49ers wearing thin in secondary

By Brad Wilbricht  |   Sunday, March 29, 2009  |  Comments( 1 )

San Francisco 49ers
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While the recent defection of Donald Strickland isn’t a tremendous loss, the San Francisco 49ers’ secondary needs to be replenished prior to next season. Outside of Nate Clements, the 49ers have little firepower at the cornerback position.

Strickland, a former third-round draft pick, never established himself as a full-time starter but was a significant part of San Francisco’s nickel package and a valuable backup. His departure to the New York Jets leaves the 49ers in need of help in the secondary.

Strickland spent three seasons in the Bay Area and appeared in 27 games over the past two years. After being lightly used in 2006, he racked up 72 tackles and 10 pass deflections during his final two campaigns in San Francisco.

With Walt Harris starting opposite of Clements, the 49ers find themselves already shorthanded against an increasingly potent NFC West. Now, with less talent left on the depth chart, San Francisco has an even bigger disadvantage.

The Arizona Cardinals feature one the best wide receiving tandems in the NFL with Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. Although Boldin’s future in Arizona is uncertain, the Cardinals have several other players waiting to take his place if he indeed leaves.

Meanwhile, the Seattle Seahawks’ receiving corps improved dramatically with the addition of free-agent wideout T.J. Houshmandzadeh -- who played second fiddle to Chad Johnson early in his career with the Cincinnati Bengals, eventually overtaking Johnson as the Bengals’ top target.

Tarell Brown and Marcus Hudson are currently next in line at corner in San Francisco, which isn't exactly a comforting thought for many of the 49er faithful. Brown proved to be somewhat reliable a year ago, playing in 15 games and compiling 30 tackles along with two interceptions. Hudson is versatile enough to play both cornerback and safety, but his lack of footwork and instincts make him a liability in coverage.

In addition, newcomer Jimmy Williams and Reggie Smith are also at the 49ers’ disposal. Williams, whom Atlanta released, signed with the 49ers earlier this offseason. He has excellent size but has underachieved thus far. Smith boasts potential, but it’s unsure whether he can turn and run with capable NFL receivers at this point in his career.

The 49ers’ pass defense ranked 20th in the league last season, allowing nearly 220 yards per game. So far this offseason, they’ve done little to improve their secondary. However, help is likely on the way come Draft Day in April.

At pick No. 10, San Francisco might have the option of selecting whoever the best corner in the draft is. As of now, it’s unsure if this year’s top two CBs, Malcolm Jenkins of Ohio St and Illinois’ Vontae Davis, grade out to as top 10-caliber players. If they don’t, the 49ers could target a young corner in the second round or early on Day 2.
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About Brad Wilbricht

Brad Wilbricht covers numerous sporting events including the NFL, NFL Draft and college football. His analysis is simulcast through several media outlets across the country. Additionally, Brad is a regular guest on a variety of talk radio shows and can be frequently heard on the airwaves. To ...
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