Choose One Player to Add for the 2022 Team
I am interested to hear from you all that if you could pick one player in the Harbaugh era that you would add to the current 2022 roster, who would it be? What one player could greatly change this team and address any current weaknesses.
My thoughts would be that if we had Devin Bush for this year, it would have a major impact on the current team.
How about you?
October 24th, 2022 at 1:16 PM ^
Devin Bush, David Long/Jourdan Lewis, or Mo Hurst on defense.
Nico Collins or Khalid Hill on offense.
October 24th, 2022 at 2:15 PM ^
Nico Jr. is on the team, we just don't throw to him (haven't needed to much I just hope he gets more of a chance...). Otherwise its Hutch, Ojabo, Bush, or Peppers for me.
October 24th, 2022 at 6:52 PM ^
Assuming you mean Andrel, he needs about 30 more pounds before he's Collins.
October 24th, 2022 at 10:50 PM ^
He meant Michael Barrett.
October 24th, 2022 at 1:16 PM ^
Joe Burrow. You never said it had to one of our guys.
But if it does have to be one of ours, I think Hutchinson is the obvious choice. That DLine would be absolutely lethal as they could bring organic pressure without ever having to blitz.
October 24th, 2022 at 1:29 PM ^
If you're taking other teams' players the answer is CJ Stroud, and then bench his ass.
October 24th, 2022 at 1:36 PM ^
That made me laugh out loud.
October 24th, 2022 at 1:16 PM ^
Most would be tempted to go with Hutchinson or ojabo, but I think you might be right. Maybe Dax playing a true safety position would have a huge impact in the run or in coverage, but bush may have the biggest impact.
October 24th, 2022 at 1:32 PM ^
You mention Dax, but why not Jabrill Peppers? Wasn't he the originator of "you thought you could edge..."?
October 24th, 2022 at 1:18 PM ^
Devin Bush is the most obvious answer given that's probably the weakest part of the team right now (I'm encouraged by Colson's growth and still think he's going to be a really good player).
To pick a different one...I'm not sure even a secondary this good can win without being able to get to Stroud with just 4. In particular you need an elite edge rusher. Give me Aidan Hutchinson to pair with Morris specifically for that game.
October 24th, 2022 at 1:26 PM ^
Yeah, I think Hutchinson is the obvious pick, because the key to beating OSU is exactly what you're saying--pressure Stroud with four and drop the remaining seven into coverage. Being able to get pressure without having to blitz opens up so many more options for the defense.
Now if the DEs can continue to improve, it might get to where Devin Bush becomes the best answer. But as we saw under Brown, it doesn't matter how good our LBs are, if we can't get pressure OSU will shred us...
October 24th, 2022 at 1:36 PM ^
We got shredded from crossing routes because Don Brown was strictly playing man coverage. Mixing up your zone coverages also causes QB's to take more time to read who is open and gives pass rushes time to get home.
Also, our pass rush has improved considerably since the start of the season with the emergence of Eyabi Okie.
Though, Hutchinson would be a top 3 pick for me, no doubt. You cannot turn down a Heisman candidate and All-American DE.
October 24th, 2022 at 1:52 PM ^
October 24th, 2022 at 2:07 PM ^
I think I figured out why you have 7 points in 12 years.
October 24th, 2022 at 1:22 PM ^
Run it back with Aidan please. The edge play has been fine but lacking of pass rush at times.
October 24th, 2022 at 1:23 PM ^
Jourdan Lewis, though Devin Bush or Mo Hurst would certainly be an excellent addition to the defense.
OL has been a strength but a pre-injury Grant Newsome would eliminate any questions about Tackle and have eligibility remaining.
October 24th, 2022 at 1:24 PM ^
Mark Messner
October 24th, 2022 at 1:38 PM ^
Love this answer and technically he was in the Harbaugh era....
October 24th, 2022 at 1:25 PM ^
Jake Ruddddddock. Would be great to have him as a backup if Cade is still hurt. Otherwise I'll take D. Bush.
October 24th, 2022 at 2:28 PM ^
Rudddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddock
October 25th, 2022 at 8:44 AM ^
If you're looking for a backup QB, the answer is Harbaugh. He definitely played in the Harbaugh era.
October 25th, 2022 at 12:41 PM ^
Touche!
October 24th, 2022 at 1:28 PM ^
At this time, Jake Ruddock as a backup to JJ.
Who knows how long Cade will be out. There isn't much talk about him coming off IR.
He may be back before the end of the season, but it would be nice it it was now and not later.
If JJ goes down with an injury, it could be a notable difference.
The rest of the team is holding their own. JMO.
October 24th, 2022 at 1:28 PM ^
Daxton Hill and Devin Bush in a tie.
October 24th, 2022 at 1:28 PM ^
The answer is always Charles Woodson
October 24th, 2022 at 1:30 PM ^
Uh..."...one player in the Harbaugh era..."
October 24th, 2022 at 1:34 PM ^
Woodson has always been here.
October 24th, 2022 at 1:31 PM ^
Hutch would give us that great pass rush to beat OSU.
October 24th, 2022 at 1:34 PM ^
Your weakest position group is Linebackers so Devin Bush. Surprised no one has mentioned Jabrill Peppers.
October 24th, 2022 at 1:38 PM ^
I just said the same when replying on a prior post. I'd pick him over Dax or any other player on the secondary.
October 24th, 2022 at 3:22 PM ^
I think Peppers is left off because of his position.
Would he play NB? If so, Sainristil has been excellent and Dax Hill is a better fit if reaching into the past. Hill would also take priority for a pure safety.
Would he play ILB? He would be an upgrade over Barrett but Bush is the obvious choice.
October 24th, 2022 at 1:34 PM ^
1a) Hutchinson because organic pass rush is so important.
1b) Bush because linebacker is our weakest spot and Bush is amazing.
Honorable Mentions: "My kingdom for a (Mo)Hurst", Hassan Haskins, Jake Butt
October 24th, 2022 at 1:35 PM ^
If the question is limited to the Harbaugh era, then Devin Bush is my answer. If not, I'd go with Larry Foote. The way he got home on blitzes was otherworldly. The first thing I look for each game is to see if Hill-Green is healthy or not. I like Mike Barrett but I really think LB is our weakest link on a special team.
October 24th, 2022 at 1:36 PM ^
Put Jabrill out there and let him go to work
October 24th, 2022 at 1:37 PM ^
It's Devin Bush.
But the fact that Peppers hasn't been mentioned once so far is a testament to how good Sainristil has played this year
October 24th, 2022 at 1:38 PM ^
I'll take Hutchinson. Not only does he bring the pass rush, but with a front four of Aidan, Mazi, Jenkins and Morris, we wouldn't even need the linebackers to defend the run.
Devin Bush is a tempting second choice though.
October 24th, 2022 at 1:44 PM ^
Jabrill at the LB spot that we’ve been rotating Barrett, Mullings, & Rolder at to mixed results
October 24th, 2022 at 1:45 PM ^
Nico Collins + JJ would be absolutely devastating. That being said Devin Bush is the correct answer.
October 24th, 2022 at 1:49 PM ^
Aidan Hutchinson.
Best player of the era and while not a positional need, would completely change the defense.
Devin Bush is probably my second choice.
October 24th, 2022 at 1:50 PM ^
In another world would love to see JJ slinging it to Nico Collins for 80 receptions in a season
October 24th, 2022 at 1:54 PM ^
Or Xavier Worthy. He was a Harbaugh player for at least a little while.
October 24th, 2022 at 2:51 PM ^
Braylon Edwards would be good also. Need downfield threat that wins 50/50 balls
October 24th, 2022 at 1:50 PM ^
The goal of this exercise is of course to be able to beat Ohio State. We beat them last year because of two things:
- CJ Stroud sucked under duress, especially after taking a couple of sacks from Hutch and Ojabo.
- Haskins was able to keep drives going on the ground by always getting 2-3 extra yards, and never getting negative yards.
It's tempting to go with the most obvious answer in Hutch, but in spite of everything Ohio State still put up a ton of yards. They were slowed, not stopped.
The biggest factor in us beating Ohio State was that we sustained numerous long drives and we scored on those drives. Which put even more pressure on Stroud to keep pace.
So in that light, I'll go with Haskins.
I love Corum and Edwards, but it would still be great to have that 3rd down pile pusher that is good for three yards against a stacked box no matter what. Especially since Harbaugh tends to freeze up his play calling in big games.
October 24th, 2022 at 1:56 PM ^
Bush. On offense we could really use a Cornelius upgrade IMO. Any of Nico, Chesson, DPJ, or Darboh would do.
October 24th, 2022 at 2:03 PM ^
Hutchinson, but Bush is also an excellent choice.
October 24th, 2022 at 2:09 PM ^
Devin Bush would really upgrade the LB play a lot and is the obvious solution to our weakest position group
But I think people choosing him are missing the forest for the trees
I'm taking Hutchinson. The way he transforms your pass rush is incredible. We can cover up for mediocre LB play with a turbo pass rush
Pairing Hutchinson with improved defensive interior would be devastating and a lot more impact to the game than adding a stud LB
He was no slouch as a run defender to boot
October 24th, 2022 at 2:19 PM ^
As tempting as adding Hutch or Mo Hurst is, i think the right answer is either Bush or Peppers. Linebacker is really the only true weakness on the team, and either one of those guys would turn the position into a strength. And yes, I realize that Peppers played safety, but I think on this team he would be a great sideline to sideline speed linebacker. But since he did not technially play the position in college, i will lean Bush.
October 24th, 2022 at 2:46 PM ^
Agree with Devin Bush.
This is no shade on JJ, but late 2015 Jake Rudock would be really nice too.
Any of our three incredible 2016 safeties come to mind as the other great option. All of Thomas, Hill and Peppers were interchangeable across their three spots, great tacklers, fully aware and good/great in coverage.
October 24th, 2022 at 3:26 PM ^
I'm buying futures on late 2022 JJ McCarthy