News Archive logo.jpg (11350 bytes)   At The Bottom Again March
17th 2002 By Bryan Hersh of 49ers Paradise The 49ers have had
incredible luck over the past two and maybe even three seasons
in finding solid draft picks that could come in and contribute
to the team. It's been quite the process headed up by Bill Walsh
and his immaculate ability to evaluate talent. But is it really
Walsh's ability that has made the difference, or is it the
position from which the 49ers have drafted in.  Not too
surprisingly with two years of poor records, the 49ers were left
in good position in the draft. Either using a high pick or using
it as trade bait to acquire more draft picks the 49ers were able
to bring in a higher level of talent. So players like Ahmed
Plummer, Julian Peterson and Andre Carter were not simply a
matter of good evaluation, but also a matter of having less
margin of error.  Now I would never venture to take anything
away from the Genius - but we'd all have to be blind not to
notice that he's had some help a