Nope.

I think thats pretty wishful thinking

Well that sucks then.

Almost seems like you should. Maybe not a third, but a lower pick.

That’s a guy moving in the right direction toward being a HC. Teams should have some incentive to push their guys toward higher roles.

It's really not. There was a report just yesterday that it "looks like" Brandon Staley and Nick Sorensen look to be the finalists.

One guy is a former DC, the other is already in SF and a guy they really like.

It's highly unlikely that they choose Merritt over both those guys.

They fired Wilks because he wasn't a Seattle defense guy and focused more on the DBs than the dline. Hiring Merritt to run that D wouldn't make sense.

Exactly another reason it seems unlikely.

I just don't see the 49ers going with a DB coach when their primary justification for moving on from Wilkes (or at least their public justification for it) was that he didn't connect with the DL/LBs and that was what SF preferred to build their defense around.

But we know Merritt will almost certainly be gone when his kids graduate unless we promote him (and the competition between him and Cullen would be pretty fierce). Any interviews he gets will only help him in future opportunities.

So while I'd hate to lose him A) I don't think we will just yet and B) Fellas - it's inevitable. The lack of brain drain from our organization to this point has been damn near unprecedented.

If they interviewed Cullen I'd be more concerned.

Because he would seem to be someone that fits what they're looking for and doesn't seem to have the ties to the city/community that Merritt has.

Which is why I do kinda wonder if he hasn't been promised the gig when Spags retires.

Doesn't mean he shouldn't interview. At worst, he gets interview experience for when he's ready. And at best, they throw so much money at him, he can't say no.

Probably just using him to get info on KC’s defense. Honestly.

I wonder if Wilks would be a guy Spags looks at as replacement if this happens considering that's Wilks calling card? Would be another high level guy in the room.

What kind of non public information do you think they're going to pry for during an interview?

I always thought that was goofy.

"Oh they signed X off the practice squad to pump him for information in the week prior to the game..."

Huh? You think they're gonna get anything from some doofus running scout team that they can't get on film?

Same story here - Merritt was a position coach. He wasn't out there calling the coverages - that was still Spags. And ultimately what can they possibly learn from Merritt that they can't learn from simply watching the tape?

hoping he's a bad interview LMAO

It’s not like he’s asking for signals and shit. But you can absolutely gain insight into their daily process.

You get down to the bottom of Dave’s philosophy on developing young DBs. What do you look for in prospects? What’s your practice format like? What do you drill to develop different skills in these guys like you have? That’s really just the tip of the ice berg.

There’s nothing to lose for Kyle by interviewing a guy like that from a primary competitor. It’s not gonna hurt or make you dumber.