The 49ers closed out the 2010 Exhibition Season by beating the Chargers 17-14 in a largely empty Candlestick Park stadium. There were no initial reports of any serious injuries. Whew!!!
The emergence of Phillip Adams has got to be the most surprising story of a Training Camp full of good stories. The entire rookie class looked very capable. Not one stiff among them. It’s not hard to imagine that this class will someday be viewed as one of the better drafts in franchise history. An unlikely scenario to be sure, since it was conducted by a rookie GM only one month on the job after the stunning dismissal of Scot McCloughan.
In going 4-0 in pre-season, the 49er scrubs beat the scrubs of Indianapolis, Minnesota, and San Diego. If there was a Scrub Bowl at the end of the year, the team would definitely be considered a serious contender for the SB, Jr. title.
The most surprising not so good story of this year’s camp would have to be the flaming out of the surefire HOF career of Nate Davis. This site pondered recently the notion that Davis would be cut, and Thursday night’s performance did little to expose that ponderment as rubbish. He began TC with aspirations of moving up to #2 QB, but has instead gone from “Wow” to “Whoa” to “Whew” in record time. In the past two games, he has looked slow, pudgy, and very ordinary. Next stop for Nate could be the UFL.
The final cut down day in recent Ninerland history has been more exciting for whom we might pick up off waivers from another team, rather than for which players we will actually cut. Not so this year. It will be 49er players that other teams are happy to get and there are several players that will be tough to see leave the team. And there will probably be some surprises among those who do make the team.
The biggest sigh of relief from this year’s TC has been the impressive play of the two first round picks, Mike Iupati and Anthony Davis. The team needed these two to be instant starters and they have both done precisely that. Davis especially seems to get noticeably better with each game he plays. It is entirely possible that the right side of the 49er offense will actually be secure this year, allowing the QB to make his first read downfield to his receivers, rather than to his right to judge how many milliseconds he has before getting flattened.
Taylor Mays has also looked better and better each game. He made a nice end zone interception Thursday, as well as some other nice plays, but this scribe noticed particularly the tackle he made on special teams. Here’s a guy who has been a star player all his life, and suddenly he’s looking at a whole year of playing mostly on special teams. A lot of star guys would not put much heart into this effort, but Mays seems more than willing to pay his dues.
NaVorro Bowman has also looked stellar during the pre-season. This guy can play. Enjoy your last season as a starter in SF, Takeo Spikes, because it will be Patrick Willis and Bowman forming an awesome set of inside linebackers for the Niners for years to come.
Mentioning that Anthony Dixon has looked okay is asking to be awarded the 2010 “Duh Ya Think So” award. Bloggers who have been experiencing premature worrywart syndrome over Frank Gore’s biological time clock can rest a little easier now. Dixon may not ever be as good as Gore, but he looks to be plenty good enough.
With the eye gouge experienced by Jason Hill, which parked him once again on the bench in Thursday’s game, I’d say Kyle Williams will get a well deserved roster spot, also. He earned it, but Adams’ emergence as a punt returner has stolen some of Kyle’s thunder. Still, having Williams as a backup option to Adams is not a bad idea, and Williams has definite potential as a slot receiver. It appears Hill’s potential will have to be continued elsewhere.
This site has openly pined for Dominique Zeigler to make the team, if only to be used as a Red Zone receiver. His height, jumping ability, and incredible hands were never more vividly displayed than that nonchalant one-handed sky hook effort in the end zone Thursday night. Wow. This guy has hands.
Okay, gents. That’s a pre-season wrap. Let’s get out there now and kick some ever lovin’ butt in Seattle. Roooooaaaarrrrr!!!!!
Can anyone ever recall seeing the ‘Stick that empty before? Exhibition games are a total sham, especially the fourth and final…Think we could still get Curtis “Paul” Painter for Nate Davis in a swap? Nate isn’t even worthy of a joke this morning, his play speaks for himself. Don’t forget to turn in your play book before you go, Nate. No, you can keep the crayons….Mays and Bowman are looking fantastic. This draft is looking better and better by the second. Not to mention our two new behemoths on the OL just continue to improve with each and every snap. Excellent call by Sing and Co. to insert them into the first team early in camp and hit the ground running…Just a tad more than 221 hrs. till kickoff in Seattle. Nah, I’m not counting down or anything…..must beat Seattle or massive coronary will ensue. No pressure, no pressure at all.
Jesus, I just noticed that we were the only team to go undefeated in the exhibition season. Not sure what that means, probably absolutely nothing. But I’m thinking it means we better beat Seattle or I’ll have to remember the phone number for 9-1-1
I don’t get excited about records in pre-season. I believe I speak for most on this one, but we played good football.
It wasn’t like watching the Hosler experiment, or the JTO debacle that the blog loved just because he wasn’t Alex Smith.
This team looked good all pre-season except the first quarter in Indy, and that was mostly a fumble and the Sardine Can Offense.
My biggest concern is the play calling and even that looked to be improved in pre-season vanilla time over last season. I’m more excited about this season than I have been since 2003.
Yes, Berger. The first couple series vs Indy, I’m think ‘ohhhhhhh fuck’ packed in shit AGAIN? Well, they got out of that fairly quickly, and did mix in a lot more 3 WR sets, ran from that, and showed many different looks. I actually feel better about Jimmy Hat going into the regular season.
The fricking WR screen even worked a couple times yesterday. Still not a lot of slants and WR routes down the middle (like the one to Ziggy), but I’m sure this will change when VD and Crabs are playing.
The craziest thing to me this preseason was the inordinate number of blitzes dialed up by Maunsky. I think he’;s sending a message that he’s going to blitz early and often. More often than not, they worked to stunning success this preseason.
Doing that to a guy like Hassehof will get him gunshy and squirrelly. Yeah, baby! My point (for, ohhh, the past 15 years) is, if you can’t cover well, put max pressure on the QB. Spencer is fine, the other CB? Not so much.
I suspect these guys will be looking for a CB to sign off the cut list/PS. Too bad Rick James (bitch) went down.
Here come the cuts: Brit Miller first to go. Kind of a shocker: Michael Robinson got cut. The blogs will like that.
Add Jason Hill and Karl Paymah.
Bruce Davis
Well, I will, anyway.
I mean, really. It would come down to M Rob, or any one of Boone, Briggs, James (bitch), Wiliams, Adams, or Taylor, the answer is obvious.
This team can’t afford to carry an ST-only guy. They need all the skill they can get at other spots.
Jehuu Caulcrick, Cody Wallace, Khalif Mitchell, Kevin Jurovich.
I knew you’d be pleased about Robinson, Chuck. You’ve been beating on him pretty good. It’s a surprise though, in light of Sing saying 6 or 7 guys would be kept for ST purposes.
Tony Curtis and Joe Jon Finley.
It’s not that I’m pleaseed about it. Just that I’de hate to lose one of those guys mentionad above at the cost of a purely ST guy. Willheml can fill M Robs’s spot juust fine.
Wow. Matt Wilhelm cut, also.
K Shane Andrus
LB Mike Balogun
QB Jarrett Brown
FB Jehuu Caulcrick
TE Tony Curtis
LB Bruce Davis
G Brian de la Puente
TE Joe Jon Finley
WR Bobby Guillory
WR Jason Hill
WR Kevin Jurovich
T Matt Kopa
LB Keaton Kristick
S Chris Maragos
FB Brit Miller
DT Khalif Mitchell
CB Karl Paymah
RB Michael Robinson
DT Will Tukuafu
DT Derek Walker
C Cody Wallace
LB Matt Wilhelm
Having Bowman as the only backup ILB and knowing Spikes will need some rest here and there says a whopping lot about how much the team thinks of Bowman.
Sure does, Skeebs. I like the confidence they’re showing in not only Bowman, but to all the young guys who’ve made the squad and are expected to produce from the gitgo. Confidence breeds confidence. They should be feeling mighty good about the 53 guys they’ve assembled for the opener, I know I do.
I better feel good. Because as we all know, the opener is a MUST WIN.
Correct me if I’m wrong, Dennis, but I’m getting the vibes that you think the opening game is important.
Well, they blew my theory by losing Willhelm.
Bear Pascoe got cut by the Giants.
J.P. Losman cut by Seattle, going with only two QBs. Or waiting for Leinhart to get cut.
Bear Pascoe? Another crappy Scot McCloughan pick. His drafts are stinking up the joint more and more by the second. So glad his sorry ass is now up in Seattle.
Seattle? That reminds me, Seattle is a MUST WIN GAME!
sorry to hear about 9dog’s brother dennis ! he sound like a great guy
all condolences to you and your family
Pat White released by Dolphins. 2nd round pick from last year. Wonder if we go after him and dump Nate.
Thomas Clayton cut by Patriots.
Pat White? He’s another RB disguised as a QB. I want my QB to actually be a QB.
TJ Whosyourmama was just released by the Seahags, Leinart by the Cards. I could see Matt reuniting with Carroll up in Seattle.
Wow. Alex Gibbs just quit his job as O-Line coach in Seattle! A week before the first game. What the heck happened? Should be interesting.
Brandon Jones cut by Seattle. Looks like Balmer survived.
Dre Bly cut by Detroit.
Time to see who we pick up to play backup ILB and who gets signed to the practice squad. Wake up, guys. This is high drama! Zzzzzzzzzzzzz.
DENNIS
kasey ” KANDY ” kahne
today in hotlanta
The Practice Squad has landed:
QB J Brown
FB J Caulcrick
LB B Davis
WR K Jurovich
T M Kopa
LB K Kristick
S C Maragos
DT W Tukuafu
No surprise, Michael Robinson signs with Seattle.
That’s too bad, he’ll now be on wrong side of the MUST WIN game of Week 1.
I Uncover Equivalent Steerage Regarding this kind of subject.