Around the NFL

Some recent "Warriors in the Pros" news:

Isaac Sopoaga has improved and impressed with his recent opportunity starting at nose tackle for the 49ers.

After reviewing game film, Nolan said he was encouraged by the strong play of Isaac Sopoaga, who has been playing nose tackle in place of injured Aubrayo Franklin (knee).

Sopoaga held the point with more consistency, occupying blockers and creating play-making opportunities for the linebackers.

"Isaac played his best game in the two years that I've been here," Nolan said. "I was very pleased with his play and the other guys were better than we were a week ago."

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Fellow 49er Ashley Lelie has been doing well as well. Here's an excerpt from a profile on 49ers.com:

“Each week I’m just looking to get better,” said Lelie. “That’s the goal of every preseason game so that when you get to the regular season, you are ready to go.”

Head coach Mike Nolan said he felt like Taylor Jacobs was probably his third receiver after a solid and consistent camp showing, but Lelie is right there in the mix and has come on strong in recent days.

“Competition brings success, everyone is just competing and that’s pushing everyone to play better,” said Lelie. “I think however it ends up that the competition right now is really going to show when the season gets going. It’s just making our whole position better.”

Lelie is also profiled in The San Mateo County Times. An excerpt:

Jump to Saturday night, Lelie's first time to have a real shot at catching passes from Smith. There, things began to click.

In the first half there were two receptions, the first for 20 yards, when he was wide open, and the second for 14 yards. There was an incompletion that Smith threw behind Lelie that both blamed on, of all things, the 6-foot-3 Lelie's Tommie Smith-like stride.

"I think with my stride being so long, I probably got down the field too far," Lelie said. "It was supposed to take six steps, but my six steps may be different from somebody else's six steps."

"He is different," Smith said. "His stride ... can kind of throw off those timing routes. I really hadn't been in a game with him until (Saturday)."

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In Miami, Reagan Mauia had surgery on his wrist, but is expected to continue playing with a cast. And Tala Esera had a chance to work out with the first team offensive line.

Right guard Rex Hadnot missed the morning practice with a toe injury sustained when Alabi stepped on his foot during the walk-through portion of Sunday's practice. ''It was funny until it was bleeding,'' Hadnot said.

Hadnot returned for the afternoon practice. During the morning session, he was replaced on the first team not by Mormino, but by Tala Esera, an undrafted free agent from Hawaii. ''He's doing a pretty good job,'' Cameron said of Esera.

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And here's a fan report on Dane Uperesa, along with some great photos, from HawaiianBuckeye on WSN. A short excerpt:

Good feet and quick to engage and protect. He would help out when needed and DID NOT let anyone get past him at all from what I saw. Bruddah was flawless from what I could see through my lens.