Maiocco: Wrapping up 49ers' Camp Alex 2.0

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July 1, 2011MAIOCCO ARCHIVE
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UPDATED at 1:57 p.m. CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST!

Matt MaioccoCSNBayArea.com

SAN JOSE -- It could be the end of an era that nobody will want to see repeated.Today is the final day of Camp Alex 2.0 at San Jose State, and there is optimism that this will be the last time a player-organized workout will be necessary.There is little doubt the team's offense benefited greatly from these Alex Smith-led sessions, which were designed to get the players familiarized with the 49ers' new playbook.
Receiver Kevin Jurovich estimates that if there are 100 different formations in the playbook, the skill-position players have already a pretty good understanding of 75 of them.The players know the basics of the playbook. So, when the lockout is lifted, coach Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman do not have to spend a lot of time on the absolute basics of the offense.Receiver Lance Long, who caught 20 passes with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2009, and tight end Colin Cloherty, who spent time with the Indianapolis Colts last season, both spent time on the 49ers' practice squad last season. They are under contract to the 49ers for the upcoming year. Neither player participated in the first Camp Alex, but both are here this week.MAIOCCO: 49ers' skill positions well-represented
I witnessed a brief film session after a workout earlier this week. Smith was watching film of the just-completed workout, while Long and Cloherty were hanging on Smith's every word. When there was some confusion while Long and Cloherty tried to identify the formation on the screen, Smith quickly pointed out that one of the veteran players had lined up in the wrong spot. That was an error that would be addressed the next morning in the film session.These get-togethers have been invaluable. After all, when the official practices begin, the 49ers will not have much time to waste to get ready for the regular season.Updates from Camp Alexwill be posted here throughout the day.UPDATE at 1:57 p.m.:
Alex Smith said there will not be a need for another get-together if the lockout is settled within the next couple weeks.Also, he said he will consider sending the practice film to 49ers coaches, but offered an optimistic view, "If the thing ends soon enough, it's kind of a moot point."Smith said he virtually tapped out his knowledge of the new playbook during the sessions. This morning, Smith gave his teammates a quiz on the offense. The winner, Smith said, was receiver Kevin Jurovich.UPDATE at 12:49 p.m.:
The players meet at midfield after running 32 plays, and thus Camp Alex draws to an end.
UPDATE at 12:25 p.m.:
The practice snaps are being divided equally among the three quarterbacks. The offensive linemen are not on the field today.
UPDATE at 12:05 p.m.:
Kicker Joe Nedney stopped by to greet his teammates, but there's not much for him to do here. "My holder is in South Carolina, and my long-snapper is in Phoenix," Nedney said.UPDATE at 11:52 a.m.:
On the other side of the field are the same three defensive players -- Justin Smith, Parys Haralson and Ray McDonald -- getting in the typical workout.UPDATE 11:49 a.m.:
Alex Smith said today's on-field workout will be shorter than usual. Several players left town after the Thursday workout.The players on the field today are QBs Smith, David Carr and Colin Kaepernick, RBs Anthony Dixon and Bruce Miller, WRs Josh Morgan, Kyle Williams, Ronald Johnson and Kevin Jurovich; and TEs Nate Byham and Colin Cloherty.UPDATE at 11:45 a.m.:
Rookie seventh-round draft pick Bruce Miller, who is making the conversion from defensive end, made his first appearance to work with his new 49ers teammates.Miller said there were initial injury concerns about joining the workouts, but he said he felt he needed to begin learning the playbook as the lockout continued."There's a lot of information; a lot of things I'm hearing for the first time; so I'm just trying to take in as much as I can," Miller said.Miller spent the early part of this week at the rookie seminar in Florida and testifying in a court case. He arrived in San Jose on Thursday night and plans to spend a few more days in the Bay Area before heading back to his residence in Atlanta.

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