[DHNF]

Originally posted by Bobo@Apr 30th '06 @ 7:58 pm
Manny Lawson and then my boy Parys Haralson....I imagine SF will have a sick pass rus

Yeah they scored big with those two guys this weekend. I'm absolutely psyched about at least 3 of our picks...

[DHNF]

Pics from mini-camp today.

VD



Michael Robinson



Legend in the making. Coach Nolan



Alex Smith. Looks like he hit the weight room...

[DHNF]

From a guy on Ninerholics that got into the closed Minicamp today...

I actually said Hi to Nedney who was the closest to me. I noticed a lot of unfamiliar numbers which is expected with rookies trying out.

I will not give away formations or plays that I saw run, incase we have spies checking these boards. But I did see some interesting stuff.


I watched the offense run some plays. Alex Smith's throws looked sharp and on target. He hit Antonio Bryant a couple of times with a post-out pattern.

Eric Johnson looked good, he caught a couple of passes.

The Duke looked pretty big, and he was in all the plays I saw. I only saw Alex Smith throw one pass to him. It was over thrown, but the Duke leaped up to catch it, he had it in his hands, but dropped it as he landed. sad.gif Duke was obviously upset by this, as he clapped his hands and nodded his head in dissapointment.

Manny Lawson looks like Peterson out there (same overall build...from far).

I saw Gore and Barlow...Battle.....

Who is # 1? He was kicking it with Nedney.

Oh and Picket was taking snaps with the second team. LArry Allen looks like a beast!



Anyone want to join me for tomorrow? I can only take 1 maybe 2 people. Hit me up with a PM.

Anyone has questions... ask, I'll try my best to answer. Oh yeah, and I saw # 35 Micheal Robinson... he looks like he is built to be a RB.

[imported_litlharsh]

vernon davis in those notes

[DHNF]

Originally posted by P-cup@May 5th '06 @ 5:40 pm
vernon davis in those notes

oh.

He's going to be a bust.

[imported_litlharsh]

Originally posted by DHNF@May 5th '06 @ 4:43 pm
He's going to be a bust.

but that'd be cool if he was.

[DHNF]

Mini Camp Underway

Chrissy Mauck

Friday marked the first practice of the 2006 season and anyone in attendance probably needed to rely on a roster because this off-season has definitely brought a makeover – new faces who already have or will soon move into the lineup. Larry Allen, Antonio Bryant, Sammy Davis, Vernon Davis, Bryan Gilmore, Walt Harris, Manny Lawson, Parys Haralson, Michael Robinson, Brandon Williams… and even the new backup quarterback Trent Dilfer watching from the sidelines.

The former Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman, Allen, sported a white and red jersey for the first time of his pro career, and finally after petitioning the league for various numbers, the future Hall of Fame guard settled on 71.

#85 displayed his signature leaping ability with a great catch in seven-on-seven but we’re no longer talking about Brandon Lloyd. In his first practice, tight end Vernon Davis flashed the speed, strength, and vertical leap that earned him sixth overall selection in the draft.

Converted quarterback Michael Robinson showed some explosiveness getting off the line, good hands, a few jukes, and the resiliency to fight for extra yards with a solid first-day showing at his new position of running back.

On top of the new faces, there were the former players we haven’t seen in a while as injuries kept them off the field including Mike Rumph playing back at his natural position of cornerback after a try at safety last year before his season came to an end with a foot injury.

“I’m pumped,” said Rumph, after just the morning walk-thru. “I’m so excited that I feel like a rookie actually. My foot, what foot? I’m 100%. They might have to pull me out a little bit because I’m trying to get every rep. I’m really excited to be back at corner and I think the rust is off because I’ve been preparing so much mentally and physically. The excitement might be a factor and they might have to tell me to relax a little bit, but definitely no problems physically.”

His defensive teammates were ecstatic for him, judging at least by the eruption of cheers that broke out when he picked off a pass during the afternoon practice.

PJ Fleck, Derrick Hamilton, Jonas Jennings, Jeremy Newberry, and Tony Parrish were among those held out of practice but they were out there running and look close to full-go. Frank Gore and Kevan Barlow were held out of everything but individual work, and they got plenty of that along with an extra dose on the sidelines from Bishop Harris during special teams.

After a season ending triceps injury, linebacker Jeff Ulbrich resumed his role alongside Derek Smith (who knew when the season ended if the 49ers would be able to sign him back) in breaking the defensive huddle.

Tight end Eric Johnson was held out of team drills but he didn’t appear to have any lingering effects from his foot injury during the individual work and new offensive coordinator should have plenty of tools to employ this season including a two tight end set with Johnson and Davis, which is good news to second-year quarterback Alex Smith.

“Going into my second year, it’s a new offense with new faces at a lot of positions and I’m excited to grow with them and be here with them learning this offense,” said Smith. “I think it went really well for a first practice in a new system especially with so many rookies out there playing quite a bit. It went surprisingly smooth because realistically a first day is usually a rusty and there were some glimpses out there of what we can be and that’s promising for a first day.”

With this year’s neophytes arriving on the scene for the first time, last year’s class finally shed the rookie label.

“I think there is still a good amount of pressure because of the new offense, but last year was worse because you are just feeling your way around and you didn’t really know what was going on,” said guard David Baas. “This year I have a little time under my belt but I have to stick with studying and getting the offense down so I don’t look like a rookie.”

Meanwhile, rookie Manny Lawson found out just how tough you’ve got to be to play for linebackers coach Mike Singletary. Lawson, and every other linebacker, earned strong criticism from the Hall of Famer when he halted a bag shuffle drill when he didn’t see the kind of technique he expected from his group.

“I thought you were a thoroughbred,” said Singletary to Lawson.

“I am sir,” responded Lawson.

Good answer. More will come in the three remaining practices.

[niner4life]

this is the first time in like 3 years that im really excited about this team. if niners can stay healthy they can surprise some people this year.

[DHNF]

Sights From Day Two

Chrissy Mauck


After the first day of mini camp, cornerback Shawntae Spencer spent considerable time soaking his tired feet. After two more practices on Saturday, he rested on the bench outside of the locker room, too exhausted to even hit the showers quite yet.

Spencer and the rest of the secondary are certainly earning their paychecks out there covering the 49ers speedy receivers.

“It’s definitely a track meet out there and Coach Turner is throwing it deep all the time,” said Spencer. “Those guys are preparing us well for the upcoming season when we are going to face a lot of good receivers, but I can’t really see them being too much better than the guys we have out here now.”

There’s Vernon Davis with his 4.38 40-time to cover of course, but there’s also receivers Antonio Bryant and Bryan Gilmore.

Bryant is every bit the workhorse coaches said he is, and possesses that steely determination to take it to the house after every catch.

“You work hard out here and it makes a game tempo that much easier,” said Bryant. “You prepare right and it’ll be a long time before you put your hand on your hips or be winded or tired.”

The long-limbed Gilmore has earned the reputation for having blazing speed which will stretch the field on offense and also give the 49ers a boost on special teams coverage units. The same can be said for rookie wide receiver/return specialist Brandon Williams.

Even Michael Robinson continues to impress with his explosiveness, making a double catch of a deep ball in the morning practice, with Delanie Walker also flashing some athleticism and solid hands.

Wide receiver Arnaz Battle was limited as a precaution in the morning practice but his knee doesn’t seem to be slowing him down any and he made a great outstretched catch in the afternoon practice.

“My knee feels really good out there and it’s just exciting to be part of this offense,” said Battle.

All in all, Bryant is expected to be the go-to as far as the receivers go, but he doesn’t look at in that light.

“I don’t look at it as being the man,” said Bryant. “I look at is being the person who knows how to bring everybody along. I grew up on teams where we felt like we were as strong as our weakest link and if our weakest link is as strong as your strongest leg, than we are going to beat you.”

It’s hard to find a weak link in the 49ers offense right now, but the secondary is holding their own in coverage. With Tony Parrish still out with his leg injury, Chad Williams, aka Pound for Pound is working as the starter along with Mike Adams at safety with Spencer, Sammy Davis, Mike Rumph and Walt Harris working in at corner.

Nolan said he’d like to see Williams shed about ten pounds but other than that he’s been impressed with Williams.

“I told him today, ‘You’re Pound for Pound except for the ten that are in excess’,” joked Nolan. “I said ‘Those ten we can do without’.”

Williams can get tips from Rumph who has dropped more than ten pounds this off-season, and is moving and running well at corner according to Vice President of Scot McCloughan.

McCloughan also likes what he’s seen from Harris. With more than a decade of experience under his belt, Harris is still in top physical shape and moved stride for stride with Gilmore on a deep ball route. His experience is also helping the 49ers young secondary.

“It’s a lot better for us just with it being our second year in this scheme but adding on a veteran like Walt, and then watching him and learning from him really helps,” said Spencer.

The secondary is definitely well-coached with Vance Joseph in his second year and Johnnie Lynn who came over from Baltimore and had already coached himself out of his voice by the morning practice.

Aside from ribbing Williams about his weight, Nolan also had to put the brakes on another one of his new players, the formidable Larry Allen.

“I had to go in this morning and tell him and a couple of the other guys to keep their hands off guys,” said Nolan. “Because when you’re in shorts he can literally maul a guy. He has to be careful. If he throws a guy off a block to just get him out of the way, the guy flies a little different. He doesn’t just move over. He’s rolling out of there and you gotta be careful because he can roll somebody up.”

Sometimes you just don’t know your own strength.

“I know it’s just mini camp but I got a little pumped up that’s all,” said Allen. “I just go hard. I think if we all work hard, good things will come for this team.”

The mammoth guard definitely sets an example for the rest of the 49ers offensive line.

“He brings a presence that nobody else can and of course he can move people off the line like you wouldn’t believe, so it’s great working with him and getting to know him as a person,” said guard David Baas.

Easy to say when you aren’t the one getting blown off the line.

[LTF]

Why's it look like VD is crying..AGAIN?!


Smith looks ripped this year, and from what I read I am a LOT more confident in him, especially with this o-line featuring two stars in Jennings and Allen.