Taking a look at the rookie pass rusher the 49ers just added to their practice squad, he reminds me of Arden Key.
Vincent Anthony Jr Arden Key
6'5 3/8" Tall 6'4 7/8" Tall
258 lbs. 238 lbs.
34 1/8th Arms 33 1/2" Arms
10" Hands 10" Hands
32.5" Vert 31" Vert
10'3" Broad Jump 9'9" Broad Jump
Both are long striders with adequate get off, good bend and elusiveness.
📊 The NFL's highest-graded offense each season over the last 10, per PFN's Offense Impact metric:
ReplyDelete2025: Rams - 90.2
2024: Lions - 93.4
2023: 49ers - 93.2
2022: Chiefs - 89.9
2021: Buccaneers - 87.7
2020: Packers - 88.2
2019: Ravens - 93.9
2018: Chiefs - 93.7
2017: Patriots - 90.5
2016: Falcons - 93.6
He was a guy I actually thought was well worth a flyer in the later rounds. I liked his frame and raw ability, but he will take some coaching up.
ReplyDeletePractice squad under Kocurek gives him his greatest opportunity to succeed and I'd imagine his agent advised him as such.
DeleteI've defended the 49ers approach at OG to some degree, but I really feel that what's transpired this TC shows they were wrong to not put greater priority on the position this offseason. They clearly went with a throw a bunch of darts at it and see what sticks approach. But they've now cut the FA they brought in to compete, have clearly lost faith in the guy they drafted last year, and are now having to put all their eggs in the basket of their day 3 rookie not because he's earned it, but because the other options have proven to not be capable.
ReplyDeleteMaybe Willis ends up being great this year. But that's not the point - they gambled on having a bunch of guys compete with the idea the cream would rise. But they went cheap and what they've found so far is cheap can be nasty.
Not the first time they've done this either, at a number of positions, and this is the way it has often gone. So it's also a case of not learning from history.
Scooter,
DeleteI think you, I and AES all feel the same about the 9ers O line. It is not just LG that concerns me but i'm not too high on Brendel either. I had hoped they were going to use this year to train Willis at C and give him a full year in an NFL weight room. I'm afraid they will be the same O line they were last year. Good enough against Avg and mediocre defenses but over matched by top 7 D lines. Hopefully I am wrong.
Hopefully, Willis is the answer. But if not, the lack of due diligence at the position could come back to haunt them down the road. If Willis isn't ready, the 49ers will need to make a move at the trade deadline.
ReplyDeleteIt's a TBD situation.
Due diligence you say? Not sure anyone has invested more capital in their OL than Harbaugh and they're in the same boat at LG. The Chiefs? Can't draft and develop OL to save their lives. I want to see the product on the field and how it improves through the course of the season. You know this OL is returning 4 of 5 and continuity is the most valuable asset that position group can have.
DeleteClemson LT Brayden Jacobs son of Brandon looks like a future top 5 pick as a freshman.
ReplyDeleteI think they have a chance to be a top rushing offensive line this year IF Willis is able to hold onto the job at LG. That means he has to keep ascending week by week. It's a lot to ask of a rookie but we saw Puni do it and I think Foerster thought enough of Willis to believe he had what it takes to compete.
ReplyDeleteThat may well be the case. But if it happens it's a case of them getting lucky, not a case of good management.
DeleteThey didn't draft Willis with the idea he'd be the week 1 starter.
If you reread what I said, "thought enough of Willis to believe he had what it takes to COMPETE". You're likely right that they didn't draft Willis with the idea he'd send the vet Robert Jones packing, but he did!
DeleteBut he didn't. That's my point. Jones got cut because he was bad, not because Willis was good.
DeleteWillis is in a position to take ownership of LG after missing a week with a concussion, and he did it against the club favorite Colby, the vet competition the 49ers hand-picked, and Dieter's boy Austin Pleasants. What part of that isn't good? Maybe you could agree to it being encouraging. Does that feel better?
DeleteIf it was due to Willis looking really good I'd get excited. But he's taken the lead due to injury and ineptitude above him.
DeleteAgain, he might end up being amazing, but that doesn't make the process a good one. They rolled the dice on a paint by numbers approach and have now been left having to hope a day 3 pick can learn on the fly.
There are ways they can protect Willis in pass pro too. Don't make the stupid penalties, the false starts, holding, putting yourselves in a hole. In the same vein, stay out of 3rd and long. Have we seen him next to Trent Williams yet? No, and that will help too.
ReplyDeleteChristian McCaffrey vs. Rams — Week 5, 2025:
ReplyDelete22 carries
57 rushing yards
8 receptions
82 receiving yards
139 total yards
1 TD
49ers win 26-23 in OT. That was without Kittle and Conner Colby at LG. Same OL this year.
The 2026-27 Los Angeles Rams are either going to be one of the greatest teams ever assembled, or an all-time failure.
ReplyDelete