Blogs

MT: Minicamp Day 2 Recap

The second day of minicamp featured B.J. Daniels making a variety of plays. The seventh-round pick caught two touchdowns as a running back and tossed another as a quarterback on a rollout scramble to wideout Ricardo Lockette.

The 49ers will hold one more day of mandatory minicamp on Thursday. Jim Harbaugh will speak to the media at the conclusion of the workout.

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

Read more »

MT: Nnamdi Asomugha at OTAs

He’s the fifth-most experienced player on the 49ers roster, but Nnamdi Asomugha is a rookie of sorts this offseason.

The 6-foot-2, 210-pound cornerback has been learning San Francisco’s defense this offseason during Organized Team Activities and will continue his studying with another three-day OTA session at team headquarters. Even if Asomugha is entering his 11th season in the NFL, there’s still plenty of defensive nuances to master at this time of the year.

The veteran cornerback signed a one-year contract with the 49ers this offseason to compete for a coveted position in San Francisco’s defensive backfield and has been an active participant in the team’s offseason program. So far, Asomugha has stood out at practice.

The tallest cornerback on the roster was examined closely by Kevin Lynch of SFGate.com.

“In the first organized team activity practice open to the media, Asomugha was a 49ers’ starting cornerback in team drills,” Lynch wrote. “He was substituting for starter Tarell Brown, who was not in attendance during the voluntary practice.”

Lynch noted that Asomugha wasn’t afraid to use his physical tools to his advantage.

“Asomugha often latched on quickly to the receivers he was covering and he muscled them. However, he had difficulty sustaining coverage on longer plays, which isn’t surprising at age 31.”

Asomugha’s coverage skills will continue to be analyzed with Tuesday’s OTA session being opened to the media.

Read more »

MT: Replacing Michael Crabtree

It won’t be a one man job.

To replace Michael Crabtree’s production on the San Francisco 49ers (85 catches, 1,105 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in 2012) it’s going to take a collective effort from the team, the team, the team.

Jim Harbaugh is eager to see which young wide receiver will emerge to fill Crabtree’s shoes as San Francisco’s starting wideout opposite of Anquan Boldin. So far, the young wideouts have been letting their work on the practice field make their case. Players like A.J. Jenkins and Ricardo Lockette are intriguing prospects to line up with Boldin. Mario Manningham and Kyle Williams are also close to returning from late-season injuries.

It should also be noted that the 49ers can still continue their power-running approach in 2013. They also have the unique running threat of Colin Kaepernick. In the backfield, Kendall Hunter is working his way back from a season-ending injury. Plus, Frank Gore is Frank Gore.

Receivers are key in any offense, but the 49ers have shown the ability to be creative in personnel groupings. Not to be forgotten, Vernon Davis, one of the game’s most dangerous tight ends, still figures to be heavily involved in the passing game.

More on the team’s options to fill in for Crabtree can be found in today’s Morning Tailgate.

Read more »

MT: Marcus Lattimore Puts on Jersey

Fans might have to wait until 2014 to see Marcus Lattimore playing in a 49ers uniform, but they can get an idea of what San Francisco’s fourth-round draft pick looks like in his No. 38 uniform.

It’s not known if the former South Carolina product will be healthy in time for the 2013 season, but the popular running back put on his red 49ers uniform over the weekend at the 2013 NFL Rookie Premiere event in Los Angeles.

A photo of Lattimore and fellow fourth-round selection Quinton Patton was posted on Instagram by Patton, the rookie wide receiver out of Louisiana Tech.

Patton seemed to be having a great time at the photos hoot event as evidenced by this video appearance.

Lattimore, too, had a good time. He even did an impersonation of his new coach, Jim Harbaugh.

Read more »

MT: 49ers Among NFC Favorites

NFL.com wants fans to predict the outcome of the 2013 season.

The San Francisco 49ers are one of four teams left to win Super Bowl XLVIII. Voting ends May 9, so be sure to support your team in this offseason poll.

Another team from the NFC West is included in the final four, too.

Read more »

49ers Sign WR Lockette to P-Squad

The San Francisco 49ers announced they have signed WR Ricardo Lockette to the practice squad.

Read more »