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ByCamInman BayAreaNewsGroup SANTA CLARA Losing NaVorro Bowman, Arik Armstead and now EricReidtoseason-endinginjuries is no way to improve the 49ers de- fense's league-worst stature. But positive news emerged Fri- day when none of their currently ailing players got ruled out of Sun- day's visit to the Miami Dolphins. CornerbackJimmieWardispro- gressing well enough in the con- cussion protocol to be deemed questionable for kickoff. Also questionable are outside linebacker Aaron Lynch (ankle), defensive tackle Quinton Dial (knee,neck)andwidereceiverTor- rey Smith (shoulder). Lynch has missed the past three games with a left-ankle sprain that's limited him in practice and could make him a game-time deci- sion. Arguably the team's best pass rusher, he has one sack in three games after serving a four-game suspension. Outside linebacker Eli Harold is projected to play despite a toe in- jury that's hindered him. All those injury and personnel issues haven't made things easy on a defense still hurting from the 2015 offseason's exodus of starters Justin Smith, Patrick Willis, Aldon NFL 49ERSINJURY-LADEN DEFENSE RANKS LAST NHATV.MEYER—BAYAREANEWSGROUP Pass rusher Aaron Lynch (59) has played only three games this season because of a suspension and an ankle injury, the latter of which he might return from Sunday at Miami. By Curtis Pashelka Bay Area News Group SAN JOSE The Sharks overcame some early sluggishness and some late adversity for a 3-2 win over the New York Islanders on Friday afternoon. Tough to tell what the bigger challenge was, though. "It's big to get a win after Thanksgiving," said Sharks de- fenseman Brent Burns, who scored in the second period and assisted on Patrick Marleau's game-winner with 22.5 seconds left in the third. "Always worry if the legs are going to show up, or if the tur- key's going to show up." Just 35 seconds after a Nick Leddy goal tied the game, Mar- leauredirectedBurns'passtothe slot past Islanders goalie Thomas Greiss to give the Sharks their third straight win on home ice in a rare matinee at SAP Center. Goalie Aaron Dell, making his third start of the season and his first at home, finished with 26 saves as the Sharks improved to 3-0 on their five-game homes- tand. The Sharks, who also got a second period goal from Joe Pav- elski, play Anaheim on Saturday and Arizona on Tuesday. On the winner, Pavelski and Marleau won a battle for the puck right behind the Island- ers net. The puck squirted to Joe Thornton,whorangitaroundthe boards to Paul Martin before the puck came to Burns. "It was just get right back out there and go after it," Marleau said of the Sharks' response af- ter Leddy's goal. "You don't like to see another team tying it up that late in the game, but I think we had the right mindset going right back NHL Marleau's late goal li s Sharks past Islanders By Jeff Faraudo Bay Area News Group BERKELEY As Cal fans settle in to watch the Bears end their sea- son Saturday against UCLA, they also will be saying goodbye to Da- visWebb,thequarterbackwhosuc- cessfullykeptthefootball flyingaf- ter Jared Goff traded in his senior season to become the NFL's No. 1 draft pick. For four seasons, the Bears have been one of the nation's most pro- lific passing teams. They have to- taled 16,189 yards — more than 9 miles — and 131 touchdowns through the air. But with Goff or Webb in the record books and no obvious heir looming among four candidates, is the Bear Raid attack about to be grounded? "It may be different than it's been, but we don't expect the play to decline at all," Cal coach Sonny Dykessaidthisweek."Idon'tknow thatanyoftheseguysisgoingtobe the first pick in the NFL draft, but they're going to give us an oppor- tunity to win football games and that's what good quarterbacks do." "It's not going to fall off a cliff," said offensive coordinator Jake Spavital. Sowhowillplayquarterbackfor Cal in 2017? The front-runners when spring ball arrives will be redshirt soph- omore Chase Forest of Santa Ana and redshirt freshman Ross Bow- ers of Bothell, Washington. The two shared backup practice reps all season, although neither has taken a live snap in a game. A pair of true freshman — Max GilliamofThousandOaksandVic- tor Viramontes of Norco — also will get their shot. As Dykes said, "You just don't ever know." Beyond quarterback, the Cal of- fense will return with few ques- tions. Two offensive line spots must be filled, but a young receiv- ing corps shows promise, and only Khalfani Muhammad among the topthreerunningbacksisasenior. The eventual starting quarter- back — who likely won't be deter- mineduntilfallcamp—willbethe player who fits best with that core and can make the offense work. The four candidates bring dif- ferent assets to the job. Spavital, the offensive coordi- nator whose past pupils included Geno Smith, Johnny Manziel, Brandon Weeden and Case Kee- num, said Bowers has a "special skill-set where he can extend plays and make things happen." Forest, the other front-runner, is "the guy who's going to pick you apart." Gilliam, the true freshman who arrived on campus in time for 2016 spring practice, passed for 7,624 yards and 91 touchdowns in two high school seasons while running for 1,291 yards and 22 TDs. Viramontes, at 6-foot-1, 240 pounds, is the physical outlier and regarded as the best athlete among the four. He both passed and rushed for more than 4,000 yards in a three-year high school career. As a passer, he is the most raw of the group. CAL FOOTBALL Is there life a er Davis Webb? REBECCA BLACKWELL — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Raiders' Jalen Richard showed uncanny smarts and savvy in the way he recognized a coverage and helped draw up a key play. By Jimmy Durkin Bay Area News Group OAKLAND Coaches can spend a whole week working on a game plan, but always know that the key to victory may be an in-game ad- justment. Caseinpoint:theOaklandRaid- ers struggled offensively for three quarters before exploding in the fourth in their win over the Hous- ton Texans. One play encapsulates just what a key adjustment can achieve. Two plays before the Raiders scored the game-winning touch- down, they ran a play on which running back Jalen Richard was lined up wide on the right covered by Houston linebacker Benardrick McKinney, who Richard noticed was "lined up on me real funny." There was also no over the top help, but Richard couldn't get Derek Carr's attention to call for a hot route. He stuck with the called play and ran a slant that was cov- eredupandCarrthrewincomplete to Crabtree over the middle. "After that series, I get to the sidelines and I tell them about it," Richard said of his relaying what he saw to the offensive coaching staff. The Raiders got the ball back with 3:02 to play owning a 27-20 lead, needing to milk the clock. Common sense calls for them to run the ball, but they hadn't had much success there and getting at least one first down was crucial. "The people upstairs talk about it and we come back and decide to run me on a little slant-go," Rich- ard said. "Just go at him a little bit and try to run past him." McKinney gave Richard the ex- actsamecoveragelookandtheini- tial slant drew him in and he had nochancetorecoverwhenRichard broke deep. He caught the pass for 29 yards, stayed in bounds and ran the clock down to the two-minute warning. Raiders coach Jack Del Rio praised offensive assistant Nick Holz after the game for bringing up the idea. NFL Raidersfindaccidentalsuccess RICK SCUTERI — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Cornerback Jimmie Ward is progressing well enough in the concussion protocol and may be ready for kickoff Sunday at Miami. Jimmie Ward, Aaron Lynch questionable Jalen Richard noticed how a linebacker was covering him, Oakland exploits it 49ERS PAGE 2 SHARKS PAGE 2 RAIDERS PAGE 2 SPORTS » redbluffdailynews.com Saturday, November 26, 2016 MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS B1