Niners have defensive backs by the dozen

The 49ers remembered the past and did some planning for the future Saturday when they whittled their roster down to the mandatory 53-player limit.

In the first year that coach Mike Nolan and personnel chief Scot McCloughan came to the 49ers, the club routinely ran out of defensive backs. The 49ers started nine different players in their secondary in 2005, including two players who joined the team after the season began.

Now, the 49ers feel they have plenty of defensive backs for this season — and the future. When the 49ers announced their final cuts, there were 12 defensive backs on the team’s 53-man roster, including primary return man Allen Rossum.

“Not only do we have a good group of defensive backs, but we also have some young guys that we need to keep around because we have a couple older guys — whether their contracts are up or things like that — who might be graduating one day,” Nolan said.

Cornerback Walt Harris, 34, and safety Mark Roman, 31, are both signed through 2009. Backup Donald Strickland is scheduled to be a free agent at the end of the season.

Therefore, the 49ers decided to keep all the defensive backs who appeared to be on the bubble: Marcus Hudson, Keith Lewis and second-year player Tarell Brown. Rookie cornerback Reggie Smith also figures prominently in the team’s plans for the future.

“We have some decent defensive backs and I didn’t want to put them out on the street so somebody else could benefit,” Nolan said.

The most notable 49ers cuts on Saturday were a couple veteran offensive players: receiver Ashley Lelie and fullback Moran Norris.

Lelie was believed to have a handle on a roster spot entering the final exhibition game, though he had not played this summer due to a calf strain. Lelie, who could have provided a deep threat, was held without a reception Friday against the San Diego Chargers.

“When it gets right down to it, it really became a durability issue,” Nolan said. “He did not practice much. Since he’s been here, there have been some durability issues. If you can’t count on somebody, for whatever the reason, it’s a tough call. We made the decision we did.”

Ideally, the 49ers wanted to keep six receivers on their 53-man roster to properly stock Mike Martz’s passing game. However, the 49ers will likely keep two receivers on their eight-man practice squad. The top candidate is Dominique Zeigler, who led the 49ers in the exhibition season with 15 receptions for 162 yards and a touchdown.

Norris played two seasons with the 49ers and was instrumental as a lead-blocker in helping Frank Gore rush for 1,695 yards in 2006. However, his play dropped off last season. Zak Keasey began camp ahead of Norris on the depth chart and he did nothing to lose the job.

“I thought the competition was good and it made us better,” Nolan said.

Nolan cited Norris as an example of a player on the team last season who improved this summer but still could not hold onto a roster spot.

“I thought Zak Keasey got better and was a contributor on special teams,” Nolan said.

Linebacker Larry Grant, a seventh-round pick from Ohio State, was the only drafted rookie who did not earn a roster spot. Grant is expected to have one of the spots on the 49ers’ practice squad.

Other top candidates for the practice squad are defensive end Louis Holmes, running back Thomas Clayton and guard Brian de la Puente.

NOTES

The 49ers expect to be completely healthy for the regular-season opener. Nolan said everyone on the team should be available to practice Wednesday. The players “somewhat in question,” according to Nolan are linebacker Parys Haralson (shoulder) and nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin (knee).

Linebacker Jay Moore was placed on injured reserve for the second straight season. He sustained a torn biceps muscle on Friday.

Linebacker Jeff Ulbrich still leads veteran Takeo Spikes for the starting inside linebacker job alongside Patrick Willis. Spikes, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, signed a one-year contract with the 49ers after the first exhibition game. Spikes has started 139 of 140 games in his 10-year career.

Nolan said no decision has been made on the team’s starting offensive guards, but he added that it is likely Tony Wragge will be one of the starters, most likely at right guard. That means David Baas and Adam Snyder are in the mix to start at left guard.

You can reach Staff Writer Matt Maiocco at 521-5492 or matt.maiocco@pressdemocrat.com.