49ers Training Camp Update: Recapping a Busy Day At Niner Headquarters

July 26—the first day all veterans are required to report to training camp—was a rather eventful day for the Red and Gold. Let's recap the 49ers' two most recent events.


Dashon Goldson Signs One-Year $6.2 Million Franchise Tender


This move wasn't entirely unexpected, but it's a relief nonetheless to see the Pro Bowl free safety in camp right on schedule with the rest of the veterans.

Goldson referred to his decision to report to camp and sign the franchise tender as a "no-brainer", showing a sense of urgency to join his hard-working teammates in an effort to build on the successes of 2011.

Goldson stopped to chat with the media after arriving at 49er headquarters, which you can watch here.

Getting in camp on time is crucial for the sixth-year pro, who looks to strengthen his overall game and flourish in defensive coordinator Vic Fangio's aggressive defensive. The ball-hawking safety recorded six interceptions a year ago, but needs some refinement in terms of technique and realizing his coverage responsibilities on the field.

Remember, the 49ers were deprived of a full offseason in 2011 and still have not implemented their offensive and defensive schemes in full. Much of last year's learning was done on the fly, and it's important that everyone has made their way to 49er headquarters ready to learn.


Luckily, all 90 players had arrived in Santa Clara as of July 26. But not before the 49er front office made yet another veteran signing this offseason:


Pro Bowl Guard Leonard Davis Signs One-Year Deal


Note: Undrafted free agent offensive lineman David Gonzales was released to make room for Davis on the current 90-man roster.


Bringing veteran help on board with low-risk contracts has been a common theme for Trent Baalke and Co. in 2012. The addition of Davis, a three-time Pro Bowl guard, verifies this strategy even further.

The massive, 6'6", 375-pound interior lineman came into the league with the Arizona Cardinals as the second overall pick in 2001, but earned his three Pro Bowl selections from 2007-2009 while playing for the Dallas Cowboys.

The 33-year-old's days of playing at a Pro Bowl level are likely long gone, but he provides a nice fit as a mauling run-blocker and should be a serviceable starter, if healthy. Davis is surprisingly athletic despite his monstrous build and wouldn't be a liability in pass protection, either.

Davis joins former 2011 swing tackle Alex Boone and 2011 fifth-round pick Daniel Kilgore in the open competition for right guard. The 6'8, 300-pound Boone had been viewed as the front-runner to start before the Davis signing, but I personally would like to see Boone remain as the team's third tackle.

Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman love to use jumbo packages on offense, including ones that feature a third offensive tackle. Boone was a great fit for that spot in 2011, and moving him to guard would force someone new (likely the unproven second-year tackle Mike Person) into the mix, and create a serious depth issue if either starting tackle suffers an injury.

Squeezing a year out of Davis as the starting guard and leaving Boone at tackle while molding Kilgore or 2012 fourth-round pick Joe Looney to become the starting guard for 2013 and beyond is what I believe to be the best-case scenario in this situation.

That, of course, requires Davis to remain healthy and effective for all of 2012. That may be asking a lot from a 33-year-old NFL lineman, especially one who didn't play a game in 2011.

Nonetheless, the move is a sign that Harbaugh and Baalke are dedicated to improving the roster and boosting competition at any time, and any position. This is going to be a fun training camp with some meaningful (in terms of forming the 53-man roster) preseason games to watch.

Be sure to check back in as training camp rolls along and the season grows close. Finally, there's a lot going on inside 49er land, so there will be a lot of updates as well.

Posted in: Dashon Goldson,leonard davis,San Francisco 49ers