49ers @ Rams live blog: Pregame

ST. LOUIS — This is the live blog for the pregame of the 49ers’ Week 4 Thursday night road game against the Rams. I’ll update this frequently with information and analysis from the press box.

3:08 Look for the 49ers to run the ball aggressively tonight and couple it with play action passes as they attempt to get back on track.

I think, although he won’t admit it, Jim Harbaugh knows he made a mistake by getting away from the run and not repeating those successful first quarter runs last Sunday against the Colts.

Eric Mangini, a.k.a the Mangenius, is supposed to be a consultant. Well, he needs to start consulting, or if he already is, he needs to do a better in-game job of analysis of what is or is not working.

It is not a sin to repeat plays that work. In fact, the successful teams repeat their best plays five or six times per game.

The Vikings are going to give Adrian Peterson the ball multiple times on his favorite runs, although they may camouflage it with a shift or a shift and a motion or with different personnel groupings.

Tom Brady and Peyton Manning repeat their favorite passes, also with the philosophy of different movements or personnel groupings to disguise and distract.

The question is can the Rams’ 11 personnel grouping run the ball against the 49ers’ Nickel package without Aldon Smith and Patrick Willis in the game?

3:17 Alex Flanagan reports Vernon Davis may play tonight. Here’s what she said Jim Harbaugh said: “It looks good right now. He is feeling good.”

Keep in mind, Vernon Davis pulled his hamstring just 11 days ago. Angel Pagan tore his hamstring in a rehab game 26 days after initially pulling the hamstring.

I’d be shocked if Davis plays. Why jeopardize his season and possibly his career?

3:58 Tweet from Eric Galko of Optimum Scouting: “#Rams have been solid vs TE so far. Gonzalez had 33 yards on 7 targets (4 rec), Witten had 67 yards on 6 targets (5 rec).Not great for Davis.”

4:00 The 49ers’ inactives are Patrick Willis, B.J. Daniels, Chris Harper, Marlon Moore, Nnamdi Asomugha, Owen Marecic and Joe Looney. Vernon Davis is active. So is LaMichael James. So is Jon Baldwin. Michael Wilhoite will start for Willis.

4:02 The Rams’ inactives are Isaiah Pead, Barrett Jones, Brandon Washington, Mike Person, Roger Saffold, Mike McNeill and William Hayes. Joe Barksdale will start at right tackle for Saffold.

4:44 The 49ers are wearing red and the Rams are wearing white for what it’s worth.

4:53 Quinton Patton is the starting split end in warmups.

4:57 Vernon Davis did not warm up with the 49ers’ offense. He caught passes on the side of the field by himself.

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