Icness wrote:Harry Palmer wrote:Jeff-
Rumblings that the 9ers are looking to move up for Austin.
*are you hearing anything?
*what do you feel the move would involve?
*how do you like the fit?
I've heard them, the rumors happen to involve a team I am commonly associated with

, among other trade partners
To ensure getting Austin they would have to move to #5 because Cleveland could take him. The Browns are unlikely to do that, but the Jets at 9 are a definite landing spot, as is TEN at 10. To move from 31 to 8, that costs a lot. As the Bills at 8 I would ask for 31, 34, 93, & 157, but give SF the option of paying the 3rd or later next year. At 5 the Lions would ask for 31 & 34 plus next year's 1st.
IMO it's not the best place for Austin to land. What makes him so valuable is that he can play in the slot or out of the backfield. But the Niners already have Lamichael James to do the backfield stuff, and Vernon Davis is better as a receiver out of the slot. Austin definitely brings some vitality and dynamic potential to the offense as a creator and YAC guy, but I'm not sure if he doesn't take away some from what makes Kaepernick so effective and what other guys do well. I'm confident Harbaugh would find a way to make it work though. I just like Austin better where he's not as pigeonholed.
Interesting, thanks!
I was thinking it was a threshold kind of deal; as in, if Buff goes Geno, etc. Like if he gets to a certain point, ``11 or thereabouts, then they make the move. I did not realize they were looking at getting him as a 'this is our guy' thing. Very interesting. I suppose there are only a few needs and a ton of picks, so concentration makes some sense.
Schematically, I get your reservations. I think he fits with Harbaugh's idea of 'dominate physically at the line/ get electric skill guys at the skill positions' thing, but agree with you about the overfill at the slot. It would seem they want a 'take the top off' type, which would make more sense outside. My best guess is they want a playmaker type that can't be accounted for with individual matchups, and VD will gradually lose that capability as he ages. It certainly caught me off guard, this rumor.
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As an aside, I get a general vibe from you about Harbaugh, and it's one I see elsewhere which is sort of like a new Darth Hoodie thing, where people really dislike his personality, but think he might be a football genius. Is my impression of your take in the ballpark? I originally thought him very likeable, in part because I assumed a lot of what he says is meant ironically, but as time has gone on I can see him being a guy people could hate if he wasn't your guy.
To me it comes down to this; EVERYTHING is a do or die competition with him. Including press conferences, interviews, conversations. He wants to 'win' everyone of them, and a lot of those scenarios don't actually have to be antagonistic. (I would qualify it slightly in terms of with his players, where I feel he is a little different). His brother seems to remain as competitive in sports without it translating to everything else as much, or maybe he just hides it better.
I do think Jim is an oncoming genius, but I worry about burn-out.