Vernon Davis revealed Wednesday how frustrated
he was adapting to a 49ers offense that might use him heavily in
their playoff opener.
“When I first got in this offense, it was almost
as if I wanted to quit,” Davis said Wednesday. “I was like, ‘This
is just too much.’ There was just too much information at one time
that they were throwing on me and Delanie (Walker) and the rest of
the tight ends.
SANTA CLARA
Vernon Davis revealed Wednesday how frustrated
he was adapting to a 49ers offense that might use him heavily in
their playoff opener.
“When I first got in this offense, it was almost
as if I wanted to quit,” Davis said Wednesday. “I was like, ‘This
is just too much.’ There was just too much information at one time
that they were throwing on me and Delanie (Walker) and the rest of
the tight ends.
“But we stuck with it. We learned as much as we
possibly could. And here we are.”
The 49ers (13-3) are in the playoffs for the
first time in nine years, and they’ll open Saturday against the New
Orleans Saints (14-3) at Candlestick Park.
Davis figures to play a key role in his playoff
debut, and that became more likely Wednesday when Saints safety
Roman Harper missed practice with a surprise ankle injury.
Harper is the Saints’ leader in tackles and
sacks, and before the news of his injury, Davis talked about how he
expected to match up with Harper in one-on-one situations. “Roman
Harper, we’ve been watching him a lot. It seems like he’s always
around the tight end,” Davis said.
Harper got hurt in the Saints’ 45-28 wild-card
win Saturday over Detroit. He told the New Orleans Times-Picayune
he “feels good” about his availability against the 49ers: “I don’t
think there really is a question. It’s the playoffs.”
But will he be able to contain Davis in man
coverage, such as when the Saints blitz? Davis is coming off a
season-high 118 receiving yards in a Jan. 1 win at St. Louis.
“Vernon is really getting comfortable in our
system, and I kind of noticed it the past four and five weeks,”
offensive coordinator Greg Roman said.
Davis said his early-season adjustments included
changing his stance by moving his feet closer together and by
reading defenses more on his routes. “That was a little different
for me, because in the past, I didn’t have to read it as much,”
Davis said. “I’d just run and get open, whether that middle field
was closed or open.”
Left tackle Joe Staley said Davis wasn’t the
only one overwhelmed, noting: “We had to install the whole offense
on the fly. Everyone was feeling that way, not just him. But he’s
really raised his level the past couple weeks.”
— Justin Smith saved the 49ers’ Nov. 13 win over
the New York Giants by jumping high in the “B” gap to bat down a
fourth-down pass. That spot also will be key to defending 6-foot
quarterback Drew Brees. “He’s a really smart guy the way he attacks
the pass rush,” Smith said. “He knows where that open B-gap window
is going to be. He baits the outside rushers by dropping back then
he steps up and slides to where he needs to be for his open
receivers.”
— Defensive lineman Ray McDonald practiced for
the first time since straining a hamstring Jan. 1. The only 49er
who didn’t practice was Walker (jaw). Listed as limited were
McDonald, cornerback Chris Culliver (knee) and receivers Ted Ginn
(ankle) and Kyle Williams (concussion).
— Running back Frank Gore gave each 49ers
offensive lineman a Louis Vuitton travel bag. “I’m very gracious to
Frank for doing that for us,” Staley said. Defensive players
received a pair of K-Swiss sneakers, presumably from K-Swiss
endorser Patrick Willis.
— Roman said he wasn’t distracted by Penn
State’s interest in him before they hired Bill O’Brien as coach
last week: “It came out of nowhere. I was sitting at my desk one
day and the phone rang. I was very honored to be considered. “¦ It
was a four-hour block of time, and I compartmentalized very
well.”
— Wide receiver Lance Moore (hamstring) and
tight end John Gilmore (toe) did not participate in Saints
practice. Linebackers Jonathan Vilma and Jonathan Casillas were
limited with knee injuries. Wide receiver Robert Meachem (knee) was
a full participant.
— The 49ers are only the second home underdog in
a divisional playoff game since 1982, according to pregame.com. The
Saints are listed on that site as 3½-point favorites. The only
other road favorite in a divisional-round game was the 1996 Dallas
Cowboys, who lost 26-17 at Carolina. The Cowboys also were favored
by 3½.
— Rookie quarterback Colin Kaepernick has made
brief cameos in three games, but he remains one snap away from
replacing Alex Smith if an injury occurs. Roman said Kaepernick’s
mechanics have improved, adding: “It’s a whole new world for him.
He’s come along mightily.”
