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1 - Organization-For Print.indd - Parent Directory - NFL.com

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HISTORYHISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS2005The San Francisco 49ers faced a tremendous amountof adversity during the 2005 campaign under newHead Coach Mike Nolan, but utilized both the highsand lows as opportunities to grow and improve. Witha mix of veteran experience and young talent, theteam doubled their win total from 2004 with a 4-12record, including a series sweep over NFC Westdivision rival St. Louis, a home win against playoffcontender Tampa Bay, and a nail-biting overtimevictory in the 2005 season finale against Houston.The 49ers also made a historic trip to Mexico Cityto play NFC West division rival Arizona in front of an<strong>NFL</strong>-record 103,467 fans. Even though the 49erslost a league-high 101 games by starters, includingthree of the four starters in the secondary, therewere many individual and team bright spots, includingstrong showings from five players who startedevery game in 2005 (LB Derek Smith, NT AnthonyAdams, G Justin Smiley, T Kwame Harris and C/GEric Heitmann). Of the 11 original 2005 draft selections,10 went on to spend the 2005 season on the49ers roster and contributed on offense, defense andspecial teams. Six of the 10 started in some capacitythroughout the season (RB Frank Gore, QB AlexSmith, G David Baas, T Adam Snyder, TE Billy Bajemaand CB Derrick Johnson). On offense, four differentquarterbacks saw time under center. The mostexperienced of the four in the quarterback rotation,Tim Rattay, took the initial starting reins and led the49ers to a 28-25 opening day victory against St.Louis. Shortly after, first overall draft pick Alex Smithmade his professional debut, stepping in to relieveRattay at Arizona in Mexico City. With the eventualtrade of Rattay in Week 7 to Tampa Bay, and a kneeinjury to Smith, both Ken Dorsey and Cody Pickettalso stepped in to call plays in the pocket. Smithreturned to the starting lineup and gained valuableplaying experience, seeing action in nine games withseven starts while showing outstanding poise andmaturity in the pocket. WR Brandon Lloyd led theaerial attack with 48 catches for 733 yards includingfive touchdowns from four different quarterbacks.WR Arnaz Battle also gained ground after reboundingfrom a knee injury, averaging 11.3 yards per catchwhile snagging three touchdowns. On the ground,RB’s Kevan Barlow, Frank Gore and Maurice Hicksall chipped in 100-yard single-game performancesand three touchdowns each. Gore had a stellar firstseason while pacing all 49ers rushers with 127 carriesfor 608 yards. After losing C Jeremy Newberryand LT Jonas Jennings to injuries, the offensive linewas able to develop some consistency in the secondhalf of the season with rookie LT Adam Sndyerand rookie G David Baas making significant stridesas starters. Eric Heitmann also held strong as botha guard and center. Defensively, veteran leader DEBryant Young led the team with eight sacks (includingthree multi-sack contests), his most since 2000.His 77.5 sacks put him into third place on the 49ersall-time sack leader list. <strong>For</strong> his stellar performance,Young was voted by his teammates as the 49ers recipientof the Len Eshmont and Ed Block CourageAwards. Also paving the way was LB Derek Smith,whose 163 tackles led the 49ers, his fifth straighttime to pace the unit. The team’s co-MVP/Bill WalshAward winner also notched his ninth straight 100-yard campaign. In the absence of an injured JeffUlbrich, LB Brandon Moore responded by finishingsecond on defense with career highs in tackles (93),sacks (5), interceptions (1) and fumble recoveries (1).Before he was lost for the season with a fracturedfibula, S Tony Parrish posted two interceptions, returningone for a touchdown. His teammates, CBsMike Adams and Shawntae Spencer led the teamwith four interceptions and a touchdown returneach. The special teams unit played a big part in theteam’s scoring efforts as co-MVP Bill Walsh Awardwinner K Joe Nedney accounted for 97 49ers pointsoff of 28 field goals (including a 56-yard career long)and 19 extra points. P Andy Lee’s three touchbacksin 107 punts placed him with the third-best ratioof touchbacks-to-punts among punters with 30 ormore kicks in 2005. Special teams ace Terry Jacksonstayed true to his form by leading the coverage unitwith 21 tackles. And rookie return man Otis Amey gotthe season off to an electrifying start after returning a75-yard punt for a touchdown in the season openeragainst St. Louis. Amey became the fifth 49ersrookie to return a punt for a touchdown and the firstto do so on his first-ever return. He also became thesecond 49ers player (behind WR Nate Singleton) toscore a touchdown on his first touch.2006Under the direction of second-year Head CoachMike Nolan, the 49ers continued to build a frameworkfor success – that included utilizing youngtalent sprinkled with enough veteran leadership tomentor and keep the group heading in the right direction.After a 4-12 campaign in 2005, the 49erssignificantly increased their win total to seven andclosed the year with two, morale-boosting road winsin Seattle and Denver to finish 7-9. The organizationpicked up some key free agents prior to the start ofthe 2006 season, including All-Pro and future Hall ofFame G Larry Allen, speedy playmaker CB Walt Harrisand 13-year <strong>NFL</strong> veteran and proven Super Bowlwinner QB Trent Dilfer. Their acquisitions paid immediatedividends. Allen and Harris joined secondyearRB Frank Gore at the Pro Bowl to mark the 25thtime in club history the team has been represented,and Dilfer served as a sturdy mentor to second-yearstarting QB Alex Smith. The 49ers also added talentthrough the draft, picking up nine immediatecontributors. Eight of the nine draft picks (TE VernonDavis, LB Manny Lawson, WR Brandon Williams, RBMichael Robinson, DE/LB Parys Haralson, TE DelanieWalker, S Marcus Hudson and DE Melvin Oliver) sawaction during the season while three (Davis, Lawsonand Oliver) were starters. Offensively, the 49ers grewby leaps and bounds, largely in part to the schemesand game plans run by new Offensive CoordinatorNorv Turner. QB Alex Smith began to flourish underTurner’s guidance and became the first-ever 49ersquarterback to take every snap for the entire regularseason while showing dramatic improvement in yeartwo. He set career highs in every offensive categoryand led the 49ers to a fourth-quarter <strong>com</strong>eback win(24-14) in Seattle in his first career primetime game.C Eric Heitmann held strong under center, servingas the line’s vocal and emotional leader and BobbMcKittrick Award winner. Leading the offensive productionwas RB Frank Gore, who plowed behind theline and new free agent FB Moran Norris en routeto setting a franchise-record 1,695 rushing yards,tops in the NFC, and another record 2,180 <strong>com</strong>binedyards. His 212-yard performance against SeattleSAN FRANCISCO 49ERS \\384// MEDIA GUIDEwas the highest single-game rushing total in 49ershistory and was one of nine 100-yard rushing performanceson the season. Gore was voted the team’sco-MVP/Bill Walsh Award winner and Ed BlockCourage Award recipient. Also chipping in was rookieTE Vernon Davis, who scored on his first <strong>NFL</strong> touch,a 31-yard touchdown catch in the season openerat Arizona. The defensive unit overcame some earlystruggles and improved significantly during the secondhalf of the season. LB Brandon Moore led the unitin tackles (114) and sacks (6.5) in his first year as afull-time starter. Consummate veterans LB DerekSmith (93 tackles), DT Marques Douglas (75 tackles,three sacks) and seven-time Len Eshmont Awardwinner DE Bryant Young (60 tackles, 5.5 sacks)led the group up front while CB Walt Harris and SKeith Lewis (72 tackles, two interceptions, one sack)proved to be new, impact presences in the secondary.Harris finished with one sack and a career-higheight interceptions including a 28-yard touchdownreturn at Denver. Rookie LB Manny Lawson wrappedhis inaugural campaign with 65 tackles, 2.5 sacks,one interception and a blocked punt while rookie DEMelvin Oliver had 50 stops, one sack and a 12-yardfumble return for a touchdown. On special teams,K Joe Nedney amassed 116 points, the secondhighesttotal of his career and eighth most in teamhistory. Nedney was also successful on three onsideskicks. RB Maurice Hicks continued to play a key rolein the special teams effort. He led the unit with 20tackles, one fumble recovery and also returned 57kickoffs for a franchise record 1,428 yards, third bestin the NFC. Also making a difference on the specialteams unit was rookie RB Michael Robinson, whofinished with 16 stops and a 33-yard return for afirst down on a fake punt at Seattle.2007Head coach Mike Nolan and his team entered the2007 season believing that anything less than theplayoffs would be a disappointment. Unfortunately,the team fell far short of that mark with an overall5-11 record as four different quarterbacks took thehelm of the 49ers offense. 49ers fans did experiencesome highlights in 2007, including another 1,000-yard rushing season for RB Frank Gore and a stellarseason by LB Patrick Willis. The 49ers top pick out ofOle Miss won Defensive Rookie of the Year and ProBowl honors. Willis was also the only <strong>NFL</strong> rookie tobe named All-Pro in 2007, be<strong>com</strong>ing the first 49ersdefensive rookie to earn the honor since CB RonnieLott in 1981. His 226 tackles was an unofficial<strong>NFL</strong> record and Willis earned numerous additionalaccolades. P Andy Lee joined Willis at the Pro Bowlas he put together one of the greatest punting seasonin <strong>NFL</strong> history. Lee set an <strong>NFL</strong> record for puntsdowned inside the 20-yard line with 42, while rankingsecond in gross punting average (47.3) and netpunting average (41.0) behind Oakland’s P ShaneLechler. The 49ers went 2-1 in primetime games in2007, winning the season opener on Monday NightFootball against the Arizona Cardinals and defeatingthe Cincinnati Bengals on a Saturday night game inDecember. QB Alex Smith started the season with a2-1 record before experiencing a shoulder injury inthe fourth game of the season against Seattle. Heeventually was placed on Injured Reserve in Decemberand underwent surgery. QB Trent Dilfer steppedin for Smith and led the team with 1,166 passing

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