49ers Blog and Q&A

The 49ers made a move at outside linebacker today, bumping rookie Diyral Briggs to the active roster and releasing veteran linebacker Marques Harris. Briggs had an outstanding preseason finale in San Diego earlier this year, which briefly won him a roster spot before he was placed on the practice squad. Harris, meanwhile, was familiar to defensive coordinator Greg Manusky from their time together in San Diego. But he's been struggling with a hamstring injury and couldn't get healthy ...

Meanwhile, right tackle Tony Pashos will be placed on IR with a broken scapula. The team signed Chris Patrick from the Chiefs' practice squad to replace him. That means that either Adam Snyder or Barry Sims or Patrick, a former Nebraska Cornhusker, could step in as the new RT. I'm guessing it will be Snyder ...

Patrick was signed as an undrafted FA by the Giants in 2007. He also had a cup of coffee with the 49ers last year in training camp ... Here's what NFLDraftScout had to say about Patrick heading into the 2007 draft:

• Positives: Has a lean, yet developing frame with long arms, good bubble and thick thighs and calves...Can add at least another twenty pounds of bulk without the additional weight affecting his overall quickness...Possesses wide hips, broad shoulders and good chest thickness...Has the lateral agility to mirror and sustain blocks, playing with a consistent effort...Self-starter who takes a good business-like approach to the game...Smart athlete with good field vision...Has the functional quickness to gain position and slide in pass protection, but needs to show better explosion off the snap...Plays on his feet, showing the balance and body control needed to get out in front on traps and pulls...Has a good work ethic in practices and the training room...Has adequate flexibility when attempting to knee bend and anchor...More comfortable gaining position and getting to his reach point in pass protection than when asked to widen the rush lane...Uses his upper body power efficiently to steer and sustain, doing a nice job of staying on his feet when moving into the second level.



• Doesn't fire out of his stance with suddenness, but he is able to make adjustments down field and takes proper angles to neutralize the linebackers...Plays with better awareness in pass protection, as he keeps his hands active and shows the balance to slide out and mirror edge rushers while also demonstrating good body control in his anchor...One of the things you notice on film is his hand activity, as he consistently gets good placement and extension, doing a nice job of combating counter moves...Could be more quicker in his change of direction agility, but is functional enough to re-adjust when having to block in-line...Has the field alertness to pick up twists and games...Has the long arms needed to extend, get placement and maintain position...Once he gets his hands on an opponent's jersey, he is quick to lock on and finish.



• Negatives: Shows patience in his pass set, but must generate more explosion off the snap for the running game...Lacks lower body suddenness, but has the strength to gain movement off the snap...Needs to open his hips quicker when trying to wall off, but has the hand strength to lock out and control defenders...Adequate getting down the line of scrimmage, but needs to be more fluid adjusting in space...Has active hands, but some-times gets too reliant on his hand punch in attempts to sustain...Slides his feet well to neutralize edge rushers, but his feet look a little heavy at times when having to execute an inside move (functional, but lacks suddenness)...Not a great hip roller, but has the strength to compensate when trying to generate movement...Must learn to use his size better in attempts to widen the rush lane...Plays with good toughness, but you would like to see more aggression in his play...Gets a little high in his stance at times and needs to improve his flexibility in attempts to drop his hips (must sit down more rather than play at a high pad level)...Stays on his feet, but is prone to over-extending when he gets his base too narrow.
• Compares To: JOHN WELBOURN-Kansas City...Like Welbourn, Patrick is a lunch-pail type that will give a consistent, but not a great performance on the field. He is not a mauler or aggressive blocker, but does show decent short pull area quickness and very active hands. He lacks the "sand in his pants" to block in-line in one-on-one situations, but might eventually grow into that role as a trap blocking guard rather than a left tackle. He has a strong hand punch with good extension to control, doing a nice job of sliding in pass protection, but needs to play at a lower pad level. He can seal or get out and make second level blocks, but must work on improving his flexibility, as he looks a little too stiff in his hips when changing direction. Late in the supplemental draft, he might be worth a look, but he might not be much more than a player who can provide depth, as he is not ready to produce quality minutes as a starter at this point in his career.

-- Matt Barrows