SANTA CLARA – The 49ers did not pick up a pass rusher in last month's draft, but defensive coordinator Greg Manusky insists his unit will have enough firepower this year.
"I think we have a couple of guys on the team that are playing well and doing that," Manusky said Saturday.
Those two guys are outside linebackers Parys Haralson and Manny Lawson, both of whom played sporadically early last season under Mike Nolan. When Mike Singletary took over the team at midseason, he consulted with Manusky and the two decided to stick with a simplified 3-4 defense.
That gave Haralson and Lawson more playing time, and each responded. Both started the final six games, and the 49ers went 4-2 in that span. Manusky said he envisioned both being three-down players next season.
Manusky also had praise for Ahmad Brooks, who was picked up last season but who didn't play a snap in 2008.
Brooks is currently behind Haralson at weak-side outside linebacker.
"He's going into it this offseason with everything blazing and he's doing pretty good," Manusky said. "He's a bright spot at that position."
The other outside linebackers on the roster are Jay Moore, free-agent addition Marques Harris and undrafted rookie Diyral Briggs.
The 49ers also could add another pass rusher between now and the start of the season. General manager Scot McCloughan has two first-round picks, and he said there was a possibility he could deal one of them before the 2010 draft.
"That's the great thing about having the leverage of two No. 1s," McCloughan said.
Two of the biggest names available are Baltimore's Terrell Suggs and Carolina's Julius Peppers. Both have been franchised by their respective teams, and McCloughan said there has been no trade talks about either.
"No discussions with any of those guys," he said. "None whatsoever."
Et cetera – Manusky said that Kentwan Balmer would be worked into a rotation at nose tackle that also includes Aubrayo Franklin and Isaac Sopoaga. Balmer and Sopoaga also will play left defensive end.
• Despite drafting a safety, Curtis Taylor, in the seventh round, the 49ers will continue to play Reggie Smith at safety. Smith was drafted in 2008 as a cornerback, but he's played strong safety in the 49ers' two minicamps.
• Another seventh-round draft pick, Ricky Jean-Francois, played exclusively at right defensive end in the weekend minicamp. One of the team's other right defensive ends, Ray McDonald, may be out until the start of the regular season after having surgery to repair a knee ligament.
Read Matthew Barrows' blog at www.sacbee.com/ninersblog.
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