Seifert Assumes Lead Role in 49er Draft

ORLANDO, Fla. —  George Seifert’s off-season wasn’t long.

It was highlighted by a fishing trip to Mexico, where he caught two marlin, 210 and 270 pounds. There also was a brief escape to his refuge in Bodega Bay to try out his new fishing boat, a gift from San Francisco 49er owner Ed DeBartolo Jr. And he has lounged around the pool at the NFL owners meetings this week.

But next Monday, Seifert returns to work in the hope he can continue the success he had in his first year as coach of the 49ers.

The task awaiting Seifert is getting prepared for the April 22-23 college draft.

“I’ll be sort of sealed in again by next week,” Seifert said Tuesday at a coaches’ breakfast.

When told that quarterback Joe Montana had said he’d like to play another five years, Seifert laughed and said, “That works into my future plans.”

For the first time in 12 years, the 49ers will be drafting without Bill Walsh. Walsh, who left coaching for an NBC broadcasting career 14 months ago, was considered a master of the draft, working deals to trade up or down to acquire more picks.

Seifert said he can’t promise any of the Walsh-style wheeling and dealing, but the 49ers’ approach won’t be that much different.

“We’ve usually done things by committee,” he said. “Usually all the coaches, (vice president) John McVay and our scouting director, Tony Razzano, are in the room to give their input.”

True, but the final decision was Walsh’s. Whose decision will it be this year?

“If there’s somebody I want, I will take him,” Seifert said. “John and I are usually on the same page anyway.”

The 49ers’ shopping list in the draft? “Off the top of my head, I’d say offensive and defensive linemen,” Seifert said. “We’d start in that area. We’re constantly trying to upgrade.”

The 49ers had some pass-protection problems early last season until switching to a platoon system at some positions. Jeff Bregel started at guard early in the year but became a malcontent when pulled from the lineup after a poor game in Philadelphia.

Seifert says offensive line coach Bobb McKittrick is confident Bregel can challenge for a starting job again. Bregel, however, had back surgery and sat out most of the year. Recently, he was arrested for disorderly conduct in the Bay Area.

“He certainly has a lot of energy,” Seifert said of the former USC All-American, a second-round draft pick in 1987.

On defense, Seifert said there’s concern over how well nose tackle Michael Carter will recover from foot surgery. Carter missed the second half of the regular season and will be in a cast for another month.

In the interim, the 49ers have had discussions with Fred Smerlas, 32, who has been a Pro Bowl nose tackle for Buffalo but was left unprotected in Plan B free agency.

The 49ers had three backups for Carter last season: Pete Kugler, who retired; Jim Burt, a former New York Giant with a history of back problems; and inexperienced Rollin Putzier, who was not active for the playoffs.

Seifert said Smerlas might offer the same leadership and savvy that the 49ers got from Burt and former Raider linebacker Matt Millen.

“We’re interested,” Seifert said. “I’m not sure what he wants to do. It could be that he might want to stay right where he’s at.”

Smerlas has expressed an interest in playing for the 49ers. Buffalo Coach Marv Levy said Smerlas was left unprotected “because he was one of our older players. It doesn’t bother me or surprise me that the 49ers are talking to him.”

The 49ers have signed one player from the Plan B pool, New Orleans cornerback-safety Dave Waymer, 31. Seifert said there could be three more signings, but he doubted he would lose any 49ers to Plan B.

Some interpreted Waymer’s signing as insurance for free safety Ronnie Lott, who missed five games with an ankle injury.

“I’m not sure our coaches would say that, and I don’t think Ronnie would want to think of it that way,” Seifert said. “We look at (Waymer) as someone who can step in and play a number of positions.”

Seifert said he also will focus on the secondary. Injury ended Jeff Fuller’s career as the starting strong safety. And there is uncertainty over cornerback Eric Wright’s chronic groin injury.

The 49ers also might be interested in drafting a receiver.

Jerry Rice and John Taylor are firmly entrenched as the starting wideouts, but two backups are past their prime--Mike Wilson, left unprotected in Plan B, and Terry Greer, coming off knee surgery. Mike Sherrard, a Plan B signee from Dallas last year, spent most of the year rehabilitating a leg injury, but Seifert said Sherrard “looked very good” during the playoffs.

Other Seifert comments:

--There could be a shake-up among the linebackers. Keena Turner was left unprotected, and though Seifert expects Riki Ellison to return, it’s uncertain how effective he can be after sitting out the season with a broken arm. Keith DeLong, the top draft pick last year, wasn’t used much as a rookie, but Seifert sees him as a potential starter at linebacker.

--He expects backup quarterback Steve Young, who is growing impatient behind Montana, and disgruntled cornerback Tim McKyer to remain with the 49ers.

“I think Steve will be that much more competitive this year after the season Joe had,” Seifert said.

And McKyer, whom Seifert suspended for insubordination? The coach said the two have talked out their differences. “I can’t say peace has been made, but hopefully time will take care of that.”

McKyer, along with running back Terrence Flagler, had been rumored to be part of a deal for Dallas backup quarterback Steve Walsh. Seifert acknowledged that the team has shown interest in Walsh, “but I don’t know that we’d go that far.”