SAN FRANCISCO – Here’s what Jim Harbaugh said at the podium after Sunday night’s preseason game, courtesy of the 49ers. Was that about everything you wanted to see for the third exhibition game? “Yeah. Saw a lot of good football and pleased with the way our guys worked, practiced all week and then came out and played in the game. I thought there was a lot of good football…
SAN FRANCISCO – Here are my grades for the 49ers in their 34-14 preseason win over the Minnesota Vikings. QUARTERBACKS: B. Colin Kaepernick played 17 snaps and played well, although he failed in his first appearance in the red zone, getting his pass tipped away on third-and-11 from the 12 yard line. But Kaepernick succeeded in his second red zone appearance. On third-and-goal from the five, Kaepernick rolled right, spotted…
Here is my Saturday column previewing the 49ers’ Sunday preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings. If you expect the 49ers to treat Sunday’s preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings like a dress rehearsal for the regular season, you may be disappointed. Most NFL teams treat the third exhibition game like a dress rehearsal. The 49ers did that last season – Alex Smith played the entire first half. But, I’ll be…
SANTA CLARA – Jim Harbaugh spoke in the media tent Wednesday afternoon. Here’s what he said. Q: Jon Baldwin practiced yesterday. What was your initial reaction to him and how he’s fitting in? HARBAUGH: Just one day, but good so far. Q: Can you tell what skills he has and how he could potentially fit into your offense? HARBAUGH: I think most people can. He’s somebody with great athletic ability….
Here is my Friday column about what we learned in the 49ers’ first preseason game. It’s almost impossible to evaluate the 49ers’ starters after their first preseason game. We don’t know how much the 49ers game planned for the Broncos – probably not very much. And the starters played just one series. Frank Gore and Justin Smith did not play at all. That should change next week. Gore should get…
SANTA CLARA – Greg Roman spoke in the media tent Monday morning. Here’s what he said, courtesy of the 49ers. Opening comments: “Good morning. First game week of the season. Very exciting, it’s a chance to get with our young players and start to prepare for a game. As we all well know, there are 16 regular season games and every week is really a season onto itself. The…
Here is my Monday column on Jim Harbaugh. SANTA CLARA – Here’s how you play The Jim Harbaugh Game: Listen to his next interview. Write down the exact time he sets himself up for future contradiction. Then, predict how long it will take for the contradiction to occur – a year, a month, a day, an hour, a minute, etc. Harbaugh most recently set himself up on June 11. One…
SANTA CLARA – Here’s what stood out to me at Saturday’s padded practice. THE GOOD 1. Ahmad Brooks – The 49ers practiced situational football near the end of the afternoon. Jim Harbaugh placed the ball on the offense’s goal line and gave them three downs to make a first down. On third and seven, Brooks beat Anthony Davis around the edge and sacked Kaepernick. 2. Ian Williams – He was…
SANTA CLARA – With 20 minutes remaining in practice, Jim Harbaugh set up a fourth down drill: Fourth and five from the opponent’s 20-yard line, the edge of the red zone. The offense had one chance to make a first down or a touchdown. The first-team offense faced the first-team defense and right away, Ahmad Brooks jumped offside like he did in the Super Bowl. The 49ers replayed the down…
SANTA CLARA – Vic Fangio spoke to Bay Area reporters Friday morning. Here’s what he said. Q: How does it feel to start training camp and have everyone back? FANGIO: It’s good. All offseason we didn’t have Ahmad, Justin and Aldon out there. It was limited what Ray did, so it’s nice to have them all back out there playing real football, although we don’t have the pads on. We…
SANTA CLARA – Justin Smith spoke to Bay Area reporters Thursday afternoon. Here’s what he said. Q: Given the defense’s struggles when you got hurt last year, what did you learn about how important your role is and what you mean to this defense? JUSTIN SMITH: I think we want to look to 2013. Q: What are you focusing on this year? JUSTIN SMITH: I think there are some things…
SANTA CLARA – Donte Whitner spoke with Bay Area reporters Tuesday afternoon. Here’s what he said. Q: Have you had conversations on an extension? WHITNER: Anybody who ever says it’s not a concern, they’re probably lying. It’s always a concern, especially when you’re in the business that’s so physical and you never know what’s going to happen on the football field. I’m not in a position to make anybody do…
SANTA CLARA – Trent Baalke spoke with Bay Area reporters Tuesday afternoon. Here’s what he said. Q: Did you guys know that Eric Wright had been arrested for a DUI in Los Angeles before you traded for him? BAALKE: Absolutely, we did. Like I’ve said many times, there’s a process to the acquisition of players. There are steps you’ve got to go throw. So, as far as being aware of…
SANTA CLARA – Jim Harbaugh spoke to Bay Area reporters Monday afternoon. Here’s what he said. Q: What happened with Eric Wright? HARBAUGH: He did not pass his physical. Q: Why didn’t he? HARBAUGH: We don’t ever talk about that. He’s not on the team. Q: Were you aware of his DUI before you made the trade for him? HARBAUGH: The better guy to talk to is Trent. He’s got…
The Sacramento Bee just reported the Santa Clara District Attorney has decided not to file charges against Ahmad Brooks for assaulting Lamar Divens. The Sacramento Bee reports the D.A. said they did not have enough evidence to convict Brooks. “We cannot prosecute this case because we cannot prove the crime beyond a reasonable doubt to 12 jurors,” said D.A. Jeff Rosen in a press release. Do you think the 49ers or…
Here is my Wednesday column on Ahmad Brooks. Dear Jed York, We understand the population of NFL players is no different from the general population. There are people who do bad things. One of your players did a bad thing around 2 a.m June 8. Two of your rookies, Lawrence Okoye and Michael Purcell, according to the Sacramento Bee, saw Ahmad Brooks hit your practice squad player, Lamar Divens, with…
The San Jose Mercury News just reported the Santa Clara County District Attorney could charge Ahmad Brooks with felony assault, although the charge could be reduced to a misdemeanor or dropped entirely. According to the Mercury News’ report, Brooks and Lamar Divens and a few other unspecified 49ers were out drinking in San Jose the night of June 7. Divens drove Brooks home around 2 a.m., and when he dropped…
SANTA CLARA — Here’s what Vic Fangio said Wednesday afternoon, courtesy of the 49ers. So, offensive coordinator Greg Roman had said yesterday, obviously he’d been through two offensive installs already and it was more for him about execution. What is it about for you during this mini-camp with the defense? “Well, the mini-camp is just a continuation of the OTAs where we’re installing our defense. Teaching the assignments, the…
SANTA CLARA – Before I get into the good and not-so-good of the second day of the 49ers’ rookie mini-camp, I want to share that I noticed three players playing two positions today – Eric Reid played free safety and strong safety, Al Netter played right guard and center and Andre Davis, Anthony Davis’ older brother, played right tackle and tight end. All three players seemed comfortable playing two positions….
What will the 49ers’ DL depth chart look like in 2013 and 2014? Here’s my best guess, and I’m interested to read yours as well. 2013 BASE ROLB, or “Leo” or standing rusher – Aldon Smith (although Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio could choose to play Parys Haralson here to keep Aldon Smith fresh for the sub packages, like 2011). RDE or Under tackle – Justin Smith, Glenn Dorsey NT or…
