Saints-49ers matchups: Part II – Patrick Robinson vs. Mario Manningham

The 49ers play the Saints Sunday at the Superdome. In the meantime, I’ll break down five key matchups. CB Patrick Robinson vs. WR Mario Manningham Michael Crabtree was Alex Smith’s favorite target, but Colin Kaepernick likes to throw the ball downfield, and Crabtree is a possession receiver. As a result, Kaepernick has shown more chemistry throwing passes to Mario Manningham this season. Manningham is a deep threat, but the 49ers…

November 24, 2012
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Saints-49ers matchups: Part I – Roman Harper vs. Vernon Davis

The 49ers play the Saints Sunday at the Superdome. In the meantime, I’ll break down five key matchups. SS Roman Harper vs. TE Vernon Davis The Saints absolutely cannot leave Harper one-on-one with Davis in this game. Steve Spagnuolo must devote two defenders to Davis. In the playoffs last season, Gregg Williams thought Alex Smith wouldn’t make the Saints pay for single covering Davis. Davis beat Harper for 180 yards…

November 24, 2012
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Do you feel sorry for Alex Smith?

It looks like Colin Kaepernick is going to start against the Saints in spite of the fact that Alex Smith is having a very good season and only went out because of an injury. Do you feel sorry for Smith, yes or no? Why?

November 23, 2012
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Harbaugh says the Saints defense has an “encyclopedia of blitzes” on third down

SANTA CLARA – Jim Harbaugh held a press conference Friday afternoon. Here’s what he said about the Saints defense, courtesy of the 49ers.   The Saints defensive players have talked a little bit about just adjusting to Saints defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s scheme, which I guess happened when he was first with the Giants. It took him a little while. Is there anything unique for their defense that it might…

November 23, 2012
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Harbaugh says LaMichael James’ hands and route-running have improved dramatically

SANTA CLARA — Here’s what Jim Harbaugh said at his press conference Friday afternoon about LaMichael James, courtesy of the 49ers.   I understand that RB LaMichael James has been playing the role of RB Darren Sproles in practice this week? “Sproles, yeah.”   That’s a pretty good comparison, those two? “Yeah, it really has. LaMichael’s really benefitted a lot from … he’s been a wide receiver a lot of…

November 23, 2012
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Harbaugh says he wants to “chase” the “one percent” advantage of not naming a starting QB publically

SANTA CLARA – Jim Harbaugh held a press conference Friday afternoon. Here’s what he said about the 49ers quarterback controversy. Q: Any word yet on who your starting quarterback will be on Sunday? HARBAUGH: No. We feel like there’s no competitive advantage for us to release the information. ME: Is there a competitive advantage in not releasing the information? HARBAUGH: Possibly. Maybe it’s one percent, a small percent. ME: That’s…

November 23, 2012
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Cosell breaks down how the Saints should game plan for Kaepernick

Greg Cosell spoke on Doug Farrar’s Week 12 preview podcast Friday morning. Here’s what Cosell said the Saints will try to do against Colin Kaepernick. FARRAR: If you were the Saints, how would game plan for Kaepernick? COSELL: The Saints defense has played better the last couple of weeks. Clearly they are understanding Steve Spagnuolo’s pressure concepts a little bit more. We’re seeing a lot more of the zone blitz…

November 23, 2012
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Doug Farrar calls Kaepernick “the perfect quarterback” for the 49ers offensive scheme

Here’s what Doug Farrar and Greg Cosell said Friday on the Week 12 Shutdown Corner podcast about the 49ers offense with Colin Kaepernick. FARRAR: Watching the 49ers offense against the Bears, it reminded me a little bit of what Washington does with their offense, although there are very different principles. The 49ers switched pre-snap from a full house to split backs. I thought I was watching the 1975 Cowboys. The…

November 23, 2012
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Young sizes up Kaepernick, compares him to Favre

Steve Young spoke on KNBR Wednesday afternoon. Here’s what he said Colin Kaepernick. Q: Does Kaepernick’s game remind you of you? Was there anything he did against the Bears that you didn’t know he could do? YOUNG: “There were some throws. He’s got a little interesting throwing motion. A little Phillip Rivers-y. Just a little different. But, I don’t care. It doesn’t bother me. As long as you deliver it….

November 23, 2012
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Young on Smith v. Kaepernick: “They’re not going to get in a fist fight in the locker room.”

Steve Young spoke on KNBR Wednesday afternoon. Here’s what he said about the 49ers quarterback controversy. Q: What do you think’s going on with this quarterback controversy? YOUNG: “It’s pretty easy for me based on what Jim said. There are three types of controversies – the one in the streets, the one in the locker room and the one with the coach. The one that truly matters is the one…

November 23, 2012
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Whitner says Kaepernick will start against the Saints

Greg Roman said yesterday the 49ers have not decided which quarterback – Colin Kaepernick or Alex Smith – will start against the Saints on Sunday. Thursday morning on the Dan Patrick show, Donte Whitner contrdicted Roman’s statement. Whitner told Mike Florio that Kaepernick will indeed start against the Saints. The 49ers have not officially named Kaepernick the starter, but I would be shocked if he didn’t start in New Orleans this…

November 23, 2012
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Roman says “no decision has been made” on quarterbacks

Greg Roman held a press conference Thursday afternoon. Here’s what he said about the 49ers offense and quarterback controversy, courtesy of the 49ers.   Can you clear up what’s going on with the quarterback situation right now? “Well, no decision has been made. We’re hopeful that [QB] Alex [Smith] gets cleared tomorrow, physically. We’re confident in both quarterbacks to be on the field. We’re always going to make way all…

November 22, 2012
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Roman says the Saints defense uses “a multitude of overload blitzes at times.”

Greg Roman held a press conference Thursday afternoon. Here’s what he said about the Saints defense, courtesy of the 49ers.   Opening Statement: “Looks like a lot of people left early to get that turkey on their plate. I hope everybody is doing well. Happy Thanksgiving, we certainly have a lot to be thankful for. Getting ready to play the Saints in a tough environment. The last time we were…

November 22, 2012
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Fangio says Aldon Smith has “combination of strength, size, speed, slither and long arms.”

Vic Fangio held a press conference Thursday afternoon. Here’s what he said about the 49ers defense, courtesy of the 49ers.   It looked like LB Patrick Willis had a really good game in coverage on Monday. Is that typical? Is that what you expect from him? “He did. Yes, he did have a very good game in coverage. Particularly, [RB Matt] Forte’s a tough back to handle. They went to…

November 22, 2012
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Fangio says the Saints offense is “pretty proficient and explosive.”

Vic Fangio held a press conference Thursday afternoon. Here’s what he said about the Saints offense, courtesy of the 49ers.   What are your initial thoughts on the Saints offense? “Pretty proficient and explosive. Any time you’ve got a quarterback of [QB Drew] Brees’ ability and stature playing in the same offense now for six or seven years with a lot of the same guys around him and with all…

November 22, 2012
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Alex Smith cleared, still won’t start

ESPN’s Ed Werder is reporting that Alex Smith has finally passed his final concussion test and is cleared to play, but Colin Kaepernick will still start against the Saints. This makes Jim Harbaugh’s intentions clear – he’s going with Kaepernick because he thinks he’s the best quarterback, not because Alex Smith is injured.

November 22, 2012
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Praise Harbaugh for anointing Kaepernick

Jim Harbaugh deserves the highest praise for benching Alex Smith and starting Colin Kaepernick. It would have been easy for Harbaugh to hand the starting quarterback job back to Alex Smith after he returned from his concussion. Very few experts would have criticized Harbaugh for that conservative, timid move. After all, Smith is the fourth-highest rated quarterback in the NFL, and he’s a veteran and he’s a winner. Harbaugh didn’t…

November 22, 2012
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ESPN disputes Trotter’s report about Colin Kaepernick

Breaking news: ESPN is disputing Jim Trotter’s report that the 49ers have made Kaepernick the starter against the Saints. According to ESPN’s Trent Dilfer, Harbaugh told Smith that Kaepernick will get the first-team reps in practice, but the starting job is still an open competition. First team reps certainly implies Kaepernick is the starter. But it does mean there’s still some ambiguity. Obviously, this situation is fluid. We not only…

November 21, 2012
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Report: Kaepernick will start against the Saints

Jim Trotter just tweeted that Jim Harbaugh has informed Alex Smith that Colin Kaepernick will start against the Saints in New Orleans on Sunday. According to Trotter’s sources, Harbaugh’s decision is not based on Smith’s health. Here’s how I interpret this: If Kaepernick plays another stellar game against the Saints, the starting quarterback job is his for good. If he falls on his face, Smith could get another chance. How do…

November 21, 2012
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Vitt on Kaepernick: “You saw the team’s confidence grow around him as the game wore on.”

New Orleans Saints’ interim head coach Joe Vitt spoke to Bay Area reporters on a conference call this afternoon. Here’s what he said about the 49ers quarterbacks. Q: Are you going to prepare for both quarterbacks? VITT: Absolutely. Both quarterbacks are playing within the framework of the offense. Both quarterbacks are highly skilled, can make plays with their feet. Both protect the ball. We’re studying both on film. We’re defending…

November 21, 2012
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