How to beat the 49ers

Now that we’re halfway through the season, there’s a book on how to beat the 49ers. We know it, the 49ers know it – it’s their job to know it — and the rest of the NFL knows it. Let’s explain that game plan and list the teams that can pull it off. Stop the run with seven defenders. If you can do that, you can beat the 49ers. You…

November 7, 2012
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Fisher says Rams, Seahawks and Cardinals are “quite a ways behind” 49ers offensively

St. Louis Rams head coach Jeff Fisher spoke on a conference call with Bay Area reporters Wednesday morning. Here’s what he said about the 49ers. Q: Did you feel the NFC was an ascendant division when you took the Rams job – a lot of young teams? FISHER: Yeah, I feel like the division has improved. Obviously, after the first half of the season you can say it certainly has,…

November 7, 2012
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Fisher on Rams: “Still feel like we have a fine quarterback in place here.”

St. Louis Rams head coach Jeff Fisher spoke on a conference call with Bay Area reporters Wednesday morning. Here’s what he said about the Rams. Q: When you were considering the Rams job, did you look at the NFC West and analyze it, and if you did, what did you see from that division? FISHER: Certainly very, very impressed with what took place out there and the great job that…

November 7, 2012
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On Bye weeks and real games

I’m going to put up a series of blogs today previewing the 49ers-Rams game on Sunday. It’s a nice thing finally to be writing about a real game. Bye weeks give everybody a breather, but I was running as fast as I could to find relevant topics to write about. A game is a good thing. Stay tuned.

November 7, 2012
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Jacobs: “I feel really good now – that’s all I can elaborate on.”

SANTA CLARA – Brandon Jacobs spoke at his locker Tuesday afternoon. Here’s what he said about his health and his mindset. Q: Your knee is feeling pretty good? JACOBS: Yeah. I’ve had a long break (chuckles). I feel good. I’m working hard every day. Q: Do you feel better now than you have in years past because of the long break? JACOBS: I feel really good now – that’s about…

November 6, 2012
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Jacobs on Iupati: “Monster. Mon-ster.”

SANTA CLARA – Here’s what Brandon Jacobs said Tuesday about the 49ers offensive line. Q: What do you see from the offensive line? JACOBS: It’s a young group, physical group, fast group. They’re doing one hell of a job. They’re moving folks out of the way and they’re not taking ‘No’ for an answer. Q: What have you seen specifically from Mike Iupati? JACOBS: Monster. Mon-ster. Nasty. He does a…

November 6, 2012
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Aldon Smith addresses the alleged restaurant incident

SANTA CLARA – A few Bay Area reporters approached Aldon Smith in the locker room Tuesday afternoon. We asked him if he wanted to talk about the report that he got jumped outside a restaurant in Columbus, Missouri last week. Here’s what he said. ALDON SMITH: “Nothing happened. I said what I had to say. That’s it. I’m not talking about it. Nothing happened. Nothing happened. Nothing happened. Nothing happened….

November 6, 2012
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Gore says 49ers O-line is creating biggest holes he’s ever seen

SANTA CLARA – Frank Gore spoke at his locker Tuesday afternoon. Here’s what he said. Q: How does your body feel going into the second half of the season? GORE: I feel fresh still. I’m healthy. I’m ready for the second half. It’s a blessing I’m not nicked up. I’m just having fun running through the big holes they’re giving me. Q: How are your ribs? GORE: A lot better….

November 6, 2012
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Which 49ers made Pro Football Weekly’s midseason All-Pro team?

Pro Football Weekly just announced their midseason All-Pro team. Considering how good the 49ers defense is, you’d expect a few those players to make it. They didn’t. Surprisingly, two players on the offense made the team – Mike Iupati and Anthony Davis. Punter Andy Lee also made it. PFW named Aaron Rodgers the midseason All-Pro QB, Adrian Peterson and Marshawn Lynch the running backs and Rob Gronkowski the tight end….

November 6, 2012
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Midterm report card: Perrish Cox

The 49ers signed Perrish Cox this offseason to be the No.4 cornerback. He plays when offenses use four-wide-receiver formations – Tarell Brown and Chris Culliver cover the outside receivers, Carlos Rogers covers one slot receiver and Cox covers the other one. So far this season, Cox has played 117 snaps, he’s been targeted on 12 passes and he’s given up 11 catches for 133 yards according to Pro Football Focus….

November 6, 2012
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Dirk Koetter: “You can’t be afraid to feed your stud.”

I just stumbled upon a fascinating interview of current Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator, Dirk Koetter. The interview was conducted a year and a half ago when he was the offensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars. In this interview, Koetter explains his offensive philosophy, how he puts together a game plan and which plays he prefers to call during games. This is essential reading for all you aspiring football coaches out…

November 6, 2012
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Harbaugh: “Don’t have any story to write or tell about the first half of the season.”

SANTA CLARA — Here is the full transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s Monday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers.   How was your bye week? “It was good. You hope that everybody had a chance to spend time with their family and take some time for themselves. Every now and then everybody needs to take a knee and sip water. But, need everybody back full strength for the second half of…

November 5, 2012
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Midterm report card: Chris Culliver

Chris Culliver was the best 49er cornerback in training camp, and he’s been the best 49er cornerback the first half of the season, too, but he still doesn’t start. That should change. He might be the best cornerback in the NFL. He’s picked off two passes and knocked away five. According to Pro Football Focus, Culliver has allowed the lowest percentage of completions of all NFL cornerbacks who have played…

November 5, 2012
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Harbaugh on Sam Bradford: “He’s got all the things you look for in a top-notch quarterback.”

Here’s what Jim Harbaugh said at his Monday press conference about the St. Louis Rams in general and their quarterback, Sam Bradford, in particular. HARBAUGH: [The Rams] are playing good football. I think it’s an improved team. It seems like they’re doing a very good job. Q: Did you watch film of them this week? HARBAUGH: Yes. Q: What new challenges do they present your team? HARBAUGH: New challenges…schematically? Personnel-wise?…

November 5, 2012
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Harbaugh says Baalke talked to Aldon Smith about recent restaurant incident

SANTA CLARA — On Thursday, Aldon Smith denied an NBC report that he had been jumped outside a restaurant in Columbia, Mo. Here’s what Jim Harbaugh said about that incident Monday at his press conference. Q: Did you talk to Aldon and are you satisfied with what happened? HARBAUGH: I personally tend not to believe everything I read on the internet. Trent Baalke talked to Aldon. Q: Are you fine…

November 5, 2012
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Midterm report card: Trent Baalke

Is Trent Baalke a superior general manager? Of course he is. Are the 49ers flourishing because of him? Of course they are. But I’m grading him on his performance this season, just as I’ve graded everyone else. For him, this season is what he did in the preseason. He re-signed outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks to a six-year extension, and that was a good move. Brooks is a top outside linebacker…

November 5, 2012
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What we learned Week 9

Here are three things I learned Sunday: The Arizona Cardinals are done. They’ve lost five straight games, they have a Bye next week and after that they have to play the Falcons. Good luck. I’d be shocked if the Cardinals won two more games the rest of the season. The Seahawks are hanging tough – they beat the Vikings today. But Seattle has to play the Dolphins and the Bears…

November 4, 2012
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Midterm report card: Mario Manningham

The 49ers don’t list Mario Manningham as a starter, but he is definitely the No.2 wide receiver behind Michael Crabtree. At times, Manningham has seemed like the best receiver on the team. He’s short and skinny, but he can get open better than any other 49er. Greg Roman calls roughly five passes a game for Manningham, and he has only dropped one pass. He is the best receiver on the…

November 4, 2012
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Midterm report card: Anthony Davis

In the past, Anthony Davis needed help from tight end Vernon Davis in pass protection. This season, Anthony Davis is the best pass blocking offensive lineman on the 49ers. Now it’s Joe Staley who’s getting occasional blocking help from Vernon. Anthony Davis mostly is holding his own. He gave up three sacks against the New York Giants in Week 6, but he hasn’t given up a sack in the other…

November 4, 2012
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Cosell on the good and the not-so-good from Alex Smith’s performance vs. Cardinals

Here is what Greg Cosell said on the Murph and Mac Show Thursday morning about Alex Smith’s game against the Arizona Cardinals last week. COSELL: “I think he was highly efficient. I think that the majority of his yards came from run-after-catch. That’s not something you can count on for your explosive pass plays on a week-to-week basis. “The interesting thing about this offense – and it will be very…

November 3, 2012
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