49ers sign Blake Costanzo

The 49ers just announced they have signed Blake Costanzo to a one-year deal.  To make room for Costanzo on the 90-man roster, the 49ers cut Al Netter.

Costanzo was a special-teams stud for the Niners in 2011. He spent the past two seasons on the Bears, and was one of the best special teams players in the NFL in 2013 according to Pro Football Focus.

Tueday’s OTA starts at 1:45.

This article has 98 Comments

  1. Wasn’t he the captain of the special teams unit? I presume he’s going up against Moody and Skov for a highly coveted roster spot…..

  2. Let’s see if Crabtree and Boldin not being at OTA’s today brings the same hue and cry that Davis’ did last week.

    1. I wasn’t aware that Crabtree and Boldin haven’t been there at all and are trying to get a new contract like Davis Jack. Thanks for letting us in on your inside info.

    2. well, to be fair; when interviewed (serving Juice) Davis implied his absence was due to contract issues. Either that or he was just being cute and messing around with the reporter.

      1. Is the reason for missing a non-mandatory practice a big deal? You’re there or you’re not.

        1. sure the reason is important. missing OTAs in of itself is no big deal.

          if you’re Frank Gore and say that you’ll do a better job of getting prepared for the season working out where you live in Miami as you have every year…then no big deal.

          If Davis is expected (as in the past) to show up for OTAs and misses a $200K workout bonus and then indicates or implies (himself or through his agent) that it’s due to contract issues…then yes it’s a significant issue….again, not because he’s missing OTAs but because he says he has a contract issue.

          1. It’s a non-issue until he starts missing mandatory workouts. Right now all he is doing is taking cash out of his own pocket.

  3. This braintrust is full of surprises, good ones. Maybe it’s the wine I’m drinking, but could this be the year they go undefeated and start a long Super Bowl run?

    1. That’s what I’m thinking, ‘course I attribute it to the caliber of bud I’ve been smoking…..

    2. By the way, for you chardonnay drinkers out there, Trader Joe’s sells a label called Red Diamond. It’s from Washington State, and it is delicious. I think it runs just $7.00/bottle.

    1. It said that Steve Young said it on NFL Live. And he’s right to a point. Kaep can continue to run, but he definitely needs to learn to make better reads, or we’ll keep experiencing the ‘Close But No Cigar’ syndrome.

    2. I respect Young a great deal, but like Dilfer a few months ago, he doesn’t know what the reads are and what the intent of the play is. Dilfer clearly said he was wrong about Kap about a month later when he looked a little closer at the film and noticed there was only one or two receivers looking for the ball most of the time, even going so far as describing it as a 70’s era passing scheme. The idea that Kap can’t go through progressions, and is strictly a one read QB ignore the fact that the offense is set up that way and was pretty much the same with Smith and Luck before him.

      I do agree with Young in that Kap has to become a better pocket passer, but telling him not to run takes away a huge part of what Kap brings to the table. There needs to be a balance.

      1. the reads are pretty easy to figure out. passing concepts are pretty much the same, you just have to read the defense and know where the reads begin.

        Kaep can go through progressions. Harbaugh wouldn’t work with a dumb QB. It’s just that his instinct to run takes over after his first or second read.

        and his reads are most likely somewhat limited in that he’s probably reading safety positioning for coverage reads to direct his reads. it’s an intermediate step to knowing the defensive coverage and immediately knowing where to go with the ball based on the play. He also needs to have better game awareness; to know when to force the ball downfield and when to take what the defense gives you.

      2. By calling Kaepernick remedial Dilfer was a bit more aggressive in his take than Young and while there is some truth to what he said, Dilfer backed down to the criticism.

        Young has been much more PC with his comments, and they are correct. Kaepernick is a good quarterback who needs to improve his ability to make reads and deliver the ball from the pocket instead of running so often if he is going to become a great quarterback.

      3. The idea that Kap can’t go through progressions, and is strictly a one read QB ignore the fact that the offense is set up that way and was pretty much the same with Smith and Luck before him.

        I have to disagree with you here Rocket. Part of it was the offense, but Kaep was also at fault. There was easily more than one instance last season that Kaep looked lost when his first read was taken from him and times when he forced a throw that he shouldn’t have.

        1. Significant portions of the passing offense are set up as half field reads and 1-2 reciever play action reads. But there is still some full field pro reads in the offense. Particularly in long and obvious passing downs.

        2. Mid,

          I don’t disagree that Kap made mistakes at times. What I’m saying is, the offense is predicated on one or two reads most of the time and that isn’t the fault of the QB. That is the system, rightly or wrongly, and I’ve seen Kap go through more than one or two progressions at times, so I dispute the notion that he is incapable of doing it.

          There’s a big difference between what the offense does and what the QB can handle. Seattle runs a similar system with Wilson, yet I don’t see all the negative connotations being directed at him in regards to not being able to go through progressions.

          The Coaches do what they think is best for them and the players they have. We can disagree with that, and I do, but to throw all the blame at the QB is simply wrong, and the proof is in the fact Harbaugh has run the same system with every QB he’s had.

  4. I wonder if Alex Smith returns next season at 5 million a year and Kaepernick plays elsewhere. I am not interested in Smith returning, but I don’t think Kaepernick deserves 20 million a year. Sure would be interesting to see what the league does if that were to happen.

    1. i’m hesitant to start this discussion again…but what is your definition of “deserved” in respect to QB salary? and please don’t answer with anything as simple as a Brady/Manning/Rogers/Brees salary comparison?

    2. if Smith becomes a free agent again and baring a complete meltdown this year in KC, there will be many teams out there willing to pay Alex Smith $10-$12M EASILY. He’s asking for Flacco type money in the $18M range but probably won’t get it. But a team that needs a competent QB would easily shell out $10M guaranteed at $12 per year for 2 years or so.

    3. Matt,

      First off Alex Smith isn’t signing for 5 mill. 2nd, the team and Kaps reps are meeting this week to get a long term deal done. It’s going to happen. Accept it and move on.

      1. Rocket, Well said! I just don’t get these weirdos that can’t let Alex Smith go. Alex wasn’t that great guys, he was just okay. He had reached his ceiling and he’s not going any higher as a quarterback. And he’s gone. He’s a Chief. Get over it and move on. We have now the 49er quarterback of the future. He’s going to get a huge contract to play here and he’s going to play here. He’s already done so much more than Alex Smith ever will and he’s barely scratched the surface of his potential. if you can’t accept that you should move to KC and root for the Chiefs. Seriously, it’s time to let it go.

    4. Matt Kaep with his playoff pedigree deserves just as much as sorry Jay Cutler

    1. I thought it would be interesting to use some of the data they’ve put out so far to see how 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick ranks amongst the top eight quarterbacks from 2013 based on NFL Playoff Game wins.

      Wilson – 3
      Kaepernick – 2
      Manning – 2
      Brees – 1
      Rivers – 1
      Foles – 0
      Romo – 0
      Rothliesberger – 0

      1. Wins/Losses is a weak stat for QB’s. The only guy who had a better defense and overall team around him than Kaepernick was Wilson. (See A.J. McCarron)

        1. Wins/Losses is a weak stat for QB’s.

          Really? C’Mon Jack, you know that’s not true. When it all boils down Wins/Losses is what really matters. I’m pretty sure Romo, Foles and Big Ben would’ve gladly traded their QBR ratings for a Playoff win last season.

          1. Wins/Losses is a weak stat for QB’s.

            Really? C’Mon Jack, you know that’s not true. When it all boils down Wins/Losses is what really matters.

            Tell that to Vince Young and Tim Tebow.

            1. And somehow Young got most of his wins in 07 and 08 when the Titans D was among the top in points allowed.

              Thanks for helping my position.

              1. You’re not serioiusly comparing Young to Kaepernick….Should every accomplishment or victory by Kaepernick have an asterisk signifying the qualifier, He Had A Top Defense?

              2. You’re not serioiusly comparing Young to Kaepernick….Should every accomplishment or victory by Kaepernick have an asterisk signifying the qualifier, He Had A Top Defense?

                Where exactly are you getting that Razor? The statement was that wins/losses is a weak stat for QB’s and Jack is right. What matters is what do to get to the top of the mountain. History is full of QBs that won a lot but either couldn’t do enough to get to the Super Bowl and win it or kept shooting themselves in the foot at the worst possible time. It usually depends on which QB is able to be clutch when it is do or die time.

              3. The goal is to win every game. The more victories, the less pain. Jack Hammer believes that Kaepernick is flawed. That’s why he highlighted the defensive stat and tied it to Youngs’ victories, implying Kaepernicks’ victories are similar. “Interesting” is code for “Ah-ha”…..

              4. Read the thread Razor. It was a response to MidWest who brought up Young.

              5. Kaep is flawed Razor. That’s a fact, no matter the number of wins that he has accrued. But that’s not a bad thing because it means that Kaep has yet to reach his full potential, which is absolutely tantalizing to say the least.

                The goal is to win every game. The more victories, the less pain.

                There are several examples of where this isn’t true. Here two of them: the 1998 Minnesota Vikings and the 2007 New England Patriots.

              6. What you call “flawed”, I call young. This is the year we’ll find out if yourself and Jack Hammer were right, and 49er brass were wrong….

              7. So you think Kaep has reached his full potential Razor? Because I sure don’t. That’s my current thought process when it comes to Kaep, that he has yet to reach his potential.

                What you call “flawed”, I call young.

                Same thing in this instance, as most players (and people in general) are flawed in some way when they are younger.

              8. Neither one of you two believe Kaepernick has the potential to stand in the pocket, go through his progressions and deliver the ball into the archer slot before the target is fully open. I expect Kaepernick to have a career high campaign in both stats(which will make you and Hammer happy)and victories(which I’m partial to)….

              9. Neither one of you two believe Kaepernick has the potential to stand in the pocket, go through his progressions and deliver the ball into the archer slot before the target is fully open.

                Where exactly have I ever said that he didn’t have the potential Razor? If I didn’t believe that Kaep has the potential to do so, then I wouldn’t keep saying that he needs to learn to make better reads because it would simply be a waste of effort to do so. But I have been saying it because I believe Kaep is capable of doing so.

                I expect Kaepernick to have a career high campaign in both stats(which will make you and Hammer happy)and victories(which I’m partial to)….

                The reason that I would want to see his stats go up exponentially is if he becomes one of the highest paid QBs in the league, in which case he better be at least a top 10 QB in terms of stats. The contract has to match the numbers, not just the potential. Other than that, the only thing I care about is if he leads the Niners to a sixth Super Bowl title.

              10. It takes wins to get to the playoffs, preferably the last win to get to the Super Bowl occurs in your own house. At that moment in time the flag was thrown against Brooks for the hit on Breesy, the chances of the 49ers making it to the Super Bowl decreased, and continued to decrease with every Seahawk victory. Win the division, and the Super Bowl retribution tour will be sold out….

              11. It takes wins to get to the playoffs, preferably the last win to get to the Super Bowl occurs in your own house.

                It also takes smart play to get to the Super Bowl and that was clearly lacking during the second half of the 2014 NFCC.

                At that moment in time the flag was thrown against Brooks for the hit on Breesy, the chances of the 49ers making it to the Super Bowl decreased, and continued to decrease with every Seahawk victory.

                Not true. Our chances diminished with each bad play that Kaep and our offense and defense did, and with each bad play-call from the sidelines.

                Win the division, and the Super Bowl retribution tour will be sold out….

                That doesn’t guarantee a trip to the Super Bowl. Smart plays and play calling do.

              12. I don’t generally pay attention to Vegas odds because they only go by what looks good on paper. For example, I think the Broncos take a step back this year despite and because of their additions.

              13. With respect to the Seahawks and the 49ers, the paper has cut a trail…..

            2. Like I said, I posted that to support your statement about wins/losses being a weak stts for QBs Jack.

              1. Jack Hammer has alluded on more than one occasion that a guy like Fales or Sanchez could step in and lead the 49ers to playoff victories with the amount of talent on this team. He has also stated that when the defense takes a step back, he expects Kaepernick will fall…..

          2. I’m sure they would, and they also would like to trade for that defense.

        2. Jack
          In the NFC Championship game Kaep carried our offense. Though people want him to be the pretty pocket passer like the dome stats padding Brees, Kaep creates big plays at timely moments somehow. He will be the face of a new generation. He has been in a pro offense for 3 years. Wilson played in a pro offense at wisconsin. He will be great!!!

          1. 4th quarter interceptions lost that game therefore he did not carry the offense

            1. Without Kaepernick, Sanchez/Fales and the vaunted 49er defense lose big to the Seahawks in their domain….

              1. Even with the mighty CK the 49ers have lost by an average of 20.3 points in their last 3 trips to the CLink.

              2. Yea, I was waiting for the stat rap to give your assertion credence. How much did they lose by in 2013? How much will they lose by in 2014 with a weaker defense? How much more will they lose by with Sanchez/Fales behind center with a weaker defense? These are questions your fans want answers to Jack Hammer….

          2. “In the NFC Championship game Kaep carried our offense.”

            He sure did. For three quarters. In the fourth he put the nail in the coffin.

          3. disagree.

            Kaep is great at generating big plays. but he stinks at everything else for now. Most QB’s would sustain long drives and moved the ball to get points. He does it differently. He stinks for long periods of times, then hits you with a big play, giving us a sense of illusion that he is doing it all (as a Bay Area sports reference, i call it the Monta Ellis effect).

            THE SAD TRUTH is that Alex Smith is closer to average than great and Kaep hasn’t improved the 49ers offense from where it was with Smith.

            Oh, it looks improved, because of the way people’s memories work – it’s why ESPN and it’s highlights based shows rose to prominence. Your average fan unconsciously prefers style over substance. That’s why they think watching the San Antonio Spurs is boring. The big plays Kaep generates makes people think this offense is much improved. But the numbers and, more importantly, the results say differently.

            The reason why the Seahawks and the 49ers are the elite of the elite is because their QB’s are so cheap. Absent a Tom Brady, is there any need to change that formula?

            Overpaying the Kaeps and the Flaccos of the world result in losing valuable pieces like Anquan Boldin for 6th round draft picks.

            The 49ers need to think outside of the box. Let the Seahawks give Russell Wilson $20 million plus. Once that happens, their overall talent will drop and even an Alex Smith type can get us past them.

        3. Wins define a QB. There are other outlying factors in achieving them, but the true measure of a QB is wins.

          I’m not surprised at the lengths you guys will go to disparage Kap, but bringing up Vince Young and Tim Tebow is a new low. Vince Young was 18-11 in his first 3 years. Tebow was 8-6 in 14 regular season starts with 1 playoff win and a career completion percentage under 50%.

          There is no comparison here at all and neither came close to doing what Kap has done in a year and a half as a starter. Something else to keep in mind: Aaron Rodgers was just beginning his career as a starter at the point Kap is now. Give the guy a break already.

              1. I didn’t realize the beginning of his comment was actually a reply to another commentor because he didn’t use quotation marks.

                That being said, Kaepernick doesn’t deserve any break. According to reports he’s on the verge of becoming one of the highest paid QB’s in football.

    2. Not knocking Kaep, but how much of his completion percentage was due to Boldin?

      1. “Not knocking Kaep” is a preface along the lines of “With all do respect”…..

        1. Not true Razor. I’m just wanting to know what amount of of Kaep’s completion percentage on each down involved him throwing to Boldin.

          1. I’m pretty sure Packer fans could care less about his completion percentage….

            1. I’m pretty sure of that too since Rodgers has given them a Super Bowl title.

              1. What has he done for them lately? The goal is still to win the game, correct?

              2. Has Kaep won one for us yet Razor? Rodgers got Green Bay to the top of the mountain, so I’m pretty sure that the Cheese Heads could care less about Kaep’s completion percentage either. No matter what, holding up the Lombardi Trophy with confetti falling down on him is what matters most to a QB and not how they got there.

              3. I’m surrounded by cheese heads, and I can report that Kaepernick has turned them into nacho cheese. He owns them, and they don’t like it. They look the other way when I approach in 49er colors. I hated losing to them year after year. I relish every victory over them. I’m surprised you allow a Super Bowl victory in 2010 to justify Rodger’s inability to get by Kaepernick and his 49ers. As long as they stand in his way, there will only be those memories for you to cling to…..

              4. I’m surprised you allow a Super Bowl victory in 2010 to justify Rodger’s inability to get by Kaepernick and his 49ers. As long as they stand in his way, there will only be those memories for you to cling to…..

                Again, how did you come to that conclusion Razor? I am simply saying that Rodgers has done something that Kaep hasn’t done yet. That’s something that Packers fans can hold over our heads…for now at least.
                And this still doesn’t answer my first question.

            2. The pain from the Super Bowl loss, and the subsequent drought after Young, has obviously taken it’s toll. I can empathize with you, but it’s 2014, and these Packer fans don’t give a ratatouille about 2010. They’ve devoted a whole offseason to understanding how to beat Kaepernick, including a college education for the whole defense. As a bonus, they resorted to cheap shots to try and take him out of the game…..

              1. The pain from the Super Bowl loss, and the subsequent drought after Young, has obviously taken it’s toll. I can empathize with you, but it’s 2014, and these Packer fans don’t give a ratatouille about 2010.

                Neither do I.

                They’ve devoted a whole offseason to understanding how to beat Kaepernick, including a college education for the whole defense. As a bonus, they resorted to cheap shots to try and take him out of the game…..

                That was pretty well the entire NFL that did that. And this still doesn’t answer my first question in regards to Boldin.

              2. There was no other team as blatant or lacking in subtlety of the intent in my opinion. Part of the defensive game plan was to take him out of the game anyway they could. Boldin is a saavy vet who knows how to move the chains. Kaepernick knows that….

              3. Boldin is a saavy vet who knows how to move the chains. Kaepernick knows that….

                Hence why I asked how much of Kaep’s completion percentage was due to Boldin.

              4. Should be able to look it up if it’s that important. What key part of your analysis does that statistic pertain to?

              5. Razor, I love your description of how Kaep has turned the cheesesheads to Nacho Cheese! I too cannot forget them gloating over their Brett Favre
                led victories over Young and the Niners in the 2nd half of the nineties, and I too greatly relish the painful payback Kaep has inflicted on them.
                Jack and MWD can make their none too subtle jabs at Kaep all they want, but the fact is we don’t have those playoff wins against Green Bay without Kaep, so as far as I’m concerned, those two can take their anti-Kaepernick propaganda and go pound sand.

  5. Something to look at. Each Div plays 64 games. The list below is total wins for that Div. Slow day today I guess

    AFC
    east 34
    north 31
    south 24
    west 37

    NFC
    east 28
    north 28
    south 31
    west 42

  6. Perfect. He is the reason our special unit fell off in 2012… the brain trust realized you cant just throw chumps on that unit and be ok. 2011had great specials, 2012 was not so great. We went and got aces again, vetrone, and osgood. Also with this signing osgood might b on his wau out barring injuries

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