Niner News Thread
- Thread starter Chree
- Start date
Antwan Applewhite - how he fits in
Free agent position analysis - outside linebacker
Antwan Applewhite
Antwan Applewhite
Departing: Manny Lawson, signed one-year $3 million deal in Cincinnati.
Arriving: Antwan Applewhite from San Diego, terms unknown.
Better, worse or draw: Applewhite will rotate with Parys Haralson, Ahmad Brooks and rookie Aldon Smith at outside linebacker. Because of injuries, the former undrafted free agent played more than the Chargers expected and responded with 37 tackles and three sacks. When drafted, the 49ers anticipated that Lawson would be a 12-sack-a-year player. After four seasons (with one lost to injury) Lawson compiled 14.5 sacks. However, he was excellent in coverage and against the run, where he rarely allowed runners to get outside him. At 6-3, 258, Applewhite is about 18 pounds heavier and might have better pass-rush abilities. How much playing time Applewhite will get depends how Brooks, Haralson and particularly Smith fare. Applewhite is also expected to contribute on special teams. The 49ers are WORSE with Applewhite, who doesn't have the polish of former top-round pick Lawson. However, the loss of Lawson could quickly be mitigated if Smith lives up to his potential.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/ninerinsider/detail?entry_id=95053#ixzz1UbN19bff
Free agent position analysis - outside linebacker
Antwan Applewhite
Antwan Applewhite
Departing: Manny Lawson, signed one-year $3 million deal in Cincinnati.
Arriving: Antwan Applewhite from San Diego, terms unknown.
Better, worse or draw: Applewhite will rotate with Parys Haralson, Ahmad Brooks and rookie Aldon Smith at outside linebacker. Because of injuries, the former undrafted free agent played more than the Chargers expected and responded with 37 tackles and three sacks. When drafted, the 49ers anticipated that Lawson would be a 12-sack-a-year player. After four seasons (with one lost to injury) Lawson compiled 14.5 sacks. However, he was excellent in coverage and against the run, where he rarely allowed runners to get outside him. At 6-3, 258, Applewhite is about 18 pounds heavier and might have better pass-rush abilities. How much playing time Applewhite will get depends how Brooks, Haralson and particularly Smith fare. Applewhite is also expected to contribute on special teams. The 49ers are WORSE with Applewhite, who doesn't have the polish of former top-round pick Lawson. However, the loss of Lawson could quickly be mitigated if Smith lives up to his potential.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/ninerinsider/detail?entry_id=95053#ixzz1UbN19bff
Coach Jim Harbaugh says second-round pick Colin Kaepernick is the most "game-ready" of all the 49ers' rookies.
First-rounder Aldon Smith is a college end moving to linebacker and third-rounder Chris Culliver is a college safety moving to cornerback, so the competition isn't exactly super stiff. Still, it's impressive that Kaepernick has come along so quickly after playing in a Pistol Spread offense at Nevada. "I think he's really ready," said Harbaugh. "He's done a fabulous job."
First-rounder Aldon Smith is a college end moving to linebacker and third-rounder Chris Culliver is a college safety moving to cornerback, so the competition isn't exactly super stiff. Still, it's impressive that Kaepernick has come along so quickly after playing in a Pistol Spread offense at Nevada. "I think he's really ready," said Harbaugh. "He's done a fabulous job."
Q: How is it on bonding with a quarterback, especially Alex Smith?
EDWARDS: You’ve got to get a feel for their personality. I know that sounds pretty trivial and juvenile but it’s honest. You’ve got to know how they feel day to day, how to come out them, how to approach them. Football-wise, you watch the extra film with them, you talk to them, you go through things. Whenever you have questions, you’ve got to ask. You make a mistake, you’ve got to own up to it. Sometimes they may make a mistake and you help them with it. That’s how you develop a rapport. There’s a lot of extra work and you’ve got to go above and beyond your 9-5 to get better, to build chemistry on the field.
Q: Is that what you’re going through right now?
EDWARDS: So far we are. I’ve known Alex for a while so it’s actually made it a little bit easier. It might not be if I didn’t know him. We’re doing as much as we can. We’re trying to get this thing rolling so we don’t have excuses. We don’t want that to be one of the things going into the Seattle game, Dallas, Cincinnati or the Eagles game with us still learning.
Q: What’s the best way to approach him?
EDWARDS: He’s a cool guy. Alex is always here. He’s always about football. He’s always open to any extra work – and that makes it easier. Alex lives in this building, which is cool. I’m going to be here as much as I can. I guess I’ll live here. I’ll try to be with him as much as I can. He’s very open, very calm, very down to earth. Working with him is going to be easy than somebody else.
EDWARDS: You’ve got to get a feel for their personality. I know that sounds pretty trivial and juvenile but it’s honest. You’ve got to know how they feel day to day, how to come out them, how to approach them. Football-wise, you watch the extra film with them, you talk to them, you go through things. Whenever you have questions, you’ve got to ask. You make a mistake, you’ve got to own up to it. Sometimes they may make a mistake and you help them with it. That’s how you develop a rapport. There’s a lot of extra work and you’ve got to go above and beyond your 9-5 to get better, to build chemistry on the field.
Q: Is that what you’re going through right now?
EDWARDS: So far we are. I’ve known Alex for a while so it’s actually made it a little bit easier. It might not be if I didn’t know him. We’re doing as much as we can. We’re trying to get this thing rolling so we don’t have excuses. We don’t want that to be one of the things going into the Seattle game, Dallas, Cincinnati or the Eagles game with us still learning.
Q: What’s the best way to approach him?
EDWARDS: He’s a cool guy. Alex is always here. He’s always about football. He’s always open to any extra work – and that makes it easier. Alex lives in this building, which is cool. I’m going to be here as much as I can. I guess I’ll live here. I’ll try to be with him as much as I can. He’s very open, very calm, very down to earth. Working with him is going to be easy than somebody else.
well not this time
"Meanwhile, the team made one move Thursday releasing former Yale tight end Chris Blohm shortly after they signed him.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/ninerinsider/detail?entry_id=95171#ixzz1UkhR30sL
"
"Meanwhile, the team made one move Thursday releasing former Yale tight end Chris Blohm shortly after they signed him.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/ninerinsider/detail?entry_id=95171#ixzz1UkhR30sL
"
