Minstrel wrote: I don't think this spells the end of Kyle Williams with the 49ers, necessarily. Moss is probably only a one-year stop-gap. I don't know how long the 49ers will keep Ginn as, essentially, a return specialist...especially if Williams or Jenkins emerge in that role.

A longer-term core of Crabtree, Jenkins, Manningham and Williams would be quite good, if Williams continues to build on how good he looked in the second half of last season.

polynikes wrote:

Minstrel wrote: I don't think this spells the end of Kyle Williams with the 49ers, necessarily. Moss is probably only a one-year stop-gap. I don't know how long the 49ers will keep Ginn as, essentially, a return specialist...especially if Williams or Jenkins emerge in that role.

A longer-term core of Crabtree, Jenkins, Manningham and Williams would be quite good, if Williams continues to build on how good he looked in the second half of last season.

People are comparing Jenkins to Mike Wallace and Greg Jennings but Wallace and Jennings were true wide receivers in college and now the pros.  From what I have seen Jenkins plays out of the slot, like Williams, and  Jenkins can return kicks, like Williams.  

Who knows how SF will use him but I see a copy cat of the NY Giants passing attack at the receiver position.  Moss filling the Nicks role, Manningham/Crabtree as the #2 wide out, Jenkins filling the Victor Cruz role and of course Davis at TE.

The question for the future is who will be the #1 wide out.  Moss for this year and maybe next, can Crabtree become that guy, Manningham, or do the Niners think Jenkins can be moved from the slot and become a #1 wide out?  I tend to think the future #1 wide out is not on the roster.

polynikes wrote:

People are comparing Jenkins to Mike Wallace and Greg Jennings but Wallace and Jennings were true wide receivers in college and now the pros.  From what I have seen Jenkins plays out of the slot, like Williams, and  Jenkins can return kicks, like Williams.

higherwarrior wrote: rice has already reached out to him to do some training sessions with the kid. very cool!

higherwarrior wrote: first off, how do we know how many WRs will make the final cut? we don't. it is possible, albeit maybe unlikely, that our best 53 will include 6 WRs. it's not what most assume we'll do, but it's hardly unprecedented.

2nd- i think it's quite logical to think williams can make the roster. will he? nobody knows but he was definitely a playmaker in his limited opportunities last year. how quickly people forget, based on one unfortunate set of events. why so quick to dismiss and write off a talented player like that? moss is a one year signing even if things go well. however as much i think he'll be motivated and could even make some big plays for us, i think it's equally uncertain that he'll make the final roster. sure he's 'motivated' and he's a HOF player. but nothing is guaranteed especially after a year off.

it's still very much up in the air. everyone assumed a much younger braylon edwards would be our answer to a big play WR and a longterm solution. how did that work out? i'm just saying, you can't judge this team on paper and we won't know until they take the field how things are going to play out.

i for one certainly would not rule out the competitive nature and skills of kyle williams. again, it's possible he gets caught out in a 'numbers game' and doesn't make the team. but it's hardly a foregone conclusion. i would not bet against him and wherever he ends up, i fully believe he's a capable nfl WR.

finally, given that moss and ginn could both very well be gone next year, it might be premature to cut ties with a promising young talent like williams. that will be a factor too, considering moss is very likely gone next year and ginn could be too.

higherwarrior wrote: from balke's press conference:

"There’s no guarantee that we won’t go into the season with six on the roster. Many teams do it. We’re going to keep the best 53 players regardless of position.”

jayob1 wrote: on film he looks like a rice type of receiver.  Jenkins doesn't look flashy, but always seemed to get open and  has really good hands. He looks nice and smooth in routes too.  Hope that he can be half the receiver Rice was.

higherwarrior wrote: interesting read:


"But A.J. Jenkins at No. 30? Surely, they could've taken up the Minnesota Vikings on their offer and moved back five picks to the third selection of Day 2.

But there was only one problem: The 49ers did not want to take the chance of losing Jenkins.

"If you like the player, take them because if you don't take them and you trade back, you may not like the outcome," Baalke said.

"That was something last year with Aldon. Had we traded back, we would've lost Aldon. If we would have gone back two spots last year, we would have lost him. That sticks in your mind when you're sitting in the chair that I sit in. If you like the player, take him."

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported the Rams liked Jenkins so much that his grade wasn't much different than the one their scouting department placed on Justin Blackmon, whom the Jacksonville Jaguars selected with the fifth overall pick. The Rams were expected to take Jenkins with the first pick of the second round, according to the report.


Sports Illustrated's Peter King reported that one receiver-needy team had Jenkins rated higher than Notre Dame's Michael Floyd, whom the Arizona Cardinals selected with the 13th overall pick."

pudding wrote: The one thing that really stands out in the film on Jenkins is that, just like during his gauntlet drill at the Combine, he plucks balls out of the air without losing too much momentum. This is similar to Marvin Jones, actually (another reason why I liked Jones); they both have a great catch radius.

Illinois' QB was not exactly the most accurate thrower (he was a better runner than a thrower, really), and it shows on some of those quick out patterns, where Jenkins would have to really stretch to save the catch. Even then, though, he does look fluid.

As noted elsewhere, strength is perhaps the easiest thing for a collegiate player coming to the pros to gain. You can't teach 'good hands' or 'wiggle' as easily, and so his one major concern area does seem like one that he can fix in time.

He does need more route polish, but he cuts quickly. I think it's his ability to cut and retain his stride that makes him look very similar to Jerry Rice. Rice didn't have the most incredible top-end speed, but his first step was quick, and his first and second cuts were equally quick. Get a jump, get into the first move or the second (double) move quickly, and you can gain that .15 seconds (and more) that you may not have in a straight out sprint. That was Jerry's strength, especially on the slant/crossing routes.

As for Jenkins vs. Williams. I hope this motivates Williams to bring his A+ game to the field. Because if he forces the issue of staying on the roster, that's all the better for the 49ers. I agree that his position might be the most tenuous of the current WR (not counting guys like Bogan, Swain, etc.), but I think Baalke has made it clear that all he's got to do is impress people in camp to continue to get his chances.

polynikes wrote:

are comparing Jenkins to Mike Wallace and Greg Jennings but Wallace and Jennings were true wide receivers in college and now the pros.  From what I have seen Jenkins plays out of the slot, like Williams, and  Jenkins can return kicks, like Williams.

Fairoaks wrote: If my QB couldn't throw more than 20 yards,

I wouldn't say Wiliams is history.  You're assuming Moss is a lock to make the team but he's not.  When Edwards was signed at the beginning of last year, I don't think anyone thought he was gonna get cut during the season.  He was talented enough that everyone thought he was assured a roster spot.  Plus Moss hasn't played in over a year.

Hastings would likely get cut before Williams.