SANTA CLARA — I just saw Michael Crabtree working vigorously on an exercise bike. He was bootless. Earlier in the day, Crabtree was seen smiling, and he told reporters he feels encouraged. Matt Maiocco reports Crabtree should be cleared to practice in two weeks, and although he won’t play in any of the preseason games for a third straight year, he should be ready to play in game 1 of…
Ted Ginn Jr. and Kyle Williams on the Jugs machine
SANTA CLARA — Ted Ginn Jr. and Kyle Williams started practice by fielding punts one-handed from a Jugs machine. This was running backs coach Tom Rathman’s idea. He stood next to the punt returners and made the exercise a competition. Ginn really struggled. On his first rep, he dropped the ball completely. Williams, on the other hand, made it look easy. He tracked the ball like an outfielder, lining up…
Kyle Williams Q&A
SANTA CLARA – The 49ers p.r. staff brought out Kyle Williams and Ted Ginn Jr. to talk to the media at the same time this afternoon. Both speedy slot receivers were wearing Chicago White Sox hats, Ginn wearing a red one, and Williams wearing the classic black. I had to make a decision of who to talk to, and I chose the Williams. Forgive me if you wanted Ginn quotes….
Nate Lawrie on Culpepper’s workout
SANTA CLARA — Daunte Culpepper worked out at the 49ers facility this morning, and according to Matt Maiocco, Culpepper expects to sign a one-year contract with the Niners. Also according to Maiocco, Culpepper would not be competing for the first or second string quarterback jobs. He would just be the third stringer. I spoke with new 49ers tight end Nate Lowrie just now on Culpepper. Lawrie played with Culpepper on…
Daunte Culpepper’s resume
As you know, the 49ers will work out Daunte Culpepper this week. Our very own elGuapo posted some links of his highlights from 2010 when Culpepper played in the UFL for Sacramento Mountain Lions. Thank you, elGuapo. The videos make Culpepper look like the quarterback he used to be back in 2004, when he threw for 4,717 yards, 39 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. In the video Culpepper runs around nimbly…
The Bravest Man at 49ers Fan Fest
The Award for the Bravest Man of the Day goes to the guy who wore a black Tim Brown Raiders jersey to the 49ers Fan Fest. I was near him as he walked through the parking lot, and as he approached the gate he encountered a group of about ten 49er fans. They objected to his jersey. So, they let him know. They wouldn’t look at him, but they stared…
Beating the blitz
SAN FRANCISCO – Blitz-pickup was the theme of the day for the 49ers 13th practice of training camp. But Harbaugh didn’t spend his personal teaching time at the beginning of practice on the offensive line. Instead, he corralled Alex Smith, Colin Kaepernick, Braylon Edwards, Joshua Morgan, and Vernon Davis – the skill players. He had them practice quick-slant plays. This is a standard drill in this year’s training camp, and…
Alex Smith is No. 1, for now.
SAN FRANCISCO – Although Jim Harbaugh has said a couple of times that there is no depth chart on the 49ers, just a rep chart, the head coach confirmed today that Alex Smith is No. 1 and Colin Kaepernick is No. 2, “for now.” That being said, Harbaugh admitted he wants to “kick the tires” on Daunte Culpepper, and the 49ers will soon give him a workout. Here’s what the…
Daunte Culpepper to work out
According to ProFootballTalk, the 49ers will work out 34-year-old Daunte Culpepper to see if he can compete with Alex Smith and Colin Kaepernick. Clearly, Jim Harbaugh and Trent Baalke have decided Jeremiah Masoli and McLeod Bethel-Thompson are not NFL-ready backups. Should they have recognized this sooner and acted accordingly? There were better QBs available a few weeks ago. Trent Edwards comes to mind. Also, Harbaugh may feel Culpepper is the…
Fan Fest today starting at 11:30/QB Controversy??
Very spririted debated on my blog about quarterback controversy. I rarely go out on a limb but I did this time. A lot of you disagreed with me but I appreciate how polite you were. I’ll be heading out to Candlestick park in a couple hours because today is Fan Fest. If you’re there and you spot me say hello. Practice starts at 2:00 and I’ll give you live updates…
Harbaugh transcript
Some of my readers feel I’ve taken a leap to say there’s a quarterback controvery, and if so, I apologize. But please pay very close attention at the end, when a reporter, Eric Branch, asks if Harbaugh would still put his money on Alex Smith to be the starter when the regular season starts. Read closely Harbaugh’s response. Here’s the transcript. Q: What’s the current state of the quarterback situation?…
Quarterback controversy on 49ers
Jim Harbaugh just dropped a bombshell in his 15-minute conference call with Bay Area writers. He had every opportunity to say that Alex Smith is his starting quarterback, hands down. He never took that opportunity. Instead he created a controversy all on his own. Here are two startling quotes about his quarterbacks. I wrote them as fast and accurately as I could with the phone on my ear. “We’re evaluating…
Kaepernick: the good and the not-so-good
Colin Kaepernick played a whopping 35 snaps last night in New Orleans. Unless the 49ers sign another quarterback soon, they will use the preseason to get Kaepernick as many “game-reps” as possible. Here’s my impression of his first appearance in a 49ers uniform. THE GOOD The 17-yard pass to Lance Long. This was the throw of the night for the Niners. Kaepernick lined up in the shotgun, caught the ball…
Final Impressions
Here are my final impressions from the Niners 24-3 loss to the Saints. If the offensive line doesn’t drastically improve, the 49ers will not be a winning team this season. They gave Smith and Kaepernick barely any time to throw the football. Both starting tackles, Joe Staley and Anthony Davis, looked sup-par in pass protection. Alex Smith looks more game-ready than Colin Kaepernick. Even though Smith only completed two passes,…
Alex Smith in-game quotes
The 49ers just e-mailed me in-game quotes from Alex Smith, so I pass them along to you. On the team’s performance in the first quarter: “At this point, offensively, you know struggled, obviously didn’t get anything going early on. There was some miscommunication, missed balls on passes. It just wasn’t good. I didn’t feel that great about it. Obviously, it’s the first preseason game. A lot of us have only…
Halftime Quotes
Here are Frank Gore and Carlos Rogers on the first half of the game, courtesy of the 49ers. RB Frank Gore On how it felt to get back on the field after getting hurt last season: “I felt great. I was happy to be back out there with my teammates. Early on, before the game, I was nervous because I hadn’t played in a while, but it’s football. I told…
Live: 49ers vs. Saints
This is the live blog for preseason game No. 1. I’ll be updating this with comments as the game goes on and I invite you to do the same. 12:24 Left in the first quarter: It was good to see Ahmad brooks beat the right tackle and put pressure on Brees. He’s been doing just that in practice when he plays. It was bad to see Joe Staley get beaten….
Top 10 training camp performers
Before the 49ers play their first preseason game tonight, let’s look back at the first 12 practices of training camp and identify the top performers so far. Frank Gore. He’s worked as hard as anyone in training camp, and he’s clearly the best player on the team. Patrick Willis. When he practices he raises the level of intensity of any drill or scrimmage he’s in. Vernon Davis. He seems like…
Watch me on t.v.
I’m about to leave my parents house to go to KRON 4 in San Francisco. I’ll be talking 49ers with Gary Radnich around 6:45, so if you’re in the Bay Area flip to channel 4 and check us out.
Communication issues
Yes, there will be a football game going on in the Superdome Friday evening. But there will also be a shadow game happening at the same time. Preseason games are about getting the team in order, lining up in the correct spots, running the plays the correct way. But for Jim Harbaugh and his brand-new coaching staff, this first preseason game is also about communication. There’s going to be a…
