Sando: What gives ***** jump over West upstarts

[MauiRam]

By Mike Sando | ESPN.com
June, 4, 2012

The Mike Nolan era in San Francisco produced more heartache than the ***** would care to revisit, but the long-term legacy isn't so bad.

Eleven draft choices, including eight current starters and five Pro Bowl selections, remain on the *****' roster from the Nolan era.

The other NFC West teams have a combined eight of their own draft choices from the same 2005-2008 window. That includes six starters and no Pro Bowl selections for the Seattle Seahawks, Arizona Cardinals and St. Louis Rams.

Improved coaching and ownership have helped San Francisco get more from its talent. The current personnel department has also fared well in continuing to build, adding high-impact draft choices such as Aldon Smith and NaVorro Bowman.

Overall, the ***** have a division-high 38 of their own draft choices. The Seahawks are closest behind with 34, including 26 drafted since Pete Carroll became head coach in 2010.

In St. Louis, new coach Jeff Fisher inherits a young franchise quarterback in Sam Bradford, but he has only one Rams draft choice from 2005-2008: defensive end Chris Long. Consider this one more way to define first-year expectations for St. Louis relative to the expectations when Jim Harbaugh took over in San Francisco. Fisher inherits so much less.

Alex Smith, Frank Gore, Tarell Brown, Delanie Walker, Patrick Willis, Larry Grant, Joe Staley, Vernon Davis, Ray McDonald, Parys Haralson and Dashon Goldson remain with the ***** from their 2005-2008 drafts. Gore, Willis, Staley, Davis and Goldson have achieved Pro Bowl status. Those five and Alex Smith, Brown, McDonald, Haralson and (sometimes) Walker started for the ***** last season.

Leroy Hill, Red Bryant, Brandon Mebane and Ben Obomanu remain with Seattle from that era. The Cardinals still have Calais Campbell, Early Doucet and Levi Brown.

The chart breaks down NFC West draft choices by how many remain with their original teams and by the head coaches who welcomed those players into the league.

The ***** have two players from the Dennis Erickson era (punter Andy Lee, defensive lineman Isaac Sopoaga) and one from the Steve Mariucci era (snapper Brian Jennings). They are the only team in the division with a draft choice remaining from five head coaches ago (Jennings). The Rams have one player, Steven Jackson, remaining from the Mike Martz era (four coaches ago).

NFC West Draft Choices on 90-man Rosters
Category ***** Seahawks Cardinals Rams
Drafted under current HC 16 26 28 11
Drafted under previous HC 8 3 2 14
Drafted three HCs ago 11 5 1 1
Drafted four HCs ago 2 0 0 1
Drafted five HCs ago 1 0 0 0
Totals 38 34 31 27

Interesting comparisons there Mike, BUT - on any given Sunday ..

[Goldenfleece]

Interesting factoid, but otherwise this isn't overly meaningful. We had some good players from those drafts that the team elected not to retain (Atogwe and Bartell come to mind among others). Meanwhile, Dashon Goldson was retained by the ***** after hitting free agency and garnering so little interest that he was willing to come back on a one year contract. If the player doesn't break out until after his first contract expires and you let him shop around for opportunities, you kind of lose bragging rights about the guy being homegrown talent. When they last signed him, he was an unrestricted free agent.

The bottom line is that having lots of your own draft picks usually means that you have a young team or possibly a cheap owner, but it doesn't by itself have any direct bearing on whether your team is going to be good under a new coach.

[Ram Dragoon]

It always comes down to organization--and not just the GM/HC, but scouting department plays a huge part as well as other departments. Fact is, some are better organizers then leaders as history points out. For the Rams, its been lacking in almost all areas. The real strength of the Patriots isn't just hits HC or GM but notice the success of their player acquistion and development turns out.

[gap]

The real strength of the Patriots isn't just hits HC or GM but notice the success of their player acquistion and development turns out.

You forgot to mention their success in getting the officials to call things their way in games. That has been the biggest part of their success.


gap

[MauiRam]

You forgot to mention their success in getting the officials to call things their way in games. That has been the biggest part of their success.

gap

It certainly seems they get a lot of calls, or non-calls (that should have been called) in their favor - particularly when they play the Rams ..