49ers Blog and Q&A

This is not a new blog post. This is merely an addendum to the Vernon Davis story from yesterday. In that story, I mentioned that Davis broke all the weight-lifting records for tight ends at the University of Maryland. But I forgot to list what those records are. You'll notice that Davis still owns all the records, save one. The record for the clean belongs to Tommy Galt. Who's he, you ask? He's the son of the school's long-time strength coach, Dwight Galt. One imagines that he had a Fisher-Price weight bench as a toddler ...

Squat: V. Davis 685
Bench: V. Davis 465
Clean: T. Galt 385. V. Davis 380
40-yard: V. Davis 4.41
Vert. Jump: V. Davis 40.5''
Strength index: 812

-- Matt Barrows

Here's a column I wrote today about Vernon Davis. The bottom line is that I think his Maryland coaches had a better plan for him than his 49ers' coaches have had in recent seasons. Does Davis run pass routes as precisely as Tony Gonzalez? Is he as acrobatic as Antonio Gates? Does he have Chris Cooley's mitts? The answer is, no, on all counts. But you can't tell me he isn't as talented as those guys. The trick is capturing that talent, which really hasn't been done yet in San Francisco and which is Jimmy Raye's mission this year.

I hope you're sitting for this next part. I have been told to take the next week off. By my boss. It wasn't a "work-a-holic" intervention, but it was close. His exact words, and I quote, were, "But seriously, shut it down. No blogging, just get away from it. Tell your readers you're taking Arnold's advance... 'I'll be back...'" So I'll resume the magnifying-glass look at the 49ers' roster - outside linebackers are next - in seven days. Try to be strong. I find nature photography and crossword puzzles to be effective distractions. Maybe take up knitting.

-- Matt Barrows

We continue the in-depth look into the 49ers' roster with the rest of the inside linebackers ....

• Mark Washington. 6-3, 245. A couple of years ago, the 49ers were mildly bummed when the Dolphins plucked Washington off their practice squad at the end of the year. At the time, the 49ers were searching for a future "Ted" linebacker. Washington, while raw, had potential. He had played collegiately at a small school, Texas State-San Marcos, and had actually played nose tackle there. There was a hope that the physical nature of that position, coupled with his size, would translate well to "Ted" in the NFL. That hope still exists. However, two years later, the 49ers have plenty of "Teds." Takeo Spikes and Scott McKillop are one and two on the depth chart while Jeff Ulbrich also can play the position. Washington's ticket to the 53-man roster may be as an ace special teamer.
• Patrick Willis. 6-1, 240. Psst. Here's a secret: Patrick Willis is really good. In fact, I could write 10 paragraphs about how fast he is, how hard he hits and how he plays through injuries, but I wouldn't be telling you anything you don't know. Instead I'll tell you a story of how the 49ers nearly passed on Willis. Going into the 2007 draft, there was a certain element on the 49ers' coaching staff - one that included Mike Singletary - who didn't want to take Willis. He was too small, got nicked in college and wouldn't be able to hold up in the NFL, the argument went. And besides, the current 49ers' regime wanted big-bodied players. It took GM Scot McCloughan, who is not an emotional guy, giving an impassioned defense of Willis to tilt the room in his favor. I wasn't there, but it sounds like McCloughan's finest moment to date.

  In truth, Willis does seem small. When you seek him out following a game in which he has made 20 tackles, you expect him to be 10-feet tall and to be wearing a red cape. Instead, you're looking at him (more or less) in the eye. He's the most talented player to wear a 49ers uniform since Terrell Owens left town. The only thing that would keep him from a stellar career, dare I say, a Hall-of-Fame career, would be injuries. Which is why the 49ers are building their defense to protect Willis like they would an offense to protect a quarterback.

• Jeff Ulbrich. 6-0, 240. Ulbrich is the only defender who dates back to the Steve Mariucci era. The secret to his longevity? He's a hard worker who is willing to do anything to stay on the team. A few years ago when it was clear the 49ers were moving to a younger linebacking corps, Ulbrich dedicated himself to special teams and became one of the stars of that unit. This offseason, Ulbrich realized his salary might make him a roster casualty, so he reduced it from $2.23 million to $950,000. Perhaps more than anyone in the locker room, Ulbrich loves to play the game. He's one of the oldest players on the team, but he has retained the youthfulness with which he entered the league and it truly looks like he is having fun. Ulbrich, however, is not as fleet of foot as he used to be, and he must hold off Washington and Justin Roland, who are eight and nine years his junior respectively. If he can, Ulbrich's mug would go up on the 49ers' 10-Year Wall, a coveted honor in Santa Clara.

-- Matt Barrows

After examining the 49ers' defensive linemen, it's time to look at the group playing behind them. We'll start with the inside linebackers, who, of course, are headlined by two-time Pro Bowler Patrick Willis. Look for the 49ers to keep four, maybe five, inside linebackers.

• Scott McKillop. 6-1, 244. The 49ers have been searching for two years for a future "Ted" linebacker to be the Robin to Willis' Batman. After finding McKillop in the fifth round of the draft, they could hardly contain themselves. Of all the team's draft picks - a list that includes Michael Crabtree, mind you - team officials were most jazzed about McKillop, perhaps because he projects as the perfect complement to Willis. I was on hand for all the Senior Bowl practices this year. A typical running play went something like this: Hand off to the back. Big pile after two yards. Players get up and McKillop is at the bottom with his arms around the runner's ankles.

A former wrestler, McKillop definitely has the grit for one of the more blue-collar positions on the team. What he showed this spring is perhaps more athleticism than he was given credit for entering the draft. As Takeo Spikes proved last year with three interceptions, the "Ted" linebacker has plenty of pass-coverage duties and can be a big playmaker in the passing game. At least early on, McKillop has shown he can keep pace with running backs and tight ends downfield.

The bottom line is that Willis has shown he has Hall of Fame potential. To reach that summit, he needs to play a long time and he needs to have good players around him. McKillop won't play a lot on defense this year unless Spikes gets injured. But he certainly looks like the long-term answer at the position.

• Justin Roland. 5-11, 242. Roland, who spent a few weeks on the Texans' practice squad a year ago, is currently playing behind Willis and Jeff Ulbrich at "Mike" linebacker. He's seemed like a solid player in the team's non-contact practices this spring but will need to shine in the preseason to leapfrog Ulbrich. The team also will have three or four spots on the roster that will be determined, in large part, by special teams prowess. An inside linebacker like Roland could find a niche there.
• Takeo Spikes. 6-2, 242. I remember watching Spikes early in the season and thinking, 'man this guy's not very good.' I was wrong. What I was seeing was someone who came into training camp late and had to learn a defense on the fly. It took Spikes until the fourth game of the season to master the new scheme. At that point he was inserted into the starting lineup and it seemed as if he had played "Ted" all his life. Spikes tied for second on the team in total tackles, tied for first on the team in interceptions and proved that there was plenty of football left in his 31 year-old body. (He's 32 now). Spikes also is an asset inside the locker room. He is a very passionate and stirring speaker - something the 49ers have lacked in recent seasons - and is almost Ray Lewis-esque in that regard. The fact that he has never been to the playoffs but believes this 49ers team can break that ignominious streak is a motivational plus for the young players around him.

-- Matt Barrows

Continuing our magnifying-glass look at the defensive line, here are the rest of the defensive players on the team who are 275 pounds and above ...

• Ray McDonald, 6-3, 290. McDonald's play seemed to tail off toward the end of last season. What we now know is that he was dealing with an ACL injury, the same one that gave him trouble at Florida and one that he still will be rehabilitating when training camp begins. McDonald is a rare talent in that he is a big guy with quick-twitch skills. With that in mind, the 49ers like to use him as a back-up to Justin Smith and on the inside of the defensive line on obvious passing downs. Look for McDonald to begin training camp on the physically unable to perform list. If he's still on PUP when the regular seasons starts, he'll have to sit out the first six weeks. If that's the case, rookie Ricky Jean-Francois' chances of making the 53-man roster improve immensely.
• Justin Smith, 6-4, 282. The big critique when the 49ers signed Smith for (potentially) $45 million last year was that they were breaking the bank for someone who's not a playmaker. Smith finished the 2007 season with a two sacks, a career low. However, he improved that mark to seven last year and was one of several defenders who benefited from a simplification (or "denolanization") of the defense at midseason. Smith has the dimensions of a prototypical 4-3 defensive end, but he proved strong and tenacious enough for the 49ers' scheme. Opposing defenses clearly saw Smith as the biggest threat on the 49ers' defensive line and typically put two - and sometimes three - blockers on him. Smith seems to be very much the same type of player Bryant Young used to be - a blue-collar guy who is respected far more by teammates and opponents than by the national media. Smith certainly would benefit from a sophomore surge by left defensive end Kentwan Balmer, the player he has been mentoring this offseason.
• Isaac Sopoaga, 6-2, 330. He's the strongest player on the team, he's athletic for a big man and he's entering his sixth year. So why hasn't Sopoaga had a bigger impact? The problem is that he's not an instinctual player. Sopoaga seems to be best the closer he is to the ball, which is why some inside the organization think he'd be better at nose tackle than at defensive end. His bulk certainly supports that hypothesis. Sopoaga, however, has said in the past that he's much happier at end than on the nose because he has less to worry about. What does that leave the 49ers with? A solid player who can't quite fulfill his potential.

Others to watch: Jean-Francois (6-3, 295), who got plenty of work this spring when McDonald and Balmer were out with injuries. The 49ers believe they got a third-round talent late in the seventh round. At the very least, Jean-Francois makes the practice squad ... Undrafted free-agent Khalif Mitchell (6-5, 318) has nice size, but he needs plenty of seasoning and could be a practice squad player ... Pannel Egboh (6-6, 276) has a lot of catching up to do after missing most of the spring drills ....

-- Matt Barrows

The 49ers may assemble for training camp in late July, but their first team practice won't be until Aug. 1. Yes, there will be a couple of rookie signings in that interim, but there also will be loooooooong stretches where there is no 49ers news whatsoever. (Cue the cold sweats and hives). Ah, but I have something for your 49ers' addiction. Over the next month, I plan on going over the entire roster and giving a player-by-player analysis. That is, a look at how a particular player fits in ... or how he doesn't. Also, I'm going to limit the daily briefings to three or four players in an effort to ssssstrrrreeeeeetttttccccchhhhhh this as long as I can.

Let's begin with the defensive line. Expect the 49ers to go into the season with six DLs on their 53-man roster, effectively going two-deep at each spot. One guy to keep an eye on is Ray McDonald. He won't be ready for training camp, but his rehab from an ACL injury is coming along nicely. Look for him to begin training camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list but to come off it before the regular season begins.

• Kentwan Balmer. As the 2008 season drew to a close, a lot of fans were using the "b" word in relation to the first-round draft pick, and the word wasn't "bull's-eye." After all, Balmer didn't start a game and he finished with exactly seven tackles at left defensive end, not exactly a sterling beginning. But coaches are guardedly optimistic about Balmer, who, of all the 49ers' defensive linemen, best fits the ideal height-weight ratio for a 3-4 defensive linemen.

  Here's an anecdote about Balmer. A few days after he was drafted, he met with the local reporters. One of the requisite questions involved what he would do with his newfound riches. Noticing that he was wearing a plain white t-shirt pock-mocked with stains, I jokingly suggested that he buy a new undershirt. A few days later, we met with Balmer again and he was wearing what appeared to be the same grundy t-shirt. When I made note of that, Balmer said, no, it actually was a different stained shirt. The point of the story is that he's not a high-maintenance guy and he's not afraid to get dirty. Put another way: He has the grunt-like mentality and work ethic needed at the position. That he spent the offseason working out with Justin Smith, one of the hardest workers on the team, is another sign that effort won't be an issue with Balmer.

  Balmer's issue is that of most young linemen - that he can't get by on speed and strength alone like he did in college. He'll continue to work on technique this summer with position coach Jim Tomsula, but there are signs that he is making progress. Look for Balmer to begin the season where he finished last season - as Isaac Sopoaga's back-up at left defensive end. There is an expectation, however, that Balmer will be a starter by midseason. Another thing to keep an eye on is Balmer's reps at nose tackle. At least one coach believes that the nose ultimately will be Balmer's best position.

• Demetric Evans. The 49ers always have liked Evans, and they contemplated signing him the first time he became a free agent. He spent the recent minicamps and OTAs mostly playing behind Justin Smith at right defensive end, but he can play both defensive end positions. Evans is not the big, 300 pounder the 49ers would like at the position, but he's a smart and savvy veteran who has played on the inside of the Redskins' 4-3 defense. He is someone the 49ers would feel comfortable starting if there are injury issues.
• Aubrayo Franklin. Franklin may have had his best game in Buffalo late last season. Defensive coordinator Greg Manusky moved Franklin to different spots along the line, taking advantage of Franklin's forte - his quickness. The caliber of his performance was shown in the statistics of the two linebackers playing behind him. Patrick Willis led all tacklers with 14 stops; Takeo Spikes was tied for second on the team with six. The question, however, is whether quickness is what Manusky and the 49ers want at the position. The team has signalled in the past that it would like to replace Franklin as the starter. With that in mind, the 49ers will give a long looks to Balmer and Sopoaga - both of whom are more physical - at nose tackle this summer. One scenario for the season has Balmer starting at LDE, Sopoaga at NT and Justin Smith at RDE.

Note - 49ers rookies will report for training camp on July 28. Veterans will report on July 30. The team has meetings all day July 31. The first practice is scheduled for Aug. 1.

-- Matt Barrows

Here's a column I wrote today about Alex Smith and the triumphant return of his right arm. Before the Smith bashers start crashing this site and accusing me of bias, I plan on giving equal time to Shaun Hill later this summer. I'm driving to College Park, Md. - I'm in Virginia this week - on Monday to chat with some of Hill's former college coaches. (I'm also expecting to find a solid gold statue of Vernon Davis in the Terrapins' weight room.)

Smith, however, deserves recognition. If you were to write a manual on how to ruin a young quarterback, you would follow, step-by-step, Smith's progression since 2005. He was thrown into the starting lineup too soon, he had inferior talent around him, he suffered a serious injury to his throwing arm and his head coach, the guy who should have had his back, abandoned him at his lowest moment. In short, Smith has had it as rough as any young quarterback. Ever. You may not think he's the 49ers' quarterback of the future, and in truth he's shown only flashes of potential amid mostly ordinary and subpar play. But give him credit for bringing himself back physically - and emotionally - to a point where he is at least challenging for the starting role.

-- Matt Barrows

I know how your overactive minds work. Even though the 49ers have more than two months before their first roster cuts, you're already composing the final roster in your heads. Ok, I'll play along. To aid you in your roster machinations, here are the rules for the eight-man practice squad and which players are eligible.

Generally speaking, here's who's eligible:

• A. Players who do not have an accrued NFL season of free agent credit; or


• B. Players who have one or more accrued seasons, but who were on the 45-player Active List for fewer than nine regular season games during each of such accrued seasons; or


• C. Players who have not been on a practice squad more than two seasons

Rookies:
OT Alex Boone
LB Diyral Briggs
RB Glen Coffee
WR Dobson Collins
WR Michael Crabtree
QB Nate Davis
DE Pannel Egboh
OT Kyle Howard
G Matthew Huners
DE Ricky Jean-Francois
CB Terrail Lambert
LB Scott McKillop
NT Khalif Mitchell
TE Bear Pascoe
RB Kory Sheets
S Curtis Taylor
CB Carlos Thomas
CB Jahi Word-Daniels

Notes: Of that group, it's a safe bet that Crabtree, Coffee, McKillop and Pascoe won't land on the practice squad.

Veterans who have spent fewer than nine games on the active roster:
S Lewis Baker
WR Mark Bradford
OT Jacob Bender
RB Thomas Clayton
TE JJ Finley
LB Jay Moore
WR Maurice Price
G Chilo Rachal
LB Justin Roland
K Alex Romero
S Reggie Smith
C Cody Wallace
LB Mark Washington
T Joe Toledo
WR Dominique Zeigler

Notes: The only one of these guys who is absolutely positively not landing on the practice squad is Rachal. I'd wager a dollar that Wallace and Smith are safe, too. Because WR Michael Spurlock served on practice squads from 2006-2008, he is ineligible for the practice squad. (At least, that's how I read it).

-- Matt Barrows