The 49ers have released starting strong safety Michael Lewis.  Lewis played in 3 games for the Niners this year and he had 10 tackles.  The 30-year old Lewis played in 50 games in his four years with the 49ers and he had 292 tackles, 13 passes defensed, 4.5 sacks, 4 forced fumbles and 3 interceptions.  Rookie second round pick Taylor Mays will replace Lewis as the starter at strong safety and he has a nice upside.  Mays has played in 4 games this year for the Niners and he has 13 tackles and a recovery of a blocked punt that went for a TD.

23-year old WR Michael Crabtree has been a bust so far in the NFL.  He sat out five games in a contract dispute last year.  He came back to play in 11 games in which he caught 48 passes for 625 yards (13.0 avg) with 2 TD grabs as a rookie.  But, he displayed an utter lack of toughness going over the middle often showing off alligator arms.  This season has been no different as he has only caught 6 passes for 81 yards (13.5 avg) in his first three games of the year.  Alex Smith is 6 of 19 (31.6%) when passing to Crabtree and that’s pathetic as both players are to blame for this.  Still, Crabtree was supposed to be a go-to receiver and I just don’t think he has the stones or the hands for that kind of role.

The San Francisco 49ers are not pleased with Shaun Hill’s production so far this season.  But they are still 3-2 on the season so there is no reason to make a change at QB quite yet.  Alex Smith has been taking some snaps with the first team in practice this week but I think that’s more of a product of the Niners having a bye this week.  They are probably just giving Hill a rest this week.  Hill has completed 81 of 144 passes (56.3%) for 898 yards with 5 TD passes and 2 INTs (80.7 QB Rating).  Hill should have a boost for the game October 25th with the Texans as Frank Gore and Michael Crabtree will both be likely ready to rock.