NEWS » clash against Bournemouth (1-1-3).I

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The second week of organized team activities began for the San Francisco 49ers without Michael Crabtree but with the tough task of replacing the teams top wide receiver. Anquan Boldin sure seemed up for the challenge. As for the other wideouts, they will likely need more time -- and healthy bodies -- to help fill the void. Boldin caught the bulk of the balls during Tuesdays practice, the first one open to reporters that he has participated in since coming to the 49ers in a trade with Baltimore in March. He looked comfortable as ever in a red No. 81 jersey -- and later in a San Francisco Giants cap walking out of the locker room. With Crabtree out for the foreseeable future with a torn right Achilles tendon, Boldin could be the key to San Franciscos depleted receiving corps this season. "We have to make plays. The passing game goes through us. If we dont make plays outside, we wont be successful as an offence," Boldin said. "Its definitely on us to get better as a receiver corps entirely." Coach Jim Harbaugh has decided to put veterans on one side of the offence and have an open competition among younger players on the other for Crabtrees spot. Last years catchless first-round pick, A.J. Jenkins, and Ricardo Lockette and Quinton Patton are the leading contenders for the "X" role Crabtree so skillfully occupied until tearing his Achilles in 7-on-7 drills last week. Recovery time can often take as long as a year after surgery, though the team is optimistic Crabtree will return at some point in 2013. In the meantime, the NFC champions will rely on Boldins experience to help groom the younger receivers into a bigger role, especially with reliable wideouts Mario Manningham and Kyle Williams both coming off serious knee injuries that occurred late in the regular season. "Anquan is not a talkative guy," Harbaugh said. "Hes not a small-talk guy. Hes just very serious about competing, and very serious about football and winning. I think itll speak volumes if the young guys observe that." Boldin had 65 catches for 921 yards and four touchdowns for the Ravens last season. He also caught six passes for 104 yards and a touchdown in Baltimores 34-31 win over San Francisco in the Super Bowl on Feb. 3. The 6-foot-1, 220-pound receiver said he already feels comfortable in San Franciscos complicated version of the West Coast offence. In his 11th year in the NFL, Boldin said he has run many of the same plays and routes throughout his career but the terminology with the 49ers is the major difference. "For me, its just translating right now," he said. Boldins big frame already has made him a favourite of starter Colin Kaepernick and the other quarterbacks. While it was only one practice without full pads, he was often the first read and easily targeted more than any other player on the field, including while catching a 25-yard touchdown pass from B.J. Daniels between three defenders. "I guess Im looked at as being able to step in right now and make plays," Boldin said. "And thats what I want to bring. I want Kaep to be comfortable. I want the other quarterbacks to be comfortable enough to, even if it doesnt look like Im open, just give me a chance. Ill make a play for you." Thats exactly what Crabtree gave Kaepernick last season. The 25-year-old Crabtree, the teams 10th overall pick in the 2009 draft out of Texas Tech, had career highs with 85 receptions for 1,105 yards and nine touchdowns for the 49ers last season. He was one of the biggest reasons the franchise returned to the Super Bowl for the first time in 18 years, clicking with Kaepernick after his promotion over Alex Smith in November. More than likely, the 49ers will need a collection of players to make up for Crabtrees loss. Williams already was participating in some individual practice drills and said he hopes to be ready by training camp. Harbaugh has said Manningham might need more time to recover. Jenkins and Lockette both trained with Kaepernick in the Atlanta area for about two months during the off-season. The trio even lived together in Georgia and often quizzed each other about the playbook. Back on the practice field at 49ers headquarters, now its up to the veterans to help speed up the learning. "Its a credit to the young guys we have, theyre not afraid to come ask questions, How do I do this? How do I run this route? Against this coverage, what do we do?" Williams said. "For me, Im happy to do that stuff because I want to see these guys progress and move along and become better players. Weve got it. Weve got a bunch of them. Dont sleep on some of the young guys we have." NOTES: Harbaugh said RB Frank Gore has not been participating in practice because he is "working through something," the coachs typical line for an injured player. Harbaugh said the injury is not serious. ... Second-year RB LaMichael James said he is up to 205 pounds, 10 more than his playing weight last season. He credited the off-season weightlifting program with helping him build strength and sees himself as the top option to return kicks and punts with Ted Ginn Jr. gone. ... Harbaugh said he received some tips from three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Johnny Rutherford before driving a high-performance Corvette Stinger at the track over the weekend. He said he got the car up to 118 mph the last two turns. "Of course, by next week when I retell the story it might be up to 138," he joked.Fake NCAA Jerseys . White came in fourth place in the event. He was the two-time defending gold medallist. The gold medal went to Swiss snowboarder Iouri Podladtchikov. Clearance NCAA Jerseys . Inter president Erick Thohir says in a club statement on Wednesday that Vidic is "one of the worlds best defenders and his qualities, international pedigree, and charisma will be an asset. https://www.chinajerseysncaa.us/ . -- Patrick Reed got an early start in golf. Wholesale NCAA Jerseys .ca NBA Power Rankings, ahead of the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs. NCAA Jerseys Outlet . After taking two big hits this week -- losing at home and dropping back-to-back games for the first time all season -- Indiana struck back by playing its most complete game of the year.Jurgen Klopp may have received plenty of headlines for serially hugging his players following the clubs 2-1 win over Chelsea last Friday, but the other side of Liverpool have fared even better than the jovial German.Everton supporters, and perhaps some players, will want to hug manager Ronald Koeman with his side off to their best top-flight start in club history. The Toffees (4-1-0) aim to keep their run of positive form going when they travel to Vitality Stadium to face Bournemouth on Saturday.Things looked bleak at Goodison Park at the tail end of last season when the club sacked manager Roberto Martinez with one match remaining. Koeman, though, has been an exceptional hire thus far, injecting some life and enthusiasm into the side. Star striker Romelu Lukaku was said to be wanting a move back to former club Chelsea, but the Belgian international has been an inspiration with four goals, including a devastating 11-minute hat trick in a 3-0 thumping of Sunderland.Lukaku inked his name on the score sheet again last week along with Gareth Barry and Seamus Coleman as Everton collected another three points with a comfortable 3-1 result over Middlesbrough. But the Toffees face their first bit of adversity after falling to Norwich City, 2-0 on Tuesday in the third round of the EFL Cup. The Canaries managed only two shots on target, but scored with both attempts.While certainly disappointed with the result, Koeman praised his teams effort.Of course Im not happy about the finaal result because in Cup football you dont get a second chance, the Dutchman said.dddddddddddd But I cant criticise my players because they did everything to score the goal.We had enough chances to score the goal but we did not. You can make it difficult, but football is about scoring goals.Koeman also emphasized his club will kick on and prepare for their Premier League clash against Bournemouth (1-1-3).I dont organise parties after 13 points from five games or have gripes after (losing in the EFL Cup), he said. Its football and we have to accept it.Eddie Howes Cherries are hoping for a better performance after suffering a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Manchester City last week. Bournemouth struggled from the outset against City as it took only 15 minutes for Kevin De Bruyne to open the scoring, while Kelechi Iheanacho, Raheem Sterling and Ilkay Gundogan all followed with goals to complete the rout.Adding to the struggles was Tuesday nights 3-2 defeat to Preston North End -- which eliminated Bournemouth from the EFL Cup. Howe didnt mince words when asked for his post-match assessment.I think I have to apologise to the supporters, he told BBC Radio.I cant recall saying that in my second time here, but we didnt do the things required for the money it costs and time it takes for our supporters. Ill do everything in my power to put that right. ' ' '