SB Nation - Jay Moore

Nate Davis to play most of 49ers-Chargers game

Fooch — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 21:27:27 -0000

More photos » by Donna McWilliam - AP

Mike Singletary had a variety of comments today related to tomorrow's game and we can definitely infer a lot from them. I don't have a transcript at this point so we'll link to Maiocco's and Barrows's stories on the comments.

The biggest piece of news to come out of it, and the primary reason for this post, is that Alex Smith will be held out of the game and Shaun Hill will give way to Nate Davis after no more than 12 or so plays into the game. Depending on how the first drive goes, that means Nate Davis likely gets the final three full quarters, and maybe a little of the first quarter. Alex Smith apparently would be available if this were a regular season game, but the team would rather avoid aggravating the thumb injury in a meaningless preseason game.

Some other players that will be out ~~tonight~~ tomorrow are Arnaz Battle (shoulder), Cody Wallace (viral meningitis - not the bad bacterial one), Ahmad Brooks (knee), Jay Moore (groin), Brandon Jones (shoulder), Isaac Bruce (preventive), Frank Gore (preventive).

The injuries definitely can't be helping some folks in their battle for a roster spot. Jay Moore seems pretty much destined for the practice squad. Cody Wallace could be an interesting decision. In his article above, Maiocco discussed some battles to be determined tomorrow and included center/guard Matt Spanos vs. Wallace. I hadn't really thought much about it as Cody Wallace has quietly just sort of been there. Considering Eric Heitmann is the man for the foreseeable future at center, Wallace is just "there."

The team currently has Tony Wragge as a backup guard/center (although primarily a guard). Do you just let Wallace continue to sit on the roster not doing anything, or do you see what Spanos could do for you? Whereas the team has depth concerns at the tackle positions, they're in pretty solid shape at center and guard. What do you do?

Poll

Who makes the 49ers roster?

C/G Matt Spanos

133 votes

C Cody Wallace

232 votes

Both

60 votes

Neither

94 votes

519 votes | Poll has closed

Projecting the 49ers 53-man roster #4

Fooch — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:00:18 -0000

As the preseason rolls along, more and more positional battles are won, meaning more and more folks lock up roster spots. For example, yesterday's release of Damon Huard not only locks in Nate Davis's roster spot, but as far as I'm concerned, it removes him from our last 5 on list. I'd imagine it's not a major concern to Nate, but still worth considering.

As you'll notice, I've bumped down Bear Pascoe to last 5 on. Maiocco rolled out his 53-man roster projection (feel free to compare with mine) and actually went with J.J. Finley as the third tight end. He based his decision on the fact that Finley is getting the lion's share of playing time, although he admitted he's not completely sold on that pick. I can see why he might pick Finley, but for now I'm gonna stick with Bear, albeit rather tenuously. I've listed Finley as one of the first 5 off because honestly nobody else really jumps out at me for that list.

Offense
QB (3): Shaun Hill, Alex Smith, Nate Davis
RB (4): Frank Gore, Glen Coffee, Michael Robinson, Kory Sheets
FB (1): Moran Norris
WR (6): Isaac Bruce, Brandon Jones, Josh Morgan, Jason Hill, Arnaz Battle, Dominique Zeigler
TE (3): Vernon Davis, Delanie Walker, Bear Pascoe
LT (2): Joe Staley, Barry Sims
LG (1): David Baas
C (2): Eric Heitmann, Cody Wallace
RG (2): Chilo Rachal, Tony Wragge
RT (2): Adam Snyder, Alex Boone

Defense
DE (5): Justin Smith, Kentwan Balmer, Demetric Evans, Isaac Sopoaga, Ray McDonald
DT (1): Aubrayo Franklin
OLB (4): Manny Lawson, Parys Haralson, Ahmad Brooks, Marques Harris
ILB (4): Patrick Willis, Takeo Spikes, Jeff Ulbrich, Scott McKillop
CB (5): Nate Clements, Dre Bly, Tarell Brown, Shawntae Spencer, Marcus Hudson
FS (2): Dashon Goldson, Mark Roman
SS (2): Michael Lewis, Reggie Smith

Special Teams
K: Joe Nedney
P: Andy Lee
LS: Brian Jennings
KR/PR: Allen Rossum

Last 5 on: Ahmad Brooks, Kory Sheets, Dominique Zeigler, Alex Boone, Bear Pascoe

First 5 off: Jay Moore, J.J. Finley, Curtis Taylor, Ricky Jean-Francois, Micheal Spurlock

After the jump, I include a practice squad projection and some further thoughts...

Practice Squad (8): TE J.J. Finley, OLB Jay Moore, FS Curtis Taylor, DL Ricky Jean-Francois, FB Brit Miller, OLB Diyral Briggs, G/C Matt Spanos, DL Khalif Mitchell

I doubt Crabtree signs when the practice squad is first put together, but if he signs before the season, I'm thinking he gets Zeigler's roster spot and Zeigler gets to use his last year of practice squad eligibility. The Crabtree situation definitely makes the wide receiver decisions a little more difficult...if not now then at some point.

Maiocco's 53-man projection, as compared to my own, is particularly interesting for a couple of reasons. Under running backs he lists six, with the last being "Unnamed Fullback Not on Roster." I find that rather interesting given Michael Robinson's occasional use as a fullback. I'm curious what fullback that is. Lorenzo Neal? Is he considering Brit Miller "not on the roster" at that point? Although fullback isn't a glamorous position, I find myself immensely curious by what Maiocco means with that. I even shot him a tweet about it. Anybody have any thoughts on this?

The other major area where we differed was at offensive tackle. Maiocco had Alex Boone on his practice squad and Barry Sims as the only backup tackle, basically acting as a swing tackle. I know how most people here feel about Barry Sims, and since the retirement of Marvel Smith, I figured Boone had moved into much safer territory. This kind of has me wandering back to his unnamed fullback. Is it necessary to grab another fullback over a second backup offensive tackle? Riddle me that....

Other than that our 53-man rosters don't differ all that much. That is primarily due to the fact that the 49ers are in a position where they have sufficient talent to actually fill a 53-man roster (unlike a few years back). Following the departure of Damon Huard (making Davis a lock), probably 46 of the roster spots are close to locks. Non-locks on top of the last five on might include Marques Harris and Marcus Hudson. So not exactly a lot there.

Coach Singletary's 8/31 press conference: Odds and Ends

Fooch — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:00:20 -0000

Coach Singletary had a pre-practice press conference yesterday that I didn’t have a chance to get posted. After reading through it yesterday I thought it would be worth analyzing in a little more detail. He discussed a broad range of issues that the team needs to address between now and the start of the regular season.

The biggest piece of news (which has been reported most everywhere else) was that Ahmad Brooks is out two to three weeks after having arthroscopic surgery on his knee to remove a small bone fragment. If you read that part of the press conference you can see the continued use of "day-to-day," but everybody else has confirmed the 2-3 week prognosis. I think he still makes the roster, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on these next couple weeks. Maybe it means a Jay Moore scores a spot? I’ll kick it around a bit before putting together my next 53-man projection (probably coming Thursday).

In general it sounds like the team will be giving the youngsters a lot more of an opportunity this weekend against the Chargers. I’d imagine most starters would be going no more than a couple series, if even that. Some potential starters that I could see getting extended action are Josh Morgan and Arnaz Battle at wide receiver. As Barrows indicated a couple days ago, Morgan has not exactly blown folks away in the preseason games, so he probably would like to put on a nice little performance on Friday. I’d also imagine Dre Bly and Tarell Brown will see a decent amount of playing time, unless Singletary and Manusky have decided that Bly has done enough to earn the job.

One guy who did not get the most glowing endorsement was Micheal Spurlock. Singletary was asked whether Spurlock was the team’s first choice to run the Taser (Wildcat) formation and he said:

"I won’t say that he’s the first choice. We’ve got a couple of guys that can do it. Spurlock is certainly one, [WR] Arnaz [Battle] is another, [RB] Michael [Robinson] is another. I just think that all three of those guys they bring about a different look to it and offer different things. So, we do have some options there."

"[Spurlock]’s the guy that you’ve got to worry about getting outside a bit more [than others]. I guess it’s been awhile since he’s thrown a pass but when you look at Michael Robinson I think that Michael can really execute the Taser. He really understands it and maybe knows it a little better at this point. Arnaz – I’m not quite sure; he hasn’t had a chance to do it but I know that he can do it. Like I said, they all add something different."

Spurlock is definitely a big time bubble guy at this point and Singletary seems to really be pushing Robinson as the Taser guy. I think he’s on the outside looking in and would need a fairly significant performance on Friday to have a shot at the team. Anybody feel otherwise about Spurlock?

At this point things are relatively quiet for the 49ers heading into the final game. They've got roster spots to be determined, but it sounds like this will definitely be a game more suited for the die-hard fans. A casual fan will flip it on and see numerous players that will be cut 48 hours later. Personally, these games are the interesting ones to keep an eye on the potential sleepers. Maybe nothing comes of them, but it's one of those prototypical preseason games that mean nothing to most, but mean everything to some of us.

Head Coach Mike Singletary
Pre-Practice - 08-31-09
San Francisco 49ers

On whether he’s expecting to get QB Alex Smith and T Adam Snyder back this week:
"It’s just going to be day-to-day."

On whether today’s practice is a walk-through:
"No. We’re doing regular practice, but we’re in shells."

On whether Smith will practice:
"I’ll just say this: Alex, I think, will try throwing the ball or something like that, but some of the other guys are just going to be day-to-day. We’re not rushing anybody. We’re just going to see how they feel."

On whether he is watching how G David Baas and Snyder handle today’s practice:
"Yes."

On whether the team will bring in another person to fill the 75th roster spot:
"No. We’re just looking at our roster, looking at where we stand, and we’ll make decisions as we go forward."

On the status of LB Ahmad Brooks’ knee:
"I think they removed a small bone fragment. It was successful, and we’re just going to take that day-to-day."

On whether Brooks’ injury is long-term:
"Not that I know of. Not at this time. Right now, as I said before, it really was successful and we’re just going to take it day-to-day and see how he feels. I’m just glad it wasn’t a big deal."

On whether Michael Lewis is going to play against the Chargers:
"I’m not real sure. I think a lot of these things right now – the biggest thing that I’m looking at right now is not so much the San Diego game. I think we’ll be able to get a lot of guys back before our first regular season game, and that’s really what we’re targeting. And, that’s really the focus right now. We’re going to play this game, the San Diego game. We’re going to look at a lot of our young guys, rookies and things like that, finish filling out our roster, find the players that we can and go from there."

On whether WR Brandon Jones is the only guy who is unavailable for the Chargers game:
"At this time, I think that’s correct."

On the progress the team has made from the first day of training camp:
"I think the biggest thing going into training camp was, really, the mindset – just making sure we had the right mindset going into the season. And, as far as the other things, we had the quarterback situation we had to look at, looking at our wide outs, looking at the cornerback position. I think the competition continues to go there, and that will play itself out here this week. But, I think overall, our guys really worked their tails off and really challenged themselves in terms of the work load that we had this offseason. This week, we’re just going to cut it back a bit, allow the guys to get their legs back – particularly the veteran guys – and kind of start cheating a little bit, looking forward to the Arizona game."

On whether there has been a decision on the starting right cornerback positions:
"No. We’re just going to continue to let it play out, and some of the decisions will be made as we see it. But, I think right now we’re just continuing to really look at it and make the best decision possible."

On whether he will choose the best 53 players in the final roster cut, or whether he wants a specific number of players at a specific position:
"I think it’s a mixture of both. Obviously, you want the best 53 guys you can. But, if I’ve got 15 tackles, then I can’t play with that. You just have to go through it and really look at what works for our team in terms of the offense and defense we’re playing, in terms of guys that we have to have. I think it’s a mixture of the two."

On whether having the team practice in full pads was beneficial:
"I think it’s gone very well. I’m thankful that the guys responded well and did not complain. I think this week we’ll go through it and guys will get their legs back. There’s no doubt we had a hard training camp. So, going forward, I’m very excited at how things have turned out."

On whether QB Shaun Hill will play in the Chargers game:
"I want to see how he does this week and we’ll just look at him day-to-day and see if he needs more rest, see if we need to play him. We’ll figure it out. If he does play, it will be very limited."

On the execution of the "Taser" formation on offense against the Cowboys:
"I think it was just – when I look at the execution, it was okay. We did it for the first time and I think that we just wanted to run it and kind of get a look at it ourselves and see how the guys would respond to it. But, I thought it was nice to get it in there and kind of begin to expand on it a bit, so it was good to see."

On whether WR Micheal Spurlock is the team’s first choice to run the Taser formation:
"I won’t say that he’s the first choice. We’ve got a couple of guys that can do it. Spurlock is certainly one, [WR] Arnaz [Battle] is another, [RB] Michael [Robinson] is another. I just think that all three of those guys they bring about a different look to it and offer different things. So, we do have some options there."

On whether Spurlock’s strength in the Taser formation is his quickness:
"He’s the guy that you’ve got to worry about getting outside a bit more [than others]. I guess it’s been awhile since he’s thrown a pass but when you look at Michael Robinson I think that Michael can really execute the Taser. He really understands it and maybe knows it a little better at this point. Arnaz – I’m not quite sure; he hasn’t had a chance to do it but I know that he can do it. Like I said, they all add something different."

On whether S Michael Lewis has had any neurological test since his concussion:
"I don’t know about a neurological test, I just know that we’re monitoring anything that has anything to do with concussions, headaches or anything like that, migraines, whatever it might be, just making sure that we’re really wise about it and really taking care of our guys on it."

On sensing an excitement building up in the Bay Area with both the 49ers and San Francisco Giants winning:
"I look at it this way; I hope that there is [an] expectation. I hope there is excitement, but the most important thing for me, even with the pre-season, I know that the games don’t count to the outside world but they do to us. I just think that it’s one of those things that we continue to take one step at a time and that we are building something. I do feel the expectation and I do feel the excitement, but more importantly, I feel it from these guys."

Poll

Will Micheal Spurlock make the 49ers opening day 53-man roster?

Yes

247 votes

No

255 votes

502 votes | Poll has closed

Projecting the 49ers 53-man roster #3

Fooch — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 15:00:15 -0000

It is indeed that time of the week. Eight days ago we rolled out the second 53-man roster projection and plenty has happened since then to mix things up a little bit more. The biggest news affecting our roster projection is probably the return of Ray McDonald from the PUP list. As with before, new additions are underlined. After the jump I go into some of the details of my changes.

Special Teams
K: Joe Nedney
P: Andy Lee
LS: Brian Jennings
KR/PR: Allen Rossum

Last 5 on: Ahmad Brooks, Kory Sheets, Dominique Zeigler, Barry Sims, Nate Davis

First 5 off: Jay Moore, Alex Boone, Curtis Taylor, Ricky Jean-Francois, Micheal Spurlock

Right off the bat, I'm sure the Barry Sims projection will have folks up in arms. The problem with this projection is deciding whether it's more predictions, projections as things currently stand, or a mix of both. I mention this because in his recap of yesterday afternoon's practice, Barrows mentioned that Sims was getting first team snaps over Boone. Marvel Smith only practices once a day, so in the second practice somebody else has to fill in at right tackle (since Snyder is out). I certainly reserve the right to adjust this depending on how practice and this weekend shakes out, but for now Sims seems to have an edge. I definitely would prefer to see Boone on the roster, but I'm just not seeing it right now. I'm sure there will be plenty of comments about this one.

The return of Ray McDonald does not bode well for Ricky Jean-Francois. The bump off the squad for now also bumped FB Brit Miller off the first 5 off. While he has looked solid, I think the five guys listed there are significantly closer to securing a roster spot than Miller. If the team keeps 4 running backs, I can't see more than one fullback (assuming we're not counting Michael Robinson as a fullback). Miller and Boone are two prime practice squad candidates. They're also two guys who might be tough to slip through waivers; Boone more so than Miller.

Other than that I just don't see a lot changing at this point. One guy who has gotten a decent amount of publicity is Diyral Briggs. Takeo Spikes was talking him up on the sideline last weekend during the Raiders game. He continued to impress this past weekend and has probably made a sufficient case for the practice squad. It would be tough for him to crack the 53-man at this point, although certainly not impossible. At this point he's listed behind Parys Haralson and Ahmad Brooks at the Will outside linebacker position. Personally I'd keep Brooks just because of that impressive goal line play when he made the leap and almost sacked Russell. I just don't see the team taking Briggs over Brooks at this point. Harris is backing up Lawson on the other side with Jay Moore behind them so again, I don't see him leaping them, at least for now.

At this point, as the starters are being figured out, the last few roster spots remain up for grabs. That list of first 5 off, among many others are all scratching and clawing for some ~~craps~~ scraps off the table. Most would argue Alex Boone has the best chance of making the roster. I would tend to agree, but it remains a tough road ahoe. I continue to root for Jay Moore, but Harris's experience in the Manusky defense gives him a big advantage.

At this point, who do you find yourself rooting for the most among the numerous "roster underdogs?"

Projecting the 49ers 53-man roster #2

Fooch — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:00:18 -0000

Approximately six weeks ago I rolled out my initial projection of the 49ers 53-man roster. While there is still plenty of preseason football to be played, I thought a couple weeks of training camp and a preseason game is enough time to consider revisions to our 53-man roster projection.

I have to admit that this has gotten really difficult to figure out given some of the injuries and the Michael Crabtree holdout. Brandon Jones is out until early October with his shoulder injury and Zak Keasey is out for 8-10 weeks with his forearm injury. Neither player can go on the PUP list since they passed physicals at the start of training camp. I think that means Keasey is likely to be cut at some point soon and potentially placed on injured reserve if he clears waivers (if I'm getting the rules correct).

Then there's Crabtree. Given his holdout he's still not a member of the 49ers. That basically means we'll come up with a list of 54 players because once Crabtree is signed, he'd have to go on the 53-man roster and somebody would need to be cut. At this point Crabtree is not included in this projection. After the jump we discuss that impact among other things.

Also, I've underlined new additions to the 53-man roster.

Offense
QB (3): Shaun Hill, Alex Smith, Nate Davis
RB (4): Frank Gore, Glen Coffee, Michael Robinson, Kory Sheets
FB (1): Moran Norris
WR (6): Isaac Bruce, Brandon Jones, Josh Morgan, Jason Hill, Arnaz Battle, Dominique Zeigler
TE (3): Vernon Davis, Delanie Walker, Bear Pascoe
LT (2): Joe Staley, Alex Boone
LG (1): David Baas
C (2): Eric Heitmann, Cody Wallace
RG (2): Chilo Rachal, Tony Wragge
RT (2): Adam Snyder, Marvel Smith

Defense
DE (5): Justin Smith, Kentwan Balmer, Demetric Evans, Isaac Sopoaga, Ricky Jean-Francois***
DT (1): Aubrayo Franklin
OLB (4): Manny Lawson, Parys Haralson, Ahmad Brooks, Marques Harris
ILB (4): Patrick Willis, Takeo Spikes, Jeff Ulbrich, Scott McKillop
CB (5): Nate Clements, Dre Bly, Tarell Brown, Shawntae Spencer, Marcus Hudson
FS (2): Dashon Goldson, Mark Roman
SS (2): Michael Lewis, Reggie Smith

Special Teams
K: Joe Nedney
P: Andy Lee
LS: Brian Jennings
KR/PR: Allen Rossum

Last 5 on: Ahmad Brooks, Kory Sheets, Dominique Zeigler, Ricky Jean-Francois, Alex Boone

First 5 off: Jay Moore, ~~Barry Sims~~ Curtis Taylor, Micheal Spurlock, Damon Huard, Brit Miller

***Ray McDonald is on the PUP list and would need a spot on the roster at some point in the season. Replacement TBD

After the jump I take a look at some of the changes and some of the notable omissions. After you've read that over, feel free to tear me a new one on some of these selections.

There are a few players that are giving me all sorts of trouble. Let's start at wide receiver. Once Crabtree signs, who do you cut? The quick thought is to get rid of one of the receivers (either Zeigler or Battle). However, if Crabtree signs before the season starts, or even that first week or two, Brandon Jones will not be back yet. Given that Crabtree has a ton of ground to make up, I don't think you want to cut a guy who's been playing since day 1. So who exactly do you get rid of to make room for Crabtree on the 53-man roster?

Quarterback
I'm a bit conflicted here, but I think it's just that initial rush of a good performance from Damon Huard. If Nate Davis doesn't get much playing time, can the team afford to have him sitting at #3 if they elect to waive Damon Huard? Or is this an indication that Huard isn't going anywhere and they might actually keep 4 QBs? Given the injury issues, can this team afford to give a roster space to a 4th quarterback at this point?

Running Backs
The season ending injury to Thomas Clayton helps Kory Sheets, but doesn't guarantee anything. I kept Sheets on the roster, but I actually am thinking that his real "nemisis" for a roster spot is Micheal Spurlock. Spurlock has shown a good bit of potential and has been getting moved around all over the field, including in the wildcat/taser formation. At this point, I think either Spurlock or Sheets makes the roster, but not both.

Fullback
Close to 2/3 of you think Brit Miller will make the 53-man roster for week 1 of the regular season. I'm not quite comfortable adding him in yet given the presence of Moran Norris and Michael Robinson. At the same time, I've elevated him to first 5 off the roster. Miller will see a whole lot of playing time and if he puts up similar performances in the coming weeks, he might bump somebody off the roster. Who that would be exactly, I'm not so sure.

Offensive Tackle
I succumbed to the pressure and replaced Barry Sims with Alex Boone. Sims did perfectly reasonable in his backup role last week, but consider me on the upside bandwagon of Boone. At this point, I wouldn't be surprised with any outcome in this battle. However, as I said before, it's going to be either Boone or Sims, not both, on the roster.

Miscellaneous
I thought I'd close with a few miscellaneous thoughts on other roster spots. I added in RJF with McDonald on the PUP list, but I think RJF is still in a tenuous position at this point. He'll need to build on last weekend's performance. I moved Jay Moore off my projection, and went with Marques Harris. Harris has experience in the Manusky defense and that veteran presence would likely give him an edge. And Moore retains practice squad eligibility.

49ers waive RB Thomas Clayton after ACL injury

Fooch — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 22:40:41 -0000

Thanks to Frank Cuatro Ocho for getting the initial FanShot on the injury up early early this morning. The 49ers just sent out a press release announcing that Thomas Clayton did in fact tear the ACL in his right knee. However, on top of that they have now waived Clayton and filled his roster spot with FB Bill Rentmeester, a rookie free agent. I'm sure some folks think we should fly a flag at half mast for Clayton after his previous preseason performances.

If this isn't a sign of how far down the depth chart Thomas Clayton was, then I don't know what is. Although I could be wrong on the roster rules, the team could have placed Clayton on Injured Reserve as they have done with other preseason injuries in the past (notably Jay Moore the last two seasons). To not do so shows that was it for him. Unfortunately for Clayton, this is just one of the breaks of the game.

In terms of roster implications, there really isn't much there. He was competing with Kory Sheets for a roster position that might not even exist. Sheets has done enough to move up the depth chart a little bit and will need to continue showing coaches he's worth holding onto as more than just a practice squad body.

UPDATE: Thanks to save10 for pointing this out in Maiocco's article about the roster move:

Any team can claim Clayton, but that seems unlikely because he's out for the season. If he goes unclaimed, Clayton automatically reverts back to the 49ers and will go on injured reserve. If the 49ers had just placed Clayton on injured reserve without the "waived" designation, he still would have counted against the team's 80-man limit until the first cutdown day (Sept. 5).

2009 49ers Training Camp: Sorry Oshinowo fans

Fooch — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 00:23:23 -0000

I'm guessing this is gonna kill our lone Babatunde Oshinowo fan: According to Barrows Twitter page, the 49ers released Oshinowo and signed wide receiver Chris Francies. Francies went undrafted in 2006, signed as a free agent with the Green Bay Packers and spent 2008 on the New Orleans Saints practice squad. Given the extended downtime for Brandon Jones, Francies isn't much more than a camp body.

In the meantime, the 49ers practiced this morning and it wasn't exactly a good day for Alex Smith, who was 2 of 7 (recaps by the 2 Matts are below). Hill was much more accurate, but he was also throwing mostly underneath stuff, and wasn't all that successful going deep. From what I've read, it sounded like Brandon Jones was going to be the deep threat for this team. I think a guy like Morgan can fill that role, but for now this is definitely not a team that will be going for the homerun pass all that often. At least that's my thought for now.

Maiocco described the practice as more of a successful day by the defense than anything else. It sounds like Dre Bly is coming around. As long as Brown is on the shelf with his toe issue, Bly is able to put some distance between them. I think Bly was likely to be starting week 1 anyways, but this is pushing back any chance Brown has of passing him on the depth chart. I know some folks are down on Bly as a starter, but we could very well see a resurgence from him. As I recall, Walt Harris was thought to be on the downside when the 49ers signed him and he turned in a Pro Bowl season.

It sounds like injury-wise, not a lot has changed. Nobody appeared to get hurt today and Parys Haralson and Jay Moore were both back in full practice today. Brown, Willis, Walker, Baas and Robinson remain out of action. Let's hope folks can stay mildly healthy going forward.

After the jump I've posted a transcript of Mike Singletary's press conference today.

Sources
Matt Barrows Recap
Matt Maiocco Recap

Head Coach Mike Singletary
Post-Practice – 08-07-09
San Francisco 49ers

On how long Brandon Jones will be out:
"It’s going to be longer than a couple of weeks. It’s more like eight weeks. Yes. We had the X-Ray this morning. [There’s] a little bit of a fracture there, so it’s going to be longer than we anticipated. But, we’ll work through it. The receiver’s that we’ve got here, we’re very confident in our guys here. They’ll continue to work, and thankfully we’ll get him back after that eight-week period."

On how Brandon Jones’ injury and the fact that Michael Crabtree is not in camp affects the receiving corps:
"It doesn’t do anything, to be honest. As I said before, this is not a political speech. It’s the truth. We’ve got wide receivers that Jerry Sullivan is working his tail off with them. They’re growing, progressing. We’re fine for right now."

On who steps into Brandon Jones’ role as the No. 3 wide receiver:
"I think that’s something that Jerry Sullivan and myself, along with coach [Jimmy] Raye, sit down and talk about. Thankfully, as I’ve said before, we have some receivers, and I know we have some who are capable of stepping in and doing a good job. I hate that we lost Brandon Jones. He’s making great strides, doing a great job. Thankfully he will be back after that period."

On how much it hurts Michael Crabtree’s learning curve missing this many days of camp:
"You just never know. It all depends on how his learning curve is. If I know him, he’s working his tail off. He’s studying the playbook, but it doesn’t really come together until you come out and execute it. Hopefully, when he comes in, the learning curve is not as great as it may take some others. Hopefully he’ll just catch right on and go from there."

On whether Michael Crabtree has a playbook:
"Some of the things that we had in OTAs. I’m sure, somehow, someway he’s got something that he’s working with."

On whether the reports that Michael Crabtree may sit out the season perturbed him at all:
"No. Not at all. Not at all. For me, as I’ve said all along, when I come out here, the most important thing for me is to look at the guys that we have here and try to find the players that we need out of those guys and win football games. Thankfully, we have enough guys to do that. But, the whole Crabtree thing, as I’ve said before, I’m very excited about him when he comes in, but I’m going to focus on those guys out there and be true to the vision at hand."

On whether Michael Crabtree has become a distraction:
"No. We don’t talk about it. Hopefully we don’t ever talk about it because the thing we need to do is take care of business out here."

On when the last time he talked to Michael Crabtree was and how the conversation went:
"The last time was right before training camp. Just a matter of letting me know how he was doing. It was a good conversation, but nothing in-depth. He was doing well, just letting me know he was doing fine."

On whether he gave Michael Crabtree things to work on during that conversation:
"No."

On how surprised he is that the situation with Michael Crabtree is escalating in the media:
"You just never know what’s going to happen. When you have players, you have agents, you have the media, nothing surprises me when those three things are involved. As I’ve said before, I just focus on what’s out here. But, I’m not surprised at all, don’t know what to expect. I just have to keep it going out here."

On whether there’s a point where he says that Michael Crabtree has to get to camp:
"I will say this: I think, for me, it’s just – if I can just keep my focus here, and in terms of Crabtree, when he comes in, he comes in. Would you love to have him in? Absolutely. You’d love to have him. Would you want him here? Yes, we want him in. But, until that happens, I just can’t sit back and think about the what-ifs. All I can do is concentrate on what is, and control that."

On how much he thinks media, family and agents factor into a player’s contract demands:
"It all depends on the trust that the player has in the relationship. If he really trusts the guy, who knows? If he’s not sure, you just never know how that’s going to work out, but it all comes down to the trust of the player and the agent, and no one can really judge how strong that is."

On whether the team will bring in another receiver in light of Brandon Jones’ injury and the Michael Crabtree situation:
"At this point, we may or may not bring another receiver in and work him out and see what we have. But, there’s no sense of urgency in terms of doing anything right now, but continuing to work. As I’ve said before, we feel very good about what we have. It’s unfortunate that it happened to him, but we’re just going to keep working."

On whether surgery is necessary for Brandon Jones:
"No."

On whether Brandon Jones’ injury will heal on its own:
"Just time. He just needs time."

On Isaac Bruce playing every practice without veteran’s time off and whether he has considered giving Bruce time off:
"As I’ve said before, and I mean this in all honesty, I talk to these guys. I talk to our trainers. I talk to our doctors. How are they doing? How’s it going? Isaac Bruce wants to work. We’re watching it. It’s not like he’s out here running 80 routes a day. He’s smart. He’s a veteran. He knows what he needs to do. He knows what he needs. So, Isaac’s doing just fine."

On how soon he expects to get Patrick Willis back on the field:
"I don’t know. It’s a day-to-day thing. With Patrick, it’s not one of those things that I’m really thinking about a lot. I think Patrick is doing fine. When he comes back, he’ll pick up where he left off."

On whether he is being overly cautious with Patrick Willis given that Willis is the team’s best player:
"I think, with Patrick, he’s just one of those guys who will work himself to death. We’ve got a few of those guys. You’re blessed with them, but at the same time, the worst thing you can do is ask them a question and ask them how they’re feeling because they’re always going to say ‘great.’ So, you always have to, with Patrick, keep your hands on him and make sure you watch him. But, he’s fine. He’s doing great and feeling great."

On whether Dominique Zeigler could be the guy to step into Brandon Jones’ role:
"Certainly Dominique has continued to make strides since he’s been here. We’ll just have to sit down and talk about it and see what we’re thinking and we’ll go from there."

On whether he is satisfied with the progress the team is making one week into camp:
"We just talked about that a little bit as a team. I think right now, we’re on track. We’re not executing the way we want to execute right now, but I don’t think anyone is outworking us. As long as we continue to work, gain progress and confidence, the execution will come. I’m very proud of the guys in terms of the work ethic, but in terms of the execution, we’re not there yet. We just have to keep plugging away."

2009 49ers Training Camp: August 3 PM practice and my boy Jay Moore

Fooch — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 15:10:04 -0000

I ended up getting home late from a softball game and wasn’t able to get the PM practice recap up. Given my plans for today, I thought we’d roll out some quick thoughts (and Singletary/Raye transcripts) to tide you over. I’m heading down to training camp this morning and will be getting a post AM practice up hopefully no later than lunch time.

Shaun Hill continued running the first team offense yesterday afternoon. Maiocco made a comment that the passing game is far ahead of where it was a year ago at this time. One has to imagine that is due to the use of what is hopefully a less complicated passing attack. From day one we knew the Martz passing game was complicated. I recall reading how Smith and Hill were both putting in a lot of hours just learning all the wrinkles of that offense.

While I’d imagine Jimmy Raye’s offense isn’t "simple," I’m also assuming it is not on the complication level of the Martz offense. The upside is that rather than spending a big chunk of camp learning the offense, they can implement it right away and work on the timing and chemistry. While that doesn’t guarantee success, it certainly can’t hurt. Maybe it will lead to an improved offense early on. We’ll see how it plays out.

Both Matts indicated that Jay Moore had a solid afternoon of practice, with Barrows going so far as to call him the MVP of the PM practice. As much of an irrational fan of his as I am, I do realize it’s going to take a lot more practices like that, along with some solid exhibition game performances to garner a roster spot. That and avoiding IR for the third straight year.

As I mentioned I’ve included the post-practice press conference transcripts for Mike Singletary and Jimmy Raye. Raye had a variety of thoughts about the offense, but I thought I’d focus on his comments about the wide receivers. He had a lot of great things to say about Josh Morgan in particular:

Well, I didn’t know him before I got here. For a big-bodied guy, for a big receiver, he has excellent explosion for a guy his size. He doesn’t look like he would have that kind of explosion, but he’s an explosive guy, a great leaper. His range, because of his arms, his circumference range is very good. He can get to some balls with extension that some guys can’t. So, that part of him, what I’ve seen so far and the physicalness of him so far and the blocking part of it, is very good . . .

He’s a plus because he’s a multiple guy. In a three-wide set he could play all three positions, including the slot, or the F as we refer to it. He can play both X and Z, and so that makes him, in a game-day situation, a real plus, a real positive because he’s multiple enough that he can learn it, one, which is a plus, and he can play both receiver spots or inside at the F in a three-wide package. So, that’s a positive for him and us.

He also had a line about Arnaz Battle that would seem to help Battle in his bid for a roster spot. He was asked what other receivers can play both the X and the Z:

Arnaz Battle is a multiple spot guy, and Brandon Jones is a multiple spot guy.

Combine that with Battle’s special teams abilities and he certainly is headed in the right direction.

I have to say I’m quite excited to get out to practice. I know some of you have expressed an interest in hearing more about what Singletary has to say and what is going on in some of the individual workouts. I’ll see what I can come up with for you. I’ll definitely keep an eye out for what Singletary has to say to the team during 11-on-11 drills. It’s my understanding that he’s giving press conferences every other day, so I probably won’t get to see him speak to the entire media today.

Sources
Matt Barrows Recap
Matt Maiocco Recap

Head Coach Mike Singletary
Post-Practice – 08-03-09
San Francisco 49ers

On the progress the team has made so far:
"We’re making strides. We’re getting a little better. We just have to get a little better every day. We made some strides. Not bad."

On why LB Patrick Willis sat out of practice:
"It is just a little, slight ankle strain. A very light ankle strain. We’re just keeping him out, but he will be fine."

On how long Willis will be out:
"We’re not even thinking about it. We’re fine. It’s day-to-day. We’ll be good."

On when he learned the nutcracker drill:
"I first learned the nutcracker drill in Chicago, when Coach Ditka came to the Bears. That is when I first learned it. The nutcracker drill we are doing now is different than what we did then."

On how he did the nutcracker drill differently in Chicago:
"There was more shedding. It was more of a hit and get off. A lot times with that you have a guy that may get up, and then you have a guy going three or four times against him and you’re not getting any work in because you’re just jumping around. The thing I wanted to do was have both guys get up there and really get the fundamental work in, of going through a guy, rather than going around or jumping around. It is working out better."

On whether the nutcracker drill will wear guys down:
"I don’t think a nutcracker drill right now will have anything to do with guys breaking down. As a matter of fact, the nutcracker drill is going to be what helps them stay alive, in terms of defending themselves and knowing the tools they have. They are not going to get it any other time, so we take advantage of it now."

On when he will stop doing the nutcracker:
"We’ll play it by ear. Like I said before, Fergie (Head Athletic Trainer Jeff Ferguson) and I will continue to talk, and the way we handle the drill is pretty safe. It’s pretty fool-proof. The thing I really want the guys to get is just the technique and the battle. That’s all it is."

On keeping players fresh throughout camp:
"Right now, with all of our players, it is just one of those things where we are looking at them and monitoring them accordingly. We are talking to the coaches and the trainers so we are being smart with each and every player we have."

On Frank Gore’s expected workload throughout the rest of camp:
"Like I said, we’ll play it by ear. I’m certain he is going to get some work and we’ll monitor it as we go. It is easier when you start early and you get guys the exposure they need and the work they need. As we get going forward, Frank is one of those special guys and as time goes on we are going to be monitoring and watching it. Trust me, he’ll be fresh when the season starts."

On what he has seen from LB Ahmad Brooks:
"Ahmad is a guy we are very excited about the opportunity he brings to our defense. We feel he is a guy who is going to continue to grow and make plays. He is out there all over the place making plays. So it is very exciting."

On DE Kentwan Balmer’s performance today:
"He did okay. We have to keep working him. We just have to keep working on the little things, the details. Kentwan will be fine."

On guys who stood out during the nutcracker drill:
"A number of guys are getting better at it. I feel, right now, the most important thing is for our coaching to continue to emphasize the little things and get the guys the tools so when they are in a game they can adjust accordingly and go from there. There are a number of guys on both sides of the ball that are getting better. I don’t want to single them out for now, but they are getting better."

On TE Vernon Davis leaving the nutcracker drill early:
"Vernon is one of those guys you just have to get away from contact. He loves contact, but that was all he needed. I just really wanted him to get away from there and go do something else. He is a guy, if you let him, he’ll stay there all day. That’s him. Anything he can do to get him the heck away from what we were doing over there is fine."

On the young receivers’ progress:
"They are coming on. [WRs coach] Jerry Sullivan is doing an outstanding job continuing to work with the younger guys. They are continuing to watch Isaac Bruce and see some of the things he is doing, and learning to become a pro. I think the guys are making great strides."

On when he expects WR Michael Crabtree to sign with the team:
"I’m really not thinking about it. When he comes in, we’ll be excited to get him. But until that time I am just going to focus on the guys who are here."

On how he is approaching the quarterback competition right now:
"It is making sure everything else is right. The offensive line has to be right. The protection has to be right. The receivers have to be running their correct routes at the right time. The better everything else around them gets, the better you can evaluate the quarterback. That is really the thing we are focusing on right now. I think both quarterbacks are continuing to get their timing down and get the trust with the receivers."

On how his quotes keep showing up on billboards and T-shirts as part of the team’s marketing campaign:
"I don’t really know how that got going, or why people thought it was worth putting up on a billboard. For me, the most important thing is that it is happening out here (on the field). The words, they can go on billboards, they can go on T-shirts, but if it is not going on out here on the field, we need to take them down quick."

On building a team identity:
"Each and every day, that is a thing we have to focus on. Before we can do all the other things we want to do, we must know who we are. We must have that in place before the season starts, and we will."

Offensive Coordinator Jimmy Raye
Post-Practice, 08-03-09
San Francisco 49ers

On the importance of bringing in a fullback and what he’s seen from the group:
"Well, with our installation process, we have a couple of different personnel packages. That was one that we were initially wanted to make sure we got covered so we could play some two-back offense. And during the spring, the transition was very good. Then, coming into this training camp, we continued that process with the people we had here. The veteran guy, Moran Norris, arrived late yesterday, and he picked up this morning where he was this spring. That part of the development of it, to this point, has been good."

On Mike Robinson’s ability to play a hammering type of fullback:
"That’s not him. That’s not him. He’s more multiple in 21, and they have to make a decision defensively how they will treat him, though we will still do the same things. He won’t be as big physically a match-up as the other guys, the other three guys will. But he will – if he’s in there, he will be doing the same kinds of things."

On the development he’s seeing in the offense:
"It’s very similar to – it’s similar and dissimilar. Because they have on pads, we get to see a little bit more of their ability to play in a competitive environment. It’s different than the spring when they’re in shorts. And, the installation and teaching part of it, we’ve been pleased with. It’s ongoing. The physicalness of it, with the pads and the competitive part of it, thus far has been good."

On Josh Morgan’s emerging role:
"Josh is in the mix. Josh is doing a good job. That group as a whole is doing a good job. [I’m] very pleased with them at this point. Josh is doing a good job. He’s one of the two or three guys that we have that can play both sides, can play X and Z. So his progress has been good. He’s in competition with the whole group and he’s doing a good job."

On what he’s seen in Josh Morgan’s development:
"Well, I didn’t know him before I got here. For a big-bodied guy, for a big receiver, he has excellent explosion for a guy his size. He doesn’t look like he would have that kind of explosion, but he’s an explosive guy, a great leaper. His range, because of his arms, his circumference range is very good. He can get to some balls with extension that some guys can’t. So, that part of him, what I’ve seen so far and the physicalness of him so far and the blocking part of it, is very good."

On what he’s seen in Brandon Jones:
"Brandon has done well. He’s transitioning out of a different system, so his learning curve has been good. Brandon, this camp, has made plays down the field on deep balls. He has some good change of direction and explosive, long speed. He’s done a good job. He’s in the mix with the rest of that group in terms of where he’s going development-wise and what he’s been able to do in this early training camp."

On how he feels about the backup running backs:
"Well, I think there’s competition at all of these positions at this point. Because, you’ve got to remember now, we’re in training camp. The evaluation process is still going on, and there are some numbers there. Frank Gore is a given in terms of what he’s done and what he’s accomplished in the league, but there is some competitiveness in the numbers of people that we have there. And the question earlier about Michael Robinson, he’s also a guy who can carry the ball along with Kory Sheets, along with Glen Coffee and along with Thomas Clayton. Those guys are in a competitive situation, and we’re pleased with that."

On the importance of keeping Frank Gore fresh throughout training camp:
"That is a problem that all 31 other teams in the league [have] because what the 80 number has done to people in terms of going to training camp and the two-a-day practices, the proven players and the little bit older players, the guys in the plus 4- to 5-year range, you’ve got to have ¬– when you’re going two-a-day – you’ve got to be judicious with their time in terms of the installation and how they practice and make sure you don’t run all the rubber off the tires before you get to November."

On how the opportunities for Josh Morgan change based on receiver slot he plays in:
"He’s a plus because he’s a multiple guy. In a three-wide set he could play all three positions, including the slot, or the F as we refer to it. He can play both X and Z, and so that makes him, in a game-day situation, a real plus, a real positive because he’s multiple enough that he can learn it, one, which is a plus, and he can play both receiver spots or inside at the F in a three-wide package. So, that’s a positive for him and us."

On the other receivers who can play both the X and the Z:
"Arnaz Battle is a multiple spot guy, and Brandon Jones is a multiple spot guy."

On how difficult it will be for Michael Crabtree to catch up when he does come into camp:
"I don’t know. I don’t know anymore about Michael Crabtree now then I did when we drafted him, other than what we evaluated him on college. I think you all are probably a little more concerned about him not being here than we are. We basically – when he comes, we’ll welcome him and start and see where he is and go from there. Right now, he would fall into the mix with the rest of the guys and the evaluation process will go forward. I anticipate that when he gets here he will be behind the learning curve, obviously, because he had no spring and no OTA practices, or no offseason practices. But, I think when he gets here, we’ll put him in the mix and we’ll go forward with him."

On whether Michael Crabtree’s absence gives the other wide receivers more opportunities and the coaching staff more opportunities to evaluate the receivers who are practicing:
"Yes, it would because you’re practicing 10 guys as opposed to 11 or 12 guys. So, when Crabtree is added to the mix, obviously, somebody, the reps will get spread out more. So, it’s a great opportunity for the people here to take advantage of the extra reps that they are getting in terms of the evaluation. And they’re doing it with the pads on, which is another plus because in the spring it was shorts and t-shirts. Now it’s a competitive deal doing the same thing, so, obviously, the reps that they get are better for them."

On what he has learned about Vernon Davis thus far:
"Well I don’t want to get into what he’s not good at in terms of bulletin board material for the defensive coordinators around the league, but he is an explosive, competitive tight end who is a guy you don’t have to substitute out of the game in passing situations. He has wide receiver speed and has ability in the running game to block a defensive end. What I’ve seen of him, his development has been very good. We just need to keep him going forward in terms of what we ask him to do and make sure we don’t overload him in terms of the distribution in the run-down, pass-down situation and the in-line blocking. But, what we’ve observed to this point, his development has been good. He’s done a good job of what we’ve asked him to do. I would think he would be a guy that as we go forward, he stays on the field in all down and distance situations and will be a real plus for us."

On whether Marvel Smith is back in the flow of things, physically and technique-wise:
"What I’ve seen of him in the pads, in the practices that he’s been in, he seems fine. Until the training room people or the medical people say something different to me about him, I’m evaluating him as he falls into the mix and as he gets his legs back under him because as you realize, he’s a plus-8-year guy. So, he’s one of those guys that, as he goes forward and get his legs under him and gets more comfortable, he has played a lot of NFL football games. So, at this point, what I’ve seen of him, he’s been fine. Until such time as somebody medically says something about him, I’m going to assume he’s going to be a competitive player for the position at right tackle."

On whether he’s been trying to get Vernon Davis the ball more in practice:
"No. It’s not intentional. We’re installing and going forward, and that’s what we do. The tight end is a big part of the way we play offensive football, as past history of places I’ve been would indicate. It’s not by design that we are going up and putting in plays to throw him the ball. We are doing what we are doing in the installation part of it, and it happens to be that as we do things, the tight end is a big part of it. Fortunately for him, like I said on answering the previous question, is he is a guy who can be in there all down and distance situations, so his opportunities increase."

NFC West Roundtable: Outside Linebacker

John Morgan — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 17:33:36 -0000

More photos » by Ted S. Warren - AP

Browse more photos »

The easy answer is "A". A sub-Pro Bowl starter in his prime, Leroy Hill, and a once in a generation talent at linebacker, Aaron Curry – that’s got to be an "A".

Leroy Hill struggles in zone coverage. He’s an after the fact tackler that is lucky to track down whatever receiver just blew by him. He hasn’t has been a consistent pass rusher since his rookie season, and though that might be because boneheadedness on John Marshall’s part, it might be that like Lofa Tatupu, he can’t find gaping inside rush lanes absent monstrous Marcus Tubbs. Hill has missed time every season since his rookie season with injuries.

Aaron Curry is a rookie. Even given the better than average success NFL GM’s enjoy drafting linebackers, first overall linebackers have less than a 60% chance of ever making a Pro Bowl. They have a less than 40% chance of ever making two Pro Bowls. Curry wasn’t highly recruited out of high school and wasn’t a standout throughout his college career. He was an amazing senior and his stock exploded after an amazing Combine. He was never a great pass rusher at Wake Forest. Curry is projected to be a good pass rusher, but projections that don’t accord with reality have a way of disappointing. He’s a little stiff in his swivel and though much younger, probably less agile than departed Seahawk Julian Peterson.

So, then…

Both are monster run stoppers. Not tackle – tackle – tackle run stoppers, but jam the fullback into his locker, atomic wedgie the tight end and rip through the ball for a loss of four…teeth, run stoppers.

Both shutdown the screen pass and make a fumble as likely as a completion.

Both have rare closing speed, good agility, sound and sometimes punishing tackling technique and good field awareness.

Curry has the skills and tools to be a Lance Briggs caliber pass defender.

Hill has the skills and tools to be a Chad Brown caliber pass rusher.

But there’s still too much locked into potential and not enough known about how they will be played and how they will develop, so though Hill and Curry comprise the most talented duo of outside linebackers in the entire NFL, they are not yet an "A", they are a "B" with crazy upside.

D.D. Lewis, David Hawthorne, Will Herring and Lance Laury make up the depth we know. I’ve spoken of Lewis and Hawthorne. Herring is a former safety that’s a linebacker electron. His speed and agility give him potential as a coverage specialist, but he needs to add bulk and strength to not be a liability against the run. I’m not sure Laury makes the team.

Turf Show Times
Blogger: VanRam

In a division trademarked for its linebackers, the St. Louis Rams were embarrassingly substandard last year, thanks to poor decision making that left Will Witherspoon in the middle and arrogantly allowed an emerging Brandon Chillar to flee for greener, more frozen pastures. Addressing the situation at linebacker has been a top offseason priority for the defensive-minded new regime led by head coach Steve Spagnuolo and defensive coordinator Ken Flajole.

The Rams made their first big move of the offseason when they announced that Will Witherspoon would be moved back to his natural position on the weakside. That move was deemed so important, it happened before the free agent free for all and well ahead of the draft. The move will free up the athletic Witherspoon from having to take on huskier linemen and lead blockers in the middle, where he was long miscast with the Rams. Besides giving the team a more effective LB in coverage and pursuit, Witherspoon's presence on the outside gives them another threat to rush the passer. He won't likely top his career high 7 sacks from 2007, but he'll get plenty of work in the attack-first system. He's also being reunited with Ken Flajole, his linebackers coach with the Panthers.

The Rams have desperately needed a true middle linebacker and snagged their man, James Laurinaitis, with their second round pick. He has the size and ability to read and react well to action in the gaps in front of him, and displayed real talent against the run and in coverage. Most importantly, Little Animal has the intelligence and football acumen to be the "field general" that Spagnuolo has traditionally asked his middle linebackers to play. Laurinaitis won't be known for bone crushing hits like Rey Maualuga, the other top MLB in this year's draft, but he's a solid tackler and a tough player. Lots of draft pundits felt like NFL success early on was a realistic expectation for Laurinaitis. He's currently working out with the second team, but no one expects him to stay there. Early reports have been very positive.

On the strongside, the picture gets muddled after the release of Pisa Tinoisamoa, deemed a less-than-perfect fit for the new defensive scheme. Though Pisa was a contributor, it's easy to forget that he battled consistency from week to week and often had trouble with blown gap assignments and bigger, more physical blockers. Right now, three players are vying for the SLB spot in the starting lineup. Veteran Chris Draft tops the list at the moment, but his ability to play all three positions likely keeps him in the all-important utility role. Larry Grant, a 49ers cast off picked up to bolster special teams last year, is another candidate for the job thanks to an impressive work ethic (a commodity valued immensely by the new coaching staff), a good spring and strong, yet unheralded performances with the team last year. Don't discount the something-to-prove factor at play here as Grant gets the chance to see the 49ers twice a year. He was also a teammate of Laurinaitis at Ohio State. The third entrant in the SLB sweepstakes is last year's Mr. Irrelevant, David Vobora. The former Idaho Vandal saw action on special teams last year and in the LB rotation for 8 games. He ended up starting a game down the stretch - partly for an audition, partly out of need - and racked up 5 tackles, 4 solo, in a tight game against the Dolphins.

Vobora and Grant should both make the roster, regardless of who gets the starting job. After those five, the depth chart is rounded out by Quinton Culberson and Chris Chamberlain. Culberson was tapped to start on the strongside at the beginning of last year, but was promptly replaced. He has talent that needs to be honed into a more consistent product. He'll have the chance to do that in camp this year, but if he can't put it together Culberson will be another casualty of regime change. Chamberlain is another seventh round pick from last year. He may get some work in the rotation given his play in coverage, but he'll be counted on to step up his strong special teams play from last year. There are a couple of other names in the mix from undrafted rookie pool, the most intriguing among them being Mississippi State's Dominic Douglas, who led the SEC in tackles last season.

The Rams are in a much better place with their linebackers than they have been in a long, long time, thanks mostly to the addition of Laurinaitis and Witherspoon's move back to his natural spot. There are still very real concerns about depth here, and it would surprise no one to see the team pluck a roster casualty when teams start making cuts this fall. Spagnuolo and Flajole have reputations for finding diamonds in the rough among defensive players and their success with linebackers is being counted upon here.

San Francisco 49ers
Blogger: Fooch

49ers Outside Linebackers

Whereas the 49ers have established, proven talent at inside linebacker, the outside linebackers bring a mix of production and question marks. I would argue the 49ers outside linebackers could end up just about anywhere on the spectrum from crap to great and it wouldn't surprise me at this point.

Parys Haralson was by far the most productive OLB for the 49ers last season, leading the team with 8 sacks. While Nolan was running things Haralson would get jerked on and off the field and was not getting consistent playing time until Singletary took over. The question surrounding Haralson is what kind of development the 49ers will see in 2009. Haralson is entering his 4th season and has shown continued improvement each year as a pass rusher. If he continues to improve the 49ers will move towards a more consistent overall pass rush. Part of that of course depends on the development of....

Manny Lawson. I would not categorize Manny Lawson as a bust or even a disappointment at this point. Drafted the same year as Haralson, only as a first round pick, Lawson has had a rather tumultuous first three seasons. He had a decent enough first year before getting knocked out for the season with a nasty knee injury in practice after week 2 of the 2007 campaign. He was back last season but lacked some of the burst and athleticism fans were expecting. And of course there was Mike Nolan's ridiculous use of the Big Sub defense that sometimes involved Manny Lawson spending most of a game on special teams. Up to this point Lawson has shown he can handle the coverage duties of a linebacker, usually ending up covering the opposing tight end. He has not been given nearly as much responsibility in the pass rush game. Mike Singletary has said that will change this season and Lawson get his chance to rush the passer. The ball is officially in Lawson's court to make something happen. I think no matter what Lawson's numbers will go up simply because of increased opportunities. The question is whether he will become the second pass rusher the 49ers need.

The 49ers depth at outside linebacker is a mix of production and potential. The three primary backups competing for roster spots are Marques Harris, Ahmad Brooks and Jay Moore. Harris played in San Diego under then linebackers coach Greg Manusky (now 49ers DC). He's a pass rush specialist who will get a long look given the fact that Manusky was comfortable bringing him up here. Brooks is a guy most agree is immensely talented, but also a head case of sorts. He can play some as an ILB, but will get his chance at legit playing time as an OLB. Moore is a guy the 49ers drafted in 2006 as a defensive end out of Nebraska that they intended to convert to a pass rushing OLB. Unfortunately he's gotten hurt in the preseason each of the last two seasons and spent the seasons on injured reserve. I have an affinity for Moore that really has no basis in reality, so I'm rooting for him. Due to practice squad eligibility, I wouldn't be surprised to see him end up there.

As I mentioned initially, the 49ers could run the spectrum of production this season at outside linebacker. They've had production from Haralson, but how this unit grades out at the end of the season will depend a lot on what Manny Lawson brings to the table in the pass rush. Accordingly, I'm splitting the difference for now and giving the unit a C, but expecting so much more.

Arizona Cardinals
Blogger: cgolden

Much like the Niners, the Arizona Cardinals boast above average starters at inside linebackers and meagerly mention their outside linebackers. The Cardinals OLB's certainly have experience on their side but that also means that the clock is ticking against these 30-something's.

The projected starters are 33 year old Chike Okeafor and 32 year Clark Haggans. Together they've appeared in 255 games in this league and recorded 82 sacks but Okeafor spent the entire 2007 season on the IR and Haggans finished the 2007 season on the IR. In the 2008 season the two combined for a grand total of 5.5 sacks which is not exactly what you're looking for in a pair of OLB's in a 3-4. The Cardinals hope is that a return to the aggressive, attacking style particularly with Okeafor will result in an uptick in his sack totals. If both Okeafor and Haggans can stay healthy, the hope is that they can approach 15 sacks combined with guys like Darnell Docket, Karlos Dansby, Adrian Wilson and the backups (conveniently listed below) picking up the slack.

The primary backup should be second round pick Cody Brown, formerly of the University of Connecticut. Few question Brown's ability to rush the passer, but it's pretty universally accepted that it takes a full year to grasp the responsibilities of the position as a whole. That should leave Brown in the same boat as veteran pass rusher Bertrand Berry. Both excel at rushing the passer but would appear to have a hard time playing a complete OLB this season. The result, at least right now, appears to be two players who are basically situational pass rushers, but in that role could rack up between four and six sacks. Further down the depth chart is sixth round selection Will Davis who has proven to be quite an interesting prospect. A former wide receiver turned defensive end turned defensive tackle (after injuries by others at Illinois), Davis has the physical ability to play almost anywhere on the field but he's raw and would most likely need a solid camp to make the roster.

Sadly that's the entirety of the depth at outside linebacker, Three veterans trying avoid the 'washed up' label and two rookies hoping that potential isn't the only thing in their bag of tricks. Maybe the Cardinals strike gold and their veterans stay healthy while Brown and Davis come along slowly or maybe the kids get thrust into the fire before they are ready. I could easily see the Cardinals out performing this grade by a mile but realistically, I can't go much higher than D.

NFC West Position-by-Position: Outside Linebackers

Hawkwind — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 17:17:46 -0000

Our division preview moves to the outside linebackers today and after seeing how strong the division was at inside linebacker with the likes of Lofa Tatupa, Patrick Willis and Karlos Dansby, we were expecting big things. The Cardinals outside linebackers are tough to analyze because this should be the first year in a true 3-4 defense, meaning that guys like Chike Okeafor, Bertrand Berry and a couple of rookies will be learning on the fly. Still though there is quite a bit of experience talent at the position but how do they measure up to their NFC West rivals?

Arizona Cardinals

Much like the Niners, the Arizona Cardinals boast above average starts at inside linebackers and meagerly mention their outside linebackers. The Cardinals OLB's certainly have experience on their side but that also means that the clock is ticking against these 30-something's.

The projected starters are 33 year old Chike Okeafor and 32 year Clark Haggans. Together they've appeared in 255 games in this league and recorded 82 sacks but Okeafor spent the entire 2007 season on the IR and Haggans finished the 2007 season on the IR. In the 2008 season the two combined for a grand total of 5.5 sacks which is not exactly what you're looking for in a pair of OLB's in a 3-4. The Cardinals hope is that a return the aggressive, attacking style particularly with Okeafor will result in an uptick in his sack totals. If both Okeafor and Haggans can stay healthy, the hope is that they can approach 15 sacks combined with guys like Darnell Docket, Karlos Dansby, Adrian Wilson and the backups (conveniently listed below) picking up the slack.

The primary backup should be second round pick Cody Brown, formerly of the University of Connecticut. Few question Brown's ability to rush the passer, but it's pretty universally accepted that it takes a full year to grasp the responsibilities of the position as a whole. That should leave Brown in the same boat as veteran pass rusher Bertrand Berry. Both excel at rushing the passer but would appear to have a hard time playing a complete OLB this season. The result, at least right now, appears to be two players who are basically situational pass rushers, but in that role could rack up between four and six sacks. Further down the depth chart is sixth round selection Will Davis who has proven to be quite an interesting prospect. A former wide receiver turned defensive end turned defensive tackle (after injuries by others at Illinois), Davis has the physical ability to play almost anywhere on the field but he's raw and would most likely need a solid camp to make the roster.

Sadly that's the entirety of the depth at outside linebacker, Three veterans trying avoid the 'washed up' label and two rookies hoping that potential isn't the only thing in their bag of tricks. Maybe the Cardinals strike gold and their veterans stay healthy while Brown and Davis come along slowly or maybe the kids get thrust into the fire before they are ready. I could easily see the Cardinals out preforming this grade by a mile but realistically, I can't go much higher than D.

San Francisco 49ers - Niners Nation

Whereas the 49ers have established, proven talent at inside linebacker, the outside linebackers bring a mix of production and question marks. I would argue the 49ers outside linebackers could end up just about anywhere on the spectrum from crap to great and it wouldn't surprise me at this point.

Parys Haralson was by far the most productive OLB for the 49ers last season, leading the team with 8 sacks. While Nolan was running things Haralson would get jerked on and off the field and was not getting consistent playing time until Singletary took over. The question surrounding Haralson is what kind of development the 49ers will see in 2009. Haralson is entering his 4th season and has shown continued improvement each year as a pass rusher. If he continues to improve the 49ers will move towards a more consistent overall pass rush. Part of that of course depends on the development of....

Manny Lawson. I would not categorize Manny Lawson as a bust or even a disappointment at this point. Drafted the same year as Haralson, only as a first round pick, Lawson has had a rather tumultuous first three seasons. He had a decent enough first year before getting knocked out for the season with a nasty knee injury in practice after week 2 of the 2007 campaign. He was back last season but lacked some of the burst and athleticism fans were expecting. And of course there was Mike Nolan's ridiculous use of the Big Sub defense that sometimes involved Manny Lawson spending most of a game on special teams. Up to this point Lawson has shown he can handle the coverage duties of a linebacker, usually ending up covering the opposing tight end. He has not been given nearly as much responsibility in the pass rush game. Mike Singletary has said that will change this season and Lawson get his chance to rush the passer. The ball is officially in Lawson's court to make something happen. I think no matter what Lawson's numbers will go up simply because of increased opportunities. The question is whether he will become the second pass rusher the 49ers need.

The 49ers depth at outside linebacker is a mix of production and potential. The three primary backups competing for roster spots are Marques Harris, Ahmad Brooks and Jay Moore. Harris played in San Diego under then linebackers coach Greg Manusky (now 49ers DC). He's a pass rush specialist who will get a long look given the fact that Manusky was comfortable bringing him up here. Brooks is a guy most agree is immensely talented, but also a head case of sorts. He can play some as an ILB, but will get his chance at legit playing time as an OLB. Moore is a guy the 49ers drafted in 2006 as a defensive end out of Nebraska that they intended to convert to a pass rushing OLB. Unfortunately he's gotten hurt in the preseason each of the last two seasons and spent the seasons on injured reserve. I have an affinity for Moore that really has no basis in reality, so I'm rooting for him. Due to practice squad eligibility, I wouldn't be surprised to see him end up there.

As I mentioned initially, the 49ers could run the spectrum of production this season at outside linebacker. They've had production from Haralson, but how this unit grades out at the end of the season will depend a lot on what Manny Lawson brings to the table in the pass rush. Accordingly, I'm splitting the difference for now and giving the unit a C, but expecting so much more.

St. Louis Rams - Turf Show Times

In a division trademarked for its linebackers, the St. Louis Rams were embarrassingly substandard last year, thanks to poor decision making that left Will Witherspoon in the middle and arrogantly allowed an emerging Brandon Chillar to flee for greener, more frozen pastures. Addressing the situation at linebacker has been a top off season priority for the defensive-minded new regime led by head coach Steve Spagnuolo and defensive coordinator Ken Flajole.

The Rams made their first big move of the off season when they announced that Will Witherspoon would be moved back to his natural position on the weak side. That move was deemed so important, it happened before the free agent free for all and well ahead of the draft. The move will free up the athletic Witherspoon from having to take on huskier linemen and lead blockers in the middle, where he was long miscast with the Rams. Besides giving the team a more effective LB in coverage and pursuit, Witherspoon's presence on the outside gives them another threat to rush the passer. He won't likely top his career high 7 sacks from 2007, but he'll get plenty of work in the attack-first system. He's also being reunited with Ken Flajole, his linebackers coach with the Panthers.

The Rams have desperately needed a true middle linebacker and snagged their man, James Laurinaitis, with their second round pick. He has the size and ability to read and react well to action in the gaps in front of him, and displayed real talent against the run and in coverage. Most importantly, Little Animal has the intelligence and football acumen to be the "field general" that Spagnuolo has traditionally asked his middle linebackers to play. Laurinaitis won't be known for bone crushing hits like Rey Maualuga, the other top MLB in this year's draft, but he's a solid tackler and a tough player. Lots of draft pundits felt like NFL success early on was a realistic expectation for Laurinaitis. He's currently working out with the second team, but no one expects him to stay there. Early reports have been very positive.

On the strong side, the picture gets muddled after the release of Pisa Tinoisamoa, deemed a less-than-perfect fit for the new defensive scheme. Though Pisa was a contributor, it's easy to forget that he battled consistency from week to week and often had trouble with blown gap assignments and bigger, more physical blockers. Right now, three players are vying for the SLB spot in the starting lineup. Veteran Chris Draft tops the list at the moment, but his ability to play all three positions likely keeps him in the all-important utility role. Larry Grant, a 49ers cast off picked up to bolster special teams last year, is another candidate for the job thanks to an impressive work ethic (a commodity valued immensely by the new coaching staff), a good spring and strong, yet unheralded performances with the team last year. Don't discount the something-to-prove factor at play here as Grant gets the chance to see the 49ers twice a year. He was also a teammate of Laurinaitis at Ohio State. The third entrant in the SLB sweepstakes is last year's Mr. Irrelevant, David Vobora. The former Idaho Vandal saw action on special teams last year and in the LB rotation for 8 games. He ended up starting a game down the stretch - partly for an audition, partly out of need - and racked up 5 tackles, 4 solo, in a tight game against the Dolphins.

Vobora and Grant should both make the roster, regardless of who gets the starting job. After those five, the depth chart is rounded out by Quinton Culberson and Chris Chamberlain. Culberson was tapped to start on the strongside at the beginning of last year, but was promptly replaced. He has talent that needs to be honed into a more consistent product. He'll have the chance to do that in camp this year, but if he can't put it together Culberson will be another casualty of regime change. Chamberlain is another seventh round pick from last year. He may get some work in the rotation given his play in coverage, but he'll be counted on to step up his strong special teams play from last year. There are a couple of other names in the mix from undrafted rookie pool, the most intriguing among them being Mississippi State's Dominic Douglas, who led the SEC in tackles last season.

The Rams are in a much better place with their linebackers than they have been in a long, long time, thanks mostly to the addition of Laurinaitis and Witherspoon's move back to his natural spot. There are still very real concerns about depth here, and it would surprise no one to see the team pluck a roster casualty when teams start making cuts this fall. Spagnuolo and Flajole have reputations for finding diamonds in the rough among defensive players and their success with linebackers is being counted upon here.

Seattle Seahawks - Field Gulls

The easy answer is "A". A sub-Pro Bowl starter in his prime, Leroy Hill, and a once in a generation talent at linebacker, Aaron Curry - that's got to be an "A".

Leroy Hill struggles in zone coverage. He's an after the fact tackler that is lucky to track down whatever receiver just blew by him. He hasn't has been a consistent pass rusher since his rookie season, and though that might be because boneheadedness on John Marshall's part, it might be that like Lofa Tatupu, he can't find gaping inside rush lanes absent monstrous Marcus Tubbs. Hill has missed time every season since his rookie season with injuries.

Aaron Curry is a rookie. Even given the better than average success NFL GM's enjoy drafting linebackers, first overall linebackers have less than a 60% chance of ever making a Pro Bowl (http://www.advancednflstats.com/2009/04/drafting-linebackers.html). They have a less than 40% chance of ever making two Pro Bowls. Curry wasn't highly recruited out of high school and wasn't a standout throughout his college career. He was an amazing senior and his stock exploded after an amazing Combine. He was never a great pass rusher at Wake Forest. Curry is projected to be a good pass rusher, but projections that don't accord with reality have a way of disappointing. He's a little stiff in his swivel and though much younger, probably less agile than departed Seahawk Julian Peterson.

So, then...

Both are monster run stoppers. Not tackle - tackle - tackle run stoppers, but jam the fullback into his locker, atomic wedgie the tight end and rip through the ball for a loss of four...teeth, run stoppers.

Both shutdown the screen pass and make a fumble as likely as a completion.

Both have rare closing speed, good agility, sound and sometimes punishing tackling technique and good field awareness.

Curry has the skills and tools to be Lance Briggs caliber pass defender.

Hill has the skills and tools to be a Chad Brown caliber pass rusher.

But there's still too much locked into potential and not enough known about how they will be played and how they will develop, so though Hill and Curry comprise the most talented duo of outside linebackers in the entire NFL, they are not yet an "A", they are a "B" with crazy upside.

D.D. Lewis, David Hawthorne, Will Herring and Lance Laury make up the depth we know. I've spoken of Lewis and Hawthorne. Herring is a former safety that's a linebacker electron. His speed and agility give him potential as a coverage specialist, but he needs to add bulk and strength to not be a liability against the run. I'm not sure Laury makes the team.

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After seeing how strong the division was at inside backer, it's surprising to see how many question marks each team has at outside linebacker. The Niners and Cardinals are making the 3-4 transition, the Hawks are counting on an awful lot from a rookie and the Rams are playing musical chairs. Where would you rank the Cardinals OLB's and how good do you think they can be?