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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, October 10, 2009

NFL: Falcons coming to see the 49ers, and they're good


By Daniel Brown
San Jose Mercury News

Oh, yeah, there's a game.

With all the focus on Michael Crabtree's arrival this week, the intriguing matchup between the 49ers and Falcons has been overlooked. The 49ers running defense against the Falcons' Michael Turner — aka Turner the Burner?

This week, he has been Turner the Back-Burner.

Crabtree signed Wednesday, and every news conference since has focused on the guy who won't even be hitting the field until Oct. 25 — at the earliest.

Don't worry, coach Mike Singletary said Friday. The 49ers never got caught up in the Crabtree distraction.

"I've got to be very honest with you. It's kind of been its own side show," he said. "We anticipated that coming in. I think our team is very focused, very mature, and at this point we're not going to let anything take our attention off what's important.

"Crabtree is in here, fantastic, great. I'm glad we got him, but we've got Atlanta this weekend, and that's been the focus all week. So, I'm very thankful that our guys see it that way as well."

Sunday's game at Candlestick Park is the latest measuring stick for a 49ers team that has handled the Cardinals, Seahawks and Rams but lost its only non-division game.

The Falcons went 11-5 last season behind Turner, who rushed for 1,699 yards and 17 touchdowns, and rookie quarterback Matt Ryan.

"The competition is always good every week in the NFL," nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin said. "We take it as a challenge as a defensive line to hold guys under 100 yards. That's what we're going to try to do" all season.

—The Crabtree learning curve is officially under way. Singletary told the story Friday of Crabtree's introduction to the NFL.

"The other day when he first got here, he went out, and he ran a route. And he really put a lot into that route. I mean, it was great moves, excellent route. And at this level, the cornerbacks sometimes read the quarterback, and they know what the route is.

"So Nate (Clements) just let him go ahead and do his stuff, and the next thing you know (Crabtree) had turned around for the ball, and Nate was catching it. So Crabtree kind of turned around and said, 'How did that happen?' In college that worked. But that was funny to see that. He knows this is another level. It is different."

—Linebacker Patrick Willis sat out practice because of a sore abdominal muscle, but the 49ers said it was only a precaution. Jeff Ulbrich (concussion) was also out. Rookie Scott McKillop worked with the first team.

—Singletary said rookie safety Curtis Taylor, a seventh-round pick from LSU, might be activated this week for the first time.

—Allen Rossum (back), listed on the injury report as probable, will be a game-day decision, Singletary said.

—Ex-49ers quarterback Y.A. Tittle will appear at a book signing on Oct. 17 in San Francisco. Tittle's new book, "Nothing Comes Easy: My Life In Football" details his Hall of Fame career. The book signing is noon- 2 p.m. at Costco, 450 10th St.

—Singletary celebrated his 51st birthday Friday.