A Team on the Move

Maybe because it was the last of three weeks of OTAs and a five week stretch of time off loomed ahead, which is a little like school getting out for the summer break, but the final four practices were spirited, lively and most of all – competitive.

“It’s the most competitive I’ve ever been around,” said Smith. “There’s been this energy and competitiveness out there no matter what it is we are doing. Practice really flies by and all of the sudden it hits you that it’s over and I think it’s just because there is so much energy. Guys are so much more competitive, you can see it out there, you can hear it, and you can feel it.”

With three Pro Bowlers in the 49ers secondary defending against the pass, Smith said practice has become more like a game.

“You are throwing the ball against Nate Clements and he’s good,” said Smith. “You have to be on top of your game if you want to hit it and that makes you better. Your receiver has to run the right route, and you’ve got to throw a good ball. The same goes for a lot of guys, Walt Harris is playing really well, the safeties are all playing really well and it’s fun as a quarterback to have that challenge. It’s much more game-like out there.”

Clements has been one of several vocal players out on the field, commonly chirping at the offense before, during and after almost every play.

“It not only makes it fun, it makes it competitive,” said Clements. “I’m not doing it to nag on a guy. I’m trying to encourage a player and compete out there, raise my game, and make our team better.”

Much of the 49ers move to improve in ’07 will rest on the shoulders of the team’s quarterback, and while Clements might send a lot of smack Smith’s way, the veteran corner believes that the young quarterback has all the tools.

“He definitely has a lot of potential, and has the capability of being one of the elite quarterbacks in the league,” said Clements. “He’s young, he’s mobile, he has a strong arm, he’s smart and he has a great core of players around him on offense. He is definitely going to do some damage this year.”

After participating in the entire off-season program, Clements is convinced that the 49ers as a whole will do some damage.

“We have a team that can win, not only that can win, but a team that can win the Super Bowl,” said Clements. “The players, the coaching staff, the training staff, the strength and conditioning program, we just have an all-around great staff here in San Francisco. We work together to collectively accomplish the goals we have. You work together like that and then go out and put that together out on the field and you’ll win games.”

Pro Bowl running back Frank Gore and Clements don't usually agree out on the practice field with Gore usually thinking he scored and Clements claiming otherwise. But Gore was equally passionate when asked about the progress that has been made this off-season. He too sees the 49ers as a team on the move.

“We’ve added guys, all guys have gotten stronger and faster, and the three weeks of practice have been great,” said Gore. “On offense and defense we’ve gotten better. You can see a swagger out here and that it’s our time to make a move in the NFC. We keep competing like we have these last three weeks and carry that over to training camp and the season, and I don’t have any doubt that we’ll be in the playoffs this year.”

Despite gaining so much ground this off-season the players haven’t lost sight of the long road remaining ahead, not with head coach Mike Nolan constantly driving that very point home.

“Until we play a game, we’re still 7-9 and the 2006 team,” said Nolan. “Things have gone well. I think that what’s been shown is that with the free agents we’ve added and the draft choices that we’ve added, we’ve upgraded the competition on our football team and in the interim made us better. Most of them should be starters on our team, but not all. I’ve been pleased. When we put the pads on, that’s when we’ll really get a better look and that’s always been the case. You can’t fall asleep and get too excited during mini camp or the OTAs. We’ll see in camp.”

The players will have close to five weeks off before reporting back for camp, an off period that linebacker Tully Banta-Cain believes to be as important to the team’s success as the last three weeks of practice have been.

“You want to take a little bit of time to break the monotony of being up here and you need to get away from football for a little while, but at the same time, you want to start peaking with your physical condition in time for camp,” said Banta-Cain. “So, for the first week you want to relax but then it’s all about getting your body in the best shape possible, staying away from any unnecessary injuries, really any unnecessary things that can happen off the field. Guys really need to hone in on what is going to go down this year.”

Nolan hopes to have all of of his missing pieces back in place at that time, including Larry Allen, Darrell Jackson, Jonas Jennings, Ashley Lelie, Justin Smiley, and Shawntae Spencer.

Odds & Ends
Linebacker Patrick Willis enjoyed an interception in practice off a deflection. Safety Dashon Goldson showed his vertical by knocking down a Hail Mary pass, but it was an effort that went the other way when wide receiver CJ Brewer made a last minute snag before the ball hit the ground for the score.

The 49ers had long snapper Adam Johnson in for a tryout. Johnson took part in the final two days of practice. Johnson attended the University of Buffalo and has spent time with the Chiefs and Panthers.