Here is the transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s Wednesday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers.
Recently Harbaugh’s had the pattern of pumping up certain players. Last week he announced that Michael Crabtree has the best hands he’s ever seen on a wide receiver. Last season he called Alex Smith a Pro Bowl quarterback. Today, he’s pumping up his right guard, right tackle and backup quarterback.
I don’t know why Harbaugh chooses to pump up certain players when he does. I’m sure he believes the things he says. His comments probably function to boost the players’ confidence, which seems like a savvy move on Harbaugh’s part.
What did you see that you liked out there?
“A lot of things. A lot of good things. Attendance has been phenomenal, and we really appreciate that with our guys. Rookies are busting their tails. It’s great to see it. They’re doing a very fine job. New guys are doing extremely well. Noticing a lot of our returners are really doing well, really improved. So, a lot, a lot of people. Could go into some names, but there’s quite a bunch of guys that are really Gung-ho and into what we’re doing here.”
It seems like it’s always been a priority to develop as much competition at each position as you can. And it seems like you’re really deep in a lot of positions, just about every position right now.
“Yeah, I would agree with that.”
I guess the one that kind of stands out when you look at the offensive line, you have a vacancy there and you’ve got a lot of guys competing for that spot, for the right guard spot?
“Well, really [G/T] Alex Boone had the first shot at that and he’s doing a phenomenal job. There will be competition of course, but he’s doing outstanding. Another guy that’s standing out is [RT] Anthony Davis. Really good with his footwork. That’s been much improved. Knowing the system, veteran guy now. Seen a big jump in his play as well.”
QB Alex Smith is throwing a lot to a certain receiver. It seems he’s been throwing to WR Randy Moss a lot. Have you seen that chemistry improved? Do you want that? Do you like to see Alex throwing it to Randy a lot out there?
“Alex has really been, in the two days out here, has been spreading the ball very well. He’s got a lot of options. That’s been evident too for two days. Randy’s a great target. He’s not a B.S.’er. He’s rock solid. We just couldn’t be happier with him. Couldn’t be any more happy with him. Another guy that’s really standing out is Mario Manningham. His first two days of OTA’s, played extremely well. [WR] Michael [Crabtree], [WR] Kyle [Williams], I’m probably leaving somebody out right there. Oh, [WR] A.J. Jenkins is doing a phenomenal job. Michael Crabtree, yeah that’s what I said.”
Everyone’s talking about Randy’s speed. Do you notice it on the field? Do you just tell yourself this guy hasn’t lost anything? Where do you think his speed is right now?
“Well, I think it’s really good. He’s one of the fastest guys on our team when you put the watch on certain drills, so that’s all I have to go off of.”
After no offseason last year, how important is it this year? It puts you so far ahead of the game.
“It’s been fun. This is great to be back out here. Guys have been working fanatically. Our veterans have definitely done that. The rookies that have been here for the past two weeks, they’ve seen a great example, and they’re busting their tails. A lot of excitement with the football team, coming off the season they had last year. But, they’re just Gung-ho. They’re Gung-ho for the program and what they can accomplish each and every day. So, it’s been five great weeks and week six is going very well as well.”
You mentioned on the radio how Michael Crabtree had the best hands you’ve ever seen. I think that was the phrasing. Is that literal, that Michael Crabtree has the best hands out of any receiver you’ve ever been around?
“Yes, yes. He’s got tremendous hands.”
Have you noticed that especially lately, or are you saying it from last year too that he’s got the best hands you’ve ever seen?
“Well, the comment stands on its own merit. I know you guys have dissected it about every which way it can be dissected. But, it is literal. It is literal fact, what I believe as I see it and believe it to be.”
Is this OTA script pretty much similar to what you guys would have had last year if you guys were to have OTA’s, or did you adjust to what you saw this season?
“It’s very similar to how it would have been last year, but there are some time restrictions this year that weren’t in place last year. So, that’s really been the only change in the schedule.”
How are you liking this routine? You kind of start slowly with phase one. And then do you think it’s a good schedule?
“It’s been good for us with a combination of things. How much our guys are into it. How the attendance is that we mentioned. So, yeah it’s been good for us.”
Jim, what’s keeping WR Ted Ginn Jr. off the field?
“He’s working through something at this point, physically.”
Do you expect to have him back on the field soon?
“We’ll see, could be. He’ll be back when he’s 100 percent. We’re not going to take any chances, but it’s coming along very well.”
How much of a priority is it just to try to develop that number two punt returner for this season, assuming he’s number one?
“Well, we think we have a really good one in Kyle Williams. And we’ll always be developing players at every position. And the importance of that is very important. So, I think we’re in good shape.”
You’ve got QB Colin Kaepernick I think running the two’s, the two offense. Is he slotted right now as the number two? How close is that between he and the other guys?
“Yes, Colin’s the backup quarterback as it’s slotted right now. And, how close? We’ll see. That’s why we’re out here to figure out who the starters are, who the backups are, who the contributors are. And right now everybody has that license. I feel really good about this 90-man roster that we have and their chances to make the football team and contribute. And try not to make any mistakes. Let the guys express who they are as football players. You hate to not have somebody on the team that goes to another team and ends up beating you. But with the quarterback position, all four of our quarterbacks are NFL quarterbacks. All four of those guys will play in the NFL for a very long time in our estimation. So, that’s going to be a lot of competition within that position rank. Bodes well for us. We don’t ever have a bad rep out here because we’re training a quarterback, or the quarterback doesn’t know what to do because they’re new in the system. Or they just can’t make the throws that NFL quarterbacks make. So, that’s been something that’s really given us an advantage in our opinion, that every rep is a real good rep for the entire offense, and the defense.”
You talked about Alex Smith having a lot of options out there. We talk about opening up the offense. Do you expect more downfield stuff? Do you want more downfield stuff?
“We always just want to find ways, the best ways, the better ways, to move the chains. I think we’ll be coming along, we’ll be just fine. That’s the way we look at it.”
How good of an asset is P Andy Lee for you guys and going forward now that he’s signed a new deal?
“Sometimes it’s underestimated probably, to be honest with you. Andy is one of those guys that wins games for our football team. And it’s great to see guys that play all the games, play all 16, 17, 18 games and help our football team win games, get rewarded with a new contract. So, we’re all really excited and happy for Andy about that. And selfishly for ourselves we’re happy and excited that Andy Lee will be with us for the next six years.”
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kyle williams backup punt returner verified but maybe not validated
Alex Smith was quoted as saying:
We were so inconsistent when we had to throw the football,” he said. “Third-and-mediums, third-and-longs we weren’t very good. Red zone, we weren’t good at times. We got to get better there.
Is that the royal we? Anyway, in the words of JH “the importance of that is very important”
http://www.csnbayarea.com/football-san-francisco-niners/niners-talk/Smith-We-got-to-get-better?blockID=713014&feedID=5936
Ya….
“We” as in the Whole Offense because 1 Player can’t convert 3rd Downs or score TD’s by himself. Is that so hard to figure out?
It seems its so hard for the haters to figure it out…
Just reading this I get pumped up. He has lots of praise for his team. The season cant come soon enough.
Reading that Alex an Moss are hooking up fine and Jenkins is having some problems.
Where do you see jenkin is having problems????
Conditioning in his first camp, probbaly. Strength. Readuing NFL defenses. A new NFL WR has a whole lot of growing up to do. Doesn’t mean there is any cause for concern. Even Jerry Rice took half a season, and he was the G.O.A.T.
Sarge -
http://blog.sfgate.com/49ers/2012/05/23/randy-moss-catches-several-passes-from-alex-smith-during-practice/
Thanks for that link undercenter. Good reading.
Actually, more interesting to me in that article is that Person is doing very well in drills at tackle. If Boone goes to RG, he might still be the swing tackle too for a while, but Person’s emergence would simplify the 49ers’ situation there.
Agree with you Grump. If they can go into camp with that mostly settled it will help the group come together.
It’s Kevin Lynch, so you have to take it with a grain of salt. If I hear it from Maiocco, then I’ll start getting worried.
No one else is reporting anything from practice though. That stuff is much more entertaining than the interview babble.
If the Niners give Kevin Lynch the signal, he’ll talk, otherwise, don’t expect to hear much from him.
Even if you hear it from Maiocco I wouldnt worry to much about it.
I follow the 9ers through NFLN and these blogs courtesy of 49erswebzone from the East Coast.
My point is that Lynch is a negative Nancy. He preaches to the Smith haters and other pessimists, and they soak it up. He’s bashed the org. , Baalke and the Yorks relentlessly as if he knows more than they do. He subscribes to the fantasy football mentality and punditry, and time and again he’s more often wrong than right. He reminds me of Mayock, another supposed “guru” who talks out of his hindparts half the time.
I only posted on his blog 3 times. I was always polite, never negative and never crude, rude, or otherwise nasty. Last season he infamously bashed Harbaugh and company at half-time in his blog, only to have it blow up in his face a mere ten minutes later. I simply asked “this is what passes for journalism ? Why the negative bilge all the time ?” I was rewarded by being deleted and blocked.
It was reminiscent of Grant’s recent “Niners blow 1st pick” article mere moments after the pick occured. When Grant first started, he quickly went to my top 5 of blogs to follow. Over the last several months, he seems to have more of that Lynch and his dad’s influence in his writing. I still read, but his material is noticably different.
By comparison, I’ve followed Matt since he was blogging and he’s never really changed and his information and reporting is usually accurate. It’s my hope Grant will spend less time with the Lynches of the world and more with the real reporters.
I’m not saying I want my news candy coated, but when a Lynch is consistently on the wrong side of the facts, and demonstrates a lack of intellectual honesty, then yeah, I reccomend you read what he writes with a grain of salt.
JH is doing what JH has done since day 1.
Support the players on his team in public. Nolan and Sing rarely did that. The difference in results is all I need to see to know which I prefer.
Great point DS. That’s the college coach in JH, all
about the team, the team, the team.
It’s amazing what a difference coaching at every position has done for the 49ers. This staff compared to Sing and Nolan, which were similar, could not shag balls for JH’s crew!
DS Coaching does count eh!!
BS, I mean Ds, no I mean BS,
Nolan and Singletary did praise players for playing well. Where do you get these lies from? Don’t you realize you”ll be called to the carpet when you fabricate information.
What Singletary didn’t do was lie to the press about his opinions of a player. Nolan didn’t either. They called a spade a spade. Harbagh gave Alex Smith what he thought Smith needed last year. He tried to make Smith believe he was Elite. A pro bowler. Now he’s doing that with Crabtree.
Every head coach has a different style. Harbaugh pumps guys up. Belicheat doesn’t coach that way.
Yeah, why did the team ever get rid of Nolan and Singletary? They were such great coaches.
@claude
Yeah. With great BS’ers like 23J around, why didn’t the Niners offer him the HC job?
Yet another post where I am more certain about what I wrote than I was before. 23J says the opposite, you know you are right.
It sounds liked your boy is fighting for the 3 spot QB position behind Alex, collin is sure to be the backup QB.. lol
Thank You!
Grant are you getting this?
“We always just want to find ways, the best ways, the better ways, to move the chains”
The man has his eye firmly on where we need to improve. Encouraging.
I’m curious if the 49ers will stick to Bo Schembechler football this year or really open it up. It really helped the defense be dominant early in 2011 when the 49ers ran-ran-ran and chewed up clock.
The defense started slipping (just a little) when the run game lost steam later in the year.
@ Clemons
Nothing to go on but hunches, but:
I see the running game remaining as the prime focus, partially for the field position advantage, but I look for unexpected twists from game to game. Maybe one game they come out slinging it around to set up the run, another they hunch up their backs and to grind it out and take their shots here & there. Unpredictability is helpful. This year there’s enough time to put in a lot of packages and pull them off the shelf as they’re needed during the season. They may keep it a little simpler in the early season to let the OL get its timing down and to set tendencies that they can later use to set up opposing Ds.
What I want to know is how Harbaugh could possibly tell the media that Kaepernick is slotted as the No. 2 right now. A very reliable source close to the QB situation told jordan last week that Josh Johnson was the No. 2 QB.
Something’s not right here.
claude
Clearly JH isn’t in “the know”.
Gosh. Get with the program.
lol
@Grant:
Why did Prime’s comment get deleted?
the comments about not being able to read.
Claude Grant will always defend the haters but when people make harsh comments about my mom, yeah you Bayarea, or about DS, the guy is no where to be found.
I defend DS all day every day.
Very true.
And I defend you too Grant, when people say your horrible, I say no he isn’t, he’s just lousy!
Thanks.
Lost all respect for you Gramt for allowing that comment to be posted and never eliminated. Mom insults get you knocked out in real life but to use it on a blog just goes to show what kind of character Bayarea is!
I must have missed it. You can e-mail me directly at grantcohn@gmail.com in the future if you take issue with a comment.
@Grant
I think that comment was in the last/next to last Steve Young transcript after the regular season and I think before the NO game. It was sometime that week.
That comment is close to the worse thing I ever read on this blog with the thing bay said to me being the other.
I remember Prime writing to bay something like “cheer up, we are 13-3″.
Sorry I missed it.
Poor little Primetime, someone talked trash about his mama.
Look at all the( Prime, Claude, BS) blog snitches, crying like -itches when they really need stitches. Grow up you sensitive bunch of misfits.
Ooh, look at the internet tough guy. Wow, jordan, you sure are scary.
Maybe Prime was right. If you think I complained about anything, then you don’t read very well.
Primetrash,
I love it when a nasty bully like you attempts to play victim. LOVE IT. And thanks for continuing to bring my name up. Tells me you love me.
As for you DS you are your own worst enemy. I get that this forum makes you feel important. But you have had so many run ins with people that even you can’t ignore the fact that you are annoying.
Telling people what do write, how to think. Telling the blog author what to write, what to think, who to ban etc. I found it comical that Grant posted his email so that “victims” like you could complain to him directly. We all know DS has had this email for a while and has already complained behind the scenes before. Right DSXBOX?
As for football, I think we all know Harbaugh’s style now. Sometimes he feels like talking, sometimes he doesn’t. Sometimes he’s friendly, sometimes he isn’t. What is very clear to me is he protects his players. When he verbally pumps his players up we have to take it with a grain of salt. He is doing the coaching Jedi mind trick in attempts to boost confidence in his more fragile players.
Boosting up KW. Praising growth in AD when he is fighting to keep his spot. While I love Crabs, he doesn’t have the “best hands” I’ve seen. And to call Alex “clutch” and “pro bowl” worthy? Coach is going a little over board dontcha think?
The ((LOVERS)) are such a sensitive group, it is ok for Prime to bash BayAreafanatic with GayArea, which I find more horrific and distasteful then Mama bashes. The lovers can sure dish it out but they can’t take it. Anybody that takes this place seriously, needs some help and perhaps a new life.
@Prime Time, your right, if it were real life and Bayarea made that comment about anyones Mom in real life, he would probably get a mouth full of chiclets. But as I have said all along, this guy has no character, thats why he says those things over the keyboard, cause he knows he can get away with it. Its classic little man syndrome.
A hater backing up another hater. How novel. Go back and look up my so called attacks on Prime. They are all rebuttals to his attacks.
Whatever bayareafanatic, its always the same thing with you, he attacked me. Who cares, we all know Mom bashing is an unwritten rule guys dont use on each other, frankly, its a chicken way of insulting and you and everyone on the planet knows that if you ever said that in person to someones face, its a fight and your probably going to have to stick up for yourself live! Insted, you use it over the internet like a coward, no character!
>>Boosting up KW. Praising growth in AD when he is fighting to keep his spot. While I love Crabs, he doesn’t have the “best hands” I’ve seen. And to call Alex “clutch” and “pro bowl” worthy? Coach is going a little over board dontcha think?
Yes, his tactics have led to abysmal results so far. Call JH out on it next time you see him, bay. Set him straight, why doncha?
@ribico
Take things out of context much?
@Nick.
No.
That is why I include the quote from the poster in my response.
Slick Jimmy called me last night and said JJ will starting by game 6. But this is same guy who said Crabs has the best hands he has ever seen and said AS is a elite QB, so I am not taking that to the bank.
You never make any sense Neal.
In the words of JH “the importance of that is very important”.
Prime,
JH although a great coach, he says things that make your eye’s roll.
Slick Jimmy? That’s what the haters are calling coach now? Cute.
Ribico,
Your pathetic lover.
Prime your such a hypocrite it is ok to bash Gay’s but your Mama is off the table.
You know what Neal, I think Mom insults are off limits period. Calling a guy who has a sexual preference is way different then insulting ones Mom. Add the fact that it’s a lowball, dirty pool insult over the Internet no less, just goes to show what type of individual we are working with.
Now you come to the table playing defender when you haven’t added one piece of football perspective since being on here, please, don’t waste your time, find something constructive to do then mediate.
When troll wagons collide. LMAO!!
@ Prime,
Since my post was deleted will try again
It is ok to gay bash but when your Moma is in the mix, that is off limits, seems very hypocritical to me. As far as my football knowledge, I could care less what you think of it, your love of AS make your opinions quite delusional, and it is very sad that you take this place so seriously, what a waste of time.
Namecalling – Primetrash… BS… one(everything under the book)…
Grant, do you know you have 3rd graders posting here?
What about welcher? and the “r” word?
I figure you guys are adults and can handle a little name calling (as long as it’s not profane), considering most of the commenters on this blog who complain about name calling also name call.
Grant,
I don’t take offense to the name calling. I just hope they can take it like they dish it out. I’m a big boy. I’m gonna be here as long as you’re here,even longer. Keep up the good work!
If you have followed the history, welcher is a completely accurate description, and frankly benign moniker, for that particular poster. Would you prefer swindler instead?
“r” word? whats that?
Grant,
I hear Randy Moss and Crabtree are showing incredible catch radius, thereby enabling Alex Smith’s inaccurate throws to appear to be adequate?? Hoes Josh and Kap looking to you?
>>I figure you guys are adults
Even if the emotional maturity, as evidenced by gradeschool level name-calling, disputes that.
>>I hear Randy Moss and Crabtree…
Just wondering, did you hear that from the same source who told you JJ was promoted to #2 QB?
Thought so.
I could care less what the name calling is, if Prime can Gay Bash, everything should be open.
He can’t. I deleted it when he did it. If there’s something I missed, please show me and I’ll get rid of it.
You don’t think the Niners would trade Smith for Newton?
Ribico,
STOP SNITCHING, and WHINING!!
`Thats right 23J, blame Ribico for trying to bring civility to the blog. Otherwise not trying to clean things up will allow for dirt bags like you to continue to bring negative banter amongst 49er fans.
Go welch on another bet why dont you!
FDC,
Not today. I’m having a great time. Tell Ribico, BS, PRIME, Claude and paste to STOP SNITCHING and WHINING! Better known as ….. You know!
Name calling is gonna happen on a blog with passionate fans, I can deal with it cause I dish it. Vulgar language and Mom insults are unacceptable. People that use f-bombs and family insults are cowards cause they know that behind a keyboard there safe.
You use profanity or Mom insults in real life, most likely your getting a knuckle sandwich!
Okay Mr. Welcher, I’ll tell them on your behalf, have fun at the zoo today!
I am pretty sure the “r” word Grant referred to is the slang term for someone with a mental handicap, but you should double check with DS on that.
As long as it is clean I have no problem with the name calling. The amount of creativity some show is quite funny.
I agree, but the “r” word is unacceptable. Welcher, I’ll allow.
@Grant,
Prime calls Bay Area Fanatic, Gay Area which is very distasteful and cruel and I actually think it is worse then Mama jokes, because Gays get bashed continually and I personally can’t stand prejudice losers. I have not seen any lately.
I’ll trash that in the future if he does it.
I think the 49ers would trade Smith for Newton in a heartbeat. Based on what he did with Smith, Harbaugh could turn Newton into a HOFer.
Claude Nuts called me a Deutsch a couple of days ago, I could care less, just surprised he didn’t cut and paste because that is all he can do.
You don’t like being called German in German? I wouldn’t either, but I’ll allow it.
@Grant:
Wow, I didn’t figure you to be so pro-censorship.
Are you in favor of banning or rewriting Huckleberry Finn?
Rules are rules and you can’t write the “r” word on this blog. Huckleberry Finn has nothing to do with it.
You didn’t answer the question.
No, I’m not in favor of your scenarios. This is the Press Democrat’s 49ers blog, not Huckleberry Finn.
Is jabroni acceptable? : )
I don’t see why not. What does it even mean? As a kid, I always thought the Rock got away with saying it on TV because it was meaningless, or if it had a meaning, nobody knew what it was.
Jabroni = loser, poser…One who talks the talk, but could never walk the walk.
What’s the etymology of the word?
and ribico, you call everyone a hater that is not on your train, who is the third grader.
Neal, the names for the two camps have boiled down to smithers and haters. Deal with it, I have.
Jack
You the largest wuss here. You talk like a big strong guy, but whine and cry when the “r” word is used. Not even when it is directed at any person!
Wuss. Keep away, and keep up the victim game. Bullies act like you. Punch them in the mouth a bit and they go running back to their mommies.
You want to play big boy games, you need to take what you give out. You don’t, then you need to respect other peoples wishes and leave them alone when they tell you to.
Can’t do what you like to do. Act like a little lap dog following others around and insulting them. Going around telling newbies a bunch of crap instead of just keeping it about football. What kind of person does that? A hater/wuss/bully. That is who. Then when a word not even directed at you or anybody is used, you turn and cry foul. Wuss. Bad move bringing your nephew who is r into a football blog.
Sounds to me like a slur to Italian-Americans ;) Kind of like someone who stepped out of Jersey Shore.
DS,
Thank you for continuing to read my comments.
Grant,
You asked for the etymology of jabroni. Here you go.
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=jabroni&searchmode=none
Wow! That’s an amazing find. Thanks, Jack. I’ve never heard of a jobber before.
Claude,
What I want to know is how Harbaugh could possibly tell the media that Kaepernick is slotted as the No. 2 right now. A very reliable source close to the QB situation told jordan last week that Josh Johnson was the No. 2 QB.
Something’s not right here.
Just an oversight on Harbaugh’s part I’m sure. One thing that jumped out at me was JJ’s size: 6ft. 190 but looks more like 180 according to one report I read. He’s Troy Smith in size. I see no way he’s anything but 3rd string at best.
Johnson’s 6-3, 205 lbs. I’m 6-1 and he’s definitely taller than I am.
http://www.49ers.com/team/roster/Josh-Johnson/1b0e46b3-0608-4a29-ad58-b810a51cb4e3
Grant,
I got it from Kevin Lynch’s article predicting the roster:
Currently, there are four quarterbacks on the roster, including Scott Tolzien. While Tolzien is smart, capable and dedicated, he might not have the physical tools to hang with the other three. Kaepernick is likely to stay as the main backup in his second year in the system. He also has the tall stature and a ridiculously strong arm. While Smith’s renovation of his mechanics has gotten plenty of attention, Kaepernick is undergoing his own makeover which includes speeding up his long delivery. Johnson has a strong arm as well and he’s Kaepernick’s equal as a running quarterback.
But he’s also only 6-0 and 190 and looks like he’s more like 180.
Nevertheless, this battle for the backup roles should be one of the most intense of camp.
Prediction: Smith, Kaepernick and Johnson stay
Where’s he getting his information? Everyone lists Johnson at 6-3 205, even the 49ers do.
It is seeming like Ted Ginn is on the outside looking in on making this team more so than Kyle Williams… I believe Ted Ginn is a stop gap on this team much like Moran Norris was last year or Chilio Rachal was…
I disagree. Kyle Williams makes the team over Mr. Ginn. Laughable. Ted Ginn is one of the most gifted returners in the NFL. I don’t remember what the 49ers are paying him but it ain’t chump change.
Confidence is key to playing football. 80% mental, 50% physical with a “P”.
This team is going to be improved from last year in every phase. I think the 49ers could very well be unstoppable. Can’t wait until the Broncos game to see the extent of that improvement.
“Confidence is key to playing football. 80% mental, 50% physical with a “P”.”
LMAO!!!
Is that like the Singletary treatment: fired with a “ph”?
Ginn will make the team, as he is only proven kick returner, don’t want to see Kyle Williams in that position, although I agree they will develop other guys who can return punts, because Ginn is a horrific receiver. he did get a $500,000 guarantee.
I like Williams as a Returner in some ways better than Ginn. He’s much more shifty laterally and can break tackles that Ginn will simply duck or run to the sidelines to avoid.
If Williams gets his confidence back he’ll be good to go. It’s not like he dropped the punts. He made one bad decision not to get away from the ball and…the second he was trying to make a play. Granted he should have secured the ball, but I suspect he’s learned that lesson.
Williams runs circles around Ginn as a WR, so he’d provide more depth at the position, especially if Jenkins isn’t ready.
@ EB9er
The difference between KW and TG jr has to do with vocabulary. Ginn thinks “Punt Returner” means someone who returns the ball to the opponents’ end of the field. Williams thinks it means return the ball to the opponents.
Whoop! Sorry, I’ve actually forgiven him, but that was just too easy, I couldn’t resist! ( I’ll buy you a beer Kyle). : > )
@Brotha:
… Williams thinks it means return the ball to the opponents./i>
Nice.
No love…no love! ;-)
God I hate Chris Chase
Who’s Chris Chase?
Add Chip Whiters to that list.
Question for you guys who know football. Ginn went out and tried to hook on with a team that would play him more at reciever. No takers. The guy has hands, speed, is pretty shifty, etc. And I’m sure he’s been told lots of times what it is about his route running that needs to improve. Why can’t he do that?
Umm… Ginn has great volleyball hands I suppose.
He’s great at batting passes up in the air for DBs to grab.
@msc
Assuming he doesn’t lose the ball in the air.
Ginn just isn’t a WR.
@msclemons67 LOL! Nice analogy!
I’m not sure where spike has been regarding Ginns lack of hands. I believe he’s the lowest rated receiver in the NFL on catch versus targets over the time he’s been in the NFL. He was at one point for sure.
He does not have the best hands, when he was with the Dolphis no matter what he did, when he caught the ball, he always went out of bounds, he was a first round bust. He is a good kick returner and that is it, and we need him as that.
He’s a great kick returner in my opinion. Rarely does he fail at his number one responsibilty and that is to secure the football for his team. I felt he improved as a receiver last year, but he is brittle and shys away from contact. Maybe Mr. Moss can help him out.
He never fumbled the ball last season. He does not dive for punts, or let punts him in his knee and those are the biggest plus. Can he last 16 plus games that is the question?
God, please let September come quickly! I can only take so much NFL Network, aghhhhhhhh!
Plop $20 down on NFL Game Rewind. It’s a life saver.
My mothers Old man gets Sunday Ticket Every year, so I just mooch off them, HAHAHAHAHAHA!! But for the record, I was gonna get it this year cause it’s pretty cheap, but then he told me not to because he won’t have anyone to argue with every Sunday. He a Packer fan **thumbs down**
God, no kidding. So tired of their “Top 10 blah blah blah” shows, I could scream!
Adam, I couldn’t agree more. My least favorite is the top 10 Cowboys of all time. I think they also have the same theme for the Steelers. Sad. lol
Top Ten Cowboys?
Tom Mix
Hopalong Cassidy
The Cisco Kid
The Lone Ranger
Kit Carson
John Wayne
Roy Rogers
Clint Eastwood
Walt Garrison
Cody Pickett
Brotha, now that list I can live with!! LOL
@Brotha
I’d include James West (Robert Conrad) of The Wild Wild West.
Don’t forget the (honorary one time cowboy) Val “I’m your huckleberry” Kilmer.
Top Ten Cowboys?
Justin Smith
Justin Smith
Justin Smith
Justin Smith
Justin Smith
Justin Smith
Justin Smith
Justin Smith
Justin Smith
And # 1?
Justin Smith!
Yes to Justin! And how could I leave out Alex Karas as Mungo from Blazing Saddles? Doh!
“Jim, what’s keeping WR Ted Ginn Jr. off the field?
“He’s working through something at this point, physically.” ”
Harbaugh is in mid-season form already. Nice.
Yeah. Pretty sure JH wouldn’t hire Joe Biden for his staff; loose cannons don’t go over well with him.
Hilarious, Alex Clowns Cam Newton.
http://slumz.boxden.com/f16/shots-fired-alex-smith-clowns-cam-newton-1757932/
Alex will probably call Cam. After all, Cam’s 1st game of his NFL career was better than any game Smith has had in 7 years! Bwahahahaha
i saw that Jordan and was thinking “why Alex going there?”
However true that statement is, it was a stupid choice by Smith to throw Newton under the bus like that.
The good part is that it shows the confidence he now has, and that should bode well for this year.
A psychologist would call that ‘yardage envy’ right?
Hey DS, next time you see your shrink, be sure to ask him/her about that.
Nick,
Smith got caught up. We know that’s not his character Nick. Smith got backed in a corner. I bet hw regrets making that comment. Newton is 5x’s the player Smith is and even Smith knows that Cam is better. Smith will be cleaning up his comments soon enough. Can’t wait to hear what Cam has to say.
Nick
At your next appointment (or right, we are the same person) be sure to ask why I (nick) can’t seem to stop thinking about another person I have never even met. I say I hate him, but how can I if my life revolves bringing him into every conversation I have?
Relationships an issue for you are they?
He should care more about yards. If he had gotten more of them the front office would not have low balled him on his contract.
And if Cam had the Niners D, they would have been in the playoffs in Cams rookie year.
A much better read by the great EBranch:
http://blog.sfgate.com/49ers/2012/05/23/alex-smiths-mantra-stats-are-for-losers/
Now NFL.com picked up the AS story as well.
Bay,
Alex needs to know that when you run your mouth, you have go back it up. He’s talking his own stats down, trying to make it appear as though he didnt throw for more yards per game because the Niners ran too much late in games. He fails to talk about all tge blow opportunities he’s had in games and couldn’t move the team.
JH has definitely bown smoke up Smiths azz . House brainwashed him and told him to take his tail out from between his legs and make it stand up like a Chow!!
All that attitude means nothing in print. Show me on the field. Something Smith has done for 7 minutes in his whole career.
What a surprise, Bay and the welcher would rather have yards than wins. Fantasy football mentality at its finest.
You guys did notice that there was an inverse relationship between Newton’s numbers and his team’s performance (wins vs losses), didn’t you?
Of course not, you guys don’t let things like facts or context have any effect when forming your opinions. Here, I’ll do the research for you: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/N/NewtCa00/gamelog/
Notice how his big yardage games came in losses? And that his numbers in the wins are relatively modest?
Alex Smith wasn’t wrong.
Claude,
That’s why we went out and got all these weapons on offense. Niners front office were completely satisfied with Smiths production. 185 net yards a game.
That’s why Smith got the contract he did. The worst of any starting QB in the NFL. Not $1 signing bonus. 3, 1 year contracts!
That’s why no team in this league offered him a contract other than the Niners.
That’s why Cam Newton is 5x’s the QB your hero is.
That’s why it’s make or break for Smith.
That’s why Smith decided to be more accurate and learn footwork in year 8.
That’s why Tom House taught Smith how to curse at one of his teammates in year 8.
Now copy and paste something to dispute what I just gave you Snitch!
It does not surprise me that someone so out of touch with reality would have so much trouble with facts.
Did you ask me to show you your own words again? OK.
23jordan says:
September 20, 2011 at 8:55 am
…
I’ll stop posting here altogether if Alex Smith Is a 49er next year. Write that down and locknot in. He may get benched before the season is over. He will NOT be back here next year.
Did you see where Harbaugh confirmed that Kaepernick is No. 2 behind Smith? I’ll bet you are mad at your “very reliable source.”
Jordo, some of what you stated is true. But the point is, even though it frustrates the hell out of you, JH likes his starting QB (AS) and sees upside potential. BTW, Brees and TBrady went to House again this year – seems to me they are elite but keep working to get better.
Jordo, your time would be best served if you called 4949 or sent certified letters to JH. That is where you argument lies – not here. We can’t make the change so your argument and frustration is moot here. You could continue to comment here with updates on your progress. lol
Bay,
That isn’t why they didn’t offer him a bigger deal. They want to see if he can string a couple of good seasons together and it’s a good call to do that. They also have a guy they invested a high second round pick in that they have to think about before giving the long term franchise deal to somebody else. They are doing their due diligence with Smith.
Cam Newton is a more talented player than Smith, but it doesn’t make what Smith any less truthful. As Claude astutely pointed out, the Panthers won more games when Newton wasn’t throwing for so many yards than when he did, and the reason is based on exactly what Smith said…and what I have said many times before on this very forum.
Passing yards are for stat freaks. There is not a more irrelevant measure of a QB’s success than passing yards. A QB can throw a 3 yard pass and gain 60 yards if the receiver breaks a tackle or somebody misses an assignment. Many times QB’s pile up yards late in games when they are down by two TD’s an have to throw on every down trying to catch up.
The determining factor for QB’s in winning games is completion percentage, TO’s, 3rd down conversions and Red Zone production. Smith was very good in the first two, not so good in the second two. Two years ago he was money in the Red Zone so there is a sample of him being able to do it.
The one area he’s never been very adept at is 3rd downs. He has to improve in that area. If he does, this team is going to be very hard to beat. If he doesn’t, there will be a lot of close games again and he may get replaced at some point.
Claude, HOF, Rocket, when are you guys gonna get it that your talking to a wall of ignorance in Bay and 23welcher?
Alex himself said that winnning is the only true measure of a QB then passing yards and he gave a detailed account of it. These jokers are so blinded by their ego that they will never understand what the 49ers are and what the essence of what they are building.
It’s pretty clear they don’t understand football overall, why you guys try and explain that to them is like trying to get pigs to fly, it will never happen.
The people inside the organization, real professionals in the sport are saying what we have said all along about Alex. The issues since being drafted, the progress made last year, the potential in a young 27 yearsold. They don’t or won’t try to understand all that, they term them excuses. To me that’s ignorance!
@Prime
I think claude gets it. He is just letting them know about it all the time.
He hasn’t invested as much time with bay/23/etc as rocket/hof have over the years. I think that is what keeps those two hoping that bay and others will change their mind.
Think about it. All those years going right down the drain would really suck. So you hope it does not happen.
I dont think you really are comprehending the reason as to why passing yards dont matter when looking at the game of football.
Score, playcalling, field position, personnel, opponent, all these factors and more just to name a few are essential when trying to evaluate passing yards per game. The QB is just one small element to it all.
If by clowning u mean he told the truth that while passing for 300 yds in his first 3 of 4 games Cam was winless then ur right he clowned the Sh*tt out of him.
300 yds is such an arbitrary number. In the saints game which we all (except maybe 23j) can agree was AS best game, he pases for 299 yds and it did not diminish his dominating performance one bit.
I remember j. kitna a few years back being a monster fantasy football qb while the lions were loosing game after game. id rather have a 13-3 qb who throws for 200 ypg then one who throws 50 times a game cuz his team is loosing
Wins are the best stat.
His league low passing production isn’t the formula for winning. Just as league high production isn’t the formula for losing.
WE HAVE THE BEST DEFENSE ON THE PLANET. Good enough that our teams wins with meager passing yardage. It drives me nuts to hear you guys defend league low production to the extent that you are attempting to call it a successful formula for winning.
Put CAM Newton in a one on one trade for AS and the entire NFL including Jim Harbaugh take that trade in a second.
Bay,
I don’t like that trade. Id rather keep Alex! Bwahahahahahah!
The Niners have a great defense, but some of you are overrating it big time. I’m not trying to knock the defense, far from it, but some of you act as if they were lights out every game and carried this team every week and it just isn’t true.
The defense lost some games for this team. Dallas, Arizona to name two. They also were at the mercy of Brees and the Saints and had to be bailed out by the offense. They were chewed up by the Eagles and saved by the offense in the second half.
The defense also benefitted greatly from the offense protecting the ball, rarely putting them in position to defend a short field.
You don’t have a season where one unit does all the heavy lifting. All facets of the team have to contribute to amass 14 wins and that is exactly what happened.
This is just more selective memory in regards to the season by people trying to back an opinion without facts to do so.
rocket
A blind man lost the game against Dallas. If Williams sees that ball lying on the ground next to his feet, the Niners 100% guarantee win that game if he just falls on it.
And, I get what you are saying about the AZ game. We had a 16 point lead(?) in mid 3rd quarter and some really bad tackling by DG in particular lost us that that game.
But still, the offense didn’t hold up their end in that game either after the early score in the second half. I think it was more the play-calling than anything else, as the Niners just seemed to shut it down and got boring predictable and most importantly of all, unsuccessful.
Rocker makes a great point. We have a stifling D, but I hope we don’t lose sight of the fact we face top offenses this year and I hope we all don’t get frustrated if we don’t stop them for 300 yards and 1 TD. It’s just not realistic.
We will need a more productive offense to make it happen.
Oh $h#! LOL!! He really did say that, haha! I didn’t trust your link Jords, so I found here at NFL ESPN (midway throught the article) ….. I like that!!! He’s grown some pelotas!!
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7965902/alex-smith-says-randy-moss-new-san-francisco-49ers-wrs-christmas
Another thing the article mentioned that caught my eye:
“TE Delanie Walker fell to the ground in pain during one play, clutching his left knee. A team trainer wrapped Walker’s knee and he was held out for the remainder of practice. Walker said he should be fine, but was going to get checked out by trainers…”
YIKES!!! My first thought ACL. **smh** Hope he’s OK. We shoulda drafted Fleener ;)
It looks like the visit to Tom House – the pitching coach and a sports psychologist – did have an impact on Alex Smith. The psycho analysis helped Breese, it may also help out Alex. We’ll know for sure once the season starts.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/12/SP6I1OH73I.DTL
El Guapo,
Smith isn’t growing anything. Hes trying to
Improve his footwork and accuracy after year 7. Remember JH calling Smith accurate when the Niners elected tonbring Smith back after the lockout. That should tell us all that JH will sell his players a dream if he feels like they need it. He dent realize that crabtree doesn’t need that smoke up his azz. Crabtree ain’t no Alex Smith. He plays with confidence and swagger. Just throw him the damn ball like he said! Lol.
…and hope he catches it. LOL
61,
He’s gotta catch it. Hes got the best hands that JH has ever seen!!
MC and AS will have an outstanding year and will get that chemistry flowing. Good sign!
JH says some crazy stuff — but I think he believes it because he only lives in the “now”. He is just retrospective enough to learn from mistakes but always living now and planning for tomorrow. No way MC has the best hands he’s ever seen, but all those other guys from his past; they’re history and they aren’t his guys anymore. Same goes for AS, he’s not elite except in JH’s world. All part of his us vs. the world mentality and I like it.
For the record, so you all can pigeon hole the new guy — I’ll take 200 yard passing games and 14-4 ‘elite’ record anytime. And having AL for another 6 years is great news!
Your analysis of Harbaugh seems spot on. That’s good stuff.
Who is AL?
Probably Andy Lee, Nick.
Thanks Ribico, having Andy Lee long term is a definite plus
Sure is a plus, Nick. I think we could make a good case for the Niners having the two best kickers in the league! Woo-hoo!
It’s coach speak 101.
1. Say something without really saying anything.
2. Always indicate everything is going according to plan.
3. Consistently be complimentary of your team (even to the point of hyperbole), yet acknowledge you are thriving to get better at everything.
JH is no dummy. He understands the media is going to dissect eveything he says. If he follows those rules, the worst they can do is question HIM, rather than a players’ standing on the team. There will not be any QB (or other position) controversy on his watch. I don’t think he will ever imply a change is necessary or even posssible until it is made. The media cannot make a mountain out of a molehill if you don’t even give them a molehill. It is sound policy, and I personally wouldn’t want it any other way.
I can’t help but think of this scene everytime I hear Harbaugh talk about everyone being gung ho. I wonder if this is how they start each practice.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9jsnAD4aNw
I wonder if Grant can get some vid of them doing the duck hop?
Hank,
I could easily see Harbaugh and LaMichael James leading the team through the duck hop : )
I see we are going back to being petty…
@txtree
What do you mean?
When wasn’t it petty?
If you can tell me, I’ll go back and post on those blogs.
Txtree,
You come here 1-2 times a week and complain. All you have to do is not come back here. Do us all a favor. Please take Bs, I mean DS, I mean BS with you. She won’t be missed. I guarentee it!!!
Same old 23Jordon
This is what I mean about being petty…
What does this have to do with the niners? All you seem to do is your normal bs and insults. Wow how very informative you are.
I also work in a secured area, so I cannot post every minute of every day.
Jim Harbaugh is an all class organization by himself. Other than leaving in Williams too long in the big game he’s been perfect. I remember when Nolan came in the few guys we had on defense he immediately cut them to make his statement and stamp on the team. The Reverend Singsong was such a bad coach he was a national icon for stupid coaches even making it to Saturday Night live as a “Stupid Football Coach Skit” Thank God for Harbaugh’s coaching, you gotta appreciate his so called lack of respect for the writers as Lowell likes to point out.
Throwing on 4th down to Morgan up 35 Pounts was a big mistake. We obviously missed Morgan.
He was just trying to get ur bot Kaep some burn in a meaningless game. If he had him hand off 10 times in a row it would have been a waste of playing time. He can hand off in practice.
It sucked to loose josh but injuries happen. Not blaming JM but if he didnt fight to get in to the endzone his ankle wouldnt have roled under him, but he was doing what all football players do trying to score
He has been made a few the first one is kicking a field goal in the closing minutes of the Cowboy game when they could of gotten another round of downs when Dallas got a penalty. They gave Dallas enough time to win and they did. The Ravens game not a great coached game and offensive adjustments made through out games was inconsistent.
“Anthony Davis. Really good with his footwork. That’s been much improved. Knowing the system, veteran guy now. Seen a big jump in his play as well.”
Personally of everything said this was the most important for me. I really hope it’s true and not just coach speak.
I’m with you Hank. If Davis can live up to the hopes we have for him, all aspects of the offense will benefit. If the pieces come together, this team can have their way from the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball.
Speaking of haters…..well, I wasn’t but others were. Anyway, our buddy who we love to hate, Greg Cosell, has got the Bengal fans all stirred up with an assessment that their young qb lacks the arm strength to be really good. He must have had booster rockets on his long passes to AJ, I guess.
I’m sure GCos wouldn’t have evaluated JMo very high as well. He had a weak arm, wobbly passes, couldn’t throw long (initially), a frail body, skinny legs, etc. I wonder how JMo got into the HoF? Hmmm.
He didn’t throw long to AJ. He threw up a few jump balls, and AJ went and got them. His arm isn’t strong. Look at his clips.
Of course not, Jordo, he never threw a deep pass to AJ all season; I’m sure you must be correct. My bad, I guess. Maybe LucasFilms altered the videos I watched.
Brotha,
Didn’t say he NEVER did. I just don’t see elite arm strength. I’m sure he threw deep at some point. I know he didn’t against us! Lol.
Doesn’t matter what team it is – the quarterback is going to be the biggest point of debate unless he’s great. Just takes one quote from the news to fire up the troops.
You should see the pro- and anti- Sanchez arguments on Jets’ boards.
anti – “He can’t do that quarterback thing… what do you call it?… THROW!”
pro- “He led the Jets to TWO AFC Championship games. He is awesome!”
And now with Tebow in the mix? High comedy if you get bored at work.
The classic is on NFL.com…Watch Tebow at OTA’s: “listen in to TTebow at Jets practice”. lol
The irony? NFL network not available on the big NYC cableholder, Time Warner. NY Tebow lovers (are there any?) will have to go elsewhere ;)
Posted by EB.
@Eric_Branch: One more … final 11 games of ’11: #49ers Michael Crabtree 61 catches, 742 yards, 4 TDs; #Steelers Mike Wallace 41-657-5.
QB thrown under the bus: Crabtree – 2, Mike Wallace – 0
Mac,
Classic!!! Lol.
Jordan, its sounds liked your boy its fighting for the 3rd QB spot…lol
Pop Quiz: Which Niner has the best chance to unseat Justin Smith as the team MVP next season?
I’m going with Aldon Smith, the man who registered the highest snap to sack ratio ever last season: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AbJfzLmQFM
Can’t go too far wrong picking Patrick Willis.
Aldon & Frank Gore are possibilities too.
“Pop Quiz: Which Niner has the best chance to unseat Justin Smith as the team MVP next season?”
Alex Smith, They don’t win the division otherwise.
You’re right. He needs to be the team MVP if this team is going to win the Super Bowl.
2:32 is what Pete Carroll is hoping Irvin can do to the 49ers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6leAL3eK9jo
Irvin’s arms aren’t as long as Aldon Smith’s, but they’re long enough and he’s still violent with his hands. I think he’s going to be a special player.
Figure it won’t b long before everyone sees how much anthony davis has not improved n rachel needs To b pumped Up then dumped for.a bag Of peanuts. tho sounds like kilgore or boon? Now ois in The running for rog thank goodness