FanHouse Parys Haralson

Parys Haralson may not be a household name across the NFL, but that doesn't mean he can't become one. After a strong season as a part-time player in 2008 with the 49ers, the 25-year-old linebacker signed a four-year contract extension Thursday, originally reported by Aaron Wilson at Pro Football Talk.

Per Wilson, the deal is worth $15 million total, while $6.5 million is guaranteed.

In hopes of salvaging their season and helping out their offense the 49ers are turning to the pachyderm. With one of the worst defenses in the league the 49ers are trying anything they can think of to improve the play of their defense. Head coach Mike Nolan has already toyed with the starters by starting Mark Roman over Tony Parrish and Ronald Fields over
Anthony Adams, this time around Nolan is going old school and bringing in an Elephant.

The Elephant is an old defense which highlights a pass rusher that was devised by former head coach and defensive coordinator George Seifert. In the time when the 49ers successfully ran that defense the players who filled the role of the Elephant were Charles Haley, Tim Harris, Rickey Jackson and Chris Doleman. The 49ers currently do not have a player of that caliber (yet) to play the Elephant role, but that will not stop them from giving it a try. The players who will see time in that role and look to become the next Haley are Brandon Moore and rookie linebackers Manny Lawson and Parys Haralson.

"What we do to a large degree is very much like what you had with (Charles) Haley and (Chris) Doleman, and those kinds of guys with the 49ers," coach Mike Nolan said. "That guy is always the 'rush' guy, but he flip-flops sides. That's really basically what we're doing. They used to play it here."

Along with the Elephant it will mark the switch back to the 4-3. The current lineup will feature rookie Melvin Oliver and Marques Douglas on the ends and Bryant Young and rookie Ronald Fields in the middle with Lawson, Derek Smith and Jeff Ulbrich as the linebackers. On passing downs, Moore, Haralson or Lawson will become the pass rushers. If the Elephant doesn't help turn the defense around look for Nolan to start pulling
names from a hat for next weeks starters.

The 49ers were hoping to escape the preseason without any injuries, but were not so fortunate. Reports are coming in that the 49ers will be without two of their key defensive players for the remainder of the preseason. The 49ers top defensive back Shawntae Spencer has a slight tear in his left hamstring, and rookie linebacker Parys Haralson is out with a foot strain. At this time head coach Mike Nolan is not revealing the extent of Haralson's injury, but early reports mentioned that the fear was Haralson tore the plantar fascia in his foot, but after further tests it was reported only as a strain.

Third-year veteran Shawntae Spencer tweaked his hammy during Wednesdays practice while defending recently acquired wide receiver Antonio Bryant. Spencer may be healed enough to play during the preseason finale against the Chargers, but the 49ers are unlikely to send him back out on the field early, and risk re-injury.

"It's not a significant tear, but it will be a few weeks," coach Mike Nolan said late Thursday afternoon. "He may not play again in the preseason. Even if he were ready, that last one we might just pull him out."

Haralson the teams fifth-round pick, who is competing for a starting job at outside linebacker injured his foot three days ago. Again, Mike Nolan did not reveal the extent of the injury, but the injury appears severe enough it will keep him out of action beyond the season opener.

"He'll be out a while," Nolan said. "I don't know that he'll be ready for the beginning of the season. He'll be out longer than that. I don't believe he's an (injured reserve) candidate. But it's severe enough that he'll miss more than the preseason."

So, Niner fans take a moment out of your day to pray to the Niner Gods that both players are back on the field soon, and the rest of the team avoids the injury bug.