Film Room: Pick the last pink slip

All right, folks. It’s time to get down to business. The 49ers must trim their roster to 53 players on Saturday, and we’re all set to offer our official recommendations.

Well, I thought I was ready. Then I realized that after listing everyone I considered to be a lock and reconciling myself with all the guys I’d be cutting, I realized I had trimmed to only 54. Frankly, I’m having a hard time seeing where that last cut might come from.

I really don’t see any of the running backs getting cut, and with only one fullback on my roster, I’m OK with that. I also don’t think Mike Nolan would cut someone like Patrick Estes, who is young and has a lot of potential, or Sam Rayburn, who brings some experience to the defensive line and is a good fit in the 3-4.

But somebody has to go, and I’ve already made cuts I don’t agree with (such as Marcus Hudson). So I’m putting this one on you, the loyal 49ers Observer readers (yes, both of you).

I’ve got one pink slip left. Who gets it? A running back? Brandon Williams? Estes? Rayburn? And did I cut someone who should stay? If so, who goes in their place? You make the call.

(3) QB: A. Smith, Dilfer, S. Hill

(4) RB: Gore, Hicks, Robinson, Clayton

(1) FB: Norris

(6) WR: Jackson, Battle, Lelie, Jacobs, Williams, Hill

(3) TE: Davis, Walker, Bajema

(10) OL: J. Jennings, Allen, Heitmann, Smiley, Staley, Snyder, Baas, K. Harris, Wragge, Estes

(8) DL: Young, Franklin, Douglas, Fields, Sopoaga, McDonald, Cohen, Rayburn

(8) LB: Willis, Lawson, D. Smith, Banta-Cain, B. Moore, Ulbrich, Haralson, J. Moore

(8) DB: Clements, Harris, Spencer, M. Lewis, K. Lewis, Roman, Brown, Goldson

(1) K: Nedney

(1) P: Lee

(1) LS: B. Jennings

Key cuts: Gilmore, Keasey, Hilton, Navies, Buckwoldt, Hudson, Strickland, Bing

Candidates for final cut: Hicks, Robinson, Clayton, Williams, Estes, Rayburn Read more on this article...

Kneejerk Knotes: Position battles get more cloudy

I certainly don't envy the 49ers' decision-makers tonight.

With a few legitimate position battles still to be decided, a whole lot of nothing got accomplished in tonight's 16-13 loss to the Chargers in the preseason finale. If anything, the really difficult decision might have gotten tougher.

First of all, thank goodness we don't have to worry about the right tackle debate anymore. Joe Staley looked pretty good. He's clearly the right man for the job.

The battle for the No. 3 receiver spot didn't get any clearer, though. In what seems to be a two-horse race, Taylor Jacobs didn't do much and Ashley Lelie did just a little more. My gut tells me Lelie will get the job, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he started the season at No. 4. OK, so it would surprise me a little.

Brandon Williams certainly didn't help himself. He again was non-existent in the passing game and fumbled on a punt return. But with Mike Nolan not even giving anyone else a shot at a punt return, it appears Williams' roster spot is safe. Just don't expect him to see the field on offense anytime soon.

The backup running back competition seems to have gotten more interesting. Rookie Thomas Clayton was the underdog but has been the only really consistent performer in the group (albeit against inferior opponents). Maurice Hicks and Michael Robinson are both fairly solid, but it's hard to imagine any of these guys getting cut. And it's really not hard to imagine Clayton eventually winning the No. 2 job behind Frank Gore. He seems to be the most complete back of the three.

As for the starters, well, the offense still looked shaky. Alex Smith looked like he might have stayed up too late partying in his native San Diego, staring down Taylor Jacobs on an interception, fumbling while being mobbed by the Chargers' pass rush and just generally looking skittish. I'm not putting too much stock in this performance, though. Remember, Frank Gore is still out. And Larry Allen and Darrell Jackson were out tonight, too.

The defense looked better, but it was against a Chargers offense missing Philip Rivers and LaDainian Tomlinson. Still, their performance was pretty encouraging despite the continued absence of a pass rush. Nate Clements better be as good as his contract suggests, because they Niners are going to have to blitz about nine guys to get to the quarterback. Nate just might have to cover three receivers by himself.

The 49ers avoided injuries for the most part during the first three preseason games, but that was unfortunately not the case tonight. Joe Cohen seemed to suffer the most significant injury when his foot got caught under a pile. Adam Snyder, Jay Moore and Parys Haralson also were injured. Let's hope none of them are too serious. No starters in this group, but they could all be key backups. Check the game stories in the "Worth Reading" section to your right for updates on the injuries.

SINCE THERE'S NOT a whole lot else to talk about from this game, tomorrow’s edition of "Film Room" will look at the impending roster cuts. All teams must trim down to 53 players on Saturday, and some cuts are expected tomorrow. I've already started looking at who my 53 would be, and let me tell you, there are some real tough decisions to be made.

I might not even be able to bring myself to make that last cut, so tune in tomorrow morning for your chance to pick the last pink slip. Read more on this article...

Breaking the Huddle: Are we there yet?

Welcome to the first installment of "Breaking the Huddle," a gameday preview that will be much more structured and lively once we get to preview a game that matters.

Tonight we complete the transition from the allegedly "most important" preseason game to probably the least important. But that doesn't mean tonight's game between the 49ers and Chargers doesn't have some intrigue to it.

There are plenty of reasons to watch at least the first quarter, when the 49ers' first-team offense will try to shake off a terrible performance against the Bears and actually gain first downs (yes, plural!). It won't mean much if they do and it won't mean much if they don't, but we'll all feel better if they at least show some of the rhythm they had in the first two preseason games.

The other reason to watch the first-team offense is simply to feel what it's like to have Joe Staley as the starter at right tackle. Pay particularly close attention to the way Alex Smith handles himself in the pocket (that sounded dirty, didn't it?) with Staley protecting him. He just seems to be more at ease. Wouldn't you?

There's only one thing I want to see from the starting defense. I just want somebody on the defensive line or at outside linebacker beat his man one-on-one and get to the quarterback. I'm talking to you, Tully.

Once the first quarter ends, just sit back, get comfortable and watch grown men fight for their livelihoods. Saturday is the deadline for teams to cut down to 53-man rosters, and many of those who play in the second half tonight will not be on that roster.

More interesting, though, might be the one position battle that's really still up for grabs. I keep thinking Ashley Lelie is going to be rewarded for his strong preseason play with the No. 3 wide receiver spot, but it hasn't happened yet. Taylor Jacobs still appears to have that job, though Nolan wavered a bit more than he has when asked about Jacobs' hold on the position.

Lelie has been the 49ers' most consistent receiver in the preseason, and he's the only guy other than Darrell Jackson and Arnaz Battle to have any real NFL experience. He also has the physical tools that defenses will have to respect when he steps on the field. I think it's somewhat inevitable that Lelie ends up winning the job, and part of me thinks Nolan is putting him through the ringer to make sure he works hard and earns it (sort of like he did with Staley).

Beyond that battle, the only drama left will be whether Luke Getsy gets to throw a pass or two before he gets cut. I'll watch from start to finish, but I won't blame you if you don't. Read more on this article...

Now that that's over — keep Kwame around

Sorry I wasn't around to express my extreme pleasure at yesterday's announcement that Joe Staley had been named the starter at right tackle. I was stuck at work, but I was celebrating on the inside with the rest of you.

My initial thought when Mike Nolan said Monday that the competition was still open was that he had made up his mind but was in the process of trying to trade ol' No. 77. He didn't want to damage Kwame's trade value by demoting him. With the announcement coming one day later that Staley would start, I believe even more strongly that was the case.

Do you really think Staley had such a great practice on Monday that Nolan suddenly made up his mind? I doubt it. More likely, he didn't get any takers for Harris. And believe it or not, I think that's a good thing for the 49ers.

Sure, I was all for trading Harris some 36 hours ago. But that was when it looked like it might take Harris being removed from the roster for Staley to start. Now that Joltin' Joe has the job, I think it might be a good idea to keep Kwame around.

Harris is not a good offensive lineman. But he's not a terrible one, either. He's bad in pass protection, but he's a good run blocker. He commits too many penalties, but he's still useful enough to be a backup. If you look at him as your starting right tackle, he's awful. If you look at him as your backup tackle, he's not so bad.

Kwame is a good insurance policy to have at the right price. He could do an average job in the event that someone important gets hurt, which is about all you can expect from a backup anyway. I'd be perfectly happy if Kwame remained with the 49ers for the rest of his career — AS A BACKUP. That said, I won't shed any tears if they end up pulling off a trade.

In the meantime, get ready for the Joe Staley era. It's only a matter of time before he moves in at left tackle, the premier position on the line, in place of Jonas Jennings. And if Jennings stays healthy, the 49ers will have a formidable line for years to come. Read more on this article...

Line of Scrimmage: Is Smith set for big year?

Today we debut the Line of Scrimmage, a point-counterpoint segment in which two 49ers Observer writers will debate questions that surround the team.

This week we look at 49ers quarterback Alex Smith. Many experts are predicting a breakout season for the young QB, and those same experts are expecting big things from the 49ers this year. Smith's mostly solid play in the preseason has done nothing to quiet such predictions.

Which brings us to today's question: Is Alex Smith's "solid" preseason showing an indication of good things to come?

YES: Two seasons ago, when Tim Rattay was relegated to the bench and the young No. 1 pick from Utah was thrust into his first NFL action, I immediately was worried that it was happening too soon. How many quarterbacks have we seen over the years that came into the pros with all the potential in the world, only to have their confidence irrevocably shattered by playing for impossibly bad teams?

Alex Smith, all of 21 years old, was playing much too soon on an impossibly bad 49ers team, and by all accounts, it definitely looked like it was too soon for him and he was overmatched. One touchdown and 11 interceptions later, Smith's trial by fire was over, and boy did he look scorched.

The next year, all eyes were on him, and I don't think anybody would have been surprised if he folded like a cheap card table. But he didn't. He had a pretty decent season without the benefit of any consistently productive receivers. So understandably, expectations are high this year for Smith to take another big step forward and propel himself to the upper tier of NFL quarterbacks. And in San Francisco, the upper tier rests pretty damn high (especially with Joe and Steve still watching).

We've seen Smith play in three preseason games so far this season, and for the most part he's looked to be right on track with the progress we'd expect. He's completing well over 60 percent of his passes, thrown a touchdown, moved well in the pocket and minimized his mistakes — a very solid effort from what looks to be the youngest starting quarterback in the NFL for the third year running.
Statistics can really only say so much about his performance thus far, though. In actually watching the dozen or so series that he's conducted, you see a much different player than even the one we saw last season. This is becoming Smith's team. The offense is responding to him, and he's elevating his game, standing in the pocket, making the throws and, most importantly, utilizing those precious smarts of his and making better decisions with the football.

- JR

NO: Alex Smith is going to be great this year, you say? Please excuse me while a take a moment to jump off a cliff. Now, I've got nothing against the guy, and I hope he can be the answer at quarterback, but I'm still not sold. I NEVER thought I would do this, but I have to agree with Keena Turner's assessment of Smith during the Chicago game.

Turner said Smith needs to learn to be the man. I agree. He needs to get cozy with the fact that Frank Gore is going to get dinged up and that he's not going to be able to carry the team every single game. Smith has to go into games with the mentality that he can take over a game when he needs to. I think Smith can get too comfortable in managing games, too comfortable letting other guys shoulder the load. If he thinks Maurice Hicks and Michael Robinson will be able to do the things Gore does when he's not available, Smith will never mature into a top-flight pro quarterback.

I admit, I'm coming up with this argument after a preseason that analysts have spent fawning over the way he's managed games. That's great. I admit he's looked better. But I want Montana. I want Young. Hell, let the guy channel Jeff Garcia and the Niners would be better off.

You think I'm setting the bar too high? That's fine. But if Smith can even get close to that bar, he's going to lead the 49ers to the postseason and it'll be HIS
team — not Gore's, not Larry Allen's, not Nate Clements'. It's not enough for me to say "he's improving," because the Niners are contenders now. When Alex Smith becomes the man, the 49ers will be a great team. Not just a good team, a great team.

-Ben

Read more on this article...

The inevitable finally happens

So the Santa Rosa Press Democrat gave us here at the 49ers Observer an early Christmas present today. Can you guess what it is?

Yes, it's true. Matt Maiocco reports that Joe Staley is the 49ers' new starter right tackle. It's a happy day around these parts.

It's possible we're setting Staley up to fail. I mean, we're so excited that the human holding penalty is out of the starting lineup that Staley is burdened with impossible expectations.

WHO CARES!!! HE'S NOT KWAME! Harsh, I know, but this was the most glaring weakness on the offensive side of the ball and the 49ers have a chance to turn it into a positive. Joy to the world!

James wishes he could convey his unbridled joy himself, but trust me, he's sitting in a cubicle right now doing jumping jacks. Read more on this article...

Hit List: Inside Grossman's head

Every Tuesday, 49ers Observer will bring you Hit List, a list of 10 things worth pondering concerning the San Francisco 49ers.

This week, we look back at three (no, not 10) random thoughts from the mind of Rex Grossman during the 49ers' 31-28 loss to the Bears in Saturday's preseason game at Soldier Field. We're keeping it to three this week instead of 10 because Rex Grossman said so.

NOTE: For those uninitiated to the legendary tales of "Sexy Rexy," click here, here and here to get fully educated. The language in these links is VERY mature, but unfortunately it's impossible to censor the Sex Cannon. Now, back to our show:

1. "Holy crap. Aren't these the same turds in the secondary we scored 41 points on in the first half last year? I'm gonna pump this ball deep in the end zone all night, even if no one's open. That's how the Sex Cannon rolls. I command this offense with 210 pounds of twisted steel and sex appeal."

Well to be fair, it wasn't exactly the same secondary. But I wouldn't be surprised if Rex couldn't tell the difference. The 49ers started FS Mike Adams, SS Mark Roman and CBs Walt Harris, Shawntae Spencer and Sammy Davis during the 41-10 rout the Bears put on the Niners last season. On Saturday, the 49ers started newcomers in CB Nate Clements and FS Michael Lewis with Roman, Harris and Spencer filling out their usual roles (Sammy Davis, you are not missed).

However, the results weren't much different. Both Harris and Spencer got completely burned during the first half by Bernard Berrian (yes, I know Spencer fell, but good CBs don't fall, my fellow fan), and as a result, Rexstacy & the Bears were up 17-0 before I finished my first beer of the night.

Here's where I get critical. I know 49ers fans are usually high on both Spencer and Harris, but I honestly don't have a ton of confidence in either of them regarding their pass coverage skills. I have never thought Shawntae Spencer was anything more than a serviceable corner. And yes, Walt Harris made the Pro Bowl last year, but looking at the tape, a good number of his interceptions last year were just lame ducks quarterbacks recklessly tossed into DEEP into coverage (guilty parties include Seattle's Seneca Wallace and Matt Hasselbeck and Oakland's Andrew Walter).

And yes, Harris did pick off a short Grossman pass in the second quarter and took it to the house, but it's the long, over-the-shoulder bombs I worry about with Harris, not Sexy Rexy's bad passes (go watch last season's game against Green Bay and try to feel good about the deep ball). It's not a popular sentiment, but both Spencer and Harris have a lot to prove in my book before the 49ers should rest easy concerning their secondary.

Oh, Nate Clements is worth every penny the 49ers are paying him. Preach it.

2. "Damn! I've got all the friggin' time in the world back here. Rex needs a cold cerveza to quench his thirst. Hey running back man! Hold the ball for me back here while I go to the concession stand. Or get Orton to do it if he's not too drunk already. Maybe I'll get a pretzel too. Or maybe a churro ..."

49ers pass rush? That's funny. From where I stand, I have no idea what the problem is OR if there is a reason to be worried. Is Manny "Man-Law" Lawson just too skinny to get through the line? Is Tully Banta-Cain really just a mediocre player and not the pass-rushing savior fans were hoping for? Do the injuries keeping Aubrayo Franklin and Bryant Young off the field really matter that much?

My optimistic side says that the 49ers are simply choosing to not show their blitz packages in the preseason, and that it's no biggie. Yet every time I watch Man-Law and Banta-Cain try to rush from the outside, only to get swallowed up by the O-line, I die a little inside. Rex, on the other hand, now looks like a Pro Bowl candidate thanks to the 49ers' stellar rush.

3. "Hell yes, Chicago. Now that is a fine brew. The Sex Cannon only drinks the best beer in the house ... or Miller High Life if it's a time of celebration. Hey, Orton! Isn't that guy the coach-dude who likes to wear the fancy suits all the time? How long you think that dude will have a job anyway? I wish I could play in a suit. Then Rexstacy could be open for sexy business all the time. Respect the Sex Cannon."

There was an interesting moment (for me at least) during the fourth quarter of Saturday's game regarding 49ers coach Mike Nolan. After receiving a pass from Trent Dilfer, Delanie "D-Love" Walker fumbled the ball deep in Chicago territory and the Bears' Danieal Manning recovered. It was par for the course the way the night was going.

After the officials signaled that Chicago had indeed recovered the fumble, the television broadcast cut straight to a close-up of Mike Nolan on the sideline, displaying a look I have never seen before from the Suited One. Usually when games go bad, Nolan puts on his angry-and-annoyed-but-kind of-honestly-surprised-that-the-49ers-still-suck-so-badly-face. In the past, you could sympathize with his plight when he put on that face. I mean, frankly, how are you supposed to win games with "football players" like Sammy Davis, Kwame Harris and a one-eyed Derek Smith (who has looked good all preseason by the way) in your starting lineup? It was just kind of something 49ers fans had grown to accept — the post-Mariucci 49ers are not expected to win come any given Sunday.

But this was a different look. When the broadcast cut to Nolan, he looked taken aback, as if he hadn't ever pictured year three of the Alex Smith Experiment going so wrong. In fact, he almost looked a little like this guy.

Now I'm not trying to stir up anything regarding the collective confidence in our head coach (at least not yet), but you have to wonder about Mike Nolan as he heads into his third year at the helm. You can say the 49ers are a second-half team, but why do they ALWAYS look so unprepared when they take the field? Could you tell the difference between the team that played Saturday night and last year's squad, ignoring for the moment that Nolan and Hostler were supposedly getting a last good look at the current running back situation?

The Mike Nolan 49ers just seem to always be playing on their heels right after the coin toss, and I have no idea why. Nolan knows he needs to come up with some answers this season, because if the 49ers go below .500 without any major injuries to point to, his time may be up somewhat sooner than expected (not after this year, but maybe sooner than you would think).

And with that, I'm off to go get a beer with Rex and Orton. Next week's Hit List will be a bit shorter and more concise. Please leave me comments, as feedback is a beautiful thing. As I leave you guys, here is a list of who I liked and didn't like in Saturday's game against Chicago:

Smittay will buy you a beer: Isaac Sopoaga, Patrick Willis, Joe Staley, Manny Lawson, Nate Clements, Derek Smith and Ashley Lelie (seriously, he's your No. 3, Nolan ... make the change).

Tim Rattay will be calling you to borrow money: Walt Harris, Shawntae Spencer, Kwame Harris, Joe Nedney, special teams for not being on top of punter Brad Maynard after he dropped the snap, and the coaching duo of Mike Nolan and Jim Hostler for not letting Mr. Smith throw more than eight passes.

Read more on this article...

Still competing?? Still competing?!?!?!?

I don't know if this is the last word for today on the Joe Staley-Kwame Harris battle or not, but Matt Maiocco was just on the Fitz & Brooks show on KNBR and said in no uncertain terms that the team has not made a decision, the two are still competing for the right tackle spot, and the competition is likely to stretch into the final preseason game Thursday against the Chargers.

To which I replied, well, a bunch of words not fit for this blog.

It's absolutely inconceivable to me that Mike Nolan hasn't made up his mind on this yet. He's proven over the past three years to be a relatively smart man and a pretty sound judge of talent, yet he hasn't seen enough to know that Staley is light-years ahead of Kwame after three preseason games?

I can only come up with one logical explanation, and that's that Nolan is trying to maintain Kwame's trade value. He managed to swindle a fourth-round pick out of the Jets last year for Kevan Barlow despite the fact that everyone knew Barlow was going to take a backseat to Frank Gore.

Perhaps he's in the process of fielding offers for Kwame at this very moment. Perhaps there will be no announcement that Joe Staley has won the job — only an announcement that Kwame has been traded to the Toronto Argonauts for a handful of pocket lint and some fine Tupperware (a steal, in my opinion).

Something must be up. It's the only way this delay would be in any way understandable.

**UPDATE** Maiocco and Matt Barrows are both reporting this on their blogs now. I guess we'll just have to wait until a trade is made or Nolan makes up his mind. Sadly, this is going to mean more Kwame-bashing to come on this site. I was hoping, like the rest of you, that today would be the end of that. Read more on this article...

Is today the day? Nolan could name RT starter

The day we've all been waiting for could be upon us. According to Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, 49ers coach Mike Nolan said he is likely to name a starter at right tackle today.

We're assuming along with everyone else that Joe Staley will be that starter, since thus far he's looked like everything Kwame Harris is not: namely, a solid run blocker and an impenetrable pass blocker. I haven't seen Staley cleanly beaten by a pass rusher this preseason. Harris, on the other hand, has been his usual, incompetent self.

We'll post something as soon as we know who the starter will be. If we're a little late, it could be because we're out celebrating (if it's Staley) or contemplating the many different methods of suicide (if it's Kwame).

NOLAN ALSO SAID the 49ers' starters will play on Thursday against the Chargers. He was thinking of holding them out if they played well against the Bears but, well, they didn't.

No telling how long they'll play on Thursday, but I hope he's not planning on waiting for them to put together a good possession or two on both offense and defense. It's not like the Chargers are a much easier opponent than the Bears. Thankfully the regular season schedule isn't quite this daunting. Read more on this article...

Cutdown Day: No big names dropped yet

Who remembers the scene in "Major League" when Jake Taylor tells Willie Mays Hayes that he shouldn't celebrate in the clubhouse because some of his teammates might have just died and went down to the minors? Well, that advice would have been best directed at Santa Clara today, as the 49ers made their first cuts of the preseason.

Nine players were casualties of cutdown day today but there weren't any real notable names heading out the door. LB Roderick Green, WR Marcus Maxwell, K MacKenzie Hoambrecker (can I get a nomination for name of the year?), G Nick Steitz, LB John Syptak, P Ken Parrish, CB Sammy Joseph, FB Steve Dildine and WR Dominique Zeigler were the unlucky ones.

Perhaps one sentimental favorite that got cut today was Maxwell, who has been in 49ers camp for two years now and really thrived in the now-defunct NFL Europa. Boy, was he in the wrong place at the wrong time. I'm not saying the Niners have the best receivers in the league, but they're way better than last year and Maxwell just didn't have a home.

The Niners announced two more moves today, placing DL Melvin Oliver and WR C.J. Brewer on injured reserve. Oliver would have provided some real nice depth on the defensive line and he'll be missed. Brewer, on the other hand, wasn't going to make the team. But man, a part of me was pulling for him. I was on hand to watch the first preseason game against the Broncos, and Brewer was all over the field, making even Shaun Hill look good (trust me, that takes some effort). Was he going to make the team? Not a chance. Could he have caught on somewhere and made a squad? Absolutely. Read more on this article...

Film Room: Hostler crawls into his shell

Jim Hostler looked an awful lot like Norv Turner last night. Come to think of it, he looked an awful lot like Mike McCarthy, too. Like the two offensive coordinators who came before him, Hostler chose to curl up like a roly-poly after barely a nudge from the big and scary Chicago Bears.

Look, we're all aware of how good the Bears' defense is. Urlacher, Briggs, Vasher, blah, blah, blah. But why does that mean the 49ers' offense has to run away and hide?

Alex Smith threw three passes in the first half. Three. There's just no excuse for that.

There's especially no excuse when Frank Gore is not in the backfield. Establishing the run is important, sure, but does anyone really expect Maurice Hicks or Michael Robinson to do any significant damage on first and second down against that defense? When Gore is out, the offense is on Smith's shoulders. He carried them in the first two games. He never got a chance in the third.

The result was a complete waste of a flight to Chicago. This was the perfect chance to let Smith test himself against the best defense in the NFL, but he couldn't because he was stuck in third-and-12 all night. This one is on Hostler.

I'M NOT QUITE sure who I'd pull from the starting lineup to get Parys Haralson on the field, but I really don't know how you can keep him off it.

Haralson had looked pretty good in the 49ers' first two preseason games, but he was the star of the second half against the Bears on Saturday.

Haralson's pass-rushing skills were second to none. Once he met Hannibal Navies at the quarterback as the two combined for a sack — but Haralson had to fight off a lineman while Navies was completely unblocked. Later he pushed his man backward into Bears quarterback Kyle Orton, then pulled Orton down with one hand. He wasn't credited for either sack, but he deserved at least 1.5.

Haralson also blew through the line on a running play to stop Garrett Wolfe for a 5-yard loss. He seemed to be beating anyone and everyone the Bears tried to stop him with. This should be taken with a grain of salt since it came against Chicago's backups, but Haralson has shown enough as a pass rusher to at least get on the field on third downs.

And who knows. Maybe someday Manny Lawson will get moved to safety so Haralson can start at outside linebacker.

I FEEL SORT OF obligated to mention that Trent Dilfer led something of a second-half comeback, going 9-for-12 for 99 yards and two touchdowns — including the first of rookie wideout Jason Hill's career — to make the final score close.

There, I said it. Now can we get back to how awful the starters were?

YOU KNOW THINGS are going bad when even Joe Nedney sucks. Nedney opened the game by booting the kickoff out-of-bounds and giving the Bears great field position — like they needed it. Later, in a really bizarre moment, he missed an extra point. Maybe it just wasn't the 49ers' night after all.

ONE OTHER ASPECT of the 49ers' defense that actually looked OK was the new tandem at inside linebacker. Patrick Willis, like fellow first-round pick Joe Staley, just looks like a player (and nothing like a rookie). And Derek Smith was solid.

I think Nolan made the right move by demoting Moore and not Smith. Smith seems to be the better player right now, and hopefully it’ll motivate Moore to regain his starting spot eventually.

BRANDON WILLIAMS SHOWED he might be more than just a sure pair of hands as a punt returner, turning in a long, weaving return for 41 yards in the third quarter. Williams probably would have scored if he had anything close to Devin Hester's breakaway speed, but at least we finally got to see some real moves from him. I've backed the kid since he was drafted, and even I was getting a little worried.

THANK GOD WE only have one more game with Dennis O'Donnell in the booth. The guy gets more names wrong than Pat Summerall used to, and he doesn’t even have the excuse of being 130 years old. Read more on this article...

Kneejerk Knotes: Flashbacks and extreme nausea

Boy, that felt a lot like last year, didn’t it?

The 49ers’ starters were completely outmatched against the defending NFC champion Chicago Bears in every facet of their 31-28 loss Saturday night. The defense got burned for big plays in the passing game. And the offense got stuck in the mud early and turned ultra-conservative. Then, when the Bears called off the dogs in the second half, the Niners played just well enough to spin themselves as a "second-half team."

I hated this movie the first time around. The sequel is even worse.

Here’s everything you need to know about the first half. The Bears held advantages of 279-44 in total yards, 211-10 in passing yards, 17-1 in first downs and 45-17 in total plays.

Does this mean the 49ers are screwed? That they’re doomed to repeat their sub-.500 records of years past? Nope. But this was supposed to be their barometer to see how they matched up against the best their conference had to offer, and they didn’t match up well.

But unlike the lopsided defeats that came early last season, there were at least some players who looked like they belonged on the field. This team at least has enough talent that if they start playing as a unit, they’ll be able to compete with pretty much anyone. Here are some of the highs and lows from tonight’s game.

AGAINST THE RUN, the 49ers actually looked pretty solid. Sure, this was while they were making Rex Grossman look like Peyton Manning, but since the first-quarter debacle against Denver in the preseason opener, the first-team run defense has been OK.

There has been concern over whether Manny Lawson could hold up against the run as an outside linebacker in the 3-4. He looked fine tonight. He fought off blocks and used his speed to make plays in the backfield on multiple occasions.

It’s really a breath of fresh air to watch Nate "Yes, I said $80 million" Clements come up and help in run support. Well, it’s more of a gasp at first — then, when I see him get up uninjured, it turns into a breath of fresh air. Clements is a solid tackler for his size and nearly stopped Cedric Benson one-on-one at the goal line. I don’t know how many cornerbacks would have even tried.

And there may not have been a more impressive defensive player than Isaac Sopoaga. For probably the first time in his NFL career, Sopoaga has put together back-to-back solid games. He was simply spectacular against the Bears, consistently getting penetration and stuffing the running game.

THEN THERE WAS the pass defense. I have a hard time putting much of the blame on the secondary, though Walt Harris and Shawntae Spencer each got torched for long gains. The real problem, like it was all last year, was the lack of a pass rush. Just typing that makes me want to vomit a little and restarts that twitch over my right eye.

Rex Grossman must have felt like he was in the middle of a 7-on-7 drill back in training camp. It speaks to Grossman's averageness that despite not being challenged by a legitimate defense, he still managed to throw an interception that was returned by Walt Harris for a touchdown (and nearly throw another one to Manny Lawson).

I have a little bit of hope that the 49ers will be able to generate some kind of pass rush this year, and that hope is generated solely because this is still just the preseason. The Niners never sent more than five rushers tonight and mostly sent just four, with no exotic blitz packages to be found.

Those blitzes, a hallmark of the 3-4 defense, should help a little. But if the guys blitzing can’t get by the guys blocking them, it’s not going to do a bit of good.

I HAVE JUST one thing to say on my favorite topic of the week, and then I’ll let it go (for today). If Joe Staley isn’t named the starter at right tackle by lunch on Monday, I’ll be severely disappointed and confused. From this seat, it couldn’t be more obvious who the better player is. Kwame Harris is putting Alex Smith in danger, and it needs to stop.

CHECK BACK TOMORROW morning for Film Room, a closer look at tonight’s game. Read more on this article...

Niners-Bears initial thoughts

After a win against the Raiders last week, what is a reasonable expectation for the 49ers tonight against the Bears? Is it a win? A solid showing by the first team?

Well, here's what I'm looking for. I want to see how the offense handles a defense the caliber of the Bears. Yeah, the Raiders play good D, I can't necessarily deny that. But this is Chicago, home to Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs and Mike Brown. These guys flat-out lay the wood and my question is can the 49ers take a punch in the mouth and respond.

Now, back to reality. The real reason I'm watching this game is that football is football and nothing can stand in the way of that. What's that you say? What's that dull ringing you hear in your ears as you watch? It's Dennis O'Donnell and Keena Turner. Isn't the preseason meant for guys to get tuned up for the regular season? Turner and O'Donnell aren't getting tuned up for anything since the preseason is the only game action they'll be calling. DICK STOCKTON WHERE ART THOU? Maybe later I'll share my man-crush on Ron Jaworski. "When I looked at the video tape ..."

Bad news for our esteemed editor here at the 49ers Observer. Kwame Harris is in the starting lineup (even if KPIX listed a certain rookie in his place). For the record, I'm on the Joe Staley Express. If James is driving the bus, I'm in the first row.

Alright, back to watching the game. Grossman just fumbled for like the 700th time in the preseason. We'll have reaction after the game so check back later. Read more on this article...

Is Terry Donahue secretly running the Redskins?

It appears the Washington Redskins are convinced the 49ers of the Terry Donahue era were bad because of their stadium, their coaches, their uniforms,the foggy weather or the cable cars. It certainly couldn't have been because they had average players.

So when Mike Nolan started purging his roster of failure after failure and bad apple after bad apple, the Redskins saw opportunity. They jumped at the chance to land such prime talents as Brandon Lloyd, Mike Rumph and Andre Carter (not to mention the great Pierson Prioleau, who clearly just needed a chance to play on a good team).

Well, guess what? They've done it again. To the former 49ers locker room cancer and disappointing first-round picks the Redskins have already accumulated (and begun to get rid of themselves), add one washed-up former Pro Bowl fullback. The Redskins have signed Fred Beasley.

Now, I mean washed-up in the nicest possible way. Beasley had a nice eight-year career with the 49ers, but he had clearly lost something by the time Nolan let him go (he had also had problems with new running backs coach Bishop Harris). Beasley was somewhat washed-up then, two years ago. He's all but worthless now.

But somebody in the Redskins organization obviously thinks otherwise. Somebody who also still thought Lloyd, Rumph and Carter were worth huge contracts. I think Terry Donahue found a new job and didn't tell anyone.

Then again, it could just be that Dan Snyder really is that big of an idiot.

SPEAKING OF IDIOTS, everyone's favorite, Dennis Erickson, is once again creating misguided optimism for yet another new team — this time at Arizona State.

The really troubling thing about this is that Erickson still appears to be a decent college coach, which means he'll probably be successful even while intoxicated. And I don't know about the rest of you, but I'll be rooting against Dennis Erickson wherever he goes for the rest of my life.

If he fails, though, maybe he can join the rest of our castoffs with the Redskins. What a perfect marriage that would be.

Read more on this article...

We’re new and improved! (Please read)

Welcome to the new era of 49ers Observer. This site was started less than a month ago as one 49ers fan’s rants and raves, and today it grows into something much more.

I’m thrilled to announce that the 49ers Observer is now a team. I’m bringing on four talented writers, bringing our staff to five, and they will each provide insight in their own analytical, entertaining, irreverent ways.

So we’re all familiar with each other, I’m James, the site’s editor. The writers are Ben, Eddie, Nick and JR. You should see one of our names at the bottom of every post, and our individual e-mail addresses are posted to your left.

This influx of writing talent will allow 49ers Observer to take a major step toward becoming a reliable place for fans to find insightful and entertaining discussion about the 49ers. It should also (hopefully) allow us to react better and faster to breaking news. You can expect to find multiple posts every day, so check back often to catch the latest.

Speaking of reliability, we’re also launching today a series of new features that will run on this site every week. Here’s a taste of what you can expect as the season progresses:

• Hit List — A Letterman-style, 49ers-flavored top-10 list (runs Tuesdays).
• Line of Scrimmage — A point-counterpoint segment in which two of our writers tackle a 49ers-related issue (runs Wednesdays).
• In the Tunnel — Your first look at the week’s upcoming opponent.
• Fantasy Fury — Our weekly fantasy football preview.
• The Soul of Alex Smith — A weekly anything-goes column by Nick (runs Saturdays).
• Breaking the Huddle — A full preview of the following day’s game.
• Kneejerk Knotes — Instant analysis of each game, posted shortly after the final gun.
• Film Room — A next-day look back at each game.
  

A list of links to recent editions of each feature is conveniently located in the sidebar to your left. These new features will begin TODAY, so keep an eye out for the first ever edition of Kneejerk Knotes (autographed copies available for a small donation) after tonight's game against the Bears.

We hope you like all the new additions to the site. Please let us know what you think. If you’ve got ideas for new features or suggestions about existing features, send me an e-mail at james@49ersobserver.com.

Read more on this article...

Staley wins job! Maybe. Or maybe not. Well, probably ...

It appears as though Adam Schefter of the NFL Network has reported that Joe Staley has won the starting right tackle job over Kwame Harris.

Now, while I am cautiously optimistic that this is true, it hasn't been confirmed by any beat writers as far as I can tell. Matt Barrows still says Harris is starting, and Matt Maiocco directly addressed the NFL Network report ...

This just in from Instant 49ers, the team is going to wait until they see how things go Saturday night when Staley and Harris both play against the Bears' No. 1 defense. (However, I'm in agreement that Staley is the favorite at this point.)

So maybe it hasn't been made official yet. But we all know by now that it's going to. My guess is that it'll happen next week. Staley will likely blow Kwame out of the water again on Saturday, and Nolan will be left with no rational choice but to staple No. 77 to the bench.

Then, we celebrate. Read more on this article...

Late-night update: Niners getting feisty

Sorry for the lack of new posts these last 36 hours or so. Part of the reason (hopefully this makes it OK) is that I've been busy planning some major changes to the site, which I'm hoping to unveil next week. I don't want to give anything away, but you'll definitely want to stop by and check out 49ers Observer 2.0 next week (and see the update below).

In the meantime, here's an update on what's new today in Ninerland.

I KNOW I GOT on Vernon Davis pretty hard for his attitude earlier this preseason, but I have to say I like the fact that the 49ers were a little feisty today in practice. This late in camp (the last day of camp, in fact), you might expect players to be sort of going through the motions. It's encouraging that they're still spirited enough to get into a scuffle here and there (as long as no one gets hurt).

Oh, and Davis wasn't involved in any of them.

PATRICK WILLIS PLAYED James Brown and rookie safety Jake Patten played Vanilla Ice in a talent show honoring former 49ers offensive lineman Thomas Herrion, who died after a preseason game in Denver two years ago.

It's unclear whether Patten played the new Vanilla or the old Vanilla. Hey, maybe the Ice man can get Patten a gig on a VH1 reality show when he gets cut next week.

SPEAKING OF CUTS, Matt Maiocco takes a look at what cuts he thinks should be made by Sept. 1, when teams must be down to 53 players. Nothing real controversial, I suppose. Matt has a pretty good handle on this type of thing.

C.J. BREWER MIGHT have saved himself the indignity of being cut, but only because of a torn ACL that will cause him to miss the rest of the season.

***UPDATE*** The first change to the site has been made. The background is now white (yes, it's supposed to look like that). Let me know if you hate it. Read more on this article...

Next game should be Kwame's last chance

If you're new to this site, there's something you should know: I've already made up my mind about Kwame Harris and Joe Staley. I actually made up my mind back on Draft Day, before this site had even been created, that Staley should be the starter at right tackle and Kwame should be starting, at best, for the San Jose SaberCats.

I'm going out on quite a limb here, I know. I think it's safe to say that 99 percent of 49ers fans have already made up their minds about this as well. And how could they not? Kwame has been awful since, well, forever. Staley has been great ever since he pulled on a 49ers jersey. So why does it need to be stated?

Well, Mike Nolan apparently hasn't made up his mind yet. Or at least he's not letting on that he has. Harris started against the Broncos. He started against the Raiders. He's going to start against the Bears on Saturday.

There have been indications that Staley's promotion to the starting lineup is approaching. He joined guard David Baas with the first-team offense in the third series of Saturday's game against the Raiders. And Nolan has said Staley could play even earlier against the Bears.

Playing "earlier" than the third series of the game doesn't leave a whole lot of options. Either he comes in for the second series, or he's the starter. The latter has to be coming soon.

For Kwame, this game should represent his last chance to prove himself to the 49ers' coaching staff. The third game of the preseason is typically when the starters play the longest. Nolan has said they'll play at least the first half, and maybe more.

In the fourth and final preseason game, the starters will likely play only a series or two. That means if Kwame is going to prove he should remain the starter, he's going to have to shine in whatever action he gets this weekend. Given that he's failed to "shine" since his NFL career began, don't expect much. Staley, on the other hand, actually appears motivated. He's also good, which gives him a big advantage over No. 77.

This would have been the perfect week to name Staley the starter. It would have been nice to see him play an entire half of football with the first team. But for some reason, Nolan continues to drag his feet on this one. He's merely putting off the inevitable, and it's time to face the facts and get Kwame out of the lineup.

Then again, maybe Nolan is just trying to pad Kwame's trade value by making it appear as though he still figures in the team's plans. I don't know. If I'm not buying it, I have a hard time believing any NFL general managers are buying it.

Just make the move, Mike. Please. Like, yesterday.

Read more on this article...

Willis named starter; Staley better be next

If there was any surprise to today's announcement that rookie linebacker Patrick Willis had been moved into the 49ers' starting lineup, it might be that it was in place of Brandon Moore instead of Derek Smith. But that can't even really be that much of a shock.

Willis has been mostly rock-solid in two preseason games, leading the team in tackles on Saturday against the Raiders. He's a sure tackler and he's always around the ball. And although he's blown a coverage or two, he has the speed and skills to excel in that regard — he wouldn't be one of the team's nickel linebackers if he didn't.

It was stated initially, though, that Willis would compete with Smith at the "Mike" linebacker spot. But with Moore struggling mightily this preseason, coach Mike Nolan moved Smith to the "Ted" spot and anointed Willis the starter at "Mike." It's also been reported that Jeff Ulbrich will back-up Willis, meaning that Moore will back-up Smith — and, presumably, the two will continue to battle for the starting spot there.

Moore was easily the better of the two last year, when he was placed in the starting lineup ahead of Ulbrich and went on to lead the team in tackles. But Smith was hampered all season by an eye problem that has since been rectified, and Moore has missed several tackles in the preseason. I wouldn't go so far as to guarantee that Smith will start on opening day, but I'd be surprised if he didn't.

As for Willis, all I can say is "Hooray!" Simply put, the guy is a stud. He's also a leader. He's going to be the heart and soul of this defense and should now have the inside track on the Defensive Rookie of the Year award.

And as for Nolan, all I can say is, "Thank you. Now what about that other first-round pick?" Read more on this article...

Goldson sustains serious elbow injury

Plenty of interesting stuff in Matt Barrows' blog this evening, but the most notable item is an update near the bottom on Dashon Goldson.

The rookie safety has at least a sprained elbow, which he suffered while making a tackle in last night's game. If the ligaments in his elbow are torn, which we won't know for sure until Monday, his season could be over.

Hopefully that's not the case. If it is, it'll be the second promising youngster (along with defensive lineman Melvin Oliver) lost to a season-ending injury.

BARROWS IS RIGHT in noting that the apparently improved play of the 49ers' starting defense had an awful lot to do with the Raiders' ineptitude. It's sort of like the regular season game against Oakland last year, when Walt Harris was gifted three interceptions and Oliver scored his first career touchdown when LaMont Jordon forgot what every Pop Warner kid already knows: A lateral that hits the ground is still a live ball.

Sure, the 49ers can't be given credit for Andrew Walter letting a snap sail through his hands or for Travis Taylor letting a pass bounce off his chest. But there was something genuinely encouraging about the play first-team defense, and that was a considerable decrease in running lanes for the opposition. At least sometimes.

Against the Broncos, the defensive linemen appeared to be on some pretty strong pain medication — or maybe just a heavy dose of NyQuil — and were simply nowhere to be found on running plays. But against the Raiders, there were at least a few plays where the running back really had nowhere to go, a sign that everyone was doing a better job of, well, doing their job. And with the entire starting defensive line missing, that's enough of an improvement for me. It's a start.

ONE OTHER NOTE that came from coach Mike Nolan's conference call today was that there's a good chance Joe Staley will see playing time earlier than the third series in at least one of the Niners' last two preseason games.

Say goodbye, Kwame. Read more on this article...

He's alive! Aliiiiive!!!! And other thoughts ...

It was only one preseason game, but last night the enigma that is Ashley Lelie looked like a real football player for the first time since donning a 49ers uniform.

After missing all of minicamp, showing some good signs in training camp and looking shockingly irrelevant in the preseason opener against Denver, Lelie finally showed up in the 49ers' 26-21 win over the Raiders.

He even showed up in the first half, catching a pair of passes on Alex Smith's final drive of the game. Sure, he incurred a delay-of-game penalty for celebrating after one of them, but he'll adjust to the league's strict new rules. The more important thing is that the 49ers' star quarterback was able to connect with what should be his No. 3 receiver if said receiver keeps his head on straight.

Lelie continued to produce in the third quarter, first catching a 1-yard touchdown from Trent Dilfer on a vintage West Coast slant pattern. He kept his celebration to a minimum and did not face the officials' wrath this time.

Early in the fourth, Lelie caught a pass from Dilfer along the sideline, then avoided a tackler and gained some extra yardage — hardly his usual M.O. — before being pushed out of bounds for a 22-yard gain.

Lelie finished as the 49ers' leading receiver with four catches for 57 yards and a touchdown. At the very least, he showed that he deserves a chance to play with the first-team offense as the No. 3 receiver next week against the Bears. If he can play close to his potential, he'll help form a fearsome receiving corps with starters Darrell Jackson and Arnaz Battle.

HOW DOES IT FEEL to have a real quarterback under center? That's something 49ers fans haven't known since 2002. (Dennis Erickson ruined even Jeff Garcia's ability in 2003.)

Alex Smith sure looks like a real QB now, though. His 19-yard touchdown pass to Delanie Walker, which came after he stared down Jackson to get the safeties out of position, was simply brilliant. So were his passes to Jackson and Battle last week against Denver.

In the preseason so far, Smith is 12-for-17 for 164 yards and has had passer ratings of 115.0 and 122.2 in his two starts. He has looked poised, and his throws have been accurate. And more importantly, I no longer worry when he drops back to throw. I expect something good to happen, and that hasn't happened in a long time.

BENCH KWAME HARRIS already. I'm tired of beating around the bush. Get him off the field before he gets someone (like the Golden Boy he's supposed to be protecting) hurt.

Harris, in pass protection, is an accident waiting to happen. If he does stymie his defender, it seems like it's done out of desperation. It takes a lunging effort to push his man upfield and away from the quarterback. When he fails, he fails miserably, and the 49ers' biggest investment suffers for it.

Joe Staley, on the other hand, actually keeps defenders in check. When a pass rusher puts moves on him, he simply holds his ground and stands his guy up. At his worst, he gets off-balance and has to push his man upfield. For Kwame, that's the best you can hope for.

No more coddling egos. Kwame Harris is a liability, and allowing him to start is like playing with fire. It's time to get him out of there before Alex Smith gets burned. Read more on this article...

Who I'll be watching Saturday night

We learned a little bit about the main position battles in 49ers camp on Monday against the Broncos. Joe Staley gained ground on Kwame Harris at right tackle. Maurice Hicks seems to be the favorite over Michael Robinson as the No. 2 running back. Taylor Jacobs and Brandon Williams look like locks to make the team as wide receivers.

Saturday night's game against the Raiders should bring more clarity, especially with the starters expected to get 24 plays compared to the 15 they were slated for on Monday. Here are 10 players I'll be most interested to watch in Saturday's game.

1. Ashley Lelie — Lelie (pictured) barely saw the field in the first half and was mostly a non-factor in the second half on Monday. Reports out of training camp have been pretty good, though, and Lelie is supposed to get more playing time early in this game. There are plenty of guys already challenging Lelie for a roster spot. He needs to start performing on the field in order to solidify his status — as it stands, he might not even be No. 4 on the depth chart.

2. Joe Staley — After a strong showing against the Broncos, Staley will get a chance to play one series with the starting offense on Saturday. If Harris struggles again and Staley looks good again, we could be one step closer to finally ridding the starting lineup of the perennial disappointment from Stanford.

3. David Baas — Baas will join Staley with the starters for one series in place of guard Justin Smiley, who is likely to leave as a free agent next season. Baas hasn't gotten much playing time since being drafted with the first pick in the second round of the Alex Smith-Frank Gore draft of 2005, but he hasn't seen much of the field since. He needs to play well every chance he gets to prove he should be the man to take Smiley's spot in 2008.

4. Alex Smith — For obvious reasons. Smith's performance in limited duty against Denver was extremely encouraging. His downfield throws to Darrell Jackson and Arnaz Battle were two of the best I've ever seen him make. It would be nice to see a repeat performance, especially with three series to work with instead of two. A pair of touchdown drives would suffice.

5. Manny Lawson — The man simply looked outmatched on Monday, not to mention undisciplined against the run. Hopefully it's just taking him some time to acclimate to Greg Manusky's 3-4 defense. He just has too much speed and too much talent to look as bad as he did against the Broncos.

6. Tully Banta-Cain — Lawson's counterpart at outside linebacker, Banta-Cain showed a glimpse of his pass-rushing potential on a third down on the Broncos' second possession, getting to quarterback Patrick Ramsey and forcing an incompletion. It was quite a tease. I want more!

7. Vernon Davis — And that's WITH the ball in his hands. I know, I know — he's a great blocker. We get it. Now throw him the ball and let him make the Raiders look silly.

8. Tarell Brown — I've had high hopes for this guy since draft day, and the interception last week was nice. I just don't want him to become another Derrick Johnson, making play after play in his first preseason before fading into obscurity. Something tells me Brown is talented enough to avoid such a letdown, but let's wait and see.

9. Patrick Willis — Ronnie-Lott-meets-Ray-Lewis, as I like to think of him, was solid against the Broncos' second-team offense. He can probably be "solid" in his sleep. I'd like to see him make a spectacular play or two ... maybe score a touchdown ... find a cure for cancer ... it's not too much to ask, is it?

10. Isaac Sopoaga — With Aubrayo Franklin still nursing a sprained knee, Sopoaga will again be the starter at nose tackle. The 49ers' run defense was atrocious on Monday, and many of the problems started at the line of scrimmage. The nose tackle needs to hold his own for a 3-4 defense to succeed, and if Sopoaga gets pushed around, don't expect the rest of the guys to be able to pick up the slack.

Read more on this article...

Niners will get a glimpse of the future Saturday

It's not hard to figure out that offensive linemen Kwame Harris and Justin Smiley are not in the 49ers' plans for 2008 and beyond. Harris, since being drafted in the first round in 2003, has been nothing but a disappointment. He's developed into a pretty decent run blocker, but his pass blocking and lack of discipline have led to an endless stream of sacks and holding and false start penalties.

Smiley, on the other hand, is pretty damn good. That's the problem. The free agent-to-be has been unable to come to an agreement with the 49ers on a contract extension, and he's likely to fetch quite a sum on the market next offseason. The 49ers won't pay him what someone else will.

So it makes sense, then, that the 49ers would want to see what their first-team offense would look like with the replacements for Harris and Smiley in the lineup. That's exactly what they will see against the Raiders on Saturday.

According to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee, the 49ers will leave their starters in for 24 plays against the Raiders — against the Broncos the plan was 15 plays or one quarter, which turned out to be just 13 plays. The starting offense should get three series, and in the third of those possessions, they'll go with David Baas in Smiley's guard spot and rookie Joe Staley in for Harris at tackle.

This makes sense from a long-term perspective, but I have to think the 49ers are thinking about moving Staley into the starting lineup sooner rather than later. Staley was outstanding against the Broncos' second-team defense on Monday, while Harris continued to allowed pressure in the passing game.

Fans have longed to hear that Kwame Harris was headed for the bench. That news just might be on its way.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS has an article today about safety Michael Lewis, who departed Philadelphia after falling from grace both with the team and its ... um ... vocal fans and is looking for a fresh start with the 49ers — incidentally, the team he grew up rooting for despite living amongst Cowboys fans in Texas. Read more on this article...

Apparently 'Walsh Field' not official just yet

I, like many, was wondering why the 49ers hadn't put anything at "Bill Walsh Field" to designate that it was now called "Bill Walsh Field." This seems to explain it:

SAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco city leaders on Thursday will consider renaming the field at Monster Park in honor of legendary 49ers coach Bill Walsh.
Members of the Recreation and Park Commission will discuss whether to rename the field the Bill Walsh Field at Monster Park. They will also consider placing a plaque at the site in Walsh's honor.
Walsh died July 30 after a battle with leukemia. Fans gathered to remember the man nicknamed "the genius" last week at a public memorial at Monster Park. Many say he was a coach who made the 49ers and the city of San Francisco great.

Apparently when San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom made the declaration during Walsh's public memorial service that the field would be renamed, he didn't let on that there were still some political hoops to jump through to get there.

I can only imagine that this Rec Commission meeting will be a formality and that they will approve the renaming of the field. There really is no reason for them not to.

And once it's official, let's hope the 49ers make their field's new name as big and visible as possible.

Read more on this article...

Victim of Robinson hit getting past depression

Most of us have seen the hit by now. Penn State quarterback (and current 49ers running back) Michael Robinson drops back to pass and is flushed out of the pocket to his right. He begins to scramble and points out a block, then nears the sideline as he crosses the 15-yard line.

Robinson has nothing to gain by staying in-bounds at this point, especially with Minnesota defensive back Brandon Owens heading toward him at full speed and with a perfect angle. But rather than trot harmlessly out-of-bounds (like an ordinary quarterback might), Robinson turns up and engages Owens in a violent head-on collision at the 13.

Robinson won.

The hit caused Owens to crumple backward awkwardly. Robinson, meanwhile, was none the worse for wear. He never even went down, proudly walking away from the collision, unaware that he had just ended a man's career.

Of course, Robinson never could have known the extent of Owens' injuries, which have led to two major surgeries and left him without full use of his right arm. Owens, in an article in the Post-Bulletin of Rochester, Minn., says he's past the depression that hung with him for months after that hit nearly two years ago.

Unfortunately, the writer doesn't go so far as to contact Robinson about the incident. It does state that Robinson tried to reach Owens after the game and has asked Penn State to refrain from showing replays of the hit on the scoreboard or the school's Web site. So obviously he feels some sense of responsibility for what happened to Owens. This just would have been a more compelling article if he was in it.

ON A LIGHTER NOTE, the San Jose Mercury News has a story about former 49ers offensive lineman Chris Dalman, who is now the offensive line coach at Stanford.

IF YOU HAVEN'T yet, check out the "Required Reading" section to your right. This is where I'll post what I consider to be the five most important 49ers articles of the day. I'll generally update this once a day, and the articles I mention here in the blog typically won't be included there (though they will sometimes). Conversely, the articles there typically won't be talked about much here. This should allow me to focus more on my own commentary in this space while still giving you access to 49ers news from major media sources.

I've also added a "Next Game" spot to your left, along with changing the main text font to make it a little more readable. As always, e-mail me at 49ersObserver@inbox.com with any suggestions of how to make this site better. Read more on this article...

Closer look: Staley gets a leg up on Harris, etc.

Not that you can judge anything from one preseason game, but it appears Joe Staley (left) might have gotten a leg up on Kwame Harris in the battle for the starting right tackle job.

Harris looked like his old self — a good run blocker and a revolving door in pass protection. He certainly hasn't gotten worse, but he hasn't improved enough for fans to be even the least bit optimistic.

Staley, who admittedly had the benefit of playing against the Broncos' backups, looked great in pass protection. He moves laterally very well, which is something Harris seems incapable of. He also appeared very quick in the run game — so quick that at times, he got downfield so fast that he couldn't block anybody because the running back never got to the second level.

It's no secret that I'm rooting for Staley to displace Harris on the right side of the line (and eventually Jonas Jennings on the left). Last night's game appeared to be a good start for the youngster.

WHEREFORE ART THOU, Ashley? The 49ers' second-biggest acquisition at perhaps their biggest position of need, wide receiver Ashley Lelie, was almost as hard to find on second look as he was watching the game live.

Lelie barely saw the field in the first half and caught just two passes in the second half. Meanwhile, Taylor Jacobs, Brandon Williams and Bryan Gilmore all seem to figure fairly prominently in the 49ers' plans.

If Lelie doesn't suddenly impress in practice and get some real playing time with at least the second unit on Saturday against the Raiders, it's going to appear more and more likely that he might not stick with the 49ers. Last night he even got overshadowed by C.J. Brewer, for crying out loud. C.J. Brewer!

ALEX SMITH WAS clearly the player of the game last night, as further evidenced by the results of the poll to your right. But while backups Trent Dilfer and Shaun Hill saw their playing time marred by some terrible throws and interceptions, both moved the ball pretty well for the most part. And they might have Jim Hostler to thank for that.

While Smith did most of his damage on a couple of downfield passes to Darrell Jackson and Arnaz Battle, Dilfer and Hill moved the team with mostly safe, short passes — a sign of the West Coast influence Hostler has added to Norv Turner's long-passing scheme.

If Smith can master some combination of the downfield throws and the underneath stuff, he should continue to improve this season. So much for that regression everyone was worried about.

THE MOST GLARING of the defense's problems in the first quarter was the missed tackles. When leading tackler Brandon Moore starts missing tackles that badly, you know something is wrong.

Coach Mike Nolan acknowledged that a lack of tackling in training camp might have something to do with the problem, but I wonder if part of it is the team getting used to Greg Manusky's system.

Players tend to play a little tentative when they're not sure of where they're supposed to be or what they're supposed to be doing. And playing just one step slower than normal can lead to the ridiculous inadequacies we saw in the first quarter last night.

I have little doubt that Nolan will address this problem and get it rectified. And despite the little I know about Manusky, I don't get the feeling he's just going to let it slide, either. Hopefully we'll see some improvement next week.

YOU CAN'T BLAME the biggest force in sports media, ESPN, for having to get a little creative with their coverage last night. I mean, this is a preseason game. Should Ron Jaworski really spend much time breaking down Shaun Hill's blitz recognition? They've got a national audience they're trying to keep awake.

Still, it was hard to watch. I don't understand why we have to actually see the face of the person being interviewed during the game, while the game itself is relegated to a little box on the screen.

And I actually like Tony Kornheiser, but he simply is out of his element as a broadcaster. Like Dennis Miller, he tries too hard to be funny during the game. Sometimes it works, and sometimes (like trying to get laughs out of Alex Smith's alleged small hands, a two-year-old issue, and Mike Nolan's spot on Esquire's best-dressed list) it falls flat.

Don't expect much better for the regular season opener against the Cardinals. The crew for that game will be the three Mikes (Greenberg, Golic and Ditka). That should be some train wreck. Read more on this article...

49ers-Broncos: Good, bad and indifferent

The 49ers' two new coordinators had their first chance to show what they're made of Monday night in San Francisco's 17-13 loss to the Denver Broncos. They had decidedly different results.

Jim Hostler's offense seemed to pick up right where Norv Turner's left off. The starting unit marched down the field for a field goal and a touchdown in the first quarter, and the second team continued to move the ball well in the second.

Greg Manusky's defense, however, was nothing short of abysmal in allowing touchdowns on two of Denver's first three drives. The big-name acquisitions — Nate Clements, Tully Banta-Cain and Michael Lewis — hardly got a chance to have an impact. The Broncos ran the ball so effortlessly early on that they almost never needed to throw.

The starting units represented the extreme positives and negatives from Monday's game. Here's a kneejerk rundown of the good, the bad and the indifferent.

GOOD

Alex Smith — Smith connected with excellent passes to his top two receivers, Darrell Jackson and Arnaz Battle, and led the 49ers to 10 points in the first quarter.

Michael Robinson and Maurice Hicks — Neither of these backs would be able to fill Frank Gore's shoes alone, but when they work together, they can get the job done. Hicks touched the ball just four times on offense (three carries, one reception) but gained 39 yards. Robinson ran hard, as usual, averaging more than 4.0 yards per carry and punching in a 1-yard touchdown run.

Brandon Williams — Williams finally started to look like a real wide receiver, finishing with three catches for 31 yards. He was also solid in the return game, averaging nearly 30 yards on three kick returns and more than 10 on two punt returns. Williams' roster spot should be safe — his status on the depth chart as a receiver remains to be seen.

Marques Douglas — Though he didn't accomplish much, Douglas appeared as quick and as active in the first quarter as I ever remember seeing him. He was about the only defensive starter who looked like he knew what he was doing.

BAD

First-team defense — I'm not going to single anyone out. They were terrible. Ok, I'll single out the defensive line, which might as well have been playing on ice. Hopefully the return of nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin will make the line a little more formidable, and hopefully the rest of the defense won't look so tentative once they become more comfortable in Greg Manusky's 3-4 scheme. This was simply an atrocious performance.

Shaun Hill — The third-string quarterback put one foot firmly out the door with a positively pedestrian performance. His end-zone interception early in the fourth quarter was the lowlight of an awful night, which ended with a dud of a fourth-down throw that was the 49ers' last chance. Luke Getsy suddenly has a chance to make this team. Ok, maybe not.

Ashley Lelie — His status was confirmed by his stunning lack of playing time in the first half, though he caught a couple of meaningless passes in the second half. He has to know by now that his place on this team is far from secure, and if that doesn't motivate him, nothing will.

INDIFFERENT

Vernon Davis — Poised for a breakout year, Davis never saw the ball in his one quarter of action but continued to look good as a blocker.

Patrick Willis — The 11th overall pick in the draft wasn't disappointing in his debut; he simply wasn't spectacular. Willis seemed tentative at times but more often than not ended up around the ball. He also made a nice stop near the goal line in the first quarter, one of few defensive highlights for the 49ers.

Tarell Brown — He made an instant impact with outstanding coverage and a nice interception on the sideline in the second quarter, but he looked lost at times as the game progressed. Still, it's not hard to see his talent. Read more on this article...

Ten things to watch for on Monday night

The 49ers will take the field for the first time Monday in what is expected to be something of a return to form for what was once the greatest franchise in sports. It's only a preseason game, and thanks to the 49ers' increased expectations, there seems to be less riding on the outcome of this game than in recent years. Winning in the preseason just seems to mean a little more when you might only win four games all year, and a little less when your goal is the postseason.

But just because it doesn't matter if the 49ers win or lose doesn't mean there won't be plenty to keep an eye on when the 49ers face the Broncos on Monday night. Here are 10 things to look for in the 49ers' preseason opener.

1. PAYING TRIBUTE — The 49ers will honor late coach Bill Walsh (in their first game on the newly christened "Bill Walsh Field") with a moment of silence before the game, and it sounds like ESPN and the NFL were working on some sort of tribute. The bigger celebration should come in the regular season opener against the Cardinals, also a Monday night game on ESPN, but this should still be pretty special. And let's hope the 49ers also offer some sort of tribute to Broncos players Darrent Williams and Damien Nash, both of whom died in the offseason.

2. ALEX THE GREAT — Starting quarterback Alex Smith will only get to play the first quarter or so, but all eyes will be on him while he's in there. What is his rapport like with Darrell Jackson? With Vernon Davis? Who does he look for more? How comfortable does he look in Jim Hostler's offense? Whether Smith throws a touchdown pass is irrelevant. Whether he leads the team on a touchdown scoring drive is not.

3. RENEWING ACQUAINTANCES — Ashley Lelie played the first four years of his career with the Broncos, with mixed results, and was traded to the Falcons amid a nasty contract dispute last season. This will be his first time playing as an opponent against the Broncos, his first time playing for coach Mike Nolan — who hasn't even promised the former 1,000-yard receiver a No. 3 role — and his first time playing since a severely underwhelming season with the Falcons. Lelie should get plenty of playing time (much of that time against the Broncos' second unit) and has every incentive to do something with it. If he disappoints, it could be an early indication that he might not have much of a future in San Francisco.

4. HAPPY RETURNS — The return game could be a major factor in who makes the 49ers roster and who doesn't. Maurice Hicks and Brandon Williams are the incumbent kick and punt returners, respectively, but both have their work cut out for them just to make the team this year. If those two can solidify their return roles and hold off challengers at their positions like Thomas Clayton, Jason Hill and Taylor Jacobs, they could cement their spots on the team.

5. IN THE RIGHT — I'm sure there's something terribly wrong with wishing ill upon one of your own team's players, but I can't help but hope for a false start here and a hold there for Kwame Harris. It should be clear to everyone by now that the man does not deserve the starting right tackle job, and if he continues to screw up like he has throughout his disappointing career, it'll make it that much easier for first-round pick Joe Staley to step in and take his spot.

6. ON THE NOSE — Aubrayo Franklin's injured knee has opened things up for Isaac Sopoaga to finally prove he can start on the nose in a 3-4 defense. He's been inconsistent so far in his career but tantalizes fans with his size and raw talent. He'll get a chance to show what he can do, and he better take advantage of it. We're all getting impatient.

7. THE CHOSEN ONE — There's a reason the 49ers chose Patrick Willis with the No. 11 overall pick in this year's draft, and it wasn't so he could sit behind an aging veteran like Derek Smith. Smith is a good leader and has given his heart and soul to the 49ers, but the time has come for a change. Willis will get a lot of playing time, both as a nickel linebacker with the first unit in the opening quarter and as an every-down backer with the second team. Fair or not, I'm fully expecting him to come in and dominate. I suppose having Derek Smith as your fallback isn't so bad, though.

8. REST OF THE ROOKS — One of the most fun aspects of the preseason is always getting your first look at the current draft class. I've already mentioned Willis, Staley, Hill and Clayton. Two guys I'm excited to see will be cornerback Tarell Brown and safety Dashon Goldson. Brown could be a real steal if he keeps his head on straight.

9. PRICEY PROS — We won't see much of them, but it would nice to see some big plays out of the 49ers' free-agent signings. Nate Clements, Tully Banta-Cain and Michael Lewis will all play with the first unit, and while the defense won't be at full strength (missing Franklin, Bryant Young and Walt Harris), the hope here is that they've meshed together enough to shut down the Broncos in their limited time on the field.

10. LET'S HAVE SOME FUN — Despite all the new acquisitions the 49ers have brought in this year, it sounds like the team is coming together quickly and there has been a lot of energy in training camp. I'm curious to see what the atmosphere is like on the sideline Monday night, especially as the game winds down. Will the starters be subdued and professional? Will they be animated in cheering for the players still on the field? If the game is close in the final moments, will they get into it like it really means something? I think the personality of a team shows itself in times like these, and I'm looking forward to seeing how this team handles itself.

SPEAKING OF THINGS to watch for, keep an eye on this site over the next few days. For starters, I'll have my take on the Broncos game sometime Monday night. But I'm also coming up with some ideas of things to add to the site. So if you have any thoughts or suggestions, please drop me a line at 49ersObserver@inbox.com. Thanks for reading.

Read more on this article...

Injured Franklin feeling better, and other news

It was a tiny note at the bottom of most news articles today, but it was refreshing nonetheless. Aubrayo Franklin, the 49ers' starting nose tackle whom they acquired as a free agent from Baltimore in the offseason, was walking without a limp and feeling much stronger less than a week after suffering a sprained MCL that should keep him out the entire preseason.

This is fantastic news for the 49ers, who are counting on Franklin to fill a critical spot in their revamped 3-4 defense. Franklin, a backup in Baltimore, said he will continue tutoring his own backup, Isaac Sopoaga, while relegated to the sideline.

PLENTY TO READ for Alex Smith fans today. John Crumpacker of the San Francisco Chronicle writes about the veteran presence of the still-young quarterback, while Dennis Georgatos of the San Jose Mercury News tells of the continuing relationship between Smith and back-up/mentor/Yoda-in-shoulder-pads Trent Dilfer. Speaking of Smith, the NFL Quarterback Challenge that he competed in this summer will never see the light of day, thanks to an NBA-like bit of damage control from the NFL.

Michael Vick's jerseys are out of stores, his appearances removed from TV — what's next? Are they going to redo the whole 2001 draft and plop LaDainian Tomlinson on the Falcons' roster?

IN A RARE sign of affection from down south (can you say that on the Internet?), the San Diego Union Tribune has a nice piece on Nate Clements, who has impressed coach Mike Nolan with his attitude and his practice habits despite coming in as the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history.

THE LOVE-FEST between the national media and our 49ers is showing no signs of stopping. Sports Illustrated thinks the 49ers are fantastic, and ESPN thinks they're wonderful. I just can't wait to hear the ESPN announcers gushing when the 49ers score on their first drive against Denver on Monday. Read more on this article...

Most intriguing battles are for backup spots

The preseason has been an interesting time for the 49ers over the past few years. Every year there are major position battles going on for starting jobs — Alex Smith vs. Tim Rattay and Frank Gore vs. Kevan Barlow (a short battle) come to mind.

But for perhaps the first time in coach Mike Nolan's tenure, the most intriguing position battles this season are for backup spots.

Sure, there are still some starting positions to be hashed out, but the two biggest battles for starting jobs are one-on-one affairs that feature first-round picks who are bound to start eventually, if not right away (Kwame Harris vs. Joe Staley at right tackle and Patrick Willis vs. Derek Smith at inside linebacker).

In a sign of the team's increasing depth, though, the best battles to watch are for reserve jobs. Thanks to Frank Gore's injury, the three running backs (sorry, Arkee Whitlock) fighting for two backup spots will have center stage in Monday's preseason opener against the Denver Broncos. Michael Robinson (pictured) and Maurice Hicks will get the bulk of the work and will battle for the No. 2 spot behind Gore, but rookie Thomas Clayton could challenge Hicks for a roster spot with a good preseason.

Darrell Jackson and Arnaz Battle seem to have the starting wide receiver spots locked down, but No. 3 is up for grabs. Ashley Lelie would seem to be the favorite since he's the only one of the group with any kind of track record in the NFL. But Brandon Williams and Taylor Jacobs have both been impressive in camp and will challenge for that role, as will rookie Jason Hill if he can flash some of his big-play ability.

Another injury, this to starting nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin, will give Isaac Sopoaga and rookie Joe Cohen more of a chance to show their stuff and determine who should be Franklin's backup. If there's a darkhorse in this race, maybe it's a beefed-up Marques Douglas, though I haven't heard this from any actual media sources.

The third tight end spot could be hotly contested, as well, thanks to free-agent acquisition Zach Hilton, who could give blocking specialist Billy Bajema a run for his money. The third quarterback spot will be decided between Shaun Hill and Luke Getsy, but I have a hard time convincing myself that either of these two showdowns will be all that interesting.

Still, the position battles for backup spots at running back and wide receiver alone should make these preseason games worth watching in their entirety. Or at least for the entire first half.

Read more on this article...

It was Walsh's day on Walsh's field

For those not fortunate enough to attend Bill Walsh's public memorial service or watch it on TV or on the Internet today, here is my attempt at recapping the event via the live online broadcast.

**********************
The public memorial service for 49ers coach Bill Walsh, who died at the age of 75 on July 30, began with a proclamation from San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom. The grass upon which the 49ers play at Monster Park will now be known as "Bill Walsh Field."

That statement was a fitting summary of the day that followed. It truly was Bill Walsh Day at Bill Walsh Field.

Chris Berman emceed the event, and former 49ers tight end Charle Young, a member of Walsh's first two Super Bowl teams, offered a prayer for his coach. After a performance of "Amazing Grace," San Francisco senator Dianne Feinstein was next to speak.

Feinstein was the mayor of San Francisco in 1981, when the city was still reeling from former mayor George Moscone's assassination, the loss of many San Franciscans in the Jonestown Massacre and an emerging AIDS epidemic.

Feinstein spoke of her memories of that season, of The Catch and of the 49ers' victory over the Bengals in Super Bowl XVI. And she spoke of the effect that had on a city she called "broken."

"What that meant for this city," she said. "To win something, to do something right, to come back victorious."

A special video presentation by NFL Films was next, and Berman read a couple of letters from fans before introducing Dennis Green, a former assistant of Walsh's and a longtime head coach in the NFL.

Green's impassioned delivery was highlighted by his recount of the 49ers' victory over the Chicago Bears in frigid weather at Soldier Field in the 1988 NFC championship game. It is a victory often regarded as Walsh's finest hour.

"We handed it to the Chicago Bears because every single player on that team loved and believed in Bill Walsh," Green said. "If he said it was so, it was so."

Dwight Hicks, leader of the "Hot Licks" secondary that led the 49ers to that first Super Bowl, followed Green at the podium.

"Life is about the people that you meet, the relationships that you have and the lives that you touch," Hicks said. "Bill Walsh touched my life in a big way."

Steve Young stood right next to Walsh on the sideline for some of the coach's greatest moments. As Joe Montana’s backup, he witnessed first-hand the brilliance of Walsh's offensive mind.

"He loved having so many guys on the field," Young said. "It gave him more chess pieces out there. He reveled in dismantling the best defenses the NFL had."

Young didn't join the 49ers until 1987, but he understood the importance of that first Super Bowl team.

"All of us, including me, have been for 20 years sitting on the shoulders of what they built," he said. "We all witnessed it right here. ... There was one man who was the general, the man who brought it all together."

Carmen Policy, a member of the 49ers' front office through many of their glory years, talked of the pressure on owner Eddie DeBartolo when he hired Walsh, who had previously been seen as a good assistant but not "head coaching material." DeBartolo took a leap of faith in hiring Walsh, and while their relationship wasn’t always perfect, Walsh knew how important it was to make it work.

"Everything (Walsh) did, he did it in a way that he would be proud to look in the mirror and say, 'I did it the right way,'" Policy said. "The single most important decision that was made in the history of the 49ers over the past 30 years was Eddie DeBartolo’s singular decision to hire Bill Walsh as our head coach."

DeBartolo, who was forced away from the 49ers because of a political scandal involving a casino license in Louisiana, reveled in the gathering at Monster Park.

"We're not here today to mourn Bill Walsh’s death," he said. "We're here to celebrate his life. I can tell you Bill is smiling up in heaven looking down, because he knows he brought his whole family back together for this absolutely perfect moment."

DeBartolo spoke of Walsh's personal impact on his players, and the impact that had on the community of San Francisco. He saw that in the wake of the earthquake of 1989.

"For days, people were wandering around, feeling displaced and helpless," DeBartolo said. "As the owner of the 49ers, I was acutely aware that our success gave the community something to hold onto during these troubling times. That magical something was what Bill Walsh created."

Montana, who Berman referred to as the Robin to Walsh’s Batman, closed the service with stories illustrating Walsh’s sense of humor — "I’m sure he's up there making someone laugh right now," he said — and told of the deep relationships he had with his players.

"He loved the fans; he loved his coaches; he loved the organization,” Montana said. "Most of all, in the end he kept telling me, 'Please, please, please tell the guys how much I love them.' ... One thing I don't think he knows is how much we love him."

WITH MOST OF the focus centered on Monster Park and Walsh's memorial — and rightly so — the 49ers continued their training camp. Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee offers a rundown of this morning's practice, including a look at the apparently unlikely possibility of trading a receiver to Norv Turner's Chargers and an encouraging display (or lack thereof) from a kinder, mellower Vernon Davis. Read more on this article...

Walsh memorial service LIVE

The public memorial service for Bill Walsh is currently airing on ESPNEWS and on local Bay Area stations. It can be viewed live online here. The most notable part of the proceeding so far? San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom announcing that the field at Monster Park will from now on be known as "Bill Walsh Field." Hopefully that moniker will grace the field at the new stadium, as well.
I will provide a brief rundown of the memorial service here as soon as it ends. Read more on this article...

Whisenhunt: More than meets the eye **Walsh UPDATE**

The 49ers' four-game losing streak to the Arizona Cardinals is something of an elephant in the room for Niner fans. They just don't seem to want to talk about it.

Making the streak even more disconcerting is that the Cardinals seem to have a real coach now in former Steelers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt. I admit being a little concerned that the Cardinals squad that the 49ers haven't beaten since 2004 might actually improve under their new coach.

But my worries that the Cardinals might be poised to come into Monster Park and ruin the 49ers' first Monday Night Football game in four years and their tribute to late coach Bill Walsh were eased when I read this. The Cards apparently aren't as worried about the game as they are about what's new at the local cineplex.

Whisenhunt cancelled Wednesday's practice to take his players to the movies, where they chose to watch "Transformers" over similarly useless alternatives like "The Bourne Ultimatum" and "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry." Personally, I think it would have been more constructive to take them to the library for story time.

It's comforting to know that while the 49ers are working tirelessly every day at practice in preparation for a key first game, the Cardinals have been busy playing Ebert & Roper.

THEN AGAIN, MAYBE the 49ers' first preseason opponent could use a field trip of its own. The Broncos appear to be getting bored with training camp.

A PRIVATE MEMORIAL service for Bill Walsh will be held today. The public one is tomorrow, and there will be plenty of media coverage for those not lucky enough to attend.

**UPDATE** There is a very touching video of Joe Montana's eulogy for Bill Walsh at today's private service that has been posted at the 49ers' official site. The service aired on NFL Network this morning.

***UPDATE*** Matt Maiocco offers a recap of Walsh's private service in his blog this evening. Knowing Matt, this is likely as thorough as anything you'll read in any newspaper tomorrow morning.

ADAM SNYDER IS probably good enough to be a starter at multiple positions (not at the same time, of course) on the 49ers' offensive line. His versatility, though, has made him the perfect backup, and he's now working at left tackle in place of injured backup Patrick Estes and the fragile one, Jonas Jennings.

IF TAYLOR JACOBS, who has been impressive in training camp, does not make the final roster for the 49ers, it won't be the end of the world. Jacobs has been through much, much worse — his 10-week-old daughter died last October of sudden infant death syndrome, which should offer at least a partial explanation for his lack of success this year and his seemingly sudden inspiration so far this year.

THE HIGHLIGHT OF yesterday's practice appears to have been a collision between rookies Jason Hill and Dashon Goldson — and more specifically the toughness shown by the former.

ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER newspaper looking back on the time when the 49ers' training camp was in its vicinity. Today it's the San Mateo County Times, reminiscing about camp in Redwood City.

IT'S ALWAYS A SHAME when 49ers fans start acting like Raiders fans, isn't it? Read more on this article...

Bold prediction: Willis will be the starter

When the 49ers selected defensive back Ronnie Lott with the eighth overall pick in 1981, it was the perfect move. The team had built its offense in its first two years under new coach Bill Walsh, but its defense was abysmal. The 49ers needed someone to step in and instantly become a key player and a leader on defense, and Lott was exactly that man.

The scenario was similar this April, with the 49ers in the middle of a near-complete defensive overhaul. So with the 11th pick, the choice was easy: Patrick Willis, linebacker, Mississippi.

The 49ers drafted Willis because of his game-changing ability, his leadership and the fact that he was NFL-ready, thanks in part to a traumatic childhood. When you have a veteran and a locker room presence like Derek Smith at the position, though, you don't want to topple the applecart by demoting him on draft day. So coach Mike Nolan has implanted Willis as the starter only in nickel situations, with Smith the starter on all other downs.

That won't last.

Nearly every report out of training camp talks of Willis flying around and making plays all over the field. Most admit that he needs some time to learn the intricacies of playing defense in the NFL, but he already knows the most important rule — see the ball, tackle the ball — and his skills in this regard have already translated to the big leagues.

Smith has been a loyal and consistent force for the 49ers, but that consistency has become less consistent as the years have dragged on. Last year he was bothered by an eye problem that has apparently been resolved, but that won't help him regain the spring in his 32-year-old legs.

Unless Willis gets hurt or really looks lost in the preseason, he'll be the starter on opening day, and he'll fill out what could be a fearsome linebacking corps that will include Tully Banta-Cain, Brandon Moore and Manny Lawson. If he's anything like Lott (we can hope, right?), he should quickly become a leader on defense and someone the 49ers can count on for the next decade.

THE GLORY DAYS of the 49ers are remembered by Super Bowl championships, but each of those years started in the same place: Rocklin. The Roseville Press Tribune looks back at the 49ers' training camp history at Sierra College and the reasons why they left.

WITH AUBRAYO FRANKLIN missing time with a knee injury, Isaac Sopoaga has a chance to shine as the team's starting nose tackle. But there are some things he still needs to work on if he's going to be a reliable force.

Technorati Profile Read more on this article...

Sounds like Battle's job is safe

As happy as I was when the 49ers signed Ashley Lelie and traded for Darrell Jackson, adding two proven NFL wide receivers to a team that really had none, there was a part of me that couldn't help but feel a little sorry for Arnaz Battle.

Here was a guy who had made big plays every chance he got, be it as a returner or a receiver, despite playing second or third fiddle to the likes of Brandon Lloyd, Johnnie Morton, Curtis Conway and Antonio Bryant; a guy who had started out as a quarterback at Notre Dame, turned into a receiver and became a reliable one in San Francisco despite being a sixth-round draft pick.

And he was about to be bumped aside again, the victim of the increasing depth on a maturing roster.

Of course, I was completely overestimating the clout Lelie would be bringing with him. When an injury forced Lelie to miss almost all of the 49ers' minicamp, the No. 2 receiver spot (Jackson will be No. 1) became Battle's to lose — if it wasn't already.

Buried at the bottom of today's Nolan's Notebook, a daily transcript of coach Mike Nolan's media Q&A, is this confirmation of Battle's standing:

"We also have Arnaz, who is both (a receiver and punt returner)," Nolan said. "But then again, he is our starting wide receiver, so I have to be careful on how I use him. It’s not like we have depth at wide receiver. When we establish depth around here — it may not be this season — Arnaz will be doing more returning. Right now the drop off between the receivers is significant."

That is, the dropoff from Battle to everyone else is significant. That means barring injury, Lelie has no shot at beating Battle out for the No. 2 spot. Nolan essentially confirmed that later on.

"Ashlie Lelie is in the mix (among the receivers)," he said. "He is right there with them, but he doesn’t do much returning. If he goes wide receiver alone, he is in the second group."

I've always thought of Battle as a bit of a less talented John Taylor (which is probably why I like him so much). With a strong cast around him, there's no telling what kind of threat Battle might turn into. The combination of weapons the 49ers now have on offense — with Frank Gore, Vernon Davis and Jackson — should divert the defense away from Battle and create opportunities for him to shine.

Battle has long been a good player on terrible teams. He's the perfect type of player for a good team: someone who will lead by example, do the dirty work when necessary and make enough big plays to keep defenses honest. He might never be a Pro Bowl player, but this season he should have every chance to show us all exactly how good he can be.

Read more on this article...

Esquire: Nolan a sharp-dressed man

Reebok might not have designed the highest-quality suit in the world for 49ers coach Mike Nolan to wear on the sideline last season — nor the most comfortable, based on his constant fidgeting — but Nolan's gesture of honoring past coaches like his father, former 49ers coach Dick Nolan, did not go unnoticed in the national media.

It apparently didn't go unnoticed in the world of pop culture, either. Esquire Magazine ranks Nolan at No. 11 in it's annual best-dressed list. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady earned the top spot on the list.

Nolan will again be "allowed" to wear the suit this season, and this time Reebok was generous enough to allow it for all eight home games. It previously wasn't allowed at all because the NFL has a contract with Reebok that forces coaches to wear their garb. Perhaps all this free publicity will persuade Reebok to give the OK for coaches to wear suits whenever they want. Maybe they should make it mandatory.

IF YOU HAVEN'T been following the ongoing saga of the 49ers' "Inside Training Camp" special that was to air on NFL Network, consider yourself fortunate.

The show was set to be filmed last Monday, the day Bill Walsh died, and air the following day. But with wall-to-wall Walsh coverage on Monday, the Cowboys' show got bumped to Tuesday, and the 49ers have been in limbo ever since.

Initially it was believed that the show would be pushed back one day, to Wednesday. Then it was supposed to air on Saturday. Then it was supposed to air this Monday. Meanwhile, someone called the NFL Network and was told it had never been filmed at all (which is strange, because Steve Mariucci and Joe Starkey were interviewed live at the practice facility, with practice going on behind them, about Bill Walsh on NFL Total Access).

Now even the 49ers are at a loss for when this will air, and one reader on Matt Maiocco's blog said he called the NFL Network and was told it would air Thursday at "10:00 EST." Which means the guy who said they told him it was never shot either lied or was lied to, or this second guy is lying or was lied to.

I'd say check the guide on your TV, but those have been wrong several times, too. But it's probably worth giving it a look at 7 p.m. PST (or 7 a.m., who knows?). Just don't be surprised if you end up watching the Green Bay Packers' intrasquad scrimmage for the 15th time this week.

NOT MUCH NEW in the newspapers this morning that we didn't know already (such is the power of the Internet). The topics of the day, as discussed here yesterday, are Aubrayo Franklin's knee injury and Vernon "I'm not T.O" Davis.

IN A CLASSY — if not entirely unexpected — move, the 49ers will wear their throwback uniforms in honor of Bill Walsh for their Monday Night Football opener against the Cardinals on Sept. 10. The team was initially scheduled to wear the uniforms, which they should switch back to full-time, twice this season. Not sure if the NFL will allow them a third, or if this will simply be one of the two they were getting anyway.

Read more on this article...

** UPDATE ** Defense takes a hit with Franklin injury

**UPDATE**

Matt Maiocco reports that Aubrayo Franklin's injury is a sprained MCL that will not require surgery. Franklin is expected to miss the preseason but be ready in time for the regular season. It's unfortunate he won't be able to get accustomed to playing with his new teammates in preseason games, but as a starter he probably wouldn't have gotten much playing time anyway.

This is the second sigh of relief of the day — the first coming (at the bottom of this post) when Vernon Davis stated in no uncertain terms that he has no interest in being anything like Terrell Owens. All in all, the day could have been worse.

***********

Nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin, one of the least heralded but most important of the 49ers' defensive acquisitions this offseason, was carted off the practice field with what the team is calling is sprained knee, Matt Barrows reports. We can only hope it's just a sprained knee.

In the 3-4 defensive alignment the 49ers are built for, the nose tackle is one of the key pieces. He must be big enough and strong enough to take on multiple blockers and open up lanes for the linebackers behind him to make plays. Franklin, a backup in his time with the Baltimore Ravens (where then-defensive coordinator Mike Nolan got acquainted with him), was expected to step in and immediately become the 49ers' rock in the middle of their line — the absence of which has forced them to revert to a 4-3 defense each of the past two seasons.

Barrows says the replacements for Franklin will be fourth-year nose tackle Isaac Sopoaga and rookie fourth-round pick Joe Cohen. Both have the size to play the position but are not as polished as Franklin. Hopefully Franklin's injury will prove to be no more serious than the "sprain" the team is claiming now. Anything worse than that could have a significant impact on the 49ers' defense this season.

VERNON DAVIS SAID he has made up with Larry Allen after this weekend's altercation and gave an encouraging answer when asked about possible comparisons to Terrell Owens.

"No. No," Davis said. "As far as the ability to play the game, that would be a compliment, but other than that ... personality, and things off the field, things like that, I would say, no, I'm not like that."

Davis had more to say, but I don't want to steal all of Barrows' thunder. If you're reading this before reading Matt's stuff, read the rest here. Just know that a lot of my fears about Davis turning into T.O. have been at least temporarily assuaged.

Read more on this article...

John York ... in your living room!

If you're looking for politics, you've come to the wrong place. But being that I'm obligated to bring you all things 49ers, I suppose an update on the Santa Clara stadium push is appropriate. There's not a whole lot new in this article, which expands as others have on the possibility of a stadium ballot measure coinciding with the presidential primary on Feb. 5.

This is the first I've read, though, that maligned owner John York — who was much more maligned before he made the genius (and expensive) moves of firing Dennis Erickson and Terry Donahue and then hiring Mike Nolan — and his son, Jed, have been pressing the flesh in the living rooms of Santa Clara residents.

Let's hope it works. Santa Clara might not be San Francisco, but it sure as hell beats Los Angeles.

BILL WALSH APPARENTLY scripted his own funeral as thoroughly as he scripted plays for every game. And in an interesting — if not entirely illogical — twist, he planned the whole thing with embattled former 49ers public relations director Kirk Reynolds. Think Mr. Reynolds might have a little extra motivation to get this right? Think Walsh didn't know that when he picked him? This is genius at work, even in death.

MARK PURDY OF the San Jose Mercury News makes his second appearance on this blog (his parents must be so proud), addressing whether it would be appropriate to have a tailgate party before Walsh's memorial service Friday at Monster Park. He wrote a lot. I'll write this: Great idea!

THE CHRONICLE TAKES a look at what everyone expects will be a drastically improved 49ers defense. Everyone, that is, including the newcomers themselves.

IN A RARE hat trick, the Chronicle lands another story here with its look at former 49ers center Jeremy Newberry and his attempted comeback with the Raiders.

AND IF YOU'RE in the mood for a complete fluff piece, head straight for the Pasta Bowl. Read more on this article...

How to keep Davis from becoming T.O.

Lots of good stuff from Sacramento Bee beat writer Matt Barrows in his blog today. In a fan Q&A, he tackles the Vernon Davis issue and admits there are some similarities between Davis and Owens. The difference, Barrows writes, is that T.O. never had someone to put him in his place. Vernon does (and did yesterday, in the form of Larry Allen).

It's an interesting point. When Owens was becoming the prima donna we all grew to hate, who was there to keep him in check? Jerry Rice was on his way out. His quarterback was Jeff Garcia, who couldn't do much to reel in Owens. His coach was Steve Mariucci, who did even less to reel in Owens. His next coach was Dennis Erickson, who was too busy signing new kickers to realize Owens was still on the team.

Davis has Mike Nolan. He has Larry Allen. Already, he's two steps ahead of Owens. Hopefully the forces that are already in place within the organization will be enough to help steer Davis in the right direction.

Among the other interesting items in Barrows' blog today include:

• Rookie running back Thomas Clayton, who came in with a reputation of being difficult to work with, has taken a pounding from defensive players and coaches alike, but has handled it all with a maturity that belies his past. Perhaps Clayton is being tested.
• Given that Mike Nolan said he would likely only keep five wide receivers and the fact that the 49ers have more than five good ones, it's quite possible that one could be traded during the preseason.
• Tully Banta-Cain, Alex Smith and Nate Clements were three of the most impressive performers at yesterday's scrimmage. As they should be.

I might have posted this already, but here's Matt Maoicco's blog post from earlier today. It includes a lot of detailed information about the scrimmage. And here's an article from Dennis Georgatos of the San Jose Mercury News on the position battle at right tackle. Apparently Kwame Harris, the walking, talking holding penalty, still thinks he has a chance to outlast first-round pick Joe Staley for a starting spot.

Read more on this article...

Ratto invokes Nolan-Walsh comparison

Anyone who's read this blog since its inception some .. er .. five days ago or has seen my posts on the 49ersWebzone message board knows that I'm a big believer in the similarities between the early part of Mike Nolan's tenure and that of Bill Walsh. I'm usually afraid to say it for fear of being labeled an idiot (as anyone who compares a third-year coach with a losing record to one who revolutionized the game and won three Super Bowls should be), but now the comparison is out in the open.

San Francisco Chronicle columnist Ray Ratto, whom I almost never agree with, was man enough to admit that Nolan and Walsh have a lot in common. Among other similarities are these:

• Walsh took over the 49ers when the franchise was at its absolute low point. Nolan took over when it was at its next absolute low point.
• Walsh built his offense first, behind a quarterback and a receiver he picked in his first draft with the team. Nolan built his offense first, behind a quarterback and a running back he picked in his first draft with the team.
• Walsh overhauled his defense in year three, bringing in Fred Dean and Hacksaw Reynolds and drafting Ronnie Lott, among others. Nolan overhauled his defense in year three, bringing in Nate Clements and Tully Banta-Cain and drafting Patrick Willis, among others.
• Both Walsh and Nolan had abysmal teams in their first seasons, then showed improvement in their second but missed the playoffs because of extreme deficiencies on defense.
• Both Walsh and Nolan have displayed a friendly nature with their players, but also a ruthless ability to sever ties with players when necessary.
• Both are excellent evaluators of talent, and proved it with one solid draft after another.

The biggest difference, at least from what we can tell from the outside, is that Walsh was an offensive genius who transformed the way the game was played. It's hard to imagine Nolan ever having such an effect on defense, but he is at least a proven defensive coordinator who has gotten decent production from undermanned teams the past two seasons.

So while it might be ridiculous to compare Nolan to Walsh or to put any sort of Walsh-like expectations on Nolan, it's impossible to not see the similarities. At this point, though, I'd be happy enough with one Super Bowl, let alone three.

Read more on this article...

Rice visits the Jets, and other news

Legendary 49ers receiver Jerry Rice paid a visit to the New York Jets on Friday as one in a long line of motivational speakers brought in by coach Eric Mangini. Rice spoke to the Jets about, among other things, his renowned practice routine. This article is also further proof that regardless of the mountain of football accomplishments Rice has amassed, he will forever be linked to a certain unfortunate reality TV program.

THE TALK OF the Internet and most newspapers this morning is obviously the scuffle between Vernon Davis and Larry Allen at Saturday's practice. There's not much new from what we already knew yesterday, and there probably won't be until we hear from Davis or Allen. The beat writers seem to agree, though, that there was something different about this altercation and that it won't just go away.

AMIDST ALL THE chaos yesterday, there was, in fact, a scrimmage. Matt Maiocco offers a typically thorough breakdown, and the 49ers' official site has a nice video of highlights from the scrimmage, including some good throws by Alex Smith, a spectacular interception by Jay Moore, a leaping interception by Nate Clements and a touchdown for our dear friend, Manny Lawson.

THOSE OF YOU who typically reach this site through the 49ersWebzone message board have probably seen the debacle of a thread that ensued when I posted my take on the Nolan-Davis situation. It's clear there are people on the message board who do not like me posting threads about my own blog posts there, so I am going to hold back on that somewhat.

How does this affect you? Well, if you like my blog and want to read more of it (I'm still planning on posting at least once or twice a day), bookmark it or click the link to the right to subscribe to it, and tell your friends about it.

And since I won't be posting these items in message board threads, feel free to comment on them here. This will be a much more interesting place if it's not a constant one-sided discussion. Thanks for reading. Read more on this article...

Nolan, Davis on a collision course

Mike Nolan has had problems like this before, and he's dealt with them the same way every time. Bad attitudes — from Brandon Lloyd to Kevan Barlow to Antonio Bryant — have been removed from the 49ers' locker room before they became distractions.

This one's different.

This one is Vernon Davis. Last year's sixth overall pick in the draft. Alex Smith's favorite weapon. The 49ers' most physically gifted athlete since — dare I say — Terrell Owens.

Davis riled his head coach last season when he earned a 15-yard penalty for using a pylon in the end zone as a prop after a touchdown celebration. The two had it out then, but the peace they came to never felt, well, entirely resolved. Davis' antics have popped up again and again throughout training camp, but they've mostly been seen in a positive light.

"He still talks a lot, but it's the kind of stuff that gets everybody going," linebacker Jeff Ulbrich said earlier this week. "He's not belittling anybody out there, just getting everybody fired up. You need that on your team. Training camp gets long, and you get a lot of days where people don't want to be out there. Vern gets the juices flowing."

The juices were overflowing on Saturday, when Davis and veteran offensive lineman Larry Allen had to be separated after getting into a fight during the team's first scrimmage of the year. Neither Davis nor Allen were talking about the incident afterward, so it's impossible to know who to blame for starting it, but Davis' track record certainly damages the case for his innocense.
Nolan, like Ulbrich before him, took the high road.

"They were disappointed (with the offense's performance), and so when they were trying to motivate each other, some of them take motivation a different way," Nolan said. "I think somebody didn't like getting called out. The thing that I like about it is that it has to be important to you to fight about something. So you take the good with the bad."

But how much bad is Nolan willing to take, exactly? Would someone less talented than Davis even still be on the team after his repeated bad behavior?

Maybe, but only because Davis' insufferable exuberance has, to this point, been mostly playful in nature. That changed on the 49ers' practice field in Santa Clara on Saturday. Davis has passed the point of no return. He no longer has hope of becoming just another cog in the 49ers' machine.

There is now one of only two models Davis can follow, one of two archetypes he can manifest. At the end of his career, will he more resemble Ray Lewis, the leader, or Terrell Owens, the destroyer?

Davis doesn't strike me as the type to suddenly change his ways, especially considering the stardom he will quickly attain if he lives up to his massive potential this season. And we know already that Nolan won't let any player threaten the balance of power in his organization or the chemistry in his locker room. Are the 49ers headed for another Terrell Owens-like meltdown (and ultimately, a divorce)?

If Davis doesn't recognize the effects of his behavior, the collision might be inevitable. Read more on this article...

Singletary expects 10+ sacks from Banta-Cain

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee, who has joined Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat as 49ers beat writers with great blogs, reports today that when asked about the possibility of new outside linebacker Tully Banta-Cain reaching 10 sacks this season, assistant head coach and Hall of Fame linebacker Mike Singletary didn't hold back.

"Ten would be the minimum," Singletary told Barrows. That's a strong statement considering Banta-Cain's career high in sacks was the 5.5 he had last year in a part-time role with the Patriots. Then again, that was a part-time role, so maybe 10+ isn't so far off.

And who's going to argue with this man, really?

TODAY IS THE 49ers' first intrasquad scrimmage of this year's training camp, and it could provide some interesting tidbits as far as position battles go. I'll likely be away from my computer the rest of the day, but be sure to check in on Matt and Matt, who I'm sure will both provide thorough updates afterward.

Read more on this article...

As Jacobs shines, Rumph is sent packing

Taylor Jacobs had a pretty quiet first season in 49ers jersey: eight games, four catches, 29 yards. Jacobs was acquired by the 49ers during last year's preseason in a trade with the Redskins for embattled cornerback and former first-round draft pick Mike Rumph, who was likely to be cut. It was a something-for-nothing type of deal for the 49ers, since Rumph was clearly not part of the team's future plans.

A year later, Jacobs is suddenly the darling of training camp in Santa Clara. Rumph? He was waived by the Redskins before the 2006 season finale after recording 11 tackles and no interceptions (he hasn't had one of those since Dennis Erickson's first season in San Francisco) in seven games. He was signed by the Rams in the offseason, and now they've let him go, too. He was apparently released to make room for an undrafted rookie linebacker named Larry Edwards. Rumph could be going the way of Ahmed Plummer.

Like most of the trades Mike Nolan has made in his first three years with the 49ers, this one seems to have worked out just fine. If Jacobs doesn't make the team, it's still clear San Francisco lost nothing by dealing Rumph. If Jacobs does make the team and goes on to have some sort of impact in the regular season, then it was a complete steal.

SPEAKING OF STEALS, how about that Kevan Barlow trade from a year ago? The 49ers sent Barlow to the Jets for a fourth-round pick last year when it became clear that Frank Gore was ready to handle the starting tailback job. Barlow's now on his second team since leaving San Francisco, signing with the Steelers after being let go by the Jets. And he could already have one foot out the door there, too.

And that fourth-round pick the 49ers got for the now nomadic Barlow? They traded it to the Seahawks for Darrell Jackson, the 49ers' No. 1 receiver. Read more on this article...

What the 49ers can learn from first scrimmage

The 49ers will hold their first intrasquad scrimmage of the season on Saturday, and coach Mike Nolan has chosen an interesting format for the activity. Rather than play his first-string offense against his first-string defense and second-string offense against second-string defense, he's going to play ones vs. twos.

Nolan's take on the decision? "You want your ones to win all the time."

Well, maybe. I'm not so sure I want the ones to win all the time. And I'm not so sure Nolan does, either.

• The ones will have Derek Smith. The twos will have Patrick Willis.
• The ones will have Kwame Harris. The twos will have Joe Staley.
• The ones will have Walt Harris. The twos will have Tarrell Brown.

And so on. This is one of the first chances these young players will have to go up against first-string opposition. If Willis (above) can fly around and make plays against Alex Smith and Co., it could be his first step toward supplanting Derek Smith in the starting lineup. If Kwame Harris gets torched by the second-string defense while Joe Staley holds his own against top pass rushers like Manny Lawson and Tully Banta-Cain, it shouldn't be long before Harris finally takes his rightful place on the sideline.

If any of those things happen, it will mean Mike Nolan and Scot McCloughan did their homework and came away from the draft with some real players to build around in the future. It's hard to imagine Nolan isn't rooting for that.

Read more on this article...

Nolan: WR Jackson's practice habits "just OK"

The calendar turned to August just two days ago, and already the 49ers have experienced the two primary reasons wide receiver Darrell Jackson fell out of favor in Seattle: injuries and questionable practice habits.

Jackson missed the 49ers' minicamp and organized team activities (OTAs) this summer thanks to a lingering turf toe injury. And now it appears he's not quite satisfying coach Mike Nolan with his effort in the early stages of training camp. Nolan didn't specify the problems he had with Jackson, but he did reference the 49ers' tradition of running 30 yards at the end of every play in every practice — a tradition made famous by the greatest receiver of them all, Jerry Rice.

These next couple of weeks will be critical in determining what type of relationship Jackson will develop with Nolan and the rest of his teammates. If you recall, Vernon Davis had some on-field behavioral issues to address in his first year with the team, too, but it appears Nolan has Davis on the right path now. (Nice training camp coverage by Yahoo's Jason Cole, by the way.)

Jackson can almost certainly establish himself as the 49ers' No. 1 receiver even with a shoddy work ethic and nagging injuries. But he'll need to buy into his team's philosophy and submit to his coach's will — and soon — if he's going to truly be accepted as the leader he should be. Read more on this article...

Wait, so the 49ers aren't doomed after all?

A big thank you to columnist Mark Purdy of the San Jose Mercury News this morning. Finally, someone at a major media outlet acknowledges that fact that despite offensive coordinator Norv Turner's departure, the 49ers' offense is not completely screwed, and neither is quarterback Alex Smith.

Keeping Turner, who helped immensely in Smith's maturation process last season, would have been the ideal scenario. But losing him was not the disaster the national media seems to think it was.

There were a number of potential coordinators 49ers fans were hoping for, but in the end, coach Mike Nolan might have made the perfect choice when he promoted quarterbacks coach Jim Hostler. Nolan has talked from Day 1 about building around his quarterback. And if this is going to be a Smith-centric franchise, putting the Golden Boy squarely in his comfort zone should be priority No. 1.

And that's exactly what Nolan did with the promotion of Hostler. The 49ers' new offensive coordinator is keeping Norv Turner's system intact, and he's even tweaking it to make it more to Smith's liking. Smith and Hostler had a great relationship already — as any quarterback and quarterbacks coach should — a relationship that was forged during Smith's difficult rookie season.

Those worried about Smith's continued development should stop worrying. Turner had a lot to do with his improvement last year, but so did Smith. The kid is young, smart and tough. Something makes me think he'd find ways to improve even if Ryan Leaf was his coach. And Jim Hostler is no Ryan Leaf (in case you were wondering).

If there is a question mark about this move and some concern for what the 49ers have lost, it should be in regards to play-calling. Turner was a good play-caller (I've heard he's a great one, but I'm not sure I saw greatness last year), and Hostler is an unproven one, at least at the NFL level. How that affects the 49ers' offense remains to be seen, but it's unlikely that Smith's play will regress like many believe it will. Read more on this article...

Former 49er is No. 1 deadbeat dad

Straight from the "I am not a role model" department comes this. Former NFL linebacker Rickey Jackson, who made six Pro Bowl appearances in 13 seasons with the Saints and won a Super Bowl with the 49ers in 1994, has acheived a new — shall we say, less desirable — form of notoriety.

Jackson is No. 1 on the list of most deadbeat (dead-beatest? deadest-beat?) dads in the state of Louisiana, and he didn't even go the Shawn Kemp route to get there. No, Jackson owes money to only one mother of only one child. He just happens to owe that one woman $160,000. At least the Louisiana Department of Social Services uses a picture of Jackson in his Saints uniform (left). Hopefully that'll make it easier to forget he was ever a 49er at all.

BRANDON WILLIAMS APPEARED last year to be one of Mike Nolan and Scot McCloughan's few draft-day mistakes, as the third-round pick out of Wisconsin struggled to see the field as a wide receiver and failed to make much of an impact as a punt returner. Word out of this summer's minicamp, though, was that Williams was starting to look like a real receiver out there.

Now, according to Craig Massei of SF Illustrated, Williams is dropping easy passes and having the ball stripped from his hands. And, meanwhile, which receiver is starting to make an impression? None other than Taylor Jacobs. To which I say, "Taylor Jacobs??"

This is either saying an awful lot about Taylor Jacobs' off-season workout plan or an awful little about the rest of the 49ers' receivers (of which there are now plenty). I can think of at least six wideouts I would expect to have more of an impact in training camp than Jacobs: Darrell Jackson, Arnaz Battle, Ashley Lelie, Williams, Jason Hill and Brian Gilmore. And that's not even counting Marcus Maxwell, whom I'm still hoping for big things from for no apparent reason.

According to Matt Maiocco, coach Mike Nolan expects to keep just five WRs, and he actually thinks the decision won't be all that hard. My guess is Williams still makes it as No. 5 thanks to his punt catching (if not punt returning) ability. Read more on this article...

Bill Walsh Award proposed by ... Al Davis?

If Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis (left) has one respectible quality in his shriveled old body, it's loyalty.

Davis said Wednesday that the NFL should present an award to the league's top quarterback in the name of late 49ers coach Bill Walsh, a prize similar to the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm award given in college football. It's actually a pretty good idea — maybe Davis' best move since helping to cause the AFL-NFL merger some 41 years ago.

Of course, everyone's favorite leisure suit hanger couldn't keep from getting some of that trademark bitterness out, bashing the media in general and the NFL Network specifically for east coast bias. Leave it to Al to turn the passing of his old friend and adversary into a chance to hop on a soapbox about something.

THERE'S A NICE article in the Lodi News-Sentinel today about Walsh from the perspective of former 49ers running back Bill Ring — for those too young to remember, Ring was the 49ers' version of Rudy, a guy who was too small and too slow but won the hearts of fans in the early 1980s with pure hard work (and some modest statistics).

The article includes something of a rarity: a Walsh anecdote we haven't heard yet. Apparently, Walsh beraded his players for pampering themselves at practice during a rainy, muddy season. He then emerged from the locker room dressed in a yellow slicker, a yellow hat and rubber boots.

It's unfortunate that side of Walsh was hidden from fans for so long. It's now become one of the man's most endearing qualities.

AND IN THE non-story of the day (it's early yet, I know), KCBS 740 AM reports that if a measure for the 49ers stadium appears on the 2008 ballot alongside the California presidential primary, it could affect the vote. Wow. What a revelation. I guess there's a reason why this article is so short. Someone realized halfway through that it simply wasn't worth writing about.

Read more on this article...

Aren't we getting a little ahead of ourselves?

Could the 49ers post an 11-5 record this year and win the NFC West by a comfortable three-game margin? Could Mike Nolan be named Coach of the Year? Could San Francisco earn the No. 1 seed in the NFC and advance to the conference title game? Could all of that really happen?

Well, yeah. Sure it could. Being the eternal optimist that I am, I tend to think this is more likely than others do. But it's certainly not likely enough to begin making those kinds of predictions.

That's precisely what the folks over at WhatIfSports.com — which calls itself "the Internet's foremost authority on simulation for MLB, NFL, NHL, NBA and college basketball" — have predicted will happen based on their oh-so-scientific simulation. They simulated every game of the 2007 NFL season 61 times, averaging the results to determine their predictions for wins, losses and individual statistics.

Well, they've simulated the entire postseason now, and they've got the 49ers losing 33-30 to the Bears in the NFC championship game after an 11-5 regular season. And they're not the only ones predicting big things for San Francisco. The Sporting News has the 49ers winning the division. It seems one expert after another has helped turn the 49ers into this year's trendy playoff pick.

All of which has 49ers fans in an all-out frenzy. I've even fallen victim to this myself. Yeah, I let myself daydream sometimes. It happened in 1981, right? Three years after the hiring of an unproven coach who picked his star quarterback in his first draft and the heart and soul of his defense in the first round of his third draft? With an offense that had been slowly building steam and a defense rebuilt seemingly overnight?

There are a lot of similarities between Mike Nolan's first two seasons and three off-seasons and those of Bill Walsh, which makes it easy to take that next leap and hope for a Super Bowl this season. We can continue to hope, but realistically a 9-7 season and a wild-card playoff berth should be enough to keep people happy. Remember, this is a team that has won just 13 games the past three seasons and hasn't won 10 or made the playoffs since 2002. Without an overtime win over Denver in the 2006 finale, the 49ers would have had three consecutive seasons of double-digit losses.

But that win over Denver made everyone feel pretty good, didn't it? And a strong free agent haul and even stronger draft has the 49ers thinking big — real big. I'm thinking big right along with them, but I'm not about to start getting my hopes up.

Not publicly, anyway. Read more on this article...

Talking trash is a good sign

Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat writes in his blog today that trash-talking continues to be prevalent at the 49ers' training camp. It seems that not a day goes by without 49ers beat writers making some mention of Vernon Davis celebrating demonstratively or Brandon Moore getting into a scuffle with another player or any number of other guys chirping at one another during practices (for example).

Maiocco doesn't seem to have a problem with this, and according to his blog, neither does coach Mike Nolan ... and, therefore, neither do I. The trash-talking, as long as it's confined to the field and not allowed to permeate the locker room, is simply a sign that the players care about playing football. As Maiocco notes, they seem to enjoy practice. The high spirits the players are showing now should translate into real chemistry when they hit the field together.

And I must say, I have a hard time imagining Ahmed Plummer or Kevan Barlow engaging in such rabble-rousing. Maybe that's why they never seemed to give their full effort on gameday.

STOP ME IF you've heard this one before: Jonas Jennings was injured today. The fragile (or "hard-luck," if you prefer) Jennings apparently left with a stinger in his right arm, according to
Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee. Check out his blog update from training camp today.

Let's just hope Jennings is healthy enough to return for opening day so he can get hurt in a real game. Read more on this article...

Honoring the legend, Bill Walsh

The 49ers announced Tuesday that they will honor Bill Walsh with decals on the players' helmets, patches on the coaches' shirts, a tribute at the Monday Night Football opener against the Cardinals and possibly a statewide "Bill Walsh Day." These are all fitting tributes, but one can't help but wish more could be done.

The problem, in reality, is that there really isn't enough that could be done to pay tribute to someone like Bill Walsh. His impact on the game — from his ingenious offensive system to his legacy of coaching underlings to his impact on the advancement of minority coaches — will likely last beyond most of our lifetimes. And his personality was such that his players saw him as a father, and even those who never knew him felt a real connection to him.

There is no satisfactory way to honor a man like this. The 49ers could wear their 1980s throwback uniforms for the entire season, but the NFL won't allow that (though you can bet one of the two NFL-sanctioned throwback games will be the opener). They could name the new stadium after him, but only if some big-time corporation changes its name to "Bill Walsh, Inc." and ponies up for the naming rights. They could build a statue of him outside the new stadium, but if we wait that long, none of us might be around to see it.

I've struggled to find ways to honor him in my own life. The only thing I've come up with that might do the man justice is this: Strive for excellence and perfection in every facet of my life, like he did, and do everything I can to make sure my children know who Bill Walsh was and why everyone made such a big deal about him. Read more on this article...

Welcome to 49ers Observer

I'd like to welcome all of you to 49ers Observer, your newest and best source for 49ers news, opinion and analysis on the Internet. My goal is not for this blog to become some sort of one-stop shop for all the 49ers information you'll ever need. That's simply not possible. But what I hope to do is provide 49ers fans with my own thoughts and opinions on the state of the team, as well as news and opinions from some of the best outside sources you can find. I hope I can offer you something you can't find anywhere else, or at least supplement what you can find with some fresh analysis. Please feel free to contact me with comments, suggestions or criticism. I appreciate all of your feedback.

What you need to know about me: I am a lifelong 49ers fan who grew up during the glory days of the 1980s. I was spoiled by the team's success during my childhood, but I have remained faithful throughout the recent thin years. I am a fan, just like you. Nothing more, nothing less. Read more on this article...