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Sep 16, 2002
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March 26, 2010
Baalke on everything from McCloughan to McNabb

Acting GM Trent Baalke sat down with some of the 49ers beatwriters today. Fittingly, the chat was in the team's draft war room. (But a black curtain was drawn over the draft board. Rats!). If you were curious about Baalke, hopefully the Q&A that follows will shed some light on the guy. For those of you unwilling or unable to handle a rather long blog, the key points are these:

* Baalke's philosophy is very similar to that of his friend, Scot McCloughan's, and doesn't anticipate much change in the team's draft strategy. However, some of his answers differed slightly from what McCloughan has said. (All you C.J. Spiller fans should read Baalke's answer about running backs)

* He slammed the door on acquiring cornerback Adam "Pac Man" Jones. He wasn't as firm about Donovan McNabb but said the team wouldn't contact the Eagles. Like Jed York and Mike Singletary, Baalke said he was happy with the QBs on staff.

* Baalke said he has a very good relationship with Mike Singletary. In fact, the two soon will be jetting off together to check out a few college pro days.

I rearranged some of the questions and answers so that the McNabb and Alex Smith material was at the top:

Q: On the 49ers quarterback situation:
TB: I think we're very comfortable with where we're at at this point. I think coach Singletary has made that clear.

Q: Is there any thought about acquiring a veteran QB like Donovan McNabb?
TB: I think first, you have to respect the league policy, which obviously he's under contract with another team, so it's a discussion that, no. 1, we can't have and we wouldn't have.

Q: Wouldn't have that talk with the Eagles?
TB: No.

Q: Because you're happy with the QBs you have?
TB: I think right now. ... The way you have to look at this, we're very happy with the situation we're in right now. I think you're always looking and evaluation players throughout the course of the year. You're always looking at ways to better your team at any position. Right now we're very comfortable with where we're at, and that's where we're going to leave it."

Q: On his philosophy vs. McCloughan's:
TB: I think Scot and I share a very similar philosophy. I think the big thing is - size is important, intelligence is important, competitiveness is important. The intangibles, what they bring to the locker room. All those things are important and Scot and I both shared those beliefs. And I think it stems not only from the personnel side but the coaching staff believes the same thing. And as an organization, that's what's important, that we're all on the same page. With that said, there are exceptions in this business. There are guys that don't meet the height, weight, speed standards, that come in and can be pretty good football players. And I think you've got to evaluate those guys on a case-by-case basis. And when you make a decision to draft or being in a free agent or any type of player as an exception, everyone just has to be on the same page as to exactly what you're dealing with.

Q: On drafting so-called "exceptions":
TB: Certainly I do. And I think the people in this business that have had that same philosophy and said the same thing that you just said about staying away from exceptions because you'd have a team of exceptions ... If you went back and studied their rosters, you would find out that along the way somewhere they had made an exception. So I don't think it's a matter of whether you make one. I think you have to be very calculated when and if you do make one.

Q: On possible changes to the 49ers' draft board:
TB: I think first and foremost it goes back to your first question, did Scot and I share similar beliefs? The answer to that was, yes. Scot is a very good evaluator of talent. A lot of the work we did on this board, we did together. Obviously at that point in time, he was the point man. So where the board is at this stage - 85 to 90 percent set going - a lot of that is not going to change. Now are there going to be a few subtle changes, yes, there will be. But there would be the same changes probably that would have happened whether he was here or not. Because you still have the coaches that have to weigh in on this. You still have a lot more information that we're gathering through pro days to put into this. So there are going to be some changes. And there will be some changes that maybe Scot wouldn't have made, but it's going to be minimal.

Q: On a multi-voice policy toward running the personnel department:
TB: The good thing about the way Scot operated was he wanted people involved. And it helped us learn along the way. It helped me grow as a professional. And once again, I can't reiterate enough - he's very good at what he does and he's been very good at helping me grow as a professional. And I think by the way he operated and the openess with which he operated, is certainly going to help us moving forward. Because it wasn't like he had the key to the safe. He was very open with me. We had a lot of discussions. We talked non-stop for months on this board already. So a lot of the information that we got right now is something that was openly discussed for the last two to three months.

Q: On Baalke's rapport with Mike Singletary:
TB: First of all, when coach was an assistant coach here and I was an area scout and then got promoted to director of pro personnel, we had a very open relationship. Him and I talked a lot about strategies and, you know, Mike's a very inquisitive person. And I've been fortunate along the way to work with some very good people in this business. And we shared a lot of ideas, Mike and I, back and forth. So we had a real open dialogue going already. And when coach got promoted to becoming the head coach ...When he became the head coach, it then became Scot and him creating the dialogue back and forth and me acting as an intermediary on the outside to help Scot and to what as asked of me in the role I was in. Now it's a shift back for me and coach to be put back in a situation where we have open dialogue again. And it's not like we didn't have open dialogue through the course of Scot's tenure or coach's tenure as head coach, it's just now it's a direct line I guess is the best way to say it.

Q: On going on the road with Singletary:
TB: We will. We're going to leave Sunday. We're going on a three-day trip and that's something that coach has gotten a lot more active in - going on the road and getting to see these guys, which I'm certainly OK with. Because the one strength of many that he has is he's really able to look a guy in the eye and sit down and get a good feel for him when he can get his hands on a guy and get in one-on-one situations. So it really helps us from an evaluation standpoint.

Q: When did he realize that he wanted to be a scout?:
TB: I never even contemplated getting into the NFL on the personnel side. I was a college coach in the Dakotas, got out of coaching to pursue some other goals in terms of business opportunities back in the mid 90s. And when I was a college coach, I was the liaison that dealt withy the scouts when they came into visit the university and talk with the players. So I got to know a lot of the scouts at that point in time. In fact, when Scot - his first year in the league - he scouted at South Dakota State a guy by the name of Adam Timmerman. And that's really when Scot and my friendship started. That's how our relationship got started. And this business is all about relationships.

Q: Do you draft a right tackle, or always left at a premium pick and go from there?
TB: Would you spend a high pick on a right tackle versus a left tackle? We're never going to try to not put good football players on this team regardless of the position. Obviously, the left tackle carries a little more weight in terms of value in the NFL. From that perspective, you're going to be a lot more comfortable if you do pick a tackle high, it's going to be a tackle that can fit in on the left side of the line.

Q: Scot said Joe Staley could go back to right side if you take a left tackle like Oher, still the deal?
TB: I think that having a guy like Joe Staley and the value that he has is his ability to play the right and the left. And when you have that flexibility it really creates more options for you on draft day. It doesn't lock you into having to draft a left tackle or having to draft a right tackle. What we need to do is improve the offensive line and it's an area we're going to address. We do have some good football players on this offensive line.

Q: Chester Pitts add versatility if you sign him?
TB: I think if we found any free agent that we felt could come in and help us improve this football team it's certainly something we would look at and talk about. We haven't settled on anybody at this stage. Right now, the roster is what it is. Are we looking to improve it? Yes. Are we looking at some potential free agents? Are we looking at guys in the draft? Most definitely. But as of right now, we haven't made a decision as to what we're going to do to add depth to the offensive line as we stand right now.

Q: Any restricted guys sign waivers to work out?
A: To be totally honest with you at this point, it's something we don't really want to discuss whether they are or they aren't.

Q: What's your idea of the best player available?
TB: I think there's two ways to look at the board. Do you set your board up based on need or do you set your board up based on value. We're a value-based team. Obviously we look at needs but we want the board to reflect the best players down. The board is going to reflect their value as a player, OK? Then we'll address the needs. You obviously want to take the best available player so if there's a clear difference between two players, we're going to take the best available player. It's not always necessarily going to be at the need position. When two players are very similar in ability and they're at two different positions, that's when you can look and say, 'You know what? They're both very similar, let's address the need.' That way, you're always adding good football players to the roster.

Q Jed York said you'd have the final say on draft day. Who has final say in non-draft issues between now and draft day?
TB: I don't think that's any different than the draft. I think the final say will be me. But at the same time, the thing I want to really reinforce, this isn't a one-man band. Coach Singletary is very involved. Tom Gamble has stepped into a role of leadership. I think any time there's a decision made in this organization, it's going to be a collaborative effort. I don't think that's any different than most places in the NFL. That's why there's different people in different roles. As the decisions get closer to being made, obviously somebody has to make that decision but there's a lot of work that goes into whether we sign a free agent, that the area scouts on the college side, the pro scouts on the pro side, there's a lot of work that goes into making decisions in a building. It isn't one guy who just sits there and cracks a whip and makes the decision. There's a lot of consultation, there's a lot of work, there's a lot of thought that goes into it and I'm very confident that we've got the people in this building to rally around and make the right decisions on the football side.

Q: Running back, do you look for a Gore lookalike or someone who does different things?
TB: I think if you look at the league right now, it's certainly gone to a two-pronged attack, guys that complement each other, different styles that bring a little different element of preparation to the defense's standpoint. You're always looking for something a little bit different. But if you look at the backfields that are really starting to have a lot of success, it's not only the two, it's the three-back system that's becoming even a little bit more ... you look at Dallas' situation with a bell-cow back and another guy that can come in and still have some bell-cow ability in Tashard Choice, a little bit different style than Marion Barber, and then you throw Felix Jones in the mix, of course completely different. They all different sets of skills but they're all high level guys and it's very difficult to defense. I think the more you have complementary styles, the harder it is to prepare for.

Q: Do you have a hard-and-fast rule about how tall and big guys have to be? Or, are smaller guys, like a Jahvid Best, on the board for you?
TB: Most definitely, and the funny thing, they were on the board for Scot as well. We have a very similar philosophy. There's that exception rule that we already talked about but the philosophy here hasn't changed. There is no 6-foot policy in this building in terms of players, and you'll find guys like Frank Gore on this team, those aren't 6-foot guys. There's enough guys on this team, there's been a cutoff at the corner position in terms of height that we look at, and we'll continue to look at that. In terms of being for every position a cutoff, that's never been the case.

Q: Favorite discovery you went out on a limb for?
TB: We all like to talk about the ones we hit on, right, and no one wants to talk about the ones we missed so I don't want to get into it because when you make decisions, it's a collaborative decision. We can talk about Dashan Goldson. That was a guy that was targeted early, a guy that we felt really good about, a guy that Scot and I discussed as early as the middle of the football season his senior year as a guy that we'd like to add to the roster. Scot wa son board and we ended up picking Dashon. He's obviously been a very good football player for us. In terms of discoveries, I'd love to tell you all the ones I was right on, but then I'd have to tell you all the guys I was wrong on, and there's been many. I don't think there's anybody in this business who can say they hit on every player they've ever evaluated.

Q: How to separate Scot friendship and moving on?
TB: I think you hit it on the head. You have to compartmentalize it. Scot's a great friend, has been for a long time, will continue to be and I have a great amount of respect for him, not only as an evaluator, but more importantly as a person. I care deeply about him and his family and I wish him nothing but the best. There's no doubt in my mind he's going to come back in this league and be very successful and I'm looking forward to that day. As far as the business side of things, all I know is we as an organization have five weeks, less than now, to get ready for the draft and that's the most important thing there is right now. My focus is there.

Q: This a tryout for you?
TB: Like Rudy in Notre Dame? I look at it like this: all I can control is the job I do day to day. I'm going to come to work every day and do it the way I think it needs to be done with the help of a lot of people in this building and the support of a lot of people in this building. If I was looking at this I was just getting the 49ers through the draft and then I'll be out the door, that's just not my mindset. My mindset is this is going to be a good situation through the draft and after the draft but that's not my decision. That's the decision of the organization and the ownership and I'm going to support them regardless of the decision I make.

Q: Who do you report to now?
TB: It would be ownership.

Q: If you get quarterback play, is this roster a few draft picks away from being a playoff team?
TB: Most definitely. You look at the quarterback play, I'm excited for the opportunity to see Alex in a situation where he has the same offensive coordinator going into a second season with the same system, the same playcaller and even more talent around him. So do I think this roster is in position to make a playoff run? Most definitely. Do we need to add some pieces to the puzzle? Most definitely, but we're going to be able to do that. That's what the draft is for.

Q: Pacman Jones an option?
TB: At this point there is absolutely no interest in Pacman. And I don't see that changing.

-- Matt Barrows

Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/49ers/archives/2010/03/baalke-on-every.html#ixzz0jKLoT1Py
 
Mar 12, 2010
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Shit i'm already liking Baalke more than McClueless. Looks like CJ Spiller might be a target still(i'd like Jahvid best in the 2nd more tho imo).
I'll co-sign that i hope we get best or gerhart i think it will be good a change of pace back or a full back to push moran norris because i dont think britt miller is the answer
 
Oct 23, 2009
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Shit i'm already liking Baalke more than McClueless. Looks like CJ Spiller might be a target still(i'd like Jahvid best in the 2nd more tho imo).
I like the fact that he is open to or willing to make exceptions to the team's size guideline if a special player is out there. That might be the reason why they passed on DeSean Jackson (5'10, 175) now that I think about it, and look how that turned out.....btw where the fuck is Balmer SMH.
 
Jun 24, 2005
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www.MYSPACE.COM
In the spirit of March Madness, linebacker Scott McKillop paid tribute to Kentucky’s dynamic freshman point guard during Monday’s first OTA practice session of the 2010 offseason. While making “reload” calls in reaction to shifts by the offense, the second-year player from Pittsburgh not only called out the change in assignments, he did so with flare.

“I did the John Wall dance a couple of times, he’s the guard from Kentucky,” linebacker Scott McKillop said. ”I also did a little Spiderman, a little bowling and a few leg kicks. I just wanted to make it fun so when the offense watches film, we can laugh about it.”

McKillop and the rest of his teammates are much more relaxed at this point of the year than any other season in recent memory. The offense will be running the same system for two years in a row while McKillop will play in a defense that will be headed up by Greg Manusky for the fourth straight season.

“I’ve got about a month head start compared to last year and I’m familiar with the guys, familiar with the system,” McKillop said. ”I’m more comfortable so you can have fun. If you can’t have fun out there, you shouldn’t be playing.”

Like McKillop, the rest of the players went through a very lively practice, especially considering training camp is roughly five months away. Below is a video and several photos from Monday.




QB Alex Smith


WR Michael Crabtree


TE coach Pete Hoener with the tight end group


LB Takeo Spikes



GLAD TO SEE OUR TEAMS PREPARING ALREADY
 

PoLLo LoC831

NINER EMPIRE
Mar 20, 2005
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http://blog.pressdemocrat.com/49ers...y-otas-but-several-other-veterans-do-not.html

Baas attends 'voluntary' OTAs, but several other veterans do not

Starting left guard David Baas had a great excuse for skipping the first day of 49ers organized team activities today. He is not under contract to the 49ers for the 2010 season. But that did not prevent him from signing a waiver and showing up to work.
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"We've got something to prove and I've got something to prove," Baas said. "And I'm covered while I'm out here, so that's good.
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"I want to be here, I'm out here working with my teammates and out here working with my team so we'll go from there. I'm making sure that I'm safe while we're out here."
When asked what he has to prove, Baas answered:
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"There are a lot of people out there that don't believe in our offensive line, but I do. I think with (new offensive line coach Mike) Solari and (assistant) Ray Brown, it's a new attitude. It's different and I think it's good. We're just going to keep getting more aggressive and keep working on our technique. We have something to prove. A lot of the heat fell on us last year, and we have to step up and be accountable."
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The 49ers say these two days of OTAs are for the new coaches, the new players and young players. The new additions thus far this offseason are: QB David Carr, FB Jehuu Caulcrick, TE Tony Curtis, G Brian de la Puente and CB Karl Paymah.
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Most of the veterans were not scheduled to get a lot of reps. Coaches told those players that are entrenched in off-site workout routines to continue on with those because the number of reps would be limited, a team spokesman said.
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RB Frank Gore and TE Vernon Davis, who had not taken part in the 49ers' offseason conditioning program, attended today's practice, as did veteran LB Takeo Spikes and S Michael Lewis. The team's entire offensive line is here, too.
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Here is a rundown of the players on the 49ers' official roster who were not in attendance this morning:
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--WR Isaac Bruce: Yes, he remains under contract to the 49ers in 2010. He has yet to make his retirement official. But, clearly, he won't be back with the 49ers after he tumbled off the bottom of the 49ers' depth chart late in the season.
--LB Ahmad Brooks: He's a restricted free agent who has yet to sign his $1.759 million tender for 2010. Brooks remaisn able to negotiate with other teams. Unlike Baas, Brooks has not signed a waiver as protection to participate in the offseason program.
--CB Nate Clements: His agent, Todd France, replied via email that there was nothing that should be known about Clements' absence today. Word is that Clements is working out in Arizona with a new trainer. But there is still some intrigue about Clements' future with the club. He has a scheduled $6 million salary for 2010. It's unknown if the departure of GM Scot McCloughan will have any impact on his immediate status with the 49ers.
--NT Aubrayo Franklin: He remains unsigned and available to negotiate with other teams after the 49ers tendered him at $7 million this season as their "franchise player."
--LB Manny Lawson: When asked if there was anything that should be known about his client's absence, agent Jonathan Feinsod replied via email declined to comment. I can't think of a football reason Lawson would not attend. He is entering the final year of his contract, and with a big season can make some very good money as a free agent.
--RB Michael Robinson: His future seems secure as the team's special-teams captain. His agent did not respond when asked if there was anything that should be known about Robinson's absence from today's on-field work.
--CB Shawntae Spencer: He had a good season, and he is scheduled to make a reasonable $2.85 million this season. His agent did not immediately respond when asked for an explanation behind Spencer's absence, but there's no reason to suspect anything is going on. Spencer is clearly penciled in as a starter. With Clements and Spencer not participating, Tarell Brown and Keith Smith lined up as the first-team corners.
--LB Patrick Willis: He is unable to practice after undergoing recent surgery to remove a bursa sac in his knee.
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Defensive lineman Kentwan Balmer did not participate in the drills. But he was on the field, as he continues to rehab after season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder. When Balmer had the surgery on Dec. 9, he was expected to have a six-month rehab.
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Carr said he has spoken to his former Texans teammate, free-agent guard Chester Pitts. Carr said, "He sounded like he wanted to be a Niner." Carr said Pitts is working on his rehabilitation from his knee injury so he can pass a physical. Pitts is apparently has options among the 49ers, Texans, Lions and Seahawks.
 
Feb 12, 2004
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Oct 23, 2009
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http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...-be-available-for-less-than-first-round-pick/



WTF are the 49ers waiting for????? Make this trade asap!!! We get a legit tackle and we still have our 2 1st round picks. Holy shit if we don't pull the trigger on this I will be disappointed.
Wow, so Jared Gaither could be traded for a high second and Chester Pitts told Carr he wants to be a Niner. If we can get this done we could use those 2 1st round picks on a good DB and a KR/PR who could instantly step in and play....interesting.
 

PoLLo LoC831

NINER EMPIRE
Mar 20, 2005
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Frank Gore not thrilled with three-headed backfield
De facto 49ers G.M. Trent Baalke recently has said that the Niners might try a three-headed monster at tailback. The team's current workhorse, Frank Gore, isn't a fan.

"Personally I wouldn't like it," Gore said of the concept, according to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee.

Whether Gore likes it, of course, doesn't matter. The Saints won a Super Bowl with three tailbacks, and the NFL remains a copycat league.

Besides, it makes sense. The approach tends to keep players healthy, and it can extend careers.

It also keeps players from becoming superstars and commanding huge contracts, which explains why Gore doesn't like it
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/03/29/frank-gore-not-thrilled-with-three-headed-backfield/
 
Oct 23, 2009
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I like Gore but he can't keep carrying the load for too much longer. Lately he's been getting some injuries that aren't too bad but show that we need another option back there. Coffee might turn out to be okay but we still need a change of pace back like Spiller/Best.
 
Mar 12, 2010
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I like the spiller or best for change of pace back but as far as runing a three headed monster we dont need to do that let gore do his thing and hopefully he can stay healthy. if he doesnt then you let coffe loose in the back field and quit limiting coffee if the kid can get to the outside and get yards let him thats why he looked horrible in the regular season and great in the preseason. as far as the draft get the two linemen in the first round best tackle available and the iupati <---dont know if thats spelled right but we need another guy with a lot of vowels in his last name anyone else remember jesse sapolu???? then get best in second gerhart third rolle fourth and so on and on
 

DubbC415

Mickey Fallon
Sep 10, 2002
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Tomato Alley
49ers player personnel boss Trent Baalke stressed Friday that the team has "absolutely no interest" in free agent Pacman Jones.
"And I don't see that changing," Baalke added. Jones hasn't been a good player since the 2006 season, so we can't blame the Niners for passing.

49ers re-signed K Shane Andrus to a one-year contract.
Andrus failed to draw a tender offer from the Niners earlier this month. He'll be a camp leg backing up veteran Joe Nedney and punter Andy Lee throughout the summer. Nedney's job is secure.

49ers backup RB Glen Coffee has bulked up to 218 pounds after playing at 210 last year.
Though Coffee feels comfortable with the added weight, it's not going to help his explosiveness. After impressing as a mad slasher in preseason action, he was lacking in short-area quickness while filling in for Frank Gore in Weeks 3-5. Coffee is a pure backup as opposed to a complement.

Frank Gore admitted Monday that he "wouldn't like it" if the 49ers installed a three-man running back committee this offseason.
"I feel I can play first, second and third down," Gore said. "If I cant get in a rhythm, I'll speak up and tell my coaches that - that I can't get in a groove." 49ers de facto GM Trent Baalke recently suggested that the Niners could use a three-headed monster if they drafted C.J. Spiller to go with Gore and Glen Coffee. The scenario is unlikely.
 

VanD

Sicc OG
Feb 8, 2004
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http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...-be-available-for-less-than-first-round-pick/



WTF are the 49ers waiting for????? Make this trade asap!!! We get a legit tackle and we still have our 2 1st round picks. Holy shit if we don't pull the trigger on this I will be disappointed.

probably waiting to make sure its legit, they acquired marvel smith last year thinking they got a deal. this could be another guy with his career in jeopardy. he was stretchered off the field last year with a neck injury.


and as far as the 3 headed monster thing goes, thats saying it in a way to be nice to coffee. it probably would be mostly gore with spiller spelling and coffee backing up in case of an injury.

hopefully we can get spiller tho, kid is a gamebreaker. we'd use him as a return man, some wideout, and to spell gore.