Eric Mangini: “If you are lethargic, what do you have to do snap yourself out of that?”

This is the transcript of Eric Mangini’s Friday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department.   What’s LB Ahmad Brooks’ status and is there a possibility that he could play in this game? “Yeah. He got some work today and he’s been involved obviously in all the meetings and that part has been good. He did get a little on the field work today, so we’ll have to see…

November 27, 2015
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Eric Mangini on the 49ers defense: “It’s a group of guys that are, for the most part, new to each other.”

This is the transcript of Eric Mangini’s Thursday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department. Opening comments: “Good morning everybody. We are deep into Arizona, another challenging opponent coming up here, leading the league in scoring at this point and good group of skill players, good backs, good quarterback. The line has done a really nice job protecting the quarterback, so it’ll be a good challenge for us.”  …

September 24, 2015
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Jim Tomsula: “I’m tickled to death and happier than heck that Colin Kaepernick’s our starting quarterback.”

SANTA CLARA — This is the transcript of Jim Tomsula’s Wednesday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department. Opening comments: “We’ll get you the full practice report afterwards. But, with the injuries here, with [RB] Reggie [Bush], we’re still working through it. I don’t know. I mean, he was out there yesterday working. Reggie feels really good and he’s smiling and he’s going. But, we’re going to have trainers…

September 23, 2015
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Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians says Colin Kaepernick “has improved as a pocket passer.”

Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians spoke on a conference call with Bay Area reporters Wednesday morning. Here are selected quotes. Q: When you look at the 49ers, do you see many differences from the 49ers’ team you faced in the past? ARIANS: No, it’s still a very, very talented roster. They’re probably the only team that had so much talent, they could lose four or five guys and still…

September 23, 2015
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49ers pass defense by the numbers

The 49ers run defense has been outstanding the past three games, allowing just 61 rushing yards per game — second-best in the league behind the Seahawks over that span. The 49ers pass defense hasn’t been outstanding the past three games. 49ers defensive stats and NFL ranks over the past three games: Opponents’ passer rating: 87.1 (20th-best in the NFL) Opponents’ completion percentage: 63.36 (22nd) Opponents’ yards per pass attempt: 6.7…

December 30, 2013
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Kaepernick’s foot faults

Here is my Saturday column on Colin Kaepernick. Watch Colin Kaepernick’s feet this Sunday. The 49ers play the Cardinals in Arizona and the game means very little to the Niners. Win or lose, the 49ers will make the playoffs. They’ll be a wild-card team if the Seahawks beat the Rams, and the Seahawks probably will beat the Rams. And the 49ers probably will beat the Cardinals. You already know the…

December 28, 2013
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Every great one meets a Ken Norton, and 49ers will have theirs

Here is my Friday column on how the 49ers are like Muhammad Ali. Of the 49ers’ remaining opponents, which ones have a defense that can cause problems for a 49ers’ offense with a spotty passing game? That is the key question. If a team can’t stop Frank Gore and Anquan Boldin, that team can’t beat the 49ers. But if a team has a good run defense and at least one…

October 18, 2013
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49ers 32, Cardinals 20: Grades

SAN FRANCISCO – Here are the grades for the 49ers’ 32-20 win over the Cardinals. KAEPERNICK: C-. He was 8-for-11 passing to Vernon Davis and 8-for-18 passing to everyone else. The Cardinals absolutely could not cover Davis and Kaepernick took advantage. Kaepernick also threw an interception in the red zone, fumbled the ball in the pocket and fumbled a snap which he recovered. He was 1-for-8 on third down until…

October 13, 2013
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Harbaugh on Bethel-Thompson: “Very good arm strength, really smart.”

SANTA CLARA — Jim Harbaugh spoke in the media tent Friday afternoon. Here is a transcript courtesy of the 49ers.   You have a new quarterback. Why bring in QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson? “Really, always liked him. Always had a plan for him to be here. He just went to Minnesota after the first year. So, now we’re reconnected. It aligned and we had a chance to get him and put…

October 11, 2013
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Fangio on the Cardinals: “They’ve got a very talented offense in the skill positions.”

SANTA CLARA — Vic Fangio spoke in the media tent Thursday afternoon. Here’s a transcript courtesy of the 49ers.   How do you feel just about the way the defense has rallied these last few weeks with a couple very significant guys out of the lineup? “Well, the guys that have come in and replaced those guys have played well enough for us to keep playing the way we like…

October 10, 2013
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Harbaugh calls Palmer “an excellent top-not QB who is smart, savvy, extremely good from the pocket.”

SANTA CLARA — Jim Harbaugh spoke in the media tent Wednesday afternoon. Here is a transcript courtesy of the 49ers.   Coach, you want to comment, we just reported that three felony charges have been filed against LB Aldon Smith in connection with weapons and his party in 2012? Will you comment? “Well, the organization has a statement. My comment would be, we’ve been aware of the incident that you’re…

October 9, 2013
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Arians on the Cardinals: “One thing we’ve done so far is play the run pretty solidly and eliminate long balls.”

Arizona Cardinals’ head coach Bruce Arians spoke on a conference call with Bay Area reporters Wednesday morning. Here is a transcript. Q: Do you feel like your team is getting better each week as we go along here? ARIANS: We are starting to improve each week. Offensively it’s taken a little more time than we had hoped, but special teams and defense so far have been playing pretty solid. Q:…

October 9, 2013
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Kaepernick vs. the QBs on the 49ers’ 2013 schedule

49ers fans and Bay Area residents are hyper-aware of Colin Kaepernick’s excellent 2012 season. He took Alex Smith’s starting job Week 10, started the final-seven games of the regular season and was one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL over that stretch. I thought it would be interesting to compare Kaepernick’s final-seven regular season games to the final-seven regular season games of each of the quarterbacks the 49ers will…

May 20, 2013
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Can the Cardinals compete in the NFC West next season?

The Raiders are close to trading Carson Palmer to the Cardinals, reports NFL.com. The Cardinals most likely will draft the best offensive tackle available with the seventh pick in the draft. They signed running back Rashard Mendenhall and cornerback Antoine Cason in free agency. They still have Larry Fitzgerald, one of the best wide receivers in the league, one of the best ever. And they have a new head coach…

April 1, 2013
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Greg Cosell breaks down the Niners matchup with the Giants

Murph and Mac interviewed NFL Films analyst Greg Cosell this morning on KNBR. They talked about Tim Tebow, Carson Palmer and Philip Rivers first, and then they talked Niners matchup with the Giants after. I’m giving you the Niners stuff first, but I’m including the rest of the interview below. Enjoy. Q: The 6-2 New York Giants against the 7-1 San Francisco 49ers. Eli Manning and Alex Smith are ranked…

November 10, 2011
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Cosell: “The 49ers are not an explosive offense.”

Here’s the transcript of today’s Murph and Mac Q&A with NFL Films analyst Greg Cosell. Q: What do you think of long snapper Brian Jennings? COSELL: I don’t want anybody to think, “Oh my God,” but I don’t watch special teams at all. I just don’t have time. I don’t watch them at all, so don’t ask me any special teams questions. Q: What does the Cleveland Browns offense bring…

October 27, 2011
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Greg Cosell on Alex Smith and Carson Palmer

Here’s the transcript of Murph and Mac’s Q&A with NFL Film’s analyst Greg Cosell from this morning on KNBR. Murph and Mac asked Cosell about Carson Palmer first and then the 49ers second. I’m giving you the whole interview, but I’m putting the Niners stuff at the top. Q: Jim Harbaugh and Vic Fangio called the 49ers defensive performance in Detroit last week the best one they’ve ever coached. Did…

October 20, 2011
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Draft analyst: Light’s coming on for Jake Locker

Locker completed 38 of 40 passes at his pro day and Rang says he’s seen him look better on just one occasion. That would be Locker’s performance in the final game of his junior season when he completed 19 of 23 passes for 248 yards and three touchdowns in a 42-10 romp over Cal (he also rushed for 77 yards and two TDs on 14 carries).

March 31, 2011
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The links: Palmer, Kolb rumors gain momentum

Sports Illustrated’s Peter King believes San Francisco, Arizona and Minnesota would be the most logical landing spots for Carson Palmer, assuming Cincinnati deals him. Palmer grew up in Southern California and his wife, Shaelynn, was raised in San Francisco.

March 21, 2011
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