- NFL
- MLB
- NASCAR
- NEWS
- BLOGS
- FORUMS
- MULTIMEDIA
 |
|
|
Team Notebook: San Francisco 49ers49ers | Transition to Raye's offense going smooth Matt Maiocco, of The Santa Rosa Press Democrat, reports the San Francisco 49ers offense has made a fairly smooth transition to offense coordinator Jimmy Raye's offense up to this point. 49ers | Nose tackle to be Balmer's best position? Matthew Barrows, of the Sacramento Bee, reports at least one San Francisco 49ers coach believes that nose tackle will ultimately be DL Kentwan Balmer's best position. 49ers | Sopoaga prefers defensive end Matthew Barrows, of the Sacramento Bee, reports San Francisco 49ers DL Isaac Sopoaga has said previously that he prefers playing defensive end rather than nose tackle because he has less to worry about at end. 49ers | McDonald may start camp on PUP list Matthew Barrows, of the Sacramento Bee, reports San Francisco 49ers DE Ray McDonald (knee) could start training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list. 49ers | Ulbrich may need to hold off players for roster spot Matthew Barrows, of the Sacramento Bee, reports San Francisco 49ers LB Jeff Ulbrich likely will need to hold off LB Mark Washington and LB Justin Roland during training camp to keep his roster spot. 49ers | Washington likely to fight for roster spot Matthew Barrows, of the Sacramento Bee, reports San Francisco 49ers LB Mark Washington may need to be one of the team's top special teamers to make the final roster. 49ers | McKillop unlikely to see much playing time Matthew Barrows, of the Sacramento Bee, reports San Francisco 49ers LB Scott McKillop likely will not see much playing time this season unless LB Takeo Spikes suffers an injury. 49ers | Goldson worked with first team during workouts Matt Maiocco, of The Santa Rosa Press Democrat, reports San Francisco 49ers FS Dashon Goldson worked at free safety with the first-team defense during offseason workouts. 49ers | Roman currently backup at both positions Matt Maiocco, of The Santa Rosa Press Democrat, reports San Francisco 49ers FS Mark Roman is currently considered the top backup at both free safety and strong safety. 49ers | Training camp dates announced Matt Maiocco, of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, reports the San Francisco 49ers announced rookies will report to training camp July 28, with the rest of the team reporting July 30. 49ers | Still have plenty of cap space Matt Maiocco, of The Santa Rosa Press Democrat, reports the San Francisco 49ers have $15,061 million in salary-cap space remaining. 49ers | Still have money under salary cap Matt Maiocco, of The Santa Rosa Press Democrat, reports the San Francisco 49ers still have $15.061 million in salary-cap space. 49ers | Martz thinks Davis should have limited role Kevin Lynch, of the San Francisco Chronicle, reports former San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Mike Martz said during an interview with NFL Network that he believes TE Vernon Davis is the best in-line blocking tight end in the NFL and he is probably the second best pass protector on the team next to OT Joe Staley. Because of that, Martz said he would limit Davis's catches to 30 per season. 49ers | Defense worked on pass rush and turnovers during workouts Matt Maiocco, of The Santa Rosa Press Democrat, reports San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Greg Manusky said the defense's main focuses during the offseason workouts were improving their pass rushing and creating turnovers. The team recorded only 30 sacks last season. 49ers | Battle, Zeigler may compete for roster spot Matthew Barrows, of the Sacramento Bee, reports San Francisco 49ers WR Arnaz Battle and WR Dominique Zeigler may compete for a roster spot if the team decides to keep six wide receivers on their final roster. 49ers | Smith gaining ground on Hill Matthew Barrows, of the Sacramento Bee, reports San Francisco 49ers QB Alex D. Smith has been throwing the ball well in offseason workouts and is gaining confidence in his abilities. As a result, there appears to be a legitimate quarterback competition between Smith and QB Shaun Hill. "Well, I think the playing field is level now," head coach Mike Singletary said of the competition. "I think before the offseason began, I wasn't really sure where Alex was. You know, he's been through a lot in four years. I think in order for he and Shaun to compete on level ground, he had to get healthy, he had to get his mind focused, I think he had to let go of some of the bitterness that happened to him, some of the bad things, and get the bad taste out of his mouth and be ready to go. I think that has happened." Singletary, however, did reiterate that if the season were to begin tomorrow, Hill would be the starter. 49ers | Smith will have to unseat Hill for starting job The Associated Press reports San Francisco 49ers QBs Shaun Hill and Alex D. Smith apparently did not alter head coach Mike Singletary's perception on things over the past three months of offseason training. Singletary said neither quarterback was ahead in the competition, but he also repeated his belief that Smith will need to win the job from Hill. 49ers | Gore and Norris have rapport Gwen Knapp, of The San Francisco Chronicle, reports San Francisco 49ers RB Frank Gore tossed then free-agent FB Moran Norris' name on the table to head coach Mike Singletary during last season's exit interviews. "I put a buzz in his ear," Gore said. Gore and Norris, who the 49ers re-signed earlier this year, are best friends on and off the field. The rapport they have built, they say, allows them to read each other on the field and know instinctively how each other will react to a given situation. 49ers | Balmer, Briggs miss practice Monday Matt Maiocco, of The Santa Rosa Press Democrat, reports San Francisco 49ers DL Kentwan Balmer (illness) and LB Diyral Briggs (illness) did not participate in practice Monday, June 15. 49ers | Three rest Monday Matt Maiocco, of The Santa Rosa Press Democrat, reports San Francisco 49ers LB Takeo Spikes, CB Dre' Bly and DT Aubrayo Franklin were given the day off Monday, June 15, because of their veteran status. 49ers | Several WRs miss practice Monday Matt Maiocco, of The Santa Rosa Press Democrat, reports San Francisco 49ers WRs Isaac Bruce, Arnaz Battle (foot), Michael Crabtree (foot), Jason Hill (hamstring) and Josh Morgan (illness) did not participate in practice Monday, June 15. 49ers | Sheets believes he can be every-down back Matt Maiocco, of The Santa Rosa Press Democrat, reports San Francisco 49ers RB Kory Sheets has been labeled a third-down back but believes he can be an every-down back because he has not been injury prone. 49ers | Sheets having trouble with playbook Matt Maiocco, of The Santa Rosa Press Democrat, reports San Francisco 49ers RB Kory Sheets said he is having trouble learning the playbook at times because of the volume of the playbook. He said his playbook in college was pretty simple. He said making adjustments on the fly while reading the defense has been a challenge. 49ers | Way too early to name starting quarterback Tom FitzGerald, of The San Francisco Chronicle, reports with only a few practices remaining for the San Francisco 49ers before they take six weeks off, it is impossible to tell who has the upper hand in the quarterback competition. QBs Shaun Hill and Alex D. Smith are competing for the starting job. The competition is expected to dominate training camp, which begins July 30. 49ers | Crabtree tried to run routes last month Tom FitzGerald, of The San Francisco Chronicle, reports San Francisco 49ers rookie WR Michael Crabtree (foot) tried to run routes at last month's minicamp, but head coach Mike Singletary shooed him off the field. "We got that straight, but he was almost in tears," Singletary said. Crabtree continued to run sprints while the team practiced Thursday, June 11. 49ers | Davis could have bigger role this season Matthew Barrows, of the Sacramento Bee, reports San Francisco 49ers TE Vernon Davis likely will see his reception number increase this season because he is being targeted a lot during practice and is showing improved hands than in recent years. 49ers | Crabtree rehabbing Matt Maiocco, of The Santa Rosa Press Democrat, reports San Francisco 49ers head coach Mike Singletary said WR Michael Crabtree (foot) is rehabbing his foot and must stay on the rehab plan if he wants to be able to participate when training camp starts. 49ers | Singletary wants to see Smith play in games Matt Maiocco, of The Santa Rosa Press Democrat, reports San Francisco 49ers head coach Mike Singletary said QB Alex D. Smith has looked good during practice but wants to see him play in preseason games. 49ers | Roman, Sopoaga miss practice Wednesday Matt Maiocco, of The Santa Rosa Press Democrat, reports San Francisco 49ers FS Mark Roman (illness) and DE Isaac Sopoaga (quadriceps) did not participate in practice Wednesday, June 10. 49ers | Spikes, Ulbrich practice Wednesday Matt Maiocco, of The Santa Rosa Press Democrat, reports San Francisco 49ers LB Takeo Spikes (rest) and LB Jeff Ulbrich (illness) participated in practice Wednesday, June 10. 49ers | New offense fits Gore better Tom FitzGerald, of The San Francisco Chronicle, reports the San Francisco 49ers' offense under Jimmy Raye may allow RB Frank Gore to achieve his goal of being the best player on the field. "With (offensive coordinator Mike) Martz, we were more finesse, throw the ball deep, get outside," Gore said. "This is more running with my shoulders squared up, a lot of power, a lot of downhill plays." He said the team is trying to be physical. He is also delighted to be reunited with FB Moran Norris as his blocking back. 49ers | Hill giving Smith praise Scott Ostler, of The San Francisco Chronicle, reports San Francisco 49ers QB Shaun Hill is speaking praise of QB Alex D. Smith. Hill said Smith is throwing the football well, with conviction and has a lot of zip on the ball at this time. Hill also noted that Smith's accuracy is returning. Ostler says that the original thought in San Francisco was the starting job was Hill's to lose, but now there seems to be growing optimism surrounding the return of a healthy Smith. 49ers | Hill confident he can win Darren Sabedra, of the San Jose Mercury News, reports San Francisco 49ers QB Shaun Hill, who is 7-3 as a starter, feels he can lead the team to wins this season. "I feel like I've proven that I can win," Hill said, "and that I can win with this team. Obviously, winning is the most important thing." 49ers | Sopoaga misses practice Tuesday Matt Maiocco, of The Santa Rosa Press Democrat, reports San Francisco 49ers DL Isaac Sopoaga (thigh) did not participate in practice Tuesday, June 9. 49ers | Ulbrich misses practice Tuesday Matt Maiocco, of The Santa Rosa Press Democrat, reports San Francisco 49ers LB Jeff Ulbrich (illness) did not participate in practice Tuesday, June 9, because of an illness. 49ers | Clements to sit out rest of OTAs Matt Maiocco, of The Santa Rosa Press Democrat, reports San Francisco 49ers CB Nate Clements (pneumonia) is progressing well but will sit out the rest of the organized team activities. 49ers | Could be interested in Ellis Matt Maiocco, of The Santa Rosa Press Democrat, reports the San Francisco 49ers might be interested in unrestricted free-agent LB Greg Ellis (Cowboys) if he drops his asking price. 49ers | Want to take advantage of Davis' speed Matt Maiocco, of The Santa Rosa Press Democrat, reports San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye said he wants to utilize TE Vernon Davis' vertical speed to create problems for defenses. He wants his contributions in the passing game to come as a receiver - not a blocker. "He's also an excellent in-line blocker," Raye said, "but we would like to use him not as much in blocking in pass situations as we would running routes. So we would like to put him in positions where he is a matchup problem for the defense ... provided the protection that we have will allow us to do that." 49ers | Three miss practice Monday John Crumpacker, of the San Francisco Chronicle, reports San Francisco 49ers S Mark Roman (illness), S Reggie Smith (groin) and WR Jason Hill (hamstring) missed the team's practice Monday, June 8 49ers | McCloughan says team will not pursue M. Vick Matt Maiocco, of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, reports San Francisco 49ers general manager Scot McCloughan was asked during an appearance on "The Sirius Blitz" on Sirius NFL Radio if the team had discussed pursuing Atlanta Falcons QB Michael Vick. McCloughan said, "Well, I think what happens there, and I totally respect it, is people understand who [head coach] Mike Singletary is and understand that he has no problem giving guys second chances. Coach and I have sat down. We sat down and talked last week. We had an off-week of OTAs and we discussed about Michael Vick and we're not going to go that route. We will not do it." 49ers | Rachal misses practice Monday Matt Maiocco, of The Santa Rosa Press Democrat, reports San Francisco 49ers OG Chilo Rachal did not participate in practice Monday, June 8. 49ers | Bruce misses practice Monday Matt Maiocco, of The Santa Rosa Press Democrat, reports San Francisco 49ers WR Isaac Bruce did not participate in practice Monday, June 8. 49ers | Clements misses practice Monday Matt Maiocco, of The Santa Rosa Press Democrat, reports San Francisco 49ers CB Nate Clements (pneumonia) did not participate in practice Monday, June 8. He has not been re-evaluated by the team. 49ers | Crabtree continues to run Matt Maiocco, of The Santa Rosa Press Democrat, reports San Francisco 49ers head coach Mike Singletary stopped practice to make the team run six sideline-to-sideline sprints. Rookie WR Michael Crabtree (foot) participated in the runs with his teammates. 49ers | Smith turning the corner? Matt Maiocco, of The Santa Rosa Press Democrat, reports San Francisco 49ers general manager Scot McCloughan said the team's recent minicamp was the best he has seen QB Alex D. Smith (shoulder) look on the field. His arm strength, accuracy and tightness of spiral were all positives being displayed. |
Feature LinksFantasy Football Draft Guide FREE Fantasy Baseball
Talk Sports 24/7! San Francisco 49ers |
© 2009 Fantasy Sports Ventures, Inc.
