Niners make Smith better with Balmer

By Anthony Bialy  |   Tuesday, April 29, 2008  |  Comments( 3 )

San Francisco 49ers
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The easiest way to help talented people find success is to surround them with more talent. For example, throwing a fortune at a player like, say, defensive end Justin Smith to entice him to join the San Francisco 49ers instantly upgraded the franchise, but he’ll never reach his potential unless he’s playing right next to fellow supremely gifted linemen. Fans unpleasantly surprised by Kentwan Balmer’s first-round selection in last weekend's NFL draft would be best served by looking at the pick as a way to improve the veteran newcomer’s performance, not to mention the rest of the defense.

Even if the Niners disregarded other conspicuous needs with their first-round decision, the ex-North Carolina defensive lineman brings the concrete possibility of making Smith’s life easier. While the newer player’s pro position may as of yet be undefined, the positive way to view the situation is that he offers versatility as someone who could play either in the middle or on the line’s edge.

At 6-foot-5 and 298 pounds, it might be tough to utilize Balmer as a defensive tackle, his usual college position; while he possesses the sort of size that would be perfect in the core of a Tampa 2-style defense built around quick, undersized, attacking linemen, the Niners’ 3-4 usually employs giant roadblocks in the interior, the sort of players who cast a shadow over a large portion of stadiums’ lower decks.

While it will require a demanding effort for Balmer to achieve that physical status, he literally has room to grow before the regular season. If he can add muscular bulk this summer while maintaining both his speed and quickness, he could stay inside; of course, every single player in the game would love to be both insanely fast and oppressively powerful, but first-round rookies are the sorts who are in the unique position of actually owning both that level of athletic capacity along with a frame that can still be packed with more devastating mass.

The best hope is that Balmer will automatically create chances to help the squad’s key free agent by drawing attention from offenses. Of course, the finest example of a skilled player helping his comrade look fantastic in league history is found in San Francisco's own history, namely Jerry Rice making life utterly painless for his quarterbacks.

Or maybe it was the other way around, and Joe Montana and Steve Young were the ones who helped Rice rise to an even more outstanding level than he would have attained with a mediocre passer; the argument will never be settled, but what is undeniably true is that good players don’t get the job done by themselves, particularly in a sport like football where a single outstanding athlete can’t overcome being surrounded by 10 mediocre teammates.

So, while the Niners could have added a first-round stud to the offensive line or taken a wide receiver with their earliest chance, Balmer’s upside is that he could make the entire unit function more effectively. He brings not just his own abilities but further alleviates pressure on his side of the ball. It enhances prospects for success from their pricey defensive offseason signing and could theoretically help the linebackers, too, as they’ll have fewer blockers with which to cope if the rookie lineman excels.

This team certainly must repair other glaringly weak areas before the season begins, but San Francisco’s first pick offers an immediate boost of his own: The former Tar Heel may aid the franchise’s situation overall, including that of his neighbor on the line. Smith must be even happier than he was on his signing day.
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