For the record the names on the list are these:
1 QB Kurt Warner
2 HB Willie Parker
3 HB Ryan Grant
4 FB Leonard Weaver
5 TE Antonio Gates
6 WR Wes Welker
7 WR Lance Moore
8 OT Jason Peters
9 OT Donald Penn
10 G Brian Waters
11 G Stephen Neal
12 C Jeff Saturday
13 DE Adewale Ogunleye
14 DE Shaun Smith
15 DT Pat Williams
16 DT Tommy Kelly
17 LB Bart Scott
18 LB Antonio Pierce
19 LB London Fletcher
20 LB James Harrison
21 CB Jabari Greer
22 CB Leigh Bodden
23 S Ryan Clark
24 S Brain Russell
25 K Adam Vinatieri
26 P Brian Moorman
27 KR Joshua Cribbs
If we played this team on the field, would they win the Super Bowl? It is possible but unlikely. The unit is extremely thick on running backs and linebackers. You could make a formidable West Coast offense and a formidable 3-4 defense with this crew. That is a truly nasty linebacking corps. Probably the ugliest aspect of this team if you are the enemy unit.
However, the offensive line is a bit thin. Jeff Saturday is the one great offensive lineman in this crew. That ain't enough to guard Warner. Of course, if we are running a bunch of shallow crossing routes and quick releases to the running backs, maybe the line will hold. Joe didn't hold the ball long in 1981, and the 49ers didn't give up many sacks.
I am not wild about our receiver corps at all. Warner has had much better targets than this. Antonio Gates is the only great receiver in the corp. I would have to press Joshua Cribbs into service as a reciever. I am sure he would love to catch a few passes from Warner.
I am not in love with the safeties. I think Ryan Clark and Brian Russell can be beaten. I have personally witnessed Warner lighting-up both of those guys. Do your recall how Larry Fitzgerald scored on the long run with 3 minutes to go in the Super Bowl? Yep, I think that was actually Ryan Clark's sector of turf he ran through.
So what is the moral of the story? Don't draft Linebackers and Running Backs. There are damn good ones availible on Monday after the draft. Don't draft a kicker either. You can get a hall of fame kicker for free.
