49ers Blog and Q&A

Brett Favre made his 2010 debut and Alex Smith engineered an opening-drive touchdown. But the quarterback Mike Singletary spent the most time discussing after Sunday's 15-10 win was Nate Davis. Singletary finally shed some light on why he has been so lukewarm about Davis, a fan favorite, during the offseason. Davis apparently arrived for the 49ers offseason underprepared.

"Right now Nate Davis is working his tail off to try and learn this system," Singletary said. "But in the offseason, that's when you take the time to get that done. And I'm not sure how hard he worked in the offseason in getting that done. So when I talk about work ethic, you just can't turn it on and turn it off. Now that we're in training camp, 'Well, I'm really trying! I'm really trying!' In the offseason, in the OTAs, the minicamps and all those things - that's when you have to get that done, and that's when you have to stay up and drive the coaches crazy and look at film and ask all the questions you possibly can. And I'm not sure he did that. So now it's a lot that he has to get in a short amount of time. So hopefully he can do that. I don't know."

Davis didn't dispute his coach's assessment. "Of course, yes. I mean, I did come in," he said. "I was a little shaky on some things that, you know, I should have known. But, of course, yes, I need to keep on working harder." Davis said he's had particular trouble with the 49ers' protections, something that was problematic Sunday night against the Vikings. "That's the main thing. That's the thing I need to work on and keep on working on every day."

Davis finished 7 of 16 for 114 yards and had a 68.2 passer rating. He had the offensive highlight of the game when he connected on a deep pass to receiver Ted Ginn that set up one of Joe Nedney's two field goals. Davis' heels were on his own goal line when he let go of the ball, and it traveled 65 yards before hitting Ginn. Still, Singletary said Davis was "up and down." Singletary seemed particularly disappointed by a third down play late in the game in which Davis hit the ground short of the first-down marker.

"I just think right now he's competing against himself, I really do," Singletary said. "I really like the kid, there is a lot to like about him, but there is a work ethic that's involved in terms of being a quarterback in the NFL and he's got to get it, it's as simple as that. I'm pulling for him, I'm hoping, but so far it's inconsistent."

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Only two injuries from today's game: Tight end Nate Byham has a chest contusion and cornerback Patrick Stoudamire has a knee contusion

Tune in tomorrow for a list of 10 standout players from tonight's game. Hint: One of them rhymes with Glavis DaNoy. (LaBoy finished with a sack and three quarterback hurries)

-- Matt Barrows