Updated at 9:01 a.m., Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Ex-UH star Lelie battling for roster spot with 49ers
Advertiser Staff
|
Lelie, a free-agent acquisition in the offseason, has worked primarily with Trent Dilfer on the second team.
He's suddenly competing on a roster heavy with capable receivers, which include former Seattle receiver Darrell Jackson, third-round pick Jason Hill, and the team's leading receiver in Arnaz Battle. Other receivers include veteran Bryan Gilmore, 2006 third-round pick Brandon Williams, and former Washington Redskin No. 2 pick Taylor Jacobs, who is ahead of Lelie now on the depth chart.
"All of the sudden we are getting in 3 and 4 wides and we are talking about 3 and 4 guys who can all make plays, 3 or 4 guys who are all going to win and be there for you," quarterback Alex Smith said on sf49ers.com. "No longer is that something I've got to take into account, who are my guys out there? It's just read the defense and throw the ball. I don't have to think about my matchups as much and it's nice to have that."
The 49ers signed Lelie with their intention of having him stretch the field vertically, which he has since his return from injury that kept him out of most the previous organized team activities (OTA).
"My leg is not bothering me. That was my main concern coming into camp after missing out on the OTAs," Lelie said on the team's Web site. "That's good now, so I can focus on everything else. I just want to establish myself on the team during this camp. The first part is getting a spot, and then you go from there."
Lelie also has displayed a knack for tracking and adjusting to passes, something he did while getting air born during the yesterday morning's practice to make the play of the day on a 40-45-yard deep ball from Dilfer.
"I see a guy who is really into it out there," receivers coach Jerry Sullivan said on the Web site. "He's worked on his route techniques and I think he's getting better. I like his attitude, obviously, he's got some speed. We're refining some elements at this time and he's definitely working to get better. He's a vertical guy and has played a lot of football and he should add to the core we've already got here. He'll give us some of his strengths and hopefully we can create some new ones that he doesn't know he has."
