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http://www.csnbayarea.com/49ers/lattimore-details-end-49ers-shocked-baalke-drafted-him

"Marcus Lattimore's stint with the San Francisco 49ers was certainly brief, but unique enough to not be forgotten any time soon.

The former South Carolina running back, who suffered two knee injuries in college, reflected back on his football career, including his unorthodox journey in and out of the pros.

"I went out there and put a smile on my face like everything was alright," Lattimore said about his time with the 49ers in a recent interview with SB Nation. "But it was hell. Every day."

Given his injury history, and the severity of his latest one against the Tennessee Volunteers, Lattimore added that he was surprised San Francisco general manager Trent Baalke drafted him at all.

"I mean, why would you take a running back with two horrible knee injuries?" Lattimore said, wondering about his own fourth-round draft slot in 2013. “I did pretty good, I played good in college, but if I’m a GM I don’t think I would do it."

Lattimore never played a down in the National Football League.

The former All-SEC product also revealed his true state during workouts and rehab recovery in Santa Clara, which apparently differed from what the 49ers observed.

“My running backs coach was like, ‘Good job! Good job!’” Lattimore said. "My offensive coordinator — I was catching balls out of the backfield — was like, 'Man you look good!' I was like, 'You have no clue.'"

But those close to Lattimore had a deeper understanding, knowing something wasn't quite right.

"I would ask him, 'How was your day?'" Miranda Bailey, Lattimore's fiance, said in the interview. "And he would just say 'good' and he would never elaborate."

"He put up a big front for everyone else, but I could see it in him," his mother, Yolanda Smith, says. "The light was gone."

Lattimore retired on Nov. 5, 2014. He served most of his days on NFL injury lists and never appeared in a professional game."

Still won't rip Baalke for the move. Was a small gamble. Might have been better to wait until lower rounds, but hindsight is 20/20

Pattersonca65 wrote:Still won't rip Baalke for the move. Was a small gamble. Might have been better to wait until lower rounds, but hindsight is 20/20

This. Willis McGahee has 2 horrendous knee injuries, and he was still a first-round pick. Lattimore was that special if healthy. If the Niners didn't pick him, someone else would have soon IMO. Maybe in the 5th.

Most 4th-round picks don't amount to much anyway, so you might as well swing for the fences. Sometimes you get a Lattimore; sometimes you get an Aaron Lynch.

It's amazing that a complete RB such as Jay Ajayi would get selected a round after Lattimore. Last time we've seen Jay he looked like a 1st/2nd round pick, while Lattimore's last time on the field he was being carried off.

But nothing will top those Rams taking Gurley in the top ten

Agree that it was worth the risk at that point in the draft. It was also a comp 4th pick at the very bottom of the round if my memory serves me. That is the risk/reward range to start swinging for the fences and see what sticks. He worked hard to make a go of it, but just too much of a physical and psychological tole to overcome.

NinerSickness wrote:

Pattersonca65 wrote:Still won't rip Baalke for the move. Was a small gamble. Might have been better to wait until lower rounds, but hindsight is 20/20

This. Willis McGahee has 2 horrendous knee injuries, and he was still a first-round pick. Lattimore was that special if healthy. If the Niners didn't pick him, someone else would have soon IMO. Maybe in the 5th.

Most 4th-round picks don't amount to much anyway, so you might as well swing for the fences. Sometimes you get a Lattimore; sometimes you get an Aaron Lynch.

Totally agree. Not only was he a potential star, but also a class act. He was the type of complete player that could have eventually taken the torch over from Gore both as primary rusher and a team leader.

What's a little odd is that he seems pretty critical of the Niners coaches and FO. I don't get that. If you're not right, don't declare for the draft. Or don't even try to play. Don't declare, get drafted, collect a paycheck to rehab, and then criticize the organization that put some faith in you when he doesn't pan out. I've only heard really good things about Lattimore, but I didn't love the way some of those comments come out - on paper at least.

CrimsonCrew wrote:What's a little odd is that he seems pretty critical of the Niners coaches and FO. I don't get that. If you're not right, don't declare for the draft. Or don't even try to play. Don't declare, get drafted, collect a paycheck to rehab, and then criticize the organization that put some faith in you when he doesn't pan out. I've only heard really good things about Lattimore, but I didn't love the way some of those comments come out - on paper at least.

I guess it depends on how you interpret his words. I think he sounds harsher on the FO. He could have meant to say he was surprised anyone would draft him because of the severity of his injury. But the way it came out, it looks like he is ripping Baalke for drafting him. As far as his coaches go, I initially took it as the coaches really didn't know how he was feeling or moving when they made those comments. Just my interpretation. As far as entering the draft and being drafted, there could have been a timing issue. He may have well thought there as a good chance of a comeback at the time of the draft but after extensive rehab and trying to actually practice football on the field determined that he wasn't going to make it. Just my guess.

Pattersonca65 wrote:

CrimsonCrew wrote:What's a little odd is that he seems pretty critical of the Niners coaches and FO. I don't get that. If you're not right, don't declare for the draft. Or don't even try to play. Don't declare, get drafted, collect a paycheck to rehab, and then criticize the organization that put some faith in you when he doesn't pan out. I've only heard really good things about Lattimore, but I didn't love the way some of those comments come out - on paper at least.

I guess it depends on how you interpret his words. I think he sounds harsher on the FO. He could have meant to say he was surprised anyone would draft him because of the severity of his injury. But the way it came out, it looks like he is ripping Baalke for drafting him. As far as his coaches go, I initially took it as the coaches really didn't know how he was feeling or moving when they made those comments. Just my interpretation. As far as entering the draft and being drafted, there could have been a timing issue. He may have well thought there as a good chance of a comeback at the time of the draft but after extensive rehab and trying to actually practice football on the field determined that he wasn't going to make it. Just my guess.

I certainly don't fault him for trying to make a go of it. I just don't understand criticizing a team for taking a chance on you. Referring to it as hell, questioning why anyone would draft him. I put that on him. If you can't come back from the injury, you can't come back. But don't crap on the guys who put faith in you and paid you handsomely to rehab. I guarantee all 32 teams would have drafted him at some point.

"I mean, why would you take a running back with two horrible knee injuries?" Lattimore said, wondering about his own fourth-round draft slot in 2013. “I did pretty good, I played good in college, but if I’m a GM I don’t think I would do it."

Why not say you are done so that a team doesn't draft you?

CrimsonCrew wrote:What's a little odd is that he seems pretty critical of the Niners coaches and FO. I don't get that. If you're not right, don't declare for the draft. Or don't even try to play. Don't declare, get drafted, collect a paycheck to rehab, and then criticize the organization that put some faith in you when he doesn't pan out. I've only heard really good things about Lattimore, but I didn't love the way some of those comments come out - on paper at least.

EXACTLY!! I share the same sentiments. However, like how Eric Reid was highly misquoted this year with his retirement comment, I want to believe that Lattimore is also a victim here of an attention seeking whore of a journalist.

What other players were available when the 49ers picked Lattimore in that draft? Have any of them become productive or even All-Pros?

And the other question is, has any of Baalke's redshirt players worked out, become stars?

wco81 wrote:What other players were available when the 49ers picked Lattimore in that draft? Have any of them become productive or even All-Pros?

And the other question is, has any of Baalke's redshirt players worked out, become stars?

Tharold Simon and Kenny Stills both went within several picks. I don't think anyone else has really done much to date.

As far as Baalke's red shirts, not to date. Though he really only went that direction fairly recently. He took Looney in 2012, which hasn't worked out. Jury is still out on Carradine. He looked promising toward the end of last year, but needs to show a lot more. Obviously Lattimore didn't work out. Dial looks like a win for Baalke, though his "injury" wasn't very significant. The jury is very much out on Thomas, Reaser, and Millard, but I like the chances of at least two of those guys (and I'd like Millard but for Bruce Miller). Oh, and Ramsey - forgot about him - doesn't look promising, but he was a super late pick anyway. We'll have to see on Smelter.

The reality is, if Baalke just hits on one or two of the guys in the 4th or later, then it was worth the investment.

CrimsonCrew wrote:

wco81 wrote:The jury is very much out on Thomas, Reaser, and Millard

Think Baalke could sneak Millard past waivers and onto the PS?

I'd be like :

DoobieKeebler wrote:

CrimsonCrew wrote:

wco81 wrote:The jury is very much out on Thomas, Reaser, and Millard

Think Baalke could sneak Millard past waivers and onto the PS?

I'd be like :

I think there's a fair chance of that if only because of the position he plays. FBs aren't much in demand these days, though hybrid H-back types are more so.

Millard is one of the guys I'm interested in watching. He's got good hands, good intangibles from what I've read, and can contribute on probably every STs unit. He's got a shot, it's just hard to find a place for him. I think we're more likely to keep an extra ILB at this point, particularly as I've already got us keeping four TEs (Millard could earn a spot as basically a move TE) in Davis, McDonald, Bell, and Carrier. Though McDonald is on the bubble and Carrier could start the season on the PUP. With Davis reasonably likely to leave next year, and no obvious successor, I'd strongly consider trying to keep Anderson and Millard on the PS.

I think I saw something recently that said Smelter might be able to play this season. I sure hope so. I would like to know what we have in him sooner than later.