49ers Notebook: Mays Makes Impact in First Start
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ATLANTA -- Safety Taylor Mays had not stepped on the field to play a defensive snap in his first three games in the NFL.
His confidence took a dramatic upturn throughout Sunday's game, and continued to grow even after the 49ers' 16-14 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday at the Georgia Dome.
"You can take all the reps you want in practice, but until you really play in the game, it's a different feel," Mays said. "Toward the end of the game, I calmed down. I feel really confident right now, going into next week and going into the rest of the season."
Mays in penciled in as a starter for the remainder of the season after the sudden, unexpected departure of veteran Michael Lewis, who asked Friday for his release. Lewis' agent, Rodney Williams, said his client lost trust in the direction the 49ers were headed after he had been told different things by different members of the 49ers' coaching staff.
The 49ers planned for Mays to begin getting worked into the lineup. But he played every snap after leapfrogging third-year player Reggie Smith on the depth chart.
Mays, whom the 49ers selected in the second round of the draft with the No. 49 overall pick, had a memorable first NFL start. He was removed from most of his special-teams responsibilities of the first three games because of his expanded role on defense.
Yet, Mays' most memorable play came in the first quarter when he made an over-the-shoulder catch of Dominique Zeigler's blocked punt. Mays managed to tap both feet down in the back of the end zone for a touchdown that gave the 49ers a 14-0 lead with 4:26 remaining in the first quarter.
"I didn't know where I was in the end zone," Mays said. "I just knew I was in the end zone and If I had any chance, I'd have to get my feet down. I don't how close I was. Was I right there? I was a receiver in high school."
Mays led the 49ers with 11 tackles, which does not necessarily reflect well on the defense. The Falcons gained 85 yards on the plays in which Mays made his tackles.
"It was a trip," Mays said. "It was a fun game, but I'd give it all up for a win."
Smith Takes Blame: Quarterback Alex Smith threw two interceptions and was called for intentional grounding late in the game that knocked the 49ers out of field-goal range. Singletary said there is no plan to reconsider Smith's status as the team's starting quarterback.
Singletary said, "I thought Alex played well for the most part." He referred to a couple of Smith's "bad decisions," though.
Smith seemed to agree with that part of the assessment after he completed 21 of 32 passes for 188 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. The 49ers could've taken a four-point lead with less than four minutes remaining, but Smith was called for intentional grounding on a third-down play that began at the Atlanta 34.
"We just stalled out at the edge of field-goal position," he said. "I tried to throw it away and Frank (Gore) was right there, and I thought it was pretty questionable. At first, the ref (Tony Corrente) didn't call it, but then he ended up calling the intentional grounding. But if you walk away with three points, obviously, it's a different situation."
Injury Report: Tight end Delanie Walker sustained a left ankle sprain in the second quarter and did not return. He underwent an X-ray, which showed no damage, a team official said. His status for next week's game against the Philadelphia Eagles is uncertain. Also, Manny Lawson (knee contusion) and safety Reggie Smith (hamstring) returned to the game with their injuries.
Snyder Sees Action: Veteran Adam Snyder entered the game in the fourth quarter for struggling right guard Chilo Rachal. The 49ers put together one of their best drives with Snyder on the field. Singletary said Rachal was removed from the game because of an injury, though the 49ers provided no injury update. Rachal missed action earlier in the season with a shoulder stinger.
New Play-Caller: New offensive coordinator Mike Johnson put together an effective opening-game script, as the 49ers scored on a 10-play, 88-yard drive to score a touchdown on their first series. Johnson used six different personnel packages on the drive, and rotated players in and out of the huddle for every snap.
"We put a plan together that could attack them effectively and forced them to protect the whole field," Singletary said. "Whether there were screens or inside runs, we kept them off-balance for the most part. We kept them thinking, and that was the thought process going into the game."
Notable: Outside linebacker Parys Haralson sacked Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan twice. It was Haralson's first two-sack game since Sept. 7, 2008, against the Arizona Cardinals. . . . Running back Frank Gore carried 21 times for 77 yards, and added seven receptions for 60 yards. . . . Backup running back Brian Westbrook did not see any action Sunday. He lined up for a third-down play in the first quarter, but the 49ers had to call a timeout. When they returned after the timeout, Westbrook was replaced in the personnel package. . . . Rookie running back Anthony Dixon played one snap from scrimmage and carried 3 yards for a first down on a third-and-short play.
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