After a brief hiatus - sorry, was traveling - we wrap up the defense with the remainder of the cornerbacks ...
- Marcus Hudson. 6-2, 200. For the last two seasons, Donald Strickland played a valuable role for the 49ers. He was a trusted member of the secondary, who was not afraid to throw his body around at the line of scrimmage. Because he was part cornerback, part safety, Mike Nolan loved to use Strickland in his quick-changing defensive schemes. The 49ers said goodbye to Strickland in the offseason. Who will replace him? A good candidate seems to be Hudson. He hasn't been the greatest cover cornerback in three seasons. In fact, he allowed a long touchdown the first time he ever stepped on the field and he is another one of the is-he-a-corner-or-safety-type guys the 49ers seem to accumulate.
Hudson's best attributes are is size and his physicality. He is also a top candidate to replace Keith Lewis as the team's designated special teams ace. (Along with Michael Robinson and Jeff Ulbrich, they make a nice special teams triumvirate). As was the case last season, Hudson promises to be on the bubble when the final cuts are made in late August/early September. His special teams prowess, however, gives him an edge. - Shawntae Spencer. 6-1, 190. The other day, someone on this site commented that Spencer could be a surprise contender for the No. 3 cornerback spot. Indeed, if Reggie Smith is the Invisible Man on the 49ers' roster, Spencer is the Forgotten Man. He went down with an ACL injury last season after two games and he hasn't been on the field since. He is expected to be ready for the 49ers' first training-camp practice Aug. 1. Forgotten is the fact that Spencer has started 40 games, and at age 27, he is in the prime of his career.
Spencer definitely is an odd duck. One story you've likely heard before happened during the summer of his rookie season. After Dennis Erickson lavished praise on him following a training-camp practice, Spencer remarked to reporters, "I don't know what everybody else is watching. I mean, I'm making way too many mistakes. I'm going through those growing pains just like everyone else. It's a long, tough process to make this jump from college to pro ball." That is, Specer doesn't ooze bravado like some cornerbacks. Spencer's supposed weakness early in his career was that he wasn't physical enough against the run. He's certainly a little light in the fanny, but he has made a concerted effort to be better in run support. The bottom line is that you can never be too rich, too good-looking or have too many cornerbacks. Spencer is another experienced veteran who almost certainly will be called upon this season.
- Terrail Lambert (5-11, 195), Carlos Thomas (5-11, 197), Jahi Word-Daniels (6-0, 194). You don't expect an undrafted rookie cornerback to step out in spring practices, and these three met expectations. The 49ers will look for one or two to step forward in training camp, but don't go buying their replica jerseys just yet.
-- Matt Barrows
