Here's more on the 49ers pass rush problems as described by the SF Chronicle's Kevin Lynch.
49ERS NOTEBOOK
Job openings: Pass rushers needed
Kevin Lynch, Chronicle Staff Writer
Monday, September 4, 2006
Mike Nolan looked haggard, and his rapid-fire style of speech was slowed during his daily briefing with the media after Sunday's practice.
The 49ers' head coach appeared to be a man who had personally scoured the nation in search of a pass rusher. And he sort of was. The team did leave the 53rd spot on the roster open after the final cuts Saturday for such a person, and 6-foot-2, 270-pound Roderick Green filled it. He was claimed off waivers Sunday from the Ravens.
Picked in the fifth round of the 2004 draft by Baltimore when Nolan was its defensive coordinator, Green played mainly special teams his rookie year. He recorded two sacks in scant playing time last season.
"He's about 15 pounds heavier than when I last saw him," said Nolan, who's hoping the defensive end-outside linebacker can chase the quarterback.
An absence of a pass rush was the most glaring feature of the 49ers' 2-2 exhibition season. The team finished with two sacks -- both by players (defensive tackle Lance Legree and linebacker Corey Smith) who were cut.
Nolan wants to see what Green, who is expected to practice today, looks like before determining whether the third-year player would play in Sunday's season opener in Arizona.
Nolan described Green as a tough player and good pass rusher, although Nolan did admit that teams don't place pass-rushing dervishes on waivers.
Nolan and the defensive staff will have to make do and hope rookie linebacker Manny Lawson blossoms quickly.
Coaches praised Lawson ad nauseam throughout the exhibition season, but Lawson didn't live up to the billing until Friday's finale against San Diego. Lawson picked off a pass and induced another interception in the second quarter when he crashed into quarterback Charlie Whitehurst.
Nolan played down the use of sack statistics as a defensive harbinger.
"Turnovers, third-down efficiency, those are two areas that are bigger than anything else," he said. "But if you hit the quarterback a lot, it's a good thing."
Practice: The eight-man practice squad was partially made up of players the team released: wide receiver C.J. Brewer, fullback-running back Zak Keasey, linebacker Bobby Iwuchukwu, quarterback Gibran Hamdan and tackle Tavares Washington.
Wide receiver Cory Rodgers, a fourth-round pick of the Packers, might sign.
Injury update: Those anticipating the debut of tantalizing rookie tight end Delanie Walker will have to wait. After bruising his shoulder against the Chargers, Walker is out for the Cardinals. Nolan didn't say when Walker would return.
Cornerback Shawntae Spencer practiced, but is still listed as questionable with a hamstring pull. Linebacker Parys Haralson is also questionable with a foot injury.
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