Double trouble

After a rough stay with Miami, Ted Ginn hopes to catch his second wind as a wide receiver and return man with the 49ers

Associated Press

SANTA CLARA, Calif.

Ted Ginn Jr. might get to do the very job he’s wanted all along in his first season for San Francisco: double duty.

The versatile Ginn appears to be in good position to earn a spot as the No. 3 receiver behind starters Michael Crabtree and Josh Morgan. Ginn also will be called upon in the return game for the 49ers, a special teams area that was among the worst in the NFL last season. He could even be returning both kickoffs and punts.

Upgrading the return game has been among coach Mike Singletary’s top priorities heading into 2010.

“I just go out and I do what I do best. I love the game and I’ve been playing the game for a while,” Ginn said Thursday. “I’ve always been that guy who contributes, in any way and every way. That’s what I want to do.”

Ginn is giving the Niners an early glimpse of just why they traded for him before the April draft. During Thursday morning’s practice, he caught a 16-yard touchdown pass from Alex Smith in the left side of the end zone. Ginn has long been considered a guy who drops a lot of balls and he had his share in the early days of camp — though he seems to be on track now.

“I just had to get it down,” Ginn said. “Spending that time with Alex in the offseason and the time I spent with the coaches it gave me a better understanding and a better feel. Now it’s just time to go out and play football.”

Special teams coordinator Kurt Schottenheimer isn’t sure how many reps Ginn and the primary special teams players will have against the Indianapolis Colts this Sunday. He’s not looking for any game-breaking plays — those would just be a bonus at this stage — but rather solid technique and fundamentals while applying the work that’s been done so far.

“We want to see where we are right now,” Schottenheimer said. “We want to see them go out on the field and see where we are as far as execution. I’m excited about the people we have. I think we have a group of core performers. There’s a lot of competition on this team, there’s depth. When you have that, it gives you the opportunity to get a lot of people involved.”

San Francisco ranked last in the league in punt returns last season at 4.4 yards per return. The Niners were 23rd in kickoff returns with a 21.8-yard average, and their average start position after kicks at the 24.8 yard line ranked 26th in the NFL.