49ers notes: Roman's run game recalls Seifert days, etc.

SANTA CLARA -- In going back to something the organization did in the past, the 49ers are showing the St. Louis Rams' outstanding inside linebacker James Laurinaitis something he has never before seen.While speaking with the Bay Area media on a conference call this week, Laurinaitis talked about the variety of run plays the 49ers have shown over the past two seasons."They run some weird running plays now," he said. "You'll see some running plays I don't think I've seen since Tecmo Super Bowl, that video game. They throw the house at you."He explained what the Rams have to prepare to face."They'll do the two backs flat with the double sweep, the wide sweep," Laurinaitis said. "Now they'll do two-back trap schemes and stuff like that you ' see a lot of teams doing any more. Teams will get in the one-back trap and do that, but the Niners will do little triple-trap kind of stuff."It's actually been quite successful for them. You don't really see a formation anymore where you have two backs lined up at the same depth, side by side. It's good stuff and they have the personnel to do it because their offensive line can pull and get out there, and when they want to they can just come up and maul you."Offensive coordinator Greg Roman draws up the 49ers' run game, and many of his ideas originate from three seasons (1999-2001) in which worked as an offensive assistant under coach George Seifert."I worked for George in Carolina and he had a tremendous impact on me as a football coach," Roman said. "I was privy to all that stuff back then, and got to watch all the films and what not and learned about it."The 49ers used a lot of split-back formations in the 1980s and '90s under Bill Walsh and, later, Seifert. Roman spent a lot of time during the lockout of 2011 watching Walsh installation videos."That used to be the norm a long time ago and then it kind of evolved in the 80's to I-Backs," Roman said. "I think certain types of backs can run that stuff and certain types of backs you really wouldn't want to run that stuff with. And we have backs that are multi-dimensional that can run that stuff. So, it's good."DOUBLE DUTY: The 49ers one rookie wide receiver (A.J. Jenkins) who does not play in games and another receiver on the practice squad (Ricardo Lockette). So when the 49ers need other receivers to run routes against the 49ers' first-team offense, they enlist the help of a couple rookie defensive backs.Safeties Trenton Robinson and Michael Thomas (practice squad) both see action as wide receivers in practice. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said he believes that experience can make them better defenders."I think it helps them understand a receiver's perspective in running routes," Fangio said. "The more you understand what the offense is doing when you're a defensive player, the better off you are."Fangio was clear that neither is destined to play offense."Neither one of them has a future as a receiver, if that's what you're alluding to," he said.INJURY REPORT: The 49ers list nine players on their injury report, but each went through a full practice on Thursday.The players on the injury report are QB Alex Smith (right finger), WR Michael Crabtree (illness), RB Frank Gore (hand), LB Patrick Willis (shoulder), LB Tavares Gooden (elbow), G Daniel Kilgore (concussion), P Andy Lee (hand), WR Mario Manningham (shoulder), DT Will Tukuafu (wrist).