SANTA CLARA – Takeo Spikes thinks he and his 49ers defensive teammates could handle the Saints' Reggie Bush if he would just line up where he's supposed to – at halfback.
"Because you know where he's at and you know what you're going to get out of that every time," Spikes said.
The problem with Bush is, he doesn't stay still.
Sometimes he plays tailback. Sometimes he lines up in the slot. Sometimes he's split wide like a receiver. He plays on the strong side and weak side. And a lot of times he goes in motion from one spot to another just before the snap.
New Orleans used Bush's versatility to its full advantage Sunday in Denver. He either touched the ball or was the target in the passing game on 33 plays. Everyone at Invesco Field knew Bush would get the ball, and yet the Broncos had a hard time stopping him.
Bush ran for 73 yards, including a 23-yard touchdown. And he caught 11 passes for 75 yards, including a six-yard touchdown.
With running back Deuce McAllister still recovering from a torn knee ligament, Bush has gone from role player the last two seasons to workhorse this season. And with receiver Marques Colston and tight end Jeremy Shockey out for Sunday's game, Bush figures to be an even bigger part of the 49ers' focus.
San Francisco has had trouble handling the Saints' offensive weapons the last two seasons. As a rookie, Bush famously outran the 49ers' defense for four touchdowns in 2006.
Still, the 49ers have acquired several weapons since then to keep pace. Patrick Willis and Manny Lawson give the 49ers one of the league's fastest linebacking corps when in their base defense. Safeties Michael Lewis and Dashon Goldson are able tacklers when the 49ers move to a nickel package.
"Everybody deals with (Bush) different," coach Mike Nolan said without tipping his hand. "They have played Tampa Bay, Washington and Denver, and basically they have faced three entirely different defenses."
Practice makes perfect – Conceding that the timing between him and his quarterback was a tad off Sunday against Detroit, tight end Vernon Davis has spent time after practice this week catching passes from J.T. O'Sullivan.
Mike Martz has decided to pressure defenses by sending the speedy Davis on deep routes. O'Sullivan hit Davis on a long pass play in Week 1. But the two have failed to connect on anything deep since, including a bomb that glanced off Davis' fingertips against the Lions.
Part of the problem is that Davis isn't used to catching passes over his shoulder.
"This is my first time ever in an offense where I'm pretty much going deep all the time," he said. "It's different for me. That's why I said we've got to get this connection. It's my first time doing this, and I'm pretty sure it's his first time playing with a tight end … who can run."
Injuries – Wide receiver Bryant Johnson, who missed two practices this week with a bad hamstring, was back Friday. If the hamstring responds well this morning, Nolan said, Johnson likely will start Sunday. He is listed as questionable.
Read Matthew Barrows' 49ers blog at www.sacbee.com/ninersblog.
