Aaron Rodgers - What could have been

0

This weekend's divisional playoff round reflected poorly on the legacy of former 49ers general manager Scot McCloughan. The most glaring example was the play of Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, a player McCloughan scouted as being second to Alex Smith in the 2005 draft. Rodgers is now on his way to being the league's best quarterback, if he's not there already.

In beating the top-seeded Falcons on Sunday, Rodgers showed it all - accuracy, mobility, pocket presence, and an uncanny grasp of knowing who was open. His timing with his receivers was impeccable. McCloughan and the 49ers weren't the only ones to miss on Rodgers. He dropped to the 24th slot in the first round before the Packers stole him and that contributed to his success eventually.

He went to the stable Packers, a team that has stayed with the same offense during five of his six seasons in Green Bay. He sat behind Brett Favre for three years and soaked up the scheme, luxuries not afforded to Alex Smith. Nevertheless, Rodgers' talent is so great, he might have been able to help solidify an offensive direction for the rudderless 49ers.

Now the 49ers are without a quarterback and have no means to get one with a labor stoppage looming.

Another failing of the 49ers was their handling of offensive guards. The Falcons won 13 games with Harvey Dahl as their starting right guard, a player the 49ers kept on their practice squad and then eventually cut. Dahl tried playing tackle with the 49ers, but he wasn't athletic enough. The Falcons signed him and moved him to guard and his chippy, aggressive style sets the tone for their excellent offensive line. The team also dumped Justin Smiley, who's now in Jacksonville, and Kyle Kosier, a starter in Dallas.

Had the 49ers kept those players, they could have used last April's first round pick on a cornerback or a pass rusher instead of Mike Iupati. Alabama cornerback Kareem Jackson went two picks later to the Texans; he started this year, made two interceptions and 71 tackles.

In 2008, the team expended a second-round choice on Chilo Rachel, the line's weakest link. One round later, the Saints chose cornerback Tracy Porter, the man who intercepted Peyton Manning to preserve last year's Super Bowl win.

IS HARBAUGH LIKE REX RYAN?

Jets coach Rex Ryan proved he was far more than just a fat guy with a foot fetish on Sunday. He proved to be a brilliant strategist and tactician. His strategy of trash talking the Patriots took pressure of his young quarterback. With the Patriots and Jets lobbing verbal grenades at each other, no one bothered to ask Mark Sanchez about his short history of poor play against the Pats.

HBO's "Hard Knocks" constantly captured Sanchez's vast insecurity with their behind-the-scenes cameras during summer training camp. Ryan protected his quarterback from constant questions about the New England defense by starting the trash talk. Brilliant.

What was even more impressive was Ryan's defensive tactics, which completely bamboozled Tom Brady.

Harbaugh exhibited similar brashness and tactical maneuvers in Stanford's play against the typically more talented USC Trojans. He ran up the score on USC, and got to a verbal clash with coach Pete Carroll. With Ryan showing the way, could Harbaugh pulled off a similar stint in the NFL?

Posted By: Kevin Lynch (Email) | January 17 2011 at 12:31 PM