New gunner hits and misfires in debut

As the special-teams gunner in San Diego, C.J. Spillman
was part of coverage units that allowed a punt return for a touchdown, two kickoff
returns for scores and a 43-yard punt return in the season’s first five games.

Not acceptable. Spillman was cut on Oct. 11.

Signed by the Niners five days before the Raiders game, the
6-foot, 199-pound Spillman flashed both his potential and his penchant for
missed tackles Sunday.

On the game’s opening kickoff, Spillman sprinted down and
upended Jacoby Ford at the Oakland 12. Then, on the 49ers’ first punt, he
repeated his human-missile routine, decking Nick Miller at the Raiders 9 for no
gain.

Given San Francisco’s uninspired start, the joke in the
press box was that the speedy Spillman was the Niners’ MVP.

But there was a reason the Chargers cut him loose. On a
third-quarter punt, Spillman, again, was in perfect position. This time,
though, he whiffed on Miller, who broke free for a 14-yard gain.

A second-year undrafted free agent from Marshall, Spillman,
24, led the Chargers with six special-teams tackles in the first five games.
But he also missed too many tackles and blew too many assignments. San Diego
had hoped he could adequately replace Kassim Osgood, a three-time Pro Bowl
selection on special teams who signed with the Jaguars in the offseason.
Obviously, it didn’t work out.

The final straw for Spillman came after the Chargers’
35-27 loss to the Raiders on Oct. 10.

A week later, Spillman found himself in a different
uniform, but facing the same opponent.

“I saw myself missing a few opportunities that I had when
we played (the Raiders) last week,” Spillman said Monday. “So it’s kind of like
this week, the plays that I missed, I ended up making. So I got a second shot.”

Spillman, who also plays safety, could get an extended
shot. Special teams standout Curtis Taylor was placed on the injured reserve
list Monday with a torn quadricep, ending his season.

Spillman hopes to make the most of his second chance.

“I’m disappointed with how things turned out, but I’m
glad to be with a new team,” Spillman said. “I felt like I had to go out there
and make an impression to let them know what kind player I am … I look at it as
a minor setback to spark greatness. Things that I guess (the Chargers) didn’t
see me doing, whatever it was. Whatever the case was. I just look at it as a
blessing from God to rebound and move on.”

Spillman made it clear he’s not satisfied with Sunday’s
debut. He made two tackles, but he was thinking about the ones that got away
Monday.

“I should have had like four,” he said. “I’m still kind
of mad about that.”

• Hey, a quick note. Please don’t cuss or make crude
references when posting here. This has not been a huge problem, but I have been
doing some light editing recently. Cleaning up comments takes me away from more
important projects such as work on my thought-provoking essay, tentatively
titled, “Dominique Zeigler, the Dig Route and You.”

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