8 San Francisco 49ers Already on the Cutting Block

There are eight players Trent Baalke won't have to think twice about cutting as he begins to prepare the team for the best possible roster in 2012.

As good as the San Francisco 49ers were in 2011, going 14-4 and finishing the season a couple of plays away from going to Super Bowl XLVI, there's certainly plenty of room for improvement.

These players have shown all that they have to offer, and it isn't much. The team can and will be able to find replacements of higher quality through the draft and free agency.

Madieu Williams, Safety

When the 49ers signed Madieu Williams as insurance to hedge against Dashon Goldson's possible departure, I thought it was a savvy move and one that would greatly benefit the team. 

Minnesota Vikings fans kept telling me he was terrible in coverage, but I didn't believe them. I was convinced that their words were formed out of the bitterness that sometimes accompanies extreme fandom.

Boy, was I wrong.

Williams either couldn't get the scheme down in his head, or he simply doesn't have the physical abilities to be a free safety in the NFL. The secondary looked like Swiss cheese the few times Williams was in the starting lineup because Goldson was unable to play.

In the end, all he was really good for was on special teams, and the 49ers can easily draft a youngster or buy one in free agency who can do better than that.

Brett Swain, Wide Receiver

Brett Swain isn't good for much more than special teams, and the only reason he saw any action with the 49ers offense in 2011 was due to the fact that the 49ers wide receivers unit was one of the worst in the NFL (and no, Peyton Manning wouldn't make them look like the next coming of the "best show on turf").

Swain, at 6'0" and 200 pounds, is neither fast nor quick and doesn't do enough of the other things to make up the difference. He was only able to haul in six catches for the entire 2010 season with Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. 

The 49ers desperately need to upgrade this position in 2012, both through the NFL draft and through free agency.

Swain will become a free agent on March 13, 2012, and I don't foresee Baalke doing anything to keep him around for next season.

Reggie Smith, Safety

Reggie Smith was looking like he might be the starting free safety during the preseason, even over Dashon Goldson, before injuring his knee. 

In the end, he never got his mojo back, and  2011 was the fourth wasted season for Smith and the 49ers. 

Matt Maiocco of Comcast Sportsnet shared this tidbit of information in a post on January 27, 2012.

"

A team source told CSNBayArea.com that the day after the season, the sides reached an understanding that Smith would look for an opportunity elsewhere. The 49ers are likely to sign another veteran safety to a minimum-type of contract and/or select a backup safety in the draft.

"

I guess there's no guess work on this one. Smith is a goner. 

Justin Peelle, Tight End

Justin Peelle was signed by the 49ers as a band-aid to replace Nate Byham, who went on the injured reserve list with a knee injury. 

Alex Smith has shown he's comfortable passing the ball to his tight ends, yet Peelle managed to only catch one pass in 2011. 

Peelle did a fine job with what he was asked to do, but Byham will be fully recovered and ready to rock and roll in 2012, and he's far more versatile and talented than Peelle.

I'm sure he'll land somewhere though, as he was a good blocking tight end in the 49ers' power running game.

Moran Norris, Fullback

Moran Norris is the worst starting fullback I've ever seen in the NFL. 

In the last three years, more often than not Norris has been more like another defender than a lead blocker. If you look at the photo I've chosen to feature here, you'll notice that Frank Gore is actually having to run AROUND Norris instead of follow him, a typical scenario.

Many times, Norris would charge ahead with his eyes seemingly fixed to the ground in front of him, rather than focusing on any would-be defender on runs to the inside. Sure, he could lay people out occasionally, but he was a hindrance more than a help a majority of the time. 

And don't even get me started on Norris' "pass-protection". The man cannot move laterally to save his life.

Also, don't you want your power back to be able to punch it through when you absolutely need a foot on a fourth-and-1? Norris was abysmal as a runner his entire career, posting an average of only 2.4 yards per carry. More importantly, and certainly more shocking, is this: Norris only ran for ONE touchdown in his entire 11-year career.

Buh-bye.

Shawntae Spencer, Cornerback

Shawntae Spencer had hoped that 2011 would be the year that he busted out after having a couple of good, but not great, seasons in 2009 and 2010. 

Instead of taking off, Spencer's season took a nose dive when he fought a nagging hamstring throughout training camp and never got into the good graces of Vic Fangio. He ended up playing in only nine games in 2011, and his production was terrible.

Spencer wasn't even active during the 49ers playoff run. According to David Michael Smith of NBC Sports, Spencer says "being inactive for the playoffs made him feel like a kid without a prom date."

He won't be back in 2012. 

Chilo Rachal, Offensive Guard

If you look closely at this picture of Chilo Rachal, you will notice that his eyes are pointed down towards the ground, instead of looking side-to-side. Offensive linemen need to have their heads on a swivel in pass protection, and Rachal is disturbingly terrible at this skill.

Another thing you will notice in this picture and the one featured at the beginning of the slideshow is that Rachal's legs are spread much too far apart, and he's standing flat-footed. This horrid technique of his literally got him knocked on his behind many times over the last few years. 

I had high hopes for the big man out of USC, but after four years, it's plain to see he will never become the player the 49ers hoped he'd become when they drafted him at the top of the second round in the 2008 NFL draft.

Anthony Dixon, Running Back

Please don't get me wrong, here. I love Anthony Dixon. I love his personality, his enthusiasm and his unique charms. 

I just think the 49ers will be looking to upgrade his roster spot in 2012.

Dixon reminds me of Brandon Jacobs. He's a big man (6'1" and 233 pounds) who dances around while he tries to find a hole instead of plowing through the hole like big backs are supposed to do. 

A man his size should be a red-zone specialist, but Dixon hasn't displayed a nose for the endzone. 

My personal opinion is that he doesn't have good vision. I don't think it's any more complicated than that. 

As much as I'd love to see him bouncing around on special teams and on the sidelines as he cheers his teammates on, I would much rather see the 49ers acquire a player that can actually contribute on the field when it matters.