2008 49ers Season Recap, 2009 Draft Needs, and Free Agent Moves

Now here's my real reason I wrote this article. The 49ers have a no nonsense type of coach who will NOT tolerate losing, no intensity, and no effort. Singletary fired offensive coordinator Mike Martz (and rightfully so) and is now in the process of looking for the team's seventh offensive coordinator in the past seven seasons. This HAS to change if the 49ers are looking to be back in the playoffs for the first time since 2002.

I recommend that Singletary look real hard at the QB coach for the Atlanta Falcons (another America's Sweetheart), Bill Musgrave. Musgrave brings an impressive résumé. He coached the offensive rookie of the year in the NFL, QB Matt Ryan. Many believe that Ryan is the best QB to come out as a rookie since Peyton Manning or Dan Marino.

Another reason to make him the O.C. is he was a FORMER 49ers backup quarterback to the most heralded QB combination in NFL history, Joe Montana and Steve Young. He has worked with Mike Shanahan, Mike Holmgren and the great Bill Walsh. He knows what the West Coast offense is about and what being a 49er is about.

Now moving on to the 2009 NFL Draft. There are glaring weaknesses at free safety, defensive end, offensive tackle, quarterback, and WR. Here are my proposed draft selections for next April.

1) Taylor Mays, free safety from USC

6'3", 235 who runs a 4.29. Hits like Polamalu and runs like a deer. With him playing center field, it allows Singletary to use more blitzes and pressure and let CB Nate Clements play man to man, which he is excellent at.

2) Alex Boone, OT from OSU

He has first round talent, but in a draft full of defensive needs for other teams, he's almost sure to drop to the second round. Boone would give the 49ers a real good-looking young offensive line with LT Joe Staley, LG David Baas, C Eric Heitmann, and RG Jonas Jennings. Everyone except Jennings is under 30 and is locked up for at least 3-4 years. A strong OL is a must for the franchise player, RB Frank Gore.

3) WR Brian Robiskie from OSU

He is a great route runner, has excellent hands, and is very quick. He would be the ideal possession WR for Singletary and Musgrave.

4) QB Cullen Harper from Clemson

49ers need an upgrade at QB with an all-time bust in Alex Smith going to be cut and journeyman O'Sullivan not coming back. Harper has first round talent and had a real bad senior season mainly due to his coaches' mistakes and not using Harper effectively. Hill can be the starter for 2009 and let Harper figure out what it takes to be in the NFL and then let him have the keys to the engine so to speak in 2010.

5) RB Devin Moore from Wyoming

He runs a 4.32 but is only 5'9" and 192 pounds. He is perfect as a complimentary back to the power running style of Frank Gore. This would be the new Thunder and Lightning in the NFC.

6) CB Wopamo Osaisai, Stanford

Like Moore, Osaisai runs a 4.39 and could be a great nickel corner. With Clements, CB Reggie Smith, and an upcoming Tarrell Brown locking down the first three cornerback spots, Osaisai would be a great fourth cornerback and depth at a position that is almost necessary due to teams using more passing attacks in the NFL.

7) Eric Kettani, Navy

The 49ers haven't had a real short yardage fullback since they let go of Fred Beasley after the 2004 season. With Kettani they get a reliable blocker who has 4.56 speed to get out in the open field and make some tacklers miss.

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