Warriors in the Pros: Thursday Edition

Good news for some former UH players in the NFL over the past couple days.

Samson Satele was back at practice after suffering a pinched nerve in his neck on Sunday.

Rookie center Samson Satele was back on the practice field Thursday, and appeared to be going full speed for the first time since injuring his neck in the third quarter of Sunday's loss to the Texans.

Satele, who has started every game of his rookie season, seems on track to play Sunday against the Browns.

After a few weeks of questions from writers and fans, and rounds of meetings between 49ers coaches and players, San Francisco seems to be retooling their offense, which includes plans to actually play Ashley Lelie.

Receiver Ashley Lelie will get more playing time when the 49ers return from the bye week to face the Giants on Oct. 21, coach Mike Nolan said Thursday.

"The important thing is that the plan is to utilize him a little more," Nolan said.

Through the first five games, Lelie has been on the field for just 10 offensive snaps. Yet, Lelie was 49ers' receiver that the Ravens feared the most when the team met on Sunday.

Nolan spoke after the game with Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, who told him that he planned to double-team Lelie when he was on the field. Lelie played just one snap. The Ravens did not double-team any of the 49ers' other receivers, thus they could devote more defenders to stopping Frank Gore.

"Sort of gets your attention, doesn't it?" Nolan asked. "There were some things after this game I knew clear-cut we had to do better. There wasn't a lot of gray area on some of things. It didn't surprise me."

That's just amazing. Here's more from Nolan regarding what Rex Ryan said:

RE: Don’t you feel you missed an opportunity when you hear things like that?
“No, because that’s what I do for a living too, so I know that’s how he is. I just need to be more actively involved. It didn’t surprise me. That’s only one dimension. There are other things we were trying to do in that game that I thought we would get more out of that we didn’t.”

That's great, the head coach is getting more involved with his team.

One 49er who has seen a lot of playing time and has impressed in the process is Isaac Sopoaga.

It’s also been great to see how well Isaac Sopoaga has played this year. It’s as if a light bulb finally went off in his head.

There were a few plays against Seattle when he played defensive end where it was as if a man were playing against a bunch of boys. I mean he absolutely crushed Sean Locklear, a 320 pound offensive lineman, six yard into the backfield. It looked almost unfair. They have weight limits and size limits in Pop Warner football for a reason. If you get someone that’s that much bigger and more developed than everyone else, it really is unfair and that’s what it has looked like in a few situations this year with Isaac Sopoaga.

That's awesome to hear. Sopoaga talks about playing in the 3-4 this year.

“Playing in the 3-4 is a lot of fun,” Sopoaga said. “You have more time to put pressure on the offense.”

Playing only two years at the University of Hawaii, he was considered to be raw with a lot of potential. At 6-3, 330 pounds, he is the biggest member of the defensive line. As a matter of fact, Sopoaga is one of only five 49ers who works out with a 200 pound dumbbell and has been called a “True Warrior” by former coaches. His size and athleticism make him an ideal fit for a 3-4 system.

“The reason Isaac is having success is because of his work ethic,” Tomsula said. “He is earning everything he is getting.”

Also getting praise is Titans defensive end Travis Laboy. Here's what head coach Jeff Fisher had to say:

What has Travis LaBoy shown so far this season?

Fisher: “Travis and Antwan (Odom) are playing very well. They are healthy, they’re explosive and they rush the passer well. They’re striking tight ends and tackles well on the run game. Our whole defensive line is playing well right now.