Niner News Thread
- Thread starter Chree
- Start date
Everyone you mentioned is improbable except maybe Zeigler and Boone. Zeigler will only be kept around if we keep 6 receivers AND he beats out Arnaz Battle (which I hope he does). Alex Boone has a decent chance if he shows something in training camp because we need OL depth and he actually has the potential to be a good lineman. Nate Davis will likely hit the practice squad, so I guess he's technically "staying," unless another team is willing to put him on the 53-man roster. Taylor is unlikely unless we end up with more DBs getting injured. Sheets would be nice to keep, but I have a feeling they will only keep 3 RBs on the active roster and they like Michael Robinson because of his special teams contributions so Sheets and Clayton will likely end up on the practice squad.
If I had my way, I'd keep 6 receivers and keep Zeigler, keep Boone, dump Damon Huard and keep Nate Davis. Place everyone else on the practice squad.
If I had my way, I'd keep 6 receivers and keep Zeigler, keep Boone, dump Damon Huard and keep Nate Davis. Place everyone else on the practice squad.
49ers coach Mike Singletary all but put an end to the Michael Vick-to-San Francisco rumors Tuesday, calling it "a dead issue."
"It's not happening," he added. We suspect Singletary wouldn't mind giving Vick a chance, but his hands are tied with GM Scot McCloughan calling all the shots. McCloughan is still dying for ex-No. 1 pick Alex Smith to succeed.
"It's not happening," he added. We suspect Singletary wouldn't mind giving Vick a chance, but his hands are tied with GM Scot McCloughan calling all the shots. McCloughan is still dying for ex-No. 1 pick Alex Smith to succeed.
49ers Sign DL Babatunde Oshinowo
http://www.49ers.com/news-and-event...oshinowo/a72073ad-a44c-4450-8b0b-93d27d129f8b
Posted Jul 30, 2009
The San Francisco 49ers announced Thursday the signing of DL Babatunde Oshinowo to a one-year deal.
Oshinowo (6-1, 325) originally entered the league as a sixth-round selection (181st overall) by the Cleveland Browns in the 2006 NFL Draft. That year, Oshinowo spent time on the practice squad and was on the Browns active roster for three games, appearing in one and registering two tackles. He signed with the Chicago Bears in 2007, where he was on the practice squad before being activated for the final three games of the season, appearing in one. Oshinowo was on the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad in 2008. He signed with the Carolina Panthers on January 28, 2009, but was released on June 26.
Oshinowo, 26, is a native of Naperville, IL, and played collegiately at Stanford.
http://www.49ers.com/news-and-event...oshinowo/a72073ad-a44c-4450-8b0b-93d27d129f8b
Posted Jul 30, 2009
The San Francisco 49ers announced Thursday the signing of DL Babatunde Oshinowo to a one-year deal.
Oshinowo (6-1, 325) originally entered the league as a sixth-round selection (181st overall) by the Cleveland Browns in the 2006 NFL Draft. That year, Oshinowo spent time on the practice squad and was on the Browns active roster for three games, appearing in one and registering two tackles. He signed with the Chicago Bears in 2007, where he was on the practice squad before being activated for the final three games of the season, appearing in one. Oshinowo was on the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad in 2008. He signed with the Carolina Panthers on January 28, 2009, but was released on June 26.
Oshinowo, 26, is a native of Naperville, IL, and played collegiately at Stanford.
Training Camp Doings
Here are some sights and sounds from the 49ers first training-camp practice:
BOO LIGHT: Quarterback Alex Smith was heartily booed by the 1,000 or fans who crammed into metal bleachers on the south side of the practice field. Smith was blasted by boos every time he misfired. "I think it's outstanding," coach Mike Singletary said post practice, which seems like an odd comment. But Singletary was actually thinking the boos will prepare Smith for the monsoon of boos he'll face when flubs a throw before 60,000 or so a Candlmelt. "That's going to happen," Singletary said, "keep moving forward, get better."
QUARTERBACK DUEL: Shaun Hill got the better of Smith during the morning session. I didn't keep track of passing in team drills, but Hill checked down less often and found his targets more easily. He also got better protection functioning behind the first-team line most of the time. Singletary, wisely, refused to handicap the race after the first practice. "I'm not in the business of guessing," he said. "Right now, I don't want to guess I want to see these guys compete." The other two quarterbacks, rookie Nate Davis and 13th year vet Damon Huard also took a turn or two. The big-armed Davis created instant sizzle, completing his first pass for a 30-yard gain to fellow rookie Bear Pascoe. His second pass was woefully late and was tipped and then picked by rookie safety Curtis Taylor. I like Taylor. It's too early to tell, but the 49ers might have something there. After the pick, a fan yelled, "We still believe Nate!" His next throw was a slant to Brandon Jones that Reggie Smith broke up. That's right, Reggie Smith made a play. Maybe safety will be his home.
CLIMBING UP THE CRABTREE: I got a great view of the back of general manager Scot McCloughan's head, when he was asked about any update on the negotiations for first-round receiver Michael Crabtree. McCloughan, without breaking stride or turning around said, "Nothing. Day-by-day process." The typically pleasant McCloughan was either frustrated by the repeated question or the negotiations themselves. The upshot? Dig in boys and girls, this could be a long process. Crabby wants top five cake, more than the $23.5 million in guarantees that the Raiders provided seventh overall pick, Darrius Heyward-Bey. Crabtree could be the last first-rounder signed.
LINEUPS: The first-team defense went with Isaac Sopoaga, Aubrayo Franklin and Justin Smith on the line, Manny Lawson, Patrick Willis, Takeo Spikes and Parys Haralson at linebackers and Nate Clements, Michael Lewis, Dashon Goldson and Tarell Brown in the secondary. The second team went with Dre Bly, Reggie Smith, Mark Roman, and Shawtae Spencer in the secondary, Ahmad Brooks, Scott McKillop, Jeff Ulbrich and Marques Harris at linebacker and Demetric Evans, Sopoaga at the nose and Kentwan Balmer on the defensive line.
The offense came out with Michael Robinson at fullback and Brandon Jones ahead of Isaac Bruce at receiver, which were the only offensive surprises. Jones isn't likely to stay ahead of Bruce, but Jones was at all the off-season practices, while Bruce spent most of his time in Florida this off-season. The backup offensive line went left to right: Barry Sims, Joe Toledo, Cody Wallace, Tony Wragge and Marvel Smith.
OKLAHOMA!: The 49ers broke into position groups and then had players square off in about a three-foot area, with one player trying to run through another. Wide receivers wrastled with defensive backs, running backs with linebackers, etc. It was an intense drill and coaches had to step in frequently to keep the action from getting too hot. Singletary said he'll continue to use the drill because it focuses attention on the fundamentals of leverage and balance. However, for a minute, the practice field looked like a training ground for the WWF, with plenty of grunting and body slamming.
PONTIFICATION: Takeo Spikes said Singletary spoke the team for three hours the other night. On Saturday he huddled with the team for at least 10 minutes before they broke up (although no one was sure it was just Singletary talking). At this rate, Singletary is rivaling Castro in his long addresses to his multitudes.
OVERHEARD: Defensive coordinator Greg Manusky yelling to one of his defenders. "This isn't golf!"
BEST OF THE BUNCH: Frank Gore looked like the most polished player on the field. During run drills he showed great vision in finding the hole. After each of his many long runs, he would return to the huddle and tap each of his linemen on the helmet as a gesture of appreciation. Gore also looks like he's in top condition. He said he returned to his old conditioning coach at the University of Miami for his training this offseason. "It's a whole body workout," he said. "Lots of running in sand."
TUSSLING LINEMEN SNIPPET: Here's a quick snap shot of what happened in one-on-one pass-rush drills: Adam Snyder holds off Parys Haralson, Chilo Rachal stones Sopoaga, Franklin beats Eric Heitmann, Evans gets past Snyder, Justin Smith gets good push on David Baas, Manny Lawson slips trying to get past Joe Staley, Tony Wragge stops Balmer twice. Both looked tired. Evans looks very energetic.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/ninerinsider/detail?entry_id=44735&tsp=1#ixzz0MygcbIOP
49ers Camp Day 1: Singletary comes out blazing
POSTED BY DAN BROWN ON AUGUST 1ST, 2009 AT 12:41 PM | CATEGORIZED AS UNCATEGORIZED
News of the day
During practice Saturday morning, quarterback Alex Smith scanned the field, saw nobody open and threw a wobbly pass out of bounds.
The crowd booed.
They booed hard.
Never mind that it was Smith’s first snap of training camp. Out here, patience is no virtue.
“That’s fine, that’s part of the deal,” Smith said with a laugh. “It’s part of playing quarterback in the NFL.”
Smith snapped out of it and looked better as practice progressed. Good thing, too, because Mike Singletary was in the same mood as the crowd. The coach wanted things to look good – right this instant – and had no objection to fans booing before 9 a.m. on the first day of training camp.
“I think it’s outstanding,’’ Singletary said. “Alex needs how to learn how to deal with it. The fans, that’s what they are here for. It’s what they do.”
Smith, competing for the starting job, had second-string status for the opening practice. Shaun Hill opened with the starting unit during 11-on-11 drills and, like Smith, was still working out some kinks in the new offense.
Hill said there was nothing significant about opening training camp as the No. 1 quarterback. The only thing that matters to him is who is No. 1 at the end.
“We’re still evaluated on every play,” he said. “”So I didn’t read into that at all.”
Singletary said he was in no hurry to make a quarterback decision. But he seemed to be in a rush about everything else. There was no easing into action at the first day of camp as Singletary and his staff demanded intensity on every drill.
At one point running backs coach Tom Rathman bellowed, “Hustle. No messing around. You’re not playing golf.”
# # #
Singletary treated the first practice as if it were the Super Bowl. He stopped the action three times to deliver fire-and-brimstone speeches. (Or “on-field meetings,’’ as tight end Vernon Davis called them.)
At the conclusion of the morning practice, he unleashed a spirited six-minute oration. Then he made the team run three sprints across the width of the field. Then Singletary spoke for 5 minutes more.
“I want to make sure there’s not a false sense of security about where we are,’’ Singletary told reporters. “Right now, we’re not very good. But at the end of it, we are going to be where we need to be.”
Drill of the day
Among the early drills was one Singletary called The Nutcracker. This was no ballet. Players lined up mano-a-mano and were instructed to overpower each other. There was no need for spins or quickness. It was a matter of who could run over the other guy.
“There’s just a mindset Coach Sing wanted us to get out of that,” said linebacker Patrick Willis, who lined up opposite running back Michael Robinson. “We are going to have to go through people. No matter who stands in our way, we are gong to go through them. The drill helps with that mentality.”
Crabtree update of the day
There was no news on Michael Crabtree, who officially became a holdout. The No. 10 pick is among the first-rounders who have yet to sign a contract.
Asked when he expected to see the rookie receiver, Singletary stretched his hands out wide as if to say he has no idea.
“When he signs, I’ll be excited about it,” the coach said. “But I’m not wondering when it is going to happen. … The most important thing I can do is make the team understand that one guy coming in will not make the whole picture different.”
Injury report
A club spokesman said rookie defensive lineman Ricky Jean-Francois contacted a staph infection in Miami before arriving in Santa Clara. He is listed as day to day while on the non-football illness list.
Linebacker Parys Haralson suffered a right hip flexor strain during practice and was being evaluated.
Fullback Moran Norris was excused for personal reasons. Singletary said Norris will return “when his personal business is done.”
Quote of the day
“I keep hearing, ‘It’s your to lose. I’ve been taking the approach of, ‘It’s mine to take.’’’ – Shaun Hill on the quarterback competition
Here are some sights and sounds from the 49ers first training-camp practice:
BOO LIGHT: Quarterback Alex Smith was heartily booed by the 1,000 or fans who crammed into metal bleachers on the south side of the practice field. Smith was blasted by boos every time he misfired. "I think it's outstanding," coach Mike Singletary said post practice, which seems like an odd comment. But Singletary was actually thinking the boos will prepare Smith for the monsoon of boos he'll face when flubs a throw before 60,000 or so a Candlmelt. "That's going to happen," Singletary said, "keep moving forward, get better."
QUARTERBACK DUEL: Shaun Hill got the better of Smith during the morning session. I didn't keep track of passing in team drills, but Hill checked down less often and found his targets more easily. He also got better protection functioning behind the first-team line most of the time. Singletary, wisely, refused to handicap the race after the first practice. "I'm not in the business of guessing," he said. "Right now, I don't want to guess I want to see these guys compete." The other two quarterbacks, rookie Nate Davis and 13th year vet Damon Huard also took a turn or two. The big-armed Davis created instant sizzle, completing his first pass for a 30-yard gain to fellow rookie Bear Pascoe. His second pass was woefully late and was tipped and then picked by rookie safety Curtis Taylor. I like Taylor. It's too early to tell, but the 49ers might have something there. After the pick, a fan yelled, "We still believe Nate!" His next throw was a slant to Brandon Jones that Reggie Smith broke up. That's right, Reggie Smith made a play. Maybe safety will be his home.
CLIMBING UP THE CRABTREE: I got a great view of the back of general manager Scot McCloughan's head, when he was asked about any update on the negotiations for first-round receiver Michael Crabtree. McCloughan, without breaking stride or turning around said, "Nothing. Day-by-day process." The typically pleasant McCloughan was either frustrated by the repeated question or the negotiations themselves. The upshot? Dig in boys and girls, this could be a long process. Crabby wants top five cake, more than the $23.5 million in guarantees that the Raiders provided seventh overall pick, Darrius Heyward-Bey. Crabtree could be the last first-rounder signed.
LINEUPS: The first-team defense went with Isaac Sopoaga, Aubrayo Franklin and Justin Smith on the line, Manny Lawson, Patrick Willis, Takeo Spikes and Parys Haralson at linebackers and Nate Clements, Michael Lewis, Dashon Goldson and Tarell Brown in the secondary. The second team went with Dre Bly, Reggie Smith, Mark Roman, and Shawtae Spencer in the secondary, Ahmad Brooks, Scott McKillop, Jeff Ulbrich and Marques Harris at linebacker and Demetric Evans, Sopoaga at the nose and Kentwan Balmer on the defensive line.
The offense came out with Michael Robinson at fullback and Brandon Jones ahead of Isaac Bruce at receiver, which were the only offensive surprises. Jones isn't likely to stay ahead of Bruce, but Jones was at all the off-season practices, while Bruce spent most of his time in Florida this off-season. The backup offensive line went left to right: Barry Sims, Joe Toledo, Cody Wallace, Tony Wragge and Marvel Smith.
OKLAHOMA!: The 49ers broke into position groups and then had players square off in about a three-foot area, with one player trying to run through another. Wide receivers wrastled with defensive backs, running backs with linebackers, etc. It was an intense drill and coaches had to step in frequently to keep the action from getting too hot. Singletary said he'll continue to use the drill because it focuses attention on the fundamentals of leverage and balance. However, for a minute, the practice field looked like a training ground for the WWF, with plenty of grunting and body slamming.
PONTIFICATION: Takeo Spikes said Singletary spoke the team for three hours the other night. On Saturday he huddled with the team for at least 10 minutes before they broke up (although no one was sure it was just Singletary talking). At this rate, Singletary is rivaling Castro in his long addresses to his multitudes.
OVERHEARD: Defensive coordinator Greg Manusky yelling to one of his defenders. "This isn't golf!"
BEST OF THE BUNCH: Frank Gore looked like the most polished player on the field. During run drills he showed great vision in finding the hole. After each of his many long runs, he would return to the huddle and tap each of his linemen on the helmet as a gesture of appreciation. Gore also looks like he's in top condition. He said he returned to his old conditioning coach at the University of Miami for his training this offseason. "It's a whole body workout," he said. "Lots of running in sand."
TUSSLING LINEMEN SNIPPET: Here's a quick snap shot of what happened in one-on-one pass-rush drills: Adam Snyder holds off Parys Haralson, Chilo Rachal stones Sopoaga, Franklin beats Eric Heitmann, Evans gets past Snyder, Justin Smith gets good push on David Baas, Manny Lawson slips trying to get past Joe Staley, Tony Wragge stops Balmer twice. Both looked tired. Evans looks very energetic.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/ninerinsider/detail?entry_id=44735&tsp=1#ixzz0MygcbIOP
49ers Camp Day 1: Singletary comes out blazing
POSTED BY DAN BROWN ON AUGUST 1ST, 2009 AT 12:41 PM | CATEGORIZED AS UNCATEGORIZED
News of the day
During practice Saturday morning, quarterback Alex Smith scanned the field, saw nobody open and threw a wobbly pass out of bounds.
The crowd booed.
They booed hard.
Never mind that it was Smith’s first snap of training camp. Out here, patience is no virtue.
“That’s fine, that’s part of the deal,” Smith said with a laugh. “It’s part of playing quarterback in the NFL.”
Smith snapped out of it and looked better as practice progressed. Good thing, too, because Mike Singletary was in the same mood as the crowd. The coach wanted things to look good – right this instant – and had no objection to fans booing before 9 a.m. on the first day of training camp.
“I think it’s outstanding,’’ Singletary said. “Alex needs how to learn how to deal with it. The fans, that’s what they are here for. It’s what they do.”
Smith, competing for the starting job, had second-string status for the opening practice. Shaun Hill opened with the starting unit during 11-on-11 drills and, like Smith, was still working out some kinks in the new offense.
Hill said there was nothing significant about opening training camp as the No. 1 quarterback. The only thing that matters to him is who is No. 1 at the end.
“We’re still evaluated on every play,” he said. “”So I didn’t read into that at all.”
Singletary said he was in no hurry to make a quarterback decision. But he seemed to be in a rush about everything else. There was no easing into action at the first day of camp as Singletary and his staff demanded intensity on every drill.
At one point running backs coach Tom Rathman bellowed, “Hustle. No messing around. You’re not playing golf.”
# # #
Singletary treated the first practice as if it were the Super Bowl. He stopped the action three times to deliver fire-and-brimstone speeches. (Or “on-field meetings,’’ as tight end Vernon Davis called them.)
At the conclusion of the morning practice, he unleashed a spirited six-minute oration. Then he made the team run three sprints across the width of the field. Then Singletary spoke for 5 minutes more.
“I want to make sure there’s not a false sense of security about where we are,’’ Singletary told reporters. “Right now, we’re not very good. But at the end of it, we are going to be where we need to be.”
Drill of the day
Among the early drills was one Singletary called The Nutcracker. This was no ballet. Players lined up mano-a-mano and were instructed to overpower each other. There was no need for spins or quickness. It was a matter of who could run over the other guy.
“There’s just a mindset Coach Sing wanted us to get out of that,” said linebacker Patrick Willis, who lined up opposite running back Michael Robinson. “We are going to have to go through people. No matter who stands in our way, we are gong to go through them. The drill helps with that mentality.”
Crabtree update of the day
There was no news on Michael Crabtree, who officially became a holdout. The No. 10 pick is among the first-rounders who have yet to sign a contract.
Asked when he expected to see the rookie receiver, Singletary stretched his hands out wide as if to say he has no idea.
“When he signs, I’ll be excited about it,” the coach said. “But I’m not wondering when it is going to happen. … The most important thing I can do is make the team understand that one guy coming in will not make the whole picture different.”
Injury report
A club spokesman said rookie defensive lineman Ricky Jean-Francois contacted a staph infection in Miami before arriving in Santa Clara. He is listed as day to day while on the non-football illness list.
Linebacker Parys Haralson suffered a right hip flexor strain during practice and was being evaluated.
Fullback Moran Norris was excused for personal reasons. Singletary said Norris will return “when his personal business is done.”
Quote of the day
“I keep hearing, ‘It’s your to lose. I’ve been taking the approach of, ‘It’s mine to take.’’’ – Shaun Hill on the quarterback competition
CLIMBING UP THE CRABTREE: I got a great view of the back of general manager Scot McCloughan's head, when he was asked about any update on the negotiations for first-round receiver Michael Crabtree. McCloughan, without breaking stride or turning around said, "Nothing. Day-by-day process." The typically pleasant McCloughan was either frustrated by the repeated question or the negotiations themselves. The upshot? Dig in boys and girls, this could be a long process. Crabby wants top five cake, more than the $23.5 million in guarantees that the Raiders provided seventh overall pick, Darrius Heyward-Bey. Crabtree could be the last first-rounder signed.
I was reading about this earlier, do you think its a cause for concern or are they trying to make a point here?
I was reading about this earlier, do you think its a cause for concern or are they trying to make a point here?
POSTED BY DAN BROWN ON AUGUST 2ND, 2009 AT 8:04 PM | CATEGORIZED AS UNCATEGORIZED
After starting out with a bang, the 49ers dialed things back today. Sundays are designated as lighter days, with only one evening practice. The biggest news was fullback Moran Norris arriving at the facility in the day.
Excused for first two days for an undisclosed personal matter, Norris is expected to jump into action during Monday’s double-day. The first practice is at 8:30 a.m. and the second one is at 4 p.m.
In lieu of blockbuster news, I spent some time talking with players about Patrick Willis’ emerging role as a leader. The result is this story I filed for tomorrow’s print edition of the Mercury News.
(Hopefully, my editors catch as many typos as you guys do).
Underneath the story are a few more practice notes.
If a play goes just right on the practice field, linebacker 49ers Patrick Willis might give his version of a fiery pep talk
He’ll say, “Good job, defense.’’
And he’ll leave it at that.
Willis’ gift is for grabbing, not gabbing. That makes him the ideal defensive captain for a team that has resolved to shut up and play. The 49ers are even selling T-shirts this season that say, “Don’t tell me. Show me.”
It might as well be Willis’ motto.
“I’m not one of the people who says something every play to hear myself speak,’’ Willis said as training camp opened over the weekend. “I feel there is a time and a place for everything.”
A quiet leadership style is an intriguing choice for a middle linebacker who models much of his game after the Baltimore Ravens’ Ray Lewis.
Lewis is a loudspeaker without an off switch. He encourages, celebrates, cajoles, admonishes, gestures and gesticulates from sunrise to sundown.
And Willis?
“I just do it whenever the time calls for it,’’ the linebacker said.
Make no mistake, though. Willis is a leader. At the ripe age of 24, he is the face – if not the mouth — of the 49ers defense.
Willis reached the Pro Bowl in each of his first two seasons, becoming the first 49er to do so since Ronnie Lott. By the NFL’s tablulations, Willis led the league with 174 tackles in 2007 and finished second with 141 more last season.
Tackles are an unofficial statistic, but by any count Willis is already an established star. As such, Coach Mike Singletary wants him to set the tone on the practice field and in the locker room – even if he does so quietly.
Willis is still growing into the role. “It’s something I have to work on every day,” he said.
But teammates are noticing the change in 2009. Longtime linebacker Jeff Ulbrich, a nine-year veteran and a team leader himself, recalled Willis’ early forays into locker room speeches a year ago.
It wasn’t exactly rousing stuff.
“To tell you the truth, there were times when it didn’t seem like the most natural thing for him to do,’’ Ulbrich said.
But it’s getting there. At training camp, Willis leads the team in stretching before practice. And he does it with gusto.
Ulbrich said Willis looks much more comfortable in 2009 went so far as to evoke the name of an all-time locker room leader: Bryant Young was once a quiet, too, Ulbrich said.
As a younger player Young used lead by example, keep his mouth to defer to more vocal types such as Ken Norton Jr.
“But once B.Y. got that confidence, the words that came out of his mouth would make the hair on your neck stand up,’’ Ulbrich said. “I think there are some similarities with Pat and B.Y.”
Willis considers another role model when it comes to leadership. He likes the eye-of-the-storm mentality established by the great former middle linebacker for the Chicago Bears of the 1980s.
Fellow by the name of Singletary.
“I’m kind of a molded image of him,’’ Willis said.
The bond between Willis and Singletary is so tight that the player said he views himself almost like an assistant. He has no problem taking charge after the final whistle, especially a defeat.
“That is one of the things I feel as captains that we have to do: Speak up when things are not going well instead of just going through the motions,’’ Willis said.
Of course, the 49ers pay Willis to serve as more than a motivational speaker. They expect another step in the evolution for a player credited with double-digit tackles in 26 of 32 career games.
“His progression as a linebacker elevated from his first year to his second and I think it’s going to elevate even more,’’ defensive coordinator Greg Manusky said.
Willis will do so in his own way: Speak softly and deliver the big lick.
More practice notes
With some Candlestick-caliber winds whipping through Santa Clara, the 49ers offense kept things to shorter passes. I kept looking to scribble down a “play of the day” in my notebook but witnessed mostly quick throws to the backs and tight ends.
The most eye-catching effort was a missed-it-by-that-much play between too rookies. With a deft touch, Nate Davis floated a pass over the middle toward the waiting hands of Bear Pascoe.
The tight end got his fingertips on the ball with a dive but the ball popped loose as he hit the turf. Linebacker Jay Moore was in tight pursuit.
The longest completion came during 7-on-7 drills, when Alex Smith lofted a long spiral to Josh Morgan toward the left sideline.
Morgan made a terrific one-handed catch on the run, despite tight coverage from Dashon Goldson.
A day earlier, Singletary was asked whether Morgan was ready to step up as a No. 1 receiver.
“Does he have potential? Absolutely,’’ Singletary replied. “But a guy like Isaac Bruce isn’t around for a long time for nothing. He knows what he’s doing.”
– Smith started with the No. 1 unit a day after Shaun Hill opened with the starters. It appears the 49ers will handle the quarterback derby much as they did a year ago, giving each contender an extended opportunity with the No. 1 unit.
Singletary indicated that not much importance will be put on these early practices in terms of the Smith vs. Hill debate. Those two, as well as the rest of the players, are still navigating a new offense.
“It is difficult to evaluate the quarterback when so many other things are wrong,’’ Singletary said.
– Linebacker Parys Haralson (hip flexor strain) sat out, with Ahmad Brooks taking his spot.
– Cornerback Tarell Brown (sprained right toe) sat out practice, too, with Dre’ Bly getting the nod as the No. 1 right cornerback.
– No news on No. 10 draft pick Michael Crabtree. His contract impasse continues to keep him out of camp.
After starting out with a bang, the 49ers dialed things back today. Sundays are designated as lighter days, with only one evening practice. The biggest news was fullback Moran Norris arriving at the facility in the day.
Excused for first two days for an undisclosed personal matter, Norris is expected to jump into action during Monday’s double-day. The first practice is at 8:30 a.m. and the second one is at 4 p.m.
In lieu of blockbuster news, I spent some time talking with players about Patrick Willis’ emerging role as a leader. The result is this story I filed for tomorrow’s print edition of the Mercury News.
(Hopefully, my editors catch as many typos as you guys do).
Underneath the story are a few more practice notes.
If a play goes just right on the practice field, linebacker 49ers Patrick Willis might give his version of a fiery pep talk
He’ll say, “Good job, defense.’’
And he’ll leave it at that.
Willis’ gift is for grabbing, not gabbing. That makes him the ideal defensive captain for a team that has resolved to shut up and play. The 49ers are even selling T-shirts this season that say, “Don’t tell me. Show me.”
It might as well be Willis’ motto.
“I’m not one of the people who says something every play to hear myself speak,’’ Willis said as training camp opened over the weekend. “I feel there is a time and a place for everything.”
A quiet leadership style is an intriguing choice for a middle linebacker who models much of his game after the Baltimore Ravens’ Ray Lewis.
Lewis is a loudspeaker without an off switch. He encourages, celebrates, cajoles, admonishes, gestures and gesticulates from sunrise to sundown.
And Willis?
“I just do it whenever the time calls for it,’’ the linebacker said.
Make no mistake, though. Willis is a leader. At the ripe age of 24, he is the face – if not the mouth — of the 49ers defense.
Willis reached the Pro Bowl in each of his first two seasons, becoming the first 49er to do so since Ronnie Lott. By the NFL’s tablulations, Willis led the league with 174 tackles in 2007 and finished second with 141 more last season.
Tackles are an unofficial statistic, but by any count Willis is already an established star. As such, Coach Mike Singletary wants him to set the tone on the practice field and in the locker room – even if he does so quietly.
Willis is still growing into the role. “It’s something I have to work on every day,” he said.
But teammates are noticing the change in 2009. Longtime linebacker Jeff Ulbrich, a nine-year veteran and a team leader himself, recalled Willis’ early forays into locker room speeches a year ago.
It wasn’t exactly rousing stuff.
“To tell you the truth, there were times when it didn’t seem like the most natural thing for him to do,’’ Ulbrich said.
But it’s getting there. At training camp, Willis leads the team in stretching before practice. And he does it with gusto.
Ulbrich said Willis looks much more comfortable in 2009 went so far as to evoke the name of an all-time locker room leader: Bryant Young was once a quiet, too, Ulbrich said.
As a younger player Young used lead by example, keep his mouth to defer to more vocal types such as Ken Norton Jr.
“But once B.Y. got that confidence, the words that came out of his mouth would make the hair on your neck stand up,’’ Ulbrich said. “I think there are some similarities with Pat and B.Y.”
Willis considers another role model when it comes to leadership. He likes the eye-of-the-storm mentality established by the great former middle linebacker for the Chicago Bears of the 1980s.
Fellow by the name of Singletary.
“I’m kind of a molded image of him,’’ Willis said.
The bond between Willis and Singletary is so tight that the player said he views himself almost like an assistant. He has no problem taking charge after the final whistle, especially a defeat.
“That is one of the things I feel as captains that we have to do: Speak up when things are not going well instead of just going through the motions,’’ Willis said.
Of course, the 49ers pay Willis to serve as more than a motivational speaker. They expect another step in the evolution for a player credited with double-digit tackles in 26 of 32 career games.
“His progression as a linebacker elevated from his first year to his second and I think it’s going to elevate even more,’’ defensive coordinator Greg Manusky said.
Willis will do so in his own way: Speak softly and deliver the big lick.
More practice notes
With some Candlestick-caliber winds whipping through Santa Clara, the 49ers offense kept things to shorter passes. I kept looking to scribble down a “play of the day” in my notebook but witnessed mostly quick throws to the backs and tight ends.
The most eye-catching effort was a missed-it-by-that-much play between too rookies. With a deft touch, Nate Davis floated a pass over the middle toward the waiting hands of Bear Pascoe.
The tight end got his fingertips on the ball with a dive but the ball popped loose as he hit the turf. Linebacker Jay Moore was in tight pursuit.
The longest completion came during 7-on-7 drills, when Alex Smith lofted a long spiral to Josh Morgan toward the left sideline.
Morgan made a terrific one-handed catch on the run, despite tight coverage from Dashon Goldson.
A day earlier, Singletary was asked whether Morgan was ready to step up as a No. 1 receiver.
“Does he have potential? Absolutely,’’ Singletary replied. “But a guy like Isaac Bruce isn’t around for a long time for nothing. He knows what he’s doing.”
– Smith started with the No. 1 unit a day after Shaun Hill opened with the starters. It appears the 49ers will handle the quarterback derby much as they did a year ago, giving each contender an extended opportunity with the No. 1 unit.
Singletary indicated that not much importance will be put on these early practices in terms of the Smith vs. Hill debate. Those two, as well as the rest of the players, are still navigating a new offense.
“It is difficult to evaluate the quarterback when so many other things are wrong,’’ Singletary said.
– Linebacker Parys Haralson (hip flexor strain) sat out, with Ahmad Brooks taking his spot.
– Cornerback Tarell Brown (sprained right toe) sat out practice, too, with Dre’ Bly getting the nod as the No. 1 right cornerback.
– No news on No. 10 draft pick Michael Crabtree. His contract impasse continues to keep him out of camp.
