Do you think there are still possible position switches coming up this spring?

Submitted by trueblue262 on

Slow day, so hopefully I'm not too out of line in posting this, but there was recent mention of McCray and where he might land in the rotation. I seemed to remember hi being a really good TE in HS as well.

Anybody think this would be a possible 2-way player? Or maybe even just be switched to add more competition?

Go Blue!

 

 

VictorValiant

March 5th, 2015 at 3:24 PM ^

  • Signs point to yes.
  • Yes.
  • Reply hazy, try again.
  • Without a doubt.
  • My sources say no.
  • As I see it, yes.
  • You may rely on it.
  • Concentrate and ask again.
  • Outlook not so good.
  • It is decidedly so.
  • Better not tell you now.
  • Very doubtful.
  • Yes - definitely.
  • It is certain.
  • Cannot predict now.
  • Most likely.
  • Ask again later.
  • My reply is no.
  • Outlook good.
  • Don't count on it.

Gentleman Squirrels

March 5th, 2015 at 4:27 PM ^

Seems more likely that he will become an H-back type like Khalid Hill/Wyatt Shallman.

Is Furbush staying put at LB then? I seem to recall that he was pegged as someone who will bulk up and move as a DE. Hell, if he bulks up a but, he could play the hybrid DE/LB position that Durkin likes to employ

Space Coyote

March 5th, 2015 at 3:26 PM ^

There are position switches for every team during spring. There are likely more with a new coaching staff, new schemes, etc.

Guys are trying out at different places, coaches are seeing where guys fit given their skills, and that work will continue. There will continue to be position switches through probably the first week of fall camp at least, though you likely won't hear about all the different positions guys are trying out at.

Magnus

March 5th, 2015 at 3:42 PM ^

Not everyone can play tight end or fullback. We can't move all our defensive backups over to offense. I think McCray stays put.

EastCoast Esq.

March 5th, 2015 at 3:58 PM ^

The following players to TE:

-Jabrill Peppers

-Blake Countess

-Mike McCray

-James Ross III

-Dawson

-LTT

-Henri Poggi

-Taco Charlton

-Moe Ways

-Drake Harris (just has to add a pound or two)

-Lawrence Marshall

-Anybody else who plays a position other than QB or RB

mGrowOld

March 5th, 2015 at 4:13 PM ^

"Position switches"

So can somebody explain to me why, at 55 years of age, do I immediately revert to my inner 13 year old and think of a bunch of dirty joke punchlines instead of football when I read that?

 

Seth

March 6th, 2015 at 12:07 PM ^

They're trying guys out at different spots what I've heard, especially fullback and tight end. Folks are going to jump all over these as the leak out because in several cases it seems to suggest guys who aren't in line for PT at their recruited positions aren't going to work out.

That will indeed prove to be the case in a few spots, because so it goes, but separating those from dudes looking to get a little more early playing time is really hard given the nature of the the pre-break practices. The staff was trying to see what they have, and were encouraging anybody to try out for snaps at positions of need, particularly the TE/H-back roles Harbaugh loves, where they're thin (Khalid Hill is coming back from injury and they're rightfully being careful).

In some places it's possible to get the wrong idea. Winovich is a good example; he tweeted that he's trying out H-back, and immediately I thought of the thin depth chart at LB after this year. But consider Winovich will never project as an MLB type--he's ideally a 4-3 under SAM, or a 3-4 "Cat" OLB. If he was larger I'd wonder if they could move him into the WDE competition, but at 230 lbs that's sub-optimal. Snaps after spring break will be going disproportionately to the 1st and 2nd teamers, and Winovich's position currently has Ross, RJS, and Gant using up the 50% of snaps that the SAM is not pulled for the nickel. It's also a more instinct-driven position than the middle LB spots, so losing development time there isn't as much of a concern.

His best asset is that Jake Ryan-esque quick burst. Translated to H-back, remember that power running is essentially a race to the point of attack. A great blocking H has to explode off the snap and often get across the formation before an edge attacker (DE or OLB) can flash and squeeze down the hole. The more explosion from your H-back, the bigger the hole.