CB competition is every bit as intriguing as the QBs

Yes, there is daily competition at the quarterback position. But while that competition is taking place, there’s some pretty good action at cornerback, too.

Veteran cornerback Nate Clements will not be participating in the remainder of OTAs, and that’s probably good news. This way, both Tarell Brown and Dre’ Bly are on the field at the same time during the team’s offseason work.

 

Clements will start at left cornerback this season. Brown and Bly (and, possibly, Shawntae Spencer, who is still rehabbing ACL tear but should be ready for the start of training camp) will be going at it for playing time on the right side.

 

It was certainly bad news when respected vet Walt Harris went down May 19 with a season-is-over-before-it-started knee injury. But the 49ers might not be in bad shape, after all.

 

Brown and Bly have looked very sharp in practices, including today’s workout on the 49ers’ Santa Clara practice field.

 

Brown ran stride for stride with Josh Morgan on a deep pass from Shaun Hill on the first play of the 11-on-11 session. Because of the tight coverage, Morgan had no chance to make the catch.

 

A little while later, Bly had Dominique Zeigler blanketed on a deep ball down the middle. Bly made a lunging, finger-tip interception of Hill’s pass before both he and Zeigler tumbled to the ground. They both got up slowly. “Helluva play,” said one 49ers assistant, “but stay up.” Players are repeatedly cautioned during these “non-contact” drills to avoid injury by staying on their feet.

 

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There is a reason you have not read or heard much about the team’s Nos. 3 and 4 quarterbacks. Veteran Damon Huard and rookie Nate Davis rarely get any practice time in the 11-on-11 sessions. They might take one snap here and there, and a lot of times it’s a run play.

 

But in some of the individual drills I watched today, Huard and Davis both threw the ball very well — especially Huard. I think the club is really happy with him as the No. 3 behind Hill and Alex Smith.

 

Davis shows a lot of skills, even if he’s nowhere near ready to jump in the huddle with a heavy workload. During a 7-on-7 passing drill, he made a fantastic throw down the seam between two safeties to Vernon Davis. I know it’s way too early, but I’d expect all four quarterbacks to be 49ers employees this season.

 

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Undrafted rookie OT Alex Boone made his first appearance at OTAs today. He had been ineligible to take part in offseason work with the 49ers (other than the initial post-draft minicamp) because Ohio State had not yet gone through graduation. Stanford DE Pannel Egboh is the only rookie who is still prohibited from full-time work with the team.

 

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DL Isaac Sopoaga did not practice today because of a left thigh bruise. LB Jeff Ulbrich and Takeo Spikes returned to practice. G Chilo Rachal returned after missing four days for a personal matter.

 

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Earlier today on Twitter . . . As I was watching ‘Deadliest Catch’ last night, I began to ponder which 49ers player(s) could work as deckhands on crab boat in Bering Sea.

 

If I had to pick one player, I think I’d go with Justin Smith. But if I were a captain, I would also have no qualms about hiring Jeff Ulbrich, Patrick Willis, Tony Wragge, Nate Clements, Isaac Sopoaga and – maybe even — Shaun Hill.

 

There are a few other players who could probably handle the hard work and long hours without complaining. (I wouldn’t consider any rookies, or greenhorns, because I don’t know them well enough, yet.) Nothing personal, of course, but I think wide receiver is the one position group that might have the most difficult time.

 

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