Training camp report: The return of Jenkins, Bowman, Aldon Smith and more

SANTA CLARA – Here’s what stood out to me at Sunday morning’s padded practice. THE GOOD 1. Aldon Smith – He practiced for the first time in a few days. Joe Staley didn’t practice, so Aldon Smith dominated. He got three sacks, and was in the backfield so often he started slowing down when he got to the quarterback so the offense could finish practicing their play. 2. NaVorro Bowman…

August 4, 2013
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Training camp report: Culliver injures left knee, Vernon Davis catches a TD playing WR

SANTA CLARA – Here’s what stood out to me at Thursday’s padded practice. THE GOOD 1. Vernon Davis – He lined up everywhere – tight end, in the backfield and out wide. In a red-zone drill, Davis lined up at split end across from Tarell Brown. Davis beat Brown on an inside move and caught a touchdown pass from Colt McCoy. 2. Nnamdi Asomugha – He was the second-team right…

August 1, 2013
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Training camp report: Kaepernick can’t miss, Jenkins leaves practice early with apparent leg injury

SANTA CLARA – Here’s what stood out to me at Tuesday morning’s padded practice. THE GOOD 1. Colin Kaepernick – All of his passes have been on the money this training camp, especially the deep ones. This morning, Kaepernick was on fire in 11-on-11 drills against the first-team defense. First, he hit Anquan Boldin on a post route for a 20-yard gain. Next, Kaepernick threaded the needle between two defenders…

July 30, 2013
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Aldon Smith: “I don’t think any team wanted to let me set the record on them.”

SANTA CLARA – Aldon Smith spoke with Bay Area reporters Sunday morning. Here’s what he said. Q: Once the pads go on, what is the goal for you to work on during this part of the offseason? ALDON SMITH: Just improving where I left off last season. Doing things better. Improving on things I’ve been working on in the offseason. Everyday I’m on the field, getting a step better. Q:…

July 28, 2013
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Fangio on Justin Smith: “He looks fine.”

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…

July 26, 2013
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Justin Smith on the read option: “I think we’re going to be ready to stop it.”

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…

July 25, 2013
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Fangio on Carradine, Reid, Asomugha, Rogers and more

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…

June 12, 2013
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Aldon Smith doesn’t know when he’ll be able to practice fully

SANTA CLARA – Aldon Smith spoke to Bay Area reporters Tuesday afternoon. Here’s what he said. Q: How’s your shoulder? ALDON SMITH: Good. Q: Are you able to be on the field right now? ALDON SMITH: A little bit. Working out. Taking it one day at a time. Q: Do you expect not to get into full practice-mode until training camp? ALDON SMITH: I don’t know. Like I said, I’m…

May 21, 2013
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49ers rookie mini-camp: Day 2 – B.J. Daniels plays like Russell Wilson

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….

May 11, 2013
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Projecting the 49ers’ DL depth chart in 2013 and 2014

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…

April 30, 2013
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Corey Lemonier says he’s a “really different” player than Aldon Smith: “I bring a different kind of talent to the field.”

SANTA CLARA — This is the transcript of Corey Lemonier’s teleconference, courtesy of the 49ers.   Did you have any, I guess, contact with the 49ers before the draft? “No, not any.”   You didn’t meet with them at the combine or just nothing? “No, nothing like that.”   So you don’t have any idea how they envision you in the defense? “Not really. I haven’t talked to them or…

April 26, 2013
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Trent Baalke’s pre-draft press conference transcript

Trent Baalke held a press conference in the 49ers’ defensive meeting room Wednesday morning. Here’s a transcript. Q: Where are you guys in the process of putting together your board? BAALKE: We’re probably 50 percent there. Q: That’s all? BAALKE: It’s pretty much set. We’ve got some touch-up stuff we’ve got to do, cleaning some guys up. For the most part it’s set. Q: Last year at the this time…

April 17, 2013
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3-4 or 4-3 Under?

What’s the correct name for the 49ers’ base defense: 3-4 or 4-3 Under? If you’ve never heard of the 4-3 Under, click here to read a detailed explanation of it. The article says George Seifert used the 4-3 Under when he was the defensive coordinator for the 49ers. His defense looked like a 3-4 because the weakside defensive end rushed from a standing position, a two-point stance. Here’s a description…

April 6, 2013
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49ers vs. Seahawks: Which team is better right now?

Many of my readers have been comparing and contrasting the 49ers and Seahawks this week, so I thought it would be interesting to break down the two clubs by offensive, defensive and special teams units. In other words, at this point in free agency which team has the better starting QB? Which team has the better backup QB? Which team has the better group of running backs? And so on….

March 19, 2013
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49ers working out John Abraham but they should not sign him

Accoridng to Adam Schefter, the 49ers are working out defensive end John Abraham at their Santa Clara practice facility today. Abraham, who will be 35 years old next season, probably has some gas left in the tank as a situational pass rusher, as in nickel and sub packages, but he does not have as much left as Fred Dean did in 1981 when Bill Walsh signed him to be a…

March 9, 2013
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What the 49ers really need

Matt Barrows wrote a blog this morning arguing why the 49ers’ biggest offseason issue is the pass rush, not the secondary. I love Matt’s work and I usually agree with his opinions, but I disagree this time. The 49ers need to address the secondary with greater urgency than the D-line. If Isaac Sopoaga and Ricky Jean Francois leave in free agency, then the 49ers need to address the D-line after…

March 6, 2013
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Top 5 storylines of the 49ers’ offseason

Last week I listed the five biggest questions the 49ers must answer this offseason. This morning I’m sitting on my bed thinking about the five biggest storylines of the 49ers’ offseason. Here’s what I came up with. Trent Baalke. He’s been inconsistent. In 2011, he arguably had the best offseason in the NFL, drafting Aldon Smith and Colin Kaepernick and Bruce Miller and signing Carlos Rogers and Jonathan Goodwin and…

February 18, 2013
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Grant’s 49ers mock draft: 1.0

This is my first attempt to predict whom the 49ers will draft in a couple of months. I’ll make more attempts as I learn more about the prospects. This time, I’ll mock just the first four picks. 1st round, pick No.31 – UCLA DE Datone Jones, 6-4, 280 lbs., 4.82 40-yard dash. Jones has experience playing defensive end and defensive tackle. He had 6.5 sacks and 19 tackles for losses…

February 14, 2013
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49ers Super Bowl XLVII grades: Defense and special teams

The 49ers lost the Super Bowl 34-31 on Sunday. Here are the grades for the defense and special teams. Defensive line: C. Ray McDonald got pressure and recorded a sack, but the other defensive linemen were invisible. It was hard to tell Justin Smith was even on the field most of the time. He had almost no impact on the game, finishing with just three tackles. Linebackers: C. Credit the…

February 4, 2013
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How the 49ers built a championship roster

This is my Saturday article on the gradual construction of the 49ers’ roster. By GRANT COHN After the 2004 season, the 49ers were the worst team in football. They had practically no talent, they had won two games, and they had one Pro Bowler, long snapper, Brian Jennings. This season, the 49ers are going to the Super Bowl and they have arguably the most talented roster in the NFL. Nine…

February 2, 2013
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