[L.N. Smithee]

If the Bears had someone as astute as Walsh working for them they might have some "luck" too. The only thing we can draft consistently is Safeties. Even when run by idiots we draft good safeties. As the 49s realized last yr.

It was the draft of 1981 that brought the 49ers three of their four secondary standouts -- Ronnie Lott, Eric Wright, and Carlton Williamson, who teamed up with safety Dwight Hicks and terrorized QBs throughout the league. Walsh was SF GM at the time as well as head coach.

[Alberta's Child]

That 49ers secondary was outstanding. The four players you mentioned became the first defensive backfield from one team to play in the Pro Bowl in 1984.

There is a caveat, though. Mark Haynes of the New York Giants (maybe the best pure cover cornerback I've ever seen, though he was a chronic malcontent who vanished after a few years) was selected that year, but he went down with an injury late in the year and Wright (I think) was named to replace him.