49ers staying home for 2003 training camp

In Santa Clara, the public won't be able to watch most practices.
SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
SAN FRANCISCO -- For the first time in decades, the 49ers won't pack one shoelace for a journey to a burdensome hot locale when training camp opens Thursday.
The sweltering phenomenon of two-a-day practices will take place in the less sweltering confines of the team's year-round complex in Santa Clara (near San Jose).
After five summers in Stockton and 17 in Rocklin (outside of Sacramento), the 49ers are through with the steamy Central Valley. And without the facilities to accommodate the masses, the public will be largely shut out.
Regardless of who's watching, there will be plenty of intrigue during this camp, beginning with the quarterback spot.
Whenever wide receiver Terrell Owens draws single coverage, expect the ball to go his way. But can Jeff Garcia get it there?
His touchdown passes dipped from 31 in 2000 and 32 in '01 to 21 in '02, when his quarterback rating sank to 85.6 (97.6 in '00 and 94.8 in '01).
Happy feet
Questions last season arose about his early flights from the pocket, his happy feet and his reliance on dump-off passes.
Garcia's ire easily is raised, and he has already focused his anger as a result of the pointed criticism of his play. Receivers noted during minicamps that his arm was live and accurate.
Coaches appear encouraged by another supposedly weak-armed and physically unimposing player -- rookie Ken Dorsey.
Questions about Dorsey's arm strength were dispelled in minicamps. The Heisman trophy-winning seventh-round pick looks to have the strongest arm of any 49ers quarterback.
And the he is a whiz at quickly working through his progression of receivers.
Fitting Dorsey on the roster could be tricky, though. Tim Rattay remains the polished and unquestioned backup, and last year's rookie, Brandon Doman, looks good.
If Doman or Dorsey are placed on the practice squad, they could be gobbled up by a quarterback-starved team. Should Doman impress, the 49ers might carry four quarterbacks.
Erickson in charge
New coach Dennis Erickson expects to use a grinding running game to free up receivers, which means plenty of work for Garrison Hearst, Kevan Barlow and Fred Beasley.
The offense likely is to employ many more one-back looks and two-tight end sets, with Beasley filling the role of an H-back at times.
Depending on how much a one-back formation is used, Beasley, Hearst and Barlow could square off in training camp to decide who will get most of the action.
While the offense returns all its starters, the defense lost tackle Dana Stubblefield (waived) and end Chike Okeafor (signed with Seattle).
Veterans John Engelberger and Jim Flanigan are the replacements, but could be challenged, particularly from rookies Andrew Williams and Anthony Adams.
Under the microscope
With a huge number of free agents and the possible departure of highly- salaried veterans next year, young players will be examined closely.
Will this year's first-round pick, Kwame Harris, be able to take over for Derrick Deese at offensive left tackle?
Can last year's second-round choice, Saleem Rasheed, adequately replace Pro Bowl linebacker Julian Peterson should Peterson go unsigned?
And the annual concerns about the secondary are as weighty as ever. The 49ers ranked no better than 19th in pass defense in the past five seasons.
Possibly the team's greatest weakness is the lack of defensive-back depth, and camp is starting without right cornerback Jason Webster, who is still recovering from offseason ankle surgery.