Alex Smith and the gang had a throwing session at their usual spot this afternoon. Afterward, one thing was clear - they need more pass catchers. Joining Smith were receivers Kyle Williams, Kevin Jurovich and an unknown pass catcher from San Jose State. But quarterbacks David Carr and Colin Kaepernick also attended, which gave the passers a one-to-one ratio with the receivers. A training-camp ratio would be three to one in favor of receivers, who do more running, and are therefore more susceptible to tweaks and muscle pulls, than any other position group. The wideouts in Tuesday's session were understandably worn out when it ended
So far this offseason, Smith has thrown with Jurovich, Williams, Josh Morgan, Ted Ginn and Ronald Johnson. The only wide receivers on the 49ers roster who have not spent some time with Smith in the Bay Area are Lance Long, Dominique Zeigler and ... wait for it ... Michael Crabtree.
The 49ers signed Long to their practice squad in November. Zeigler is recovering from an ACL tear suffered in Week 12 this past season. Crabtree, meanwhile, recently has been working out on his own in the Bay Area, but he has yet to join the group of 49ers that works out together in the South Bay. Carr said that the group intended to contact Crabtree and ask him to join their training session.
Odds & ends:
* While Kaepernick took some warm-up throws and made some passes at the beginning of the session, he yielded most of the practice throws to Smith and Carr. Kaepernick is not yet fully recovered from a minor surgical procedure to his lower left leg that he had after the draft.
* Williams, an Arizona State product, said he had been working out in the Phoenix area with a group that included Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald and Packers receiver Greg Jennings. The group is being coached by Jerry Sullivan, who spent six seasons as the 49ers receivers coach before retiring this year.
* Carr, meanwhile, said he's been staying shape by working out in the Fresno area with his little brother and his teammates. That brother, Derek Carr, is expected to take over as Fresno State's starting quarterback this season.
-- Matt Barrows
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