San Francisco 49ers: 5 Things We've Learned This Offseason

The outcome of an NFL season, or any professional team’s season for that matter, dictates the strategy toward improving upon or advancing the franchise’s success moving forward.

For the San Francisco 49ers, the outcome of their phenomenal 14-4 campaign in 2011 (postseason included) dictated an offseason predicated on the goal of attaining the ultimate bottom line for all NFL franchises: reaching and winning the Super Bowl.

The 49ers were a mere six minutes and 26 seconds away from reaching professional football’s Mecca, something that fans, casual observers and analysts are perfectly cognizant.

Obviously qualified in 2011, Trent Baalke and Jim Harbaugh’s squad is even better constructed to win a championship in 2012.

So, in addressing the purpose of this exploration, we’ve learned that the 49ers have directed an offseason plan of maintaining the NFC Championship-worthy team of last season and transforming it into an unquestionable Super Bowl-quality squad this year.

Let’s investigate in greater detail.

Lock Down 2011 Starters, Backups

It goes without saying that this is easier said than done. For Trent Baalke, however, this common expression evidently offered no such application

Baalke began this process by signing C.J. Spillman to a three-year, $6 million contract extension ($1.8M guaranteed, $1.08M cap hit in 2012). Spillman is a core special teams’ ace and backup at safety. With Dashon Goldson still holding out for a long-term deal, this signing proves significant.

The general manager then locked down starting outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks with a six-year, $44.5 million deal ($17.5M guaranteed, $2.85M cap hit in 2012). Brooks is crucial to the 49ers defense by setting the edge against the run and providing quality all-around play. He registered career-highs in every statistical category (minus interceptions).

Yet another essential signing Baalke accomplished was the team's No. 1 corner in Carlos Rogers to a four-year, $29 million contract ($5.5M cap hit in 2012). In the conspicuously pass-heavy NFL, equipping one’s team with reliable shutdown corners is mandatory.

The undeniably most important position and contract for the 49ers was that of quarterback Alex Smith. Despite missing out on the nauseatingly-documented Peyton Manning sweepstakes—much to the chagrin of many fans out there—Harbaugh got his guy. The formerly embattled but career-year achieving Smith received a three-year deal worth $24 million with $9 guaranteed and a 2012 cap hit of $9.25M.

Rounding out the remaining signings in no particular order: Baalke re-signed WR Ted Ginn (fundamental in the return game), LB Larry Grant (crucial backup), LB Tavares Gooden (special teams standout), CB Tramaine Brock (can never have too many corners), DT Will Tukuafu (missed nearly the entire 2011 season) and WR Brett Swain.

(Peruse through their contract details here.)

Besides what appears on the surface, examining these contracts further reveals a laudable execution of fiscal responsibility both in 2012 and into the future (the same applies for the free-agent acquisitions).

A noteworthy example of this is the very much affordable $9 million in guaranteed money to Alex Smith. Getting out from underneath this deal if an injury or regression in abilities were to occur would not be problematic.

Low-Risk, High-Reward Free-Agent Acquisitions

No player signing is more emblematic of the low-risk, high-reward qualification as Randy Moss and his one-year deal.

If Randy resurrects the Randy of old, meaning the 1993-2003/2005/2007-2009 version of this absurdly prolific wideout, the 49ers will get an equally absurd return on their investment. Moss received a contract guaranteed on his actually making the team (I fully expect this to materialize) and one comprised mostly on incentives.

If and when that contract is indeed realized, Moss will provide an incredible dynamic to the offense by stretching the field, keeping the safety out of the box, opening up underneath routes, being a vital red-zone target and making the receivers around him better.

The next contractual mastery exhibited by Trent Baalke was the deal for former New York Giants wide receiver and Super Bowl Champion Mario Manningham. He watched perfectly content when the Redskins doled out more than $12 million and five years to the less productive Josh Morgan (formerly with the 49ers), while he gave a much more financially palpable $7.375 million over two years to the proven Manningham (more on this later).

The 49ers get relative explosion, reliable hands, production and experience at the WR position in Manningham.

Additionally, bringing in another former Giant in Brandon Jacobs on just $150,000 guaranteed gives the team the ever necessary bruising back to carry the pile on short-yardage and goal-line situations. Anything in between Jacobs’ four touchdowns in 2007 and 15 in 2008 will be welcome production to the offense.

Baalke also signed QB Josh Johnson (backup role, more on this later), RB Rock Cartwright (special teams, fullback role), CB Perrish Cox (corner, ST depth) and long snapper Brian Pontbriand.

(Contract details can be found here.)

If not already known, we learned once again that Baalke exercises fiscal responsibility by setting his price for a player, retreating if contract demands exceed value and, above all, not overspending on overrated free agents. The 49ers are set up extremely well financially and have player reliability for the future.

With that in mind…

Overvalued Free Agents—Take a Hike

Now let’s take a gander at the players fans will not be seeing sport the Red and Gold on Sundays.

As previously mentioned, Baalke and the 49ers allowed Josh Morgan to sign with the Redskins. Even with his team-player mentality and established rapport with Alex Smith, he simply was not worth what Washington gave him. Manningham is an undeniable upgrade as his replacement.

The extremely versatile and key member of the offensive line in Adam Snyder also will not return next season.

Why is that? Because despite his jack-of-all-trades contributions, he graded out as the (excuse my simplistic vocabulary) third-worst guard in all the NFL. Ranking 75 out of 77 and allowing a combined 33 QB sacks/hits/pressures simply won’t cut it. We should still hold Snyder in high esteem for his replacing the incomprehensibly awful Chilo Rachal. However, the five years and $17.5 million given by the Cardinals far exceeded his value.

In exceedingly more unfortunate terms, the special teams baller and fan-favorite Blake Costanzo signed with the Chicago Bears. While he will be sorely missed, two years and $1.865 million did not equate with his value.

His departure represents another Baalke lesson in the incompatibility of one-trick players with the 49ers (Costanzo could not fulfill the backup linebacker role).

Also leaving the team are S Reggie Smith (Panthers), CB Shawntae Spencer (Raiders) and S Madieu Williams (Redskins).

Oh, and to be sure, Rachal landed with the Bears on a one-year deal…thankfully.

Draft for Value, NOT Need

Again, emerging victorious from the gridiron a combined 14 times and nearly making the Super Bowl readily dictates that the 49ers were not so deficient in many areas of the team.

They were therefore in position to draft players for maximum value and not based desperately on any purported need.

In the first round, Baalke selected A.J. Jenkins, the unheralded but wildly skilled and productive wide receiver out of Illinois. Most draft pundits labeled Jenkins as a second-round prospect, with such receivers as Stephen Hill, Rueben Randle and Alshon Jeffery being grades as superior players.

Unfazed by the talking heads and the glorious hair of a certain ESPN analyst (the preferred object of ridicule of a fellow BR writer), Baalke grabbed Jenkins because of his huge mitts, lightning speed, Grade A intangibles and versatility in fulfilling all roles required of a wideout.

He was Baalke’s guy from the very beginning, and in his eyes, offers much more appropriate value than any of the above-mentioned players. More importantly, Baalke did not make an unnecessary reach at a guard, tackle or tight end.

Like his first-round compatriot, second-round selection LaMichael James infuses the 49ers’ offense with the dynamics of speed, athleticism, explosion and production.

His presence makes the offense more explosive, less predictable and will allow complete diversification of the playbook. He is an undeniable playmaker and will prove to be a huge steal in the 2012 draft.

The Oregon faithful will fondly recall James’ all-time outstanding contributions at the NCAA ranks. Now the 49er faithful will gleefully enjoy his contributions to all facets of their team’s offense and special teams.

Concerning the other draft picks, the 49ers selected G Joe Looney (Wake Forest, fourth round), LB Darius Flemming (Notre Dame, fifth round), S Trenton Robinson, OL Jason Slowey (Western Oregon, sixth round) and LB Cam Johnson (Virginia, seventh round).

The notable lessons gleaned from these picks are that they provide great depth at their respective positions and Looney, and especially Robinson, were big-time steals.

And for the naysayer boo-birds still clamoring over the need for a right guard, allow me to rise above the cacophony by assuring you that all personnel evaluators with the 49ers are totally confident in the incumbents Daniel Kilgore and Alex Boone at the position. Looney will serve as valuable competition at both right and left guard.

A Whole New Meaning to "Competition Breeds Success"

No GM or head coach more willfully promotes and implements competition at nearly every position on their football team.

Say hello once again to Trent Baalke and Jim Harbaugh.

They actively pursued Peyton Manning when Alex Smith was effectively the team’s returning starting quarterback. They signed Brandon Jacobs and drafted LaMichael James in the face of already having running backs Frank Gore, Kendall Hunter and Anthony Dixon on the roster.

They took a flier on Randy Moss and inked Mario Manningham to put the heat on Michael Crabtree, Kyle Williams, Ted Ginn and any other receiver on the team. They tabbed Josh Johnson despite the presence of Colin Kaepernick—the team’s future starting QB (allegedly)—and capable backup in Scott Tolzien.

Heck, they even brought in freaking Ryan Pontriand to compete with Pro Bowler Brian Jennings at long snapper.

Long snapper?!

Point being, any observer of the San Francisco 49ers offseason readily learned that the boys running the joint will bring in anyone who will actively compete and potentially serve as an upgrade throughout all areas of the team.

Remember, no position is safe. And that’s a good thing.