Read More: 49ers roster cuts, 49ers 53-man roster, Nate Lawrie (TE – SFX), Frank Gore (RB – SFX), Moran Norris (FB – SFX), Nick Howell (G – SFX), Kevin Jurovich (WR – SFX), Tyler Beiler (WR – SFX), Brian Bulcke (DE – SFX), Donovan Edwards (C – SFX), Derek Hall (OT – SFX), Joe Hastings (WR – SFX), Chris Hogan (WR – SFX), Seth Smith (RB – SFX), Anthony West (DB – SFX), Kenny Wiggins (OT – SFX), San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers and the rest of the NFL have a Tuesday deadline to make their first official roster cuts of 2011. Originally the rules required teams to cut down to 75 players, but the rule was changed to 80 for this season. Teams will make final roster cuts down to the regular season 53-man roster this weekend following the conclusion of the preseason schedule.

As the 49ers make their initial roster cuts, undrafted free agents and some first and second year street free agents are unlikely to last through Tuesday. Some of the undrafted free agents that could get cut include:

DL Brian Bulcke
OL Donovan Edwards
WR Chris Hogan
WR Joe Hastings
DB Anthony West
OT Derek Hall
OT Kenny Wiggins
RB Seth Smith
WR Tyler Beiler

Among the fairly “green” veterans on the roster, some potential cuts include:

OG Nick Howell
TE Nate Lawrie
WR Kevin Jurovich

The ten cuts on Tuesday will include many of these players. However, it is also possible the cuts could include more veteran players. One player who pops to mind is fullback Moran Norris. He is a Frank Gore favorite and has a good chance of making the roster. At the same time, the coaching staff likely knows as much as they’ll ever know about Norris. If they wanted to give some additional playing time this Thursday to a younger, less known player, it would make sense to cut Norris and provide that additional time. Additionally, cutting Norris now gives him a couple extra days to latch on with another team.

This is not to say Norris or other established veterans will get a pink slip Thursday. In fact, I would argue if Norris survives Tuesday’s cut, he is likely to survive this weekend’s cut. If the team still wants to keep him around after Tuesday, I’m not sure how much can change before the final cuts this weekend.

SAN FRANCISCO – One early mistake did nothing to rattle Matt Schaub.

Schaub stepped back to pass on the first play of the game and threw right to 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks a few yards away. After that rare blunder, Houston’s reliable quarterback was spot-on.

Schaub recovered after the early interception, leading the Texans on scoring drives in each of their next three series in a 30-7 exhibition rout of the rebuilding San Francisco 49ers on Saturday night.

“We had a lot of early mistakes and turnovers but guys bounced back and made plays,” Schaub said. “I think that shows the maturity of our team that those mistakes aren’t going to linger.”

Schaub enhanced an already impressive preseason, going 16 for 24 for 180 yards and a touchdown for the unbeaten Texans (3-0).

San Francisco quarterback Alex Smith wound up 2 for 6 for 17 yards, just 4 more yards in the air than he lost in two sacks.

There weren’t very many people to boo him this time.

The Candlestick Park stands were about one-third full a week after things turned violent and two men were shot in a parking lot after the 49ers beat the Bay Area rival Oakland Raiders 17-3.

NFL security chief Jeff Miller attended Saturday’s game and said he’s optimistic Candlestick’s beefed up security and increased police presence can help prevent further incidents of violence this season.

“We all recognize what happened last week was very unsettling and something we want to change,” Miller said. “Tonight

what I saw in the parking areas was that the police were extremely engaged. They did a fantastic job working with the fans, trash removal, little things like that.”

The 49ers got more highlights from their first-team defense than from Smith and Co.

“Obviously we took our lumps tonight,” Smith said. “It was rough for all of us. We have to find a way to get something going and get right.”

Brooks intercepted that first pass by Schaub and returned it 13 yards for San Francisco’s lone points – and this was hardly the kind of performance new coach Jim Harbaugh hoped to see at this stage.

Houston had run 32 offensive plays to San Francisco’s eight midway through the second quarter and the Texans managed 15 first downs to the 49ers’ one. The overall first downs: Texans 28, 49ers 6. Total yards: Houston 417, San Francisco 105.

“To me, they’re one of the best offenses in the NFL, so it was a good test for today going against a fast offense like that,” 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis said.

Backup QB Colin Kaepernick got his shot for San Francisco. He didn’t look much better than Smith.

Kaepernick, the team’s second-round draft pick out of Nevada, threw the interception to Nolan on his fifth play from scrimmage and third pass attempt after two previous incompletions.

Smith returned for a three-and-out and then another series in which he threw an interception in the closing seconds of the first half.

Running back Frank Gore, hoping for a new contract before the Sept. 11 opener with defending division champion Seattle, didn’t play.

Smith was sacked by Connor Barwin on third down on San Francisco’s first drive for a 6-yard loss. Barwin ran over left tackle Joe Staley.

Antonio Smith sacked Smith on the next Niners drive. So Phillips has to be pleased with how his unit looked Saturday night – and in the preseason as a whole. Houston’s passing defense ranked last in the NFL in 2010.

“Confidence wise, it’s certainly important for us to be where we are,” Phillips said.
The Texans have 13 sacks from nine players and have forced seven turnovers in the first three exhibition games.

Donte Whitner’s pass-interference penalty late in the first quarter helped set up Derrick Ward’s 1-yard TD run that put Houston ahead 10-7. The points were the first given up by San Francisco’s No. 1 defense in three preseason games.

Neil Rackers kicked field goals of 27 and 47 yards for Houston. Foster had 38 yards on eight rushes.

“It’s a bitter pill to swallow when you’re beaten that thoroughly in pretty much all phases,” Harbaugh said. “We’re not going to have any loser talk or hang our heads. If you’re waiting for that, you’re not going to get it.”