Blogs

Greg Roman Discusses Offensive Outlook

Offensive coordinator Greg Roman joined the KNBR Morning Show on Wednesday to discuss the ever-changing 49ers offense, a unit which has added a number of talented weapons this offseason.

For Roman and the 49ers coaching staff, this offseason signals the first opportunity for the coaches and players to start at “square one” so to speak.

An emphasis on fundamentals has been prevalent in the team’s offseason workouts. Roman said the position coaches put together lists of tiny details each player can improve on prior to the 2012 season.

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Morning Tailgate: May 15

In the final week of phase two of the San Francisco 49ers offseason program, rookies have mixed in with the veterans out on the team’s Santa Clara practice fields.

“I want to soak up all the knowledge from the vets, that’s the best thing you can do,” undrafted rookie running back Jewel Hampton told 49ers.com on Monday. “I want to learn the playbook so you can perform out on the field and move up to potentially join the roster.”

Hampton, is one of many youthful running backs looking to pick up wisdom from all-time 49ers rushing leader Frank Gore, who posted his fifth, 1,000-yard rushing season in 2011.

Despite Gore’s impressive production in Greg Roman’s power-running attack (Gore became first running back in team history to post five consecutive 100-yard rushing games), one 49ers beat writer sees the 29-year-old running back facing the most challenging season out of all players on San Francisco’s roster.

More on Gore’s backfield competition and the latest 49ers headlines can be found after the jump.

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Rookies Add Energy to Football School

49ers football school workouts received a jolt of energy on Monday as the 49ers rookies joined the veterans.

“There were a lot of bodies and a bunch of eager people ready to get in there and learn,” said three-year veteran Kyle Williams. “It’s always refreshing when you get some guys that are ready to work hard and this means everything to them. It was good to get them out there today.”

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Morning Tailgate: May 14

After putting together a career year in 2011 and leading the 49ers to overtime of the NFC Championship game, Alex Smith is looking for ways to get to the next level. The San Francisco signal-caller thought outside the box this offseason and trained with a baseball man, Tom House, down in Southern California to work on his throwing mechanics.

House has previously worked with other NFL quarterbacks like Tom Brady and Drew Brees and San Francisco Giants southpaw Barry Zito. Aside from being a renowned pitching coach and sports psychologist, House is also famous for catching Hank Aaron’s record-breaking 715th career home run on the fly in the Atlanta Braves bullpen in 1974.

But Smith is now in Santa Clara with the rest of his teammates getting ready for the 2012 season. This weekend, the 49ers welcomed in their newest rookie class and dozens of other free agents for the team’s three-day rookie minicamp. That and more can be found after the jump.

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Andrew Iupati Attends Rookie Camp

In 2010 there was an Iupati at 49ers rookie camp. The same can be said in 2012.

Three years ago it was left guard Mike Iupati making his NFL debut as one of San Francisco’s two first-round selections. This time around, Iupati’s younger brother, Andrew, is trying out to make the 49ers.

Andrew Iupati is one of several players trying out during San Francisco’s three-day rookie minicamp. The 6-foot-1, 286-pound Humboldt State product, who transferred from the University of Oregon, just might be the most notable name in the bunch.

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Robinson Races at Rookie Camp

Trenton Robinson couldn’t sleep very well last night. He tossed. He turned. He just couldn’t get his mind off of what was about to unfold – a three-day rookie minicamp at San Francisco 49ers headquarters that would signal the start of his career in the National Football League.

“I couldn’t wait to get out there,” said the team’s sixth-round selection No. 180 overall. “Last night, I really couldn’t sleep.”

If the Michigan State safety felt sluggish the night before, he certainly didn’t show it in the first of two rookie minicamp sessions held on Friday. With one of the first drills being a kickoff period, Robinson, the 5-foot-10, 195 pounder looked impressive while covering kicks.

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Slowey Lines up at Center with 49ers

Jason Slowey must have left quite a first impression on 49ers general manager Trent Baalke during an All-Star showcase this offseason.

After finishing up his four-year career as a tackle at Division II Western Oregon University, Slowey moved to center during the Players All-Star Classic in Little Rock, Ark., in February. While he was there, the 49ers sixth-round pick had a lengthy conversation with Baalke about life and football.

So when Slowey, six other fellow draft picks and dozens of free agents and tryouts took the field for the first time on Friday during rookie minicamp, Slowey found himself snapping the ball at center.

“It’s an adjustment, that’s for sure,” Slowey said after the morning session. “It’s not left tackle at Division II anymore. I made a lot of progress today. I started out a little rough, a little shaky – putting some balls on the ground – but towards the end I started to get a hang of it a little more. I felt more comfortable so I’m looking forward to going out there this afternoon.”

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Owusu Excited for 49ers Opportunity

Within seconds of the conclusion of the 2012 NFL Draft, the 49ers were calling rookie free agent Chris Owusu. Coach Jim Harbaugh and many of his Stanford coaching staff transplants were already dialed in with the talented receiver after having coached him in college.

For now, Owusu finds himself on a stacked depth chart that’s full of talented receivers. Starting Friday, Owusu will join seven 49ers draft picks and dozens of other rookies and tryouts for a three-day minicamp.

“It definitely helps that I played for Coach Harbaugh at Stanford and coming out here, hopefully the playbook is a little similar,” Owusu said. “Knowing the concepts going into rookie minicamp is going to be huge for me just to go out there and play fast because that’s what Coach Harbaugh expects from me – to go all-out and play fast like he knows I can.”

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Morning Tailgate: May 11

Just as 49ers rookie minicamp begins, there’s plenty of headlines stemming from Thursday’s veteran Football School workout worthy of examination.

It was the first look at Randy Moss for the Bay Area media, and many in attendance were left impressed with the quick footwork, precise route-running and sure-handed pass-catching from the veteran widedout.

After the workout, Moss’ teammates raved about his early contributions to the team, too. Besides serving as a mentor to the team’s young receivers, Moss has already picked up a good grasp on the team’s offensive concepts according to quarterback Alex Smith.

More on the 49ers Football School session and the latest team headlines after the jump.

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Whitner Remembers Facing Moss

Donte Whitner knows what Randy Moss can bring to the table all too well.

Whitner matched up against Moss for three seasons when the two were AFC East foes on the Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots, respectively. Out of those six contests, Whitner singled out one play during “Monday Night Football” to describe how dangerous Moss can be on a football field.

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