Why the 49ers Are Poised for Success in 2012

Last year, the 49ers' season was filled with good luck and bad luck (mostly good luck). However, there's no denying the team's talent.

San Francisco made the NFC Championship game in 2011 and had a great chance at winning. Kyle Williams muffed two punts, sending the 49ers home and the Giants on to the Super Bowl (which they would eventually win).

In the previous round, the Divisional Round, Alex Smith showed what he's all about. Smith threw for and ran for key touchdowns in a span of just over two minutes to give the Niners an amazing win over the Saints, one that officially brought football back to the bay.

Now, they're looking to keep it here. 

The 49ers return almost all of their team, and they made some nice free agent acquisitions as well. Mario Manningham, Brandon Jacobs and Randy Moss each signed contracts with the team, and the Niners drafted LaMichael James and A.J Jenkins.

Oh, and they've got a pretty good defense too.

Aldon Smith should be ready for Week 1, and he, Navorro Bowman and Patrick Willis anchor a spectacular group of linebackers. Justin Smith is one of, if not the best, defensive linemen in the game, and Carlos Rogers, Donte Whitner and Dashon Goldson are great guys to have in the secondary.

The Niners have a tough schedule. They start the season against the Packers and Lions, two high-scoring teams who made the playoffs last year. The Niners also play the Bears, the Saints, the Giants and the Patriots.

However, they're ready for the challenge.

San Francisco beat the Giants and Saints last year, and they've still got six games against the NFC West. The Seahawks and Cardinals have unproven quarterbacks, while there are tons of question marks for the Rams (and they don't have a star quarterback either).

The two "Smiths" will wreak havoc on those three times twice, and they'll also hurt quarterbacks and running backs who aren't ready to face SF's defense. Overall, San Francisco's defense could carry them to a championship. But, they have talent on offense too.

Frank Gore, Brandon Jacobs, Kendall Hunter and LaMichael James all have talent at running back, Michael Crabtree and Randy Moss are proven pass-catchers, Vernon Davis is a great tight end, and Alex Smith is a capable quarterback. Smith has his doubters, but he's got a great coach in Jim Harbaugh to mold him into a star.

Smith threw the fewest interceptions out of all starting quarterbacks in 2011, and he should keep his interception total down in 2012. Smith is much improved and has received praise from Harbaugh, which should boost his confidence for the 2012 season.

Winning against some teams will be tough, but the Niners are capable of achieving anything this year. They have talent at every position, and they now have a quarterback ready to go. I don't know how far they will get, but I do know this...

2012 will be a successful season for the red and gold. 

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Raiders and 49ers 2011 Season Review

     Last year the Oakland Raiders went 8-8 not having a winning season since 2002. They brought in Jason Campbell hoping for better results from their quarterback position. After Campbell went down Raider Nation was preparing for a lost season once again. There were reports of Carson Palmer becoming a raider but most fans were skeptical. When the Raiders traded for Carson Palmer the NFL community were shocked that the raiders gave up so much for him. The Raiders suffered another set back with the injury of DMC, which then many people around the NFL thought 2011 was a wash for the Raiders. At the  end of the year many Raider fans looked at the bigger picture. The Raiders went 8-8, with a QB who was new to the offense, and their star player was out for most of the year. With a full training camp and a healthy DMC, Raider nation is looking toward a very bright future in Oakland. 

    In 2011 the San Francisco 49ers at last escaped mediocrity and now find themselves in the Elite category in the NFL.  When Jim Harbuagh came to San Francisco not many people thought they would make it to the playoffs, but they shocked the nation going 13-3 and entering the playoffs as the second best team in the NFC.  Alex Smith who was taken number one overall in the 2005 didn’t live up to expectations the 49ers had set for him when he was drafted. He had a solid year throwing for 3,144 yards and 17 touchdowns. The major factor in the 49ers epic run in 2011, was their pro bowl defense. They were considered as one of the top defenses in the NFL. They had 3 starting defensive players at the pro bowl in Justin Smith, Patrick Willis, and Carlos Rogers. Also, the 49ers had a rookie linebacker who flashed his immense potential. Rookie Aldon Smith registered 37 tackles with an impressive 14 sacks, and was a big contributor to their stout defense. In 2012 the 49ers addressed their WR needs adding Mario Manningham and Randy Moss. Coach Jim Harbaugh is hoping to improve their passing game to create a powerful offense that can compliment his stout defense. The 49ers are primed for another deep playoff run, but  many believe that if the 49ers want to win a Superbowl  Alex Smith is going to need to step up bigger than he ever has. 2012 is going to be an exciting year for bay area teams!

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How Big of a Role Will Randy Moss Play in the Offense?

Now that its almost clear that Randy Moss will be suiting up for the start of the season, more and more speculation is arising as to how extensive a role he will have, or even be able to, in the offense.

What Moss provided for the patriots is exactly what the 49ers and their fans can expect him to provide here, the final curve to complete the circle of offensive players ever successful team needs, especially a successful post season team.

Granted Alex Smith will have to show he truly is the legitimate QB fans have been waiting for him to be, now more than ever with the edition of a deep threat receiver, however the 49ers have the well rounded offense they didn't have a year ago. Vernon Davis in the short passing game, Frank Gore in the running game, Moss in the long passing game, and Alex Smith in the role of the smart and efficient quarterback.

Now, in regards to Moss, writers and fans make the mistake of judging him on year to year stats. its a mistake because for a player like Moss who lives and plays day-to-day, his stats year-to-year have proven to be deceiving, and he proved this back in 2007. As then and also now, Randy is on a team he chooses to be on and not on a team he's been dumped on either through trade or waver wire. It's in these situations where he has always shined. Always described as a one dimensional player, that one dimension being freakishly fast and freakishly able to overcome all obsticales to come up with a catch, he has shown in camp that his dimension is still alive and kicking.

The 49ers have a Randy Moss that the 2010 Vikings and Titans did not have and that's a Randy Moss that actually wants to be where he is at. With the attention Davis requires from a defense Moss will have have plenty of opportunities to prove this theory wrong , if nothing else enhance the already beastlike play from Vernon Davis. Only Moss and time will tell how this season will end.

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It's Now or Never for the 49ers

                                              Alex Smith and Jim Harbaugh during a game.

With pre-season in the books and Week 1 set to kick off, the San Francisco 49ers are in perfect position for a Super Bowl run. They finally have all the pieces and a Head Coach with the work ethic to get them there. With Alex Smith finally getting comfortable with his offense and additions of rookie running back LaMichael James, Oregon, and Wide Receiver Randy Moss. Head Coach Jim Harbaugh will take this young explosive team into Green Bay week 1 to take on Aaron Rodgers and the Packers.

      The 49ers are my favorite to win the game not only because of the offense but, mainly because of the aggressive 3-4 defense that has greatly improved. This defense is a definite top 5 defense with the speedy linebacker Patrick Willis and a threatening secondary. They should be able to contain Rodgers and the Packers receivers.

      Another reason for this year being the 49ers year is the NFC west is set up perfectly for them, with Arizona in a Quarterback carousel they will be in the same position as they have been in last year, and Seattle with a young and inexperience quarterback. St. Louis Rams will be the only possible threat for them if Sam Bradford can shake off his last season performance.

      It will be an interesting and exciting season for San Francisco, the fans should be thrilled for what this young team has in store for them for this season and the years to come. It will not be long till they tie pass the Dallas Cowboys up and tie the Pittsburgh Steelers with 6 Super Bowl titles.  

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Complete 49ers Roster Transactions

The 49ers trimmed their roster from 75 to 53 players today, meaning that many players would receiving some bad news.

One of them, safety Colin Jones, was traded to the Carolina Panthers for a seventh round draft pick.

Here are the others who were cut, highlighted by quarterback Josh Johnson, running back Rock Cartwright, and Stanford product Chris Owusu:

OLB Ikaika Alama-Francis
OLB Eric Bakhtiari
RB Rock Cartwright
G/T Derek Hall
ILB Joe Holland
DT Tony Jerod-Eddie
OLB Cam Johnson
QB Josh Johnson
DT Matthew Masifilo
CB Anthony Mosley
TE Kyle Nelson
G/T Al Netter
WR Chris Owusu
WR Nathan Palmer
T Mike Person
TE Konrad Reuland
LB Kenny Rowe
WR Brett Swain
S Michael Thomas
T Kenny Wiggins
LB Michael Wilhoite

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49ers Release Josh Johnson

The 49ers have released quarterback Josh Johnson, who they signed this offseason as one of their backup quarterbacks.

Their quarterback depth chart now consists of: Alex Smith, Colin Kaepernick, and Scott Tolzien.

Johnson is among several 49ers who will be cut tonight, as NFL teams must trim their rosters down to 53 players.

Check back with us later tonight for a full list of cut players and roster moves.

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Niners Trade Colin Jones to Panthers

The San Francisco 49ers have traded special-teams player Colin Jones to the Carolina Panthers for a seventh round pick, according to Scout.com.

Jones recorded six tackles in 13 games last season. He was drafted by the Niners in the sixth round of last year's draft.

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Niners Blast Chargers 35-3 in Final Preseason Game

Yes, it's just the preseason. But yes, it sure does feel good to crush another NFL team.

The San Francisco 49ers poured it on against the Chargers at Candlestick on Thursday, scoring five touchdowns en route to a 35-3 victory.

Alex Smith played five snaps and never attempted a pass, setting the stage for Colin Kaepernick to steal the show. According to CSN's Mattt Maiocco, Kaepernick had his best performance in a 49ers' uniform.

Kaepernick completed 12 of 18 throws for 158 yards, including beautifully thrown touchdown passes to Delanie Walker and A.J. Jenkins.

Josh Johnson would enter in the second half, going 9 for 14 for 125 yards. He also threw two touchdowns, one of them a quick hitch to rookie Nathan Palmer who outran everybody for a 51-yard score.

The Niners would score the first 35 points of the game, before Nick Kaeding would break the shutout with a field goal in the fourth quarter.

With the preseason over, the Niners will a little more than a week to prepare for the first regular season game against the Green Bay Packers next Sunday.

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Writers Wanted: Calling All NFL/NCAA Fans

With the NCAA and NFL seasons about to begin, we here at "The World of Bay Area Sports" would like to cover every aspect of the brilliant games that await us.

So, if you have any interest in NCAA football or the NFL, and would like to give a shot at writing about it, we would love to have you join our team here on the blog.

Specifically, we are looking for writers to cover the Bay Area's football teams (Niners, Raiders, Cal, Stanford), but anyone with knowledge of football (regardless of the team) is more than welcome to join.

How do I get started? Simply send an email to eriche3383@gmail.com stating your interest in writing for this blog. We promise that you will receive a prompt reply.

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Niners Defeat Broncos 29-24 in Preseason Game 3

In their third preseason game, the 49ers defeated the Denver Broncos 29-24 in a game that wasn't necessarily pretty.

For the 49ers, Alex Smith went 5-for-7 passing for 69 yards. Colin Kaepernick impressed, completely all four of his passes for 80 yards. Anthony Dixon led the way with 13 carries and 58 yards, recording one touchdown.

But as advertised, Peyton Manning was nothing short of sensational, going 10-for-12 for 122 yards with two touchdown passes.

The Broncos scored the first seventeen points of the game on two touchdown passes by Manning to Eric Decker and a Matt Prater field goal.

But the Niners came storming back - a 44-yard touchdown pass from Smith to Vernon Davis put them on the board.

It was 24-10 Broncos to start the second half when the David Akers show got going. Anthony Dixon helped his case to earn a roster spot with a 26-yard TD run to cut the lead in half, then Akers hit four answered field goals to put the Niners up 29-24.

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49ers Fall to Texans in Preseason Game Two

The 49ers are lucky that it's still the preseason, because they have a lot more work to do after falling 20-9 to the Texans on Saturday night.

David Akers accounted for all nine points on three field goals, as the Niners failed to get into the endzone.

All four quarterbacks on the roster played, with Alex Smith going two drives and completing 5 of 9 passing for 49 yards. Josh Johnson certainly impressed, as he went 4 for 6 for 64 yards, including a beautifully thrown pass to AJ Jekins on a 32-yard play.

But Texans' starter Matt Shaub was the story, going 11 for 14 for 128 yards including a touchdown pass to Keshawn Martin. 

Injuries

It was a bad night for 49ers running backs, namely free agent signing Brandon Jacobs and draft pick LaMichael James. 

Jacobs exited in the first quarter with a knee injury, and James suffered a lower left leg injury in the fourth.

The extent of these injuries were not immediately known. 

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The San Francisco 49ers Have Another QB Dilemma, But It's a Good One

Most of you are probably well aware by now that, for once, Alex Smith was the unquestioned starting quarterback entering training camp, and, barring an injury, will remain top dog leaving it as well.

But with one question regarding the QB position answered, another arises. Perhaps even two, really.

Who will be Smith's primary backup throughout the regular season? And, who's going to back up that backup?

Second-year Nevada product Colin Kaepernick was drafted in 2011 and instantly tabbed as the franchise QB of the future, but that vision has been temporarily put to rest as a result of Alex Smith's stranglehold on the top spot.

Not only is "Kapper" looking like a long-shot to take over the reigns anytime soon, his spot as Alex's primary replacement could be in jeopardy as well.

Former undrafted free agent Scott Tolzien has been sharp for all of training camp, and it showed in the preseason opener. He seems surprisingly comfortable running the offense, has always had solid accuracy and even improved his arm strength, so it appears.

Aside from Tolzien, newly signed QB Josh Johnson—Harbaugh's signal-caller when he coached at the University of San Diego—is still in the mix as well.

Of course, Kaepernick remains the most intriguing option of the three—from a potential standpoint, at least. We saw his blazing speed on display Friday night when he ripped off a 78-yard TD run two plays into his first drive. Believe it or not, the 49ers actually ran a no-huddle leading up to this play. Shocking, right?

Also, Harbaugh recently stated that Kaepernick is "emerging" as the No. 2 option on the depth chart, which is probably to be expected at this point.

Said Harbaugh, via Kevin Lynch of SF Gate:

“I would say Colin has emerged there, it’s been very good. Nothing is set in stone in that regard, but there has been some emergence. The rest will play out.”

There has been some noticeable improvement from Kaepernick this offseason. Though it is still a bit slow and slightly awkward, he has shortened and sped up his delivery to a small degree.

 Plus, the best way to speed up a player's development is to throw him into live action as much as possible—preferably in games that don't count.

But he still looks to run too often, from what we've seen and heard. Players have even joked about how quick Kaepernick tucks it and runs at times.

Is it because he's not confident making his reads? He looked slow at times on Friday, but better on other throws.

Don't get me wrong, I get excited seeing him tuck it and run because of the skill set he possesses, but Harbaugh will get him his chances to play running back. Not literally of course, but what I'm saying is that he and offensive coordinator Greg Roman will find ways to incorporate Kaepernick's speed into the offense from time to time.

My point is, we now have talented receivers capable of creating separation and scoring points, and the goal is to get them the ball.

Tolzien has been able to do just that. Heck, if it wasn't for two blatant drops from rookie receivers and an interception on a throw where his arm was hit, the dude could've finished 13 for 13 on Friday night.

No wonder 49ers safety Donte Whiter is now calling him, "Baby Drew Brees".

I do understand, of course, that Tolzien has a ways to go in order to convince Harbaugh and Roman he's the best fitting backup for Alex. And Johnson has three more preseason games to show them what he's got, too.

Call me crazy, but right now, my 49ers QB depth chart would read like this.

1. Alex Smith
2. Scott Tolzien
3. Colin Kaepernick
4. Josh Johnson

The 49ers will likely only keep three QB's on the 53-man roster, meaning that if I was calling the shots, Tolzien would enter the game in the event of an injury to Alex and Johnson wouldn't even make it past final cuts.

You're probably thinking I am extremely ill-equipped to be making such decisions, but hear me out.

If Alex has to come out, who do you trust more to keep the offense flowing? Remember, nothing is set in stone and we're only in week 2 of preseason football.

But if you saw the game unfold on Friday, you have to, at the very least, see some potential in Tolzien. Nearly all of his passes were dead on the mark, and he was getting the ball out on time, every time.

Sure, he isn't as light on his feet as Kaepernick, and he doesn't exactly have a cannon, either. But what I'm seeing is a quarterback equipped with exactly what Harbaugh needs to run an efficient offense.

An offense, once again, that boasts a strong stable of running backs, an elite tight end and a slew of play-making wide receivers.

Remember, this is an offense that doesn't need big plays from the quarterback decision to succeed. Harbaugh enjoys a low-risk approach, and Kaepernick just doesn't seem mentally prepared to consistently meet those demands. Not right now, anyway.

We've got three weeks before a more permanent decision must be made, though, so I'll stop getting ahead of myself and let you make your own assessments.

Either way, it's nice to have an impressive group of QB's in San Francisco. When was the last time we were able to say such a thing?

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49ers Down Vikings 17-6 In Preseason Opener: Game Recap

Alright fans, the first 60 minutes of 2012 49er football are in the books, and it's time for a recap of all the action.

After breaking out to a double-digit first half lead, the men in Red and Gold played out a scoreless second half to hold on for a convincing 17-6 win over the visiting Minnesota Vikings.

The majority of the 90-man roster appeared at least momentarily in the game, but a few players who are expected to contribute heavily in 2012 failed to make an appearance on Friday night.

Veterans Frank Gore, Justin Smith and Mario Manningham were all held out of action for undisclosed reasons, and future Hall of Fame WR Randy Moss played only four snaps in his much-hyped debut in Red and Gold.

So what happened with those who did play? Okay, let's get to that.

Contrary to last year's preseason opener against the Saints, Alex Smith and the first unit came out and marched 84 yards on 12 plays, finished off by a Smith TD pass to roster hopeful Brett Swain. Michael Crabtree and Ted Ginn Jr. took the field as the starting receivers, but neither played a big part in the game—Crabtree recorded just one catch for three yards.

It wound up being Alex's only drive under center, as he finished 3/3 for 16 yards and a TD on the day. He would be replaced by current No. 2 QB and former second-round pick Colin Kaepernick, who didn't wait nearly as long as the 49ers starter to put six points on the board.

Kaepernick took a designed run play 78 yards for a TD on his second play from scrimmage—fooling an undisciplined Vikings D and going untouched before making a solid stiff arm on CB Chris Cook at the five yard-line.

Special teams standouts Anthony Dixon and Rock Cartwright surprisingly received the bulk of the carries in the run game, totaling 90 rushing yards on 20 carries between the two. Both had some impressive runs, and are probably battling each other for a spot on the 53-man roster. Brandon Jacobs and Kendall Hunter each ran with purpose, displaying their individual strengths for the faithful to see.

As for the receivers, there was some good to go with the bad. The passing was accurate for the most part—especially from Scott Tolzien—but even some of the crisp, accurate passes made their way to the ground due to lapses in focus by the wideouts.

2012 first-round pick A.J. Jenkins dropped two catchable balls, but hauled in two tough passes away from his body as well. Undrafted free agent Nathan Palmer has drawn praise for an impressive camp thus far, but struggled with his hands in this game, too. Fellow undrafted free agent and roster hopeful Chris Owusu made a couple nice grabs and showed some serious short-area quickness in gaining multiple first downs to extend drives.

Overall, it was an extremely promising performance for the offense, despite totaling just 17 points on the day.

On the defensive side of the ball, there were far less questions entering the game, but there is an additional concern coming out of it.

Rookie phenom Aldon Smith impressed early as he looks to transition into full-time duties at OLB, but took a hard spill on his hip late in the first quarter and was carted to the locker room. He was later diagnosed with a hip bruise (per Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee), which is somewhat of a relief, but concerning nonetheless. Until further evaluations arise, we can only hope for a speedy recovery for our one-of-a-kind edge-rushing OLB.

In other defensive news, Pro Bowl CB Carlos Rogers was burned early by a Christian Ponder deep ball, and appeared frustrated with FS Dashon Goldson's lack of help on the play. Get it straightened out now, boys.

Other than the occasional lapse in coverage, it was a promising night for the defense as well. Keep in mind, the Vikings do not have much depth anywhere on their roster, but it's safe to say the 49ers dominated the tempo from start to finish.

The defensive line pressured consistently, hauling in an interception and recording four sacks on the night. Roster hopeful Eric Bakhtiari logged two sacks, and free-agent signing Perrish Cox looked sharp in his first action since 2010, making several big hits and making a diving interception in the game's final minutes.

The 49ers will face a much deeper, well-rounded squad next Saturday in the Houston Texans, but Friday's win over the Vikings was a great way to get things started and provides Harbaugh and the coaching staff with a solid amount of game film to begin shaping the 53-man roster.

Football is back in the Golden City, a refreshing feeling for Bay Area football fans.

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The Nightcap - 8/6: Losses for Both MLB Teams. 49ers Training Camp Update, etc.

Tough night for both Bay Area baseball teams, but particularly for the A's. They have now lost three straight, and are out of a playoff spot for the first time in seventeen games after Jared Weaver shut them out on Monday night.  Maybe Scott Hatteberg can join the club and start a twenty-game win streak.

Matt Cain faltered in St. Louis as well, as the Cardinals walloped the Giants 8-2. Don't worry Giants fans because Jose Mijares might be the key to success for the rest of the season. (Can you just feel the sarcasm building up? Keep reading, there's more).

How about a 49ers training camp update? I've got one quick question thought: why is Kyle Williams fielding punts?

Shane Doan reportedly wants to stay in Phoenix, but should we believe him? Who wants to play hockey in Phoenix? I don't think a hockey rink belongs in the middle of a desert anyways.

Will Stephen Curry stay healthy?  If he does, the Warriors have a chance to make the playoffs! (I didn't specify if it was a good or bad chance).

And finally, please welcome the newest member of our team, Baily Deeter. His first article analyzed why Giants' fans should be worried about Matt Cain, and Baily should be feeling pretty good about himself after tonight's game.

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49ers Training Camp Update: Moss, Newcomers Continue To Shine

Kelley L Cox/US Presswire

We're now over a week deep into full-squad practices, and the 49ers are pumping out one productive day after another.

The team had an off day on Sunday, so there was ample time to soak in and sort out all of the action from the past week and a half.

Perhaps the greatest thing about 49ers training camp 2012, is that everybody's all in. The newcomers have stepped in (including three that didn't play football in 2011) and drawn praise consistently, performing as if they've been with the team for years.

No distractions, no resistance. There's been consistent improvement everywhere you look, and Jim Harbaugh's squad will be ready for live action in their exhibition opener Friday night against the Minnesota Vikings at Candlestick Park.

Let's begin today with a brief injury report, followed by a position-by-position assessment of the happenings in camp thus far.

Injury Report

Michael Crabtree, WR

The fourth-year receiver has missed seven straight practices since suffering an ankle injury on July 27th, the first full-squad practice of the year.

Crabtree, as you probably know, is typically a no-show for camp, whether it be injury related or his rookie holdout from 2009. The consensus around camp is that he should be returning "very soon", but for now, the rest of the group has been taking advantage of the extra reps.

It is yet to be seen if Crabtree will suit up for Friday's opener, but it's not looking good right now.

Joe Hastings, WR

The second-year wideout has missed a couple of days with a right leg injury, but has been spotted around headquarters. No further information is available at this time. The youngster has an uphill climb to obtain a roster spot, and this isn't helping his cause.

Nate Byham, TE

The third-year tight end missed all of 2011 with a torn ACL, and was held out of action on Saturday for an unknown cause. Probably nothing major, but Byham also faces stiff competition for a roster spot and the blocking specialist can't afford to miss much time.

Jewel Hampton (RB) is currently on the non-football injury list and fifth-round pick (OLB) Darius Fleming from Notre Dame is on the physically unable to perform list after suffering a torn ACL in a rookie mini-camp this spring.

Okay, now for the position-by-position updates:

Quarterback

For once, there is no training camp battle to be had for the starting position. Harbaugh has made it well-known that it's Alex Smith's gig, and the only real competition has been for the No. 2 job.

2011 second-round pick Colin Kaepernick has impressed at times, but looked inaccurate at times as well. Free-agent addition and former Buccaneers QB Josh Johnson has shown flashes, too, displaying smooth mechanics and accuracy from the pocket. Former undrafted free agent Scott Tolzien has thrown a few nice balls as well, but Alex has been on top of his game and outperforming the rest of the field each day.

Running Back

Frank Gore has been, well...Frank Gore. The 49ers all-time leading rusher is happy to be back to work, and has been a physical presence in camp. In addition to some nice runs, Gore has been punishing teammates with powerful pass-blocking and even laid out safety Dashon Goldson after Goldson picked off a pass.

Rookie LaMichael James hasn't made a huge splash yet, but he's had some catching up to do since Oregon's school year ran later than most and he missed the majority of offseason work. He seems to be picking things up well, though, and offensive coordinator Greg Roman noted that he's clearly the fastest RB in the stable.

The rest of the group has been consistent, each breaking off a few solid runs.

Wide Receiver/ Tight End

This is the group everyone seems to be talking about from an offensive standpoint.

Former Giant and Super Bowl hero Mario Manningham has drawn praise for sliding in without missing a beat, but it's future Hall of Fame WR Randy Moss that's been the showstopper of camp so far. Moss seems to make at least one eye-popping catch each practice, and the 49er beat writers have been consistently listing him as a top offensive performer.

Rookie A.J. Jenkins has been decent, but not spectacular. He's a work in progress, which is fine, but there have been no conditioning issues to report. Harbaugh even went out of his way during an interview to make it clear that critics are dead wrong about Jenkins in calling him a bust, forecasting an "I told you so" moment for Jenkins' doubters in the near future.

Undrafted rookie WR Nathan Palmer has been a standout performer, but would need a spectacular preseason to make the 53-man roster, and possibly even the practice squad.

Defensive end Demarcus Dobbs has been trying his hand at tight end, and so far, so good. The second-year undrafted free agent has made a couple of nice catches in camp. This year's version of Bruce Miller, anyone?

Offensive Line

The only real battle for a starting position lies here, and it's at right guard. Newly signed big man Leonard Davis (6'6", 350 lbs.) is competing with former swing tackle Alex Boone for first team reps, and both have been performing well. Harbaugh noted that Davis has stepped right in and shown no signs of rust or lack of mobility.

Elsewhere on the line, there isn't much to report. Starting LG Mike Iupati has been absent due to the birth of his child, and Davis has been filling in at his spot while he's gone.

Defensive Line

The defense has dominated thus far in camp, and the D-line has been a big factor. Justin Smith has been a freak, per the usual, and the rest of the line has been trying to keep pace. Dobbs has looked good at DE in addition to TE and hopes to solidify a roster spot. Undrafted rookie Tony Jerod-Eddie has shown promise as well, but is a long-shot to survive cuts.

Linebackers

Rookie OLB's Kourtnei Brown and Cam Johnson have impressed in recent practices, earning praise from many of the beat writers. NaVorro Bowman and Patrick Willis are going about their business in impressive fashion, as usual, and there hasn't been much word relating to rookie standout and now starting OLB Aldon Smith has progressed in his new role.

Opposite Aldon, Ahmad Brooks has played well. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio stated that Brooks arrived to camp in the best shape of his life.

Secondary

The standout group of the defense, there have been interceptions and batted balls left and right. Newcomer Perrish Cox has looked like a seasoned vet in camp, and starting CB Tarell Brown has impressed as well.

Second-year CB Chris Culliver is progressing well, and Tramaine Brock has earned praise at times, too, despite getting burned on occasion.

The DB's have made it clear they enjoy Moss' presence in camp, fighting for chances to cover the freakish WR and put their abilities to the test. This reaction from the secondary has been encouraging in terms of realizing just how much Moss apparently has left in the tank.

Michael Thomas (S) has been working as the nickel corner in nickel packages to try and solidify a roster spot. Goldson and SS Donte Whitner have looked solid, as usual.

Special Teams

Not much to report here, except that special team's coach Brad Seely has been exploring all options in the return game, trying as many as six different players fielding kicks and punts. Yes, including Kyle Williams.

Ted Ginn figures to be the starting returner to open the season, but he provides little versatility and could lose a roster spot if someone else performs well in the preseason. Particularly if it's a player who provides significant value in other facets of the game.


It's been a great camp so far, but it's still extremely early. The preseason action will offer a better opportunity for the coaches (and us) to evaluate players and make proper personnel decisions.

We'll have another update soon, along with a recap of the Vikings-49ers game on Friday.

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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.

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Goldson Signs Franchise Tender

49ers safety Dashon Goldson has signed his one-year franchise tender worth $6.2 million this morning, after he was unable to work out a long term deal.

Players are required to report to training camp today, so Goldson signed his contract just in time.

We will have more on this story later on in the day, as well as an update on training camp.

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Cardinals Want to Seal Leaks

If they weren't worried then, the Arizona Cardinals are concerned now. After struggling through the preseason offensively, the Cardinals' attack sputtered again in a 20-16 loss to the San Francisco 49ers Sept. 13 at University of Phoenix Stadium.

The Cardinals are taking this week to improve and make sure this week's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars Sept. 20 on the road is different.

"You're dang right we're upset," safety Adrian Wilson told The Arizona Republic. "and that's why there's going to be a lot of yelling around here in the next 48 hours."

(Continue to Arizona Sportspage)

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