The aggressiveness and intensity that 49ers cornerback Nate Clements brings to the field is evident even in training-camp practices.
Clements, signed to an eight-year, $80 million free-agent contract in March, seems to be in two places at once when he's covering receivers: in their ear and in their hip pocket.
His coverage is so tight, completions against Clements have been few and far between. And when he knocks down a pass or intercepts it, he lets everyone know with good-natured trash talk.
"I'm just going out there and having fun and competing," Clements said Wednesday. "I try to push my teammates, offense and defense. They're going to try to complete passes and run routes on me. I have to do my job and play tight coverage."
The 49ers are counting on Clements, a former Pro Bowl player with Buffalo, to strengthen a secondary that ranked 26th against the pass - one of the reasons the 49ers led the NFL in points allowed.
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