***UPDATE: ESPN reports Michael Crabtree and Eugene Parker are coming to the Bay Area to reopen contract talks with 49ers. Actually, they’re opening talks because there has been no negotiations up to this point.
* * *
Game balls all around for the 49ers!
Well, almost all around.
The team had something very close to a complete-team effort in yesterday’s 35-0 victory over the Rams. But the offensive line did not perform up to expectations. Coach Mike Singletary said he plans to sit down with offensive line coach Chris Foerster to kick around some ideas for kicking that unit into gear.
It’s pretty clear where the problems originated on Sunday in the 49ers’ 35-0 victory over the Rams. Singletary said left tackle Joe Staley is continuing to mature. He said Eric Heitmann is working his tail off. He said the right-tackle combination of Adam Snyder and Tony Pashos did a good job.
Uh-oh. He did not heap any praise on guards Chilo Rachal or David Baas.
“They did not play up to par,” Singletary said. “I know that whatever it is, we’ll just have to figure it out. Baas still could be banged up a little bit, I just don’t know. We’ll get to the bottom of it and figure out what it is, because both of those guys . . . we have the whole offensive line in sync, and we’ll get there.
“Hopefully, we’ll be able to work it out because we do feel our best five guys are on the field.”
* * *
Check out the latest installment of the Press Democrat’s 49ers Recap with yours truly, with John Burgess’ masterly touch with the photos and production.
* * *
The defense had a tremendous effort. Everyone across the defense played exceptionally well. Singletary said the No. 1 trait of the defense is its unselfishness.
That segued into a question about Michael Crabtree, who has declined to accept the 49ers’ offer of $16 million guaranteed as the No. 10 pick in the draft. Singletary said he still wants Crabtree on the team.
“Any guy who can play and can help us win, I would never say, ‘No, we don’t need him,'” Singletary said.
“I met him. I talked to him. I have a good feel for him. I haven’t been wrong too often. I think he’s a great kid.”
When told that Crabtree mentor Deion Sanders hinted quite strongly last night on the NFL Network that a resolution could be coming soon and Michael Crabtree could end up with the 49ers sooner than later, Singletary said, “I hope he’s right. It would be great.”
* * *
The 49ers seem to be really taking hold of Singletary’s message. He said the less he has to say, the better. Singletary didn’t have to say much at halftime.
“Yesterday I saw a lot of guys disappointed in the way the first half went,” Singletary said. “There were no shouting matches. It was just a matter of guys, ‘Just remember what we said we needed to do,’ and they took it from there.
“The coaches really didn’t have to talk a whole lot. Whenever you have that situation, you know you’re going in the right direction.”
Singletary said he’s going to say what has to be said, but he added that he wants the players to say it first. And who are the guys who are saying it?
“You pick any guy on defense,” Singletary said. “The leadership on the defensive side of the ball has really picked up, whether it’s Justin Smith or Patrick (Willis) or Takeo (Spikes) . . . whether it’s Michael Lewis. All those guys are talking.
“On the offensive side of the ball, primarily Shaun Hill. Shaun Hill has really stepped up and been a real bright spot in terms of the leadership, and ‘Hey, guys, we got to do this’ or ‘We got to do that.’ That’s great to see. And the offensive line, Joe Staley, (Eric) Heitmann. It’s great to see those guys step up.”
* * *
There were no injury updates today beyond what was reported yesterday.
* * *
Comments are closed.