Sopoaga, starting at nose tackle in place of injured Aubrayo Franklin, had three tackles and caused some havoc in a 31-28 loss to the Chicago Bears Saturday.

Here's the questions and answers about Sopoaga that appeared on sf49ers.com:

Q. Have you seen enough from Isaac Sopoaga to make you feel confident that if it were needed, he could back up Aubrayo in a game?

"He's a better player than he was last year right now and hopefully that continues. We've been here two years with Isaac and I'm just being hopeful that he continues to stay on track like he has."

What makes him a better player now than he was last year?

"He is playing stronger at the line of scrimmage. He's also keeping guys off the linebackers. And at the same time every once in a while, when they turn him loose, he's made plays in the backfield a couple of times. Isaac is a very athletic, very strong, a powerful man and when he plays that way you've got something good."

Has there ever been a thought of playing him at one of the end positions?

"Right now, no. But it's not like you couldn't because our three guys are kind of interchangeable. As athletic as he is, you'd actually want him inside. He pops out there time and time again at practice and there's been a time or two where he's had to go out for an injury. But he's more of an interior guy."