With challenging year ahead, DBs tested in offseason

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The offseason program was beneficial for the defensive backs -- a group that faced sizable daily challenges.With no pads allowed and no contact, the defensive backs got a lot of work against the 49ers receivers. And they were not allowed to employ bump-and-run coverage under terms of the collective bargaining agreement.The 49ers' pass defense figures to be under tremendous strain during the regular season, too. The 49ers face the potent passing attacks of Green Bay, New Orleans, New York Giants, Detroit and New England.Yet, the 49ers devoted little of their resources this offseason to bring in reinforcements for the defensive backfield. General manager Trent Baalke felt largely secure with the returning talent the 49ers have at cornerback and safety.Defensive backs
The starters and the top reserves appear to be in place, but there will be very good competition in training camp for roles in the team's sub packages.The big offseason development was the 49ers' re-signing of Pro Bowl left cornerback Carlos Rogers to a four-year contract. The only lingering issue is with safety Dashon Goldson, the team's franchise player. Goldson has a 6.212 million deal awaiting his signature for the coming season. But he is looking for the security of a long-term contract for 8 million annually, according to sources.
Rogers missed most of the seven-week offseason program with a right calf strain. He returned to the field to take part in the mandatory minicamp last week. Goldson was the only player on the 90-man roster who did not take part in the offseason program.With those two undisputed starters off the field, it gave valuable practice time with the first-team defense to cornerback Chris Culliver and safety C.J. Spillman.There was no discernible drop-off among the 49ers' top five cornerbacks. Tarell Brown started all 16 games a year ago, and he carried himself with a lot of confidence during the offseason program.Culliver took over as the 49ers' third cornerback early in the season. He had a solid minicamp. An interception of a Colin Kaepernick pass in a 7-on-7 drill, and a breakup of a pass at the goal line against Randy Moss were his best plays last week.Tramaine Brock opened last season as the 49ers' third cornerback. He had interceptions in the first two games of the season before sustaining a hand injury that required surgery and kept him out of action for most of the next five games. When he got healthy, he never regained his role from Culliver. Brock had a very good offseason program and again put himself in position to compete in training camp for playing time.Newcomer Perrish Cox was just a step behind Culliver and Brock, but he has versatility on his side. Cox is adept at playing the slot. He also has the advantage of working in 2010 with 49ers defensive backs coach Ed Donatell while both were with the Denver Broncos. So when Rogers was sidelined through most of camp, Cox took over as the 49ers' nickel back. Cox also looked reasonably comfortable handling punts. At this point, Cox looks to be a good bet to win a roster spot. And he could even suit up for games as a reserve cornerback, nickel back and return man while also playing a role on punt and kickoff coverage.Safety Donte Whitner is a physical player, so his best attributes are certainly not highlighted when there's no physical contact allowed. Meanwhile, Spillman demonstrated his versatility this offseason with a lot of practice time at free safety in place of Goldson. Spillman, whom the 49ers re-signed for three years, appears to have a solid handle on the team's No. 3 safety job. With Spillman locked up in February, the 49ers did not even attempt to re-sign veteran safeties Reggie Smith or Madieu Williams.Undrafted safety Michael Thomas showed his versatility as he entered as the No. 2 nickel back to cover the slot receiver. Trenton Robinson, a sixth-round draft pick, teamed with Spillman on the first team for a couple practices that Whitner did not attend. Generally, Robinson ran with the second team. Thomas and Robinson have cover skills from the free-safety position. Thomas, Mark LeGree and Colin Jones shared time on the third-string base defense as safeties.Cory Nelms was the second-team safety during the minicamp. He also saw action this offseason at wide receiver. While he might be used in some practice settings on offense, his best hope clearly is on defense. Reserve safety Ben Hannula saw a lot of work on offense, too.Anthony Mosley was the best of the undrafted rookie cornerbacks. Curtis Holcomb continued to be limited as he returns from a ruptured Achilles that wiped out his entire rookie season. Deante' Purvis has tremendous speed but is raw as a cornerback. His strength is returning kicks.

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