"It's outstanding. Parys is only going to get better. He is the ultimate 'blue-collar' guy. He'll give you all he has day in and day out. You give me 10 others just like Parys and we could win championships. I am very happy for him."
Mike Singletary said that yesterday after the 49ers signed Parys Haralson, their pass-rushing linebacker, to a four-year contract extension. It was sent out to all the reporters, and it's sort of a throw-away quote. I mean, of course the head coach is going to praise the player he just committed to for another four years.
But I think it's also telling in that it's another example that Singletary is searching more for mentality than he is for talent. He doesn't praise Haralson's skills or his pass-rushing ability. He praises his attitude and his work ethic. Which is why I think that if the 49ers take an OLB in the draft, they'll shy away from taking one in the first round.
You might use the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers as a template for what the 49ers are trying to build at outside linebacker. Of the six OLBs on that squad, the highest draft pick was LaMarr Woodley, a second rounder in 2007. Three of the other OLBs were undrafted free agents, including James Harrison.
Having said all that, I just conducted a mock draft with other beatwriters across the country. When it came time for pick No. 10, I was prepared to snag Ole Miss OT Michael Oher. But for some reason, Texas DE/OLB Brian Orakpo was still on the board. I took Orakpo, who, unlike Penn State's Aaron Maybin and Florida State's Everette Brown, is stout enough to be a three-down linebacker from Day 1.
But I doubt Orakpo will be sitting there on April 25. If he isn't, here are some other guys that might fit Singletary's blue-collar mold later in the draft:
2nd round:
Connor Barwin, Cincinnati
Larry English, No. Illinois
Lawrence Sidbury, Richmond
3rd round:
Paul Kruger, Utah
David Veikune, Hawaii
4th:
Matt Shaughnessy, Wisconsin
6th:
Sulak Stryker, Missouri
-- Matt Barrows
About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.