Special teams not so special

<p>THE PRESS DEMOCRAT</p><p>CHICAGO — The 49ers’ special teams, a strength in recent seasons, have gotten off to a miserable beginning in the exhibition season. </p><p>In the 49ers’ 37-30 victory over the Chicago Bears, specials teams served as the club’s lowlights in an otherwise impressive showing. </p><p>“We need to correct those things,” 49ers coach Mike Nolan said. </p><p>The Bears blocked a 49ers punt and a field-goal attempt. The 49ers yielded returns of 60, and 75 yards before Keith Lewis recovered a fumble on a kickoff return to set up a second-quarter touchdown. </p><p>“We were tired of getting scorched on special teams,” said Lewis, who later missed a block on former teammate Brandon Lloyd, leading to a blocked punt. </p><p>It was such a bad night for the 49ers that even one of their good plays did not count. </p><p>The 49ers should have been credited with a safety when Zak Keasey tackled Devin Hester in the end zone on a punt return. Officials ruled it a touchback, saying Hester caught the ball in the end zone and never advanced it out of the end zone. </p><p>However, replays clearly showed Hester had brought the ball into the field of play before retreating into the end zone. The 49ers were unable to challenge the second-quarter call because they had already used their timeouts. </p><p>0-LINE PLAYS BIG</p><p>The 49ers are playing with a patchwork offensive line, but the unit fared well against the Bears, who recorded just one sack and surrendered 160 yards rushing. </p><p>“I can’t say enough abut the pass protection,” 49ers quarterback J.T. O’Sullivan said. “The one sack was probably a coverage sack more than anything else. I didn’t have a place to go and I probably should’ve thrown it away if I had to do it again.” “All in all, it was a pretty good way to come out and play against a good team,” said veteran Barry Sims, who started at right tackle in place of injured Jonas Jennings. </p><p>Sims was one of three backups who started for the 49ers. Undrafted rookie Brian de la Puente filled in at left guard for Adam Snyder, and Tony Wragge was at right tackle for David Baas. </p><p>Baas, who underwent surgery to repair a torn pectoral tendon in a weight-lifting incident, could be activated off the physically-unable-to-perform list as early as Monday, 49ers general manager Scot McCloughan said. </p><p>NINERS REACT</p><p>Cornerback Walt Harris, the 49ers’ union representative, was stunned at the news that union executive director Gene Upshaw passed away Thursday morning. He was 63. </p><p>“It was very shocking,” Harris said. “It was very shocking news to the profession, to us as players. It’s very disappointing to hear because of all the things he’s done over the years and the way he’s represented us.”</p><p>Niners owner John York said Upshaw passed away “far too young.” “This is a loss for the entire NFL,” York said in a statement. “Gene was the epitome of what the NFL stands for,” York said in a statement. “He was not only a man who gave his very best on the field every game during his great career, but he was a man of integrity and service off the field.”</p><p>EXTRA POINTS</p><p>Backup running back DeShaun Foster did not make the trip to Chicago due to his grandfather’s death, a team spokesman said. Foster returned to be with his family in Southern California. </p><p>LB Jeff Ulbrich (lower back strain) and RS Allen Rossum (chest contusion) and S Dashon Goldson (cramps) left the game and did not return. </p><p>Niners players who did not suit up for the game: RB Michael Robinson (knee), Snyder (ankle), Jennings (hand), WR Bryant Johnson (hamstring), WR Arnaz Battle (hamstring), WR Ashley Lelie (calf), CB Tarell Brown and Baas (pec). </p><p>Safeties Mark Roman and Keith Lewis wore the 49ers’ defensive radio devices for the second consecutive game. </p><p>For more on the 49ers, go to Instant 49ers at 49ers.pressdemocrat.com. You can reach Staff Writer Matt Maiocco at 521-5492 or matt.maiocco@pressdemocrat.com</p>