News, notes and reader questions about the San Francisco 49ers

• Ask a question

---

September 7, 2008

Smith: Course of action will be determined tomorrow

Just had a brief, group Q&A with Alex Smith, whose right arm was in a sling. Here's what he had to say about his recent shoulder injury:

Q: Do you know how it happened?
A: Yeah, I was just throwing. It was non-contact.

Q: Did you feel it?
A: Yeah, it was kind of gradual then I defenitely felt something on a throw ...

Q: Was it a big throw?
A: Yeah, I let a ball go and felt it

Q: Were you able to throw after that?
A: I tried a little but it was definitely painful.

Q: Was there a stress fracture already in that area?
A: Potentially. they're trying to figure that out. That's the goal. Hopefully the films get down to Dr. Andrews tomorrow and they'll talk and see what's what.

Q: Could the fracture originally have occurred on that hit by Rocky Bernard?
A: No, no because the films ... something would have come up before then. So, as far as I know, no.

Q: Will you visit Andrews?
A: No,I'm not planning on going down there. They're going to send the films down and do it like that. But as of now I'm not going down there.

Q: Is this a season-ending injury?
A: We should find out tomorrow. That's the goal. They're going to talk, so ...

Q: Is surgery an option?
A: They're potentially talking about it. Don't know anything definitive right now. SHould find out tomorrow exactly what the plan is.

Q: Is this something that could have been there all along?
A: No, I think it was gradual. I think that's what they're thinking. Stil trying to figure it out.

Q: Any pain in any of your recent long throws?
A: I've had some soreness recently, but nothing like this.

-- Matt Barrows

Inactives for today's game

QB Alex Smith
CB Marcus Hudson
CB Tarell Brown
CB Reggie Smith
C Cody Wallace
LB Tully Banta-Cain
G Chilo Rachal
LB Ahmad Brooks

* The 49ers have no emergency third QB. RB Michael Robinson would fulfill that role.

For the Cardinals:

QB Brian St. Pierre
RB J.J. Arrington
T Brandon Keith
DT Alan Branch
WR Early Doucet
TE Jerame Tuman
DT Gabe Watson

Smith has fracture normally associated with severe trauma

Alex Smith has a fracture of the coracoid process, a bone in the shoulder that is rarely broken. An MRI of the shoulder has been sent to Dr. James Andrews, who operated on Smith's separated shoulder in December. Smith won't decide on a course of action until Andrews looks at the results, but similar fractures have been treated with surgery and the insertion of pins.

The type of fracture usually is associated with severe trauma. Smith was not hit when the fracture occurred. Rather, he was throwing his final pass of Friday's practice -- a deep pass -- when he felt a sharp pain. The MRI was taken that night. He is currently being treated by team orthopedist Tim McAdams, who assisted Andrews on the December surgery. Doctors are surprised by the diagnosis and speculate that Smith may have had a stress fracture in the shoulder that gave way when he threw the deep pass on Friday.

There is a strong possibility that Smith will go on injured reserve. If that's the case, the 49ers will have to find a third quarterback. That role is being filled today by running back Michael Robinson, a former quarterback at Penn State.

-- Matt Barrows

---

September 6, 2008

Smith has a fracture in his throwing shoulder

Just received information that confirms ESPN's Chris Mortensen's earlier report that Alex Smith has a fracture in his throwing shoulder. Smith apparently felt a pain at the end of Friday's practice that led to him receiving an MRI. The MRI revealed the fracture. That's all I know for sure.

This next part is getting into the area of speculation but it's certainly not wild speculation: It's entirely possible that the repetitive stress of throwing a football has resulted in one of Smith's reattached ligaments tearing a piece of bone from the shoulder. That's all I've got for tonight but should learn more details tomorrow ...

-- Matt Barrows

Alex Smith injures shoulder, doubtful for Sunday

There's been a late development on the injury report. Alex Smith injured his surgically repaired right shoulder this week and is doubtful for tomorrow's game. That means Shaun Hill will be the back-up and that Michael Robinson would be the emergency back-up. I'm told that it was a non-contact injury but there are no other details about the injury at this time. Here's a quote from Mike Nolan:

"Yesterday Alex Smith sustained a non-contact injury to his surgically repaired right shoulder. He will be consulting with his surgeon in Birmingham for treatment recommendations. At this time there are no specifics to the injury or a timetable. "

Smith has been practicing all week and was seen zipping the ball during Friday's practice. I'm told he began complaining of soreness in the shoulder following Friday's session. While Hill ran the scout team this week, Smith and starter J.T. O'Sullivan were working with quarterbacks coach Ted Tollner on drop-backs and quick throws. That is to say, there seemed to be no indication that Smith's shoulder was bothering him during the week.

Smith, of course, suffered a Grade 3 shoulder separation on the third play of the game in Week 4 last season. He returned to the starting lineup four weeks later but was ineffective and placed on injured reserve following a bad loss to the Seahawks on Nov. 12. Dr. James Andrews repaired the shoulder in December and Smith is consulting with Andrews about the current injury. Smith recently said the shoulder has felt good all offseason and for the most part the injury was a non-issue. He said all of his throws were normal save for the deepest passes, which have been slow to return to form. Smith was not alarmed by that, saying that long throws were the last thing to rebound following his type of surgery. Smith said he threw more passes this offseason while learning Mike Martz's offense than he had in any of his previous offseasons.

***UPDATE**** Smith had an MRI, which will be sent to Andrews. The results of the MRI were not definitive. He is expected to attend today's game

-- Matt Barrows

---

September 5, 2008

Wanted: Team to play in new L.A. stadium

I had a phone conversation today with John Semcken. He's the VP of Majestic Realty Co., the group building an $800 million stadium in the City of Industry. Semcken was effusive about the project and was confident a team would be playing in the stadium by 2011. He said that 15.5 million people live within an hour and half's drive from the site. And because the stadium literally will be built inside a mountain (or big hill), the infrastructure costs are lower than that of a free-standing structure. In January and February, he said, the Majestic group would begin wooing a team - or perhaps two - to Los Angeles. It sort of sounds like an NFL version of The Bachelor.

Which team will be presented with a rose?

Semcken was more tight-lipped on that topic. Majestic owner Ed Roski, who co-owns the Staples Center, previously has identified seven teams that could make the move. Not surprisingly, they are the seven teams that currently have the lousiest stadium deals: the Bills, Saints, Chargers, Jaguars, Vikings, Raiders and 49ers. That list, however, may now be down to six. According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, the Vikings have declined Roski's overtures. The most natural move would be by one of the three California teams, each of which plays in a crummy stadium. Said Commissioner Roger Goodell when asked about the subject by CBS Sportline:

"Well, they are (the three worst), and that's the reality of it. And it's something we raised frequently. Our stadium situation in California is not very good, and we need to improve those facilities. The fans demand it. They're seeing new facilities in other sports. And it's something we think is necessary for our fan base out there. So we are working to try to address it."

When I asked Jed York about the L.A. proposal last week, he was unequivocal in his response: "We have not had any communication with Roski, his group, the NFL or anyone regarding L.A." The Yorks have been asked the L.A. question many times before and have insisted each time that the 49ers will remain in the Bay Area. Semcken, meanwhile, said he wouldn't reveal the names of the teams his group was targeting because it would hamstring ticket sales for that team in its current market. The Majestic group also is leery of running afoul of the NFL, which, of course, would have to approve such a move. "If we get our way, nobody will know who we're talking to until we have a deal," Semcken said.

******************
Safety Michael Lewis (back) and tight end Delanie Walker (calf) did not practice today but are listed as probable on the injury report. Also probable are Parys Haralson (shoulder) and Aubrayo Franklin (knee), both of whom practiced. What does that mean? It means every player ought to be available for Sunday's game. Take a bow, 49ers training staff ...

*****************
Asked about the starter at split end, Nolan said that it could be either Bryant Johnson or Josh Morgan depending on the formation and the personnel group. In other words, both look to play a lot ...

-- Matt Barrows

Martz gave Warner the whip. Who got it in SF?

Over the offseason the 49ers quarterbacks were careful not to complain about their grueling competition and offered little insight into the inner sanctum of a Mike Martz-led meeting room. Instead, it was a former Martz pupil, Kurt Warner, who shined a little light on the subject this week. Said Warner during a conference call:

• "Probably the anecdote is that when I first got there in my first year with Mike [Martz] that I was the 'whipping boy' that you hear about when Trent Green was there and all of the coaching was done through me. But a couple of quick anecdotes was that there were a couple of times that I would get yelled at in every single meeting. There would be days where I'd go home and I would call my wife and I'd be sitting on the phone telling her that 'Man I suck, I'm not any good' because that's all that I heard in the meetings. I never lacked confidence before but I remember tell her that 'man, I'm just not very good.' Then there was the time, to just kind of put in perspective, about five weeks into that first year. I think that we were undefeated I was playing pretty well a media group came in and was interviewing myself and four or five of the other guys, Marshall [Faulk], Isaac [Bruce], Torry [Holt] and I think Ricky Proehl. I remember them asking the question to those guys ' did you have any idea that Kurt could play this well' and every single one of them looked back at the interviewers and said 'No, we thought Kurt was terrible because all we remember is in meetings all through training camp he'd get yelled at. So we did think he was very good at all.' That's kind of an idea of what it's like in those meetings."

Asked about that technique by Brian Murphy of KNBR this week, Martz chuckles. "Some guys you need to press a little more and find out how they'll respond to those situations," he said. Martz said he usually applied the heavy pressure to a player who wasn't playing at the time as was the case with Warner during the '99 offseason.

So who was the 49ers' "whipping boy" this offseason? By all indications it was Shaun Hill. In a recent piece, Yahoo! Sports writer Mike Silver writes that Martz tends to coach all the quarterbacks by focusing his animus on one player - in this case Hill - and that Hill went to Mike Nolan during the offseason to complain that the competition was rigged.

But Warner doesn't seem to hold any grudges. In fact, he credits that pressure with jump-starting his career when Trent Green suddenly went down with an injury prior to the '99 season.

• "Mike pushes you to the limit and wants you to be perfect, wants you to get to your full potential and scrutinizes a lot of things that you do to see if you can handle it, if you can take it in, you can regurgitate all of the stuff that you're trying to learn and you can apply it when you get on the football field. [It's] very difficult to go through. Like I said, [there] were times that I lost confidence or didn't feel like I could play anymore but at the end of the day , the desire inside of me to want to be great made me take that stuff and take the criticism and the little points that he was trying to teach me within those meetings and apply them to my game and ultimately it helped make me a better quarterback."

****************
One of the arguments against shortening the preseason is that teams will enter the regular season rusty and out of sync. To them, I give you last night's yawn-inducing seazzzzzzon opener in which the Giants and Redskins combined for 14 penalties. The Giants had four preseason games with which to prepare. The Redskins had five and yet still committed three false start penalties and apparently didn't have a two-minute offense installed. Really, can it get any worse than that with just two preseason games?

-- Matt Barrows

---

September 4, 2008

Snyder to start at left guard; Walker rests calf

Mike Nolan today said Adam Snyder will start at guard next to Joe Staley and that David Baas will be the back-up at both right and left guard. Baas played right guard the last two seasons but practiced early in his career at left guard. He and Snyder had been rotating at left guard this week. "I thought he did decent," Nolan said of Baas' performance Friday against San Diego. "I don't remember the number of reps he got but he did alright."

Snyder's been the team's left guard all offseason but struggled at the position early in training camp. "He started to get more consistent," Nolan said. "Even the line in training camp was getting used to the new offense as well. But the last couple of games, they weren't too bad. They were pretty good."

Nolan said the starter at split end is still undecided. He said Ulbrich would start at "ted" linebacker but that he and Takeo Spikes likely would split time in the game. "Takeo's a good player," Nolan said. "He just needs to get more comfortable with the defense, that's all."

*********
Nolan said he expected first-round pick Kentwan Balmer to play some Sunday. "But how many reps and when he goes in, I'm not sure yet. But we look to utilize him," Nolan said. Balmer didn't play a lot in college, Nolan said, and simply needs more time on the field. Still, he said the rookie showed all the signs of being a good lineman. "Some guys have potential but they don't have the other things that go with it," Nolan said. "They're just body beautiful. But they don't really have the work ethic or the toughness. The reason I have confidence Kentwan will get there, he does ... have good work ethic, he is coachable and he does have good toughness."

********
Delanie Walker had a sore calf today and sat out practice. He is expected to return tomorrow. Walker was the only player missing today. Both Aubrayo Franklin (knee) and Parys Haralson (shoulder) went through a full practice. Haralson has been wearing a black No. 7 jersey that normally belongs to quarterbacks. Like a quarterback, Haralson is not to be touched during practices.

********
Nolan said he would not announce the eight inactive players until close to game time, a policy he adheres to with the players as well. He said he used to notify players early in the week but noticed they wouldn't practice as hard.

"They shift down to first gear rather than practicing all week at a high level because they thing, 'Well, I'm not going to play,'" Nolan said.

He said now he waits until pre-game to tell players. " ... They may be a little more disappointed than normal but we get a better roster on Sunday."

-- Matt Barrows

Johnson trying not to o.d. on excitement

Mike Nolan is still being tight-lipped as to his starter at split end on Sunday, but you have to think veteran Bryant Johnson will get the nod to play against his former teammate. Johnson twice today said he has to be wary of "o.d.ing on emotion" when he faces the Cardinals. Try not to o.d. on excitement as you read a few excerpts from what he had to say today ...

Is this a game that you circle on your calendar?
"No, you look at it just like any other game. The thing you have to be careful about going into a situation like this is o.d.ing on your emotions. I'm here now. I'm not there anymore and I'm taking the approach (that) they're an opponent now.

Do you feel good about how you left Arizona?
"Yeah. I felt pretty good. I thought I was able to make the most of the situation I was in, and I was happy about that."

When you were drafted, did you expect it would turn out like it did?
"I won't say it was disappointing. I'll just say it was something I had to deal with. I had no control over who they were going to draft and the type of decisions they make. All I can do is try to be the best football player I can possibly be."

Have you been waiting for any opportunity to show you can be a No. 1-caliber receiver?
"I wouldn't say I've been waiting for it. I'm just looking forward to the opportunity that's given to me. It's a whole lot more than the opportunity I've had in Arizona."

Is this the best possible situation given who the offensive coordinator is?
"Yeah, that's the reason I came here. I felt as though this was the best fit for me."

Have you gotten enough work with J.T. O'Sullivan?
Out there on the field, we go through everything with all of our quarterbacks. We don't single anyone out. So, we've got a lot of work with everyone."

What are your impressions of J.T?
"J.T., uh, seems to take leadership in the huddle. He's comfortable in the offense, which he was in last year last year in Detroit with coach Martz. We're definitely looking for him to continue to progress."

What do you think you're capable of in this offense?
"Just to be another playmaker. If you look at our offense, we have tons of playmakers on this offense. Just to be another playmaker who can create mismatches out there with the defense."

Given your one-year contract, are you looking at this year as an opportunity to showcase your skills to the rest of the league?
"I'm just looking to be productive. I'm in a great situation. And I couldn't ask for anything more."

-- Matt Barrows

---

September 3, 2008

Arizona injury report: no depth at nose

The Cardinals injury report shows that back-up nose tackles Alan Branch (ankle) and Gabe Watson (knee) did not practice today, raising some questions about the interior of the Arizona defense Sunday in San Francisco. Beat writer Kent Somers has more details in his blog. Center Al Johnson (knee) did not take part in Wednesday's practice, either. Tight end Ben Patrick (ankle) was limited while tackle Mike Gandy (knee) went through the full practice.

For the 49ers, nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin (knee) and linebacker Parys Haralson (shoulder) went through a full practice. Look for both to be listed as "probable" tomorrow.

******************
Commissioner Roger Goodell was asked about possibly altering the preseason schedule today by Chris Myers today on FOX Sports radio. Said Goodell:

"Well I've been on the record that I don't think the preseason games as they stand right now meet the NFL standard of entertainment and I think it is becoming quite clear in the conversations that we don't need four preseason games, so we're looking at what we call the 20 game season which is 4 preseason, 16 regular season games, and trying to see whether that should be restructured, should that be modified, and maybe add 2 regular season games instead of the 4 preseason and have it 18 [regular season games] and 2 [preseason games] or a 17 and 3 which we think both would be much more attractive and improve the quality of the remaining preseason games and obviously give us better and higher quality product in the regular season."

I couldn't agree more. Sure, Friday's season finale against San Diego had a riveting finish. But of the defensive players who made that final, valiant (and ultimately flawed) stand, how many made the team? Three? Four? The fourth game of the preseason was so useless to the 49ers that they sat a quarterback, J.T. O'Sullivan, who would be making his first-ever regular season start nine days later. Half of the Chargers first-string offense did not play, either. If people are paying regular-season prices, they ought to be seeing regular-season football....

-- Matt Barrows

McCloughan speaks about the futures of Smith, Nolan, Martz ...

Just got out of a marathon group session with GM Scot McCloughan, who spoke frankly about several topics, including the futures of Alex Smith, Mike Nolan, Mike Martz and J.T. O'Sullivan. Like his head coach, McCloughan is taking a week-by-week approach to the season. But he conceded that there will be some big decisions to make at season's end, even if the team has been successful.

One of them is Martz's future. The 49ers have had six offensive coordinators in six seasons, and Martz has said he wants to become a head coach again. I asked McCloughan if he and Martz have talked about the latter's ambitions and whether he wants to be a head coach again.

"He says he does not want to be a head coach," McCloughan said. "(But) I'd be disappointed if he doesn't want to be a head coach again. Then he's striving to be the best he can be at what he does. And that's call plays. And he's been a successful head coach before in the NFL. Again, that would be a great problem to have at the end of the year. Because it means we've put some stuff up that shows he's worthy of being a head coach.

***** Word just arrived that McCloughan mispoke on this topic. He meant to say that Martz wants to be a head coach. *********

On whether Smith ultimately will find success:
"Don't know. Don't know. I know the one thing about him with his age and what he's been through ... I think it's all going to help him for the future. I still think he's going to be a good quarterback in the NFL. And I hope it's here. But in the NFL you don't know. Especially at that position ..."

On whether Smith was mishandled by the 49ers:
"I know the one thing that first and foremost in my mind is just keeping the one coordinator for him. It would have been great. Who knows where he'd be at right now? Who knows where this offense would be at if we had just one coordinator?"

On whether the team can afford to have Smith around next year if he is not a starter:
"You can't. You can't. That something at any position - the amount of money we're going to invest in him, it would have to be proven that he is the guy going into the offseason; that he is our guy for next year."

On whether there's uncertaintly at the quarterback position no matter what given the fact that O'Sullivan only has a one-year deal:
"Oh Yeah. Certainly. There's no doubt about it. The one thing that would be great about it is if we're still having this discussion at the end of the year about J.T. because that means he's had a heckuva year for us. And that's what we're looking for. That would be a nice problem to have - having to do a new contract with him and keeping him a 49er."

On whether the QB competition was fair?
"I would say it was fair. I would say because they all got snaps on the field, especially with Alex and JT. People want to say, 'Well, JT got the upper hand because he knew the system.' That's fine. Nothing in football is fair. Nothing in the NFL or in life is going to be fair when all is said and done. We've got to go with feel gives us the best chance to win on Sunday."

Is he positive JT is the best option?
"... From a pure talent standpoint, I see something different. But that doesn't matter. You have to go out there with the guy that understands the system and knows how to work the system best."

Is it safe to say that he went in expecting Smith to start?
"I was planning on him being the starter. Most definitely. But I was planning on some other guys starting, too. You can't approach it as who looks best on paper. It's got to be who deserves it, who gets it done on the football field."

How much jeopardy is Mike Nolan in this season?
"I wouldn't say jeopardy. I think we're under fire from the standpoint of we need to win. That's what you get measured by in the NFL. ... I wouldn't pinpoint one guy who's more under pressure than another guy. I think it's important that we all work together and, again, get this thing started in the right direction and get some momentum going."

If the team got off to a bad start -- 1-4, 1-3 -- would Nolan be vulnerable?
"I can't answer that right now. That's all looking out into the future. We're planning on getting off to a 3-1, 4-1 start and going from there. We're living week to week. And that's what you do in the NFL. The bad thing is that you can go out and play a great game on Sunday and lose and still feel like you did if you got beat by 50. It's a tough business to be in. But you're measured week to week. ... Again, we feel positive about the outlook of the season. ... But I don't want to do ifs and buts and all that because it's not worth it right now. Again, we're all in this together and we want to win together."

-- Matt Barrows

Rookies will be scarce on Sunday

There's a good likelihood that just one of the 49ers' six draft picks will be in uniform for Sunday's opener against the Cardinals. Both Kentwan Balmer and Chilo Rachal look to be on the sideline. At this point, Balmer is the least versatile of the team's d-linemen, having only played left defensive end. Rachal, meanwhile, is the team's fourth best guard.

The 49ers' fourth-round pick, center Cody Wallace, also looks to be on the bench because Tony Wragge and David Baas have experience playing center. The outlook is better for the third-round pick, Reggie Smith, because he plays special teams and because the 49ers are playing the Cardinals, a team that likes to pass the ball. However, the team has an abundance of defensive backs this year, including two -- Donald Strickland and Marcus Hudson -- who can play both cornerback and safety. Smith would appear to be the odd man out if they chose to sit a defensive back Sunday. The 49ers' seventh-round pick, Larry Grant, is on the practice squad.

Mike Nolan, of course, chose to look at the glass-is-half-full angle regarding his rookie class. "The better you are, the less those rookies play," he said. "... It's nice to see that we've got a little bit of depth."

***********
Asked why he thinks this year's squad is better than last year's, which went into the season with high expectations, Nolan immediately pointed to the quarterback position: "We're more established at the quarterback position than we were a year ago. More depth." More established? The 49ers essentially exchanged Trent Dilfer, who had 14 years in the league, for J.T. O'Sullivan, who will be making his first-ever regular-season start Sunday. What is it about O'Sullivan that gives Nolan so much confidence? "Because of what we've done in practice and in the preseason games. Six years of experience. I think that's pretty good," Nolan said of O'Sullivan's tenure in the league. "... I think that makes you better. I've been several places myself. I'm glad I've been several places."

***********
The 49ers head into the season with just two players - Parys Haralson and Aubrayo Franklin - on the injury report. Both, however, will go through practice today. They don't have an official designation yet, but both look to be questionable or better for the game.

-- Matt Barrows

---

September 2, 2008

Splitting hairs at split end, other positions

The 49ers quarterback competition? That's sooo mid-August. These days, it's all about split end, left guard and "Ted" linebacker, all of which are in a state of flux. Here's the inside scoop on each ...

• Split end. Mike Nolan insists that it's still a dead heat between veteran Bryant Johnson and rookie Josh Morgan, who were arguably the team's most productive two receivers throughout the entire offseason. But pencil in Johnson to start Sunday against Arizona. Here's what Mike Martz had to say on the matter: It's hard with Josh because he's a rookie. The tempo of a regular season and preseason game is substantially different [especially] to play under that pressure all of a sudden if you're a rookie that's assured. The timing's not really like it was in the preseason because you're panicky. There's that growth process for those guys that you've kind of got to fight through. So to say that Josh is the guy that's going to start excelling at stuff, he's in it obviously but we're really kind of depending on [Bryant Johnson] to step up now and be healthy and ready to go." Nolan also said that Morgan would be playing special teams in the regular season. Morgan's been practicing on several special-teams units but didn't play there in the preseason because he was a starter at receiver (In games 1-3). If he's playing specials teams on Sunday it only stands to reason that he won't be a starter at receiver.
• Guard. This one is tougher to sniff out. The 49ers feel very confident about four out of five of their offensive line spots. Left guard, however, has become a conundrum. Do you give the job to Adam Snyder, who has practiced there for most of the offseason but who struggled early in training camp? Or do you give it to David Baas, who played well at right guard in the second half of the season but who hasn't practiced extensively on the left side since 2006? It may come down to who looks better in practice this week.
• "Ted" linebacker. No, Ahmad Brooks wasn't brought in to shore up the "Ted" spot like many have speculated. Brooks is tall, fast and athletic, and his skill set fits best at "Mike" linebacker or the strong-side outside spot where Manny Lawson plays. The "Ted" competition is still between Jeff Ulbrich and Takeo Spikes. Ulbrich has the edge for Week One. But once Spikes digests the entire defense, look for him to get the starting nod. One risk is that the 49ers have a pair of 31-year-olds playing a position that has a heavy load of violent collisions. The 49ers are betting that at least one is healthy all season. If not, Larry Grant or even recently released Dontarrious Thomas could be back in the mix.

-- Matt Barrows

---

September 1, 2008

Brooks: 49ers tried to trade for me last week

Just spoke with both Mike Nolan and Ahmad Brooks after practice ... Brooks said he had a strong inkling that he might wind up with the 49ers especially after his agent told him that the 49ers tried to trade for him last week. Brooks said he didn't know the terms of the proposed trade.

As reported earlier, the 263-pound Brooks is starting out at the "Mike" linebacker spot behind Patrick Willis. The position is similar to the one he played his rookie season in Cincinnati. Brooks said he didn't like the move to strong-side linebacker his second year with the Bengals and is more comfortable where he is now. Brooks also played in a 3-4 defense at Virginia. Brooks is still recovering from the groin injury that cost him all but two games of the 2007. He said he is close to 100 percent but not quite there yet.

Both Nolan and Brooks minimized the recent legal scrape Brooks found himself in this past offseason. Brooks was charged with misdemeanor assault after allegedly punching a woman in the face in Northern Kentucky. Said Nolan: "I don't really know the details of it but I know enough of it to know that we're willing to take this opportunity and see what he can do." Nolan said he feels the team has "the structure and manpower and the people in place" to take on players who have had character issues in the past. He noted that the team's staff included a psychologist, Rev. Earl Smith, Dr. Harry Edwards and others who are there to assist players. Cornerback Tarell Brown and running back Thomas Clayton, for example, are players who arrived out of college with character concerns but who have had nary an issue while with the 49ers. Antonio Bryant, on the other hand, was not able to get past his issues and was dismissed by Nolan after a little less than a year in San Francisco.

Brooks, meanwhile, said his recent run-in probably had something to do with his release from the Bengals. "But it really didn't because I didn't do anything wrong," he said. "I made a dumb decision, I guess." Brooks also had problems while in Virginia and was dismissed from the team by Al Groh following his junior season. Nolan spoke to Brooks about his college transgressions when Brooks visited in 2006. He revisited the subject when Brooks arrived yesterday. "He said obviously it was a case of immaturity at that time in college," Nolan said.

*****************
A year ago, Nolan had players from every position group elect a captain, a group that Nolan dubbed the team's "shop captains." Today, Nolan essentially said that experiment was a dud and has decided to go with a more traditional group of four who will have the "C" for captain on their jerseys. They are:

Offense: Eric Heitmann
Defense: Patrick Willis
Special teams: Michael Robinson
Player representative: Walt Harris

************
Nolan said that Adam Snyder and David Baas are competing to start at left guard for Sunday's opener against Arizona. He said the split end also is undecided although Mike Martz last week seemed to indicate that the job would go to veteran Bryant Johnson instead of rookie Josh Morgan. Nolan also said that Morgan, Arnaz Battle and Jason Hill will contribute on special teams.

************
Back by popular demand this year is Scot McCloughan's "Guys to Watch" list for the upcoming college season. Follow this list and you'll gain at least a smidgen of credibility when you are making outrageous claims -- "Horrible pick!" or "Awesome pick!" -- on draft day. We'll begin with tonight's UCLA-Tennessee game ... Keep in mind, these are limited to seniors.

For the Vols:
#47 Britton Colquitt Punter *Comment: How many punters can one couple produce?
#27 Arian Foster RB
#78 Ramon Foster Tackle
#75 Anthony Parker Guard
#24 DeAngelo Willingham CB

For the Bruins:
#36 Kahlil Bell RB
#17 Aaron Perez Punter

-- Matt Barrows

JTO in sharp focus; Brooks to play 'Mike' linebacker

J.T. O'Sullivan gets a little more interesting every time we talk to him. Today we found out he's an English major (huge brownie points), was a catcher in high school and still lives at the team hotel. "I'll ride the hotel as long as I can until they kick me out," he said. It's hard to see O'Sullivan being overwhelmed by the limelight of being an NFL quarterback, either. He is the personification of focus, and has been excellent at filtering out anything unrelated to being an NFL quarterback. "Anything that's not going to benefit my profession - I'm not interested in doing it," he said.

**************
Ahmad Brooks will fill the role Dontarrious Thomas had before he was released. That is, his primary duty will be to play "Mike" linebacker behind Patrick Willis. Brooks was getting briefed today on his new defense - expect him to be nonfunctional for a while - and wasn't available to the media. One guy who vouched for him, however, was Vernon Davis. Both grew up in the Washington, D.C. area and Davis played against Brooks in high school (Brooks' team won) and in college. One of Brooks' best games came in 2004 when his Virginia team beat Davis' Maryland squad 16-0. Brooks had two interceptions in the game, which he got while covering Davis. ... Brooks will wear No. 55, which was most recently worn by Dennis Haley, another former UVA linebacker.

******************
Both Jonas Jennings and Adam Snyder will be back at practice today. Jennings wasn't wearing a cast on his right hand in the locker room but said he'll have protection over it on the field. He has some practice in that regard. Before the 2005 season, he broke a bone in his left hand and had to start the season with a bulky plastic contraption. At the time, Jennings said he felt like a "one-legged man in a butt-kicking contest." Jennings agreed that that episode helped him prepare for the current one. "But it's still a hindrance. You want to be able to grab." The silver lining: Fewer holding penalties. ... The 49ers expect everyone to be healthy by Sunday's game. Parys Haralson and Aubrayo Franklin will re-join practice mid week.

********************
The 49ers rounded out their practice squad with OT Joe Toledo and WR Chris Hannon. Hannon has spent time with the Chiefs and Panthers. Presumably, he has some familiarity with Mike Martz's offense because a version of Al Saunders' offense was being used in Kansas City.

******************
It's official. My guy Jason Jones says the Raiders have signed Ashley Lelie. Al Davis loves speed .. and ex-Bronco receivers ....

-- Matt Barrows

---

August 31, 2008

49ers claim Ahmad Brooks, release linebacker Thomas

The 49ers took a long look at Ahmad Brooks prior to the supplemental draft two years ago but didn't pull the trigger. This time, they did. Brooks, who was released by the Bengals yesterday, was plucked off of waivers by the 49ers. To make room, they cut linebacker Dontarrious Thomas, a free-agent acquisition during the offseason. Brooks played inside linebacker for the Bengals, and it's likely that he will play behind Patrick Willis at "Mike" linebacker in San Francisco.

General manager Scot McCloughan has said in the past that he believes Brooks has the talent of a first-round draft pick. The 49ers paid close attention to him prior to the supplemental draft in 2006, bringing him in for a medical examiniation in July of that year. McCloughan and coach Mike Nolan also traveled to Charlottesville, Va. that June to watch the former UVA standout work out.

The Bengals chose Brooks in the third round of the supplemental draft. The 49ers likely would have taken him with the first pick in the fourth round. Brooks certainly had plenty of baggage while at UVA. He was charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession in 2003, and frequently ran afoul of coach Al Groh in three seasons with the Cavaliers. He missed most of the 2005 with injuries and was dismissed from the team at the end of the season.

As a rookie in 2006, Brooks played in 11 games, finishing with 46 tackles, a sack and two passes defensed. The next season, he started the opener and had six tackles, a sack and a forced fumble. He tore a groin muscle the following week and was placed on IR, thus ending his season.

The 49ers also began building their practice squad, signing RB Thomas Clayton, DT Atiyyah Ellison, TE J.J. Finley, LB Larry Grant, DE Louis Holmes and WR Dominique Zeigler. Guard Brian de la Puente was picked up by the Chiefs.The 49ers have two practice squad positions that still need to be filled and likely will do so tomorrow.

-- Matt Barrows

Q&A: McCloughan drafts praised, panned

Question: How is that, yet again, we have no starters from any of our 1-3 draft picks this year? Take a cold, hard analytical look at the drafts of McNolan and I think maybe Scot M is also over-rated. Why do we draft players only to move them to a position they have not played since high school (Robinson, Staley, Walker and others that are no longer with the team)? For such a poor team the lack of immediate help with their 1-3 round picks for the last three years is a disaster and thus leading to a dependence on free agency.
Chris, San Jose

Answer: It's hard to torch McCloughan's picks when you consider that Patrick Willis and Joe Staley were two of only three rookies league wide to play every snap this past season. I do agree that the 49ers have relied more on free agency than they claim to. On defense, Willis, Ray McDonald and Manny Lawson are the only starters drafted by the current regime. And your point about switching positions (Staley?) is well-taken, too. The only player who has made a successful switch is Delanie Walker, and even his successes have been modest.
-- Matt Barrows

Question: Hi Matt. Is it fair to say one big winner in this training camp is Scot McCloughan? I know he would have preferred Alex to win the QB race, but for the first time his late-round draft choices (Morgan, McDonald, Goldson, Keasey) are looking good. I've always felt they previously looked good only in comparison to other Niners, but now they are looking like they can outplay good teams. It looks like McCloughan has built a team with good depth. Take care.
Peter, Halifax, N.S.

Answer: I think it's hard to look too good when the player you drafted No. 1 overall is barely hanging on to a second-string position. I do agree, though, that Morgan, McDonald and Goldson are looking good, though I wish the coaching staff would allow Goldson to show off his play-making skills. Keasey was a FA pickup, not a draft pick but still can be credited to McCloughan.
- Matt

Question: Greetings, Matt. I'm a little concerned (okay, very concerned) about our O line. We all knew sooner than later Jennings was going to stub a toe and finish the season on IR. Sims might be able to fill the void when need be, but now Snyder is out due to a high ankle sprain, who knows how effective he'll be when he comes back, he sure wasn't too impressive when 100% healthy. Can Brain De-La-Puente be the future there (he looked good in the 3rd preseason game) or will they have to move Wragge and Bass around a little?
Marc, Tempe, Ariz.

Answer: I think the opening-day line will look like this: RT Jennings, RG Wragge, C Heitmann, LG Baas, LT Staley. Maybe I'm wrong and Snyder plays LG. Or maybe Wragge moves to LG and Baas goes to RG. Whichever way, I think Wragge is a starter ...
- Matt

Question: Hey Matt- Why is it so controversial among you media types when Nolan said O'Sullivan's play was better than any QB play the last 3 years (Nolan's infantile backtracking on that statement is another story)? I guess as journalists you probably never caught on to the transitive property in elementary school. Let's review - Smith has been the starter the last 3 years - he lost his job because O'Sullivan played better. Thus, O'Sullivan's play is better than the QB play the last 3 years. Nolan was stating the obvious, not taking a jab at Smith. Why is that controversial?
Erik, San Francisco

Answer: It's controversial because it's entirely different than what Nolan's been saying for the past 25 days or so. We media types tend to pick up on contradictions like that.
- Matt

Question: Hey Matt this is a two parter. It seems that Nolan has taken another shot/swipe at Alex Smith again do you think he'll be back for his final season next year even if the team improves? And since all indications are that A.Smith might be gone next year will we address the QB situation via the draft and who do you think we may target?
Adrian, Oviedo, FL

Answer: If the 49ers do poorly, Nolan's gone. And if they do well, I believe the Yorks will be in a real pickle. Their improvement certainly will be due to the offense, and if Mike Martz can work a miracle in San Francisco he'll be considered for a head coaching job. The Yorks will have to ask themselves, do we promote Martz over Nolan (which, you have to admit, would be a tough call) or do we risk having a SEVENTH offensive coordinator in SEVEN years? ... If Martz sticks around, I don't see the team using a high pick on a QB. That's not Martz's m.o. ...
- Matt

Question: Matt -- A question about the O'Sullivan / Smith decision: During your time covering the 49ers, can you ever remember this amount of venom being spewed by fans -- even at one another? The feelings towards Nolan right now appear to be bordering on pathological... (It's almost to the point where you're safer at a Raiders' game than on a Niner blog or board these days.) A lot of heat around this, to be sure.
Mike, Montclair

Answer: I hear you, and it sort of makes me throw up in my mouth. Why should NinerLover411 care what Willis4Prez! thinks about his opinion? Why would you attack someone who doesn't exist! These aliases also allow people to be more vicious than they'd be if they put their real names behind their comments.
- Mudslinger49

Question: Tucson John again! Matt, I read anything and everything I can about our boys during the off-season, and am glued to my computer during the pre-season looking for every bit of info I can get. Thus, I'm super happy I found your blog! Now, from everything I've read, I sense a totally different vibe surrounding the team this year than from the previous 5 or 6. A certain swagger that's been missing. Is it visible in the players actions, both on and off the field, and by the tone of their voices when they talk? How so? Give us hope!
John, Tucson

Answer: John, it's the mirror opposite of last season when the swagger from May, June, July and August started to disappear when the 49ers struggled mightily in the preseason. This year, the team was unsure of itself until it started to see what the offense was capable of in that Green Bay game. A good sign, in my opinion.
- Matt

Question: Matt -- I was reading back on the last week's blogs, and I ran across this from you: "I made this analogy yesterday: Alex Smith is like the Democratic party. You think they're right, you root for them, but they frustrate the hell out of you by being too mild mannered ... " I enjoy your stuff, but it's best to keep politics out of sports. First, half the country doesn't share your views, and yeah, that mild-mannered Ted Kennedy, Al Gore, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi and Hillary Clinton are real peaches. Please spare us!
Mike, Vacaville

Answer: Sorry to bring up politics, but it wasn't exactly a ringing endorsement of the Democratic party. My political stance is so straight down the center that you could balance on egg on it and it wouldn't fall either way. If there was a "Center Party," I would be president of the San Jose chapter. My favorite non-49er? Larry Centers. But the way things stand now I think there needs to be a couple of hard tugs to the left to get back to the center ...
- Matt

Question: Are there sports bars or lounges in Sacramento that cater especially to 49er fans for watching 49er games on TV?
Charles, Sacramento

Answer: I used to watch games at a bar on Arden, but dunno if it still exists. (I've lived in the San Jose area since 2003). Anyone have a suggestion for Charles?
- Matt

Question: Can someone please tell me what the J T stands for in O'Sullivan's name...?
Joe, Sacramento

Answer: John Thomas.
- Matt

---

August 30, 2008

Nolan: Lelie was a durability issue

Perhaps the most surprising cut for the 49ers today was Ashley Lelie, a prolific receiver early in his career, who at 28, still seems to have something to offer. Here's what Mike Nolan had to say about that and other cuts today.

On Lelie: "When it comes down to it, it really just became a durability issue. If you can't count on someone for whatever the reason ... It's a tough call. But we made the decision we did."

The decison to cut Lelie leaves the team with five receivers. Nolan said if the 49ers had their druthers, they would have at least six. It doesn't look like they will add anyone off of waivers because whomever they add would face a steep learning curve in the offense ... unless he had already played for Mike Martz. Nolan also said it was likely the team would keep two receivers on the practice squad because of the demands Martz's offense places on wideouts. Those two receivers would appear to be Dominique Zeigler and Cam Colvin. ... Any old Martz wideouts out there? Devale Ellis, a third-year-guy out of Hofstra, was released by Detroit today. He started two games last year and caught four passes for 41 yards.

On Larry Grant: Early on, the team thought Grant could compete with Jeff Ulbrich for the starting "Ted" spot. As training camp got underway, it was clear the rookie would not. When the 49ers signed Takeo Spikes, the handwriting was on the wall for Grant. "He was still inexperienced to the point where we didn't see him pushing for the job like we had hoped." Grant seems like a lock for the practice squad. It should be noted that Spikes hasn't edged Ulbrich out yet, either and that it seems as if Ulbrich will be the "Ted" starter on Sept. 7.

On Thomas Clayton: The question was put to Nolan about the relative strengths of Michael Robinson and Clayton. Nolan said that Robinson offered an array of skills. he was good out of the backfield, excellent on special teams and a locker room leader. "A master of none but a jack of all trades," Nolan said, which is why he landed a spot on the 53-man roster and Clayton, who is perhaps a better pure running back, did not. When I spoke to Clayton this morning he sounded optimistic that another team would see his game film from this summer and take a chance. The Lions, for example, are light on running backs at the moment. If not, he is a lock for the practice squad.

On keeping 12 defensive backs (including Allen Rossum), which is a whopper of a number, Nolan noted that DBs are valuable on special teams. He also suggested that the team is looking for Walt Harris' eventual replacement and hasn't identified who that is. He also said that all those DBs makes it unlikley the team will keep a cornerback or safety on the practice squad. That's bad news for D.J. Parker.

On Moran Norris: Nolan said that Norris was one of the most difficult cuts of the day because it's not as if his play had deteriorated since last year. Norris simply is not the right kind of fullback for Martz's offense. Nolan hinted that he had tried to trade Norris over the summer ...

So who makes the practice squad? Assuming that they all make it through waivers, look for the following:

1. Clayton
2. Zeigler
3. Colvin
4. Grant
5. Louis Holmes
6. Brian de la Puente
7. Ramiro Pruneda (int'l exemption)
8. Atiyyah Ellison
9. ?

**********************
It was a bad day for Brandons. Former 49ers Brandon Moore and Brandon Williams were released by the Cardinals and Rams respectively.

-- Matt Barrows

Ugly Saturday: The 49ers drop down to 53; Moore on IR

The 49ers reached the 53-man limit by releasing 21 players and placing one, Jay Moore, on injured reserve. Here are the some of the notable released players I talked to today:

Thomas Clayton: The running back looked far and away better than he did last season, but there simply was no room on the roster. Clayton said he believes there will be some interest from other teams when he goes on the waiver wire. If not, he has been assured of a practice-squad spot. "I just feel like I'm better than the practice squad right now," he said. "But my spirits are good. I feel good inside. I'm just ready to play." Clayton certainly has some good game film, especially from preseason Game No. 3 in Chicago. In fact, the Bears might want to take a look ...

Larry Grant. Grant said he was surprised to have been cut, especially since he had a good game last night. He figured at the very least he would be an asset on special teams. "They might be bringing me back for the practice squad," he said. "You have to start somewhere. I've always wanted to be a 49er. I've been a fan all my life."

Atiyyah Ellison: Ellison played a lot of nose tackle Saturday night. The difficult part - it was the first time all offseason he had played there. Both Aubrayo Franklin and Ronald Fields got nicked in the game. And the 49ers' No. 3 NT, Joe Cohen, had been released the week prior. Ellison said he figures he will be picked up on the practice squad. He says his versatility gives him an advantage. "That's the good thing for me - I can play both end and nose."

Louis Holmes: The undrafted rookie also has been earmarked for the practice squad. Holmes was limited to playing defensive ends on third downs last night. He told me that coaches said he was uncomfortable playing linebacker. But Holmes said he felt plenty comfortable there. He said he thought he was playing the best football of his life this summer, which is a testament to good coaching.

The other who were cut are headlined by receiver Ashley Lelie, who missed nearly all of training camp and who was held without a catch last night. Here's the rest of the released list: LB Dennis Haley, FB Moran Norris, DT LaJuan Ramsey, T Alan Reuber, T Joe Toledo, CB Markus Curry, DT Walter Curry, WR Robert Ortiz, T Chris Patrick, WR Jerard Rabb, P Ricky Schmitt, WR Dominique Zeigler, WR Cam Colvin, G Brian de la Puente, TE J.J. Finley,and S D.J. Parker.

Obviously, the 49ers decided to load up on defensive backs. Keith Lewis and Marcus Hudson were both on the bubble throughout training camp, but both made the team. Still, more changes could come tomorrow after Scot McC,loughan and his staff scours the waiver wire.

Here are the injury updates:

As expected, Jay Moore will go on injured reserve after tearing his biceps in the first quarter yesterday. Moore said the injured happened on kickoff coverage when he extended his arm to make a tackle. He said it was like deja vu -- he suffered a severe ankle injury in the preseason finale last year. The difference is that last season he had to wait to see how bad the injury was. This year, he knew immediately that he would go on IR. He'll have surgery Tuesday ...

I wasn't able to catch Aubrayo Franklin, who injured his knee on the first series yesterday. However, i can tell you he walked to a waiting SUV without crutches, without a limp and without anything wrapped on the knee. He seems ok ...

I'm told that Parys Haralson's shoulder is nothing to worry about and that he ought to be able to play in the opener against Ariz. ... Just talked with Haralson. His left arm was in a sling but said he thought he'd be good to go for the opener.

-- Matt Barrows

---

August 29, 2008

The final cut: Who was helped, who was hurt, who got hurt

Who says the last preseason game is useless? Mike Nolan insists there was some true jockeying for position on the field Thursday night. "It's not going to stay as I thought going into the game," he said of the looming cuts.

So who helped and who hurt themselves? First, let's look at who got hurt.

Jay Moore tore his right biceps and almost certainly will be placed on injured reserve, thus ending his season. This could be a blessing in disguise. Moore did not figure to make the final roster and the 49ers were eyeing him for the practice squad. There was also a chance he would be snagged off of waivers by a team in need of a defensive end. Now Moore likely will spend the year with the 49ers. It's also a case of lightning striking twice. Moore suffered a bad high-ankle sprain in last season's preseason finale against San Diego, an injury that landed him on IR.

Parys Haralson gets the bad-luck award, too. He was minutes away from going into the regular season healthy when he sprained his left shoulder. He was given an X-ray but the results are pending. If the news is bad, Rod Green and Tully Banta-Cain are shoe-ins to make the final roster. I think those two make it anyway, but depth suddenly looks like an issue in what was previously a crowded position.

Ashley Lelie played the whole game. He had nary a catch, which is an accomplishment considering that 10 other 49ers had at least one grab. But that may be secondary to Lelie finishing the game healthy. He said he felt good on the field and that he wasn't slowed by his calf injury.

Larry Grant could have sealed the win with an interception on the Chargers' final drive. He dropped the would-be pick (and what would have been a glorious TD) but he and Dennis Haley played like they were possessed during the series. Mike Nolan said Grant not only caught his eye on that series but on an earlier one as well. Grant was definitely on the bubble heading into the game. Did he salvage a spot? Tune in tomorrow ...

Marcus Hudson had a few nice hits in the secondary. But he was covering Eldra Buckley when Buckley made the game-winning TD catch on fourth down. Not only that but Hudson committed a flagrant pass-interference penalty and still Buckley caught the pass. That will stand out in film review tomorrow morning.

****************
In addition to Haralson and Moore, Aubrayo Franklin sprained his knee and did not return; Ronald Fields sprained his elbow and did return. If Franklin's injury is serious, it could mean Walter Curry, LaJuan Ramsey or Atiyyah Ellison is back in the running for a roster spot.

******************
David Baas played well at left guard. Baas admitted he was tentative at first, but once he got over the mental hurdle of playing again, he got comfortable and settled down. Baas spent the offseason of 2006 at left guard. It will be interesting to see whether he or Adam Snyder starts there Sept. 7 against the Cardinals. As I wrote earlier, Snyder was out of his plastic boot and running sprints before the game.

**************
Why didn't JTO, who has all of four preseason starts to his name, play? I'm not sure I quite understand this explanation but this is what Nolan said. Because the 49ers' first-team offense practiced all week against the 49ers' first-team defense ... and because the 49ers' defense is similar to the Chargers defense, Nolan figured it was as good as a game. "He got more than a game," Nolan said of the practice reps. "He got basically 2 ½ games this week."
The others who were healthy scratches for the game: defenders Nate Clements, Walt Harris, Justin Smith and Patrick Willis; and Frank Gore and Isaac Bruce on offense.

**************
Greatest offensive decision of Mike Nolan's coaching career? Not going for the 51-yard field goal to send the game to overtime. Why risk more injuries (See: Haralson; Parys)? It also would have crimped my deadline. Nolan for coach of the year, I say ...

************
Mark Roman and Dashon Goldson wore the radio receivers for the defense.

-- Matt Barrows

Game day blog: Larry Allen to retire as a Cowboy; O'Sullivan not playing

About five months ago, I called the Cowboys PR director to see if the team was planning to sign Larry Allen to a ceremonial contract so he could retire a Cowboy. Turns out my instincts were right, although my timing was way off. Allen indeed has decided to hang up the cleats after 14 years in the league, the last two in San Francisco. Here are the latest details from the Cowboys blog ...

The 49ers never ruled out re-signing Allen in the offseason, but it always seemed like a longshot. The team liked how David Baas played at the end of the season, and they had plans to finally allow Adam Snyder to concentrate on one spot, left guard. Tony Wragge also has been impressive, and, of course, the team used its second-round pick on Chilo Rachal ....

**********
There's been a lot of news in recent months about L.A. developer Ed Roski and his plan to lure a team -- or two -- to a new stadium in L.A. Today, the San Gabriel Valley Tribune has a story that quotes Roski's business partner as saying there was "no doubt" a team would be playing in the L.A. area next year. In April, Roski listed the Saints, Bills, Vikings, Jaguars, Chargers, Raiders and 49ers as teams that might make the move. Jed York today told me that the 49ers have had no contact with Roski's group. The Yorks, of course, are in the midst of a stadium project of their own -- in Santa Clara.

**********
5:02 p.m. -- Looking through my binocs I see a group of five 49ers running sprints on the field. they are: J.T. O'Sullivan, Nate Clements, Frank Gore, Patrick Willis and Adam Snyder. Snyder (ankle) obviously is out of his plastic boot and seems to be running fine. Of course, he comes in last each time they sprint ...

5:11 p.m. -- Alex Smith, Shaun Hill and Philip Rivers are chatting at the 50-yard line. Here's how I imagine the conversation:

AS: So, how's the old knee?
PR: Great.
AS: Darn.

*********************
Just received the lineup changes for tonight's game. Basically, the entire San Diego first string has been scratched from the game. That's Philip Rivers, LaDainian Tomlinson, Shawne Merriman, Antonio Gates, Chris Chambers, Jamal Williams ...etc., etc. For the 49ers, Snyder, Allen Rossum, Keith Lewis, Jonas Jennings and Josh Morgan are scratches. David Baas will start for Snyder at LG; Barry Sims will start for Jennings at RT ...

*****************
Apparently, the 49ers have seen enough of J.T. O'Sullivan. He's wearing a baseball cap while Alex Smith is warming up ... I'm told it's not a health issue ... It looks like Patrick Willis, Walt Harris and Nate Clements also are getting the VIP treatment. Dontarrious Thomas, Shawntae Spencer and Donald Strickland are substituting. ... It doesn't look like Frank Gore is playing, either ...

****************
NT Aubrayo Franklin has just left the game with what looks like a right knee injury .... Now it looks like Ronald Fields, Franklin's backup, also is nicked. Trainers appear to be working on Fields' left elbow ...Atiyyah Ellison is now in the game at NT

**************
Fields is back out for the second series. He's wearing a rubber sleeve over his elbow ...

**************
Now you know why Mike Martz is so gaga about Delanie Walker -- a 101-yard kickoff return. Somone call STATS and see if a tight end has ever returned a kickoff for a TD ...

************
Jay Moore has a right torn biceps. That's an injury that will land him on IR. The 49ers were planning to release Moore and then add him to their practice squad. That won't happen now, but at least there's no risk of losing him.

---

August 28, 2008

Final 53: Defensive lineman

As far as the final numbers go, this unit takes it on the chin for four reasons: One, the 49ers consider themselves a 3-4 team (hybrid 3-4) and one of the beauties of running the 3-4 is that you don't need to carry as many lineman. Two, there are several linebackers - Rod Green, Parys Haralson, TBC, etc. - who can play with their hand in the dirt if need be. Three, just about every lineman can play multiple positions on the line, making depth less of a concern. Four, backup linebackers are better on special teams than backup linemen.

#60 Walter Curry. This one's going to hurt defensive line coach Jim Tomsula who's fond of Curry after their days together in NFL Europe. Curry is one of the strongest players on the team, and he holds his ground well, which is something the 49ers want from their defensive ends. But Curry is not as versatile as some other players and there's a sense that in Isaac Sopoaga and Ronald Fields, the team has virtually the same player with a little more play-making ability. He is not practice-squad eligible.
Final 53: No.

#61 LaJuan Ramsey. Ramsey is this year's version of Sam Rayburn - a former Eagles lineman who is a solid lineman that is just not going to make the final cut. Ramsey certainly hasn't floundered since arriving here. But his size is just OK, he's not all that versatile and he's not a pass-rush threat.
Final 53: No

#62 Louis Holmes. A very intriguing guy. If Holmes had had his head screwed on right in college, he would have been a first-day draft pick. As it was, he went undrafted. But he has excellent size and quickness and he's responded well to Tomsula's coaching. He easily could have been listed in the "linebacker" post because he's been playing quite a bit there late in training camp. Holmes' most natural position is probably as a 4-3 defensive end, but he's more athletic than Jay Moore and the 49ers envision him as a pass-rush linebacker. Practice squad is a definite possibility.
Final 53: No.

#78 Atiyyah Ellison. The 49ers snagged Ellison off the Baltimore Ravens practice squad early last season. And why not? Ellison is huge, quick and smart - just what the 49ers were looking for on their defensive line. But the team seems to be reaching the same conclusion the Ravens had: That while Ellison is bursting with ability, he's too inconsistent for a spot on the regular roster. He was inactive for every game last season - a wasted roster spot - and it doesn't look as if the 49ers will make the same mistake twice.
Final 53: No.

#90 Isaac Sopoaga. He's much happier at left defensive end after playing nose tackle for most of 2007. Sopoaga was paid handsomely in the offseason and it will be interesting to see if there's any drop-off in his play. Of course, he still has plenty of pressure: He's taking over for the incomparable Bryant Young and he has a first-round draft choice playing behind him.
Final 53: Yes

#91 Ray McDonald. Last year, the coaching staff predicted big things from Ray McDonald in his second season, and McDonald is in a position to make them look smart. He admits to having a tough time his rookie season because he was relying mostly on instincts and quickness. He has a better understanding of the defense - and his role - this season, and he's looked very good in the preseason. Along with Justin Smith, McDonald is the team's best pass-rushing lineman, and the 49ers often will pair the two on stunts. The duo is being counted on to jump-start the pass rush this season.
Final 53: Yes.

#92 Aubrayo Franklin. The 49ers see Franklin as a placeholder until they can find somebody better to play nose tackle. Franklin gets moved around too easily and last year spent too many plays on the ground. Still, his play picked up toward the tail end of 2007 and he couldn't have been too bad considering Patrick Willis' tackle total. Still, look for the team to try to upgrade the position in the offseason.
Final 53: Yes

#93 Ronald Fields. The 49ers like Fields for two reasons - he's versatile and he has a certain on-the-field meanness that coaches desire in a defensive lineman. Fields had one of the 49ers' top plays last year when he forced a Kurt Warner fumble in an overtime win in Arizona. He was rushing from the left defensive end spot that game but has been switched to nose tackle, his college position, this year. The 49ers would love it if he displaced Franklin, but it looks as if Fields will begin the season as a reliever.
Final 53: Yes

#94 Justin Smith. I could have included him in yesterday's post but I just got too tired of writing about linebackers. Smith - as you've no doubt heard by now - is going to play multiple positions this year. Smith's been everything the 49ers hoped for so far, and has been a valuable teacher for younger defensive linemen and offensive linemen alike. He's a very hard guy for offensive linemen to handle one on one, which is why the team's pass rush will revolve around Smith. In other words, Smith's value shouldn't be measured in how many sacks he has this year but in how many sacks the team has.
Final 53: Yes

#96 Kentwan Balmer. Get down from the roof, 49ers fans. The team's first rounder is not a bust. He's simply a far from polished defensive lineman, as most rookies who play his position are (See: Williams, Mario; McDonald, Ray). Early on, he's reminded me a lot of former 49ers defensive lineman Anthony Adams as far as his energy level and work ethic. The difference is that Balmer is much bigger and has a more powerful lower body. A year under Tomsula will pay dividends but don't expect much this season.
Final 53: Yes.

-- Matt Barrows

---

Ask a question

Please use the form below to submit your question. Because there is a 100-word limit for questions, a word counter is located directly beneath the box where you enter the your question.

Name:

City:  State:

E-mail:

49ers Question:

Your letter contains of 100 words allowed.  Count words


Your IP Address has been recorded as 38.103.63.61 and will be included with this submission.