Douglas won’t be easy to dislodge in San Francisco

By Darrell Laurant  |   Friday, May 18, 2007  |  Comments( 19 )

San Francisco 49ers
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Every year, they come at him. No one's position is ever a dead certainty in the NFL, and Marques Douglas is used to that.

At 6-foot-2 and 280 pounds, Douglas is considered of marginal size for an NFL defensive lineman. The San Francisco 49ers are his fourth team, counting a stint with the Rhein Fire of NFL Europa.

In 2006, however, the seven-year pro from Howard University came into his own playing defense tackle, finishing with 75 tackles and three sacks.

One of his most memorable plays was produced in a 20-14 49er victory over Seattle. Facing a long third down deep in their own territory, just inside the two-minute warning in the fourth quarter, the Seahawks ran a power sweep to the left with NFL MVP Shaun Alexander carrying the ball and All-Pros Walter Jones (OT) and Mack Strong (FB) out in front, a convoy of prime NFL beef.

Somehow, Douglas managed to knife through and drill Alexander for a yard loss.

Earlier in the season, he forced a fumble from Vikings quarterback Brad Johnson at a key point.

Douglas wasn't drafted out of Howard, despite ranking second all-time in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference with 47½ career sacks. The Baltimore Ravens signed him as a free agent and promptly stashed him on the practice squad. For the next few years, Douglas bounced like a pinball between Baltimore and New Orleans, with the Ravens finally ending up with him again.

In 2004, he rewarded Baltimore's patience with a 92-tackle, 5½-sack season. The Ravens were so impressed that they let Douglas walk as a free agent, and he wound up in San Francisco. Last season, he started all 16 games.

In the 3-4 scheme now employed by the 49ers, Douglas and Melvin Oliver will probably play defensive end, with free agent signee Aubrayo Franklin starting at nose tackle. The team also brought in three new players at defensive end -- Ray McDonald of Florida, Darius Sanders of Oregon (nine sacks in 2006) and free agent Zach Anderson of Louisville. Last year, it was Parys Haralson of Tennessee. Meanwhile, Florida DT Joe Cohen was picked in the fourth round.

Douglas has seen it all before. Despite his impressive sack total in college, he is regarded as just an average pass rusher in the NFL. His true strength is in run defense, where his physical strength (he can bench press over 500 pounds) comes more into play.

During the off-season, the Greensboro, N.C., native is a motivational speaker. Perhaps he listens to some of his own tapes.

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