Lawson and Davis
49ERS NOTEBOOK
Davis-Lawson rivalry is user-friendly
Kevin Lynch, Chronicle Staff Writer
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Linebacker Manny Lawson and tight end Vernon Davis will welcome the opportunity to go against somebody else Friday night when the Bears come to town for the 49ers' first exhibition game. So far, the two have done a fairly good job of beating up on each other in training camp.
The 49ers' two first-round picks have dueled both when Davis goes out for passes and when Lawson is rushing the quarterback.
"We've got a little friendly competition going," Davis said.
The competition nearly turned calamitous early in camp. During a scrimmage, quarterback Alex Smith rolled out while Davis tried to block the onrushing Lawson. Lawson was just about to slip the block when Davis dived at the 6-foot-5, 240-pounder. Both players tumbled to the ground and then rolled into a bank of players watching.
Coaches constantly instruct players to stay on their feet during practice, and cutting your teammate is strictly forbidden. Davis let his competitive instincts overpower him.
When each was asked separately about the incident, neither commented but both laughed.
"He's just making me better," said Lawson, who thinks he probably won't face another tight end with Davis' physical gifts. "You fast? Vernon's fast. You strong? Vernon's strong. I've got that right here in San Francisco."
Coach Mike Nolan considered easing Lawson's learning curve in converting him from college defensive end to NFL linebacker, as he'd had to do with former Arizona State player Terrell Suggs in Baltimore. Now Nolan and 49ers defensive coordinator Billy Davis believe Lawson can handle the position mentally.
"If you set me down and told me a play, I could tell you what I have to do," Lawson said. "Now it's just doing what I know and trusting what my eyes see."
Torrey out: An MRI exam of linebacker Andre Torrey's left knee revealed a torn anterior cruciate ligament. The 49ers probably will put the Alameda High School grad on injured reserve, which means he won't play this year.
Torrey went down after getting tangled up with defensive end Scott Scharff while covering a kickoff Tuesday on the 49ers' new synthetic turf.
The 49ers signed rookie free-agent linebacker Bobby Iwuchukwu to replace Torrey on the roster.
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