Tight end Vernon Davis met with 49ers Coach Mike Nolan on Wednesday to personally register his concerns over his lack of involvement in the offense.
"I admired the fact that he had the courage to do it," Nolan said. "He said, 'Coach, I just want to know what I can do more to get the ball.' I assured him that it's a work in progress on offense and it will happen."
Davis was a frequent target of quarterback Alex Smith during training camp and seemed to be developing into a focal point of the 49ers' offense. But after two games, he has four receptions for 27 yards.
After a 17-16 victory Sunday at St. Louis in which he had two catches, Davis said he was frequently open but didn't get additional throws.
He made that same point with Nolan, going over game film with him to prove it.
"I certainly couldn't deny it. There were some times when he was open," Nolan said. "We have to do a better job of finding the open guy. But at the same time, any player that wants the ball, they need to maintain the work ethic along the way so when that opportunity arrives, they are prepared."
Davis said he can live with that.
"He basically told me just to have patience and be ready," Davis said. "It's tough to have patience, but he's right. It's important to be ready. I'm pretty sure everything will fall where it needs to fall. We've still got plenty of time."
As for going directly to Nolan rather than approaching his quarterback
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first, Davis said he didn't want to distract Smith during his preparations to play Sunday at Pittsburgh.
"I don't want to frustrate him with anything, or bother him," Davis said. "If I have anything to say, I say it to the coaches and the coaches will get on him about it."
Smith said he didn't interpret Davis' actions as a teammate going over his head to talk to the coach.
"I don't feel like it's a threat at all, or going over me," Smith said. "I'm sure he knows I'm getting ready for a football game. The last thing I need to think about is forcing the ball to different guys."
"I admired the fact that he had the courage to do it," Nolan said. "He said, 'Coach, I just want to know what I can do more to get the ball.' I assured him that it's a work in progress on offense and it will happen."
Davis was a frequent target of quarterback Alex Smith during training camp and seemed to be developing into a focal point of the 49ers' offense. But after two games, he has four receptions for 27 yards.
After a 17-16 victory Sunday at St. Louis in which he had two catches, Davis said he was frequently open but didn't get additional throws.
He made that same point with Nolan, going over game film with him to prove it.
"I certainly couldn't deny it. There were some times when he was open," Nolan said. "We have to do a better job of finding the open guy. But at the same time, any player that wants the ball, they need to maintain the work ethic along the way so when that opportunity arrives, they are prepared."
Davis said he can live with that.
"He basically told me just to have patience and be ready," Davis said. "It's tough to have patience, but he's right. It's important to be ready. I'm pretty sure everything will fall where it needs to fall. We've still got plenty of time."
As for going directly to Nolan rather than approaching his quarterback
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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first, Davis said he didn't want to distract Smith during his preparations to play Sunday at Pittsburgh.
"I don't want to frustrate him with anything, or bother him," Davis said. "If I have anything to say, I say it to the coaches and the coaches will get on him about it."
Smith said he didn't interpret Davis' actions as a teammate going over his head to talk to the coach.
"I don't feel like it's a threat at all, or going over me," Smith said. "I'm sure he knows I'm getting ready for a football game. The last thing I need to think about is forcing the ball to different guys."
