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What happens to Borland?

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What happens to Borland? 

Post#1 » by jackwindham » Thu Jan 1, 2015 9:52 pm

The silver lining in the cloud of injuries during the tumultuous season for the San Francisco 49ers was the fact that Chris Borland proved himself to be more than a capable starter in the NFL. Guy showed flashes of being a potential superstar. With Patrick Willis and Navarro Bowman expected to be healthy next season, what happens to Borland?
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Re: What happens to Borland? 

Post#2 » by Tomikcon1971 » Thu Jan 1, 2015 9:57 pm

I think he's a valuable piece going forward. No guarantee Bow ever returns to his original form. Willis is going to start slowing down whether we like it or not. I think he is a key figure heading into 2015.
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Re: What happens to Borland? 

Post#3 » by jackwindham » Thu Jan 1, 2015 10:02 pm

I can't imagine his agent being fine with him going back to the bench. I'm sure they're going to want to capitalize on his success. As a fan, I also would hate for him to be stuck on the sidelines because he really does have Pro Bowl potential.
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Re: What happens to Borland? 

Post#4 » by CrimsonCrew » Thu Jan 1, 2015 10:13 pm

jackwindham wrote:I can't imagine his agent being fine with him going back to the bench. I'm sure they're going to want to capitalize on his success. As a fan, I also would hate for him to be stuck on the sidelines because he really does have Pro Bowl potential.


I can't imagine the coaches seeking his agent's opinion, particularly if he's behind Bowman and Willis.

I floated this in another thread, but I do think this is a season where we could seriously consider moving to a 4-3. That would allow us to start Borland at ILB (probably in a two-down role), Bowman at WLB, and Willis at SLB. Aldon and Lynch are both good fits at 4-3 DE, and Carradine may be better in that alignment as well (probably getting snaps at both DT and LDE). Hell, it's possible all our DL except Williams (and the Cowboy if he sticks around) are better suited to a 4-3.
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Re: What happens to Borland? 

Post#5 » by Tomikcon1971 » Thu Jan 1, 2015 10:13 pm

He's heading into year 2 of a four year $3MM rookie contract. Not sure he has much leverage.
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Re: What happens to Borland? 

Post#6 » by jackwindham » Thu Jan 1, 2015 10:20 pm

CrimsonCrew wrote:I can't imagine the coaches seeking his agent's opinion, particularly if he's behind Bowman and Willis.


I never said that the coaches were going to seek the opinions of his agent. It's a bit naive to think that those guys don't play a role by whispering into the ears of the players. They're a bit more influential than you think, especially if they can get their guys to believe their own hype.
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Re: What happens to Borland? 

Post#7 » by CrimsonCrew » Thu Jan 1, 2015 10:25 pm

jackwindham wrote:
CrimsonCrew wrote:I can't imagine the coaches seeking his agent's opinion, particularly if he's behind Bowman and Willis.


I never said that the coaches were going to seek the opinions of his agent. It's a bit naive to think that those guys don't play a role by whispering into the ears of the players. They're a bit more influential than you think, especially if they can get their guys to believe their own hype.


So what is Borland - a second-year player who was drafted in the third round and couldn't last half a season without getting injured - going to do if he doesn't like sitting behind two very legit HOF candidates who are or near their primes? Is he going to hold out? Is he going to pitch a fit in the media? I don't know a ton about Borland, but I'm not too worried about it at this point. Now, if he rides the pine all season, he might ask for a trade or something along those lines, but at this point it seems silly to be overly concerned about it.
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Re: What happens to Borland? 

Post#8 » by jackwindham » Thu Jan 1, 2015 10:38 pm

CrimsonCrew wrote:I floated this in another thread, but I do think this is a season where we could seriously consider moving to a 4-3.


While I'm not opposed to the idea, teams generally want to stick to a 3-4 if they have more linebacker depth than defensive line depth. Plus, I'm not quite sure how Bowman and Willis adapt to being moved outside. They're so awesome on the interior.
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Re: What happens to Borland? 

Post#9 » by Tomikcon1971 » Thu Jan 1, 2015 10:45 pm

Chris Borland's status on the LB depth chart is about #20 on my list of concerns heading into the offseason.....maybe #30.
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Re: What happens to Borland? 

Post#10 » by jackwindham » Thu Jan 1, 2015 10:49 pm

Tomikcon1971 wrote:He's heading into year 2 of a four year $3MM rookie contract. Not sure he has much leverage.


The agent is going to want to make sure that his client is in a position to receive a hefty pay raise when those four years are up. It's easier for Borland to do that as a starter somewhere, as opposed to being a backup with the Niners.
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Re: What happens to Borland? 

Post#11 » by CalamityX12 » Thu Jan 1, 2015 10:56 pm

There's nothing Borland can do to force himself into the starter unit....other than outplay bow n willis n no that's not happening yet
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Re: What happens to Borland? 

Post#12 » by jackwindham » Thu Jan 1, 2015 11:10 pm

CrimsonCrew wrote:So what is Borland - a second-year player who was drafted in the third round and couldn't last half a season without getting injured - going to do if he doesn't like sitting behind two very legit HOF candidates who are or near their primes?


To you, Borland is a second year player who was drafted in the third round. To his agent, he is a potential goldmine. A lot of teams are willing to take a gamble on potential. In that scenario, Borland becomes an asset to the Niners. His agent can call around and see what teams would be interested in giving him a starting spot. That information can be relayed to Baalke.
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Re: What happens to Borland? 

Post#13 » by jackwindham » Fri Jan 2, 2015 1:05 am

CrimsonCrew wrote:Now, if he rides the pine all season, he might ask for a trade or something along those lines, but at this point it seems silly to be overly concerned about it.


For clarification, I'm not losing any sleep because of this. It's just a topic of discussion.
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Re: What happens to Borland? 

Post#14 » by clyde21 » Fri Jan 2, 2015 1:36 am

What's gonna happend to Borland? Sit behind two perennial all-pros and play special teams, that's what. His time will come.
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Re: What happens to Borland? 

Post#15 » by jackwindham » Fri Jan 2, 2015 2:54 am

Tomikcon1971 wrote:Chris Borland's status on the LB depth chart is about #20 on my list of concerns heading into the offseason.....maybe #30.


Borland's status is a bit higher on my priority list because he could be used as a trade asset to fill in the holes elsewhere on the depth chart. If he can yield a high draft pick to be used on a corner back, then that helps deeply. Of course, there's a major risk in trading someone that can become a building block, though.
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Re: What happens to Borland? 

Post#16 » by Tomikcon1971 » Fri Jan 2, 2015 3:08 am

jackwindham wrote:
Tomikcon1971 wrote:Chris Borland's status on the LB depth chart is about #20 on my list of concerns heading into the offseason.....maybe #30.


Borland's status is a bit higher on my priority list because he could be used as a trade asset to fill in the holes elsewhere on the depth chart. If he can yield a high draft pick to be used on a corner back, then that helps deeply. Of course, there's a major risk in trading someone that can become a building block, though.


Not sure what your definition of a high draft pick is but I just don't see suitors lining up for an overachieving LB with 7-8 games of NFL experience. If I was a GM, I'd save the pick and find someone in free agency or use the pick to select a LB.
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Re: What happens to Borland? 

Post#17 » by jackwindham » Fri Jan 2, 2015 3:11 am

Tomikcon1971 wrote:Not sure what your definition of a high draft pick is but I just don't see suitors lining up for an overachieving LB with 7-8 games of NFL experience. If I was a GM, I'd save the pick and find someone in free agency or use the pick to select a LB.


I'm not talking about a first round pick or anything like that. While he didn't play a ton of games, he looked really good in the time that he was on the field. At times, he looked capable of being dominant. The potential is there. He's more of a known commodity than the linebackers coming out of college now.
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Re: What happens to Borland? 

Post#18 » by CrimsonCrew » Fri Jan 2, 2015 4:29 am

jackwindham wrote:
CrimsonCrew wrote:So what is Borland - a second-year player who was drafted in the third round and couldn't last half a season without getting injured - going to do if he doesn't like sitting behind two very legit HOF candidates who are or near their primes?


To you, Borland is a second year player who was drafted in the third round. To his agent, he is a potential goldmine. A lot of teams are willing to take a gamble on potential. In that scenario, Borland becomes an asset to the Niners. His agent can call around and see what teams would be interested in giving him a starting spot. That information can be relayed to Baalke.


That sounds like a tampering charge waiting to be filed.

Obviously Borland and his agent would like to maximize his value, but the reality is that he just doesn't have much leverage right now. Holding out isn't likely to work for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, if he isn't an expected starter, then what good is holding out going to do? It's certainly not going to force the team's hand the way Boone was able to. And he's got three more years under contract at a very team-friendly rate. Second, and perhaps more importantly in this case, Borland isn't an elite specimen. He's an effort, instincts, and leadership guy. That type of player loses a tremendous amount of his value if he's being a distraction to the team.

From the Niners' perspective, there's no reason to play ball, either. They've got two very good ILBs, but both are coming off injury. Willis is no longer young, and in two or three years they may be looking to replace him. So it makes sense to hang onto Borland, who is a top-level backup and an elite STs player. There's also a chance that Bowman will not return to form after such a serious injury.

No matter what Borland's agent thinks he deserves, he's just not in a position to demand it right now.
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Re: What happens to Borland? 

Post#19 » by CrimsonCrew » Fri Jan 2, 2015 4:32 am

jackwindham wrote:
Tomikcon1971 wrote:Not sure what your definition of a high draft pick is but I just don't see suitors lining up for an overachieving LB with 7-8 games of NFL experience. If I was a GM, I'd save the pick and find someone in free agency or use the pick to select a LB.


I'm not talking about a first round pick or anything like that. While he didn't play a ton of games, he looked really good in the time that he was on the field. At times, he looked capable of being dominant. The potential is there. He's more of a known commodity than the linebackers coming out of college now.


What pick is worth it to the Niners to deal? You've got a potentially very good LB and team leader for years to come. You just used a third round pick on him. They're not going to move him for the same type of pick now that they've seen him play quite well. Maybe they'd consider it for a high second, but I'm just not confident they'd get that at this point.
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Re: What happens to Borland? 

Post#20 » by jackwindham » Fri Jan 2, 2015 9:25 pm

CrimsonCrew wrote:That sounds like a tampering charge waiting to be filed.


Agents are allowed to seek out potential trade partners for their client's team. It actually is a pretty efficient method for the general managers to have someone do the initial leg work for them.

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