The energy was hard to miss during the 49ers' first training-camp practice Friday afternoon.

Players ran from station to station at the sound of first-year coach Jim Harbaugh's ear-splitting whistle. Offensive players responded with high-decibel cheers when rookie quarterback Colin Kaepernick drilled a perfectly placed laser to tight end Delanie Walker. And Harbaugh, known as a hands-on coach, didn't disappoint - at one point screaming, "That was a great rep! That was a great rep!" after what seemed like an ordinary run play.

At the conclusion of the three-hour session, Harbaugh was clearly pleased with his team's tempo. "You wish you could come up with a formula to try to bottle the enthusiasm and the energy that football players have for the first day of training camp," he said.

Niners fans, however, might wish Harbaugh would bottle that energy for what appears to be San Francisco's inert front office.

The 49ers bounded to work on the field Friday, but they remained largely silent off it as the fourth day of post-lockout free-agent negotiations saw the Eagles reel in All-Pro cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, a huge prize whom San Francisco pursued. In addition, former Niners linebacker Travis LaBoy, who signed with San Diego, became the latest free-agent defection, joining a list that includes center David Baas and linebacker Takeo Spikes.

True, the 49ers officially signed quarterback Alex Smith, defensive end Ray McDonald and backup offensive lineman Tony Wragge on Friday. But those signings don't fill glaring holes at center, cornerback, safety and, possibly, wide receiver. Michael Crabtree watched practice in a T-shirt and shorts with a boot on his injured left foot, which threatens to sideline him for all of training camp.

First-year general manager Trent Baalke watched practice from the sidelines Friday as frustrated fans filled message boards with when-are-they-going-to-sign-some-players rants.

Jeff Chiu/AP

For his part, Harbaugh said he was confident the front office had an effective plan in place. And it includes patience. Harbaugh estimated three-quarters of NFL teams are taking a similarly cautious approach.

"I've been involved in it," Harbaugh said. "And Trent Baalke and I are talking every day on it. We're executing that plan. And I think smartly. I feel good about it. And we'll let our time and our results judge whether we were correct in our thinking."

The holes on the Niners' roster are obvious. And another could be developing as running back Frank Gore continued his holdout in an effort to receive a new contract. Gore, 28, in the final year of his deal, is slated to receive a $2.9 million base salary and a $2 million roster bonus in 2011.

In Gore's absence, second-year running back Anthony Dixon and rookie Kendall Hunter split carries during Friday's non-padded practice.

"I do worry about all of our players, and Frank Gore is one of our guys," Harbaugh said. "At the same time, all my energy is coaching here on a daily basis - meetings and on the field. There'll be a reckoning to come. But I worry about Frank. I like Frank. Frank's a 49er. I hope Frank comes back."

Harbaugh wasn't eager to pursue the subject of Gore's possible return. And he was tight-lipped when asked about the nature of Crabtree's injury or if, in response, the 49ers would pursue a veteran wide receiver in free agency.

Not surprisingly, he was happy to discuss the first-day bounce in his yet-to-be-fully-assembled team's step.

"It was a well-run practice, our players really focused," he said. "They finished. They started fast and they kept that tempo throughout practice. It was a good day."

And off the field, presumably, there will be better days ahead.