San Francisco 49ers Offseason Review

The San Francisco 49ers scored to make it a three point game in Super Bowl XLVII with 3:54 to go. If their great defense was able to get the ball back, Colin Kaepernick and the offense would have had a shot to either tie the game and send it to overtime, or even perhaps win it.

That didn't happen though. Joe Flacco completed a thirty yard pass to Anquan Boldin, and that was all she wrote. The 49ers lost the Super Bowl.

They overcame a QB controversy to make it to the Super Bowl behind their tremendous coach and dominating defense. They had a great season, and they will be the team to beat in the NFC this season.

BUT, all this really doesn't matter, because the 49ers did not beat the Rams in 2012. It is still awesome.

The 49ers did have one of the best offseasons in the entire NFL. Let's review their major moves.

Trades

The 49ers sent Alex Smith to the KC Chiefs after he lost his starting job to Kaepernick. The 49ers successfully committed robbery by snagging a 2013 2nd round pick and a conditional 2014 3rd round pick for the mediocre QB. Trent Baalke, you boss.

Then the 49ers traded a 6th round pick to the Ravens to acquire Anquan Boldin. A sixth round pick for a dependable veteran receiver. I think Trent Baalke operates at a unique and vastly superior level compared to us mere mortals.

Free Agents Lost

The 49ers lost starting safety Dashon Goldson to Tampa Bay. He was a solid player for San Francisco, but very overrated. His loss will be felt, but the defense won't be much worse off for it.

The Niners also lost two key rotational pieces on the defensive line in Isaac Sopoaga and Ricky Jean Francois.

The other notable players that left the team are Ted Ginn Jr, Larry Grant, Clark Haggans and Delanie Walker. All four were useful special teams players, while Walker was also one of the better blocking TEs in the NFL.

Free Agents Signed

Glenn Dorsey was signed to a two year contract. Dorsey is largely seen as a bust, but he is a decent option to start. He just never developed into the dominating force many expected him to become coming out of LSU. He was a bit lost in the Chiefs 3-4 scheme, and seems better suited to work with a defense like the 49ers, who run more of a hybrid 3-4.

The 49ers gave Nnamdi Asomugha a incentive heavy, prove it deal with no guaranteed money, after he proved to be one of the worst free agent signings ever with the Eagles. This is a great move. Either he bounces back to form and the 49ers have a tremendous man coverage CB, or he continues to struggle and they can cut him with no cap hit. Again, Trent Baalke y'all.

The 49ers also brought in Dan Skuta, Marlon Moore, kicker Phil Dawson, and everyone's favorite Ram, Craig Dahl.

Craig Dahl, is a San Francisco 49er.

It's going to be tough, but I think us Rams fans will get over it.

NFL Draft

1st round, 18 overall	Eric Reid, S, LSU
2nd round, 40 overall	Tank Carradine, DE, FSU
2nd round, pick 55	Vance McDonald, TE, Rice
3rd round, pick 88	Corey Lemonier, OLB, Auburn
4th round, pick 128	Quinton Patton, WR, Louisiana Tech
4th round, pick 131	Marcus Lattimore, RB, South Carolina
5th round, pick 157	Quinton Dial, DE/DT, Alabama
6th round, pick 180	Nick Moody, LB, FSU
7th round, pick 237	BJ Daniels, QB, South Florida
7th round, pick 246	Carter Bykowski, OT, Iowa St.
7th round, pick 253	Marcus Cooper, CB, Rutgers

San Francisco had only a few needs, and they filled all of them in the draft.

Eric Reid was a player I compared to Dashon Goldson throughout the draft process. Makes sense that he was drafted to replace Goldson.

The Tank Carradine pick has a chance to be a home run. He has great talent, and if he can get past his injury issues, he should be a very productive player.

Vance McDonald is very good at using his size to take advantage of mismatches to make plays despite his lack of speed. He has the size to be a great blocking TE, but he struggled in that area in college. He can be used in the joker role quite effectively to start his career as he learns his blocking.

Quinton Patton might have been the steal of the draft. Patton was the best WR at blocking in the draft, which is huge for a team like the 49ers. He also has great hands and is already a good route runner. He is not an elite athlete and has a low ceiling, but his floor is high. He won't be asked to do much his rookie year, which will give him time to develop.

The Marcus Lattimore pick is a shot in the dark. He is not fully healed from his horrific knee injury last season. He is going to need at least a year off to get back in football shape after his rehab is finally completed. Lucky for him, the 49ers don't need a running back next season. With the embarrassment of riches San Francisco have in the back field, they can afford to give Lattimore a "red-shirt" year.

Quinton Dial was a great run stuffer in college, and that should translate into the NFL. The Niners choose BJ Daniels over Tyler Bray and Sean Renfree. I choose not to question it because Trent Baalke's moves are not to be questioned or even understood. They simply are, and they almost always work.

Crabtree injury

Michael Crabree tore his achilles tendon and will be out for all of next season. Losing 1,105 yards and 9 TDs will be tough to overcome, but not impossible. Considering that the 49ers brought in Anquan Boldin, Quinton Patton and Vance McDonald, I think they won't miss Crabtree much. Then again, there is this amazing player named AJ Jenkins who is still on the roster. We all know that Harbaugh will never play my fellow Illini as a personal attack on me. #FreeAJJenkins

Overall Thoughts

The 49ers were close to winning the Super Bowl last season with a first year starting QB. The team improved greatly in the offseason. Barring a second year slump from Kaepernick, or injury trouble, the 49ers will be one of the NFL's elite teams in 2013.

But all this really doesn't matter because they can't beat the Rams. They may tie the Rams, but they will not beat the Rams.