OTA's/Mini Camp/Training Camp pics Thread

[VernonLawson89]

Alex, Big Kap, and Scott Tolzien

http://prod.images.49ers.clubs.nflcd...960&height=720

[VAfy-ya]

Originally Posted by fenikz

9ers fans like Brooks now?

you all hated him 2 years ago

I dont know about anyone else but I ALWAYS liked Brooks. He just could never stay healthy enough to turn the corner in his development. He was still a work in progress but he always flashed potential. He and Whitner both don't get enough credit as to why our defense became that much better last season. Its either Rogers, Cowboy, Willis, or Bowman that everyone raves about. But Brooks is the most versatile defender in the front seven on the team. He's also the only OLB that played all 3 downs last year. He's does alot of nice things for us and he was re-signed because of it.

I think he struggled with the Bengals like he struggled early with us because he was still devloping. He also said he didnt realize how hard he had to work once he first got into the league and wasn't as dedicated as he is now to his craft. Sometimes it just takes the light coming on for some players to reach their potential. I think that was the case with Brooks.

[Token]

Originally Posted by tmljeh19

Good luck replacing Suggs with him. He looks soft as hell.

Which part of him looks soft

[phlysac]

Originally Posted by VAfy-ya

I think he struggled with the Bengals like he struggled early with us because he was still devloping. He also said he didnt realize how hard he had to work once he first got into the league and wasn't as dedicated as he is now to his craft. Sometimes it just takes the light coming on for some players to reach their potential. I think that was the case with Brooks.

Yeah, his dedication/motivation was lacking. He mentioned that the death of his father forced a maturation and responsibility that wasn't present. He has improved immensely each season since.

[Ness]

Originally Posted by VAfy-ya

I dont know about anyone else but I ALWAYS liked Brooks. He just could never stay healthy enough to turn the corner in his development. He was still a work in progress but he always flashed potential. He and Whitner both don't get enough credit as to why our defense became that much better last season. Its either Rogers, Cowboy, Willis, or Bowman that everyone raves about. But Brooks is the most versatile defender in the front seven on the team. He's also the only OLB that played all 3 downs last year. He's does alot of nice things for us and he was re-signed because of it.

I think he struggled with the Bengals like he struggled early with us because he was still devloping. He also said he didnt realize how hard he had to work once he first got into the league and wasn't as dedicated as he is now to his craft. Sometimes it just takes the light coming on for some players to reach their potential. I think that was the case with Brooks.

I was happy we went after his deal first instead of Carlos Rogers. We need that linebacker corp to stay together for as long as we can.

[tmljeh19]

Originally Posted by Token

Which part of him looks soft

His gut. Sorry I want my LBs cut or built like a brick **** house.

[Ravens1991]

I know everyone looks good in mini camp. But what rookie looked the best for you guys? Everything I read Kelechi Osemele LG looked best for us.

[VernonLawson89]

LaMichael James was probably the most impressive.

[49ersfan_87]

UDFA WR's Nathan Palmer and Chris Owusu also impressed this minicamp, alongside James. AJ Jenkins was doing good too until he got winded halfway through, then he had 2 bad drops according to the writers.

NFL wise, i heard Juron Criner was a beast for the Raiders.

[Bills2083]

Coach Chan Gailey praised No. 10 pick Stephon Gilmore at the conclusion of the Bills' rookie minicamp.

"He is a big, long corner that can run and has a great feel for the game," Gailey said. "He did a very good job during the weekend." Gilmore picked off three passes across four practices, and drew notice as one of the most impressive rookie camp performers from ESPN's John Clayton. Gilmore will be one of the league's more heavily relied on rookies in 2012.

May 14 - 11:43 AM

TENNNNNNNNNN

[TACKLE]

Originally Posted by Bills2083

TENNNNNNNNNN

As long as they let him press lots, I see no reason why he can't be an elite CB in the league. I also love that they plan on matching him up vs Hernandez when they play the Pats.

[Ness]

Originally Posted by tmljeh19

His gut. Sorry I want my LBs cut or built like a brick **** house.

Being "built like a brick house" doesn't necessarily mean you are going to be a good player.

The NFL isn't a bodybuilding competition.

[phlysac]

Originally Posted by Ness

Being "built like a brick house" doesn't necessarily mean you are going to be a good player.

The NFL isn't a bodybuilding competition.

Very, very true. But soft-bodies LBs whom excel are the exception.

[Ness]

Originally Posted by phlysac

Very, very true. But soft-bodies LBs whom excel are the exception.

I still don't see how Upshaw looks soft. Just because he doesn't have a six pack?

Yeah that did wonders for guys like Vernon Gholston.

[fenikz]

[Ness]

Who the hell is that?

EDIT: Nevermind. Maybin right?

[Ness]

I raise you Aaron Curry as well.

Something else that is quite funny is guys like Mike Singletary or Dick Butkus probably didn't have rock solid abs or look like Arnold, yet they were Hall of Fame players.

It's like using the logic that Colt Brennan would have a great NFL career because his name sounds cool for an NFL quarterback or something.

[fenikz]

Curry was one of the best college LBs I've ever seen, Maybin and Gholston were both workout warriors

[SickwithIt1010]

Originally Posted by fenikz

Curry was one of the best college LBs I've ever seen, Maybin and Gholston were both workout warriors

Well Gholston had good college numbers so...

[fenikz]

well ya but he sucked just ran up field on every play, Curry was a beast

[phlysac]

Originally Posted by Ness

I raise you Aaron Curry as well.

Something else that is quite funny is guys like Mike Singletary or Dick Butkus probably didn't have rock solid abs or look like Arnold, yet they were Hall of Fame players.

It's like using the logic that Colt Brennan would have a great NFL career because his name sounds cool for an NFL quarterback or something.

You can't compare generations. Jack Lambert was 6'4" 220.

My point is that if you look at the long list of currently great LBs, few of them could be described as having a soft physique. This isn't rationale for Upshaw having less of a chance to succeed. It's simply recognizing that his physique is the exception.

[tmljeh19]

Originally Posted by Ness

Being "built like a brick house" doesn't necessarily mean you are going to be a good player.

The NFL isn't a bodybuilding competition.

Never said I wanted a body builder. Take London Fletcher for example. He isn't chiseled but he isn't soft. He is just a solid spark plug kinda guy. That's what I meant. Upshaw has a gut. Look at the pics it's dead obvious.

[irishbucsfan]

[K Train]

if upshaw has a gut i am morbidly obese

[Monomach]

Originally Posted by tmljeh19

His gut. Sorry I want my LBs cut or built like a brick **** house.

Go rent the original "Brian's Song." In the scene where they're weighing in, it has a 28 year old Dick Butkus in his physical prime. 6'3", 245 lbs...So about the perfect size for a 4-3 MLB today. The man had no visible muscles. None.

Linebacker is too reliant on instincts, intelligence, and form for me to worry about a guy's body fat at all. Same for QB. If a guy in one of those two positions has the right brain, he'll succeed as long as he isn't like average-guy-on-the-street fat.