Mad Samoan Moving to Left End
Apr 07, 2008
14 Comments
“(Defensive coordinator Greg) Manusky said he expected Justin Smith to play right end, Isaac Sopoaga to work at left end and Ron Fields and Aubrayo Franklin at tackle.” (49ers.com)
THE TAKE: In an attempt to get their three best defensive linemen on the field, Sopoaga will start seeing time at LDE. This makes sense to give him a chance there after he signed a five-year, $20 million contract. He showed in the exhibition season against the Bears that he is very capable of penetrating and making stops behind the line of scrimmage.
Source: Matt Maiocco
I think we we're really lucky to win that game... the defense wasn't great. They let gradkowski and campbell chuck ...
hey pundit, are we gonna get to see some highlights again this year?? i think most fans that visit this ...
The 49ers look flat on offense with the exception of gore. Nate Bynam has dropped 2 balls on one ...
Don't miss any of the action this year at the SBG Global 
Chubacca!!!!
The thought og a guy as strong as him playing DE, he will definitley be hard to take on.
So far we have two guys who push the opponents o-line backwards to put pressure on the QB. Justin Smith pushes the OT back and also gets double teamed in some cases (on run plays mostly), Sopoaga could pick up the OT and throw him out of the way. We just need to get a NT. Aubrayo Franklin has the size (6′1 and 334 pounds) but he might need to have some fire lit under his ass, i dont hink he has the talent either.
If we draft a guy like Ahtyba Rubin than we have a guy to compete who is 6′2″ 327 pounds that is not fat all muscle. He looks like a brick wall, also Rubin tied with DT Laws with the weight lifting 225 pounds 30 times (tied with laws for first place). He is the stongest (arguably with laws) DT in this draft, and he takes double teams on all the time. Our d-line would create pressure by pushing the o-line back and our LBs are already almost the fastest crew of future stars especially if we get Groves. Hopefully Dontarrrious Thomas’ potential from being a second round pick will come out under excellent coaching from manusky and Singletary, and he could be a beast.
A good d-line with our LB core (with Groves and an improves Franklin or Ahtyba Rubin) would be the deadliest defense. Remember our defense wasn’t good last year because it couldn’t create pressure and it left the QB 7 seconds to find somebody open nobody even our secondary can’t cover that long.
The addition of Smith and now Sopoaga is a full time starter at DE, that gives us two extremely strong line pushers. If Aubrayo can improve or we get a NT in the draft, we could have a top 10 defense.
Our offense will be improved and with Staley with a year under his belt and now at his natural LT spot he will play better and at a vital spot (Hill/Smith’s blindside). Our offense ahould run smoother with martz playcalling and Alex Smith could become great under Martz, Hill could become like a Jon Kitna with martz (above average). our WRs are good now with Bruce and Johnson, Battle and Lelie.
Yes Lelie, he could be good under martz as a number 4 or 5 wr running cross underneath routes and straight lines (what he did in Denver to be amazing) Battle will be like a Mike Furrey type WR, and Bruce will just fly around the field. Johnson has a lot to prove (the most talented we have now)he is already slated at number 2, a 6′3″ 217 pound 4.37 40 speed guy. He could be a great target, but he will probaly never be a number 1 WR. Bruce can play number 1 WR, i’m sure he will be fine. Bruce runs his routes so smoothly it’s like a paint brush on a canvas.
I can’t wait till this team fricken plays, we have all the right coaches in place to bring out the talent and potential this team has. Martz did say this team has more talent than the Lions do, he will love to use it.
Ninersgold haven’t heard from you lately. You do know Groves is
gonna be long gone………Right………Your post was only miss-
ing one other thing. You weren’t singing cumbiah around the camp
fire. You forgot to put LOL at the end. Ever the optimist…..
You have us in the super Bowl already and its only 4/7. Dream on
With Sopoaga at the lt end spot the niners will have a lot of size. I know justin smith will give them some pass rush, but Sopoaga will not. He will be great against the run. If this is the case then we definitly need a pass rushing line backer on his side.I like TBC, but i would prefer more speed out there. I heard that they are going to run the 4-3,as much as they run the 3-4. did anyone ealse read that somewhere? And if that is true that front four is gonna be massive
yes its true Niner81. Manusky said it on 49ers.com in early March.
That they would use both close to equally. Mostly on passing downs.
Today on 49ers.com chalk talk. Nolan was asked about the draft. He
said that they would take the best player, and that OL, DL, Corner,
and linebacker were there possibilities. That OL and linebacking
wee there pressing needs. Check it out
I have been saying this since he resigned with us and so many of you kept saying no he’s staying as a backup NT. I said it from get we needed a NT since Sopoaga was gonna be at end replacing young. Finally word from DC comes that says he will be at end.
Now I love Rubin as a NT he’s there in the 3rd for us. He would be ideal for what we are looking for in a NT.
Now don’t rub it in, Los Banos Jerry. I also don’t think Groves will be there. He HAS GONE ON RECORD saying that he wants to play for the Steelers and has been a fan of them forever. Furthermore, the Steelers have already arranged a visit (you think that is because they DON’T want to draft him?). I hope they do take him. It isn’t that I wouldn’t mind having him on the team, but I would rather sure up the o line. If Pitt takes Groves then we are more than likely to land either Otah or Cherilius. The offense is what needs the most help.
Mike congrads you were the one that said he would be playing end.
I thought was it ryan or mike.
Ryan me too. Better still Albert would even be better. He didn’t play right tackle but Mayock said he has the hips to make the
transition. Huge up side. Otah will be gone by the 14th pick.
Man I hope we get Laws.
I think we’ve got a great chance to get Laws at #39. I live about 20 minutes from Notre Dame (were he played) and have watched him for a while now. He’s a class act off the field and he has an incredible motor. He just never quits and is always around the ball. He’s one of those guys who just find a way to make a play. Sacks, tackles for loss, batted passes. He’s a first round talent in a lot of drafts…but it looks like he’ll be there in the second because of this drafts depth at o-line and WR.
Albert I would love however with his stock soaring I don’t think theres a chance he makes it to us now. They say a few teams actually view him as a left tackle prospect although I think albert would fit better at guard and would be a pro bowler there. With some teams viewing him at tackle though it ups his stock right away.
As for laws I think he’s a great player and is going to be in the league for a long time and whoever takes him is going to get a great player. However, I think he fits better at end in our system. we want NT. Reason I say he fits better at end. Laws likes to penetrate the line. While in a NT your not looking for a penetrating player you’re looking for a guy who can take up 2 blockers in the middle of the field. Don’t want a penetrating guy in middle. Want a guy who can take on the center and a guard and keep them right in the middle and just give a push back into the pocket.
with the niners switching Sopoaga to the end, DT is now a must. I really dont think we need a NT. with Franklin and Fields at that spot we should be ok. In a 4-3 we need a penetrating tackle. we could move Sopoaga back to the inside when the 4-3 is ran and use Mc’donald coming off the end for more speed. DT is still not a #1 priority but it does have to be adressed. I still think the niners can take the best player avialiabe at OG,CB,DT,WR.
first of all last year the steelers drafted lamaar woodley and second james harrison did great for them so i doubt groves goes to the steelers i say they draft the G Branden Albert….second Sam Baker’s (from USC) stock has fallen into 2nd/3rd round status…im saying we grab Quentin Groves with the first and Baker in the second and look for lavelle hawkins in the third and perhaps Ahtyba Rubin will be there in the fourth…i also like what ron feilds can do on the nose i.e. the cardinals game
You took the words out of my mouth Samra. Baker, A.Collins, or C.Nicks will be there in the 2nd and they have the talent to be coached up to be solid linemen. You CAN’T coach sick playmaking ability like in Groves…IF he’s there in the 1st, take him. During the Dynasty years, the 49ers never took lineman very high in the draft. I might even take Doucet if he’s still there in the 2nd, and OL in the 3rd.
And can someone tell me why everybody’s so high on Laws, I don’t get it. What position would he play for us? We have enough 3/4 ends, and he wouldn’t play NT for us.