SmashMouth

The 49ers don't think of themselves as compulsive gamblers. They prefer the word "opportunistic."

They also don't think they jump routes. They see it as "anticipation."

The secondary can spell it however they want. They'd just better get all their letters dotted and crossed, because if they thought Seattle gave them problems, wait until they get a load of the Saints in Monday night's home opener at Candlestick Park.

"I think what we've got to do as a defense is: I always want players to make plays," defensive coordinator Greg Manusky said. "I don't want to go into a game and say, 'OK, let them catch it and then we'll tackle them.' I want players to be aggressive, go after balls and pick balls off. ... I don't know a bad gamble. I'm just saying if the ball's there, pick it off."

They will get every chance against New Orleans. Pro Bowl quarterback Drew Brees will see to that with one of the NFL's most efficient arms.

If Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck could pump-fake through the 49ers' red zone defense with no primary receiver on the roster, imagine what Brees can do with Marques Colston, Robert Meachem, Lance Moore, Devery Henderson, Jeremy Shockey and Reggie Bush.

Oh, and here's the real kick in the head. The 49ers must do all this with only three healthy cornerbacks, with seventh-round draft pick Phillip Adams out of South Carolina State questionable with a hamstring injury.

"That's who we have on the roster, and we have to roll with it," Manusky said.



Read more: Brees, Saints big challenge for 49ers secondary