Training camp report: Manningham and Bowman shine

SANTA CLARA – Here are my observations from the second padless practice of the Niners training camp.

THE GOOD

  • Mario Manningham – Four catches (two against the first team defense), no drops. He could have had five catches, but Alex Smith overthrew him deep when he had beaten Perrish Cox down the left sideline. Manningham beat Culliver short towards the end of practice. Culliver was so frustrated he slapped Manningham in the face. Harbaugh instantly rebuked him.
  • NaVarro Bowman – Stripped Kyle Williams on the third play of seven-on-sevens. Williams caught the ball over the middle facing the quarterback, and as soon as he turned up field to run, Bowman ripped the ball out of his hands and the defense recovered it.
  • A.J. Jenkins – Four catches (one against the first team defense for a short gain), one drop. Jenkins had the second best practice of all the wide receivers.
  • Aldon Smith – Even in a padless practice, he dominated. He was in the quarterbacks’ faces all day. He recorded two touch sacks, but he could have gotten more. He’d frequently let up right before he arrived at the quarterback so the offense could complete the play.

THE NOT-SO-GOOD

  • Randy Moss – Two drops. Tried to catch a deep pass from Smith one-handed and dropped it, then dropped a perfect pass from Josh Johnson over the middle.
  • Kyle Williams – One fumble. Didn’t protect the ball when he blindly turned upfield, and Bowman stripped him. After the play, wide receivers coach Johnnie Morton showed Williams how to turn upfield while shielding the ball with his body.

THE REST

  • No sign of Michael Crabtree on the practice field today. He hurt his ankle yesterday in an eleven-on-eleven scrimmage.

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