Niners' Smith shows no fear

<p>SAN FRANCISCO — Quarterback Alex Smith's two most memorable plays Saturday night had little to do with the skills he hopes to someday apply to his work with the 49ers.</p><p>Smith delivered a crushing block on Raiders defensive end Greg Ellis.</p><p>Then, Smith slammed linebacker Ricky Brown to the turf to prevent an interception return for a touchdown. </p><p>“That's not a good thing to see a quarterback doing that (tackling),” Smith quipped. </p><p>Said 49ers coach Mike Singletary, “It showed he's not afraid.”</p><p>The interception came on a pass that skipped through the hands of receiver Josh Morgan. Brown picked off the ball and raced 46 yards before Smith tackled him at the 49ers' 7-yard line. </p><p>“I thought I was going to get hit, so I wanted to go up and snatch the ball with my hands,” Morgan said. “I should've just secured the catch.”</p><p>The block on Ellis was part of the play's design, as receiver Arnaz Battle took a handoff on a reverse. Smith threw his right shoulder – his twice-surgically repaired shoulder, no less — into the 265-pound Ellis to knock him to the ground. </p><p>“He didn't see it coming,” Smith said. </p><p>Smith said he felt better behind center Saturday night, though his statistics certainly did not reflect it. He completed just 3 of 9 passes for 30 yards. </p><p>“It's just one of those things. I think the numbers can be deceiving,” Smith said. “I'll look at the film. I had a couple of throw-aways and stuff. I'll take a look at the pick and see what I could have done differently.”</p><p><b>LAST LAUGH</b></p><p>The 49ers' first-team secondary reveled in their success against the Raiders' young receivers during their practices in Napa.</p><p>Cornerback Nate Clements, in particular, rubbed it in when he came up with three interceptions during the Wednesday morning practice. </p><p>Not only didn't Clements get any interceptions in the game, but he also surrendered a 24-yard touchdown pass to Raiders rookie Louis Murphy. </p><p>“The defense we called, I've got to get back on that one. But they made a good play,” Clements said. “Well, I'm disappointed in the way that I played, personally.”</p><p><b>INJURY REPORT</b></p><p>The 49ers appeared to get through the game without any significant injuries.</p><p>Starting right tackle Adam Snyder left the game late in the first half with right ankle and knee sprains, the club said. Snyder appeared to be walking without any problems after the game, but Singletary said he would undergo an MRI examination. </p><p>Veteran Marvel Smith replaced Snyder and played the last several plays of the first half and all of the third quarter. </p><p><b>EXTRA POINTS</b></p><p>Linebackers Patrick Willis (ankle/Achilles) and Parys Haralson (foot), defensive backs Michael Lewis (concussion) and Tarell Brown (toe), and guard David Baas (foot) did not suit up for the game. Newly signed cornerback Eric Green also did not suit up. </p><p>There continues to be no progress in the 49ers' contract stalemate with first-round draft pick Michael Crabtree, league sources said. The sides are believed to be about $7 million apart in guaranteed money, with an approximately $18 million difference of opinion in total package of a five-year contract.</p><p>For more on the 49ers, go to Instant 49ers at blog.pressdemocrat.com/49ers. You can reach Staff Writer Matt Maiocco at matt.maiocco@</p><p>pressdemocrat.com</p>