A Case For Bruce Campbell to The 49ers

After his great combine performance, everyone is predicting that Bruce Campbell, the OT out of Maryland, will be headed across the bay to Oakland. If this is the case, then the 49ers would not have a choice on whether to take him. If the Raiders do not take him and he falls to thirteen should the Niners take him? I will try to make a case for why they should consider him.

The top to offensive tackles on the board in my opinion are Russell Okung and Brian Bulaga. If either one of them are available when the 49ers pick they should take them. After that it is a mix of guys who can only play right tackle (Trent Williams) or who have question marks after poor combine or Senior Bowl performances. So why not take the guy with the most upside?

The last player to come out of Maryland and impress the scouts with his combine performance was Vernon Davis. Davis had a ton of raw talent but struggled to put things together until this year. Under Mike Singletary, Davis went from an under-performing player to a great blocking tight end, and then to a great offensive weapon. Singletary could do the same for Campbell.

Players who have immense natural talent often get by in college without learning good technique because they can just out physical less skilled players on the other side of the ball. These players need a disciplinarian who will not accept them coasting through practice. They need a guy who will kick them off the sideline like Mike Singletary did to Vernon Davis when he thought he wasn't getting his best effort.

I am not saying that the Niners should automatically draft Campbell at thirteen but it is something to think about. This article will probably be in vain though because Al Davis will obviously draft him because he runs the fastest 40-yard dash.