WitP: The Beast, The Juggernaut, Da Bess

Isaac Sopoaga's move from nose tackle to defensive end is featured in this AP article about the 49ers.

Last year, Isaac Sopoaga was called Chief Warrior by his 49ers teammates. This year, the Samoan strongman has a new monicker.

"Isaac's The Beast," 49ers nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin said. "Just look at that big strong guy we have out there. He's 330-plus pounds and he can move like he's 300 pounds."

The article ends with a great quote:

"Look at me," Sopoaga said Wednesday. "I'm happy, smiling, comfortable and excited. Every morning when I wake up I still can't believe that I have been given this big opportunity. I'm working hard every day to do my job exactly right. I'm going to be smart, attack the line and I will destroy."

The Beast!

Harvey Fialkov of the Sun-Sentinel takes a look at the Boomer vs Juggernaut fullback battle in Dolphins camp.

"I have the utmost faith in Reagan's toughness, but I refuse to back down," said Grigsby, who at 5 feet 11, 250 pounds is an inch shorter and 10 pounds lighter than Mauia, a sixth-round pick last year.

"That fight would turn into some biting. We'd just get street and medieval, or it could come down to who hit first."

Despite breaking his wrist in the preseason last year, Mauia's blocks helped pave the way for early-season running success by Brown and Jesse Chatman. However, he had just two catches for five yards in '07 and has been dropping balls throughout practice.

"I'm working on my technique, but I still have a habit of catching like there's a cast there," Mauia said. "After all year of doing that, it's kind of hard to break it. I'm still trying to fix it."

And Fialkov endorses Davone Bess in the Sun-Sentinel blog.

WR Davone Bess is the one receiver who consistently finds seams downfield. For that alone, he needs to make this team.