TE had productive season in '09, but is it enough? Matt Bowen
Last week, it was linebacker Patrick Willis who cashed in with a five-year, $50-million extension out in San Fran, as the NFP's Andrew Brandt detailed. Young talent, impact talent, wrapped up and taken care of by the Niners.
Now, it looks like Vernon Davis could be next. According to Matt Maiocco of Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, the Niners and the 26-year-old tight end have begun talks on a new deal. After the Willis deal, the club may have to get creative — as Maicco points out — but the opportunity is there.
I had no issue with the Willis extension, as I wrote last week. A productive player — one who was originally drafted by the club. Take care of those guys and reward that production with some new coin.
Can we say the same about Davis who is asking for close to $25-million guaranteed according to reports?
I think we can, despite having only one breakout season in ’09 in which he hauled in 78 receptions for 965 yards and 13TDs. Enormous numbers from the tight end position. We all know about his struggles under former offensive coordinator Mike Martz, the sideline incident with head coach Mike Singletary and the idea that he was somewhat of an underachieving player who went in the top 10 of the draft.
But production talks, and just as we discussed with Willis, this is a young team that needs to lock up its playmakers.
Davis competes at tight end, he’s starting to develop a reputation as a complete player at the position, and when you really look at this Niners offense -– and how it’s being built under Singletary — it shouldn’t even be a question when we talk money and contract with Davis. The type of player that can win vs. Cover 2 and matchup against any SS in the league vs. Cover 1.
WR Michael Crabtree was very impressive last season for a rookie coming off a massive holdout, and I do believe he can continue to develop into one of the top young receivers in the NFL. But when I think of the Niners offensively, I look up front, at the running game and the tight end position. The ability to throw the ball vertically down the middle of the field. The play action and the opportunities to align Davis as a WR — away from the core of the formation — where he can continue to be a playmaker.
It’s easy to dispute paying a player after basically one year of production in this league. We’ve all seen guys who take the money and then vanish from the box score the next season.
However, Davis is too important to this team — as is Willis — to miss an opportunity to lock him up. I expect this franchise to start winning next season, but to do that, you need the players.
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Davis is also a beast...a physical beast who can also outrun any safety in the league. Big AND fast, a great combination. Wouldn't surprise me if he sets a new TD record for a TE this season.
The SF ownership seems to be coming back to making some sound football decisions. I wonder if Eddie D. is quietly giving some advice that is being listened to? He made the teams by appreciating and rewarding his players. And they responded. Might just work again.
Vernon Davis is one of the best blocking TE's in the league as well. Singletary says he's never seen a TE block like Davis. By the end of 2010 there will be no question as to who is the best complete TE in the NFL.
Jermichael Finley?
55 catches 676 yds 12.3 yds per catch 5 TD's & he started only 10 games last year. This will be his 3rd year & he still has quite a bit of upside. He's not quite as fast as Davis but he's about 2 inches taller so LB's & safeties have trouble covering him too. Davis is clearly the better blocker & is more experienced. It'll be fun keeping tabs on these 2, if they stay healthy & keep their heads on straight, they should both have great careers.
"It’s easy to dispute paying a player after basically one year of production in this league" - check your facts Matt. Davis has had two solid (one spectacular) season in the league. Before Martz ('07) he caught 52 balls for over 500 yards. That's a very good year for a player who, at the time, was only in his second season. Obviously last yr he exploded and should only get better as the rest of the team improves. Lock. Him. Up.
"It’s easy to dispute paying a player after basically one year of production in this league" - check your facts Matt. Davis has had two solid (one spectacular) season in the league. Before Martz ('07) he caught 52 balls for over 500 yards. That's a very good year for a player who, at the time, was only in his second season. Obviously last yr he exploded and should only get better as the rest of the team improves. Lock. Him. Up.
I don't think either will pay off the coin the Niners are investing though Willis is obviously being rewarded for production + durability already delivered.
Still, Willis also & already popped an MCL (left knee) in college, was recently on crutches for for a bursectomy performed on his right knee, and has played through numerous injuries & separations from college-to-pro. The guy absolutely deserves his money. But his joints could be showing the cumulative effects (chronic inflammation?) of too much wear and not enough rest, hence Willis' willingness to take more upfront if his body prematurely breaks down and/or can't play out his contract.
Davis, meanwhile, apparently exchanged run-pass-blocking proficiency for pass-catching profligacy under Jimmy Raye's TE-cuddling short schemes last year. According to ProFootballFocus, Davis actually dropped from 47th (2008) to 57th (2009) among all TEs . Davis biggestl area of decline -- blocking, especially run-blocking, where Davis rated a -9.4 in 2009 after logging a +2.0 (20th best) in 2008. That, along with recurring poor OL play, was a major contributor to SF's shift from smashmouth to spread-lite midway thru the 2009 season.
SF did the right thing by rewarding Willis -- while Davis remains a simmering headcase who 'broke thru' as a Frankensteinish creation of Jimmy Raye but has *yet* to demonstate the multitasking (pass + block) consistency of elite TEs getting elite money.
"...multitasking (catch + block) consistency ..."
Bordige-
52 catches for 500 yards isn't worth 25 mil up front. Sorry man, nice try though.
He needed last season to even talk about a new deal.
Mr. Murder
With all the time you spend online posting you opinionated comments you should be a brilliant football mind. Maybe you should apply for a job or maybe thats what your doing by posting on almost every topic on the NFP. Tired of constantly seeing you calling it like you see it. Nothing against you sometimes I even agree with you but still, tired of seeing you.
Now for my personal thoughts on Davis. If they want to keep all options available on the goal line they will pay the man. Does he deserve it, we'll see over the next few years. But this falls in line with anyone who has a standout year. Chris Johnson, Miles Austin etc. They will all get paid but none of them have proved enough to see that guaranteed money. Well on that note no rookie has done enough to deserve guaranteed money ever.
@latopia: The MCL is a concern, but not the bursectomy. That's a routine procedure that seldom has any complications.
@Jordan: Austin had one excellent year, as did Davis. I take issue with your analysis on CJ, though. His rookie year he had nearly 1500 combined yards, followed up by last season, when he had over 2500 yards combined. His carreer average is 5.3 yds. per carry. The guy's a monster, and he won't get paid for a while based on recent news.
@Jordan. Here's an example of an opinionated comment: "Now for my personal thoughts on Davis." That's fine. Everyone is entitled to his own opinion. For the record, opinions are like a*sholes: everybody's got one and they all stink.
Mr. Murder is one of the few posters who doesn't take shots at anyone and who posts facts and well thought arguments. He doesn't offer his "personal thoughts" on much of anyone because, well, he probably knows most people don't give a rat's ass about his personal thoughts.
Regarding this topic, Murder made a comparison to Turner's O system which has truth to it - except for the fact that SF doesn't have a QB, but that's a different discussion. It's a good perspective to view things through.
If you have an issue with Murder's posts here's a simple remedy: don't read them. I, on the other hand, will continue to read them because I always learn something from them, something more than someone's "personal thoughts."
#Yojimbo May 11, 2010 05:33 PM
@latopia: The MCL is a concern, but not the bursectomy. That's a routine procedure that seldom has any complications.
---
The procedure itself (performed in March) is 'routine' but the etiology -- i.e., chronic or persistent joint inflamation caused by loose bodies, premature joint degeneration, insufficient healing re earlier injuries etc -- compelling removal may be anything but (routine) and should be closely monitored. Willis missed the Pro Bowl due to swelling affecting the same knee which obviously did not (sufficiently) abate despite 3 months of rest.
Hit the Davis link from Bowen's X's & O's coverage. Late to the party here. Probably too busy to post before. Damn 14 days late...what the he**, I'll post anyways.
@ Murder - your talking like our OL is already there....loong ways to go IMO. I would rather wait & see, then AFTER they've showed something on gamedays make an evaluation. Mid-season would be a good time to evaluate. I love the POTENTIAL though.
Watching Mike Martz's NON-usage of the TE as a playmaker was so freakin' excruciating. It was pure torture I tell you. Even when we switched to Sean Hill & used shorter WCO 3 & 5 step drop quicker passes where we didn't need max protection, he continued to keep Davis in for pass pro. Ugggghhhhhhh.....so frustrating. VD even had a breakout game catching 7+ passes with solid total yardage & what did Martz do?? Back to the same recording.
Jimmy Raye, as much as I despise the hiring of this Dinosaur, I give him 1 HUGE props for...........& that's SAVING Davis' career as being labeled as a bust. I could fairly easily picture VD heading in a downwards spiral esp IF Martz was kept for another year. VD had a fragile psyche at that point in time. Raye's Offense pulled Davis out of the gutter IMO.
I want to see a 2nd solid season from VD to become a 100% believer. I see him now as finally being headed in the right direction in all phases....mentally, being a team player, leadership, & the development of his game. Coach Sing DESERVES HUGE KUDOS for this. The highly publicized ejection incident from then on was a bigtime turning point for Davis all credited with Sing & his continuance of molding Davis as a player & young man.
I see Davis for the majority of his career as having to continually use daily extra practice time catching passes because he's not a "natural" receiver who has soft hands. Because of that I believe he has to have that regular training of re-emphasizing "making his hands soft" when he catches. IMO he should also pound & grind reps running routes & trying to refine that part of his game.
One thing I ABSOLUTELY LOVE about VD is his WORK ETHIC. This helps his leadership quality TREMENDOUSLY. He also has a natural drive to be a fierce competitor. . I believe he still has a lot of work to do to fully establish himself & he still has a lot of CEILING left. If he has a solid 2nd year this season he's 3/4's of the way there or almost fully THERE but most definitely over the hump.
Tidbit news: Daaamn..Norv Turner just got an extension. I guess it just wasn't meant to be. I think Turner is a true WINNER as an OC & is a perfect fit for our Offense. Cam Cameron as well. I'm just not sold on Jimmy Raye & wished we could have had an established WINNER type OC to have counted on building our CONTINUITY as OC for our Offense. (Raye is a well known CAREER AVERAGE OC when you look at his standings/Offensive rankings in the past.) Hopefully somewhere down the road Sing will find his WINNER of an OC who shares his ball control philosophy BUT who's also creative in the passing game & who's a master tactician who can dissect a Defense, create mismatches, & make adjustments on the fly & accurate/effective halftime adjustments. I want our guy to be an outstanding game planner. Difficult to find I know but it gets done by teams/HC's all the time if they really want it & do their homework & make the calls.
The Niners SHOULD ABSOLUTELY LOCK DAVIS UP. We need all the young playmakers we can get & Davis should be one of the foundations of this team & where we're headed. I want to see him reap the fruits of his hard work being that he was a part of this rebuild from the beginning since '05 & I see us as being a Contender & potential SB team IF we can find a Franchise QB or Smith has a breakout year this season & becomes THAT GUY.
KEEP UP THE FANTASTIC WORK VD....hopefully that extension comes soon for you my man!
Correction:
I should say, & this is more accurate, that WINNING OUTSTANDING OC's are USUALLY FOUND BY THE GOOD teams & usually by experienced HC's who've been around the league for some time. (Teams who have solid FO's & a HC.) I know Coach Sing lacks the experience obviously. Hopefully down the road he'll realize he needs more from that crucial Asst Coaching position..unless by some miracle Raye can substantially improve his game & become very effective (sorry but I just don't see him as being a top OC in the NFL & have my doubts.)
Sing's got a solid one on the Defensive side (time is ticking..Sing s/b keeping his eye out on a future replacement & brainstorming / researching for one here as well....IMO Manusky will be a hot HC commodity coming up if not already, esp if he continues the great job he's been doing.)
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May 11, 2010
10:13 AM
The flirtation with Norv Turner football seems to have helped Vernon Davis turn things around. San Fran has a big three in Davis, Gore, and Crabtree. That Isolation offense simply lines your best guy up and forces the other team into putting two players on him. When two players need to be doubled, you gain huge numbers up front and can control games with a feature back.
The Niners got big, strong, athletic up front as well. Their line is emerging to a level of ability that can match what these skill greats bring to a plan.
Go ahead and secure those skill guys now.