Niner News Thread

[PoLLo LoC831]

Smith? Hill? O'Sullivan? Nolan isn't tipping his hand

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/18/SPD011AJOL.DTL

The person who will cast the key vote in one of this year's most hotly contested elections says he's undecided. And if any candidate is ahead in his mind at this early juncture, he's not saying.

Coach Mike Nolan, whose job very well might depend on whom he chooses as the 49ers' No. 1 quarterback, said he's seeing Alex Smith "do things that I haven't seen him do before, in practice or in games."

An example is that, during the team's voluntary workouts, he's getting the ball to receivers more quickly in blitz situations rather relying on his protection to save the play.

"Alex is very athletic," Nolan said. "He probably has the strongest arm of all the guys. He's really intelligent. Now he's got to go in there and put in four quarters and move the ball consistently and make plays he should make."

Given Smith's physical advantages, is it fair to say he has an edge at this point?

"I wouldn't go there right now," Nolan said. "For one, I don't have to go there."

Challenger Shaun Hill tends to play better in games than he shows in practice, Nolan said. "Shaun's been OK in practice, but he's that type of player."

To which, Hill said, "I'm not sure that's a good thing when you're trying to win a job on the practice field."

The other challenger, newcomer J.T. O'Sullivan, hasn't been given many chances to run the team in the no-pads workouts, in which contact is limited and the offense has a decided advantage over the defense.

O'Sullivan, however, is in the mix as well, Nolan said. "He's probably as competitive as anybody we've had around here. He knows the offense. He has an advantage from a knowledge standpoint because he's been in it a year already (in Detroit last season)."

Nolan likes O'Sullivan's spirit, especially when he's getting on a teammate to perform a play correctly. "Every time he's in there, if the play is not exactly right, you can see he wants it exactly right." On the other hand, the coach said, "I know the least about him."

Before training camp opens July 24, Nolan, offensive coordinator Mike Martz and quarterbacks coach Ted Tollner will have to decide how they want to apportion each quarterback's time with the first unit during the workouts.

Nolan said they'll need to do that to lend some "continuity and consistency, not just for the quarterbacks but the guys who are listening to the cadence. ... If they're getting a different quarterback all the time, it's hard for them as well."

He cautioned against reading too much into who takes the most snaps with the first unit, however. The job will go to the player who performs the best at practices and in the preseason games.

Call it spin or rationalization, but the coach insisted he's comfortable going into training camp for the first time with an unsettled quarterback situation.

He admitted he previously might have been living in "la-la-land" in believing that, in Smith, he had a settled situation. He thinks any of the three players could win a game. "I like our situation better now than any time I've been here," he said.

As the quarterbacks struggle to impress the coaches, they're doing it while learning the complicated Martz offense. Smith said the "gunslinger" image of the Martz passing game is off base.

"It's the opposite of going out there and just making something happen," he said. "It's very structured."

Briefly: The 49ers claimed third-year defensive tackle LaJuan Ramsey off waivers from the Eagles. Ramsey, who played at USC, was a sixth-round draft pick in 2006 by Philadelphia who played in 15 games over the past two seasons. ... Mexican offensive tackle Ramiro Pruñeda has been assigned to the 49ers as part of the NFL's international practice-squad program, in which 16 players were selected from more than 100 who tried out at camps in Europe and Asia.

 

[PoLLo LoC831]

Former 49ers LB Mike Dukes killed in collision

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=425091

BEAUMONT, Texas (AP) -- Mike Dukes, who played linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers and two AFL teams from 1959 to 1965, was killed in a traffic accident earlier this week. He was 72.

The longtime Beaumont resident was killed when an eastbound pickup crossed the median on Interstate 10 on Monday afternoon, striking his truck head-on, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
The trooper's report said the driver of the other vehicle was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Dukes was pronounced dead at the scene.

Dukes grew up in Kentucky and Georgia, and went on to play football for Clemson.

He began his professional football career with the San Francisco 49ers in 1959, then moved to the American Football League's Houston Oilers from 1960 to 1963 and the AFL's Boston Patriots in 1964-65.

He moved to the Beaumont area in the early 1980s and became a businessman.

 

[PoLLo LoC831]

Complete rundown of final OTA practice open to the media

http://49ers.pressdemocrat.com/default.asp?item=2213925

Today was the last of the offseason workouts the media was allowed to witness in 49erland, so the staff here at Instant 49ers figured we better make this report count.

At the beginning of practice, the 49ers divided into position groups as usual and went through individual drills. One thing that stood out was watching the linebackers. LBs coach Mike Singletary is old school. He makes his guys work hard.

Rookie Larry Grant was really struggling going back and forth laterally over bags. Dontarrious Thomas also didn't look like he was having much fun. Singletary, as usual, was really on his guys. (As an aside, one source told me that a reason free-agent Takeo Spikes might be reluctant to sign with the 49ers is because he's heard about the killer workouts Singletary puts his linebackers through. That is just hearsay, as neither Spikes nor his agent has spoken publicly since the Eagles released him after he failed a physical several months ago.)

There was a lot of teamwork at today's practice - that being 11-on-11 "non-contact" scrimmage. The team went through some regular 11-on-11 work and then practiced their two-minute drill.

Some of you might find the following description of practice as boring as watching end-zone paint dry. Today, we're going to try to appease the hard-core fans who just can't get enough of this stuff. . .

--The first thing noticeable was that Zak Keasey got a lot of the snaps with the first-team offense. The 49ers did not use a fullback often, but when they did it was almost always Keasey. Incumbent starter Moran Norris was on the field for only a couple snaps, including one time when Grant put a nice move on him on a blitz and would've gotten to QB Shaun Hill for a sack.

--Walt Harris and Nate Clements did not participate in practice. Marcus Hudson and Donald Strickland lined up as the corners with rookie Reggie Smith coming in as a third corner.

--The timing was off on one pass from Alex Smith to Bryant Johnson. Smith made a nice throw of an intermediate route, but Johnson did not turn his head in time and the pass fell incomplete. This offense is predicated on timing, timing, timing, so these are the hiccups you'd expect to see in June. Johnson was the split end, Arnaz Battle was the flanker.

--Ashley Lelie (flanker) and Jason Hill (split end) got in on the action with the second team.

--I wrote earlier today about the "hot reads." Well, folks, at practice today it was really obvious. I can't recall the last time I saw the quarterbacks get rid of the ball this quickly to avoid the oncoming blitz. Shaun Hill got the ball out quickly to Jason Hill to beat a blitz early in practice.

--Three plays later when Smith was at QB, he delivered the ball quickly to tight end Billy Bajema. In fact, I saw Bajema catch more passes today than I've seen him catch in the past three seasons.

--Safety Keith Lewis had a good day. He broke up a pass down the field to Vernon Davis. Later, in a red zone situation, Lewis made an interception of a Smith pass in the end zone intended for Johnson.

--Things are still looking a little rough, as you can imagine. The 49ers had a two-TE formation with Battle and Delanie Walker lined up on the same side. Smith came to the line and noticed Battle and Walker were lined up improperly. They re-huddled to get things straightened away.

--The second offensive line on this day featured LT Joe Toledo, LG Brian de la Puente, C Cody Wallace, RG Jeb Terry and RT Chilo Rachal.

--Receiver Josh Morgan, who looked good the last time the media was allowed to watch practice, wasn't as sharp today. He dropped a nicely thrown deep ball from Hill.

--Hey, what was that? Oh, another hot-read thrown from Hill to Hill.

--On a third-and-five, Hudson broke up a Smith pass attempt to Battle.

--The 49ers featured an empty backfield (get used to it). Johnson, Ashley Lelie, Hill, Battle and Gore were all lined up as receivers. Smith hit Gore as a . . . you guessed . . . hot read.

--The next receiver on the field was undrafted rookie Robert Jordan. I know there have been a lot of questions about Cam Colvin of Oregon. He was allowed to join the team on Monday. I did not see him get on the field for teamwork today. That is not a surprise. Obviously, he's so far behind the other receivers, the 49ers wants to keep the tempo at a high level. So rather than learning while he was on the field, he did not take part in any 11-on-11 drills.

--I was sent scrambling for my roster when No. 20 picked off a Shaun Hill pass. No. 20? Oh, that's return specialist Allen Rossum, who is also listed as a cornerback.

And then the two-minute drill began . . . This is absolutely futile, but you can check out some video of a Smith first down pass, followed by an incomplete pass.

--The Smith drive ended with the aforementioned Keith Lewis pick in the end zone.

--The 49ers' nickel defense - some starters and some second-teamers -- consisted of CBs Rossum and Markus Curry, with Hudson playing the slot. The safeties were Lewis Baker and D.J. Parker (who looked pretty darn good, by the way). The inside linebackers were Jeff Ulbrich and Dontarrious Thomas, with a four-man line consisting of Louis Holmes (RDE), Tully Banta-Cain (LDE) and DTs Isaac Sopoaga and Ronald Fields.

--On a third-and-15, Hill hit Jordan for about 25 yards.

--Parker knocked down Hill's wobbly pass in the end zone for Dominique Zeigler.

--Hill hit Lelie in front of Reggie Smith for an apparent touchdown, but who's counting? The next play, Hill threw out of bounds in the end zone for DeShaun Foster. Reggie Smith was defending on the next play, an incomplete pass to Lelie.

--With Alex Smith back at QB, Keith Lewis broke up a pass for Johnson. But Smith came back to connect on a short pass to Lelie. And, then, Smith hit Battle for a TD in the back corner of the end zone over Lewis.

--J.T. O'Sullivan, the third wheel in the QB competition, got onto the field for four snaps at the very end. He completed a ball to Jordan on a crossing pattern, and also hit Foster on a shovel pass.

* * *

The obvious question: Who has the lead in the race to be the 49ers' quarterback?

Clearly, it's Alex Smith. He looks so much better on the practice field. He has the best arm; he throws a nice ball; he moves well; he has all the attributes. But the big question is whether he can carry it over into games.

Conversely, Shaun Hill was described by Nolan as a "gamer." He is the kind of guy who does not look great on the practice field, but is pretty darn effective in games.

When told what Nolan said about him, Hill did not seem all that pleased. It was meant as a compliment, but Hill said, "I'm not sure that's a good thing when you're trying to win a job on the practice field."

Right now - again, based on what I saw in four practices - O'Sullivan is a distant third. That is based primarily on the fact that he rarely gets on the practice field.

Regardless how it turns out, Nolan said he feels so much better about the QB situation this season than he has in years' past. He said he believes the person who wins the job will give the 49ers better QB play than they've had since Nolan arrived in 2005. Moreover, he said he believes the No. 2 and No. 3 QBs will be better-equipped to win games if they're pressed into action.

 

[PoLLo LoC831]

A tough time to come calling for stadium money

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/18/SPD011AJOG.DTL

The trick in comprehending the latest delay in the vote for the alleged 49ers stadium in Santa Clara is in determining how loud to say, "We told you so."

Particularly because San Francisco is no further down the road, and shows no more sign of getting there than its southward brethren. Nothing is more offensive, after all, than smugness without cause.

All that being said, this might be an excellent time for the Family York (well, vice president in charge of general stuff and whatnot Andy Dolich) to say, "You know, boys and girls, this is a lousy time to squeeze money out of you, and the vote to delay the stadium ballot measure is a great idea. I wish we'd thought of it first. Anyway, we're going to drop the whole thing until the economy stops stinking on ice. Have a good summer."

None of this "July deadline" or "February deadline" or "Rapture deadline" nonsense. "Until you all feel up to it," that's the right answer.

This allows people who are understandably irked by the whole publicly financed-stadium scam (say, like Senator Arlen Specter) to remind casual voters that PFS plans are merely a slow-motion swindle to be avoided by anyone in his or her right mind.

And this allows folks who think that nothing beats a new stadium for the old self-esteem glands to look like they actually pay attention to things beyond the size of the locker room and the ratio of overpriced concession stands to functional restrooms.

In short, the Yorks (or Dolich) can come off looking good only by saying, "We know you're in a bad way right now, you know we're not going to Los Angeles, so why don't we just take a break from this stadium stuff for a while and enjoy our 5-11 football team together."

Conversely, they can look only more Yorkian (Yorktistic? Yorkolicious?) by saying anything else. No "We're disappointed," no "We're considering all available options," no "What, again?"

Fact is, we know this is a lousy time to ask for money. Cold callers know it, teachers know it, investment bankers know it, potential home buyers know it, collection-plate jockeys know it. In fact, the only thing worse than asking for it is getting it and then using it for something essentially frivolous like a new place to miss the playoffs.

In other words, as much as the Yorks salivate for a palatial estate to entertain their friends and overpay their cornerbacks, they aren't anywhere close to getting it. Not in San Francisco, not in Santa Clara, not in Placerville, nowhere. They're not organized enough, they're not positioned well enough, the cities they are trying to soak aren't flush enough.

This is pretty elemental stuff, we know, but the thing about the obvious is that the last people to acknowledge it are typically the ones who should be first. In this case, the Yorks should be in front of this delay, not behind it.

Imagine the benefit the family (or Dolich) would accrue by anticipating the bad news and saying to the folks who run Santa Clara more or less, "You know what? Never mind the deadline. July, next February, next June, 2010 . . . whatever. We can wait, and as good citizens, we will wait.

"We want to be good neighbors, and in this case, good neighbors don't ask for money from people who really don't have any to spare. Rather than test your fandom, we want you to relax about it. We'll be back, but later. Now isn't good for you, so it isn't good for us. Come find us when you're ready."

It wouldn't be an admission of anything other than the painfully evident. They still don't have the Great America people, they don't have the pols, they don't have the voters and they don't have the money, so why not look like you're doing a favor by acknowledging what you already don't have?

Dolich would know this. In fact, having read "Veeck As In Wreck" several times to learn the ins and outs of clever operating, he would have agreed to this plan well ahead of time. Taking defeat and recasting it as an act of generosity - why, it's the fastest way to getting what you want when the time is more propitious, while looking all the time like a selfless hero. Who wouldn't want that?

Instead, we're back trying to get discovery writs to find square one. Candlestick Park, that crusty old dowager with the varicose veins and the bland wardrobe, remains the home of the 49ers, now and for the very foreseeable future. The Yorks' master plan is deferred again, as anyone with a wallet and an empty gas tank would know.

And the magnanimous thing to do would be to say, "Thanks, we appreciate it," as opposed to "Thanks for nothing, again." We'll see if they can manage it.

 

[TRAJIK1]

i cant wait til august

 

[9erfitted]

9er o is just now learning hot reads..

 

[PoLLo LoC831]

Niners sign sixth-round draft pick WR Josh Morgan

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/06/19/sports/s182108D28.DTL

(06-19) 18:21 PDT Santa Clara, Calif. (AP) --

The San Francisco 49ers signed receiver Josh Morgan on Thursday, getting the first of their six draft picks under contract.

The 49ers took Morgan in the sixth round after his four-year career at Virginia Tech. Morgan led the Hokies last season with 46 catches for 552 yards and five touchdowns.

San Francisco still is working on a deal with first-round pick Kentwan Balmer, a defensive lineman from North Carolina.

 

[PoLLo LoC831]

49ers Complete OTA's

http://www.49ers.com/pressbox/news_detail.php?PRKey=4278&section=PR News

The 49ers finished their 12th and final organized team activity on Thursday, signaling the end of the team's 14 week off-season conditioning program.

“A lot of guys were amped up today, excited and out there talking a lot," said safety Dashon Goldson. “We came out here and worked and got a lot done today. We stayed focused even though it was the last day because we know that’s something we have to do every day we come out here.”

With safety Mark Roman missing the OTA's in order to recover from shoulder surgery, Goldson enjoyed getting a chance work with the first-team defense. The second-year safety took advantage of his reps and churned out one of the more impressive off-season performances with several heads-up plays.

“I went out there and did pretty good coming back in my second year,” said Goldson. “Last year I was playing a lot slower last year because I was learning the system. I felt more comfortable coming in this off-season, and it put me in the situation to play faster.”

His partner in the backend, safety Michael Lewis, is seeing faster play from his entire unit.

“Last year was a struggle sometimes, but I know this year is something totally different,” said Lewis. “We’ve improved. Everybody was here working and that’s a big plus when you have pretty much the whole team in here trying to get better. It’s going to be a fun defense this year and we are looking for great things obviously.”

The offensive unit also walked away from the off-season program with a greater sense of understanding of coordinator Mike Martz and his complex system.

“I think once we started in mini camp it did seem kind of thick, but once you learn this system and take it one day at a time, one play at a time it starts to generate in our heads almost like a computer,” said center Eric Heitmann. “The plays are coming out fast, the guys are on point and they know what to do. I think that's what's important going into training camp - that guys understand the system and know what they're doing.”

Hit with some off-season departures and some position transitions, the 49ers offensive line greatly benefited from the opportunity to work together as a unit. With guard David Baas unable to practice as he recovers from his pectoral injury, Tony Wragge worked with the first-string line which featured Heitmann, Adam Snyder at left guard, Joe Staley at his new spot of left tackle, and Jonas Jennings at his new place on the right side.

“For me, I wanted to use this time period to gel and be on the same page with my center calls,” said Heitmann. “This is also the time for guys to have the opportunity to learn more positions and to prove that they're more versatile than just playing in one spot. It's definitely been good, and it's a benefit to have guys playing different positions because when you get into a game and a guy goes down, you need to have guys ready who can play that position. It's important to learn more than one spot.”

Rookie Chilo Rachal was one of those offensive linemen learning a new spot as the former USC guard used the three weeks of practice to transition to right tackle.

“I think Chilo has definitely shown the ability to do some great things out there,” evaluated Heitmann. “With any rookie coming in there are going to be some things they have to do to get their technique where it needs to be at the NFL level. Chilo has definitely shown the ability to understand and appreciate that technique and that's something he's going to have to continue to work on. From what we've seen, it's all been good.”

Not to be cheated too much, Rachal and the 2008 rookie class will visit the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, on Sunday and then return to Santa Clara for an additional four days of work with strength coach Duane Carlisle.

“Since the rookies didn’t get to come in until the latter part of our program, it’s just an opportunity for them to get in a few more days of conditioning before we let them loose,” said head coach Mike Nolan. “We want them to leave here with a good understanding of where they need to be at physically when they check back in for camp.”

Veterans on both sides of the ball couldn’t stress enough how important it is to correctly handle the month off before training camp.

“It’s important mentally to get away a little bit, but it’s a fine line of not getting away too much,” said quarterback Alex Smith, who plans to take his playbook with him wherever he goes. “You have to continue to workout. You make all of these strides in the off-season and you can’t let it go to waste by slacking off in the last month. So for me, I’ll stay in shape and throw, stay in the playbook, but also get away a little bit so when you come back, you come back fresh.”

A veteran of six training camps, Lewis concurred, “I think you need some alone time away from football, spend time with the family and get your mind off of football because when you get back here in July, it’s time to go. Being in shape for camp is the most important part. You’ll be taking 20 or so reps on a period and if you are not in shape, it’s going to show. Coaches are evaluating every play, every day so it’s very important to come back in shape, know your assignments and execute.”

Notes:

LB Manny Lawson progressively saw more action during the three weeks of OTAs, including some plays in Thursday’s team period.

“It made my day,” said Lawson.

The 49ers hope to have Lawson, along with DT Joe Cohen, LB Melvin Oliver, and S Mark Roman ready to go for the start of training camp. G David Baas is the only player the 49ers do expect to still miss time once the team returns for camp.

The rookies final commitment before returning for training camp will be a trip to San Diego for the NFL’s Rookie Symposium. The league's annual orientation will begin on June 29 and conclude on July 2.

 

[PoLLo LoC831]

Checking the 'Worry Meter' on 49ers positions

http://49ers.pressdemocrat.com/default.asp?item=2215384

Yesterday when I wrote about the wide receivers, I stated my belief that Bryant Johnson, Isaac Bruce, Arnaz Battle, Ashley Lelie, Jason Hill and Josh Morgan had the makings of a pretty good group of wideouts.

So that got me thinking . . . if 49ers fans don't have to worry about the wide receivers, with which positions should they be concerned?

Organized team activities have concluded, and the 49ers will not return to the field until July 25. As of now, this is how I'd rank the position groups on the "Worry Meter." The positions of least concern are at the top:

OFFENSE

Running back: Frank Gore is a Super Bowl-winning-caliber back. This year, he's got one of the top backups in the league, DeShaun Foster. It's doubtful Gore will want Foster getting on the field too much. Also, Michael Robinson can be used in certain packages. Look for the 49ers to use less of the fullback and more of the tight ends.

Wide receiver: Bryant Johnson has worlds of talent, now he has to be assertive and become the No. 1 receiver. Isaac Bruce will get open and catch the ball, though he might not rack up huge yardage. Arnaz Battle is a solid all-around player, and the others will get their chances to step up, too.

Tight end: Vernon Davis, the most-confident man on the planet, might very well flourish in Mike Martz's scheme. Delanie Walker also causes huge matchup problems for defenses. But at this point, both of these players have yet to realize their potential.

Offensive line: Only center Eric Heitmann returns at the same position from a year ago. That's not good. Offensive lines need time together to mesh. There are questions at every position across the board. Everybody really likes Joe Staley. But Staley is being counted upon to play one of the most difficult positions in football as a second-year player. Will he be able to handle it? Can Jonas Jennings stay healthy? Can Adam Snyder handle a full-time starting gig? Who's at right guard? And we haven't even talked about the depth - or lack thereof.

Quarterback: The 49ers do not have a starter. They have three guys competing for the job. As Mike Nolan has said in the past, if two guys are competing for a job, all you have is two backups. In this case, the 49ers have three backups. But Nolan also said on Tuesday that he feels more confident about this group than any QB situation he's had since coming to the 49ers. Alex Smith is the strong front-runner for the starting job. If he does not win the position, it'll be HUGE news - and a huge disappointment. After all, Nolan has already determined Smith is clearly the most physically talented of the QB candidates. I still believe Smith is capable of becoming a reliable NFL quarterback, but he has to prove it. And until he does, 49ers fans are within their rights to worry.

DEFENSE

Inside linebacker: As long as Patrick Willis is playing the "mike," the 49ers don't have to worry much about this group. His play made up for a lot of the problems Derek Smith had a year ago. Whomever plays the "ted" will be an upgrade from a year ago, so this position should be just fine.

Cornerback: This position group is similar to the wideouts. Walt Harris plays the role of Isaac Bruce. And there are a bunch of guys behind the starters who are capable of stepping in and contributing. Nate Clements is a very good player. He'll be assigned to the most difficult matchup. What the corners need most is a pass rush to lend a helping hand.

Safety: Michael Lewis did a nice job in his first season with the team. He supported the run as if he were an additional linebacker, and he added a couple interceptions. Mark Roman is a steady veteran. The 49ers are fine with him as the starter, but he must generate more turnovers. Perhaps, second-year player Dashon Goldson will get a chance to unseat him. If that's the case, the 49ers can expect higher highs and lower lows from the free-safety spot.

Defensive line: The "Worry Meter" reading is contingent on where Justin Smith lines up. When he's on the line, this unit gets the advantage over outside linebacker. But if he's able to make the transition to OLB, then that will definitely help the pass rush. In this scheme, the linemen are not counted upon to make a lot of plays. But Isaac Sopoaga will undoubtedly be turned loose from time to time to get into the backfield from the left defensive end spot. The one question is whether the nose tackles are capable of holding the point in the 3-4 defense, which is kind of important. Even though the line is ranked fourth out of five, this group should be OK, too.

Outside linebacker: Manny Lawson should be back after missing 14 games last season. But his spot is not the major area of concern. The 49ers have to find a consistent pass rush from the weakside position. Last season, Tully Banta-Cain had 3.5 sacks and Parys Haralson added 2.5. They 49ers need a lot more from that position. That's where Justin Smith can help this team if he lines up on the outside in passing situations.

* * *

UPDATE (2:50 p.m.): Free-agent offensive tackle Barry Sims will decide where to play this season by Monday morning, his agent, Ken Vierra, said just moments ago. The 49ers are still in the picture. Sims has ruled out the Patriots, based on the fact their starting tackles are solidified. The Ravens seem to have their starters, as well. Therefore, it looks as if it'll come down to the 49ers and Rams. He plans to take the time over the weekend to make the decision. One thing working in the 49ers' favor is that Sims would not be forced to move. While playing for the Raiders, Sims lived in San Ramon. The 49ers have not made any promises to Sims -- other telling him he'll have a chance to compete for playing time. The 49ers have no proven depth at the tackle positions, as noted on the "Worry Meter."

 

[fRESH88]

veron davis on NFL network now.

 

[PoLLo LoC831]

Yup Seen It They also Talk To Mike Singletary it was cool for dat 1 min

 

[Hollywood]

News, notes and reader questions about the San Francisco 49ers
Back to 49ers Blog and Q&A home page
« 5Q: So how's the pass rush looking? |
June 23, 2008
Sims agrees to two-year deal with 49ers
It came down to the Rams and 49ers, but in the end Barry Sims opted for the team that offered the most money, and in his opinion, the best opportunity to get onto the field.

Sims accepted a two-year deal from the 49ers, who were the most persistent of his four pursuers, which also included the Ravens and Patriots. Sims, who has been working out at Athletes Performance in Tempe, Ariz., is expected to sign the deal tomorrow, said his agent Ken Vierra. The 49ers typically don't announce a signing until the deal is officially completed.

Sims' biggest criteria was the opportunity for playing time. Both the Rams and 49ers offered him the chance to compete for a starting job, but he got the sense the Rams were slightly more settled with Orlando Pace on the left side and Alex Barron on the right. Sims' chance in San Francisco will come at right tackle, where the incumbent, Jonas Jennings, has had a history of injury problems. Vierra said the 49ers assured Sims that he would have a fair chance to win that job. Jennings recently recovered from ankle surgery but was able enough to play with the starting offensive line throughout OTAs.

With Sims working at right tackle, rookie Chilo Rachal likely will be switched back to guard, his college position. He played right guard during the team's May minicamp before being switched to back-up right tackle for the June OTAs.

Vierra said it didn't hurt that the 49ers offered slightly more money and that Sims, a long-time Raider, had a home in the Bay Area. He also got a good vibe from the 49ers after meeting with them earlier this month. Vierra described it as a "comfortable feel."

"He just had a great meeting with Mike (Nolan) and Mike (Martz)," Vierra said.

 

[Tony]

Who does Nolan think he's fooling? Martz likes Smith.... we know if Alex Smith is healthy he'll be the opening day starter.

 

[BETO916]

BAH!

all worthless information.....best thing that happened to the niners this off season is vernon davis bangin' black from flavor of love 3.


hahahahaha....JP....anyone goin to the preseason joint??

 

[PoLLo LoC831]

Dats Good We Keep Adding Depth To The O-Line

 

[Chree]

imo, simms aint too good, but its always good to have an established starting veteran to your depth chart, i knew this was gonna happen days ago.... lol

didnt wanna say shit tho..

 

[Rich]

"Only" two more months (too long) for preseason football!!

 

[hella_numb]

Delanie Walker, the 49ers sixth-round draft pick in 2006, received a three-year extension worth $6 million this offseason. The deal included a $1.8 million signing bonus. He is now signed through the 2012 season.

 

[PoLLo LoC831]

^ WoW didn't know dat

 

[PoLLo LoC831]

49ers Insider: Gore to be core of offense

SANTA CLARA – Mike Martz said running back Frank Gore was quick on the playing field and even quicker in the classroom this spring.

"He's a one-time guy. You tell him once, and he has it," the 49ers' offensive coordinator said of Gore, who is entering his fourth season. "That's really a remarkable quality. He really learns fast. He's a very sharp guy. So that means you can use him in a variety of ways."

The statement is telling. Gore suffers from dyslexia, and entering the 2005 draft, many teams wondered whether he would be able to absorb an NFL playbook. Gore hasn't had any problems in the classroom since joining the 49ers, and Martz's notoriously large and complex system hasn't thrown him, either.

Upon joining the 49ers, Martz said he would build his offense around Gore the way he once built the St. Louis Rams' offenses around Marshall Faulk. Gore, however, won't be a Faulk clone.

"I think Marshall's Marshall, Frank is Frank," Martz said. " … There are things that we'll play to that are really strengths of his. He's got that speed and explosiveness. He does it all. He's a physical guy that you can hammer, or you can use him as a perimeter guy."

Gore arguably has more support in the San Francisco backfield than Faulk had in St. Louis.

The 49ers signed former Carolina running back DeShaun Foster in free agency, and Foster has proven to be the team's most natural and fluid pass catcher out of the backfield.

Martz also has been impressed with Michael Robinson, the biggest of the 49ers' three running backs, who also is adept as a pass catcher.

Martz said he envisions scenarios in which Gore and Robinson are in the offensive backfield together.

"One can block for the other, or (we can) use them both as receivers," Martz said. "There's all kinds of things that can happen out of that."


Walker extended

The 49ers and tight end Delanie Walker have agreed to a contract extension through the 2012 season. According to the NFL Players Association, the base salary for Walker's three-year extension averages about $820,000, topping out at $1 million in 2012.

Martz was pleasantly surprised by Walker during spring practices. During the past two weeks of organized team activities, the coach added several plays specifically for Walker.