49ers: Is bigger better?

New 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh has been around football all his life.  He played quarterback in the NFL for a number of years.  He knows the game.  He'll need to learn how to deal with professional players, though.  Harbaugh groomed some pretty good quarterbacks.  Quarterback will not be a problem for the Niners.

As a former quarterback, Harbaugh seemed to rely on tough, smart offensive linemen.  He doesn't have the greatest or smartest at his disposal in San Francisco, who ranked 27th in the league last season, but the team spent top picks on the line last year, and this year's crop doesn't look to have anyone ready as a top ten selection.

The old quarterback also recognizes the importance of defensive backs in shutting down a passing game.  San Francisco ranked 24th in the league against the pass last season.  This arguably cost Mike Singletary his job.

We believe San Francisco must go with a defensive back with this pick, but who will it be?

LSU's Patrick Peterson has all the athleticism in the world.  He seems a little stiff through the hips at times and has had trouble with receivers who get in and out of their cuts quickly.

Nebraska cornerback Prince Amukamara seems to have more natural jam ability, but less recovery speed than Peterson.

At 6'1" and 222 pounds, it may be strange seeing the biggest player in the secondary line up at the corner, but  Peterson is one of the best athletes in the draft, and would be a great addition to special teams and a force against the run.  This gives him the edge over Amukamara.

Peterson will be asked to cover the likes of Mike Williams, Larry Fitzgerald, and big-bodied receivers in Brandon Gibson or Denario Alexander.  He'll also have to support the run against big backs such as Marshawn Lynch, Stephen Jackson, and Beanie Wells.  So in this case, bigger may be better.