Roman's Review

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Looking over the final frames of the Arizona win, safety Mark Roman really stood out, particularly at the end of the fourth quarter and in overtime. With injuries to cornerback Marcus Hudson (knee) and cornerback Shawntae Spencer (thigh pull), Roman was thrust into positions he had never played before.

He first covered the slot receiver in the Cardinals' spread offense. Playing that position is the toughest assignment for any cornerback because he doesn't have the sideline to help him, so the receiver can release to either side of him. It's doubly difficult for a safety.

49ers.com

Mark Roman

On the first Cardinals' drive of overtime, slot receiver Sean Morey sped past Roman while he applied press coverage. Roman not only stayed with him, but he knocked down the pass aimed his way on second down.

On third down, Roman played linebacker in the dime defense, also an unfamiliar position for him. The Cardinals ran a screen and tough-minded wide receiver Anquan Boldin tried to blast him with a big block. Roman bounced off him and then pasted running back J.J. Arrington after Arrington caught a screen pass. The tackle forced a punt.

Roman did such a good job as a cornerback, Kurt Warner constantly looked to Larry Fitzgerald on the other side, even though Fitzgerald was covered by Nate Clements. Roman said he's highly motivated this year.

"Everywhere I look, everybody's been to the Pro Bowl," Roman said of his secondary cohorts Clements, Lewis and Walt Harris. "They've all been there and I want to go there."

Roman has been solid all season and is probably the defense's biggest hitter along with linebacker Patrick Willis, but the 49ers' 3-8 record isn't going to help.

For those who want to know where Roman was on Morey's 62-yard catch-and-run in overtime, he blitzed on that play.

Posted By: Kevin Lynch (Email) | November 29 2007 at 02:58 PM

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