Matt Maiocco’s excellent article today discusses the lack of success the 49er’s have had with draft choices under the current administration. Matt mentions tight end Vernon Davis among those draft choices and I’d like to add a few things.

At Mike Nolan’s Monday press conference the coach got defensive when someone suggested Davis may be a “bust.” Nolan insisted Davis is good at blocking and protecting the quarterback but admitted his pass receiving needs to improve. Nolan said Davis’ mastering two of three skills is commendable.

Come on, Mike, you don’t draft a guy No. 6 just so he’ll block and protect. You expect a guy like that to be an offensive threat and you know it.

Why isn’t Davis an offensive threat? He sure looks like a great athlete. He runs fast and hard. Well, I’ve noticed two things. He has no fluidity in his game. He chugs straight ahead like a freight train, but he doesn’t seem to have any moves. Compare him to Isaac Bruce who fakes people out all the time. In addition, Nolan said Davis does not always run the best routes. Not good.

And then there are Davis’ hands. Some receivers embrace the ball, welcome the ball into their hands and bodies. Not Davis. He fights the ball. His hands do not seem adequate or appropriate for the act of catching. Look at him trying to catch a ball — he’s a combination of stiffness and surprise. He may bench press more than anyone else on the team, but he needs to develop finesse if he ever wants to be a good receiver. Can he?

— Lowell