Here are five observations on the San Francisco 49ers, based on a recent training camp practice and the team's preseason opener on Aug. 11:
1.
The 49ers wasted no time admitting a mistake by trading 2004 first-round choice Rashaun Woods, but his departure created an interesting visual image. Woods had Terrell Owens' No. 81. His departure gave Antonio Bryant the chance to grab No. 81, and strange as it sounds, Bryant looked like Owens during the preseason opener against the Bears.
Antonio Bryant
Wide receiver
San Francisco 49ers
Bryant is a big target with run-after-the catch ability. Quarterback Alex Smith had no trouble finding him early in the game. Like Owens, Bryant was hard to tackle after the catch. But why take the T.O. number?
"I wanted No. 80, but that wasn't going to happen," said Bryant, referring to the number worn by the legendary Jerry Rice. "When I got to Cleveland, No. 80 was taken so I ended up with No. 81."
Bryant doesn't fear coming to a new team and taking the number of a legend. After rough stays in Dallas and Cleveland, Bryant finally feels wanted and there is no doubt Smith is going to use him a lot.
"This is a fresh start," Bryant said. "I look at this as a better situation than Cleveland."
In offensive coordinator Norv Turner's system, Bryant should be able to catch 70 to 80 passes for more than 1,000 yards. His work on timing with Smith seems evident. His acquisition in free agency could be one of the best in the NFC West.
2.
Smith looks very good on bootleg and rollout plays. What's impressive is how quickly he moves. Most of his bootlegs are to the right because he's a right-handed quarterback, but in time, the offense will incorporate some rollouts to the left. Smith releases the ball quickly and with authority on the rollouts.
"He has good legs," head coach Mike Nolan said. "He runs a 4.65-4.7 40-yard dash and plays with that speed. He has good size and a good arm and he has good vision. It is just a matter of doing it more often. I liked the fact we used his legs. Last year, he got hurt. When he returned we didn't want him to get hurt again so we kept him in the pocket. Now that is he is fully healed, we are doing what we wanted to do. He's not a pure pocket passer. He can do more things."
Last year, Smith looked lost, which was expected because he was a raw quarterback on a team that lacked skilled offensive players. This year, Smith is starting to look like the first player taken in the 2005 draft and potential star of the future.
3.
Tight end Vernon Davis didn't wow anyone during the exhibition opener, but he doesn't have to wow anyone. He did that at the scouting combine by running a 4.38 40-yard dash while weighing more than 250 pounds. Davis has breakaway wide-receiver speed in a big body. He'll be able to stretch the field better than any tight end in the league. But the 49ers have the luxury of building him up slowly.
Eric Johnson, a veteran tight end who has the pass-catching and route-running skills to post Pro Bowl offensive numbers, is back and looks good. Smith can get the ball to Johnson in conventional passing plays and then create specialty situations to get Davis involved.
Davis is a matchup monster when he lines up in the slot. He's bigger than most linebackers and all cornerbacks and safeties. And he's every bit as fast. Plus, think about the damage Davis will cause on tight end screens. Smith can sprint out on a naked bootleg and get the ball to Davis. Good luck stopping that.
4.
The plan is for the 49ers to be a 3-4 defense, but they might have to use a little bit more of the 4-3 because of their personnel. They lack the personnel along the defensive line to be a dominating 3-4. Nose tackle Anthony Adams is really more of a movement type of defensive tackle in the 4-3. Bryant Young is a dominating defensive tackle in a 4-3 but has to make do at end.
The 49ers added veteran defensive linemen Jerry DeLoach and Lance Legree to help the depth and find some rotation in the 4-3. Nolan explained the reason the 49ers went to a 3-4 last year is because they had more quality linebackers than defensive linemen, so it became a better fit.
Don't call the 49ers a pure 3-4. They are a hybrid 3-4 that can switch back to a 4-3 depending upon the opponent. Nolan noted that they used a lot of 4-3 in the second half of last season.
5.
The most interesting project is former Penn State quarterback Michael Robinson, the 49ers' fourth-round draft choice. Robinson is being used at running back. He's an upright runner who hits the inside plays with power. The 49ers plan to give him a lot of work during the preseason to get him comfortable in his switch from quarterback to running back.
Although he's not going to be a starter, you get the sense Robinson could develop into a valuable, versatile backup who could be around for a long time.
"He continues to get better," Nolan said. "I've been impressed with him on and off the field. I think he represents the team extremely well. He's a leader. He is tough and brings his lunch to work every day." Robinson has the power on the inside runs to be a short-yardage back. His quarterback experience could allow him to be a red-zone option behind center. His biggest challenge, ironically, is pass protecting for quarterbacks. No doubt he knows the
importance of protecting the quarterback from his days playing the position.
1.
The 49ers wasted no time admitting a mistake by trading 2004 first-round choice Rashaun Woods, but his departure created an interesting visual image. Woods had Terrell Owens' No. 81. His departure gave Antonio Bryant the chance to grab No. 81, and strange as it sounds, Bryant looked like Owens during the preseason opener against the Bears.
Antonio Bryant
Wide receiver
San Francisco 49ers
Bryant is a big target with run-after-the catch ability. Quarterback Alex Smith had no trouble finding him early in the game. Like Owens, Bryant was hard to tackle after the catch. But why take the T.O. number?
"I wanted No. 80, but that wasn't going to happen," said Bryant, referring to the number worn by the legendary Jerry Rice. "When I got to Cleveland, No. 80 was taken so I ended up with No. 81."
Bryant doesn't fear coming to a new team and taking the number of a legend. After rough stays in Dallas and Cleveland, Bryant finally feels wanted and there is no doubt Smith is going to use him a lot.
"This is a fresh start," Bryant said. "I look at this as a better situation than Cleveland."
In offensive coordinator Norv Turner's system, Bryant should be able to catch 70 to 80 passes for more than 1,000 yards. His work on timing with Smith seems evident. His acquisition in free agency could be one of the best in the NFC West.
2.
Smith looks very good on bootleg and rollout plays. What's impressive is how quickly he moves. Most of his bootlegs are to the right because he's a right-handed quarterback, but in time, the offense will incorporate some rollouts to the left. Smith releases the ball quickly and with authority on the rollouts.
"He has good legs," head coach Mike Nolan said. "He runs a 4.65-4.7 40-yard dash and plays with that speed. He has good size and a good arm and he has good vision. It is just a matter of doing it more often. I liked the fact we used his legs. Last year, he got hurt. When he returned we didn't want him to get hurt again so we kept him in the pocket. Now that is he is fully healed, we are doing what we wanted to do. He's not a pure pocket passer. He can do more things."
Last year, Smith looked lost, which was expected because he was a raw quarterback on a team that lacked skilled offensive players. This year, Smith is starting to look like the first player taken in the 2005 draft and potential star of the future.
3.
Tight end Vernon Davis didn't wow anyone during the exhibition opener, but he doesn't have to wow anyone. He did that at the scouting combine by running a 4.38 40-yard dash while weighing more than 250 pounds. Davis has breakaway wide-receiver speed in a big body. He'll be able to stretch the field better than any tight end in the league. But the 49ers have the luxury of building him up slowly.
Eric Johnson, a veteran tight end who has the pass-catching and route-running skills to post Pro Bowl offensive numbers, is back and looks good. Smith can get the ball to Johnson in conventional passing plays and then create specialty situations to get Davis involved.
Davis is a matchup monster when he lines up in the slot. He's bigger than most linebackers and all cornerbacks and safeties. And he's every bit as fast. Plus, think about the damage Davis will cause on tight end screens. Smith can sprint out on a naked bootleg and get the ball to Davis. Good luck stopping that.
4.
The plan is for the 49ers to be a 3-4 defense, but they might have to use a little bit more of the 4-3 because of their personnel. They lack the personnel along the defensive line to be a dominating 3-4. Nose tackle Anthony Adams is really more of a movement type of defensive tackle in the 4-3. Bryant Young is a dominating defensive tackle in a 4-3 but has to make do at end.
The 49ers added veteran defensive linemen Jerry DeLoach and Lance Legree to help the depth and find some rotation in the 4-3. Nolan explained the reason the 49ers went to a 3-4 last year is because they had more quality linebackers than defensive linemen, so it became a better fit.
Don't call the 49ers a pure 3-4. They are a hybrid 3-4 that can switch back to a 4-3 depending upon the opponent. Nolan noted that they used a lot of 4-3 in the second half of last season.
5.
The most interesting project is former Penn State quarterback Michael Robinson, the 49ers' fourth-round draft choice. Robinson is being used at running back. He's an upright runner who hits the inside plays with power. The 49ers plan to give him a lot of work during the preseason to get him comfortable in his switch from quarterback to running back.
Although he's not going to be a starter, you get the sense Robinson could develop into a valuable, versatile backup who could be around for a long time.
"He continues to get better," Nolan said. "I've been impressed with him on and off the field. I think he represents the team extremely well. He's a leader. He is tough and brings his lunch to work every day." Robinson has the power on the inside runs to be a short-yardage back. His quarterback experience could allow him to be a red-zone option behind center. His biggest challenge, ironically, is pass protecting for quarterbacks. No doubt he knows the
importance of protecting the quarterback from his days playing the position.
