Harbaugh: “We would have liked to have B.J. back. We don’t, so, rolled the dice there and now we don’t have him.”

SANTA CLARA – Jim Harbaugh spoke in the media tent Friday afternoon. Here’s a transcript. Q: What’s the outlook for Patrick Willis for Sunday’s game? HARBAUGH: We’ll see. He’s progressing good every day. We’ll see what the chances are tomorrow and the next day. Q: How did Michael Wilhoite look this week in practice? HARBAUGH: Good, good. He’s done a nice job in games and practice. Q: Is he at…

October 4, 2013
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The Skelton signing is a huge development for the 49ers and here’s why

Here is my Thursday column about the 49ers’ signing of John Skelton. SANTA CLARA – You think you know Jim Harbaugh, and then he goes and signs John Skelton as a backup quarterback. Signing Skelton is a defining move of the Harbaugh Era. Not because Skelton is good. He isn’t. He represents a dramatic shift in the 49ers’ offensive philosophy. Skelton does not fit into the offense the 49ers have…

October 3, 2013
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Harbaugh: “We wanted to have two veteran quarterbacks.”

SANTA CLARA – Jim Harbaugh spoke in the media tent Wednesday afternoon. Here’s what he said. Q: Would you address the move of releasing B.J. Daniels and bringing in John Skelton? What’s your reasoning for that move? HARBAUGH: Felt like we wanted to have two veteran quarterbacks, two guys who have started games, played in games, won games. Felt like that’s what we needed to do at this time. We’ll…

October 2, 2013
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49ers cut B.J. Daniels and Owen Marecic, sign John Skelton and Jermaine Cunningham

The 49ers just announced they’ve cut QB B.J. Daniels and FB Owen Marecic and signed LB Jermaine Cunningham. Are you surprised the 49ers cut Daniels? Do you think he will clear waivers and the 49ers will place him on their practice squad or will another team claim him. According to Adam Schefter, the 49ers will sign QB John Skelton. Skelton beat the 49ers when he was a Cardinal in 2011….

October 1, 2013
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Harbaugh: “We feel like we have a good plan.”

SANTA CLARA – Jim Harbaugh spoke in the media tent Friday afternoon. Here’s a transcript. Q: Are you satisfied with the week of practice? HARBAUGH: Yeah, I think it was a real good week, both teams ready to play. Excited to go up to Seattle and get this game going. Q: What did B.J. Daniels offer as the scout team quarterback this week? HARBAUGH: He did a real nice job….

September 13, 2013
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Is Harbaugh correct about the new read-option rules being “flawed and biased”? Carroll says, “No, not at all.”

SANTA CLARA – Pete Carroll spoke to Bay Area reporters on a conference call Wednesday afternoon. Here’s what he said. Q: What were your impressions of the 49ers’ Week 1? CARROLL: They couldn’t have been much more explosive in the throwing game. It was a fantastic day for the quarterback, a great breakout day for Anquan Boldin in the new uniform. Vernon Davis was no surprise, he did great. They…

September 11, 2013
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B.J. Daniels: “I’m just trying to pick up everything at a fast rate. You can’t redshirt.”

SANTA CLARA – B.J. Daniels spoke at his locker Tuesday afternoon. Here’s what he said. Q: So, are you Russell Wilson this week? DANIELS: (Laughs) I don’t know yet. I’m honestly not even sure yet. Q: Were you Aaron Rodgers last week? DANIELS: No, I was B.J. Daniels last week (more laughs). Q: Do you think that that is a logical assignment for you to do your best Russell Wilson…

September 10, 2013
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Aldon Smith says the 49ers’ upcoming game in Seattle is “just another game.”

SANTA CLARA – Aldon Smith spoke at his locker Tuesday afternoon. Here’s what he said. Q: What’s the advantage of playing you both on the right and left sides? ALDON SMITH: It gives me a chance to move around a little bit. Q: Does it give opponents to think about in a week, that you could be on either side? ALDON SMITH: Yeah, it gives them something to game plan…

September 10, 2013
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Harbaugh on final cuts: “A very exciting, good day.”

Here is a transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s post-cuts conference call, courtesy of the 49ers.   How was the process today or over the last couple of days, of getting down to this 53-man? How difficult was that? “Well, there’s a lot of worthy players. And the thing that’s profound to me was that so many guys improved, so many guys were ascending players, right up to the point of making…

August 31, 2013
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49ers 41, Chargers 6: Grades

Here are my grades for the 49ers in their 41-6 preseason win over the San Diego Chargers. QUARTERBACKS: B+. Colin Kaepernick completed three short passes and then left the game. Colt McCoy was decent, completing 8-of-15 passes for 56 yards and a touchdown.  His longest completion was a 12-yarder. B.J. Daniels played well, better than McCoy. Daniels completed 5-of-9 passes for 76 yards and a touchdown, and he ran 6…

August 29, 2013
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Harbaugh says McCoy is Kaepernick’s backup

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…

August 26, 2013
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49ers 34, Vikings 14: Grades

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…

August 25, 2013
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This won’t be a rehearsal, this is a game to shape the 49ers’ roster

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…

August 24, 2013
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49ers sign QB Seneca Wallace, cut WR Ricardo Lockette

The 49ers just announced they’ve signed 33-year-old quarterback Seneca Wallace, whom the Saints cut on Monday. To make room for Wallace, the 49ers cut Ricardo Lockette. The 49ers did not include a written statement from general manager Trent Baalke in their press release. Do you like this signing? Why or why not? It’s extremely late in the offseason to be signing a quarterback. What does this signing say about how…

August 22, 2013
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Harbaugh on A.J. Jenkins: “I don’t think it’s fair to bully or label a young player.”

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….

August 21, 2013
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Roman says Baldwin has a “great catch radius.”

SANTA CLARA — Greg Roman spoke in the media tent Tuesday morning. Here’s what he said, courtesy of the 49ers.   Opening comments: “Good morning. We’re working, guys are working hard. That’s what training camp’s all about. I think we’re very fortunate to have some really good leadership on offense. I think [WR] Anquan Boldin is a guy that’s done nothing but impressed since day one with how he approaches…

August 20, 2013
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Harbaugh on Kaepernick’s lack of playing time: “I didn’t want anything freakish to happen.”

SANTA CLARA – Jim Harbaugh spoke in the media tent Sunday morning. Here’s what he said. Q: What is the complexion of practices these final two weeks of the exhibition season? Will you still do some ones against ones, or will it be mostly scout team work? HARBAUGH: It will not change very much. It will still be one versus one, two versus two, one versus two, two versus one,…

August 18, 2013
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49ers 15, Chiefs 13: Grades

My grades for the 49ers’ 15-13 preseason victory over the Chiefs: QUARTERBACKS: D. Colin Kaepernick completed one of two passes for negative three yards. He overthrew the one pass he attempted downfield. Colt McCoy and Scott Tolzien were horrible. McCoy threw an interception and Tolzien averaged just 3.8 yards per pass attempt. If those two keep playing like that, the 49ers won’t be able to trade either one for a…

August 16, 2013
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Meaningless exhibition? Not when you know what to watch

Here is my preview of the 49ers-Chiefs preseason game. Five things to watch in the 49ers’ preseason game against the Chiefs Friday night: 1. Colin Kaepernick in the red zone. Kaepernick has something to prove here. As terrific as he’s played in his brief career, he needs to improve his passing in the red zone. Last season, his red zone passer rating was 83.9, nothing special. Compare that to Alex Smith…

August 15, 2013
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Training camp report: Another big practice for Collie, Gray

SANTA CLARA – Here’s what stood out to me during Thursday evening’s light, non-padded practice. THE GOOD 1. MarQueis Gray – He had a monster practice for the second day in a row. Today, he caught five passes for 80 yards and two touchdowns. He hasn’t dropped a pass all week. He may earn a spot on the 53-man roster. 2. Vernon Davis – He caught five passes for 70…

August 14, 2013
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