San Francisco 49ers News — Niner Insider Blog » 49ers notes: Fangio says Culliver looks to be in pre
Fifty-one weeks after he tore his ACL in training camp, 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver resembles, well, Chris Culliver circa 2012.
At least that’s the opinion of 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio after watching Culliver in the first practice of training camp Thursday.
“I was really pleased with the way he looked physically,” Fangio said. “Kudos to our medical staff and everyone that’s worked with him. Kudos to him for the work he’s put into his rehab. He looked fine to me yesterday. I didn’t see any indication that this was a guy that just came off a year-long rehab.”
That assessment is welcome news for a revamped secondary dotted with question marks. Culliver, who was limited to rehab work during the offseason program, and Tramaine Brock are expected to open the season as starters for the first time in their careers. Their backups include free-agent signee Chris Cook,
Alys Fowler- how to repot a h, who doesn’t have an interception in 29 career starts, and fourth-round pick Donate Johnson.
******************************************************************
Justin Smith’s decreased playing time last year wasn’t a nod to his age, but his aching shoulder.
On Wednesday, Smith, 34, acknowledged he played last year with a shoulder injury he sustained in training camp that eventually required offseason surgery. Smith played 73.3 percent of the defensive snaps in 2013.
“It was something that nagged him all last year,” Fangio said. “And for all of you that thought we were subbing him more and resting him more, it was more him reacting to the injury. And him needing more plays off because of the injury he was playing with … Whenever he had to use his arm a certain way, which could have shown up in run plays or pass plays, it inhibited him a little bit.”
******************************************************************
On Thursday, outside linebacker Aldon Smith, who has been arrested four times in his three-year career, declared that he’d never starting a training camp in a better spot from a physical and mental perspective.
For what it’s worth, Fangio shares the same view.
“I think everything’s good for him right now,” Fangio said. “I think he’s in a really great spot. Both physically, like he said, and I think he’s in a great spot mentally, emotionally.”
Last week, Smith was sentenced to spend 11 days on a sheriff’s work crew after pleading no contest to DUI and felony weapons charges. His weapons charges were knocked down to misdemeanors. He will meet with commissioner Roger Goodell in New York the near future and will likely serve a suspension to start the regular season.
“I think he’s doing a great job weathering the storm that he has to go through,” Fangio said. “It’s not over yet. He’s still got another stage that he has to go through.”
******************************************************************
Why wasn’t rookie inside linebacker Shayne Skov drafted? One reason is there was a belief he hadn’t recaptured his form after he tore his ACL, MCL and broke the tibia in his left leg as a sophomore at Stanford in 2011.
For his part, Fangio, who was the Cardinal defensive coordinator in 2010, said there was truth to that scouting report. Fangio also suggested Skov’s experience has helped him compensate for any physical limitations. Last year, Skov was a third-team AP All-American after collecting 109 tackles,
Is it right to criminalise se, 13 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks.
“I think it still affects him a little bit,
Day in the Life- Tennis, wine,” Fangio said. “But he’s also grown as a player in those three years.”
Forum 
