Roster Cut to 53

The most important outcome of the final preseason game was those who were fighting for the last roster spots on the team.  Singletary and his coaches cut 20 men from the roster with the some notables:

TE Bear Pascoe:  Pascoe was selected in the sixth round with the 184^th pick in this year’s draft.  It was a surprise to see his name on the final roster cuts because he was selected in the NFL draft and was expected to give fellow tight end Vernon Davis some competition for the starting job.  Pascoe showed promise with his catching ability but his lack of blocking skills and failure to adjust to the speed of the game was reason enough to cut him.  There is a chance he might be signed to the practice squad if he clears waivers.  The 49ers only other TE’s are Davis and Delanie Walker.

RB Kory Sheets:  After breaking out as rushing mad-man in the preseason Sheets quickly realized that sometimes the preseason means nothing when it comes to making the final roster.  Sheets was 10^th in the league with 177 rushing yards and three touchdowns.  Sheets promise earned him a spot on the 49ers practice squad for 2009.

WR Dominique Zeigler:  Lost in the shuffle of Isaac Bruce, Josh Morgan, Jason Hill, Arnaz Battle and Michael Spurlock, Zeigler finds himself once again cut by the 49ers but signed to the practice squad.  Zeiegler had a good training camp but with the implementation of the “Taser” formation by new offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye, his version of the Wildcat, which will be lead by Spurlock who will also return kick-offs, moved Zeigler off the final roster.  Zeigler might someday get his chance to shine but will have to wait until next year or hope for a roster spot to open up at WR.  Note: Michael Crabtree does not count as part of the 53-man roster.  If and when he signs we could see one of the receivers above cut from the team.

Other players cut:

Offensive linemen Jacob Bender, Alex Boone (signed to practice squad), Joe Toledo, Kyle Howard and Matt Spanos; WR’s Dobson Collins (signed to practice squad), and Maurice Price; Defensive linemen Pannel Egboh and Khalif Mitchell (signed to practice squad);  TE Joe Jon Finley(signed to practice squad); CB’s Eric Green and Terrail Lambert; FB’s Brit Miller (signed to practice squad), and Bill Rentmeester; LB’s Jay Moore, Justin Roland and Mark Washington.

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7:00 PM (PST)

Bill Walsh Field at Candlestick Park

The useless games that are the preseason start tonight, but for the 49ers this game is important as Mike Singletary and his coaches try to decide on who will be starter under center for the Niner’s this year.  First up, Shaun Hill.  The incumbent quarterback is expected to be named the starter for the regular season and what he does tonight will cement his status.  Alex Smith is expected to run the first team offense tonight as well but Singletary has said the amount of playing time for both will depend on the flow of the game and how each have done when on the field.  If not for Hill being 7-3 as starter, Singletary should give the starting job to Hill because he is one of the reasons why Singletary had the interim tag replaced by a permanent status as head coach.

49er players out for tonight

RB Frank Gore will rest his legs and WR Isaac Bruce is sitting out because he has missed practiced the last couple of days due to being poked in the eye.

Players not seeing action tonight due to injury: LG David Baas (foot), LB Patrick Willis (ankle), CB Tarell Brown (toe),  RB Michael Robinson (groin), TE Delanie Walker (concussion).

What to watch out for

Other than the Hill vs. Smith competition there are some notable players you should be watching for tonight’s game:

WR Josh Morgan:  The endless saga that is Michael Crabtree has no end in sight and with Bruce sitting out with an eye injury and the fact that he is on his last legs makes tonight’s game for Morgan all that more important.  Regardless of what happens with Crabtree, Morgan has been on the rise and gets a chance to show the coaches why he should be the starting WR opposite Bruce.

RT Adam Snyder:  Snyder has been lining up at right tackle with the first team offense in training camp more than free-agent signee Marvel Smith.  Smith was brought in to take over the starting job but he has a history of back problems and with Snyder’s versatility the last couple of years being able to play not only left and right tackle but also at the guard position gives him an edge.

RB Glen Coffee:  Coffee was drafted to keep Gore’s legs fresh and to actually have an impact when Gore is not on the field.  The 49ers have not had an adequate backup for Gore since he has been on the team.  We have seen the likes of DeShaun Foster and Michael Robinson as backups but none had the potential impact that Coffee could have of making the defense account for both running backs.  Gore will not play tonight so Coffee’s time to shine is now.

CB Dre’ Bly:  When CB Walt Harris went down with a season ending injury in OTA’s the 49ers signed Bly to compete with backup Tarell Brown.  Brown has been leading the competition in camp but he is out tonight due to injury.  Bly has an opportunity to show the coaching staff he still can be a playmaker and relied on for coverage.

TE Vernon Davis:  Every year since he has been in the NFL was suppose to be Davis’ breakout year and this is what we hear again.  Most have said he looks good in practice and is on his way to being an elite tight end but I disagree.  I hope Davis has his breakout year but that is not going to happen.  The 49ers have grown tired with Davis’ inability to be a consistent receiver which is why they drafted Bear Pascoe to pressure him to be productive.

Prediction:

Both teams will come out playing shaky as the players try to come their nerves and energy in trying to show and do too much.  Both teams are installing new offenses so don’t expect a high scoring game especially once the scrubs come in.  The 49ers will pull out the win 17-13.

Oh, yeah and Broncos defensive coordinator Mike Nolan returns to the place that fired him.

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Part 3 of my Get to Know series of this year’s 49er draft picks.

Get to Know: Glen Coffee

Get to Know: Michael Crabtree

Bear Pascoe, Tight End

Born: February 23, 1986

Height: 6-5

Weight: 260 lbs.

High School: Granite Hills High School (Porterville, CA)

College: Fresno State University

Entered NFL draft after his senior year and was drafted in the sixth round with the 184th pick in 2009.

Best game in college:

September 8, 2007 vs. Texas A&M: 7 receptions for 70 yards with 3 touchdowns.

In the clutch:

2008 New Mexico Bowl vs. Colorado State: 3 receptions for 39 yards with 0 touchdowns.

2007 Humanitarian Bowl vs. Georgia Tech: 6 receptions for 72 yards with 0 touchdowns.

2006 Liberty Bowl vs. Tulsa: 2 receptions for 10 yards with 0 touchdowns.

Awards:

2003 East Yosemite League Offensive Player of the Year (High School) and 2003 All Area Team (Northern California).

All WAC Selection in 2007 and 2008.

Pascoe Facts:

Played quarterback in high school. Passed for 1,851 yards and 16 touchdowns in his senior year. In the last two years of high school he had just under 3,500 total yards along with 33 touchdowns.

Was recruited by Fresno State as a quarterback. Switched to tight end and redshirted his freshman year.

Full name is McKenna Sean Pascoe. Earned the nickname Bear as a kid because of his size. He weighed 10 pounds as a baby.

Is a champion team roper and cowboy down to the bone. He grew up on his family’s ranch in Porterville, CA which they still own today.

Majored in communication studies.

As a Niner:

Will back-up starting tight end Vernon Davis.  He will be used mostly as a blocker and on special teams. He blocked six field goals in college which is a record. He has great catching abilities and will challenge Davis for playing time this year.

Will wear number 48.

As of June 10, 2009 he remains unsigned by the 49ers.

Highlights: