Niner News Thread
- Thread starter Chree
- Start date
Hard to say since we've only watched preseason action.
The Brooks was talking to Kevin Lynch of SF Chronicle today about the QB situation. He was saying JT has had about as much experience with the Martz system as the other 2 QBs since when he was with Detroit he was on the Scouting squad.
Bad news for Alex Smith. But at least he got paid a big bonus.
The Brooks was talking to Kevin Lynch of SF Chronicle today about the QB situation. He was saying JT has had about as much experience with the Martz system as the other 2 QBs since when he was with Detroit he was on the Scouting squad.
Bad news for Alex Smith. But at least he got paid a big bonus.
Off topic: I had to drop off the mother-in-law at the Fairfield courthouse for Jury Duty. One of the security / metal detector / frisk search guys was a big Raider fan and he started talking shit since I'm wearing my Vernon Davis jersey. Dude said to my baby, "If you're born in California you're a Raider fan " and kept saying to him, "You're a Raider fan / You're gonna be a Raider fan". lol what a sucka. And after I got through he kept saying his other employees, "if your baby aint a Raider fan they're gonna get searched".
Thinking about it he makes me crack up. I wanted to ask him what happened 2 years ago in the regular season and if he rioted after the Raiders lost to the Bucs.
Thinking about it he makes me crack up. I wanted to ask him what happened 2 years ago in the regular season and if he rioted after the Raiders lost to the Bucs.
Smith trying to remain positive as he falls behind in QB race
http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/49ers/archives/014721.html
Alex Smith put the best possible face on an ugly situation -- for him - during a group media session before the 49ers' practice. As expected, Smith was asked how he feels about not starting Thursday against Chicago and whether he's thought about starting the season on the bench. "I'm not thinking about that now," Smith said. "When the time comes, I'll deal with it. It's (sitting) is part of the game, too." Asked whether he still considers himself in the running for the starting job," Smith said, "They haven't said otherwise, so absolutely," he replied. Is that realistic? No. But what else can he say at this point?
J.T. O'Sullivan isn't presuming anything, either. "I'm just worried about this week," he said. "I'm really just trying to worry about the preparation for the game this week. It's a short week. We're kind of crunched for time and we're just trying to get ready for Chicago," O'Sullivan said. These answers, of course, aren't all that revealing and one sideline observer - ok, it was Maiocco - noted today it was as if we're in "Groundhog Day." But don't think that Nolan isn't interested in what his quarterbacks have to say. This lengthy competition is designed to see how his quarterbacks play on the field, sure, but also how they react to outside pressure. Declaring O'Sullivan the Day 1 starter certainly would relieve some of the tension surrounding the team right now. Nolan, however, is interested to see how players react when the tension level is high.
******************
As was the case yesterday, Nolan won't speak to the media until the afternoon practice is completed at 3:45 p.m.
***************
Back-up kickers don't usually get a lot of attention and they almost never get any locker room applause. But Ricky Schmitt got both after the team went over the film from Saturday's Green Bay game, particularly the play in which Schmitt blasted return man Jordy Nelson 10 yards out of bounds.
What did special teams coach Al Everest say?
"He was joking around, saying I was on steroid," Schmitt said.
Are you on steroids?
"Look at me..."
Conclusion: Schmitt is not on steroids
http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/49ers/archives/014721.html
Alex Smith put the best possible face on an ugly situation -- for him - during a group media session before the 49ers' practice. As expected, Smith was asked how he feels about not starting Thursday against Chicago and whether he's thought about starting the season on the bench. "I'm not thinking about that now," Smith said. "When the time comes, I'll deal with it. It's (sitting) is part of the game, too." Asked whether he still considers himself in the running for the starting job," Smith said, "They haven't said otherwise, so absolutely," he replied. Is that realistic? No. But what else can he say at this point?
J.T. O'Sullivan isn't presuming anything, either. "I'm just worried about this week," he said. "I'm really just trying to worry about the preparation for the game this week. It's a short week. We're kind of crunched for time and we're just trying to get ready for Chicago," O'Sullivan said. These answers, of course, aren't all that revealing and one sideline observer - ok, it was Maiocco - noted today it was as if we're in "Groundhog Day." But don't think that Nolan isn't interested in what his quarterbacks have to say. This lengthy competition is designed to see how his quarterbacks play on the field, sure, but also how they react to outside pressure. Declaring O'Sullivan the Day 1 starter certainly would relieve some of the tension surrounding the team right now. Nolan, however, is interested to see how players react when the tension level is high.
******************
As was the case yesterday, Nolan won't speak to the media until the afternoon practice is completed at 3:45 p.m.
***************
Back-up kickers don't usually get a lot of attention and they almost never get any locker room applause. But Ricky Schmitt got both after the team went over the film from Saturday's Green Bay game, particularly the play in which Schmitt blasted return man Jordy Nelson 10 yards out of bounds.
What did special teams coach Al Everest say?
"He was joking around, saying I was on steroid," Schmitt said.
Are you on steroids?
"Look at me..."
Conclusion: Schmitt is not on steroids
49ers QB Alex Smith believes he's still competing for starting job
http://www.mercurynews.com/49ersheadlines/49ers/ci_10248731
J.T. O'Sullivan and Alex Smith apparently didn't get the memo, either.
One day after 49ers Coach Mike Nolan announced that O'Sullivan would make his third consecutive exhibition start Thursday in Chicago — all but assuring he will start the season opener — both quarterbacks spoke Tuesday as though the competition rages on.
Asked if he still believes he is battling for the No. 1 job, Smith said, "Yeah. They haven't said otherwise, so absolutely. I'm going out there treating it like that. You have to."
On the flip side, O'Sullivan, a journeyman from UC-Davis, insists he isn't counting the days to the Sept. 7 opener against Arizona.
"I'm just worried about this week," he said. "I don't really let myself feel anything about it. We're kind of crunched for time, so I'm just spending as much time as I can getting ready for Chicago."
When someone mentioned Sept. 7, O'Sullivan pleaded ignorant. "Sept. 7? I don't know what that ... Is that the first day of the season? I keep telling you guys that this is camp. This is every day. This is my job to get ready for Thursday. If I let myself get caught up in stuff that I can't control — like who plays Sept. 7 — I'm really letting my performance be affected on Thursday."
Clearly, the quarterbacks have followed their coach's lead. Though the public has all but declared a winner in the race, Nolan has not. He cited the short week of preparation for his decision to start O'Sullivan against the Bears and continued to say Tuesday that it's a three-man battle.
Yes, Shaun Hill, you too are still in contention.
"There has been no decision made," Nolan said. "All we're doing is keeping the same process we've been doing."
The process hasn't looked good for Smith, the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2005, for more than two weeks. He has not taken reps with the first team since Aug. 6.
Asked if he knows why he isn't receiving more snaps, Smith replied, "You're asking the wrong person. Don't know. Not sure. There's three of us — reps are hard to come by right now. It's difficult."
Does Smith believe he is getting a fair shot?
"I'm not getting into all that," he said. "I've had my reps out here and (I'm) just trying to take advantage of them. Not sure what they're thinking or what's going on upstairs."
One matter they're not considering — at least in the short term — is the financial investment in Smith, who received a $24 million signing bonus when he was drafted.
"This decision is going to be based on who we feel at this point gives us the best chance to win," Nolan said.
The starters will probably play at least a half against the Bears, Nolan said.
Guard Adam Snyder injured an ankle at practice and probably won't play against Chicago. "I hope it's not any more serious than just this game, which right now I'm led to believe it won't be," said Nolan, who wasn't sure who would replace Snyder.
http://www.mercurynews.com/49ersheadlines/49ers/ci_10248731
J.T. O'Sullivan and Alex Smith apparently didn't get the memo, either.
One day after 49ers Coach Mike Nolan announced that O'Sullivan would make his third consecutive exhibition start Thursday in Chicago — all but assuring he will start the season opener — both quarterbacks spoke Tuesday as though the competition rages on.
Asked if he still believes he is battling for the No. 1 job, Smith said, "Yeah. They haven't said otherwise, so absolutely. I'm going out there treating it like that. You have to."
On the flip side, O'Sullivan, a journeyman from UC-Davis, insists he isn't counting the days to the Sept. 7 opener against Arizona.
"I'm just worried about this week," he said. "I don't really let myself feel anything about it. We're kind of crunched for time, so I'm just spending as much time as I can getting ready for Chicago."
When someone mentioned Sept. 7, O'Sullivan pleaded ignorant. "Sept. 7? I don't know what that ... Is that the first day of the season? I keep telling you guys that this is camp. This is every day. This is my job to get ready for Thursday. If I let myself get caught up in stuff that I can't control — like who plays Sept. 7 — I'm really letting my performance be affected on Thursday."
Clearly, the quarterbacks have followed their coach's lead. Though the public has all but declared a winner in the race, Nolan has not. He cited the short week of preparation for his decision to start O'Sullivan against the Bears and continued to say Tuesday that it's a three-man battle.
Yes, Shaun Hill, you too are still in contention.
"There has been no decision made," Nolan said. "All we're doing is keeping the same process we've been doing."
The process hasn't looked good for Smith, the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2005, for more than two weeks. He has not taken reps with the first team since Aug. 6.
Asked if he knows why he isn't receiving more snaps, Smith replied, "You're asking the wrong person. Don't know. Not sure. There's three of us — reps are hard to come by right now. It's difficult."
Does Smith believe he is getting a fair shot?
"I'm not getting into all that," he said. "I've had my reps out here and (I'm) just trying to take advantage of them. Not sure what they're thinking or what's going on upstairs."
One matter they're not considering — at least in the short term — is the financial investment in Smith, who received a $24 million signing bonus when he was drafted.
"This decision is going to be based on who we feel at this point gives us the best chance to win," Nolan said.
The starters will probably play at least a half against the Bears, Nolan said.
Guard Adam Snyder injured an ankle at practice and probably won't play against Chicago. "I hope it's not any more serious than just this game, which right now I'm led to believe it won't be," said Nolan, who wasn't sure who would replace Snyder.
The Bears? Again?
http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/49ers/archives/014736.html
For two teams that aren't in the same division, haven't met in the playoffs since 1994 and are nearly 2,000 miles apart, the 49ers and Bears are pretty intertwined.
For one, they've played each other every year - either in the regular season, preseason or both - since 2003. Put another way: Since 2003, the 49ers have played NFC West rival Seattle 10 times. After Thursday, they'll have played the Bears eight times over the same span.
Then there's the off-the-field stuff. The Bears leveled tampering charges against the 49ers last year over perceived overtures to Chicago linebacker Lance Briggs. The allegations led to the Bears and 49ers switching third-round picks and the 49ers losing their fifth rounder. The Bears selected Vanderbilt WR Earl Bennett in the third round with what would have been the 49ers' pick.
There are also plenty of familiar faces in the Bears locker room. Chicago signed former 49ers WR Brandon Lloyd - he of the lovely braids and alligator arms - in the offseason. This will be the 49ers' first meeting with Lloyd since he departed San Francisco early in 2006. More mixed blood: Anthony Adams spent his first four seasons in San Francisco, Bears DE Dan Bazuin is good friends with Joe Staley from their days at Central Michigan, CB Tarell Brown was Nathan Vasher's understudy at Texas, CB Walt Harris is an ex-Bear and, of course, 49ers assistant head coach Mike Singletary used to play a little linebacker in the Windy City
And there's one more tie. Quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan was signed by the Bears in February 2007. At the time, however, O'Sullivan's agent made Chicago GM Jerry Angelo promise that if there was no room for O'Sullivan on the roster, they would release him by the start of training camp. Despite the fact that O'Sullivan was the offensive Co-MVP of NFL Europa that spring, Angelo and the Bears kept their word and released him on July 6. A week later, he was signed by the Lions and was introduced to Mike Martz. The rest is history ...
http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/49ers/archives/014736.html
For two teams that aren't in the same division, haven't met in the playoffs since 1994 and are nearly 2,000 miles apart, the 49ers and Bears are pretty intertwined.
For one, they've played each other every year - either in the regular season, preseason or both - since 2003. Put another way: Since 2003, the 49ers have played NFC West rival Seattle 10 times. After Thursday, they'll have played the Bears eight times over the same span.
Then there's the off-the-field stuff. The Bears leveled tampering charges against the 49ers last year over perceived overtures to Chicago linebacker Lance Briggs. The allegations led to the Bears and 49ers switching third-round picks and the 49ers losing their fifth rounder. The Bears selected Vanderbilt WR Earl Bennett in the third round with what would have been the 49ers' pick.
There are also plenty of familiar faces in the Bears locker room. Chicago signed former 49ers WR Brandon Lloyd - he of the lovely braids and alligator arms - in the offseason. This will be the 49ers' first meeting with Lloyd since he departed San Francisco early in 2006. More mixed blood: Anthony Adams spent his first four seasons in San Francisco, Bears DE Dan Bazuin is good friends with Joe Staley from their days at Central Michigan, CB Tarell Brown was Nathan Vasher's understudy at Texas, CB Walt Harris is an ex-Bear and, of course, 49ers assistant head coach Mike Singletary used to play a little linebacker in the Windy City
And there's one more tie. Quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan was signed by the Bears in February 2007. At the time, however, O'Sullivan's agent made Chicago GM Jerry Angelo promise that if there was no room for O'Sullivan on the roster, they would release him by the start of training camp. Despite the fact that O'Sullivan was the offensive Co-MVP of NFL Europa that spring, Angelo and the Bears kept their word and released him on July 6. A week later, he was signed by the Lions and was introduced to Mike Martz. The rest is history ...
Sizing up 49ers' roster through two exhibition games
http://49ers.pressdemocrat.com/default.asp?item=2253619
At the midpoint of the exhibition season, the competition for the 49ers' 53-man roster is starting to take shape.
At this point, it looks doubtful that veteran receiver Ashley Lelie can earn a spot on the roster. He is trying to come back from a torn calf muscle. It appears Lelie is on the outside looking in, especially with the emergence of rookie Josh Morgan.
Here's how I see the 53-man roster shaping up (with enough wiggle room built in):
Quarterbacks: O'Sullivan, A.Smith, Hill.
Running backs: Gore, Foster, Robinson (Keasey, Norris).
Receivers: Battle, Bruce, Johnson, Morgan, Hill.
Tight ends: Davis, Walker, Bajema.
Offensive line: Staley, Snyder, Heitmann, Wragge, Baas, J.Jennings, Sims, Wallace, Rachal.
Defensive line: Sopoaga, Franklin, J.Smith, McDonald, Fields, Balmer.
Linebackers: Willis, Lawson, Haralson, Spikes, Ulbrich, Grant, Thomas (Green, Banta-Cain).
Defensive backs: Clements, Harris, Roman, M.Lewis, Goldson, Spencer, Strickland, Brown, R.Smith (Hudson, K.Lewis).
Specialists: Nedney, Lee, B.Jennings, Rossum.
There are 49 players right now that I have making it. That means, in my opinion, four of the six players in parenthesis have the best chances of making the 53-man roster. Keasey and Norris is probably an either/or at fullback. All but one of the other four players (Green, Banta-Cain, Hudson, K.Lewis) look as if they'll make it.
Another thing to keep is mind is injuries. Last year, the 49ers placed two rookies on injured reserve after the final game of the exhibition season. (Coincidentally, those players -- Joe Cohen and Jay Moore -- might be headed to the practice squad this season.)
* * *
Here's our daily quarterback roundup for the newspaper, "49ers quarterbacks not about to rock the boat."
* * *
And here are a few questions pertaining to the QBs . . .
* * *
Question: Does anything prevent Coach Nolan from inserting Smith or Hill once they get the system down, aside from sterling play by JTO?
Instant 49ers: The only thing preventing it might be the objections from offensive coordinator Mike Martz, if he were to disagree with the decision.
* * *
Question: If you mean March 2, 2009, then does that mean that at the end of the season, any other team can sign O'Sullivan before March 2, 2009, when the 49ers are able to sign him? Don't the 49ers have some form of protection from that?
Instant 49ers: I wrote in an earlier blog that the 49ers are prohibited from signing O'Sullivan to a contract extension prior to March 2 (2009) because he signed a one-year veteran-minimum deal. Per league rules, he has to hit the free-agent market. No team can sign him prior to March 2. This has happened in the past, too. The 49ers worked out handshake agreements with Moran Norris and Joe Nedney, who were in identical situations in the past. Both Norris and Nedney re-signed with the 49ers shortly after the beginning of free agency in those years.
But there's added intrigue with this situation. Let's say O'Sullivan has a very good season and Mike Martz lands a head-coaching job elsewhere next year. Then, O'Sullivan can easily follow Martz to his new location. Then, the 49ers could be looking for a new coordinator and a new quarterback.
* * *
Question: Keep hearing about all the QB mess. How does the offense look in practice?Getting any better?
Instant 49ers: Yes, it is getting better, but some of that is by design. The 49ers this week have not practiced first team vs. first team. Now, it's first team vs. scout team. The scout team's responsibility is to give the offense a "good look." Because they don't contest every ball with the same fervor, the offense will always look a lot better in practice.
* * *
Question: Hey Matt, If they decide to keep Alex as security, do you think they would keep Shaun Hill because that would be a really expensive 3rd stringer, even though he just signed a bigger contract.
Instant 49ers: Shaun Hill is not going anywhere. He is a good backup. The 49ers just signed him to a three-year contract extension. He is the only quarterback on the roster who is virtually assured of returning to the team in 2009, so they have to keep him around.
* * *
Question: How can J.T. win the competition in training camp without the others starting with the 1st string? That doesn't seem fair or an accurate evaluation.
Instant 49ers: Remember, Martz and Nolan watched Smith and Hill work with the No. 1 offense during the entire offseason program and through the first week of training camp. But I know what you're saying. Nolan said the biggest thing he was looking for was a QB who could move the team down the field and into the end zone. During practice, the plays are scripted. The offense does not move down the field, unless it's a two-minute drill. Neither Smith nor Hill has been given that opportunity in a game . . . and time is running out.
http://49ers.pressdemocrat.com/default.asp?item=2253619
At the midpoint of the exhibition season, the competition for the 49ers' 53-man roster is starting to take shape.
At this point, it looks doubtful that veteran receiver Ashley Lelie can earn a spot on the roster. He is trying to come back from a torn calf muscle. It appears Lelie is on the outside looking in, especially with the emergence of rookie Josh Morgan.
Here's how I see the 53-man roster shaping up (with enough wiggle room built in):
Quarterbacks: O'Sullivan, A.Smith, Hill.
Running backs: Gore, Foster, Robinson (Keasey, Norris).
Receivers: Battle, Bruce, Johnson, Morgan, Hill.
Tight ends: Davis, Walker, Bajema.
Offensive line: Staley, Snyder, Heitmann, Wragge, Baas, J.Jennings, Sims, Wallace, Rachal.
Defensive line: Sopoaga, Franklin, J.Smith, McDonald, Fields, Balmer.
Linebackers: Willis, Lawson, Haralson, Spikes, Ulbrich, Grant, Thomas (Green, Banta-Cain).
Defensive backs: Clements, Harris, Roman, M.Lewis, Goldson, Spencer, Strickland, Brown, R.Smith (Hudson, K.Lewis).
Specialists: Nedney, Lee, B.Jennings, Rossum.
There are 49 players right now that I have making it. That means, in my opinion, four of the six players in parenthesis have the best chances of making the 53-man roster. Keasey and Norris is probably an either/or at fullback. All but one of the other four players (Green, Banta-Cain, Hudson, K.Lewis) look as if they'll make it.
Another thing to keep is mind is injuries. Last year, the 49ers placed two rookies on injured reserve after the final game of the exhibition season. (Coincidentally, those players -- Joe Cohen and Jay Moore -- might be headed to the practice squad this season.)
* * *
Here's our daily quarterback roundup for the newspaper, "49ers quarterbacks not about to rock the boat."
* * *
And here are a few questions pertaining to the QBs . . .
* * *
Question: Does anything prevent Coach Nolan from inserting Smith or Hill once they get the system down, aside from sterling play by JTO?
Instant 49ers: The only thing preventing it might be the objections from offensive coordinator Mike Martz, if he were to disagree with the decision.
* * *
Question: If you mean March 2, 2009, then does that mean that at the end of the season, any other team can sign O'Sullivan before March 2, 2009, when the 49ers are able to sign him? Don't the 49ers have some form of protection from that?
Instant 49ers: I wrote in an earlier blog that the 49ers are prohibited from signing O'Sullivan to a contract extension prior to March 2 (2009) because he signed a one-year veteran-minimum deal. Per league rules, he has to hit the free-agent market. No team can sign him prior to March 2. This has happened in the past, too. The 49ers worked out handshake agreements with Moran Norris and Joe Nedney, who were in identical situations in the past. Both Norris and Nedney re-signed with the 49ers shortly after the beginning of free agency in those years.
But there's added intrigue with this situation. Let's say O'Sullivan has a very good season and Mike Martz lands a head-coaching job elsewhere next year. Then, O'Sullivan can easily follow Martz to his new location. Then, the 49ers could be looking for a new coordinator and a new quarterback.
* * *
Question: Keep hearing about all the QB mess. How does the offense look in practice?Getting any better?
Instant 49ers: Yes, it is getting better, but some of that is by design. The 49ers this week have not practiced first team vs. first team. Now, it's first team vs. scout team. The scout team's responsibility is to give the offense a "good look." Because they don't contest every ball with the same fervor, the offense will always look a lot better in practice.
* * *
Question: Hey Matt, If they decide to keep Alex as security, do you think they would keep Shaun Hill because that would be a really expensive 3rd stringer, even though he just signed a bigger contract.
Instant 49ers: Shaun Hill is not going anywhere. He is a good backup. The 49ers just signed him to a three-year contract extension. He is the only quarterback on the roster who is virtually assured of returning to the team in 2009, so they have to keep him around.
* * *
Question: How can J.T. win the competition in training camp without the others starting with the 1st string? That doesn't seem fair or an accurate evaluation.
Instant 49ers: Remember, Martz and Nolan watched Smith and Hill work with the No. 1 offense during the entire offseason program and through the first week of training camp. But I know what you're saying. Nolan said the biggest thing he was looking for was a QB who could move the team down the field and into the end zone. During practice, the plays are scripted. The offense does not move down the field, unless it's a two-minute drill. Neither Smith nor Hill has been given that opportunity in a game . . . and time is running out.
Smith caught in 49ers' conflicted priorities
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/nfcwest/0-2-289/Smith-caught-in-49ers--conflicted-priorities.html
SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- This was not what the San Francisco 49ers envisioned when they made Alex Smith the first player chosen in the 2005 draft.
If the numbers mean anything, this wasn't what the 49ers envisioned as recently as March 3, when they signed quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan for the minimum allowable salary.
O'Sullivan, scheduled to make his third consecutive exhibition start Thursday night, is playing under a one-year deal counting $491,000 against the salary cap. Smith's contract counts 20 times as much, more than $9.9 million.
The gulf reflects the conflict between fading long-term organizational goals and the need for coach Mike Nolan to win right now or lose his job. Nolan doesn't have time to wait for Smith, no matter how much the organization has invested in its franchise quarterback. Nolan can't come out and say so, at times leaving him fumbling for words.
"Well, in our situation that's hypothetical at this point," Nolan said after practice Tuesday. "So, I don't -- that doesn't, we're not dealing with that."
They will eventually. It's tough to see Nolan succeeding in San Francisco without Smith also showing a return on the organization's massive investment. Quarterbacks drafted first overall succeed, or their coaches pay the price.
Tim Couch's struggles in Cleveland helped bring down Chris Palmer. David Carr's problems in Houston doomed Dom Capers. Eli Manning's improvement last season keyed a playoff run that saved Tom Coughlin from a predictable fate.
Nolan is bucking history if he benches Smith this season.
Every other quarterback drafted first overall since 1967 has started at least nine games in his fourth season: Terry Bradshaw, Jim Plunkett, Steve Bartkowski, John Elway, Vinny Testaverde, Troy Aikman, George, Drew Bledsoe, Peyton Manning, Couch, Michael Vick, Carr, Carson Palmer and Eli Manning.
Nolan still might name Smith the starter, but the odds appear to be diminishing by the day. O'Sullivan has taken the first-team reps in practice since Aug. 6. He started the first two exhibition games and could play into the third quarter against the Chicago Bears on Thursday night. Shaun Hill also remains an option in theory, although he is clearly third in the race.
Nolan said the short week gave him little choice but to maintain the status quo at quarterback. The explanation failed to acknowledge the obvious commitment to O'Sullivan in practice and games to this point.
"There's been no decision made," Nolan said. "All we're doing is keeping the same process we've been going."
The 49ers exercised an $8 million option as part of Smith's contract days after O'Sullivan came aboard. Paying the option amounted to a formality -- failing to do so would have guaranteed future base salaries -- but the massive difference in quarterback contracts seemed to give Smith an edge. That was not the case.
"This decision's going to be based on who we feel, at this point, gives us the best chances to win," Nolan said.
In retrospect, the decision to retain Nolan might have precipitated the end for Smith as a viable quarterback in San Francisco. It certainly killed any plans to develop Smith at the expense of short-term goals, a notion that now seems as dated as Nolan's 2005 assessment of his new quarterback.
"We felt Alex was the one that most fit what we want our football team to look like," Nolan told the San Francisco Chronicle at the time. "He's a very competitive individual, very hard-working [and] has been a winner all along."
Smith, now working under his fourth offensive coordinator in four seasons, arguably isn't getting enough practice work to succeed in the short term.
If anyone needed reps in this offense, it was Smith. O'Sullivan already knew the offense after spending the 2007 season with 49ers offensive coordinator Mike Martz in Detroit.
Nolan obviously feels he can't afford to look farther down the road than Sept. 7, when the Arizona Cardinals visit Candlestick Park for the regular-season opener. O'Sullivan's knowledge of the offense probably makes him the best choice for Week 1, even if it means sacrificing what now stands as a $24 million investment in Smith.
Slow starts can trigger in-season dismissals for coaches with 16-32 records in their first three seasons with a team.
O'Sullivan knows how hard it is to succeed without getting first-team practice reps. He has played in five regular-season games since 2002 in stints with New Orleans, Green Bay, Minnesota, New England, Carolina and Detroit. The 25 passes O'Sullivan has attempted during this exhibition season are one shy of his regular-season career total.
An undrafted free agent from UC Davis, O'Sullivan made his mark professionally in leading the Frankfurt Galaxy to World Bowl XII in 2004. This is his chance to prove himself as an NFL starter.
"Reps are cherished in this league as a quarterback, so I mean every single rep, whether it be a game or practice, I try to make the absolute most out of," O'Sullivan said. "So, these reps have been great."
Reporters crowded around Smith after practice Tuesday, the same old questions soliciting the same guarded answers.
Alex, are you a little disappointed you aren't going to start this game?
"I'm not thinking about that right now. I'm worrying about Chicago and the reps I'm going to get, and what I need to do with them."
Do you think it's been a fair competition? Going into camp it was supposedly going to be that. Does it seem like it's panned out that way?
"Like I said, I'm not getting into all that. I've got my reps out here and [I'm] just trying to take advantage of them and trying to do what I can with them. [I'm] not sure what they're thinking or what is going on upstairs, but like I said, those are reps I'll get and I need to get ready for them. It is a short week. I'm getting ready to play Chicago."
You've been a starter your entire career. Have you thought about what it might be like going into the season, not being that guy?
"I'm not thinking about that now. When that comes, I'll deal with it. That's part of the game too, but until then, no. So, I'm focused in on what I need to do this Thursday."
When a public relations staffer intervened to say Smith would take only one more question, silence prevailed. There was nothing left to say.
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/nfcwest/0-2-289/Smith-caught-in-49ers--conflicted-priorities.html
SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- This was not what the San Francisco 49ers envisioned when they made Alex Smith the first player chosen in the 2005 draft.
If the numbers mean anything, this wasn't what the 49ers envisioned as recently as March 3, when they signed quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan for the minimum allowable salary.
O'Sullivan, scheduled to make his third consecutive exhibition start Thursday night, is playing under a one-year deal counting $491,000 against the salary cap. Smith's contract counts 20 times as much, more than $9.9 million.
The gulf reflects the conflict between fading long-term organizational goals and the need for coach Mike Nolan to win right now or lose his job. Nolan doesn't have time to wait for Smith, no matter how much the organization has invested in its franchise quarterback. Nolan can't come out and say so, at times leaving him fumbling for words.
"Well, in our situation that's hypothetical at this point," Nolan said after practice Tuesday. "So, I don't -- that doesn't, we're not dealing with that."
They will eventually. It's tough to see Nolan succeeding in San Francisco without Smith also showing a return on the organization's massive investment. Quarterbacks drafted first overall succeed, or their coaches pay the price.
Tim Couch's struggles in Cleveland helped bring down Chris Palmer. David Carr's problems in Houston doomed Dom Capers. Eli Manning's improvement last season keyed a playoff run that saved Tom Coughlin from a predictable fate.
Nolan is bucking history if he benches Smith this season.
Every other quarterback drafted first overall since 1967 has started at least nine games in his fourth season: Terry Bradshaw, Jim Plunkett, Steve Bartkowski, John Elway, Vinny Testaverde, Troy Aikman, George, Drew Bledsoe, Peyton Manning, Couch, Michael Vick, Carr, Carson Palmer and Eli Manning.
Nolan still might name Smith the starter, but the odds appear to be diminishing by the day. O'Sullivan has taken the first-team reps in practice since Aug. 6. He started the first two exhibition games and could play into the third quarter against the Chicago Bears on Thursday night. Shaun Hill also remains an option in theory, although he is clearly third in the race.
Nolan said the short week gave him little choice but to maintain the status quo at quarterback. The explanation failed to acknowledge the obvious commitment to O'Sullivan in practice and games to this point.
"There's been no decision made," Nolan said. "All we're doing is keeping the same process we've been going."
The 49ers exercised an $8 million option as part of Smith's contract days after O'Sullivan came aboard. Paying the option amounted to a formality -- failing to do so would have guaranteed future base salaries -- but the massive difference in quarterback contracts seemed to give Smith an edge. That was not the case.
"This decision's going to be based on who we feel, at this point, gives us the best chances to win," Nolan said.
In retrospect, the decision to retain Nolan might have precipitated the end for Smith as a viable quarterback in San Francisco. It certainly killed any plans to develop Smith at the expense of short-term goals, a notion that now seems as dated as Nolan's 2005 assessment of his new quarterback.
"We felt Alex was the one that most fit what we want our football team to look like," Nolan told the San Francisco Chronicle at the time. "He's a very competitive individual, very hard-working [and] has been a winner all along."
Smith, now working under his fourth offensive coordinator in four seasons, arguably isn't getting enough practice work to succeed in the short term.
If anyone needed reps in this offense, it was Smith. O'Sullivan already knew the offense after spending the 2007 season with 49ers offensive coordinator Mike Martz in Detroit.
Nolan obviously feels he can't afford to look farther down the road than Sept. 7, when the Arizona Cardinals visit Candlestick Park for the regular-season opener. O'Sullivan's knowledge of the offense probably makes him the best choice for Week 1, even if it means sacrificing what now stands as a $24 million investment in Smith.
Slow starts can trigger in-season dismissals for coaches with 16-32 records in their first three seasons with a team.
O'Sullivan knows how hard it is to succeed without getting first-team practice reps. He has played in five regular-season games since 2002 in stints with New Orleans, Green Bay, Minnesota, New England, Carolina and Detroit. The 25 passes O'Sullivan has attempted during this exhibition season are one shy of his regular-season career total.
An undrafted free agent from UC Davis, O'Sullivan made his mark professionally in leading the Frankfurt Galaxy to World Bowl XII in 2004. This is his chance to prove himself as an NFL starter.
"Reps are cherished in this league as a quarterback, so I mean every single rep, whether it be a game or practice, I try to make the absolute most out of," O'Sullivan said. "So, these reps have been great."
Reporters crowded around Smith after practice Tuesday, the same old questions soliciting the same guarded answers.
Alex, are you a little disappointed you aren't going to start this game?
"I'm not thinking about that right now. I'm worrying about Chicago and the reps I'm going to get, and what I need to do with them."
Do you think it's been a fair competition? Going into camp it was supposedly going to be that. Does it seem like it's panned out that way?
"Like I said, I'm not getting into all that. I've got my reps out here and [I'm] just trying to take advantage of them and trying to do what I can with them. [I'm] not sure what they're thinking or what is going on upstairs, but like I said, those are reps I'll get and I need to get ready for them. It is a short week. I'm getting ready to play Chicago."
You've been a starter your entire career. Have you thought about what it might be like going into the season, not being that guy?
"I'm not thinking about that now. When that comes, I'll deal with it. That's part of the game too, but until then, no. So, I'm focused in on what I need to do this Thursday."
When a public relations staffer intervened to say Smith would take only one more question, silence prevailed. There was nothing left to say.
G De la Puente to Start
http://www.49ers.com/blog49/
Starting left guard Adam Snyder has been ruled out of the game after injuring his right ankle in Tuesday’s practice. Rookie Brian de la Puente will start in Snyder’s place.
The 49ers experimented some in Tuesday’s practice, moving Tony Wragge over to the left side with rookie Chilo Rachal working on the right side. Head coach Mike Nolan discussed the situation with his staff Tuesday evening, and decided that given the short week to prepare for Chicago, that it would be best not to shift guys out of position so late in the game.
Snyder is not expected to travel with the team. His injury will be re-evaluated next week, but Nolan doesn’t anticipate him missing extended time.
Cornerback Tarell Brown has been limited in practice with a hip injury sustained last week in practice, but will travel and be a game time decision.
Quarterback Kyle Wright returned to practice on Wednesday after missing the last two days with a sore knee.
Guard David Baas (pec), safety Lewis Baker (thigh), wide receivers Arnaz Battle (hamstring), Bryant Johnson (hamstring), and Ashley Lelie (calf), tackle Jonas Jennings (hand), and running back Michael Robinson (knee) will stay back with Snyder and work on rehabbing their injuries.
The team will depart for the airport in about an hour and a half for their flight to Chicago.
http://www.49ers.com/blog49/
Starting left guard Adam Snyder has been ruled out of the game after injuring his right ankle in Tuesday’s practice. Rookie Brian de la Puente will start in Snyder’s place.
The 49ers experimented some in Tuesday’s practice, moving Tony Wragge over to the left side with rookie Chilo Rachal working on the right side. Head coach Mike Nolan discussed the situation with his staff Tuesday evening, and decided that given the short week to prepare for Chicago, that it would be best not to shift guys out of position so late in the game.
Snyder is not expected to travel with the team. His injury will be re-evaluated next week, but Nolan doesn’t anticipate him missing extended time.
Cornerback Tarell Brown has been limited in practice with a hip injury sustained last week in practice, but will travel and be a game time decision.
Quarterback Kyle Wright returned to practice on Wednesday after missing the last two days with a sore knee.
Guard David Baas (pec), safety Lewis Baker (thigh), wide receivers Arnaz Battle (hamstring), Bryant Johnson (hamstring), and Ashley Lelie (calf), tackle Jonas Jennings (hand), and running back Michael Robinson (knee) will stay back with Snyder and work on rehabbing their injuries.
The team will depart for the airport in about an hour and a half for their flight to Chicago.
O’Sullivan makes strong case to be 49ers starting quarterback
http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/recap...tab_recap&season=2008&week=PRE3&override=true
CHICAGO -- J.T. O'Sullivan made a perfect case to start. And Alex Smith's counter-argument didn't measure up.
Even so, 49ers coach Mike Nolan wasn't ready to announce a starting quarterback.
O'Sullivan threw for 126 yards and a touchdown in his limited time while Smith struggled, and the San Francisco 49ers beat the Chicago Bears 37-30 on Thursday night.
Although the third preseason game usually is a dress rehearsal for the opener, Nolan wouldn't declare a winner in the quarterback race.
"We will talk about it more (Friday)," Nolan said. "I would like to watch the film, talk to our players, before any announcement or anything like that is made. But I did like what I saw in all three of them."
After two mediocre outings against Oakland and Green Bay, O'Sullivan couldn't have performed any better against the Bears.
He was 7-for-8 with a perfect 158.3 passer rating in his third preseason start. He led the 49ers (2-1 preseason) to field goals on the first two possessions and a two-play, 77-yard touchdown drive on the third one. He hit Vernon Davis with a 40-yard pass and then scrambled to his right before throwing a 37-yard touchdown pass to Jason Hill to give the Niners a 13-10 lead less than a minute into the second quarter.
"That was a great play call," he said. "Jason did a great job of running so fast across the field and just made a great play on the ball."
And O'Sullivan did a good job, too. The question is whether he did enough to beat Smith, who came on early in the second quarter and was 6-for-17 with 83 yards and a touchdown, even though Nolan wasn't about to make an announcement. He even left the door open for Shaun Hill, who played well late in the game.
He entered the game after Chicago's Garrett Wolfe fumbled the kickoff following Hill's touchdown pass, giving the Niners possession on the Bears' 16. Moran Norris ran it in from the 1 to make it 20-10.
Smith also led the Niners on a 62-yard drive that ended with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Dominique Zeigler, giving the 49ers a 27-20 lead with 9:28 left in the third quarter. Otherwise, it was a rough night for him.
Hill replaced him late in the third quarter and was 6-for-7 with 60 yards against the Bears' reserves. But after Thursday's game, the starting job appears to be O'Sullivan's even though there was no announcement.
"Everybody wants to know who the starting quarterback will be," Davis said. "I don't know. I have no idea. Everybody looks good to me."
The Bears' quarterback drama ended Monday when coach Lovie Smith selected Kyle Orton the starter over Rex Grossman. And Orton backed it up with a strong showing.
He was 10-for-17 with 147 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions for Chicago (0-3). He had four passes of 18 yards or more, including a 55-yarder to Mark Bradley -- a big improvement over the first two preseason games, when his longest completion was 17 yards.
"I thought I played well and I thought we played well as a unit," said Orton, who started 15 games as a rookie in 2005 and three last season. "I thought as a unit we had been playing all right, we just hadn't been scoring points. Finally we kind of got over that and put up 20 points in the first half, which was good."
Smith said Orton didn't need a good showing to keep his job.
"He's our quarterback, and I think he can play good football for us, but it was good to see him validate that tonight," Smith said.
Orton and Grossman had split time with the first team in practices and the first two preseason games, with neither gaining a big statistical advantage. Even so, Smith went with Orton. And Grossman did nothing to prove him wrong, going 1-for-4 with 6 yards.
He entered the game with 9:21 left in the third quarter and got booed less than a minute later, nothing unusual there. A frequent target at Soldier Field, he heard the boos when Keith Lewis broke up a pass to Marty Booker.
Bears running back Kevin Jones carried 3 times for 30 yards in his first preseason appearance. He started by breaking off a 34-yard run on the first play from scrimmage of the third quarter, not a bad entrance for a guy who got derailed by season-ending injuries to his foot and knee the past two years with Detroit.
Chicago's Danieal Manning delivered two big kickoff returns - a 60-yarder and 75-yarder in the first quarter - to set up a 21-yard touchdown catch by Davis and a 21-yard field goal by Robbie Gould that made it 10-6.
Notes: The Bears held a moment of silence for NFL Players Association executive director Gene Upshaw, who died of pancreatic cancer on Wednesday. ... The Bears held TE Desmond Clark out of the game with a sprained knee. They were also without DE Mark Anderson (thumb surgery), LB Nick Roach (concussion), long snapper Patrick Mannelly (stinger) and LT Chris Williams (back surgery). ... San Francisco was without WR Bryant Johnson (hamstring), LG Adam Snyder (right ankle), RT Jonas Jennings (broken hand), WR Arnaz Battle (hamstring) and RB DeShaun Foster (death in the family).
http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/recap...tab_recap&season=2008&week=PRE3&override=true
CHICAGO -- J.T. O'Sullivan made a perfect case to start. And Alex Smith's counter-argument didn't measure up.
Even so, 49ers coach Mike Nolan wasn't ready to announce a starting quarterback.
O'Sullivan threw for 126 yards and a touchdown in his limited time while Smith struggled, and the San Francisco 49ers beat the Chicago Bears 37-30 on Thursday night.
Although the third preseason game usually is a dress rehearsal for the opener, Nolan wouldn't declare a winner in the quarterback race.
"We will talk about it more (Friday)," Nolan said. "I would like to watch the film, talk to our players, before any announcement or anything like that is made. But I did like what I saw in all three of them."
After two mediocre outings against Oakland and Green Bay, O'Sullivan couldn't have performed any better against the Bears.
He was 7-for-8 with a perfect 158.3 passer rating in his third preseason start. He led the 49ers (2-1 preseason) to field goals on the first two possessions and a two-play, 77-yard touchdown drive on the third one. He hit Vernon Davis with a 40-yard pass and then scrambled to his right before throwing a 37-yard touchdown pass to Jason Hill to give the Niners a 13-10 lead less than a minute into the second quarter.
"That was a great play call," he said. "Jason did a great job of running so fast across the field and just made a great play on the ball."
And O'Sullivan did a good job, too. The question is whether he did enough to beat Smith, who came on early in the second quarter and was 6-for-17 with 83 yards and a touchdown, even though Nolan wasn't about to make an announcement. He even left the door open for Shaun Hill, who played well late in the game.
He entered the game after Chicago's Garrett Wolfe fumbled the kickoff following Hill's touchdown pass, giving the Niners possession on the Bears' 16. Moran Norris ran it in from the 1 to make it 20-10.
Smith also led the Niners on a 62-yard drive that ended with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Dominique Zeigler, giving the 49ers a 27-20 lead with 9:28 left in the third quarter. Otherwise, it was a rough night for him.
Hill replaced him late in the third quarter and was 6-for-7 with 60 yards against the Bears' reserves. But after Thursday's game, the starting job appears to be O'Sullivan's even though there was no announcement.
"Everybody wants to know who the starting quarterback will be," Davis said. "I don't know. I have no idea. Everybody looks good to me."
The Bears' quarterback drama ended Monday when coach Lovie Smith selected Kyle Orton the starter over Rex Grossman. And Orton backed it up with a strong showing.
He was 10-for-17 with 147 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions for Chicago (0-3). He had four passes of 18 yards or more, including a 55-yarder to Mark Bradley -- a big improvement over the first two preseason games, when his longest completion was 17 yards.
"I thought I played well and I thought we played well as a unit," said Orton, who started 15 games as a rookie in 2005 and three last season. "I thought as a unit we had been playing all right, we just hadn't been scoring points. Finally we kind of got over that and put up 20 points in the first half, which was good."
Smith said Orton didn't need a good showing to keep his job.
"He's our quarterback, and I think he can play good football for us, but it was good to see him validate that tonight," Smith said.
Orton and Grossman had split time with the first team in practices and the first two preseason games, with neither gaining a big statistical advantage. Even so, Smith went with Orton. And Grossman did nothing to prove him wrong, going 1-for-4 with 6 yards.
He entered the game with 9:21 left in the third quarter and got booed less than a minute later, nothing unusual there. A frequent target at Soldier Field, he heard the boos when Keith Lewis broke up a pass to Marty Booker.
Bears running back Kevin Jones carried 3 times for 30 yards in his first preseason appearance. He started by breaking off a 34-yard run on the first play from scrimmage of the third quarter, not a bad entrance for a guy who got derailed by season-ending injuries to his foot and knee the past two years with Detroit.
Chicago's Danieal Manning delivered two big kickoff returns - a 60-yarder and 75-yarder in the first quarter - to set up a 21-yard touchdown catch by Davis and a 21-yard field goal by Robbie Gould that made it 10-6.
Notes: The Bears held a moment of silence for NFL Players Association executive director Gene Upshaw, who died of pancreatic cancer on Wednesday. ... The Bears held TE Desmond Clark out of the game with a sprained knee. They were also without DE Mark Anderson (thumb surgery), LB Nick Roach (concussion), long snapper Patrick Mannelly (stinger) and LT Chris Williams (back surgery). ... San Francisco was without WR Bryant Johnson (hamstring), LG Adam Snyder (right ankle), RT Jonas Jennings (broken hand), WR Arnaz Battle (hamstring) and RB DeShaun Foster (death in the family).
Niners Nuggets: Chicago
http://www.49ers.com/pressbox/news_detail.php?PRKey=4509§ion=PR News
Stepping In, Stepping Up
Veteran tackle Barry Sims saw his first start with the 49ers, filling in for Jonas Jennings who had surgery to repair a broken knuckle, while undrafted rookie free agent filled in for starter Adam Snyder who went down in Tuesday’s practice with an ankle injury.
The line didn’t look to miss a beat with the two new players, allowing only one sack on the night and blowing the Bears defense off the line of scrimmage on an opening drive that consisted of four straight run plays that netted 59 rushing yards.
“That’s the way you want to start it,” said Sims. “It would have been better if we had scored the touchdown, but we got down there in the red zone. We had a couple of opportunities that we still needed to get six points out of but the way we moved the ball all night was good. It’s a good sign for our offense and it gives us something to build on."
The Cal rookie also laid a nice foundation to build upon in his first NFL start.
“He did a great job,” said Frank Gore.” I went up to him and told him before the game we were just going to take one play at a time and try to get every positive yard we could, and that if we had a bad play that we were going to forget about it and just keep going. He did a great job – man, to be a rookie – he did a great job and that shows that we have depth up front. “
Go Gore, and Thomas Too
Running back Frank Gore finished the night with 8 carries for 51 yards, a long of 28 and an average of 6.4 yards per carry.
Gore’s explosive 28 yard run came on the 49ers first series when he headed out to his right and then reversed field. He had one blocker ahead of him and then an empty green carpet, but Charles Tillman caught up with him from behind.
“I thought I was gone, but I got stopped,” said Gore. “I need to get more reps out there and also continue doing my extra conditioning and I’ll be fine.”
With DeShaun Foster missing the game due to a death in his family, second-year back Thomas Clayton saw extensive playing time. Clayton finished the night with 18 carries for 81 yards for a 4.5 average. He also scored early in the final quarter on a 15-yard touchdown run.
QB Track
J.T. O’Sullivan stared and played the entire first quarter and two plays of the second quarter. He finished 7 of 8 for 126 yards, 1 touchdown, and with a 158.3 QB Rating.
Alex Smith played most of the second quarter and two series into the third quarter. He finished 6 of 17 for 83 yards, 1 touchdown and a passer rating of 71.4.
“I think the nice thing is I know I’m capable of so much more in this system,” said Smith who had an okay night. “I feel like I haven’t even begun to see where it can go. I think that’s an encouraging thing at the same time, it’s frustrating to continue to have a couple of plays where you wish you could get them back. So, I just continue to work at it and take advantage of every day and every rep I get, and make the most of it.”
Shaun Hill took over for the last series of the third quarter and then finished the game. He completed 6 of 7 passes for 60 yards for a 102.4 QB Rating.
On the Receiving End
Wide receiver Isaac Bruce caught his first preseason pass in a 49ers uniform, a 5-yarder from J.T. O’Sullivan on the first drive of the game. Bruce also caught an 18-yard strike on the following series, and then picked up a pass interference call against Chicago to set the 49ers up at the 1.
Jason Hill led the group with the most yards (94), while Dominique Zeigler notched the most catches with 6. Both receivers scored touchdowns.
“I’ve been feeling getter,” said Hill. “I got my legs up underneath me, and got healthy again so that I can show what I can do. I think they drafted me with expectations of me being a big time player here and I’m just trying to show that. “
Wide receiver Josh Morgan had a quiet night after leading the 49ers receiving efforts the first two weeks. Morgan had one ball thrown his way early on, an incomplete along the sidelines from O’Sullivan. Later in the game Alex Smith took a deep shot over the middle, but the timing was off on the throw and Morgan absorbed a blow from safety Mike Brown. Smith tried again for Morgan on the next play but his short pass was incomplete.
Playing Time
Linebacker Jeff Ulbrich started the game with Takeo Spikes joining the first-team defense on the second series. Spikes ended up seeing the majority of reps with the first-team as Ulbrich suffered a lower back strain.
Ouch
The Bears shredded the 49ers kickoff coverage team on back to back first quarter returns. Devin Hester took the first one out of the end zone and handed off on a reverse to Daniel Manning. Manning charged ahead for another 60 yards before the 49ers got him down.
On the next return, Manning slipped a few tackles and stayed on his feet for a 75-yard return.
“It’s obvious we’ve got to tighten up on our coverage,” said cornerback Marcus Hudson. “We are putting the defense in bad situations. The score would have been a lot less if we would have given our defense a better chance. We need to make plays. Everybody knows what we need to do, it’s just a matter of taking it from practice and transferring it over to the field in a game.”
Safety Keith Lewis, one of the 49ers all-star teams’ players, allowed former 49ers receiver Brandon Lloyd to get the best of him in punt protection. Lloyd shed Lewis’ sblock and got his hands on Andy Lee’s punt for a block. Lewis had come up with a fumble recovery earlier in the game, but he had a bit of a frustrating night, having also allowed an interception to slip thru his hands.
Lee wasn’t the only kicker getting blocked by the Bears. Israel Idonije got his hands on a Ricky Schmitt 48-yard field goal try at the end of the first half.
Bears running back Kevin Jones also slipped thru the hands of a few 49ers. Jones eluded a Mark Roman tackle and then staved off Michael Lewis for probably a good ten yards before the safety forced him out of bounds after a 34-yard explosive third quarter run play.
Return specialist Allen Rossum took a hard knock to the head at the end of a 19-yard punt return into Bears territory near the end of the third quarter.
Further examination revealed Rossum suffered a chest contusion.
Safety Dashon Goldson experienced leg cramps during the game.
Where’s the Pass Rush?
The 49ers defense totaled six sacks a week ago against the Packers, but they only once drug down a Bears quarterback for a sack in Thursday night’s game.
Defensive end Justin Smith almost got there a few times, but the free-agent acquisition said it was a tough go because of the Bears scheme.
“They were running max protections and when they are leaving seven men in there to block, it’s a little more difficult to get back there,” said Smith. “We just have to work on breaking those seven-man protections, but that’s hard to do though when they leave that many in to block.”
Credit LaJaun Ramsey for the sole sack.
Lack of Communication Costly
Bears receiver Mark Bradley exposed a miscommunication error by the 49ers defense in the second quarter of action. Linebacker Manny Lawson had blanketed coverage as Bradley ran along the Bears sidelines, but Lawson turned him loose to Nate Clements. Clements didn’t seem to be expecting the pickup and instead broke back inside.
“It was just a blown coverage,” said Lawson.
J. Smith called the lack of communication throughout the game disheartening, but correctable.
“I’ve got to watch the film still, but I think most of it was just us not communicating the way we needed to,” said Smith. “It’s definitely fixable, but it’s also stuff that we’ve got to get cleaned up.”
Defensive Highlights
Cornerback Walt Harris broke up a touchdown pass in the first quarter on a 2nd and 8 play. Chicago settled for an eventual field goal.
Michael Lewis ran a safety blitz to bat down a Kyle Orton 3rd and 9 pass and force Chicago to try for a third quarter field goal. Robbie Gould’s 48 try was no good.
Turnovers
The 49ers came up with the only turnover in the game during a Bears kickoff return. Safety Dashon Goldson got a helmet on returner Garrett Wolfe and was credited for the forced fumble, although cornerback Marcus Hudson’s foot may have actually caused the ball to pop loose. Safety Keith Lewis recovered at the 16 for the 49ers.
Six plays later, the 49ers capitalized with a 1-yard touchdown run by Moran Norris.
http://www.49ers.com/pressbox/news_detail.php?PRKey=4509§ion=PR News
Stepping In, Stepping Up
Veteran tackle Barry Sims saw his first start with the 49ers, filling in for Jonas Jennings who had surgery to repair a broken knuckle, while undrafted rookie free agent filled in for starter Adam Snyder who went down in Tuesday’s practice with an ankle injury.
The line didn’t look to miss a beat with the two new players, allowing only one sack on the night and blowing the Bears defense off the line of scrimmage on an opening drive that consisted of four straight run plays that netted 59 rushing yards.
“That’s the way you want to start it,” said Sims. “It would have been better if we had scored the touchdown, but we got down there in the red zone. We had a couple of opportunities that we still needed to get six points out of but the way we moved the ball all night was good. It’s a good sign for our offense and it gives us something to build on."
The Cal rookie also laid a nice foundation to build upon in his first NFL start.
“He did a great job,” said Frank Gore.” I went up to him and told him before the game we were just going to take one play at a time and try to get every positive yard we could, and that if we had a bad play that we were going to forget about it and just keep going. He did a great job – man, to be a rookie – he did a great job and that shows that we have depth up front. “
Go Gore, and Thomas Too
Running back Frank Gore finished the night with 8 carries for 51 yards, a long of 28 and an average of 6.4 yards per carry.
Gore’s explosive 28 yard run came on the 49ers first series when he headed out to his right and then reversed field. He had one blocker ahead of him and then an empty green carpet, but Charles Tillman caught up with him from behind.
“I thought I was gone, but I got stopped,” said Gore. “I need to get more reps out there and also continue doing my extra conditioning and I’ll be fine.”
With DeShaun Foster missing the game due to a death in his family, second-year back Thomas Clayton saw extensive playing time. Clayton finished the night with 18 carries for 81 yards for a 4.5 average. He also scored early in the final quarter on a 15-yard touchdown run.
QB Track
J.T. O’Sullivan stared and played the entire first quarter and two plays of the second quarter. He finished 7 of 8 for 126 yards, 1 touchdown, and with a 158.3 QB Rating.
Alex Smith played most of the second quarter and two series into the third quarter. He finished 6 of 17 for 83 yards, 1 touchdown and a passer rating of 71.4.
“I think the nice thing is I know I’m capable of so much more in this system,” said Smith who had an okay night. “I feel like I haven’t even begun to see where it can go. I think that’s an encouraging thing at the same time, it’s frustrating to continue to have a couple of plays where you wish you could get them back. So, I just continue to work at it and take advantage of every day and every rep I get, and make the most of it.”
Shaun Hill took over for the last series of the third quarter and then finished the game. He completed 6 of 7 passes for 60 yards for a 102.4 QB Rating.
On the Receiving End
Wide receiver Isaac Bruce caught his first preseason pass in a 49ers uniform, a 5-yarder from J.T. O’Sullivan on the first drive of the game. Bruce also caught an 18-yard strike on the following series, and then picked up a pass interference call against Chicago to set the 49ers up at the 1.
Jason Hill led the group with the most yards (94), while Dominique Zeigler notched the most catches with 6. Both receivers scored touchdowns.
“I’ve been feeling getter,” said Hill. “I got my legs up underneath me, and got healthy again so that I can show what I can do. I think they drafted me with expectations of me being a big time player here and I’m just trying to show that. “
Wide receiver Josh Morgan had a quiet night after leading the 49ers receiving efforts the first two weeks. Morgan had one ball thrown his way early on, an incomplete along the sidelines from O’Sullivan. Later in the game Alex Smith took a deep shot over the middle, but the timing was off on the throw and Morgan absorbed a blow from safety Mike Brown. Smith tried again for Morgan on the next play but his short pass was incomplete.
Playing Time
Linebacker Jeff Ulbrich started the game with Takeo Spikes joining the first-team defense on the second series. Spikes ended up seeing the majority of reps with the first-team as Ulbrich suffered a lower back strain.
Ouch
The Bears shredded the 49ers kickoff coverage team on back to back first quarter returns. Devin Hester took the first one out of the end zone and handed off on a reverse to Daniel Manning. Manning charged ahead for another 60 yards before the 49ers got him down.
On the next return, Manning slipped a few tackles and stayed on his feet for a 75-yard return.
“It’s obvious we’ve got to tighten up on our coverage,” said cornerback Marcus Hudson. “We are putting the defense in bad situations. The score would have been a lot less if we would have given our defense a better chance. We need to make plays. Everybody knows what we need to do, it’s just a matter of taking it from practice and transferring it over to the field in a game.”
Safety Keith Lewis, one of the 49ers all-star teams’ players, allowed former 49ers receiver Brandon Lloyd to get the best of him in punt protection. Lloyd shed Lewis’ sblock and got his hands on Andy Lee’s punt for a block. Lewis had come up with a fumble recovery earlier in the game, but he had a bit of a frustrating night, having also allowed an interception to slip thru his hands.
Lee wasn’t the only kicker getting blocked by the Bears. Israel Idonije got his hands on a Ricky Schmitt 48-yard field goal try at the end of the first half.
Bears running back Kevin Jones also slipped thru the hands of a few 49ers. Jones eluded a Mark Roman tackle and then staved off Michael Lewis for probably a good ten yards before the safety forced him out of bounds after a 34-yard explosive third quarter run play.
Return specialist Allen Rossum took a hard knock to the head at the end of a 19-yard punt return into Bears territory near the end of the third quarter.
Further examination revealed Rossum suffered a chest contusion.
Safety Dashon Goldson experienced leg cramps during the game.
Where’s the Pass Rush?
The 49ers defense totaled six sacks a week ago against the Packers, but they only once drug down a Bears quarterback for a sack in Thursday night’s game.
Defensive end Justin Smith almost got there a few times, but the free-agent acquisition said it was a tough go because of the Bears scheme.
“They were running max protections and when they are leaving seven men in there to block, it’s a little more difficult to get back there,” said Smith. “We just have to work on breaking those seven-man protections, but that’s hard to do though when they leave that many in to block.”
Credit LaJaun Ramsey for the sole sack.
Lack of Communication Costly
Bears receiver Mark Bradley exposed a miscommunication error by the 49ers defense in the second quarter of action. Linebacker Manny Lawson had blanketed coverage as Bradley ran along the Bears sidelines, but Lawson turned him loose to Nate Clements. Clements didn’t seem to be expecting the pickup and instead broke back inside.
“It was just a blown coverage,” said Lawson.
J. Smith called the lack of communication throughout the game disheartening, but correctable.
“I’ve got to watch the film still, but I think most of it was just us not communicating the way we needed to,” said Smith. “It’s definitely fixable, but it’s also stuff that we’ve got to get cleaned up.”
Defensive Highlights
Cornerback Walt Harris broke up a touchdown pass in the first quarter on a 2nd and 8 play. Chicago settled for an eventual field goal.
Michael Lewis ran a safety blitz to bat down a Kyle Orton 3rd and 9 pass and force Chicago to try for a third quarter field goal. Robbie Gould’s 48 try was no good.
Turnovers
The 49ers came up with the only turnover in the game during a Bears kickoff return. Safety Dashon Goldson got a helmet on returner Garrett Wolfe and was credited for the forced fumble, although cornerback Marcus Hudson’s foot may have actually caused the ball to pop loose. Safety Keith Lewis recovered at the 16 for the 49ers.
Six plays later, the 49ers capitalized with a 1-yard touchdown run by Moran Norris.
49ers special teams anything but special against Bears
http://www.mercurynews.com/49ersheadlines/49ers/ci_10271044
BEARS TALLY SIX KICK RETURNS FOR 240 YARDS
CHICAGO — A blocked field goal, a blocked punt and a slew of missed tackles — all in all, a miserable night for the 49ers special teams during a 37-30 victory Thursday night.
Things went badly from the team's first kickoff, when Devin Hester tossed a lateral to Danieal Manning, who bolted 60 yards to set up the Chicago Bears' first score.
Keith Lewis, Donald Strickland and Jason Hill all had a shot at Manning — but he slipped free.
In all, the Bears had six returns for 240 yards — a 40.0-yard average.
"A concern would be the kicking game in particular,'' Coach Mike Nolan said. "Our coverage units have not been very good that last couple of weeks."
Things went just as badly on a field-goal attempt at the end of the first half, when Israel Idonije broke through the line to snuff a 42-yard attempt by Ricky Schmitt.
A punt? That didn't work too well either. On fourth-and-6 from the 49ers' 27, former 49ers receiver Brandon Lloyd got past a block from Lewis to get his hands on Lee's punt. The Bears recovered at the 18-yard line.
"(Special teams) was an area that was very strong for us a year ago — probably the best in the league,'' Nolan said. "It hasn't been strong the last few weeks, so we need to correct those things."
The 49ers were saddened by the news of Gene Upshaw, the NFL Players Association executive director who died Thursday at 63.
Owner John York released a statement that said: "This is a loss for the entire NFL. Gene was the epitome of what the NFL stands for. He was not only a man who gave his very best on the field every game during his great career, but he was a man of integrity and service off the field."
Cornerback Walt Harris, the 49ers player representative, said: "It was very shocking news to the profession, to us as players. It's very disappointing to hear because of all the things he's done over the years and the way he's represented us."
Rashied Davis, who tormented the 49ers with touchdown catches of 21 and 7 yards in the first half, ought to sound familiar to Bay Area fans. Davis played at San Jose State and later dazzled as an offensive specialist for the SaberCats.
On his first touchdown against the 49ers, he slipped behind cornerback Nate Clements and safety Mark Roman. On his second, Davis ran past Harris.
In all, the 5-foot-9 inch dynamo had four catches for 58 yards (14.5 average).
49ers backup running back DeShaun Foster was excused to be with his family in Los Angeles following the death of his grandfather.
Linebacker Jeff Ulbrich suffered a lower back strain midway through the first half and did not return. Allen Rossum suffered a chest contusion on a third-quarter punt return and did not return. They will be reevaluated today.
Safety Dashon Goldson leg cramps in the fourth quarter.
These injured players did not suit up for the 49ers: cornerback Tarell Brown (hip), guard Adam Snyder (ankle), running back Michael Robinson (knee), receiver Bryant Johnson (hamstring), receiver Arnaz Battle (hamstring) and right tackle Jonas Jennings.
http://www.mercurynews.com/49ersheadlines/49ers/ci_10271044
BEARS TALLY SIX KICK RETURNS FOR 240 YARDS
CHICAGO — A blocked field goal, a blocked punt and a slew of missed tackles — all in all, a miserable night for the 49ers special teams during a 37-30 victory Thursday night.
Things went badly from the team's first kickoff, when Devin Hester tossed a lateral to Danieal Manning, who bolted 60 yards to set up the Chicago Bears' first score.
Keith Lewis, Donald Strickland and Jason Hill all had a shot at Manning — but he slipped free.
In all, the Bears had six returns for 240 yards — a 40.0-yard average.
"A concern would be the kicking game in particular,'' Coach Mike Nolan said. "Our coverage units have not been very good that last couple of weeks."
Things went just as badly on a field-goal attempt at the end of the first half, when Israel Idonije broke through the line to snuff a 42-yard attempt by Ricky Schmitt.
A punt? That didn't work too well either. On fourth-and-6 from the 49ers' 27, former 49ers receiver Brandon Lloyd got past a block from Lewis to get his hands on Lee's punt. The Bears recovered at the 18-yard line.
"(Special teams) was an area that was very strong for us a year ago — probably the best in the league,'' Nolan said. "It hasn't been strong the last few weeks, so we need to correct those things."
The 49ers were saddened by the news of Gene Upshaw, the NFL Players Association executive director who died Thursday at 63.
Owner John York released a statement that said: "This is a loss for the entire NFL. Gene was the epitome of what the NFL stands for. He was not only a man who gave his very best on the field every game during his great career, but he was a man of integrity and service off the field."
Cornerback Walt Harris, the 49ers player representative, said: "It was very shocking news to the profession, to us as players. It's very disappointing to hear because of all the things he's done over the years and the way he's represented us."
Rashied Davis, who tormented the 49ers with touchdown catches of 21 and 7 yards in the first half, ought to sound familiar to Bay Area fans. Davis played at San Jose State and later dazzled as an offensive specialist for the SaberCats.
On his first touchdown against the 49ers, he slipped behind cornerback Nate Clements and safety Mark Roman. On his second, Davis ran past Harris.
In all, the 5-foot-9 inch dynamo had four catches for 58 yards (14.5 average).
49ers backup running back DeShaun Foster was excused to be with his family in Los Angeles following the death of his grandfather.
Linebacker Jeff Ulbrich suffered a lower back strain midway through the first half and did not return. Allen Rossum suffered a chest contusion on a third-quarter punt return and did not return. They will be reevaluated today.
Safety Dashon Goldson leg cramps in the fourth quarter.
These injured players did not suit up for the 49ers: cornerback Tarell Brown (hip), guard Adam Snyder (ankle), running back Michael Robinson (knee), receiver Bryant Johnson (hamstring), receiver Arnaz Battle (hamstring) and right tackle Jonas Jennings.