined new restrictions which are linked under.
Are these measures better? Yes. But this COVID-19 outbreak within these in market bubbles was inevitable - it’s a question of will the NFL stick with this and get rid of any avoidable risk.
Around The NFL
Multiple reports had surfaced earlier this week, that if the Jets lost yesterday - Adam Gase would be done as head coach. While this would be a dream come true for Sam Darnold who has no doubt suffered from Gase’s terrible coaching - the latest reports indicate that Gase will keep his job. Conflicting reports are one thing, but where there is smoke, there is fire. Keep an eye on this situation.
The Cardinals added veteran safety TJ Ward to their practice squad. Ward, who was born and brought up in the Bay Area, is a 33 year old hard hitter - and was instrumental in the Broncos Super Bowl 50 victory. He has been out of the league since 2017.
The Ravens signed star CB Marlon Humphrey to a 5 year, $97.5M contract, making Humphrey, the former Alabama standout, one of the highest paid corners in the league. He is now under contract till 2026.
The Seahawks signed safety Damarious Randall to their practice squad. Reinforcements for one of the worst ranked passing defenses in the league at the moment.
Arizona also locked up former undrafted free agent Justin Murray to a 2 year extension with $9M. A nice deal for the offensive lineman.
2018 Offseason
A while back, I looked at the 2017 offseason, the first with this regime, and reviewed all the major moves. This week, we look at 2018 - their sophomore campaign.
2018 Free Agency (Notable Moves):
Jerick McKinnon - 4 years, $30,000,000 - $18M guaranteed
Weston Richburg - 5 years, $47,500,000 - $28.5M guaranteed
Richard Sherman - 3 years, $27,150,000 - $9.05M guaranteed
Brock Coyle - 3 years, $8,400,000 - $4.1M guaranteed
Jonathan Cooper - 1 year, $4,950,000 - $4M guaranteed
This offseason continued the troubling trend that Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch have exhibited - overpaying and overdrafting players. In this case, with the exception of Richard Sherman’s deal, McKinnon, Richburg, Coyle, and Cooper all fit the same trend of overpaying. Cooper did not even make the roster, and Coyle didn’t last past that year. Worse, the Richburg contract is brutal for a player who: has not been able to stay on the field, and who has not performed up to his contract even when playing. The McKinnon contract was considered a massive overpay at the time for a RB - and it took more than 2 years before McKinnon ever got on the field. His contract has since been altered, but regardless - it shows the disregard for cap space that Lynch and Shanahan showed in their starting years - which eventually led to tough decisions like trading DeForest Buckner, or looking further into the future, likely having to let someone like Jaquiski Tartt walk.
2018 NFL Draft
#9 overall: Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame
#44 overall: Dante Pettis, WR, Washington
#70 overall: Fred Warner, LB, BYU
#95 overall: Tarvarius Moore, FS, Southern Miss
#128 overall: Kentavius Street, DE, North Carolina State
#142 overall: DJ Reed, CB, Kansas State
#148 overall: Marcell Harris, SS, Florida
#223 overall: Jullian Taylor, DT, Temple
#240 overall: Richie James Jr, WR, Middle Tennessee
While this draft once again showcased Lynch and Shanahan’s ability to find high-end talent in the later rounds - it also shows their misses at the top of the draft. Dante Pettis at this point is a bust, there is no beating around the bush - and at the time, Shanahan had traded up to get him. We picked Pettis over guys like Michael Gallup, Christian Kirk, DJ Chark and more - while he went just 4 picks after Courtland Sutton.
I like Mike McGlinchey - he is a solid OT. But for a top-10 pick - he has been below average. He is an elite run-blocker, one of the best in the league, but he legitimately seems to be regressing in the pass-blocking aspect of his skillset. As a 6 foot 8 inch behemoth - it’s been more than 2 years since he was drafted and he has shown little improvement over what he already was. As a right tackle, sure that’s OK. But remember, the plan was to move him to LT when Staley retired. Instead, the 49ers traded for Trent Williams. Part of that may very well have been McGlinchey’s bad pass blocking making the 49ers hesitate.
Fred Warner has been a home-run pick, he is well on his way to becoming one of the best LBs in the league - scratch that, he already is. Young, elite, and only getting better, Warner is the best coverage LB in the league. Not much to say here, but you tip your cap to Lynch for finding high-end defensive talent. Moore is interesting for a couple reasons: he is an unknown. He’s made a number of really big plays in really big games - but with Jimmie Ward occupying the FS position for the near future, when does Moore ever get a real shot at that spot? Moore is longer, more physical, and runs in the low 4.3s. It’s time he got a shot - Warner did, and look how he turned out. Street is another unknown, though I have significantly lower hope in him than Moore. He should be a good rotational player though, which is what you look for in the 4th round.
Reed is a small tragedy - he played great as the slot CB and kick returner last year, but was poached by Seattle earlier this season. Reed was one of the best picks in this class, outside of Warner. Harris is a great backup SS and high character guy - but he has not done a lot on the field outside of being a sure tackler. Still, a good depth player, and that also fits Jullian Taylor. Richie James Jr has taken over Dante Pettis’ role as the returner, but he is oft-injured and is not much of a true WR, more of a return specialist.
In general - this draft was clearly John Lynch playing it safe. He took the safe prospect at 9, and while McGlinchey will likely not fulfill that pedigree, he is still a good tackle and young - you never know. There were no true busts outside of Pettis, a stark contrast to 2017 with Foster, Thomas, Joe Williams, Beathard and more all included. Add UDFA gem Ross Dwelley, and this has shapen up to be one of Lynch’s better performances - regardless of the high selections. Warner is the crown jewel of this young and still improving class.
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You guys... "I wanted (drops name of player that has succeeded)." How about you mention the ones you wanted that bombed? Everything was fine. We made the Super Bowl. So Pettis is a miss... name one team that didn't "miss" on half their draftees.
And might I add, it's a shame that we did not even consider someone like Sutton in the 2nd round - Pettis is a monumental bust. Can't even get on the field.
Lynch is great at identifying late talent but he seems to be terrible at it early. At least Bosa and Kinlaw seem to be changing that. As will Aiyuk.