Barlow

Despite having a second consecutive subpar season at tailback, the sixth-year veteran has won over San Francisco’s new coaches and decision-makers and still figures prominently in the team’s 2006 plans.

“He fits in well,” Niners coach Mike Nolan said. “He had some knee issues late in the year and we had to put him on IR. But Kevan did an outstanding job (in 2005), I really think he did. I thought there were some things in his game that I didn’t see prior to my being here. One was pass protection. I think he’s been a good back. When he’s playing well he is a good back. As a matter of fact, he had two very long runs called back by penalties that would’ve given him about 150 more yards just on his overall stats. He did a decent job throughout the season.”

Not only is Barlow impressing on the field, but he also has impressed off it as well.

“I saw some things in his play, not only on the field, but off the field,” Nolan said. “He carried himself in a positive way. Of all the things I heard about Kevan before getting on the job to be concerned about, I didn’t finish the season with those concerns. As a matter of fact, when he was kind of teetering he always came into my office and said, ‘Coach is this OK?’ it was just his nervousness in making sure he was staying in line with what the football team needs him to do and say. And as you all know, it’s important what they say because the guy next to you in the locker room, if you’re talking about him it’s not a good deal. You need to talk about yourself.”

Soucre: [SF Illustrated]