49ers do a double take at QB
Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2005 11:01 pm
49ers do a double take at QB
Kevin Lynch, Chronicle Staff Writer
Wednesday, April 6, 2005
Down to mere weeks before the draft, the 49ers are deeply immersed in preparation. All the scouts and coaches are engaging in marathon meetings to not only determine who will be the top pick, but also the second, third and fourth picks.
The team did more research Tuesday by taking its second trip to Salt Lake City to get another look at Utah quarterback Alex Smith. The group consisted of head coach Mike Nolan, offensive coordinator Mike McCarthy, quarterbacks coach Jim Hostler and wide receivers Brandon Lloyd and Arnaz Battle.
"The reason we brought our own receivers is because we couldn't get anyone at Utah to show up for the (first) workout," Nolan said. When the 49ers attended Smith's first workout before several teams on March 16, Smith threw to his own receivers and didn't take snaps from center. On Tuesday's visit, the 49ers wanted to see Smith take a quarterback drop, something Smith did sparingly in the Utes' shotgun offense.
Though Smith supposedly threw only two incompletions in his first workout, observers said several of his passes fluttered and his high completion rate was because of a conservative approach that had Smith throwing behind his targets.
Tuesday's workout was held outside in blustery conditions, rather than in the climate-controlled field house, where last month's workout took place.
"We get a lot of wind in San Francisco as everyone in San Francisco knows, and we were lucky enough today to get some wind, so there was a lot of benefit from the outside workout," said Nolan, who didn't comment specifically on how Smith performed. He did say that Smith was "athletic," which mirrored Nolan's comments after the March 16 look-see.
If the 49ers take a quarterback with their first overall pick, the choices are down to Smith and Cal's Aaron Rodgers, two quarterbacks with contrasting styles. Smith is taller (6-foot-4) and more elusive, but he's not as ready-made as Rodgers, who possesses the stronger arm.
One player with first-pick ability is Michigan wide receiver Braylon Edwards, who worked out last month for the 49ers and other teams, and is scheduled to visit the Santa Clara facility next week. Edwards could be an immediate offensive threat.
Briefly: Nolan plans to meet with Ravens free-agent defensive end Maurice Douglas today. "We're talking about the contract. Obviously, I want to get to visit first and see how that goes," Nolan said. The 49ers haven't nabbed a free agent since signing left tackle Jonas Jennings on March 3 to a seven-year deal with a $12 million signing bonus. ... G/T Kyle Kosier is due in Detroit today for a visit and a physical. If the Lions make an offer, the 49ers have a right to match.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.c ... C3NBJ1.DTL
Kevin Lynch, Chronicle Staff Writer
Wednesday, April 6, 2005
Down to mere weeks before the draft, the 49ers are deeply immersed in preparation. All the scouts and coaches are engaging in marathon meetings to not only determine who will be the top pick, but also the second, third and fourth picks.
The team did more research Tuesday by taking its second trip to Salt Lake City to get another look at Utah quarterback Alex Smith. The group consisted of head coach Mike Nolan, offensive coordinator Mike McCarthy, quarterbacks coach Jim Hostler and wide receivers Brandon Lloyd and Arnaz Battle.
"The reason we brought our own receivers is because we couldn't get anyone at Utah to show up for the (first) workout," Nolan said. When the 49ers attended Smith's first workout before several teams on March 16, Smith threw to his own receivers and didn't take snaps from center. On Tuesday's visit, the 49ers wanted to see Smith take a quarterback drop, something Smith did sparingly in the Utes' shotgun offense.
Though Smith supposedly threw only two incompletions in his first workout, observers said several of his passes fluttered and his high completion rate was because of a conservative approach that had Smith throwing behind his targets.
Tuesday's workout was held outside in blustery conditions, rather than in the climate-controlled field house, where last month's workout took place.
"We get a lot of wind in San Francisco as everyone in San Francisco knows, and we were lucky enough today to get some wind, so there was a lot of benefit from the outside workout," said Nolan, who didn't comment specifically on how Smith performed. He did say that Smith was "athletic," which mirrored Nolan's comments after the March 16 look-see.
If the 49ers take a quarterback with their first overall pick, the choices are down to Smith and Cal's Aaron Rodgers, two quarterbacks with contrasting styles. Smith is taller (6-foot-4) and more elusive, but he's not as ready-made as Rodgers, who possesses the stronger arm.
One player with first-pick ability is Michigan wide receiver Braylon Edwards, who worked out last month for the 49ers and other teams, and is scheduled to visit the Santa Clara facility next week. Edwards could be an immediate offensive threat.
Briefly: Nolan plans to meet with Ravens free-agent defensive end Maurice Douglas today. "We're talking about the contract. Obviously, I want to get to visit first and see how that goes," Nolan said. The 49ers haven't nabbed a free agent since signing left tackle Jonas Jennings on March 3 to a seven-year deal with a $12 million signing bonus. ... G/T Kyle Kosier is due in Detroit today for a visit and a physical. If the Lions make an offer, the 49ers have a right to match.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.c ... C3NBJ1.DTL
