49ers TE Davis confident going into season opener vs. Cardinals
The Associated Press
Article Launched: 09/04/2007 08:44:53 PM PDT
SANTA CLARA, Calif.—Nobody enters this season of high expectations for the San Francisco 49ers with more confidence than tight end Vernon Davis.
The colorful second-year player expects big things from himself and his team, and that starts with Monday night's season opener against the Arizona Cardinals.
"I want to go out there, me and my team, and just abuse these guys," Davis said Tuesday.
Davis has the physical tools to do that against practically any opponent he faces. A spirited and vocal individual, he also likes to let everybody know it with emotion and chatter on the field.
But that's all part of what makes Davis one of the NFL's rising young stars at his position. He was the star of San Francisco's offseason program, and many are predicting a breakout season for the No. 6 overall selection in the 2006 NFL draft.
With Pro Bowl running back Frank Gore in the San Francisco backfield and an upgraded receiver corps to occupy defenders, Davis doesn't see how he can be stopped when he's isolated in one-on-one coverage.
"I don't care who it is," Davis said. "I have enough confidence in myself to know that anybody who matches up against me, I'm going to win. I'm going to win, no matter what the route is, because I'm going to use my speed, and I'm going to use my size and ability." Davis is a nightmare matchup for opposing defenses because of his tremendous speed, power to break tackles and ability to run after the catch.
Despite carrying a sculpted 253 pounds on his 6-foot-3 frame, he is as fast as many NFL receivers.
Davis is itching to make big improvement from his abbreviated rookie season, when he missed six games and barely played in another after breaking his right leg last September.
But Davis returned in late November and displayed some of the skills and play-making ability that made him one of the most touted tight end prospects ever to enter the league. He finished with a 13.3 average on 20 receptions, including a 52-yard touchdown reception against Green Bay in Week 14 and a tackle-breaking 44-yard catch-and-run against Arizona in Week 16.
"Vernon has some exceptional and rare physical talents," 49ers coach Mike Nolan said. "He is very strong, very explosive, he can jump, he can catch, he can do a lot of things. But it's really about production in the game. When he gets in that category, in production, that's when you get excited about somebody. We're still working on that."
Davis had a career-high 91 yards receiving against the Cardinals in that Christmas Eve game last year. But like the rest of his teammates, he came away from that defeat with a sour taste. Not only did it eliminate the upstart 49ers from playoff contention, it also was San Francisco's fourth consecutive loss to its NFC West rival from Arizona.
That adds even more meaning to an already pivotal Monday night opener.
"We're going to bring everything we've got," Davis said. "I know I am."
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GOING FOR 1,000-YARD SEASON: Davis said there are plenty of reasons to expect that he'll take his game to the next level in his second season.
He still was raw in many facets of the game last year and said he barely knew what he was doing in the offense when his rookie season began.
"I was just thrown out there last year," Davis said. "I didn't have a good understanding of route running. Now I do. I've grown. I've come a long way. Things have really slowed down a lot for me and I can go out and just play now."
Despite the offseason addition of veterans Darrell Jackson and Ashley Lelie to San Francisco's receiver corps this year, Davis potentially could become the top target in San Francisco's passing game for quarterback Alex Smith.
Already there is talk of Davis becoming the first tight end in San Francisco's 62-year history to record 1,000 yards receiving in a season. Eric Johnson, Davis' backup last season, holds the team records for a tight end with 82 receptions and 825 receiving yards.
"That will come," Davis said. "As the season gets here, I believe that will come."
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DEFENSIVE LINE INTACT: Nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin returned to full practice drills Tuesday for the first time since partially tearing a knee ligament during the first week of training camp.
Franklin signed a three-year, $6 million deal with the 49ers as a free agent in March. Expected to be the anchor in San Francisco's switch to a 3-4 defensive scheme, Franklin has yet to see game action with his new team.
Nolan said Franklin will be ready for the season opener. His absence during the preseason allowed backup Isaac Sopoaga to emerge with some of his finest performances since joining the 49ers in 2004.
Veteran defensive end Bryant Young, who saw only a few plays of action in last week's preseason finale after sitting out San Francisco's first three exhibition games, also is healthy after dealing with back problems this summer and will start against the Cardinals.
It will be the first time San Francisco's front wall of Young, Franklin and right end Marques Douglas has played side-by-side in a game.
——— EXTRA POINTS: WR Darrell Jackson (hamstring), S Dashon Goldson (elbow) and CB Donald Strickland (chest) did not practice Monday or Tuesday. Jackson is expected to return when the 49ers resume practice Thursday after a Wednesday players day off. Nolan said that Goldson would most likely be doubtful for the opener, while Strickland will be questionable. Strickland may return to practice on Thursday.
Heres to Adrian Wilson knocking him momentarily unconscious come Monday night....
