Tarell Brown on covering Calvin Johnson: “If you jump off the ground quicker than he gets up, you’ll be OK.”

SANTA CLARA – Tarell Brown spoke in the media tent on Wednesday. He discussed how to cover Calvin Johnson and what “the look” from Aaron Rodgers means. Here’s a transcript. Q: How do you prepare for Calvin Johnson? BROWN: He’s a great player and he does a lot of great things for their team. I think the biggest thing for us is just to go out there and play our…

September 12, 2012
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Bowman describes Takeaway Thursdays, and more

SANTA CLARA – NaVorro Bowman spoke in the media tent Wednesday afternoon. He discussed his fourth quarter interception against the Packers, and he described what Takeaway Thursdays are. Here’s a transcript. Q: What was the key to your interception? BOWMAN: It was just me being a football player. I think all of those things came into effect and I was able to do what I did in the scheme of…

September 12, 2012
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Alex Smith on the Lions: “The D line is definitely a strength of theirs. I mean, just look at them.”

SANTA CLARA – Alex Smith spoke in front of his locker Wednesday afternoon. He talked about turnovers, Randy Moss and the upcoming opponent – the Detroit. Lions. Here’s a transcript. Q: You’ve gone 185 pass attempts without an interception? Who do you give the most credit to that? ALEX SMITH: Throwing the football – the quarterback gets the attention, but it’s very much a team thing. A lot to do…

September 12, 2012
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Letter to Jim Schwartz, not pertaining to The Handshake

Dear Jim Schwartz, You want to call a running play against the 49ers, but it doesn’t exist. Il n’existe pas. Justin Smith will stop it while thinking of other things. Take your running plays and throw them away. They’ll only help you lose on Sunday. You have to pass against the 49ers. Remember how Bill Walsh used to set up the run with the pass? You have to set up…

September 11, 2012
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The view from the press box

When you watch football on television, you only see what’s happening at the line of scrimmage. That’s just half the story. When I watch a game from a press box, I get to watch the other half. I want to tell you about the other half. I watch how the wide receivers run their patterns and how the defensive backs try to cover them. Seeing all that, I try to…

September 11, 2012
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Harbaugh on The Handshake: “There’s nothing I can possibly add.”

I was in an airplane somewhere above Nebraska or Colorado when Jim Harbaugh spoke to the media in Santa Clara Monday afternoon. He reiterated all the good things his players did against the Packers on Sunday, and he spoke about the upcoming opponent – the Detroit Lions – and the “mini-controversy” surrounding last year’s slap handshake with Lions’ head coach Jim Schwartz. Here’s a complete transcript, courtesy of the 49ers….

September 10, 2012
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The curious case of the 49ers and third down

One curious stat from yesterday’s dominating win over the Green Bay Packers: The 49ers offense converted just 2 of 9 third downs – 22 percent. That’s worse than their average last season – 28 percent. Granted, the two third downs they converted were impressive. One was a 20-yard completion to Michael Crabtree on third and 8, and the other was a touchdown to Vernon Davis on third and goal from…

September 10, 2012
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Week 1 grades: The 49ers upset the Packers 30-22

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Here are my grades for the 49ers, who upset the Packers 30-22 at Lambeau Field in the season opener. QUARTERBACKS: A. Alex Smith may have played the best game of his life, even better than his comeback win against the Saints in the playoffs. Granted, the Packers secondary was horrendous, but Smith threw 2 TDs and no picks. He averaged a stellar 8.1 yards per attempt….

September 9, 2012
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Chris Culliver, and The Look from Aaron Rodgers

GREEN BAY, Wis. – It was fourth and ten with 54 seconds left, and the Packers had to convert the first down or they’d lose. Aaron Rodgers saw Jordy Nelson single-covered by Chris Culliver. Rodgers stared at Chris Culliver. Culliver stared back. Rodgers lifted one eye-brow, as if to say “I hope you’re ready,” and then he called hike and chucked it deep to Nelson, going for it all, not…

September 9, 2012
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Live blog: 49ers @ Packers

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Welcome to the live blog for the 49ers’ 2012 season opener against the Green Bay Packers. I’ll be updating this frequently with analysis and impressions. My dad and I entered the breakfast area of our hotel in Appleton. Wisc. a little after 10:15 a.m., Central Time. The place was packed with out-of-towners wearing full Packers get-ups, one man sporting a yellow and green wig as he…

September 9, 2012
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Prediction: Packers defeat 49ers

The Packers will beat the 49ers Sunday, 34-23. The Packers are going to double-team both Justin and Aldon Smith. The left guard and center – T.J. Lang and Jeff Saturday – will take Justin Smith, and the left tackle and running back – Marshall Newhouse and Cedric Benson – will take Aldon Smith. Aaron Rodgers will have enough time to find open receivers and exploit the 49ers secondary, which is…

September 8, 2012
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Packers-49ers matchups: Part V

The 49ers play the Green Bay Packers in three days. In the meantime, I’ll break down a few key matchups a day. CB Tarell Brown: 5-foot-10, 193 pounds, 27 years old, 4.42 40-yard dash vs. WR Jordy Nelson: 6-3, 217 pounds, 27 years old, 4.45 40-yard dash The Packers love to match up Nelson against the smallest cornerback in the secondary. The 49ers’ smallest corner is Tarell Brown. Nelson is…

September 6, 2012
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Roman philosophizes about the read option, and more

SANTA CLARA – Here’s the transcript of Greg Roman’s Thursday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. Opening Statement: “Good afternoon. We had a really good training camp. Thought our guys were dialed in every day. I think we got accomplished what we wanted accomplished in camp and we’re able to turn the page here this week, get into the regular season. So, obviously we’re knee deep in Green Bay. Looking…

September 6, 2012
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Fangio on Rodgers: “He’s Brees with great scrambling ability and a stronger arm.”

SANTA CLARA – Here’s the full transcript of Vic Fangio’s Thursday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. Fangio praised Aaron Rodgers and Marshall Newhouse, and confirmed that Perrish Cox is the No.4 cornerback. As a defensive coordinator, when you know you have more than four months to prepare for one team, the next team on the schedule, how do you approach it? “Well, me personally, we get right into it…

September 6, 2012
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Whitner: “I think this will be the first year Randy Moss sees one-on-one coverage.”

SANTA CLARA – Donte Whitner spoke in the media tent Thursday afternoon. He broke down what makes Aaron Rodgers so good and why he doesn’t throw many interceptions. Whitner also predicted Randy Moss would face one-on-one coverage this Sunday. Here’s a transcript. Q: Of all the aspects of the pass game that Aaron Rodgers and the Packers are good at, what jumps out to you? WHITNER: He’s a very confident…

September 6, 2012
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Packers-49ers matchups: Part IV

The 49ers play the Green Bay Packers in three days. In the meantime, I’ll break down a few key matchups a day. LOLB Ahmad Brooks: 6-3, 259 pounds, 28 years old, 33 ½-inch arms vs. RT Bryan Bulaga: 6-5, 315 pounds, 23 years old, 33 ¼-inch arms. Brooks has been a consistent pass rusher the last three seasons – averaging 6 sacks a season over that stretch. Bryan Bulaga gave…

September 6, 2012
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Packers-49ers matchups: Part III

The 49ers play the Green Bay Packers in three days. In the meantime, I’ll break down a few key matchups a day. ROLB Aldon Smith: 6-4, 258 pounds, 22 years old, 35 3/8-inch arms. vs. LT Marshall Newhouse: 6-4, 319 pounds, 23 years old, 34-inch arms. This is the key one-on-one matchup and if Aldon Smith dominates it, the 49ers should win. Marshall Newhouse got manhandled last season by defensive…

September 6, 2012
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Carlos Rogers on Moss, Crabtree and Greg Jennings

SANTA CLARA – Carlos Rogers spoke in the media tent Wednesday afternoon. He said Randy Moss looks much faster than he did in training camp, and Rogers explained what makes Packers’ wide receiver Greg Jennings tough to cover. Here’s a transcript. Q: Were you just as curious as everybody else to see what Randy Moss had left when he showed up in April? ROGERS: Yeah, I was, but once I…

September 5, 2012
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Alex Smith on the Packers defense: “They do a lot to try to confuse the quarterback.”

SANTA CLARA – Here’s the transcript of Alex Smith’s Wednesday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. What are your emotions for the regular season opener? “Just to prepare myself this week. It’s the opener, everybody has a lot of emotions. Pretty jacked up, getting ready for this. But for me, just to not get ahead of yourself. Just kind of focus on the next meeting, next practice, day-to-day and putting…

September 5, 2012
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Harbaugh on Rodgers: “He’d be something to watch if you didn’t have to play against him.”

SANTA CLARA – Here’s the transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s Wednesday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. You’re looking alive. Did you have enough sleep last night? Everything good? “Yes, everything’s scary good. Word’s out. Jack Jr. reported for duty yesterday at 1:27 p.m. He was 8 pounds, 8 ounces. Came 10 days early, which is to be expected. The good ones like to come in early. And also I think…

September 5, 2012
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