Alex Smith spent about an hour and a half throwing passes to three receivers who were running routes straight out of the playbook he received from Jim Harbaugh. Smith and his core group of receivers - the constants have been Josh Morgan and Kevin Jurovich - have been throwing together for several months now. Over the last two weeks, they have they been using Harbaugh's playbook. Smith, who ran a similar system as a rookie, is in the best position to decipher the plays and be the de facto coach.
49ers Players have said that they'd like to have more complete, team-wide sessions like the Saints had recently. That's been difficult, however, because most of their remaining teammates are spread around the country. Receiver Michael Crabtree, whose chemistry issues with Smith are well-documented, is in the Dallas area. Tight end Vernon Davis, the team's leading receiver in 2011, has been travelling the globe and is now in his native Washington, D.C.
We wouldn't read too much into who is and who is not present at player read workouts. That said, it certainly wouldn't hurt to get Crabtree & Smith on the same page.
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