Bill Williamson, ESPN Staff Writer 10y

49ers Camp Report: Day 5

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- A daily review of the hot topics coming out of San Francisco 49ers training camp:

  • San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is an honest guy. Ask his opinion and he gives it. Some of the 49ers' defensive players may not have enjoyed what Fangio had to say Tuesday in his media session, in which he mentioned things young players have to work on.On linebacker Chris Borland, a third-round pick: "He's got really good instincts. And sometimes he thinks his instincts are taking him to a play and he's aborting his own assignment, and he's gotten burned on that a few times. So he's got to learn that the quarterbacks in this league can be looking here and quickly come back here. And, he's been burned on that a few times."

    On fourth-rounder Dontae Johnson: "He's doing fine. Like a lot of rookies, he's got a little tentativeness in his play right now, not always sure exactly what to do. But I think he'll get there. He's got good size. We feel he's got good enough speed. Just keep waiting for him to feel the urgency and really turn it up. And I don't think he's quite there yet. I think he's still feeling his way through knowing what to do, the NFL game, etc. But hopefully he'll kick it up a notch here in the next three weeks at some point."

    On second-year linebacker Nick Moody: "Well, he's looked a whole lot better than he did as a rookie, just from an assignments standpoint. But he's still got to fight to be more consistent. He's got to get the inconsistency out of his play."

    But don't get too caught up on what Fangio is saying. It's camp and all of the above issues are correctable.

  • Cornerback Chris Cook snared an interception Tuesday. That's a good sign. He had none in four years with the Minnesota Vikings after being a first-round pick. The coaching staff has been working with Cook on his ball skills.

  • Linebacker Ahmad Brooks restructured his contract. He got some salary converted into a signing bonus and saved the team $2 million in salary-cap room. The 49ers have about $10 million in cap room and now have the money to extend some players. The top candidates include receiver Michael Crabtree and guards Mike Iupati and Alex Boone. Crabtree and Iupati are in the final year of their contracts and Boone is holding out for a new deal.

  • Starting cornerbacks Chris Culliver (knee) and Tramaine Brock (ankle) and defensive lineman Ray McDonald (leg) were among those not practicing Tuesday.

  • Tuesday's practice went two-and-a half hours. It was the longest of camp so far.

  • Former 49ers defensive lineman Cedric Hardman was visiting camp. Defensive line coach Jim Tomsula asked him to address the unit after practice.

  • As expected, the 49ers signed former Arizona Cardinals running back Alfonso Smith because of injuries in the backfield. Smith will help in practice and in the preseason. They waived guard Fou Fonoti, an undrafted free agent.

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