From: timr@sco.COM (Tim Ruckle)
Subject:  49ers Roster
Organization: The Gifted and the Damned
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1992 17:24:50 GMT
Summary: Rice Signs, Haley Traded, Joe Throws



Last Tuesday coaches had reduce their team to 60 players, and they
will have to trim down to the final 47-man roster by next Monday.
The 49ers total was left at 74 Saturday after they waived six players,
including 9th-round draft pick Darian Hagan, the former Colorado QB who
had tried out as a receiver and punt returner.  Punter-kicker Robbie Keen,
who was waived earlier in the week, then resigned and in uniform (though
not playing) Saturday, was waived once again.  Also waived were TE Scott
Asman, WR Kevin Evans, punter Dale Hatcher, and CB John Robert Holland.
The 49ers picked up defensive lineman Greg Joelson, who left the team
last season to sign with the Chargers as a plan-B free agent, after
San Diego released him.  On Sunday the 49ers signed Ilia Jarostchuk,
a linebacker they had tried out but cut in '88.  Jarostchuck, who has
played in 46 games for 4 teams since being drafted in the 5th round
by the Cardinals in '87, was released by the Patriots last week.

Notable among Tuesday's cuts were long-snapper and backup center
Chuck Thomas, safety Johnnie Jackson, and injury-plagued running
back Sheldon Canley.  Thomas is a six-year veteran who was beat
out by Ralph Tamm for the backup spot.  Jackson started 10 of 48
games for the 49ers, and was coming off his best preseason ever
grabbing two interceptions in last week's win over the Chargers.
But there was a lot of competition at safety this year, and his
regular-season play last year was sometimes suspect (he was the
defender responsible for Atlanta's Michael Haynes on the Hail Mary
pass last year).  Canley was out all last season on IR, and then
pulled his other hamstring in camp this year.  His first and only
action came in last week's game, where he caught 2 passes for 12
yards and ran 4 times for 13 yards and fumbled once.  Wide receiver
Troy Kyles, who looked very good in his exhibition play, was waived
as well.

Also released were receiver Tim Stallworth, defensive linemen Mike
Sanfratello, David Wilkins, Odell Haggins, Michael Simmons and
Corey Mayfield (the club's 10th-round pick out of Oklahoma), rookie
free agent linebacker Leroy Smith, and running back Adam Walker.
Haggins (who was signed and released by the 49ers six times in '90)
Simmons, Mayfield and Stallworth all accepted injury settlements.
Free-agent cornerback Rodney Thomas was placed on IR because of a
knee injury that will require surgery (meaning he is ineligible to
play for the 49ers this year).

Veteran linebacker Keith DeLong is the only remaining unsigned player.
By now everybody probably knows that Jerry Rice signed this week, and
is now the highest paid non-QB in the league. 

The starting teams are still somewhat up in the air, but here's how
the roster appears to be shaping up:

Quarterbacks (3): Despite the QB controversy hype, the 49ers "problem"
here is probably one that many coaches would savor: Young was the top
rated QB in the league last year, and Bono the fourth overall.  If
Montana makes a comeback then so much the better.  He threw for the
first time in 25 days yesterday, tossing 20 short and medium passes.
He'll suit up for tomorrow's game and may take some snaps.  However,
coach Seifert has named Young as his starting QB, with no ``interim''
qualifier either (though I doubt a healthy Montana would sit on the
bench for long).

There's been some indication that they may keep Bill Musgrave as well,
who has been performing very well.  (what's the rule about suiting up
an ``emergency'' QB who doesn't count against the roster, but can only
play if all others are injured?)

Running Backs (5):  Newcomers Ricky Watters and Amp Lee have performed
well enough to win spots.  In fact, coach Seifert has finally come to
his senses and named Watters his starting halfback.  Returning fullback
Tom Rathman is a lock.  That would leave only two spots for three returning
players: backup fullback and special teams captain Harry Sydney, last
year's leading rusher Keith Henderson, and last years "starting" halfback
Dexter Carter who has been out with a shoulder injury and conspicuously
absent during the pre-season.  Sydney is retiring after this season, so
maybe he'll get an early start on that (hope not though).  Or maybe
Carter will sit it out on IR for a while if he ends up needing surgery.

Wide Receivers (4): Jerry Rice is finally back.  John Taylor ding'd his
knee in the game against the Redskins, but reportedly would have played
last week if it had been a regular-season game.  This has given the other
rookie receivers more playing time, but Mike Sherrard seems certain to make
final cuts, leaving only one spot for the remaining hopefuls.  Ron Lewis,
who is also being groomed as the 49ers main punt returner, would appear to
have a lock on the final spot.  But he broke a finger in practice Tuesday
and may not play until after the start of the season.  Mark Seay, playing
with one kidney and a lot of heart, made a nice diving TD catch last week.
But I'd guess that unless the 49ers decide to keep 5 receivers that his
chances to make the team are pretty slim.

Tight Ends (3): No changes here--starter Brent Jones is secure, and
reserves Jamie Williams and Wesley Walls will be their too. (unless
the coaches decide to sacrifice a TE for an extra WR...)  Walls bruised
his shoulder this week and might not play tomorrow, though expects to
be ready for the season opener.

Offensive Line (8): Starters Jesse Sapolu, Guy McIntyre, Roy Foster,
Harris Barton, and Steve Wallis are also secure.  Sapolu has been
out with arthroscopic knee surgery, but rejoined full practice and
is scheduled to play Friday night.  Backup positions are still in
question.  Plan-B signee Ralph Tamm has looked better than some of
the younger players, and seems to have secured a spot as long-snapper,
backup center and guard.

Defensive Line (6): Piece Holt is the only part of the line that's
totally settled.  Michael Carter, who's weight is finally down enough
for the coaches to allow him to play, has put in two good showings.
Kevin Fagan, who would start if he were healthy, is still coming back
from knee surgery.  Fagan has been working out on his own, but has yet
to pass his physical and is doubtful whether he will play this week.
Larry Roberts who had his best season last year, is looking good still
in the pre-season.  Youngsters Ted Washington and Dennis Brown are also
looking good, though Washington has done little in recent weeks because
of a lingering shoulder injury and is questionable for the game against
Seattle.  I'd guess that if none fall to serious injury in that final
pre-season game, they'll all make the team.


Pass Rushers (2?):  Sometimes called "Elephants"--those combination
DE/LB's who'll line up differently depending on the defense--the 49ers
were slated to field two such pass rushers.

Tim Harris, who was unimpressive last season, is having a terrific camp.
Unfortunately, I haven't heard anything about his possible (up to 6-game)
suspension for his DUI last year.  He was excused from practice Tuesday
for a "personal appointment".  The 49ers are banking on him getting a
fine rather than suspention time, in part because Harris voluntarily
underwent treatment at the Betty Ford Center during the offseason.

Charles Haley, after coming off of rotator cuff surgery faster than
expected, has been hobbled with a knee problem.  The 49ers had talked
of using them together, and not soley in passing downs.  But the big
news as of yesterday is: Haley has been traded to the Cowboys.  The
deal is apparently for a guaranteed 2nd round pick in '93, and for
the option of swapping draft positions in the first or third rounds
if that would be beneficial for the 49ers (and if the 1st round
option isn't, then they get Dallas' number 3 pick in '94).  He still
has to pass the team's physical to finalize the deal.  The Cowboys,
who'll probably use him strictly as an end, are hoping to improve
a defense that had the third lowest sack total in the league.

Haley has been a perennial Pro-Bowler and was the '90 NFC defensive
player of the year.  He's averaged over 10 sacks a season over 6
years, and his on-field play has made up for his off-field antics.
But last year his play declined, and his unhappiness with the team
increased.  I'd say it's a big gamble to let him go, but the 49ers
have never liked keeping around the "problem" players, even when
they're performing well.

Linebackers (6):  DeLong's prolonged holdout continues to make the
inside linebacking situation unclear (with no hope in sight for
an agreement--his last contract averaged $450,000, and he reportedly
wants a $750,00 salary this year).  His backup, Mitch Donahue, was
playing well before suffering a partial tear of the posterior cruciate
ligament in his left knee Friday night.  He's expected to miss 3
weeks.  This leaves Reggie McKenzie, a former Raider who played in
the WLAF last season, as the starting strong inside linebacker.
The 49ers are giving practice to Bill Romanouski, the strong
outside LB, at weak inside.  And Mike Walter, who normally plays
at that position, practice time at the strong side.

The situation is not much better at weakside linebacker--starter
Mike Walter is healthy, but backup Darin Jordan is out for 3 or 4
weeks with a fractured finger, leaving rookie free agent Leroy
Smith as the reserve man.  So the 49ers brought in Jarostchuck
this week.

Outside linbacking is a bit better: the 49ers have starter Bill
Romanowski, second-year reserve John Johnson and veteran backup
Antonio Goss.  However, the 49er coaches have said that they might
move one of their outside linbackers to the inside (or might bring
in yet another linebacker--though this may just be posturing to
get DeLong more interested in signing soon).  Johnson, whose 14
preseason tackles lead the team, could earn the job as backup.

Defensive Backs (7): This is the sore spot that Seifert wanted to
get settled, but it still ain't so.  1st-round draft pick Dana Hall
is having difficulty with the transition.  This is not too surprising
really, as Hall is not only going from college to the NFL level but
trying to convert from CB to safety and learn how to call the right
defenses against the much more sophisticated offenses.  But so far
I've seen him make bigger hits on his own teammates than on the
opposition (though he did manage to give himself a concussion last
week, so at least he can do one thing that Lott used to do ;^).
Still, I remember how Jerry Rice looked a little tentative in his
first season, and I'm willing to give Hall the benefit of the doubt
for now.

Thane Gash has yet to unseat starter David Whitmore at strong safety.
Gash has playing well against the run, but hasn't shined in the
pre-season.  Todd Bowles, last year's starting free safety, is on
the bubble.

The cornerback situation isn't much different than it was at the
start of training camp--Don Griffin seems safe enough at right
corner, but left corner is still up for grabs.  Merton Hanks, who
finished last season as a starter, has been starting in exhibition
games while Eric Davis, who began last season as a starter, has
been slowed by injuries (first to his shoulder and then a groin).
Darryl Pollard, a two-year starter at left corner who missed the
'91 season after suffering a broken leg in the final exhibition
game, is in a fight with Kevin Lewis for a backup corner job.
Lewis may get some work as a punt returner tomorrow, and a solid
showing there might cement a spot for him.

Punting/Kicking (2):  

Prokop is the only punter still left in camp, but that doesn't
mean his job is secure.  He averaged only 38.5 yards on 40 punts
last year, then of all things he held out this season.  He ranked
next-to-last in the league, behind only Dale Hatcher who was
released by the Rams and competing against him in camp earlier.
Prokop is also still coming off of a groin injury, and it's hard
to imagine that the 49ers are not combing the waiver wire for a
replacement.  Prokop has punted four times for a 34.5-yard average
during the preseason, and without a great showing in tomorrow's
game I can't imagine him being around very much longer.

Placekicker Mike Cofer has made some clutch kicks in the preseason,
and may have recovered from his dismal 50 percent performance last
year.  He was the NFC's leading scorer in '89, and was hampered by
changes at both holder and long snapper last year.  The 49ers will
hold on to him and count on a regained composure this year.


There may be some more surprises in store before the final cutdown.
The offense seems quite solid and ready to pile up yardage and points
against all comers.  The defense looks frighteningly unsettled: thin
at linebackers, secondary still soft, and pass rush in question.
Those last two are particularly worrisome as they're complimentary:
a strength at one can make up for the weakness in the other.  I fear
that if the 49er defensive line is not able to pressure, virtually
any QB is going to pick apart the secondary (and the first four games
are against the Giants, Bills, Jets and Saints).

Still, Seifert is a defensive coach, and usually manages to patch
together a respectable (and always underrated) defense despite the
inevitable injured and/or inexperienced starters.  What he should
do is offer to ``loan'' Young to the Raiders (so they can have a
real QB while grooming Marinovich for the future) if they will
give us back Riki Ellison, Ronnie Lott, and Dave Waymer for the
season.  And then bring Hacksaw Reynolds out of retirement.  You
go with only two down lineman and four safeties.  Everybody wears
black shoes, and you actually invite the opposing team to complete
passes over the middle...then you wait for them to dip into their
third string receivers as the game wears on, and start blitzing
everybody at once.  It's so crazy, it just might work!  ;^)

-timr

--
There is only one difference between a madman and me.  I am not mad.
                                                             --Dali