SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- It's one of the most under-the-radar free-agent additions of this year, and, guaranteed, it pays off big for San Francisco.
Introducing Phil Dawson, and I know what you're thinking: A kicker? Big deal. Well, actually, it could be. Because Dawson can make kicks David Akers did not a year ago, and that might mean one or two more victories for the 49ers.
"Dawson will have a great year there," Dallas special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia predicted.
I’ll second that.
He's coming off the best season of his career. He kicked in Cleveland for 49ers' assistant head coach and special-teams coordinator Brad Seely, so there's familiarity there. And he's not only accurate, hitting 84 percent of his field goals, but he's used to extreme weather -- a plus for anyone operating in windy Candlestick Park.
"I know the character of the person," said Seely. "He's not an up-and-down guy. You're talking about someone who went through adversity as a teen, and sometimes had some kicks he missed where there was no rhyme or reason -- [but it happened] because of the weather, bad footing, bad snap or the wind. But he didn't let it affect him. To me, he's just getting better with age, and you're always looking for those guys who are even keeled."
In his 15th season, Dawson last year was named to his first Pro Bowl, and for good reason. He hit 29 of 31 field-goal attempts, including all seven from 50 or more yards. Contrast that to what happened to Akers, who was 29 of 42 and missed 11 of 19 from 40 yards and beyond, and you understand why this is a significant upgrade.
"So what do you know about kicking in Candlestick?" I asked him.
"Not a lot," said Dawson. "That's one of the adjustments I've got to make. I've been in an environment I'm so familiar with that I didn't get anxious much about weather or conditions because I played in it before. Obviously, those experiences are going to pay off.
"I've played in all kinds of weather and in all kinds of stuff, and a lot of road games. So it's not like I only performed well in Cleveland. But for my home environment I'm going to learn each and every time I go down there.
"In fact, I went several times in the offseason with a notepad to get a working knowledge of place. It's a little bit different than what it's been for me in the past, but it's kind of exciting. And I'm going to embrace it.
2. People who tell you the 49ers will miss tight end Delanie Walker haven't seen practice. Or they haven't seen rookie Vance McDonald. The second-round draft choice catches everything thrown at him ... unlike Walker, who was a better blocker than receiver last season.
3. Rookie wide receiver Quinton Patton practices, but he practices with a blue jersey -- a red alert to everyone that while he runs routes, he won't catch passes. Patton has what coach Jim Harbaugh says is a jammed middle finger, and he doesn't want him re-injuring it.
4. Kyle Williams is the early frontrunner to take the second wide-receiver position, but he's out with a hamstring injury. Williams flashed early in camp before hurting himself.
5. No one seems to have an idea where Nnamdi Asomugha fits in. It appears as if the top three cornerbacks stay the same, with Carlos Rogers and Tarell Brown starting, and Chris Culliver serving as the nickel back. That leaves Asomugha next in line, and opinions are divided on the guy. One scout I trust told me Asomugha can't run anymore, which is what I heard out of Philadelphia last season.
6. There may be no better offensive line anywhere, with guard Adam Snyder -- a former starter until he left for Arizona -- returning to sit on the bench.
7. The 49ers lost two defensive tackles in free agency, Isaac Sopoaga and Ricky Jean-Francois, and people tell me that's supposed to hurt them. Not exactly. Nose tackles were on the field an estimated 35 percent of the time last season, the first guys off the field when the team went to nickel defenses. Former Kansas City defensive lineman Glenn Dorsey is the favorite to win the job, but don't discount Ian Williams. Though he played sparingly his first two seasons, Williams was given a two-year extension in the offseason and an opportunity to win a starting job. He's making the most of his chance.
8. Rookie running back Marcus Lattimore, who suffered a severe knee injury last year, probably won't be activated this season unless the 49ers absolutely, positively need him.
9. Wide receiver A.J. Jenkins hasn't made much of an impression, and there's a feeling he may never get there. The team's No. 1 choice in 2012, Jenkins has been a disappointment, and while he has a chance to get on the field this year nobody seems optimistic that happens.
10. We all know Colin Kaepernick can run. But it's his throwing that stood out while I was here, with the quarterback launching 30-yard darts into tight windows. "He's worlds ahead of where he was a year ago," said offensive coordinator Greg Roman.