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

By Matthew Barrows - mbarrows@sacbee.com

Published: Sunday, May. 1, 2011 - 12:00 am
Page 7C
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

Gore-less future spells trouble for Martz's offense

Having sought strength in numbers by acquiring a small army of targets for Alex Smith's sometimes errant passes, 49ers general manager Scot McCloughan must now turn his attention back to the running game in light of reports that Frank Gore, the team's most dangerous offensive weapon, will be sidelined indefinitely with a degenerative condition in his right hip. Although team doctors have yet to determine the severity of Gore's medical woes, the news is devastating to a young team in the midst of a rebuilding process. Initially diagnosed as an inflamed bursa sac in his right hip, the condition is eerily similar to that which abbreviated the career of baseball star Albert Belle, and though immediate treatment may help to prolong Gore's young career, his days as an elite NFL running back appear to be numbered. For his part, Gore remains cautiously optimistic.

"Obviously, this came as a shock to me," he told reporters during a Tuesday press conference. "As a player, you're conditioned to work through the pain. I knew something was wrong, but I never thought it was too serious. At this point, I'm just going to concentrate on working with the doctors and getting back on the field."

But when? Should Gore miss the upcoming season -- an increasingly likely prospect -- offensive coordinator Mike Martz will be forced to build his rushing attack around DeShaun Foster, the Carolina Panthers castoff who has yet to emerge as an every-down back in the NFL. And while McCloughan has done his best to bolster a receiving corps that proved a serious liability last season, it is hard to imagine the 49ers contending in the NFC West without a credible running game.

The Niners will undoubtedly address the situation in the draft, and though they may not land the cream of this year's crop -- Arkansas back Darren McFadden -- there will be plenty of viable options when they make their selection with the 29th pick of the first round. Even so, it would be hard to overestimate the crushing impact of Gore's loss. For a team already struggling to recover from a wasted season and scrambling to fill out a roster riddled with question marks, this is one setback even the most pessimistic 49ers fans could never have envisioned.

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49ers Remember Favre

With Packers quarterback Brett Favre retiring, we thought we would get some thoughts from 49ers past and present on their memories of him. Here's a sampling and hopefully, I'll get some more as people call back throughout the day. Did anyone enjoy the game more than this guy?

Former NFL linebacker Gary Plummer:

"He was like a kid at recess playing sand lot football, which is such a stark contrast to what a great competitor he was, like running all the way down the field to pick up Donald Driver." Plummer told two stories about Favre:-We were playing them in the playoffs in '96. It was one of those days at Lambeau, cold, muddy, we were playing in slop and freezing rain. At one point, he was trying to get us to jump offside on fourth-and-short. The defensive linemen in front of me, were just about to jump on his hard count. So I had to literally get behind them and grab them by the butt so they wouldn't jump. Favre saw me doing this and started cracking up. He was laughing so hard, he had to call time out because the clock was running down. -The year before, we're playing him in the playoffs again, and he threw a ball 30 yards to Keith Jackson from his knees. It was unbelievable. He's sliding on his knees to his left and completes the pass. Impossible throw.

49ers quarterback Trent Dilfer:

"I've said many times, he was the best quarterback to ever play the game. Everyone who plays football is competitive, but he had a competitive greatness. If he was a little faster, he would have been a linebacker, a little stronger he could have been an offensive linemen, a little quicker he could have been a corner. His toughness was unparalleled, just look at his consecutive start streak. "He meant a lot to me personally. The quarterback fraternity used to be a lot closer and at dinners and outings, he really reached out to me and my wife. It meant so much to me that he would do that to young, little arrogant quarterback." Dilfer told this story about Favre: It was 1997 and we (Dilfer was with the Buccaneers then) are playing a nationally televised game at Lambeau Field. It's a huge game for me and for the franchise. We hadn't beaten them there in a long time (since '89). I took the team down and scored a touchdown in three plays to take the lead with 52 seconds left. I had a 35-yard scramble on the drive, we scored on the road in front of a big crowd, on national television. The drive was everything you wanted from a quarterback.
We had a really good defense, so I think we've won. Then Favre comes back and he throws the winning toe-tapping touchdown to Antonio Freeman at the back of the end zone with no time left. We had a blitz on, and Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks are right in his face and he got the ball off anyway. You know they talk about spygate, but the Packers knew exactly what kind of blitz we were going to run in that situation. It was the most crushing defeat I ever experienced, and I've had a lot of them.

Chargers Linebacker and former 49er Derek Smith:
What stands out for you with Favre: "The sack he gave Michael Strahan (to get the record for most sacks in a season). He has respect for the game and respect for another great player. He's a gambler and a slinger."

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Trio Signs: Foster Speaks - Softly

Kevin Lynch, San Francisco Chronicle

The 49ers announced that linebacker Dontarrious Thomas, quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan and running back DeShaun Foster had signed their contracts. Foster was then on a conference call with Bay Area reporters and his answers were short and low key. In fact, Foster had to get closer to the speaker phone so he could be heard. "You don't sound excited at all to be with a new team." colleague John Crumpacker said at one point. "No, I'm kind of quiet, that's me." Foster responded with a short chuckle. DeShaun Foster will let his play do the talking.

Here are the highlights of the interview:
-He did say that he's had a brief conversation with offensive coordinator Mike Martz, and he believes Martz will install a balanced offense. "I don't think it will be pass-happy or anything like that," Foster said.
-He said a couple teams were interested in him, but wouldn't name them. He wanted to remain a starter but apparently the other teams weren't offering a starting job. -When asked what he knew of the 49ers' offense the last few years he said, "I know they ran the ball. That was a big key for me."
-Foster missed only three games in the last three seasons. He said putting on weight and being lucky has kept him healthy.
-Foster said he caught more passes early in his career and is looking forward to doing more of it. "They really use the running backs here, it's kind of exciting," he said.
-Foster said he was more of a Rams fan than a 49ers follower growing up in the Orange County hamlet of Tustin. "I'm more of a Rams fan because they were closer. But I was a 49ers' fan, because you have to go with whoever is winning."

Justin Smith Signs In San Francisco

Saturday - 7:50 am (PST) - The NFL Network is reporting that the 49ers have come to terms with Bengals DE Justin Smith late Friday evening. He took a helicopter tour of the South Bay Friday afternoon with Mike Nolan. He had dinner last night with Nolan and, perhaps, a few coaches. Smith's agent, Jim Steiner, who confirmed the helicopter ride and dinner Friday evening, said he was not sure who would be joining Smith and Nolan for dinner.

The deal is reported to be for 6 years/$45 million with $20 million guaranteed.

Two On "D" Back In The Fold

From Matt Maiocco, The Press Democrat

Roderick Green re-signs with 49ers

The 49ers re-signed pass-rush specialist Roderick Green today, the club announced. Green, 25, was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent. He saw action in seven games for the 49ers last season. Green recorded two sacks and just three tackles. The 49ers waived Green during training camp, citing his lack of versatility. He was signed to help the team's struggling pass rush on Nov. 5, when the club placed tackle Jonas Jennings on injured reserve.

Sopoaga never left . . . but he's back

The 49ers and nose tackle Isaac Sopoaga (right) reached an agreement today on a five-year contract extension, his agent Ken Zuckerman said. Sopoaga was scheduled to hit the open market Thursday night as an unrestricted free agent. But the 49ers did a pre-emptive strike by reaching the agreement. "Paraag (Marathe) and I have been going at this for a while," Zuckerman said of the 49ers' chief negotiator. "We have a foundation laid. We talked a lot. They wanted him. He wanted to stay. Really, the only thing was getting to the right number." Zuckerman declined to release the contract numbers. We speculated in this space last week that Sopoaga would be looking at a deal similar to what Jay Ratliff signed with the Cowboys. That deal was five years, $20.5 million with $8 million to sign.

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Veteran LB Smith Released

Derek Smith, the 49ers most prolific tackler since signing a free-agent contract in 2001 from the Washington Redskins, was released Tuesday.

The team sent out an e-mail of the news at 11:00 a.m. and it contained a quote from head coach Mike Nolan. "Decisions like this are a difficult part of a great business. Derek has been an important member of the 49ers, and you don not make these kinds of decisions without battling the emotion that is natural when you are dealing with a player that has done so much for your organization. We made the decision because we have quality linebackers who we think are the future of the 49ers. Derek was a model professional during his seven seasons with the 49ers, and he influenced a lot of the younger players with his work ethic.

Smith was due to make $3.45 million in salary next season.Smith's agent, Frank Bauer, met with team general manager Scot McCloughan during the Senior Bowl last month to discuss options. The team never discussed a reduction with Smith. In his seven years with the team, Smith was durable and consistent, leading the team in tackles for five straight seasons. In 2005, he experienced his best season with a team-record 163 tackles according to 49ers coach's review.

The league, which handles official tackle statistics, put his tally at 116. Nevertheless, Smith clearly shined in a season where the 49ers won only four games and he was the co-recipient, along with kicker Joe Nedney, of the Bill Walsh award, which is given to the team MVP as determined by the coaching staff. Smith might be still on the team if he hadn't strained an eye muscle in 2006, which limited his effectiveness. He had to change his stance in order to alleviate the double-vision he experienced when he looked down. In typical Derek Smith fashion, he never told anyone about the injury until coaches went to him to ask him if something was wrong. He underwent corrective surgery last season, but didn't return to his 2005 self. By mid-season, Jeff Ulbrich replaced Smith in the team's nickel package. Knowing Smith, he probably looked upon his release as an opportunity for a new experience and a chance to sign with a potential Super Bowl-winning team.

While he never sought media attention, Smith was always honest and never shrank from the press when things went sour. In a rare moment in 2005, before the 49ers played Philadelphia and wide receiver Terrell Owens, Smith was outspoken about his former teammate, saying Owens wasn't an ideal teammate and needed to practice with his injury (a pulled groin). After the 42-3 loss in which Owens caught 5 passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns, Smith was the last player to leave the locker room and answered every question. He did say that Owens had a big day a was a great player.

Smith also wore his hair long that season in tribute to his friend and former Arizona State teammate Pat Tillman, an army ranger who was killed in Afghanistan that year.

Niner News & Notes

Willis Voted GMC Defensive Player of the Week
49ers.com
Linebacker Patrick Willis of the San Francisco 49ers is the GMC Defensive Player of the Week for games played on November 22 - 26. Willis made 18 tackle, ½ sack and one pass defensed in the 49ers’ 37 – 31 win over the Arizona Cardinals. Willis ran down Sean Morey on a 62-yard reception in overtime preventing him from potentially scoring and winning the game for the Cardinals. Willis was selected from among five finalists by voters on NFL.com. The other finalists were safety Roman Harper of the New Orleans Saints, defensive end Patrick Kerney of the Seattle Seahawks, cornerback Asante Samuel of the New England Patriots, and safety Dwight Smith of the Minnesota Vikings. After the regular season, five players will be nominated for GMC Defensive Player of the Year honors. Fans can vote for the winner on NFL.com throughout the month of January.

Bewitching hour for Smith and his shoulder
Matthew Barrows, Sac Bee
Not only has Alex Smith not thrown a ball in nearly two weeks, he hasn't even lifted his right arm over his head. The strategy is to keep his injured shoulder as immobile as possible for two weeks - which will be this Sunday - and then re-examine it at that point. Smith said that examination could occur Monday or Tuesday. He is contemplating a return trip to Birmingham, Ala. to visit Dr. James Andrews or he could possibly fly to Los Angeles to meet with a doctor there that Andrews recommended. The visit will be an important one - the results could determine whether Smith plays again this season or possibly whether he will have surgery to reattach the ligaments between his collarbone and shoulder.

Gore deals with death of Taylor after mom's passing
John Crumpacker, San Francisco Chronicle
For the second time this season, Frank Gore has been hit with the type of tragedy that makes football trivial in comparison. Once again, he must compartmentalize his grief as he prepares to play a game. In September, he lost his mother, Liz Gore, to kidney disease. On Tuesday, he lost a friend and former teammate to gun violence when safety Sean Taylor of the Washington Redskins was shot and killed in his home in the Miami area. Gore and Taylor entered the University of Miami together in 2001; they first met years before playing Pop Warner football."It's tough losing my mom, now losing my friend, who I played ball with," Gore said in his typically soft tone. "He was a tough dude, great football player. A lot of people don't know he was a great dude. At the University of Miami, all the boys are close. It's like losing my brother.
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Aubrayo Franklin Out For Four Weeks

According to Matt Maiocco of the Press Democrat, nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin will be out for four weeks with a right calf injury.Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee reports that Isaac Sopoaga will take his place in the lineup with Ron Fields also filling in. While Atiyyah Ellison, who was inactive the first nine weeks, will get a long look in practice, Ray McDonald will probably be active on Sunday against the Rams.









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Ronnie Lott... Still Protecting The Scarlet & Gold's Pride

Lott goes after Jonas Jennings
Matt Barrows, Sac Bee

Who said Ronnie Lott doesn't deliver big hits any more? This morning on KNBR, Lott delivered a jolt to injured left tackle Jonas Jennings, but it wasn't clear what prompted the slam."I know the Jonas Jennings situation," Lott told co-host Brian Murphy. "That guy right there ... If I was the coach and he said some of the things that I heard he said, I would have cut him. We can't have a guy not thinking that his teammates support him. We can't have that in the locker room."Later, Lott said the 49ers should cut Jennings, who was the team's big free-agent pick up in 2005."Sometimes you have to make a tough call. Sometimes you have to make a cut that costs you money."But when asked if Jennings had somehow undermined the team or the coach, Lott said he didn't know the specifics. "I just know what I've seen and what I've watched and what happened at that position."

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To pick up on what Matt Barrows wrote about Lott's comments... Why is it that this franchise's greatest players like Lott or Steve Young are still the ones safeguarding the pride and displaying the most leadership for this franchise, some 2 decades after they were leaders on the field. This franchise did a nosedive the day Eddie DeBartolo lost control of the team after the Louisiana Gambling scandle. For that matter, on the subject of Eddie D...if he is now considered a nominee for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, why can't he get his team back? Certainly Tagliabue's ban can be lifted and Eddie could get the team back from his sister and her flaky husband - (John York, right, showing us all which finger he picks his nose with at games). While DeBartolo was one of the great owners in the history of sports, I think his sister and brother-in-law sometimes think football is something played by David Beckham.

Watching where this team was and where it is now, and looking at the match-up this weekend between Indy and the Pats, one can't help think back to the days of the 49ers v Dallas and wonder what the heck is going on? It feels like watching your straight A student child become a crack addict. I don't know about all of you Niner faithful out there, but I'm sure getting tired of not even making it to Thanksgiving before it's time to start looking ahead to the draft. What's worse, their first round pick in '08 is lining up in the person of Joe Staley, since they gave away next year's pick to the Pats. Ironically, the same pick that the Jets will be enjoying since they won it in the "video-gate" scandle. With that off the table, even that ray of hope is gone. Nothing like playing for your second round pick position! I've about had enough of this. Bill Walsh, may he rest in peace, must be rolling over in his grave.

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Willis Named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month

From 49ers.com

Rookie linebacker Patrick Willis has been honored by the NFL as the Defensive Rookie of the Month for October.

Willis has been an impact player since his first game of the year against Arizona, and especially throughout the month of October. In three games in October, Willis amassed 43 tackles (27 solo). His best performance was against Baltimore (10-7-07) where he made 16 tackles (10 solo). In the first seven regular games, Willis has registered double digits in tackles (solo & assist combined). Dating back to 1976, no rookie 49ers linebacker has opened their career with four consecutive games of double-digit tackles.

The rookie linebacker list includes former first round picks - Cas Banaszek (1967), Dan Bunz (1978), Todd Shell (1984), Keith DeLong (1989) and Julian Peterson (2000 Willis has 94 tackles (58 solo). He is on pace for 214 total tackles, which would tie the unofficial NFL record for tackles in a season. Hardy Nickerson totaled 214 tackles in 1993, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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Antonio Bryant sues NFL over drug testing

Former San Francisco receiver Antonio Bryant filed a lawsuit last Wednesday seeking to stop the NFL from requiring him to submit to drug testing, arguing the league's policy doesn't apply to him anymore. The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court states the 49ers terminated Bryant's contract March 1, meaning: "Antonio Bryant is not a 'player,' not an employee or not under contract to the Defendants in any form or fashion." Letters sent to Bryant by the NFL, which were part of court documents filed Wednesday, show the NFL asked him to submit to a urinalysis on Sept. 6, 13, and 18 and threatened him with discipline equivalent to a positive test if he didn't co-operate.

Bryant's agent and lawyer, Peter Schaffer, said his client had been randomly tested since he left the 49ers, but decided he was under no obligation to take them. "It doesn't make any sense at all," Schaffer said of the NFL's testing of Bryant. Bryant's lawsuit asks a judge for a preliminary injunction or temporary restraining order prohibiting the NFL from administering tests or sharing the results of those tests. It also asks the court to prohibit the NFL from telling teams that Bryant faces suspension should they decide to sign him. As for what teams Bryant might be considering or whether he would play in the NFL again, Schaffer said his client is keeping his options open.

A message left after business hours for NFL spokesman Greg Aiello was not returned. A phone number listed for Bryant, who lives in Coppell, Texas, was inoperable. The lawsuit was filed in Colorado because Schaffer is based in the state. Bryant was released in March, just one season after he signed a four-year contract with the 49ers worth US$14 million. Bryant caught 40 passes last season for a team-leading 733 yards. But he repeatedly clashed with coach Mike Nolan and was suspended four games for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy. Bryant won the Biletnikoff Award as the NCAA's best receiver as a sophomore at Pitt. He played for Dallas and Cleveland before joining the 49ers.

Two Streaks Alive For Struggling Passing Game

Matt Maiocco, The Press Democrat

The 49ers head into Sunday's game against the Giants working on two streaks. These aren't any nuggets you'll find the 49ers touting to prospective season-ticket holders. Nonetheless, the streaks are quite astounding. The first streak began at the Meadowlands in 2004, the last time the 49ers traveled to New Jersey to face a "New York" team. On Oct. 10, 2004, Niners quarterback Tim Rattay (right, with "the great Dennis Erickson") completed 38 of 57 passes for 417 yards in a 31-28 overtime victory against the Cardinals. The next week, the 49ers played the New York Jets. It was Game 1 of a streak in which the 49ers have gone without having a 300-yard passer. That streak has now reached 48 consecutive games . . . or three complete seasons.

But this next streak is one that's even more difficult to fathom.

Anything less than 200 yards passing in an NFL game is pretty crummy, right? (This, by the way, is the first time I've ever written the word "crummy" in this blog, thus ending a streak of 400 consecutive crummyless posts.) Anyway, the 49ers are working on an amazing streak. The 49ers have not recorded more than 200 yards of net passing in 18 consecutive games. This is not a typo. They have gone 18 consecutive games without breaking past the 199-yard barrier.
Alex Smith threw for 293 yards in a Week 3 loss last season to the Eagles (with sacks, the 49ers had 269 net yards passing). Since then, the 49ers have failed to eclipse the 200-yard mark.

The 49ers' problems in the passing game did not start with offensive coordinator Jim Hostler. But nobody really noticed the team's troubles in this area last season with Norv Turner as coordinator because the run game was so good. Seven times last season during this streak, the 49ers ran for more yards than they passed. Moreover, in the victory over the Raiders, the running game accounted for 165 yards, same as the passing attack. The difference this season is that the running game has topped 100 yards just once in five games. And even that was window dressing. The 49ers rushed for 109 against Seattle, but 28 of those yards came on a second-and-20 draw play with no time remaining in the first half.

I asked Nolan yesterday if Smith needed to adopt more of a "gunslinger" mentality. But Nolan said a gunslinger is more of a personality trait than a playing style. "I wouldn't call Peyton Manning a gunslinger; he's an awfully good quarterback, as is Tom Brady. Neither one of them are slingers because they don't have that personality," Nolan said. "Now, Brett Favre, without question, is a gunslinger. John Elway was a gunslinger. Joe Montana? No. "I think that's a personality issue more than anything else. It doesn't make a guy good or not. Sometimes the scheme can help you do that, but if you try to make someone just 'chuck and duck' or gunslinger as you call it, every down, you can get a guy out of his strength. I think it has to do with whether a guy's a pocket guy, outside the pocket, three step, all those types of things."

Nolan said Smith has been too careful, at times. But he said the offense, as a whole, has been too careful. When asked about it yesterday, Smith agreed that the offense has been too tentative. He pointed to the final drive against the Cardinals as a time when the offense just went out, didn't think too much and just played football. It's questionable whether Smith will play Sunday against the Giants. When he returns, Smith has to be given enough slack to just go out there and wing it around a little bit.

The 49ers' season and his development as a quarterback depend on it.

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- Trent Dilfer, not Alex Smith, was the No. 1 quarterback in team drills yesterday. For the last week and a half, Smith had circled the Wednesday practice on his calendar. If he was able to practice that day, he would play against the Giants. Dilfer led practice. So afterward, Mike Nolan made the announcement - Dilfer will start against New York, a team he once beat in the Super Bowl. -

Tuesday Niner News & Notes - Oct.16th

49ers' Smith: 'The shoulder feels great'

By Dennis Georgatos, Mercury News

Alex Smith will return to practice Wednesday with the hope of playing Sunday against the host New York Giants, as his right shoulder separation continues to heal. Smith threw on the side Monday and only reported minor forearm soreness from the constant gripping of the ball in recent days after initially resting the shoulder that he injured Sept. 30 against Seattle. Over the weekend, Smith said he gained confidence that his passing shoulder was at or near full strength by testing his velocity and range with throws as long as 55 yards. "I tried to air it out, throwing some long balls, stretching it out," Smith said as the 49ers reconvened for practice after Sunday's bye. "The shoulder feels great. We'll continue to rehab it and, hopefully, it's full-go on Wednesday." Coach Mike Nolan said he's been told that Smith should be able to return to practice Wednesday. Nolan added he was hopeful that Smith would be able to play Sunday but continued to describe his status as questionable.

Smith suffered the shoulder separation when he was sacked during the opening series in a 23-3 loss to Seattle. Trent Dilfer started in the place of Smith in a 9-7 loss to Baltimore the following week. He'll start again if Smith and Nolan, in consultation with team doctors and the training staff, determine Smith needs additional time to heal.

49ers' rookie finds footing for excellence

Gwen Knapp, San Francisco Chronicle

Turn on a 49ers game these days and Patrick Willis will hog the camera. He turns up so often, you half expect his No. 52 jersey to pop up in the commercials. He does not take over a microphone the same way. When the rookie linebacker starts talking, he likes to hand off attention. He'll rave about his coach, explain how much he didn't know about playing his position when he joined the team and describe how his little sister sent a text message after his first game, teasing him for letting the Cardinals' Edgerrin James run over him.
Willis had 11 tackles in that game and forced a fumble, winning the NFL's Rookie of the Week honors. He won the award again the following week, with eight tackles against the Rams. Five games into the season, he has 50 tackles, 35 of them solo. Willis leads the runner-up on the 49ers' list, Marques Douglas, by 18 tackles. He has 10 more solo tackles than anyone else, and he's playing with some of the best defenders the 49ers have had in ages.

Is Smith prepared to take Giant leap?

By Matthew Barrows - Sac Bee Staff Writer

Alex Smith sat in front of his television Monday night, remote control in hand, TiVo primed for plenty of use, and watched the two men who pose the biggest threat to his fast-healing separated shoulder.On one side of the New York Giants' defensive line, he saw end Osi Umenyiora, who entered Monday night's victory over Atlanta with a league-leading seven sacks. On the other, he watched Michael Strahan, whose 134 career sacks are the most among active players. Indeed, the biggest question mark surrounding Smith this week is not whether he'll be able to squeeze a pass between two defenders Sunday, but whether the shoulder can absorb a hit. Coach Mike Nolan stopped short of declaring Smith ready for the Giants game, estimating his availability as "questionable." He did say, however, that the fero-city of the Giants' pass rush would have no bearing on the decision. The Giants had 17 sacks going into Monday night, ranking fourth in the league. They had four sacks Monday night. "It'll be a factor in the game plan, but it won't be a factor in whether (Smith) plays or not," Nolan said.

Tuesday Niner News & Notes - Oct. 9th

Jennings keeps private matter private

Matt Maiocco, The Press Democrat

Left tackle Jonas Jennings returned to the 49ers on Monday after being excused from the game Sunday to address a personal matter.
"When you have to handle other things outside of football then you know how important football is and how much it means to you," Jennings said.
One rumor on national radio was proved inaccurate on Monday. The report was that Jennings left the team after Nolan informed him last week he was benched. Nolan said Monday that Jennings would be back in the starting lineup against the Giants on Oct. 21.
"I don't care about rumors," Jennings said. "I don't even know what was said. I don't care. I'm telling you straight from the horse's mouth. I appreciate the support and it's a personal matter and I'm back ready to play football."

Carmen Policy Tapped To Help Keep 49ers In SF

CBS 5.com

(AP) SAN FRANCISCO - Former San Francisco 49ers president Carmen Policy has been tapped by Mayor Gavin Newsom to lead efforts to keep the team from moving to a new stadium in Silicon Valley.Policy led the team's 1997 campaign to pass a $100 million city bond measure to erect a new stadium at Candlestick Point. That stadium was never built.Policy plans to serve as the city's liaison with the team and the NFL and to seek support for a June ballot referendum that would allow construction of a new stadium at nearby Hunters Point.Niners owners favor a site in the city of Santa Clara expected to cost at least $800 million. Owner John York has said traffic concerns and a history of toxic pollution at Hunters Point, a former Navy shipyard, make the site unsuitable."There's still a lot of work to be done in terms of infrastructure, cleanup and financing, and if Carmen can help make progress in that direction, it's a very positive move," team spokeswoman Lisa Lang said. "But it doesn't change the current situation of what we're doing in Santa Clara."

Smith will definitely be in uniform vs. Giants

Matt Maiocco, The Press Democrat

Based on what 49ers coach Mike Nolan said today, there is a 100-percent chance quarterback Alex Smith will suit up against the New York Giants on Oct. 21. How do I know that? Because Nolan admitted to making a mistake that prevented Smith from being in uniform yesterday as the 49ers' No. 3 emergency quarterback. He actually wanted Smith to dress for the game and be available for emergency duty.
The mistake was made on Friday when the 49ers listed Smith as "out" on the official injury report. The league said Smith was prevented from suiting up for the game because of how he was designated on Friday.
"I could've used Alex as our third quarterback," Nolan said. "If something had happened, he could've gone in and handed the ball off. As it was, the next guy in line, the third quarterback, that's all he would've done anyway."
While it seems to be a certainty that Smith will be in uniform for the game against the Giants, there also remains a chance he could start. After all, Smith is making tremendous progress from his right shoulder separation, which he sustained Sept. 30 against the Seahawks. He threw some passes on the field before the game.
"It's amazing what surgery can do in one day," Nolan quipped, referring to the inaccurate report last week that Smith would undergo season-ending surgery.

Head Coach Mike Nolan's News Conference: click here

http://cbs5.com/video/?id=27454@kpix.dayport.com

Smith: 'I'd like to push it next week'

Matt Maiocco, The Press Democrat

Niners quarterback Alex Smith is still saying he'd like to return to action Oct. 21 against the New York Giants after sustaining a separated right shoulder on Sunday against the Seahawks. "That would be the goal," Smith said. "The bye week helps." The swelling is going down in his right shoulder and the pain is subsiding, he said. He hopes next week he can begin throwing a tennis ball and then build up to throwing a football. "I'd like to push it next week," Smith said. The 49ers play the Ravens on Sunday. Trent Dilfer will get the start at quarterback. Next week, the 49ers are scheduled to practice Monday through Thursday before taking the weekend off because of the bye. When the 49ers come back, they will begin preparations for the Giants. Smith said he does not plan to undergo surgery -- now or after the season. He spoke with Dr. James Andrews this morning. Andrews told him the everything looked good. Smith is still wearing a sling, but he hopes to be able to start moving it around, which will expedite the recovery process.

Smith said the ligaments were torn are not vital to the process of throwing. The ligaments generally scar over. As Smith spoke with reporters, there did not appear to be any obvious deformity in his shoulder.

Smith said his agent, Tom Condon, and 49ers athletic trainer, Jeff Ferguson, have good relationships with Dr. Andrews. That is why the MRI from Monday was sent to Dr. Andrews. Smith said he does not believe he would require a cortisone injection in order to play, but he might need to take some "pain medication." Yesterday, Smith's drive to work was a bit hectic, he said. He heard the reports on ESPN that he would require immediate season-ending surgery and he thought maybe he had yet to be informed of the news. The report was inaccurate.

Jacobs Out - Gilmore Back In

From ESPN.com

Fifth-year veteran Taylor Jacobs, (below), a former second-round draft pick of the Washington Redskins, was released Tuesday by the 49ers despite having served as the club's No. 3 wide receiver for the first four games of the season.

"Taylor has exceptional skills, but we were not getting the production that we need at that position," coach Mike Nolan told the team's Web site. In four games, Jacobs had three receptions for 40 yards and one touchdown. To replace Jacobs on the roster, San Francisco signed free agent wideout Bryan Gilmore, who was with the 49ers last season and in training camp this summer. Gilmore (right) was one of the last players released by the 49ers before the start of the regular season. A seven-year veteran, Gilmore has 46 catches for 683 yards and five touchdowns. He has appeared in 68 games in stints with Arizona (2002-05) and the 49ers (2006). Because of his familiarity with the San Francisco offense, Gilmore should be able to step right in and contribute immediately to a passing offense in need of a spark. Jacobs, 26, becomes the latest former University of Florida wide receiver to struggle at the NFL level.

Acquired by the 49ers in an August 2006 trade, Jacobs had only four receptions for 29 yards and no touchdowns in his first season in San Francisco. Although blessed with deep speed, he has never exhibited much consistency and has never posted more than 16 receptions in a season. For his career, Jacobs has only 37 catches for 384 yards and two touchdowns, while appearing in 50 games.

- Hopefully, this will give Trent Dilfer an opportunity to gell with at least one receiver for the stretch of games he is now slated to start with Alex Smith's injury. Apparently, this roster change will also help open the door a bit for either rookie Jason Hill or thus-far disappointing Ashley Lelie to find a role in the struggling offense.-

Tuesday Niner News & Notes - Oct. 2

49ers hope to improve blocking for Dilfer

John Crumpacker, San Francisco Chronicle

While Alex Smith receives treatment and therapy for his separated right shoulder, the 49ers have two big to-dos on their list as they prepare to face the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday:
-- Get Trent Dilfer ready to play only his second NFL regular-season game since Nov. 27, 2005.
-- Try to fix serious and surprising problems with the interior of the offensive line. Because Dilfer's physical well being depends on the second issue, he has a vested interest in seeing the 49ers shore up what had been expected to be a strength of the team.
"I prepare to go out and run the entire offense to the best of my ability," Dilfer said. "Not a whole lot changes except the repetitions in practice. Get some rhythm and timing back, which you had in training camp. That will help execution."

No surgery for injured Smith

John Crumpacker, San Francisco Chronicle

On a scale of one to six, Alex Smith has a Grade 3 separation of his throwing shoulder, meaning the ligaments connecting his collarbone to his shoulder blade are torn. No surgery is planned.
The 49ers' quarterback was sleep-deprived and in pain when he emerged from a meeting Monday afternoon at team headquarters in Santa Clara. His right arm was in a sling, the end result of absorbing a sack by 308-pound Seattle defensive tackle Rocky Bernard on the third play of Sunday's game.
"Been better," Smith said. "Been better. It's pretty sore right now. Pretty tender."
Though he said the team's medical staff will know more about his condition Thursday, when swelling in the shoulder subsides, Smith indicated he would be out "several weeks."

Polamalu apologizes to Davis

Matthew Barrows, Sac Bee

Talked to Vernon Davis today about the hit that put him out of action a couple of weeks. Davis thought Steelers safety Troy Polamalu’s shot that left him with a sprained medial collateral ligament was a bit of a cheap shot. But he said he’s not angry with Polamalu, who called him a couple of days after the game to apologize.“I don’t know how he got my number, but the guy called me and apologized for hitting me that low,” Davis said.What was his reaction: “It’s cool. That’s alright. That’s what happens. It’s part of football.”Davis is not yet running on the knee but said he’s been doing some low-impact weight lifting in the training room. He said he aims to be back for the New York Giants game Oct. 21. Now if only he can get an apology from Gerry Austin ...

Coach Mike Nolan's Monday press conference: Click here:

http://cbs5.com/sports/local_story_221142527.html

Gore Frustrated With Niners

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) -- Frank Gore is frustrated. And the Pro Bowl running back says it's time to take it out on the Seattle Seahawks. The reigning NFC rushing champion has mostly been contained during San Francisco's first three games as the team's struggling offense has sunk to the bottom of the NFL rankings. The 49ers still have managed a 2-1 record to take into Sunday's battle with Seattle for first place in the NFC West, but Gore is upset that he and the offense aren't doing their part.

"We won two games and the offense has done nothing," Gore said Thursday. "We just have to start making plays. Running the ball, throwing the ball everything. It's on us. We're not doing what it takes to get to the next level right now as an offense." After recording a team-record nine 100-yard games last year, Gore still is looking for his first breakout game of 2007 one month into the season. This could be the week he finds it. Gore rushed for 356 yards in two games against Seattle last year, including a team-record 212 yards when the Seahawks visited San Francisco last November. His efforts led to two of the 49ers' biggest wins of 2006 and a season sweep of the three-time defending NFC West champions. "We got big runs on them," Gore said. "They couldn't stop me in the open field. We know we can do it because we did it before. We just have to get on the same page and put it all together. It's going to happen." It hasn't been happening for Gore or the San Francisco offense so far this season. Gore was limited to just 39 yards rushing on 14 carries during last week's loss at Pittsburgh, his lowest total in the 20 games he has started since entering the NFL two years ago.

Gore rushed for 81 yards and two touchdowns to spark the 49ers in their Week 2 victory at St. Louis, but otherwise he has found the going tough since the season began. After leading the NFC and finishing third in the NFL last season with a franchise-record 1,695 yards rushing, Gore is currently 11th in the NFC and 24th in the league with 175 yards. He's averaging only 3.4 yards per carry after averaging 5.4 per carry last season -- the best average among the 23 NFL running backs that gained 1,000 or more yards.

With opposing defenses stacking the box to stop Gore, San Francisco's offense failed to produce 200 yards in either of the team's first two games. The 49ers had 289 yards against Pittsburgh to climb from last to 31st in the NFL rankings this week in total offense. "Our defense has been playing great ball, but we have to help out," Gore said. "We just have to keep pushing, keep working, get an extra push, do extra. The only way I see this team doing better this year is the offense has to play better. If we don't play better, man, it's going to be real tough for us." Coach Mike Nolan understands his star running back's frustration. But that's something that goes both ways, Nolan said. He thinks it's only a matter of time before Gore and the offense get on track.

Return Men Change -- Williams Cut, Lewis Signed By 49ers

Matthew Barrows - Sac Bee Staff Writer

The 49ers on Tuesday parted with punt returner Brandon Williams and welcomed Michael Lewis, the New Orleans Saints' career return leader in punts and kickoffs. Lewis, 35, is familiar to 49ers special-teams coach Al Everest, who coached the Saints' special teams from 2000 to 2005. During Everest's first year in New Orleans, the Saints signed Lewis, a former beer delivery man and Arena Football League player, to the practice squad. The Saints cut Lewis, a New Orleans native, in June.

"Michael Lewis is an exceptional returner who has experience and has been to a Pro Bowl," Everest said in a statement. "We are picking up a player who has been there and knows what it is supposed to look like." Williams (above) fumbled a punt Sept. 16 at St. Louis and had not shown the kind of burst on returns the 49ers had wanted. It is not known whether Lewis (left, Pro Bowl) will handle both punt and kick returns. The 49ers also signed linebacker Tyson Smith, who played in three games last year for the New York Giants, to the practice squad.