2010 NFL Draft: 49ers' First Round Strategy: Domination or Balance?

With two picks in the middle of the first round this year, nothing is certain concerning the fate of the 49ers.

The truth is, no one knows who will rise up the board or who will fall into the 49ers' lap this year.

However, one thing is for certain: the 49ers have to plan for the first round coming out in either one of two ways.

This will either be a first round where the 49ers focus on one part of the game and become a dominant force in said part, or a first round where the 49ers go a more balanced approach and build both sides of the ball.

DOMINATION

There are two scenarios where the 49ers can become dominant in one aspect of the game while turning a current weakness into a strength. Sure, they could always draft a DE and an OLB to become 'dominant' where they are already strong. However, for their whole defense to become dominant they need to be able to cover the field.

The first domination scenario is CB Joe Haden at No. 13 and S Earl Thomas at No. 17.  Both of these guys are playmakers and teams would have a tough time throwing against a secondary of Haden, Thomas, Goldson, and Clement. Want even more domination at DB? Pick up Chris Cook in the second round to play nickel. Drafting like this will turn a weakness of the 49ers into a dominant force.

This still doesn't do much for our offensive line except for later picks like Ciron Black, or possibly signing Chester Pitts. 

This brings us to the second domination scenario where the 49ers turn the weakest part of their game, the OL, into their greatest strength on offense. To do this, the 49ers can draft OT Trent Williams at No. 13 and OG Mike Iupati at No. 17. Mike Iupati is plain mean, and this would give the 49ers the hit-them-in-the-mouth front five that Mike Singletary is craving. That would give the 49ers an OL of (from left to right) Staley, Iupati, Heitmann, an unknown, and Williams. 

If the unknown at RG becomes Chester Pitts, then you have a dominating front five for 2010, a very deep and talented force. You also have three top talents on the line for the next five years and can have Pitts and Heitmann tutoring their eventual replacements that you can pick up in the later rounds.

BALANCE

The balanced perspective is basically a Best Player Available (BPA) approach with a little team need mixed in.

This way if CB Joe Haden or even RB C.J. Spiller slips down to you at No. 13, you take him. And then if OT Trent Williams is available at No. 17, you take him. This is building an overall foundation for the team based on need and BPA.

In a situation where the QB out of Notre Dame slips down to No. 17, this is the strategy where you may take Jimmy Clausen (which I am totally against).

This kind of approach works best for coaches like Bill Bellichick in New England, who can tailor the strategy of his team on a game-by-game basis depending on whom the Patriots are playing. 

The balanced strategy gives you more of an ability to change game plans at halftime because you have an even level of talent throughout your team.

What is Best for the 49ers?

It's my opinion that the domination strategy is best for the 49ers to use in the first round.

Mike Singletary isn't a tactician. Mike Singletary is a 1985 Chicago Bear. And what are the 1985 Chicago Bears known for? A dominating defence.

Whether the 49ers gain a dominating secondary or a dominating offensive line, the San Francisco 49ers need an identity that suits their head coach.

The 49ers need to go into a game saying what they're going to do, and then do it.

If the Niners pick up two DBs in the first round, then the 49ers are saying, "Our defense is now the best in football and we're going to kick field goals on you all day, hit your quarterback in the mouth, and frustrate all your receivers."

If the 49ers pick up two offensive linemen in the first round, then the 49ers are putting the word out to all defensive linemen across the league that you better have oxygen on the bench, and pray that your offense can stay on the field, because and we are coming at you every play.

Mike Singletary isn't going to out-coach or out-strategize many coaches in the league at this point in his coaching career, which is what is necessary for a balanced approach.

Therefore, the 49ers need to cement some sort of identity in the first round of this draft and strike some fear in their opponents' hearts by dominating one of these two aspects of the game.