Oklahoma State’s Kendall Hunter – the 10th running back off the board — fell to the 49ers in the fourth round. USC’s Ronald Johnson, the 24th wide receiver selected, was still around in the middle of the sixth round.
Weight & see: Could Aldon’s size hinder move to OLB?
Smith, who checks in at 6-foot-4 and 265 pounds at 21 years old, figures to get bigger. And just how big can he get and still be an effective 3-4 outside linebacker?
Harbaugh might see himself in Alex Smith
What does Jim Harbaugh see in Alex Smith? The statistics suggest he might see himself.
Former TE credits Roman’s flexibility for resurrection
How did Billy Miller go from unemployed wide receiver to effective NFL tight end? The story, Miller says, involves coaching, compromise and 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman, who appears to have maintained his flexible style as he’s climbed the coaching ladder.
Grab bag: The Capers connection to the 49ers staff
If you were starting an NFL franchise would you hire Niners defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, offensive coordinator Greg Roman and special teams coordinator Brad Seely?
Can Kaepernick become a rare second-round standout?
Quincy Carter, Kellen Clemens, Drew Stanton … welcome to the club, Colin Kaepernick! (Now don’t throw an interception on your way in.)
Plutonium-grade baby deer skin and Jim Harbaugh
It’s obviously too early to assess Jim Harbaugh in his new job – he was hired four months ago and has yet to actually coach. But I’m prepared to give Harbaugh high marks in one area: language.
How jack-of-all-trades Roman got a job working with Carr
As a general rule, NFL head coaches don’t enlist former Division III defensive linemen to help educate their $60 million quarterbacks. But Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers says Greg Roman isn’t a typical coach.
Billick: Alex Smith has ‘all the tools’
Can Alex Smith alter the trajectory of his career? Why not. That’s a phrase Brian Billick used more than once in discussing Smith’s situation. But he doesn’t expect to see Smith suddenly transformed.
New-look Niners could be behind before first kickoff
Jim Harbaugh has repeatedly said all obstacles can and must be overcome, but this could be getting ridiculous.
Captain Curtis: 49ers’ last pick a natural-born leader
The 49ers’ last draft pick had an item in his bio that was a first.
Kaepernick had minor surgical procedure after draft
Colin Kaepernick, the 49ers’ second-round draft pick, had a minor surgical procedure on his lower left leg earlier this month, the Sacramento Bee’s Matt Barrows reported Friday.
Film Festival, Scene 3: From defensive end to dirty bird
Colin Jones was, in effect, a gift to special teams coordinator Brad Seely, who has generally had two or three special-teams-only stalwarts during his decorated career as an assistant.
Film Festival, Scene 2: Chris Culliver was a college CB!
Trent Baalke, obviously, is at least mildly irritated by the suggestion that the 49ers will be trying Chris Culliver out at a new position in the NFL. He did play cornerback as a senior – just ask Baalke – but he only made seven college starts at the position (and 24 at safety).
‘The Chosen 10’ premieres at Baalke Film Festival
At the snap, Aldon Smith darts right and cuts back left inside Nate Solder, who, completely fooled, wouldn’t make the Pleasanton High varsity if evaluated on this one play. But as Smith closes in on the quarterback, Trent Baalke didn’t talk about his epic juke on Solder. Instead, he focused on his eyes.
Relentless rookie Miller could be multi-dimensional FB
Central Florida defensive coordinator John Skladany never thought of defensive end Bruce Miller as a future NFL fullback, but he can see why the 49ers do.
Mailbag: How Colin could still see time if he doesn’t start
When asked about possibly trotting out the Wildcat for Colin Kaepernick, Jim Harbaugh said his rookie quarterback had the athletic ability to execute all the “quarterback-driven runs” and rollouts in the playbook.
Niners rookies have their number called
Hunter and eight other rookies have their jersey numbers and a few, Hunter included, have some legacies to uphold. First-round pick Aldon Smith has not selected his number (decisions, decisions).
Firewood-cutting Tomsula can flat-out coach
Tomsula, allergic to glad-handing, was never hired by a friend or former colleague in his four stops in NFL Europe. He earned his positions by word of mouth — you know, man, that guy can really coach.
Harbaugh & Kaepernick: A pairing of gridiron geeks
Colin Kaepernick, Jim Harbaugh’s latest quarterback, sounds a lot like Todd Mortensen, Jim Harbaugh’s first quarterback. The common thread? They both love football as much as, well, Jim Harbaugh.