When Tarell Brown was at the University of Texas, the Longhorns had one simple rule: Never ever hit Vince Young. So on Sunday, Brown will get a chance to do what few Texas defenders ever have done.
"I think it will be fun," Brown said. "Especially a guy I played with for three years. I have a lot of respect for him. He's been an amazing player his whole life."
Several 49ers are friendly with Young, who will be making only his second start of the season against the 49ers. Brown considers him a good friend while fullback Moran Norris and safety Michael Lewis are both from Young's home town of Houston. In fact, Norris and Young both went to James Madison High School in Houston (Uninteresting side note: I went to James Madison High School in Vienna, Va.)
"We're friends off the field, but once we get on the field there ain't no more friends," Brown said. "At the end of the day, I'd love to see him do a good job. I've always had the utmost respect for Vince ... but once we step on the field it's all business."
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With Joe Staley out six weeks with a knee sprain, Barry Sims will line up at left tackle while Adam Snyder will work the right side. Sims today said he was far more comfortable on the left side than the right, where he started eight games last season. Meanwhile, newcomer Chris Patrick will be the back up at both left and right tackle. Patrick said he played on both the left and right sides at Nebraska and also has played both positions in preseason. He has not played in a regular-season game.
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With Demetric Evans (shoulder) out for three weeks, Singletary said rookie Ricky Jean-Francois would be active this week. Singletary also said there was a chance that promising young safety Reggie Smith could be active for the first time since suffering a groin injury early this season.
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Brandon Jones said his role this week would be the same as it was a week ago. That is, he'll handle some punt returns and also back up Michael Crabtree at "x" receiver. Jones was in for exactly one offensive play in Indianapolis.
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Vernon Davis said today that he's rarely been used as a blocker this season, something that's frustrated him to no end in previous seasons. It'll be interesting to see if that trend continues now that the 49ers have back-ups at both tackle positions.
-- Matt Barrows
