SANTA CLARA – Here are some unofficial stats from today’s minicamp.
Alex Smith completed 27 of 32 passes. In red zone drills he completed two touchdowns. For about an hour he didn’t miss a single pass.
Most of his throws were short and intermediate ones to open receivers. Smith is clearly the most confident Niners QB when it comes to making decisions in the pocket. He was throwing the ball quickly all day. He even hit Randy Moss in the face one time because Moss didn’t get his head around quick enough.
Both TDs Smith threw came in red zone drills. The first one he threw a dart to Crabtree between two defenders. The second he threw a high touch pass to Moss in the back of the end zone, which Moss caught easily.
Colin Kaepernick completed 12 of 20 passes, and he threw one interception. He struggled throwing accurately from the pocket, missing high and behind receivers, but he made some accurate throws on the run. Three times he hit receivers with lasers on the sideline as he rolled to his right and threw off one foot.
Kaepernick tried to roll out later on in practice, but Larry Grant saw it coming. As Kaepernick called the signals from under center, Grant shouted, “Sprint out! Sprint out!” Sure enough, Kaepernick got the ball and sprinted to his right. The defense swarmed to that side of the field, Kaepernick threw high over Brett Swain’s head, and if the pass had been on target Perrish Cox probably would have picked it off. “Told you guys!” Grant yelled after the play.
Josh Johnson completed just 11 of 23 passes. He struggled early in practice, missing some short throws high and some intermediate ones low. He threw one interception as well. But he also threw two of the best passes all day – one was a 25-yard strike to Randy Moss, the other was a beautiful deep pass to Joe Hastings down the sideline.
Scott Tolzien completed 11 of 20 passes and had two throws picked off and a couple more batted down at the line of scrimmage.
THE GOOD
- Michael Crabtree got big-time separation all day. In one-on-one drills, he turned Tramaine Brock around on a very good cut. He also caught a TD from Alex Smith.
- Tarell Brown stuck with Kyle Williams on a good double move and picked off the pass from Tolzien. He had tight coverage the rest of practice, not allowing any long gains. On one play he ran stride for stride with A.J. Jenkins on a deep pass. His coverage was so tight, Jenkins couldn’t even get his hands up to make the catch. Chris Culliver didn’t give up any long gains, either, and the quarterbacks didn’t throw his way often. Both Brown and Culliver were lights-out today.
- Tramaine Brock got off to a slow start, getting beaten badly by Crabtree and Hastings in one-on-ones. But he quickly redeemed himself, picking off Tolzien in that same one-on-one drill and picking off Colin Kaepernick later.
- The coaches have made it clear that they do not want the team to jump offside in minicamp. The starting offensive line managed to go the entire afternoon practice without false starting once.
THE NOT-SO-GOOD
- A.J. Jenkins didn’t catch a single pass as far as I could tell. He dove and missed a Tolzien pass over the middle, he let a Johnson TD pass glance off his finger tips in the back of the end zone, and he didn’t contest a Johnson interception when the cornerback jumped the route. He caught one along the sideline, but he couldn’t keep both his feet inbounds.
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Nice article. I’m interested in the arguments it will create.
Great Read.
Without a doubt the best Practice Notes I’ve seen of all the bloggers.
Thank you.
Seconded.
Sounds like the offense had a great day, and good to hear Culliver and Brown are playing well.
Were Bowman and Willis both absent again today, and did anyone sit out?
Yes, Bowman and Willis were still absent, and Rogers only played a few snaps in scrimmages.
Grant you have clearly elevated your writing of late. I was a skeptic, but you have changed my mind. Nice article.
Great writing!
Both were absent. Willis left for a personal reason and Bowman is expecting twins.
It’s okay to say it Hack, Alex had a good day!
Yeah he did, and so did Crabtree and Moss, but apparently Smith is all that matters.
It’s ok to say that Crabtree did as well (lol).
Love what I hear coming from OTAs. Can’t wait for the quest for a sixth Lombardi Trophy to begin.
But… but…
Isn’t Josh Johnson Harbaugh’s Joe Montana? :/
Mark my words. Alex Smith: 3500 25tds 9ints. Now that he has a real coach and some talent at wideout. Yah I want to become a Smither. . Kap? Tolzien? Johnson? um no, ready for 12-2013
Maiocco was saying that Tolzien was accurate with improved arm strength. Funny how reports differ.
On offense and defense, who has impressed you the most thus far? And who has surprised you?
Offense – Vernon Davis easily. His routes are crisp and he’s making incredibly difficult hands catches. He’s scoring at least two touchdowns a practice, it seems.
Defense – Tarell Brown and Chris Culliver. They’re shutting receivers down.
Surprise – Joe Hastings. He’s having a very good minicamp. He’s fast, he has good hands, he catches passes over the middle and he tracks the deep ball well.
I’ll turn this into a full blog after minicamp ends.
How are the rookies performing? Are any standing out so far?
None stand out so far. Undrafted WR Nathan Palmer makes a few catches every practice.
What a catch by Blanco!!
PERFECTION!!!!
Who is Cain’s pitching coach? Send Alex to THAT guy next year!
:-D
@Grant
Great to hear about VD. He really upped his game in the playoffs. The “unsure” running after the catch and drops and such which plagued him really all season long, vanished in the playoffs.
If VD plays like that for the full regular season and playoffs, that alone will be almost enough to get us a Lombardi trophy.
@msc
I think the other “ace” of the Giants is in far more trouble with his throws and accuracy than AS is.
@MSC
Nice one, but that guy may not be a shrink like Tom House. I think AS benefited most from the psycho analysis than the actual throwing mechanics.
Good to hear the team is this far along. Alex Smith has the potential to have a big year with Crabtree and Moss…I’m psyched! I think it will take a little time for A.J. Jenkins, but he’ll be fine. Rookie WRs need some additional time to adjust to the game, but he is a keeper.
Sounds like Kaep and Tolzien, and even Johnson, are going through the rough spots associated with it being the first time in an off-season program with the coaching staff. I expect that they will all come around and Training Camp will be very interesting as to which emerges as the back-up QB. A lot of the new and second year players seem to be making great strides. It’s great to think that most of the attention has been focused on which players will win BACKUP roles! In the good old days, the Niners went into every season expecting to win the SB. I think that those days are here again.
I think Johnson will be the odd man out when the final cuts are made. Smith, Kaep, and Tolzein will be our quarterbacks again.
Shut-down coverages? Yesssss!
27-32? That’s an excellent performance from Alex.
Very encouraging!
Practice we talkin about Practice… Man I can’t wait till the Vikings preseason game…wish it was sooner. Can’t wait to see 11 and 85 with some more weapons I hoping for a big year from 15 too.
Do we play the Saints in preseason? I’d love to see Harbaugh let Fangio call all out blitzes on every play and bury Brees under 7 9er defenders. After the game, Harbaugh could just say well you know we needed to work on our blitz packages. It was no big deal really.
That isn’t why it happened hosuton
It happened because JH didn’t contact the Saints HC prior to the game about how the game would be played. Sean felt dis-respected by JH, so he told Williams to unleash hell on us.
It’ll be interesting to see if the Saints new Interim HC will know to call the senior HC (JH now) and ask him how the game should be played. If he doesn’t, I do wonder if JH will exact a little childish revenge on the Saints.
Ya, except we dont play them in preseason this year!
Houston 49 er webzone has the schedule up, and for someone else asking if another fan actually follows this team. They should know that we don’t play them in pre season. But ds isn’t a 49er fan. Just a smith fan. Way to call someone out and then look foolish ds. Fan of the year.
@DS,
Just go away. It was a facetious silly little statement. I’m not going to indulge you’re little alternate universe lunacy today.
md
You barely qualify as human after your reply to my soccer post. Do us a favor and just shut up. Every post of yours you are insulting a player/blogger/immigrants/men/etc. You still spend most of your posts on me and oneniner. That tells us something. Why don’t you enlighten the blog with your knowledge instead of insulting somebody every time?
I don’t think every fan knows the regular season schedule by heart. Much less the pre-season games.
So all. If you don’t know the pre-season schedule by memory, the all knowing md says you are not a fan.
You won’t fill up the Stick if that were true.
houston
Fantasy?
Since you brought it up it is for the haters to vanish. Guess you’d be one of them.
I’ll live.
what in the hell are you even saying? that’s incoherent babble. you really do have serious issues.
You are quite funny houston. Gotta give you that my main man!
Issues? Well, you were trying to compare AS to Carr. Something got big down in Texas, I think it was your head. Because Carr every place else in the country isn’t even an after thought. He is the answer to a Jeopardy question.
You see, you brought up the word ‘fantasy’. And I simply gave you mine. I kept it to this blog as well. It didn’t come out of nowhere. It makes sense. Unlike your Carr comparison.
You brought up the word ‘fantasy’. I merely went ahead with it. Maybe next time you will choose your words more carefully.
Seriously, what are you talking about? I never used the word “fantasy”. I used the word “lunacy” and I thought the word “idiot” but I never used the word “fantasy” so I’m not sure what you’re talking about.
Alternate universe
Some people much smarter than anybody on this blog think that in some alternate universe everything that can happen, does happen. In an alternate universe.
If you think about the good things you want to have happen, that would be your fantasy alternate universe.
I just think ‘fantasy’ is a much easier way to explain it since we all know what fantasies are much more so than alternate universes. And you are the one who brought the whole thing up “Do we play the Saints in preseason? ”
So, if my response was “idiotic”, it was because the source material was to begin with.
And to reply with “idiot” to my post which was not at all insulting to you or anybody else….that is a sure sign of a hater. A simpler nicer way to say it is “I disagree.” But, that didn’t come to your mind first. “Idiot” did. Hater.
Lol barely human? Now your calling me an alien? That’s your world weirdo! And it’s the offseason time to sweep up the garbage that being you and your chihuahua onelame. You mad that I called your ” fanhood” out? Wouldn’t a fan that followed the team know who they play? You called jack out, now I’m calling you out. A soccer sucks out loud. This is America and soccer is a foreigner sport, that love to flop like sissys on the field. Get over it. And I have spit knowledge and will continue to do so when the time is right. So remember who your “qb” plays before talking crap about someone’s fanhood. And do the majority of this blog a favor and shut YOUR mouth. That alone would make this blog a better place. Like it was before you got here, oh and take your pup onelame too, no dogs allowed without a leash. Your so fun ds. I’ve never punked an it/alien before. Soooo easy! Buahahahahaaaa
DS, the defender of evil and drama queen everywhere it goes and everyone it encounters.
I told you months ago, you dont have to respond to every post, just let some things go holmes. Your life will be less stressful, trust me
I’m done with you md. Deep down inside, all you do is hate. Hate on foreigners. Hate on people who are not just like you. Hate on…everything.
And I’d hope that aliens are more advanced than you are.
DS,
I’m the person who posted a link on this blog to the interview with the Saints play by play guy who reported Payton blitzed heavily because JH didn’t call him earlier in the week. I know exactly what happened so I don’t really need or want a clarificaiton from you. My original post was a facetious comment not meant for serious analysis.
My “alternate universe” comment was really meant to point out that your interpretation of almost all comments on this blog extends beyond the boundary of logical comprehension enjoyed by most sane people. I did not use the word fantasy in any way and I’m not sure how any person with an IQ above that of an idiot could interpret what I said as an invitation to you to espouse your fantasy in response to my comment.
At any rate, you have great day badgering people on this blog today. Bye
Latino
I’m not stressed. My blood pressure is quite good. I’m eating well. And quite enjoying myself.
And I told you to not read it.
Dang DS. That must be some good stuff you’re smoking. You keep going on about fantasy and alternative universes, and then you call md not human.
Take Latino’s advice and step away from the computer…
I love you ds… Ha ha haaaa. You’ll be back. I guarantee it. It’s the same old record playing. You say you won’t read someone’s comment then you will post on someone else’s referring to that persons comment. C’mon who are you trying to fool? You without me is like cornflakes without the milk…… Wheeew.
The one question I would ask of Grant is are the passes Alex is throwing safe throws, and more relative to his 7 season experience reading defenses and No real defensive pressure. Or should we be excited about Alex Smith and a possible offensive explosion. As for Kapernick being the backup and a competitor, its somewhat disappointing he’s not the one Guy hitting every receiver on the field with no pressure his face, seeing you’ve had all season to work on accuracy.
27-32 is pretty darned good even against no defense. In a mini-camp against DBs it’s very solid. Sounds like the new mechanics are helping.
Yeah, positive updates about Smith, you have to be encouraged by that. This is Kaep’s first real offseason, so his struggles aren’t a surprise. I look forward to seeing all of the QB’s progress during the preseason. Hopefully we get some big leads this year so that CK can get some game experience.
As long as that game experience doesn’t break anymore receivers, heh.
That was on Morgan, or better yet, the coaching staff for even having him in. But I hear what your saying.
Totally Big P. These updates are nice for sure. But they really don’t mean anything. It does show how starved we are as Niner fans for this train to get rollin though.
What I look forward to is an actual preseason. I want to see how they perform with live bullets. With defenders coming at them. I’d like to see especially how the QB’s perform when they have to make split second decisions. It should be fairly easy to drop back and hit a receiver when you know you aren’t going to get pounded : )
I’ve heard little reported about Manningham during OTA’s and mini camps. How is he doing?
@ 707
Someone (Vernon?) made complimentary comments about Mario. I’m getting a good feeling……….
A Perfect Game! Holy Smoke! 10-to-f******-0! Dang!
It’s a good Omen!
Add the fact Cain tied Koufax for most strikeouts (14) and Cain had a hit in the game. Wow and that catch by Blanco was money!
That final play from 3rd (Arians?) was really good too – had me on the edge of my chair
Yeah, he almost stumbled but regained his composure and threw a laser to 1st.
I thought it was a hit. Luckily Panda wasn’t at 3rd otherwise that would have been a hit for sure.
Didn’t Alex play with Cain in the shootout at Pebble Beach? Just sayin….
Does being a caddy count as playing?
The 9ers and Giants had a best ball tournament for charity just prior to the AT&T at Pebble. AS and Cain were both crushing the ball. The 9ers won.
They played in the same group too I believe. As they say on the KNBR morning show “particles”!
“The first one he threw a dart to Crabtree between two defenders.”
Grant was that a risky pass in a tight window?
I got excited when I read that, that’s what I want to see.
We need to see it more in games during the season and with the talent on offense, I think AS trust factor has gone way up. All in! Go 9ers!!!
Tight window but it was open. It reminded me of Vernon Post, only to Crabtree, if that makes sense.
Grant did you see the diving catch by Williams that everyone else is raving about?
It wasn’t a diving catch it was a leaping catch high over his head. Randy Moss made the same catch today except he made it look easier. Williams had an up and down day. That was his best play. A terrific catch.
Thanks Grant. How much access (time) do the 9ers give the beat writers during daily OTAs?
We can watch practice again tomorrow.
Thanks for the updates Grant. Good stuff.
Thanks, Jack.
From everything I’ve read it sounds like Alex is having a great off-season so far. Very promising.
@Hofer,
It’s encouraging that AS is making such throws. He’s been critized in the past – rightfully so – in not pulling the trigger and taking more chances like this in the red zone and on 3rd downs. Let’s hope this carries over to real game situations.
Off topic but Matt Cain threw a PERFECT GAME, with 14 K’s, tied for most ever in a perfect game. 1st one ever in Giants history. Amazing
And the Giants’ 10 runs was the most ever in a perfect game.
I’m a bit perplexed that they wasted 5 games worth of runs in a no-hitter.
Lol…so true.
Absolutely kills me. The one game I miss has to be that one!
Congrats to Cain. Now we’ve got to get Timmy back firing on all cylinders.
I’m trying not to get too excited. My expectations are getting out of hand. Gotta remember this is just practice. The D has a pretty good idea of the offensive playbook but they can’t hit the players. Neither the good nor sub-par performances mean a whole lot. The important thing is that they go thru the snaps without mental errors like false start. TC will look different than OTA, pre-season will look different from TC, and when the final cuts are made, the usual suspects will be left standing. Hopefully those remaining “iron men” will have been sharpened by the other iron men who will have been cast off.
I agree mood. The not hitting players part though effects the receivers a lot more than the QB. If the throws are good, doesn’t matter if the defenders are hitting the receivers. If hitting is involved and the the receivers drop the good passes, that isn’t good.
Only thing you can really take out of this is the play of the QB. Does he throw it to the right guy? How much zip is on the ball? When does the QB know to just lay it in there?
Receiver wise, it is about “getting open” and securing the football quickly, running crisp routes. But I think the receiver part is most effected when the hitting comes into play. It is a lot easier catching the balls when DG/DW/PW and the like are not roaming the middle.
The QB; grading decision making and accuracy (where the ball is thrown, not just completed or not). I feel these things are more true to the game setting.
“The second he threw a high touch pass to Moss in the back of the end zone, which Moss caught easily.”
Let’s hope this is a sign of things to come. Repeatedly. In high pressure situations.
Matt Cain…….you’re perfect!! If anyone’s still up it’s time to get some cold ones man! Hoooooooooofffffffffffeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!! Cain did it!!!!!!!!!! Hell ya!
Catch those damn Dodgers next.
Are you guys thinkin or drinkin?
Cain perfect game can only mean good karma for Niners! :-)
I’m celibrating for all of us since you guys went to bed at your 9:00pm curfew…..damnit!
What a freaking catch by Blanco! Wow!
Any Giants brothas out there?
Hammertime/MsClemons – Cain on the brain! Drink til we drop fellas!!!! Perfection! 14 punch outs! Take that Cowboy/Astro fans!
Giants/Astros Cain perfecto replay on CSN at 12:30AM…….stay awake all night.
LMAO. Crab dude you are on fire!
Hofe – You know it bro!
CSNBA is behind schedule? Golf talk? What the? No Giants replay yet? I waited til 12:30AM+ for golf talk, this is some real B.S.
Life’s a….lol
Sounds like Kaep has been terrible, which is quite alarming considering that NFL players (almost always) make their biggest strides between their 1st and 2nd years. Heck, even Jim Harbaugh said such in an interview. So, one of two scenarios here. Either Kaepernick is a late bloomer of some sort or he is just a failure waiting to happen. Ehh, kind of expected the whole failure thing due to his rather funky delivery.
Its still very early in his first real offseason. I have a feeling Kaep will be fine. Its still wayyyy too early in his career to get too worried about him.
True.
But it gives credibility to the rumors that he hasn’t developed as fast. SFGATE reports a similar analysis.
@DS
Who’s evaluation counts, yours, SFGate’s, or Jim Harbaugh’s when it comes to CK’s development?
Nick
Don’t like it. Don’t read it. Why don’t you take that philosophy of yours and you know, apply it to the guy JH/SFGATE/me say is the starting QB? The one who did win 13 games last year. That guy.
Why? It would force you to ask Grant to delete virtually all your posts since JH’s hirig.
DS
I was pointing out your hypocracy
@nick
I was pointing out your hypocrisy. Has JH said anything about CK being a Pro Bowl QB? CK was given last year as a break year. Nobody will drop a 2nd round pick the year they drafted him.
But, they didn’t bring in JJ for no reason at all. And, before you get your hope up, it isn’t to dethrone your fav QB. He’s assured the starting QB position. And I somehow doubt it was to push Tolzien to do more. He was the emergency QB. Don’t need to push emergency QB’s out the door.
There are now 4 QB’s on this roster. It is unlikely they carry that many into the season. And I doubt any of them, even if they practice squad eligible will stay on it before another team snatches them up.
That leaves 1 out of the 3 in the cold. And if CK plays the worse among the three, he will be shown the door. And I have yet to see a raving review of CK reported. I have seen it from AS here, JJ a little while ago, and Tolzien a few times. And it isn’t just Grant whose noticed CK not playing well. It’s all of them so far.
CK hasn’t proven anything at all Nick. AS has. AS got this team to the title game last year. CK right now is having a hard time hitting open receivers in practice. He was a ‘gamble pick’ at the time and in front of the public anyway, he hasn’t appeared to have made much progress from last years raw material to this year. You hypocrisy point somehow excludes all of this. Which is what I found so fascinating.
CK will not be cut this year. If they are going to keep only 3 on the 53, the battle is between Johnson and Tolzien.
Blah blah blah. Another long winded essay that doesn’t say much. How surprising is that? Anyway, looks like you got quite offended by the truth.
Truth?
AS is the starter. Your multitude of posts on how average if that AS maybe won’t change that fact. Your stats mean squat. JH has said what he said about AS. You can’t handle it. So you make stuff up.
PS Average does not get 6 comebacks and 14-4.
Did I say anything about AS? Also, i didn’t even give an opinion about CK. Nor was I comparing the two.
I’ll try to be nice here. I was pointing out inconsistencies in your take of AS vs other 49er players. When it comes to AS, the trust in JH card is pulled. Why not do same for every other player?
Nick
Right now every team has players on it who won’t be on it by the regular season.
Does that mean JH has to insult/not trust any of them who won’t make it? No.
Does that mean I, you, Grant, others insult those who won’t make it? No.
I am doing my own little fan from a million miles away eval of players. Right now, the players being discussed are the QB. CK is one of those QB’s. So, I’m giving the blog my take on CK based off what I’ve seen/heard/read. If that is not allowed, then why have a blog at all?
I read several counter-arguments such as rockets, and I see why he holds that position. I haven’t insulted CK at all. Haven’t called him names or other such nonsense.
As of now, JH hasn’t said anything I’m aware of that puts CK firmly as the #2 QB or even on the team come the regular season. He has said AS is the starter. JH hasn’t said anything I know of which would make me doubt his word/trust going forward if CK is cut. JH’s been very complimetary of all the QB’s. Reality though is that 1 won’t make it unless we carry 4 QB’s (I think is very unlikely).
I do trust JH. And when JH says all these said players are Pro-Bowl worthy during the season, my concerns/issues regarding those players will vanish.
PS Thanks for keeping it nice.
I like the fact that the o line is working hard on the false starts. Now is the time to get those mental mistakes fixed up. Looking forward to training camp to fire up as I now have no sports I care for to follow.
A congrats to the LA Kings and more specifically the former Oilers on the team.
Sean
Here Here If I see another AD false start that pushes a manageble 3rd and 3 in to a perrilous (at least for us) 3rd and 8, i might have to fling the remote at the tv.
I dont have the time or the energy (but hopefully someone here does) to see how many times we jumped on a 3rd and short and then failed to convert the down by coming up a yard or 2 short.
Good discipline and the added weapons should do wonders for our 3rd down conversion rate. Cant wait
Really good to hear the upbeat reports, about Alex and Crabs. The two most controversial players seem to be picking up their game. Sure its only practice, but its practice where you get better. Too bad LaMic is not able to participate, just wait till he steps on the field. It is sure nice to get away from the run, run, pass, punt mentality that was once our offense. Can our offense make our defense better? Its looking that way. WTG Matt Cain a mighty fine job you did.
Well, you know what they say! You play how you practice. I think Madden used to say that a lot. Great article Grant!
Now, THAT is the kind of report I want to hear about Alex Smith. That is very encouraging.
Only 27 of 32 Alex? I expect 32 for 32 in practice!……….Just foolin, nice job Alex!
I hear this every single off season but then when the bullets are live and defenders actually try to hit him he’s terrible. All the sudden a limited bust is going to get it in year 8? Time to let alex destroy our superbowl window again, I feel terrible for the other guys on our roster another year ruined by alex 3 and out smith.
13-3
Next.
Why fuel the hate?
If fueling the hate is giving the actual facts of the record, I tell ya latino. The hate is coming. Whether you fuel it or not.
Guys like that deserve no reply, no anknowlegdgement, they go away after no one replies to them.
Not an unwarranted notion there Latino.
But I’ve seen Pigskin just post away with some nasty stuff out of the blue as well.
But I’ll take your advice now and we’ll see what happens after a few weeks with PigSkin. Sure won’t make things any worse.
Pig,
he’s our QB. Gotta hope for a 180 deg from him. Three and out is his M.O. If he just improves in this area we will be ok. Controlling the clock and moving the chains are number one to me. Especially if our QB lacks killer instinct and plays conservative. We can live with those things if he just moves the chains. For his career he’s averages 29th in the league in this category.
ruined, 10 percenter? what world do you live in?
This guy slept through 2011.
Next contestant, please.
How do you know if you’ve written something well? MSando posts it in his “Around the NFC West” feature. Come on MSando, this summary was worth the link! MSando is one of the better writers that covers all of the teams in the West. Good stuff! All in…go 9ers!!
*worthy of a link*
Good article Grant! Well written.
Not to burst any bubbles, but smith has always looked good in practice. Whoopty dooo. I want to know how his throwing motion looks. Aaaand I want to see this in a real game when other teams want to rip his head off. I do not want to be wearing a bears jersey. Can the season get here soon enough?
Except for every off season when he gets beat out by the countless number of journeymen qbs….or so those who want nothing to do with Smith would have one believe.
.
Fact remains that Smith was not the reason they didn’t progress in the playoffs, so any improvement from him would be for those concerned with fantasy numbers. Aikman seemed to be a pretty decent qb, never throwing for more than 20tds a season (save for 1 I believe). And even though it was the 90s, 20 tds was middle of the pack even then.
Cullyman looking good! I love it
Thanks for the stat tracking Grant!
Nice to hear so many good things about TB. To think last year I wanted him gone.
I’m glad I don’t choose the personnel on this team. I think all of us should be ‘man’ enough to say that about ourselves.
First year receivers seldom do much.
Then they sure as heck better do a LOT in year 2 and maintain that beyond.
It’s really hard for me to get worked up about how anyone is doing at this point. Without contact, live bullets, game speed, etc., it’s impossible to really assess.
That said though, and addressing comments above about CK, I have to admit I have not really read much positive from ANY of the beat writers. Sure, it is only season number 2, full off season number 1, but I believe that JH and TB are not going to get hung up on keeping someone, even someone they drafted, if they really think that person is not going to cut it. In short, if I continue to read less-than-glowing reports of CK and it is NOT followed up by solid improvement in PS games, then it wouldn’t surprise me in the least if he’s the odd man out. If so, so be it. Not all 2nd rounders work out. I sure am curious to see the PS action though.
AS is most assured the starter this year. He is at this moment the best QB on the roster. I expect nothing less then AS to become a very good QB this year. CK, I was a little leary of this pick to begin with and still not sold on him. I do believe it was a panic pick due to not having a QB on the roster. I believe that CK is going to be a good QB. I dont think he is going to be a good WCO QB but I could be wrong(that would be a first). I also believed CK was the only QB that we had that had any trade value, but seeing that we didnt trade him before the draft he remains on the team. ST, a most interesting QB, has most of the tools needed for the poistion, tho from reports that I have read he isnt a deep threat. He might be the best WCO QB that we have but lacking arm strength is a problem. Arm strength is not a needed skill in the WCO but it does allow defenses an easier time of it. He is also practice squad elgible. JJ, the mystery man from the Bucs. Looked promising with JH in San Diego, didnt have much success with the Bucs. I do believe he like CK was in the wrong system for his skills. In all fairness to the three backup QBs none of us have seen enough of them to determine who the best two are. AS and CK are will remain on the team much to the displeasure of many fans. The third spot on the team is going to go down to the last cuts of training camp. Just because its the third spot doesnt mean that they arnt the backup.
@under
Somebody got the happy last night and is brimming with confidence. It would be a first where you would be wrong?lol
I just don’t like that term “panic pick”. I mean wasn’t Carr still officially on the books at the time? We did have another QB.
:- )
To make it clear to all, I won’t be mad about CK being on the team. I’m fine with whomever as our backups and trust JH/TB to make the correct tough choices.
DS
I forgot about Carr, was he still on the roster at that time? Or did he get released at the end of that year prior to the lockout? Maybe it was the wrong adjective (panic) but I think they were somewhat desperate at only having the possibility of AS, who still had not lived up to his number one draft status, being there. Ok you got me I was wrong once before.
Kaep is starting to remind me of Robert Redford in Butch Cassidy and the…”I shoot better when I move.”
Trying to find a SF Chronicle newspa here in Maui. I want to read as much as I can about Big Daddy Cain’ no-no. Not getting any media news print out here, grrrrr!
@AES
Why not just read it online?
Maui? Nice! Business or pleasure?
NickRow
I have, but I would like a hard copy for personal keepsake. I found a Barnes and Nobles a few miles away. Getting ready to drive over right now.
Go Giants!
Thx
“Most of his throws were short and intermediate ones to open receivers.”
Nothing special but if he can AT LEAST do that in real games then it will be a huge improvement for Alex !
Moves the chains Alex and I will be fine with a mediocre talent at QB.
Listen to yourself Tim describe your starting QB? First you lie your way around the blog for months saying you will wait til Alexs play on the field before being critical and then you come out with those comments.
Now you know why your called a pathetic hater!
I have not been critical of anything Alex has done this year. In fact I said that if he does in games as he has been doing in practice that I will be very pleased with his improvement !
And fyi I never lie. Som,e people who lie all the time also believe others are as void of ethics and character as they are,that is a mistake!
I am not always correct in everything I say but when I write it or say it I think it is the truth. If I find out later I was wrong I am always the first to admit it .
…Now for some more good news…
Eric Branch@Eric_Branch(twitter)
#49ers Colin Kaepernick was very sharp today — a “near-perfect” day per Harbaugh, who had Kaepernick with 1 incompletion (2 drops).
(couldn’t have been drops from Crabs,since he has the best hands in NFL history ,lol :)
…How could I have said anything critical about Alex’s play this year,since he has not been in a game yet and in practice we only have good reports ?
Time to stop attacking other posters with nonsense and just be happy about it being said that Alex is doing better !
Don’t worry,if Alex plays horribly again this year I will write what my eyes see. If he plays great I will be equelly as honest . (as usual). But right now all we have to go on is his past AND some good reports out of practice and about how he is trying to change his mechanics (it’s all talk until we see results on the field).
I certainly hope Alex plays great and rest assured that if he does I will say so in my opinions. Right now there is little new to say. I guess that is why you want to attack me instead of talk football,because there is not very much real football news and after all you need someone to take out your frustration on .I am glad if I could be of service,I hope you feel better now ! :)
…and here you go Under,more good news (positive about Alex,see how I am unbiased !).
Eric Branch@Eric_Branch (twitter)
#49ers Jim Harbaugh said Alex Smith had separated himself “even further” from other QBs on roster … “nothing set in stone” behind Smith.
Tim if you think calling someone mediocre and making short/intermediate passes as suffice as not being critical than your either the biggest liar or an overall knob
Tim your an idiot, always have been an idiot so no one is attacking you. Your biased, you have been over critical of Alex no matter what, and now in OTAS it’s the same, so shut the hell up clown!
>>And fyi I never lie.
>>couldn’t have been drops from Crabs,since he has the best hands in NFL history
lol. A lie in your next paragraph. Or tell us who said Crabs has the best hands “in NFL history”?
Undercenter:
I love you too ! Have a great day my good friend !
And Ribico:
That was a reference to what JH said about Crabs hands.IT WAS A JOKE ! Here is hoping you have some good laughs and find some better jokes than mine!
Good day my friends ! Much love !
Apparently CK had a “near perfect” day at the final day of OTA’s. For those of you predicting he was a panic pick, etc. you might want to slow down.
That was Harbaugh’s quote though.
:-D
Thats true, it must be a lie! Maybe so maybe no eh Jack.
@undercenter
I’m having doubts about JH now.
All the talks about his assistant coaches are worthy candidates for HC jobs, and the notion that players make the biggest improvements from Year 1 to 2 in his system are just smoke screens. If you’re one of his player and he praises you, watch out. LOL and SMH.
AL
Yes its for sure becoming a problem, You want to hang on his word but then…..
Good for CK, hope he does well, if AS goes down we are going to need him. We have a SB team, QB is going to be very important to the success of the team.
I completely agree Under ! Whoever is 2nd string this year had bettere be able to keep the ship afloat ! It would be ashame to waste another year of our window of opportunity ,like Justin Smith said !
From NFL.com
Quit true,it wasn’t Alex leading the team anywhere.
But all we need from Alex is for him to improve and then we need the defense and ST’s to not regress,and we will have a legit chance at the SB.
Alex is good enough ,if he improves in a few areas and if he doesn’t regress. There are no guarantees ,we play a harger schedule this year and we won’t surprise anyone this year. There is no guarantee that the defense and ST’s are going to play lights out again and no guarantee that Alex doesn’t revery too.
But with this team I think we should be one of the fav for the SB,until proven otherwise.
Oh, he WILL regress. The only he doesn’t is if Harbaugh keeps the training wheels on for another year.
I keep going back to what that jerk Jamie Dukes is correct about with regard to Alex – one TD per game is his average.
One TD per game is pathetic for a seven-year veteran. Nothing short of pathetic, and I don’t give a flying crap about ANY excuses. Either you can play or you can’t. He can’t.
He is a curse, and the sooner he is exorcised from the team, the better.