The 49ers select USC's Taylor Mays..

Get ready for some big hits!!

I know there are questions about Mays lack of interceptions and coverage ability, but his hitting is legendary... and getting a safety with this kind of size, strength and speed at 49 is great. He's going to have something to prove to Pete Carroll too..

Anyway, how can a guy named Mays not be successful in the Bay Area?

Probably won't be as good.

About that.

I recall several months ago I posted a thread here where a Pac-10 ref crew was suspended for missing a penalty which was a hit he delivered on WR James Rodgers of Oregon St where he was leading with his helmet. In that thread Awsi posted that he can't cover and has a misplaced reputation as a star for his penchant for big hits and suggested he be moved to LB in the NFL.

I thought that was interesting so I watched him closely ever since. He certainly does not cover well but does roam the field well, locked onto opponents like a missile. That does get the better of him sometimes when he gets penalized for his aggressive play.

I'll say it did not surprise me when his stock was falling in the lead-up to the draft and he went around 50. However he was probably one of the best players available and it's not a big risk to him that late, he could very well turn out to be a great player but coverage is an area he needs to improve on if he wants to be a starting safety in the NFL.

formerly of the Cowboys (not sure where he's at now)...big time hitter, great in run support..not so good in coverage.

Found it, here it is:

Player Comparison: Roy L. Williams. It's like someone cloned Roy Williams; Mays and Williams are the EXACT same player. Mays will struggle greatly in coverage at the next level, but he hits hard and is good in run support. Buyer beware.

http://walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2010tmays.php

That's exactly what Awsi said, A "Roy Williams clone". This was the week after USC played Oregon State so he's ahead of those analysts.

He'll function as a fourth or fifth linebacker in the box.

Sounds like he'll be assigned to Tight Ends or Running Backs mostly.

USC safety Taylor Mays apparently wasn't happy by being passed over by his hometown Seahawks, not to mention his former Trojan head coach Pete Carroll.

The Seahawks were desperate for safety help, but took Earl Thomas of Texas with the 14th pick in the first round.

"It was just interesting," the O'Dea High grad said on a conference call with San Francisco writers after finally being selected. "I definitely thought from the relationship that we had (that he'd be Seattle's pick).

"The things that he had told me about the things I needed to do, I felt he told me the complete opposite from the actions that he took. It was alarming with who he took as a safety. I understand it's a business, but you should be honest. That's all I'm asking for.

http://blog.seattlepi.com/football/archives/203167.asp

Down further there is a comment from Carroll. He had good things to say about Mays but in the end he though Thomas was better, particularly in the coverage department.

...let's bash USC and irritate someone!

Who also went to USC.

We'll see. I like the pick. A little defensive attitude works wonders sometimes, and the 49ers have not been intimidating in that respect for awhile now. This is step in that direction. All the focus has been on offense there for a long time (rightfully so with the coaches and talent they've had), but the D side of the ball has been lacking. No draft pick is a lock, but this guy should be a decent player when he gets his feet wet in the league.