On The Clock: 1.11 San Francisco 49ers
by NFLDraftGuys Staff

The NFLDraftguys staff is going simulate playing the GM of each of the 31 teams picking in the first round and justify their picks. You can look forward to a new pick every other day leading up to April 28, when the staff will be in Radio City Music Hall to see if they took our advice.

Don't forget to go over to The 1.11 OTC Thread at The Shark Pool, where the authors and the best football community anywhere are discussing this question. The Shark Pool is part of Footballguys, the only place to get your fantasy football advice and analysis. If you haven't already done it, sign up for the footballguys email update, they scour the offseason news so you don't have to!

Follow the progress of the On The Clock Draft Board, where you can see exactly how the first round would play out if the NFLDraftguys staff were making the calls in the war room.

Sean Baca

With the 11th pick in the 2007 NFL Draft the San Francisco 49ers SHOULD take Amobi Okoye, DT, Louisville

Meachum, Rice and Carriker would all work here as well but in the end I believe that Okoye is far too talented a player for the Niners to pass on him if he's still there. The Niners need a receiver to help them stretch opposing defenses vertically and either of the aforementioned receivers would certainly make sense. Carriker would work as well but in the 3-4 scheme he would be limited (speed) whereas Okoye is almost born to a 3-4 scheme.

The Niners are getting old along the "D" line and need a versatile player who can anchor their defense. Okoye is a tremendously smart player who is flat-out explosive from the tackle position as well as from the nose. He will be able to drop into coverage and protect the short third in the passing game. He can create a new line of scrimmage as well and is great at getting to the QB. You can go on-and-on about his up-side and ability to play anywhere along the line, making him a "must" for any team in need of help along the line.

Marc Faletti

With the 11th pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, the San Francisco 49ers SHOULD select Adam Carriker, DE, Nebraska.

Though they have two solid DEs for their 3-4 defense, the 49ers have no one behind their starters, one of whom (Bryant Young) enters his 14th season at 35 years old. If they don't move to strengthen the defensive line, San Fran could be flirting with disaster in the trenches. Fortunately for them, do-everything 300-pounder Adam Carriker should be available at 11.

Carriker fits the 'tweener description of a good 3-4 end. He may not have the dominant pass-rush skills of a 4-3 DE, but he's got more than your typical DT. And while he may not stuff the run like Pat Williams, he can more than hold his own on the edge, especially if he's single-blocked. In fact, that's one of the surest signs Carriker will excel at the 3-4 end position: he may not beat a good double-team, but if you don't double-team him, he'll make you pay every time. In other words, if he doesn't make the play, he'll ensure your LBs do.

Carriker also tends to come up big in big games. For example, with the Big 12 North title on the line, Carriker had a dominant game against Texas A&M, culminating in a sack on the final play of a one-point game. Those sorts of big-play instincts would be a welcome addition in playoff-starved San Francisco.

Cecil Lammey

With the 11th pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, the San Francisco 49ers SHOULD take Patrick Willis, ILB, Mississippi Rebels.

Coach Mike Singletary was very impressed with what he of Willis first hand in Mobile. The 49ers staff was privy to coaching some of the best seniors in the nation at the Senior Bowl. Patrick Willis made a lasting impression on the staff for many reasons.

Willis has a mean streak when he plays and is very aggressive in pursuit of the ball carrier. His athleticism is All-World and his tackling is sure. He closes on the ball very well and has great football instincts. It seems that no matter where a play goes, there is Willis making a play on it. He has enough speed to cover TE's, and his quick burst allows him to read/react and explode to the play.

The 49ers are building on helluva defense. Through the draft and free agency they have been putting together quite the defensive squad. Manny Lawson and Nate Clements are playmakers of an elite level. Patrick Willis fits right in on this squad and should provide plenty of punch early and often.

Sigmund Bloom

With the 11th pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, the San Francisco 49ers SHOULD take Patrick Willis, ILB, Mississippi Rebels.

I have no argument against Amobi Okoye or Adam Carriker here. The Niners could definitely use the help on the D-Line, and Carriker in particular is a perfect fit for the San Francisco defensive scheme. Where they fall short is not having the true "franchise player" quality that Willis clearly has.

Willis got to spend a week being coached by the Niners staff at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, and Mike Nolan is on the record saying that Willis made an even better first impression than DeMeco Ryans. Brandon Moore was a solid ILB last year, but he can also play outside.

Even if there wasn't a clear need for an ILB, Willis makes his own case on the field. He was dominant at Ole Miss despite being surrounded by lesser talent. It's scary to think what Mike Singletary could unlock once he gets a hold of this kid. San Francisco can not go wrong with Willis, but at this rate, he may not be there for them. If they pass on him, it should only take Buffalo three seconds to scoop him up.











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