Let's Talk Niners

домейн  49ers BEAT COLTS IN PRESEASON OPENER:  Well, it wasn’t pretty and our performance only indicated that we still have a lot of work to do before September 12th in Seattle.    Alex Smith went 3-9 for 37 yards on four first quarter drives, one interception (on a tipped ball), no points and a whopping 7.4 quarterback rating.  Yes, you read that right – he didn’t even break double digits.  In the meantime, the Colts put up 10 points on us on sloppy defensive play and a Michael Robinson fumble.  Certainly the hype we have heard and read about the development of the 49ers offense was just that, hype.  The starters did not perform to expectations that would show much progress over last year.  But, then again, that’s what the preseason is for, to work those kinks out.  However, once the starters came off the field the 2s and 3s proved that we we had more depth than the Colts’ 2s and 3s and scored 34 consecutive points before the Colts scored their last touchdown (by which time most spectators had already headed home).  Some players showed really well and some battles for backup positions started to shake out in some players’ favor.  For instance, and almost by default because Glen Coffee quit the team to return to school, sixth round draft choice Anthony Dixon seized the opportunity to be Frankie’s backup by going 100 yards on 21 carries.  The first quarter by the starters was abysmal.  In four drives, we had two turnovers, two punts and two first downs in 13 plays.  Sounds like Pop Warner football to me.  Unfortunately, the game produced some disturbing injuries with VD going out with a strained knee and Crabby didn’t play because of a strained neck.     

     INJURIES, TRADES AND ROSTER CHANGES:  2008 first round draft choice Kentwan Balmer got traded to Seattle ending his five day holdout.  Training camp injuries prior to the game had David Baas playing center for Eric Heitmann (broken fibula (leg bone)).  Rookie ILB Scot McKillop tore his ACL and patellar tendon  is out for the season.  LB Travis LaBoy has a concussion, and LB Ahmad Brooks (lacerated kidney) and LB Marail Burnett (sprained kee) are all on the sideline for now but should be ready by the time the season starts.  As a result, the 49ers have signed OLBs Brandon Long and Bruce Davis.

INDIANAPOLIS — By the time Anthony Dixon was done racing past defenders, or rumbling over the ones still in his way, the 49ers’ rookie running back had done almost enough to erase the memories of the first-team offense.

That’s almost.

Instead, the struggles of Alex Smith and his revamped offensive line still lingered above the 49ers’ 37-17 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday in their exhibition opener.

Playing without three key members on offense — running back Frank Gore (day off), receiver Michael Crabtree (neck strain) and center Eric Heitmann (broken leg) — the 49ers’ first unit struggled from the start: Michael Robinson fumbled on the first play from scrimmage.

The 49ers’ first four possessions resulted in two punts, two turnovers and at least one big miscommunication. Tight end Vernon Davis and Smith were on different pages and failed to connect on what should have been a 47-yard touchdown pass.

Smith tried again later to another tight end, Delanie Walker, but the ball bounced off Walker’s hands and into the arms of Colts cornerback Jerraud Powers.

Perhaps most alarmingly for the 49ers was a second-quarter sequence in which the offensive line surrendered three sacks of David Carr over four plays — even though some Colts starters were out of the game.

Not to worry, Smith said. He acknowledged that his stat line was ugly — 3 of 9 for 37 yards, an interception and a 7.4 passer rating –

but stressed that he was seeing the whole field, a good sign considering there was minimal game-planning or film study. Smith added that his missed connection with Davis is an easy problem to correct in time for the regular season.

“As far as how I feel, I felt good,” Smith said. “On paper, QB rating and things like that, tipped ball for a pick doesn’t go over very well. I felt good, but we didn’t get done.

“The thing I think hurt us was obviously starting with the fumble, then going three-and-out. That was tough. We need to start faster than that. It was one of our deals last year, and we can’t continue that this year.”

Coach Mike Singletary agreed, saying he thought the team rebounded from a slow start and ticking off a few items that needed to be “cleaned up.” The timing will get better, he said, noting that Smith’s interception came when “Delanie jumped a little early. I felt he should have caught the ball. So it’s just one of those things where quarterbacks and receivers need to clean up, be more detailed on their routes and decision-making.”

Better pass protection is also high on Singletary’s to-do list, including a continued crash course for rookie right tackle Anthony Davis. The 49ers’ first-round draft pick had a false start and failed to pick up a stunt on a play in which Carr was sacked.

Davis also joined the long list of tackles to have trouble with pass rusher Robert Mathis. “It’s just fast. The stunts come faster,” Davis said. “I’m looking forward to getting back and going to work.”

The Colts led 10-0 during Peyton Manning’s brief, efficient appearance (8 of 10, 91 yards). He led a touchdown drive on his second and final drive of the day, moving the Colts 89 yards, including a breezy 47 yards on three plays against the 49ers’ first-string defense.

The 49ers’ fortunes turned only after Manning left. Reggie Smith, competing for playing time at free safety, intercepted a pass by Curtis Painter and returned it 91 yards for a touchdown.

After that, there was a whole lot of Dixon, a sixth-round pick from Mississippi State. The surprise retirement of Glen Coffee last week left the 49ers short on running backs, so Dixon racked up 21 carries — 16 more than any other player in the game.

Dixon made the most of them, shaking off contact and pounding his way to extra yards. He averaged 4.8 yards on his carries, including a 23-yarder.

“I knew I was ready to get my chance, to get in there and show what I can do,” Dixon said. “And that’s all I was thinking about, just getting my opportunity. (Offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye) always tells us: When you get called on, answer the phone. Go out there and do what you’re supposed to do.”

Dixon eased the concern surrounding the departure of Coffee by rushing for 100 yards in 21 carries, including a defender-blasting 5-yard touchdown run.

On his way to the end zone, Dixon stiff-armed Mike Newton, a 197-pound defensive back. “Cornerbacks, they really don’t want to see me on a daily basis,” said the 233-pound Dixon. “So once I saw him, I knew it was pretty much cake.”

Singletary was less enthusiastic, noting that Dixon still has work to do when it comes to pass protection and reading the defense.

“He did OK,” Singletary said. “We tried to make sure we didn’t overload him with anything. We kept it pretty simple. He’s going to have to continue to grow and expand.”

Cornerbacks: You’ve been warned.

 SJMN

After hauling in a long touchdown pass during practice Tuesday, tight end Vernon Davis rubbed it in. He teased members of the secondary during his giddy jog back to the huddle, whooping it up and waving his arms in celebration.

As if that weren’t enough, Davis turned to the other defensive players on the sideline and yelled, “Come and get some!”

No, the San Francisco 49ers’ star tight end will never lead the league in shyness. But as long as he remains among the league leaders in touchdown catches, the 49ers will let him celebrate all he wants.

A year ago, Davis had 13 touchdown catches to tie the NFL record for tight ends (San Diego’s Antonio Gates did it in 2004). Davis’ total gave him a share of the league lead with Randy Moss and Larry Fitzgerald, making Davis the first tight end of the Super Bowl era to top the NFL in touchdown catches.

In all, Davis had 78 catches and 965 yards — both records for 49ers tight ends.

What does Davis do for an encore? Can he top those numbers in 2010?

“I don’t see why not,” quarterback Alex Smith said. “Obviously, statistics are statistics, but I think he continues to get better and better.”

Davis, listed at 6-foot-3, 250 pounds, was on the verge of being labeled a bust before his breakthrough 2009. Asked if he could improve his career-best numbers, Davis showed a rare moment of restraint. “It’s really not about that,” Davis said. “It’s about helping your team win games.” said key to his fifth season will be his continued rapport with Smith. Davis said he has developed a “great relationship with Alex” and, like other players, said Smith looks more confident early in training camp.

Smith took over for Shaun Hill as the 49ers’ quarterback at halftime against the Houston Texans on Oct. 25. Smith threw three touchdown passes in the second half — all to Davis.

Of Smith’s 18 touchdown passes last season, 10 were to Davis.

“He has that mentality that he wants the ball and he wants to be a difference-maker,” Smith said. “So, yes, I expect even more out of him. I expect him to take that next step.”

Right guard Chilo Rachal was carted to the locker room and given intravenous fluids after collapsing on the field in an incident blamed on dehydration. The 323-pounder had just completed his turn in a pass-protection drill in the afternoon practice and was lining up for another turn when he crumpled to the turf.

Rachal was down for seven minutes as trainers attended to him. Coach Mike Singletary, who was also at Rachal’s side, said the lineman never lost consciousness and was talking the entire time. “He just got overheated,” Singletary said.

Rachal will be re-evaluated today.

Left guard David Baas remained out of practice after suffering a concussion Monday. A team spokesman said Baas was going through the “standard tests” following a concussion and there was no timetable for his return. Singletary, indicating the 49ers would take the cautious approach, said, “Whatever the timetable is, we’ll probably add a couple of days on to it.”

Rookie Mike Iupati continues to play with the first-string offense.

About this time a year ago, Brit Miller considered himself such an endangered member of the 49ers roster that he called his dad back in Decatur, Ill., and told him to get his room ready. Miller planned to move back home and become a substitute teacher.

“I was making all these other plans to be elsewhere because football was just grinding me and beating me down every day,” Miller recalled. “And when you’re not used to (running backs coach Tom) Rathman, he can do that to you.”

But instead of moving back in with ma and pa, Miller found a home on the practice squad. The fullback even earned a late-season promotion, getting a spot on the active roster and serving as a special-teamer over the final five games.

Miller (6-0, 243) enters this season pushing starter Moran Norris for playing time. While winning the starting job would be an upset, his place with the 49ers seems safe. Unlike a year ago, he looks like such a sure bet to stick around that Randy and Teresa Miller have converted their son’s old room into an office.

“They made it a computer room. I was like, ‘You guys can barely get on the Internet,’” Brit Miller cracked.

LB Takeo Spikes, LB Travis LaBoy and S Michael Lewis got the morning practice off as what the team calls a “veteran courtesy.” They returned for the afternoon practice. LT Joe Staley (illness) had the day off.

By Daniel Brown

Bay Area News Group

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers opened up their afternoon training camp practice to the public and set the stage for a showing of the Nutcracker. Painting new red “neutral zones” on the field, the 49ers revisited the Nutcracker drill that they ran in the morning. Instead of going head to head, the linebackers and defensive ends came at an angle at the offensive linemen, simulating blitzes from different angles. The battle between tight end Vernon Davis and linebacker Parys Haralson drew the most cheers from the crowd. Haralson won the battle by putting a little more leverage into Davis, winning the close battle. Most notable of the offensive linemen was guard Mike Iupati. Even though Iupati was matched up against middle linebackers, he was able to control the rush at the point of attack and push back his opposition. Tight end Delanie Walker also had a solid day at the Nutcracker, pushing back linebackers Ahmad Brooks and Manny Lawson during his turn. Iupati received a bulk of the first team offense plays at guard with David Baas out with a mild concussion sustained in the morning practice. The rookie guard fit in nicely, holding his blocking assignments for the offense. Quarterback Alex Smith looked comfortable out on the field, completing a very impressive post route to tight end Vernon Davis in front of safety Dashon Goldson. The most impressive catches came from wide receiver Michael Crabtree. On an overthrown pass by quarterback Nate Davis, Crabtree was able to jump and snatch the ball in the air. That offensive play drew the loudest cheer from the crowd. Defensively, both Ricky Jean Francois and Isaac Sopoaga shared duties at nose tackle. Rookie safety Taylor Mays had a couple nice defensive towards the end of practice on the 7-on-7 drill. One that stood out was his ability to come down the line and break up a pass on an out route intended for tight end Joe Jon Finley. Other notes: Justin Smith, Travis LaBoy, Michael Lewis, Takeo Spikes and Barry Sims were given the afternoon practice off as part of a veteran’s courtesy. There weren’t any distinct winners in most of the Nutcracker drills, but guard Chilo Rachal continued his dominance from the morning practice by handling the inside linebackers. Cornerback Tarell Brown broke up a curl route by wide receiver Dominique Zeigler, breaking up a pass before tumbling onto him. No one was hurt. Quarterback David Carr struggled a little in team drills, having difficulty finding an open receiver in the alloted two seconds. That’s a good sign for the defense and a little tough part on the second team offensive line. Running back Glen Coffee edged out rookie Anthony Dixon on team drills. Coffee was able to find a hole and burst through for a would be touchdown while with the first team offense.. Dixon, like the bruiser as he is advertised, was able to push up on incoming tacklers during drills. Last year in the team’s first open practice, Alex Smith was a victim of boos from the crowd when he threw his first incomplete. It’s a different story this year. Smith received cheers and praises from the 49er Faithful throughout the afternoon.

HEY FAITHFUL!!!!!!!!!   WHAT TIME IS IT??????

It’s time to start turning your attentions to the ovoid pigskin (even though it’s actually cow leather).

It’s time to notice that training camps are getting underway as early as this week in some parts of the country.

It’s time to start getting an idea where your 49er gear is and dust it off in anticipation of a double digit win season of 49er football.

It’s time to read the club news at the bottom of this newsletter for some important and timely info!!

PRE-SEASON PREDICTIONS:  Five out of the six major football publications (Athlon, Beckett, Lindy’s, PFW/Yahoo, Sporting News and USA Today) have picked our San Francisco 49ers to win the NFC West division.  Only USA Today disagreed, picking Arizona to repeat.  Each one of them had different Super Bowl predictions with 5 teams getting 2 nods apiece (Packers, Vikings, Cowpukes, Colts, Ravens).  Pro Football Weekly’s preseason rankings had the Niners #15 in their recent power poll.  BTW, the Cardinals ranked #21, Seahawks #25 and the Rams came in at #30.

\SPEAKING OF SUPER BOWLS:  The coldest Super Bowl in history will be played in New Jersey in the dead of winter in February of 2014.  At the owner’s meeting held on May 25th (in Miami), on the third round of voting for the Super Bowl site, the new $1.6B Meadowlands Stadium was given the Big Game over such cities as Miami and Tampa Bay.  Let’s hope Mother Nature is kind to the football gods that weekend!

JERRY RICE TO BE INDUCTED INTO HOF ON SATURDAY, AUG 7TH:  For a guy who didn’t even go out for football until his sophomore year of high school to wind up in Canton, OH for a unanimous induction into the pinnacle of professional football is quite a story.  It begins with Rice playing hooky one day from school.  The next day, the prinicipal came up from behind him and scared Jerry to death.  Rice took off running.  The principal thought to himself: ” This guy can really run fast!   He should go out for the football team!”  After a thumping from the principal, he was sent to the football coach and the rest, as they say, is history.  #80 turned into a receiver who has more catches, receiving yards and touchdowns than anyone in the history of the game. 

Two newsletters ago, I promised you a litany of Rice’s statistics which makes him so deserving of this honor.  Inasmuch as his big day is only about 8 days away here they are:  (And these are only some, not all, of his stats!)

23,546 -  All-purpose yards

23,540 -  Total yards from scrimmage

22,895 -  Receiving yards

1,848 -  Receiving yards in a single season

1,549 -  Receptions

589 -  Super Bowl receiving yards

215 -  Receiving yards in a Super Bowl (XXIII)

208 -  Touchdowns

197 -  Receiving touchdowns

79 -  100-yard receiving games

33 -  Super Bowl receptions

14 -  1,000-yard seasons

13 -  consecutive games with a TD catch

11 -  receptions in a Super Bowl (tied with three others)

8 -  Super Bowl TD catches

3 -  touchdown catches in a Super Bowl (XXIV and XXIX)

Not bad for a guy who got the bejesses scared out of him by his high school principal!  I’m pretty sure this will be televised so if you can’t watch it, at least set your DVR or Tivo or whatever recording device you have.  On a very touching note, former owner Eddie DeBartolo will be his presenter.  The whole Faithful Nation will well up with pride on August 7th!

SPEAKING OF HONORING JERRY RICE:  #80 will be the next inductee into the Edward J DeBartolo Sr. Hall of Fame on the weekend of September 18-20, 2010.  Rice will also be recognized during halftime of the Monday night home opener against the Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints on September 20th.  More details on this in the Week #2 newsletter. 

OTHER 49ERS HONORED:  Former Offensive Lineman Randy Cross was named as one of 14 inductees into the National Football Foundation Collegiate Hall of Fame.  Cross, a 13-year veteran of the 49ers and a member of the team’s 10-year club enjoyed a successful career at UCLA and made the All-American team in 1975 and led the Bruins to a Rose Bowl Championship in that same year.  Cross has three Super Bowl rings and was also named to three Pro Bowls.  Inside Linebacker Patrick Willis became the first person to win the Dick Butkus Award twice, on two levels of competitive football.  In years past, the Dick Butkus Award was handed out annually to the top linebacker in college football, but as of 2009, the trophy’s platform has been extended.  It is now being presented to the best linebackers in high school and professional football as well.  Butkus came to the facility in Santa Clara to present the award on Tuesday, May 25th, 2010.

OTAS AND MINICAMP A SUCCESS:  All fourteen (maximum allowable) Off Season Activities and the three-day minicamp were held at the Santa Clara facility with all players under contract present.  Only NT Abrayo Franklin, who has yet to sign his franchise tag tender, was MIA.  Younger players like Ricky Jean-Francois worked at that position which will ultimately add more depth to that critical position as the season wears on.  Even though all the rookies were present (no holdouts this year) all the veterans were there and  all players got into the flow of the offensive and defensive schemes before the offseason wound down.  Even the veterans who did not attend some of the OTAs were back for the minicamp.  The veterans stayed in shape by working out with individual trainers and looked ready to go for the season in minicamp.  Inasmuch as this is the last work the players will get until the start of Training Camp on August 2nd, there was great comraderie in minicamp.  Most players will either go home to their hometowns or stay in the Santa Clara area and continue to work with strength and conditioning coaches during the down time between minicamp and training camp.  The younger guys, rookies, and training camp invitees will be pouring over the playbook and working out close to the facility.  The coaching staff was unanimous in concluding that the team finished minicamp in as good a shape and had a sharpness of execution as past teams have finished training camp heading into the preseason.  In other words, the team is further along at this stage of the season than they have been in years past.  The “older” guys are more than willing to lend their knowledge and expertise to the younger guys because, as a team, they sense they have a bigger toolbox this year to accomplish their goals.  And, as you all know, the team is only as strong as its weakest link.  So the veterans are doing what they can to strengthen the team and not only win the division but go deep into the playoffs.  Perhaps the biggest thing to come out of this year’s OTAs and minicamp is that elusive thing called chemistry.  And Training Camp is the Lab.  Let’s get something good cooking, guys!!!!!

A DIFFERENT ALEX SMITH:  From all I’ve read in my research, we are going to see a different #11 this year.  During OTAs and minicamp, while working on third down plays in the shotgun (or Rayegun), Smith was animatedly barking out orders to the ten guys around him, calling out blocking assignments, point out where the middle linebacker was lining up on any given play, telling the receivers where to line up and so on.  It was the most gung-ho and demonstrative that any observer has ever seen of Alex Smith.  “What he has to do in the gun is direct all the blocking packages.  A year ago he couldn’t begin to do that.  Now he’s able to shout out the ‘Mike’ point, where the pressure’s coming from, where our protection is weak and so on.”……OC Jimmy Raye.  That all translates to command presence and confidence in the huddle which is so important for any team but especially for this one which hasn’t seen much of that in the last several years.  Smith is off to a good start in proving his detractors wrong, but true validation will have to wait until September.  One of the most important factors here is continuity.  Contininuity in coaching staff, playbook, quarterback and surrounding talent from one year to the next.  This will be the FIRST year of continuity since 2003.  This could very well be a breakout year for #11 which could translate into a breakout year for the entire team.  Stay tuned.  (Ed. Note:  Think back to the glory years – continuity was the hallmark of those years with the same coaching scheme from year to year with talented players adjusting to the direction of the coaching staff).

OLD BUT IMPORTANT NEWS:  As a WR who pushed some of Jerry Rice’s records as outlined above, Isaac Bruce was traded back to the St. Louis Rams on June 7th so he could retire as a Ram which was announced on June 9th.  Bruce, while on the tail end of his professional career, was instrumental in guiding and teaching the receiver corps of the 49ers.  I think you will see the effects of his influence this coming season.  I think we will have a breakout year for both Michael Crabtree and Josh Morgan this year.  If OTAs and minicamp were any indication both Crabby and Morgan will live up to their billing as they were the “stars” of minicamp with Crabby looking like the YAC (yards after the catch) guy he was at Texas Tech.  When you see our receivers making some great plays, think of Isaac Bruce.  Bruce was a man of courage, strength, conviction and performance at the highest levels and leaves the NFL with the respect and admiration of virtually all who have worn the uniform and a legion of fans.  He was the ultimate professional and a classy human being.  I count myself among those legion of fans who respect and admire him. 

11-85 CHEMISTRY:  One thing that occured during the OTAs and minicamp was the growing relationship between Alex Smith and Vernon Davis.  Davis and Smith spent considerable time together watching film and analyzing the plays involving the two of them.  Davis would give Smith advice on when and where to throw it with Smith trusting Davis to be at the designated target area each time.  As witnessed towards the second half of the season, the chemistry between the two of them was increasing week by week and I look for it to continue and get even better this season.  Alex now has a receiver corps with multiple options and abilities that he did not have in the past years.  One or two receivers were always good but you need your entire corps to be good and this year, I think we have that.  Davis, Crabby, Morgan, Walker, Zeigler, Hill, Jones, Williams, Perry, Grant, LongFinley, Curtis, Byham – what an embarrassment of riches for Alex!!  Not only that but the recievers (except for the rookies) don’t have to learn a new playbook.

STADIUM:  The Boy King, Jed York, was in high school when he first heard about the original stadium vote in 1997.  Now, with guidance from Mom and Dad, a college degree in business, some real-life business experience in New York (pun intended) and lots of on-the-job training, 13 years later Jed is celebrating the 60-40 Yes vote on the new stadium to be located across the street from the training facility.  The 49ers spent in the neighborhood of $3.5M in their attempt to pass the measure on June 8th.  That works out to about $360.00 for each vote they needed to pass Measure J.  Doubts about the current plans for a $937M stadium abound, and with good reason.  After the $114M subsidy from Santa Clara, the Yorks will need to find at least $500M in financing.  An additional $300M is projected to come from seat licenses, concessions contracts and naming rights.  Given that Jerry Jones still hasn’t found a sponsor to slap its name on his palace in Dallas, the assumptions seem very optimistic.  Some of the $500M in financing might come through the NFL.  But the threat of a league lockout in 2011 (collective bargaining agreement issues), on top of a weak economy and a tight credit market, appear to be substantial obstacles to securing the funds for a 2012 ground-breaking.  Yet the Boy King says that short-term concerns won’t derail a long-term investment.  Let’s hope he’s right.  The City of San Francisco says they are still in the picture for a proposal at Hunter’s Point but there is nothing definite on the horizon just yet.  The one advantage SFO has is that they already have lined up the approvals and agreements needed for the Hunters Point Shipyard redevelopment area.  The SFO Board of Supervisors is slated to vote on this for final approval later this summer.  This election on Measure J doesn’t make a studium happen.  It simply makes a stadium about 30 percent easier when all the public costs are totaled.  Stay tuned for further details on the Stadium Saga.  For an architect’s look into the new stadium go to www.49ersnewstadium.com

WHO IS COMING TO TRAINING CAMP?:   There will be 78 players (as of this writing) in training camp this year with every one of them competing for one of the 53 spots on the opening day roster.  Cutdown dates will be announced later but obviously 18 of these men will be looking for other opportunities elsewhere besides San Francisco.  Seven, or so, will make the practice squad and some of those decisions will be based on position vs athletic ability.  Here is a breakdown of how many players at each position will be reporting to training camp at the end of this week(rookies only) with all players donning pads and helmets on Monday, August 2nd.

Offense:  QB: (4) (Smith, Carr, Davis, Brown); RB: (4) (Gore, Coffee, Robinson, Dixon); FB: (3) (Norris, Miller, Caulcrick); WR: (10) (Crabtree, Morgan, Ginn, Hill, Jones, Zeigler, Williams, Perry, Grant, Long); TE: (5) (Davis, Walker, Finley, Curtis, Byham);  Linemen:  (14) (Staley, Baas, Heitmann, Rachal, Snyder,Davis, Iupati, Sims, Wragge, Boone, Wallace, Patrick, De la Puente, Kopa).  On the  Defensive side of the ball are: Linemen: (9) (Franklin, Sopoaga, Balmer, McDonald, Francois, Evans, Walker, Mitchell); Inside Linebackers: (7) (Willis, Spikes, McKillop, Wilhelm, Bowman, Balogun, Kristick (Oregon State);Outside Linebackers: (7) (Lawson, Haralson, Brooks, LaBoy, Briggs, Burnett);  Cornerbacks: (9) (Clements, Spencer, Brown, Paymah, James, Adams, Brock, Stoudamire (cousin of Damon’s and graduate of Centennial High School), Vann); Safties: (6) (Goldson, Lewis, Mays, Smith, Taylor, Maragos).

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN TRAINING CAMP:  Much to the player’s dismay, they were informed at the end of minicamp that the infamous nutcracker drill would be back.  The nutcracker drill, which Coach Singletary said he leared from Mike Ditka, is a one-on-one showdown that looks like a sumo wrestling match.  The goal is to muscle the other guy out of a three foot circle.  The idea is that players learn a lot more about proper leverage and blocking techniques in a few seconds of the nutcracker than they would with hours of classroom time.  Last year the nutcracker came at a price with injuries to ILB Patrick Willis, G David Baas, CB Tarell Brown and RB Michael Robinson.  The trainers and coaches are trying to design a safer way to conduct the drill (ya think?)…………………….Red Zone drills will be yardage specific for both the offense and defense.  OC Jimmy Raye has it broken down into High Red (20-16 yard lines), the Middle Red is from the 15-10, the Low Red is from the 9-3 yard lines and Goal Line is used for the remaining three yards.  DC Greg Manusky doesn’t have the terminology that Raye has but his intent is still the same in protecting the red zone.  San Francisco’s defense was among the league’s best in that area last year……………….Raye’s offensive unit ranked fifth in the NFL in red zone TD efficiency, scoring on 84.6 percent of their 39 red zone possessions (23 TDs, 10 FGs).  Manusky topped Raye by two spots, with his defense ranking third last season in red zone touchdown efficiency, holding opponents to a touchdown in 40.4 percent in 47 red zone appearances.   Look for lots of red zone drills in training camp…………………………….Look for more emphasis on the two-minute drill.  At the end of the OTAs the first and second units squared off in several two-minute drills.  The players got a lot out of the drills because it’s the closest thing to a game-like atmosphere.  The drill starts with the premise that the team is trailing in a game and needs a touchdown to win the game.  This adds to the urgency in play calling, defense, offensive execution and overall realism……………………….The Offensive Line ??…….New Offensive Line Coach Mike Solari’s biggest influence is Bobb McKittrick with whom he worked in 1992-1996.  At every stop in his coaching career he has had a Pro Bowl blocker.  Following his time in San Francisco, Solari spent nine years in Kansas City and the last two in Seattle.  Solari and his new assistant, former 49er Ray Brown, are looking for a measurable improvement over last season’s performance.  He has two first-round draft choices (T Anthony Davis and G Mike Iupati) plus virtually all of last season’s players to work with.  If Solari is successful, it will be credited to his intense focus, attention to detail and an emphasis on technique.  LT Joe Staley notes that he sees a marked difference in the demeanor, focus and metality that he is injecting into his players.  Solari favors the physical, straightforward approach that Coach Singletary is looking for in an aggressive offensive line unit.  On the field, Solari preaches repetition and technique, footwork, hat placement and hand placement.  He wants the offensive line to perform as a single coordinated unit with every player moving on every play.  I like what I’m seeing and reading.  The offensive line can go nowhere but up and that will go a long way in improving our offensive performance from last season.  If our offense doesn’t markedly improve beyond three-and-out look for heads to roll at the end of the season………………………………..

SIGNINGS AND PLAYER MOVES:  Most everyone who will be in training camp has dry ink on their contracts but there are some notable exceptions which will probably have wet ink on their contracts come training camp or shortly thereafter.  Unsigned as of yet are our two first-round draft picks LG Mike Iupati, LT Anthony Davis and second-round S Taylor Mays.  Also, NT Abrayo Franklin has yet to sign his franchise tag tender ($7M) but is expected to do so in the next couple weeks……………..The Niners released WR Jared Perry, possibly to make room for signing more draft picks.  There was a considerable logjam at the WR position to begin with. 

49ERS STATE OF THE FRANCHISE ADDRESS:  On Tuesday night, 27 July, the Big Three (Jed York, Trent Baalke, Mike Singletary) gave a State of the Franchise address to about 1,000 season ticket holders at the Santa Clara Convention Center.  Approximately 4,000 others listened in on 49ers. com.  It was less of a pep rally and more of a nuts and bolts, brass tacks presentation of where the franchise stood currently and where they see the franchise going in the future.  What the Big Three did guarantee is this:  Another 8-8 season simply will not do.  “We took a step forward last year but that was not good enough.  That’s not the standard for the 49ers.  The standard is winning with class and winning Super Bowls.  It’s about playing all the way through February”………………..The Boy King……………..”The 2010 season will be a very special year”…………Coach Singletary

TRAINING CAMP ITSELF:  Singletary and OC Jimmy Raye like to play up the running game, but it’s a bit of a smokescreen.  These two are not blind to the obvious.  They’re keenly aware that the NFL has become a passing league, even if they don’t necessarily openly embrace that fact.  They may cite the New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens as two examples of effective lunch pail, tough guy football, but both those teams spent first round picks on quarterbacks and considerable off-season resources on receivers as well.  A good offense must run and pass and if they can only do one proficiently, then the latter is the better choice.  Most of the OTAs and minicamp were spent on the passing side of the football but that was dictated by the fact that the defensive guys couldn’t really hit anybody in these sessions.  Defensively, no one really gets to stand out during these practices because hitting isn’t allowed and the defensive backs have been instructed to pull up and let receivers catch any ball that’s close to them.  Shorts and helmets does not make a football team.  When Training Camp begins next Monday, THEN we’ll see where the playbook comes into play and what the emphasis, if any, will be.  Full pads and two-a-days are a whole lot different than OTAs and minicamp………………………………….Back in the glory years, the roster was basically set, back-ups and all.  Clearly, the progress of the 49ers is not to that stage yet so let’s examine some training camp competition.  The QB spot is Alex’s to lose but he will be pushed by David Carr.  There will be no competition for starting QB as there was the last two training camps.  Crabby appears to have the No. 1 WR slot sewn up but he will be pushed by Josh Morgan who, in turn, will be pushed by newly acquired Ted Ginn, Jr.  Then there is the rest of the crowd at WR in Brandon Jones, the always-productive Jason Hill, rookie Kyle Williams, crowd favorite Dominique Ziegler and a couple rookie free agents.  The offensive line returns all of its starters.  The real question is when the two rookie first-round draft choices, Davis and Iupati, will crack the starting lineup.  My guess is that day will come when there are too many quarterback sacks, hits and hurries being allowed somewhere around the fourth game of the season.  The addition of these two guys might be able to alter the character of the run game.  These first-round rookies are big (6’4″, 330+ pounds) and capable of creating space, which would provide Gore and company a free yard-an-a-half past the line of scrimmage.  That could cut down on lost yards and would let Gore and others to consistently obtain those crucial 4- and 5-yard runs, thus sustaining drives and cutting down on so many three-and-outs that we suffered last season.    Another intriguing battle for back up tackle matches veteran Barry Sims against the physically re-made Alex Boone.  On the defensive side of the ball, again, all the starters are returning.  And given that our defense was a top-ten defense in the league in many statistical categories I don’t think you will see many changes.  S Taylor Mays will spend most of the season on the bench and will learn as much as he can from SS Micheal Lewis. He will be inserted in special packages and on special teams.  Speed is a critical need in our secondary and Mays is loaded with it.  Look for him to develop and perhaps start late in the season. The team is not likely to keep more than four safeties.  With Dashon Goldson and Michael Lewis as the starters and Mays as their understudy, competition for that fourth spot between Curtis Taylor and Reggie Smith should be intense.  The determining factor there might be their work on special teams.   OLB Manny Lawson may be challenged by Ahmad Brooks but Lawson is better at sealing off the edge on running plays than Brooks.  Lawson appears to be realizing his first-round draft potential but will Brooks surpass him later in the season? 

GGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOPORTLAND49ERFAITHFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONINERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                                                                                   Jim

HEY FAITHFUL!!!!!!!!! WHAT TIME IS IT????????
It’s time to recognize the official start to the 2010 season. The draft has been held. Minicamps have been held. OTAs (Offseason Training Activities) have been held. Hold on tight because 2010 may be a joyous and wild ride!
It’s time to sit back and ruminate on what has transpired so far and see if any crazy predictions of going deep in the playoffs are even realistic.
It’s time to grab your favorite beverage and settle in for nice long read about everything 49ers.
DRAFT: In an unusual draft format, and, in an attempt to make itself relevant to prime time, the NFL held the first round of the draft on Thursday night, April 22th, 2010. In somewhat of a departure from their usual draft pattern of drafting for the best player available (BPA – no, not Bonneville Power Administration!) the San Francisco 49ers drafted for need instead, choosing two offensive linemen in the first round. We all know how neglected the O-line has become over the years. Fix that and we fix our conservative and near-pathetic offensive game. For an idea of just how glaring the 49ers’ offensive line need was, consider this: over the previous 42 years, we have used a first-round pick on an offensive lineman only four times. On draft day this year, we did it twice in the span of 30 minutes! Since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, the Niners have never used a pick higher than #22 on a tackle (Harris Barton in 1987) and have never gone higher than #33 for a guard (David Baas in 2005). The 49ers had plenty of ammunition entering the draft with 9 picks overall: Two first-rounders (#13 and #17) one pick each in rounds 2-4, three in round 6 and a 7th rounder. Amid fears that Dallas would jump ahead of them at No. 13, the 49ers sent first-and fourth-round choices to Denver (our opponent in the London, England game on Halloween Sunday) for the chance to pick Rutgers RT Anthony Davis at the No. 11 slot. Using the No. 17 pick for G Mike Iupati was mildly questionable considering San Francisco could use a double-digit sack threat – something the 49ers haven’t fielded since Andre Carter had 12.5 in 2002. Second- and third-round picks S Taylor Mays and LB Navorro Bowman are boom-or-bust propositions. The 49ers made it clear in this draft that they are unafraid of character risks. LB Novarro Bowman (3rd round) was arrested for his involvement in a 2007 fight; RB Anthony Dixon (6th round) was arrested for a DUI and T Anthony Davis (1st round) was suspended for a game at Rutgers for violating team policy. If they can pass Coach Singletary’s muster then perhaps their questionable behavior of the past is just that – in the past. Singletary had sit-downs with these guys in Santa Clara before the draft in order to put these issues to rest. I’ll fill out the rest of the draft further down but let’s take a look at each draftee in depth starting with:
First-Round draft pick Right Tackle Anthony Davis from Rutgers University was taken at the No. 11 slot after the abovementioned trade with Denver. Davis (6’5″, 323#) (Holy 49er Socks – I wouldn’t want to meet HIM in a dark alley!), out of Piscataway, NJ, started 32of 38 games for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Davis is regarded as one of the top tackles in this year’s draft class. Davis has a long wingspan (34″ arms), huge hands, balance and body control – ideal traits for a quality pass protector. And with his size and strength Davis was named a high school All-American by USA Today. At Rutgers he was named an All-American first team selection by the Walter Camp Football Foundation, second team All Big East and third team honors from The Sporting News. Davis will compete with Adam Snyder for the starting right tackle job. Refer back to my last newsletter on Snyder’s performance from 2009. It should make for an interesting training camp but look for Snyder to start the season with Davis replacing him at some point after Snyder allows too many sacks or quarterback hurries. Who knows, if the competition in training camp doesn’t go well, Davis could very well be the starter. Either way, the right tackle position will be better and stronger.
First-Round draft pick Guard Mike Iupati from University of Idaho was taken at the #17 slot. Last year, Iupati (6’3″, 331#) was one of three finalists for the Outland Trophy as the nation’s top interior lineman. He is a devastating blocker and he played so dominantly that he was selected to the Western Athletic Conference all-decade team. Iupati did not allow a sack in 2009 and helped lead the Vandals offense to the 12th best passing attack in the nation (286.7 ypg), ninth best in total offense (451.4 ypg) and 20th best in scoring (32.7 ypg). This guy is a polished ready-to-roll hole opener. Iupati will compete with left guard David Baas for playing time which should make both players and the position stronger with a competent backup no matter who is the starter. Could there be more holes for Frankie to punch through this year? Incidentally, both Iupati and Davis are good friends from their college days. Fellow Samoan, DE Isaac Sopoaga should be a good role model for Iupati as he makes his transition from college to the pros. Also of interest, Mike’s younger brother, Andrew, plays defensive tackle for the University of Oregon.
Second-Round draft pick S Taylor Mays from USC (4-year starter) is an explosive safety with incredible size and speed (4.31 in the 40 and 10.88 in the 100 meters). He will add immediate depth and playmaking ability to the 49ers defensive backfield. If he can do nothing but decrease the number of times we got burned deep from last season, this will have been a good pickup. Mays (6’3″, 230#) played high school ball in Seattle (O’Dea HS) where he was selected All-American by no less than 5 publications. Mays earned first team All-American honors from the Walter Camp Football Foundation and 4 other publications or groups (Football Writers of America). Mays will be especially motivated on opening day (Sept. 12th against Seattle) to show his former coach (Pete Carroll) that he made a mistake by passing him by in the draft. His goal is to be like and play like a former USC alum, Ronnie Lott. If Lott can mentor him from time to time, look for a bright future for this second-rounder. He and S Dashon Goldson could make quite a duo in the secondary.
Third-Round draft pick LB Navorro Bowman out of Penn State is a speedy and athletic defender and has the ability to fly around the field which will add another weapon to the 49ers’ already deep linebacker corps. Bowman (6’0″, 242 #) has had some character issues in his past but under the tutelage of Joe Paterno at Penn State and a 15 minute sit-down with Coach Singletary at the combine in Indianapolis earlier this year the 49ers are content that they have made a good choice. Only time will tell whether or not they are correct. He is no slouch in the smarts department as he graduated in three years with a degree in crime, law and justice. (So why did he make those behavioral choices?) Singletary is a superb judge of character and motivation so let’s hope he’s right on this one.
Fourth-Round draft pick: Traded to Denver along with the number 13 pick in the first round for RT Anthony Davis.
Fifth-Round draft pick: Traded to Miami for WR Ted Ginn, Jr. More on Ginn under the Player Moves section.　
Sixth-Round draft pick RB Anthony Dixon out of Mississippi State was surprisingly available at #173 slot in the sixth round. Surprising because he was the best running back in the SEC, arguably one of the best college football conferences in the country. Dixon (6’,0″, 233#) , who had a school-record 1,391 rushing yards last season, was also the Bulldog’s all-time leader in rushing yards (3,994) and touchdowns (42). Dixon was delighted to be drafted by the 49ers because he has been a 49er fan all of his life going back to the days of a fellow Mississippian, Jerry Rice. Dixon is a downhill runner who likes to run between the tackles, fighting for yards and falling forward. The knock on him is that he doesn’t have the speed to go around the edge or to run away from anybody so look for him to be used in short yardage situations to give Frankie a break. The Niners were not good in that department last year but that had more to do with our O-line blocking than the runner(s). The running back corps is already well stocked but Dixon may be able to make a difference with his smash-mouth running style. Training camp should be very interesting for the running backs.
Sixth-Round draft pick TE Nate Byham of the Pittsburgh Panthers is considered one of the best blocking tight ends in the 2010 NFL draft. He will be a 2nd or 3rd TE in the 49er lineup but he brings the right attitude and intensity to the position. Byham (6’4″, 268#) has shown an ability to create space and knock defenders off the ball while also serving as a reliable receiver. He has brains, too. He majored in communications rhetoric (high class trash talking) and minored in computer science. He’s got the size to be a big hitter and likes to mix it up on the line. He already has a couple friends and alums on the 49ers in CB Shawntae Spencer and LB Scott McKillop. He wasn’t drafted to be a receiver. Last year the 49ers used primarily two-tight end sets and while second TE Delanie Walker’s speed is a mismatch, blocking is not his strength. With Byham, the running game should be much improved, even if he doesn’t always line up as a tight end. Remember last year when the 49ers took a TE from Fresno State, Bear Pascoe, in the sixth round only to be released and eventually hook up with the New York Giants? Looks like this one might stick.
Sixth-Round Draft pick WR Kyle Williams out of Arizona State is a versatile speed burner (4.30 40-yard dash) who can add depth to an already deep 49ers receiving corps as well as being a playmaker on special teams. Williams (5’10″, 186#) is quicker than fast, gets out of his stance quickly, can stop on a dime, runs good routes and has small but reliable hands. Besides his abilities as a receiver, Williams was drafted in part because he was named second team All Pac-10 as a punt returner which may well be his ticket to the eventual 53-man roster. Williams averaged 10.0 yards per return which is 2 ½ times better than what our punt returners averaged last season. Williams is a life-long 49ers fan having been born in San Jose and still has lots of family in the area. Coincidentally, Williams is also the son of Chicago White Sox GM Kenny Williams. His stiffest competition for a roster spot figures to come from holdover Jason Hill and Brandon Jones at WR and from undrafted free agent Leroy Vann at returner.

Seventh-Round draft pick CB Phillip Adams out of South Carolina State is another speedster. At 5’11″ and 193#, Adams has the kind of size the 49ers want in their corners and is a hard hitter as well. He is an imposing corner who excels in playing press coverage. The knock on Adams is that struggles when paying off his man due to stiff hips and he is not experienced at all in playing zone. He does have solid ball-hawking skills and he may see time on special teams.
DRAFT SUMMARY: Overall, the 49ers did a commendable job of drafting for need rather than going for BPA (best player available). The sorely neglected O-line got a significant boost but still needs some help next year in either free agency or the draft. I’m not sure we needed to trade away our 4th round pick to get Anthony Davis but I wasn’t in the war room either. As I said earlier, fix the O-line and you fix the offense. RB, WR, TE positions all look as healthy as they have been since the glory years. QB is still a question mark but that could be answered depending on Alex’s performance this season. The defense will continue to improve and it became a bit deeper with this year’s draft. Look for our defense to move from highly competent to elite and perhaps lockdown this year. Special teams (2-3 draft picks were selected for special teams possibilities) can go nowhere but up given their performance from last season. The OTAs did not answer too many questions in that department as several candidates dropped a lot of balls during the offseason training activity periods – and this was without a rusher or three bearing down on them! P Andy Lee and K Joe Nedney remain solid and are the cornerstones of our special teams. We just need to solve the punt and kickoff return problems from last year. With an improved defense, special teams will get more opportunities to field punts but we need to average more than 4 yards per punt return as was the case last year. It is hoped that the three sixth-rounders and the seventh rounder will find their niche on the team and contribute sooner rather than later. None of these four players is a head-scratcher, which is rare considering where they were picked in the draft. From the sound of it they all have the mentality that Singletary is looking for. Now is just a matter of finding out if they have the skills. Any character questions you may have about any of the draftees should be put to rest by the fact that Coach Singletary thinks they are either exaggerated or fixable. (Witness Vernon Davis!). Bring on Training Camp!!!!
DIVISION DRAFT COMMENTS: You have read all the comments about our beloved warriors in Crimson and Gold so now let’s take a look at how the rest of the division fared in the draft. In second place will be Seattle who were one of the most active teams during the draft, immediately filling starter needs with first-round picks Russell Okung (Left Tackle) and Earl Thomas (Free Safety). Seattle then traded for two top-tier RBs in LenDale White (later released) and Leon Washington. They also added Tennessee DT Kevin Vickerson. There are still too many questions at quarterback to consider Seattle a legitimate playoff contender, but new Head Whistle Pete Carroll and GM John Schneider are off to a good start. Just how good a start? That question will be answered in Week #1 when the Niners travel to Seattle to open the season. Arizona lost too many weapons (QB Kurt Warner, WR Larry Fitzgerald) in the offseason to legitimately compete for the postseason. One would think the NFL’s 23rd –ranked secondary in 2009 could use all the help it could get. The Redbirds, however, traded CB Bryant McFadden back to Pittsburgh one year after giving him a 2-year $10M contract last year. What the….? St. Louis The Lambs now have their “franchise” QB in Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford who is lacking the weapons necessary to showcase his talent (Where have we heard this one before?). Even though their WR depth is questionable, the Lambs waited until the fourth-round before selecting a wideout (Cincinnati’s Mardy Gilyard). The Rams also didn’t select a running back to help spell workhorse (and former Oregon Stater) RB Steven Jackson, who would be even more effective if given a chance to get a breather.

O-LINE COMMENTS: Having said all I have said about the draft I want to make a comment concerning the Offensive Line and why I think they will be noticeably better this coming season. Naysayers like to villify RT Adam Snyder for the O-line troubles last season and, in part, they are justified. However, there was more than just one weak link last season. Both guards, David Baas and Chilo Rachal, had poor season as well and left tackle Joe Staley missed half of the season with a knee injury although Barry Sims played well in his absence. Quite frankly, the O-line could not be trusted to pass block, and consequently the offense was kept as conservative as possible. Alex’s throws were hurried and inaccurate. For you number freaks, Alex had 33% less time to make his reads and release the ball than other QBs with a better O-line in front of them. (The usual time from snap to release is 3 seconds (or more) and all too often, Alex only had 2 seconds.) Snap to release timing drills are a big part of training camp and we can only hope these drills are heavily emphasized this summer. When the 49ers finally did open it up by going to the shotgun/spread offense, they still let defenses dictate their calls, running and passing strictly based on how many men were in the box. Most of us know that Coach Singletary likes to be the one doing the dictating, not the opponent’s defensive sets. He insists he believes in having a balanced offense, but also one that can get a couple yards on the ground even when the defense knows it’s coming. (This may be where 6th round draft pick RB Anthony Dixon comes in.) Singletary wants the 49ers to impose their will on opponents, regardless of whether they’re on offense or defense, whether they are running or passing or whether they’re rushing three or blitzing six. He wants the team to be aggressors, no matter the situation. Drafting offensive lineman Davis and Iupati in the first round may be a step towards that but it remains to be seen whether they were the right choices.
JERRY RICE TO BE INDUCTED IN FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME: Just a reminder to any of you who may want to witness this in person. On Saturday, August 7, 2010 our boy, Jerry Rice will be formally inducted in the Professional Football Hall of Fame in Canton, OH. Rice was a shoo-in on his first year of eligibility (as was Emmett Smith of the Cowpukes). To list all of Rice’s statistics would take up too much space and I will include them in a later newsletter so stay tuned. On another Jerry Rice note he made is professional golf debut on the Nationwide Golf circuit in April. His chances of success were squashed when he fired rounds in the high 80’s and low 90’s in three tournaments and humbly left the tour to better golfers.
2010 SCHEDULE: The 49ers want to be the team to beat in the NFC West. Thanks to the wonders of color TV, we’ll at least be the team to watch. The Niners are getting some love from the NFL by playing FIVE prime time games. Our home opener on Sept. 20 (Week #2) is an MNF game at The Stick against the Super Bowl Champions New Orleans Saints. On Week #5, we host the McNabb-less Philadelphia Eagles on the Sunday night game at The Stick. Even though it’s in a regular time slot (10:00 a.m. Sunday, Oct 31) we “host” the Denver Broncos at Wembley Stadium in London, England. (BTW, did you know England has a 49er booster club? (E-mail Graham Barford at gbarford@aol.com to show him your support.) Week #12 sees us playing the Arizona Cardinals at The Sandbox for our second MNF game on Monday, Nov. 29th at 5:30 p.m. Our final prime time game is on the NFL Network on Thursday, December 16th at San Diego at 5:20 p.m. I think it has been since the glory years that the 49ers have received this much prime time attention in a season. Incidentally, the Fraiders have NO prime time games this year. It’s a pretty rough travel schedule this year for the 49ers as five of their first eight games before the bye in Week #9 are away from The Stick. After Thanksgiving we play 4 of 5 games on the road before closing the season at The Stick with a victory over Arizona. Here are a few games worth watching during the season: The Brother Bowl – Giants at Colts, Sep. 19; The Payback Bowl – Redskins at Eagles (McNabb was traded from Philly to the Skins); The Turkey Bowl – Saints at Dallas – you may actually have to time your Thanksgiving meal around this one. BTW, one of the 49ers preseason games will be nationally televised on Sunday, August 22nd on NBC at 5:00 p.m. when we host the Minnesota Vikings. This will be our first official game gathering at The Wooden Chicken so mark it on your calendar. Will Brett Farve be under center? Stay tuned.
MINICAMPS AND OTAs (OFFSEASON TRAINING ACTIVITIES): Rome wasn’t built in a day, and the same can be said for the 49ers 2010 rookie class. However, both the offensive and defensive coordinators were encouraged and were openly optimistic about the talent level of this year’s class of rookies. However, shorts and helmets are different than full pads. The emphasis on minicamp was on fundamentals and techniques as well as introduction to the playbook. The OTAs that ended just a couple weeks ago revealed a different attitude in the offensive line and the entire offensive unit. New offensive line coaches, Mike Solari and Ray Brown have instilled a new level of intensity in the O-line and, to a man, each said they felt that 2010 was going to be a breakout season, playing with more fire in their collective bellies than last season. The positive thing about the O-line is that everyone was there at the OTAs. Coach Solari sensed that the O-line had listened to and read a lot of criticism and that they were intent on proving themselves in 2010. And that might be the most positive development from the OTAs. The entire offensive unit noticed the sharpness and crispness of Alex Smith’s play execution. Remember, Alex does not have to learn a new playbook or a new coach this year. Crabby spent the offseason working on the playbook and route running. Jason Hill and Josh Morgan, Crabby’s WR partners, feel more comfortable in working together. TE Vernon Davis stayed in shape over the winter and is looking to take a bigger leadership role with the team. Bad weather during the OTAs affected the flight of some balls and there were more dropped balls than were to Singletary’s liking. The last day of OTAs was more calm and crisper execution and ball-catching were the order of the day. All in all, a very good OTA session was held with strengths and weaknesses identified for individual work between now and the start of training camp in late July. Between now and then, most of the players are hanging out in the team hotel and showing up at the training facility for individual workouts with almost all of them hitting the weight room on a daily basis. The offseason conditioning program is in full swing. I am personally very encouraged by what I have heard and read and am already starting to get pumped for the start of the season.
PLAYER MOVES: With every season there are gains and losses on the roster. The 49ers are no different. Let’s start with the players that wore Crimson and Gold last year but will be wearing different colored jerseys this year. For some, perhaps a change of scenery will do them good and for others, we hate to see them go but never forget that professional football is a business. Those wearing different jerseys this coming season will be: WR Arnaz Battle (Steelers), QB Shaun Hill (Detroit); CB Marcus Hudson (Carolina); T Tony Pashos (Browns) and K Ricky Schmitt (Tennessee). Two other players will no longer be active players in the league. Although WR Isaac Bruce is still listed on our roster he is waiting to sign a one-day contract to retire with the St. Louis Rams. And LB Jeff Ulbrich retired (concussions) and is now an assistant special teams coach with the Seattle Seaquacks. We’ll see him on Week #1 at our season opener in Seattle. On the plus side are: Non-49er Free Agent signings include QB David Carr (Giants), DE/OLB Travis LaBoy (free agent), CB William James (Detroit) and CB Karl Paymah (Vikings). The 49ers have also signed rookie free agent WR Bakari Grant and free agent LB Brandon Long to two-year contracts. 49er Free Agents that have signed are:LB Matt Wilhelm, T Barry Sims, K/P Shane Andrus, G David Baas and LB Ahmad Brooks. Other players who have been tendered offers but not yet signed (these guys are expected to sign) are NT Aubrayo Franklin (franchise tag). The remaining free agents are: CB Dre’ Bly, CB Walt Harris and S Mark Roman. None of those three have any visits scheduled with other teams and are expected to sign. RB Thomas Clayton is a non-tendered free agent. In director (now vice-president) of player personnel Trent Baalke’s first transaction, the 49ers landed WR/KR Ted Ginn, Jr. from the Miami Dolphins fairly cheaply by trading our 2010 5th round draft pick on April 16th. Ginn is a playmaker, whether he is catching passes or returning kickoffs and punts. In 2009, he started 12 of 16 games and had one game against Indianapolis in which he recorded a career-high 11 catches for 108 receiving yards. Also, in a game against the Jets, Ginn returned two kickoffs (100, 101 yards) for touchdowns and earned NFL Special Teams Player of the Month (November) honors. Ginn was chosen at the #9 slot in the 2007 draft by Miami. Ginn runs a 4.26 40 so we are also getting a speed burner.

Two days before the draft the 49ers signed free agent DE/OLB Travis LaBoy to a one-year $1.6M contract. As an OLB, LaBoy will be fighting for playing time with Manny Lawson (whose contract expires this season), Parys Haralson and Ahmad Brooks. LaBoy will be out to prove the 49ers were wrong in not selecting him in the 2005 draft as the Marin County native grew up being a 49er fan since his youth. LaBoy did not play in 2009 as he was rehabbing his foot from major reconstructive surgery. He has been running at full speed for about 4 months now. Two rookies have signed four-year deals with the 49ers. Sixth-round pick WR Kyle Williams became the first of eight picks to sign on May 23rd and was followed by 7th-round pick CB Phillip Adams who signed shortly after Williams. Welcome aboard, fellas!
WILLIS SIGNS 5-YEAR EXTENSION: On Tuesday, May 20th, DD (Double Digit) ILB Patrick Willis signed a five-year contract extension through the 2016 season. The heart and soul of the 49ers defense, Willis (6’1″ 240#) is a two-time first-team All-Pro and has been one of the league’s most dominant players since he was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2007. Since that time, he has become one of the surest tacklers in the NFL, leading all players with 487 tackles (9.7 tackles per game according to league rankings. Willis has not missed a game during his professional career, starting 48 consecutive contests and leading the 49ers in tackles in each of his three NFL seasons. By earning the starting nod on the 2010 NFC Pro Bowl squad, Willis became the first 49er since S Ronnie Lott to be named to the Pro Bowl in each of the first three years of his career. I couldn’t be prouder to wear his jersey!

FRONT OFFICE PERSONNEL MOVES: In what should be a surprise to no one, director of player personnel Trent Baalke was promoted to Vice-President of Player Personnel a few weeks after a largely successful draft. Baalke did well enough in Team President (The Boy King) Jed York’s estimation to get the official promotion (including a four-year deal, and, one assumes, a bump in pay). This was the same title Scot McCloughan had before being promoted to General Manager. The dominoes falling into place behind Baalke’s promotion are: Director of Pro Personnel Tom Gamble (Baalke’s No. 2 man in the draft war room) will be given additional scouting repsonsibilites, while new hire Joel Patten, a longtime scout and colleague of Baalke with the Washington Redskins, will now serve as the Director of College Scouting. Matt Malaspina has been promoted to National Scout and Justin Chabot will be heading up the Southeast Region after handling the South last year. Bob Morris, another new scout, will take over for him in the South. The club also confirmed the promotion of Paraag Marathe to the position of executive vice president of football operations. Marathe has been vice president of football operations the last two years. He is the guy responsible for contracts and salary cap management and has done a good job with both.

TRAINING CAMP DATES: While the dates have not yet been announced, the usual pattern is sometime in the third week of July on through the start of preseason with a road game at Indianapolis on August 15th. The trek to training camp will be sometime in the first two weeks of August. The club has not announced any firm dates for when booster clubs will be hosted at Santa Clara so keep your options open.

TRAINING CAMP FODDER, OOPS, UNDRAFTED FREE AGENT SIGNEES: I really shouldn’t make fun of these men as they are pursuing their dreams of one day playing professional football. And maybe even with the 49ers! Besides, they are a lot bigger and faster than I am! Very shortly after the draft ended, the 49ers announced the signing of 10 undrafted free agents on Monday, April 26th. These guys are hungry and will give it their all. There may be a diamond in the rough in this bunch that will make the 53-man roster and some will play well enough to make the practice squad and others will seek their opportunities elsewhere. Sentimentally, you have to pull for Keaton Kristick from Oregon State. They are: LB Mike Balogun (6’0″, 240# – Oklahoma), CB Tramaine Brock (5’10″, 197# – Belhaven – {where the hell is that?}), QB Jarrett Brown (6’ 3″, 224# – West Virginia), WR Shay Hodge (6’1″, 214# – Mississippi), LB Keaton Kristick (6’3″, 234# – Oregon State), WR Scott Long ((6’2″, 216# – Louisville), S Christopher Maragos (5’10″, 200# – Wisconsin), WR Jared Perry (6’1″, 177# – Missouri), CB Patrick Stoudamire (5’10″, 206# – Western Illinois) (Incidentally, Patrick is former Trailblazer Damon Stoudamire’s cousin) and CB/PR Leroy Vann 5’8″, 177# – Florida A&M)

If any of you want a thumbnail sketch on any of these guys, please give me an e-mail shout and I’ll respond to your request.

CRIMSONS AND GOLDS (miscellaneous): Did you know that TE Vernon Davis was the honorary captain of the U.S. Men’s Curling Team at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, B.C. this past February?……………………The NFL Super Bowl Advisory Committee has notified the San Francisco 49ers that it supports the plan to build a new stadium in Santa Clara and will support and encourage a Super Bowl bid for a game to be played in the proposed new stadium. Think this will influence the voters in Santa Clara on the stadium vote (Measure J on the ballot) on June 8th?………………………..Think of the possibilities – the dreamiest of which is Super Bowl IL (49) at Santa Clara in 2015 featuring the 49ers as one of the teams!!………………………On Monday, April 19th , Joe Nedney waged a field-goal contest against a robot at Kezar Stadium. It was a tense battle of machine vs. the most accurate kicker in 49er history, a man whose calm under pressure has led to 19 career game-winning kicks. Ziggy, the robot, had nerves of steel (literally!) and a body of military-grade titanium. The contest started at the 20-yard line and if each competitor made a successful kick, they backed it up 10 yards. At 30 yards out both kickers struggled in the tricky crosswinds of Kezar but both succeeded. From 40 yards out, Ziggy couldn’t do the proper calculations and compensations for the crosswinds and, on his third attempt, Nedney knocked it through – Humans Win!!!!!!…………………The 49ers did a magnificent thing for a 15-year old local teenager who is suffering from a rare form of liver cancer. In their own version of the Make A Wish foundation, the 49ers invited the family (sister, Mom and Dad) of Brandon Dale to the facility at Santa Clara to see the Lombardi Trophies and witness a day of OTAs on the field. Brandon was greeted by Coach Singletary and got a picture and autograph from him. Even though it wasn’t requested, Patrick Willis, Brandon’s favorite player, autographed his gloves and wrote “Heart of a Champion” on them and gave them to Brandon. He also posed for pictures with Brandon. Now that’s class!!! Brandon and his family also got to each lunch with the players and coaches. A very heartwarming gesture on the part of the 49ers……………………

Well, Faithful, I’ve about run out of steam and I have finally plowed through the inch thick stack of paper I’ve been accumulating on my desk since my last lengthy newsletter. I’ll take up the keyboard again probably in late July when training camp gets underway. So enjoy the rest of your summer and…….
GGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOPORTLAND49ERFAITHFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONINERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jim

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Standout linebacker Patrick Willis received a hefty five-year contract extension from the San Francisco 49ers two weeks ago. Could Pro Bowl tight end Vernon Davis be the next one rewarded?
Davis isn’t sure, and he insists it’s not weighing heavily on his mind right now. Yet Davis figures things will work out in time — and he wouldn’t mind a similar long-term commitment from the team. His current deal is due to be up after the 2010 season, and the 49ers have said they want to do all they can to keep their core players to establish some stability for the franchise.
“I’m not in a rush to do anything,” Davis said Monday after attending the first of four optional practices this week. “That’d be good, when I eventually sign my extension. It’s not something that’s heavy on my mind. I’m not really thinking about it at the moment. I like to let things come to me.”
Davis, 26, is coming off a career year in his fourth NFL season, in which he tied Antonio Gates’ NFL record for touchdowns by a tight end with 13. Davis finished with career highs of 78 catches and 965 yards.

While Davis is in camp this week, others who apparently are unhappy with their contract situations are staying away: starting cornerback Shawntae Spencer and linebacker Manny Lawson.
For Davis, showing up is about doing his job — and that is to continue “to get better.” He’s also a team captain and eager to lead the young players by example at this early stage, even with training camp still more than two months away.
“I’m here because this is what I do,” Davis said. “I’m not concerned about the other guys and what they do. (Manny) is a grown man. Me, I like to work.”
Coach Mike Singletary said he has spoken with both Spencer and fellow cornerback no-show Nate Clements and is satisfied that they are doing fine in their offseason workouts to prepare for next season. As far as Lawson, the coach hasn’t spoken to him for “a while.”
Like Davis, Lawson is in the final year of his contract. Both were drafted by San Francisco in 2006. Lawson had a career-best 6.5 sacks last season — and he, too, is seeking more from the 49ers.
Spencer might be making a statement of his own by staying away from the team.

Clements is a different case. He broke his right shoulder blade during a Nov. 1 road game against the Indianapolis Colts and was done for the rest of the season for San Francisco, which finished 8-8 to end a franchise-worst stretch of six consecutive losing seasons but missed the playoffs for the seventh year in a row.
Safety Michael Lewis said while the team misses its two starting cornerbacks, this gives the young players a chance to do more work this week.
“We’re trying to build something special, and those guys know the defense already,” Lewis said of Clements and Spencer. “They’re taking care of business, Shawntae in Pittsburgh and Nate out in Arizona. Guys are getting better. That’s the main focus. If you’re out there getting better, then we have no problem with it. With the younger guys who are here, we’re trying to get them better so they can help us out on the field.”
Still, if you ask Davis, the best way to accomplish things for the season is to be on the field with the rest of the team — voluntary or not, contract issues or not.
“I just like to take my time and always stay positive about things,” Davis said. “I’m not really concerned on who they sign first or whether they sign me last. If you work hard, you get what you deserve. The harder you work, the more successful you are. I’ve always believed in that.”
Notes: Willis said he’s not sure when he will be back on the field at full speed following a March procedure on his right knee to remove an inflamed fluid sac that kept him out of this year’s Pro Bowl. “I’m just listening to the trainers,” he said. … DT Aubrayo Franklin also didn’t take part Monday. … Ted Ginn Jr., acquired when the Niners traded their fifth-round draft pick to the Miami Dolphins to acquire, dropped a couple of balls thrown by starting QB Alex Smith. … The 49ers signed rookie CB Phillip Adams, a seventh-round pick, to a four-year contract. He’s the first of the team’s eight draft picks to sign.

HEY FAITHFUL!!!!!!!! WHAT TIME IS IT???????

It’s time to get those Crimson and Gold sugarplums dancing in your head as we approach the draft this year.

It’s time to make sure you have Thursday evening, April 22nd circled on your calendar and plan on an evening at The Wooden Chicken as we hold our Annual Meeting and Draft Party.

It’s time to dust off your Niner gear in whatever box, closet, dresser, basement, den, garage or wherever you keep your physical trappings of loyalty to the Crimson and Gold.

It’s time to do your own mental calculations of whom we should draft in our two picks that we have. Where do you think our boys need the most help?

SHEDULE RELEASE: It was just announced that the NFL schedule will be released on Tuesday afternoon, April 20th at 4:00 p.m. PDT. You might want to print it off as the dates for some of our activities will be centered around the schedule.

DRAFT ORDER: Almost all of you know that we have two picks in the first round – Nos. 13 and 17. And, of course those are the 13th and 17th overall picks of the draft. Just so we can all play along with the rest of the NFL here are the rest of the Niners’ picks and what overall slot they are. In the second and third rounds which will be held on Saturday, the 49ers pick at the #17 slot of the second round (49th (how appropriate!) overall) and at the #15 slot of the third round (79th overall). Each team has 10 minutes per selection on Saturday so you can do your own math to figure out when that will be if you are watching at home. On Sunday, rounds 4-7 will be held with each team having five minutes per selection. In the fourth round, the Niners pick at the #15 slot (113th overall). In the fifth round the Niners pick at the #14 slot (#145 overall). In the sixth round the Niners have two picks #13 (182nd overall) and a compensatory pick at #37 (206th overall). In the seventh and final round we pick at the #17 slot (224th overall). There you have it, Faithful. Make some popcorn and hope that the boys in the draft war room at Santa Clara are wise and prudent with their selections. Enjoy!

THE DRAFT ITSELF: If I were to delineate all the possibilities of which player might be selected in what slot you could print and use this newsletter as a doorstop. Instead, I will simply list the best players that are expected to be around at our various draft slots. The positions of clear need are on the offensive side of the ball starting with the line. We are more secure at the WR position than we have been in years. Not that a bright prospect might be tempting but certainly not worth a high draft pick. Quarterback is also reasonably well set. If a Tim Tebow or a Colt McCoy is available in the third round or later then you might see the war room boys bite on that one. But let’s turn our attention back to the item of greatest need, the offensive line. The 49ers have had some very serviceable players in past years but when our running offense winds up #27 in the league last year, it is clear that we need to get more talent up front. The players that will make an immediate impact (Oklahoma State’s Russell Okung and Iowa’s Bryan Bulaga,) will be gone by the #13 slot which leaves the next two best players (Oklahoma’s Trent Williams and Rutgers’ Anthony Davis from which to choose. If one is selected ahead of our pick then the 49ers will opt for the remaining player of these two. The team absolutely needs to find a new tackle, and it doesn’t matter which side he plays because the versatile Joe Staley can move back to right tackle if need be.

If the 49ers opt for another offensive lineman at the #17 slot then Maryland’s Bruce Campbell or Idaho’s Mike Iupati or USC’s Charles Brown will get the call.

If the 49ers figure that backing up Frank Gore is more important than another offensive lineman then the player I like is Clemson’s C. J. Spiller. He is an explosive, big play threat who can also do double duty as a punt returner. Trent Baalke, the team’s Director of Pro Personnel, is a fan of the Dallas Cowboys’ three-back system and while that might not please Frankie too much, you may see Spiller the pick at #17. If C.J. Spiller is gone by #17 and the Niners are still looking for a RB then Fresno State’s Ryan Mathews or California’s Jahvid Best might be selected.

The 49ers may address the need for a speed burner which will help stretch the field for Crabby and VD in the third round at the WR position. There are some strong prospects here, but overall the depth of this group isn’t nearly as strong as last year’s class. Expected to be available at the #49 slot in the third round are: Cincinnati’s Mardy Gilyard, The Citadel’s Andre Roberts and Central Michigan’s Anonio Brown. Both Roberts and Brown are also return specialists.

This is not a truly in-depth analysis but it’s enough to get your juices flowing. I can only hope that the brain trust in the war room can beef up our O-line enough to make a significant difference in our run game next season.

Jim