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January 31, 2008

New uniforms? Look for them in 2009

Not to get all Jean Paul Gaultier on you or anything, but the 49ers’ duds are in dire need of an overhaul. The uniforms haven’t been tweaked in a decade and the shadowed numbers are sooooo mid 1990s. (Think: Linda Tripp.) Jed York agrees. York told me today that the 49ers plan to conduct a series of fan focus groups this offseason with the intent of making some serious alterations to the 49ers’ threads by the start of the 2009 season. (Reebok and the NFL must be informed of the design changes by October of this year).

Many 49ers’ fans, of course, are hoping the team returns to the cherry red duds of the early 1980s, the ones most closely associated with Joe Montana, Dwight Clark, The Catch and the franchise’s glory years. When Bill Walsh passed away this past summer, York said there was a movement to permanently return to the throwbacks for the start of the 2008 season. But the team didn’t want to rush the decision. Once you settle on a uniform change, after all, you have to stick with it for at least five seasons.

And there are some issues that need to be, ahem, ironed out. The No. 1 priority, York said, is making sure the players are comfortable in the duds. And today’s players look at uniforms differently than their 1980s counterparts did. Take, for instance, sleeves. The early 80s uniforms were notable for the three bold red and white stripes (they remind me of the Wicked Witch of the West’s socks) that came down close to the player’s elbow. Nowadays sleeves are becoming nearly non-existent. Linemen try to minimize them as much as possible to prevent holding while quarterbacks feel they restrict their movement. When the team has gone to its throwbacks the last few years, not everyone has been comfortable.

York said the point of the focus groups is to marry what the fans want to see with what the players want to wear. It’s the age-old concept of form vs. function. York – who favors the throwback design – cited the New York Yankees as an example. The logo and pinstripes have remained the team’s trademark decade after decade, but Derek Jeter certainly isn’t wearing the same uniform Babe Ruth donned. The overall concept remains but the details get tweaked. “I guarantee we’ll make some type of change,” York said. “Hopefully we’ll do it using the (early 1980s) themes while making sure they’re updated for today’s players.”

-- Matt Barrows

Posted by Matthew Barrows at 04:08 PM | Comments |

January 30, 2008

Tollner QBs' coach; 49ers hire Gase

As expected, the 49ers officially made Ted Tollner the team's quarterbacks coach today. Tollner has the additional title of "assistant to the head coach," which likely means Mike Nolan will frequently consult the veteran assistant throughout the year. The 49ers also hired Adam Gase as offensive assistant. Gase, 29, was offensive quality control coach under Mike Martz in Detroit in 2006 before moving up to quarterbacks coach last year. He will help install Martz's offense in San Francisco. The 49ers have not yet hired a running backs coach although Wilbert Montgomery is belived to be the leading candidate.

-- Matt Barrows

Posted by Matthew Barrows at 09:58 AM | Comments |

January 29, 2008

Coming this Saturday: Texas vs. the universe

If the Senior Bowl is for college prospects fighting for position in the first round of the April draft, then the Texas vs. the Nation game (Sat. at 2 p.m. on CSTV) is for players fighting to be merely drafted at all. It features guys from schools like Stillman College(?), Lindenwood University (??) and Dixie State College of Utah (???!!!), players whom scouts may not have seen during the year but who have enough buzz about them to be considered with a late-round pick or maybe an invitation to training camp.

The name of the game also says more about Texas’ self image than the composition of the squads. For while the Texas team features players from Rice, Texas, UTEP and other Texas schools, it also has players from beyond the Lone Star State, including four from San Jose State. (QB Adam Trafralis, LB Matt Costelo, LB Demetrius Jones and guard John Booker)

The 49ers were kind enough to forward the names of six guys that we’ll call “players of interest” in Saturday’s game. They are:

Mackenzy Bernadeau – OL – Bentley
Chris Brown – FB – Tennessee
Travis Brown – WR – New Mexico
Brandon Keith – OL – Northern Iowa
Eric Scott- OL – Kentucky
Jack Williams – CB – Kent State

Jeff Matracia, better known to the cyber world as draftnik MadDog49er, also added some names and his comments:

RB Xavier Omon of NW Missouri State could be a late round back. Great size at 5-11, 220, and very productive in college. He's a combine invitee, and a Little All-American.

RB Tim Hightower of Richmond is even bigger than Omon, at 6', 220. Named to the 2007 Walter Camp All-American Team. Rushed for almost 2000 yards this season.

WR- Pierre Garcon from tiny Mount Union has good size and speed- 6-1, 210 pounds, and runs a sub 4.50. He's going to get drafted, or a strong look somewhere as a free agent. (Barrows’ note: Garcon means ‘boy.’)

OT Demetrius Bell- Northwestern State (Louisiana)- Tall and athletic at 6-5, 305. Big hands and nice mobility for a tall guy. Could be a late rounder if he shows well here and the combine.

Hybrid 3-4 DE-DL Marcus Dixon of Hampton- 6-4, 285. Should be a late round fence sitter. Has excellent size for the 3-4 DE spot, and good mobility.

Hybrid 3-4 OLB Wharton DE Andy Studebaker- 6-3, 255- Very quick for his size. I see him as a late rounder, or a priority undrafted free agent. Very curious to see how he looks in LB drills, and if he has speed and strength to get around the corner.

If you have any inside info on any of these guys, (for example, if you’ve seen a Dixie State College of Utah game) speak up … Also, does anyone have any idea what channel carries CSTV?

****
The 49ers signed a new player -- and guess what? -- he's a former Raven. Well, sort of. Baltimore originially signed DT Walter Curry (Albany State) as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He spent the entire 2007 season on Jacksonville's practice squad, where he was also a member for six weeks in 2006 and 10 weeks in 2005. Curry also played for 49ers DL coach Jim Tomsula in 2006 when Tomsula coached the Rhein Fire of NFL Europa.

-- Matt Barrows

Posted by Matthew Barrows at 01:44 PM | Comments |

January 28, 2008

Senior Bowl: The good, the bad and the ugly

While NFL scouts were looking for the next great quarterback or defensive end this past week, I found my own can’t-miss prospect – a guy who goes by MadDog49er on the 49ersWebZone message boards. MadDog, a.k.a. Jeff Matracia, 41, of Columbus, Ohio, is what I would call a draft-aholic. He watches a ton of college football, follows events like the Senior Bowl with fanatical zeal and has been compiling a draft Big Board over the last several years that compares favorably to that of the Kipers and McShays of the world. He also happens to be a Sacramento native, which is always good for a couple of brownie points …

MadDog still retains his amateur status – his day job is as a high-school history teacher – but I’ve noticed recently that he’s been as spot-on with his evaluations as the so-called experts. I asked MadDog to give me his impressions of some of the Senior Bowl players who caught my eye (both good and bad) this week. Hopefully, we’ll get more of his opinions during the long, three-month countdown to the draft.

Players who helped themselves:
1. WR Lavelle Hawkins, Cal. He’s just a little guy, but he showed Steve Smith-like body control during Senior Bowl week. He consistently wound up with the ball in his hands on deep throws, even when those throws weren’t exactly accurate.
MadDog says: Showed that he is an explosive player who can get behind defensive backs. Also ran very crisp routes, creating separation from defenders. Was able to catch the ball all over the field. Possibly the WR who helped himself the most.
2. Trevor Laws, DT, Notre Dame. He’s a strong, squat, former wrestler who was handful for offensive linemen all week. If he was four inches taller, he’d be a picture-perfect fit as a 3-4 defensive end.
MadDog says: Built like a fire hydrant, and gives 100% on each play. He simply makes play after play while other players get the publicity. A quick, disruptive 4-3 DT.
3. Joe Flacco, QB, Delaware. The small-school quarterback played better than most of the big boys. Flacco’s 6-6, is light on his feet and has a strong and accurate arm. Ben Roethlisberger but smarter.
MadDog says: Flacco is not the most NFL ready QB in this draft, but might have the biggest upside. His height and overall size, and solid arm strength could push him into the second round. The raw potential is there.
4. Peyton Hillis, RB, Arkansas. Hillis was overshadowed at Arkansas by Darren McFadden and Felix Jones. He’s a big-bodied back who ran over opponents all week.
MadDog says: Surprisingly fast and smooth for a FB. Although the traditional role of a FB is slowly disappearing, someone like Hillis, who has tremendous hands, will find a starting role in the NFL. I think he's a top 100 pick.
5. Dre Moore, DT, Maryland. He was unblockable in one-on-one drills but tended to disappear in team situations. He definitely caught a lot of eyes but consistency is still a question mark.
MadDog says: Looked flabby at the weigh-in, but constantly collapsed the pocket, and went around the guards and centers with ease. His size and speed combo makes him a strong candidate at the 4-3 DT, or 3-4 DE.

Players who held steady:
1. Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC. The best defensive lineman at the Senior Bowl and the best overall player. If the Raiders lose out on Glenn Dorsey and Chris Long, Ellis wouldn’t be a bad consolation prize at all
MadDog says: Dominated all week in practice. Will be the first Senior Bowler taken in the draft. Explosive off the line, and stout against the run. Needs to work on conditioning.
2. Chad Henne, QB, Mich. Henne was smooth and accurate all week. He’s not flashy but had more polish than any other Senior Bowl passer.
MadDog says: Probably the top QB this week. He showed off his strong arm, and was sharp in accuracy. Probably a second-round pick. Great size and intelligence.
3. Roy Schuening, G, Oregon State. It’s a weak year for interior linemen, but Schuening looked good all week. On Saturday, he was constantly making blocks deep on the second level.
MadDog says: In a year with a weak guard class, Schuening will be considered as possibly the first to come off the board. He was a stud performer at Oregon State, and should be ready to start as a RG in 2008.
4. Keith Rivers, LB, USC. Big and fast, he was the top all-around LB in Mobile. He probably could play every position in the 49ers’ scheme but would be best as an OLB.
MadDog says: Showed strength and quickness, and an attitude, which coaches love. He is excellent moving forward, but will need to work on dropping back in coverage. Eclipsed by Dan Connor (Penn State) this week.
5. Limas Sweed, WR, Texas. I thought he was handful for DBs when he was able to play. His wrist injury acted up and he left Mobile. It was hard to tell whether Mike Nolan interpreted that as a wimpy move.
MadDog says: Was able to return to the field, and caught the ball fairly well with his surgically repaired hand. However, he seems slow off the line, and will need to improve not only his 40 time, but 10 yard split, if he wants to be a first rounder. Otherwise, he might be lumped into the same category as Dwayne Jarrett.

Players who hurt themselves:
1. Colt Brennan, QB, Hawaii. He simply does not have the arm strength to make the necessary throws on the NFL level.
MadDog says: Took a step back this week in not being able to erase some doubts about his ability at the next level. First, weighing in a 185 is a problem. Second, was not able to adjust well under the center. Finally, was not sharp in drills. Possibly performed the worst of the six QB's this week.
2. Adarius Bowman, WR, Oklahoma State. Bowman had a spectacularly bad Tuesday practice, dropping almost every pass that came his way. He’s got great size and strength, but the guy must learn how to catch with his hands.
MadDog says: Had the opportunity to make a bold statement as a top tier WR, and a possible mid-first rounder. Instead, dropped a lot of balls, and was a tad slow off the line of scrimmage. On the positive side, he's very strong, does an excellent job of shielding CB's, and is an excellent blocker. Two of the three North QB's interviewed late in the week said he was the best player on the North squad. In other words, I believe there has been an overexaggeration.
3. Shawn Crable, LB, Mich. A poor man’s Manny Lawson. He’s got the build of a strong-side linebacker but is not as athletic as Lawson.
MadDog says: In a very, very weak DE class, Crable simply did not excel. He had the opportunity to make a statement, but instead was dominated at the line of scrimmage. Has long arms, but was not strong. Very disappointing.
4. Early Doucet, WR, LSU. He’s quite fluid for a 211 pounder but only lasted two practices before tweaking his hamstring. (Rashaun Woods?) A strong combine will re-boost his stock.
MadDog says: I think Doucet helped himself until injured. From some reports, he was the top WR on Tuesday, until he went down. Doucet ran strong routes, and was able to shield the ball from defenders. However, he keeps breaking down, and that is an issue he has to eliminate.
5. Ben Moffitt, LB, South Florida. Moffitt showed up an inch shorter and ten pounds lighter than advertised.
MadDog says: His physique is average, play was average in practice. Everything average. Nothing stands out. Looking at a late round grade. This MLB class is pathetic.

****
Maiocco’s got some competition in Phoenix. My boss, Bill Bradley, grew up in the desert and is blogging like a mad man all week. You want celebrities? The guy already ran into Jared of Subway fame. Take that, Maiocco! (I’m a Togo’s guy myself, but to each his own.) To see what Bill’s up to in the soggy desert, click here.

-- Matt Barrows

Posted by Matthew Barrows at 12:15 PM | Comments |

January 27, 2008

Q&A: What's up at wideout?

Question: Do you think it is less likely that the 49ers draft a WR in the first round because of the depth at the position in the draft and because there aren't that many picks between the 49ers first and second round choice? Do you see the 49ers drafting a NT in the draft? Thank you.
Brett, Moscow, ID

Answer: It's going to depend on two things - what some of these junior receivers, such as James Hardy or Mario Manningham, do at the combine and, of course, whether the 49ers pluck a receiver in free agency. If they land Bernard Berrian, for example, they might feel content drafting Virginia Tech receiver Josh Morgan (or someone of that caliber) in the fifth round. Nose tackles are always hard to find. After the Senior Bowl, I'm wondering whether Notre Dame's Trevor Laws could play the position. He doesn't have the size (6-1, 297) of the typical NT but he was a handful all week. It should be noted that the NT Mike Nolan raves about all the time, Baltimore's Kelly Gregg, is similarly proportioned.
- Matt

Question: Hey Matt, first off, thanks for all the work you do. Do you know if the Niners are even looking at Jordy Nelson? He seems perfect -- speedy, smart receiver with great hands and concentration (Martz), big, strong, total football player who used to play safety, grew up on a farm (Nolan), and he's a successful returner with amazing field vision (see also: YAC). No one seems to be buzzing about him at all, so he could be a great mid round pick up.
Aaron, Seattle

Answer: I can't say either way whether the 49ers are looking hard at Nelson. What I can say is that he did create some buzz at the Senior Bowl. He seemed to catch everything that was thrown in his direction. If there was one receiver who, to me at least, really seemed like a Mike Martz kind of receiver it was Louisville's Harry Douglas. He's cat-quick and creative after the catch. He reminds me of some of the other receivers Martz has drafted in years past, such as Kevin Curtis and Shaun McDonald.
- Matt

Question: First of all thank you for your coverage -- it's not easy for me getting good info up here in seahawk land. I've been reading different articles here and they're basically saying we do not have a Martz type receiver. My question is couldn't a healthy Jason Hill be capable?
Garrett, Seattle

Answer: Absolutely. I think of all the receivers on the roster, Hill might have Martz salivating the most. He's quick and willing to go over the middle. Now if he can only stay healthy ...
- Matt

Question: I can't watch the Senior Bowl and, as a Niner fan, I am interested in the performance of two players. How did Dexter Jackson and Kendall Langford do?
Berger, Reno

Answer: Langford, a 6-5, 275 pound DE from Hampton, made perhaps the defensive play of the game when, on fourth down late in the game, he reached out with one arm and yanked back Cal running back Justin Forsett just as he was about to get a game-clinching first down. The play set up the South's game-winning drive. If Langford were to be drafted by the 49ers he projects as a right defensive end. Jackson, meanwhile, arrived late in the week after Early Doucet and Limas Sweed went down with injuries. The Appalachian State WR looked good in practices but didn't have a lot of opportunities in the game.
- Matt

Question: As a 49ers and Cal Bears fan, how interested are the 9ers in WR's Hawkins, Jackson, and even Jordan? These past few years, it has been all about Jackson and his blazing speed and moves, but I just see him as the next Dante Hall. Am I right? (I still wouldn't mind having him though.) But this season, I've watched Hawkins come out of nowhere and make big play after big play. I think he has all the tools the 9ers need in a WR. Overall, where do you think this trio is projected to go in the draft?
Chris, El Cerrito

Answer: Well, if Hawkins wasn't on teams' radar screens before the Senior Bowl, he certainly is now. He had a great week and probably made himself a ton of money. He's not as blazing fast as Jackson but showed very good hands and excellent body control. Who gets drafted first among the two? I think if Jackson puts up the type of 40 time people expect him to, he'll go ahead of Hawkins even though Hawkins is the better all-around receiver at this point. The thinking is that Hawkins will be a very solid receiver but that Jackson, because of his rare speed, has a chance to be a star. I have to admit, I don't know much about Jordan.
- Matt

Question: Before the last televised USC game you listed a Samoan linebacker from USC to watch out for. I thought he looked great in the game but I do not see him listed on anybodies LB ratings. Is he coming out this year? What is his name?
Michael, San Jose

Answer: Ray Maualuga. He pulled a Leinart and decided to return for his senior year at USC. It's puzzling because he might have been the top-rated ILB if he had come out. It's a weak year at the position.
- Matt

Question: Hypothetically, if Nolan rounds out the offensive staff as you describe, out of that group of coaches, does Nolan see a potential successor to Martz? Considering Nolan is on his fourth offensive coordinator in as many years, having a successor in place has to be in the back of his mind. Tollner has the experience, but does not want the workload. Gase's diverse football background is intriguing, although a coordinator position at this stage of his career is premature.
Terry, Davis

Answer: That's something I asked Nolan when he was still doing the interviews. I figure there's a good chance Martz will be gone next January no matter whether he does well (offered a head-coach job) or does poorly (gets canned). Nolan said he was thinking about that possibility but said that the chemistry of the coaching staff was paramount. As you know, Martz is familiar with Tollner, Sullivan and Warhop and has worked with Gase and Montgomery in the past.
- Matt

Question: Hi Matt, You didn't mention offensive tackle in your 49er needs for the draft. Personally I think either K. Harris or Jonas Jennings is talented enough to be adequate at right tackle but they both bring too much baggage to succeed here. So is it your thinking that the 49ers believe Duckett is the guy?
Tom, Sacramento

Answer: I think Duckett will be the guy who pushes the starter. I think that starter ultimately will be Jonas Jennings. Remember, Mike Nolan (who isn't exactly Jennings' biggest supporter) doesn't have final say on personnel matters anymore, Scot McCloughan does. McCloughan likely will look at the depth at the position and conclude they need Jennings around this year.
- Matt

Question: Hey Matt, love the Star Wars analogies. Berrian's name keeps coming up at WR. I'm in love with the idea that we will go after Briggs AND Suggs. What about Alan Faneca? Putting him next to Staley sounds like the obvious choice as far as solidifying an offensive line that gave up 55 sacks on a team that desperately needs improvement out of it's young Qb's to have any shot next year? He is the only ALL PRO out there, which makes him the BEST guy on the free agent market.
Jason, Sacramento

Answer: Faneca would be a nice addition, and I agree that he'd make an excellent pairing with Staley. The problem is that Faneca's trying to shoot the moon with his next contract and the 49ers simply don't want to pay a bundle for a guard.
- Matt

Question: I read (with hope, joy and optimism) your blurb that it appears". . . the Niners don't want Dilfer back..." Let us all pray that is the 'gospel.' Other than the fact that he is absolutely the worst starting QB I've seen, he's seems to be an OK spokesperson. Would love to get your take on the demeanor and technique's exhibited thus far by Martz as a teacher/communicator at the Senior Bowl.
Sammy, Sacramento

Answer: I think it's safe to say that Dilfer won't be back with the 49ers. The question is whether he retires altogether. Dilfer is an ultra competitive guy (He got into a practice-field fight with a rookie cornerback this year for Pete's sake) but his recent concussion should be a clear-as-a-bell sign from above that he should quit. As for Martz, I would characterize him as very demanding and very detailed. I think Alex Smith will be reminded very much of Urban Meyer. Martz doesn't want to be your friend; he wants to push you to be your best.
- Matt

Question: One of the few good things to come out of the St. Louis area is Panera Bread (called St. Louis Bread Company in the STL Metro area.) They just opened one up the street from me. I could live off their Sierra turkey dipped in Broccoli Cheddar soup. I think you just helped me make up my mind concerning lunch.
Joel, St. Louis

Answer: Panera should pay me for all the free advertising I've given them this week. A month's supply of broccoli-cheddar soup ought to do it ...
- Matt

Posted by Matthew Barrows at 02:46 PM | Comments |

January 26, 2008

Senior Bowl: Martz's call wins it for South

All the 49ers fans who watched the Senior Bowl today had to have been happy with how it ended. Down by six, Tennessee quarterback Erik Ainge led the South all the way to the two yard line. On fourth down, and with four seconds left, Mike Martz made a gutsy call -- an end around to Florida receiver Andre Caldwell, who barely made it over the goal line for a touchdown and a dramatic South win. (It reminded be of the end of the first Cardinals game this past year). Martz said afterward that he saw the North safeties pinching up along the line of scrimmage and thought the end around would get it past them. “It seemed like the right call,” Martz said.

Until that point, the play calling was pretty conservative. The game was played in the rain with unfamiliar quarterbacks, and the Senior Bowl rules limit what kind of formations teams can use. In fact, for most of the game the South squad looked like the 49ers of 2007 – lots of runs by Tulane’s Matt Forte, Georgia Tech’s Tashard Choice and Arkansas’ Peyton Hillis. Forte, who had a nice catch and run to set up the final touchdown, was named the game’s MVP. I thought the award should have gone to Tennessee State cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who had an interception and a couple of pass break ups and otherwise made himself a lot of money. Other guys who stood out were USC’s Sedrick Ellis (he had a safety), Notre Dame’s Trevor Laws, Choice and Cal receiver Lavelle Hawkins, who caught a long touchdown pass in the first quarter from Michigan’s Chad Henne.

Other observations:

* The North played USC’s Keith Rivers at both middle linebacker and strong-side linebacker. Rivers is big and fast and the team that drafts him can be creative in where he is used. A recent mock draft had the 49ers taking Rivers at pick No. 29. I doubt he will last that long.

* Laws looked exactly like he did all week. He’s a thick, strong guy who never stops moving. He’s a more powerful – and slightly taller – version of former 49er Anthony Adams. If the 49ers drafted him, it seems he could play all three positions on the line.

* Two other guys who played Saturday like they had practiced Mon.-Thurs. (I left after Thurs.’s practice) were Hawkins and Rodgers-Cromartie. Hawkins had to adjust to the underthrown pass by Henne, showing the nice body control he’s exhibited all week. Rodgers-Cromartie, meanwhile, made several leaping interceptions during the week in which he used his long-limbed body to go up high to snag the ball.

* One guy who did not show up was Maryland defensive lineman Dre Moore. Scouts loved what Moore did on one-on-one drills all week but were concerned that he would vanish during team drills. That seemed to be the case today. Of the South defensive linemen, Texas A&M’s Red Bryant seemed the most active.

* The officials robbed Oklahoma State receiver Adarius Bowman of a touchdown that likely would have propelled the North to a win. However, he didn’t help his cause by initially bobbling the throw, a bullet from Joe Flacco. Bowman’s hands were questionable all week. Fellow receivers Limas Sweed (wrist) and Early Doucet (hamstring) did not play. Cornerback Leodis McKelvin also did not play because of a hamstring injury.

* What’s the deal with the Under Armour commercial featuring Vernon Davis? If you were watching the game today you must have seen the ad, oh, 700 times. It shows Davis rolling a truck tire down an alley with a big chain slung over his shoulder. Soon he comes to a small box that is glowing red. It looks to me like it contains plutonium or something you’d want to avoid. But when the commercial cuts back, Davis has the box in his hand and is about to open it! If Davis is out next season with a mystery illness, we’ll know why. Don’t open the box, Vernon!

****
There are still three long months before the NFL draft, and yet the mock drafts are already starting to appear en masse. Thank goodness for Niners fan David Fucillo. David has created a database with every mock draft he can find. So who do the experts see the 49ers taking with pick No. 29? Find out here.

-- Matt Barrows

Posted by Matthew Barrows at 05:03 PM | Comments |

January 25, 2008

Senior Bowl: Final thoughts

Now I know why the 49ers are so eager to coach the Senior Bowl every January and why so many of their draft picks are Senior Bowl alums. Unlike the February scouting combine where players perform tasks like the broad jump and shuttle run, the Senior Bowl gives evaluators a chance to watch football players, you know, play football. Lane Kiffin (who was still the Raiders coach when I wrote this) said that at the combine he had 15 minutes to sit down and get to know players. Coached up so well by their agents, the players always say the right things in that brief meeting. At the Senior Bowl, coaches practically live with the players for a week. There’s no way to Eddie Haskell your way through what amounts to a week-long job interview.

And the Mobile experience is way better for reporters, who aren’t even allowed into the RCA Dome to watch the combine workouts. (I tried to sneak in one year and was summarily escorted out by the world’s most officious security guard). At the Senior Bowl, you get to walk onto the field as soon as practice is over and interview any player you want. What’s funny is that the team scouts are doing the same thing and that their questions are far more personal. One scout asked LSU receiver Early Doucet if he had any kids. Were they by the same mother? A Cleveland Browns scout asked Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan if he thought he could play in cold weather. Brennan politely reminded the scout that he played in Worcester, Mass before attending the University of Colorado, two places not known for mild winters.

****
The knock on small receivers is that they aren’t as durable as their big-bodied counterparts. At the Senior Bowl, however, it was the big guys who had trouble staying healthy while the Smurfs excelled. Three of the best were Cal’s Lavelle Hawkins, Louisville’s Harry Douglas and Virginia Tech’s Eddie Royal. Meanwhile, Doucet went down with a hamstring injury and Texas’ Limas Sweed went home with a wrist injury. Another big receiver, Oklahoma State’s Adarius Bowman, struggled to hang on to the football all week.

****
Ted-less horsemen. Of all the middle linebackers at the Senior Bowl, most seemed like they were cut out to play Mike linebacker in the 49ers’ scheme. The 49ers, in case you haven’t noticed, have a pretty good Mike in Patrick Willis and a nice back-up in Jeff Ulbrich. What they need is a Ted. Two of the top candidates for that position, Miami’s Tavares Gooden and UNLV’s Beau Bell, were hurt this week.

****
If I was going to rank the Senior Bowl quarterbacks, it would be like this:
1. Chad Henne
2. Joe Flacco
3. Andre Woodson
4. John David Booty
5. (tie) Erik Ainge
Colt Brennan

****
I know a lot of you were concerned that I wasn’t eating right in Mobile. (Surprisingly, not one of you who e-mailed me on the matter was my mom. I thought I was her favorite). Anyway, my dining experience greatly improved as the week went on. After my Wintzell’s dinner in Mobile Wednesday, I drove back to New Orleans Thursday night in time to share six pounds of crawdads with Mike and Sarah at The Galley in old Metairie. Today I had a dozen char grilled oysters (lemon, Tabasco) at Drago’s before catching my flight back to San Jose. In between meals, we saw “Cloverfield,” which, from what I could gather, is about a mutant sloth and the world’s longest lasting video camera battery. Let’s just say I’ll be skipping “Cloverfield 2” …

****
I’ll have a wrap-up of some of the Senior Bowl standouts in a couple of days, including my incredibly long-shot, wild-guess, shot-in-the-dark prediction as to whom the 49ers and Raiders will pick in April. Stay tuned …

-- Matt Barrows

Posted by Matthew Barrows at 11:31 PM | Comments |

January 24, 2008

Senior Bowl: 49ers rounding out offensive staff

The 49ers have yet to fill three positions on their offensive staff – quarterbacks coach, running backs coach and offensive assistant – but it appears they are close on all three. The thinking right now is that Ted Tollner will step in and coach the quarterbacks, a position he held in San Francisco in 2002 and 2003. The team also is close to hiring Adam Gase as an offensive assistant. Gase worked under Mike Martz last year in Detroit as the Lions quarterbacks coach. Detroit recently hired a new quarterbacks coach and Gase was demoted. The 49ers are not as close to hiring a running backs coach but they are believed to be leaning toward Wilbert Montgomery, the former Eagles running back who worked under Martz in both St. Louis and Detroit.

****
The rain that had held off all week arrived in force for today’s North practice. That, combined with some chilly temperatures, chased away the throngs that had attended the first three days of practice. When I arrived this morning, there were only half a dozen or so people watching at field level. The rest of the observers were huddled under an overhang in the upper decks. The six men on the ground – they were all 49ers scouts. They were all impressed that I showed up and said that I could be an honorary scout. I told them they couldn’t afford me. ... After practice, I drove to Panera Bread restaurant (free internet) where I am now huddled over a hot bowl of broccoli-cheddar soup.

****
The best defensive lineman at the Senior Bowl has been USC’s Sedrick Ellis, who would be a nice nose tackle for the 49ers. Alas, he likely will be drafted well before San Francisco has a shot at him. The second-best lineman, however, has been Maryland’s Dre Moore. He could last into the second round.

****
There are three or so so-called ‘tweeners here in Mobile – defensive ends who could play outside linebacker in the NFL. The best of the bunch is the North’s Cliff Avril, a 6-3, 252 pounder who has shown nice quickness all week. The other two players with ‘tweener capabilities are Alabama’s Wallace Gilberry and Wake Forest’s Jeremy Thompson.

****
Along with Moore, two other players who have boosted their draft stocks this week have been Nebraska’s Carl Nicks and Michigan State tight end Kellen Davis. As I wrote yesterday, Tennessee tight end Brad Cottam also has been impressive.

One more rainy practice to go today and then I’m out of here … The most critical practices are held Mon - Wed. By Thursday, all the scouts (i.e. my sources) start clearing out. I'm heading back to New Orleans this afternoon.

-- Matt Barrows

Posted by Matthew Barrows at 10:03 AM | Comments |

January 23, 2008

Senior Bowl: South squad shows fight

After watching the North and South practice for three straight days, I feel confident about the following: The North (Raiders) practices are more aesthetically pleasing; the South’s (49ers) are more physical. The North seems to be concentrating on their downfield passing game as shown by four long receptions by Cal’s Lavelle Hawkins today. The South is working on its inside running game. There were plenty of battles in the pits today, one of which ended in a pretty good tussle between 321-pound tackle Heath Benedict of Newberry College and 275-pound defensive lineman Kendall Langford of Hampton. As any 49er follower will note, fighting isn’t necessarily a bad thing in Mike Nolan’s book.

****
I didn't think that running back would be very high on the 49ers' list of priorities, but perhaps I was wrong. Consider what Nolan said when asked about Matt Forte, a 221-pound bruiser from Tulane: "I'm curious to see what he does in a game. He's a bigger back. ... We've got an outstanding back in San Francisco in Frank Gore but we're looking for a big back also who can take some of the load off of him. So he's a guy I'm kind of watching a little bit just to see what he can do." Hmmm.

****
Here’s more evidence that Mike Martz’s wide-open offense hasn’t quite kicked in yet. The South quarterbacks have thrown a lot of passes to Tennessee tight end Brad Cottam. At 6-8, Cottam offers a huge target, and the big tight end has caught everything that’s been thrown in his direction. He certainly isn’t the fastest guy on the field, but he seems to do a good job of finding the holes in the defense.

****
The 49ers have lost the two biggest names in their receiving corps. LSU’s Early Doucet and Texas’ Limas Sweed are both projected to be first-round picks next month. Doucet has a left hamstring pull. He is hoping that it will heal enough to allow him to play Saturday. Sweed was bothered by the wrist injury that shortened his senior season. Maybe the injuries are legitimate. Or maybe both players felt they had shown enough earlier in the week and didn’t want to risk a more severe injury. In any event, their departures leave the South squad in a bit of a lurch. They picked up Appalachian State wideout Dexter Jackson today and there's a possibility Coastal Carolina’s Jerome Simpson will be added as well. Jackson, who had two touchdowns in Appalachian State’s upset of Michigan earlier this year, made an immediate impact today with a nice diving catch over the middle of the field.

****
Spoke with Trent Dilfer who will be one of the announcers during Saturday’s game. It doesn’t seem like the 49ers want Dilfer back next season, and Dilfer said he has not yet decided whether he wants to play at all in 2008. He said he only recently felt fully recovered from the concussion that knocked him out of the final three games on the season. “It’s just too early,” he said of his decision. “If you want to talk a month from now I can give you a lot more information. I always take this month to decompress.”

****
Nolan and the 49ers coaches will have a chance to sit down and meet with the North squad players for about a half hour tomorrow evening. Remember, it was this sit down that helped convince the 49ers to draft Michael Robinson in the fourth round two years ago.

****
I take back what I said about the lack of fine grub in Mobile. I had dinner at a place called Wintzell's Oyster House downtown. I ordered the gumbo and a dozen fried oysters. With a touch of Tabasco, there may not be anything tastier. Four stars and my compliments to the chef ...

-- Matt Barrows

Posted by Matthew Barrows at 03:30 PM | Comments |

Senior Bowl: Hawkins shines, Sweed goes home

For the second straight day, Cal receiver Lavelle Hawkins jumped out for the North squad. Hawkins caught everything that was thrown in his direction, including a couple of deep passes in which he outwrestled the defensive back for the ball. An elementary school class from Mobile was on hand to watch the practice and they erupted every time Hawkins made a play. (The Senior Bowl practices are otherwise quiet). Hawkins obliged the kids with a little showmanship. Said Raiders assistant coach Greg Knapp of Hawkins: “He had a nice go (route) down there on the left sideline. He used his body very well.”

****
Speaking of receivers, the South has lost two big names. LSU’s Early Doucet injured his hamstring yesterday and will sit out the rest of the week. Meanwhile, Texas’ Limas Sweed continued to be bothered by a wrist injury and went home, according to Mike Nolan. The 49ers are hoping to replace Sweed with receiver Jerome Simpson from Coastal Carolina. Simpson was expected to arrive in time for this afternoon’s practice.

****
The Detroit Lions this week hired three new assistants, one of whom – Scot Loeffler – will coach quarterbacks. The 49ers are interested in the Lions’ former quarterback coach, Adam Gase, who was moved to offensive assistant.

****
Nebraska offensive lineman Carl Nicks is creating a lot of buzz in Mobile. Nicks is the biggest player in the Senior Bowl – 6-4 7/8, 343 pounds – and he has been impressive at both right and left tackle. “That’s what you want your tackle to look like,” said one scout.

I’ll have more later today after the South’s practice …

-- Matt Barrows

Posted by Matthew Barrows at 10:33 AM | Comments |

January 22, 2008

Senior Bowl: Doucet goes down

It was a little weird seeing Mike Martz in a 49ers’ hat yesterday. I was in a packed lobby when I saw him make his way through the crowd, and the red hat – well, it just seemed odd for a guy who I still associate with the Rams’ blue and gold. Martz, however, said he feels as if he’s been wearing red and gold all along. He said he feels very comfortable with the 49ers’ staff and he’s had a permanent smile on his face all week. I got a chance to chat with Martz following today’s South practice. Here’s a teaser to the full Q&A that will run in Wednesday’s Bee:

Q: How will you utilize Vernon Davis?
A: In this system, you have so much flexibility within the numbers that you can be creative with a guy like him. You’ve got to be careful not to put too much on him, but it’s a great opportunity to use him in different venues so to speak. The system allows that kind of flexibility.
Q: Do you mean as far as lining him up as a receiver?
A: Getting him in the slot and putting him on the line of scrimmage. You can put him in the backfield and those kinds of things.
Q: As an H-back?
A: Yeah, you can do those kinds of things with him. The other thing about him is that normally those kinds of guys aren’t good in-line blockers. But he can do that. He’s talented.
Q: Have you spoken with Alex Smith or Shaun Hill yet?
A: Yeah. I talked to them on the phone. I looked at tape on both of them and told them how excited I was about both of them. And I think there’s some real talent with both guys. They’re real sharp guys who have played well, and it’ll be fun to get them together and get going.

****
Here’s what happened at today’s South practice:

Just like the North (Beau Bell, Kentwan Balmer), the South side was bit by the injury bug. LSU receiver Early Doucet pulled (Doucet’s phrase was “tweaked”) his left hamstring and the 49ers’ staff was looking to bring in a replacement Thursday morning. Mike Nolan said he was looking forward to seeing how Doucet, who is built more thickly than a lot of the South receivers, moved with the ball and was clearly disappointed that Doucet would be limited the rest of the week. Doucet missed five games this past season with a groin strain and we all know how Nolan feels about injury-prone players. (See: Plummer, Ahmed; Jennings, Jonas).

Speaking of receivers, two stood out today. Louisville’s Harry Douglas was extremely quick and was especially effective at stopping on a dime and creating separation with his opponent. The downside for Douglas is that he weighs only 170 pounds. Meanwhile, Florida’s Andre Caldwell (6-foot, 207 pounds) seemed to catch everything that came his way, including two touchdown catches when he went one-on-one with defensive backs. Texas’ Limas Sweed looks very fluid for a man his size (6-4, 212 pounds). But he has not fully recovered from the wrist injury that sidelined him for much of his senior season.

I spoke to a scout who said three guys stood out to him in Tuesday’s practice: Douglas, Maryland defensive lineman Dre Moore and Arkansas running back Peyton Hillis. Moore is big (6-4, 307 pounds) and has shown flashes of ability all season. The knock on him is that he’s also been lazy at times. He’s been much more consistent this week and was a handful for offensive linemen today. He’s a guy that could play defensive end in the 49ers’ 3-4 scheme. Hillis, meanwhile, had the misfortune of being on the same team as Darren McFadden and Felix Jones. At 240 pounds and with thighs like oak trees, he’s the biggest back at the Senior Bowl.

Senior Bowl rules prohibit the 49ers from playing in a 3-4 defense. So they’re in a standard 4-3 all week. This is where the various linebackers on the squad lined up today: LOLB: LSU’s Ali Highsmith. MLB: Ga. Tech’s Philip Wheeler, South Florida’s Ben Moffitt. ROLB: Ga. Tech’s Gary Guyton, Kentucky’s Wesley Woodyard. Guyton replaced Miami’s Tavares Gooden who had a preexisting hip injury. Iowa State defensive tackle Ahtyba Rubin also was added to the South roster.

Nolan said there are “three or four” players on his roster who could play both defensive end and linebacker. One of them is Mississippi State’s Titus Brown, who is listed on the Senior Bowl roster as a linebacker but who played defensive end today. Brown played left defensive end for the Bulldogs this past season, finishing with 13 ½ tackles for loss, eight of which were sacks. Let’s just say he’s on the 49ers’ radar.

Here’s what Nolan had to say about LSU running back Jacob Hester, a short 230-pounder who’s been described as a throwback-type player. “I saw some of his games this season and he kept catching my eye … He’s a football player. And that’s what you want.” Hester mainly was a tailback at LSU but Nolan said he would probably be a fullback in the NFL.

I ran into Jim Hostler, who is looking to catch on with another staff. With just about every coach and front-office official in Mobile this week, the Senior Bowl is a fantastic place to network. Some other coaching tidbits: Mike Martz said he has mixed feeling about son, Tim, joining him in San Francisco. Martz said he doesn’t want Tim’s successes to be tied solely to him … Trent Dilfer as 49ers’ quarterbacks coach? Not likely at all. Then again, that’s what I said about Martz as offensive coordinator.

-- Matt Barrows

Posted by Matthew Barrows at 05:48 PM | Comments |

Senior Bowl: USC players look sharp

It’s a gray and cold day in Mobile, and I’m writing from my lunch table in the local Panera Bread restaurant, which is way better than the Kristal burger where I had lunch yesterday. (Let’s just say I experienced “Kristal’s revenge” later in the day). The North had practice this morning and I’m about to set off and watch Mike Nolan’s South squad this afternoon. Keeping in mind that I am not a GM, personnel director or talent scout, here are my observations from the North practice:

The USC guys look very good. Keith Rivers seems like one of the best of the outside linebackers and drew lots of praise from Raiders D-coordinator Rob Ryan during individual drills. The Raiders coaches are playing Rivers at all three linebacker positions even though he played on the weak side at USC. He seems like he’s be a great fit for the 49ers but it’s looking doubtful that he’ll last until the 29th pick.

Scouts aren’t sure whether Virginia Tech defensive end Chris Ellis will be able to stand up and play outside linebacker on the next level. The 260-pound Ellis did at little of that with the Hokies but primarily played out of a three-point stance. The Raiders have used him exclusively as a defensive end thus far, although Ellis said he is working on his linebacking skills at the training facility where he is currently working out. Ellis said he’s hoping to surprise people with a 40 time in the 4.5-second range next month.

Purdue receiver Dorien Bryant and Cal receiver Lavelle Hawkins are two of the smallest guys at the Senior Bowl, but they were the best pass catchers today. Hawkins in particular made a nifty diving catch along the sideline on a throw from Michigan QB Chad Henne. Hawkins also caught a touchdown on a nicely thrown pass from Joe Flacco. On the flip side, big Oklahoma State receiver Adarius Bowman struggled, dropping several passes this morning.

There are not a lot of defensive linemen who can play in the 49ers’ 3-4 scheme. In fact, there are only a few players here who could play defensive end. One of them is Notre Dame’s Trevor Laws, who at a little over 6 feet is short for an end but who has shown really good quickness thus far. Florida State’s Andre Fluellen – 6-1, 285 pounds – is another guy that can play the position. Fluellin is fighting through a quad injury this week.

Bad news for Beau Bell fans. The big UNLV linebacker hurt his knee in practice and did not return. North Carolina defensive tackle Kentwan Balmer also was out with a hamstring pull.

That’s it for now. I’m off to watch the South and hopefully talk with Mike Martz. Stay tuned.

-- Matt Barrows

Posted by Matthew Barrows at 11:20 AM | Comments |

January 21, 2008

Senior Bowl: Weighty matters on Day 1

The Senior Bowl kicked off this morning with what only can be described as a massive underwear fashion show. With dudes. The Senior Bowl calls it the National Scouting Weigh-in, and it’s attended by every coach, assistant, scout and media member in town – about 500 people overall. They are all packed into the ballroom of the Mobile convention center and they watch as every Senior Bowl invitee – more than 100 players in all -- walks up on stage in his skivvies to be weighed and measured, and then struts off through the middle of the crowd like a male model.

For the life of me, I don’t understand why these measurements – height, weight, hand size and arm length – can’t be done in private with the results then relayed to the teams. It seems rather voyeuristic. I guess an evaluator gets a better impression about a player’s body type and overall fitness than he can via the numbers. For example, after seeing USC quarterback John David Booty without his shirt on, I felt a lot better about my own body.

For the record, the heaviest player was Nebraska offensive lineman Carl Nicks, who tipped the scales at 343 pounds. The least-imposing was Oregon State kicker Alexis Serna at 168 pounds, which was one pound lighter than Purdue receiver Dorien Bryant. When Virginia Tech linebacker Xavier Adibi’s arm length – 37 and 7/8 inches – was announced, the crowd let forth a collective gasp. Someone with 33-inch arms is considered to have a long reach. Adibi was later re-measured at a more reasonable, but still impressive, 34 inches. Two guys who stood out to me were Georgia Tech linebacker Philip Wheeler, who, at 6-2 245 pounds, seems to have the necessary bulk to play Ted linebacker in the 49ers’ system. He is one of the guys being coached by Mike Singletary this week. The other was Michigan linebacker Shawn Crable, who at 6-5 1/8 and 241 pounds has a similar body to 2005 draft pick Manny Lawson.

****
Today was the only day this week that the North and South squads practiced at the same time. The North squad, which is being coached by the Raiders, practiced at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile. The South, coached by the 49ers, was at Fairhope Stadium, a high school campus about a 35-minute drive across Mobile Bay.

I started out watching the North, where Boston College’s 6-6, 315 offensive tackle Gosder Cherilus really looked good in one-on-one drills. Then I drove to the South practice where another tackle, Vanderbilt’s 6-6, 320-pound Chris Williams also was manhandling his opponents. It might be a good year for tackles.

Earlier in the day, I learned that Louisville quarterback Brian Brohm had dropped out of the Senior Bowl and was replaced by Tennessee’s Eric Ainge. Brohm would have been on the South roster and was believed to be the top quarterback in Mobile. With Brohm absent, Hawaii’s Colt Brennan led off team drills for the South, followed by Kentucky’s Andre Woodson and Ainge. Auburn's Quentin Groves, a possible 3-4 outside linebacker, also dropped out. And Tavares Gooden, a solidly built linebacker from Miami, won't practice this week because of a hip injury.

I know a lot of you are gaga about Delaware QB Joe Flacco. I talked to Flacco today and could have used a stepladder – dude is over 6-6. Naturally, he said his ability to see the field is his top attribute. Flacco said he was about to get on a plane to Houston for the East-West Shrine Game earlier this month when he learned that Boston College’s Matt Ryan had pulled out of the Senior Bowl. Officials tapped Flacco to replace Ryan, and Flacco said he’s eager to prove his worth among his big-school competition in Mobile. I’ll try to keep track of Flacco – especially is accuracy and arm strength – this week.

****
I spoke to Mike Nolan after the South practice ended. He said it was too early to evaluate this year’s group but he did say he thought the South was strong at defensive back. As far as what the 49ers were after in the draft, Nolan didn’t use the “best player available” line as predicted. Instead, he said the 49ers would draft “100 percent on need. And we need the best players we can get.” Gotta give him credit for creativity.

As expected, Mike Martz is coaching the quarterbacks while Ted Tollner has the running backs. Nolan said he didn’t expect to fill those spots until after he returns from Mobile. I’m scheduled to talk to Martz tomorrow. I also spoke with Mike Singletary. He says he still hasn’t gotten any calls about becoming a head coach and it appears he’ll be on the 49ers’ staff for the 2008 season. Of course, that’s what we said last year about Norv Turner.

Look for more Senior Bowl tidbits in the notebook that will run in tomorrow's paper.
-- Matt Barrows

Posted by Matthew Barrows at 07:37 PM | Comments |

January 20, 2008

La. story: Senior Bowl week begins Monday

Some teams coach in the Super Bowl. Others coach in the Senior Bowl. For the last three years, the 49ers have fallen into the latter category, which is why I am typing this from just outside the Big Easy. I’m staying at my buddy Mike Triplett’s house in Metairie, La. and then driving the 2 ½ hours to Mobile tomorrow morning so we can make the Senior Bowl weigh in, which apparently is always an intriguing event. That’s where that quarterback who was listed as 6-2 turns out to be 5-11 and where that defensive end who everyone thought was 255 pounds turns out to be a couple Whoppers over 280.

Mike Triplett, as some of you will recall, used to cover the 49ers for The Bee. One day on a road trip in New Orleans, Mike met a young lady whose reputation, standing in society and overall lovliness far surpassed the spot where he first laid eyes on her (Bourbon Street). The two started courting long distance and they fell madly in love. That union produced, well, me. (In a matter of speaking.) Mike moved to New Orleans to cover the Saints for the Times-Picayune, leaving the 49ers’ job open for me. So now that I think about it, I owe Mike and Sarah a lot. Probably a lot more than that crystal dairy creamer I got them as a wedding gift.

Now onto business… Prepare yourself for a lot of BPA (best player available) talk from Scot McCloughan and Mike Nolan this week. But you’ve got to believe that three positions – receiver, defensive line and linebacker – are high on their list. With that in mind, here are some intriguing names as we head into the Senior Bowl:

1. WR Limas Sweed, Texas. He’s big, fast and full of potential. But his senior season was marred by injuries. How will his wrist (and his rust) look this week?
2. The Smurfs. There are several receivers – Houston’s Donnie Avery, Louisville’s Harry Douglas, Virginia Tech’s Eddie Royal and Cal’s Lavelle Hawkins – who are hovering around 6 feet and who are below 200 pounds. Which are tough enough to beat the jams at the line of scrimmage?
3. Kentwan Balmer, UNC, and Dre Moore, UMD. These two guys played on the inside of the defensive line as seniors but might have the right size-quickness ratio to play defensive end in the 49ers’ 3-4 scheme. Maryland’s Moore will play for the South. North Carolina’s Balmer will play for the North. Go figure.
4. The ‘Tweeners. The 49ers will look for an undersized defensive end they can turn into an outside linebacker. And they feel they can do so in the mid rounds. Auburn’s Quentin Groves, Purdue’s Cliff Avril, UCLA’s Bruce Davis and Georgia Tech’s Darrell Robertson all fit that category.
5. The Teds. The 49ers are looking for someone who can play next to linebacker Patrick Willis. That player could arrive via free agency. Or he could be a rookie like UNLV’s Beau Bell, Miami’s Tavares Gooden or South Florida’s Ben Moffitt?

Stay tuned …

- Matt Barrows

Posted by Matthew Barrows at 10:40 PM | Comments |

January 19, 2008

With the 28th, 29th or 30th pick, the 49ers ...

Question: Matt, with the Colts losing last weekend that helps the 49ers draft position. By my calculation the 49ers will get the 27th pick from the Colts followed by the Cowboys and the 4 teams playing in the Championship games (except the Pats who's pick was taken away). Is this correct?
Ken, Salem, Ore.

Answer: Mmmm, no. There’s a lot of confusion about where the 49ers will pick and I, no doubt, will add to the confusion. Here are a few rules:
· The Super Bowl teams pick last no matter their record.
· For non-playoff teams that finish with the same record, the order is determined by strength of schedule.
· For playoff teams that finish with the same record, the order is determined by strength of schedule and how far a team advances in the playoffs. (Ergo, the 13-3 Packers will pick after the 13-3 Colts and 13-3 Cowboys because they advanced farther. The Colts would pick after the Cowboys because the Colts had a harder schedule.
· The 49ers have the Colts’ pick.
· The Patriots forfeited their own first-round pick because of Spygate.

With all that in mind, here are the different Super Bowl scenarios:

1. Pats vs. Giants: The Giants would pick 31st whether they win or lose the game because the Patriots have forfeited their pick because of Spygate. Therefore, the Packers would pick 30th and the 49ers (via the Colts) would pick 29th.
2. Pats vs. Packers. The Packers would pick 31st whether they win or lose the game because the Patriots have forfeited their pick. The 49ers would pick 30th.
3. Chargers vs. Packers. These teams would pick 31st and 30th. The Patriots normally would pick 30th in this scenario but they have lost their pick. The 49ers would have the 29th pick.
4. Chargers vs. Giants. This is the best scenario for the 49ers. The Chargers and Giants would pick 31st and 30th. The Patriots normally would pick 30th but have lost their pick. The Packers, because they advanced farther in the playoffs than the Colts and Cowboys, would pick 29th. The 49ers would pick 28th.

See how easy it is?
- Matt

Question: Matt, Is there any chance they would consider moving Jay Moore to inside linebacker? It seems he has the size and would bring above average speed to the position.
Mike, San Rafael

Answer: No, I think he’s too tall and thin to be an inside guy. TBC and Parys Haralson would seem to be better fits, but it’s a long shot that either of them switches spots.
- Matt

Question: You made a false statement about Mark Roman earlier in describing the safeties. Mark Roman had a fumble recovery against Arizona I believe where he took the ball back to the Cardinals’ 6-yard line in the shootout game. That's before the sack and the Frank Gore 11-yard touchdown draw. Not that it changes much, but give him some credit. It was a great run back.
Patrick, Washington, D.C.

Answer: You’re absolutely right. Nate Clements knocked the ball from Anquan Boldin at the beginning of the second quarter and it was picked up by Roman, who returned it 43 yards to the Arizona 6. Sorry. Don’t know why it wasn’t in Roman’s final stats.
- Matt

Question: When the 49ers asked to interview Sparano last year, how was Dallas able to say no? I thought a coach had to be granted the interview if it was for a higher position. In his case, it would've been from an O-line coach to an O-coordinator.
Berger, Reno

Answer: Yeah, I asked the same thing. Apparently that rule only applies to head-coach candidates.
- Matt

Question: Although free agency and the draft should help, the Niners will only contend next season if playmakers emerge from the current roster, particularly at WR, OLB/pass-rusher and QB, positions not easily filled by rookies. Late in the season, I read an interesting article on Ashley Lelie. Apparently, despite his lack of playing time, both Lelie and his position coach, Jerry Sullivan, are very upbeat about Lelie's future with the 49ers. What are your thoughts on Lelie? Do you have any insight on other current Niners who coaches or scouts feel may be on the verge of a breakout season?
Terry, Davis

Answer: I truly don’t know. Martz certainly will want a receiver who puts pressure on the defense, and Lelie can do that. But you also have to wonder whether a long strider like Lelie can get open quickly, which is essential in Martz’s offense. Another factor is Sullivan. It’s obvious that Sullivan didn’t think much of Lelie’s technique this past season. It’s also obvious that Martz holds Sullivan in high regard. Will Sullivan have the same sway under Martz that he did under Hostler?
- Matt

Question: I know this is a Niner blog, but very quickly -- do you think Ray Guy ever makes the Hall? (He's missed out several times before, but Guy was the best I ever saw at the position.) If he gets shut out, isn't the Hall essentially saying the following?: "Punters not welcome."
Mike, Montclair, NJ

Answer: He’s got a punting award named after him for crying out loud! I can’t believe he’s not in already.
- Matt

Question: With Martz controlling the offense, and with Hill closing in on a deal, who do you think Nolan will put as starting QB? Shaun Hill? Alex Smith? Thanks for reading this.
Eric, Sacramento

Answer: Dunno, Eric. That’ll be the big story line beginning with the 49ers’ first May minicamp. Don’t forget, there probably will be a third name – Joe Flacco? Colt Brennan? Josh Johnson? – thrown into the mix. By the way, Hill had his stitches removed from his index finger on Thursday. Everything seems to be going well regarding that operation …
- Matt

Question: The 49ers just signed some players to future contracts. Can you explain further what this actually means?
Tyler, Rancho Cordova

Answer: I consulted the oracle (Maiocco) on this. All that means is that the new contract doesn’t kick in until the new NFL season begins on Feb. 29.
- Matt

Question: Hey Matt, Regarding Martz and the open QB competition next year, do you think there is any chance that they might bring back Cody Pickett to compete? He always had a great relationship with the team/coaches. Do you think he would fit well into Martz's offensive scheme?
Max, Mill Valley

Answer: To quote Obi Wan Kenobi: That’s a name I have not heard in a long time. I think the 49ers have seen enough of Pickett and believe he’s not a long-term answer. He’s had his shot and now it’s time to see if another young quarterback can be the No. 3.
- Matt

Question: Just reading the rumor mill around the league has the Bengals labeling Ocho Cinco as a "cancer" and that they should trade him. No one in the organization stepped up to defend him. Do you see the 49ers, who are in need of play-making receivers, trying to trade for Chad? Before the Bengal/Niner game this season, Chad said in a conference call that he wants Nolan to "know who I am". I realize I'm making something from nothing here but I can’t help but think of an offseason acquiring Chad, Berrian, Briggs, and Suggs. Any insight for the wishful thinking?
Glenn, Sacramento

Answer: Well, you wrote your question before Marvin Lewis on Thursday said that the Bengals would not trade Chad Johnson. I’m not sure Nolan would want to deal with him anyway. Nolan, however, has said in the past that he is fond of Berrian. He’s tough, gets separation and would seem to be a perfect fit in a Mike Martz offense. The only problem is that Berrian will have many, many suitors when the free agency period begins. I wonder if he would give the 49ers the same California discount Briggs was willing to offer.
- Matt

Question: Hello Matt, Another question. If Nolan blows up next year, what do you think the Yorks do … go after Cowher? Promote Singletary? Give Martz a promotion? Also, if Nolan is successful next year, do you see Nolan getting an extension?
JR, Penngrove

Answer: Well, if things blow up next year it probably means the offense has performed poorly. If that’s the case, Martz would be out. And don’t count Singletary out of this year’s head-coaching search quite yet. Atlanta still has yet to settle on a candidate.
- Matt

Posted by Matthew Barrows at 01:57 PM | Comments |

January 18, 2008

Draft forecast: partly to mostly sunny

Just got off the phone with a scout (not with the 49ers) I talk to from time to time. He was just getting back from East-West Shrine Game practices before heading to Mobile, Ala. early next week for the Senior Bowl. He said that while the 2008 draft class might not have the star power previous classes have had, he thought that this year was good from top to bottom and really had a lot of depth at certain positions.

He cautioned, though, that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Here’s an example: Last year, I did a story on Stanford linebacker Michael Okwo. While at the scouting combine, I asked three or four evaluators about Okwo, none of whom was all that impressed with him. They said they thought that Okwo was at best a second-day pick and that he might not get drafted at all. In the end, however, the Chicago Bears took with the 94th overall pick in the third round.

Here’s how the scout breaks out this year’s class:

Quarterbacks. The scout said, “It’s not a banner year but a solid year.” He said there were about a half dozen or so draftable players and that there were some decent players, San Diego’s Josh Johnson, e.g, that could be taken in the later rounds. The 49ers, who will coach the South squad, will have Louisville’s Brian Brohm, Hawaii’s Colt Brennan and Kentucky’s Andre Woodson on the roster

Running backs. The scout said there’s a lot of quality and a lot of quantity thanks to the cascade of junior running backs who declared earlier this week. Teams will go into the draft thinking they can find a decent running back in every round and perhaps a good one after the draft. The 49ers will coach Georgia Tech’s Tashard Choice, Tulane’s Matt Forte, LSU’s Jacob Hester, Arkansas’ Peyton Hillis and Kentucky’s Rafael Little.

Receivers. Another very deep position, although there are no marquee names like last season when Georgia Tech’s Calvin Johnson was widely considered the most talented player available. The scout said he was wary of drafting receivers in the first round because those drafted in rounds two through four tended to be just as productive. The 49ers will coach Houston’s Donnie Avery, Florida’s Andre Caldwell, LSU’s Early Doucet, Louisville’s Harry Douglas, Alabama’s DJ Hall and Texas’ Limas Sweed.

Tight ends. It’s doubtful that the 49ers will show much interest in tight ends considering how rarely Mike Martz uses them. If they do look at that position, they’ll find lots of pass-catching tight ends (glorified receivers) but few all-around tight ends. The 49ers will coach Tennessee’s Brad Cottam and Kentucky’s Jacob Tamme

Tackle. The scout said he thought this was a good year for tackles. He said he didn’t think there were any Joe Thomases or Jonathan Ogdens in the draft but that there was plenty of talent in Boston College’s Gosder Cherilus, Boise State’s Ryan Clady and Vanderbilt’s Chris Williams. The 49ers will coach Clemson’s Barry Richardson and Vandy’s Williams.

Guard. He said this was a fairly good year for guards and centers. He didn’t think there were any sure-fire first rounders at either position. The 49ers will coach UTEP’s Oniel Cousins, Arkansas’ Robert Felton, Wake Forest’s Steve Justice (center), Bowling Green’s Kory Lichtensteiger (center), Pitt’s Mike McGlynn and Texas A&M’s Cody Wallace (center).

Defensive end. Virginia’s Chris Long headlines this class. The scout said he thought Long would be best in a 3-4 scheme and that if a 3-4 team didn’t pick him early, Long could slip a little bit. The junior class, including Ohio State’s Vernon Gholston, Miami’s Calais Campbell, Florida’s Derrick Harvey and Clemson’s Phillip Merling, has really helped this position. The 49ers will coach Alabama’s Wallace Gilberry, Auburn’s Quentin Groves, Georgia Tech’s Darrell Robertson and Wake Forest’s Jeremy Thompson.

Defensive tackle. There are some good names at the top of the draft, LSU’s Glenn Dorsey and USC’s Sedrick Ellis, but overall this position is thin, according to the scout. The 49ers will coach Texas A&M’s Red Bryant, Florida’s Andre Fluellen, Arkansas’ Marcus Harrison and Maryland’s Dre Moore.

Linebackers. The scout said he thought there was decent depth at this position but probably more so for teams that run a 4-3 as opposed to a 3-4. Teams, like the 49ers, who are looking for a ‘tweener type (Auburn’s Groves, e.g.) who can rush the quarterback will have plenty of options but he said that is a very tough position to predict because it is based on projection. The 49ers will coach Mississippi State’s Titus Brown, Miami’s Tavares Gooden, LSU’s Ali Highsmith, South Florida’s Ben Moffitt, Georgia Tech’s Philip Wheeler and Kentucky’s Wesley Woodyard.

Cornerback. He said this would be a good year for cornerbacks and that lesser known players such as Tennessee State’s Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Troy’s Leodis McKelvin could continue to rise in value as teams become more familiar with them in the coming months.. The 49ers will coach LSU’s Chevis Jackson, Auburn’s Patrick Lee, Troy’s McKelvin, Tennessee State’s Rodgers-Cromartie

Safety. This is another thin position with most of the prospects being second-day selections. The 49ers will coach Alabama’s Simeon Castille, Texas’ Marcus Griffin, LSU’s Craig Steltz and Oklahoma’s D.J. Wolfe

The punter will be Georgia Tech’s Durant Brooks.

-- Matt Barrows

Posted by Matthew Barrows at 01:34 PM | Comments |

January 17, 2008

Safeties: Solid but where's the sizzle?

Maybe Mike Nolan is spoiled. He coached one of the best safeties in the league – Ed Reed – when he was in Baltimore, and perhaps that experience has made him more demanding about what he expects from the position. After arriving in San Francisco in 2005, Nolan went through a number of safety tandems – Tony Parrish, Mike Rumph, Ben Emmanuel, Mike Adams – before settling on one he liked (Mark Roman and Michael Lewis) this year. And indeed, the tandem proved to be the best the 49ers have had in years. But while the 49ers’ secondary was solid, it lacked sizzle. The 49ers finished with only 12 interceptions in 2007, two of which were turned in by a safety. Only three teams – Houston, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh – had fewer.

Dashon Goldson. Aside from Patrick Willis and Joe Staley, no rookie played as much this season as fourth rounder Dashon Goldson, who took part in 10 games. Goldson was moved from safety to cornerback during his senior season at Washington and showed very good coverage skills during spring practices with the 49ers. In fact, Goldson may be the best ball hawk of all the 49ers’ safeties. Goldson’s season, however, got off to a slow start when he suffered ligament damage in his right elbow during a preseason game against the Raiders. He backed up starter Mark Roman at times but saw most of his action on special teams. Goldson’s best game came on Nov. 4 against Atlanta when he was given the Top Gun award for most outstanding special teams player that week. The 49ers hope the tall and long-limbed Goldson becomes an asset in pass defense, and he will look to leapfrog Keith Lewis in the safety pecking order in 2008.

Keith Lewis. Along with linebacker Brandon Moore, Lewis led a defensive resurgence when he was inserted into the starting lineup in 2006. Lewis finished second (to Moore) in total tackles that season (despite just nine starts) and also had two interceptions, six pass defenses, a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Lewis, however, lost his starting spot when the 49ers signed Michael Lewis in the offseason. Keith Lewis is tough (he’s the rare defender who never wears gloves), savvy and rarely is out of position. The one thing he lacks, however, is speed, and the 49ers believe that shortcoming makes him a liability in pass coverage. Still, the fact that a sixth-round draft pick by a previous coaching regime is still on the team is impressive. Lewis is a fantastic special teams performer who has shown a knack for blocking punts. He did, however, miss four games this past season with a severe hamstring tear, the first time the heretofore indestructible safety has been slowed by injuries.

Michael Lewis. Michael Lewis’ signing last March left some people scratching their heads. Lewis, after all, didn’t have a good reputation as a pass defender and he had lost his starting job in Philadelphia the year prior. It turns out that the Eagles weren’t taking advantage of his strengths. In Philadelphia, the Eagles played Lewis in deep coverage – not the best spot for a 226-pound safety – while the free safety made plays all over the field. The 49ers reversed that arrangement, giving Mark Roman a lot of the coverage duties so that Lewis was more free to move about. Lewis rewarded that maneuver with 104 tackles, second on the team to linebacker Patrick Willis. Lewis is nearly as big as a linebacker and after making a tackle it’s sometimes hard to tell if the No. 2 on the bottom of the pile belongs to Lewis (No. 32) or to Willis (No. 52). Lewis may not be one of the top safeties in the league, but his skill set is perfect for the 49ers’ scheme.

Mark Roman. The 49ers acquired Roman just before the start of the 2006 season. His former team, the Green Bay Packers, had picked up safety Marquand Manuel in the offseason and Roman was released just before the start of training camp. But while Manuel turned out to be a bust in Green Bay – he was released after the 2006 season – Roman eventually earned a starting spot in San Francisco and solidified it this season. He finished with 62 tackles and earned the confidence of Nolan, who has very high expectations for his safeties. The problem with Roman is the problem with the 49ers’ defense in general. While he was solid in every area, he was not flashy and did not make many momentum-changing plays. He finished the season with four passes defended, no interceptions, no forced fumbles and no fumble recoveries. That’s a lot of no’s for someone who started all 16 games.

Next: We have yet to review the running backs, receivers, tight ends and quarterbacks. But we’re hoping a week at the Senior Bowl (and a conversation with Mike Martz) will give us a little more insight into those positions. Stay tuned …

-- Matt Barrows.

Posted by Matthew Barrows at 05:39 PM | Comments |

Singletary's phone isn't ringing ... yet

Just got off the phone with agent Bob LaMonte, who represents Mike Singletary. Singletary, as we’re all aware, has yet to interview for a head coach opening this offseason after getting interviews in each of the last two years. LaMonte, however, thought Singletary might start seeing some interest from Atlanta and Baltimore now that their No. 1 target, Dallas offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, is sticking with the Cowboys.

That Singletary has yet to get a nibble is surprising. I admit I haven’t been covering the league for very long but I’ve become convinced that the single most important attribute a head coach must have is communication skills – with his staff, with his players, with the owners, with the media, etc. Great coaches (Walsh, Parcells, Gibbs) have it; the ones that flame out (Petrino, Saban) do not. Communication and motivation are Singletary’s forte. Players will run through cement walls for the guy and Singletary, filling in for Mike Nolan this past season, has shown a knack for dealing with the media.

The odd part is that Singletary is more prepared for the job now than he was last season when he got a very close look from the Falcons. This year, LaMonte said, Singletary would go into the interview with more concrete answers and plans, including a list of assistants he would have on his staff (Which begs the question: How many 49ers assistants would he take with him?).

Why hasn’t Singletary gotten more attention? First, teams looking for new head coaches tend to look at assistants from, you know, successful teams. That’s why Garrett and former Cowboys assistant Tony Sparano have been so popular this offseason. More and more, teams are looking at offensive-minded coaches. Last year, for example, five of the seven new head coaches had their expertise on the offensive side of the ball. Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin and Dallas’ Wade Phillips were the exceptions.

Singletary also might be hurt by the fact that he hasn’t coached in the NFL for very long (five years) and never has been a coordinator. Xs and Os, however, should belong in the coordinator’s domain. And all the fancy schemes in the world won’t amount to much if the head coach can’t communicate with his players. Just ask the Falcons.

-- Matt Barrows

Posted by Matthew Barrows at 02:34 PM | Comments |

January 16, 2008

Sparano in SF? Nolan tried

As someone who has twice been bitten by an offensive coordinator leaving for a head coaching gig, Mike Nolan has to be wondering whether lighting will strike thrice with incoming coordinator Mike Martz. After all, Martz has made no secret of wanting to become a head coach again. And if he can breathe life into the 49ers’ moribund offense, his name likely will be a hot one early in 2009.

Nolan almost has filled out his offensive coaching staff but has yet to make a decision on two positions – quarterbacks coach and running backs coach. I spoke to Nolan on the phone a little while ago and he said the perfect situation would be to bring in an assistant with whom Nolan would feel comfortable promoting to the coordinator job should it come open. But he said that premise was a bit idealistic. His first priority is finding someone who can do the job at hand and who meshes with the rest of the staff. “Put it this way,” Nolan said. “I want to make sure that the new running backs coach is the best guy for the running backs.”

Nolan said he has interviewed enough candidates for the open positions but probably will wait until after the Senior Bowl to make a final decision. While at the Senior Bowl, Martz will coach the quarterbacks while Ted Tollner – whose 2008 role has yet to be defined --will work with the running backs. Senior Bowl practices begin Monday.

****
New Miami Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano was one of the candidates Nolan wanted to interview for the offensive coordinator position when Norv Turner left for San Diego last February. It was former Cowboys coach Bill Parcells, in fact, who suggested Nolan take a look at his former offensive line coach. Nolan, however, couldn’t get permission from the Cowboys, who didn’t want to part ways with a valuable assistant so late in the offseason.

Nolan got the same response everywhere he turned and eventually promoted an in-house candidate, quarterbacks coach Jim Hostler. Hostler’s offense, of course, finished last in league in 2007, Hostler was released at the end of the season, and now, in Martz, the 49ers have their fourth coordinator in as many years.

But even if Nolan had somehow pried Sparano away from Dallas, you have to wonder whether the 49ers would still be on coordinator No. 4 this season. Parcells is obviously enamored with Sparano and would have tapped him as the Dolphins head coach. Nolan would have been powerless to prevent him from interviewing and accepting the job.

And what if Sparano’s offense failed just as miserably as Hostler’s? It may have prevented Parcells from making Sparano the Miami head coach but it also may have prompted Sparano’s release in SF. Any way you slice it: four years, four coordinators …

-- Matt Barrows

Posted by Matthew Barrows at 04:41 PM | Comments |

Cornerbacks: Clements, Harris and ?

Two seasons ago, the 49ers’ pass defense was good for only one thing – padding a quarterback’s stats. The team allowed an average of 277 passing yards a game (the bulk of it coming in the first half) and finished last in the league in pass defense. Shawntae Spencer started at one cornerback position in 2005, but there was a revolving door at the other (Ahmed Plummer, Derrick Johnson, Bruce Thornton). In 2006, the 49ers brought in Walt Harris and the pass defense improved to 26th. This past season, Nate Clements was added to the mix and the 49ers’ rank improved to 22nd. Will the pass defense take another leap forward in 2008? It certainly would be helped by a better pass rush and by one of the team’s younger cornerbacks taking a more prominent role.

Tarell Brown. When the 49ers drafted Brown in the fifth round, they felt as if they got first-day value with a second-day pick. Brown, whose stock dropped following two run-ins with the law while at Texas, was model citizen in San Francisco during his first year. Brown played sparingly in 2007 (he only suited up for nine games) but the 49ers are expecting him to compete for a more prominent role this season. The biggest question about Brown is his right knee. He had to be carted off the field in the season finale in Cleveland with a completely torn MCL and partially torn ACL. The 49ers don’t believe that Brown will need surgery but he will have the knee examined again next week to determine the necessary course of action. If surgery is required, Brown’s availability for 2008 – at least early in the season – would be in doubt.

Nate Clements .What would you do with $80 million? Chances are you wouldn’t work as hard as you used to. And that’s the risk of luring a free agent with a massive contract – he’ll never live up to the numbers because, well, he doesn’t have to. If Nate Clements showed one thing this past season it’s that he’s not motivated by green. Despite signing the richest contract (for now) for a defensive back, Clements stuck to the strict workout regimen he had in Buffalo. He was the first guy in in the morning and one of the last to leave in the afternoon, a blue-collar work ethic that set a nice example for the young defensive backs on the team. What motivates Clements? The desire to be mentioned alongside Champ Bailey or Asante Samuel as one of the elite cornerbacks in the league. Clements is not the classic cornerback. He’s thickly built and relishes swooping in from the secondary to upend a ball carrier. In fact, he finished second on the team this year in solo tackles and he also forced three fumbles. To reach the top tier of cornerbacks, Clements needs more interceptions. He finished tied (with Walt Harris) for the team lead with four but allowed at least two more to slip through his grasp, including one against Cincinnati that would have gone for a touchdown. Still, the 49ers are pleased with their investment. It didn’t take Clements long to become one of the most popular personalities in the locker room and coaches would love it if he was the guy the younger defenders chose to emulate.

Walt Harris. Harris began the 2007 season like he finished 2006 – with an interception on the defense’s first play from scrimmage. In the next game, however, Harris came down to earth when veteran receiver Isaac Bruce caught eight passes for 145 yards against him in St. Louis. It was that kind of up-and-down season for Harris, who looked like his 2006 self in some games and like a just another guy in others. What’s encouraging for the 49ers is that Harris, at the ripe old age of 33, started 15 games. In a season in which every young cornerback suffered injuries, Harris and Clements mostly stayed healthy. One of the reasons Mike Nolan is so popular inside the 49ers’ locker room is because he treats his older players well. Veterans like Harris, Bryant Young and Larry Allen are exempt from certain practices throughout the year, something that keeps their batteries fresh and also builds a loyalty that trickles down to the younger players. Harris is signed through 2009 and said he is intent on coming back. It appears as if he has at least one more good season left in him.

Marcus Hudson. Hudson is the biggest cornerback on the team and is carving out a nice niche as an extra cornerback. The 49ers love to use what they call a “Big Nickel” or “Big Sub” package against teams, like Seattle, that put the ball in the air a lot. The scheme calls for an extra cornerback who can keep pace with an opponent’s receivers but who is rugged enough to help out in run defense. That was Hudson’s role for most of the season until a knee injury sidelined him for the final five weeks. Hudson also was an asset on special teams this season and finished as one of the top four players – along with Michael Robinson, Jeff Ulbrich and Keith Lewis – on the 49ers’ coverage units.

Shawntae Spencer. Somebody needs to take Shawntae Spencer to Burger King. When the 49ers stepped on the scale this past offseason, Spencer weighed in at 179 pounds, making him the lightest player on the team. Even punter Andy Lee, who has the silhouette of a scarecrow, had Spencer beat by six pounds. As you would imagine, Spencer’s slight frame has had trouble withstanding the rigors of a 16-game season. Though he played in every game as a rookie, he has had injuries in each of the last three seasons and missed the final five games of 2007 with a quadriceps strain despite having a reduced role this year. Spencer is a good cover cornerback and has gotten better in the running game. Whether he can hold onto the No. 3 cornerback position will depend on his health and that of the two youngsters, Brown and Hudson, gunning for his job.

Donald Strickland. Nolan loves Strickland because he is fearless. The one-time safety weighs only 187 pounds but throws himself at running backs and tight ends as if he’s a linebacker. The 49ers signed Strickland off the street midway through the 2006 campaign, but he has had big roles in each of the last two seasons. He started three games last year then saw his role increase this past season when Hudson went down with an injury. Strickland’s toughness was evident when, in a high-scoring game in Arizona, he entered for Spencer who had injured his quadriceps. The Cardinals immediately attacked Strickland, and on their final drive in regulation completed a 30-yard pass against him that put the Cardinals on the 1-yard line with six seconds left. A touchdown would win the game for Arizona. A field goal would send it into overtime. The Cardinals, of course, went after Strickland on the decisive play, trying for a fade to 6-3 receiver Bryant Johnson. Strickland, however, reached up and jarred the ball from Johnson’s hands, forcing Arizona into an overtime game they eventually would lose.

Next: The safeties

-- Matt Barrows

Posted by Matthew Barrows at 03:53 PM | Comments |

January 15, 2008

Juniors jazz up draft class

Consider today the NFL’s version of Super Tuesday. Today was the deadline for college underclassmen to decide whether they would return to school for their senior season or enter the NFL draft. As is usually the case, the influx of juniors turned what was a ho-hum draft class into a rather deep one. At receiver, Michigan’s Mario Manningham and Cal’s DeSean Jackson will add a little more depth to the position. Teams looking for a pass-rushing defensive end or 3-4-style linebacker will look at Clemson’s Phillip Merling and Florida’s Derrick Harvey. And a 3-4 team in need of a big linemen will be happy to see Miami’s Calais Campbell in the mix.

I called Gil Brandt, the former Cowboys personnel director who helps run the scouting combine every February, to talk about the draft. Brandt said that this year’s class was particularly deep at running back and that he thought there were more quality pass-blocking offensive linemen than usual. There don’t seem to be a lot of linebackers, he said.

But Brandt also cautioned about getting overexcited about the juniors in the draft. Historically, he said, juniors don’t contribute much during their rookie seasons because they simply haven’t developed – mentally and physically – as much as their senior counterparts. “You don’t know a lot about them,” Brandt said. “You know all the positives. You don’t know the negatives.”

That theory holds true when it comes to the 49ers. Their two first-rounders this past season, Patrick Willis and Joe Staley, entered the draft after their senior seasons. They both started every game and had very successful rookie seasons. Alex Smith and Vernon Davis – the team’s previous first rounders – both entered the N FL after their junior seasons and had far rougher rookie campaigns. Brandt also notes that of the four rookies in the Pro Bowl this year, three played four years of college ball – Willis, Joe Thomas and Nick Folk – while one, running back Adrian Peterson, was a three-year starter.

****
The Baltimore to San Francisco pipeline isn’t dead yet. The 49ers today signed one-time Raven linebacker Dennis Haley (Virginia) to a future contract. Haley (6-1, 247) originally joined the Jets in 2005 as an undrafted free agent. He spent part of his rookie season on the Jets practice squad before being signed to the Ravens’ 53-man roster. He spent the 2006 season between Baltimore’s active roster and practice squad. Haley spent training camp with Baltimore in 2007 but was waived prior before the start of the season.

****
How jealous would your friends be if you got to watch a football game next to Ronnie Lott and Keena Turner? How ‘bout if you watched that game from inside the 49ers’ locker room? Well, you have a shot this Sunday.
Lott’s former teammate and current business partner, Eric Scoggins, was diagnosed with ALS a year ago. In an effort to raise money and awareness for ALS, Lott, Turner and Scoggins will host an event called The Circle of Legends. The event will include watching a conference championship game with a 49ers’ Super Bowl winner, including: Jesse Sapolu, Charles Haley, Tim McDonald, Dwight Hicks and Eric Wright.
Tickets range from $1000 to $15,000. All the money raised will go to ALS research. For questions or to purchase tickets, contact Billie Anne Holmes at billie@allstarshelpingkids.org or call 650-363-1395.

****
The Pro Football Hall of Fame released the names of the 17 finalists who will be considered for election when the hall’s selecting committee meets next month. There are a couple of former 49ers on the list, Fred Dean and Richard Dent, a former Raider, punter Ray Guy, and some players who have been overlooked in years’ past like Redskins receiver Art Monk and New England linebacker Andre Tippett.

The guy I’m rooting for, of course, is Darrell Green. As I’ve written previously, I grew up across the street from Darrell at a time when the Redskins were insanely popular in the Washington, D.C. area and Darrell was famous for being the fastest man in the NFL. I must have been about 11 or 12 at the time, so you can imagine how cool it was to have Darrell Green – DARRELL GREE N! – come over and shoot baskets in my driveway. (Picture Patrick Willis showing up at your door asking if you wanted to shoot pool in his basement). Anyway, Darrell played 20 seasons with the Redskins, finished his career with 54 interceptions and started the Darrell Green Youth Life Foundation, which for 20 years has been helping underprivileged kids in the D.C. area. A better ambassador to the sport there never was.

-- Matt Barrows

Posted by Matthew Barrows at 05:16 PM | Comments |

January 14, 2008

Martz says Smith has all the right tools

Mike Martz was just on KNBR with Tom Tolbert and Ralph Barbieri. There was nothing earth shattering, but the 49ers' new offensive coordinator again said that he thought Alex Smith had the necessary skills to run his offense. Martz said he was familiar with Smith – both from the draft and from coaching against him in 2005 and 2006 – and that friend and fellow coach Norv Turner thought highly of the quarterback. Martz said that Smith was bright, accurate and tough, and that those three attributes were essential for being a good quarterback. Martz did say that he would have to “strip things away” and then rebuild Smith as he has done all his quarterbacks.

As far as receivers, Martz said he needed at least one wideout who can put pressure on opposing defenses. That element, of course, was missing in 2007, but Martz said he hasn’t reached any conclusions on his new receiving corps. “To say that none of these guys can do that – I don’t know about that,” Martz said. “You do need a guy to get down the field. I do think there’s speed (here). There’s some capability.” This year’s draft class will be full of speedy receivers. One of them, Michigan junior Mario Manningham, entered the draft earlier today. I’ll be talking with another, Cal’s Lavelle Hawkins, later this week.

As he did the day he was hired, Martz said he was encouraged by the strength of the 49ers’ defense and special teams. His former teams, the Rams and Lions, both struggled in those areas. “You can mix and match and have a nice blend of run and pass and not worry about having to play from behind all the time,” Martz said.

Martz also was asked about Mike Nolan’s tenuous hold on the head-coaching job. Martz denied that he’ll be a distraction or that he was gunning for Nolan’s job. “That’s not even a consideration,” he said. “I’m here to work with Mike. Period.”

****
The 49ers signed five players to future contracts. They are: RB Thomas Clayton (Kansas State), CB Markus Curry (Michigan), WR Jerard Rabb (Boise State), TE Cooper Wallace (Auburn) and WR Dominique Zeigler (Baylor). Clayton, Curry, Rabb and Zeigler ended the season on the practice squad.
Wallace (6-3, 258) was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Bears in 2006. He spent 13 weeks on Tennessee's practice squad before being signed to the active roster later that season. Wallace started one game and caught one pass for six yards. He spent the 2007 season in between Tennessee's and Cincinnati's practice squads.

-- Matt Barrows

Posted by Matthew Barrows at 06:09 PM | Comments |

Linebackers: Willis stands alone

Yesterday I looked at outside linebacker. Today, it’s the inside ‘backers, who of course were led by Patrick Willis, the defensive rookie of the year. The hope is that Willis will man the “Mike” linebacker spot for, oh, the next decade or so. The question, however, is who will play beside him.

Brandon Moore. It was one of the mysteries of 2007: What happened to Brandon Moore? A year earlier, he was the darling of the defense, earning a starting role at midseason and finishing No. 1 on the team in tackles despite just 11 starts. Moore seemed to be everywhere – sacking the quarterback, tackling runners – and ball carriers were stopped in their tracks as soon as Moore wrapped his arms around them. Moore seemed like a perfect fit at Ted linebacker, and the long-term plan was for him to play alongside rookie Patrick Willis in the middle of the 49ers’ defense. At the same time Willis was proving to coaches that he deserved a starting role this summer, however, Moore was losing his starting job. He wasn’t aggressive or gritty enough for the Ted position – which calls for the linebacker to take on blocks – and missed several tackles in the preseason. The starting job instead went to Derek Smith, and Moore had to settle for a third-down role as a pass rusher. That type of unexpected demotion has been the story of Moore’s career dating back to college. He is signed through 2010 and if Smith does not return in 2008, the 49ers will need someone to fill the Ted position. Will it be Moore? Coaches will have to see more intensity and better consistency to trust him in that role.

Derek Smith. The inside linebacker had a stellar season in 2005, starting all 16 games and leading the team in tackles for the fifth straight season. Smith was a coach’s dream – reliable, smart, played through injuries – and the 49ers rewarded him with a handsome, three-year contract. The next season, however, all the hits that Smith has delivered over his career began catching up with him. He developed a weakness in one of the muscles in his left eye, a condition that affected his depth perception. He was whiffing on tackles he had routinely made for the 49ers over the previous five seasons. Still, Smith played through the issue, first experimenting with corrective goggles and then adjusting his stance so that his eyes could work in concert. Smith missed four starts at the end of the season, but it was because of a hamstring injury not the eye problem. He underwent surgery in the offseason to correct the problem and returned healthy in 2007. When Moore failed to hold onto the starting job at Ted linebacker, Smith seamlessly moved over from the Mike linebacker position. For the second straight year, however, Smith showed signs of breaking down toward the end of the season. Smith’s lack of speed caused him to be close, but ultimately miss, several tackles, and the Ted position is one the 49ers will try to upgrade this offseason. Smith can be a valuable teacher – as he was this past season for Willis – for a rookie or newcomer. But he is scheduled to earn more than $3 million -- too steep for a teacher’s salary.

Jeff Ulbrich. Coaches will tell you that if they had 53 No. 53’s on their roster, they’d win the Super Bowl every year. Like Smith, Ulbrich is the ultimate warrior, at one point this season playing on two high-ankle sprains. He’s also smart, likeable and willing to play any position on the field. (He’s the 49ers’ back-up kicker). When Moore was inserted into the starting lineup last season, Ulbrich was relegated to special teams and flourished in that role. This season, he finished second to Michael Robinson in the season-long “Top Gun” competition that recognizes the 49ers’ top special teams performer. Ulbrich