RealGM

Cut him; he's useless, bla bla bla...

VANCE GOT A HAIR CUT!!! No more hippy-like aura from Vance; he means business now! (Same w/ Gabbert)

Not necessarily here, but 49er fans have done nothing but trash this guy from day 1. I've been saying it's a perfect buy-low opportunity to extend his contract.

Vance looks like a new man. He's the best blocking TE in the NFL by a decent margin, and now he's showing that the drops were a mental thing that were addressed by the game slowing down for him and becoming fearless.

GIVE THIS MAN A CONTRACT BAALKE!!!!

Lets see what he does the first 4 games and not base this off the first 2 preseason games

Could have swore old pan hands dropped on last game.

It wouldn't be the first time he caught 3 balls then dropped a ridiculously easy catch though.

I'm more excited about a healthy Celek, but I wouldn't mind some two TE sets with Celek if McDonald could start catching consistently. He gets open.

i'll wait until the season starts and real pressure is on

Pending on draft position obviously but TE next year is a target of mine ATM.

Tired of being right all the time? Right.

Let Vance do something during the regular season during a game that actually matters before we give him the keys to Santa Clara. It's not like his value is going to skyrocket if we wait half a season.

Best blocking TE?

wco81 wrote:Best blocking TE?

Name one blocking TE who even comes close to Vance.

He doesn't exist. Vance is a monster blocker.

Bald Bull wrote:Could have swore old pan hands dropped on last game.

That wasn't a drop. Dude barely got a tip of the fingers on it. That one was on Blaine.

You want to wait at least ONE game into the RS before tooting your own horn? He's always been a great run-blocker, but he's been absolutely terrible as a pass-catcher, and I haven't seen much to change my opinion. He still looks awkward as a route-runner and doesn't (and will never have) natural hands.

I have a better feeling on McDonald this year.

However I liked what Celek did last year and still don't fully trust McDonald hands.

As most are saying lets see how he starts out the year.

He looks more settled in this year. Read an article where he said his approach was different because he was playing for fun which has helped him loosen up. If he can became Vernon Davis 2.0 and fix his stone hand ailment, then he'll get a lot of passes dumped off to him when Gabbert's out there.

But supposedly he didn't block in college, mostly raised his draft stock as a receiver.

So he's learned to block in the NFL, like Delaney Walker did.

I know Delaney makes a lot more money now but the 49ers have a lot of cap space. What was the point of drafting and developing players only to let them go in free agency so they can play at pro bowl level for other teams?

He's been a somewhat valuable player for a while now by virtue of his blocking. He's one of the best. But he's always been able to get open, just drops the ball. He fixes that and he's the complete game real deal. I think if he even just has a QB who trusts him enough to keep throwing after a bad drop - he'll have a big year. Assuming he catches close to league average %.

wco81 wrote:But supposedly he didn't block in college, mostly raised his draft stock as a receiver.

So he's learned to block in the NFL, like Delaney Walker did.

I know Delaney makes a lot more money now but the 49ers have a lot of cap space. What was the point of drafting and developing players only to let them go in free agency so they can play at pro bowl level for other teams?

Walker is a really unique player. He moves like a WR. But his in line blocking isn't elite elite. It's his ability to get to spots and understand play designs that really sets him apart. He can get to spots other guys simply can't because of his speed - and he's VERY willing as a blocker. So his lack of size (just his height/length) does hurt him a bit there... we missed him a lot the year after he left. We didn't have the cap space to sign him if I recall. He made that offense very hard to defend. We rarely had to change personnel and could stretch the field with both TE's. Could run at will. Unfortunately he wasn't so easy to replace.

McDonald is a more traditional in line blocker - but he can get to some interesting spots too - but he is also not quite as fast or fluid as Walker. He's a hell of a lot bigger though and that helps with different aspects. He is very fast for a man his size. But it's funny, IDK how many recall but Walker had the same problem with his hands. He dropped a lot of passes. I think he improved with the Titans on that but I could be mistaken and he's simply been fed the ball more.

NinerSickness wrote:

Bald Bull wrote:Could have swore old pan hands dropped on last game.

That wasn't a drop. Dude barely got a tip of the fingers on it. That one was on Blaine.

I don't remember clearly enough. Vance has always shown potential, every year is his break out year in my mind, then he pan hands it. Vernon learned to catch though, maybe Pan hands can get it together.

yellowknifer wrote:

wco81 wrote:
McDonald is a more traditional in line blocker - but he can get to some interesting spots too - but he is also not quite as fast or fluid as Walker. He's a hell of a lot bigger though and that helps with different aspects. He is very fast for a man his size. But it's funny, IDK how many recall but Walker had the same problem with his hands. He dropped a lot of passes. I think he improved with the Titans on that but I could be mistaken and he's simply been fed the ball more.

Walker dropped a lot of passes, but they weren't as frustrating as some of Vance's. Vance could be wide open, the pass could be delivered by a stork gently into his hands, he will hold it just long enough that it might require a replay as a fumble, and then he drops it with just enough time to be ruled incomplete.

Walker was the typical run before securing the ball stuff. Vance McDonald is battling some kind of witchcraft.

Won't matter once we grab O.J. Howard in the draft.

clyde21 wrote:Won't matter once we grab O.J. Howard in the draft.

Or the dude from Virginia Tech. I have my heart set on Garrett / Harris / Corey Davis early, but the dude from VT might drop to the 2nd.

Either way, the Niners need to keep Vance around. He'd be a hell of a 2nd TE IMO. Especially 'cause he's the best blocking TE in the league.

clyde21 wrote:You want to wait at least ONE game into the RS before tooting your own horn?

Nah. I'm good.