Shaun Hill and Alex Smith handled all of the snaps at quarterback in team work, as they compete for the starting job.
Neither Hill nor Smith did anything out of he ordinary. Smith's arm looks pretty strong. Hill, meanwhile, never looks particularly great during practice, but we know he has a way of making it work when it counts (7-3 record as starter).
Aside from the QBs, there were few non-rookies participating who have legitimate chances to start. Starting free safety Dashon Goldson and right guard Chilo Rachal are in attendance. Josh Morgan, who was the leading candidate to start at split end (X) before the arrival of Michael Crabtree, is on the practice field.
Crabtree is not taking part in the practices after undergoing surgery in early March to repair a stress fracture in his left foot. While the team was conditioning on the field, Crabtree was pedaling away on a stationary bike.
Here is the depth chart as they lined up today.
Offense
QB- Shaun Hill, Alex Smith
RB- Thomas Clayton, Glen Coffee, Kory Sheets
FB- Zak Keasey
WR (x)-Josh Morgan, Dominique Zeigler, Maurice Price
WR (z)-Jason Hill, Micheal Spurlock, Dobson Collins
TE- Delanie Walker, J.J. Finley, Bear Pascoe
LT-Jacob Bender
LG-Joe Toledo, Matthew Huners
C- Cody Wallace
RG- Chilo Rachal, Kyle Howard
RT- Alex Boone
Defense
LDE- Pannel Egboh
NT- Khalif Mitchell
RDE- Ricky Jean-Francois
Sam LB- Marques Harris, Jay Moore
Ted LB- Mark Washington, Scott McKillop
Mike LB- Justin Roland
Will LB- Ahmad Brooks, Diyral Briggs
LCB- Marcus Hudson, Carlos Thomas
RCB- Tarell Brown, Jahi Word-Daniels, Tarrail Lambert
SS- Reggie Smith, Jimmy Williams
FS- Dashon Goldson, Lewis Baker, Curtis Taylor
Note: Kentwan Balmer is here, but the rookies got a lot of work, taking all the snaps during the team session.
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The 49ers signed kicker Alex Romero. He played for the New Orleans VooDoo of the Arena Football League in 2008. In his career at
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Undrafted
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Forty-three players participated in meetings and practice. Two players took part in just meetings: Veterans Marvel Smith (right tackle) and Demetric Evans (defensive end).
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Are they doing play installation or drills and 7 on 7?
I wonder how difficult it is to be a WR trying to work on timing and stuff with a guy who sucks in practice. I have nothing against Hill, but it must make it difficult to train with a guy who plays so much differently in a game than in practice.
RT Alex Boone, kinda has a ring to it. I like the fact that Chilo is staying at RG also, at least for the moment.
Jay Moore is a back up to a rookie with ZERO experience in the NFL and with the Niners Defense? If he can't be the top back up after 2 years...even inury filled years...he shouldn't be here.
oops, marques harris isn't a rookie so Moore is playing behind a veteran (back up)...still doesn't bode well for Moore.
Can you ask Alex Boone how much he drinks on a regular basis and whether he feels he has a problem?
Am I the only one who sees major warning signs of alcoholism with him? You forgot to mention his DUI and his claim that he used to drink '30-40' beers a day.
so i think i saw you today matt, i was the one stopping foot traffic for the dumpster truck. anyway, doesn't crabtree look VERY small?
How damning is it for these rookies who sustain minor injuries that leave them on the sidelines for these early camps (eg strains, pulls, cramps, etc.)? I think its pretty sad that they don't take their craft seriously enough to be in shape when their tryout officially starts.
You think it's bad cuz he had cramps...Harvin was hospitalized with extreme dehydration.
What is the deal with Ahmad Brooks? Are they playing at WOLB so they can find a reason to keep him or do they legitimately think he can be a pass rusher?
X AND Y -- Matt, what do X and Y next to wide receiver designation mean? Oh, and your latest blog entries are centered rather than aligned left.
Glad to hear that Ahmad Brooks is participating this weekend. If he can build some early momentum in camp and realize his potential we will stand to reap the benefits. A.B. has to know that he will be on a very small radar screen so he has to really 'show up' in camp to be noticed. I still feel he can play and help on defense, now it's up to him.
Question: Matt, what do X and Y next to wide receiver designation mean?
My response: It's X and Z. . . . X is split end; Z is flanker. --Matt M.
Question: so i think i saw you today matt, i was the one stopping foot traffic for the dumpster truck. anyway, doesn't crabtree look VERY small?
My response: Ah, yes, you were the one who saved me from walking behind that dump truck and being rolled over like a defensive back taking on Larry Allen in his prime. I had he same reaction about Crabtree when I saw him at the combine. But he's pretty well put together. --Matt M.
sheets was realllly fast at those cone drills. he reminds me of chris johnson... from the titans. hopefully he gets a chance to play in some real games... it seems that running back translates better from college to pros than many other positions... minus pass blocking maybe
Matt...I asked this once before on your blog, but I didn't get an answer. I'm curious, because I saw Alex Smith in an interview in the off season, and his upper body, at least on tv, looked much bigger than in past years. Having seen him in person, do you get the impression that Smith has gained muscle? Is there a noticible difference from years past? Thanks again for the great work during the draft.
Keasey is still around? Cheez can't we get rid of this guy? We need to find a better backup FB.
Hi Matt, I guess I'm the new kid on the block. My question is whatever happened to one of my favorite players, Javorski Lane. Did anyone take him in the draft and if not, I would love to see the 9ers bring him in for a look. I think he is bigger and faster than the Bus at Pitsburg and to me a better blocker and can pass the ball. He kinda reminds me of Earl Cambell in the way he overpowers people. What a smashmouth fullback he would make. I've looked every place and I can't find anything on him. Please let me know what you think of him and if the 9ers might at least give the kid chance. I really loved watching him play so hopefully you can help. thanks.....mud
Matt, is Worrell Williams the only UDFA tryout?
Wow, 43 guys there without veterans. There are going to be a lot of quality players getting cut from our roster. Hopefully we can churn the bottom of the roster and get some players with bigger upside on gameday.
Is this camp meant to be pretty much for Rookies only? NFL network has clips of minicamps from some other teams....for example Fitz and Warner at Arizona in attendance and taking reps....would the whole Niners team not benefit from the extra practice? I still feel good for this season...Francois is going to emerge as a steal....
Mud
I went to school at Texas with Earl Campbell.
Lane is no Earl Campbell. Campbell had speed and won the Heisman and is in the HOF.
Lane couldn't gain 100 yards for the Aggies for the entire season in 2008. Lane has blimped up past 300lbs and needs to see Jenny Craig and not Roger Craig.
Romero is a camp leg, or he's there to show Nedney what a miss looks like. "as a senior, he made 8 of 18". Wow 44%.
hi roaring back, thanks for your reply. I didn't know Javorski had gained that much weight. Where did you get that information? I don't see that as a problem as Sing and that new dirt hill will take care of him being overweight. Also, the fact that you went to Texas and he didn't, well I hope that didn't inter into your assessment. I Remember Earl Cambell and Lane reminds me of him in the way he runs over people.Javorski is a fullback/running back who is a vicious blocker and can pass the ball very well. With him leading the way, Gore would be even better so check out Lane on u-tube and get back to me. ps, thanks for your thoughts and the way you presented them...disagreeing without being disagreable is very cool cya, mud ps, I think if anyone should pick him up,,,,they might be plesently surprised,,,what could it hurt to add another demention to the backfield.... mud
Brian Baldinger pretty much trashed the Niners' draft. He gave it a B- but criticized the trade of our #2 and #4 for Carolina's #1 next year. He says we needed players but "mortgaged our future" with the trade. He said we would regret watching the players we could have got doing well for other teams. Dummy. He somehow manages to spin the Crabtree pick into a negative. I am a complete devotee of the NFL Network, but I strongly disagree with "Baldy" on this one. The Crabtree pick was one of the best value picks of the draft as was the trade with Carolina. The East Coast bias will bury the relevance of those moves in obscurity as it does to most of what the west coast teams do.
The NFLN has been trashing the Niners for quite some time. They were starting to lighten up after the first 7-9 season, but quickly withdrew when they fell apart in '07. They have watched the Niners turn it on too late many times. They just don't want to make the mistake of predicting any good for the Niners too early, and we can't really blame them. In addition, they are a nationally televised program, and the Niners don't have much pull with the national audience at this time. Hopefully, they won't have any choice but to praise them, and the Niners will be a playoff team in '09. They should get some love for a couple weeks just because of Sing, the QB situation and Crabtree. But by week 4, 5 or 6, it is all about wins & losses.
Ronnie,
Bowlinghead (Baldinger) gave the 49ers a D...a frickin' D! I was never very impressed with that guy & I think of him even less now. But no worries, the proof is in the pudding & all will come to fruition soon enough.
Wow new look here- curious about Diyral Briggs any first impressions(stature, character etc.)? Really like Nate Davis pickup-still interested in Gregg Micheli who was mentioned on 49ers site by one of the scouts-Davis and Micheli would be a coup iof rookie QB's!
Mud
About 15-20 years ago A&M had a guy named George Woodard. He also weighed 270 lbs and was a bust. Everyone is looking for Christian Okoye and get Ron Dayne.
I just read that Lane would be undrafted due to his weight and production as a senior on a very poor Aggie team. You shouldn't compare ubdrafted Free agents who didn't start on their college teams to Heisman Trophy winners and HOF RBs that are top 50 all time.
It's Earl Campbell. Pls spell his name correctly.
Want to see a Longhorn rant on Javorskie Lane??
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJ66jJA9Opw
From Scouts Inc. ESPN
Has adequate strength and can engulf undersized defenders. Technique is marginal and leaves his feet too much when gets into space. Though a tough runner doesn't show the same edge or determination blocking.
A big and somewhat powerful north-south runner. However recent weight gain has affected overall straight-line speed and explosiveness. Also fails to runs with adequate pad level but doesn't always drive legs on contact.
Sorry this Aggie is not NFL material.
the new layout doesn't not look good at all.
at least can you give us a better mobile device look?
first tme the blog bummed me out ...
Agreed, this layout is awkward
Nobody knows where that extra 1st pick will find a home.I believe Scott would trade it in a heartbeat to make us better in 09.One would think that Baldiinger could foresee that plausibility.It was an unnecessarily harsh grade regardlless.Maybe he had his feathers ruffled about media access on draft day.
Ronnie - Baldy is, and always has been, an idiot. With all the talent they have on NFLN, I can't figure out why they keep him on board. Maybe they just like showing his mangled pinky.
It seems Matt's Blog about the practice had, at least to me, a cloud of injury over it. I'm a little concerned that Crabtree is still unable to practice or at least taake in some plays in a walk through. I hope this isn't going to be a sign of a longer recovery than might be normal.
Comment: I'm a little concerned that Crabtree is still unable to practice or at least taake in some plays in a walk through. I hope this isn't going to be a sign of a longer recovery than might be normal.
My response: Crabtree had a screw inserted in March. There is no reason for the 49ers to rush him back on the field. Crabtree will not do anything of substance on the practice field until training camp. That is, without question, the smart way to handle any injury situation. --Matt M.