49ers Blog and Q&A

Minicamps, OTAs and training camp, oh my. The NFL "offseason" can seem like practice overkill. But when you hear new 49ers linebacker Dontarrious Thomas talk Xs and Os, you understand why the endless reps are so crucial. Thomas is battling Jeff Ulbrich for the starting job at "Ted" linebacker. Thomas is younger, bigger and more athletic than Ulbrich. But Ulbrich knows the position like the back of his hand. That's been Thomas' task during the spring practices - picking up a defense that is more complex than the one he was in in Minnesota.

Q: Was there a similar position to Ted when you were in Minnesota?
DT: Our Sam linebackers did a lot of the same things. Especially when we ran like an 'over' defense. I played that position. In Minnesota, I played all three positions.

Q: When you came here, how much catch-up was required to play Ted?
DT: The one thing I had to learn was how to be patient and slow down. In a 4-3 scheme, it's more gap responsibility. Here, you have gap responsibility. But you also have to be able to read the lineman and play off of them. There's that learning curve. And also that I've always been in the Tampa 2. It's been Tampa 2, Tampa 2, Tampa 2. I'm used to spot dropping (in pass coverage.) Here you have to know route progression and know what the receiver is going to do on his route.

Q: So there's more analysis and thinking on the fly here than in the Tampa 2?
DT: Yeah. In the Tampa 2, you're usually just the middle read guy. You're like the middle safety. You protect the middle of the field. Here, depending on the route, you might have that vertical or you might have to break off and wall that No. 3 (receiver) coming across because we do a lot of mixed coverages. Like we'll play a half or a quarter on one side and on the other we'll play a totally different defense. So you have to know what your responsibilities are.

Q: Is that why these OTAs were so valuable? Because you have to learn all these different situations?
DT: Definitely. I mean, depending on the formations and what they give you, your responsibilities can totally change. This definitely has been helping me out as far as catching me up and giving me some reps and getting familiar with the defense. Once you get familiar with the concepts and everything, then you learn how everybody fits. And then you know, 'Ok, I know I've got a safety so I can be fast over the top, or I know I've got this player so I can be slow.' You know where everybody fits. This defense - it's a lot more mental. There's more to learn. In different situations, your responsibilities can change on the fly. By practicing and repetitions, they train your brain to react really quickly because that first minicamp, that first practice and even the second and third - it was tough. It takes practice and repetition.

Q: What was that first minicamp like?
DT: There was a lot of catch-up. I was a little slow in my reads. I'm still working through that. I definitely feel I'm progressing. I know more of what I'm doing. That first minicamp I was like, 'I know I need to make this play,' but I was unsure about where I need to be. Now my confidence is getting there and I'm starting to be relaxed and starting to get a feel of the defense.

Q: How important is it to get in sync with the guy you're playing next to, whether it be Patrick Willis or Brandon Moore?
DT: I'm in a good situation here where Brandon Moore has played and he knows the position. He's a veteran guy. I can talk to Jeff. He's a veteran guy. He knows the position. Also, Patrick Willis is one of the great guys and he knows the position. Everybody comes together and pitches in and helps out.

Q: Will it take training camp and full-contact practices to really tell how far you've progressed?
DT: Yes, definitely. Once you get those pads on, it's a whole different story. That's when you have to master the physical aspect as well as the mental aspect of it.

Q: Is that when your size and strength should give you an advantage?
DT: You definitely have to have some leverage and some size, and I can pride myself on being a pretty strong 'backer. It's one of those things where coach Singletary, he drills you and drills you. He drills into you the fundamentals and technique, so I'm sure I'll definitely be confident that he's made me into the best 'backer I can be.

Q: How big are you right now?
DT: About 245.

Q: Is that your playing weight?
DT: By the time training camp's over, you lose a little weight. I usually play around 230, 240.

****************
Those of you waiting for the supplemental draft may have to wait until July 2009. So far, no players have announced themselves available for the supplemental, meaning there's a very good chance there won't be one at all. What does that mean? A sllloooowwww July news period becomes even sssslllloooowwwweeeer.

-- Matt Barrows

Question: I was heartened at the pick-up of Barry Sims especially to give Jonas Jennings competition at tackle. Matt, what do you think of the O-Line as it stands? Will they be able to help the run, and avoid injuries to the Quarterbacks? Can you foresee more moves to strengthen the O-Line? Thank you -- love the blog.
Tom, Mountain View

A: In terms of talent, I thought the offensive line was, or rather should have been, strong last year. It was as baffling as anything during that horrible 2007 season that the line was such a mess. Remember, the offensive line was something that Mike Martz immediately cited when he first joined the 49ers. If Jennings remains healthy, I think it's a great line. Of course, that's a big "if". Now that Sims is in the mix, the 49ers have Jennings insurance so to speak. If he's hurt, the talent level drops, but only slightly.
- Matt

Question: Matt -- In my mind, the Sims signing is probably more important for how it impacts the long-term future of Rachal than the additional depth it provides at tackle this year (although, it's nice to have given the lack of depth there). My real question is this, however: If Rachal shines in camp, what are the odds Baas moves to center and starts over an aging Heitmann? Baas played like a star there in college. A stud line of Staley, Snyder, Baas, Rachal and (even) Jennings is young enough to really gel and play together for years.
Mike, Montclair

A: Heitmann aging? Dude's only 28! I would never bet against Heitmann. Remember, Heitmann was drafted with little fanfare, started 12 games his rookie season, many of them with a broken hand. He's been a starter ever since. That's a much better start than Baas has had. Now having said that, Heitmann is entering the final year of his contract. It's entirely possible that the 49ers' brain trust will want to go in a new direction with an interior line of Adam Snyder, Eric Heitmann and Chilo Rachal, all guys that the current regime has drafted. But ousting Heitmann in favor of Baas, IMHO, would be a big mistake.
- Matt

Question: Hey Matt, I am California dreaming I know but is there ANY chance that our 49ers would ever get Eddie back? He sounds like he would like to get back into owning a team and the 49ers are going nowhere with the Yorks at the helm. We only have to look across the bay to see how a bad owner translates into a bad team. I would love to see us do well this year but I am not very optimistic right now. Hopefully I will change my outlook after training camp.
Paul, Lodi

A: When we asked Eddie D about possibly owning another team a few months ago, he was iffy on the subject, saying that he didn't know if he had the energy to run a team. In that regard, a union between Eddie D and nephew Jed York - the definite heir apparent to the 49ers' kingdom - makes a lot of sense. Eddie D would provide guidance; Jed York, who loves Eddie D., would provide the energy. The hiccup in that arrangement is John York. I doubt he would step aside to allow his brother in law to step in. Is there any chance? I'm reminded of a scene from Dumb & Dumber:

Question: Hey, Matt! I just discovered your Blogs and I LUV 'em! Keep it up! As we rev up towards the season, my optimism is growing. I feel that our Niners have a great attitude and LOTS of talent both in players and coaches. How does the overall feeling of this offseason compare with last year when everyone had such high expectations? I can now honestly say I believe making the playoffs is a very real possibility. Your thoughts on this from your insider's POV? Thanks! Go NINERS! Go CAVS!
- John, Tucson

A: Wahoowa. Well, Nolan is doing his best to tamp down expectations, starting with removing that absurd "Win the West" banner he hung in 2005. But if you read what Mike "Wow!" Martz has been saying, you'd think the 49ers were planning to re-write the offensive record book. To say he is excited about his offensive weapons - Alex Smith, Vernon Davis, Frank Gore - would be an understatement. I've been thinking a lot lately about expectations and optimism. One of the beauties of the NFL is that the long offseason breeds optimism. Teams hire a few coaches, add a few free-agents, bring in a draft class, have months of intra-squad scrimmages and suddenly everyone is saying, 'You know, I think these guys could make the playoffs.' I think the fans of just about every team (except maybe Chicago) naturally become optimistic in the offseason. In terms of ticket sales, it's rather ingenious.
- Matt

Question: Hi Matt. This blog is of the hook. Im a die hard everyday niner fan. Keep up the awsom work. my question to you is; Is this team ever goin to get that fire that i know they have on the feild, it just seems to me that they have the talent but the spend a whole lot of time second quessing themselfs. i would love to see more aggression on the feild. I know that they work hard and I will always be a Niner Fan. thank you and big shot out to you.
Leebob, Sacramento

A: Thanks for the shot out. It's actually a good question. The 49ers have plenty of high-character players but I would question whether they have enough fiery players. I think Joe Staley and Vernon Davis fit that category. But if I were a fan, I'd like to see more. I'll have more on this topic at a later date ...
- Matt

Question: Hey Matt, love the Blog. You and Matt M do a great job. Since you got this great new camera, and I know your dieing to use it, how about a tour of the 49ers facilities and headquarters?
Josh, Merced

A: OK, but per NFL rules, it would have to be a 90-second tour.
- Matt

Question: With all these blurry pictures and all these allusions to Manet and the impressionist painters, are you getting artsy on us or are you lobbying the Bee for a camera with a faster shutter speed?
Bob, Pacifica?

Answer: Artsy? Don't worry. I'm not at the point where I'll be mailing anyone my left ear ... yet.
- Matt

Phew! Here is the full transcript of the Mike Martz interview I have been s ... t ... r ... e ... t ... c ... h ... i ... n ... g out over the past week. As you'll notice, Martz has a cover-your-eyes-he's so-beaming assessment of every offensive group except the wide receivers. That's because I never ask about the wide receivers. But you'll also see he is conscious of how glowing he sounds. Is he trying to build up his players? Is he trying to pump up expectations? Or does he genuinely believe he has something in San Francisco? Check back in three months ...

Q: You obviously were familiar with the 49ers upon being hired, but after a month of practices with the team, was there anything new you saw? Any surprises?
MM: "There were a lot of surprises, actually. There's a real inherent toughness to the offensive line that is part of who they are and also how they coach them, which is really outstanding. The other part of it is that as a football team and on offense, there is a great deal of character here. This league's full of talent, as you know. Everybody's talented. But when you have a team with this much character, they're going to do the right thing. They'll work harder. They'll always be trying to do the right thing. Winning's very important to them. That's who these guys are. They just kind of need to be lined up right and shown what to do. They're like sponges. So this has been as much fun as I've had in coaching, really to be honest with you. So I'm thrilled about who we have here in players and in coaches. I'm just excited to get going.

Q: You said the word "sponge." How much have Shaun Hill and Alex Smith been able to absorb so far?
MM: "There's no question about that. Because they both have shared snaps. That's a tough thing to do and still learn the system and make terrific progress because you're always throwing to different receivers. It's my first experience with it. So going through this, it's been much better than I would have anticipated. And of course, they've handled it really well."

Q: This was your first experience splitting quarterback snaps in the offseason?
MM: "Yeah, it definitely was. Usually when you go into the season, you have an idea of who your starter is and you go. But this has been very good. And they've handled it well and so has the team. It's been very healthy and we got much done here from a personnel standpoint. Because I know where this team was three years ago. I really do. And what they've done here - the personnel people and Mike (Nolan) through his leadership - the kind of players that he's brought in here, on both sides of the ball and special teams, is why you win. Those are winners."

Q: Do you have more of the offense installed than you would have predicted heading into the spring?
MM: "Oh, there's no question about that. There's no question. Like I said, these guys are so much more professional than I suspected they would have been. They didn't fight it. They have to un-learn old systems and all those sorts of things. And they were really able to do that in short order. They picked it up very quickly. Young players in this league will always struggle with this information. That's expected. But the guys who have been around a year or two on up have really dealt with this very well."

Q: Where do you go from here? Do you sit down with Mike Nolan and try to hammer out a pecking order for training camp?
MM: "Yeah, I think that's the next order of business. We haven't discussed it really .... But we have plenty of time with that. That will come in short order. But we're good there, though. We're fine with that."

Q: Do you have enough information to make that decision?
MM: "I think so, yeah. I think so, sure."

Q: Did anything surprise you about Frank Gore during minicamp and OTAs?
MM: "He's a one-time guy. You tell him once and he has it. That's really a remarkable quality. He really learns fast. He's a very sharp guy. So that means you can use him in a variety of ways if you will. So, no, he's been outstanding with that. Usually guys who have been featured runners with a limited exposure, it's hard for them. He's not been that way at all. We've been able to put him out there has a wideout, we've motioned him outside, we've used him in a variety of ways. He's retained it, done an exceptional job with it and just really learns quick. The other thing I didn't realize until I saw him in person is how explosive he is when he runs the football. He has a gear he gets to - you blink and he's in it. He's a special player, there's no question about it. He's an elite player in this league. I'm just so excited to have him."

Q: A lot of people think he's going to be Marshall Faulk. Is that accurate?
MM: "I don't think that's right to say. I think Marshall's Marshall, Frank is Frank. Frank has his own skill set. Frank is Frank. There are things that we'll play to that are really strengths of his."

Q: Running between the tackles?
MM: "Well, anywhere. He's got that speed and explosiveness. He does it all. He really does. He's a physical guy that you can hammer or you can use him as a perimeter guy. So, I don't think I'd put a limitation on what he can do, really. It will be kind of fun to see."

Q: Did you know much about Michael Robinson coming in?
MM: "No, I really didn't. I really didn't know. All the coaches were so high on him and he has such little experience as a runner. I looked at him on tape and he looked so natural at it. We got out here and he's another of those high-character, learns-quickly guys. You can ask him to do multiple things. Those guys are the hearts and soul of your football team."

Q: Will he be in the backfield with Frank at times?
MM: "Sure. Absolutely. There's no question about it. We'll use them together - absolutely."

Q: Because they're both adept at catching passes out of the backfield?
MM: "No question. And defensively ... one can block for the other or use them both as receivers. There's all kinds of things that can happen out of that, you know?"

Q: Is Delanie Walker another guy you didn't know much about?
MM: ""Wow. That's how I would say it. Wow. He has some real wow factor to him. He is such a professional and he works so hard at it. He's such a stickler for detail. You talk about some jets and some ability to run and eat up the field. Holy cow. I didn't know anything about Delanie until I got here. The last week or two, we put some things in just for him and he just really excelled."

Q: Do you now go back and add plays after seeing certain offensive players in action over the last three weeks?
MM: "No question. That final (offensive group) we get down to ... each one of those guys will have stuff for him in every game plan and certainly Delanie is a guy that you have to make sure you get him in there and put him in an environment where he can get a step on a safety or linebacker because he can win those battles."

Q: Does he play the same position as Vernon Davis?
MM: "Sometimes. He plays several positions. Sp you can either put him where Vernon is and take Vernon out or put him in different positions. He's capable of several positions."

Q: Will Vernon Davis be used the way Al Saunders has used Tony Gonzales in KC and Chris Cooley in DC?
MM: "No. He's a different guy than that. I don't know if anybody in the league can run like he can at that position. I mean, he gets down the field so fast. I don't know who beats him in a foot race. So, no, he's unusual. Like we talked about Frank. He's Vernon. He's not like anybody else. He's such a violent, physical blocker. So many of the tight ends these days are more finesse, just kind of trying-and-hold-them-off kind of deal. Vernon will try to knock you out. He's such a pleasant blend of power and physical with speed and ability. He's such an unusual player in that respect."

Q: Do you teach him how to run routes like a wide receiver?
MM: "Yes. And that's something that was new for him. Instead of breaking down and head faking and doing all these things, we're going to use his speed. And I think he understands that really well at this point. I don't know if anyone worked any harder this spring than he did. He was out here before and after doing extra things, trying to improve his skill set, really trying to take what we're asking him to do and polish it, get better each day at it. He's been truly remarkable in that respect. He really has."

Q: He seems like a guy who's really hungry to be great.
MM: Oh, boy, there's no question. He's hungry to help this team win, too. Everybody you've asked about - it's just glowing - that's the way it is. I wish I could say, 'Yeah, I think we'll be okay there.' I wish I could say that in some respects just to kind of temper, but I can't hold down my enthusiasm. These guys are pretty special."

Q: Last question. Were you as surprised as everyone else was that 'hot reads' hadn't been used here in the recent past?
MM: "Well, I think with Norv they probably did do it but with a new quarterback, a rookie quarterback*, you have to be very careful. He's just happy to find the center at the line of scrimmage. There's so much going on with the rookie it's just unfair ..."
*(Alex Smith was rookie in 2005. Norv Turner was OC in 2006

Q: You put that onus on the offensive line when you have a young QB?
MM: "Right. You do. You really do. Then as time goes on, you can teach them those things. Last year, I don't think Hos, he's from a different background, so they don't use those as much. So, now that we're involved with all these hot throws and quick throws, he's excelled. It was hard far them. Both of them. It was hard for them. But they began to really excel at it. The last week or so, they really made huge strides in that area."

-- Matt Barrows

Here is more of the Mike Martz interview I have been s ... t ... r ... e ... t ... c ... h ... i ... n ... g out over the past week. And yes, I've noticed that when Martz talks about his new offensive players he sounds like a proud papa reaching for his wallet to show you his beautiful babies. And yes, Martz had many gushing things to say two years ago about his offensive weapons on the Detroit Lions. But I think the bottom line is that over spring practices Martz was pleasantly and genuinely surprised by what he has to work with in San Francisco. The talent level here certainly is better than No. 32, which is where the offense ranked last season.

The key in this segment is what Martz says about Frank Gore's ability to learn his system. Remember, Gore had a low-low Wonderlic score entering the draft, and teams worried about his dyslexia almost as much as they did his surgically repaired knees. Learning the playbook, however, never has been an issue for Gore since joining the 49ers.

Q: Did anything surprise you about Frank Gore during minicamp and OTAs?
MM: "He's a one-time guy. You tell him once and he has it. That's really a remarkable quality. He really learns fast. He's a very sharp guy. So that means you can use him in a variety of ways, if you will. So, no, he's been outstanding with that. Usually guys who have been featured runners with a limited exposure, it's hard for them. He's not been that way at all. We've been able to put him out there has a wideout, we've motioned him outside, we've used him in a variety of ways. He's retained it, done an exceptional job with it and just really learns quick. The other thing I didn't realize until I saw him in person is how explosive he is when he runs the football. He has a gear he gets to - you blink and he's in it. He's a special player, there's no question about it. He's an elite player in this league. I'm just so excited to have him."

Q: A lot of people think he's going to be Marshall Faulk. Is that accurate?
MM: "I don't think that's right to say. I think Marshall's Marshall, Frank is Frank. Frank has his own skill set. Frank is Frank. There are things that we'll play to that are really strengths of his."

Q: Running between the tackles?
MM: "Well, anywhere. He's got that speed and explosiveness. He does it all. He really does. He's a physical guy that you can hammer or you can use him as a perimeter guy. So, I don't think I'd put a limitation on what he can do, really. It will be kind of fun to see."

Q: Did you know much about Michael Robinson coming in?
MM: "No, I really didn't. I really didn't know. All the coaches were so high on him and he had such little experience as a runner. I looked at him on tape and he looked so natural at it. We got out here and he's another of those high-character, learns-quickly guys. You can ask him to do multiple things. Those guys are the heart and soul of your football team."

Q: Will he be in the backfield with Frank at times?
MM: "Sure. Absolutely. There's no question about it. We'll use them together - absolutely."

Q: Because they're both adept at catching passes out of the backfield?
MM: "No question. And defensively ... one can block for the other or use them both as receivers. There's all kinds of things that can happen out of that, you know?"

-- Matt Barrows

I thought some of you non-South Bay, non-California 49ers fans might be interested in seeing exactly where the 49ers intend to build their new stadium in Santa Clara. But first a little prefacing. The following high-quality, professionally made, Spielberg-like video shows two parking lots. The first, smaller lot is known as the auxiliary lot. The second lot in the video is much bigger. The 49ers would prefer to build the stadium on that bigger lot but they are getting resistance from Cedar Fair, owner of Great America amusement park, about building it there. They are currently negotiating with Cedar Fair about that issue and one of the resolutions may be that the 49ers end up purchasing Great America. If no solution can be reached, the 49ers could still build the stadium on the smaller lot. An environmental impact report - a major hurdle in the whole process - is currently being conducted on both lots. So now that you have the background, please enjoy this Matt Barrows joint, which I call "Two Parking Lots":

06192008044-001 from http://sparrow280.vox.com/

Attention aspiring bloggers of Northern California: Want an opportunity to be the next Matt Maiocco? Kirk Berridge, a former 49ers and Sharks executive, is launching open auditions for fans to run their own blogs through his company Fan Media Network. One blogger will be picked for each prominent sports team in NorCal. KTTU sports caster Mark Ibanez (A real celebrity!) and former 49er J.J. Stokes will judge the videos and determine a winner. If interested, go here ...www.fanmedianetwork.com.

-- Matt Barrows

I pride myself on having the 49ers' numerical roster etched in my brain. No. 20? That's Allen Rossum. No. 14? Easy -- J.T. O'Sullivan. No. 63? Damane Duckett -- don't waste my time. However, there were a few eye-catching players this spring who had me shamefully searching my pockets for a roster. Here are four guys you probably had never heard about in April who are in a nice position to fight for a spot on the final roster - albeit some for the practice squad - come late August.

Lewis Baker, safety, No. 43. The 49ers love size at the safety position - really, they love it all positions - and at 6-3, 203 pounds Baker is as tall and as rangy as they come. The former Oklahoma Sooner linebacker did not time very well in the 40-yard dash and that's probably the reason he went undrafted. But Baker was a quick learner during the recent OTAs who benefited from the absence of starting FS Mark Roman, who was recovering from a shoulder injury. The 49ers have very good depth at safety beyond Roman and fellow starter Michael Lewis. Dashon Goldson had as good a spring as anyone and Keith Lewis made a number of plays as well. Another undrafted free agent, D.J. Parker, also looked good at times but does not have Baker's size. Practice-squad eligible: Yes.

Walter Curry, DL, No. 60. Curry was the dark horse of OTAs. It's hard to evaluate linemen in the spring when no one's wearing pads, but coaches and scouts are high on Curry, who mostly played right defensive end. The first team that ever looked at him was Baltimore - always a huge plus on a Mike Nolan-led team - which signed him as an undrafted free agent out of Albany State (It's in Southwest Georgia, not upstate New York) in 2005. Curry spent the 2006 season on the Jaguars practice squad, which is an achievement in itself considering Jacksonville's defensive tackles at the time. Perhaps most important, Curry won over defensive line coach Jim Tomsula when he played for Tomsula's Rhein Fire in 2006. If newcomer Justin Smith stands up and plays linebacker a lot this season, the 49ers will need someone to hold the edge, like Marques Douglas did so well last season, at right defensive end. Curry is bigger - 6-4, 309 -- and stronger than Douglas. Whether he has Douglas' tenacity will be determined this summer. Practice-squad eligible: Yes.

Louis Holmes, DE, No. 62. Holmes looks like he's straight out of central casting for an NFL defensive end. He's a muscular 6-6, 270-pounds and has a very quick first step. He's exactly what a prototypical 4-3 defensive end should look like. And in the team's non-contact drills this spring, Holmes regularly showed that potent size-speed combination. The question is whether Holmes will continue to look as flashy when the 49ers put the pads on July 25. He arrived at Arizona in 2006 as the top JUCO player in the nations, but his production in Tucson was only mediocre (two sacks last year). Holmes certainly has the frame to become a fearsome pass rusher. What he needs to develop is discipline and consistency. He'll have the perfect teacher in San Francisco in Tomsula, which is why Holmes is a good candidate for the practice squad. Practice-squad eligible: Yes.

Josh Morgan, WR, No. 84. I watched a lot of Virginia Tech football over the past couple of years. And from what I could tell, the Hokies had a dilemma on offense. They had three very good receivers - Morgan, Justin Harper and Eddie Royal - but a fairly plain Jane system and a so-so quarterback. Which is to say that perhaps Morgan would have had more opportunities had he played for another team. (Hint, hint: UVA has been dying for good wideouts in recent years). And all of that is a long way of saying that Morgan has the potential to be real steal in the sixth round. He always has showed big-play ability in Blacksburg but what surprises you when you see him up close is how big he is. At close to 220 pounds, he is precisely the thick, strong receiver the 49ers love. He's built a lot like Jason Hill but he may be a better leaper. Morgan got a lot of work in minicamps and OTAs and seemed to fit right into the mix as if he'd been here for years. Practice-squad eligible: Yes.

******
Here's the story I wrote in today's Bee about Mike Martz and how smitten he has become with tight ends Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker.

-- Matt Barrows

After the final open OTA practice last week, Mike Nolan was talking about his quarterback competition. He said he eventually would sit down with offensive coordinator Mike Martz and quarterbacks coach Ted Tollner to discuss the situation, but first he was scheduled for a week-long trip. I figured he was taking the family to Yosemite or the Grand Canyon or Cape Cod. Instead, Nolan is in ..... Afghanistan! The coach left Friday along with radio host Ron Barr and former NFL defensive back Eric Davis. They are visiting the troops at Camp Blackhorse, home to all four branches of the military, in Kabul, according to a military release.

"We all know that teamwork is important in any sport, but here the importance of teamwork goes without saying," Nolan said in the release.

For images of the visit, click here ...

Apparently, Nolan tried to visit the troops in Iraq in February. Nolan had to scuttle the trip when he learned he would miss the scouting combine. We should be able to get the coach on a conference call following his return on Friday.

-- Matt Barrows

It came down to the Rams and 49ers, but in the end Barry Sims opted for the team that offered the most money, and in his opinion, the best opportunity to get onto the field.

Sims accepted a two-year deal from the 49ers, who were the most persistent of his four pursuers, which also included the Ravens and Patriots. Sims, who has been working out at Athletes Performance in Tempe, Ariz., is expected to sign the deal tomorrow, said his agent Ken Vierra. The 49ers typically don't announce a signing until the deal is officially completed.

Sims' biggest criteria was the opportunity for playing time. Both the Rams and 49ers offered him the chance to compete for a starting job, but he got the sense the Rams were slightly more settled with Orlando Pace on the left side and Alex Barron on the right. Sims' chance in San Francisco will come at right tackle, where the incumbent, Jonas Jennings, has had a history of injury problems. Vierra said the 49ers assured Sims that he would have a fair chance to win that job. Jennings recently recovered from ankle surgery but was able enough to play with the starting offensive line throughout OTAs.

With Sims working at right tackle, rookie Chilo Rachal likely will be switched back to guard, his college position. He played right guard during the team's May minicamp before being switched to back-up right tackle for the June OTAs.

Vierra said it didn't hurt that the 49ers offered slightly more money and that Sims, a long-time Raider, had a home in the Bay Area. He also got a good vibe from the 49ers after meeting with them earlier this month. Vierra described it as a "comfortable feel."

"He just had a great meeting with Mike (Nolan) and Mike (Martz)," Vierra said.

-- Matt Barrows

Question: Matt, so what is your overall impression of the team so far? With the new defensive additions, do you feel overall that the Niners have what it takes to be a top-tier defense? It seems like all that was missing last year was a pass-rush; do you think it will be much improved? I know the logistics of the additions but I am wondering, since you are there to witness it, if you have an overall feeling if the best has yet to come with their defense?
Glenn, Sacramento

Answer: I keep using the word "chameleon" because the defense is predicated on giving offenses lots of different looks. I think the return of Manny Lawson, the biggest chameleon of them all, is a big help. And the acquisition of Justin Smith, who has been playing both defensive end and linebacker, will be an additional bonus. But I also can't help but wonder if all of this movement and switching of positions is little more than a cheap parlor trick. The 49ers still don't have anyone who can consistently pressure the quarterback on his own. Lawson, Smith and Tully Banta-Cain are not elite pass rushers by themselves. Instead, the 49ers are trying to engineer their pass rush. Having all three of those players on the field certainly will be an improvement over 2007. But I'm not convinced it will be a dramatic improvement.
- Matt

Question: That is all very well and good about Kentwan Balmer looking like a quality defensive end early, but when are the Niners going to get serious about getting a one-gap mountain of a man-mover at defensive tackle? You know, the kind that occupies two blockers inside, collapses the pocket on passing downs, and gets penetration on running plays? When do they finally get that guy? That is the key to making the 3-4 work. I get tired of hearing that a Shaun Rodgers is available and the Niners are never in the running for this kind of player.
David, Antelope

Answer: Well, I thought that Mike Nolan's comments on draft day were very telling. In discussing Balmer and the possibility that he'll play NT, he essentially said that current starter Aubrayo Franklin wasn't a top-tier NT and that the team wanted to upgrade the position. If Balmer ends up as a defensive end, it seems like the 49ers will keep shopping. But don't look for them to acquire a 375-pound Jabba the Hutt who can't be displaced. The 49ers prefer linemen, including NTs, who can move.
- Matt

Question: The mystery receiver is Antonio Bryant!!! You can see his orange Ferrari double parked in the back lot.
Ray, Davis

Answer: Upon closer inspection, the mystery receiver was No. 89, Jason Hill. And Bryant drove an orange Lamborghini.
- Matt

Question: Matt, a non-football question. How are you holding up with the expected cuts from parent company McClatchy? Keep up the good work.
Jeff, Asheville, N.C.

Answer: Sometimes I feel like I'm selling horse and buggies ten years after the automobile has been invented.
- Matt

Question: Regarding Pruneda, it's said they can keep 9 players on the practice squad this year. Is that contingent on Pruneda being one of them? If he performs well enough to be promoted to the active roster (or if injuries force it), are the 49ers allowed to replace him to keep 9 on the squad?
Joel, St. Louis

Answer: Yes, the 49ers can have a nine-man practice squad as long as one of them is an international player. I assume that means that if he's boosted to the active roster, they have to drop back down to an eight-man squad. (If that's wrong, I'll let you know). It should be noted that Pruneda would be practice squad-worthy even if he wasn't an international player. He spent time last season on both the Eagles' and Chiefs' practice squads last season.
- Matt

Barry Sims will use the weekend to decide where he will play next season, and as predicted, his top choices are the 49ers and Rams. The Patriots, who are relatively rich at the tackle position, have dropped out of the running for Sims' services while the Ravens are in third place.

For Sims, the most important factor is playing time. He wants a chance to be able to compete for a starting job. Both the Rams and the 49ers have little depth at tackle. What may give the Rams a slight advantage is that their issue is at left tackle, which is Sims' natural position. Orlando Pace missed nearly all of last season and is now coming back from rotator cuff surgery. He's played in only nine games in the last two seasons.

San Francisco's issue - as any 49ers fan knows all too well - is the reliability of Jonas Jennings, who has yet to make it through a full season without missing a game due to injury. Jennings only recently recovered from offseason ankle surgery. Jennings, however, plays right tackle and Sims would rather play the left.

The Ravens also have depth issues, but they have two young tackles, Jared Gaither and Adam Terry, slated for the starting tackle positions.

Both the Rams and 49ers have made "solid" offers, according to Sims' agent. They are structured differently, but the total value is about the same. The decision, which is expected to come Monday, will boil down to where Sims feels he is needed the most.

-- Matt Barrows

The 49ers' OTA practices ended with a three-way tie for the starting quarterback job. Don't expect the same equality when training camp begins July 24. I say that for two reasons. 1.) Because Mike Martz's system is so complex and so reliant on timing between quarterbacks and receivers, the 49ers can't afford to split snaps in training camp and expect one of their quarterbacks to have a total grasp of the offense. 2.) Until this year Martz had never split snaps with his QBs. That arrangement turned out to be much better than he anticipated (read below) but it's was a major departure from Martz's normal operating procedure.

Were you impressed with how much information Shaun Hill and Alex Smith were able to absorb in OTAs?
Martz: "There's no question about that. Because they both have shared snaps. That's a tough thing to do and still learn the system and make terrific progress because you're always throwing to different receivers. It's my first experience with it. So going through this, it's been much better than I would have anticipated. And of course, they've handled it really well."

This was your first experience splitting quarterback snaps in the offseason?
"Yeah, it definitely was. Usually when you go into the season, you have an idea of who your starter is and you go. But this has been very good. And they've handled it well and so has the team. It's been very healthy and we got much done here from a personnel standpoint. Because I know where this team was three years ago. I really do. And what they've done here - the personnel people and Mike (Nolan) through his leadership - the kind of players that he's brought in here, on both sides of the ball and special teams, is why you win. Those are winners."

Do you have more of the offense installed than you would have predicted heading into the spring?
"Oh, there's no question about that. There's no question. Like I said, these guys are so much more professional than I suspected they would have been. They didn't fight it. They have to un-learn old systems and all those sorts of things. And they were really able to do that in short order. They picked it up very quickly. Young players in this league will always struggle with this information. That's expected. But the guys who have been around a year or two on up have really dealt with this very well."

Where do you go from here? Do you sit down with Mike Nolan and try to hammer out a pecking order for training camp?
"Yeah, I think that's the next order of business. We haven't discussed it really .... But we have plenty of time with that. That will come in short order. But we're good there, though. We're fine with that."

Do you have enough information to make that decision?
"I think so, yeah. I think so, sure."

I also asked Martz if he was as surprised as everyone else that the offense had done little - if any - work with "hot reads" in the past. Martz started installing hot reads during the last two weeks of OTAs.

"Well, I think with Norv they probably did do it but with a new quarterback, a rookie quarterback*, you have to be very careful. He's just happy to find the center at the line of scrimmage. There's so much going on with the rookie it's just unfair ....
*(Alex Smith was rookie in 2005. Norv Turner was OC in 2006)

So you put the blitz pick-up onus on the offensive line?
"Right. You really do. Then as time goes on, you teach him those things. Last year, I don't think Hos (Jim Hostler) - he's from a different background and they don't use those. So now that we're involved with all these hot throws and quick throws ... it was hard for them. It was hard for both of them. But they began to really excel at it. The last week or so, they really made huge strides in that area."

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Here's an Impressionist video example of a hot read. The QB is Shaun Hill. Can you figure out who the receiver is? (spoiler alert: I don't know the answer)

06172008041-001 from http://sparrow280.vox.com/

-- Matt Barrows

The 49ers didn't allow receiver Josh Morgan to leave town without signing a contract. The sixth-round pick from Virginia Tech signed a four-year deal this afternoon following the final day of OTA practices. With the exception of first-round pick Kentwan Balmer, all of the 49ers' draft picks are expected to sign four-year deals.

As I wrote before, Morgan looked good in the May minicamp and in recent practices, showing a nice combination of size and athleticism. As a senior with the Hokies, Morgan led the team with 46 receptions while averaging 12 yards per catch with five touchdowns. Arnaz Battle's absence early in OTAs and Isaac Bruce's absence late in OTAs allowed Morgan to get plenty of reptitions and he caught Mike Nolan's eye on multiple occassions.

-- Matt Barrows

I had an interesting interview with Mike Martz today, which I will be s ...t ...r ... e ....t ...c ...h ...i ...n ...g out over the next five weeks until training camp begins. I got a nice reaction out of Martz when I asked him about tight end Delanie Walker. Martz certainly was familiar with the team's main offensive weapons - Frank Gore, Isaac Bruce, Vernon Davis -- upon arriving in San Francisco. But he admits he knew little about Walker, a sixth-round pick in 2006. Here's what he had to say when asked about Walker:

"Wow. That's how I would say it. Wow. He has some real wow factor to him. He is such a professional and he works so hard at it. He's such a stickler for detail. You talk about some jets and some ability to run and eat up the field. Holy cow. I didn't know anything about Delanie until I got here. The last week or two, we put some things in just for him and he just really excelled."

Do you now go back and add plays after seeing certain offensive players in action over the last three weeks?

"No question. That final (offensive group) we get down to ... each one of those guys will have stuff for him in every game plan and certainly Delanie is a guy that you have to make sure you get him in there and put him in an environment where he can get a step on a safety or linebacker because he can win those battles."

Does he play the same position as Vernon Davis?

"Sometimes. He plays several positions. You can either put him where Vernon is and take Vernon out or put him in different positions. He's capable of several positions."

Of course, the team's previous offensive coordinators also have seen Walker's potential but have had mixed results as far as working him into the offense. Last year, Walker caught 21 passes for 174 yards. Twelve of those receptions and 116 of those yards came in the final four games of the season.

If there was an overall theme from Martz today it was that the 49ers have an abundance of offensive talent - they just need someone to put them in the right position to use that talent. The season depends on whether Martz can do that. It should be fun to watch....

-- Matt Barrows

Look for the four-way competition to land offensive tackle Barry Sims to come down to a intra-division battle between the 49ers and Rams. All four teams - the Patriots and the Ravens are the other two - could stand to boost their depth along the offensive line, but the Rams and 49ers appear to offer Sims the best chance at seeing playing time.

The Rams certainly have one of the greatest left tackles of all time in Orlando Pace. But Pace has played in only nine games in the last two seasons and suffered a season-ending injury in Week One last year. That injury proved to be a nasty harbinger for the Rams' offensive line, which lost one lineman after another in 2007. Pace is now recovering from off-season rotator cuff surgery, a tough injury for a tackle. On the other side of the line, the Rams have Alex Barron, but there is little depth beyond that. It should be noted that Sims can play on both the left and right side, but that he primarily was a left tackle while with the Raiders

The 49ers, meanwhile, have concerns on the right side of the line where oft-injured Jonas Jennings is the starter. Rookie Chilo Rachal is second on the depth chart there, but there is a belief inside the organization that his true position is guard and that he should be developed there. At this point, it is hard to imagine that Rachal, who last played tackle the summer before his freshman year at USC, would start there if Jennings became injured.

In Baltimore, Jonathan Ogden retired last week. But his heir apparent appears to be massive second-year player Jared Gaither, a supplemental draft acquisition last year. Adam Terry is manning the right side.

Aside from the Super Bowl, New England's offensive line held up well last year. Matt Light is on the left side while Nick Kaczur, Ryan O'Callaghan and Oliver Ross can play on the right side.

******
Thanks to Cecil Lammey and Sigmund Bloom for having me on their radio show yesterday. To listen to the podcast, click here.

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Athletes Against Autism is holding its annual golf tournament this weekend in Santa Barbara and several current and former NFLers with Bay Area ties will be taking part including Tom Flores, Ryan Nece (current Tampa Bay lb; Ronnie Lott's son), and former 49ers Chris Hetherington and Travis Hall. My money's on Hetherington, whose father owns a golf course in Connecticut.

-- Matt Barrows.

Both Alex Smith and Shaun Hill ran the two-minute offense today in practice and the outcome was, well, what you'd expect from two passers still learning Mike Martz's complex offense. Working with the first unit, Smith's passes were invariably nice, tight spirals and he attempted several passes deep downfield. But some of the passes were thrown too late and were behind his receivers. Smith's main target was receiver Bryant Johnson. He connected with Johnson on his first two attempts. But his final attempt to Johnson in the end zone was picked off by safety Keith Lewis. The following clip is of Smith in the two-minute drill. It's hard to see, but his pass actually gets picked off by secondary coach Johnnie Lynn, who, after all, is a former safety. Mental note: Full zoom makes the images look like they're something out of an Impressionist painting. That's Manet-to-Manet coverage they're using

06172008042-001 from http://sparrow280.vox.com/

Hill, meanwhile, looked just like he does when he enters games. Working with second- and third-team players, the offenses seemed to be more in-sync. But his passes didn't have Smith's zip and he often settled on dump-offs to running back Michael Robinson. Hill's first three attempts, in fact, were to Robinson (two completions; one dropped pass.). Hill did hit receiver Robert Jordan on a pass across the middle, but his floater in the end zone to receiver Dominique Zeigler was intercepted by rookie safety D.J. Parker (who has looked good, by the way).

As far as deciding which of these players will have the edge in training camp ... well, the 49ers are still deciding. Mike Nolan said that he will get together with Martz and Ted Tollner after OTAs end on Thursday and begin laying the groundwork for training camp. "I wouldn't even go there now," Nolan said when asked who was winning the quarterback competition. In discussing Smith, for instance, Nolan said that Martz's offense forced Smith to pick up blitzes more quickly and to throw to the hot receiver. Hot reads were a big topic of conversation today and it's an area where Nolan's seen progress since last month's minicamp.

Will J.T. O'Sullivan get worked into the starting quarterback competition? O'Sullivan received scant work in team drills throughout OTAs, but Nolan continues to say good things about him. Nolan said that he was convinced he has three quarterbacks on the roster "who can win a game for us." He also said O'Sullivan was "probably as competitive as anyone we've had around here from an individual personality standpoint." Still, it's hard to see O'Sullivan getting more reps when training camp begins. The bottom line is that Martz's offense is so complicated and so dependent on synchronization between the quarterback and the receivers that can't be a split competition for too long.

********
Right tackle Chilo Rachal and Kentwan Balmer were matched against each other during much of the two-minute drills. It's hard to give an accurate evaluation when linemen don't have their pads on, but Balmer seemed to get around the outside of Rachal with ease on a couple of plays.

*****UPDATE*******
The 49ers claimed former USC defensive tackle LaJuan Ramsey off of waivers today. The Eagles drafted Ramsay in the sixth round in 2006 but cut him last week. He played in six games as a rookie and nine games last season.

*******
Tackle Ramiro Pruneda will join the team in training camp as part of the league's international practice squad program. Pruneda (6-6, 317) led Monterrey Tech to four Mexican national championships and merits consideration despite his international roots. He went to training camp with the Chiefs last year and spent the season on the Chiefs' and Eagles' practice squads. With Pruneda, the 49ers will be allowed to keep nine players on their practice squad this year.

-- Matt Barrows

Sorry about the brief absence. I flew down to L.A. Sunday to celebrate my soon-to-be 5-year-old nephew's birthday at Disneyland. Love the little guy, and his infatuation with Star Wars brings a tear to my eye. But I wish he had been born in, oh, February. Mid June isn't the best month to battle mouse-eared crowds for a spot on the Nemo ride. Very hot and wall-to-wall kids. In fact, the experience prompted me to schedule an emergency vasectomy for the morning ...

On the plane ride down I bumped into former 49er, Matt Willig. After chatting for a while, Willig handed me a business card with his likeness on it. It says, "Matthew Willig, Overall Badass." Ah, but he's a badass with a brain. Willig has parlayed a mean-looking exterior into a nice acting career. He started out in commercials (You may remember him from the Capital One commercials w/ David Spade) has done some TV and recently wrapped up a feature film called "Year One." It stars Jack Black, is set in biblical times and, of course, is a comedy. The fact that Judd Apatow ("40-year-old Virgin," "Knocked Up") is involved makes me think it just might make some money when it's released.

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Here's my Sunday story on first-round draft pick Kentwan Balmer. The great thing about blogs is that you can include details that didn't make it into the story. As far as the Balmer piece, the one striking think I had to omit was his dad's obsession with the 49ers. You may have read that Charles Balmer was wearing a 49ers hat on the day his son was drafted. You may have also read he was a big fan of Joe Montana. But Charles Balmer was a fan of Montana when Montana first joined the 49ers in 1979 (they were 2-14) not when the 49ers won their first Super Bowl in January 1982. Which means that Charles Balmer is no fair-weather follower. The part of North Carolina where the Balmers live is die-hard Redskins country, so Charles Balmer received plenty of flak for his allegiance. When the 49ers ended up drafting his son, Charles said it was almost spooky, as if he's had a premonition way back when. Said his nephew Shaun Stevenson: "The look on his dad's face was more priceless than the look on Kentwan's."

*******
I'm not going to pretend I did a lot (or any) legwork on the Barry Sims front today. I do know, however, that the 49ers are still battling three other teams - The Patriots, Rams and Ravens - for his services.

******
Check in tomorrow for news and notes from the 49ers' final open-to-the-media OTA ....
-- Matt Barrows

Question 1: The difference between Marshall Faulk and Frank Gore is, in the passing game, linebackers were overmatched by Faulk, forcing the defense to either play zone, or to try to cover him with a safety, leaving the corners exposed. I'm not certain Gore can create such mismatches; however, if used creatively, Vernon Davis has Faulk-like potential to cause headaches for def