Niner News Thread
- Thread starter Chree
- Start date
with the right coaching, we can have a good year with an avg qb.
and harbaugh should be able to step a qb with good coaching. i'd like to see what troy could do with good coaching/playcalling in the nfl.
u have to remember - we had 1 of the worst coached seasons this last year. especially on offense.
lets wait and see how the pieces fall. some1 like orton could be good enough to have a good season. i'd rather see kolb just cuz he has more potential to be a legitimate answer.
as far as the draft goes, id rather not pick a qb too. i'd rather fill another hole with a safer pick. we could use a beast on the de line - but i'm not sure if 1 will be there. i see most mocks have the first 2 picks going as de line guys.
but i'm not familiar with the talent in the draft, i'm not much into college.
i just want a beast mode pick that can be a force asap.
and harbaugh should be able to step a qb with good coaching. i'd like to see what troy could do with good coaching/playcalling in the nfl.
u have to remember - we had 1 of the worst coached seasons this last year. especially on offense.
lets wait and see how the pieces fall. some1 like orton could be good enough to have a good season. i'd rather see kolb just cuz he has more potential to be a legitimate answer.
as far as the draft goes, id rather not pick a qb too. i'd rather fill another hole with a safer pick. we could use a beast on the de line - but i'm not sure if 1 will be there. i see most mocks have the first 2 picks going as de line guys.
but i'm not familiar with the talent in the draft, i'm not much into college.
i just want a beast mode pick that can be a force asap.
Source: 49ers hire Fangio as defensive coordinator
http://www.csnbayarea.com/01/14/11/...obile_landing.html?blockID=391457&feedID=5936
New 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh on Friday hired three of his Stanford assistants, including both coordinators, a source told Comcast SportsNet.
Vic Fangio, 52, who served as an NFL defensive coordinator for 11 seasons with three different teams, has agreed to be the 49ers' defensive coordinator. Fangio was Harbaugh's defensive coordinator at Stanford and was instrumental in the Cardinal's 12-1 record and Orange Bowl victory over Virginia Tech.
Greg Manusky, the 49ers' defensive coordinator the past four seasons, was hired Friday by the San Diego Chargers in the same role, the Chargers announced.
[RELATED: Matt Maiocco's Friday 49ers Q&A]
Greg Roman was hired as 49ers offensive coordinator earlier today, the San Jose Mercury News reported and CSN confirmed.
Tim Drevno has also agreed to join the 49ers' staff, the source said. Drevno served as Stanford's tight ends coach in 2007 and '08. Last year, he coached the team's offensive line. A 1992 graduate of Cal State Fullerton, Drevno has no NFL coaching experience. But Drevno was offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at University of San Diego from 2003 to 2006. Harbaugh was head coach there from 2004 to '06.
[NEWS: NFL headlines]
Drevno's exact title with the 49ers is not known. Mike Solari is expected to return as 49ers offensive line coach, so Drevno might assist Solari with those duties, as well as work with the team's tight ends.
UPDATE: Harbaugh has also hired Ed Donatell, a 20-year NFL coaching veteran, to coach the 49ers' secondary, the Chronicle's David White reports. Vance Joseph coached the 49ers' defensive backs last season after Johnnie Lynn, with whom he shared the duties, abruptly left the team late in the season. Donatell worked seven years as an NFL defensive coordinator with Atlanta (2004-06) and Green Bay (2000-03). Most recently, he was DBs coach with the Denver Broncos. He has coached 10 different players who have earned a total of 15 Pro Bowl selections during his career.
http://www.csnbayarea.com/01/14/11/...obile_landing.html?blockID=391457&feedID=5936
New 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh on Friday hired three of his Stanford assistants, including both coordinators, a source told Comcast SportsNet.
Vic Fangio, 52, who served as an NFL defensive coordinator for 11 seasons with three different teams, has agreed to be the 49ers' defensive coordinator. Fangio was Harbaugh's defensive coordinator at Stanford and was instrumental in the Cardinal's 12-1 record and Orange Bowl victory over Virginia Tech.
Greg Manusky, the 49ers' defensive coordinator the past four seasons, was hired Friday by the San Diego Chargers in the same role, the Chargers announced.
[RELATED: Matt Maiocco's Friday 49ers Q&A]
Greg Roman was hired as 49ers offensive coordinator earlier today, the San Jose Mercury News reported and CSN confirmed.
Tim Drevno has also agreed to join the 49ers' staff, the source said. Drevno served as Stanford's tight ends coach in 2007 and '08. Last year, he coached the team's offensive line. A 1992 graduate of Cal State Fullerton, Drevno has no NFL coaching experience. But Drevno was offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at University of San Diego from 2003 to 2006. Harbaugh was head coach there from 2004 to '06.
[NEWS: NFL headlines]
Drevno's exact title with the 49ers is not known. Mike Solari is expected to return as 49ers offensive line coach, so Drevno might assist Solari with those duties, as well as work with the team's tight ends.
UPDATE: Harbaugh has also hired Ed Donatell, a 20-year NFL coaching veteran, to coach the 49ers' secondary, the Chronicle's David White reports. Vance Joseph coached the 49ers' defensive backs last season after Johnnie Lynn, with whom he shared the duties, abruptly left the team late in the season. Donatell worked seven years as an NFL defensive coordinator with Atlanta (2004-06) and Green Bay (2000-03). Most recently, he was DBs coach with the Denver Broncos. He has coached 10 different players who have earned a total of 15 Pro Bowl selections during his career.
Seriously though.
Harbaugh may not have a lot of NFL experience as a head coach, but he's doing exactly what he should be doing in spite of that: Bringing in guys with years of NFL experience. The guys he's brought in so far have something like 40 years of NFL experience combined.
Plus, they're all comfortable with each other and know each other.
@VanD, we aren't going to get Kolb for a 4th round pick. Philly would just keep him instead, since he's getting paid bread crumbs next season. I think I'd want him the most.
Josh Johnson does know Harbaugh and his offense, but he doesn't have all of the tools that Harbaugh said he was looking for in his QB.
Harbaugh may not have a lot of NFL experience as a head coach, but he's doing exactly what he should be doing in spite of that: Bringing in guys with years of NFL experience. The guys he's brought in so far have something like 40 years of NFL experience combined.
Plus, they're all comfortable with each other and know each other.
@VanD, we aren't going to get Kolb for a 4th round pick. Philly would just keep him instead, since he's getting paid bread crumbs next season. I think I'd want him the most.
Josh Johnson does know Harbaugh and his offense, but he doesn't have all of the tools that Harbaugh said he was looking for in his QB.
A few people say he's good and could be the 1st QB gone in the draft.
http://siccness.net/vb/showthread.php?t=367897&highlight=Blaine+Gabbert
http://siccness.net/vb/showthread.php?t=367897&highlight=Blaine+Gabbert
Leavitt, Chryst hired as 49ers assistants
http://www.csnbayarea.com/01/19/11/...obile_landing.html?blockID=393961&feedID=5936
Former South Florida head coach Jim Leavitt and longtime NFL assistant Geep Chryst are the latest coach to join Jim Harbaugh's staff.
Leavitt is another coach to make the jump to the 49ers from college football to join the staff. He will become the 49ers' linebackers coach. The St. Petersburg Times was first to report Leavitt's hiring.
Chryst, who spent the past four seasons as tight ends coach with the Carolina Panthers, has been hired to coach quarterbacks, a league source told Comcast SportsNet.
[RELATED: Harbaugh will be multi-tasking at Senior Bowl]
Chryst's history with the new 49ers head coach dates to Harbaugh's playing days, when Chryst worked for the Chicago Bears and San Diego Chargers.
Leavitt was the first head coach at South Florida, and immediately built a solid program. The Bulls went 95-57 under his guidance, including a 3-2 record in bowl games.
Leavitt was fired a year ago after a school investigation concluded he grabbed one of his players by the throat, slapped him in the face and then lied about it. Leavitt called the allegations "absolutely false," and last week USF settled with Leavitt, paying him $2.75 million to end his wrongful termination lawsuit.
[NEWS: NFL headlines]
Leavitt, 54, and Tim Drevno, who will share offensive line responsibilities with Mike Solari, are the only known hires to Harbaugh's staff who have never coached in the NFL.
All the other coaches Harbaugh has added have extensive professional backgrounds:
Jim Leavitt, 54 (linebackers)
1978-79: Missouri (graduate assistant); 1980-81: Dubuque (defensive coordinator); 1982: Morningside College (special teams); 1983-87: Morningside (defensive coordinator); 1989: Iowa (graduate assistant); 1990-91: Kansas State (linebackers); 1992-95: Kansas State (defensive coordinator); 1997-09: South Florida (head coach).
Geep Chryst, 48 (quarterbacks)
1987: Wisconsin-Platteville; 1988: Wisconsin; 1989-90: Wyoming; 1991: Orlando Thunder (WLAF); 1991-95: Bears; 1996-98 (director of research/quality control): Cardinals (tight ends); 1999-2000: Chargers (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks); 2001-03: Cardinals (quarterbacks); 2006: Pantheres; 2007-2010: Panthers (tight ends).
Greg Roman, 38 (offensive coordinator)
1995: Panthers (defensive quality control/strength & conditioning assistant); 1996: Panthers: defensive assistant; 1997-98: Panthers (offensive quality control); 1999-00: Panthers (offensive assistant); 2001: Panthers (assistant offensive line); 2002-03: Texans (tight ends); 2004-05: Texans (quarterbacks); 2006-07: Ravens (assistant offensive line); 2009: Stanford (tight ends/offensive tackles/running game coordinator; 2010: Stanford (associate head coach/assistant head coach offense/tight ends/offensive tackles).
[RELATED: 49ers announce Fangio, Roman, Drevno hires]
John Morton, 41 (receivers)
1997: Raiders (personnel department); 1998-2001: Raiders (offensive assistant/wide receivers); 2002-03: Raiders (senior offensive assistant); 2004: Raiders (tight ends); 2005: Chargers (passing game/wide receivers); 2006: Saints (passing game coordinator/offensive assistant); 2007-2010: USC (passing game coordinator/wide receivers).
Tim Drevno, 41 (offensive line)
1991-92: Cal State Fullerton (graduate assistant); 1993-95: Montana State (tight ends); 1996-98: Montana State (running backs); 1998: UNLV (running backs); 1999: San Jose State (offensive line); 2000-02: Idaho (offensive line); 2003-06: San Diego (offensive coordinator/offensive line); 2007-08: Stanford (tight ends); 2009-10: Stanford (offensive line).
[RELATED: 49ers plan for Drevno to work with Solari]
Vic Fangio, 52 (defensive coordinator)
1979-81: Dunmore H.S. (defensive coordinator);* 1982: Milford Academy (defensive coordinator); 1983: North Carolina (graduate assistant); 1984-85: Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars (defensive assistant); 1986-94: Saints (linebackers);* 1995-98: Panthers (defensive coordinator); 1999-01: Colts (defensive coordinator);* 2002-05: Texans (defensive coordinator);* 2006-08: Ravens (special assistant to head coach; 2009: Ravens (special assistant/linebackers); 2010: Stanford (defensive coordinator).
Ed Donatell, 53 (defensive backs)
1979-80: Kent State (graduate assistant); 1981-82: Washington (graduate assistant); 1983-85: University of the Pacific (defensive backs); 1986-88: University of Idaho (defensive backs); 1989: Cal State Fullerton (defensive backs); 1990-94: Jets (defensive backs); 1995-99: Broncos (defensive backs); 2000-03: Packers (defensive coordinator); 2004-06: Falcons (defensive coordinator); 2007: Jets (special assistant); 2008: University of Washington (defensive coordinator); 2009: Broncos (defensive backs).
* * *
49ers coaching staff at a glance
Offensive Coordinator: Greg Roman (Stanford). 2010: Jimmy Raye/Mike Johnson. (Raye was fired Sept. 27; Johnson was reportedly hired as offensive coordinator at UCLA.)
Quarterbacks: Geep Chryst (Panthers). 2010: Mike Johnson/Jason Michael.
Running backs: Tom Rathman, though no official announcement has been made. 2010: Rathman.
Wide receivers: John Morton (USC). 2010: Jerry Sullivan.
Tight ends: Currently vacant. 2010: Pete Hoener.
Offensive line: Tim Drevno (Stanford) and Mike Solari, though no official announcement has been made about Solari. 2010: Mike Solari with Ray Brown as his assistant.
Defense coordinator: Vic Fangio (Stanford). 2010: Greg Manusky (hired as Chargers defensive coordinator).
Defensive line: Jim Tomsula, though no official announcement has been made. 2010: Tomsula.
Linebackers: Jim Leavitt (South Florida, 2009). 2010: Jason Tarver (outside LBs), Vantz Singletary (inside LBs). Singletary was fired, along with his uncle, head coach Mike Singletary.
Defensive backs: Ed Donatell (Broncos). 2010: Vance Joseph/Johnnie Lynn. (Joseph accepted job with Texans; Lynn resigned late in the season for personal reasons.)
Special teams coordinator: Currently vacant. 2010: Kurt Schottenheimer/assistant Dave Fipp.
Head strength and conditioning: Mark Uyeyama (49ers assistant strength and conditioning coach). 2010: Duane Carlisle.
http://www.csnbayarea.com/01/19/11/...obile_landing.html?blockID=393961&feedID=5936
Former South Florida head coach Jim Leavitt and longtime NFL assistant Geep Chryst are the latest coach to join Jim Harbaugh's staff.
Leavitt is another coach to make the jump to the 49ers from college football to join the staff. He will become the 49ers' linebackers coach. The St. Petersburg Times was first to report Leavitt's hiring.
Chryst, who spent the past four seasons as tight ends coach with the Carolina Panthers, has been hired to coach quarterbacks, a league source told Comcast SportsNet.
[RELATED: Harbaugh will be multi-tasking at Senior Bowl]
Chryst's history with the new 49ers head coach dates to Harbaugh's playing days, when Chryst worked for the Chicago Bears and San Diego Chargers.
Leavitt was the first head coach at South Florida, and immediately built a solid program. The Bulls went 95-57 under his guidance, including a 3-2 record in bowl games.
Leavitt was fired a year ago after a school investigation concluded he grabbed one of his players by the throat, slapped him in the face and then lied about it. Leavitt called the allegations "absolutely false," and last week USF settled with Leavitt, paying him $2.75 million to end his wrongful termination lawsuit.
[NEWS: NFL headlines]
Leavitt, 54, and Tim Drevno, who will share offensive line responsibilities with Mike Solari, are the only known hires to Harbaugh's staff who have never coached in the NFL.
All the other coaches Harbaugh has added have extensive professional backgrounds:
Jim Leavitt, 54 (linebackers)
1978-79: Missouri (graduate assistant); 1980-81: Dubuque (defensive coordinator); 1982: Morningside College (special teams); 1983-87: Morningside (defensive coordinator); 1989: Iowa (graduate assistant); 1990-91: Kansas State (linebackers); 1992-95: Kansas State (defensive coordinator); 1997-09: South Florida (head coach).
Geep Chryst, 48 (quarterbacks)
1987: Wisconsin-Platteville; 1988: Wisconsin; 1989-90: Wyoming; 1991: Orlando Thunder (WLAF); 1991-95: Bears; 1996-98 (director of research/quality control): Cardinals (tight ends); 1999-2000: Chargers (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks); 2001-03: Cardinals (quarterbacks); 2006: Pantheres; 2007-2010: Panthers (tight ends).
Greg Roman, 38 (offensive coordinator)
1995: Panthers (defensive quality control/strength & conditioning assistant); 1996: Panthers: defensive assistant; 1997-98: Panthers (offensive quality control); 1999-00: Panthers (offensive assistant); 2001: Panthers (assistant offensive line); 2002-03: Texans (tight ends); 2004-05: Texans (quarterbacks); 2006-07: Ravens (assistant offensive line); 2009: Stanford (tight ends/offensive tackles/running game coordinator; 2010: Stanford (associate head coach/assistant head coach offense/tight ends/offensive tackles).
[RELATED: 49ers announce Fangio, Roman, Drevno hires]
John Morton, 41 (receivers)
1997: Raiders (personnel department); 1998-2001: Raiders (offensive assistant/wide receivers); 2002-03: Raiders (senior offensive assistant); 2004: Raiders (tight ends); 2005: Chargers (passing game/wide receivers); 2006: Saints (passing game coordinator/offensive assistant); 2007-2010: USC (passing game coordinator/wide receivers).
Tim Drevno, 41 (offensive line)
1991-92: Cal State Fullerton (graduate assistant); 1993-95: Montana State (tight ends); 1996-98: Montana State (running backs); 1998: UNLV (running backs); 1999: San Jose State (offensive line); 2000-02: Idaho (offensive line); 2003-06: San Diego (offensive coordinator/offensive line); 2007-08: Stanford (tight ends); 2009-10: Stanford (offensive line).
[RELATED: 49ers plan for Drevno to work with Solari]
Vic Fangio, 52 (defensive coordinator)
1979-81: Dunmore H.S. (defensive coordinator);* 1982: Milford Academy (defensive coordinator); 1983: North Carolina (graduate assistant); 1984-85: Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars (defensive assistant); 1986-94: Saints (linebackers);* 1995-98: Panthers (defensive coordinator); 1999-01: Colts (defensive coordinator);* 2002-05: Texans (defensive coordinator);* 2006-08: Ravens (special assistant to head coach; 2009: Ravens (special assistant/linebackers); 2010: Stanford (defensive coordinator).
Ed Donatell, 53 (defensive backs)
1979-80: Kent State (graduate assistant); 1981-82: Washington (graduate assistant); 1983-85: University of the Pacific (defensive backs); 1986-88: University of Idaho (defensive backs); 1989: Cal State Fullerton (defensive backs); 1990-94: Jets (defensive backs); 1995-99: Broncos (defensive backs); 2000-03: Packers (defensive coordinator); 2004-06: Falcons (defensive coordinator); 2007: Jets (special assistant); 2008: University of Washington (defensive coordinator); 2009: Broncos (defensive backs).
* * *
49ers coaching staff at a glance
Offensive Coordinator: Greg Roman (Stanford). 2010: Jimmy Raye/Mike Johnson. (Raye was fired Sept. 27; Johnson was reportedly hired as offensive coordinator at UCLA.)
Quarterbacks: Geep Chryst (Panthers). 2010: Mike Johnson/Jason Michael.
Running backs: Tom Rathman, though no official announcement has been made. 2010: Rathman.
Wide receivers: John Morton (USC). 2010: Jerry Sullivan.
Tight ends: Currently vacant. 2010: Pete Hoener.
Offensive line: Tim Drevno (Stanford) and Mike Solari, though no official announcement has been made about Solari. 2010: Mike Solari with Ray Brown as his assistant.
Defense coordinator: Vic Fangio (Stanford). 2010: Greg Manusky (hired as Chargers defensive coordinator).
Defensive line: Jim Tomsula, though no official announcement has been made. 2010: Tomsula.
Linebackers: Jim Leavitt (South Florida, 2009). 2010: Jason Tarver (outside LBs), Vantz Singletary (inside LBs). Singletary was fired, along with his uncle, head coach Mike Singletary.
Defensive backs: Ed Donatell (Broncos). 2010: Vance Joseph/Johnnie Lynn. (Joseph accepted job with Texans; Lynn resigned late in the season for personal reasons.)
Special teams coordinator: Currently vacant. 2010: Kurt Schottenheimer/assistant Dave Fipp.
Head strength and conditioning: Mark Uyeyama (49ers assistant strength and conditioning coach). 2010: Duane Carlisle.
Maiocco: Outside LBs lacked production
http://www.csnbayarea.com/01/19/11/...obile_landing.html?blockID=394043&feedID=5936
There was not much more the inside linebackers could've done for the 49ers this season.
However, the outside linebackers did not hold up their end of the bargain. The 49ers' pass defense was among the worst in the league, and the lack of consistent production from the outside linebackers was a huge reason.
Here's a player-by-player look at the 49ers' linebackers who finished the season on the team:
51 Takeo Spikes: When Michael Lewis left the team after three games, Spikes took on a greater role in the 49ers' defense. He eventually became an every-down linebacker and thrived in that role. Spikes responded with eight passes broken up and three interceptions. He was also very good against the run. He was the 49ers' second-leading tackler, as he racked up 125 stops (according to the coaches' film review). He has played 13 NFL seasons, and there is a new staff coming in, so his future with the club is uncertain. Spikes is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent.
52 Patrick Willis: Obviously, he was very good. He did not make as many game-changing plays as a year ago, but he was still worthy of his Pro Bowl selection. (He will not play in the Pro Bowl because of a broken right hand and two subsequent surgeries.) Willis continued to roam sideline-to-sideline to make tackles. He also got more involved in rushing the passer, and he collected a career-high six sacks on the season. As usual, he led the 49ers in tackles.
53 NaVorro Bowman: It was an up-and-down rookie season that ended on a high note when he played middle linebacker in place of Willis and responded with 15 tackles in the season finale against the Cardinals. Earlier in the season, Bowman struggled when the 49ers tried to find a role for him exclusively on third downs. Ultimately, the 49ers decided to move Spikes into that role. Bowman was the team-leader with 26 tackles on special teams.
[NEWS: Leavitt, Chryst join 49ers coaching staff]
54 Travis LaBoy:LaBoy was the team's best pass-rusher among the four outside linebackers. Despite limited playing time, LaBoy recorded five sacks on the season. But LaBoy was a liability in pass coverage. A six-year veteran, LaBoy was placed on injured reserve in mid-December after sustaining ligament damage to his left knee in a game against the Chargers. The injury was expected to keep him out 6 to 8 weeks and did not require surgery. He is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent.
55 Ahmad Brooks: His season got off to a slow start when he missed most of training camp and the first game of the season after sustaining a lacerated kidney. Brooks worked his way back into the rotation at outside linebacker. He recorded two sacks against the Packers. He had too many concentration lapses with six offside penalties on defense and three false starts on special teams. His offside penalty gave Aaron Rodgers a free shot, which turned into a game-changing 57-yard TD in the second quarter.
56 Scott McKillop: He sustained season-ending tears to the anterior cruciate ligament and patellar tendon in his left knee early in training camp. The 49ers placed him on waived/injured, and when he went unclaimed, he reverted back to the 49ers' injured reserve list. His rehab is going as planned, and he should be ready to compete for a roster spot in 2011.
[RELATED: 49ers 2010 season player stats]
57 Keaton Kristick: He spent the first four weeks on the practice squad before getting the promotion. He suited up for just six games, and made five tackles on special teams. He played well in limited action when he played defense in one-sided games against Seattle and San Diego.
58 Alex Joseph: He spent time on the practice squads of the Raiders and Panthers before the 49ers signed him for the final game of the season for his work on special teams. He did not see any action on defense, but made two special-teams tackles.
59 Thaddeus Gibson: Claimed off waivers from Pittsburgh on Nov. 2, Gibson suited up for just two games and got limited playing time. He was credited with three special-teams tackles and recorded one quarterback pressure.
98 Parys Haralson: He started every game and saw the most playing time of any of the 49ers' outside linebackers. He also had the most disappointing season among the 49ers' front seven. He did not play up to expectations in the run game (setting the edge) or in the passing game. Haralson has not taken the next step as a pass-rusher, as he slipped to just four sacks as his production declined for a second consecutive season after recording a team-high eight sacks in 2008.
[RELATED: 49ers hire Vic Fangio as defensive coordinator]
99 Manny Lawson: Lawson did a good job of playing the run, as he recorded 47 solo tackles and had five tackles behind the line of scrimmage. He is also very good in pass coverage, as he broke up six passes. But Lawson expected to take a big step as a pass-rusher. That did not happen, as he recorded just 2.5 sacks. He is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent.
http://www.csnbayarea.com/01/19/11/...obile_landing.html?blockID=394043&feedID=5936
There was not much more the inside linebackers could've done for the 49ers this season.
However, the outside linebackers did not hold up their end of the bargain. The 49ers' pass defense was among the worst in the league, and the lack of consistent production from the outside linebackers was a huge reason.
Here's a player-by-player look at the 49ers' linebackers who finished the season on the team:
51 Takeo Spikes: When Michael Lewis left the team after three games, Spikes took on a greater role in the 49ers' defense. He eventually became an every-down linebacker and thrived in that role. Spikes responded with eight passes broken up and three interceptions. He was also very good against the run. He was the 49ers' second-leading tackler, as he racked up 125 stops (according to the coaches' film review). He has played 13 NFL seasons, and there is a new staff coming in, so his future with the club is uncertain. Spikes is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent.
52 Patrick Willis: Obviously, he was very good. He did not make as many game-changing plays as a year ago, but he was still worthy of his Pro Bowl selection. (He will not play in the Pro Bowl because of a broken right hand and two subsequent surgeries.) Willis continued to roam sideline-to-sideline to make tackles. He also got more involved in rushing the passer, and he collected a career-high six sacks on the season. As usual, he led the 49ers in tackles.
53 NaVorro Bowman: It was an up-and-down rookie season that ended on a high note when he played middle linebacker in place of Willis and responded with 15 tackles in the season finale against the Cardinals. Earlier in the season, Bowman struggled when the 49ers tried to find a role for him exclusively on third downs. Ultimately, the 49ers decided to move Spikes into that role. Bowman was the team-leader with 26 tackles on special teams.
[NEWS: Leavitt, Chryst join 49ers coaching staff]
54 Travis LaBoy:LaBoy was the team's best pass-rusher among the four outside linebackers. Despite limited playing time, LaBoy recorded five sacks on the season. But LaBoy was a liability in pass coverage. A six-year veteran, LaBoy was placed on injured reserve in mid-December after sustaining ligament damage to his left knee in a game against the Chargers. The injury was expected to keep him out 6 to 8 weeks and did not require surgery. He is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent.
55 Ahmad Brooks: His season got off to a slow start when he missed most of training camp and the first game of the season after sustaining a lacerated kidney. Brooks worked his way back into the rotation at outside linebacker. He recorded two sacks against the Packers. He had too many concentration lapses with six offside penalties on defense and three false starts on special teams. His offside penalty gave Aaron Rodgers a free shot, which turned into a game-changing 57-yard TD in the second quarter.
56 Scott McKillop: He sustained season-ending tears to the anterior cruciate ligament and patellar tendon in his left knee early in training camp. The 49ers placed him on waived/injured, and when he went unclaimed, he reverted back to the 49ers' injured reserve list. His rehab is going as planned, and he should be ready to compete for a roster spot in 2011.
[RELATED: 49ers 2010 season player stats]
57 Keaton Kristick: He spent the first four weeks on the practice squad before getting the promotion. He suited up for just six games, and made five tackles on special teams. He played well in limited action when he played defense in one-sided games against Seattle and San Diego.
58 Alex Joseph: He spent time on the practice squads of the Raiders and Panthers before the 49ers signed him for the final game of the season for his work on special teams. He did not see any action on defense, but made two special-teams tackles.
59 Thaddeus Gibson: Claimed off waivers from Pittsburgh on Nov. 2, Gibson suited up for just two games and got limited playing time. He was credited with three special-teams tackles and recorded one quarterback pressure.
98 Parys Haralson: He started every game and saw the most playing time of any of the 49ers' outside linebackers. He also had the most disappointing season among the 49ers' front seven. He did not play up to expectations in the run game (setting the edge) or in the passing game. Haralson has not taken the next step as a pass-rusher, as he slipped to just four sacks as his production declined for a second consecutive season after recording a team-high eight sacks in 2008.
[RELATED: 49ers hire Vic Fangio as defensive coordinator]
99 Manny Lawson: Lawson did a good job of playing the run, as he recorded 47 solo tackles and had five tackles behind the line of scrimmage. He is also very good in pass coverage, as he broke up six passes. But Lawson expected to take a big step as a pass-rusher. That did not happen, as he recorded just 2.5 sacks. He is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent.
