Official San Francisco 49ers thread

[wco81]

Re: Official San Francisco 49ers thread

Who thinks we overpaid for Smith (raises hand)?

I thought one of the hangups before we drafted him was that he wanted as much as Eli Manning got last year. Instead he seems to have gotten more.

I guess York was desperate to show the local fans that he's willing to spend money so that they would buy the tickets.

[NinerFan1983]

Re: Official San Francisco 49ers thread

I realize that training camps have started like only yesterday, but how is 7th round draft pick Patrick Estes doing for the 49ers so far? Is it looking like there will be a spot for him on the team? And will he remain at tight end or move to tackle (he was quite a blocker for a TE at UVA, and there was talk that he would be drafted to play o-line)?

If I'm not mistaken, I believe he'll be moving to play tackle.

Before camp got started, there was some talk about moving Estes to the offensive line.

Honestly, I wouldn't be opposed to this, because the 49ers need help on the offensive line and him moving to tackle wouldn't hurt at all.

Speaking of offensive linemen, I can't wait to see David Baas in action this year.

[Brandwin]

Re: Official San Francisco 49ers thread

Got damn it! Baas is out 6 weeks...=/

http://story.scout.com/a.z?s=69&p=2&c=417207&ssf=1&RequestedURL=http%3a%2f%2f49ers.scout.com%2f2%2f417207.html

[Brandwin]

Re: Official San Francisco 49ers thread

Training Camp Notes

By Craig Massei, SFI editor
Date: Jul 30, 2005

When you’re coming off a 2-14 season, you don’t exactly ease into training camp the next year. And there the 49ers were Saturday afternoon, during the first summer practice of the Mike Nolan era, wearing full pads and not hesitating to use them. The feisty first day set a tone of energy and aggression, and here’s a collection of other observations, speculations and viewpoints from the new beginnings of the team’s camp opener.

--- The difference in this camp could be seen – and heard – right away. The pads were popping, perhaps even a little too much to Nolan’s liking. There were some crunching hits in team drills and several players were left sprawling on the ground, not the kind of thing you expect to see on the first day of camp in drills that ostensibly were of the hit-and-release variety.

--- “We still have to learn to practice with one another,” Nolan said. “Obviously, we’re not doing a lot of live drills, as far as going to the ground and tackling. But there were a few too many bodies on the ground at different times. That’s to be expected. But it’s important that we learn how to practice with one another, because part of the thing I take pride in is taking care of these guys. We kind of want to do a better job of that.”

--- One day into camp, predictably, the 3-4 defense is ahead of the new-version West Coast offense.

--- The first thing you notice about Alex Smith is how big and strong he looks in pads. It didn’t hurt to see him hurling radar spirals deep downfield into the waiting fingertips of his receivers, either.

--- If Adam Snyder has to play guard for a while, so be it. The rookie stepped in for David Baas with the first team offense Saturday without a glitch.

--- But here’s what the 49ers have going on behind Snyder: Scott Peters and Tony Wragge, among other unheralded names, and that’s a little scary.

--- Regardless of how the competition plays out for the starting role, Kevan Barlow and Frank Gore are going to be a fine complement to each other at tailback.

--- But here’s how that competition started out Saturday: Barlow heading to the locker room early with what Nolan called "heat frustration,” and Gore weaving swiftly, smoothly and smartly through even the tiniest holes as the fans lining the main field roared every time he broke away.

--- When Gore’s not slipping through holes, he’s bursting through them.

--- Steve Bush might not be able to unseat Pro Bowler Fred Beasley at fullback, but he could see a lot of time on the field as a multi-use H-back.

--- Beasley versus linebacker Derek Smith during individual blitz drills: Now, that was contact! These two guys went at it like two battering rams slamming into each other to a virtual standoff.

--- Brandon Lloyd has worked on his technique of slipping away from cornerbacks at the line of scrimmage – a weakness for the starting split end last year – and the results already are showing.

--- Rayshun Reed clearly is in the mix at cornerback, where he’s going to have a chance to carve a niche for himself in secondary coverage packages.

--- No need to worry about the Julian Peterson comeback. In his first unrestricted practice since tearing his left Achilles tendon last October, the two-time Pro Bowler was cagey and quick and looking every bit at home at his old left outside linebacker position in the team’s new 3-4 scheme that appears to accentuate his skills perfectly.

--- Andre Carter’s adjustment period from 4-3 defensive end to 3-4 outside linebacker is continuing in pads. But it looks like he’ll be a tough blocking assignment for running backs when he comes flying in from the edge.

--- Ken Dorsey made a lot of progress this spring, but he still tends to uncork the occasional wobbler when he attempts to throw long. That’s not going to go over so well this year with the heightened competition at quarterback and the team intent on moving along at the position.

--- The same old B.Y.: Bryant Young is picking up where he left off last year as he continues to turn back the clock to the heyday of his NFL youth.

--- The 49ers released offensive tackle Khiawatha Downey before Saturday’s practice, making him the first casualty of training camp. He wasn’t going to get much of an opportunity to help this team, anyway.

--- You won’t find burly Chris Cooper making any complaints about the team’s switch to the 3-4. Playing end in that scheme is suiting him well.

--- Linebacker Richard Seigler is ready to make some noise after a quiet rookie season.

--- The enigma of Rashaun Woods continues. One minute he’s looking slick and shifty with some nice open-field moves to elude cornerbacks. The next minute he’s dropping long spirals placed right on his hands.

--- Andrew Williams doesn’t seem to be able to get to the quarterback any better as an outside linebacker than he did as a defensive end.

--- Marcus Maxwell has some size. And some speed. And he knows how to use both to go up in the air and get the football.

--- Johnnie Morton is a bit slight of build below the torso, but he has a way of slipping into cracks of a defense on passing downs.

--- Hopefully, this is not an omen: Arnaz Battle and Rasheed Marshall both fumbled away their first opportunities of training camp to field punts. And then, Marshall did it again.

--- Willie Middlebrooks might want to show a little bit more urgency with his new team because, despite what the 49ers relinquished to get him, he doesn’t have a job secured in the secondary.

--- For that matter, not many players do on this team. But that will start changing as the 49ers keep moving forward with each summer practice.

[Brandwin]

Re: Official San Francisco 49ers thread

[QUOTE=DookieMowf]Training Camp Notes

--- The first thing you notice about Alex Smith is how big and strong he looks in pads. It didn’t hurt to see him hurling radar spirals deep downfield into the waiting fingertips of his receivers, either.

Thats good to hear. I hope this guy can become a good one . I know he has the makings, but only time will tell. From interviews I have heard and the stories I have read, this guy at least has a great head on his sholders.

--- Regardless of how the competition plays out for the starting role, Kevan Barlow and Frank Gore are going to be a fine complement to each other at tailback.

--- But here’s how that competition started out Saturday: Barlow heading to the locker room early with what Nolan called "heat frustration,” and Gore weaving swiftly, smoothly and smartly through even the tiniest holes as the fans lining the main field roared every time he broke away.

--- When Gore’s not slipping through holes, he’s bursting through them.

Its great to see Gore is looking great out there so far, Barlow better be careful or his spot could end up being taken from him. Hopefully with a revamped line(although Baas is now out 6 weeks I was really looking forward to see what he could do) they both can have great seasons and be productive like Hearst and Barlow were a few yeas ago.

--- No need to worry about the Julian Peterson comeback. In his first unrestricted practice since tearing his left Achilles tendon last October, the two-time Pro Bowler was cagey and quick and looking every bit at home at his old left outside linebacker position in the team’s new 3-4 scheme that appears to accentuate his skills perfectly.

I hope Peterson can come back at 100% and flourish in the 3-4. He is Nolan's jewel on defense this year. Hopefully Winborn breaks lose as well.

--- Andre Carter’s adjustment period from 4-3 defensive end to 3-4 outside linebacker is continuing in pads. But it looks like he’ll be a tough blocking assignment for running backs when he comes flying in from the edge.

Very nice to see. I hope he can make the adjustment and maybe this will help with his back injuries. He really has only had one good season, so hopefully he can finnaly live up to expections with his *new* postion.

--- The enigma of Rashaun Woods continues. One minute he’s looking slick and shifty with some nice open-field moves to elude cornerbacks. The next minute he’s dropping long spirals placed right on his hands.

Im actuallty not surprised and from everything I read, this guy isnt even a sure lock to make the team. Im sure he will be this season, if not just based on the fact he was a rookie last year and a first rounder, but he has yet to show anything. But no NIners wide receiver did last year.

[remix]

Re: Official San Francisco 49ers thread

Got damn it! Baas is out 6 weeks...=/

Is it me... or is last season happening all over again? The injuries are already piling up

[Brandwin]

Re: Official San Francisco 49ers thread

Is it me... or is last season happening all over again? The injuries are already piling up

I wouldnt go that far, but injuries did seem to hit us hard last year. He did hurt himself before camp and Newberry might be back by the time the season starts, so thats good.

About Baas, I really wanted to see what this guy could do,he was pretty much penciled in as a starter before training camp even started. It could take up to 6 weeks to get him back out there and being a rookie, he def needs his reps. I just hope its nothing rushed, because I dont want it to be a nagging injury all season.

[Brandwin]

Re: Official San Francisco 49ers thread

--- Things got a little frisky near the finish of practice-ending team drills after quarterback Ken Dorsey took a mild hit from defensive end Corey Smith to which offensive tackle Jonas Jennings took exception. Several non-pleasantries were exchanged and the two players had to be separated, at which point coach Mike Nolan called the entire team into a brief huddle before resuming the final series of the session.
--- After the impromptu team convergence, Nolan sent second- and third-team reserves onto the field to finish practice with one final drive down the field. Live. As in, no-holds-barred full contact, the first time Nolan has allowed his troops to go at each other without restriction since camp began. And those mostly unproven players hungry for roster spots did not hold back.
--- “The live that you saw at the end was thrown in there at the last,” Nolan explained. “It looked like we needed to do it. Everybody wanted to fight, so we thought we’d let them punch it out a little bit. They did a very good job and that’s what we’ll do; they want to fight it out, we’ll fight it out. That was a good thing. That shows that guys are competing.”
--- Rookie cornerback Daven Holly, who has been making a solid early impression with his athletic skills, used the opportunity to deliver several licks before practice finally ended with undrafted rookie receiver Fred Amey diving for the left end zone pylon on a flanker reverse. Two plays earlier, Amey had hauled in a long pass before being crunched by both Holly and safety Mike Adams. “It was a good chance to get out some aggression,” Holly said.
--- There was a Kwame Harris sighting Sunday during mid-practice team drills as the offensive tackle blew out the right side of the defensive line with a pancake block that took out both end Chris Cooper and linebacker Saleem Rasheed, allowing tailback Maurice Hicks to scoot for a big gain.
--- Hicks would seem to be the odd man out now in a cramped competition at tailback that includes Kevan Barlow, Frank Gore and Terry Jackson. But the slashing speedster won’t go down without a fight, and coaches have noticed his diligence and determination, giving Hicks first-team snaps Sunday. He’s also getting a long look as a kickoff returner.
--- Fourth-year linebacker Brandon Moore completely lit up Barlow on blitz, blasting into him – and almost running over him – with one of the loudest and best hits of the day. Moore already has done that a few times in camp, and he is going to make this team and earn himself a role on it.
--- Rookie receiver Marcus Maxwell continues to make an impression, adding some start-stop ability after the catch to go along with his formidable physical tools.
--- Two days into camp, there isn’t a 49ers defensive back that can cover veteran receiver Johnnie Morton, and it’s not even close.
--- Catch of the day: P.J. Fleck’s all-out, over-the-shoulder diving grab of a long bomb thrown by rookie quarterback Alex Smith, who put just enough air under the pass to allow Fleck to extend underneath it.
--- You can see it all coming together for Smith each day as the offense clicks in his head while he’s executing it. In one effortless motion, Smith dropped back to pass, looked left for the quick slant, checked over the middle at his secondary target, then dropped the ball off to a wide-open running back in the flat.
--- Smith again showed nice touch on his deep passes most of the day, but he began the final session of team drills by tossing up two fluttering, underthrown balls on deep sideline routes, then had his next pass knocked back in his face by oncoming linebacker Derek Smith.
--- Tight end Eric Johnson is really going to help Smith’s development – and that of the offense – by being a dependable safety valve over the middle when receivers are covered and pass protection breaks down.
--- Arnaz Battle completely lost safety Tony Parrish on an out-and-up pattern – then dropped a perfectly-placed pass from Tim Rattay. Battle has displayed a few cases of the dropsies so far, and he needs to get more consistent if the Niners are to count on him at the crucial flanker position.
--- Safety Keith Lewis is showing some instinct and athleticism to go with his aggressive style, chasing Dorsey to the sideline on a pass play, then knocking away his throw when the QB tried to get rid of the ball.
--- Joe Nedney’s big leg is going to provide a significant upgrade over Todd Peterson on kickoffs. This guy doesn’t have much trouble reaching the end zone.
--- The 49ers have a lot of areas that require attention, but they really need to address who their kick returners are going to be, because the guys being tried in those roles so far aren’t getting the job done.
--- Shawntae Spencer backpedals smoothly, stays square, then explodes out of his break on the ball. He’s quickly establishing himself as the team’s most fluid corner, and Niners coaches and personnel evaluators are impressed.
--- On the other side, Ahmed Plummer is appearing stiff and sore and is a few poor practices away from being a legitimate cause for concern.
--- Rookie Adam Snyder is going to be a good offensive lineman, but Bryant Young completely tossed him aside in one-on-one drills, like Young has been doing to a lot of offensive lineman since camp began. “There’s a real strong chance B.Y. is going to be with us (this season),” Nolan quipped.
--- And now, after an introductory weekend, two-a-day practices begin Monday morning.
--- “I’m looking forward to that,” Nolan said.

[Brandwin]

Re: Official San Francisco 49ers thread

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--- Two days into camp, there isn’t a 49ers defensive back that can cover veteran receiver Johnnie Morton, and it’s not even close.

Thats great that Morton is looking good out there we need some wide receiver help ,but its also bad no one seems to be able to cover him. No knock on Morton he is a decent to solid wide receiver, but his isnt Boldin or Tory Holt and they seem to have problems containing Morton...yikes.


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--- On the other side, Ahmed Plummer is appearing stiff and sore and is a few poor practices away from being a legitimate cause for concern.

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So far I have yet to read good things about Plummer, that is def not good news. 49ers need all the corner help we can get. I want him to go back to a few years ago, hopefully he can stay healthy and have a solid season.


Its still earily and none of this concerns me too much, its training camp..just like I dont get too excited about the good news, im not going to get too down about the bad stuff. Hopefully it all works itself out come season opener.

[NinerFan1983]

Re: Official San Francisco 49ers thread

I thought Newberry was gonna miss part of the season? Or is that still up in the air?

And regarding Baas, he'll at least be back in time for the season opener against St. Louis, so it's not too bad.

At least he didn't tear his hamstring completely and have to miss the entire year.

I also agree, Barlow better watch himself, or he'll find himself watching Frank Gore take his carries.

[Brandwin]

Re: Official San Francisco 49ers thread

:::::::::::::::::::Crickets:::::::::::::::::::::::



Is this thing on?



Dont want to conversate about camp all by myself

[Cyros]

Re: Official San Francisco 49ers thread

I'm pulling for David Baas to come back from his hamstring problems. He is a Michigan guy after all. At least Snyder seems to be filling in nicely besides that 1-on-1 mention.

[DanSF49]

Re: Official San Francisco 49ers thread

I'm glad to hear Smith is picking up the offense this quickly. I cant wait to see this kid play. He will be a star.

[Matteh]

Re: Official San Francisco 49ers thread

How is Rumph looking in his transistion to safety or is he still at corner?

[remix]

Re: Official San Francisco 49ers thread

Well with Alex Smith getting most of the snaps w/ the first string unit, he'll probably end up being the opening day starter. Should be interesting to see how fast he picks up the offense.

Cornerback Shawntae Spencer (hamstring) and WR Rashaun Woods (groin) were both hurt in the morning practice and did not participate in the afternoon session. Head coach Mike Nolan said the injuries are not serious and that both players are expected to return as early as tomorrow.

Cornerback Randee Drew suffered a stress fracture of his foot in practice yesterday and is expected to miss an extended period of time while recovering from his injury.

Linebacker Julian Peterson was held to one practice today by design from the coaching staff as he continues to recover from the Achilles injury that he sustained last season.