SANTA CLARA – Scott Tolzien made a few nice throws, but he got intercepted twice, and he should have been intercepted three times. All three passes were deep ones he slightly under threw.
The first interception, Tolzien underthrew A.J. Jenkins. Perrish Cox picked it off. The second interception, Tolzien underthrew Nathan Palmer, and C.J. Spillman picked it off.
Toward the end of practice, Tolzien tried the deep pass down the middle one more time, but he hit cornerback Tramaine Brock in the back of the helmet. If Brock had turned to look at the ball, he would have picked it off.
To be fair to Tolzien, I’ve seen him accurately throw deep passes many times in training camp. I don’t think today was evidence that his arm is too weak – I think he just had one of those days. Also, he was mostly playing with the third-team offense against the first- and second-team defenses, and he was making aggressive throws into tight coverage.
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You didn’t mention the injuries on the defensive side Grant, like Brooks and Sopoaga.
Didn’t you hear the news? The 49ers don’t have injuries. They are “working through” something.
I love how when excuses are made for ST it’s acceptable.
Because he’s the baby Drew Brees. Funny how that works. Look at his professional career . He’s never thrown an interception! He has to be great. Oh that’s right, he’s never thrown a pass! Hilarious.
You are both so right. We should cut Tolzien right now and give all of his reps to Josh Johnson……
http://blogs.sacbee.com/49ers/archives/2012/08/day-13-recap-defense-missing-three-starters-alex-smith-looks-solid.html
grant if the defense play the short pass will that limit scotts effectiveness? If so would that make jj more valuable?
Interesting that Tolzien was playing against 1st string defense and Smith/Kaep were playing against 2nd/3d string defense
Kaepernick is solid as a rock and has solidified his #2 spot behind Alex. Far better deep passer than Tolzien, plus a much better runner and more elusive in avoiding the rush. Tolzien will have his hands full fending off Josh Johnson.
You are right Old Wizard.
disagree
http://www.csnbayarea.com/football-san-francisco-niners/niners-talk/49ers-Mailbag-The-battles-behind-Alex-Sm?blockID=756633&feedID=5936
@rubbersoul80
As I understand it, the 1st team offense and 1st team defense do not spend much time practicing against each other.
I’m wondering if he isn’t in sync with some of the players yet. From what I’m hearing about his practices is that he doesn’t look as good as he does in the games. Maybe he’s a gamer not a “practicer”. It would be great to have a backup that can get in the game due to injury or bad play and take control. Good qb depth is rare in the nfl. I got a feeling CK will be another Tebow/Stewart type. Go niners!
MD, I was trying to remember who CK reminded me of a few days ago and I posted that possibly a taller KStewart. Interesting you see that too. Bay mentioned RCunningham and/or VYoung. Anyhow, good to see all of the QBs playing at a high level.
Yes it is good to see. I hope he has a better pocket sense than the others mentioned, except RC. He was a pretty damn good qb.
Based on film, and camp reports I feel Scotty T is ahead of JJ at this point. That could change at anytime. JJ will likely get more snaps in this game. I do not believe K-Gun is in jeapordy of losing his backup role.
All of this gushing over Scott Tolzien is laughable. Grant has now given 3 blogs to a guy who most on here have seen play the second half of 2 preseason games against 3rd and 4th stringers.
I get that he looked good on Friday night, but all of the talk about him taking over for CK, having trade value, etc is ridiculous at best. Tolzien is in a fight to win the 3rd QB position. Let me repeat that, he is fighting to be the 3rd string QB. Is he better than JJ? Nobody on here (other than 23J) can say anything one way or the other based on what they saw Friday night. Johnson didn’t get enough time to play, and when he did he looked every bit as able to be the 3rd string QB as Tolzien did.
No one on here should be shocked to see the QB rotation on Saturday in Houston look like this: Smith, CK, JJ, ST. I say this because I think they want to make sure they get a good look at both of the 3rd stringers.
It is starting to get a tad Nate Davisy in here.
Jack, I hear you but I don’t think it is as over the top as you are stating. Maybe some are following ST closely and rooting for him because he’s been on the team since last year and they’d like to see him succeed. Not a bad thing. The 9ers are in a very good position that all of there QBs are playing well and it will be a difficult decision navigating the roster regarding who to keep (other positions as well), who goes on the practice squad, etc. Good times.
Hof, who are your three QB’s going into the regular season?
hof
Before TC, Jack insisted that ST was out of here. Just like he insisted that the Niners will draft Fleener. Perhaps if Jack wasn’t so Jack-like, there would be fewer ST “I told you so.” posts.
FDM, it’s been a very small sample size (one preseason game). That’s why I posted a follow up comment to Bay’s yesterday that I’d like to see more CK (and more JJ as well) with the ones. It’s going to be a very tough decision for the coaches unless someone just goes in the tank the next three weeks. I’m on the edge of my chair…
But DS didn’t you know that Jack is well known QB coach who has vast experience in developing and evaluating the QB position?
Whatever Jack says is law, just like 23 welchers predictions. Get with the program DS, all in man!
hof
It has been a sample size of 2. I noticed him beat the crap out of us last year. Also, it is 2 for 2. Neither CK (whose sample size is larger though still small) or JJ have looked as good at any point. That is not a “nothing” deal.
DS, that’s your perspective. I’d like to see more preseason games and I’m sure the coaches feels the same way.
Hof “I’d like to see more CK (and more JJ as well) with the ones”
I dont think that happens in the preseaon games. Its more or less in camp so we wont see it live cause I dont think the 49ers want to risk any injury to its 1st team offense in live games in order to evaulate their 2nd or 3rd string QB’s.
Yes it is hof.
Hofer,
I don’t have any problem with Tolzien, I am pulling for the guy. My position is simply that his performance needs to be put into the proper context. Since Friday night I have read commentors on here say that he could start for 16 teams in the league right now, he will challenge CK for the backup spot, he has trade value, etc. That is all a bunch of nonsense.
I agree with you in that it is fun to watch, and a great problem for the team to have. Same thing with the situation at running back and corner back.
Prime,
I apologize if you are offended by common sense. As you were.
Jack JJ has been in the league 5 years, there is more than enough film and JH’s perspective on him to determine if he makes the team. Since camp started he has struggled and ST is stepping up. That
and more performances by ST in camp and preseason might be enough to win the 2nd or 3rd QB spot. Outside of CK’s long run he has been average just like Johnson. My point is with Alex as your unquestioned starter, better off to keep the young guys than JJ who really hasnt been what 23welcher said he would be.
In other news, Alex and Mario M seem to be forming a quality connection, does that mean an opening day starting lineup up of Moss and MM with Crabtree liking outside in? Don forget MM is a proven winner, reliable WR, Crabs, not so much!
Prime
Did you hear JH’s post game press conference? JH strongly hinted that the Niners will be rotating their WR’s out like we will our RB’s. An idea I proposed a long time ago here, but nobody took it.
Who ever the starter is, they won’t be in on every snap like JR was. Or MC was last year. I doubt any WR leads us in receptions, and VD will. I don’t care either.
Big plays in big moments in big games is how I’ll evaluate each WR.
Primetree,
Where did you reD bout Johnson’s struggles in training camp? Get your head out of BS’s behind and stay with facts. You 2 are a match made in hell!
JH said:”All of this gushing over Scott Tolzien is laughable. Grant has now given 3 blogs to a guy who most on here have seen play the second half of 2 preseason games against 3rd and 4th stringers.
I get that he looked good on Friday night, but all of the talk about him taking over for CK, having trade value, etc is ridiculous at best.”
Agree 100%. I also find it humorous that because such a big deal got made after the ONE preseason performance against a bad teams third sting defense, Grant now feels obligated to give us “Tolzien Updates,” so that everyone can care about the third string QB that probably wont even be on the team in a year or two.
Only thing that I see better about CK then ST is that CK has a much better arm. As far as ST playing against the 3s he also has the 3s on his side. CK looked good Friday and I am not counting the long run. I totally disagree with Jack saying ST has zero trade value, after all we got a 7th round pick for Taylor Mays. If we can get a 7th round pick for a thing like Mays we could easly get a 7th for ST. Not that I would like to see that happen. How many scrambling QBs have won the SB? I can only think of one but there must be others.
undercenter,
Taylor Mays was a 2nd round draft pick that had started real NFL games in the regular season. Tolzien is an undrafted free agent who has only played in the second half of 5 preseason games, against mostly guys who are not even on NFL rosters. There is a big difference.
…I agree with undercenter….ST does have a trade value…..
…@Jack – ….Taylor mays was not our starter in 2010…it was Dashon Goldson and Michael Lewis
Pretty sure that was the year Lewis left the team after he found out he was being benched for Mays.
Coffee, you are correct. They replaced Lewis prior to the Atlanta game of that year, and Lewis left the team.
Have to agree with Jack on this one. You have to keep preseason performances in the proper context and allow for the fact that the competition is less than stellar. Johnson played well in his limited time and most likely will be 3rd man in on Saturday.
I liked how Tolzien looked on Friday. He was confident and quick getting the ball out, but he also didn’t face a whole lot of pressure and didn’t throw the ball very far downfield. Let the whole preseason playout before making final judgements.
The reason i like Tolzien for our #3 QB has nothing to do with JJ not being a good player. i believe JJ and CK’s skill set are identical and having tolzien around gives the 9ers another option in case of injury. some people here do’nt believe jj has any trade value, i believe if he can show well in the next 2 games and a couple of QB’s go down in preseason he could bring a conditional 5th or 6th round pick.
That is a very hopeful draft pick (5th). I don’t see how we get more than we got for Hill. And Hill was a proven winner in real games. The fact Grant didn’t get even a nibble from teams suggests GM’s treasure their picks more than we fans tend to.
i think GM’s over value arm strength hill was under valued because of his arm strength JJ has a strong arm and fairly or unfairly has a higher value
old coach,
Why would a team trade you a pick for a guy that a)they could have signed in the offseason as a free agent, and b)they can pick up after preseason is over for nothing.
If Tolzien wins the 3rd QB job are you expecting the 49ers to keep JJ too?
What Jack said. Old Coach there are going to be a ton of players released and JJ wasn’t highly sought after when anybody could have signed him as a FA. You aren’t going to get draft picks for fringe players. That includes Tolzien, who I think would be claimed on the waiver wire, but not traded for.
old coach
I also think GM’s overvalue arm strength. But I don’t see any parting with picks for a player who was available to all during FA, but none took him (except ours of course). Unlike Hill who played well, and was traded without ever having gone recently to FA.
Great point coach, CK and JJ are pretty much the same player and talent level with maybe more upside from CK. With ST I think your gettin the same tangibles as Alex, smart, leader, and gamer.
This is why I see the Niners going with AS, CK and ST as their QB’s.
I agree Prime
Prime
I see it that way too but there are three more weeks of practice and games anything can happen.
Alex Smith is rated 83 in Madden 13.
….really….thanks for the info….I had him at 85……next season he will be in the 90s
Also, Randy Moss – 84. Michael Crabtree – 83. Mario Manningham – 82.
Grant,
Are you going to put up the transcript of the interview with Alex Boone from yesterday?
Sure. It’ll be up in an hour or two.
Go to the Niners website, you can watch it.
Looks like Alex Smith and Michael Crabtree are tied at the hip even on Madden 13 (lol)!
49ers overall team rating: 89
A few of those rankings are ridiculous. Alex Boone for instance.
..what was AB rated…..
Grant off the subject but could you possibly ask fangio next chance you get if he thinks d. dobbs will get a chance to play with the first team D in the up coming game. it seems to me that both this year and last he has proven that he can dominate back up O linemen
You got it.
I wish they’d let Dobbs concentrate on being a Dlineman. Everytime you see him in there he’s creating pressure on the QB. I understand the edict of the more you can do, but I think they are undermining his ability to grow on defense.
The 49ers list Josh Johnson as the third-string QB and Scott Tolzien as the fourth-string QB on the press release depth chart for the upcoming exhibition game against the Houston Texans.
Grant do you know what the Niners would have to swallow money wise if the Niners released Johnson?
$350,ooo
Last time I knew, it was a $350,000 signing bonus for JJ.
According to MB, “Harbaugh said that Kaepernick has started to emerge as the No 2 QB. Said Johnson will enter third, Tolzien fourth v. Texans.”
Don’t know why my other comment got pulled down, any reason Grant?
We’ll give Alex a nickname based on many of his believers on this and many other a site. “The Excuse” Smith.
Remember, that nickname was given to him via a teammate (a name he’d never even heard himself). Not one nickname has been given to Alex in 7 years so that tells you all you need to know. Whitner cited a specific case in practice, not a game, that displayed his leadership.
Anyway, its gotten crazier, as 23Jordan has gotten some of you following his non-sense like Jack Hammer. It’s pretty clear to me that Harbaugh wants to hide Tolzien from the league and its working. ESPN never mentioned him and that long Kaepernick run really grabbed all of the highlights.
You can’t keep throwing out the “he was playing against 3rd-4th stringers” when his best play was a perfect pass to a wide-open WR with a Vikings DL decking him. It was a great defensive hustle that would’ve been a sack for most QB’s. Tolzien got the ball out far too quick for it to matter.
Tolzien had a good preseason last year as well, you just are not taking into account the level of competition he was facing. There is a significant difference between the starters and the 3rd and 4th stringers, that is the reality of it. I hope he does well, but I can’t form any type of opinion based on what I’ve seen so far other then he shows some potential.
Sled,
I don’t need these clowns following my posts or even commenting on them. None of us know whats going to happen in the next 3 games. What we do know is that someone may certainly be out of a QB job as a Niner in a few weeks. Then again, we don’t even know that because Harbaugh said that he has to consider keeping 4 QB’s on this roster. I’m gonna monitor Josh this weekend and if he plays poorly, I’m gonna say it. If he plays well, I’m gonna say that too.
Not gonna be like the 2 sisters Primetree and BS, I mean DS, saying that Josh played poorly. It has been reported by almost every Niner beat writer that all 4 QB’s played well. Josh had the team in scoring position late and was instructed to kneel on the ball on 1st down with 2 minutes left. It was no big deal. I need to see him look like a NFL veteran QB in the Houston game or I will tell it like it is. We will see.