San Francisco 49ers
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NFL Team Column |
Camp Singletary
The SF 49ers training camp opened on 1 Aug at their Santa Clara headquarters. The first day was mostly walk-throughs, withouts pads. The second full day of training was the real deal, including the pads. One of the features was the “nutcracker drill”…which pairs offensive players against defensive players in a one-on-one, mano-vs-mano competition. The goal is to either get your opponent on the ground or defeat him by pushing him behind the dreaded “red line”.
QB’s, WR’s and DB’s are excluded from the drill. The goal is to improve blocking techniques…to learn how to use leverage to defeat your opponent. Some of the highlights included rookie OG Mike Iupati throwing opponents around like rag dolls, and 2nd year FB Brit Miller consistently getting the better of his competition. Miller’s in strong competition w/starting FB Moran Norris. He added @ 10 lbs of muscle during the off-season and has shown very good hands catching the ball out of the backfield.
The defense has been decidedly better than the offense so far…but, that’s to be expected. Part of the reason is the OL…rookies Iupati and Davis started out with the 2nd team offense, but have now been declared the starters at LG and RT, respectively. Coach Singletary talked to OC Jimmy Raye, and OL Coach Mike Solari and asst Ray Brown, and it was unanimous, both rookies had shown enough to warrant being promoted to the first team.
Unfortunately, starting C Eric Heitmann broke his left fibula and is expected to be out 6-8 weeks. However, the Niners have David Baas and Tony Wragge who can play the position. The starter will be determined sometime during the preseason games. With these events, their OL will be decidedly younger and will line up something like this: LT Joe Staley, LG Mike Iupati, C Baas/Wragge, RG Chilo Rachal, RT Anthony Davis. It’ll be a big, tough OL…something Singletary has coveted since taking over as head coach, to establish a power running game and protect QB Alex Smith.
Singletary had a most challenging week…first, he granted DE Kentwan Balmer a couple of days to sort through some personal issues. Problem was, Balmer stayed in NC longer than he was supposed to. The two met mid-week, but Balmer has stayed away from camp. Thinking is his days as a Niner may be numbered. The Niners sought and received a player exemption for him and signed DE Will Tukuafu. Later in the week, 2nd year RB Glen Coffee met w/Singletary to tell him he was retiring from football. This was totally out of the blue…Coffee had bulked up to @ 220 lbs during the off-season and was having a good camp. Coach asked him if he’d thought it through…and Coffee said he’d thought about it for a long time and his mind was made up. So, Singletary headed to Indy to play the Colts a RB short.
The 1st string offense didn’t do much…QB Alex Smith was 3-9 with a pick. His successors, David Carr and Nate Davis fared much better. But, the star of the 37-17 win was rookie RB Anthony Dixon, who rambled for 100 yds on 21 carries. He also caught 3 passes and had a TD. The 2nd team defense held the Colts to just 84 yds in the 2nd half. 3rd year S Reggie Smith returned an interception 91 yds for a TD. Next up are the Vikes at Candlestick next Sunday.
Niner Mini-Camp/Santa Clara Voters Give New Stadium Huge Boost
It’s been a busy and interesting off-season for Coach Mike Singletary and his Niners. They just completed their mandatory mini-camp and are now “off” ‘til training camp starts the end of July in their Santa Clara headquarters. In addition to all the on-field activities, 60% of the Santa Clara voters have given the go-ahead to build a new stadium in their city. It was a most important step toward realization of a new 68,500-seat stadium that would be open for the 2014 NFL season. Here’s a link that shows what the new state-of-the-art stadium will look like:
http://www.49ersnewstadium.com/49ers.html#/video
Coach Singletary was satisfied enough with the previous OTA and mini-camp practices he cut the latter by one day as a reward for the hard work his players and coaches have put into this off-season. The only no-show at the mandatory mini-camp was NT Abrayo Franklin, who’s stayed away from all off-season practices. He’s their franchise player, whom they offered the going tender of just over $7 million. Franklin’s holding out for long-term contract, but so far he and the Niners are not close to a contract. While he was out, 2nd year DL Ricky Jean-Francois has been getting @ 80% of the snaps. It’s the first time RJF has practiced at NT, but DC Greg Manusky’s very pleased with what he’s seen from the 2nd year LSU player. RJF is @ 315 lbs now, similar to the weight Franklin normally plays at…but is very strong and recently wowed his teammates by squatting 605 lbs. At a minimum, RJF has worked his way into the DL rotation.
Other defensive players who’ve potentially risen up the depth charts include OLB Diyral Briggs. He added @ 10 lbs of muscle and appears to have a legitimate shot to make the roster and be part of the OLB rotation. Fellow OLB Ahmad Brooks took advantage of starter Manny Lawson working out on his own in Arizona to get a lot of snaps and work on his pass coverage. Brooks is one of Coach’s pet projects…and is a player to watch next season. He has tremendous athletic ability, and at 6-3, 260, has great size and the desire to sack QB’s. 2nd year ILB Scott McKillop has also made significant progress in his bid to eventually replace long-time veteran Takeo Spikes. He’s made great strides in his pass coverage and is a player who seems to have a nose for the football. He’s also a stellar special teams player.
Rookie S Taylor Mays is another player Coach Singletary is very excited about. The knock on him coming out of USC was he often tried to make the huge hit, but missed too many tackles. He also wasn’t taught pass coverage technique in college…so, DB Coach Johnnie Lynn has been working with Mays. Taylor’s one of those unique rookies who always wants to learn more, and is constantly bugging Coach Lynn, DC Manusky and even Coach Singletary. The work he’s put in was starting to really show in the latter OTA and mini-camp. Mays will be a guy that’ll be hard to keep off the field, once he learns the ropes. 2nd year S Curtis Taylor also made some good progress this off-season. He’s another young player who seems to respond well to coaching. He’s among what has become a strong group of S, with starters SS Michael Lewis, FS Dashon Goldson, Mays and 3rd year player Reggie Smith.
On offense, QB Alex Smith showed a firm grasp of OC Jimmy Raye’s offense and exhibited strong leadership skills. He’s the starter and will open the 2011 season with a number of strong playmakers and an improved OL. Newly acquired 2nd string QB David Carr took awhile to learn the offense, but impressed the coaches in the latter stages of the off-season OTA’s. Coach Singletary wanted a veteran to b/u Alex Smith and has a well-proven one now in Carr. They’ll both have multiple weapons to get the ball to, including one of the league’s top TE’s in Vernon Davis. His counterpart, Delanie Walker, is also a very adept receiver. Michael Crabtree will lead the WR corps…expectations are he’ll be among the leading receivers in the league next season. 3rd year WR Josh Morgan will be the #2 receiver. He’s got the ability to get downfield and be a potential “HR hitter” for Singletary’s offense. A tough competition is emerging between newly-acquired Ted Ginn and 3rd year WR Jason Hill for the #3 position. Rookie Kyle Williams has also impressed with his receiving abilities, and has the speed and quickness that should be ready-made for the slot position. He also has good KR abilities, as does Ginn.
Perhaps the biggest off-season splash was on the OL…Coach Singletary grabbed two of the top OL in the country in OT Anthony Davis and OG Mike Iupati. They’re destined to become starters sooner, rather than later. However, incumbent LG David Baas has never looked better and is taking the competition seriously. He’s also taken a number of snaps at C, a position he played his senior season at Michigan. Davis will become the starting RT at some point…the hope is after training camp, he’ll emerge as the guy. He’s impressed with his run-blocking abilities and will work on his pass-protection techniques. He’s also improved his fitness considerably, something many scouts questioned. Iupati should start the season at LG…he’s a road-grader in the run game, but has work to do to improve his pass protection skills. Along with incumbent LT Joe Staley, C Eric Heitmann, and RG Chilo Rachal, Singletary has the makings of the predominantly young, big, and tough OL he wants to implement a power running game and protect QB Alex Smith. The guys Smith will hand the ball off to begin with Frank Gore. He’s one of the most consistent RB’s in the league, is an excellent receiver and is a stellar blocker for his QB. 2nd year RB Glen Coffee added @ 15 lbs of muscle and is @ 220+ lbs now. He’s looked very good in practice. To top it off, rookie Anthony Dixon is the power RB Singletary wanted to round out his corps. They’re teaching Dixon to run lower to take better advantage of his size and power…he goes @ 235 lbs.
Special teams was one of Coach’s off-season priorities, especially in the KR arena. By acquiring Ginn and drafting Kyle Williams, he appears to have upgraded the KR game significantly. Another rookie being counted on to perform well on ST’s is ILB Navarro Bowman. He’s just about as fast as Patrick Willis, so should make plenty of tackles on ST’s.
Singletary and Baalke Draft Players in Coach’s Image
With only two OT’s coming off the board in the top 10 picks, Coach Singletary was beginning to feel better about his chances to get OT Anthony Davis…but, then he and acting GM Trent Baalke began to get a little nervous…no one had made a trade yet. Fearing that a team below them could jump up and grab Davis, they made the trade w/Denver to get to the #11 spot where they took the big OT. Six picks later, they fulfilled my dream and drafted the huge Somoan, OG Mike Iupati at #17. Singletary now had his OL upgrade…two young studs who should be fixtures on his OL for many years to come.
On day two, when they announced Taylor Mays as their 2nd rd pick I was thinking, wow, more power and speed on the defense. At #49, he was a tremendous value pick. But, they didn’t select him as their FS…they have Dashon Goldson, whom Singletary’s very high on. Instead, they plan to use him in much the same way as they have Michael Lewis, close to the LOS. With his speed and power, he should become a real force. Next, they selected Penn St’s OLB, Navorro Bowman, a versatile LB with the agility to play sideline-to-sideline. Their initial thoughts are to use him at their TED position, to b/u starter Takeo Spikes and undoubtedly replace him. He should also be a ST demon.
Day three started out pretty quiet in the Niner camp…they’d used their 4th rd pick to trade up and get Anthony Davis and had previously used their 5th pick to get Ted Ginn from Miami. However, when the 6th round finally arrived, Singletary and Baalke got pretty busy. It started off with them taking the SEC champion rusher, the bruising RB Anthony Dixon. At just over 6 ft and 235 lbs, he’s the big RB they’ve missed in recent years. He’s also got surprising speed for his size, having posted a 4.47 40 time. Next up was a bruising TE from Pitt, Nate Byham, noted for his ability to inflict pain on his opponents. Singletary already has Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker to catch the ball from the TE position, now he has his bruising blocker for the running game, but also a guy they envision using at the H-back position, either as a lead blocker and/or a receiver. The last selection in the 6th rd was Arizona St. WR Kyle Williams…he was all-Pac 10 his senior season, putting up some very nice receiving numbers. Another facet of his game is in the kick return department…he’s an excellent KO and punt returner, a weakness of last season. Williams will compete at the slot receiver position…he’s a smaller receiver, close to Wes Welker’s size.
Finally, round 7 finished off the draft…with their pick, Singletary selected CB Phillip Adams from South Carolina St. He’s 5-10, but a stout 192 lbs, and both he and Baalke love his toughness. He’ll compete for a position in the secondary. But, Singletary and Baalke weren’t done…there was still a good crop of undrafted players available. So, they wasted no time signing the big RB from Oregon, LeGarette Blount, QB Jarret Brown from WVA, and noted KR LeRoy Vann from Fla A&M. Other signings included Ole Miss WR Shay Hodge, a big WR who had a nice career for the Rebels.
Overall, the players acquired really put Singletary’s stamp on his team…he was one of the most active head coaches during draft preparation. He interviewed dozens of players to get a better feel for their “stories”, their background, what makes them tick, etc. He and acting GM Trent Baalke are happy with the results…next step is to get them all on the field during the upcoming mini-camp the first weekend in May.
Niners Shake-up Front Office, GM McCloughan Leaves
In what Team President and CEO Jed York characterized as “personal issues”, he announced that GM Scot McCloughan had left the team and wouldn’t return. York had already promoted Trent Baalke, Director of Player Personnel, to run the upcoming draft. He and McCloughan had worked closely together over the past couple of seasons. Baalke is arguably the leading candidate to become the new GM, but no announcement is believed to be imminent. The biggest priority is to run the draft.
Meanwhile, Mike Singletary has been one of the most active head coaches in the league preparing for the draft. He’s contacted dozens of players on the Niner’s radar, interviewing many of them up-close and personal. He looks each player in the eye and determines their passion for the game, work ethic and overall character. His evaluations augment all the litany of tape they have on the players they’re considering.
Coach Singletary is also conducting an early OTA (organized team activity) next Monday and Tuesday (Mar 29-30). One of the main reasons he’s doing that is so his new OL Coach Mike Solari can evaluate his players prior to the draft. It’s no secret the OL is Singletary’s single biggest off-season priority. While McCloughan held the philosophy “bigger is better”, particularly as it applied to the guys in the trenches, Solari’s a Bob McKittrick disciple. McKittrick is a legendary OL coach in NFL history who favored lighter OL who were very quick on their feet, so as to be able to lead sweeps/screens, pass protect and zone block. Solari will have a significant voice recommending which OL Singletary/Baalke draft.
Having two 1st round picks and nine overall, the Niners are gearing toward dramatically improving their OL, kick return game, defensive backfield, pass rush and adding a playmaker out of the backfield to give OC Jimmy Raye some more weapons to work with. Alex Smith is the starting QB, but they did acquire veteran David Carr as an UFA. Their 3rd string QB is 2nd year player Nate Davis, giving the team their strongest corps of signal-callers in recent history.
With Arizona losing Kurt Warner, Anquan Boldin, Karlos Dansby and other key players, many are thinking the Niners can and should win the NFC West next season. Singletary’s mission is to insure he acquires the players to get his team to the next level.
Singletary’s Off-Season Activities (So Far)
Coach Mike Singletary’s first action in the off-season was to fire ST Coach Al Everest...his contract had run out and Coach chose not to renew it. After interviewing several replacement candidates, he hired long-time NFL veteran Kurt Schottenheimer. He has extensive experience not only coaching ST’s, but has been a defensive coordinator and held other positions. He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to Singletary’s coaching staff. Almost on the heels of that hiring, incumbent OL Coach Chris Foerster asked Singletary’s permission to interview for the same position under new Redskins Coach Mike Shanahan.
At first Coach was reluctant, but Foerster met with him and explained his family was still living in the DC area and his son would be a high school senior next year. So, Singletary relented, giving Shanahan the green light to hire him. Almost immediately, Coach hired former Seahawk and Chiefs OL Coach Mike Solari. He’s a Bob McKittrick disciple...having coached under him during a 4-year stint with the Niners. He’s also known for his stellar work with the KC OL when they routinely sent a number of them to the Pro Bowl just about every season.
Most recently, Singletary hired Solari an asst coach, former Niner OG Ray Brown. Brown was with the Niners from 1996-2001 and went to the Pro Bowl after the 2001 season. Ray’s known for his communication/teaching skills...and is another McKittrick disciple, so Niner fans are excited about this turn of events. It’s no secret the OL is Singletary’s single highest priority during the off-season...and having these two outstanding OL coaches on board is a key move toward improving that group. Both Solari and Brown will have a meaningful voice in the Niner’s OL draft choices. OT is the top priority, and one name that’s being mentioned more and more is Iowa’s Bryan Bulaga. Like Brown, he’s a big OG, but is very agile, something Solari wants in an OL. That is, more versatility...to support sweeps, screens, and the like. Those have been missing from the SF offense in recent years...but we can expect to see them return as part of the arsenal. Having missed out on OT Michael Oher last draft when Crabtree fell to him, Singletary won’t wait to pull the trigger this time. He’ll take the best one on the board, then look to get best player available with his #16 or 17 pick. Drafting order will be finalized by a coin flip after the Super Bowl.
In addition to OT, it’s quite probable the Niners will also draft an OG...a couple of names likely to be at the top of their list include Arkansas’Mitch Petrus and Alabama’s Mike Johnson. Despite all the hype, Mike Iupati was somewhat exposed during the Senior Bowl practices and game. He’s still on the raw side in terms of his pass-blocking. Getting back to Singletary’s 2nd first rounder, there are a number of options to consider. One would be C.J. Spiller...if he’s still on the board, he could be the pick. While Frank Gore’s still the main RB and a force, it’s no secret their corps of RB’s isn’t what it should be if they’re to get to the next level. Spiller would add some much-needed speed to their backfield, but would also contribute immediately as their primary KR. His numbers in the return department were outstanding at Clemson. Another direction could be toward a CB...Haden will be long gone, but either Donovan Warren, Kyle Wilson or Perrish Cox could be targets. Another secondary talent, Texas S Eric Thomas, would also be a wise choice. He’s an excellent cover S and supports the run very well. Incumbent Michael Lewis is still an effective run stuffer and occasional pass rusher, but, he’s a liability in pass coverage and suffered three concussions during the ’09 season.
Later draft picks (and perhaps a mock draft) will be discussed in future articles. As for FA’s, assuming there’s no CBA, the Niners will most likely not be that active. Instead of signing many UFA’s, they’ll most likely re-sign a number of their own players. They’re already talking to OLB Ahmad Brooks, whose emergence in the 2nd half of last season has Singletary excited. He’s shown some excellent pass rushing skills, so will compete w/Parys Haralson for the starting OLB position opposite Manny Lawson. Singletary wants more consistent pass rushing from the OLB’s in his 3-4 defense, so it’s also possible they’ll draft one or perhaps sign an UFA.
Niners Stifle Rams 28-6
Finally waking up from a slumber, the Niners scored 21 pts in the 4th qtr to beat the Rams 28-6. Their offense had only 52 yds in the 1st half, which they trailed 3-0 at the break. They got off the schneid with a 1 yd run by FB Moran Norris midway through the 3rd qtr, capping an 8-play, 83 yd drive. In the 4th qtr, they finally got going for real...after a 2nd Ram FG to close to 7-6, TE Vernon Davis caught a 73 yd bomb from QB Alex Smith to forge ahead 14-6. It was Davis’ longest TD of his career, and 13th of the season, tying him with Antonio Gates of the Chargers for most in league history. RB Frank Gore capped off the scoring, running in from 6 and 3 yds out. For the game, Smith was 17 of 28 for 222 yds, 1 TD, and no picks, while Gore had 107 yds on 23 carries.
The story of this game was the Niner’s defense, however. They limited RB Stephen Jackson to 63 yds on 20 carries. They also held QB’s Kevin Null and Kyle Boller to just 80 yds in passing, sacking them 8 times. DE Justin Smith carried that load with 3.5 sacks, while five of his teammates also contributed. It was the 7th game they allowed 10 pts or fewer on the season. They appear to be a dominant pass rusher away from being a truly elite defense.
With this win, the Niners finished 8-8, their first non-losing season since 2002. They can look back and see at least five games they could’ve won, but didn’t (Minn, Indy, Tenn, Houston, & Seattle). It was a combination of things...dropped passes, inconsistent running game, sacks, turnovers, etc. They head into the off-season knowing they’re close to being a playoff team...but will have to address their OL, RB corps, pass rushing and secondary. CB Nate Clements will be asked to restructure his contract...to lower his cap impact and allow them to acquire some FA’s. QB Alex Smith will have one more year to prove his worth...or he’ll likely be gone after 2010 season.
TE Vernon Davis finally realized his potential...but despite his excellent numbers, he could’ve had an absolutely monster season were it not for a number of key drops. RB Frank Gore was good as usual...the offense took a temporary leave of their running game, but once it returned, he was rock solid again. SF needs a big, power RB, which will be available in some quality numbers in the draft. A full off-season will no doubt benefit WR Michael Crabtree, who should put up Pro Bowl numbers next year. Head Coach Mike Singletary, GM Scot McCloughan have been given a vote of confidence from team President Jed York.
Niners Offense Wakes Up, Beat Lions 20-6
After playing a lackluster 1st half, which saw the score 6-3 SF at the break, the Niner offense woke up in the 3rd quarter to score two TD’s. The first was a short toss from QB Alex Smith to TE Vernon Davis, for the latter’s 12th TD catch of the season. Smith could’ve run it in himself, but realized his TE was about to set a record for most TD’s from a Niner TE in their history. Later in the quarter, RB Frank Gore ran in another TD from 2 yds out to extend the lead to 20-3. The Lions managed another FG in the 4th qtr to end the scoring.
For much of the game, it appeared the Niners were playing down to the level of their competition...which can be a recipe for disaster. Fortunately, they woke up in time to get their offense in gear and put the game away. QB Alex Smith had decent stats...20 of 31, 230 yds, 1 TD, no picks. RB Frank Gore had 71 yds on the ground, another 81 yds pass receiving, including a nice 48 yarder from Smith. Michael Crabtree also had 4 receptions, including a 50 yarder.
The Niner defense was again very solid...they gave up 10 pts or less for the 6th time this season. LB’s Ahmad Brooks and Takeo Spikes each logged sacks, while ILB Patrick Willis, CB Dre Bly and FS Dashon Goldson each had a pick of Lion’s QB Drew Stanton. Next up is the last game of the regular season in St. Louis.
Niners Lose Battle to Snow/Cold and Eagles
It’s been well documented how difficult it is for West Coast teams to win in the East…there’s the 3-hr time difference and last Sunday, the freezing winter weather that dumped almost two feet of snow in Philly. The game was delayed three hours so the field crew could remove the snow. The Niners knew going into this game it would be one of their toughest and indeed it was. Philly scored first, on a pass from Donovan McNabb to WR DeSean Jackson. Niners came back, but settled for a 51 yd Joe Nedney FG, to narrow the lead to 7-3. McNabb ran in another TD from 8 yds out in the 2nd qtr, boosting Philly’s lead 14-3 at halftime. Two David Acker FG’s made it 20-3 at halftime.
As they’ve done several times this season, the Niners stormed back in the 2nd half. They scored 10 pts to close the gap to 20-13. Joe Nedney began the scoring with a 25 yd FG, then later in the qtr QB Alex Smith hit WR Josh Morgan on a 12 yd scoring pass. The Eagles were able to punch one more TD on a short run by RB Lashon McCoy in the 4th qtr.
The game was marked by four Niner turnovers…three picks by Smith and a costly fumble at the Philly 6 yd line by WR Delanie Walker. RB Frank Gore had another good game, with 107 yds on 16 carries, but it wasn’t enough. Turning the ball over against a team like the Eagles equals almost certain defeat. The Niner defense had no answer for DeSean Jackson, who caught 7 passes for 140 yds and a TD. This defeat meant the end of the Niner’s playoff hopes. They’ll finish up the season at home vs the Lions and on the road vs the Rams. Their goal now is to finish the season 8-8.
Niners Defense Turns It Up, Cards Turn It Over
It was the second Monday night game between the Niners and the Cards…this time at Candlestick Park. It was do-or-die for SF, as another loss would eliminate them from playoff contention. From the outset, the Niner defense played as a team possessed. They pressured Kurt Warner, pressed his receivers, bottled up their running game. More importantly, they forced turnovers…seven of them all told. Two were Warner picks, one by CB Tarrel Brown, the other by FS Dashon Goldson. The other five were all fumbles, out of seven ‘Zona put on the turf. The turnovers led to all 24 Niner points. Goldson was the defensive star of the game, forcing two fumbles and getting a nice pick.
QB Alex Smith again led the Niner offense…he didn’t have a great game statistically, but did manage two TD passes to TE Vernon Davis and rookie WR Michael Crabtree. The latter was a thing of beauty, a 35 yd catch and run. You could almost see the smoke coming off the ball, but Crabtree snatched it out of the air and ran it into the end zone. The offensive star of the game was RB Frank Gore, who had 167 yds on 25 carries and a TD. Niner fans were excited to see no. 21 doing his thing again.
Speaking of Niner fans, once the turnover melee started, the crowd really got into it and was the loudest all season. It was reminiscent of their glory years, when Candlestick was just about always at a fever pitch. They finally had something to get excited about…for their team played with playoff intensity not seen in years. Next up is a very tough road game in Philly, against the dynamic Eagles.
Smith Shines, Niners Still Lose, 20-17
QB Alex Smith had an excellent game in Seattle, passing for more than 300 yds and two TD’s. He should’ve had a monster day, closer to 400 yds and 4 TD’s with a little more help from his teammates. TE Vernon Davis was again one of his primary receivers...he caught 6 balls for over 100 yds and a TD. Trouble is, Vernon dropped two TD passes. His fellow TE, Delanie Walker, was mugged by a Seahawk defender but still almost made another TD catch. No interference was called, but even Deion Sanders commented it should’ve been on NFL-N primetime show.
Smith opened up the scoring, hitting TE Vernon Davis on a 33 yd TD. Seattle was the beneficiary of two Niner gifts...the first was a fumble recovery from a botched kickoff reverse that went awry. Seahawk QB Matt Hasselback threw a 7 yd TD pass to WR Deion Branch in the back of the end zone a few plays later, tying the score at 7-7. Seattle opened up the 2nd quarter with a long drive capped with a short pass to RB Justin Forsett, putting the ‘Hawks ahead 14-7. Smith came right back, scoring after a short 4-play drive with a 22 yd TD pass to WR Josh Morgan, tying the score at 14-14.
In the 2nd half, Olindo Mare kicked a 25 yd FG, putting Seattle ahead 17-14. The Niners came right back and on the strength of Joe Nedney’s FG from 34 yds out, tied the score at 17-17. On that drive, Vernon Davis let a sure TD pass slip through his hands, forcing the kick. The two teams went back and forth, neither scoring. Smith had the Niners driving deep into Seattle territory when RB Frank Gore fumbled late in the 4th qtr. Seattle recovered and ran the ball back close to mid-field. It turned out to be a killer turnover, as Hasselback finally completed a pass down the right sideline to Deon Butler that set up Mare for his game-winning kick.
It was another frustrating loss for the Niners...another game they could’ve easily won had they held onto the ball. Next up is their bitter division rival Cards on Monday night at Candlestick. They hope to ruin ‘Zona’s Western Division Championship celebration with a win.
Niners Rally Falls Short in Green Bay
The Niner offense was practically non-existent in the first half in Green Bay, and the Packers’ QB Aaron Rodgers lit up SF’s defense and led 23-3 at halftime. For the game, Rodgers was 32 of 45 for 344 yds and 2 TD’s. Not only was Rodgers burning the Niner defense with his terrific receiving corps, RB Ryan Grant was having a lot of success as well. SF’s defense is normally stout against the run...but not on this day.
Fast forward to the second half...the Niners went mostly to the spread formation and began to move the ball. QB Alex Smith connected with WR Michael Crabtree in the 3rd quarter on a 38 yd TD, narrowing GB’s lead to 23-10. The Pack scored once more early in the 4th quarter on a short run by Grant. Smith then directed two more scoring drives, connecting with TE Vernon Davis from 24 yds out, then RB Frank Gore from 10 yds, making the score 30-24.
Unfortunately, the Niners never got the football back...the Pack controlled it the rest of the game. They had 26 1st downs to 11 for the Niners, 484 total yds to 284, in a dominating performance. The Niners fell to 4-6, while GB improved to 6-4. Next up for SF is Jacksonville, in Candlestick Park.
Niners Control Jags, Win 20-3
During the week, QB Alex Smith talked to OC Jimmy Raye about what he was seeing on the field in the spread formation. He was able to persuade Raye to call more passing plays and open up the offense. Result: A convincing 20-3 Niner win. Smith was 27 of 41 for 232 yds, 2 TD’s and no sacks. Even more impressive was the distribution: 7 to RB Frank Gore (1 TD), 6 to TE Vernon Davis (1 TD), 6 to WR Josh Morgan, and 4 each to TE Delanie Walker and WR Michael Crabtree. The latter also dropped a sure TD pass, or the numbers would’ve been even better. The ground game wasn’t too effective, but Walker did have an 11 yd gain on a TE reverse.
On defense, the Niners harassed Jags QB David Garrard the entire game, sacking him six times. The most effective sacks were one by OLB Manny Lawson, which forced a fumble that SF recovered. The other was from OLB Parys Haralson for a 12 yd loss. DE Justin Smith also had another strong game, registering 1.5 sacks and collecting 5 tackles. As usual, ILB Patrick Willis led the tackle parade, getting 11 total, while FS Dashon Goldson chipped in with 9.
This was arguably the best team effort all season...Coach Singletary was obviously pleased after the game, stating this is the kind of performance he’s been wanting to see all year. Next up is the Seahawks, in Seattle. Combined with Arizona’s last-second loss to the Titans, the Niners are now two games behind the division leading Cards.
Niners Defense Saves the Day
In what many thought would be an offensive showcase for QB’s Alex Smith and Jay Cutler was instead a defensive struggle the Niners somehow found a way to win, 10-6. Their defense constantly harassed Cutler, who threw five picks, the final one ending the game in SF’s end zone. Strangely enough, they had no sacks, but did knock Cutler down a number of times. Niner QB Alex Smith went 16-23, but for only 118 yds and no TD’s. He had one pick on a long pass downfield to WR Michael Crabtree. The offensive star for the Niners was RB Frank Gore…he had 25 carries for 104 yds and their lone TD. Leading receiver was Michael Crabtree, with 4 catches for 48 yds.
Cutler had over 300 yds passing, but continually imploded with his five picks and numerous errant throws among the 52 he hoisted. SF’s defense corralled RB Matt Forte, holding him to 41 yds on 20 carries. He was, however, the Bears’ leading receiver, catching 8 passes for 120 yds. TE Greg Olson also chipped in with 7 catches for 75 yds.
However, this game was all about the Niner’s defense. The five picks are the most in a long, long time. Every one of them was needed, too, given the Bears were going for the win as time ran out and S Michael Lewis captured the 5th of the night. Even NT Abrayo Franklin got into the act, picking off one near SF’s goal line and returning it 10 yds before, as he put it, his legs just gave out. Most spectacular pick was from CB Tarrel Brown, who returned his 51 yds. The Niners left too many points out on the field…something they’ll have to fix if they have any real playoff hopes. Next up is Green Bay on 22 Nov at Lambeau Field.
Niners Turn(over) Titans Into Winners
Offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye opened up his playbook and let QB Alex Smith throw the ball downfield a lot more than in the game vs the Colts. Smith had some success, throwing for close to 300 yds and a 2 TD’s. Trouble is, he also had three picks and a fumble, which the Titans were more than happy to convert into 24 pts. TE Vernon Davis was Smith’s favorite target, connecting 10 times for 102 yds. Reserve WR Jason Hill, in the game for injured Isaac Bruce, contributed nicely, catching 4 balls for 50 yds and two TD’s. RB Frank Gore had 15 carries for 83 yds and caught 7 passes for another 75 yds and a TD in a workmanlike performance.
The Niners had their hands full with Tenn RB Chris Johnson, who had 135 yds on the ground. He didn’t break any long runs for TD’s, but consistently gave the Niner defense fits, while scoring twice. He also made it possible for the Titans to limit how often QB Vince Young threw the ball. He was a pedestrian 12 of 19 for 172 yds and no TD’s but all importantly, no picks. WR Justin Gage made some terrific catches to help Young out. More than anything, the Titans took advantage of the four turnovers SF dished out. They converted them into scores, which was truly the difference in the game.
Niner ILB Patrick Willis had his usual fine game, logging 10 tackles. Even he had problems with Chris Young, though, chasing him on several plays. Young is the fastest RB they’ve faced all season. NT Abrayo Franklin continued his strong play, as well, with 5 tackles. P Andy Lee had an outstanding game, avg. almost 57 yds on his three kicks. Next up for the Niners are the Bears on a Thursday night contest on NFL-Network.
Niners Lose Toughie in Indy
Facing one of the NFL’s elite teams, the Colts, QB Alex Smith started his first game in almost two years. He’d come close to bringing the Niners back from a 21-0 deficit in Houston last week. The Colts, led by future HOF Peyton Manning, presented an even bigger challenge.
The Niners scored first, thanks to RB Frank Gore’s 64-yd gallop, and led 7-0. Manning led three scoring drives in the first half, but all were FG’s, not the customary TD’s, as the Niner defense played tough.
DC Greg Manusky had an excellent game plan against the Colts, and his players executed it exceptionally well. SF went ahead 14-6, when Smith drove them down the field during a two-minute offense, with a TD pass to TE Vernon Davis. Unfortunately, teammate Josh Morgan celebrated a bit too much and they were penalized 15 yds on the kick-off to the Colts.
K Joe Nedney did his best, but kicking off from his own 15 yd line was tough. Indy got great field position and drove far enough into Niner territory to kick another FG and close the gap to 14-9 to end the 1st half.
In the 2nd half, the Niners couldn’t score, yet held onto the lead. The Colts added a 4th FG, to make the score 14-12. They finally got a TD on a trick play...Manning handed off to RB Joseph Addai, enticing CB Shawntae Spencer to commit to the run, only Addai stopped and tossed the ball 22 yds to a wide-open Reggie Wayne in the end zone. That was actually a testament to the tough defense the Niners played the entire game. It was the first time in almost 10 seasons the Colts had resorted to the RB option play to score a TD. QB Alex Smith played well, going 19 of 32 for 198 yds, 1 TD, 1 pick.
QB Peyton Manning had 371 yds passing, yet couldn’t connect on a TD. SF sacked him three times...after Manning had been sacked only twice the entire season. The loss was costly for SF...they lost CB Nate Clements to a fractured shoulder blade and starting LT Joe Staley to a strained knee. Both players will be out a minimum of six weeks. Reserve Barry Sims played LT and did a commendable job against All-Pro DE Dwight Freeney.
Next up is Tennessee at Candlestick, where the Niners hope to get back to .500 at 4-4.
Niners Surge Back, Lose to Texans
Expectations were high after their bye and last smouldering defeat at the hands of the Atlanta Falcons at Candlestick Park. However, they self-destructed in the first half in Houston, falling behind 21-0. Coach Mike Singletary knew he had to make a change at QB, as starter Shaun Hill was completely ineffective. So, to start the 3rd quarter, he brought in Alex Smith. It was Smith’s first league game in almost two years.
Immediately, the offense began to perk up...he drove them down the field and hooked up with TE Vernon Davis for a TD. Then came two more in the 4th qtr...again, to Davis. Houston added a 4th qtr FG to make the score 24-21. SF got the ball back late, but drove to mid-field before Smith threw a last-second pick.
It was another close loss, but the story in this contest was quarterback Alex Smith...he finished 15-22, 206 yds and 3 TD’s. Tight End Vernon Davis became his new best friend, catching 7 passes for 93 yds and 3 TD’s. He became the league leader in TD’s with this performance. Upon returning to their Santa Clara headquarters, Singletary announced Alex Smith was his new starting QB.
It’s been a tough road for the now 25-year old QB...he was thrown to the wolves in his rookie season, 2005, on a horrible team. He showed good potential in his 2nd year under OC Norv Turner. The 2007 season crash-landed when 300+ lb DT Rocky Benard drove Alex’s shoulder into the Candlestick turf.
He (Smith) tried to “tough it out” and continue playing, but his shoulder just wasn’t up to it. He finally had surgery late in 2007, but for all intents and purposes, it was a lost season for him. Then, in 2008, he injured the same shoulder and was placed on IRL for the 2008 season.
He (QB Alex Smith) competed for the starting job during the off-season, but Singletary went with the incumbent starter, Shaun Hill. Now, he got his shot to QB the SF 49ers again...so far, he’s making the most of it.
Niners Lay Stink-Bomb at Candlestick
Visiting Atlanta came out strong and opened up a 14-0 lead before the stunned Niners realized what had happened. Coach Mike Smith had obviously prepared his team exceptionally well during their bye. SF briefly got back into the game, but really couldn’t mount much of an offense against an aggressive Falcon defense.
QB Shaun Hill was running for his life the entire game, as his OL couldn’t protect him. They didn’t do much to open holes for RB Glen Coffee, either. Hill finished the game 15 of 38 for 198 yds, and 1 pick. Coffee had 12 rushes for 45 yds...since they got behind early, SF didn’t run the ball much in the game.
About the only receiver to do anything was Josh Morgan, who had 4 catches for 78 yds, although TE Vernon Davis continued his steady play, catching 5 passes for 51 yds. Meanwhile, the Falcons could do no wrong on offense...QB Matt Ryan was outstanding. He and WR Roddy White put on a clinic, connecting for 8 passes, 210 yds and 2 TD’s. Ryan threw for over 300 yds, had the two TD’s and 1 pick. That pick was by Dre Bly, who shamelessly began to showboat at his own 40 yd line, not realizing WR Roddy White was hot on his trail, and knocked the ball loose, which Atlanta recovered. Bly later apologized for his premature celebration.
Bad as the offense was, the defense uncharacteristically laid a huge egg. Going into the game, they were the 6th rated defense in the league. In this game, however, they looked horrible. They couldn’t stop the pass, couldn’t stop the run, couldn’t tackle...as already mentioned, couldn’t even handle the one pick they got. It was a miserable effort...ILB Patrick Willis did manage a dozen tackles, and CB Shawntae Spencer was again solid in his coverage. Just about everyone else stunk up Candlestick Park. They got no pressure on Matt Ryan, so he had the time he needed to pick out receivers, WR Roddy White being his favorite. Normally stout against the run, RB Michael Turner gouged the Niner defense for just under 100 yds and 3 TD’s.
The Falcons looked like a definite Super Bowl contender...at least the Niners made them look like one. It’s a safe bet Coach Mike Singletary will show little mercy next week in practice as they prepare for their Oct 25th game in Houston. RB Frank Gore will return to the lineup and Michael Crabtree will make his debut.
While his teammates were given 4 days off by Singletary during the bye, he’s staying at their Santa Clara training facility, working hard every day. QB Alex Smith, who lives in the area, volunteered to throw to Crabtree. WR Coach Jerry Sullivan is working with him, and they brought in former Bear WR Wendall Davis to help out with Crabtree’s crash course.
Niners Get Back on Track Against Rams
Although they struggled offensively in the 1st half, their ST’s got the scoring started when ILB Scot McKillop fell on the ball in the Rams’ end zone after it had bounced off the leg of their return man. During halftime, QB Shaun Hill lit into his offense...telling them they weren’t playing hard enough. It must’ve worked, as they came out and played better, scoring on a pass to TE Vernon Davis in the 3rd qtr. In the 4th qtr, Hill connected on a 24 yd TD pass to WR Josh Morgan, who earlier had dropped a sure TD. RB Glen Coffee had 74 yds on 24 carries.
After the game both the OL and Coach Singletary said they were disappointed in their effort and vowed to step up their game. QB Shaun Hill was sacked four times, which drew the ire of Singletary. He went 14/24, 152 yds, 2 TD’s, and no picks for the game.
The Niner defense was dominating...they held star RB Stephen Jackson to 79 yds on 23 carries, and QB Kyle Boller to 13/24, 108 yds, and one pick, which was returned by ILB Patrick Willis for a TD. DE Ray McDonald picked up a Boller fumble and rumbled in from 11 yds out to score. Willis was the big star...logging eight tackles, getting 2.5 sacks, and a pick-six. He should be NFC Defensive Play of the Week. His ILB teammate, Takeo Spikes, had eight tackles and a sack, while Manny Lawson logged five tackles and half a sack. One big reason for the LB corp is making so many plays is the continued stellar play of their DL.
As a group, they’re controlling the LOS, paving the way for their active LB’s to make plays. Particularly noteworthy have been the tandem of NT’s Abrayo Franklin and Isaac Sopoaga. Both have been very active and have made it difficult for opposing teams to run on the Niners.
While this was a total team win, neither Coach Singletary nor his team was satisfied. They know they left too many plays on the field, particularly the offense. They’ll have to play better next Sunday when the Atlanta Falcons visit.
Niners Lose Heartbreaker in Minn
The Niners thought they had the game won, when with @ 2 mins left in the 4th qtr, they got the ball. Unfortunately, their offense got a bit too conservative, running the ball 5 straight times. They had to punt the ball back to the Vikes and QB Brett Favre. Any NFL fan can tell you Favre’s absolutely killed the Niners over the course of his entire career.
True, he made a very good throw, but the catch by reserve WR Greg Lewis was even better, as he tip-toed just in bounds at the back of the end zone with :02 left on the clock. Once again, Favre had snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. It was yet another chapter in his legacy against the Niners.
There were plenty of bright spots for SF this day, except the final score. Their defense contained the league’s best RB, Adrian Peterson. He had one 35-yd gallop, but that was it...outside that one run, they held him to 2.7 yds per carry.
They kept Favre @ 50% pass completions, but when it counted the most, he came through with a vintage toss to shock the entire stadium. His longest completion was 36 yds. SF’s LB corps had a big day...Manny Lawson had 11 tackles, Patrick Willis 10, and Takeo Spikes had six. CB Shawntae Spencer had a pick. His teammate, CB Nate Clements, returned a blocked FG 59 yds for a TD to end the 1st half. P Andy Lee had a terrific game, averaging close to 52 yds per kick. On offense, Shaun Hill had a good game, going 15/25, 195 yds, two TD’s and one pick.
TE Vernon Davis was the receiving star, catching 7 balls for 96 yds and a TD. Star RB Frank Gore sprained his ankle on his first attempt and did not return. Rookie RB Glen Coffee played the rest of the game. He wasn’t great...but against the tough Vikes defensive front, he didn’t have much room, either.
It was a very tough loss...but when Coach Singletary entered the locker room, some of the players had their heads down. He bellowed “Hey! I don’t want to see anyone with their head down. You played a terrific game against one of the best teams in the league. You didn’t do anything wrong. You played your asses off. Be proud of what you did. Let’s forget this and look forward to playing the Rams next Sunday”.
Niners Run Over Seahawks, 23-10
SF’s offensive line took a lot of heat from head coach Mike Singletary all week after their dismal performance against Arizona. While they won that game 20-16, they couldn’t open up holes for RB Frank Gore all day and Coach was none too happy about that. They took Singletary’s criticism to heart, and stepped up their game to produce over 250 yards on the ground against Seattle. 207 yds of that were from Gore, who ripped off TD runs of 79 and 80 yds. He’s had a history of big days against the ‘Hawks, going over 200 yds a few seasons ago. QB Shaun Hill was an efficient 19 of 26, for 144 yds. Only negative stat was four sacks, however one resulted when he ran right into DE Patrick Kerney. Gore was clearly the outstanding offensive player, but the OL, including TE Vernon Davis plus his WR’s all made key blocks to spring his long TD runs.
Defensively, they controlled Seattle throughout the game. NT’s Abrayo Franklin and Isaac Sopoaga were strong up the middle, while DE Ray McDonald had his 2nd season sack. Second year DE Kentwan Balmer continued his improved play, logging four tackles, one for a loss. ILB Patrick Willis’ hard hit toward the end of the 1st half knocked Seattle QB Matt Hasselbeck from the game. He and fellow ILB Takeo Spikes each had five tackles. SS Michael Lewis had 10 overall tackles, supporting the front seven nicely. CB Nate Clements had his 2nd straight strong game, with six tackles and four passes defensed. One of them resulted in a pick for FS Dashon Goldson.
On special teams, K Joe Nedney had a fine game, knocking through three FG’s in as many attempts. P Andy Lee avg just a shade under 47 yds per punt, dropping one at Seattle’s 4 yd line to pin them down.
Next game is against the tough Vikings...it should be a good test for both teams.
Niners Persevere Amid the ‘Zona Din
Despite the deafening crowd noise in Cardinal Stadium, the 49ers were able to overcome that and the Cards, 20-16. The noise plagued SF’s offensive line...making it very difficult to hear line calls or to change plays based on the defense Arizona was running.
In his remarks after viewing the game films on Monday, head coach Mike Singletary said it best...”(the OL) got our tails kicked pretty good by Arizona’s DL”. He said that won’t happen again...and OC Jimmy Raye’s already working on adjustments to blocking schemes to give RB Frank Gore some gaps to run through. Gore had a miserable game...rushing 22 times for only 30 net yards. There was simply no room to run...the ‘Zona defense was totally geared to stop him, and they did.
Gore did score the only two Niner TD’s, though, one on a 6 yd run (his longest of the game) in the 1st half and a 3 yd pass from QB Shaun Hill, culminating a 15-play, 80 yd drive in the 4th qtr that proved to be the winner.
The real star of the game, though, was the Niner defense. They pressured QB Kurt Warner all game long. Officially, they had three sacks (although two others weren’t counted, for some inexplicable reason) and eight hurries. They forced Warner to dump off 12 of his 26 completions to RB Tim Hightower. The defensive line combination of Kentwan Balmer, Ray McDonald, and Justin Smith did the most damage. Balmer often tied up two ‘Zona OL, which meant either Smith or “Ray Mac” were one-on-one with a Cardinal blocker. Their aggressive play up front also cleared the way for OLB Parys Haralson to get a sack and constant pressure on Warner.
ILB Patrick Willis, is the best linebacker in the NFL, he had 13 total tackles and one pick against Warner, while CB Nate Clements had the other.
Niner defensive backs were very physical with the Cardinal receivers, which gave their front line time to get to Warner. All in all, it was a tremendous defensive effort. Defensive Coordinator Greg Manusky called many effective rushing/blitzing schemes, which had Warner off balance for much of the game. He’ll need similar execution next Sunday, when the Niners host division rival Seattle at Candlestick Park.
SF 21 – Oakland 20
The final score wasn’t a good indicator of the Niner’s domination in this game. They outgained the Raiders 389 yds to 245, and had the ball almost 39 mins. While neither Shaun Hill nor Alex Smith distinguished themselves at QB, the SF ground attack was potent, gaining 275 yds for the game. Smith did make a couple of good plays, though. On a WR reverse, he flattened DE Greg Ellis with a resounding block, drawing a big cheer from the Candlestick faithful. He also ran down Raider LB Ricky Brown, who had rambled 46 yds with a tipped interception. Smith stopped him at the SF 7 yd line from which the Raiders didn’t score.
It wasn’t until the 4th qtr, when rookie Nate Davis took the reins that the Niners began to score points, putting an 18 spot on the board. Davis went 6-11, 67 yds and a TD. He and rookie RB Glen Coffee took over...the impressive rookie from Alabama finished with 129 yds on 16 carries. Together, they moved the ball down the field, then Davis threw a short pass to TE Delanie Walker for one score and handed off to fellow rookie RB Kory Sheets to score from 5 yds out. Davis and Walker also connected on a 2-pt conversion.
The Niner’s defense was opportunistic, picking off three passes and recovering a fumble. They held the Raiders to 69 yds on the ground. One big blunder was CB Nate Clements allowing rookie WR Louis Murphy to get behind him for an easy TD from QB JaMarcus Russell. It was a miscommunication between Clements and S Mark Roman. Overall, though, it was a solid defensive performance.
Rookie ILB Scott McKillop again led the team with 4 tackles, along with teammate FS Dashon Goldson. 2nd year DL Kentwan Balmer showed continuing signs of improvement, tipping a pass and penetrating into the Raider’s backfield.
Coach Singletary has named Shaun Hill as the starting QB...not so much on the Raider preseason game, but from an overall efficiency standpoint. Alex Smith will be the #2 QB. No decision yet between vet Damon Huard and rookie Nate Davis. The latter certainly did nothing to hurt his chances of making the roster with his performance against the Raiders. Next up is the Dallas Cowboys...in their new billion-dollar stadium.
Preseason Game #1 SF 17 Denver 16
Going into both teams’ first preseason game, there was some hype...for example, new Niner CB Dre Bly couldn’t wait to play this game. He was cut for the first time in his NFL career by Denver. He signed with SF a day after starting CB Walt Harris went down for the season with a knee injury. On another front, former Niner head coach Mike Nolan is now the Denver defensive coordinator. QB Alex Smith was his guy...for much of his tenure in SF, but they had a falling out over his shoulder injury and Nolan’s expectations he should “tough it out”.
In the game, Bly did make some plays and had a pick, one of three by the Niner secondary. For Nolan’s part, he dialed up a number of blitzes...some worked, his guys had four sacks. Smith played a couple of series, and had a TD pass to new FB Brit Miller. Starting QB Shaun Hill only played the first series, completing both his passes. A number of starters didn’t play...like Frank Gore, Patrick Willis, Michael Robinson, etc.
Although Denver outgained SF by @ 60 yds, the game wasn’t as close as the score would indicate. SF came very close to scoring another TD at game’s end but rookie RB Kory Sheets just came up a bit short. Sheets had a good first game, gaining 51 yds on 10 carries. Fellow rookie RB Glen Coffee was the game’s leading rusher, with 67 yds on 14 carries. Unfortunately, 3rd year RB Thomas Clayton suffered a season-ending knee injury and they placed him on waivers last weekend. His departure will give Sheets a better chance of making the team.
They like his speed and versatility. The receiving star for SF was unheralded rookie FB Brit Miller...he caught TD passes from both Alex Smith and veteran Damon Huard.
The defense gave up 341 yds...but consistently thwarted Denver with three picks. Besides Bly, 2nd year S Reggie Smith and vet Nate Clements also intercepted QB Kyle Orton. Rookie ILB Scott McKillop was their leading tackler with 9, 8 unassisted, while OLB Ahmad Brooks had 5 stops. The Niner pass rush didn’t show up...so, it’s a point of emphasis for head coach Mike Singletary and his defensive coordinator, Greg Manusky during practice this week for the Raider game on Saturday.
Speaking of the Raiders, the Niners are finishing up two days of practice against Oakland, at the Raider’s camp in Napa, CA. It’s a refreshing change of pace for both teams.
During Tuesday’s session, RB Frank Gore put on a clinic for his coaches and teammates during LB blitz drills. He pancaked both Ricky Brown and Kirk Morrison, setting quite a tone. Offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye had to pull Gore from the drill...he was so amped Coach didn’t want to risk injury. Gore’s had his best camp as a Niner...he’s in tip-top shape, and raring to start the season. He’s got his personal battering ram, FB Moran Norris back to lead him into the holes again.
The season can’t start too soon for Mr. Gore. On Wednesday, the Niner defense completely dominated Oakland’s offense...they picked off a total of 7 (seven) passes, 5 of them in the morning session against the Raider’s starting offense. Veteran CB’s Dre Bly and Nate Clements (he had 3 picks) both said they’d never seen any team dominate another so thoroughly in 20 collective seasons. Coach Singletary was obviously pleased with the progress his team showed in two days of practicing against the Raiders. They meet for real Saturday night.
The Niners Don't "NEED" Crabtree
As other number 1 NFL picks sign with their respective teams, the holdout of Niner WR Eric Crabtree seems to be more and more in the spotlight. Coach Singletary is focusing on the players he has in camp...and despite the injury to FA Brandon Jones, he has a good stable of WR's to work with.
So, the best strategy the Niners can take is for some of their other young WR's to take advantage of Crabtree's absence to show what they can do. They'll get that opportunity next Friday, when the Niners host Denver in their opening preseason game. Starters Isaac Bruce and Josh Morgan are set...up for grabs is the #3 job, which Brandon Jones was well on his way to securing. Now, it's anyone's position.
Candidates include vet Arnaz Battle, Dominique Zeigler, and 3rd year WR Jason Hill. Others in the mix are speedster Michael Spurlock and just-signed FA Chris Francies. With any modicum of success among these WR's, Crabtree's agent, Eugene Parker, will be negotiating from a different position. The Niner front office refuses to negotiate in the media...a sound strategy. While Singletary and OC Jimmy Raye would love for Crabtree to sign and get in camp, they're both content to go with the receivers they have.
Bottom line: the Niners don't "need" Crabtree as much as some would think.
Niners Complete First Minicamp
Coach Mike Singletary put his players through their paces at last week’s first OTA...unhappy with the first day’s practices, he made it clear he wasn’t satisfied with the effort. Day two was much better, and as the week wore on, there were a lot more players flying around the practice field. Among the players who stood out were Josh Morgan, 2nd year WR. He was making catches all over the field, as was new FA Brandon Jones. So far, Jones has shown his 4.38 X 40 speed and has yet to drop a ball.
TE Vernon Davis was also very active...he’s really warming up to new OC Jimmy Raye’s offense, which features the TE’s as receivers. That’s also music to his fellow TE’s, Delanie Walker and rookie Bear Pascoe, who just signed a 4-year contract. The Niners have signed four of their seven draft picks so far...so have been aggressive getting their new guys signed. Other noteworthy efforts during the OTA’s were Frank Gore...who seemed to be particularly svelte and in great shape. He’s obviously enjoying having his best buddy, FB Moran Norris, back as his blocker leading him into his running lanes. In 2006, Gore established a Niner record with just under 1700 rushing yds, with Norris as his lead blocker.
On defense, there was good news and bad...starting CB Walt Harris tore his ACL and is likely lost for the season. Moving very quickly, GM Scot McCloughan brought FA Dre Bly in for a look. They signed him the next day. He’ll compete w/3rd year CB Tarell Brown for the starting job opposite Nate Clements. The good news is Dashon Goldson...he’s the starting FS this season. He’s a real ballhawk, something their defense has been missing with Mark Roman starting the past couple of seasons. Goldson has had several interceptions...and is generally flying all over the field making plays.
Another bright spot is OLB Manny Lawson...he’s bulked up to 255 lbs and is completely healthy again. Last season he was not 100% after his knee injury the previous season. The plan is to unleash him as a pass rusher this year, opposite team sack leader Parys Haralson, whose contract was extended three years. Ahmad Brooks has been moved to OLB and also had a good week. His emergence as a legitimate pass rusher should quell critics of the Niner’s weak pass rush.
Free agent DE Demetric Evans is providing veteran leadership and mentorship for 2nd year DE Kentwan Balmer. KB worked hard this off-season, lowering his body fat by 4%, an impressive stat for a guy weighing @ 315 lbs. Rookie Ricky Jean-Francois is another newcomer expected to improve the DL depth at RDE. Isaac Sopoaga has been moved back to NT to rotate w/starter Abrayo Franklin after playing DE last season.
The 49ers have three more OTA sessions in June, plus a mini-camp 5-7 June.
49ers Sign Some Interesting Free Agents
Kory Sheets - RB
Alex Boone - OT
Kyle Howard - OT
Brandon Long - DE/OLB
Diyral Briggs - DE/OLB
Carlos Thomas - CB
Terrail Lambert - CB
Niners Strike Gold, Land Very Good Draft
When you start your draft with the best WR on the board in Crabtree, it's a good omen. He fell and Singletary & GM Scot McCloughan were only too happy to pull the trigger. His addition should end questions about the Niner WR corps. I thought Mac was ready to pick a pass rusher in the 2nd when they announced the trade of their 2nd and 4th picks for Carolina's 1st next year. In the 3rd, Singletary got his RB in Glen Coffee. He had an outstanding season at Alabama...and performed very well against the top SEC competition. They figure he can add @ 10 lbs and play @ 220. He'll take some hits away from Gore and be a nice compliment. It was a long drought between the 3rd and 5th rds, but they made up for it with two nice picks.
First was ILB Scot McKillop, a blue-collar guy who just has a nose for the ball. He was Big East Defensive Player of the Year. He figures to understudy Takeo Spikes his first season, then challenge him for the starting role in 2010.
Their comp pick in the 5th was QB Nate Davis. They really like his upside...good size, strong arm and mobility. He confided in Coach Singletary he has dyslexia. No worries, said Coach, we'll take it slow and easy.
In the 6th rd, they took TE Bear Pascoe. He's a rugged blocker and a much better receiver than his predecessor, Billy Bajema. Another plus is he's a Bay Area guy, so will be a fan favorite.
In the 7th, Mac found two quality LSU players, first FS Curtis Taylor, a big-hitter who needs coaching to improve his overall tackling and pass coverage, but is already a ST demon. Last, they hit on Ricky Jean Francois...he played alongside Tyson Jackson at LSU, but Niner scouts say he has a big upside and at 6-3, 285 will play DE in their 3-4.
Some critics of their draft said they didn't get an OT or a pass rusher...however, they signed OT Alex Boone and DE Pannel Ugboh from Stanford as undrafted FA's. Singletary also plans to give Ahmad Brooks every chance to emerge as a viable OLB, too. My overall grade for their draft is a B+.