November

Nov. 26, 2008   

Lawson becoming more involved in 49ers' defense

In dire need of more difference makers on defense, the 49ers are making a conscious effort to give former first-round OLB Manny Lawson more playing time. “They’re definitely trying to get him on the field more, not only in the base 3-4, but also in a 3-3-5, which allows him to rush the passer more from a two-point stance,” a longtime team insider told PFW. “He can still disappear at times, but he’s good for at least one impact play per game, which forces teams to account for him.” It has been a long road back for Lawson, who team insiders tell us is just now getting back to full strength from the knee surgery that forced him to sit out the final 14 games last season. “We wanted to make sure that we were not rushing him back into something where he gets re-injured,” head coach Mike Singletary said of Lawson. “He’s really been coming on, and you can see the confidence. He’s not having to think. … It’s just happening.”

Nov. 21, 2008   

49ers' new-look O-line making presence felt

Updated at 10:15 a.m. CST Monday, Nov. 24

While the primary focus these days is on QB Shaun Hill, who won NFC Player of the Week honors in Week 11, team insiders believe the major improvement in the revamped offensive line since Hill took over for J.T. O’Sullivan under center is equally noteworthy. David Baas has provided a more physical presence at left guard than Adam Snyder, who struggled at that position. But it looks like Snyder might have found a new home as the starter at right tackle the past three games. “It’s interesting how much better he is in pass protection,” a team insider said of Snyder. “He just wasn’t good in a phone booth (left guard); guys would get by him. With more room to operate, he looks a lot more comfortable.” While Mike Singletary thinks his line’s newfound “continuity” is paying off, he hasn’t stopped revamping, with rookie Chilo Rachal replacing Larry Wragge as the starting right guard in Week 12.

Nov. 14, 2008   

Niners' Singletary is swinging for the fences

Updated at 9:50 a.m. CST Monday, Nov. 17

After getting burned by an embarrassing goal-line meltdown on the Week 10 Monday-night stage but managing to more than hold their own against the NFC West-leading Cardinals in a 29-24 defeat, the Niners continued to be, at the very least, tremendously entertaining in their second game under new head coach Mike Singletary.

Singletary notched his first win in his new position in Week 11.

“He’s very ambitious,” a longtime team insider said of Singletary, who hasn’t stopped making changes since grabbing the reins. “Look what he’s done in just two weeks. He’s changed the starting quarterback (replacing J.T. O’Sullivan with Shaun Hill). He revamped the starting offensive line (moving David Baas to left guard and Adam Snyder to right tackle). He’s added new wide receivers (Jason Hill and Dominique Zeigler) and has created a situation with the players at that position now competing for playing time every day in practice.

“Then, with the defense, he’s going with much more 3-4. He’s playing (first-round rookie DE) Kentwan Balmer more. It’s all quite dramatic, maybe almost too ambitious. But one thing has become pretty clear: If he’s going down, he’s going down swinging.”

And the way we’re now hearing it, offensive coordinator Mike Martz — who took the blame for the Niners’ costly clock mismanagement in the waning moments of their Monday-night loss — is totally on board with Singletary and the new head coach’s apparent desire for a more conventional, power-oriented attack.

“What you saw Monday night was very un-Martz like,” the team insider said. “But he’s a very smart guy, and I think he sees the handwriting on the wall, that he needs to adapt. You have to question if his system is even viable in today’s NFL. Unless you have a New York Giants-type offensive line, it just isn’t going to work, and there certainly isn’t a line like that in San Francisco.”

There is a line, however, with a new, more physical look, and Snyder, who had problems at left guard, is now in a situation where we hear the starting ORT job is his to lose. It had been assumed that veteran Jonas Jennings, who has been injured, was healthy enough to regain the starting ORT job.

But, according to the team insider, “It just looks like Jonas might be out of the mix.”

Nov. 6, 2008   

49ers' O-line expected to get more physical

One big thing interim head coach Mike Singletary is stressing is a more physical style of play, and we hear that will definitely be the case for the team’s beleaguered offensive line the rest of the season. Greatly overshadowed by Singletary’s moves involving QB J.T. O’Sullivan and TE Vernon Davis in his head-coaching debut was his decision to start David Baas at left guard over fellow fourth-year pro Adam Snyder — a move team insiders were surprised wasn’t made sooner considering the problems Snyder was having in pass protection. Said Singletary: “David Baas is a physical guy, and he gives you that physical presence. … We want people in the trenches, because that’s where it starts.” Another added physical dimension could come with second-round rookie Chilo Rachal seeing more playing time at guard and tackle. Word is Singletary is very impressed with both Rachal's physical and mental makeup.

October

Oct. 30, 2008   

Clash between Singletary, Martz could be in the offing

Mike Singletary

After all was said and done, we hear Mike Singletary’s eye-popping debut as the Niners’ head coach created an overwhelmingly positive buzz — for the most part.

“It’s a good thing because, to a certain extent, he’s made the Niners relevant again,” one source close to the scene told PFW.

“But there’s also a certain degree of weariness already developing. He’s making some pretty elaborate promises that have made a lot of people scratch their heads, making bold statements about becoming a championship team, as well as a model team.”

The hard reality, though, is that the Niners are a team that hasn’t had a winning record since 2002, as well as a team that faces a daunting second-half schedule with five of its eight games on the road.

The way we hear it, they are also a team that may be looking at a potentially stormy clash between Singletary and Niners offensive coordinator Mike Martz.

Mike Martz

Even though Martz has publicly signed off on Singletary’s preference for Shaun Hill over the erratic J.T. O’Sullivan under center, daily team observers would hardly be shocked if Martz eventually throws up his hands in disgust over an increasingly conservative offense, the same way Singletary threw up his hands in Martz’s face on the sideline after O’Sullivan’s ill-advised pass that was intercepted and returned for a TD just before halftime in the Niners’ latest loss.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if Martz splits before the season is over,” said one team insider. “Singletary wants to win with defense and special teams, and that’s just not Martz’s m.o. at all.

“Hill is not a Martz-type quarterback. He’s not a great downfield thrower, and he doesn’t know Martz’s system like O’Sullivan. He’s more of a check-down guy; J.T. didn’t ever throw check-downs.”

We hear a different dynamic altogether could be developing on the other side of the ball, with defensive coordinator Greg Manusky expected to stick more with a pure 3-4 scheme now that departed head coach Mike Nolan’s influence has been removed. Should that indeed be the case, the prospects moving forward will at least be a lot brighter for former first-round OLB Manny Lawson, who had his best game of the season in Week Eight operating primarily out of a 3-4. 

Oct. 24, 2008   

Singletary and McCloughan are both under close scrutiny

Updated at 9:40 a.m. EDT Monday Oct. 27

Rather than waiting until the bye week to fire head coach Mike Nolan, who was fighting a steadily losing battle on a team with major issues on both sides of the ball, sources tell us the Niners’ family ownership decided the day after the team’s fourth straight disheartening loss that there was simply no sense prolonging the agony with Nolan at the helm.

Influenced by the impressive success Jim Haslett has had rejuvenating the division-rival Rams — in addition to concerns that rumors of Nolan’s imminent demise would become a fatal distraction — the Niners turned to assistant head coach/defense and Nolan’s close friend Mike Singletary to try to salvage the team’s 2008 season. Singletary didn’t get off to a winning start, as the 49ers lost to the Seahawks in his Week Eight debut.

Although Niners GM Scot McCloughan said it was primarily his idea to pull the plug on Nolan, our sources wouldn’t be surprised if it was actually 27-year-old club vice president Jed York who pressed the issue. The younger York’s emergence as the face of team ownership has become more evident to our sources on the scene, who view this development as a real positive, since Jed York appears to be much more aggressive and proactive than his father, John York.

As for Singletary, while our sources expect him to have no problem motivating the team and providing dynamic leadership, his work in the X’s and O’s department will be under close scrutiny as he attempts to remain the team’s head coach beyond this season.

It’s important to note that McCloughan appears to be on notice, as well.

“Ownership has repeatedly stated that it believes the talent is in place for the team to turn things around,” a longtime team insider told PFW. “If that talent doesn’t show up the rest of the season, it could be considered a direct reflection on McCloughan.”

Overshadowed by the head-coaching switch was the firing of co-offensive line coach George Warhop — a move that hardly came as a shock considering how unevenly his unit has been performing again this season. We hear Nolan wanted to fire Warhop before the season but that he was persuaded by offensive coordinator Mike Martz to keep Warhop aboard.

Oct. 16, 2008   

Niners' secondary continues to be a major concern

Although nobody on the Niners’ beleaguered defense with the possible exceptions of ILBs Takeo Spikes (an interception in three straight games heading into Week Seven) and Patrick Willis (18 tackles in Week Five) has made his presence felt in a positive fashion during the team’s lackluster three-game losing streak, it has been quite clear to team insiders that the unit’s primary problem has been a secondary that has broken down consistently and given up way too much cushion. Veteran CB Walt Harris, who insists he has not lost a step at age 34, and FS Mark Roman, who has been playing an extremely deep center field, have been singled out recently by the local media, but we hear head coach Mike Nolan isn’t even thinking about replacing either of them in the starting lineup. As for high-priced CB Nate Clements, his uncharacteristic gaffs in coverage have been very hard to ignore.

Oct. 9, 2008   

Teams keying more on stopping 49ers LB Willis

It stood to reason that opposing teams would make a concerted effort this season to find specific ways to combat the effectiveness of second-year Niners ILB Patrick Willis after an outstanding rookie campaign in which he registered a league-high 174 tackles. Willis registered double-digit tackles in 10 of his 16 games in 2007, including three of the first five. This season, Willis didn’t hit double digits until his 18-tackle effort in the Week Five loss to the Patriots, but after closely studying film of the game, one longtime team insider pointed out that Willis was blocked consistently in the first half before becoming “an absolute beast” in the second half. “He has been getting blocked out of a lot more plays so far this season,” the insider said of Willis. “Teams have been sticking a big lineman in front of him all the time, and he actually has been blown out of some plays.”

Oct. 3, 2008   

49ers' shaky pass protection a major concern

Updated at 10:01 a.m. EDT Monday, Oct. 6

With a league-leading 20 sacks allowed through five games, the Niners’ serious problems in pass protection don’t appear to have an easy solution. “There’s really not much they can do right now,” one team insider told PFW. “The only option appears to be moving (starting OLG) Adam Snyder to right tackle to replace Barry Sims and playing David Baas at left guard.” Sims, who has been starting in place of the injured Jonas Jennings, was totally dominated by Saints DE Charles Grant in Week Four. “But he might have just had the game from hell,” the insider said. “He hadn’t been bad before that game.” As big a problem as any, according to daily team observers, is Mike Martz’s preference for plays in his offense that take more than the normal time to develop, with QB J.T. O’Sullivan primarily taking seven-step drops that give opposing pass rushers more time to get to him.  

September

Sept. 25, 2008   

Loss of Spencer not good news for secondary

Updated at 9:23 a.m. EDT Monday, Sept. 29

Team insiders consider the season-ending torn ACL suffered by No. 3 CB Shawntae Spencer a substantial blow to the Niners’ secondary. “Shawntae has become a very solid veteran player with good cover skills and excellent toughness,” one source said of the team’s second-round pick in the 2004 draft who was a starter his first three seasons before Nate Clements came aboard from Buffalo. “He is a good team guy, a real professional who was capable of stepping in for (No. 2 CB) Walt Harris with no real drop-off.” Providing some consolation is the increase in playing time for promising second-year CB Tarell Brown, who had an interception in the Week Three win over Detroit, as well as the presence of mind to call a timeout when he noticed the defense had only 10 men on the field. “He fills the nickel role quite well,” the source said of Brown. “He can handle press coverage well and is a good tackler.”

Sept. 19, 2008   

Johnson jelling nicely in Niners' revamped offense

Updated at 9:45 a.m. EDT Monday, Sept. 22

We hear the 49ers couldn’t be happier with the way former Cardinals No. 3 WR Bryant Johnson is adjusting to being a full-time starter. Said one team insider: “He has the highest catch rate on the team (through two games), he‘s got good size and, man, is he physical! He definitely has the potential to be the No. 1 guy.” Although we’re sure Johnson would have no problem if that happened, he’s very happy right now just being a key factor in the lively offense choreographed by new coordinator Mike Martz that he thought would eventually come together, even though it looked terrible at times in training camp. “It was all just so new to everybody,” Johnson told PFW. “It took a while to figure it out and get into that attack mode. But it’s done nothing but keep building up. It was just a matter of getting into a rhythm and minimizing mistakes.” Johnson has caught 10 passes for 151 yards and a touchdown through Week Three.

Sept. 11, 2008   

Alex Smith's days with Niners dwindling

Even before QB Alex Smith was placed on injured reserve Sept. 10, team insiders were mostly in agreement that the former first-round draft pick’s snakebitten career in San Francisco was all but over. Said one insider close to the scene, “The only way he could return is if he agrees to drastically reduce his contract, which he’s going to have to do wherever he ends up.” Word is Smith would consider a parting of the ways a godsend after everything he has gone through as a Niner. “This latest injury (suffered in practice) couldn’t have been more freakish,” the insider said. “It really seems like fate is at work here.” We also hear Smith’s relationship with head coach Mike Nolan remains on shaky ground. 

Sept. 5, 2008   

Brooks shapes up as an intriguing project for 49ers

Updated at 11:20 a.m. EDT Monday, Sept. 8

We hear the 49ers’ decision to acquire third-year LB Ahmad Brooks, who was released by the Bengals, could have been based, as much as anything, on the inability of another recently acquired linebacker, Takeo Spikes, to seize the team’s starting “Ted” LB role next to 2007 rookie sensation rookie Patrick Willis. The Niners always have liked Brooks’ talent — they nearly grabbed him in the 2006 supplemental draft — but his character and work ethic remain major concerns. “He’s got good size, quickness in coverage and some pass-rush ability, but he’s also got a ton of issues,” a team insider told PFW. It could be, though, that the Niners think assistant head coach/defense and Hall of Fame LB Mike Singletary is perfectly suited to make those issues disappear. “If he (Singletary) can handle Brooks as well as he handled Willis, it could really uplift his head-coaching aspirations,” the insider said. Brooks was inactive in Week One.

August

Aug. 22, 2008   

McDonald, Banta-Cain could fortify 49ers' pass rush

The 1½ sacks registered by relatively unheralded second-year DE Ray McDonald in the Niners’ second preseason game vs. Green Bay was not a fluke, according to team insiders. After displaying some impressive flashes with increased playing time at the end of his rookie campaign last season, McDonald reportedly has picked right up where he left off and then some. Fellow second-year Niner Joe Staley, who has spent a lot of time this offseason matched up across the line from McDonald at left tackle, told one team source that McDonald is “20 times better than he was last year.” Reporting to camp 10 pounds heavier at 290, McDonald’s improved pass-rush skills have been evident from the get-go, particularly when he has been on the field along with newly acquired Justin Smith, with both players frequently being shifted around depending on matchups. Another player who could be providing more of an impact in the pass-rush department this season is Tully Banta-Cain, who was a disappointment in his first season as a Niner last year after reportedly showing up to camp 20 pounds overweight and injuring an ankle that he said limited him all season. Banta-Cain reported to camp in much better shape this season and has provided much more of a pass-rushing presence, recently racking up a pair of sacks against the Packers while playing on the second team.

Aug. 15, 2008   

Spikes can help Niners' 'D' if he can stay on the field

The early indication from team insiders is that newly acquired veteran LB Takeo Spikes will provide an upgrade as the new starting “Ted” inside linebacker alongside Patrick Willis — provided the 31-year-old two-time Pro Bowler can stay healthy. There’s strong reason to believe Spikes’ signing has been a done deal for a while now, and that Spikes might have timed his arrival in the Bay Area so that he could avoid the normal training-camp grind. “You can tell from talking to him that he’s smart and has real leadership qualities,” a team insider said of Spikes, who will replace veteran Jeff Ulbrich in the starting lineup. “He won’t miss many assignments, and he’s bigger than Ulbrich. He should draw more attention away from Willis, and he’s been in this defense before under Dick LeBeau (in Cincinnati). But the big question is just how effective he will be, coming off a torn rotator cuff.” Spikes started 14 games for the Eagles last season before suffering the injury and going under the knife. Before Philadelphia released him, he had been due to make $5 million this season, and the word out of Philly is that he was considered expendable because the Eagles think so highly of their younger linebackers.

Aug. 8, 2008   

O'Sullivan making presence felt under center

If there was any doubt as to whether or not J.T. O’Sullivan should be considered a serious contender this season for the Niners’ starting QB job, head coach Mike Nolan removed it Wednesday when he announced that O’Sullivan would start Friday’s first preseason game against the Raiders. Truth be told, according to team insiders, the Niners and new offensive coordinator Mike Martz probably are more in the dark at the moment about the team’s starting QB than they were when training camp opened almost two weeks ago. Daily camp observers report that all three candidates (O’Sullivan, Alex Smith and Shaun Hill) have scuffled more than a little, as Martz’s offense has proven to be a major work in progress, to say the least. The one key thing that has separated O’Sullivan from his challengers, we hear, is that he appears to have a much better handle on Martz’s system, which is understandable considering that he played under Martz in Detroit. More importantly, though, word is O’Sullivan has looked more like a leader under center, showing a lot more fire and energy than either Smith or Hill up to now.   

Aug. 1, 2008   

Niners' OT position a mixed bag early on

It’s been a “good news, not-so-good news” situation” at offensive tackle so far in the Niners’ training camp. Team insiders stopped short of calling the foot infection that forced second-year OLT Joe Staley to miss the Niners’ first 10 practices a flat-out “bad” situation — a sentiment shared by head coach Mike Nolan, who believes Staley will still get sufficient practice time at his new position after having started at right tackle as a rookie last season. But there has no doubt been some concern, considering that Staley is a relative newcomer at protecting the quarterback’s blind side. It’s also worth noting that Staley didn’t miss a single snap at right tackle his rookie season, which makes his foot infection — which was initially thought to be caused by a bug bite — a bad omen in the eyes of some. Meanwhile, the good news has been the very encouraging early training-camp efforts of projected starting ORT Jonas Jennings, who is coming off an erratic, injury-plagued 2007 campaign. “He has looked very polished, winning at least 80 percent of his matchups in pass-protection drills,” a longtime team insider said of Jennings, who is being limited to just one practice per day as a precautionary measure. “He’s made a seamless switch to the right side, and so far, he looks like the best player on the line.”

July

July 16, 2008   

Spirited competition expected in secondary

We hear the winds of change may be blowing briskly in the Niners’ defensive backfield, with both RCB Walt Harris and FS Mark Roman facing increasingly serious challenges for the starting jobs they held down last season with mixed success. After a career campaign two years ago, Harris, who will turn 34 in August, really started to show his age last season and is expected to be looking over his shoulder frequently in training camp at a host of challengers, led by third-round draft pick Reggie Smith. “They (the Niners) wouldn’t mind a more physical presence at the CB spot opposite Nate Clements who can stone a guy at the line of scrimmage, with Clements continuing to play mostly man coverage,” a team insider told PFW. “Smith is an ex-safety, and if he can display enough quickness, he could become the starter, although my money is still on Harris staying conscientious enough to hang on to the job.” The insider was less certain about Roman’s ability to remain a starter, however, with second-year pro Dashon Goldson emerging as arguably the most impressive defender in the team’s minicamps and OTAs. “He made big hit after big hit, with a lot of interceptions,” the insider said of Goldson. “And he’s got the kind of instincts that could make him a star player.”

July 3, 2008   

Sims strengthens O-line — finally

After the Niners recently reached across the bay to sign veteran OT Barry Sims, the daily team observers we talk to couldn’t help but pose the same question: “What in the heck took them so long?” Most of those observers were shocked that the Niners had decided to ignore the OT position altogether in the draft. Not only was there precious little manpower behind projected starting OTs Joe Staley and Jonas Jennings on the left and right side, respectively, but the fact that Jennings continues to be such an enigma — with a penchant for breaking down both physically and mentally — created even greater cause for concern at the position. Now, however, the Niners have what could turn out to be a very valuable insurance policy in Sims, even though he is coming off a subpar season in which he was among he league leaders in penalties. The good news on Jennings is that he’s reportedly working out hard in the hope of avoiding another injury like the one he suffered to his right ankle early in November last year, which ended up shutting him down for good. The bad news is that he’s been working out mostly on his own and seems to be doing everything in his power to spend as much time away from the team as possible so far this offseason. “He’s just so fragile psychologically,” one team insider told PFW. “But when he’s right, he’s still a pretty good player.”

June

June 25, 2008   

Rookie has shot at filling 'Ted' LB role

While the team’s revamped offense under the direction of new coordinator Mike Martz is getting most of the attention from the national media, potentially significant changes on the other side of the ball seem to be transpiring at a rapid clip this offseason. In addition to Isaac Sopoaga taking his explosive first step from nose tackle to right end, former DE Ron Fields moving inside to the nose and free-agent addition Justin Smith spending much of his time as the team’s “rush” linebacker opposite Manny Lawson rather than at defensive end, the team’s latest defensive wrinkle could come courtesy of seventh-round rookie LB Larry Grant, who team insiders tell us could end up seeing just as much, if not more, playing time this coming season as 2008 first-round DL Kentwan Balmer. We hear Grant, whose work ethic and intelligence have impressed coaches, has been told by head coach Mike Nolan that he is a serious candidate for the starting ILB “Ted” role alongside Patrick Willis, a rookie sensation last season. Grant’s primary challengers in what figures to be a hotly contested position battle later this summer are veteran holdovers Jeff Ulbrich and Brandon Moore and free-agent signee Dontarrious Thomas. Said one veteran team insider: “I was standing right there when Nolan told him (Grant) that the job was wide open, and that it would be a real good idea for him to do a lot of studying this summer.”

June 13, 2008   

Smith spending lots of time as outside 'backer

There have been plenty of new defensive wrinkles so far this offseason, but by far the most intriguing in the eyes of daily team observers has been the usage of high-priced free-agent addition Justin Smith as an outside rush linebacker in the base defense much more so than at right end, the position he primarily played with the Bengals. Although looks can be more than a little deceiving in OTAs, it would appear that the team just might be preparing to have Smith replace Tully Banta-Cain in the starting lineup — a move that would qualify as a real eyebrow-raiser, even though Banta-Cain was a disappointment in his first season with the Niners in ’07, particularly in coverage. There has been plenty of talk about shifting Smith around regularly in the Niners’ multi-look 3-4 scheme, but appearances with him standing up on the outside were expected to be minimal. “But they seem to really like the contrast with him and Manny Lawson on the other side,” a longtime team insider told PFW. “I personally don’t know how that’s going to work. Smith just seems more like a ‘power strength’ type of guy to me, but who knows? Maybe they’re onto something.”    

May

May 29, 2008   

Sopoaga, Fields trade places on D-line

The wheels are in motion on a Niners defensive line that is going to look dramatically different this coming season without longtime regular DEs Bryant Young (retired) and Marques Douglas (free agent signed by Buccaneers) no longer around. Two prominent changes that have been made by creative D-line coach Jim Tomsula involve moving massive fifth-year pro Isaac Sopoaga from nose tackle to defensive end and fourth-year pro Ronald Fields, who had been considered a top candidate to replace Young at left end, inside to the nose. Sopoaga, whose temperament is considered much better suited for the outside, has an extremely quick first step. With his size — team insiders tell us he’s tipping the scales in the 340-pound range these days — and mobility, Sopoaga has the potential to consistently collapse the pocket. Fields, meanwhile, will be undersized (6-2, 321) in the middle, but what he lacks in size, the Niners believe he can make up for with what are considered the quickest hands on the line, which could make him a potential nuisance of the highest order for opposing centers. Provided he remains active and plays with leverage, team insiders tell us Tomsula believes Fields’ presence in the middle could also improve the defense’s ability to shut down the opposition’s inside run game, which was subpar much of last season.

May 14, 2008   

Knowledge of system gives O'Sullivan an edge

This much is clear about new Niners QB T.J. O’Sullivan: In the team’s early-May three-day minicamp, his grasp of new coordinator Mike Martz’s system (he was a backup QB under Martz in Detroit) appeared to give him a clear edge over fellow QBs Alex Smith and Shaun Hill. But was head coach Mike Nolan really serious when he declared the battle for the starting QB job a “three-man race” at the end of the camp? “It’s too early to tell anything just yet,” a team insider told PFW. “O’Sullivan’s emergence could be a Martz ego thing as much as anything, with Martz turned on by making another journeyman type ‘the guy’ in his system.” What could help O’Sullivan’s cause is the fact that Hill couldn’t have looked shakier in the minicamp, particularly a Sunday performance that was earmarked by three interceptions. It’s important to note, however, that Hill has never been a good practice player and that, based on pure ability and athleticism, he can’t come close to matching either Smith or O’Sullivan. As for Smith, who received a $7 million roster bonus despite a horrendous ’07 season and is considered the favorite for the starting job by a majority of team observers, the one thing that stuck out at the camp was how much at ease he appeared to be with Nolan, whose relationship with Smith went dramatically downhill last season. “They really did seem to be getting along and were actually joking around at times,” one camp observer told PFW. But it remains to be seen if that will continue being the case once the June OTAs begin in earnest.

May 2, 2008   

Balmer will make his presence felt — somewhere

We suspect one of the first orders of business at the Niners’ first minicamp beginning today will be to begin determining where first-round DL Kentwan Balmer is best-suited to make the biggest impact in his rookie season. Is it left end, where he would replace the retiring Bryant Young, or nose tackle, where the competition is a bit stiffer with both Aubrayo Franklin and recently re-signed Isaac Sopoaga already in the mix? Team insiders believe Balmer is a bit undersized for the nose and is probably a better fit at end. But there’s reason to believe the team could be looking for Balmer to specifically push Franklin, who was mediocre most of the time last season and was as big a reason as any for the defense’s problems stopping inside ground games. A scenario with Balmer taking over as the starting nose tackle and the surprisingly mobile Sopoaga moving to left end isn’t out of the question. Regardless, with Balmer and Sopoaga both able to play inside or outside, and every-down free-agent addition Justin Smith able to play either DE spot, there could be a whole lot of interesting shifting going on this season on the Niners’ D-line.

April

April 23, 2008   

Foster: valuable insurance policy at RB

Here’s the bottom line on new Niners RB DeShaun Foster: If featured back Frank Gore should get injured for an extended period of time, the word is that Foster is considered much better-suited to step in and become the starter than Gore’s primary backups last season, Maurice Hicks, who signed with Minnesota, and Michael Robinson, who is more of a spot option. “Foster and Gore are actually very similar in terms of style,” a team insider told PFW. “They’re both good receivers out of the backfield.” With Gore being bothered by a nagging ankle injury much of last season, there are many who have speculated that Foster, who spent the previous six seasons in Carolina and displayed some pretty impressive flashes on occasion, could cut into Gore’s playing time pretty significantly. But team sources tell us that the Niners still are planning on Gore to get at least 15-20 carries per game and about 5-10 catches out of the backfield. What would that leave Foster? We’re hearing maybe 10 touches per game — if he’s lucky.

April 18, 2008   

Jennings still figures in O-line mix

On an offensive line that dramatically regressed last season, team insiders agree that Jonas Jennings, the left tackle, was oftentimes the weakest link during the first half of the 2007 season— when he was healthy enough to play. With that in mind, the word from our sources that Jennings — who was placed on injured reserve in early November with a right ankle injury that required surgery — appears to be the front-runner at right tackle for the ’08 season (with 2007 first-round pick Joe Staley moving from right to left tackle) has raised some eyebrows. In addition to problems with injuries, which we hear head coach Mike Nolan and O-line coach George Warhop have questioned more than a few times, Jennings has also had his share of personal issues to contend with, most notably the poor health of his mother. Jennings also received a lot of local heat last season when he claimed that a sack he had given up to Giants DE Osi Umenyiora, which resulted in a 75-yard fumble return for a touchdown by Umenyiora, was not his fault. That statement prompted former Niners great Ronnie Lott, among others, to rake Jennings over the coals on the local airways. And yet, at least heading into the draft, Jennings continues to hang on to a starter’s role. The way we hear it, the main reason for that is the faith that new Niners GM Scot McCloughan continues to show in Jennings, who, when healthy, remains a pretty decent tackle. Team sources believe that, if Nolan and Warhop had their way, Jennings might have been given his walking papers by now. Instead, it appears Jennings’ surprising staying power is, as much as anything, a testament to McCloughan’s newfound power in the Niners’ organization. We hear it wouldn’t be a shock at all, though, if the Niners ended up using a first-day draft pick on a tackle later this month, especially considering Jennings’ lack of durability.

April 4, 2008   

QB Smith making strides both physically and mentally

The Niners can talk all they want about an honest-to-God battle materializing for the starting QB job this offseason between Alex Smith, who is coming off the season from hell, and Shaun Hill, who had his moments as a starter down the stretch last season with Smith out of the picture with a bum shoulder. But the way we hear it, Smith is by far the best bet to be the starter in Week One. After taking his time to recover both physically and mentally from what turned out to be a very traumatic season, in great part due to his fractured relationship with head coach Mike Nolan, Smith, we’re told, has been rejuvenated by the presence of new offensive coordinator Mike Martz. According to team insiders, Martz is spreading the word behind the scenes that Smith has a chance to be really good in his system. But is Smith’s throwing arm fully recovered from his Dec. 13 shoulder surgery? “He expects to be fully ready for the minicamp in early May,” a team insider told PFW. “He’s been regularly throwing passes as far as 40 yards, but not with a lot of velocity, and he can do everything in the weight room but lift heavier weights over his head.” As for his relationship with Nolan, we hear Smith was sincere when he told the local media recently that he was ready to bury the hatchet. “Alex is very mature for his age and has made every effort to get back in Nolan’s good graces,” PFW’s source said.

March

March 28, 2008   

Tampering ruling costly to Niners

Put simply, the Niners couldn’t be any angrier after losing a fifth-round draft pick in the upcoming draft and being ordered to swap third-round picks with the Bears for allegedly having illegally contacted agent Drew Rosenhaus about his client, Bears OLB Lance Briggs, during the 2007 season — a tampering claim the Niners continue to vehemently deny. Sources told us the Niners were stunned by a decision they believe was based on the sketchiest of evidence — a pair of phone calls to Rosenhaus that had nothing to do with Briggs — and feel that they are being unfairly victimized by an NFL commissioner who appears determined to make a leaguewide crackdown on tampering his next big cause célèbre with the “Spygate” incident still lingering over his head. Unjust or not, leaguwide observers agree that the tampering penalty doesn’t reflect well on new Niners GM Scot McCloughan, who is under major pressure to oversee the Niners’ transition back to being a respectable organization — both on and off the field. But while the franchise no doubt has been embarrassed by its latest setback, we hear nobody appears to be in danger of losing his job — at least outwardly. Team insiders also tell us that, while the Niners weren’t overly distressed by having to drop five spots in Round Three, they considered the loss of their fifth-round pick in the upcoming draft a major blow. McCloughan and head coach Mike Nolan have had decent success picking in that round. Both OLB Parys Haralson, the No. 5 in 2006, and DL Ronald Fields, the No. 5 in ’05, logged considerable playing time last season, and both are expected to take on more advanced roles this coming season.

March 19, 2008   

Receiving crew's makeover keeps on keeping on

Don’t look now, but what was unanimously considered one of the weakest WR corps in the league last season has, at the very least, become a lot more intriguing. The unit’s newest addition, ex-Cardinal Bryant Johnson, appears to have, in effect, replaced 2007 trade addition Darrell Jackson, whose release this past weekend caught our team sources by surprise. Just one week earlier, Niners GM Scot McCloughan seemed to be enthusiastically endorsing newcomer Isaac Bruce and Jackson as the top candidates for the No. 1 and No. 2 WR jobs, respectively. But something obviously changed his mind, with Johnson, a former first-round pick who worked under Niners WR coach Jerry Sullivan as a rookie in Arizona, instantly being thrown into the mix as a possible starting candidate. In addition to Bruce, Johnson and holdovers Arnaz Battle, Ashley Lelie and second-year pro Jason Hill, the word is the Niners plan to draft at least one more receiver, and probably two, for a passing offense under new coordinator Mike Martz that will be considered a major disappointment if it doesn’t become a lot more explosive from the get-go. Said one team insider: “All these receivers have decent size, it seems. I could see Martz going after at least one smaller guy to perhaps offer a change of pace out of the slot.” 

March 14, 2008   

Bruce's leadership skills can't be stressed enough

Updated at 1 p.m. EDT Saturday, March 15

Can it really be true that, as things stand right now, 35-year-old Isaac Bruce will be entering training camp as the Niners’ No. 1 receiver? Believe it or not, that does indeed appear to be the case, with dependable but unspectacular Arnaz Battle, newly acquired Bryant Johnson, 2007 free-agent addition Ashley Lelie and 2007 third-round pick Jason Hill battling for the No. 2 and No. 3 spots. It’s obvious to the majority of daily team observers that Bruce, who was previously the established No. 2 receiver behind Torry Holt in St. Louis, is far from being an ideal fit for the No. 1 role at this advanced stage of his career. That said, his cerebral connection with new offensive coordinator Mike Martz, under whom he worked in St. Louis during the Rams’ “Greatest Show on Turf” era, and his natural leadership ability are considered huge pluses for a unit that hasn’t had a real leader for some time now. “He’ll get a lot of young guys coached-up on the Martz offense, and his outstanding work ethic and work habits should rub off on a lot of players, including (former No. 1 pick) TE Vernon Davis,” one source said. “Actually, he’ll probably have even more of an influence on Hill.” The consensus seems to be that Hill, who had one of the fastest 40-times (4.32) at last year’s Scouting Combine, comes the closest to filling the No. 1 receiver bill, in terms of pure ability, as anybody currently on the Niners’ roster. “But he can be a bit of a prima donna,” the same source said. “You'd think Bruce would set a great example for him.”

March 5, 2008   

Fast, furious free-agent activity grinds to halt

While the Niners’ surprising flurry of early free-agent signings was relatively cost-effective — aside from the “Big Fish,” ex-Bengals DE Justin Smith, who we hear will receive $20 million guaranteed in his six-year deal worth up to $45 million — don’t look for the team to make any more free-agent moves of note. We hear the team has just enough cash at present to cover its 2008 rookie pool and will concentrate almost extensively on the draft for the next 7-8 weeks. As for Smith, there are some close to the team who questioned the team’s expenditure for a defender who managed just two sacks last season, but that’s definitely not the case with one of PFW’s sources, who became a lot more impressed with Smith last weekend after watching the game tape of his performance vs. the Niners in Week 15. “He looked incredibly strong,” one team insider told PFW. “He consistently collapsed the pocket, and on the 63 plays I counted him being involved in, he was never on the ground. He’s a lot better physically than Marques Douglas, who is much more of a finesse player.” Our source tell us Smith said an elbow injury that limited his pass-rush ability and the Bengals’ defense — which made it difficult for him to get single coverage from opposing blockers — were in great part responsible for his low sack total in 2007. It’s been widely assumed that Smith’s signing pretty much closes the door on re-signing Douglas, but we hear the undersized-but-effective veteran run stuffer could still be very much in the mix if he doesn’t get any offers to his liking from other teams.

February

Feb. 29, 2008   

Defensive scheme won't factor in to free-agent moves

Team insiders have questioned the Niners’ heavily rumored interest in Bears unrestricted free-agent LB Lance Briggs, mostly on the grounds that Briggs comes from a 4-3 system and doesn’t seem like a great fit in the Niners’ defensive scheme. But after head coach Mike Nolan clarified what exactly the Niners’ defensive scheme is at the NFL Scouting Combine late last week, an aggressive attempt to go after Briggs — there were actually rumblings in Indy that the Niners might have illegally begun talks with both Briggs and Bengals UFA DE Justin Smith before the official opening of the ’08 free-agent period — certainly seems a lot more plausible. "We're about the best players, and whether we're a 3-4 or a 4-3, I really have no preference," Nolan told PFW. "And that is what you'll see. When teams look at us and break us down, they'll see a — I don't know if it's a straight 50-50, but it's pretty close to a 60-40 — split of 4-3, 3-4 in what we do. We (operate) one way, and that is to get the best player, and so, if that lends its way to a 3-4 or a 4-3, I'm not really particular about it." Team insiders believe a strong interest in Smith lessens the likelihood that veteran UFA DE Marques Douglas will return, in which case Smith would have to be counted on to help fill a fairly substantial leadership void if he signed in San Francisco.

Feb. 20, 2008   

O-line coaching change raises eyebrows

Will two heads be better than one when it comes to resurrecting a porous offensive line that team insiders believe, more than any other factor, was responsible for the 49ers’ nightmarish 2007 campaign? According to our sources, that’s exactly what prompted the Niners — specifically new offensive coordinator Mike Martz — to hire veteran NFL assistant Chris Foerster to share the task of coaching the team’s offensive line with incumbent George Warhop, who had widely been rumored to be on thin ice. We hear Martz liked and respected Warhop enough to keep him on the payroll, but believes that Foerster — the Ravens’ O-line coach from 2005-07 who, like Warhop, has a strong reputation as a pass-blocking specialist — can only help improve the team’s pass protection, which was pathetic much of last season. All indications point toward 2007 first-round pick Joe Staley moving from right tackle to left tackle, with either OLT Jonas Jennings (or somebody not currently on the roster) taking over at right tackle. It’s possible, we hear, that Foerster could be asked to spend extra time working with Jennings, whose relationship with Warhop has greatly deteriorated. Team insiders tell us it should also be interesting to see how well Warhop is able to share the O-line coaching role. “I wonder just how well it’s going to work,” one team insider told PFW. “Warhop really has a strong personality.” 

Feb. 15, 2008   

Sopoaga could be next free agent to re-sign

Now that QB Shaun Hill is in the fold after agreeing early last week to a three-year contract for $6 million, including a signing bonus of about $2 million (and playing-time incentives that could push the total to $11.5 million, according to the San Francisco Chronicle), who is the most likely Niners free agent to follow in Hill’s footsteps and re-sign with the team? The best bet at the moment, according to our sources, is probably NT Isaac Sopoaga, who said recently that head coach Mike Nolan told him he wanted to bring him back. The Niners appear satisfied with the combination of Sopoaga and ’07 free-agent addition Aubrayo Franklin at the nose in the team’s base 3-4 defense, and there are rumblings that the team might be thinking about moving Sopoaga, who has excellent mobility for a 325-pounder, to defensive end. We hear the Niners would also welcome back starting DLE Marques Douglas in a heartbeat, but all indications point to Douglas, a greatly underrated run stuffer, being intent on aggressively exploring his value on the open market. Beyond those two D-linemen, team insiders believe RB Maurice Hicks could be a nice fit in Mike Martz’s new offense as a pass-catching running back with big-play ability. But truth be told, aside from Hill, there hasn’t appeared to be any real sense of urgency by the Niners to re-up with any of their free agents.

Feb. 1, 2008   

Tollner promotion adds valuable experience to offense

Nobody will be able to blame any problems the Niners’ offense might have next season on inexperienced coaching. The team’s newly named offensive coordinator, the well-known Mike Martz, and QB coach, Ted Tollner, who also will serve as assistant to head coach Mike Nolan, couldn’t be more polar opposite than the tandem of Jim Hostler and Frank Cignetti, respectively, who quickly proved to be in way over their heads last season in those same roles (Hostler in particular). Tollner was brought in to help aid the team’s struggling offense in late October this past season. He offers more than 30 years of experience in the college and pro ranks and is in his second tour of duty with the Niners. In his first tour, he was the QB coach in 2002 for Jeff Garcia, who earned Pro Bowl honors that season. Tollner was later promoted to offensive coordinator — a role in which he wasn’t nearly as successful, as he was released following a dismal 2-14 season in 2004. But team sources believe he could now excel as the Niners’ QB coach, working in conjunction with Martz, whose magic touch with QBs is well-documented. There’s also strong reason to believe Tollner could act more as a valuable sounding board for Nolan in his often-sensitive dealings with Alex Smith, who is expected to receive serious competition for the starting QB job next summer from Shaun Hill. Said one team insider: “If Tollner would have been in that kind of a role last year, maybe he would have advised Nolan to react differently than he did toward Alex, and a lot of trouble might have been avoided.”