2012-GameRelease-Divisional

Anthony Davis Praised, Keeps Working
By Taylor Price, 49ers.com
Player Feature Story
Anthony Davis has the mid-season praise he’s recently received in his peripheral vision and the St. Louis
Rams at the forefront of his focus this week.
Despite earning mid-season All-Pro selections from Sports Illustrated, NFL.com, ESPN.com and Pro
Football Weekly, the 49ers right tackle is focused at the task at hand: create running lanes for the 49ers
running backs as well as prevent Rams defensive end Chris Long from getting to quarterback Alex Smith.
Davis, 23, admitted he’s enjoyed the praise from respected members of the football media, but not as
much as others in his family like his mother, Sheronda Davis.
“It’s natural to pay attention, you work so hard at something,” Davis said this week, “but you still have to
go to work every day… My mom likes it, probably, but right now I’ve got work to do.”
Davis and San Francisco’s top-ranked rushing offense (168.6 yards per game) will face a stiff test against
a St. Louis defense that ranks 12th in sacks (21) and 13th in rush defense (105.5 yards per game).
The latest challenge for an emerging 49ers offensive line is certainly welcomed by Davis, a first-round
pick in 2010, who’s started in every game over the past three seasons.
“They’re good,” Davis said, summing up an improved Rams defense. “We’ll see on Sunday.”
First-year St. Louis coach Jeff Fisher previously praised San Francisco’s unique rushing attack and all the
variance used in attacking opposing defenses.
Simply put, Davis wouldn’t want to be the opposition.
“I wouldn’t want to be a defense preparing for it,” Davis said.
In year three, the 49ers right tackle is as comfortable as ever in the weekly challenges he faces against
some of the league’s top edge pass-rushers.
“You get used to seeing things,” Davis explained. “You know how it’s going to smell on gameday, you
know what you’re going to be seeing, the atmosphere, it’s just different.”
The improvements made by Davis are appreciated by offensive coordinator Greg Roman, who spoke at
length about his right tackle’s positive strides on Thursday.
“Anytime you draft a player with ability who’s young like that, it’s all about the development of the player,”
Roman said of the player the 49ers traded up to draft with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.
“With Anthony, he loves football. I’ve said this before, he’s a guy who I’d love to have him escort me into a
conflict because I know he’s going to back me up. He’s a competitive guy and he’s a team guy. He
understands what it means to be a member of a team.”
Roman credited offensive line coaches Mike Solari and Tim Drevno for Davis’ steady development, too.
“Coach Solari, I know it’s November right now because he’s got his beard. I feel like I’m coming to work
with Sean Connery every day,” Roman said to an eruption of laughs from the gathered media. “He and
Tim Drevno do a great job with the o-line.”