San Francisco 49ers training camp
Site: 49ers practice facility
Location: Santa Clara, Calif.
First practice: July 29
2005 Record: 7-9
Expanded NFL Training Camp Coverage
Three Burning Questions
1. Can these guys really contend?
Yes, they will be contenders in the mediocre NFC West. No, this team is not ready for the Super Bowl. The influx of talent will surely translate to more victories, but the Niners couldn't fill all their holes. The quarterback position is still very much a work in progress and Frank Gore isn't going to sneak up on anyone this year. The defense should be better, but not strong enough to carry the entire team. The NFC West is winnable and the future in San Francisco should be very bright, but this looks like a nine-win team at most.
Camp battle to watch
Inside linebackers Patrick Willis vs. Derek Smith
The 49ers know what they have in Smith. He is a solid, hard-working guy who makes his share of plays and is not a major liability on the field. But, they still could not pass on Willis in the first round of the draft. Willis has a great nose for the football and runs extremely well. He has a great motor and wants to be great. Of course, Willis is just a rookie and it might take some time to catch up with the speed of the game at this level, but he wasn't drafted this high to watch from the sidelines. Mike Nolan might see glimpses of Ray Lewis, whom he coached in Baltimore, in Willis and could build his defense around this young playmaker.
2. How much better will the defense be?
Considering it has been rather awful since Mike Nolan has been in charge of the team, it almost has to be improved in 2007. There is certainly a lot more talent on that side of the ball than at any other point in the Nolan regime, and he is an excellent guy to get the most from that talent base. This group was so far down compared to the elite defenses in the league that getting up to the middle of the pack should be considered a success story in 2007. Yes, the 49ers will be better and switching to a 3-4 allignment will certainly help, but don't expect San Francisco's defense to rank among the top units in the NFL.
Can Alex Smith get it done?
Smith has the looks of being an adequate system quarterback who can be the caretaker of an offense. He probably will never be able to put a team on his back and carry it to victories, but he is very intelligent, will make good decisions and distribute the football. Although many might not be excited about that evaluation of a quarterback who was drafted first overall, with the dearth of quality players at the position around the NFL, San Francisco could certainly be in worse shape. Smith will continue to make mistakes this season, but those will be corrected with more playing time. Although he will never command a team like Peyton Manning or Tom Brady, he should eventually turn into a solid starter.
The player under the microscope
Nate Clements. The newly signed Clements is one of the highest-paid defensive players in the NFL. That warrants having the spotlight all over him. The 49ers are expecting a lot for their investment. He is a strong, physical cornerback who possesses excellent speed and quickness. He can be a factor against both the run and pass. Few cornerbacks in the league bring to the table what Clements can, but he really didn't play all that well in 2005, then drastically stepped up his game as he was in his contract year. San Francisco is hoping it will get the player from 2006, who was exceptional. The NFC West has some outstanding wide receivers and Clements will be severely tested on a weekly basis.
Fantasy take
Darrell Jackson is the new No. 1 receiver, and Vernon Davis simply needs more reps to begin his ascent to elite status. Look for both to settle in nicely with Alex Smith during preseason action and to see how an improved passing game affects how defenses stack up against the running game.
-- Scott Engel
Breakout player
Manny Lawson. As a second-year player, Lawson will have a much better understanding of what to expect at the professional level. He is an ideal fit as an outside linebacker in the 3-4 scheme, which San Francisco will be going to full time in 2007. He has a very long athletic build with fantastic speed off the edge and the athletic ability to play in reverse or in space. Tully Banta-Cain is not a great player, but his presence on the opposite side of Lawson will do both players a lot of good. Lawson has the potential to develop into the feared pass-rusher that San Francisco so desperately needs from the outside.
Comeback player of the year
Vernon Davis. As a rookie, Davis missed a large portion of the season with a broken fibula. Before the injury, he was inconsistent, but he did show flashes of becoming a major playmaker. Expect him to fulfill that potential this season; he should quickly become Smith's first receiving option. Watch for him to begin setting up defenders through his route and stretching the middle of the field. Eric Johnson is now in New Orleans and the Niners will move Davis all over the field to find mismatches. Many are aware of Davis' immense physical gifts, now expect him to rank among the better tight ends in the entire NFL.
Offensive philosophy
Norv Turner is now the head coach in San Diego and he will be replaced as the 49ers' offensive coordinator by Jim Hostler, who has coached the QBs the past two seasons. The philosophy should not change much in 2007. San Francisco will maintain its power-rushing attack, which will obviously yield great results for Gore. By promoting Hostler, the 49ers will not ask Smith to learn a new offense. This continuity should result in better overall production, but Smith needs to take his game to the next level and Hostler needs to prove that he is capable of being an effective playcaller. Davis will surely be a more prominent part of this passing attack in his second NFL season.
Defensive philosophy
San Francisco is switching to a 3-4 defense after using multiple fronts over the past few years as the team transitioned. That transition is complete and the Niners now have the players to run Nolan's system. The 49ers have some candidates to be a true nose tackle in the odd front, but none are outstanding. Without a quality nose, the defense could suffer greatly against the run, but there is little question that they are much better prepared with all of their offseason acquisitions than they were one year ago, when they had a ton of injuries to their linebacking corps. The defense should be noticeably improved.
Site: 49ers practice facility
Location: Santa Clara, Calif.
First practice: July 29
2005 Record: 7-9
Expanded NFL Training Camp Coverage
Three Burning Questions
1. Can these guys really contend?
Yes, they will be contenders in the mediocre NFC West. No, this team is not ready for the Super Bowl. The influx of talent will surely translate to more victories, but the Niners couldn't fill all their holes. The quarterback position is still very much a work in progress and Frank Gore isn't going to sneak up on anyone this year. The defense should be better, but not strong enough to carry the entire team. The NFC West is winnable and the future in San Francisco should be very bright, but this looks like a nine-win team at most.
Camp battle to watch
Inside linebackers Patrick Willis vs. Derek Smith
The 49ers know what they have in Smith. He is a solid, hard-working guy who makes his share of plays and is not a major liability on the field. But, they still could not pass on Willis in the first round of the draft. Willis has a great nose for the football and runs extremely well. He has a great motor and wants to be great. Of course, Willis is just a rookie and it might take some time to catch up with the speed of the game at this level, but he wasn't drafted this high to watch from the sidelines. Mike Nolan might see glimpses of Ray Lewis, whom he coached in Baltimore, in Willis and could build his defense around this young playmaker.
2. How much better will the defense be?
Considering it has been rather awful since Mike Nolan has been in charge of the team, it almost has to be improved in 2007. There is certainly a lot more talent on that side of the ball than at any other point in the Nolan regime, and he is an excellent guy to get the most from that talent base. This group was so far down compared to the elite defenses in the league that getting up to the middle of the pack should be considered a success story in 2007. Yes, the 49ers will be better and switching to a 3-4 allignment will certainly help, but don't expect San Francisco's defense to rank among the top units in the NFL.
Can Alex Smith get it done?
Smith has the looks of being an adequate system quarterback who can be the caretaker of an offense. He probably will never be able to put a team on his back and carry it to victories, but he is very intelligent, will make good decisions and distribute the football. Although many might not be excited about that evaluation of a quarterback who was drafted first overall, with the dearth of quality players at the position around the NFL, San Francisco could certainly be in worse shape. Smith will continue to make mistakes this season, but those will be corrected with more playing time. Although he will never command a team like Peyton Manning or Tom Brady, he should eventually turn into a solid starter.
The player under the microscope
Nate Clements. The newly signed Clements is one of the highest-paid defensive players in the NFL. That warrants having the spotlight all over him. The 49ers are expecting a lot for their investment. He is a strong, physical cornerback who possesses excellent speed and quickness. He can be a factor against both the run and pass. Few cornerbacks in the league bring to the table what Clements can, but he really didn't play all that well in 2005, then drastically stepped up his game as he was in his contract year. San Francisco is hoping it will get the player from 2006, who was exceptional. The NFC West has some outstanding wide receivers and Clements will be severely tested on a weekly basis.
Fantasy take
Darrell Jackson is the new No. 1 receiver, and Vernon Davis simply needs more reps to begin his ascent to elite status. Look for both to settle in nicely with Alex Smith during preseason action and to see how an improved passing game affects how defenses stack up against the running game.
-- Scott Engel
Breakout player
Manny Lawson. As a second-year player, Lawson will have a much better understanding of what to expect at the professional level. He is an ideal fit as an outside linebacker in the 3-4 scheme, which San Francisco will be going to full time in 2007. He has a very long athletic build with fantastic speed off the edge and the athletic ability to play in reverse or in space. Tully Banta-Cain is not a great player, but his presence on the opposite side of Lawson will do both players a lot of good. Lawson has the potential to develop into the feared pass-rusher that San Francisco so desperately needs from the outside.
Comeback player of the year
Vernon Davis. As a rookie, Davis missed a large portion of the season with a broken fibula. Before the injury, he was inconsistent, but he did show flashes of becoming a major playmaker. Expect him to fulfill that potential this season; he should quickly become Smith's first receiving option. Watch for him to begin setting up defenders through his route and stretching the middle of the field. Eric Johnson is now in New Orleans and the Niners will move Davis all over the field to find mismatches. Many are aware of Davis' immense physical gifts, now expect him to rank among the better tight ends in the entire NFL.
Offensive philosophy
Norv Turner is now the head coach in San Diego and he will be replaced as the 49ers' offensive coordinator by Jim Hostler, who has coached the QBs the past two seasons. The philosophy should not change much in 2007. San Francisco will maintain its power-rushing attack, which will obviously yield great results for Gore. By promoting Hostler, the 49ers will not ask Smith to learn a new offense. This continuity should result in better overall production, but Smith needs to take his game to the next level and Hostler needs to prove that he is capable of being an effective playcaller. Davis will surely be a more prominent part of this passing attack in his second NFL season.
Defensive philosophy
San Francisco is switching to a 3-4 defense after using multiple fronts over the past few years as the team transitioned. That transition is complete and the Niners now have the players to run Nolan's system. The 49ers have some candidates to be a true nose tackle in the odd front, but none are outstanding. Without a quality nose, the defense could suffer greatly against the run, but there is little question that they are much better prepared with all of their offseason acquisitions than they were one year ago, when they had a ton of injuries to their linebacking corps. The defense should be noticeably improved.
