Starting Tuesday, the San Francisco 49ers 90-man roster will get together for three days this week for a mandatory minicamp. The three practice sessions will conclude the 2013 offseason program.

The mandatory minicamp will be open all three days for the media to learn more about the progress being made by the defending NFC Champs.

Numerous storylines will be examined.

In the passing game, the 49ers will look to identify emerging performers to showcase in 2013.

Which wide receiver is stepping up to start opposite of Anquan Boldin? Will Vernon Davis and Vance McDonald be utilized more in the passing game to account for the loss of Michael Crabtree?

How is Colin Kaepernick developing as the team’s full-time starting quarterback? Will Colt McCoy continue to solidify himself as the No. 2 signal-caller? How will Scott Tolzien and B.J. Daniels perform with their opportunities?

Then there are questions to be resolved with the team’s newcomers.

Which rookie has made the biggest leap in a short time this offseason? Will Eric Reid insert himself into the conversation to start Week 1? How is undrafted defensive lineman Lawrence Okoye performing in his first offseason playing football in his entire life?

Defensively, the 49ers appear to have less unresolved situations. But those questions will mostly be decided in training camp where physicality stands out. When the players put pads on, we’ll learn which member of the team deserves to start at nose tackle. We’ll also learn the pecking order for the team’s cornerback roles.

In the short term, the 49ers will hold three days of practice to get ready for training camp and showcase the improvements they’ve made through “Football School” workouts and Organized Team Activities.

We’ll watch it unfold and report back on 49ers.com.  Jim Harbaugh, plus coordinators Greg Roman and Vic Fangio, will all speak to the media this week. Several players will talk as well.

But until then, more 49ers headlines can be found in today’s Morning Tailgate.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com previews the upcoming minicamp.

Mike Sando of ESPN.com shared the results of ESPN’s Greatest Coach of NFL History list, Bill Walsh ranks No. 2 behind Vince Lombardi.

Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle caught up with Nick Moody’s college coach.

Dan Brown  of San Jose Mercury News caught up with former 49ers offensive lineman Len Rohde to detail his battles against the late Deacon Jones.

CLIP OF THE DAY

TWEET ABOUT IT

Lebron James is really good at playing basketball.—
Kyle Williams (@KyleWilliams_10) June 10, 2013

Yeah.

It’s voting season.

NFL.com is asking fans to choose the best play in NFL history and two of San Francisco’s Hall of Fame quarterbacks, Joe Montana and Steve Young, are among the great eight remaining plays. Montana delivered “The Catch,” while Young seemingly broke 49 tackles on his way to a 49-yard game-winning touchdown run against the Minnesota Vikings back in 1988. Fifth round voting ends on April 3.

Another important offseason vote involves 49ers past and present.

Montana, along with Hall of Fame teammate Jerry Rice and current 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, still remain in the Madden Cover Vote for the game’s 25 anniversary edition.

Kaepernick, a No. 1 seed, faces Houston Texans running back Arian Foster in the “New School” side of the bracket.

Montana, a No. 1 seed, faces Super Bowl XIX opponent and Kaepernick fan, Dan Marino, a No. 4 seed, in the “Old School” bracket. Meanwhile, Rice, another No. 1 seed, will match up against Michael Strahan (No. 5 seed) as one of the other throwback pairings.

It’s worth noting that no other team has more than one representative in the Madden tournament.

That’s important if you subscribe to the “Madden Curse” theory. Detroit Lions mega-star wideout Calvin Johnson didn’t fall for it in 2013. Johnson, the most recent player to grace the Madden cover, broke Rice’s single-season receiving record with 1,964 yards for the Lions. Rice’s old record was set in 1995.

Meanwhile, Kaepernick’s Twitter feed has recently been filled with retweets of fans supporting his quest to be on the Madden cover.

If you don’t want to vote for the current 49ers quarterback, Montana and Rice are long removed from their playing careers and will surely accept placement on the Madden cover. Both stars have joined Twitter, too. Connect with them here: @JoeMontana & @JerryRice.

Round three of the Madden vote ends on April 3. Vote often for any three of the 49ers representatives.

Check out additional 49ers headlines in the Morning Tailgate, including reports of a new quarterback joining the team in 2013.

Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports first reported the 49ers had traded for Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy. The trade has not been confirmed by San Francisco’s front office. ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter offered details on the deal: The 49ers have acquired McCoy and Cleveland’s sixth-round selection in the 2013 draft in exchange for San Francisco’s fifth and seventh round picks in this year’s draft.

Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee weighs in on the trade and how it potentially shapes a backup quarterback competition between McCoy and third-year pro Scott Tolzien.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com shared quotes from recent 49ers draft picks on their pre-draft dealings with the club.

Eric Branch of The San Francisco Chronicle profiled Nevada safety Duke Williams, a player who met with the 49ers at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Former 49ers Riki Ellison and Shawntae Spencer are among the group of current and former NFL players participating in an investment impact program at Notre Dame.

NFL.com enjoyed the “Jim Harbaugh Collection.”

49ers.com’s ACC Week began with a profile on Florida State cornerback Xavier Rhodes.

TV49’S CLIP OF THE DAY

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I actually would buy some outfits from the Jim Harbaugh Collection if it were real.—
P. Schrager (@PSchrags) April 01, 2013

Maybe we’re on to something…

With Alex Smith now in Kansas City, the 49ers only have two quarterbacks on the roster, Colin Kaepernick and Scott Tolzien. The 49ers will surely add to that position group, either in free agency or the draft.

Matt Barrow’s of the Sacramento Bee reported that former West Virginia Quarterback Pat White stopped by 49ers headquarters for a visit yesterday. White reportedly played catch with Jim Harbaugh.

If the 49ers look to the draft for a quarterback, San Francisco Chronicle’s Eric Branch suggests the 49ers could target Duke quarterback Sean Renfree, who Harbaugh recruited at Stanford. Harbaugh offered Renfree a scholarship to play for the Cardinal, but the quarterback chose to head to Durham, NC to play for the Blue Devils.

“I developed a relationship with (Harbaugh) and knew that he was a great coach with a great staff,” said Renfree, who took several trips to Stanford during high school. “In the end, I think it worked out pretty well for both of us.”

Other headlines discuss who the 49ers might target in the NFL Draft:

Barrows also reported that the Honey Badger, LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu, will be visiting the 49ers on April 9.

ESPN’s Mike Sando discusses Todd McShay’s two-round mock draft. McShay has the 49ers selecting Georgia defensive tackle John Jenkins (31st overall), Stanford tight end Zach Ertz (34th overall) and Florida International safety John Cyprien (61st overall).

Sando: “Would Jenkins fit along the line at 346 pounds? That seems heavier than the 49ers would prefer for their scheme, especially if playing defensive end is part of the expectation, but McShay says Jenkins could do that for the 49ers. The team has not drafted a true defensive lineman since using a 2009 seventh-round choice for Ricky Jean Francois. Ray McDonald was a third-rounder in 2007.”

TV49′s CLIP OF THE DAY:

TWEET ABOUT IT:

Myself and Zeller are for sure #nosebros—
Joe Staley (@jstaley74) March 29, 2013

Joe Staley weighs in on March Madness and his similarities to Indiana center Cody Zeller

Alex Smith didn’t speak to reporters on Saturday, but offensive coordinator Greg Roman gave a pretty good indication of how the San Francisco 49ers quarterback is progressing six days removed from his second concussions in as many seasons.

“He’s looked good,” Roman said. “He’s looked very sharp.”

Officially, Smith is listed as questionable for Monday night’s pivotal NFC showdown with the Chicago Bears. Roman said his quarterback will need to pass one more contact test in order to play on Monday night.

“Alex is going through the protocol right now and that’s in the doctor’s hands,” Roman said.

Chicago, on the other hand, has already ruled out quarterback Jay Cutler. And while the Bears quarterback didn’t take part in any practices this week, Smith continues to practice for the 49ers in a limited fashion. Though Smith’s status still up in the air, Roman has been trying to do his best to get backup quarterback Colin Kaepernick the necessary first-team reps to be ready if Smith can’t play.

No matter who plays quarterback for the 49ers, the objective remains the same.

“We’re trying to do our best,” said left tackle Joe Staley, who will match up with Bears defensive end Julius Peppers for the first time since his rookie season when the Pro Bowler played for Carolina. “No matter who the quarterback is, our job is to create a clean pocket for them.”

The 49ers offensive coordinator said it hadn’t been determined if third-string quarterback Scott Tolzien will be active for only the second time this season. Roman, however, did not that he typically gets together with his backup quarterbacks prior to gameday to discuss their comfort level with various plays within the week’s gameplan.

Roman is doing his best to roll with the punches. He doesn’t know which quarterback will play on Monday, but is keeping a good attitude about it.

“Makes it exciting,” he said. “I’m excited no matter who plays.”

Part of Roman’s enthusiasm comes from understanding the challenge of facing Monday night’s opponent, a ball-hungry Chicago defense that is as disciplined as it is opportunistic.

“It’s not just a team giving the ball away,” Roman said. “They’re taking it.”

Roman has given his players tons of visual evidence of the variety of strips the Bears defense has utilized in the previous 10 weeks of the season. When discussing NFL forced-fumble leader Charles Tillman, Chicago’s Pro Bowl cornerback, Roman said, “I’ve never seen anybody do it better.”

Now, it’s up to the 49ers to a better job than anyone else at protecting the football against a hungry opponent on a national stage.

At long last, it’s Week 1 of the NFL regular season. The 49ers are headed to Lambeau Field for their season opener against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, but first they have a week of practice at team headquarters in Santa Clara.

The 53-man roster is set and it features a pair of players who are expected to play offense, defense and special teams this season for San Francisco. Will Tukuafu and Demarcus Dobbs take pride in their do-it-all roles with the team and are also roommates on the road. Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com spoke to Dobbs about the new responsibilities he and Tukuafu have added to their plates this season.

“Tukuafu and Dobbs were both converted into two-way players in the offseason,” Maiocco writes. “Dobbs played both ways in all three exhibition games in which he appeared. Tukuafu did not see two-way action in training camp until after the first three weeks of camp. He concluded the exhibition season in impressive fashion.”

Today’s Morning Tailgate rounds up the best coverage from Labor Day Weekend and takes a look forward to the Week 1 matchup.

Sports Illustrated’s panel of football experts offered their predictions for the 2012 season. The 49ers appear to be heavy favorites to repeat as NFC West Champions while Jim Harbaugh, Patrick Willis and Aldon Smith also receive some individual recognition. Peter King singled out the 49ers as the most impressive team he saw during his training camp tour throughout the league.

Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle traces Alex Smith’s career and how he has evolved as a quarterback in recent years, while also giving readers his full Q&A with the 49ers signal-caller. Branch: “In the first five games of 2010, he threw nine interceptions in 190 attempts and compiled a 71.6 rating. In his final six games, a scattered stretch interrupted by a shoulder injury and two benchings, he threw one interception in 152 attempts and posted a 95.5 rating. Although few noticed, the transformation had begun. And then Smith joined forces with Harbaugh, a head coach who endorsed his approach.”

Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group discusses Colin Kaepernick’s importance to the 49ers as the team’s second-string quarterback. Inman: “Kaepernick’s eye-opening, read-option runs in the exhibition season should at least cause defenses to plan for the 49ers’ latest threat. Memo to the Green Bay Packers: You’ve been warned.”

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee talked to No. 3 quarterback Scott Tolzien about the behind-the-scenes work that goes along with his job. Barrows: “Tolzien leads the so-called ‘look’ team, which runs the opposition’s offense against the first-team defense in practice. This week, he’ll be Aaron Rodgers. The next, he’ll be Matthew Stafford, and so on.”

Maiocco also discussed the San Francisco signal-callers while looking at the QB situations around the NFL. Maiocco: “The 49ers gave it a long thought before deciding to part ways with veteran Josh Johnson while keeping Scott Tolzien as the No. 3 guy behind starter Alex Smith and backup Colin Kaepernick.”

Branch took a visit to LaMichael James’ hometown of Texarkana, Texas to see the environment that produced San Francisco’s second-round pick. Branch: “Raised by a team of doting and devoted women, his motivation to attend the University of Oregon, 2,200 miles away, wasn’t inspired by a desire to escape danger. Rather, it was a realization that he needed to flee the cocoon of safety provided by his forever-fretting support system.”

Branch spoke to undrafted rookie tight end Garrett Celek about making the 49ers roster after a strong showing the preseason finale. Branch: “On Thursday, however, Celek made an effortless 37-yard, over-the-shoulder catch, added a three-yard touchdown grab and finished with three receptions for 54 yards in the preseason finale against the Chargers. The performance likely earned him a roster spot.”

Daniel Brown of the Bay Area News Group takes a look ahead to the 2012 season. Brown: “Now, to avoid the pitfalls of increased expectations after a 13-3 finish, the 49ers are looking for words of wisdom beyond the coach’s pop. Players are quoting from Martin Luther King Jr., Muhammad Ali, Vince Lombardi, Tupac Shakur and Greek statesmen as they prepare for a Super Bowl-or-bust season.”

Inman also provides readers with a three-part season preview that looks at difference-making players, questions surrounding the team as it enters the 2012 season and a look at the NFC West.

Barrows also wrote about the loss of outside linebacker Parys Haralson and the addition of former Arizona Cardinal Clark Haggans. Barrows: “Even with the addition of the 35-year-old Haggans, who signed a one-year deal Monday, the 49ers enter the season with only three outside linebackers and may not be finished bulking up the position.”

TWEET ABOUT IT

I ♥ All My San Francisco 49ers Fans!—
Vernon Davis (@VernonDavis85) September 04, 2012

Vernon Davis gives a shout out to the 49ers Faithful.

The San Francisco 49ers conclude the 2012 preseason tonight at home against the San Diego Chargers, with the 41st all-time preseason meeting between the clubs serving as a preseason rubber match of sorts. Both California franchises have faced each other in the preseason for 26 consecutive seasons and have played each other 40 times all-time in the exhibition season with the series tied at 20 games apiece.

The 49ers (2-1) will look to end the Chargers (3-0) undefeated run this preseason. If the 49ers win, you can look forward to another 49ers.com “Remix” video just like the one from last week’s 29-24 victory in Denver.

As for Thursday’s preseason finale, many roster questions remain for the 49ers. How many players to carry at certain positions could be decided based on impressive performances against the Chargers. Jim Harbaugh said the playing time for starters will be on an individual basis.

Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News lists 20 questions that remain entering the final preseason matchup, a primer for the 7 p.m. kick-off that can be watched on CW44.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com also looks at the remaining roster decisions for the 49ers. Maiocco: “After the 53-man roster, teams will form practice squads of eight players, comprised of players who have suited up for fewer than nine games in any regular season. A player is limited to three seasons of practice-squad duty.”

Maiocco’s “Five to Watch” series for Thursday night begins with undrafted wide receiver Nathan Palmer.

Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee looks at the odds of Scott Tolzien stick on the 53-man roster. Barrows: “Allow me to begin this post by saying I don’t know who the 49ers like more, Scott Tolzien or Josh Johnson. I suspect it’s Tolzien, but only because the 49ers truly pursued him, first after the 2011 draft and then again after he was waived by the Chargers a year ago. I also think that Jim Harbaugh loves having a workaholic, gym rat, study freak like Tolzien at the bottom of the roster because it pushes everyone above him.”

Alex Espinoza of 49ers.com checks in with Anthony Dixon who’s making a late push to secure a spot on the 53-man roster.

TWEET ABOUT IT

It's gameday! #BeatTheChargers—
San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) August 30, 2012

Hasthtag alert.

There’s nothing Tavares Gooden wouldn’t do to bring down an opposing ball carrier, or make a block to spring one of his players (See photo atop this post). The 49ers special teams standout has endeared himself to teammates and coaches for his relentless pursuit to the football whether it’s on kickoff or punt coverage teams. Gooden’s unselfish play as a blocker is also well-respected.

The 49ers linebacker explained his all-out mindset in the latest Niner Talk podcast on 49ers.com. In addition, the 6-foot-1, 242-pound, fifth-year pro also explained how the birth of his newborn son, Kadence, has already made a major impact on his life.

Also on the show, San Francisco Chronicle 49ers beat writer Eric Branch previewed two of his feature stories set to hit the newspaper this week. Branch also previewed things to look for in Thursday night’s preseason finale, including the No. 3 quarterback competition between Scott Tolzien and Josh Johnson.

Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee writes that Anthony Dixon just might have worked his way on to the team’s 53-man roster. Barrows: “Dixon led all rushers Sunday in Denver with 58 yards on 13 carries, including a 26-yard touchdown run in the third quarter in which he followed key blocks by fullback Will Tukuafu and pulling guard Derek Hall. Earlier in the game, Dixon had followed a Tukuafu block to the outside for a minimal gain. When he returned to the sideline, position coach Tom Rathman told him to break inside the next time, and that’s what Dixon did.”

Barrows also shares his 47 “locks” to make the 49ers roster at this stage of the preseason.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com notes that seventh-round pick Cam Johnson returned to Thursday’s practice.

Maiocco, along with CSN Bay Area’s Mindi Bach, discussed Dixon’s recent surge in a “Matt and Mindi” video segment.

Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News caught up with Tolzien to find out how he’s approaching the preseason finale under unique circumstances. Inman: “A year ago, when these same teams met in San Diego, Tolzien played quarterback for the Chargers as an undrafted rookie. He didn’t survive the final cuts in San Diego, but that final audition caught the eye of the opposition and helped him land on the 49ers roster.”

Inman also shared the Madden ’13 player ratings for 49ers players, which includes 98-rankings for Patrick Willis and Justin Smith.

Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com predicts Kendall Hunter to be his breakout star of 2012. Rosenthal: “San Francisco 49ers running back Kendall Hunter can be the next Darren Sproles, but with more power between the tackles.”

Ian Rapoport of NFL.com shares 47 things to look for before team’s embark on reaching Super Bowl XLVII, including this item on Willis. Rapoport: “They’re over quickly, but those moments when San Francisco 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis spots an opening in the line and darts through are truly special. The poor running backs on the other side of the collisions that follow probably don’t share the sentiment, though. Willis’ recognition skills and a well-tooled ability to close turn him into a missile on the field.”

Michael Lombardi of NFL.com lists his blue and red-chip defensive players, a list which includes many San Francisco defenders.

Peter Schrager of FoxSports.com predicts Aldon Smith to have 20 sacks this season.  Schrager: “There’s an incredibly promising young crop of young pass rushers in this league right now. Jason Pierre-Paul and Aldon Smith are two of the best. Both will top 20 sacks, but will fall short of Michael Strahan’s single-season record.”

Esquire Magazine lists Alex Smith among the top 15 best-dressed NFL players. “Because, while many of his peers go for flash, he dresses like he plays: clean, understated, and reliable.”

49ers.com’s Tuesday coverage included a story on Michael Crabtree maximizing his first preseason action, a video on Dixon’s hard-working ways and a must-see highlight video from the team’s 29-24 win in Denver.

TWEET ABOUT IT

#49ers ranked #2 of THE 122 OF 2012: THE UNIFORM MONITOR'S RANKING OF AMERICAN PRO SPORTS UNIFORMS nfl.com/photos/09000d5…—
Benjamin Mayberry (@49Dzn) August 28, 2012

Looks like the 49ers made another best-dressed list.

All offseason we’ve heard commentary and prognostications from members of the local and national media as it pertains to the San Francisco 49ers.

Now, we know how Hall of Famers from the team’s storied past feel. In a recent appearance on ESPN’s NFL Live, Jerry Rice and Joe Montana joined host Trey Wingo to discuss to their former team’s outlook in 2012.

“I think with that defense they can (be successful) because they brought all the guys back,” Rice, an ESPN analyst, said. “It’s going to be up to the offense. They brought in some additional weapons to help Alex Smith out, so now he has to put the ball in the hands of the playmakers, this team is going to go far.”

Montana said he was really impressed by Smith’s 14-yard touchdown pass to Vernon Davis in the team’s Divisional Playoff win over the New Orleans Saints.

“That showed me confidence in his ability to throw the ball,” Montana said of Smith. “He can make those throws, now it’s about managing the game.”

The legendary 49ers quarterback stressed that Smith has to distribute the ball to the playmakers and let them create big plays.

“They should be settled in, they understand what it takes to operate,” Montana said.

NFL.com’s season preview for the San Francisco 49ers has three writers predicting an NFC West crown for the club.

NFL.com’s staff writers also predict NFL awards with one tenured staffer predicting Jim Harbaugh to win back-to-back Coach of the Year honors.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com shares Vic Fangio’s comments on the 49ers defensive learning experience in Denver. Maiocco: “Playing without key defenders Aldon Smith,NaVorro Bowman and Chris Culliver, the 49ers had few answers for Peyton Manning, who threw for 122 yards. The Broncos scored 17 points on their three possessions against the 49ers.”

Maiocco also interviewed reserve quarterback Scott Tolzien on his preparation for Thursday’s preseason finale against the San Diego Chargers.

Nathan Jannke of ProFootballFocus.com shares his impressions from the 49ers-Broncos game.

Mike Sando of ESPN.com looks at the average age of each NFL team and ntoes the 49ers have the 13^th oldest roster after the 75-man roster cuts.

Sando also offers thoughts on San Francisco’s initial roster cuts.

49ers.com looked at young player’s outlooks on the upcoming Chargers game, both offensively and defensively.

TWEET ABOUT IT

My kids 1st day of school #proud dad—
Tarell Brown25 (@RealTB25) August 28, 2012

Big day in the Brown household.

Jim Harbaugh doesn’t subscribe to the “breaking camp” theory. Although there won’t be a practice today, the 49ers will conduct a “Mock Game” before departing to Houston for the team’s first preseason road trip.

To get you ready for San Francisco’s matchup with the Texans, check out our latest Niner Talk podcast which features interviews with quarterback Scott Tolzien and Drew Dougherty of Houston Texans TV.

Tolzien discussed Randy Moss’ positive influence on the locker room, as well as his mindset heading into an important preseason game. Tolzien said it’s all about maximizing opportunities. Dougherty also gave perspective on the opponent’s side of things and said the team’s fans are very friendly when it comes to tailgating. In you’re in Houston for the game, put on a smile and they’ll likely pass you some grub.

As for the current state of the 49ers, ESPN.com’s Mike Sando recently filed his Camp Confidential report on the recent developments in Santa Clara.

Sando asks if the strides shown by the 49ers passing game last season were only the start of something greater.

“That question ran through my mind while watching Smith fire passes on time and on target during a recent three-day stay at 49ers training camp. The answer became clearer every time Smith connected with newcomers Randy Moss and Mario Manningham, which was frequently. He appeared more accurate, more confident and more in command than I can ever recall seeing Smith during a training camp — or any other time, for that matter.”

More 49ers headlines can be found after the jump.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com shared his Thursday practice notes which included an item about practice music. Maiocco: “The 49ers had their final full practice before leaving Friday for an exhibition game against the Houston Texans. There were periods in which the first-team offense and defense worked against scout teams. The 49ers had music — including AC/DC’s “Back in Black” — blaring on the practice field to get the offense some work in noisy conditions.”

Maiocco also shares the story of NFL journeyman Eric Bakhtiari and his quest to land with the 49ers. Maiocco: “From 2008 to 2011, he made stops with San Diego, the 49ers, back to San Diego, Tampa Bay, Tennessee, back to the 49ers, Miami, Kansas City, Cleveland, and back to Kansas City. Through it all, he has suited up for only three regular-season games. The Titans promoted him from the practice squad in 2009 for three games. He did not play any defense, but he was on the field for 47 plays on special teams.”

Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee shares Jim Harbaugh’s latest praise for Alex Smith. Barrows: “Last year Alex Smith was elite. This year he’s an expert. This, according to Jim Harbaugh, who today noted Smith’s excellent week of practices and said that the quarterback has mastered the 49ers’ playbook.”

Kevin Lynch of SFGate.com shares what he learned from camp practices, which includes Alex Boone’s encouraging play at right guard.

Peter King of SI.com recently discussed Randy Moss’ potential with the 49ers. King thinks Moss can be a factor early in the season.

49ers linebacker NaVorro Bowman recently made an appearance on NFL Network’s Total Access.

49ers.com’s #Camp49 coverage included a practice report, Joe Looney’s latest rookie blog, a look at Rock Cartwright’s all-around contributions and Alex Smith’s press conference video.

TWEET ABOUT IT

Can't wait to be home this weekend. H-Town bound!—
michael thomas (@mt3much4em) August 16, 2012

Big game for many reasons.

Following the offense’s best showing of 49ers Training Camp presented by HP, the unit backed it up with another positive performance.

In particular, undrafted wide receiver Chris Owusu continues to progress. The former Jim Harbaugh-coached wideout from Stanford has made several catches in practice after being the team’s leading wideout in the preseason opener.

Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee noted that Owusu got past starting cornerback Tarell Brown to catch a deep corner route from quarterback Josh Johnson. “Owusu made several nice catches during the team portion of practice, including two from Scott Tolzien,” Barrows added.

More 49ers headlines can be found after the jump.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com notes the offense remained sharp on Wednesday. Maiocco:  “Quarterback Alex Smith and the first-team offense did not click as well as in Tuesday’s practice, but he still completed nearly 65-percent of his pass attempts during the 7-on-7 and team periods. Smith’s best play came when he found Vernon Davis on a deep route against safeties Trenton Robinson and McBath.”

Maiocco also offered his thoughts on Smith’s steady progress in camp. Maiocco: “The Alex Smith I’ve seen through 14 practices has been noticeably more accurate with his short, intermediate and deep passes. He also appears to be quicker with his decision-making. I’m not predicting a Pro Bowl season for Smith. But I am predicting the 49ers’ passing game will be more formidable than a year ago when the team ranked 31st in the league in third-down conversions and 29th in passing yards.”

Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News observed Delanie Walker making an appearance at practice. Inman: “Walker came out to watch the final few minutes of practice and showed no signs of a right-knee injury that he sustained in Sunday’s practice. After practice, Walker said he’s doing fine and he seemed in his usual high spirits.”

Eric Branch of The San Francisco Chronicle profiled undrafted wide receiver Brian Tyms’ remarkable journey to the 49ers. Branch: “At 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, (Tyms) possesses prototypical size for a pro wide receiver and eye-popping athleticism. At Florida A&M’s pro day, he had a 38.5-inch vertical jump, which would have ranked tied for fifth among wide receivers at the NFL combine. His time in the 20-yard shuttle (3.93 seconds) would have tied for second and his 40-yard-dash clocking (4.40) would have ranked third.”

49ers.com’s #Camp49 coverage included a practice report, a story on Gory Soltau’s reaction to being inducted into the 49ers Hall of Fame, a story on Michael Crabtree’s sharpened focus, a blog on Greg Roman discussing individuals on the offense and a video on Crabtree’s rivalry with Carlos Rogers.

TWEET ABOUT IT

https://twitter.com/DaRealOtisMoss/status/235941927550328832

Boom, indeed.