Here is the complete transcript of Greg Cosell’s interview from this morning’s Murph and Mac Show. Enjoy. Q: What does a Redskins team that was shut out Sunday in Toronto bring to the table? COSELL: Offensively? I would again answer not too much. And it starts with a revamped o-line that is struggling. And I know I tell you this every week, and every week I just validate it on film…
Here for your pleasure and enlightenment, and because it’s a Bye Week and nothing’s going on, I wrote a piece about what happens in quarterback meetings, focusing on 49ers quarterback meetings. The article follows. SANTA CLARA — What happens in an NFL quarterback meeting? And specifically, what happens in a 49ers quarterback meeting? You’ve probably wondered about all that. A quarterback meeting is something you never can attend, a place…
SAN FRANCISCO — Here’s what Colin Kaepernick had to say at his locker after the game, courtesy of the 49ers. Were there a lot of breakdowns on offense? “I think the biggest thing right now is, if you have ten people doing the right thing on one play, and you have one person doing the wrong thing on offense, that turns into a bad play and it turns into a…
SANTA CLARA – Jim Harbaugh did not invite reporters out to practice until 2:30 p.m., so I missed most of the players stretch, so I won’t be able to report on that for you today. Sorry about that. But I did get to see the quarterbacks warm up. When I got out to the field they were doing a three-step-drop drill and Harbaugh was watching closely. Alex Smith and Colin…
SANTA CLARA – Practice ended with Colin Kaepernick leading the first team offense against the first team defense in a 2-minute drill. Kaepernick was 4-6 on the drive, but Aldon Smith sacked him on the last play, and the offense put up zero points. Over the last 90 minutes of practice, Kaepernick took 22 reps with the first team while Alex Smith took 20. This was the first time in…
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…
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…
The Niners play the Saints in New Orleans tomorrow at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time. What are the top 5 things you’re looking for in the first preseason game? Here’s my list: Mistakes. The Niners have described themselves as “behind the eight ball” preparing for this season, because they needed to install brand-new systems on offense and defense, and the lockout hindered their ability to do that. Their opponent, the Saints,…
On Monday Coach Harbaugh alluded to a “pitch count” for Alex Smith in the first preseason game against the New Orleans Saints on Friday, and Matt Maiocco reports he should play most of the 1st quarter, with Colin Kaepernick playing the second and third quarters. That means you’ll get to watch the rookie take around 40 snaps. Whatever pitch count Smith is on doesn’t factor for Kaepernick, who has a…
It’s too early to take stock of the quarterbacks, so I’ll just give an observation. The three top QBs on the training camp roster – Alex Smith, Colin Kaepernick, and Jeremiah Masoli – are all most comfortable throwing the ball from the shotgun. Each guy played strictly in shotgun or shotgun-like offenses in college. Smith ran the spread, Kaepernick ran the pistol, and Masoli ran the option. When you think…
SANTA CLARA – After warm-ups and drills, the real practice started with a 9-on-9 goal line scrimmage. It was the first team offense against the first team defense, but backup Anthony Dixon lined up at tailback instead of Frank Gore. Alex Smith hiked the ball and handed it off to Dixon, who chose to bounce his run outside to the left. This was a bad move. Patrick Willis caught him…
SANTA CLARA – Practice was windy and cold in the Santa Clara dusk. Braylon Edwards lined up with the first and second-team offense today and looked good, considering he’d been on the team for about an hour. He caught a few short passes and hustled hard. Madieu Williams stood behind the defense with secondary coach Ed Donatell and took mental reps. Donatell seemed to be talking Williams through the plays….
SANTA CLARA – Matt Maiocco asked Vernon Davis after practice if there will be a quarterback competition in training camp this year. Here’s what Davis had to say. DAVIS: I can’t really jump into that because that’s not my deal. I leave that up to the coaches. I’ll let them decide that. I’m sure they strongly believe in Alex along with the rest of the teammates and myself, and we…
SANTA CLARA – When you watch Aldon Smith work individually with defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, you think, “Here’s a rookie with a lot to learn.” Today Fangio worked with Smith on the blocking sleds, and he’d repeatedly stop Smith to work on his technique. Fangio wanted Smith to hit the sled, rip away to the right and square up. But Smith wasn’t squaring up, he was ending up sideways. Parys…
SANTA CLARA – Colin Kaepernick spoke to a group of media members again today. He answered questions about his progress picking up the offense, and he answered them with the same winning smile he’s had all of training camp. It’s a smile that just won’t quit. Here are selected quotes from that interview. Enjoy. Q: What’s it been like transitioning from the pistol to this pro-style offense? KAEPERNICK: It’s more…
SANTA CLARA – Practice ended at 5:30 and then Jim Harbaugh and Frank Gore spoke to the media, but before I pass along those transcripts, here is the good and not-so-good from today’s training camp. THE GOOD Frank Gore. He was the best player on the field. Almost every time he took a hand off he made one cut to get through the defensive line and one more cut to…
SANTA CLARA – Frank Gore was suited up and active for the beginning practice today, making cuts and catching passes, but he wasn’t the center of attention. Why? Because general manager Trent Baalke was on the field. For the first fifteen minutes he stood ten feet away from the offensive line and stared at them work with his arms crossed. He looked like a coach. It seemed like he was…
Andrew Luck spoke about former coach Jim Harbaugh at today’s college football media day. Obviously he’s crazy about the guy. Here’s what he had to say. Luck compares David Shaw and Harbaugh: Anybody who knew or covered or came across coach Harbaugh knows he’s full of energy, a lot of attention on himself, not by him but he walked into the room and he sort of commanded the room, exuberant,…
SANTA CLARA – Practice is over for the day and I will post two interviews shortly, but first here are the good things and the not-so-good things I saw on the field. THE GOOD Colin Kaepernick. By my count he was 15-23 with one interception and one fumbled snap in 11-on-11 scrimmages. He connected with Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker repeatedly on crossing routes and deep outs. Kaepernick makes throwing…
SANTA CLARA – The third practice of training camp started nearly an hour ago. Now that I’ve seen three, I’d like to share some trends I’ve noticed. The big activity to begin practice is special teams, and Ted Ginn has returned most of the kickoffs so far. Coach Jim Tomsula works with the defensive line in the back-left corner of the property, not technically on a playing field, just beyond…
