Coach Mike Nolan and GM Scot McCloughan participated in a conference call today to address some pre-training camp questions. (Players are scheduled to report Thursday by their 4:30 p.m. team meeting with the first practice scheduled for Friday morning.) Here are some of the issues they covered:
(It's 12:18 ... and they have yet to arrive.)
--Team has discussed joint practice with Raiders, but it's not solidified, yet. It would not be scrimmage. It would be practice. If they did it, it would be in Napa. It would not be an event that would be open to the public.
--If the practice with the Raiders goes through, the 49ers will not have an intrasquad scrimmage.
--Nolan said it would be unfair to the football team to not allow a competition to take place for the quarterback position.
--The decision will be collective. Nolan said Scot McCloughan, Ted Tollner and Mike Martz will be involved in the decision. Collectively, they'll make the decision and Nolan said he believes it will be unanimous.
--As much as important QBs get their work, he wants the players to get their work with the players who help them the most. As far as specifics of how much each guy plays, that will be made later on.
--Nolan said there's a lot of competiion at wide receiver. He said only Battle and Lelie are the only guys who have played for the 49ers.
--Jeff Ulbrich has a clear handle on the "ted" spot, as he competes against Brandon Moore and Larry Grant. He said Dontarrious Thomas has been moved more to the other spot -- the "mike" job behind Patrick Willis.
--Nolan said he has not spoken with Larry Allen. He called O-line coach George Warhop recently to express interest, but Allen has not returned Nolan's calls. Nolan said he might be leaving that up to his agent. The 49ers have some interest in Allen's return.
--David Baas on schedule for a regular-season return. Nolan said the 49ers have expectations to come back and pick up where he left off last season as a starter. There will be some competition, in the meantime, between Tony Wragge and Chilo Rachal.
--On Patrick Willis, Nolan said the one thing he hasn't done is put years together back-to-back. That's what Nolan expects him to do this season. "They're going to know where he's at," Nolan said of the opposition.
--McCloughan said on the subject of offering Willis a long-term deal that he is "somebody on our radar we'd like to take care of before he's at the end of his contract." Under new league rules, a player can't be given a contract extension until after his second season.
--Vet linebacker Takeo Spikes is still on the 49ers' radar, McCloughan said. He's somebody they continue to talk about, but the 49ers feel good about what they have. He said an injury might have to occur before the 49ers pursue a move. Up to this point, the reason Spikes and the 49ers have not agreed on a deal is mutual.
--McCloughan said he's confident all the rookies will be signed. "I don't want to say 100 percent, but I feel really good," he said. "I feel good everybody will be signed."
--"I like this football team," Nolan said. "I think it's better from the top on down."
* * *
Here's more from this conference call, "One game at a time is Nolan's motto for '08."
Comments | Add Comment
Posted By: Indiana Jim (21/07/2008 3:42:00 PM)
Comment: "Collectively, they'll make the decision and Nolan said he believes it will be unanimous." Yeah, as in, they've already made a unanimous decision. "he wants the players to get their work with the players who help them the most." Right. Hill plays with the scrubs while Smith plays with the starters. Perfect!
Posted By: Steve from NJ (21/07/2008 3:30:07 PM)
Comment: "On Patrick Willis, Nolan said the one thing he hasn't done is put years together back-to-back. That's what Nolan expects him to do this season. "They're going to know where he's at," Nolan said of the opposition."
What does Nolan mean by that statement?
Response: OK, here is the entirety of what Nolan said about Patrick Willis: "One thing he hasn’t done is put years back to back. He’ll get that opportunity. Nobody wants to be a one-year wonder. I believe he’ll get better and better. A year ago, nobody knew who Patrick willis was. Now they do and that makes a big difference. They have to find him every play. They saw him all year and they saw him in the Pro Bowl. He’s got his work cut out for him to step up his game, as well. He’ll get better. He’s an oustanting player." --Matt M.
Posted By: Global Nomad (21/07/2008 2:38:11 PM)
Comment: Hey Matt, whats up with Nolan forgetting Jason Hill was on the 49ers with Battle and Lelie. It seems like you added it to your notes to see if anyone would catch Nolan's slip up but I don't understand the context around it. Did Nolan just forget Hill off the top of his head? Or Does that mean Hill has not stood out enough this off season, and of course might have his roster spot on the line? How much should we read into Nolan's slip up?
Response: He meant that Battle and Lelie are the only returning 49ers receivers who have some amount of playing time and production in the league. --Matt M.
Posted By: Indiana Jim (21/07/2008 2:24:21 PM)
Comment: I'd like to see Smith pick up where he left off after Week 1 last year! With some more yards thrown in for good measure.
Posted By: FistFullOfGold (21/07/2008 2:12:57 PM)
Comment: Rob in Sac........in response to your question, my guess is that Nolan is looking for a way to motivate and challenge Willis.
Posted By: Greg (21/07/2008 2:03:51 PM)
Comment: Matt, am I correct that it is a change to see Brandon Moore back in competition for the Ted spot? I seem to recall he had been moved behind Willis at the Mike. Do you think he's in danger of being cut?
Response: Yes. I've written for a while that Moore might work his way back into the mix at the "ted" spot. While Moore's spot on the team is not assured, he still has a chance to work into a significant role if he shows more of a willingness to fight for the spot. --Matt M.
Posted By: SDNiner (21/07/2008 1:51:06 PM)
Comment: Matt, you're a beast. Thanks for the info. If the Niners and Raiders hold a joint practice, will you be able to attend?
Posted By: Nevyn (21/07/2008 1:09:14 PM)
Comment: Well, if Baas picks up where he left off he'll be playing well. If Smith picks up where he left off, we're doomed and Nolan is fired. So that's probably why.
Posted By: oneniner (21/07/2008 1:06:09 PM)
Comment: David Baas- Nolan said the 49ers have expectations to come back and pick up where he left off last season as a starter.......why isn't A.Smith treated the same way?
Posted By: Rob in Sac (21/07/2008 12:59:58 PM)
Comment: What does this statement mean "On Patrick Willis, Nolan said the one thing he hasn't done is put years together back-to-back".
What is he talking about? His last season in college was solid and last year he was Rookie of the Year!
Posted By: ninermaniac (21/07/2008 12:56:49 PM)
Comment: Do you think the Special Teams can be a big factor this season?
Posted By: Random Guy (21/07/2008 12:52:35 PM)
Comment: Many people believe that a good offense must have a dominant WR in order to take off. Who do Nolan/McCloughan see as that dominating presence? Can Vernon Davis be that "stud" receiver?
Posted By: ninermaniac (21/07/2008 12:48:57 PM)
Comment: Maybe Larry Allen is too old to play anymore maybe we should pass on that old fart he probably doesnt have anything left anyways. Only people like Strahan can stay in there to end their career with a ring.
Posted By: Nevyn (21/07/2008 12:47:03 PM)
Comment: Ask Nolan how disappointed he'll be if both of his 1st 2 picks this year end up in backup roles all season?
Posted By: Canadian Niner (21/07/2008 12:46:41 PM)
Comment: Shockey to Saints for a 2nd & 5th next year
Posted By: Mike in SF #2 (21/07/2008 12:45:53 PM)
Comment: Reading between the lines, it sounds like there is an above 50/50 chance Larry Allen is back at left guard.
Posted By: ninermaniac (21/07/2008 12:42:12 PM)
Comment: Whats the competion look like with the 3rd and 4th CB position?
Posted By: http:// (21/07/2008 12:39:09 PM)
Comment: Why did Thomas get pulled out of the Ted competition? We haven't even seen him w/pads on yet, wasn't that what Nolan/Staff was waiting for? Thanks for the updates Matt.
Posted By: ninermaniac (21/07/2008 12:36:56 PM)
Comment: Good move on switching Brandon Moore and Dontarrius Thomas
Posted By: oneniner (21/07/2008 12:32:56 PM)
Comment: the good news is Scot McCloughan is going to be involved in the decision.....I have more faith in scotties decisions right now compared to nolan's......
Posted By: ninermaniac (21/07/2008 12:32:16 PM)
Comment: do you think Patrick Willis is capable of calling the plays on the field in only his 2nd year?
Posted By: ninermaniac (21/07/2008 12:30:16 PM)
Comment: I saw them at the drive thru at In and Out about 10 min ago
Posted By: NW Niner (21/07/2008 12:22:12 PM)
Comment: Kind of like how the playoffs haven't arrived as expected either...
Posted By: carl (21/07/2008 12:15:05 PM)
Comment: Thank you Matt.
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