Harbaugh: Embattled Cox a ‘good addition'

SANTA CLARA -- Cornerback Perrish Cox, whose off-field issues probably kept him out of professional football last season, has made an eye-opening return this offseason.Coach Jim Harbaugh singled out Cox as a player who has stood out on the 49ers' practice field during organized team activities."Perrish Cox is having a real good offseason," Harbaugh said Tuesday. "He's a good addition for us."Cox appeared in 15 games as a rookie with the Denver Broncos in 2010 with nine starts. The Broncos cut him during training camp before his second season. The 49ers signed Cox in March after he was acquitted for sexual assault charges stemming from a September 2010 incident in Colorado.When asked what he has seen from Cox, Harbaugh said Cox has a chance to be a "two-phase player" -- filling roles on defense and special teams."I think he'll contribute, not only in special teams, but he'll have a shot in our secondary in a spot yet to be determined," said Harbaugh, noting Cox can play the slot or outside.Secondary coach Ed Donatell coached Cox while both men were with the Broncos in 2010. The 49ers did not invest a draft pick in a cornerback. Cox is the only player with NFL experience who has been added to the 49ers' defensive backfield -- and he didn't even play last season."He played the year before and he played a lot and there were special circumstances why he didn't play in the league (in 2011)," Donatell said. "Our personnel department, they handle how many fit in and so forth. But we like our talent on defense, no question about it."The 49ers return their top four cornerbacks from a year ago: starters Carlos Rogers and Tarell Brown, and top reserves Chris Culliver and Tramaine Brock. Cox will compete for his spot on the depth chart."Our whole secondary is performing well," Harbaugh said. "There's been a lot of passing work and throwing work. That's the emphasis."With Rogers rehabbing a minor condition, Cox has entered as the nickel back when the 49ers go with five defensive backs during the offseason practices. Harbaugh said Brown has been "outstanding" and Culliver is making strides."So is Brock," Harbaugh said. "He's playing fast and confident and his speed is showing more this year than we noticed last year."The 49ers are scheduled to face some of the top passers in the NFL this season, such as Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Matthew Stafford and Eli Manning, so there will be a lot of heat on the cornerbacks."We've challenged them to spike because the competition, the schedule, we play I think five of the top quarterbacks from last year," Donatell said. "We have our work cut out for us. We definitely have to improve to match what's coming at us this year."