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Nate Montana, Oldest Son of Joe, to Walk On at Notre Dame

Michael David SmithPosted May 15th 2008 11:41AM by Michael David Smith
Filed under: 49ers, Notre Dame Football, NCAA FB Recruiting, San Francisco

During his senior season at Concord De La Salle High School last fall, quarterback Nate Montana didn't exactly set the world on fire. He was the third-stringer, and he finished the season 12-of-19 for 166 yards and one touchdown passing, plus 33 yards on 17 carries running.

But when your dad is Joe Montana, maybe the greatest quarterback ever to play the game, people look at you and see potential. So 30 years after Joe Montana's senior season at Notre Dame, Nate Montana is following in his footsteps and will be a walk-on for the Fighting Irish. Joe says there was no pressure on his end:
"In the end I told him, 'Look, don't go to school for me, don't go to school for mom, you got to do what you got to do and go to the school you'll be happiest at if football doesn't work out,'" Joe Montana says, "and he chose Notre Dame."
Although some Notre Dame fans will be excited just to see the name "Montana" on the roster, it's certainly not realistic to think that Nate can be the kind of player his father was, and it's probably not even realistic to think Nate will play in anything more than mop-up duty. Then again, Joe Montana came to South Bend as the seventh-string quarterback. Things turned out OK for him.

Joe Montana Sues Ex-Wife

Michael David SmithPosted May 9th 2008 6:43AM by Michael David Smith
Filed under: 49ers, San Francisco

Kim Moses, the ex-wife of Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana, recently auctioned off several personal possessions that once belonged to him, and now things like their marriage certificate; a letter he wrote her on a Ziggy card; an "I Love You" note; and a letter Montana wrote to Moses's parents detailing his first year playing for Notre Dame are available for everyone's perusal on The Smoking Gun.

Also on The Smoking Gun: Montana's lawsuit against Moses over the auction:
Montana, 51, claims that the sale of the assorted items--which were auctioned last weekend by a Dallas, Texas firm--violated his copyright and privacy rights. In a U.S. District Court complaint, Montana names Kim Moses, his first wife, and Heritage Auction as defendants.
Montana has been a private person since his retirement, and it's understandable that he's mad that his ex made a nice chunk of change from memorabilia collectors. But all of those possessions belonged to her, which is why, unless there's something specifically in their divorce decree prohibiting such sales, he's likely to lose this case.

Another (More Subtle) Stab at Mike Martz, Courtesy of the Detroit Lions

Tom MantzouranisPosted May 6th 2008 2:26PM by Tom Mantzouranis
Filed under: 49ers, Lions, NFC North, NFC West

It just wouldn't be a day at Lions headquarters without the team spending time that could prepare for the future instead looking to the past. Namely, the petty, childish back-and-forth between the team and jettisoned egomaniac Mike Martz.

On the topic of Drew Stanton, who redshirted his rookie year, and the difference between learning his mechanics from Martz last year and now quarterback coach Scot Loeffler, new offensive coordinator Jim Colletto noted that Stanton "looks like he's throwing the ball better."

A swipe at Martz? It could be that this is just an innocuous comment from Colletto regarding Stanton's progress as a player, and I'm reading way too much into it (I've been known to do this in the past). It could also be that The Free Press took that innocuous quote and framed it in a peculiar context to lure gullible readers like me into what they want the story to be (the media has been known to do this in the past, as well). I don't know, I wasn't there.

But it wouldn't surprise me if it was a tiny dig, seeing as how it seems like the team has incorporated Martz-bashing into its offseason training regime.

If the NFL Were a Flag Football League, Alex Smith Would So Be the 49ers Starting QB

Ryan WilsonPosted May 5th 2008 5:29PM by Ryan Wilson
Filed under: 49ers, NFL Fans


This is certainly welcome news for the Alex Smith contingent, but I should caution that we're just five days into May, so try to keep it all in perspective. After the team's three-day minicamp, Smith looks like the very early front-runner for the starting quarterback job.

You'd think this would've been decided some time ago -- Smith was the first-overall selection in the 2005 draft, after all -- but there have been extenuating circumstances. Smith had three offensive coordinators in his first three years in the league, and offseason addition Mike Martz, who replaced Jim Hostler, will make four.

Smith also suffered a shoulder injury last season, missed nine games, and gave Shaun Hill an opportunity he might not have otherwise had. And now, Hill, along with J.T. O'Sullivan, are competing against Smith for the stating job.

From the Press Democrat's Matt Maiocco:
OK, here it goes . . . but through my set of eyes, Smith looked the most impressive of the three quarterbacks during the five minicamp practices over the weekend. While neither Nolan nor offensive coordinator Mike Martz revealed their rankings, it was clear both men were impressed with what they've seen from Smith. (It was also clear that they feel good about the other two players, as well.)
So, basically, nothing will be decided until training camp. I think it's unfair (if not too early) to call Smith a bust, but if Hill, who was solid in a handful of starts last season, should win the job it won't be altogether surprising. At that point, though, the team will need to decide what to do with Smith because spending first-overall-pick money on a backup doesn't make a lot of sense. Even for a team that won four times in 2007.

Vernon Davis Is Very Serious About Minicamp

Ryan WilsonPosted May 2nd 2008 6:46PM by Ryan Wilson
Filed under: 49ers, NFL Fans


Vernon Davis was the sixth-overall pick in the 2006 draft. His rookie season was marred by injury, but he managed 52 receptions for 509 yards and four touchdowns in 14 games last year, which is even more impressive given that he was apart of the league's worst offense and that he makes a crapload of mistakes.

Which, along with not catching as many passes as he thinks he should, might help explain this, from the 49ers first minicamp practice. From the Press Democrat's Matt Maiocco:
[Parys] Haralson and Vernon Davis got into a nice little dustup during the first session of the team drills. Nolan said Haralson was to blame, but Davis would've probably been kicked out of the game. Davis ended up tossing Haralson's helmet.

"I didn't mean to toss the helmet," Davis said.

Davis admitted he got a little emotional. He said he was acting out of frustration. When I jokingly asked if it was frustration built up from last year when he didn't get the ball thrown his way a lot, Davis seemed to take the question seriously. "I don't know," he said. "I don't know how to answer that question."
Got that, Mike Martz? Simplify the playbook and build the offense around Davis.

Mike Martz, Matt Millen Continue Verbal Fight That Martz Will Always Win

Michael David SmithPosted May 2nd 2008 10:22AM by Michael David Smith
Filed under: 49ers, Lions, Detroit, San Francisco

Ever since Mike Martz was fired as offensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions, there has been some minor verbal sparring between Martz and Lions President Matt Millen. Martz says things like "we were not a good football team," and "I can't explain anything they do," designed to denigrate the talent in Detroit, which was assembled by Millen.

The latest example comes from Jason Cole of Yahoo Sports (via PFT), who quotes Millen saying of Martz:
He can break down what a defense is doing faster than anyone I have ever seen. Then, all of a sudden, he's coming up with a bunch of new ideas about how to attack that defense right there on the spot. That's great, but you'd sit there sometimes and wonder, 'Hey, what happened to all the stuff we talked about Monday to Saturday?'"
And Martz saying of Millen:

"How would Matt know what we were talking about Monday to Saturday since he wasn't there Thursday to Saturday? [because Millen commutes back and forth between Detroit and his home in Pennsylvania] The guys on that coaching staff know why we did that. Look, we just weren't a good football team at that point."

Martz will always win these arguments with Millen for one very simple reason: Martz has a proven track record of being good at his job, and Millen has a proven track record of being terrible at his. There may be valid criticisms of Martz, but Millen is the wrong person to offer them.

NFL Draft Grades: San Francisco 49ers

Tom MantzouranisPosted Apr 28th 2008 5:46PM by Tom Mantzouranis
Filed under: 49ers, NFC West, NFL Draft, San Francisco

San Francisco 49ers 2008 Draft Picks:

Round 1 (29): Kentwan Balmer, DT, North Carolina
Round 2 (39): Chilo Racal, OG, Southern Cal.
Round 3 (75): Reggie Smith, DB, Oklahoma
Round 4 (107): Cody Wallace, C, Texas A&M
Round 6 (174): Josh Morgan, WR, Virginia Tech
Round 7 (214): Larry Grant, OLB, Ohio State

The Good: Every pick was spent on a position of need, though I can nitpick a little. Racal was the draft's second-best guard and the 49ers desperately need some help there. Smith at one point was a solid first-round selection. He's talented and his versatility will allow the 49ers to let him roam the secondary. Balmer, if motivated, seriously addresses their need for a standout defensive end in the 3-4

The Bad: I'm not one of those people who has a lot of faith in Balmer. Some see him as an emerging player, I'm skeptical of a one-year star who was playing for a contract, but the jury remains out. I preferred Johnathan Sullivan over Wallace, though there's nothing wrong with that pick (plus, I'm an idiot). I don't think receiver was as big of a need as others were making it out to be, but I still think they should have addressed that and outside linebacker higher than they did. The team could have also stood to come out of the draft with a developmental offensive tackle.

The Grade: B+. Even though I feel like they really only nailed one pick -- Smith -- out of the park, their first five picks should all make the team and at least the first four will contribute. They did address their needs and improved them across the board. This isn't a flashy draft, but it's one that makes teams better.

Click here to read other Draft Grades.

29. San Francisco 49ers Pick Kentwan Balmer, DE, North Carolina in NFL Draft

Michael David SmithPosted Apr 26th 2008 6:19PM by Michael David Smith
Filed under: 49ers, NFL Draft, San Francisco

I talked to North Carolina defensive end Kentwan Balmer at the scouting combine and came away liking him a lot, and I like the value of picking him with the 29th selection in the first round a lot. This was a very good pick for the 49ers.

Some people think the fact that Balmer only had one good season (his senior year) in college as a problem, but I tend to view Balmer's career in the opposite way: He has the potential, I believe, to develop into one of the league's best defensive linemen, and he was just beginning to develop during his senior season at North Carolina.


Previously on FanHouse:
FanHouse Mock Draft: San Francisco 49ers Select OLB Quentin Groves No. 29
Despite What You May Heave Heard, the 49ers Shouldn't Go Receiver in the First Round
I Hope You're Prepared for More Alex Smith: 49ers Dont Plan on Drafting a QB

FanHouse Mock Draft: San Francisco 49ers Select OLB Quentin Groves No. 29

Tom MantzouranisPosted Apr 20th 2008 8:00PM by Tom Mantzouranis
Filed under: 49ers, NFC West, NFL Draft, San Francisco

With each pick of the FanHouse mock draft, we get into the head of an NFL general manager and let you know who he'll pick and why.

The 49ers are in a rough spot here. In real life, with pretty much no viable options where need and value intersect, I think they trade back. Since that's not an option here, they have to reach.

Ideally, the team wants Gosder Cherilus to bookend the offensive line with Joe Staley. With him off the board, and Kentwan Balmer -- a defensive tackle who could play end in the 49ers' 3-4 -- gone as well, it's about the pass rush.

The 49ers like Quentin Groves, and he's got the measurables to play the pass-rush role in the 49ers' scheme opposite of Manny Lawson, but his actual game skills are slightly more cloudy. Worse yet is his reputation as having an inconsistent motor, which is a death blow when you want someone speeding towards the quarterback on almost every single down. Still, he's the best of what the 49ers need at this point. He can start from Week 1, but 49er fans will have to expect some sort of learning curve.

Calais Campbell is a backup plan to Balmer in case the team feels it's necessary to fix the end position, but that would really be a stretch. Likewise, the 49ers love Notre Dame's Trevor Laws. Though Laws played tackle in college, he's got the frame for a 3-4 end and all the intangibles Groves doesn't have. Still, he might likely last until the 49ers pick only 10 selections later at #39.

The Skinny:
Team Needs: DE, OLB, OT, OG
Player Selected: Quentin Groves, OLB, Auburn
Also Considered: Calais Campbell, DE, Miami; Trevor Laws, DT, Notre Dame

Previous Pick: No. 28,

Next Pick: No. 30, Green Bay Packers

Despite What You May Have Heard, the 49ers Shouldn't Go Receiver in the First Round

Tom MantzouranisPosted Apr 14th 2008 12:34PM by Tom Mantzouranis
Filed under: 49ers, NFC West, San Francisco

Lots of mock drafts and pundits have the 49ers taking a receiver in the first round. Based on the fact that mock drafts and pundits usually do their work on the previous season, that seems fair -- the receivers offered Alex Smith just about as much help as his offensive line did (which is to say, not very much).

But there's a problem with this way of draft prognostication -- it ignores player development and, uh, a little thing called free agency.

By adding Bryant Johnson and Isaac Bruce in free agency, the team has already improved drastically. Johnson is sort of anonymous to a lot of fans, because he played understudy to Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald thus far, but the former first-rounder has a ton of big-play ability. Bruce is ancient but can still offer a lot in the intangibles department and is a reliable target.

And then there's Jason Hill, a project receiver the 49ers took last year who has skills comparable to DeSean Jackson (one of the incoming rookies most linked to the 49ers). Hill had a rough rookie year (as do most projects) but has reportedly made tremendous strides. With the aforementioned duo and Arnaz Battle locked into the team's top three spots, Hill wouldn't be relied on for much and if he proves capable of doing that drafting a receiver early would be totally unnecessary.

Now Vernon Davis ... who knows what's up with that dude.
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Division Standings

NFC West W-L-T PF PA
Seahawks 10-6-0 393 291
Cardinals 8-8-0 404 399
49ers 5-11-0 219 364
Rams 3-13-0 263 438
Complete Standings

Team Leaders

Passing COMP ATT YDS TD
Trent Dilfer 113 219 1166 7
Alex Smith 94 193 914 2
Shaun Hill 54 79 501 5
Receiving Rec Yds Avg TD
Arnaz Battle 50 600 12 5
Vernon Davis 52 509 9.8 4
Darrell Jackson 46 497 10.8 3
Rushing Att Yds Avg TD
Frank Gore 260 1102 4.2 5
Michael Robinson 26 121 4.7 0
Maurice Hicks 21 117 5.6 1

Injuries

Pos Player Injury Status
WR Dominique Zeigler knee IR
QB Alex Smith shoulder IR
CB Marcus Hudson left knee Day-to-Day
CB Shawntae Spencer left quadricep Day-to-Day
DT Aubrayo Franklin calf Day-to-Day
Complete Injuries

Transactions

Pos Player Transaction
T Patrick Estes cut
DT Atiyyah Ellison signed
RB Zak Keasey practice squad addition
LB Tyson Smith practice squad deletion
RB Zak Keasey practice squad addition
Complete Transactions

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