NFC West: Marvel Smith
CHICAGO -- With the Cardinals-Bears game approaching, NFC North alderman Kevin Seifert joined me over a Giordano's pizza for a divisional summit Saturday night.
We almost forgot to talk about football.
There will be plenty of time for that Sunday.
Kevin and I did talk some about left tackles. The Bears are getting by with Orlando Pace. The Cardinals' Mike Gandy is in a contract year. Other teams in the divisions we cover also face issues at the position.
Good luck finding one in free agency. As an NFL scout reminded me earlier in the day, left tackles are so scarce that the Steelers twice used their franchise tag on Max Starks, who wasn't even a full-time starter some of that time.
49ers' situation at tackle appears dicey
Tony Pashos' season-ending shoulder injury leaves the 49ers with even fewer options at right tackle.
The 49ers placed him on injured reserve Tuesday. This probably forces Adam Snyder into a full-time role at right tackle, which makes Chilo Rachal a more prominent option at right guard.
Rachal has struggled badly this season. Coach Mike Singletary suggested Rachal might benefit from playing a little looser instead of worrying about making mistakes. It's tough to stop worrying about making mistakes when everyone keeps talking about those mistakes.
The 49ers' failure to address right tackle in the draft is hurting them now. I think the team made the right decision in drafting Michael Crabtree with the 10th overall choice. Third-round choice Glen Coffee also proved valuable this season when an injury sidelined Frank Gore.
The team signed veteran Marvel Smith as a fallback, but Smith's chronic back trouble forced him into retirement. Pashos was signed Sept. 7.
Finding a viable tackle in Week 8 isn't a realistic option. Jon Runyan remains available, presumably for a reason. He's 35 years old and coming off microfracture knee surgery. That's a bad combination.
49ers, Seahawks digging deep at tackle
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
SAN FRANCISCO -- The Seahawks are down to their third-string left tackle after an ankle injury knocked out Sean Locklear for the rest of the game.
The 49ers won't be sending a sympathy card. San Francisco is down to its third option at right tackle after Marvel Smith retired and the team benched a struggling Adam Snyder in the first half of this game. Newcomer Tony Pashos has already allowed a sack at right tackle for the 49ers.
The Seahawks expect Walter Jones to return in Week 3. I'd be impressed if they could get through this game and win it with Brandon Frye at left tackle.
Around the NFC West: Pashos and the 49ers
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says the 49ers are taking a "long look" at former Jaguars starting tackle Tony Pashos. Barrows: "The 49ers are looking at Pashos as a right tackle. They signed Marvel Smith in the offseason to play that position, but Smith's bad back never returned to normal, and he retired last month. As of now, Adam Snyder is the starter with Barry Sims backing him up."
Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says "none of the players [the 49ers] cut on Saturday was claimed off waivers today, including [Kory] Sheets. And the 49ers did not make any waivers claims, either. However, the 49ers might still be interested in adding a veteran or two for insurance."
Also from Maiocco: The 49ers view Pashos as a backup right tackle. Pashos sees the 49ers as where he might find the best chance at playing time. Maiocco: "The 49ers scouted Pashos’ final exhibition game. Although Pashos (6-foot-6, 326 pounds) started and played the first half of the Jaguars’ game Thursday against Washington at right guard, the 49ers envision him as a backup right tackle."
Cameron Hollway, writing for the Amarillo Globe-News, checks in with quarterback Keith Null after the rookie earned a spot on the Rams' initial 53-man roster. Null: "Man, it's such a blessing to have made it. It's sort of a hard feeling to explain. I've worked so hard to get here, and to reach that goal is just so special." Null and the man he beat out, Brock Berlin, both had practice-squad eligibility. The Rams have not signed a quarterback to their practice squad.
Allen Meyer of stjoenews.com checks in with Roger Allen's former college coach after the undrafted rookie earned a spot on the Rams' initial 53-man roster. With John Greco sidelined by wrist surgery in the short term, the Rams were one of only six teams carrying more than nine offensive linemen Sunday night. They had only four receivers. Those holding down spots on the fringes of the roster could remain vulnerable as the Rams add depth where it's needed most.
Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch profiles Rams safety Oshiomogho Atogwe, who hasn't let contract issues sour his mood.
John Morgan of Field Gulls says the Seahawks' defense fully reflects general manager Tim Ruskell, and that Ruskell's future in Seattle depends on how well that defense performs. Morgan: "The parts have been good individually, but never great together. Until now the talent and the coaching staff were at odds. This year, they are united by the vision of one man. Seattle's defense is now Tim Ruskell's living resume. In one week, this ship sets out to sea. It will float or it will sink. It will take this season somewhere wonderful or drag us all to a watery grave. The hull, keel, masts, crew and captain were picked by Ruskell as was the sail. We are below deck, cargo. Now we await the wind."
Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times says the Seahawks plan to sign Mike Hass and (reportedly) Logan Payne to their practice squad
Also from O'Neil: An advance look at the Rams-Seahawks game in Week 1.
Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt remains confident in his team following some shaky moments during the exhibition season. Whisenhunt: "I had a friend who said his son was torn up because we didn’t do well in preseason because he really didn’t understand what preseason was all about. I think with the general public, that’s the perception, and I understand that. All I can say is I feel good about our team and what we have done and where we are."
Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says former Cardinals safety Aaron Francisco, released Friday, plans to sign a one-year deal with the Colts. Somers: "Francisco is a vested veteran, so he wasn’t subject to the waiver process. He was traveling to Indianapolis on Sunday and is expected to begin practice with the Colts this week, said his agent, Max Hannemann."
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
Biggest surprise: The 49ers kept only four running backs, two tight ends and eight offensive linemen on the initial cutdown to 53 players, suggesting the team will consider adding players at those positions. This is a power running team, after all.
The decision to release both Bear Pascoe and J.J. Finley was a bit of surprise. One of them was expected to serve as the third tight end. Undrafted free agent Diyral Briggs earned a spot at linebacker, edging out Jay Moore. Fullback Brit Miller, running back Kory Sheets and receiver Dominique Zeigler had made positive impressions with fans, but none enjoyed strong roster security. Their releases were not surprising in that context. Coach Mike Singletary had said the 49ers faced few significant roster decisions heading into the final exhibition game. The team did not cut any big-name players.
No-brainers: The 49ers' cut list ran 20 deep and also featured tackle Jacob Bender, tackle Alex Boone, receiver Dobson Collins, defensive end Pannel Egboh, cornerback Eric Green, guard Kyle Howard, cornerback Terrail Lambert, defensive lineman Khalif Mitchell, receiver Maurice Price, fullback Bill Rentmeester, linebacker Justin Roland, offensive lineman Matt Spanos, tackle Joe Toledo and linebacker Mark Washington.
What's next: The 49ers could use a veteran offensive tackle after Marvel Smith retired. They will presumably scan the waiver wire for a fullback. The team will also likely want to add a third tight end.
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| Kyle Terada/US Presswire | |
| Shaun Hill emerged with the 49ers' starting job after a nondescript competition with Alex Smith. |
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
The close of NFL training camps provides an opportunity to revisit NFC West camp previews. The previews set criteria by which each team's training camp would qualify as a "downer" or a "success" -- although the criteria wasn't necessarily exclusive. I'll republish the criteria and follow it with a verdict, continuing with a look at the 49ers.
Camp will be a downer if ... both quarterbacks flounder and veteran Damon Huard appears to be the best option. Unlikely? Perhaps. But the scenario isn't as laughable as it should be. Neither Hill nor Smith distinguished himself during the competition a year ago. Even if Mike Martz was playing favorites when he installed J.T. O'Sullivan as the starter, the fact remains that O'Sullivan enjoyed the strongest preseason of the three. The new offensive system should better suit Hill in particular, and the 49ers have declared this quarterback race a two-man affair, ruling out Huard as a contender. Still, after years of backing up Trent Green, Tom Brady and Dan Marino, Huard wound up starting three of the first five games in Kansas City last season when the unaccomplished Brodie Croyle and Tyler Thigpen were his primary competitors.
Camp will be a success if ... Hill validates his 7-3 record as the 49ers' starter, right tackle Marvel Smith makes it through training camp healthy and the push toward a full-time 3-4 defense validates Parys Haralson and Manny Lawson as promising pass-rushers. Hitting on all three of those might be asking a bit much, but getting two of them right might be enough, particularly if the 49ers feel good about the quarterback situation.
The verdict: The 49ers' camp qualifies as a downer on these fronts. The team never came close to installing Huard as the starter, but Hill and Alex Smith did not make convincing cases for the job. Hill's leadership and 7-3 starting record made him the easy choice, virtually by default.Marvel Smith scarcely practiced during camp before retiring. Adam Snyder's strong play at Smith's projected spot (right tackle) mitigates Smith's demise, although depth at the position is a concern. Haralson has shown more pass-rush ability than Lawson to this point, but coach Mike Singletary said the 49ers would need to scheme their way to a more consistently effective rush.
Teams will start cutting to 75-man limit
NFL teams have until Tuesday to reduce rosters to the 75-man limit, but they'll start making moves Sunday. Teams with practices scheduled before the deadline sometimes make their moves early to avoid risking injuries with a player about to be released.
NFC West teams have fewer than five moves to make per team. The Cardinals can clear a spot by placing second-round choice Cody Brown on injured reserve. Marvel Smith's retirement opens a roster spot for the 49ers. The Rams could have a decision to make with rookie receiver Brooks Foster, expected to miss six to eight weeks following ankle surgery.
Teams have until Sept. 5 to reduce their rosters to 53 players.
What to make of retirement by 49ers' Smith
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
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The 49ers confirmed tackle Marvel Smith's retirement Saturday morning. What now?
Adam Snyder is still the starter on the right side. That was not going to change even if Smith tried to continue playing despite back trouble.
Depth is the problem and this situation was predictable, even likely, given what we knew about Smith's health and how the 49ers' neglected to draft a tackle or sign a younger veteran in free agency (as someone suggested they should).
None of this will matter much if Snyder returns from his knee injury to start most of the games. The 49ers could then try to develop Alex Boone and/or target a tackle in the draft. Their thinking in drafting Michael Crabtree with the 10th overall selection hasn't worked out as anticipated so far, but I think the reasoning was sound and No. 10 was too early to select one of the remaining tackles. Right tackle is not a premium position.
The chart might look familiar. It's the same one I ran when the Seahawks found out Walter Jones needed another surgery.
Some have asked why I suggested former Eagles tackle Jon Runyan as a possibility for the 49ers without mentioning the Seahawks as a logical destination as well. Runyan is strictly a right tackle. Seattle has two players able to start at right tackle (Sean Locklear and Ray Willis) but only one player (Locklear) able to start at left tackle. Adding Runyan would not improve the Seahawks' depth at left tackle, which is their position of need while Jones is unavailable.
The 49ers need a right tackle for insurance. Runyan is coming off knee surgery. He might not be ready right away. The 49ers do not need him right away. They need insurance. I have no idea if Runyan would even consider moving across the country. But when I think of tough, physical tackles in the 49ers' mold, Runyan comes to mind.
Around the NFC West: 49ers' tackle situation
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says Marvel Smith's expected retirement leaves the 49ers' offensive line worse off than it was when last season ended. Maiocco: "It is believed that the 49ers are holding out hope Smith will reconsider his decision and still be able to fill a role as a backup at both offensive tackle positions." The 49ers should be OK if Adam Snyder plays a full season. They would be in trouble if Barry Sims opened the regular season as a starter. With Sims starting Saturday night, the 49ers might need Vernon Davis to help protect.
Daniel Brown of the San Jose Mercury News says 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis grew up a Cowboys fan in a big way.
Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says the first half was an "embarrassment" for the Cardinals against Green Bay. Coach Ken Whisenhunt: "Guys came in here and didn't really care about the game. Green Bay came in here on a mission, and that was to prove they were a good football team. They said publicly they thought this would be a good mark for them, because they thought we were a good football team, but we weren't a very good football team tonight."
Also from Somers: Beanie Wells' performance provided a rare bright spot for the Cardinals.
More from Somers: While Whisenhunt was close to seething, the Packers felt great about their performance. Somers: "After getting four sacks last week, the starting defense failed to get to Packers QB Aaron Rodgers. He had too much time to throw, completing 14 of 19 for 258 yards and three touchdowns. In one half."
Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says Whisenhunt was "extremely disappointed" in his team's performance. Urban: "The Cards' starting defense, which hadn't allowed a point, was run over in the first half, allowing a stunning 357 yards."
Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune offers keys for the Seahawks heading into their game against the Chiefs. A little more from the running game would help.
Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times profiles Seahawks defensive coordinator Gus Bradley. Said Monte Kiffin: "I knew he was going to be a coordinator, and someday a head coach. With some people, you can just feel it. He's outstanding."
Clare Farnsworth of Seahawks.com says the team expects its zone-blocking scheme to hit stride after six or seven games. Offensive cooridnator Greg Knapp: "It's the same transition I went through in Atlanta and the same transition I went through in Oakland. It's not going to happen as fast and as much as it was talked about. It will take -- I don't know -- five, six, seven games into the season before the guys finally get comfortable with it."
Greg Johns of seattlepi.com sizes up Michael Bennett's chances for earning a roster spot on the Seahawks' defensive line.
Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Kyle Boller's gritty play has earned respect from Rams teammates. The quarterback bounced up quickly following a crushing hit against the Bengals, then assured teammates the team was about to score. He was right. Guard Richie Incognito: "Oh, he's a tough kid. He popped right up. He got right back in the huddle and he kept going. It didn't even faze him. I would've taken a second to shake that bad boy off; he took it right on the chin."
Also from Thomas: a look at which players might earn spots on the Rams' 53-man roster. He places defensive tackle Hollis Thomas on the bubble.
Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Jason Smith is taking small steps toward the Rams' starting lineup. Smith: "I never look at my draft status or what (outside) people think. I feel that I'm progressing at a steady pace."
Around the NFC West: 49ers' Gore unaffected
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
Daniel Brown of the San Jose Mercury-News says Glen Coffee's strong running performances this summer will not necessarily affect Frank Gore's playing time. Brown: "[Coach Mike] Singletary, though impressed by the rookie, has no appetite for a running backs controversy. He said that Coffee is not necessarily earning a bigger share of the workload for 2009 and that the kid's role remains the same -- to give Gore a rest on occasion."
Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says the 49ers learned little about their quarterback situation Saturday night. On the offensive line, Marvel Smith replaced Adam Snyder at right tackle after Snyder suffered ankle and knee injuries. Maiocco: "Snyder appeared to be walking without any problems after the game, but Singletary said he would undergo an MRI examination."
Also from Maiocco: A play-by-play account of the 49ers in the first half of their game against the Raiders. Micheal Spurlock served as the third receiver early in the game.
More from Maiocco: The 49ers' quarterback debate is a lot nastier than the relationship between Alex Smith and Shaun Hill.
Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says Smith played better than Hill against the Raiders, though his 4.2 passer rating wouldn't say so. Barrows on Smith: "He showed good energy and urgency early on, which hasn't always been the case with Smith. The truth is that he wasn't helped out by his receivers. Both Vernon Davis and Josh Morgan missed catchable balls, and Morgan's miscue led to an interception."
More from Barrows: A play-by-play account of the 49ers in the first half. Anyone seen team president Jed York?
David Fucillo of Niners Nation didn't see much pass rush from the 49ers, one of several points he makes in a position-by-position review of the team.
Scott Kegley of 49ers.com says running back Michael Robinson rushed for 83 yards against Oakland in the third quarter alone.
Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic offers thoughts and observations following the Cardinals' game against the Chargers. Somers: "Five trips in the red zone. No touchdowns. Coach Ken Whisenhunt wasn't happy about it but he's not going to panic. But it would be nice if the first team scored a touchdown this preseason. The Cardinals have scored only one TD in the preseason, on a pass from Tyler Palko to Onrea Jones at Pittsburgh."
Also from Somers: "It was a rough night for the Cardinals quarterbacks. Starter Kurt Warner wasn't sharp and had a pass intercepted at the Chargers goal line. For the second consecutive game, [Brian] St. Pierre did nothing to threaten Matt Leinart's status as Warner's backup, completing 6 of 15 for 79 yards and no touchdowns."
Dan Bickley of the Arizona Republic says the Cardinals have become a hot commodity. Bickley: "This reborn franchise has done more than just join the party. These days, the Cardinals are the party."
Somers and Bob McManaman say the Cardinals' red zone offense has struggled.
Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says Arizona's first-team defense played very well against the Chargers. Calais Campbell: "We have the potential to be great. If we can just keep the team thing going, we will be fine."
Also from Urban: LaRod Stephens-Howling might have earned a roster spot, but all was not good for the Cardinals against San Diego. Whisenhunt pointed to mitigating factors when asked about St. Pierre's performance at quarterback.
John Morgan of Field Gulls singles out the following Seattle players as "winners" Saturday night: Nick Reed, Michael Bennett, Butler, Justin Forsett, Will Herring, Baraka Atkins, David Hawthorne, C.J. Wallace, Brandon Coutu and Jordan Babineaux.
Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune says the Seahawks' first-team defense struggled against the Broncos, getting pushed up and down the field. I had the same feeling, but the Broncos' overall rushing numbers were weak. Coach Jim Mora: "Our second unit came in and did a heck of a job. We just have to be more focused, we just have to play with more enthusiasm, more energy, we have to tackle better, we have to bring our feet when we tackle." I also suspect the Broncos' offense did a little more game-planning than usual in an attempt to get quarterback Kyle Orton on track following a three-interception showing last week.
Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says Matt Hasselbeck and T.J. Houshmandzadeh are starting to get in sync.
Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch profiles Rams left tackle Alex Barron. Says teammate Chris Long: "I got to see some great left tackles last year, and I really do feel like Alex is a rising star in the league at that spot. I feel like this is going to be a breakout year for him, where people start to realize this is a premier left tackle."
Bryan Burwell of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch looks at the unforgiving nature of NFL
preseasons. Said Rams middle linebacker James Laurinaitis: "In college, I made it a point of learning everyone's name and becoming familiar with all my teammates. I wanted to know where they were from, what their brothers or sisters names were, because in college, you started camp with 100 guys and you ended camp with 100 guys. But here, you look around and you realize that there will be a lot of empty lockers around here in a few weeks."
Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says falling behind 14-0 right away wasn't what the Rams wanted as they attempted to win back a skeptical fan base.
NFC West contingency plans at left tackle
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
The MRI exam on Alex Barron's swollen knee showed nothing serious, the team said, and Barron is back at practice Tuesday afternoon.
faithfulninersfan asks: Sando, which team in your opinion would be in the worst position in the West if they lost there starting left tackle?
Mike Sando: The Seahawks could move Sean Locklear into that position and probably get by as long as they suffered no additional injuries at tackle. The Cardinals could do the same with Levi Brown. The Rams could throw first-round rookie Jason Smith into the lineup and work through the growing pains with an eye toward a brighter future.
But if the 49ers lost Joe Staley, Marvel Smith might be their best option athletically, and his health is a concern. Set me straight if you see someone other than Staley on the 49ers' roster likely to make it through a full season at left tackle while performing at a decent level. Barry Sims would have qualified a few years ago, but I'm not so sure about now. Moving Adam Snyder to the left side and playing Smith at right tackle might be a scenario to consider.
Numbers games: 49ers roster in perspective
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
The 49ers' roster appears most interesting at running back and receiver.
The more I think about how much the 49ers want to pound the ball on offense, the more I see them keeping two fullbacks on the Week 1 roster.
Zak Keasey's broken forearm prevents him from becoming part of the equation early, and it's tough to see a team waiting two months for a backup fullback to get healthy. Enter Bill Rentmeester. Formerly of the Chargers, Rentmeester offers what preseason touchdown machine Brit Miller does not: experience at fullback. For the sake of this roster exercise, I'll pencil in Rentmeester for Week 1.
The numbers at receiver figure to swell while the team waits for Brandon Jones to heal and Michael Crabtree to sign and get ready to contribute.
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The chart provides a framework for how many players the 49ers might keep at each position heading into the regular-season opener against the Cardinals.
Here's a quick look at which 49ers players I might keep on the cutdown to 53 players (I made one change, moving Cody Wallace into the group of offensive linemen at Joe Toledo's expense):
What to watch in 49ers' exhibition opener
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
While the Shaun Hill-Alex Smith debate rages elsewhere, here's a look at some of the other things I'll be watching in the second half of our NFC West doubleheader Friday night:
- Jason Hill. Remember him? He was the promising young receiver making strides each season. He was one of the receivers people referenced when saying the 49ers enjoyed better depth at the position. Haven't heard much from him in camp thus far. With Michael Crabtree unsigned and Isaac Bruce getting the night off, perhaps Hill can remind people he's still on the roster.
- Kentwan Balmer. The 49ers have had good things to say about their 2008 first-round draft choice this offseason. Let's watch what he does in live action. Defensive ends generally don't stand out playing in 3-4 schemes, but the Cardinals' Calais Campbell, a 2008 second-rounder, looked good at defensive end Thursday night.
- Adam Snyder. The right tackle has enjoyed a strong camp, making him the early favorite to start, with Marvel Smith's health a key variable. Snyder doesn't need to do anything special. He's a right tackle, after all. But if the Broncos get all kinds of pressure on the quarterback against him, it's a bad sign.
- Young pass rushers. Manny Lawson and Parys Haralson are the keys here.
- Glen Coffee. The rookie running back gets the start while the 49ers wisely rest Frank Gore. The 49ers would find a strong preseason from Coffee to be reassuring evidence of an upgrade from 2008 backup DeShaun Foster.
- Half the secondary. Free safety Dashon Goldson and cornerback Dre Bly are the ones to watch. Any inclinations toward playmaking will be logged and set aside as evidence.
- Vernon Davis. The tight end has caught the ball well during camp. Will the 49ers work him into the passing game more? And if they do, will they hold up adequately in pass protection? Might be tough to tell in an exhibition game, but it's all we've got at this point.
Competition making difference in NFC West camps
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
There might be no substitute for competition in helping NFL players come closer to realizing their potential.
In Arizona, Tim Hightower reported to camp lighter, quicker and with clear resolve. Drafting Beanie Wells in the first round surely caught his attention.
In Seattle, Nate Burleson is enjoying a very strong camp to this point despite undergoing reconstructive knee surgery last season. Signing free agent receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh surely caught his attention. I suspect Deion Branch is on alert as well.
Also for the Seahawks, cornerback Josh Wilson has clearly responded to Ken Lucas' signing as the starter on the right side. Wilson appears driven to prove he belongs on the field.
The 49ers added veteran offensive tackle Marvel Smith from the Steelers in an attempt to stabilize the right side of their line. The offshoot so far: Adam Snyder has played well enough to position himself as a legitimate starting candidate at right tackle. As coach Mike Singletary told reporters: "I'm very pleasantly surprised with him."
This is my first day in Rams camp. I'm not yet sure where competition might be pushing certain players to achieve more. Perhaps I can find out.
Update: Thanks to redng0ld for pointing out how Frank Gore is having an even better than usual camp since the 49ers drafted Glen Coffee. Singeltary did give new running backs coach Tom Rathman most of the credit, though.
Camp Confidential: Buying into Singletary
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| AP Photo/Jeff Chiu | |
| The first few days of Mike Singletary's camp have proven to be physical ones. |
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The San Francisco 49ers haven't come close to declaring a winner in the quarterback race between Shaun Hill and Alex Smith.
The biggest winner to this point in training camp would have to be the oldest linebacker in camp.
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Mike Singletary.
"Man, if you can't buy into him about football, about the game, I think you shouldn't play the game," running back Frank Gore said.
From afar, Singletary appears to be a human sound bite and football evangelist, but any honest veteran NFL player will tell you the rah-rah stuff goes only so far. It's obvious from watching 49ers practices and speaking with players that Singletary qualifies as more than just a motivational speaker with Hall of Fame credentials.
"One of the things that I really appreciate about Singletary and something that makes me really buy into what he is doing is, not only does he bring that competitive nature and that enthusiastic nature, he is also a very honest coach," left tackle Joe Staley said.
Singletary patrolled the field prior to the first camp practice, screaming and criticizing players, challenging them to do better. By Monday, when the team met expectations in the morning practice, Singletary was far less demonstrative, letting players know they'd done a good job.
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Christopher Harris discusses which receiver -- Michael Crabtree or Josh Morgan -- is more likely to emerge as a fantasy option this season. "He will give you honest criticism and honest encouragement," Staley said. "I respect that as a player just knowing that I don't have a coach that is going to be blowing smoke up my butt, telling me something that I want to hear or criticizing me just to hear his own voice.
"He'll tell you exactly what he is thinking about you and I think everyone really responds to that. There is substance behind it. You can see a real passion for what he does. It gets everybody really excited and they want to play that much harder for him."
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Mike Sando
Sando joined ESPN.com in 2007 after nine seasons covering the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma (Wash.) News Tribune. He lives in the Seattle-Tacoma area with his wife and two sons.
