Fooch's Note: Don't forget to check out my rundown of practice squad rules and eligible players.
The San Francisco 49ers wrapped up their roster cuts yesterday evening and have a set 53-man roster for at least the next few hours. The team has the opportunity to make waiver claims if they so choose. The 49ers have a fairly deep roster, but they may spot somebody in yesterday's NFL roster purge.
As it currently stands, the 49ers retain some measure of flexibility with their roster thanks to some of their defensive players playing on offense, but they have generally stocked up fairly well on both sides of the ball. The team could prove to be a bit short-handed on the offensive line, but I would imagine we will see an offensive lineman end up on the practice squad to potentially cover for that.
Garrett Celek caught most of us by surprise, but we'll have to wait and see how that one plays out. I can only guess he did more to impress the 49ers with his blocking compared to Konrad Reuland. Although Reuland can haul in passes, that third tight end really is not needed all that frequently for pass catching. It is valuable, but blocking is so important in that role. Dobbs had his opportunities, but it would seem like the 49ers were just not quite ready to hand the keys over to him.
And of course, we have the Scott Tolzien/Josh Johnson decision. My guess is that the 49ers decided Tolzien's ceiling is not yet known, while Johnson has sufficiently struggled to establish himself after several years in the league. There is the argument that maybe he could improve under Coach Harbaugh, but that did not seem to hold water. Given that scenario, and the fact that the third QB was going to be a developmental role, this decision is not all that surprising.
OFFENSE
QB (3): Alex Smith, Colin Kaepernick, Scott Tolzien
RB (5): Frank Gore, Kendall Hunter, LaMichael James, Brandon Jacobs, Anthony Dixon
FB (1): Bruce Miller
WR (6): Michael Crabtree, Randy Moss, Mario Manningham, Kyle Williams, A.J. Jenkins, Ted Ginn Jr.
TE (3): Vernon Davis, Delanie Walker, Garrett Celek
OT (2): Joe Staley, Anthony Davis
OG (4): Mike Iupati, Alex Boone, Leonard Davis, Joe Looney
C (2): Jonathan Goodwin, Daniel Kilgore
DEFENSE
DE (4): Justin Smith, Ray McDonald, Demarcus Dobbs, Will Tukuafu
NT (3): Isaac Sopoaga, Ricky Jean Francois, Ian Williams
OLB (3): Ahmad Brooks, Aldon Smith, Parys Haralson
ILB (4): Patrick Willis, NaVorro Bowman, Larry Grant, Tavares Gooden
FS (2): Dashon Goldson, Trenton Robinson
SS (3): Donte Whitner, C.J. Spillman, Darcel McBath
CB (5): Carlos Rogers, Tarell Brown, Chris Culliver, Perrish Cox, Tramaine Brock
SPECIAL TEAMS
K (1): David Akers
P (1): Andy Lee
LOS (1): Brian Jennings