Harbaugh on Kaepernick: “He’s universally respected in the locker room and loved by his teammates.”

SANTA CLARA — Jim Harbaugh spoke to Bay Area reporters in the media tent Thursday afternoon. Here’s what he said.   One of the themes for the team that loses the Super Bowl is how historically they have a difficult time coming back, whether it’s mental or what. Is that an issue that concerns you at all with this team? “Whether what context you put it in, firm believer that…

July 25, 2013
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Whitner on Brooks, Kaepernick and contract extensions

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…

July 24, 2013
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Eric Reid: “Every day we’re installing new plays, so sometimes it’s hard to remember.”

SANTA CLARA – Eric Reid spoke to Bay Area reporters Tuesday after practice. Here’s what he said. Q: How complex is the 49ers’ defense? REID: It’s more complex than college, but it’s something I think I can handle. It’s a challenge, but it’s something I like to challenge myself with. I’ve got to study my plays every night. Every day is a new day and I’ve got to come out…

June 5, 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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Should the 49ers sign Charles Woodson?

The Green Bay Packers just released eight-time Pro Bowler Charles Woodson. Should the 49ers sign him? Woodson will be 37 years old next season. He missed nine games last season with a broken collarbone, but he had made the Pro Bowl four-straight seasons prior to 2012. He says he wants to play for a contender. Could the 49ers use him? Woodson plays strong safety and covers the tight end in…

February 15, 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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Top 5 questions 49ers must answer this offseason

What are the top-five questions the 49ers must answer this offseason? I’ll give you my list, and I’d be interested to read yours as well. Can the 49ers’ defense improve? Once Justin Smith got hurt in the third quarter of the Week 15 game against the Patriots, the 49ers’ defense imploded. They went from elite to awful, giving up 34.4 points per game in five of their last six games…

February 11, 2013
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How the 49ers should use their draft picks

The 49ers have four picks in the first three rounds of the upcoming draft: The 31st, the 61st, the 74th and the 93rd pick. How would you like the 49ers to use those picks? Should they package them or some of them in a trade for an elite player, like Jets’ cornerback Darrelle Revis? Or should they package the picks to trade up in the draft? Or should they stand…

February 6, 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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Grant picks Ravens

I’ve watched the 49ers up close since training camp 2011. I know how dominant they can be. When they’re at their best, they can blow out any team in the NFL. But I don’t think they’re at their best right now, and I think they’re going to lose to the Ravens 20-17. Yes, the 49ers’ offense is hot. Colin Kaepernick is averaging 9.4 yards per passing attempt over the last…

February 1, 2013
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Warren Sapp says the 49ers and Ravens defenses are opposites, Ngata is unimpressive and Iupati is top-heavy

Warren Sapp spoke on KNBR Thursday afternoon. Here is his breakdown of the 49ers and Ravens defenses, as well as his scouting report of the 49ers’ offensive line and the Ravens’ defensive line. Q: What do you think of the Ravens’ defense? SAPP: We love the Baltimore defense because of Ed Reed, Ray Lewis, Haloti Ngata, T-Sizzle – the names roll off the tongue. And everything they’ve gone through this…

January 31, 2013
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‘Thank God for Ginn’

I learned something about 49ers safety Donte Whitner today that many of you probably knew already. He has a tattoo on his right forearm that reads “Thank God for Ginn.”

January 29, 2013
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Whitner: “Miscommunication is why we had difficulties in the first half last week.”

SANTA CLARA – Donte Whitner spoke in the locker room Thursday afternoon. This is what he said. Q: You said Joe Flacco has made improvement. Can you put a time stamp on that? Did you see a change when Jim Caldwell was made the offensive coordinator, or just during these past playoff games? WHITNER: I don’t know if you can say that, but I know since they changed offensive coordinators…

January 24, 2013
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Three keys to the game for the 49ers and the Falcons

This is the opening to my Saturday article on the keys to the game for the 49ers and the Falcons. The Falcons need a miracle to beat the 49ers this Sunday. That’s the consensus of NFL critics. The Falcons need a fire alarm to go off in the 49ers’ hotel at 3 a.m. They need the entire 49ers team — players and coaches — to evacuate the building and catch…

January 18, 2013
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49ers’ cure for Third Game Syndrome: Beat the Falcons

This is the opening to my Thursday article on the 49ers’ pattern of winning two games and not winning the third. SANTA CLARA — The 49ers suffer from a rare condition called Third Game Syndrome. They win two games in a row and then they don’t win the third. They’ve repeated this pattern five times this season. They’ve just notched their sixth two-game win streak, and the third game looms. Third…

January 17, 2013
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Whitner on the 49ers’ offense: “Trick ’em, and then we’re going to go deep on you. I like it.”

Donte Whitner spoke at his locker Tuesday morning. This is what he said about defending the 49ers’ offense. Q: How tough is it for a defense to defend the 49ers’ read option? WHITNER: It’s tough for everybody on a defense to be disciplined with their eyes, especially safeties and cornerbacks. It’s tough. If you get your eyes out of position one time and take a false step, it could be…

January 15, 2013
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Whitner on the Falcons’ offense: “When they come in the middle of the field, we’re going to be extremely physical.”

SANTA CLARA — Donte Whitner held court at his locker Tuesday morning. Here’s what he said about the Atlanta Falcons’ offense. Q: You guys have had success against the best quarterbacks – Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Drew Brees. How will translate against Matt Ryan and the unique challenges he presents? WHITNER: First and foremost, when you play the top quarterbacks in the league, you have to understand that pre-snap is…

January 15, 2013
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Fangio on Justin Smith: “If he’s not playing up to his standard or close to it then we’ll put the next guy in.”

SANTA CLARA – Vic Fangio spoke in the media tent Tuesday afternoon. Here’s what he said about Justin Smith and the rest of the 49ers defense, courtesy of the 49ers.   Is DT Justin Smith closer to full strength and how’s he looking out there? “He’s doing fine. I don’t think we’ll know for sure until Sunday comes.”   Saturday? “Saturday. Sorry.”   But, what has he shown you in…

January 8, 2013
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Why the 49ers-Cardinals game matters

There are two reasons why this game against the Arizona Cardinals matters deeply to the 49ers. First, there are playoff implications. If the 49ers win, they’ll be 11-4-1. They’ll get the No.2 seed and a first-round Bye if the Packers lose to the Vikings. If the Packers beat the Vikings, the 49ers get the No.3 seed and they would not get a Bye. They would play the No.6 seed at…

December 29, 2012
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Fangio: “It’s too far along here to change the system because of one guy being out.”

SANTA CLARA – Vic Fangio spoke in the media tent Thursday morning. Here’s what he said, courtesy of the 49ers.   So the obvious thing is looking at how the defense has played in six quarters without DT Justin Smith. How big is he to just the overall defense? “Well, he’s a great player, one of the best defensive players in the NFL. And anytime you lose one of those…

December 27, 2012
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