Jim Harbaugh: “We don’t change the route depth or the timing based on where the sticks are.”

This is the transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s Monday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department. What jumped out at you on film of Washington before we move onto Seattle? What did you like, especially about that game? “Several things. Probably the biggest thing is what our team’s accomplished over the last three games, winning three games and they’re as close as you can possibly have games be. And have…

November 24, 2014
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Five questions for 49ers

This is my Saturday column. These are the top-five questions and answers every 49ers’ fan needs to know: QUESTION: Why is Colin Kaepernick getting sacked so much? ANSWER: Jim Harbaugh’s offensive scheme. NFL defensive coordinators figured out Harbaugh’s offense lacks a way to beat blitzes consistently. Defenses are sacking Kaepernick on a league-high 9.1 percent of his drop backs and, when defenses blitz, they’re sacking Kaepernick even more frequently –…

November 22, 2014
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Harbaugh says Kaepernick is “one of the most dynamic pocket passers in the game of football today.”

This is the transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s Friday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department. Will you guys have enough time with T Anthony Davis to go through the protocol before kickoff? “No.”   He’s out? “He’s out.”   Can you share anything of just what he’s gone through? Was he still having symptoms? “Yes.”   Greater than initially feared after the game or–? “Well, you can’t know what…

November 21, 2014
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49ers’ red zone plan a mystery

This is my Thursday column. SANTA CLARA Let me get this straight. Ten games into the season, the 49ers have thrown one pass to Vernon Davis in the red zone. That was Week 1. He scored a touchdown. Ten games into the season, the 49ers have by far the worst red-zone offense in the NFC. Could those two facts be related? I’m just asking. Before the season, Colin Kaepernick said…

November 20, 2014
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Jim Harbaugh cannot explain why Vernon Davis has been targeted just once in the red zone this season

SANTA CLARA — This is the transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s Wednesday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department. You said that you expect LB Ahmad Brooks to play Sunday. Has the team taken any action against him for insubordination? “We’ve addressed it. It’s not insubordination. Let’s just clear that one up.”   OK. What is it? What happened then? “Got emotional on the sideline. Emotions played into it when…

November 19, 2014
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49ers 16, Giants 10: Grades

East Rutherford, NJ. – The 49ers barely beat the Giants, a bad team that quit after the second quarter and turned the ball over five times. So here are the Niners’ grades. KAEPERNICK: C. The best you can say is he didn’t turn the ball over. Which is good, but his first pass almost got picked off. And he fumbled once (he recovered it). And he didn’t complete a single…

November 16, 2014
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49ers offense halfway there

This is my Wednesday column. I want to help the 49ers. Not because I root for them. I don’t. I root for the highest level of play and coaching. I root for perfection. I cannot bear to watch a team underperform. I’m a mere journalist, but I sincerely want to help Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman if I can. So here goes. Their offense should be better than it is….

November 12, 2014
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Harbaugh: “What we try to do is build in a quick answer or build in a sight adjustment or build in an audible, and we didn’t have one for them on that particular play.”

SANTA CLARA — This is the transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s Wednesday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department. You mentioned yesterday I believe it was that LB NaVorro Bowman would undergo an MRI. How did that turn out? “That’s taking place today I believe.”   And, is he still experiencing pain in that knee? “I saw that reported, but I don’t know for sure.”   So, if that MRI…

November 12, 2014
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Jim Harbaugh on Steve Young and Jerry Rice: “Keep the flack on the outside.”

SANTA CLARA — This is the transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s Wednesday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department. Just got the word, of course, that RB Marcus Lattimore has told the team he plans to retire. What are your thoughts on his decision and how much did he seek council from you during that time? “We discussed it last week, over the weekend, et cetera. Respect his decision. I…

November 5, 2014
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49ers doomed by play-calling

This is my Tuesday column. The Bears and the Cardinals and the Broncos and the Rams are not defeating the 49ers. Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman are defeating the 49ers. Before the season started, if you had known the 49ers’ defense would rank second after eight games without NaVorro Bowman and Aldon Smith, what would you have expected the Niners’ record to be? 7-1? 8-0? If anything diminished the Niners…

November 4, 2014
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Jim Harbaugh: “We’re not going to be concerned about what other people think or point out.”

SANTA CLARA — This is the transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s Monday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department. Have you had a chance to talk to RB Marcus Lattimore about his future yet? “He’s weighing his options and we’ll have an announcement about that, as we said yesterday. Still to come.”   Do you want to just give him space and let him have plenty of time to kind…

November 3, 2014
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49ers 10, Rams 13: Grades

SANTA CLARA — The 49ers just gave away a game to the Rams, a dreadful team that was trying its best to lose. Here are the 49ers’ grades. KAEPERNICK: D+. Was that him? Didn’t look like it. Whoever was wearing the red No.7 jersey looked timid, tentative, not explosive at all. Averaged just 7.18 yards per pass and 2.8 yards per carry, converted 3-of-12 third down and scored no touchdowns…

November 2, 2014
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Jim Harbaugh on Marcus Lattimore: “He hung back in the training room today.”

Here is the transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s Friday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department. Opening comments: “Hello. Happy Halloween.”   Pirates, right? “Correct.”   Which pirate are you? “Just a normal pirate.”   Not Captain Hook? “No, I don’t think so.”   How did LB Patrick Willis look in practice this week? Does he look ready to play? “He’s working hard every day. He says he’s feeling better…

October 31, 2014
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Jim Harbaugh says he thinks Vernon Davis is good to go now

SANTA CLARA — Here is the transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s Wednesday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department. Do you feel like facing an opponent so shortly after facing them the first time, playing one game and then facing them again, does that cause any kind of complications for the coaching staff? “It’s a salty opponent. We understand that. We’ve played them twice in the same year, now going…

October 29, 2014
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Grading 49ers at the break

This is my Sunday column. The 49ers just finished dead week. These are their midterm grades. COLIN KAEPERNICK Pocket proficiency: B. Was a C-minus last season. Completed just 57 percent of his passes and posted an 81 passer rating inside the pocket in 2013. Has completed 69 percent of his passes and posted a 90 rating inside the pocket this season. He’s finding the open receiver quickly and throwing the…

October 27, 2014
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Jim Harbaugh on Vance McDonald: “We’d like to get him the ball more.”

SANTA CLARA — Here is the transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s Monday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department. How are you? “Good, how are you?”   Good. How was your bye week? “Good.”   You come back to some team photos. Why so late? Do you always take team photos this time of year? “It varies. It was a good day, good day. Got good practice in today, good…

October 27, 2014
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Raiders need to focus Mack’s role

This is my Friday column on Khalil Mack. WARNING: This is a Raiders column. 49ers fans — feel free to skip this. ALAMEDA When will the Raiders figure it out? They make the same mistake every week and it costs them wins. The mistake involves a rookie, Khalil Mack. Before we discuss the mistake, let’s talk about the problem. The Raiders have the worst third-down defense in football, allowing opponents…

October 24, 2014
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Jim Harbaugh: “Understand that the opponent played extremely well.”

SANTA CLARA — Here is the transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s Monday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department. C Daniel Kilgore, will he require surgery on that leg? “Tomorrow, he’s going to get surgery.”   Will he go on IR? “Yes.”   We all remember how bad the NT Ian Williams fracture was. Are we talking about the same type of injury to Daniel? “It’s similar.”   How’s he…

October 20, 2014
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49ers 17, Broncos 42: Grades

The Broncos eked out a 42-17 win over the 49ers Sunday night. Here are the Niners’ grades. KAEPERNICK: D. Carried the team in the first half. Posted a 140 passer rating in the second quarter. Would have been a 156 rating if Anquan Boldin hadn’t dropped a touchdown pass on third-and-goal from the 4 yard line. Kaepernick led a 7-play, 85-yard touchdown drive that took 2 minutes and 58 seconds…

October 19, 2014
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Manning out-thinks everybody

Here is my Friday column. SANTA CLARA Peyton Manning has a tragic flaw. Out of respect for greatness, let’s not deal with that now, not until we discuss what makes him great. Jim Harbaugh, you’re first. How is Manning different from other great quarterbacks? What is his best quality? “All qualities,” Harbaugh said with a smile Wednesday afternoon in the 49ers’ auditorium. “Great competitor, great player. He’s done it and…

October 17, 2014
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