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HOT TOPIC
When Arnaz Battle was on the field last season, he was 49ers' most impressive wide receiver.
However, he was on the field for just eight starts and he was completely healthy for about nine quarters the entire season because of a partially torn posterior cruciate ligament and bone bruise in his right knee.
Two months ago, Battle began experiencing swelling in his knee, which he says was to be expected. He believes the condition will not be a chronic problem as it was a year ago, when he was second on the team with 32 catches for 363 yards and three touchdowns.
Battle said he is excited about this season because of a better cast of skill players who can benefit quarterback Alex Smith. Battle played less than half of last season, fellow wideout Antonio Bryant signed as a free agent, tight end Vernon Davis was the No. 6 overall pick, and tight end Eric Johnson missed the season with a foot injury after catching 82 passes in 2004.
"Vernon has shown he has the ability to get it done," Battle said. "Eric has shown it, too. He had 80 receptions that one year. I feel I'm a player that has potential and is steadily getting better and better. Antonio is a guy who had 1,000 yards last year.
"We have more guys who've worked hard to jell together and have camaraderie to go out and have successful year."
Battle is entering his fourth NFL season and the first in offensive coordinator Norv Turner's system. The West Coast system, which has been used by the 49ers in the past, is considered a more complex scheme, but Battle said it is difficult to learn the new terminology.
"The West Coast system is more about words and memorization," he said. "This is a numerical system, so numbers tell you what kind of routes you have to do."
Battle said there is not a lot of difference between the systems, but added, "The routes are probably a little deeper."
PLAYER NOTES
--Quarterback Alex Smith has shown some improvement during the 49ers' offseason program. How much? Everybody will just have to wait and see.
"He's got a ways to go, but I see improvement," 49ers coach Mike Nolan said.
Smith completed just 50.9 percent of his passes and threw 11 interceptions and just one touchdown while starting seven games. Nolan said nobody will be able to determine just how far Smith has come along until the games begin for real.
"For example, the decision-making process in a game is a lot different than in practice," Nolan said. "In practice, you know nobody's going to hit you. You can see some of it (the areas in which he has improved), but you can't see the total thing. I'd love him to be a grown up, mature adult at the quarterback position."
--The 49ers will hold their final week of organized team activities at their Santa Clara, Calif., practice facility. The 49ers hope their new synthetic field is completely installed so they can get a couple practices in on the turf before the first training camp practice on July 28.
--The 49ers claimed linebacker Andre Torrey off waivers from the Texans. Torrey originally signed with the Patriots as an undrafted free agent last year. He spent time on the Texans' practice squad after the Patriots released him. Torrey recorded 55 tackles with two sacks and two forced fumbles with the Berlin Thunder this spring in NFL Europe.
--NFL Europe was not kind to a couple players the 49ers allocated to the league. Quarterback Bryson Spinner and tight end Trent Smith are rehabilitating shoulder injuries in Birmingham, Ala., and Nolan said neither is expected back any time soon.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
Strong safety Tony Parrish, who has been out since sustaining a spiral fracture on his left lower leg in mid-November, might be able to return to the practice field for the final week of OTAs.
As long as Parrish is healthy, he is a starter. The free-safety spot, however, is up for grabs. Mike Adams, who started nine games at free safety, is the front-runner to win the job. Free-agent acquisition Chad Williams, who is seen more as a strong-safety type, is competing for a starting job.
Rookie safeties Marcus Hudson and Vickiel Vaughn are too raw, coach Mike Nolan said.
"Mike (Adams) did a great job last year," Nolan said. "He's come out of nowhere. When we first took the job, I didn't know Mike Adams. Mike did a good job for us. He can play corner, safety and nickel. He works at it and is serious. His shortcomings are probably his height, but he's a good tough football player that works at it."
Adams recorded four interceptions last season, including two in the closing minutes of games to provide victories over the Rams and Texans in the first and last games of the season. Adams started the finale at cornerback, but his future with the 49ers is as a safety, Nolan said.
"He can play corner in a clutch like he did against the Texans," Nolan said, "but then you devise the game plan around him to give him some help. He can still play effectively. His versatility is very helpful."
FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.
TRANSITION PLAYER: None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
--S Marques Anderson (not tendered June 1).
--TE Steve Bush (not tendered June 1).
--DE Travis Hall (not tendered June 1).
--LB Saleem Rasheed (not tendered June 1).
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: None.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
--S Mike Adams: ERFA; $385,000/1 yr.
--QB Ken Dorsey: RFA; $721,600/1 yr.
--FB Chris Hetherington: Potential UFA; $770,000/1 yr; 2006 cap: $460,000.
--RB Maurice Hicks: ERFA; $425,000/1 yr.
--TE Terry Jones: UFA; terms unknown.
--WR Jason McAddley: UFA; $610,000/1 yr, $25,000 SB; 2006 cap: $450,000.
--LB Brandon Moore: UFA; $8M/5 yrs, $2.6M SB; 2006 cap: $1.155M.
--PK Joe Nedney: UFA; $6.055M/4 yrs, $1.56M SB; 2006 cap: $1.165M.
--S Kris Richard: Not tendered as RFA; $500,000/1 yr.
--LB Derek Smith: Potential UFA; $14M/3 yrs, $6M SB.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
--OG Larry Allen: FA Cowboys; $8.4M/2 yrs, $4M SB; 2006 cap: $3.5M.
--WR Antonio Bryant: UFA Browns; $13.9M/4 yrs, $4M SB; 2006 cap: $3.6M.
--CB Sammy Davis: Trade Chargers.
--QB Trent Dilfer: Trade Browns.
--WR Bryan Gilmore: UFA Dolphins; $610,000/1 yr, $25,000 SB; 2006 cap: $450.000.
--CB Walt Harris: FA Redskins; terms unknown.
--QB Shaun Hill: Not tendered as UFA by Vikings; terms unknown.
--FB Moran Norris: FA Texans; terms unknown.
--QB Jesse Palmer: FA; $545,000/1 yr; 2006 cap: $460,000.
--LB T.J. Slaughter: UFA Saints; $545,000/1 yr.
--S Chad Williams: UFA Ravens; terms unknown.
PLAYERS LOST
--FB Fred Beasley: UFA Dolphins; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--LB Andre Carter: UFA Redskins; $30M/6 yrs, $5M SB.
--OT Anthony Clement: UFA Jets; terms unknown.
--DE Chris Cooper (released).
--QB Ken Dorsey: Traded Browns.
--WR Brandon Lloyd: Traded Redskins after given first-round tender as RFA.
--WR Johnnie Morton (released).
--LB Julian Peterson: UFA Seahawks; $54M/6 yrs, $11.5M SB.
--CB Ahmed Plummer (released/failed physical).
--WR Rashaun Woods: Traded Chargers.
MEDICAL WATCH: No updates.
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