A day for the defense
I intended to watch the 49ers’ offense again this morning. But the 49ers’ defense stole the spotlight.
Even from my vantage point nearest to where the 49ers’ offense was working against the Raiders’ defense, it was obvious that the more riveting developments were taking place on the other field.
There were plenty of intercepted passes, and soon the 49ers were having a party. They were dancing, yelling, celebrating. They were having a merry ol’ time.
Nate Clements picked off a JaMarcus Russell pass in 7-on-7. But once an 11-on-11 red zone period began, things got out of control.
Clements intercepted two more passes, while Dre’ Bly and rookie outside linebacker Diyral Briggs picked off a pass apiece. Russell and Raiders reserve QB Bruce Gradkowski were intercepted twice apiece during the drill.
The 49ers’ secondary have not experienced that sensation much in camp this summer. But all it took was a trip to
“I was talking to Shaun and Alex and I said, ‘You don’t feed us like that in practice,'” said veteran cornerback Dre’ Bly. “They fed us today. That buffet was good.
Bly and Nate Clements said it was the best practice either has witnessed in their combined 20 years of professional football. Briggs said it was the best practice he has seen at any level of football.
“I felt we played at a level that they could not match,” Clements said.
Both Clements and Bly credited Shawntae Spencer, who had some words while being matched against Raiders rookie receiver Louis Murphy in one-on-one drills.
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“Murphy got things going, and from that point on, we just dominated practice.”
Obviously, Spencer did not back down. He “set the tone for practice,” Clements said. “That got my blood flowing.”
The 49ers’ defense showed a lot of swagger this morning. And that has been a constant theme for the defense this summer, safety Dashon Goldson said. “As a secondary, we talk about it all the time,” Goldson said.
While the 49ers were having a grand ol’ time, the Raiders had zero answers for the 49ers’ defense.
“I felt like we played at a level that they couldn’t match,” Clements said.
The teams return to the practice field at 4:20 p.m. It’ll be the last time they practice together before playing Saturday night. Briggs, the rookie, kept the morning work in perspective.
“It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish,” he said. “We have to come out and perform at the next practice, too.”
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It was not all great news for the 49ers defense today. Outside linebacker Parys Haralson sat out with a foot sprain. He’ll be re-evaluated when the club returns to Santa Clara, and it’s not know how much action he’ll miss. Also, safety Michael Lewis was out of action after sustaining a concussion in Tuesday’s practice.
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