Head coach Nolan to be more picky about '06 quality

The second-year coach has a different philosophy for this year's draft.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) -- Mike Nolan still believes in bulk shopping in the NFL draft. He's just more picky about quality during his second year in charge of restocking the San Francisco 49ers.
The coach and chief architect of the five-time NFL champions' planned revival traded two early round draft picks to Denver last week to acquire the Broncos' 22nd overall selection.
But contrary to public speculation, he says he intends to use that pick and the 49ers' rightful No. 6 choice in Saturday's draft.
The 49ers seemed ready to make a package deal to move up from the sixth spot to get one of the budding defensive stars -- Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk and North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams -- expected to go in the first five picks.
Immediate needs
Instead, Nolan hopes to add two immediate starters to a team that probably could use upgrades at 20 positions after having the NFL's worst offense and worst defense last season.
With their two first-round selections leading off 10 overall choices, the Niners are in position to go after both quality and quantity.
"Unfortunately, it's safe for us to say we can truly take the best player available, other than maybe a quarterback, because we have needs at just about every spot," Nolan said. "You'd like to be good enough that you could say that and be lying.
"I don't know if you can really name a position outside of quarterback where we've really established that that's going to be the guy that we're going to work with."
Nolan had only a few months to prepare for his first draft with personnel chief Scot McCloughan last year, and the results were mixed.
Boxed into the No. 1 overall pick in a weak draft, they identified quarterback Alex Smith as the best value at an overpriced position -- and then gave him a generous $24 million in guaranteed money.
First-year scramble
"Last year, Scot and I were scrambling," Nolan said. "This year, we have had a lot more focus. Now we know each other. Last year, I hadn't even shaken the man's hand."
Smith struggled along with his teammates while the Niners went 4-12 last year, throwing one touchdown pass, but the Niners remain committed to his development. The rest of the high picks still must prove themselves, but running back Frank Gore and offensive linemen Adam Snyder and David Baas all showed promise.
Even last season, Nolan said some of his first-year picks would end up being backups and depth players behind the stars he still hasn't acquired.
"We are a football team that needs to add starters before we really concentrate on depth," Nolan said. "It's not about how many guys, it's about having quality guys. I think that's what your best football teams do. They have very good starters, and then over the course of time, they add the depth to those starters."
With top quarterbacks Matt Leinart, Vince Young and Jay Cutler out of the 49ers' plans along with USC tailback Reggie Bush, San Francisco has taken its longest looks at Hawk, the hard-nosed linebacker who would fit perfectly alongside veterans Derek Smith and Jeff Ulbrich, and Williams, who would be an immediate starter opposite Bryant Young on a thin defensive line.
If both are gone, the 49ers might end up with Maryland tight end Vernon Davis, a highly regarded pass-catcher and physical specimen who could be a fine new target for Smith along with free-agent receiver Antonio Bryant.
Some question whether a tight end is worth the financial investment necessary when making a No. 6 pick. Nolan also wonders about it.
Multi-tasker
"If you get him the ball, yes. If all you do is block with him, then I would say no," Nolan said, comparing Davis' utility to Kansas City's Tony Gonzalez. "I believe Vernon Davis would do a lot of the same things [as Gonzalez]. Wherever he goes, I think people will utilize him the same way. If they don't, then it's a misuse of funds."
McCloughan, a former personnel executive in Seattle and Green Bay, had glowing words for Hawk, Williams and Davis. Though the 49ers have their sights set on all three, they'll also stay by the phone if one of the draft's star quarterbacks becomes irresistible to another team.
"My gut tells me once one or two of these players starts to slide a little bit, teams might come flying up there for them, especially a quarterback," McCloughan said. "I have not seen a top 10 this sporadic, this late in the process of the draft. ... Some of the things that I am hearing form the agents blows my mind. It is just a very unique year."
Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.