Matt Maiocco
CSNBayArea
The 49ers concluded four days of organized team activities on Thursday. Their next scheduled practices are June 7, 8, 10 and 11 at their practice facility in Santa Clara.
Here is a rundown of the 49ers' defensive players from the recently completed practice sessions:
Defensive line
60-Khalif Mitchell: Lined up with third team at left defensive end. He was briefly switched to offensive line last year on the practice squad, but he's back on defense this offseason. He didn't seem to get much going against 49ers rookie right tackle Anthony Davis.
78-Derek Walker: Lined up with third team at right defensive end. Showed good skills when he dropped into coverage and got wide very quickly to jar a pass out of Kyle Williams' hands on Tuesday. He saw action as a pass-rusher at right defensive tackle in nickel situations behind starter Justin Smith.
90-Isaac Sopoaga: Is the starting left defensive end. He also saw action with the third team as the backup nose tackle.
91-Ray McDonald: Was with the second team at left defensive end. He had been used in the past at right defensive end. He'd seem better suited to play the right side because of the fewer demands in the run game, but defensive coordinator Greg Manusky is placing emphasis on having "mirror image" players across the defense. He bumped inside to left defensive tackle in the 49ers nickel defense.
92-Aubrayo Franklin: Has not signed his $7 million tender as the team's franchise player, so he has not taken part in any of the club's offseason activities.
93-Demetric Evans: Lined up at right defensive tackle with the second team defense. He is a solid professional who is reliable at any spot he plays and interacts well with the younger players.
94-Justin Smith: The starting right defensive end. There's not much to worry about here.
95-Ricky Jean-Francois: He is the first-team nose tackle, and he's getting a lot of reps with Franklin unsigned. He also saw time with the second-team as an inside pass rusher at left defensive tackle in the nickel defense. RJF is learning a new spot, and he said he has a binder full of questions about the position he'll ask Franklin when he arrives.
96-Kentwan Balmer: Did not participate in the OTAs as he continues to rehab from Dec. 9 surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder. The club expects him to be ready for the start of training camp.
Linebackers
45-Keaton Kristick: He was not allowed to participate in the OTAs because Oregon State has yet to have its graduation ceremony.
48-Mike Balogun: Undrafted rookie from Oklahoma lined up at left inside linebacker with the 49ers' third team.
49-Brandon Long: Undrafted from Michigan State lined up at right outside linebacker with the third team. When 49ers went to their nickel defense on Wednesday, he was used as right defensive end on second team.
50-Diyral Briggs: He was the second-teamer at left outside linebacker. He participated in the first two days of practices, and looked explosive off the line of scrimmage. He was excused from the final two days because of personal reasons.
51-Takeo Spikes: He's the starting left inside linebacker. The veteran set a good example by being at the practices, and he saw a lot of work.
52-Patrick Willis: He underwent surgery in mid-March to remove a bursa sac from his right knee. He has not practiced with the club this spring. Willis spent most of the practices deep in the 49ers' secondary watching the work of his teammates.
53-Navorro Bowman: Lined up at left inside linebacker with the second team. That is the backup to Spikes. He runs very well, as advertised. He also saw some action at right inside linebacker with the third team. So he saw action at both the "ted" and "mike." The first impression was a favorable one.
54-Travis LaBoy: Saw action behind Parys Haralson as the No. 2 right outside linebacker. He practiced three of the four days. He was held out of Wednesday's work because an adjustment was being made with his orthotics. LaBoy missed last season after undergoing surgery to repair tendons in his foot. He looked to have good explosion off the snap, and was often in the backfield at the time of the pass. He said he felt comfortable in the new defense, as he's being asked to do the same things he did with the Cardinals in their 3-4 scheme in 2008.
55-Ahmad Brooks: Lined up with the first unit at left outside linebacker. He got those first-team reps because of Manny Lawson's absence, and that's huge for someone whose only true responsibility last season was to "See quarterback, get quarterback."
56-Scott McKillop: Lined up at right inside linebacker with the second team. He seems to be getting more comfortable making the defensive adjustments based on the offensive shifts.
57-Matt Wilhelm: With Willis out of action, he took over as the right inside linebacker with the first team.
58-Martail Burnett: Lined up at left outside linebacker with the third team. When 49ers went to their nickel defense on Wednesday, he lined up at left defensive end.
98-Parys Haralson: He's the starting right outside linebacker. He dropped into coverage to pick off an Alex Smith slant pass for Delanie Walker early in Thursday's 11-on-11 session.
99-Manny Lawson: The presumptive starter at left outside linebacker, Lawson is skipping the 49ers' offseason program because of contract issues, sources have told Comcast SportsNet. Lawson is entering the final year of his contract.
Defensive backs
20-Keith Smith: Lined up with second team at right cornerback. He recorded an interception early Tuesday, providing good deep coverage on Michael Crabtree after an Alex Smith play fake.
22-Nate Clements: He has not attended the team's offseason activities, as he works out on his own in Arizona.
23-Taylor Mays: He lined up with the third team defense at safety. He played more of a strong safety over the course of the four days, but was also seen playing deep in coverage, too. He did not see a lot of action come his way. On Thursday, he was isolated on the left deep half and looked smooth in his backpedal, then he flipped his hips and turned right. Mays was right there as Smith completed a deep route to tight end Joe Jon Finley. It was one of those plays that the coaches have been telling the defensive backs to let the receivers catch, rather than making a play on the ball (or the man) and running the risk of injury. With pads on and against an enemy defender, Mays would've been in position to make a play on the ball or deliver a big hit.
25-Tarell Brown: Lined up with the starting unit at left cornerback. He had good coverage of Morgan at the left sideline but saw a potential interception slip off his fingertips. Overall, a good week of practices. The only passes he surrendered were routes under him.
26-Tramaine Brock: Undrafted rookie from Belhaven lined up at right cornerback with the third team. Coaches had to remind him to keep his eyes up and take in the whole picture, rather than being so focused on what's happening in front of him.
27-Patrick Stoudamire: Undrafted rookie from Western Illinois saw third-team action at left cornerback. He showed good speed to turn and run with Josh Morgan on a deep incomplete pass on first day of OTAs. He broke up another pass for Morgan on Thursday.
28-Curtis Taylor: Lined up at strong safety with the second team. He looked more confident and sure of himself during the four days. There weren't any episodes in which he got completely toasted, but he also didn't make any plays on the ball. A couple times he was very close, but did not make the play. He had decent coverage against tight end Joe Jon Finley down the field, but David Carr's fine pass and a nice catch from Finley went for some big yards.
30-Reggie Smith: Was the second-team free safety. He seemed to have a pretty good four days of practices, which included an interception against Carr while covering Morgan in a 7-on-7 session Wednesday.
31-William James: Did not participate in any on-field work. He said he wasn't injured, that he was just learning the defense. Coach Mike Singletary said James is rehabbing a hairline fracture.
32-Michael Lewis: He's the starting strong safety, and he took part in the practice sessions.
33-LeRoy Vann: The undrafted rookie from Florida A&M saw action as a deep reserve at left cornerback. Also saw some time covering the slot receiver when the 49ers went with their nickel defense. Got out to the sideline to break up a pass intended for Kyle Williams. Later, he nearly got an interception of a Smith pass. He was also one of the players who struggled fielding wind-blown punts off the Jugs machine.
35-Phillip Adams: He got a lot of practice time as the No. 2 left cornerback. Recorded an interception on the first day in 7-on-7 when he latched onto a high Alex Smith pass that glanced off Ted Ginn's hands. On Wednesday, he lined up with the second-team defense as the slot corner behind Brown. He saw action as the No. 3 slot cornerback when the 49ers went to their nickel defense.
36-Shawntae Spencer: He is not participating in the 49ers' offseason program, as he works out in Pittsburgh.
38-Dashon Goldson: The starting free safety didn't make any glaring mistakes, but the "Hawk" didn't get his hands on any passes, either.
40-Chris Maragos: Undrafted rookie from Wisconsin teamed with Taylor Mays as a third-team safety.
41-Karl Paymah: With Spencer and Clements not participating, he was the starter at right cornerback. He had an interception during 7-on-7 work when he jumped a Ginn route and picked off Smith. He looked pretty sharp in coverage over the course of the four days.
Specialists
4-Andy Lee: Did not attend this week's workouts. Don't know if it's related to his contract situation because he's attended other activities this offseason (his agent didn't return a phone call), but the Pro Bowl punter is definitely underpaid based on the deal he negotiated with the Steelers in 2007 when the 49ers matched the offer sheet. There are at least 14 other punters scheduled to make more than him this year. And Lee's salary does not have any significant increases in the final two years of the deal, either.
6-Joe Nedney: He attended the camp, but wasn't asked to do much on the field.
9-Shane Andrus: See above.
86-Brian Jennings: He took part in some blocking drills with the offensive linemen and tight ends, but didn't do much else.
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[ Edited by Dominate on May 25, 2010 at 3:00 PM ]
