That will be all.

Yeah, I'm done.

For those of you still holding your breath for me to return and keep the 49ers Observer going, I thank you.  I just don't have it in me to do it anymore.  It was fun, but frankly my aspirations to write pretty much diminished over the course of the summer.  It's over.

Last month, I applied to be the new resident writer for The 49er Huddle, the San Jose Mercury's Niner blog.  I haven't heard anything back from them on their final decision yet, but if they threw me the job, I would go ahead and put my writer-hat back on for them and blog my heart out.  I'm surprised they haven't hired anyone yet with the first preseason game scheduled to kick-off tomorrow night in Oakland.  I guess I'll just have to wait and see what happens.

So if you are wondering where you can go on the internets to hear my opinion on the Niners this season and beyond, hit up the 49ers Webzone forums.  Most of you readers originally came from that site anyway, and that's where I hang out pretty much on a daily basis.  My "handle" is NickSh49.  I'd like to write a regular column for the Webzone's main page, but their staff operates like an elitist cult of sorts.  I'm still not sure what kind of animals I need to sacrifice to get to write for them, so don't hold your breath on seeing an article with my name on it on the front page anytime soon (I'm pretty sure one of their writers kinda hates me, and I'll let you guess which one).

So this is goodbye, faithful readers.  Unless the Merc comes calling, my career as a blogger is done.  My prediction for the Niners in 2008 is a 7-9 record, with Nolan getting a small extension at the end of the season (by default) and Martz getting a massive salary increase in order to retain his services.  I'm not even going to go into the QB competition, except to say that I'm pulling for Alex Smith to be THE quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers by the end of the season.

That's it.  I'm out.  Go Niners.

- NS Read more on this article...

Gone 'Til Preseason

Hello again, faithful Observer readers.

So I haven't written anything for the site in a while... my sincerest apologies. Still, I have a very good excuse for my lack of internet posting productivity.

I've been busy as all hell.

Also, the off-season is dreadfully slow for anything that is REALLY worth writing about. Mini-camp, OTA's, and training camp are only truly worth commenting on if something really significant makes the news.

I don't know about you, but I'm personally OK with not being your first source of analysis on what Tully Banta-Cain's off-season weight loss means for the 49ers' pass rushing abilities in 2008. Sorry, I just can't bring myself to care about these minuscule developments when there aren't actual football games to watch every week.

So I am going to close up shop here until the start of the 2008 NFL Preseason.  Jesse and I will probably return once Nolan and Martz have named a starting quarterback (spoiler alert - it's going to be Smitty) and by that time there will no doubt be lots and lots to write about.

So as I leave you until late-July, here are my quick takes on some Niner-related developments that have happened since I last posted in April.  Enjoy, and I'll be seeing you later this summer.

THE 2008 NFL DRAFT - Not a sexy draft for the Niners, but a very smart one.  The defensive line should now (in theory) be solid as ever, with Justin Smith, Isaac Sopoaga, and now first rounder DT Kentwan Balmer from North Carolina as the front three maulers.

Second round pick RG Chilo Rachal out of USC is either a 49er right tackle of the future or the 49er right guard of today. He could end up starting early this season at the right guard spot if current RG David Baas isn't healed up in time from his recent pectoral injury. For those who complained about the 49ers taking a guard this early, the Niners gave up a franchise record (and NFL league high) 55 sacks in 2007. Rachal was drafted to help in that department and bolster what was a very thin offensive line corps.  In my opinion, a great, great pick.

Also, Rachal is literally "Straight out of Compton." How can you not want to see this guy succeed?

Third round pick CB Reggie Smith from Oklahoma is now the front runner to replace either CB Walt Harris or FS Mark Roman (Harris is much more of a priority over Roman, as Roman may have 3-4 years left in him).  Between Reggie Smitty and second year player CB Tarrell Brown, the cornerback position is now looking surprisingly safe over the next few years.

Also, the dude can RETURN PUNTS. Hal-le-lujah.

The rest of the guys... fourth rounder C Cody Wallace is a project and will probably not play in 2008 (o-line utility man Tony Wragge will backup Heitman at center). Sixth rounder WR Josh Morgan will probably live and die on the practice squad. Seventh rounder OLB Larry Grant will get a chance to compete with Banta-Cain and Parys Haralson at the weakside OLB spot, but he is still unlikely to touch the field during the 2008 regular season.

Overall, a good draft for specific positions of need. I think Morgan was a waste of a pick with WR Jason Hill still looking to earn his spot, but maybe Morgan will surprise me and be amazing. Also, there is a big part of me that that thinks WR Limas Sweed is going to be a great play-maker with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but then the Niners couldn't have grabbed Rachal. Such is life.

VERNON DAVIS VS. PARYS HARALSON MINI-CAMP FIGHT - It wasn't Vernon's fault really, and overall it is a non-story. You can download an uncensored, high-quality Quicktime version here.

The only thing I can say about this is that the 49ers better start getting closer to a .500 record before Click-Clack's contract runs out. This might sound like speculatory-BS, but I am predicting some T.O./Chad Johnson type-shenanigans with Davis if Nolan (or whomever coaches after Nolan if he gets fired after this season) can't get the Niners back to their winning ways by Davis' contract year in 2010. There are a ton of NFL teams that would be happy to snag Davis and make him a star. Let's hope Martz can beat them to it and keep VD productive and happy.

QB COMPETITION - It's going to be Smitty. To the Shaun Hill supporters, just be happy Hill will remain a reliable option if the Alex Smith Experiment (ver 4.0) fails in 2008. To the J. T. O'Sullivan supporters, I feel sorry for your misguided optimism, cause it's not happening.

That's it. I'm done until sometime in July. I'll see you guys then. Go Niners.

Read more on this article...

2008 Draft Prognostications - The O-Line Scenario

The 2008 NFL Draft is just around the corner, and the 49ers Observer has a new feature for your reading pleasure. Leading up to day one of this year's draft, your Observer writing team will be chalking up various predictions on just what might happen when the San Francisco 49ers make their first pick on April 26. Who will they take? What might go down as a result? Read on...

San Francisco 49ers 2008 Draft Tracker

THE OFFENSIVE LINE SCENARIO

The next prognostication on tap for your reading pleasure is "The O-Line Scenario." This situation is founded in the idea that Nolan and Scotty will prioritize adding an offensive lineman in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft.  FYI, this scenario should have been posted last week, but I had a family emergency that kept me from getting it posted earlier. My apologies, beloved readers.

WHY IT COULD HAPPEN

Without a doubt (and especially because of OG David Baas' recent injury), the 49ers offensive line must add some depth before the 2008 season begins. Let's go ahead and play a game of "Where Are They Now?" looking back at the Niners' o-line starters from 2007:

• LT Jonas Jennings is usually a solid player and is still with the team. However, Jennings is extremely injury prone and has recently been victim of some unfortunate circumstances concerning his family. He has never played a full season of 49er football since he was added to the roster in 2005 via free agency from Buffalo. He is swapping positions with Joe Staley this summer and will compete to start at right tackle for the 2008 campaign.

  • LG Larry Allen is an old fart, but is a true blocking badass when he's motivated and can muster up the energy. He could very well retire this summer (and some fans are hoping he does, just for the sake of progress), but right now his return is still up in the air.

  • C Eric Heitman could be the only guy on the line to retain his position from 2007. He spent most of last summer recovering from a broken tibia he snapped against Seattle late in the 2006 season. His performance in 2007 ranged from semi-reliable to not-so-semi-reliable.

• RG Justin Smiley joined the "Bill Parcells Movement," signing with the Miami Dolphins in the spring on the first day of free agency. The once dominant guard played about as good as Heitman in 2007, if not worse.

• RT Joe Staley beat out aspiring bull fighter Kwame Harris last summer for the right tackle position. Besides one crap-tastic showing against the New York Giants last season, Staley was without a doubt the best player on the Niners' o-line in 2007. Kwame Harris has since done the impossible and earned a contract with the Raiders after entering free agency. 

So that gives us an injury case, a retiree, a question mark, a Dolphin, and a proven newbie.

While the 49ers have some quality big men in guards Adam Snyder, Tony Wragge, and David Baas ready to step in and contribute as starters in 2008, the Niners need new, experienced bodies add to this collection of giants as well.  These new players will hopefully not only serve as depth for the starting five, but will compete with them as well for playing time.

WHY IT MIGHT NOT HAPPEN

First, I'm going to go out on a limb and predict that the 49ers will without a doubt take an offensive lineman with their first or second pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. And if I was to guess, the offensive lineman the Niners have a shot with the 29th or 39th pick in the 2008 NFL Draft are maybe Gosder Cherilus of Boston College (though that is looking more and more unlikely as Saturday approaches) or Sam Baker of USC. The rest of the o-line badasses will be gone by the time the Niners get a shot, so it will probably be one of these guys.

So, for the sake of argument, why might the Niners NOT grab one of the above offensive lineman early in the draft on April 26? There are only three situations I can fathom that would bring about such a case.

The first situation would come about if a high value, non-offensive line prospect dropped to the Niners at #29 (that isn't named Quentin Groves). I am really not expecting this, because if anyone drops to the 49ers, it will probably be an offensive linemen. Still, if a solid corner back like South Florida's Michael Jenkins drops to San Francisco at #29, I could maybe see it happening  (but it probably won't).

The second situation would deal with a team like the Atlanta Falcons attempting to trade up with the 49ers. The Falcons have ELEVEN picks in this year's draft, and their needs are many. I could see them swapping a couple second round picks with the Niners (the Falcons have three of them) in order for Atlanta to move up to the 29th spot and grab a quarterback. The Niners would then have more picks, but would then risk potentially missing out on some of the better players in this year's draft (that means no Quentin Groves in a Niner uniform).

The third situation is my "Mad Martz" situation, where offensive coordinator Mike Martz bursts into the 49ers' war room on draft day, punches Nolan and Scotty in the face, and subsequently takes control of San Francisco's 2008 draft. Martz then drafts only wide receivers and quarterbacks for the 49ers. He then pledges he will have San Francisco run the first ever two-QB set in 2008, with Alex Smith and Delaware's Joe Flacco both lining up in shotgun on every play. Mel Kiper, Jr.'s head then explodes on live television, and RB Frank Gore cries watching at home.

OK. In all seriousness, the Niners COULD take a wide receiver early in the draft and then wait until the third round to pick-up an offensive lineman, but it probably won't happen.

HOW IT COULD HAPPEN

So where I stand, "The O-Line Scenario" rests on the availability of Quentin Groves. If Groves is available, the 49ers will probably take him. If Groves is scooped up by another squad and Gosder Cherilus is not available, then the 49ers will trade down and probably grab Sam Baker or Carl Nicks of Nebraska in round two. I don't see it getting more complicated than that (though LB Jerod Mayo of Tennessee could be the Niners' guy if Groves is gone).

Read more on this article...

2008 Draft Prognostications - The Groves Scenario

The 2008 NFL Draft is just around the corner, and the 49ers Observer has a new feature for your reading pleasure. Leading up to day one of this year's draft, your Observer writing team will be chalking up various predictions on just what might happen when the San Francisco 49ers make their first pick on April 26. Who will they take? What might go down as a result? Read on...

San Francisco 49ers 2008 Draft Tracker

THE GROVES SCENARIO

So we're going to start out this new feature with the most predictable draft scenario of them all. "The Groves Scenario" is based around the notion that Nolan and Scotty will do everything short of selling their souls to land Auburn OLB Quentin Groves in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft.

WHY IT COULD HAPPEN

If you could pick one player that best fits the needs of the 2008 49ers that will probably be available in the latter part of the first round of this year's draft, it's Quentin Groves.*

The simple truth is that Mike Nolan's intricate plan to install a bad ass, suffocating, sack-tastic 3-4 49er defense is extremely close to being complete. Nolan has pretty much covered every area on the defensive side of the ball with competent bodies except for one postion- weakside outside linebacker, where the primary responsibility is to rush the passer.

The lack of a consistent pass rush has been a problem for the Niners since before Nolan took over the team in 2005. The healthy return of OLB Manny "Man-Law" Lawson from his season-ending ACL injury last year will no doubt help to get the pass rush going on the strong side. Still, one would have to think that Nolan would like to replace OLB Tully Banta-Cain, who is the Niners' current starting (and consistently disappointing) weakside outside linebacker (picked up prior to last season from the Patriots via free agency).**

In short, Groves could potentially replace Banta-Cain and be the true sack-artist Nolan needs to complete his 3-4 defense.

WHY IT MIGHT NOT HAPPEN

Groves' stock has been rising and falling over the past few months, and it is hard to predict whether or not he will fall to the 49ers at pick #29.

For starters, there are other teams on the prowl trying to get Groves. The Pittsburgh Steelers are the first big threat with the 23rd pick, as Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin made all buddy-buddy with the linebacker at Auburn's Pro Day earlier this month. While the idea of the Steelers using their first round pick to grab Groves would be considered a definite reach, it could very well happen. However, I personally believe that Pittsburgh will focus on their offensive line in the first round (especially considering the departure of Alan Faneca to the Jets via free agency), and Groves will slide further towards the Niners at #29.

The other big threat in the Groves sweepstakes are the Jacksonville Jaguars. They need Groves as much as the 49ers do to help create pressure on opposing quarterbacks. I am personally very scared that Jacksonville could swipe Groves without much of a problem, but there is also a strong chance the Jaguars will instead pounce on the best safety available. The safety position is not much of an immediate need for the rest of the teams in the first round (besides maybe the Philadelphia Eagles or Green Bay Packers), and the Jaguars could be one of the first teams to take a player at that position.

HOW IT COULD HAPPEN

So could Groves fall to the 49ers at #29? It's definitely possible, but it will be somewhat of a crap shoot come April 26. There are many reasons Groves could slide, ranging from his recent heart surgery to doubts concerning his ability to play at a high level consistently in the NFL.

Earlier this month, there was a part of me that thought Nolan and Scotty would potentially sacrifice a pick or two of the Niners' draft next year in order to move up and grab Groves in the first round somewhere before the #29 spot. While Nolan and Scotty are no strangers to draft day shenanigans, some experts believe that Groves could still be available in the beginning of the second round, even dropping to the 49ers' second overall pick at #39. Thus, one would have to think that Groves is not worthy of draft-shenanigans, and the Niners should probably just play it straight in their quest to get Groves in the first (or second) round of this year's draft.

But will they go for Groves if he's available when pick #29 comes on the board? I guess you'd have to think so, but it will probably depend on what top-tier offensive lineman are still available at that time. I'll discuss "The O-Line Scenario" in the next installment of the feature.

*I'm sure Nolan would prefer to somehow magically grab Ohio State DE Vernon Gholston, but sadly that's not going to happen in this lifetime. Gholston and his massively huge pipes will be long gone by pick #29.

**Third-year player OLB Parys Haralson could be end up being the guy to replace Banta-Cain if Groves is taken before pick #29. Haralson has yet to prove he is to be truly  feared by opponents in terms of his ability to get to the quarterback, but I believe he has the potential to be the guy. However, right now it's safe to say he's still developing.

Read more on this article...

Random Niner Links - Smitty Has A Beer, Licks Women

I was just about to go to bed, and what do I find on the internets?

Alex Smith pulling a Matt Leinart.

CLICK FOR DRUNKEN SMITTY BRILLIANCE

(If you haven't seen them already, you can also see Matthew's contributions here and here).

This isn't the first time Smity's been caught on camera after having a few cervezas.  A little over a year ago, these pics surfaced as well. I'm willing to bet these "new" pics could be pretty old though, as Smith was recently engaged (yes, I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt).

All I have to say is that I guess young people still drink alcohol to have a good time. Who would have guessed?

And is that defensive lineman Isaac Sopoaga behind Smitty in the picture above? Nah, couldn't be. Could it? ;)

Read more on this article...