Well then.  J.T. O'Sullivan will be getting the reps this Friday with the first team offense.  According to Mike Nolan he'll play between a quarter and a quarter and a half.  Alex Smith will then play into the beginning of the third quarter and Shaun Hill will close out the game.  Nolan emphasized this does not mean O'Sullivan is the starting quarterback.

Based on his past comments about splitting up the starts I'm not so surprised. Originally it was going to be Hill and Smith starting the first two games, but since O'Sullivan reasserted his spot in the QB competition, that idea is out the window.  It seems like O'Sullivan is in the perfect position where his extra knowledge of the offense is allowing him to put some pressure on Smith and Hill.  At the same time, the extra knowledge could hurt his chances.  The coaches figure he knows the most and thus expect more out of him.

Speaking of starters, the top of the wide receiver depth chart is a bit injury riddled and so it looks like Jason Hill and Josh Morgan will see plenty of first-team action on Friday.  According to Barrows, the top 3 receivers in terms of training camp receptions are Bryant Johnson, Josh Morgan and Jason Hill, in that order.  Since Isaac Bruce and Arnaz Battle have sat out a fair number of practices that is not exactly a stunning statistic.  At the same time, when you're meant to be a first string guy, like Johnson, it's good that he's making plays, even if it is just training camp.

EDITOR'S NOTE 7:50PM: I was poking around Sando's NFC West blog and saw something interesting.  Prior to the announcement of O'Sullivan as a starter, Sando said:

Based on what we've seen, I would expect Nolan to maintain the current order based (to some degree) on which quarterbacks are scheduled to work more with the starters late in the week. That type of allotment could favor J.T. O'Sullivan and Alex Smith in this first exhibition game. The 49ers are anxious to look at each quarterback, so the assumption is that all three will play. But the logical move would be to give O'Sullivan and Smith the longest looks against the Raiders.

So maybe that gives us a little more insight into the decision.

Since we're just going to discuss 49ers, I imagine it's not really giving away my entire draft strategy.  However, aside from Frank Gore, many of the players discussed would be sleeper-type players.  Up to this point we've had some very brief discussions of the 49ers potential fantasy impact.  The preseason will answer some more questions, but in the the meantime, I thought I'd give the 49ers roster a once-over and throw out guys who could have some sort of fantasy impact. 

Including our Niners Nation Fantasy League (register for the free drawing by Thursday!), I'm in 3 fantasy football leagues.  One is a dynasty league where you keep an entire 28 man roster.  Another is a keeper league in which you can keep up to 3 players.  The NN league is a year-by-year league without keepers (at least not yet).  I mention all this because this analysis is aimed at one and done leagues.  Keeper and Dynasty leagues are a little too involved with each league having a million different rules that impact certain players' value.  In a one-and-done league you can account for most, if not all the variables.

QB
Alex Smith: If he is the starter, he's got the arm and ability to put up some quality numbers.  If he looks to be the starter, I think he's definitely worth a late round pick as your backup QB if you've got a very strong #1 option.  If you waited too long and grabbed a guy like David Garrard, you might want a more solid backup option.

Shaun Hill: When I see him in action he comes across as more of the game manager type who will win football games, but won't put up huge numbers.  He put up a nice 3 TDs against TB, but didn't break 200 yards in any of this 3 appearances.  I think he definitely falls into the better real QB than fantasy QB (which I have no problem with as a 49ers fan).

RB
Frank Gore: Gore is a no-doubt first round pick thanks to the huge combined yards I fully expect.  He managed to finish 10th in points for running backs, in spite of the 49ers anemic offense.  And, if you're in a league that offers a point per reception, I think he's absolute gold.

DeShaun Foster: His only real value is as a handcuff to Frank Gore if you're concerned about injuries.  This offense is built around Gore and Foster is not going to put up the kind of numbers that would justify having him on your roster.

TE
Vernon Davis: Davis is going to put up big time fantasy points this year.  He finished 15th among tight ends last year after his 52 receptions, 509 yards a 4 TDs.  ESPN is  projecting 59/623/6 but I think his receptions and yards could be even bigger.  Mike Martz wants to take advantage of his speed a little more often, meaning bigger plays and more yards.  I don't know if he'll necessarily crack the Witten/Gates/Gonzalez/Cooley barrier, but I think he could get to the 5th or 6th spot this season.  I think the Duke is a very viable option as a starting TE.  If you can get Cooley, Witten, etc... maybe you go with them as a safe pick, but I think Davis's upside is immense.

Delanie Walker: I include him here only because the discussion around Walker has been more prominent this year than last.  Martz has really taken a liking to Walker and it makes me curious about him.  I don't think he has a lot of value in a normal league, but he's got keeper potential.  He's a guy worth keeping an eye on as a potential waiver wire steal.

WR
Bryant Johnson: I go with Johnson first because I think for the 2008 season, he has the most fantasy upside.  He's out of the shadow of Boldin and Fitzgerald and looking to make a name for himself.  He could be a spectacular crash and burn, but he might be worth a look as your 3rd or 4th receiver.

Isaac Bruce: I'm not sure how much Bruce has left in the tank, but if he stays healthy and relatively fresh, he gives Smith/Hill the most consistent target they've ever had.  ESPN thinks projects 65 receptions, 866 yards and 6 touchdowns.  While those aren't spectacular, they would blow away anything the 49ers put on the field last year.  For now Bruce is a bye-week fill in but if the offense gets it going, he could be an ok flex option.

Arnaz Battle: It'll be interesting to see if his numbers go down because of the increase in receiving options.  ESPN points to him in a Mike Furrey role in the slot, and to quote them it isn't a bad thing.  He'll never be spectacular but he's probably a good bye week fill in if you have multiple byes with which to contend.  Did anybody here have him on their fantasy team as more than a bye week fill in?

Others: Jason Hill probably has the most upside of the remaining wide receivers if he can stay healthy, but he'll be on the waiver wire so no need to spend a pick on him.  Ashley Lelie is injured and has a lot of work to do before he can become a productive fantasy receiver.

Kicking
Joe Nedney: With only 19 field goal attempts, Nedney was not a viable fantasy option.  If the 49ers can move the ball a little more, he's consistent enough to be worth a look.  Until then he's a better real kicker than fantasy kicker.

Defense
I steadfastly maintain that this defense has the potential to be a top 10 defense.  Fantasy-wise, the 49ers were one of the worst producing defenses.  Until they develop a legit pass-rush they cannot be relied on in fantasy football.  While turnovers and points off turnovers are certainly possible, they cannot be relied upon.

Some leagues do offer IDPs, or individual defensive players, although ours will not be one of those leagues.  If you're in an IDP league, Patrick Willis is obviously money in the bank and will probably be one of the first defensive players taken.  Justin Smith might be worth a look if he is going to be spending a lot of time in the outside linebacker role.  If the pass rush develops, Nate Clements will have value as a pass rush means more hurried passes, meaning the potential for more interceptions.  Also, he finished 2nd among cornerbacks in tackles, so that's certainly a plus for fantasy purposes.

So, there you have it.  Aside from Frank Gore and Vernon Davis, a lot of the 49ers fantasy potential ranges between not much and high risk.  I guess it just comes down to whether you're a gambler or not.

The 49ers wrapped up their third day of practice today.  Apparently the original plan was to have a morning and afternoon practice, but Mike Nolan decided to cancel the afternoon practice.  The team starts practicing in pads tomorrow, so it sounds like a chance to give everybody a little rest before then.

On current injury issues
"Arnaz Battle is nursing a little bit of a hamstring that kind of bothers him somewhat. He might take fewer reps at times, although he didn’t today. But someone like Ashley Lelie, naturally that gives someone else the opportunity to take some of those reps so it’d be important for him to get back. He should be back in a few days."

"Walt Harris was held out of practice just because that’s the way we’re doing it. Just like we’ve done the last two years with him: one a day. That is the case with certain players. Jonas Jennings is one of those and Walt Harris, Isaac Bruce, Arnaz Battle – those are the four that come to mind. Joe Staley should be in at the middle or end of the week. We’ll see how it keeps going, but it will not be tomorrow. Aubrayo Franklin should be in the next day or two. [Damane] Duckett will be a few days. Michael [Robinson] has got a strained knee, and they’ll look at it when they go inside . . . it just looks like a strain.”

On the WR battle
"There are a few established guys and a couple I can speak of right away: naturally Isaac Bruce and Arnaz Battle. [Bryant Johnson] might be in that group but, at the same time, he’s in a new situation and a new offense, and it’s important for him to stay in the competition as far as doing everything he can to get better.”

On whether Battle and Bruce are considered the "starters," with Johnson the #3
“No, I would consider all three of them. I would just talk about a three-wide situation because that’s definitely the case. We’re trying to get our best out on the field, so they may be part of the best 11 as it looks right now when you compare them to a fullback offense or a tight end offense.”

On Josh Morgan
“He’s caught a lot of balls, so he has made a good impression. He’s done a very good job, and he’s working hard. He needs to continue to do those things not only on the field but off the field as far as taking care of his body . . . It would be nice if he factors in because he’s certainly done a very nice job for three days and five practices.”

On whether they'll keep 6 receivers on the 53-man roster
“No, I would hope for at least four. Five would be reasonable, but six would mean that we’ve got a decent core of guys. So, I was hoping for guys to show up and then we’d have six, but I wouldn’t go that far today.”

On whether Tony Wragge and Chilo Rachal are battling for a starter role or backup role
“You know, at this point, if everybody’s healthy, it will be a long shot for one of them [to start over David Baas]. But they keep getting better. I’d like for one of them to prove me wrong. You get your expectations too high on a rookie and you’ve either got a bad football team or you’re getting ready to be bad.”

MY THOUGHTS (Fooch, not Nolan)
It sounds like Josh Morgan is making quite an impact on the coaching staff.  Maiocco and Barrows indicated back in June that Morgan looked impressive in OTAs.  If Ashley Lelie can't get healthy, it wouldn't surprise me in the least to see Morgan get a roster spot over Lelie.  Considering the team has 3 solid receivers already, it would not be like cutting your top receiver by any stretch.  Lelie continues to frustrate.  He's out for several days and that's just not going to help him, especially considering he was in the dog house most of last season.

As for the battle at right guard, Nolan makes a good point about getting high expectations for a rookie.  Even if Rachal isn't able to step up, Wragge has been a decent offensive lineman when called upon.  And, as previously discussed, even if Wragge or Rachal doesn't take the starting job, they can work to providing some excellent depth.

Over at ESPN's NFC West blog, Mike Sando took a look at some of the acrimonious contract situations in the division.  The division has signed all of their 2008 draft picks, but that doesn't meant people don't want to get P-A-I-D. 

The Rams are dealing with a Pro Bowl holdout in Steven Jackson.  While Anquan Boldin has reported to Cardinals camp, he is not planning on sticking around when his contract expires.  The Seahawks have an unhappy Bobby Engram, not something you want out of your star receiver.

And the 49ers during all of this?  Well, Arnaz Battle missed several days of practice during the OTAs.  No official word was ever given, but most people believe it was dissatisfaction with having his #2 job handed to Bryant Johnson.  You never want your players unhappy, but it's better if it's the potential #3 receiver, as opposed to say, Patrick Willis or Joe Staley.

However, with that in mind, looking back over recent 49ers history shows very few holdouts.  I was trying to figure out who the last 49ers holdout was and I think it was Julian Peterson in 2004.  Rashaun Woods was a threat too, but I can't remember for sure and google is not much help on that.  Of course, it is Rashaun Woods, so who really cares, right?

The 49ers clearly have struggled on the field and battled with inconsistencies and being generally bad since Mooch left town.  However, while the team has struggled under Nolan, they have definitely brought in some quality talent, while also developing some of their own picks within.  During all this time, there has never been contract holdout drama.  One thing that plays in the team's favor is that a rookie's contract apparently cannot be redone until AFTER the second year.  So you get a couple years without holding out after a deal is done.

At the same time, even when it's been last minute, like with Vernon Davis, the team has gotten their draft picks into camp on time.  Making the leap from college to the pros is a big step up and rookies need every minute of training camp they can get.  JaMarcus Russell missed all of training camp last season and I can't begin to imagine how much that stunted his initial growth.  Even for a guy like Kentwan Balmer, getting in on time means he gets to meet with the likes of Bryant Young.  While Balmer probably wouldn't have missed all of training camp, maybe BY only makes it to the early part of camp and he misses out on that chance?  It's all speculation, but worth considering.

So, even though the team has stunk up the joint at times, we can at least take some solace knowing that our front office isn't entirely incompetent.  Over the last couple of months we've seen them re-sign the likes of Delanie Walker and Michael Robinson.  While neither is a starter, they are important cogs that could make key contributions this year and into the future.

So the question then becomes, do the 49ers have Patrick Willis's agent on speed dial for the moment the season ends and they can renegotiate a long term deal while rewarding Bamm Bamm for his all around awesomeness?

[EDITOR'S NOTE 7/29 11:40PM: I've noticed many people googling "49ers training camp" are coming across this post.  If you end up here and have not been to Niners Nation before, feel free to explore the proverbial studio space.  If you want to leave comments here, scroll to the bottom and you'll see an option for registering.  Registration is free and it gives you the power of commenting and writing your own Fan Posts, which are like blogs within the blog.  Anyways, hope you enjoy your time here, as we've got a great little community that is growing every day.  We'd love to hear from you.]

The long "winter" that is the NFL offseason is finally at an end.  While games do not kick for another couple weeks, practice is officially underway today.  Thursday saw the 49ers report for duty and take care of phsyicals and whatnot.  Thankfully all the rookies are under contract and in camp.  To throw some cliches your way, in July everybody's a contender.  Some more than others, but every team has some reason or another for hope.  The 49ers hope comes in the form of Mike Martz and Justin Smith among many others.

We've broken down different training camp battles (twice).  We've looked at the new 49ers on the field and amongst the coaching staff.  We've even looked at possible best and worst case scenarios.  Consider this post then a quick overview for those who may have been away from Niners Nation awhile, as well as general info on training camp in Santa Clara.

Practice Facilities
Marie P. DeBartolo Sports Center
Santa Clara, CA
8 practices open to the public: July 25, 26, 27, 28, 30; August 1, 2,3

John Clayton with quick thoughts on the 49ers training camp and things to do away from camp:

• What John Clayton says: What's better than 49er camp? First, it's located on the outside of Great America amusement park, which could make for a great doubleheader for the entire family. Catch a morning or afternoon practice with one of the up-and-coming teams in football and slide over to the theme park. The 49ers train at their headquarters and have a nice setup for fans, with stands and refreshments.
• What to do besides training camp: Santa Clara is 45 minutes from downtown San Francisco; visit 49ers' camp in the morning and shop in Union Square in the afternoon. Other must-see places in San Francisco include Alcatraz, Pier 39, Golden Gate Park and the Ferry Building. Back at team headquarters, the Santa Clara Golf & Tennis Club is located but a few feet away, should campgoers wish to take some swings while in town. For a true taste of Silicon Valley history, the Intel Museum also is just down the street. And nearby Triton Museum of Art offers free admission.

Veteran Additions
Isaac Bruce, WR
DeShaun Foster, RB
Bryant Johnson, WR
J.T. O'Sullivan, QB
LaJuan Ramsey, DT
Alan Reuber, OT
Allen Rossum, KR/PR
Barry Sims, OT
Justin Smith, DE
Dontarrious Thomas, LB

2008 Draft Class
Kentwan Balmer, DT/DE
Chilo Rachal, G/T
Reggie Smith, CB/S
Cody Wallace, C
Josh Morgan, WR
Larry Grant, LB

Training Camp Battles to watch
QB1: Alex Smith vs. Shaun Hill vs. J.T. O'Sullivan (no snickering please)
Ted Linebacker: Jeff Ulbrich vs. Larry Grant vs. Brandon Moore
RG (winner does battle with Baas): Chilo Rachal vs. Tony Wragge
CB #2/3: Walt Harris vs. Shawntae Spencer vs. Tarell Brown vs. Reggie Smith
WR #2/#3/#4: Bryant Johnson vs. Arnaz Battle vs. Ashley Lelie vs. Jason Hill vs. Josh Morgan
FS: Mark Roman vs. Dashon Goldson
ROLB: Tully Banta-Cain vs. Jay Moore vs. Parys Haralson
World Wide Supremacy: Patrick Willis and Andy Lee vs. God (trick question, Lee and Willis ARE God)

We'll have wall to wall coverage of training camp.  I'm going to attend one of the eight practices, although that may expand to more if I have time.  In the meantime, if ANYBODY here attends training camp, we'd love to hear your thoughts in a Fan Post.  In the meantime I'll be scouring the Internet for information as things happen.  I hope everyone is as excited as I am for the return of football!

And of course, if you haven't yet signed up, the random drawing for spots in the first Niners Nation Fantasy Football League will be held July 31.  For those not selected, additional leagues will be created to fill all demand and there will be equal prizes to all winners.

Since training camp starts later this week, I put together a short list of position battles heading into training camp.  I could wait until the day before, but since nothing is likely to change in the next few days, now is as good a time as any.  We previously went over quarterback, right guard and the third/nickel back.  At each position I've posted who I think is the early leader in the battle.

Right Outside Linebacker
Leader at the first turn: Tully Banta-Cain
When TBC was brought in last season, there was hope that he would help generate the pass rush that has been missing for some time.  Unfortunately it did not work out quite like that.  While he pounced on Kurt Warner's end zone fumble in overtime, that was probably the only highlight of significance from 2007.  While with the Patriots, TBC was a veritable super-sub and it's possible he ends up back in that role with the 49ers.  I list him as the leader simply because he's the incumbent.  He'll see competition from my boy Jay Moore and Parys Haralson and will lose playing time to Justin Smith if the 49ers continue mixing him into the linebacker corp.  Moore missed all of last season with a high ankle sprain but certainly had an opportunity to learn the system.  I'm quite curious to see how he looks once the games get going.

Haralson got a big bump in playing time and while he wasn't spectacular, he certainly showed some skills.  I would expect even more playing time for him this season.  Considering the competition for playing time, I could definitely see the right OLB being a rotation between TBC, Haralson, Moore and Smith.  While it'd be nice to see a single guy step into the role, each competitor brings something different to the table.  Would you expect a platoon situation?

#2/#3 Wide Receiver
Leader at the first turn: Bryant Johnson and Arnaz Battle
It seems pretty clear that Bruce and Johnson are the guys we'll see starting every week.  While the team isn't rolling out the likes of Boldin and Fitzgerald or Holt and Bruce (back in the day), the depth at wide receiver is intriguing nonetheless.  Arnaz Battle is the guy who comes into training camp behind some new toy and is expected to take a step backwards.  And then every year he steps up once again and is the 49ers most consistent receiver.  Barring Isaac Bruce losing all his skills, Battle will primarily be battling Bryant Johnson for playing time.  As much as I enjoy Battle on the field, I also know that if Johnson steps up and takes the #2 (or even #1) position, the 49ers will be better for it.  Johnson brings more athleticism to the position and I think long term, Battle is better suited as the #3 guy.

I certainly would like to see Ashley Lelie step up and make a name for himself, but I honestly wouldn't be surprised to see Jason Hill or even Josh Morgan leap him on the depth chart.  He has supposedly climbed out the doghouse, but until he produces, I'm not holding my breath.  Hill is an interesting option as he spent much of last year injured.  This training camp, particularly the exhibition games, will be very important if he wants to not get relegated to the scrap heap.

Free Safety
Leader at the first turn: Mark Roman
We've heard plenty of reports about Dashon Goldson looking sharp in practice.  Roman had to get his shoulder cleaned out and that gave Goldson more first team time during OTAs.  Roman isn't getting any younger and as is the case so often in professional sports, it's always nice to improve the team while getting younger.  This may actually be the training camp battle I'm most excited about.  Assuming Roman is healthy, I'd imagine he'll have the edge.  They say the challenger has to truly beat the champ to take the title and Goldson will really have to step up.  Roman is a solid free safety, but it would certainly be nice to get the position locked up with a young talent like Goldson.

Aside from the positions mentioned above and previously, the remaining positional battles are more playing time than starting or not starting.  Nose tackle will be interesting because there are so many bodies to mix in that I don't see a single full-time guy there.  Aubrayo Franklin is the nose tackle, but Balmer will get some time and I'm curious to see how they move around Sopoaga.  And, of course, if they mix in some 4-3 schemes the nose tackle disappears.

So, if there's a position battle you think I missed, feel free to let us know about it.

Anytime Alex Smith and the 49ers QB situation comes up, great passion arises.  It's understandable for their to be some frustrations based on performance, or lackthereof.  Combine that with the brief but winning performance of Shaun Hill last season and you've got some combustible material.

Matt Maiocco ran a story yesterday in which he addressed the question of "When is a bust officially a bust?"  We all know that's about Alex Smith and he addressed it as such.  I took a couple of interesting points away.  He cited a 2005 quotation from Alex Smith's former Utah coach Urban Meyer:

"It's going to be interesting in San Francisco," Meyer said. "Alex is an extremely quick learner. However, he's a guy that, until he understands it, he is nonfunctional. He is a guy that -- I keep hearing how Brett Favre kind of makes something out of nothing and is a person that runs around to make a play -- Alex Smith is not that kind of player. Alex Smith is a person that, once he is taught, has to learn it all. He might struggle early, but once he gets it, he gets it."

.......

"I'm going to be anxious to watch his development with the 49ers. Alex is so careful with the ball. His touchdown-to-interception ratio the last 2 years was phenomenal (47 touchdowns and seven interceptions). That's because, unless he knows exactly what's going on, he won't throw it. He won't just try to guess and take a shot. He has to know.

"That's why, early in his career, and early in our career with him at Utah, he was not an effective passer, because he really didn't understand. Once he understood, there was no one better. He learns quickly, though. But he's not a guy that you throw the ball out there and tell him, 'Go play.' He wants to know what is exactly expected of him and then he becomes a dynamite player.'

After this quotation, MM pointed to Smith's comments about how Mike Martz leaves nothing to chance and gives his quarterbacks all the answers.

I've always read about how Martz is very meticulous and provides multiple options.  If what Urban Meyer said is accurate, I could certainly see that leading to some improvement by Smith.  Or am I grasping at straws?  MM made a good point about Smith's interceptions as a 49er that could either sink my hopes or lend credence depending on how you look at it:

When you think about it, you'd be hard-pressed to think of bad interceptions Smith has made in his career. There have been times when he simply made a bad throw. But there have also been interceptions where the receiver ran the wrong routes or the ball tipped off the hand of the intended target. There have been times when he's tried to force the ball into a receiver in a desperation situation. But there haven't been the instances in which he made a horrible read and took an unnecessary, careless risk.

While a lot will be on Smith, the receivers will certainly have to make plays as well.  While the 49ers don't have spectacular receivers, this is probably the most depth they've had since Nolan took over.  Isaac Bruce knows the Martz offense and as a former QB Arnaz Battle should be able to pick it up.  If Bryant Johnson and Vernon Davis can master the playbook as well, maybe Smith won't have as many passes bouncing off receivers' hands (yes, I'm looking at you Darrell Jackson).

There are countless variables including the receivers, the quarterback, the offensive line and the running backs.  That is one definite reason it is so hard to predict what kind of production the 49ers will get at quarterback.  We can wish and hope all we want, but we need a consistent effort across the board to see any kind of success.

There is a lot of quality writing here at SB Nation, but I miss much of it because of the sheer volume of sites.  So I added the RSS feed for the football sites and have been able to check out the latest and greatest headlines.  I mention this because I came across an interesting post that has inspired a post of my own.  Over at Buc Em, our Bucaneers blog, new author NoahChestnut had an ingenius post about a six-on-six flag football contest among the Bucs. 

Flag and touch football are always a ton of fun and traditions for many on July 4th before the BBQ.  That got me thinking, what current 49ers would make up a solid touch football squad for a game on the beach.  To make it a little more interesting, I thought I'd come up with two 4-man squads to face off against each other.  And of course, feel free to throw out comments on who you think you would make for solid touch football players.  Buc Em put together a whole 6-round draft, but I'm just thinking we'll come up with a pair of teams more or less randomly.

From what I've seen most players can throw a spiral, so we don't necessarily need to have a true quarterback at the QB position.  And considering some of the people with whom I've played touch football, it's definitely not a must.  Also, this is competitive enough where I don't think you'd see many of the bigger offensive and defensive linemen on the field.  Although, I suppose they would be the guy designated to run the short routes when you're looking to move the chains.  So I guess, consider yourself the honorary captain and pick sides. 

We'll have the red team and the white team and let's hear why you think a player is suited for a certain position.  Since they'll be playing both way let us know where on defense a given guy will play as well.  One rule I will implement is that you have to select 2 offensive 49ers and 2 defensive 49ers.  No real reason, but I think it would keep things interesting.  You can substitute max one special teamer (Lee, Nedney, or Rossum) on either side.  The offense will consist of a quarterback and three wide receivers and those guys will then need to play deep safety, corner #1, corner #2 and pass rusher.  Remember, the pass rusher has to count to 5 Mississippi (or is alligator?) before he can rush the quarterback.

RED TEAM
QB/Deep Safety - Arnaz Battle - I couldn't resist the former quarterback here.  He can throw the ball but you know he'll be there to mix in some trickeration.  When I've played in the past, I'm a big fan of the QB lateral throw to the wide receiver who then throws deep.

WR #1/Corner #1 - Ashley Lelie - He may not do jack for the 49ers, but with his blazing speed I can definitely see him as an impressive touch football player.  One of the most successful plays is just a fly pattern by your fastest guy.  I could see Battle sending Lelie to the house and just chucking it up.  In touch football, who cares if you can't run correct routes.

WR #2/Corner #2 - Nate Clements - Lockdown is a guy who likes getting the ball in his hands whether it be interceptions or punt returns.  While he seems like a quiet guy on the field, he seems like he would talk a lot of smack after a big play in a touch football game.  His ESPN scouting report indicates he can "flip his hips and change directions effectively in the open field" and I think that is key for a game on the beach.  Playing football on the beach can be a pain when you're trying to juke the guy covering you in the sand.

WR #3/Pass Rusher - Patrick Willis - While he has speed, I don't think he has what it takes to cover a wide receiver.  Instead, imagine you're the opposing QB and Bamm Bamm is coming after you.  You know it won't be a simple "touch."  On the offensive end I could see him filling that quick in or out role to pick up a few yards at a time (I fill that role admirably thanks to my complete lack of speed).

GOLD TEAM
QB/Pass Rusher - Joe Nedney - I can definitely see Nedney standing tall in the pocket delivering passes.  I went with him as the pass rusher because I just don't see him covering the necessary space in the secondary to protect the deep pass.

WR #1/Deep Safety - Dashon Goldson - His scouting report indicates a weakness in man to man coverage, so I think defensively he's suited for that deep safety position.  I'm a little worried about the overall speed, but I think he can make some plays for the Gold Team.

WR #2/Corner #1 - Vernon Davis - Every touch game has the trash talker who won't shut up about how great he is.  Ladies and gentleman, I introduce to you Vernon Davis.  The Disease would definitely be "that guy" on the beach.  I have a feeling though that his defensive game would not be nearly as good as he thinks it is.

WR #3/Corner #2 - Alex Smith - The 49ers have run trick plays where Battle and Robinson line up in the backfield and Smith splits out wide.  Considering his ability to run the spread option at Utah, Smith brings serious athleticism to the table.  I'm curious about his coverage skills, but I could see him taking a deep pass from Nedney to the house.

And there you have it, two teams ready to battle on Baker Beach in the Outer Richmond of San Francisco.  So who wins?  Well, the gold team's success rides on the arm of Joe Nedney.  I think they've got more talent on offense, although I would love to see Nate Clements guarding Alex Smith straight up.  I think the Red Team takes it, but if Nedney comes to play, who knows.

So who do you have out there and why?  There were several players I would have loved to include but there is only so much space.  Who deserves a spot on the Battle at the Beach?

Yesterday came the news that Delanie Walker was inked to a contract extension through 2012.  Walker's deal appears to be a 3-year deal worth $6 million, including a $1.8 million signing bonus.  This comes on the heels of Michael Robinson signing his own three year extension for $3.525 million, including a $1.2 million signing bonus.  Both players rookie contracts expire after 2009.

Between the two of them, in two seasons they've combined for 237 rushing yards, 43 receptions, 324 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns.  Delanie Walker is a backup tight end and Michael Robinson is the third string running back.  On the surface this would not seem like much to write home about.  Of course, here at Niners Nation, neither Walker nor Robinson is thought of in such traditional terms.

Delanie Walker
Walker is definitely a fan favorite of many and his potential has folks rather excited.  Vernon Davis is the future of the 49ers at tight end, but Walker is a guy who can definitely make an impact.  The 49ers seem to think the same thing with this extension.  Furthermore, Mike Martz has been impressed with what Walker has brought to the table so far in practice:

"Wow. That's how I would say it. Wow. He has some real wow factor to him. He is such a professional and he works so hard at it. He's such a stickler for detail. You talk about some jets and some ability to run and eat up the field. Holy cow. I didn't know anything about Delanie until I got here. The last week or two, we put some things in just for him and he just really excelled."

Walker put up some decent numbers in the preseason last year and showed some signs of life in the regular season.  As with the rest of the offense, it's hard to predict what the Mike Martz offense will mean for Walker's production.  He had 21 receptions for 174 yards last season.  The preseason will likely not be much of an indicator since I'd imagine the team will hold back on rolling out the entire offense.  Any predictions on walker's season?

Michael Robinson
Robinson has always been intriguing because of the switch he's made from quarterback to running back, and the fact that the 49ers took him in the 4th round to make this transition.  Although he hasn't blown people away as a running back, he showed some progress last year, boosting his rushing average from 3.1 to 4.7 yards per carry.  It was based on only 26 carries, so we'll see if SSSS (small sample size syndrome) comes into play.  The addition of DeShaun Foster makes for an interesting situation for Robinson.  While Robinson might not do much as a running back this coming season (or even long term for all we know), he has shown some ability on special teams. 

One thing I do like about him is the fact that he, along with Arnaz Battle, can be utilized in some creative situations because of their quarterback experience.  Martz enjoys some trickery in his offense and this could be his best opportunity.  Throw in the fact that Alex Smith is quite athletic (you don't run Urban Meyer's spread option offense without being an athlete) and we could see some overall zaniness on the field in 2008.

The one thing to keep in mind with these two extensions is that they're low risk, high reward situations.  If there comes a time when there is clearly no room for one or both of them in the future, cutting them will not even remotely cripple the team financially.  Although the press coverage goes to Justin Smith and Nate Clements type signings, these smaller deals can often turn out just as important.

This post is inspired by two things.  First, we had some discussion in the End of Week link dump about Bryant Johnson and Arnaz Battle.  In a bit of good timing, that fell on the day Arnaz Battle made it to OTAs, after missing last week without notifying the team.  In a conference call with reporters, Battle made it seem like a simple personal matter.  When asked if he was disgruntled over the "demotion" to the #3 receiver heading into camp, Battle said, "If you look at the history since I've been here, every year they brought someone in to take a role in this offense as a receiver. I don't look at it as any different than the past. I just want an opportunity to do what I do and play a role in this offense."  Let's be honest, professional athletes have become amazing at spinning things the way they want, so maybe he's spinning, maybe he's telling the truth.  Who knows.  However, my favorite line in response to a question about how behind he was in missing a week of learning the offense, "They (other receivers) probably have a step...But I played quarterback. I feel l have the intelligence to come in and learn the position and get out there and make plays and make things happen."

So aside from that little drama, the real question is what to make of the upcoming training camp battle between Bryant Johnson and Arnaz Battle for the #2 receiver position.  First off, I'm working under the assumption that Bruce will be in the starting lineup.  Also, I'd expect a lot of 3-receiver sets this season, but we're just considering two starting receivers for arguments' sake.  While Bryant Johnson is slotted into the starting lineup, a lot can change in the next two months and even into the regular season.  Thus, the answers available in the poll below.  For now, let's see what each receiver brings to the table.

Bryant Johnson
Johnson has always been a huge potential guy with two camps: one side arguing he has never been able to put it all together and force the coach's hand and the other side arguing he's been stuck behind great receivers in Arizona and never got a fair shake.  His career averages over five seasons are 42 receptions, 535 yards, 1.8 touchdowns and a career YPC of 12.7.  All in all he's been a pretty average receiver if that.  However, as is the case with many wide receivers, it's easy to get sucked in by the enormous talent.  His scouting report points to all the exciting possibilities, as well as the inevitable causes of disappointment that seem to strike every high upside wide receiver:

Johnson is well-built, physical and fast. He has quality tools and a good feel for the game. He can find voids in coverage when a play breaks down. He knows how to use his size and strength to create separation...But Johnson's focus and consistency need to improve. He sometimes appeared frustrated with his role as Arizona's No. 3 receiver last season. His play seemed lackadaisical at times. He will peek at defenders around him in traffic and drop balls as a result...He doesn't play up to his timed speed. His effort as a route runner and downfield blocker could be better. He could be even more physical and a little tougher.

The "pro-Johnson" crowd (for lack of a better phrase) would argue that as this shows, his problems came from being held back as the #3 receiver.  They would argue that as the #2 receiver in a Mike Martz-led San Francisco offense, Johnson would be able to make that step to the proverbial next level.  He's only 27 years old and should thus be entering the prime of his career.  The other side would argue that if he has concentration problems, what happens when the potentially dominant running game of the 49ers takes over and Johnson potentially becomes an after thought at times in the game?  If he's not getting the ball enough would he become a TO-type distraction?  Or if not a distraction would he just be ineffective?

Arnaz Battle
There is no doubt Arnaz Battle is a fan-favorite.  Well he's certainly a favorite of this fan.  That favoritism will sneak into this section on Battle, so be prepared to take some of this with a grain of salt.  Battle was a converted quarterback who has done whatever is necessary to become a quality receiver for the 49ers.  In his last four seasons (his rookie season he had no catches and was primarily a special teams guy), Battle has averaged 37 receptions, 448 yards, 2.75 touchdowns and 12.0 yards per catch.  These numbers are worse than Johnson, but Battle has also shown improvement, where Johnson has been pretty much the same each season.  The scouting report on Battle points to the strengths and weaknesses we all know are there:

Battle is physical and fast. He has quality tools and a good feel for the game. He can find a void in coverage when a play breaks down. He knows how to use his speed and route-running ability to create separation...He freelances less than he once did, but his route-running polish and effort need more work. His play seems lackadaisical at times...He could be more physical and a little tougher. He needs to work harder as a downfield blocker.

One prime argument of the "anti-Battle" camp (again, for lack of a better phrase) is that he is not a high upside guy.  While he has shown some skills since his move to wide receiver, he will never have the freakish natural abilities of Bryant Johnson.  One could argue that considering the problems the 49ers offense has had in the past, starting Battle might be too safe a play, and going with Johnson is a roll of the dice that could pay off huge dividends.

One positive to all of this is the potential for a whole lot of 3-WR sets involving Bruce, Johnson AND Battle.  One thing I do need to do is some more research on the Mike Martz offense and some more specifics on the wide receivers contributions.  We all know about "The Greatest Show on Turf" and the offensive fireworks in St. Louis, but we definitely need more specifics.

For now, though, I'm curious what people think will happen at that second starting wide receiver position. The poll responses aren't completely clear, but basically what I'm wondering is who will be starting at the beginning of the season and who will be starting at the end of the season.  This does not consider injuries, but rather if one guy happens to have a strong year and move past the other guy on the depth chart.