49ers' lineman stresses unity, personal growth

That, he says, is the answer to San Francisco bouncing back.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- After being ripped by controversial wide receiver Terrell Owens following Sunday's loss to the Cleveland Browns, some of his 49ers teammates showed restraint Monday in not lashing back.
The entire 49ers' offensive line is nursing injuries. Right tackle Scott Gragg, a nine-year veteran who played Sunday despite a nagging ankle, said the coaches suggested Monday that players stop pointing fingers.
"Their advice is to look at each one of ourselves individually," Gragg said. "It's a standup thing as a quarterback, as a fullback, as an offensive lineman, as a receiver to look at ourselves and evaluate how we can play better as an individual.
"We're all in this thing together so we need to take the burden in together," Gragg said. "I don't think it serves a purpose to look outside of ourselves, whether it's another position or another phase, be it offense or defense or special teams."
Quarterback Jeff Garcia disputed Owens' claim that red-zone plays designed to go to him aren't being called by offensive coordinator Greg Knapp.
Garcia suggested that sometimes Owens doesn't understand how a quarterback under the gun doesn't have time to find the primary target.
Replacement
Kwame Harris, the 49ers' first-round pick from Stanford, struggled in his second start in place of left tackle Derrick Deese.
"I feel like I'm getting better from game to game, but I don't feel I'm where I need to be yet," the 21-year-old lineman said. "I don't think that we played awful as an O line, [but] I think there are things that we need to fix."
Asked about players having to help Harris in protection, Garcia said, "We try not to allow it to be a distraction."
However, Garcia said running backs Garrison Hearst and Kevan Barlow "instead of thinking about getting out on the pass route, they're more so thinking about chipping the defender over Kwame. It can lead to a little bit of a disruption, but we're trying to do whatever we can to make him feel more secure, help him grow and get better, and secure that backside."
Garcia admitted that his line's struggles means "there are some times when I'm probably having to move a little bit more often, but that's just part of going through some of the growing pains of some of the young guys on the offensive line.
"In no way am I feeling insecure back there or doubting that they're not going to protect for me. They're doing the best job possible. They're only going to get better."
Gragg said his play against the Browns wasn't his finest.
"Certainly I could be firmer in pass protection," Gragg said. "The more I get away from the injury I've had, the more I will do that.
Stopped short
Especially disheartening to Gragg was the Browns' goal-line stand in the first quarter when fullback Fred Beasley was stuffed twice from the 1.
"Our number was called twice on the 1-yard line. As offensive linemen, that's what we want -- run the ball over us," Gragg said. "That's the thing that is frustrating to me."
Gragg said the use of two running backs isn't the problem.
"We've got two good ones. With the talent we have on this team, you want to get them the ball as frequently as possible.
"You can make excuses for up and down, but I hate that. I don't let my kids do it and so I'm not going to do it. This team is veteran enough to overcome these things."