Niner News Thread
- Thread starter Chree
- Start date
Lawson is good but not the pass rush monster he was drafted to be, still though he does hold some value. Goldson has shown he can step it up but its hard to evaluate his worth at times because with a weak pass rush, even the best Safeties and CB's are gonna get burned here and there. McDonald really isnt that good, he's always hurt and can only play on pass rush downs.
49ers send tenders to Lawson, Goldson, McDonald
The 49ers have extended restricted free agent tenders to outside linebacker Manny Lawson, safety Dashon Goldson and defensive end Ray McDonald, sources told Comcast SportsNet on Wednesday.
A fourth scheduled free agent who falls into the category, quarterback Troy Smith, has yet to receive a tender. Indications are that 49ers have decided not to retain Troy Smith, who started six games for the club last season.
It is not known at what levels the 49ers tendered Lawson, Goldson and McDonald. The 49ers have yet to announce any moves.
Shortly after 2 p.m. the team released a statement confirming the three tenders and the team's decision to relinquish rights to Troy Smith.
Also, the club announced it had tendered a one-year contract to exclusive rights free agent safety C.J. Spillman.
The contract tenders are contingent on the new collective bargaining agreement. By placing an RFA tender on a player, it could give the 49ers the right of first refusal if a player signs with another team. It might also provide draft-pick compensation if the team declines to match the offer.
Prior to 2010, restricted free agents were players with three years of NFL experience who were not under contract.
But under the rules of 2010, the uncapped year, players with four and five years of service were also restricted.
With a new CBA, Lawson is seemingly assured to be an unrestricted free agent with five years of service. The 49ers placed the tender on Lawson as a formality, in case a CBA impasse means the rules of 2010 roll over into this season. However, four-year pros Goldson and McDonald could be restricted from the open free-agent market.
The 49ers hold sole negotiating rights until Thursday, 9 p.m. (PT), to reach contract extensions with any of their scheduled free agents. After that time, their unsigned players will be able to sign with any team upon completion of the new CBA.
The 49ers' top scheduled unrestricted free agents -- under any system -- are quarterback Alex Smith, center David Baas, nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin and inside linebacker Takeo Spikes.
Lawson, a first-round draft pick in 2006, started all 16 games at strong outside linebacker. He ranked ninth on the team with 64 tackles. He recorded 2.5 sacks after leading the team with 6.5 sacks in 2009. Lawson ranked fourth in 2010 with 31 quarterback pressures.
Goldson, a fourth-round pick in 2007, ranked fourth with 102 tackles while starting every game. Plagued by injuries throughout the season, Goldson saw a drop in production with just one interception and one sack on the season.
McDonald, a third-round pick in 2007, was used primarily as an inside pass rusher on third downs. Although he did not record any sacks on the season, the 49ers' coaches review of the game film credited him with 56 pressures (third on the team) and 26 hits on the quarterback, ranking tied for second with Parys Haralson, behind Justin Smith's team-leading 48 hits.
The 49ers did not apply the franchise tag to any of their players before the deadline last week.
49ers send tenders to Lawson, Goldson, McDonald
The 49ers have extended restricted free agent tenders to outside linebacker Manny Lawson, safety Dashon Goldson and defensive end Ray McDonald, sources told Comcast SportsNet on Wednesday.
A fourth scheduled free agent who falls into the category, quarterback Troy Smith, has yet to receive a tender. Indications are that 49ers have decided not to retain Troy Smith, who started six games for the club last season.
It is not known at what levels the 49ers tendered Lawson, Goldson and McDonald. The 49ers have yet to announce any moves.
Shortly after 2 p.m. the team released a statement confirming the three tenders and the team's decision to relinquish rights to Troy Smith.
Also, the club announced it had tendered a one-year contract to exclusive rights free agent safety C.J. Spillman.
The contract tenders are contingent on the new collective bargaining agreement. By placing an RFA tender on a player, it could give the 49ers the right of first refusal if a player signs with another team. It might also provide draft-pick compensation if the team declines to match the offer.
Prior to 2010, restricted free agents were players with three years of NFL experience who were not under contract.
But under the rules of 2010, the uncapped year, players with four and five years of service were also restricted.
With a new CBA, Lawson is seemingly assured to be an unrestricted free agent with five years of service. The 49ers placed the tender on Lawson as a formality, in case a CBA impasse means the rules of 2010 roll over into this season. However, four-year pros Goldson and McDonald could be restricted from the open free-agent market.
The 49ers hold sole negotiating rights until Thursday, 9 p.m. (PT), to reach contract extensions with any of their scheduled free agents. After that time, their unsigned players will be able to sign with any team upon completion of the new CBA.
The 49ers' top scheduled unrestricted free agents -- under any system -- are quarterback Alex Smith, center David Baas, nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin and inside linebacker Takeo Spikes.
Lawson, a first-round draft pick in 2006, started all 16 games at strong outside linebacker. He ranked ninth on the team with 64 tackles. He recorded 2.5 sacks after leading the team with 6.5 sacks in 2009. Lawson ranked fourth in 2010 with 31 quarterback pressures.
Goldson, a fourth-round pick in 2007, ranked fourth with 102 tackles while starting every game. Plagued by injuries throughout the season, Goldson saw a drop in production with just one interception and one sack on the season.
McDonald, a third-round pick in 2007, was used primarily as an inside pass rusher on third downs. Although he did not record any sacks on the season, the 49ers' coaches review of the game film credited him with 56 pressures (third on the team) and 26 hits on the quarterback, ranking tied for second with Parys Haralson, behind Justin Smith's team-leading 48 hits.
The 49ers did not apply the franchise tag to any of their players before the deadline last week.
Maiocco: 49ers Mailbag -- Planning for Franklin's departure
http://www.csnbayarea.com/03/10/11/...dep/landing_niners&blockID=437507&feedID=5936
The 49ers are one of 15 teams in the NFL that played a 3-4 base defense last season, so nose tackles are gaining more and more league-wide popularity.
When (if?) free agency opens this offseason, 49ers nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin has every expectation of cashing in. Franklin will have plenty of options. And Franklin will be free to sign with any team without any restrictions after the 49ers deemed a potential $12 million fee for a franchise tag too steep of a price.
In recent years, the 49ers have not gotten into bidding wars to retain their own free agents on the open market. But, of course, this is no typical year with the NFL's unsettled labor situation factoring into most teams' offseason plans.
Let's go to the mailbag once again . . .
Q: If Aubrayo Franklin leaves the team, will the 49ers trust Ricky Jean Francois to fill the void? @Kyle V.
My response: Line coach Jim Tomsula is the only holdover from last year's defensive coaching staff, so he would have a lot of input. But, based on the film of the 49ers' game against the Packers last season when Franklin left the lineup, I'm sure the 49ers would not feel comfortable with Jean Francois as the primary nose tackle. The Packers repeatedly moved Jean Francois off the ball during a 17-play game-clinching drive. Jean Francois later said he made errors with his technique, as his stance was too wide.
At the very least, the 49ers would want him to win a competition for the job. Jean Francois would not be handed the starting job. The 49ers have a list of nose tackles that they will target. So if Franklin gets away in free agency, they can set their sights on others.
Also, the 49ers do have a little flexibility with Isaac Sopoaga, who started every game at left defensive end. Sopoaga did a very good job last season of playing with leverage, tying up blockers and helping the 49ers stuff the run. Sopoaga is durable. He has not missed a game due to injury in the past six seasons. He played approximately 90-percent of the team's defensive snaps last season.
Q: With regards to the lockout, how much of last year's playbook will be recycled. @Carl F.
My response: None. Coach Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman will be going with their own playbook, complete with their own West Coast terminology. Even behind closed doors, the 49ers do not know the identity of their quarterback for 2011. So there's no reason for them to have any carryover from Jimmy Raye's system. And, of course, there might be similar concepts on defense with Vic Fangio taking over for Greg Manusky, but it'll be Fangio's playbook. That's why I believe the 49ers will be at the greatest disadvantage in the entire NFL if there is a prolonged work stoppage.
Q: Do you believe the 49ers front office has been setting up a deal to trade for a quarterback that they can pull the trigger on "when" the new CBA is finalized? @Kevin C.
My response: Yes, I believe the 49ers have a strong idea of which quarterbacks be available, along with a general idea of what it would take to acquire them. I don't believe there will be any handshake deals, though. The team looking to deal a quarterback would want to keep its options open if another team were to come in late and make a better offer.
http://www.csnbayarea.com/03/10/11/...dep/landing_niners&blockID=437507&feedID=5936
The 49ers are one of 15 teams in the NFL that played a 3-4 base defense last season, so nose tackles are gaining more and more league-wide popularity.
When (if?) free agency opens this offseason, 49ers nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin has every expectation of cashing in. Franklin will have plenty of options. And Franklin will be free to sign with any team without any restrictions after the 49ers deemed a potential $12 million fee for a franchise tag too steep of a price.
In recent years, the 49ers have not gotten into bidding wars to retain their own free agents on the open market. But, of course, this is no typical year with the NFL's unsettled labor situation factoring into most teams' offseason plans.
Let's go to the mailbag once again . . .
Q: If Aubrayo Franklin leaves the team, will the 49ers trust Ricky Jean Francois to fill the void? @Kyle V.
My response: Line coach Jim Tomsula is the only holdover from last year's defensive coaching staff, so he would have a lot of input. But, based on the film of the 49ers' game against the Packers last season when Franklin left the lineup, I'm sure the 49ers would not feel comfortable with Jean Francois as the primary nose tackle. The Packers repeatedly moved Jean Francois off the ball during a 17-play game-clinching drive. Jean Francois later said he made errors with his technique, as his stance was too wide.
At the very least, the 49ers would want him to win a competition for the job. Jean Francois would not be handed the starting job. The 49ers have a list of nose tackles that they will target. So if Franklin gets away in free agency, they can set their sights on others.
Also, the 49ers do have a little flexibility with Isaac Sopoaga, who started every game at left defensive end. Sopoaga did a very good job last season of playing with leverage, tying up blockers and helping the 49ers stuff the run. Sopoaga is durable. He has not missed a game due to injury in the past six seasons. He played approximately 90-percent of the team's defensive snaps last season.
Q: With regards to the lockout, how much of last year's playbook will be recycled. @Carl F.
My response: None. Coach Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman will be going with their own playbook, complete with their own West Coast terminology. Even behind closed doors, the 49ers do not know the identity of their quarterback for 2011. So there's no reason for them to have any carryover from Jimmy Raye's system. And, of course, there might be similar concepts on defense with Vic Fangio taking over for Greg Manusky, but it'll be Fangio's playbook. That's why I believe the 49ers will be at the greatest disadvantage in the entire NFL if there is a prolonged work stoppage.
Q: Do you believe the 49ers front office has been setting up a deal to trade for a quarterback that they can pull the trigger on "when" the new CBA is finalized? @Kevin C.
My response: Yes, I believe the 49ers have a strong idea of which quarterbacks be available, along with a general idea of what it would take to acquire them. I don't believe there will be any handshake deals, though. The team looking to deal a quarterback would want to keep its options open if another team were to come in late and make a better offer.
Draft Spotlight: Marcell Dareus
http://www.49ers.com/news-and-event...l-Dareus/7d423962-394a-441a-a140-49b1ba17a4bf
SEC Week rolls on at 49ers.com with one of Roll Tide’s top prospects, a highly-skilled defensive tackle always up for big games.
One of the most endearing moments of the 2011 Scouting Combine took place when a top prospect met his idol on the set of NFL Network.
Just one day earlier, Alabama defensive tackle Marcell Dareus told reporters how he grew up idolizing Warren Sapp. It was Sapp’s Super Bowl-winning game tape with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that helped inspire Dareus to play football in the first place.
One day after his admission, the 6-foot-3, 319-pound defensive tackle prospect found himself on set with his hero seated directly to his left.
It certainly made compelling television.
Dareus only began playing football as a fifth-grader when he was summoned off a swing set to join a pickup game. The experience followed by middle school film study of Sapp, made football even more appealing.
“I started watching Sapp, what he did and I’m like, ‘Why can’t I do that?’’ Dareus asked himself. “I pushed myself to do what he did.”
The sight of the two defensive linemen probably made some envision Dareus as a younger version of Sapp, a dominant defensive player who could one day enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Dareus has ways to go before he can carve out that type of career. He did however, show Sapp-like ability in three college seasons.
He most recently posted 34 tackles, 11 tackles-for-loss and 4.5 sacks in 11 games last season. As a sophomore, Dareus came up largest in the biggest game of his career. Not only did the performance put him on the map as pro scouts were concerned, it brought home a national championship at the same time.
Dareus probably wishes he played every game at the Rose Bowl, sight of the 2009 BCS National Championship.
His MVP performance against Texas proved to the entire country just how talented he was. Two of his biggest plays still stand out as some of the finest moments in Alabama’s 13th National Championship.
“I played pretty hard the whole year,” Dareus recalled, “but that game really put me up there where, ‘OK, he made a name for himself, he left a mark in college.’
“That kind of prepared me for where I am now.”
Dareus knocked Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy out of the game with a devastating tackle. He later intercepted Texas’ backup quarterback on a deflected shovel pass and made it a signature play with some nifty running on his 28-yard touchdown return.
Everything you need to know about Dareus could be seen on that very play.
He recognized the Longhorns running back stopping to receive a pass, focused on the ball as it bounced off multiple players, hauled it in and displayed major athleticism on the return. Dareus broke three tackles on his way to the end zone, utilizing a stiff-arm, cut-back and a spin move for good measure.
It all but took Texas out of the game and gave Alabama a large enough lead to eventually win.
Dareus’ return should have signaled his abilities in the open field. His performance at the combine only solidified it. Nimble for a 300-plus pounder, Dareus showed excellent body control for a large man. It’s not known if he ranks as the best defensive lineman by most teams standards, but he should at least be in that conversation.
He is among the top defensive linemen with Auburn’s Nick Fairley, but Dareus matched the lighter, 297-pound lineman’s athleticism. In the 40-yard dash, Dareus ran a 4.93, slower than Fairley’s 4.87, but had a quicker 10-yard split 1.66 to 1.76. Dareus also out up 24 reps at the 225-pound bench press.
From now until April 28, both players will be compared in everything they do.
Dareus respects his competition’s game, but feels fairly good about his own abilities.
“I can say I think I’m the most versatile d-lineman,” he said.
And Dareus has plenty of motivation besides becoming the next Sapp. He left school early to better support his family. He lost his father at the age of six and lost his mother last May. She raised his five brothers and sister by herself while confined to a wheelchair.
“It will be a big benefit to help my brothers and sister to the point we can do something in life,” he said. “My mom struggled with all seven of us. She did the best she could. She was the head of my house… She had to make us boys be men and learn to take care of our family and be productive in our community.”
Soon enough Dareus will bring that productivity to a community near you.
http://www.49ers.com/news-and-event...l-Dareus/7d423962-394a-441a-a140-49b1ba17a4bf
SEC Week rolls on at 49ers.com with one of Roll Tide’s top prospects, a highly-skilled defensive tackle always up for big games.
One of the most endearing moments of the 2011 Scouting Combine took place when a top prospect met his idol on the set of NFL Network.
Just one day earlier, Alabama defensive tackle Marcell Dareus told reporters how he grew up idolizing Warren Sapp. It was Sapp’s Super Bowl-winning game tape with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that helped inspire Dareus to play football in the first place.
One day after his admission, the 6-foot-3, 319-pound defensive tackle prospect found himself on set with his hero seated directly to his left.
It certainly made compelling television.
Dareus only began playing football as a fifth-grader when he was summoned off a swing set to join a pickup game. The experience followed by middle school film study of Sapp, made football even more appealing.
“I started watching Sapp, what he did and I’m like, ‘Why can’t I do that?’’ Dareus asked himself. “I pushed myself to do what he did.”
The sight of the two defensive linemen probably made some envision Dareus as a younger version of Sapp, a dominant defensive player who could one day enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Dareus has ways to go before he can carve out that type of career. He did however, show Sapp-like ability in three college seasons.
He most recently posted 34 tackles, 11 tackles-for-loss and 4.5 sacks in 11 games last season. As a sophomore, Dareus came up largest in the biggest game of his career. Not only did the performance put him on the map as pro scouts were concerned, it brought home a national championship at the same time.
Dareus probably wishes he played every game at the Rose Bowl, sight of the 2009 BCS National Championship.
His MVP performance against Texas proved to the entire country just how talented he was. Two of his biggest plays still stand out as some of the finest moments in Alabama’s 13th National Championship.
“I played pretty hard the whole year,” Dareus recalled, “but that game really put me up there where, ‘OK, he made a name for himself, he left a mark in college.’
“That kind of prepared me for where I am now.”
Dareus knocked Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy out of the game with a devastating tackle. He later intercepted Texas’ backup quarterback on a deflected shovel pass and made it a signature play with some nifty running on his 28-yard touchdown return.
Everything you need to know about Dareus could be seen on that very play.
He recognized the Longhorns running back stopping to receive a pass, focused on the ball as it bounced off multiple players, hauled it in and displayed major athleticism on the return. Dareus broke three tackles on his way to the end zone, utilizing a stiff-arm, cut-back and a spin move for good measure.
It all but took Texas out of the game and gave Alabama a large enough lead to eventually win.
Dareus’ return should have signaled his abilities in the open field. His performance at the combine only solidified it. Nimble for a 300-plus pounder, Dareus showed excellent body control for a large man. It’s not known if he ranks as the best defensive lineman by most teams standards, but he should at least be in that conversation.
He is among the top defensive linemen with Auburn’s Nick Fairley, but Dareus matched the lighter, 297-pound lineman’s athleticism. In the 40-yard dash, Dareus ran a 4.93, slower than Fairley’s 4.87, but had a quicker 10-yard split 1.66 to 1.76. Dareus also out up 24 reps at the 225-pound bench press.
From now until April 28, both players will be compared in everything they do.
Dareus respects his competition’s game, but feels fairly good about his own abilities.
“I can say I think I’m the most versatile d-lineman,” he said.
And Dareus has plenty of motivation besides becoming the next Sapp. He left school early to better support his family. He lost his father at the age of six and lost his mother last May. She raised his five brothers and sister by herself while confined to a wheelchair.
“It will be a big benefit to help my brothers and sister to the point we can do something in life,” he said. “My mom struggled with all seven of us. She did the best she could. She was the head of my house… She had to make us boys be men and learn to take care of our family and be productive in our community.”
Soon enough Dareus will bring that productivity to a community near you.
Niners will have private workout with QB Kaepernick
The 49ers are sending a notable contingent to Reno on Friday for a private workout with Nevada quarterback Colin Kaepernick, according to a source with knowledge of the event. Head coach Jim Harbaugh and general manager Trent Baalke are expected to be on hand.
Nevada has several draft-worthy players this season, including defensive end/outside linebacker Dontay Moch and tight end Virgil Green. The school will hold its pro day on March 22. The headliner of the group, however, is Kaepernick, and the 49ers will get an early look.
The 6-5, 225-pound Kaepernick has the strongest arm of any quarterback in this draft, and he led the Wolf Pack to a 13-1 record this past season. He completed 233 of 359 attempts (64.9 percent) for 3,022 yards, 21 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He also was a very good runner and is the only player in NCAA history with more than 4,000 rushing yards to go along with more than 10,000 passing yards.
When the college season ended, Kaepernick was viewed as a mid-round selection. However, he showed better-than-expected touch and accuracy at the January Senior Bowl. He also was one of the better passers at the combine, and is now viewed as a second-round prospect. (This guy even had the 49ers trading back into the first round to get Kaepernick).
The 49ers, meanwhile, appear to be doing their homework on second-round quarterbacks. Jim Harbaugh attended TCU quarterback Andy Dalton's Pro Day last week, the only pro day Harbaugh is known to have attended thus far. Another possible second/late first rounder, Christian Ponder, will hold his pro day tomorrow.
http://blogs.sacbee.com/49ers/archives/2011/03/niners-will-hav.html
The 49ers are sending a notable contingent to Reno on Friday for a private workout with Nevada quarterback Colin Kaepernick, according to a source with knowledge of the event. Head coach Jim Harbaugh and general manager Trent Baalke are expected to be on hand.
Nevada has several draft-worthy players this season, including defensive end/outside linebacker Dontay Moch and tight end Virgil Green. The school will hold its pro day on March 22. The headliner of the group, however, is Kaepernick, and the 49ers will get an early look.
The 6-5, 225-pound Kaepernick has the strongest arm of any quarterback in this draft, and he led the Wolf Pack to a 13-1 record this past season. He completed 233 of 359 attempts (64.9 percent) for 3,022 yards, 21 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He also was a very good runner and is the only player in NCAA history with more than 4,000 rushing yards to go along with more than 10,000 passing yards.
When the college season ended, Kaepernick was viewed as a mid-round selection. However, he showed better-than-expected touch and accuracy at the January Senior Bowl. He also was one of the better passers at the combine, and is now viewed as a second-round prospect. (This guy even had the 49ers trading back into the first round to get Kaepernick).
The 49ers, meanwhile, appear to be doing their homework on second-round quarterbacks. Jim Harbaugh attended TCU quarterback Andy Dalton's Pro Day last week, the only pro day Harbaugh is known to have attended thus far. Another possible second/late first rounder, Christian Ponder, will hold his pro day tomorrow.
http://blogs.sacbee.com/49ers/archives/2011/03/niners-will-hav.html
Harbaugh attends Gabbert's pro day in Missouri
http://www.csnbayarea.com/03/17/11/...ts-pro-day/landing&blockID=442768&feedID=5936
Coach Jim Harbaugh's tour of potential 49ers quarterbacks of the future makes a stop today in Columbia, Mo.
Harbaugh, who recruited Gabbert to play at Stanford, is among the interested parties getting an up-close look at Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert, a likely top-10 draft pick who is holding his pro day. The 49ers own the No. 7 overall pick.
Gabbert (6-4, 233) was a two-year starter at Missouri, where he completed 60.9 percent of his passes with 40 touchdowns and 18 interceptions.
He declared for the NFL draft after his junior year, so he did not attend the Senior Bowl. And he was the only healthy quarterback who chose not to throw last month at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis.
"It's been successful in the past," Gabbert said of his decision to not throw at the combine. "Of course, Sam (Bradford) had his injury, so he was only going to throw at his pro day. But Matt Ryan, Matthew Stafford, these guys have only selected to throw at their pro day, and they've been extremely successful in doing that. It's more of a controlled atmosphere. You have a script. I'm not shying away from competition or anything, but I'm just throwing at my pro day and that's really about it."
One of the things Harbaugh will evaluate is Gabbert's ability to adapt from the spread offense he ran at Missouri to the under-center pro style. Gabbert has been working with quarterbacks coach Terry Shea, a Bill Walsh disciple.
"I wouldn't necessarily say that the reads are different," Gabbert said. "We're not really a one-side read offense. We have three-, four-progression reads. Of course the footwork is different. We're in the shotgun about 98 percent of the time. So that's what I've been working on. That's what I focused on.
[RELATED: Harbaugh implements 49ers' new/old system]
"My quarterback coach, coach Terry Shea, has made that an extremely important process that I have to work on. And I've done a great job so far and haven't seen a problem one bit."
* * *
Harbaugh attended the pro day last week of TCU quarterback Andy Dalton. He is also scheduled to be in Reno on Friday to watch Colin Kaepernick. The 49ers also planning a private visit with Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi, but no date has been set.
[RELATED: Harbaugh gets close up look at TCU QB Andy Dalton]
* * *
Another player of interest for the 49ers at Missouri's pro day is outside linebacker Aldon Smith (6-4, 265). The 49ers' top draft needs are quarterback, pass-rusher and cornerback.
http://www.csnbayarea.com/03/17/11/...ts-pro-day/landing&blockID=442768&feedID=5936
Coach Jim Harbaugh's tour of potential 49ers quarterbacks of the future makes a stop today in Columbia, Mo.
Harbaugh, who recruited Gabbert to play at Stanford, is among the interested parties getting an up-close look at Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert, a likely top-10 draft pick who is holding his pro day. The 49ers own the No. 7 overall pick.
Gabbert (6-4, 233) was a two-year starter at Missouri, where he completed 60.9 percent of his passes with 40 touchdowns and 18 interceptions.
He declared for the NFL draft after his junior year, so he did not attend the Senior Bowl. And he was the only healthy quarterback who chose not to throw last month at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis.
"It's been successful in the past," Gabbert said of his decision to not throw at the combine. "Of course, Sam (Bradford) had his injury, so he was only going to throw at his pro day. But Matt Ryan, Matthew Stafford, these guys have only selected to throw at their pro day, and they've been extremely successful in doing that. It's more of a controlled atmosphere. You have a script. I'm not shying away from competition or anything, but I'm just throwing at my pro day and that's really about it."
One of the things Harbaugh will evaluate is Gabbert's ability to adapt from the spread offense he ran at Missouri to the under-center pro style. Gabbert has been working with quarterbacks coach Terry Shea, a Bill Walsh disciple.
"I wouldn't necessarily say that the reads are different," Gabbert said. "We're not really a one-side read offense. We have three-, four-progression reads. Of course the footwork is different. We're in the shotgun about 98 percent of the time. So that's what I've been working on. That's what I focused on.
[RELATED: Harbaugh implements 49ers' new/old system]
"My quarterback coach, coach Terry Shea, has made that an extremely important process that I have to work on. And I've done a great job so far and haven't seen a problem one bit."
* * *
Harbaugh attended the pro day last week of TCU quarterback Andy Dalton. He is also scheduled to be in Reno on Friday to watch Colin Kaepernick. The 49ers also planning a private visit with Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi, but no date has been set.
[RELATED: Harbaugh gets close up look at TCU QB Andy Dalton]
* * *
Another player of interest for the 49ers at Missouri's pro day is outside linebacker Aldon Smith (6-4, 265). The 49ers' top draft needs are quarterback, pass-rusher and cornerback.