| | By John Clayton
ESPN.com
STOCKTON, Calif. -- The hundred or so 49er faithful sitting in the University of Pacific stands watch Steve Mariucci each day as he stares at five detailed laminated cards.
|  | | Much is expected of rookie cornerback Ahmed Plummer. |
Mariucci studies the cards, looks up and blurts out a few words to a receptive rookie.
"People in the stands must think I'm following the plays,
reviewing the practice plans, or have my finger on the offensive script," the
49ers coach said. "I'm looking at my cheat sheet, saying to myself, 'Who
the hell was that, No. 37, what's his name?' "
The new 49ers don't need the red uniforms. They need name tags. Camp Mooch is more than just a quick study of a playbook. Memory courses are needed just to remember teammates' names.
"I'm still not familiar with them," linebacker Ken Norton Jr. said. "I use the numbers to remember how they play and then pick them
out. (First-rounder) John Engelberger. I knew his name about a week and a half ago. Ahmed Plummer, I've picked out. Julian Peterson, I recognize. And there's a young safety named (John) Keith."
After that, Norton also needed a cheat sheet.
Told that Norton knew his name, Keith, a third-rounder, sounded like a kid recognized
by a Hollywood star. "He said that about me?" Keith asked in disbelief.
Even as he cruises the dining room, Mariucci is just stunned at the number of new faces. "If I go in the cafeteria and there are no numbers on the players, I'm lost," Mariucci said.
The 49ers are one of the few camps that don't have the
NFL Experience for fans. That's fitting, because the 49ers don't have NFL
experience on their roster. In their first two exhibition games, the Niners
started first- or second-year players at every position, including seven
rookies at seven different positions.
Of the 82-man roster, 62 players have three years or less experience. Against the Patriots in the Hall of Fame game, the starting defense had only 24 combined starts and 139 games plays. There are 59 players who are 25 years or younger.
Good thing Mariucci doesn't allow rookie hazing. There are more new players (45) than returning players (37). Of the 33 rookies, 26 weren't drafted.
"I won't go as far as to say we're an expansion team,"
Norton said. "I would say that we have a lot of new faces. Still, the
system is still there from before. We still have a core group on defense of
Bryant Young, Junior Bryant, Winfred Tubbs and myself. We're just trying to learn each other and try to feel for each others' abilities."
Mariucci says this is a fun coaching experience. Of course,
the Niners haven't lost any regular season games ... yet. That's when things could get
uncomfortable. Still, the coaches are applauding Bill Walsh and the front
office for at least drafting responsive players.
Peterson, who had three sacks and forced
two fumbles against San Diego last weekend, spends close to two hours a
day extra -- an hour per practice session -- on the field, working with
defensive coaches or retired Niner pass-rush specialist Charles Haley.
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“ |
In some places on
this team, the rookies will start by default. There will be some newness to the lineup.
They will grow especially fast. ” |
|
|
— Steve Mariucci, 49ers coach |
"I've got to pay my dues and learn the game," Peterson
said. "I've got to work on my technique."
Plummer, a first-rounder from Ohio State, and Jason Webster, a second-round selection from Texas A&M, have impressed
veterans with their skills at cornerback. Plummer didn't get beat deep in
his first two games and Webster, a tough, 5-9, 180-pounder, shows tenacity on
running and passing plays.
Of course, the cornerback play was so bad last season that
veteran 49ers would welcome anybody. They gave up 36 touchdown passes a year
ago.
"Most teams just lined up against us and threw deep,"
Norton said. "They figured their receiver was either going to catch the
ball or get an interference call."
The 49ers' ultimate challenge will be on defense.
Defensive coordinator Jim Mora Jr. must pull together a group that could start four or five rookies. The "Young and the Winless" face a tough opening schedule against
top running backs Jamal Anderson, Tim Biakabutuka, Marshall Faulk and Emmitt
Smith. Three of the games are on the road on fast artificial tracks.
"Our top four draft choices (Peterson, Plummer, Engelberger
and Webster) all came from big schools and played in big stadiums before big
crowds," Mora said. "All of our draft choices were taken with the idea
they would be playing early and some will start."
This is unlike any 49ers team in recent memory.
"It used to be the 49ers would have six-man draft classes,
and most might make the team as a backup," Mariucci said. "Once in a
while, a rookie would have to start. In some places on this team, the
rookies will start by default. There will be some newness to the lineup. They
will grow especially fast."
If the rookies don't mature fast, Mariucci and his staff
will start aging quickly.
John Clayton is the senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.
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