Saturday, December 04, 1999
49ers Scouting Report
OFFENSE
• QUARTERBACK: Jeff Garcia isn't exactly Steve Young. In fact, he's not even Steve DeBerg. This is his sixth NFL start, but his first in a month. That's mainly because after Young went down with a concussion, the former Canadian Football League MVP has thrown just three touchdown passes and eight interceptions.
Garcia is mobile, averaging 4.1 yards on 29 carries, but he tends to leave the pocket too early and doesn't throw downfield. Despite a stable of big, physical receivers, his longest pass is 47 yards. Steve Stenstrom wasn't the answer in the last three games. Can you believe it? Joe Montana's offense has just one touchdown pass in its last seven games.
• RUNNING BACK: Charlie Garner has been the lone bright spot for this impoverished offense. He's 166 yards shy of 1,000. He's just 5-foot-9, 187 pounds, but he has a knack for making people miss. He leads NFL running backs with more than 111 carries with a 5.3 average and shares the league lead with the Bengals' Corey Dillon with nine carries of 20 yards or more.
Fred Beasley, a sixth-round pick from '98, is a solid blocking fullback who averages nearly 10 yards on 17 catches.
• WIDE RECEIVERS: It seems like the last time we saw Terrell Owens, he was making that last-second catch last season to beat the Packers in the playoffs. Then he got a $4.5-million signing bonus and disappeared. He's dropped some balls and fumbled one away after a long gain recently. Those long gains haven't been happening much — his longest catch is 36 yards.
Jerry Rice and J.J. Stokes haven't been able to get the ball long, either. Rice is averaging less than 10 yards per catch and Stokes barely 10. That happens with new quarterbacks and when a guy like Rice celebrated his 37th birthday during this season.
• OFFENSIVE LINE: The 49ers haven't drafted an offensive lineman in the first round since 1987, and the effect gave Young a big headache and may have chased him from the game three years early. Center Chris Dalman and left tackle Dave Fiore are hurting with knee problems and second-year player Jeremy Newberry is back at right guard after a poor game earlier this year at right tackle.
DEFENSE
• DEFENSIVE LINE: Pro Bowl tackle Bryant Young looks to finally be rounding into form as he recovers from a broken leg suffered a year ago. He's got five sacks and is getting some help from Junior Bryant next to him — they have combined for nine sacks. But the Niners have been getting no pass rush from the outside. Their 21 sacks rank ahead of only the Browns in the league.
• LINEBACKERS: A solid unit against the run with veterans Ken Norton inside and Lee Woodall outside. But the Niners are ranked 27th against the pass and Woodall has just 1.5 sacks.
• SECONDARY: You think the Bengals are hurting in the secondary? Cincinnati looks like the Lions of the late '60s compared to this crew. The Niners have gone through seven starting corners and lost two to injury on Monday night. Sunday's starters are Ramos McDonald, a waiver pickup, and Darnell Walker, strafed by the Rams' Isaac Bruce for three touchdowns two weeks ago.
Strong safety Tim McDonald hasn't been to a Pro Bowl in four seasons but brings some stability. The unit's best player may be hard-hitting free safety Lance Schulters.
• SPECIAL TEAMS: Not so special other than second-year kicker Wade Richey. His only miss this season was a 49-yarder in a monsoon, and he often finds the end zone on his kickoffs.
Rookie punter Chad Stanley is struggling with the NFC's lowest net average.
— Geoff Hobson
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Cincinnati boys basketball roundup
Cincinnati girls basketball roundup
N.Ky. boys basketball roundup
N.Ky. girls basketball roundup
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NKU falls in NCAA vollyeball semis
Mighty Ducks 7, Philadelphia 3
