Highlights from warmups

SANTA CLARA — Here’s what I observed during today’s warmups. Greg Roman and Jim Harbaugh’s father, Jack, having a serious conversation in the middle of the practice field. Patrick Willis gingerly high stepping hurdles. I would be extremely surprised if he plays this Monday night. Joe Staley jogging back and forth across the field with a backwards cap on his head. I doubt he plays this Monday night, either. Aldon…

December 16, 2011
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Why did Gore only get 10 carries against AZ last Sunday? “It was the game plan,” he says.

SANTA CLARA – Both Greg Roman and Frank Gore answered questions this afternoon regarding the measly ten carries Gore received last Sunday against the Cardinals. Here’s what they said. Q: Last Sunday against the Cardinals, you guys went up 19-7 in the third quarter. A lot of us were thinking you were going to turn to your running game at that point. It didn’t happen that way, and now everyone’s…

December 16, 2011
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Will the Niners man up?

SANTA CLARA — Yesterday’s loss was the toughest loss of the season for the Niners – no question about it. They were supposed to beat the Cardinals and they didn’t, and now it’s looking doubtful that they’ll get a first round bye in the playoffs. During today’s Monday press conference one reporter asked Jim Harbaugh how the Niners will deal with this adversity. “You man up with broad shoulders,” Harbaugh exclaimed right…

December 12, 2011
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Week 14 grades

Here are my Week 14 grades for the 10-3 Niners, who lost 21-19 today in Arizona against the 6-7 Cardinals. Quarterback: C-. Alex Smith muffed what should have been the signature play of his career. On fourth down – the last play of the game – he rolled right, searching for a receiver. He looked like Joe Montana before he made the throw that led to the “The Catch,” except…

December 11, 2011
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Roman on the red zone problems: “We’ve got to run it better down there to start.”

SANTA CLARA – Here’s what offensive coordinator Greg Roman said at his Week 14 Thursday press conference. ROMAN: Getting ready to play the Cardinals, who have obviously won four of five. They’re one of the hotter teams in the league. They’re hot for a reason. The defense is playing really well, keeping people out of the end zone – the Dallas game is probably their best game defensively all year….

December 8, 2011
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Why no RB screens against the Ravens? Greg Roman: “Why didn’t you call me during the game and say that?”

SANTA CLARA – Here’s the transcript of offensive coordinator Greg Roman’s Thursday afternoon press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. Opening Statement: “First thing I’d like to do is just recognize Chester McGlockton and what a tragedy that was. I know [Head Coach] Jim [Harbaugh] mentioned it yesterday and he was very dear to all of us. I first met Chester at the Pro Bowl following the 1996 season. Working with…

December 1, 2011
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Kendall Hunter doesn’t know why the Niners run so few halfback screens

SANTA CLARA – Here’s what backup running back Kendall Hunter said at his locker today. Q: Now that you’ve been around Frank Gore for a few months, what have you learned from his game? HUNTER: Frankly, everything. The way he runs, the way he blocks. He helped me with some of the techniques he uses and what he looks for and stuff like that. Q: Can you feel the difference…

November 30, 2011
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Week 12 grades

Here are my Week 12 grades for the 9-2 Niners. Alex Smith: D. His primary job on this team is to not turn the ball over, and he failed at that assignment tonight. With eighteen seconds left in the first half Smith was supposed to throw a pass to Braylon Edwards’ back shoulder in the end zone, but instead he threw the ball short and towards the middle of the…

November 24, 2011
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Greg Roman explains the difference between the Niners and the Ravens defenses

SANTA CLARA – Here’s the transcript of Greg Roman’s Tuesday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. Opening Statement: “Obviously playing a really tough team defensively. The front seven is extremely good, very well coached. You have [LB Terrell] Suggs on one side, [LB Jarret] Johnson on the other. Probably set the edge as good if not better than anybody in the NFL. You’ve got [DT Haloti] Ngata and the D-Linemen…

November 22, 2011
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Greg Roman describes Alex Smith’s skill set, and more.

SANTA CLARA – Here’s the transcript of Greg Roman’s Thursday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. Opening Statement: “We’re working hard on this Arizona defense. They had a coordinator change this year. Their defense is a Pittsburgh Steelers scheme. They brought in their defensive coordinator who had been with the Steelers for quite awhile. They play extremely hard. They’re getting much better, playing with much more confidence and expertise within…

November 17, 2011
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Jim Harbaugh on Alex Smith: “He’ll get the game ball…don’t print that.”

SANTA CLARA – Here’s the transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s Monday afternoon press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. As you reflect on that game last night, what was the thing that stood out to you that you guys did particularly well? “The thing that stood out to me the most was why you love football. It was competitive, it was two really good teams with really good players that were playing…

November 14, 2011
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Greg Roman: “The table was set to throw the ball.”

SAN FRANCISCO – Here are Greg Roman’s postgame quotes, courtesy of the 49ers. Did you guys come in knowing that you were going to throw as much as you did? “Yes. We really feel like the table was set. I mentioned to [head coach] Jim [Harbaugh] earlier in the week it reminded me of two years ago when we were getting ready to play Oregon, we had kind of went…

November 13, 2011
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Greg Roman insists the Niners offense is not a Greg Roman offense

SANTA CLARA – Here is the transcript of Greg Roman’s Thursday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. Opening Statement: “We’ve got a tough opponent on the road. Every game is tough, every opponent is tough. These guys are really well coached. Play a 3-4 scheme, very aggressive, very physical. They had Dallas down late, haven’t won a game in a few weeks but they’re a very good team. The team…

November 3, 2011
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Harbaugh: “Wished he would have come wiped some off on my cheek.”

SANTA CLARA – Here is the complete transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s Wednesday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. The reason for moving WR Michael Crabtree from X to Z (receiver) is…? “It’s what was best for our team. If you look back before that move, we had Michael as an X, [WR] Braylon [Edwards] was an X, [WR] Teddy [Ginn] was really originally trained as an X when we first…

November 2, 2011
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Roman: “We’re still breaking into whatever percentile it is of what we do.”

SANTA CLARA – Here is the transcript of Greg Roman’s press conference from this afternoon, courtesy of the 49ers. Opening Statement: “We’re right into getting ready for our Thursday practice. Had a great walk-through, had a good, vibrant practice yesterday. Got a stiff challenge ahead of us with the Browns. Obviously, everybody knows they’re the 4th ranked defense in the league, doing a tremendous job there getting people off the…

October 27, 2011
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Trent Dilfer’s #filmstudy of the 49ers

Trent Dilfer just wrote a series of tweets on the 49ers which he tagged #filmstudy. Here’s what he wrote. 1. Alex Smith DEALING in Big Moments whole year, Vertical accuracy has been very good. Passing game making strides” 2. “Iupati 77 is going to be a premier OG for years. Huge, great feet, great length, dominant at point and fantastic puller” 3. “O-line continues to gel and improve in their…

October 18, 2011
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Greg Roman on the Lions defense: “They’re a one-gap penetration team.”

SANTA CLARA – Here is the transcript of Greg Roman’s week 6 Thursday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. [Opening Statement] “We’re getting ready to play in a tough environment against a really good team, an undefeated team. Don’t know the last time they lost a football game, regular season or preseason. They’ve got it rolling and they’re good. Defensive front four is extremely talented. They rely on them a…

October 13, 2011
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Greg Cosell on the Niners’ comeback: “The player they exploited was Nnamdi Asomugha.”

Here’s what NFL Films analyst Greg Cosell said about the 49ers this morning on the Murph and Mac Show. Q: Did you have any inkling that the 49ers could pull off that comeback? COSELL: The best way to answer that would be I was surprised Alex Smith started the second half. Q: I’d say the same thing, and that’s coming from a fan. COSELL: I’ve got to tell you, I…

October 6, 2011
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Greg Roman talks all things offense

SANTA CLARA – It was offensive coordinator Greg Roman’s turn to speak at the podium in the media tent this afternoon. Roman’s style is to give a preamble before the questions start, which is fun. And if you were wondering, I asked the question toward the end re: halfbacks and fullbacks. Here’s the full transcript of the interview, courtesy of the 49ers. Opening Statement: “Finishing up a really great week…

August 24, 2011
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Keys for 49ers vs. Saints

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,…

August 11, 2011
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