Nose job is Sopoaga’s for now

By Chris Cluff  |   Wednesday, August 29, 2007  |  Comments( 24 )

San Francisco 49ers
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When Aubrayo Franklin, the new front man for Mike Nolan's band of defenders, went down early in the preseason, it meant the San Francisco 49ers were going to have to put together their 3-4 unit with someone else working the nose job.

That someone so far has been Isaac Sopoaga, a 6-foot-2, 321-pound fourth-year player who seems to be growing each season. A fourth-round pick of the 49ers in 2004, Sopoaga missed his rookie season with an injury and has been a part-time player the past two years. He actually started the final two games last season.

Nolan told reporters this week that Sopoaga is "a better player than he was last year right now, and hopefully that continues. We've been here two years with Isaac, and I'm just being hopeful that he continues to stay on track like he has."

Asked how the big man has improved, Nolan said, "He is playing stronger at the line of scrimmage. He's also keeping guys off the linebackers. And at the same time, every once in a while, when they turn him loose, he's made plays in the backfield a couple of times. Isaac is a very athletic, very strong, powerful man; and when he plays that way you've got something good."

Sopoaga's play early in the season will be key as Franklin works his way back from a knee injury. Behind Sopoaga are veteran Ron Fields and rookie Joe Cohen, but Sopoaga is the guy who is being counted on to be the No. 2 nose tackle.

And, even though the 3-4 defense requires big ends, the 49ers are not looking at using Sopoaga outside.

"Right now, no," Nolan said. "But it's not like you couldn't because our three guys are kind of interchangeable. As athletic as he is, you'd actually want him inside. He pops out there time and time again at practice and there's been a time or two where he's had to go out for an injury. But he's more of an interior guy."

And an important one for the 49ers early this season.
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About Chris Cluff

Chris Cluff spent 10 years as an editor and sportswriter for The Seattle Times. He was a key figure in the newspaper's coverage of the Seahawks, particularly during their Super Bowl run in 2005. He also has written two books on the Seahawks: "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Heart-Pounding,...
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