In his second season with the San Francisco 49ers, Donte Whitner totaled his second-most tackles in seven years in the NFL.

Whitner, who joined the 49ers as a free agent in 2011, recorded 119 tackles in his first ever Pro Bowl season. The hard-hitting safety was a key member of last year’s NFC Conference championship club and sounded eager to get back to work in 2013. In fact, Whitner only took two weeks off at the end of Super Bowl XLVII.

“We had a taste of it,” Donte said of the team’s Super Bowl appearance in 2012 which followed a loss in the NFC title game in 2011. “The third time’s the charm.”

Whitner shared some of his thoughts on the upcoming season in a Friday morning appearance on NFL Network’s “NFL AM” show.

“We feel like we’re the best defense in the NFL,” Whitner said. “We have pass rushers. We have a tremendous front seven.”

Whitner praised his inside linebacker tandem of Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman as two of the best in the league.

Asked how the 49ers would replace outgoing safety Dashon Goldson, Whitner explained that the 49ers front seven would help whoever steps in as a replacement. In Whitner’s mind, pressure from the defensive front can really help the back end of a defense.

“We have a bunch of possibilities,” Donte said. “When we step out on the field we’ll be ready.”

More 49ers headlines can be found in today’s Morning Tailgate.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com reviewed San Francisco’s pre-draft depth on offense and defense.

Maiocco also examined the best 49ers draft of the past 10 years.

49ers.com shared the pre-draft comments from ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr.

TV49’S CLIP OF THE DAY

TWEET ABOUT IT

Workout time! Then back to @nflnetwork for more fun. Check me out!—
TWHITNER (@DonteWhitner) April 12, 2013

Donte TV.

We need your help in selecting the top plays from the 2012 season. We’re asking our Faithful fans to choose the top takeaway, touchdown, sack, big play and biggest hit of the season. Next, the winning five plays (one from each category), will move on to the championship round to determine 49ers.com’s “Top Play of 2012.”

Watch our “Top 5” video highlights on the best plays for each category, then vote in the poll section of the corresponding blog post to see which top play will reach the championship round.

Help us crown the top play of 2012 by choosing your favorite big hit from this past season. You can vote for your favorite big hit up until Wednesday at noon. Let’s take a look at the five nominees.

1. NaVorro Bowman’s perfect form-tackle vs. the New York Giants

San Francisco’s defense included six Pro Bowl performers, including two-time All-Pro linebacker NaVorro Bowman. The former third-round pick, who signed a five-year extension through 2018, made his first Pro Bowl in 2012 thanks to another season filled with big-time tackles in the open-field.

Just ask recently released Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw about them. When San Francisco and New York met in a marquee Week 6 matchup, Bowman, the ultra-athletic linebacker, displayed his speed, technique and tenacity all in one play.

With the Giants facing a 2^nd and 8 on the first play of the second quarter, the third-year linebacker recognized an inside run designed for Bradshaw and immediately darted his way through the line of scrimmage. Upon reaching Bradshaw in the backfield, Bowman applied a textbook form-tackle that would make all of his Penn State colleagues proud.

The representative of “Linebacker U” not only showed the instincts to recognize an inside run; he ran right through the Giants offensive line to plant Bradshaw in the backfield for a 1-yard loss.

2. Dashon Goldson’s open-field hit vs. the Arizona Cardinals

San Francisco’s two-time Pro Bowl safety could warrant consideration five times over in this category. Dashon Goldson’s hits in 2012 were just that good.

But when pushed to choose one of Goldson’s best tackles in 2012, the open-field, jarring hit delivered on Cardinals wideout Early Doucet stood above the rest. It also took place in front of a national viewing audience on “Monday Night Football.”

With the 49ers maintaining a 24-3 lead in the fourth quarter, Goldson put the exclamation mark on a dominant defensive outing. Arizona quarterback John Skelton looked to dump off a quick slant pass to Doucet, but it wasn’t such a good idea.

Goldson saw the route developing and patiently waited his turn to strike. The 49ers safety timed up a perfect open-field hit that would leave Hall of Fame safety Ronnie Lott thoroughly impressed.

Doucet wasn’t able to hold on to the football. Not many play-makers this past season could maintain possession once the 49ers safety known as “The Hawk” applied an open-field hit.

3. Aldon Smith’s quarterback hit vs. the Arizona Cardinals

Minutes after Goldson’s smashing tackle, second-year linebacker Aldon Smith got in on the act with a solid takedown of his own.

With the offense enjoying an efficient performance on the national stage, the 49ers held on to their 24-3 lead with constant second-half pressure on Skelton who was sacked four times on the night, twice by Smith.

With 13:40 left to play in the fourth quarter, San Francisco’s first-time Pro Bowl linebacker beat Cardinals right tackle D’Anthony Batiste with a quick inside move and found his way to Skelton for his first sack of the game.

Perhaps even better than the quick-striking sack from the man who recorded 19.5 sacks on the season was Smith’s baseball-inspired home-run celebration to accentuate the play.

4. Donte Whitner’s body slam vs. the Miami Dolphins

When your safety tandem earns the moniker, “The Lumber Co.” hard hits are expected on a weekly basis. That was exactly the case in San Francisco’s Week 14 home victory over the Miami Dolphins.

San Francisco claimed a 13-3 lead in the third-quarter and continued to display dominant play when Donte Whitner, a first-time Pro Bowl selection, absolutely corralled Dolphins running back Reggie Bush in the open field.

Rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill dumped off a short pass to Bush in the right flat that went for an 11-yard gain, but on the 11^th yard, Whitner met Bush in front of the Dolphins sideline and brought the do-it-all running back down to the ground with one swift body slam.

Whitner’s tackle somewhat rivaled a wrestling maneuver, but it was effective in bringing down the game-breaking runner in a quick instant.

5. Delanie Walker’s special teams tackle vs. the Baltimore Ravens

The 49ers comeback bid in Super Bowl XLVII was fueled by several standout plays, including a devastating tackle on a third-quarter kick-off return.

The “Ooooooh” receiving hit came from jack-of-all-trades Delanie Walker – the 49ers tight end known for being an effective tackler on special teams.

With the Ravens hanging on to a 28-23 with 3:14 left in the third, Walker got through Baltimore’s blockers to deliver a jarring tackle. Walker scooped up return man Jacoby Jones at the 28-yard line and slammed into the Superdome turf in an instant.

The 25 yard return was a drastic improvement from Jones’ 108-yard kickoff return for a touchdown at the start of the third quarter.

UPDATE: Congratulations to Dashon Goldson for winning with nearly 70% of the vote!

We need your help in selecting the top plays from the 2012 season. We’re asking our Faithful fans to choose the top takeaway, touchdown, sack, big play and biggest hit of the season. Next, the winning five plays (one from each category), will move on to the championship round to determine 49ers.com’s “Top Play of 2012.”

Watch our “Top 5” video highlights on the best plays for each category, then vote in the poll section of the corresponding blog post to see which top play will reach the championship.

Help us crown the top play of 2012 by choosing your favorite touchdown from this past season. You can vote for your favorite touchdown up until Monday at noon. Let’s take a look at the five nominees.

1. Randy Moss’ Monday Night TD vs. the Arizona Cardinals

Maybe the Cardinals thought he was going to run out of bounds, but Randy Moss had other ideas.

Facing a 3rd and 8 in the third quarter at Arizona in Week 8, Moss darted toward the left sideline on an out route before Alex Smith delivered a dart right into his hands. Moss ran up field and appeared to be headed to the left boundary, content with a first-down catch. But just before he reached the white line, Moss made two quick moves to the inside, leaving Cardinals cornerback Jamell Fleming and linebacker Paris Lenon in the dust.

Once he streaked down the sideline for the 46-yard touchdown, the veteran receiver was mobbed by his teammates as they pointed at the last name on his jersey for his trademark “Mossing” celebration. The score, one of his three regular season touchdowns on the year, made it 24-0 49ers en route to their 24-3 win on “Monday Night Football.”

2. Donte Whitner’s 42-yard INT Return vs. the New Orleans Saints

Donte Whitner may have suffered a knee bruise, but it was well worth it.

Ahmad Brooks had already given the 49ers a shot of energy with a 50-yard interception return of Drew Brees in the Week 12 matchup at New Orleans, but the defense wasn’t finished. With his team holding onto a 21-14 lead early in the second half, Whitner teamed up with his partner-in-crime, Dashon Goldson, to score San Francisco’s game-winner.

It started when Goldson upended Marques Colston, sending the receiver’s feet and the football skyward. It ended when Whitner leaped past the goal line and landed on his knee with the ball 42-yards later, as he was able to snatch it out of the air and follow a convoy of teammates into the end zone. The sequence displayed why the 49ers safety combo was voted to by the NFC’s starting tandem in the Pro Bowl.

3. Frank Gore’s Record-Breaker vs. the Arizona Cardinals

Joe Perry. Roger Craig. Frank Gore.

That’s the best of the best when you’re talking about 49ers running backs throughout the proud history of the franchise. Gore entered the Week 17 home matchup with Arizona as San Francisco’s all-time leader in rushing yards and attempts, but he was still tied with Perry and Craig for the all-time lead in touchdowns.

When Gore punched the ball in from 2 yards out in the third quarter to give the 49ers a 24-6 lead, he notched the 51st rushing touchdown of his career to surpass Perry and Craig. After the score, Gore showed his love for the 49ers Faithful by tossing the ball into the stands for one of the best souvenirs a fan can ask for.

Not only did the touchdown cement Gore’s place in 49ers history, but it helped the team claim the NFC West and the No. 2 seed on the final day of the regular season.

4. Michael Crabtree’s Game Winner vs. the New England Patriots

Not even a 28-point, second-half lead is safe in Foxboro. The 49ers know all too well.

Up 31-3 on the road against Tom Brady and the Patriots, San Francisco looked primed for a blowout victory against one of the NFL’s elite teams. But Brady showed why he’s a first-ballot Hall of Famer by rallying his team back to a tie game by the fourth quarter. In need of some serious momentum after the 49ers defense gave up a tying score, rookie LaMichael James rattled off a 62-yard kickoff return to put San Francisco in great field position.

Colin Kaepernick and Michael Crabtree took advantage, connecting on 38-yard touchdown that proved to be the game-winner in an entertaining 41-34, 49ers victory. Kaepernick threw a quick pass to Crabtree on a curl route in the left flat and the tough-minded wideout did the rest, spinning past one a defender and sprinting down the sideline for the score.

5. Kaepernick’s 56-yard TD Run vs. the Green Bay Packers

Erik Walden thought James had the ball, but he was wrong. The Green Bay defensive end was lined up against the right side of the 49ers offensive line in the third quarter, with the score knotted at 21 in the NFC Divisional Round.

Kaepernick kept the ball in James’ belly for a second, before pulling it back to himself and sprinting around Walden and down the right seam untouched for a 56-yard touchdown, thanks in part to a great downfield block by Ted Ginn Jr. By the time Bruce Miller engaged Walden near the line of scrimmage, Kaepernick was long gone to give the 49ers a 31-24 lead in the eventual 45-31 win in the final game of the season at Candlestick.

Kaepernick’s big run was the highlight of his record-setting evening, as he carried the ball 16 times for 181 yards and two touchdowns to post the highest single-game quarterback rushing total in league history. It also jumpstarted a 21-0 run by the 49ers to put the game out of reach.

UPDATE: Congratulations to Colin Kaepernick for winning with more than 77 percent of the vote!

Thanks for voting on the #49ers top TD of 2012. @Kaepernick7's 56-yard TD run won with over 77% of the vote. instagram.com/p/V5L4HhieiU/—
San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) February 19, 2013

We need your help in selecting the top plays from the 2012 season. We’re asking our Faithful fans to choose the top takeaway, touchdown, sack, big play and biggest hit of the season. Next, the winning five plays (one from each category), will move on to the championship round to determine 49ers.com’s “Top Play of 2012.”

Watch our “Top 5” video highlights on the best plays for each category, then vote in the poll section of the corresponding blog post to see which top play will reach the championship.

Help us crown the top play of 2012 by first choosing your favorite takeaway from this past season. You can vote for your favorite takeaway up until Thursday at noon. Let’s take a look at the five nominees.

1. NaVorro Bowman’s interception vs. the Green Bay Packers

The 49ers picked up their first win at historic Lambeau field since 1990 thanks to NaVorro Bowman’s first career interception. With the 49ers clinging to a 23-15 lead at the start of the fourth quarter, Bowman, a first-time Pro Bowl linebacker, intercepted Aaron Rodgers over-the-middle to set up a 23-yard Frank Gore touchdown.

Bowman recorded a team-high 11 tackles against the Packers, but truly put his stamp on the game with a well-timed interception of Rodgers. Bowman, a third-year pro, recorded the first and only takeaway of a critical season-opening win.

2. Ahmad Brooks’ interception return for a touchdown vs. the New Orleans Saints

San Francisco intercepted respected Saints quarterback Drew Brees twice in a Week 12 road victory. Both takeaways were returned for touchdowns, too. Donte Whitner’s 42-yard pick-six was impressive, but it didn’t get the nod over Ahmad Brooks’ 50-yard interception return.

Brooks, a 6-foot-3, 259-pound outside linebacker, correctly read Brees’ eyes as he dropped into coverage. The pass-rushing linebacker wound up in the quarterback’s throwing lane and somehow managed to pluck a quick pass from Brees out of the air and return it 50 yards untouched for a touchdown.

The 49ers trailed 14-7 at the time of Brooks’ game-changing play and never looked back from it. San Francisco out-scored New Orleans 17-7 after the defensive touchdown, an impressive athletic play turned in from one of the most physical players on the front seven.

3. Dashon Goldson’s fumble recovery vs. the New England Patriots

The San Francisco 49ers forced four turnovers in a 41-34 road victory over the New England Patriots. The four takeaways helped the 49ers build a 31-3 lead in the third quarter of a key late-season victory. Of all the standout defensive plays, perhaps the most remarkable game-changing defensive moment was turned in by safety Dashon Goldson.

The two-time Pro Bowler scooped up a Stevan Ridley fumble that was forced by a vicious open-field hit from fellow Pro Bowl safety Whitner. Goldson, who had successfully converted a fake punt earlier in the game, caught the fumble as it floated in the air and returned it 66 yards to set up a Gore touchdown on the very next play.

4. C.J. Spillman’s fumble recovery vs. the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Divisional Playoffs

The Packers held an early 14-7 lead in a Divisional Playoff matchup with the 49ers. It would be their only lead in the game thanks to a clutch fumble recovery from 49ers special teams ace C.J. Spillman. The 49ers gunner worked his way down the field on an Andy Lee punt and found his way on top of a muffed punt from Packers return man Jeremy Ross.

Spillman’s first career postseason fumble recovery at Green Bay’s 9-yard line led to a 12-yard touchdown pass from Colin Kaepernick to Michael Crabtree, a score that tied the game at 14. The 49ers would never trail after that point after proceeding to out-score the Packers 31-13 the rest of the way in a home playoff win.

5. Tarell Brown’s forced fumble and fumble recovery vs. the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII

In search for some second-half momentum in the biggest game of the season, 49ers cornerback Tarell Brown provided that spark with a key forced fumble and fumble recovery in the third quarter of Super Bowl XLVII.

The 49ers trailed 28-20 to the Ravens and got their first turnover of the game when Brown stripped Baltimore running back Ray Rice in the left flat. Brown quickly recovered the loose ball practically in one quick motion. Brown’s first career postseason forced fumble and fumble recovery led to a 34-yard David Akers field goal in the Super Bowl.

THANKS FOR VOTING STAY TUNED FOR FINAL RESULTS.

#49ers fans voted Ahmad Brooks' pick 6 the top takeaway of 2012. Tune in tomorrow for the top 5 TDs. instagr.am/p/VueXfuCejF/—
San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) February 14, 2013