Perhaps the fact that Shawntae Spencer, not Nate Clements, mostly covered receiver Andre Johnson last week in Houston was a sign that Clements had lost some ground with the coaching staff. Now with Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts coming up, Clements isn't one of the starting cornerbacks. Instead the starters will be Spencer -- who likely will see a lot of Reggie Wayne -- and Tarell Brown, who this week signed a contract extension that will make him a 49er until 2013. The Chron first reported this switch in this morning's paper.
It's not known whether Clements will be the slot cornerback. If he is, he could end up seeing just about as much time as the starters. I'm hearing that the move is personnel-based -- that the coaching staff feels the Spencer-Brown duo matches up well against the Indianapolis receivers, most of whom are smaller, quicker guys.
Clements is a good match on bigger, more physical receivers such as the Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald. That makes me wonder if he will be assigned to cover the Colts' Dallas Clark, a tight end who has been as prolific as a receiver this season. Brown, who was hurt in training camp, had been the No. 4 cornerback to start the season. That he is starting also means that he has leap-frogged Dre Bly for this game at least.
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Here is the contract status of the 49ers' cornerbacks. Obviously, the 49ers see Brown and Spencer as part of their future cornerbacks corps. Clements likely is part of that corps, although his salary will make a big jump next season.
Dre Bly - signed through 2009
Tarell Brown - signed through 2013
Nate Clements - signed through 2013
Walt Harris - signed through 2009
Marcus Hudson - signed through 2009
Shawntae Spencer -- signed through 2012
-- Matt Barrows
