Draft Review

The 49ers selected players at many of their needs. But did they select the right players?

It's highly likely that the people who assign grades based on their own rankings and knee-jerk reactions will not assign a gold star to the 49ers' draft class.

But the only thing that matters is how the players perform, and if those selected are able to contribute to a rise in the 49ers' win totals over the next few seasons. So until those returns come in, it's just the 49ers' opinion vs. everyone else's.

OLB Aldon Smith Missouri (6-5, 260)

First round, No. 7 overall

He impressed the 49ers with his willingness to return after three weeks to play with a fractured fibula. He's young, having just turned 21, and still developing his pass-rush technique. He mostly played defensive end in college, so it's a projection to think he can be effective in the transition to outside linebacker, where he's slated to replace Manny Lawson. If he struggles with the new position, he should still be able to get on the field immediately on third downs when he'll line up at defensive end to get after the quarterback.



QB Colin Kaepernick Nevada (6-4 5/8; 230)

Second round, No. 36 overall

Yes, he's a project. But, as Harbaugh pointed out, all young quarterbacks are projects. Kaepernick comes from Nevada's "Pistol" offense and will have to learn how to take snaps under center and get out of the mindset of using his legs as much as his throwing arm. Harbaugh says Alex Smith is the favorite to be the 49ers' starting quarterback this season -- now that Smith has convinced Harbaugh that he'll re-sign once the NFL opens the door to free agency. Harbaugh has given Smith a copy of the new 49ers playbook. "There's some trust there," Harbaugh said.

CB Chris Culliver South Carolina (6-0 3/8; 199)

Third round, No. 80 overall

The 49ers began a run of cornerbacks in the middle of the third round. Within the next 10 pick, cornerbacks DeMarcus Van Dyke (Miami), Johnny Patrick (Louisville), Shareece Wright (USC) and Curtis Marsh (Utah State) went off the board. The 49ers drafted Culliver as a cornerback, where he played as a senior. He has experience at safety and has kick-return skills, too. Culliver adds speed and athleticism to the secondary. But is he a better option as a 2011 starter than veterans Nate Clements or Shawntae Spencer?

RB Kendall Hunter Oklahoma State (5-7 1/4, 199)

Fourth round, No. 115 overall

The 49ers brought in Hunter for a visit several weeks before the draft to gauge his ability to learn and adapt to an NFL offense. Obviously, Hunter left a strong enough impression. The club added the exciting runner as a player who should be able to take at least a handful of carries every game away from workhorse Frank Gore. Of the 10 players the 49ers selected in this draft, Hunter might be in line to have the greatest immediate production. His first task is to wrestle the backup job away from Anthony Dixon.

C-G Daniel Kilgore Appalachian State (6-3, 308)

Fifth round, No. 163 overall

The 49ers are set at both tackle positions and left guard. But there is uncertainty at center and right guard. Center David Baas is a free agent, and Eric Heitmann's future is in doubt after missing last season with a neck injury. Right guard Chilo Rachal has been inconsistent. The 49ers were high enough on Kilgore that they traded up 11 spots into the end of the fifth round to select him. Kilgore played both guard and tackle spots in college. He played center in a spread offense in high school. He also lined up there in the Texas vs. Nation All-Star Game.

WR Ronald Johnson USC (5-10 3/4, 185)

Sixth round, No. 182 overall

The 49ers selected slot receiver/return man Kyle Williams in the sixth round last year. In Johnson, the 49ers got a similar player in about the same draft spot. Johnson got a glowing recommendation from 49ers receivers coach John Morton, who worked with Johnson the past four seasons as a USC position coach. "My ears and Trent's ears really perk up when you hear that," Harbaugh said. "The guy loves the game, loves practice. That's the best hours of his day is when he's out there on the practice field. Those things when they're coming from the position coach, and he's so passionate about it, that's the thing that really gets your attention." Michael Crabtree and Josh Morgan are secure as the starters. Johnson will compete with Ted Ginn, Williams and Dominique Zeigler to get onto the field.

S Colin Jones TCU (5-11 1/2, 201)

Sixth round, No. 190 overall

Interestingly, Jones' best college game came on the biggest stage, when he put together a strong all-around performance against Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl. Harbaugh was at TCU's pro day and chatting with quarterback Andy Dalton when Jones ran a great time in the 40. Dalton identified Jones for Harbaugh, who immediately took notice. "There's a guy," Harbaugh said, "that I cannot wait to watch him run down on a kickoff, full throttle, running his 4.3 with his mindset to get from point A to Point B and go hit somebody."

FB Bruce Miller Central Florida (6-1 5/8, 248)

Seventh round, No. 211 overall

This was the most curious pick of the 49ers' draft. At the combine, Miller was talking to 49ers linebackers coach Jim Leavitt. But in the days leading up to the draft, running backs coach Tom Rathman received the handoff. Miller was the Conference-USA defensive player of the year while recording 8.5 sacks as a defensive end. (That's three more sacks than Aldon Smith recorded during his injury-plagued final season.) The 49ers have Miller slated to be a fullback. But he's a guy Harbaugh said he just wanted on his team, period. "It's like a blinking light, 'I'm a football player, I'm a football player.'" Harbaugh said. "He may also be a pass rusher too. So, we're not closing the door on any options with that youngster. I think he is a football player."

C-G Mike Person Montana State (6-4 1/2, 299)

Seventh round, No. 239 overall

Person is in the same mold as Kilgore, whom the 49ers selected two rounds earlier. Both Person and Kilgore played left tackle during their senior seasons. "So, we looked at those guys, both Person and Kilgore, as guys that played the most difficult position on the offensive line," Baalke said. "(Both) had the athletic traits that we were looking for -- the toughness, the intelligence to develop and move inside." It was quite a day for Person. Later Saturday, he was named the winner of the Little Sullivan Award, as the outstanding amateur male athlete in the state of Montana.

CB Curtis Holcomb Florida A&M (5-10, 192)

Seventh round, No. 250 overall

The 49ers selected their second cornerback with their final pick. Holcomb was extremely grateful the 49ers and, specifically, defensive backs coach Ed Donatell, would take a chance on a small-college player. Holcomb was a starter throughout his college career with 12 interceptions. "I played on three out of four special teams," Holcomb said. "I'm a cornerback, a special-teams guy, an overall complete football player."

49ers QB Smith given playbook; coach expects him to return

By Matthew Barrows - mbarrows@sacbee.com

Published: Sunday, May. 1, 2011 - 12:00 am
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SANTA CLARA – Coach Jim Harbaugh has said he wants, even expects, quarterback Alex Smith to return to the 49ers every time he has been asked in recent weeks, and he stuck to that theme Saturday.

"I strongly feel that Alex is going to come back here," he said.

But perhaps the coach's actions speak louder than his words. Harbaugh also said he has given Smith the team's offensive playbook even though Smith, a free agent, isn't on the team. In normal circumstances, coaches don't let their playbooks off the premises for fear of them falling into enemy hands. Giving one to a player who might wind up on another team is unheard of. All of which points strongly to Smith returning for his seventh season. Smith has a standing, one-year offer from the 49ers.

"He has not signed," Harbaugh said. "There's a leap of faith there."

On Friday, teams had a short window to meet with veteran players before the lockout was temporarily reinstated. Harbaugh said he met with Smith for 30 to 40 minutes, mostly to catch up on family matters. Smith and his wife, Elizabeth, are expecting their first baby any day, which is another reason to think Smith will remain with the 49ers. Smith has not returned several calls seeking comment. Having the playbook would allow Smith to orchestrate workouts if the lockout drags on during the offseason. Smith has been part of a group of a dozen or so 49ers who have been training together in the San Jose area.

On Friday, Harbaugh said second-round draft pick Colin Kaepernick would have a chance to compete for the starting quarterback job. But Saturday, Harbaugh gave the edge to Smith in a hypothetical competition.

"Alex is definitely going to have the head start," Harbaugh said. "He's played in the NFL. … If I'm a betting man, I'm betting on Alex Smith."

Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/01/3592416/49ers-qb-smith-given-playbook.html#ixzz1L8RFNtVW

QB Smith gives a winning effort in losing cause

From John Crumpacker, the San Francisco Chronicle

Since becoming the 49ers' No. 1 quarterback once again 6 1/2 games ago, the only thing Alex Smith has not done is win, at least not consistently. In six starts, he's 2-4, the latest being Sunday's 20-17 loss to Seattle.
The way the game unfolded, Smith's first career 300-yard passing game was wasted, through no fault of his own. In fact, he showed leadership on two drives in the fourth quarter that were undermined by a fumble and two dropped passes.

Frank Gore's fumble early in the period thwarted what had been a promising drive. Until Gore extended the ball trying to get another yard at the Seattle 22, it looked as if the 49ers were going to drive 98 yards for a go-ahead touchdown. "I was feeling great about it," Smith said. "You're already in field-goal position, so you're thinking that you have points to take the lead."

Instead, nothing.

On the next drive in the final period, Smith threw twice into the end zone, but Vernon Davis and Michael Crabtree could not make the catches. Davis had his hands on the ball but could not secure it. The throw to Crabtree was hurried and he was not in position to make the play.

"It would have been a great play if he'd made it," Smith said of the throw to Davis, who did not look for the ball soon enough.

"I saw it at the last minute," Davis said. "I didn't know who he was throwing it to. I just wish I had looked earlier to see the ball." Smith's day - with 39 of 58 plays spent in shotgun formation - included 45 attempts and 27 completions, for 310 yards and two touchdowns, with no interceptions. He said reaching the 300-yard mark in passing for the first time was "irrelevant" because it did not result in a victory.

49ers lose 20-17 at Seattle

The 49ers blew it Sunday and didn’t bother trying to say otherwise. They dropped passes, fumbled a key possession and made questionable strategic decisions. More than the ball went through the 49ers’ hands: Their playoff hopes probably slipped away, too. When Olindo Mare hit a field goal as time expired to give the Seattle Seahawks a 20-17 victory, it felt like a kick to the gut. The defeat torpedoes what was supposed to be a pivotal NFC matchup against Arizona next week. There is no way the 49ers (5-7) can catch the Cardinals on Monday and it grows increasingly unlikely that they can catch them at all.

What was the game? Pick just about anything from the 49ers’ scrapheap of errors.

On their first drive of the fourth quarter, for example, running back Frank Gore’s fumble swung the tide. The 49ers were barreling down field toward a go-ahead score, having moved 73 yards in just five plays, before safety Jordan Babineaux knocked the ball from Gore’s arms with a solid right hook. Josh Wilson recovered the ball at the Seattle 26 and ran it back 43 yards. That set up Mare’s field goal that gave Seattle a 17-14 lead. The 49ers had 5:30 left to turn things around.
Smith did his part. He moved the team quickly into field goal range as part of his first-career 300-yard passing day. (Smith finished 27 of 45 for 310 yards). But the drive conked out at the Seattle 16, even though Smith twice hit receivers with potential touchdown passes.

Tight end Vernon Davis dropped the first one, failing to make a leaping grab between two defenders in the end zone. “I couldn’t see it until the last minute,’’ said Davis, who had 111 receiving yards and a touchdown. Michael Crabtree dropped the second one, a pass into tight coverage at the goal line. Smith and Crabtree each said the play was rushed because of pressure on the quarterback. It was designed to be a throw to the back of the end zone. Still, the drive got the 49ers close enough to tie the score 17-17 when Joe Nedney nailed a 34-yard field goal with 2:57 to play.

All that served only to set the stage for the 49ers’ final heartbreak. After a defensive stop, the 49ers’ got the ball at their 11 with 51 seconds to play. Rather than play it safe and take their chances in overtime, the 49ers concluded there was enough time to score. Even on third-and-3, the 49ers were in a gambling mood. They took deep shot downfield to receiver Josh Morgan. But instead of hitting it big, they went bust: an incomplete stopped the clock and forced the 49ers to punt.

Seattle got the ball back at about midfield with 21 seconds to play and two timeouts left. That proved plenty of time for quarterback Matt Hasselbeck to spot a receiver racing down the right sideline. Butler, a rookie from Penn State, caught the ball in stride for just his eight reception this season.

The 49ers should be so lucky. They did not do their jobs on every play, and now they might spend a seventh consecutive offseason watching the playoffs on TV and wondering where things went wrong.

Two 49ers players reached milestones Sunday. Not that either of them cared. Vernon Davis broke the franchise single-season record for tight ends by catching his 10th touchdown pass of the season. His milestone 33-yard crab came on a fourth-and-1 with 6:16 to play in the first quarter. It broke the mark Davis shared with Ted Kwalick (1972) and Brent Jones (1994). Davis set a new career-high with 111 yards receiving. This marks his third 100-yard game, tying him with the Chargers’ Antonio Gates for most by an NFL tight end this season.

Alex Smith, like Davis, had an understated reaction to a personal milestone. He had the first 300-yard passing game of his career. Smith’s previous career high was 293 yards against Philadelphia on Sept. 24, 2006. Against the Seahawks, Smith completed 27 of 45 passes for 310 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Far from a wanted milestone, Frank Gore lost a fumble for the first time since Nov. 30, 2008 at Buffalo. It was a bad time. The 49ers were poised for a go-ahead score in the fourth quarter when safety Jordan Babineaux knocked the ball loose from behind. Gore, who rushed for 207 yards in his last meeting against Seattle, had just nine carries for 25 yards.

In retrospect, however, it all might be a moot point as Arizona took care of business Sunday night against the Vikings, meaning next week's Monday Nighter wouldn't have been for the division lead even if the 49ers had pulled it out. They aren't dead yet, but the hole in the ground is dug and the coffin in open, just waiting on shovels...

Gore running for a record

By Daniel Brown, Mercury News

After his most extensive practice in weeks, 49ers running back Frank Gore looks ready to make a run at an unprecedented milestone. Gore updated his status to "probable" on the injury report after he ran hard and changed directions in team drills. He needs 22 yards in the season finale Sunday to become the first 49er to amass 1,000 rushing yards in three consecutive seasons.
"He's looking good," Coach Mike Singletary said. "He did a nice job today when he carried the ball. He ran well and he cut well. It was nice to see." Gore suffered a sprained ankle against the New York Jets on Dec. 7, and was sidelined the past two games. Singletary cautioned, however, that the personal milestone would not play a role in deciding whether Gore would face the Washington Redskins at Candlestick Park. The coach's concern is that Gore, compensating for the ankle, could suffer a more serious injury.

"I don't want him to reinjure anything trying to get 1,000 yards," Singletary said. "Hopefully he can do it, but if he can't, I want him to be smart and look at the longevity of the decision." The game could be Gore's last in Mike Martz's offense. The Sacramento Bee reported this week that Singletary met with 49ers officials and made progress toward a multiyear contract extension. The paper said that under the current plan, defensive coordinator Greg Manusky would be back, but Martz would not return.
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49ers shouldn't rush to make Singletary permanent coach

By LOWELL COHN, The Press Democrat

You can make this assumption. The 49ers did not expect Mike Singletary to do this well — and he’s been brilliant, so brilliant it’s being reported the team will offer him the real, full-time head-coaching job after Sunday's season finale.

When they appointed him, Niner management was looking for a mop-up coach, someone to see this season through and then, goodbye, Mike. After that, the team could get on with the serious business of finding a full-time head coach, feeling it generously had given Singletary a chance to experience coaching, a chance to showcase himself around the league. All in all a fair quid pro quo. Singletary was wrong for the job in every way. He had no head-coaching experience. He didn’t know enough technical football — that X’s and O’s stuff. He was a novice when it came to offense, and he was coaching the 49ers, a team known for offensive innovation — well, the Niners used to be known for that. After they kissed off Singletary, Niner leadership would launch a search for a young, eager offensive whiz, an energetic guy who would make the offense zing. And this new coach never would be dependent on whether the offensive coordinator left for a better gig. In other words, the 49ers were thinking about long-term stability and Singletary was not part of that thinking.

And now he’s had the bad manners to win four of eight games when it seemed no one could do that. He’s had the effrontery to louse up the 49ers’ careful plans. Last Sunday, he had the flat-out nerve to win when it seemed the team was ready for a fall in St. Louis. A loss might have done him in. But he won and it had something to do with looking into Shaun Hill’s eyes, one of those deep looks Singletary gives you — it feels like he’s peering into your soul. Which leads to an important question: Is it smart for the Niners to appoint Singletary coach — if they in fact do that?

The answer is, no, absolutely not.

No disrespect to Singletary. He’s given the 49ers players and fans a feeling of pride and competence they haven’t experienced in years. But Singletary’s eligibility for the real job — not the mop-up job — depends on more than four or five wins. He disagrees with this point of view and apparently management disagrees, but they are wrong. All along Singletary needed to show management he had a plan going forward. He allegedly did this last Monday and knocked everyone’s socks off. Really? Who in the 49ers’ chain of command is competent to evaluate a plan, including the intimate details of offense and defense and the ability of new assistant coaches? This goes double for an offensive coordinator because the team surely will dump Mike Martz. Certainly John and Jed York can’t do that kind of evaluating. We’ve seen John York’s football acumen in the past. Jed York is too inexperienced. In fact, the Niners are short on football guys making important football decisions with repercussions for years to come.

General manager Scot McCloughan is probably the leader in the hiring of Singletary and he may or may not be up to this serious task. It’s unclear. It’s pretty clear eight games changed his mind because I don’t believe he was a Singletary supporter when Mike Nolan got the heave-ho. The 49ers should take their time, take a deep breath before taking this leap. They have made so many mistakes hiring coaches in the past. Does this mean hiring Singletary is a mistake? Not necessarily. But it is one thing for him to salvage this season, sort of. It’s quite another to be in charge for the long haul. A head coach is part administrator, part teacher, part visionary. Singletary needs to prove he has this combination, and he has to prove it under fire. What’s does under fire mean? It means the 49ers should interview him along with other impressive candidates. Sure, they should identify Singletary as the leading candidate — he’s earned that — but they need to interview several men and Singletary needs to demonstrate his clear superiority in the tension of competitive interviews.

If this does not seem fair to you, think about this. Fans of the 49ers have ripped management for not being professional, for not being big-league. If the Niners latch onto Singletary, hold on for dear life, that would be another symptom of not being professional, of not doing the necessary work. Of course, there’s the issue of being fair to Singletary. But there’s the much greater issue of being fair to the franchise. It’s troubling this news about Singletary is coming out before the 49ers play their final game, against Washington on Sunday. What if Washington absolutely destroys the 49ers at Candlestick? That would look bad for the perhaps soon-to-be coach. His team will have played poorly two games in a row — and the Niners did play poorly against the Rams until they played well at the very end. Two bad performances should go down as a demerit.

Look, I don’t expect the Niners to play poorly. They may even win. I’m merely making a case for caution and I’m asking a reasonable question: What’s the big hurry?

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Rams might miss Bruce even more today

From Matt Barrows, Sacramento Bee

ST. LOUIS – With 60 receiving yards today, Isaac Bruce will surpass Tim Brown (14,935 yards) and take over second place among NFL leaders. With Jerry Rice comfortably in the lead with 22,895 yards, that would leave two 49ers in the top slots. Of course, Rams fans might not see it that way. Bruce, after all, goes so far back with the franchise that he played a season for the Rams in Los Angeles. The taciturn Bruce characteristically made light of his place on the career receiving yardage list in an interview last week. But he admitted that returning to St. Louis, where he still has a home, will be memorable. "It means a lot," he said. "We've shared some things – ups, downs, in-betweens. It's special." Offensive coordinator Mike Martz provided some context.

Martz was Bruce's receivers coach in St. Louis in the mid-1990s and later returned to the Rams as their offensive coordinator and head coach. He said that Bruce always will be revered in St. Louis because for years he was the organization's lone bright spot. "He kind of represented St. Louis for many years," Martz said. "When we weren't doing well, he was kind of our featured player in the mid-'90s. … He played in the first game that was played in that stadium (the current Edward Jones Dome), so there's attachment, I'm sure, for Isaac in St. Louis, too." And while moving ahead of Brown is no big deal for Bruce, his teammates are taking it very seriously.

"It would be an unbelievable honor to be on the field with him at that time and be able to witness that," quarterback Shaun Hill said. "I know if you ask Isaac about it, he'll probably downplay it and all of those things. But that's an unbelievable honor, and hopefully we can get him to that." Bruce, who is in his 15th season, hasn't been as prolific in San Francisco as he was during his heyday in St. Louis, where he once went four consecutive seasons with more than 1,000 receiving yards. But his numbers aren't too shabby as a 49er, either. Bruce leads his team in receptions and yards, and he has developed a quick rapport with Hill, who took over at quarterback at midseason. Half of Bruce's 52 receptions have come in the past four games, in which he has averaged 83.3 receiving yards.

That's why 60 yards doesn't seem so farfetched, especially against a Rams pass defense that ranks 24th in the league. Brown, meanwhile, isn't broken up about being knocked into bronze-medal position. In fact, he hadn't been keeping track of the totals. "I knew somebody would overtake me," he said in a brief telephone conversation. "When you look at some of the systems nowadays, if you play long enough, you know you're going to get the yards." Which begs the question: How long does Bruce, 36, plan to play? "If the Lord says, 'Isaac, that's enough football,' I'll stop tomorrow," Bruce said. "If the Niners have me back, then I'll make a decision."
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Smith wants to stay with the Niners

From the Associated Press

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Alex Smith believes he isn't finished with the San Francisco 49ers, and he seems willing to take a big pay cut to prove it. After two months of silence on his future, the former No. 1 draft pick expressed his eagerness Wednesday to stay with the 49ers next season, even if it means restructuring his contract. "I came here to be a great player," Smith said. "Obviously, I've had some setbacks and things have gotten in my way, and I'm working my way around them. I want to get back out here, and that's something that really inspires me. I think it's easy to look at some alternative choices ... but I really feel the right thing to do is to do it the right way." Former San Francisco coach Mike Nolan chose the Utah quarterback with the top pick in 2005 — and then pretty much ruined him during four tumultuous seasons of injuries and inconsistency amid a revolving cast of teammates and offensive coordinators.

Smith, who has missed this season on injured reserve with shoulder woes, realizes his lucrative contract would have to be altered to prevent the 49ers (5-9) from being forced to cut him for salary-cap purposes. He said he's "absolutely" willing to do so. "It'll be difficult, (but) I think it is something that gets me going," Smith added. "You start to get that chip on your shoulder, trying to prove everybody wrong." Smith took every snap of his second NFL season in 2006, but his career went sideways when he separated his shoulder on a sack by Seattle's Rocky Bernard in September 2007. He tried to return too soon from the injury, and his poor play caused a schism between the quarterback and Nolan. While he won't overtly blame Nolan for his struggles, Smith probably doesn't miss the fired coach, who has repeatedly found subtle ways to criticize Smith. The quarterback has no problems with Mike Singletary, formerly Nolan's right-hand man, who took over the club in late October and could return next season.

"I think coach Singletary has done a great job from the sense of eliminating gray," Smith said. "The players have a better understanding of what they're being asked (to do) and what they're responsible for, and what's expected of them. I think in that sense, there's less gray. He's made it more black and white." Smith's career numbers — 4,679 yards passing in 32 games, along with 19 touchdown passes and 31 interceptions — are nothing special, but he's still just 24. Smith also threw to one of the NFL's worst groups of receivers in each of his three campaigns, missing out of this year's arrival of Isaac Bruce and Bryant Johnson alongside emerging youngsters Jason Hill and Josh Morgan. Smith injured his shoulder again during training camp this year, undergoing his latest surgery in late October. He hasn't begun throwing the ball again, but plans to do so in January after several months of careful rehabilitation.

Rather than leave the Bay Area for rehab, as many injured players often do, Smith stayed in town and participated in regular study sessions with quarterbacks Shaun Hill, J.T. O'Sullivan and Jamie Martin. He has attended meetings and games throughout the season, trying to remain a part of the team during its sixth consecutive losing season. Smith and Hill are good friends who attended a San Jose Sharks game together last week, and he's pleased by Hill's success as the 49ers' starter during the second half of this season. Smith doesn't know what Hill's accomplishments will mean for his chances to stick around — and he also realizes there's no guarantee the 49ers want him back, although general manager Scot McCloughan has been unwavering in his support for Smith.

"Obviously, I've got some more time on my hands now and I'm left to think about things," Smith said. "It's all speculation at this point. I've tried to stay focused on doing what I can, and that's getting healthy. That time will come soon enough when I have to deal with that stuff."

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Hill and Pennington have something in common

By Matt Miaocco, The Press Democrat

MIAMI — Quarterback Shaun Hill has not done much wrong in his seven NFL starts. Over the past two seasons, Hill’s record as a starting quarterback with the 49ers is 5-2. The 49ers’ record during that period when Hill was not starting is 5-17. His 15 touchdown passes and five interceptions, to go along with a 97.3 passer rating, is further proof Hill is playing well. But there is one negative — perhaps the only negative — that continues to be associated with Hill. Let’s face it, the man does not possess the strongest arm in the NFL. When the 49ers play the Miami Dolphins this morning, it will match two quarterbacks who have heard the same critique over and over and over.

“It’s perception versus reality,” Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington said. “The reality of it is I don’t think a coach is going to put any quarterback on the field that can’t make the throws necessary to allow the offense to be successful, including the down-the-field throws. “In this league, you have to be able to throw the ball down the field. How hard it is, is meaningless. I think timing, accuracy, understanding when to take a shot, when not to take a shot, and being able to move your football team — that’s more important.” Pennington was run out of the New York Jets organization during training camp in favor of Brett Favre. Pennington went to a team that compiled a league-worst 1-15 record last season, and the Dolphins are now 8-5 and in a tie for first place in the AFC East.

Pennington is the fifth-leading passer in the league with a rating of 93.7. He has thrown 12 touchdowns and six interceptions. He is doing a great job taking care of the football. Pennington has been sacked 22 times and has fumbled twice. He has not lost a fumble this season. Compare that with J.T. O’Sullivan, who began the season as the 49ers’ starting quarterback. In 7½ games, O’Sullivan threw 11 interceptions and lost six of 11 fumbles, not including another fumble that resulted in a safety. So did the Jets gain anything when they discarded Pennington for Favre? The big-armed Favre has an 88.2 rating with 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.
“I’ve said time and time again that more games are lost in this league than are actually won based upon the turnover ratio and things like that,” Pennington said. Not surprisingly, Hill has long-admired Pennington’s style.

J.T. O’Sullivan won the 49ers’ starting job in training camp, as Hill’s strength is not his ability to get the ball down the field — a favored element in offensive coordinator Mike Martz’s scheme.
But after O’Sullivan’s turnovers continued to pile up, interim coach Mike Singletary made the call to Hill, who brings stability and good decision-making to the field. “He’s always been one of my favorite guys to watch,” Hill said of Pennington. “He’s always been kind of underappreciated and underestimated, and the guy just goes in and wins. “I just like his demeanor out there. Obviously, the guys play for him. He’s not the flashiest guy, that’s for sure. But he gets the job done and he gets it done really well. No matter what, it just seems like his teams are winning.”

So far, the same can be said of Hill.

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Should Shaun Hill Get More Love?

By Scott Dryden, 49ers World

Niner fans wonder what off-season moves the team can make. Can they trade for Donovan McNabb or Derek Anderson? How about signing Matt Cassel or even bringing home Jeff Garcia? Some fans might think the 49ers should spend their money elsewhere particularly if Shaun Hill continues to play the he has. This guy is good, but is he "Franchise QB" good? Who knows where he'll finish in passer rating and touchdown to interception ratio or completion percentage, but if it's anywhere close to where it is now (94.3, 7 td's, 3 int's, 60.3 completion percentage) I would expect many to call for him to be the team's starter for 2009.

I will say this much for him. Shaun Hill COULD be the QB the 49ers want. How many quarterbacks in the league could post a passer rating that high with an offensive line that doesn't protect well and a receiving corps that lacks a impact player? If Hill played for the Cowboys he'd probably be a MVP candidate. In the second half against Dallas, Hill looked a lot like Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo. Both excel at moving in the pocket, both can make the impromptu play and both have the confidence of their teammates. In leading the 49ers to two fourth-quarter touchdowns against Dallas, Hill had one stretch where he completed five straight passes for 87 yards, including the two scores. On three of those passes, he was pressured, but was able to either move out of the pocket, or slide away from pressure and throw. He had completions of 22, 30 and 18 yards against a defense that was warding against the long pass. With more seasoning and time as a starter, he's the type of quarterback who could get better. Also consider that in five of his seven appearances, he has compiled a rating of over 100, and in his first start, his completion percentage of .815 set an NFL record.

If Shaun Hill was Alex Smith, given the expectations there were for him, fans would be hailing the coronation of another proficient 49ers quarterback. It is a tough situation to be in for Hill, and I'm not discounting what he has accomplished with yet another garbage 49ers squad; he's 3-2 playing for this year's mess. I still firmly believe rather than signing or trading for a QB, that the future is in a 2009 draft pick, but as a fill in til that guy to be named later is ready, Hill might be a perfect fit.

His humble beginnings, (six of his first seven seasons spent mostly as a third quarterback), less than artistic style (even running back Frank Gore says Hill plays ugly) and lack of support from offensive coordinator Mike Martz (he remains enamored with O'Sullivan) has conspired against Hill. But if Hill continues to play well, the 49ers should concentrate their off-season spending energy on getting talent to surround him - but focus future QB needs on a smartly used '09 draft pick.

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Camp Preview: Offensive Line

From 49ers.com, July 14th

OFFENSIVE LINE (14) New: G Brian De La Puente (Rookie), T Chilo Rachal (Rookie), T Alan Reuber (2nd Year), G/T Barry Sims (10th Year), G Jeb Terry (4th Year), T Joe Toldeo (3rd Year), C Cody Wallace (Rookie)Returners: G David Baas (4th Year), T Damane Duckett (4th Year), C Eric Heitmann (7th Year), T Jonas Jennings (8th Year), T/G Adam Snyder (4th Year), T Joe Staley (2nd Year), G Tony Wragge (4th Year)

Departed: G Larry Allen, T Kwame Harris, G Justin Smiley

The importance of the offensive line has been a focus of Nolan and McCloughan since their arrival in 2005. The 49ers feel they have improved the offensive line and are excited about the starting group. Center Eric Heitmann will be joined by Adam Snyder at left guard, David Baas at right guard, Joe Staley at left tackle and Jonas Jennings at right tackle. Nolan knows the importance of keeping this core group together. “The continuity from this point forward is instrumental in us being successful on the offensive line,” Nolan commented. Baas, Heitmann, Jennings and Snyder have all been part of an offensive line that made excellent progress in 2005 and 2006. Staley joined the group in 2007 and responded with an outstanding rookie season. “The offensive line is the heart and soul of any football team,” offered Martz. “If you have a really good offensive line it allows you to do what you want.” Although San Francisco will have many of the same faces in 2008, several players will shuffle positions around Heitmann at center. “We’ve done this to get our best five offensive linemen on the field at the same time,” explained Nolan. “In a perfect world, they all stay put at their positions, and I would like to think that’s what we have created right now.” Heitmann, who is in his seventh year out of Stanford, was named by his fellow players as the Bobb McKittrick Award winner given to the team’s top offensive lineman each of the past two seasons. He played every snap as the starting center in 2007 and was also the Ed Block Courage Award recipient after his courageous return from a broken left leg suffered late in the 2006 campaign. Baas started all eight of the club’s contests in the second half of 2007 at right guard after last year’s starter Justin Smiley went down with a shoulder injury and will begin the year as the starter at that spot in 2008.

Jennings, Snyder and Staley are all moving positions from last season. Jennings, who has proven to be an excellent player when healthy, will move from left tackle to right tackle. He played some at right tackle as a rookie with Buffalo in 2001, but has spent the majority of his career at left tackle. Snyder is a versatile lineman that has experience at both tackle and guard during his three seasons with San Francisco. He started 11 games at left tackle in 2007 after Jennings was placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury. Staley is slated to move over to the left tackle position after a sensational campaign a year ago at right tackle when he became the first rookie in club history to start all 16 games. “The reason I think Joe will be a good left tackle is his mental toughness,” commented Nolan. “Last year, we traded up to get Joe in the draft, and it was probably one of the best moves we’ve ever made.” Tony Wragge is another versatile offensive lineman that can play any position on the line. Wragge saw action in five games as a reserve for the 49ers last season, while converted defensive lineman Damane Duckett spent most of the 2007 campaign as a practice squad player learning his new position. San Francisco used the draft again in 2008 to add depth by selecting tackle Chilo Rachal (USC) and center Cody Wallace (Texas A&M) in the second and fourth rounds, respectively. Rachal played guard in college but has been converted to tackle with the 49ers. The 49ers also signed 10th-year NFL veteran Barry Sims and three players with NFL experience – Alan Reuber, Jeb Terry and Joe Toledo – to boost its depth. Undrafted free agent Brian De La Puente (California) will also battle for a roster spot.

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Johnson hopes to prove worthy of long-term gig

Matt Maiocco, The Press Democrat

Bryant Johnson picked an unlikely spot for a receiver to try to build up his career. He chose a team that has ranked 32nd, 29th and 32nd in passing yards the past three seasons. "I'm fired up to be part of this offense," Johnson said before packing his bags and leaving town recently at the end of the 49ers' organized-team activities.

Johnson was looking for a fresh start after five seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. He took a quick visit at the start of free agency to meet with the Buffalo Bills. There were reports out of Buffalo that Johnson and the Bills agreed to terms. But after being available on the market for another couple weeks, Johnson had to face the facts. He was not going to receive the kind of lucrative contract he sought.

"In the situation I was in (with the Cardinals), I wasn't a starter," Johnson said. "I feel I'm in a great situation to prove myself here and sign a long-term deal and finish my career here." When asked about his thoughts on eventually signing a long-term deal with the 49ers, Johnson said, "I think there's a possibility. It's all predicated on how I perform this year. Everything so far is positive." Johnson signed a one-year deal, $2 million deal with the 49ers on March 17. He received a $750,000 signing bonus, a base salary of $1 million and $250,000 in workout bonuses. Johnson said he felt comfortable signing with the 49ers because he is rejoining his former receivers coach, Jerry Sullivan, and also because of the Mike Martz factor. Receivers want to play in this pass-happy offense.

Johnson, 27, was a first-round pick of the Cardinals out of Penn State in 2003. Johnson (6-3, 213) has good size and speed. He averaged 18.5 yards per reception in his second NFL season. Johnson was always around 40 receptions with the Cardinals. Based on his role in the offseason program, Johnson looks to have a chance to be the 49ers' top wideout this season. He said he is looking forward to taking the lessons he learned playing behind Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald and applying them as potentially the No. 1 receiver with the 49ers. Johnson is slated to start at split end for the 49ers. "This is my first chance of being able to step in and not be overshadowed by Larry and Anquan," Johnson said. "Everybody wants to have the chance to be the go-to guy. But in the position I was in, I thought I did a good job when I was called upon to come in and not lose a beat. It was a learning experience to play behind two Pro Bowl receivers. Also, playing with Kurt Warner was great. He helped me tremendously." Johnson ranked third on the Cardinals last season with 46 receptions for 528 yards and two touchdowns. Combined, Fitzgerald and Boldin caught 171 passes for more than 2,200 yards and 19 touchdowns.

"I'm just going to have a lot more opportunity here, as opposed to just coming in on third downs or certain situations," Johnson said.

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Position By Position Battles - Quarterbacks

With the training camp count down to 24 days, we thought we'd evaluate the positions going into camp, starting with everyone's favorite, quarterback.

ALEX SMITH

Alex Smith rolled right in a game last year against the Saints at Candlestick and then he glared at an open receiver 7 yards away. A voice rang out from above the 49ers' press box as Smith continued to cling to the ball and stare. "THROW IT! (BLEEPING) THROW IT!" He eventually did, completing the pass. But with Smith's inexplicable delay, the play went for 2 yards instead of 8 or 10. The voice may have belonged to a fan. More likely, it was one of the 49ers coaches. Their booth is upstairs from where the media sits and at times, their voices can be heard through the open window, particularly when they yell. Can Mike Martz tap Alex Smith's talent?
The story illustrates Smith's major challenge as he attempts to retain his job against challengers Shaun Hill and J.T. O'Sullivan - the ability to think and act quickly. If one quote illuminates Smith's checkered four-year career, it's the oft-mentioned one his former coach at Utah issued. Urban Meyer, who now coaches the Florida Gators, said the day Smith was drafted that unless Smith knows exactly what the offense and defense is doing, he'll be "non-functional." Last year, offensive coordinator Jim Hostler put too much on Smith. Hostler expanded the playbook and forced the quarterback to rifle through a series of reads on every play and made him responsible, at times, for recognizing blitzes. It compounded Smith's perfectionist tendencies and froze him. One 49ers defender complained privately that in drills without a pass rush, Smith would sit back and stare at the patterns instead of throwing.

So can Smith know his own offense and the opposing defense enough to unlock his abundant talent when a defensive staff works 500 hours in a given week trying to confound him? And on offense, Smith himself said it's impossible to know the entire Mike Martz scheme, making it sound as if Martz's offense was "The blob," - a breathing, moving and ever-expanding organism?

Martz, nevertheless, may save him. He recognized what Norv Turner saw two years ago - that he must unclutter Smith's mind. Give him one or two reads and then instruct him to either throw it away or take off all the while making Smith process everything faster - the huddle, his drop, his recognition, his delivery. Turner constantly hounded Smith to hurry in practice, sometimes doing it while he dropped to throw. When 49ers.com slapped a mic on Martz during one of the June OTA practices, Martz was captured imploring Smith to hurry three times. I thought of a story I did on him in the Chronicle a few weeks after he was drafted while watching Smith this spring in OTA's easily out-perform his challengers.

Smith and his family graciously allowed a photographer and me to go to his parents' home in San Diego for a profile. With his Dad, Doug, a former prep football coach and now a high school principal, Smith watched his game tapes. I asked the Smiths to pop in a tape and talk about what they saw. We watched parts of different games while father and son broke down the plays. Smith looked and sounded like football's version of a young Jason Kidd. He was a step ahead on everything and he exuded confidence, even a cockiness. On the screen, Smith digested the defense in an instant and fired the ball to an open receiver despite having five of them in the pattern on nearly every play. In Smith, there's something special. But can it be tapped or is there too much baggage after disappointments, injuries, a once-poisoned relationship with his head coach and four coordinators in four years? Can Smith remove all of that plus his own immense, play-stopping intellect to get to the pool of talent below? In training camp and the season the answer will un-spool.

SHAUN HILL

Hill is the anti-Alex. While Smith was tossed into the lineup as a 21-year-old rookie, Hill threw one incomplete pass in his first five seasons in the league. Smith was a first overall pick, Hill was undrafted. Smith was looked upon as the franchise quarterback, Hill needed to beat out Jesse Palmer and then former University of Akron player Luke Getsy the last two seasons just to claim his roster spot.

Shaun Hill is a gamer.

While Smith can look impressive in practice, coach Mike Nolan said Hill saves his best for games. Hill also "throws through" or throws to an area before a receiver breaks, something that Smith struggles with. But like Smith, last year, Hill also had a defining play. It came in the third quarter of his first start against the Bengals at home. Faced with a third down in a tight game, Hill settled in a shotgun formation. At the snap, tight end Vernon Davis didn't move, seemingly forgetting the snap count. It allowed defensive end Robert Geathers a free pass at Hill. But he avoided Geathers with two quick steps, one towards the line of scrimmage and the other to his right. As Geathers flew past, a composed Hill continued to run right and threw a completion to running back Maurice Hicks for the first down. Hill executed the play so adroitly, you had to look at the replay a few times to see what happened. But can Hill maintain this excellence of play? He tore up the Bengals completing 21 of 28 passes for 197 yards. While subbing for the concussed Trent Dilfer a week earlier against the Vikings, he completed 22 of 28 passes for 181 yards. Minnesota gave up more passing yards than any other team in the league last year. Cincinnati ranked 26th in that category.

When Hill faced Tampa Bay, which owned the stingiest pass defense in the league, he was 11 of 24 for 123 yards. In all of his appearances except Tampa Bay, his completion percentage was high and his yardage was low, which confirms his lack of arm strength. The overriding questions for Hill: Is he athletic enough and is his arm strong enough to overthrow Smith for the starting job? He faces another challenge. The 49ers paid Smith about $7 million this offseason to continue his contract, meaning Smith has strong advocates within the organization.

J.T. O'SULLIVAN

The former UC Davis player deserves some sort of award. Who can name a quarterback who has existed on the fringes of nine NFL rosters in seven seasons? It's an unusual feat. Martz has an abiding belief in O'Sullivan and seemingly insists that he be part of the competition for the starting job.

Is Hall too full for BY?

Matt Barrows, Sac Bee, June 13, 2008

Holy smokes - the Hall of Fame class for 2013 is shaping up to be one of the best ever. Brett Favre is a can't-miss first ballot guy as is Jonathan Ogden. You have to think that Michael Strahan, who is fifth on the all-time sack list and holds the season-single record in that category won't have to wait beyond 2013. (Given their dive-and-sack routine in 2001, maybe Favre should be Strahan's presenter. Buzz-zing!). In addition, Warren Sapp, Junior Seau and Orlando Pace (if he retires) are all strong possibilities. The question is whether two 49ers - Bryant Young and Larry Allen - will go into the Hall at the same time.

BY has three things going against him.
First, he played on a lot of crappy teams. Sure, his 49ers career began with a Super Bowl title, and from 1994 to 2002 Young and the 49ers made the playoffs seven times. But during the last five years of his career, the time when players like Young finally get the recognition and national attention they deserve, he was playing in meaningless games on dreadful teams. Second, his statistics are rock-solid but not mind-blowing. I know, I know. Young mostly played a position that called for him to do a lot of dirty work and to make sacrifices so that others could get the glory. And while teammates and opponents respect that, HOF voters will look to stats. BY's 89.5 career sacks are outstanding, but they're not as good as Strahan's (141.5) or Sapp's (96.5).
And finally, Young never called attention to himself. That modest business-like demeanor won him the admiration of coaches, teammates, opponents, the local fans and local media. But the ugly reality is that self-aggrandizement attracts attention and that attention sometimes gets you into the Hall. Just look at the Michael Irvin-vs.-Art Monk dynamic. Monk had better numbers than Irvin yet the flamboyant Irvin beat him into the Hall. As disgusting as this sounds, if Young had had some silly sack dance and had made outrageous comments, I bet he'd have a better chance of being a first-ballot guy. Then again, sometimes respect and dignity are more important than a yellow blazer.
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Niner Notes

Matt Barrows, Sacramento Bee, May 29, 2008

Quarterback race is more like a marathon

In a perfect world, the 49ers will emerge from OTAs on June 20 with a distinct pecking order at quarterback. The player at the top of that order will head into training camp July 24 as the No. 1 quarterback. He'll get most of the first-team reps, he'll look fantastic in preseason games and he'll enter the season as the unquestioned leader of the team. "At this point I'm hopeful," Mike Nolan said of having a clear-cut No. 1 on June 20. "But I won't hold myself to it." Nolan knows the reality will be messier. The question is whether we're talking Barack-vs.-Hillary messy. The 49ers quarterback competition certainly has the potential to drag on and on and on like the Democratic nomination process.

Consider this not farfetched scenario. I figure Alex Smith will take the early lead in the coaches' minds. After all, he looks great on a practice field. He's tall. He can scramble. And he has the best arm in the 49ers' quarterback stable. Nolan already has commented that Smith added seven pounds of muscle following the 2007 season and looked as physically impressive as he has seen the young passer.

Shaun Hill, meanwhile, is not going to win many best-body competitions. He doesn't have Smith's arm strength, and he has a funny throwing motion. (Though, not as funny as Mariah Carey's). That's why up until last season, Hill has been a career No. 3 quarterback. He simply hasn't been an impressive enough practice player to warrant a closer look.

A Closer Look At the Newest 49ers

As coaches and GMs love to say on cutdown day, it's a numbers game. There are only 53 roster spots available per team at the start of the regular season. The 49ers added six draft picks. Some draftees - Kentwan Balmer, Chilo Rachal, Reggie Smith and Cody Wallace - are virtually assured roster spots. Josh Morgan and Larry Grant have work to do to stick on the final roster.
Here is the breakdown of what each new addition means to the team:

Defensive lineman Kentwan Balmer
What it means for him: Chosen in the first round, Balmer must make an immediate contribution. The 49ers are keeping an open mind. They plan to use him at nose tackle and left end before settling on a spot for him. Either way, he figures to get a lot of playing time as a rookie.
What it means for others: Aubrayo Franklin enters the second year of a three-year, $6.1 million contract. Isaac Sopoaga, who was Franklin's back up last season, recently signed a five-year, $20 million deal. Sopoaga will make twice as much as Franklin, which might be a clue which player's starting job is the most tenuous. The plan is to move Sopoaga to left end. Justin Smith, Sopoaga, Balmer, Franklin, Ronald Fields and Ray McDonald figure to be on the team. Guys such as Joe Cohen, Atiyyah Ellison and Melvin Oliver have to battle to stick around.

Guard Chilo Rachal
What it means for him: When minicamp opens on Friday, Tony Wragge will line up at right guard with the first-team offense. But the door will be open in training camp for Rachal (second-round pick) to get in there. If he shows he can handle the move up to the NFL, Rachal has a good chance to be an opening-week starter.
What it means for others: David Baas will miss a portion of training camp. It's a lot like his rookie season. He was projected as a starter as a rookie, but a hamstring injury kept him sidelined most of camp. He could not recover from missing so much time in training camp. Baas did not move into the starting lineup until injuries forced the issue late his rookie season. Again, he was scheduled to be a starter. Now, he has a long road in front of him to get back on the field after sustaining a torn pectoral muscle last week. After being cleared, he still has to regain his upper-body strength and win his way back into the starting lineup.

Defensive back Reggie Smith
What it means for him: Some view the third-round pick as a Cover 2 corrner. Others see him as a safety. The 49ers envision Smith as a physical, in-your-face cornerback. Because Nate Clements takes the opponents' best receiver and does not get much help, the 49ers want the corner on the other side to be physical at the line of scrimmage. The other corner generally has safety help over the top. If, over a period of time, Smith proves he can't cover NFL receivers, the 49ers have the option to move him to free safety.
What it means for others: Walt Harris is a 13-year vet who eventually must be replaced. The 49ers want to make sure they have some candidates ready to take over. Shawntae Spencer signed a reasonable contract extension in 2006 and has a deal in place through 2012. He has experienced difficulty staying healthy. When healthy, Spencer has not been the most consistent performer, either. Tarell Brown, whom many believed was a second-round value found in the fifth round, is not fully recovered from a partially torn ACL from the final game of the season. The injury did not require surgery. The club expects him to be ready for the start of training camp. After 2005, when the 49ers were picking up free-agent corners off the street and sticking them in the starting lineup, the club has at least built some depth at this spot. A decent player will probably be let go after camp. Marcus Hudson and Donald Strickland, along with Smith, Brown and Spencer will duke it out for backup spots.

Center Cody Wallace
What it means for him: The fourth-round selection comes to the 49ers as a backup to Eric Heitmann. It would be very difficult for a rookie to win a starting job at center over a guy who has been around like Heitmann. So much of the center position is having a grasp for the team's protections and a concept of what the defense is doing.
What it means for others: Heitmann is scheduled to be a free agent at the end of the season. Perhaps, they're lining up their contingency plan. Or, Nolan mentioned that Heitmann is capable of moving to guard, too. With Wallace on the team, obviously the 49ers are not projecting Baas as the next center. This is a big season for Baas, who is signed through 2009. If he has yet to establish himself as a starter, the club might decide he does not fit into their future plans. The 49ers want Adam Snyder to play guard, but I can't help but think the 49ers have the makings of a good long-term offensive line with Joe Staley and Snyder at the tackles, Baas and Rachal at the guards and Wallace at center.

Receiver Josh Morgan
What it means for him: There is not a bona fide No. 1 receiver on the team, so the door is wide open for this sixth-rounder to prove he can be of value to the 49ers. Playing time will be difficult to find as a rookie. He'll have to adjust to Mike Martz's offense and Jerry Sullivan's detailed coaching. He will have to battle through the frustration of learning things that are completely new to him. But Morgan definitely has a chance to stick around. If he takes advantage of some chances, he could work into a significant role. He better come to training camp in great shape. Rookies have never worked like they will during their first NFL training camp. And rookie receivers, in particular, are susceptible to leg injuries.
What it means for others: Jason Hill and Ashley Lelie must get off to a great starts to work their way into positions to get more practice reps. Isaac Bruce, Bryant Johnson and Arnaz Battle don't seem to be going anywhere. Morgan, conceivably, could push Hill or Lelie back a notch.

Linebacker Larry Grant
What it means for him: The good news for this seventh-round pick is that he projects at a position where the starting job is up for grabs. He'll have an opportunity to compete for the starting "ted' linebacker job. Although it's unlikely he'll win the starting job, Grant can still make a major impact on special teams as a rookie. But the 49ers might keep only four inside linebackers, which means that while he has an outside chance to win a starting job, he is also fighting for a roster spot.
What it means for others: If the 49ers had grabbed Curtis Lofton in the first round, Dontarrious Thomas would have been replaced as a starter before ever starting a game. Grant's acquisition appears to mean that Brandon Moore is, again, pushed to the background. Nolan said Thomas, Jeff Ulbrich and Grant would line up and compete at the "ted," while Brandon Moore will be Patrick Willis' backup at the "mike." The "ted" is the strong inside linebacker position. The team is obviously not convinced Moore has the ability to get off blocks effectively enough to play on the strong side. The door remains open for the 49ers to pursue veteran Takeo Spikes, who is returning from season-ending surgery on his rotator cuff. The Eagles released him (failed physical) earlier this offseason. Because Spikes would play the strong inside position, he would be taking on more blockers, thus exposing himself to more collisions.
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Nolan's Final Draft: A Master Piece of Wasted Opportunities

The 49ers totally screwed the pooch again on the most crucial day of Mike Nolan and Scot McCloughan's careers respectively. Draft day. If Nolan doesn't get the Niners off to a good start this season, he will undoubtedly be given his pink slip and McCloughan, Nolan's former assistant and now his "boss", (yeah, right, you really laid down the law, Dr. York) will be shown the door with him....and they did nothing this weekend to help keep that from being a reality.

Start with needs -- a wide receiver would be nice. With apologies to Arnaz Battle, Jason Hill, newcomers Bryant Johnson and Isaac Bruce, or any wide receiver. "Any" were there. Better than any, in fact. Devin Thomas was there for the picking and he was a first-round pick until pickers began plucking. So was James Hardy. And what about DeSean Jackson? Sorry. Niners pass, even though coach Mike Nolan said it: We need offense.

What else? Another linebacker -- one of those hybrids known as a "rushbacker" would be just the ticket. Or a versatile inside/outside linebacker who can move around and fill spots next time Manny Lawson blows out a knee.

This isn't their fault. They actually had one in mind and not the one I figured they'd look at in Quentin Groves but rather -- Penn State's Dan Connor, who went to Carolina one pick before the 49ers could nab him in the 3rd round, if you're wondering. Instead, they had their eye on Oklahoma's blockier, slower version of Connor, Curtis Lofton. They figured they'd wait until Round 2 to take care of the position. Two picks before their Round 2 shot came up, the Falcons stole him out from under their noses. So they took guard Chilo Rachal, another reasonable need given the injury status of David Baas and the who-knows-where-he-even-is status of Larry Allen, the free-est of free agents.

But what the Niners really needed was a defensive lineman. One of those nice pass-rushing kinds of guys , to play opposite Justin Smith, who will stop at nothing until he's shaken hands with a quarterback and told him how much his stuff stinks.

Instead, they took Balmer. Defensive tackle who will be asked to replace Bryant Young (like anybody could do that) at left end or maybe play a little nosetackle in the 3-4 ... where Isaac Sopoaga would seem to be in a blood feud with Aubrayo Franklin to start. Only Sopoaga is now being billed as a left end. It boggles the mind. Balmer presumably is a burr under the disappointing Franklin's saddle and asked to play . . . At end. At tackle. At discombobulation? Oh, and did I mention this? If it's end, as a sack guy Balmer collected exactly 3.5 last year when he had his one really superior year at North Carolina. That to go along with $45 million dollar man Justin Smith's whopping 2 sacks last year for the Bengals.

Later on, Reggie Smith, in the 3rd from Oklahoma is a solid project corner. Center Cody Wallace in the 4th was a good choice, but that's about it. Josh Morgan, WR from Virginia Tech, the only offensive skill player taken, has off field issues that smell like Thomas Clayton Part II. Nolan finished off with what I say will be his final 49er draft choice by selecting......wait for it.....oh shucks.....another Linebacker!!!!, Larry Grant from Ohio St. in the 7th, to add to the already deepest position on the team.

In summation, they did little to desuade me from expecting the worst. This final act for Nolan, Alex Smith and "GM" Scot McCloughan is in the hands largely of the self-proclaimed "genius" offensive co-ordinator Mike Martz. While Nolan keeps focusing on defense, with the worst offense in the league, Martz will have to make chicken salad out of chicken s@#t to give them any hope of .500. Defense is great Coach Nolan, but you have to score to win.

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Draft Day 1 Recap

The 49ers went for might instead of flight on the first day of the NFL draft, opting for linemen on both sides of the ball instead of a wide receiver to run down the field and catch it. With their first pick in the draft, 29th overall, the 49ers tabbed Kentwan Balmer, a versatile 6-foot-5, 300-pound defensive lineman from North Carolina who can play either nose tackle or end. The club seems more inclined to play Balmer at nose tackle but he could also end up replacing the retired Bryant Young at left end.

It was an ecstatic Balmer who spoke to reporters Saturday in a conference call as he mentioned how his father, Charles Balmer, was an avid 49ers fan in the 1990s. No mention if dad is still as enthused now that the team is struggling.Ten picks later, at the eighth spot in the second round, San Francisco went for something of a surprise in guard Chilo Rachal of USC, who was picked higher than most people expected, including the player himself.Rachal, 6-4 and 319 pounds, is expected to compete for a job and could end up taking over for Larry Allen at left guard.Balmer's brawny presence on the defensive line, especially at nose tackle, will occupy blockers and allow Pro Bowl inside linebacker Patrick Willis, that tackling machine, to get to the ballcarrier. Rachal beefs up an offensive line that was responsible for 55 sacks in 2007, including the one that led to quarterback Alex Smith's shoulder injury and a ruined season.

The 49ers go into the second day of the draft with four picks, one each in the third, fourth, sixth and seventh rounds. With his first two picks, Nolan also considered Clemson defensive end Phillip Merling and Oklahoma inside linebacker Curtis Lofton.In going for linemen on both sides of the line of scrimmage, Nolan passed up an opportunity to select one of several wide receivers available at 29 and 39, in particular DeSean Jackson of Cal, Malcolm Kelly of Oklahoma, James Hardy of Indiana and Limas Sweed of Texas.

The coach said it's possible the 49ers will pick a wide receiver with one of today's picks but the fact he did not choose one on Saturday indicates he didn't believe any wideout deserving of late-first- or early-second-round status.

Day 2 Recap .... and opinion of picks on Sunday Night.
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49er 1st round selections, 1998-2007. Hope for the Willis Trend to Continue

Just hours before things kick off at Radio City Music Hall for the annual NFL "Selection Meeting" AKA the draft, lets look back at the last 10 years of 49er 1st round picks, and hope....like heck that the trend started only last year, continues on an upswing.

49er 1st round selections, 1998-2007

1998
R.W. McQuarters CB ,Oklahoma State
A bust during two seasons in S.F., he reemerged as a useful special teams player and helped the N.Y. Giants win a Super Bowl last season.

1999
Reggie McGrew DT ,Florida
Arguably the team's worst top pick ever, his not-so-illustrious career consisted of nine tackles and zero starts.

2000
Julian Peterson OLB ,Michigan State (right)
Terrific and versatile linebacker has made four Pro Bowls, including past two for Seattle Seahawks.
2001
Andre Carter DE ,Cal Bears
Faded in S.F. after a 12 1/2-sack season in '02, but has perked up again for Washington Redskins.
2002
Mike Rumph CB ,Miami
Proved to be a poor one-on-one cover man and managed only three career interceptions.
2003
Kwame Harris T ,Stanford
Failed to demonstrate adequate pass-protection skills at left tackle; will try to reinvent himself with Raiders.
2004
Rashaun Woods WR ,Oklahoma
Another contender for worst 49ers pick ever, managed seven career catches and helped doom G.M. Terry Donahue.

2005
Alex Smith QB ,Utah
Jury remains out because of injury trouble and poor supporting cast, but early returns aren't favorable.
2006
Vernon Davis TE ,Maryland
Still better known for his weight room prowess than his on-field production (774 yards, seven TDs in two years).
2007
Patrick Willis ILB ,Mississippi
NFL defensive rookie of the year became the first S.F. rookie to make the Pro Bowl since Ronnie Lott.

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Time is a healer for Alex Smith

S.F. QB is overcoming injury, conflict
By Matthew Barrows - The Sacramento Bee

SANTA CLARA – When we last left Alex Smith, the 49ers quarterback was a broken man. It was mid-December, and Smith was on his way to Alabama for a surgical procedure few NFL quarterbacks had undergone.His relationship with his head coach was in tatters. His throwing shoulder was mangled so badly that he heard clicking noises whenever he threw. He was weary, said he felt burned by the media and was stuck on the sideline as third-stringer Shaun Hill led the 49ers on a late-season revival.

Fast forward three and a half months, and, well, everything appears to be on the mend. The shoulder surgery was a success. Smith is out of the sling he wore for six weeks, and he is throwing 40-yard passes as he continues his rehabilitation.He also has spoken with coach Mike Nolan several times and says their 2007 feud, which revolved around Smith's shoulder injury, has been smoothed over. "That wasn't a reflection of either of us," Smith said Thursday in his first group interview since last season. "We're both better than that, and I think we're looking forward to obviously erasing that and proving not only to the people in this building, but everywhere, that we're going to move on and we're going to do better than that and we expect better." The coach-quarterback relationship deteriorated last year when a struggling Smith said he felt Nolan was minimizing his shoulder injury. Nolan, in turn, grew frustrated with Smith for taking his problems to the media. At the time, both men acknowledged a communication gap.

"We've talked and continue to talk about it, kind of understanding what happened last year, and (we're) moving on," Smith said. "I think we both understand each other, and there are definitely things I look back at and wish I could do over again. You learn from it and don't want to let it happen again." Smith said he hopes offensive problems that plagued the 49ers last season also are being fixed. He said he already has begun learning the new offense from coordinator Mike Martz – learning plays and working on drop-backs – and that he was excited to get on the field with new wide receivers Isaac Bruce and Bryant Johnson. Just as Martz is Smith's fourth offensive coordinator in four seasons, Bruce is his fourth No. 1 receiver over the same span."It's more competition, like I said, and I think it's something that's going to help this team," Smith said. "The better players you have in here that push each other, we're all going to get better from it. You talk about a guy like Isaac Bruce coming in with that much experience, not only in the NFL, but with coach Martz's system. I'm excited to have a guy like that in here."

Another difference is that Smith will not begin the offseason atop the team's depth chart at quarterback. Coaches have promised an open competition at the spot, and that battle will begin in early May with the team's first minicamp. Smith said he expects to be close to 100 percent when it begins. He said his right shoulder is almost at full strength and that his weight-room routine is back to normal save for a few over-the-head exercises.

As for throwing a football, Smith said trainers are regulating how much he throws each day as if he were a major-league pitcher. He recently has been throwing three times a week, starting with light tosses and gradually building to 40-yard throws.

Smith said a typical session includes 60 to 80 passes.

"They're decent," Smith said of the zip. "I'm definitely not out here gunning these things. But to throw the ball 40 yards, you've got to be throwing it decent."
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