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49ers call versatile Walker a 'slash' player
By Matthew Barrows -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:01 am PDT Thursday, August 31, 2006
Story appeared in Sports section, Page C7
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poSYCA3bf8g
SANTA CLARA -- The 49ers are short on wide receivers but have a glut of tight ends.
Which begs the question, why did the 49ers switch rookie Delanie Walker, who has possibly the best hands on the team and who once ran 40 yards in 4.49 seconds, from receiver to tight end this offseason?
For one thing, coach Mike Nolan said Wednesday, Walker has the bulk of a tight end. When the team drafted him in April, Walker was struggling to stay under 220 pounds. Just four months later, he has added 20 pounds.
"All we had to do was tell him, 'We'll give you 236,' and he went to 240 like that," Nolan said.
And even though Walker is listed as a tight end, the so called "F-back" position he'll actually end up playing this season will often have him split out as if he is a receiver.
That's where Walker was lined up Wednesday when he grabbed a bullet in the back of the end zone from newcomer Gibran Hamdan.
"He's kind of a 'slash' guy right now," Nolan said. "He's between the two (positions). … You're always looking for mismatches. He's a guy that can do that."
Et cetera -- Nolan said half a dozen veteran players would be held out of Friday's preseason finale against the San Diego Chargers. He said he hoped his starters, including quarterback Alex Smith, would get 12 to 15 snaps before giving way to the backups.
• A San Diego native and former Chargers fan, Smith said games against his old favorite team always stand out. When he returned to San Diego this past offseason, Smith said he worked out with several Chargers players, including running back LaDainian Tomlinson.
• The 49ers' most contentious position battle? Nolan said it's at punter, where incumbent Andy Lee risks losing his job to veteran Tom Rouen, who pinned three punts inside the 5-yard line Saturday in Dallas.
By Matthew Barrows -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:01 am PDT Thursday, August 31, 2006
Story appeared in Sports section, Page C7
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poSYCA3bf8g
SANTA CLARA -- The 49ers are short on wide receivers but have a glut of tight ends.
Which begs the question, why did the 49ers switch rookie Delanie Walker, who has possibly the best hands on the team and who once ran 40 yards in 4.49 seconds, from receiver to tight end this offseason?
For one thing, coach Mike Nolan said Wednesday, Walker has the bulk of a tight end. When the team drafted him in April, Walker was struggling to stay under 220 pounds. Just four months later, he has added 20 pounds.
"All we had to do was tell him, 'We'll give you 236,' and he went to 240 like that," Nolan said.
And even though Walker is listed as a tight end, the so called "F-back" position he'll actually end up playing this season will often have him split out as if he is a receiver.
That's where Walker was lined up Wednesday when he grabbed a bullet in the back of the end zone from newcomer Gibran Hamdan.
"He's kind of a 'slash' guy right now," Nolan said. "He's between the two (positions). … You're always looking for mismatches. He's a guy that can do that."
Et cetera -- Nolan said half a dozen veteran players would be held out of Friday's preseason finale against the San Diego Chargers. He said he hoped his starters, including quarterback Alex Smith, would get 12 to 15 snaps before giving way to the backups.
• A San Diego native and former Chargers fan, Smith said games against his old favorite team always stand out. When he returned to San Diego this past offseason, Smith said he worked out with several Chargers players, including running back LaDainian Tomlinson.
• The 49ers' most contentious position battle? Nolan said it's at punter, where incumbent Andy Lee risks losing his job to veteran Tom Rouen, who pinned three punts inside the 5-yard line Saturday in Dallas.
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