SANTA CLARA – LaMichael James spoke at his locker Friday afternoon about the 49ers offensive line and his college coach, Chip Kelly. Here’s what James said.
Q: What’s it like running behind the 49ers’ offensive line.
JAMES: A lot of holes. I really feed off of them. I think they believe in me. During the game they keep me motivated.
Q: What’s it like running behind Joe Staley in particular?
JAMES: He’s super fast. I don’t think people realize how fast he is. He can run with the best of them. He’s super athletic to be that big.
Q: Is Anthony Davis as fast as Staley?
JAMES: No. He’s super strong. He doesn’t miss any blocks. He’s always downfield giving 100 percent effort, and he’s really aggressive.
Q: What was it like to watch the Ducks last night?
JAMES: Speed. That’s the only thing I can say. Super fast. Very well-coached team.
Q: It sounds like Chip Kelly might be taking an NFL head coaching job. What do you think of that?
JAMES: I think he can be one of the best coaches in the NFL. I respect him. Super great coach.
Q: Do you think Oregon’s offensive style will translate to the NFL?
JAMES: 100 percent yes. I don’t think anyone can stop that offense – NFL, college, high school – no matter what it is. I think Washington (Redskins) runs a similar offense. I like the way they do things, too. I think it would be similar to that. A little faster, though.
Q: There are reports that he’s going to the Browns. He would get to work with running back Trent Richardson.
JAMES: Who would be the quarterback?
Q: Brandon Weeden, and they have a high draft pick.
JAMES: I don’t know…They have the run (game). I haven’t heard it yet.
Q: Do you Chip Kelly could become a top coach in the NFL?
JAMES: Yeah, he’d be a great coach. I think he’d probably be one of the best coaches in the NFL. He’s a great offensive mastermind. He’s confident. I feel like he can do anything he wants to do.
Q: The Patriots run the no huddle. Kelly runs the no huddle all the time. Do you think that could be an effective tool at the NFL level?
JAMES: His offense is a whole other ballgame from the Patriots. It’s so much faster.
Q: Do you notice defenses wear down when you ran the no huddle?
JAMES: Oh yeah, you knew instantly. The tackles start huffing and puffing, people not getting lined up properly. It’s different out there when people get tired. Fatigue makes cowards of us all.
Q: Do you think Kelly would go for the two-point conversion after most touchdown in the NFL like he does in college?
JAMES: No. He’ll kick an extra point. You can’t do that in the NFL.
49ers RSS feed
Loading ...
Chip Kelly is heading to Cleveland
Could the Factory of Sadness be changing into the Sweatshop of Contentment?
Skins beat Hawks
Vikings beat Pack
Texans bear Bengals
Ravens beat Colts
Neal, good stuff. I agree that Texans win over Bengals but the others I’m picking Hawks, Pack, and Colts.
Hofe/Neal – Pack, Texans, Ravens and Hawks are
my picks (no pointspread). Rooting for Vikes,
Ravens, Skins and Bengals.
Hof, Going against the grain, this has been a strange season and the obvious seems to be in question.
Neal, you’re right, it’s anyone’s game once they are in the playoffs. It will be interesting. I do see the Hawks and Broncs being strong contenders for the SB.
NFL and ESPN says looking like Chip Kelly is about ready to sign with the Browns. Its going to be real interesting to watch the Browns next couple of years. I dont see Weeden running Kellys type of offense. If Kelly is succesful, football will change once again.
Cleveland Browns do not have the personnel to run Chips’ offense. Might he pursue Percy in free agency? What quarterback will he target in the draft?
Interesting analysis below of Niners run game against the Hawks, and the role of the Hawk’s safeties in their successful run defense.
http://www.footballoutsiders.com/word-muth/2013/word-muth
I can now see why Roman started the game with pass plays trying to get the safeties to back off. LaMichael can help in diversifying the run game.
Id like to see the Niners throw VD and DW out as wide receivers and use them as chop back blockers sweeps. Quit being so preductable abd running wide.
Galaxy texting sucks
I asked for a bunch 3 TE formation. They wouldn’t know whether stop the run or wait for a pass play.
The 9ers are at a disadvantage without MM. RM is good but at the twilight of his career. If CK can’t find VD at some point soon, the playoffs won’t be as enjoyable.
49ers will be fine without Manningham. They won in NE without him, and although Moss is getting to the end of the road he is still a better 2nd option than Williams was last season.
The sky isnt falling Hof. Randy is more than capable as a number two. Jenkins will step up beyond what KW contributed in last years playoffs.
Justin Smith, being able to stop the run and Gore having fresh legs are more critical concerns.
Smile. We are two wins away from the big dance.
Hofe – Why bring up Manningham? Lets focus on what we DO have Hofe, not what we used to have. You did the same thing with Josh Morgan.
Bay, the 9ers are basically in the same position at WR as last year. MC is the mainstay and healthy. RM, like I said has played well, but is in the twilight of his career. AJJ hasn’t play much but has major upside. DW has been a key target for CK but he needs to find the explosive VD and make that connection multiple times in the playoffs to ensure success.
Hofer,
You are right about the WR predicament being similar to last year, but Moss is a seasoned veteran with playoff and Super Bowl experience and is light years ahead of where KW was at this time last year.
The concern is valid, but let’s let it play out. I hope the results surprise you.
Jack, I hope you are not shocked by the results.
I won’t be shocked Hofer, but if they lose I don’t see it being the result of the WR’s or the QB. The weak link on this team is the kicker.
That’s a nice article by Muth. That style of defense, you’ve gotta attack the cornerbacks with the passing game out of run formations.
Niners tried, but it just didn’t happen, and the way the game went, they were down 21-0 in a heartbeat. Kaep’s worst game, but I hope he learns from it.
LMJ has a good positive attitude. Wish the guy was involved in the short passing game. He could be used like a Sproles.
Niners Packers next saturday will effectively be the NFC championship game. ATL is a paper tiger.
I agree with Hofe regarding the loss of Manningham. He was an intergral part of our WR corps. But (like in the case of any injured player) the next person needs to step up.
I’m still expecting some productive contributions from A.J. Jenkins. Yes, R.Moss will be starting and he should get his usual 3-5 throws, but A.J. must become our X-factor in the playoffs to take some heat off Crabtree.
I also believe that we will see GR open and dust off the pages of schemes involving VD.
Donte Whitner was quoted as saying that this season would be considered a loss if they don’t win the Superbowl.
I see the 49ers coming into the playoffs fresh, recharged, and ready to show the football world that we have the hardest hitting defense and the most explosive offense on the planet, period!
AES – Hofer has a negative hidden agenda behind his WR
statements. I’m surprised you fell for that.
He never liked Crabtree, too bad old archives (2010,2011) are unavailable now. You made Hofers night.
Crab15,
I know that Hofe more than capable of standing on his own merits, but I didn’t see any disparaging remarks about Crabtree in his post threads.
In fact he called MC a “mainstay and healthy.”
Yes, last year (after the championship game) there were a handful of posters who were very dissatisfied with Crabtree. I went a few rounds with some of them back in early July.
But the use of the word “agenda” around here is quite meaningless because nothing we say whether pro or con regarding any player has absolutely no bearing on how the 49ers Org operates.
But regarding our WR issues of last season, it’s obvious that the front office saw a need hence the signings of RM, MM, and the drafting of A.J. Jenkins would you agree?
AES, thanks. Some don’t want to hear the facts but I see the WR situation similar to last year when only MC was the healthy WR. It will play out, but if CK and VD can gain chemistry quickly, it will make the playoffs more enjoyable. Go 9ers.
Guys, my biggest concern going into the playoffs are the Special Teams.
What are we going to get from either Akers or Cundiff?
Can TGJr give us some positive production on punt-returns?
This is the most dramatic change from last season IMO.
Ginn has not made anyone sin this year. His services will not be required next year. Who to replace him with? How about going after Mr. Hester?
The extra point is the most boring play in football. The NFL should move the extra point line to the 1-yard line and give coaches some gray hairs.
Roman’s star doesn’t seem to be as bright these days. Last year he was one of the hottest names on the coaching roulette, after another successful season you’d think it would almost be a done deal that another team would want to hire him but other then the Philly speculation Roman’s name hasn’t been mentioned at all.
I suppose when you go from a safe and efficient QB to a gunslinger that the fans aren’t the only ones expecting to see a change in the offense.
Grant
Are you really going to let these two weeks pass without generating some original content? One week down, one to go. Let’s see you put that UCLA English Department education to some good use! Give us something fun and new to read!!!
joe web starts tonight!