| San
Francisco 49ers' Billy Cundiff looks on during workouts at an
NFL football practice in Santa Clara, Calif., on Thursday.
Cundiff signed a one-year contract on Tuesday with the NFC
West champion 49ers to compete with David Akers to handle the
kicking duties for San Francisco in the NFC divisional
playoffs Jan. 12. |
 |
SANTA CLARA, Calif.
- The San Francisco 49ers are preparing for next week's
division-round playoff game as if they already know their opponent.
With a first-round
bye a trio of San Francisco scout teamers wore the jerseys numbers
of key Green Bay Packers during Friday's practice.
They simulated top
Green Bay wide receivers Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson along with
tight end Jermichael Finley as third-string 49ers quarterback Scott
Tolzien tossed passes.
"There's
definitely some game planning going on," said tight Garrett
Celek, who swapped his usual No. 81 jersey for a red No. 88, which
is Finley's number.
"Still, we're
not sure who we're going to play. But since we have this week, we're
taking advantage of it and getting certain things ready for whatever
happens next week."
The Packers, seeded
third in the NFC, host No. 6 Minnesota on Saturday night. If Green
Bay beats the Vikings, the Packers will play at San Francisco on
Jan. 12.
Otherwise the 49ers
(11-4-1) will host the winner of Sunday's game between fourth-seeded
Washington and No. 5 Seattle.
Among the other
49ers in different uniform numbers: Chad Hall wore No. 18 (Cobb) and
Ricardo Lockette dressed in No. 87 (Nelson).
"It's
definitely helpful. We've faced those guys before and we have a
potential of seeing those guys again," Pro Bowl safety Dashon
Goldson said.
Typically, Ed
Donatell, who coaches the secondary, and other defensive assistants
bring practice squad wide receivers, tight ends and running backs
into meetings to teach players tendencies of San Francisco's
opponent that week. Offensive assistants will do the same for
defensive players tagged for the "look team."
Players will take
that knowledge onto the practice field against the first-team
offense and defense to prepare the starters for the game. If nothing
else, it gets players used to seeing the routes and numbers of their
upcoming opponent.
The only difference
this week is that the 49ers don't actually have an opponent.
"I think it's
really important. We have all this time off, so you might as well
take advantage of it," said Celek, the brother of Philadelphia
Eagles tight end Brent Celek.
"I think to
just sit on our butts and do nothing wouldn't be very smart. We've
got to get ahead of the curve and I think this is a good way to do
it."
While the 49ers
won't practice again until Monday, players will be tuned into this
weekend's games.
Players said
they'll be watching as casual observers, leaving the scouting for
the film coaches to break down when they return to 49ers
headquarters.
They also said it
doesn't make a difference what team they face, though Washington
would be the only possible opponent San Francisco hasn't seen yet.
The 49ers won 30-22
at Green Bay in Week 1. They split both games against the Seahawks,
winning 13-6 in Week 7 at San Francisco and falling 42-13 at Seattle
in Week 16 — the most lopsided loss of coach Jim Harbaugh's
two-year tenure.
"It's all
about consistency," left tackle Joe Staley said. "You've
got to do it again. What you did last time doesn't mean anything
going into next game. We just have to continue to improve. We just
got to be consistent and do it again. That's the challenge each and
every week is just to build on any successes you had last week and
change anything you didn't do well the week before. That's our
focus."
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