Joe Staley on the 49ers’ future: “I feel optimistic.”

SANTA CLARA Here’s what Joe Staley said in response to a question I just asked him in the 49ers locker room. ME: “How do you feel about the future of this team?” STALEY: “I feel optimistic. I think we have a lot of young guys on this team, a lot of guys that are stepping up. We need more guys to get into those leadership roles. I see the traits…

December 23, 2015
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49ers 13, Seahawks 29: Grades

SEATTLE Here are the grades for the San Francisco 49ers’ 29-13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. GABBERT: B. Played better than he did during his first start for the Niners two weeks ago against the Atlanta Falcons. This week, Gabbert faced a top Seahawks defense, threw for 264 yards and a touchdown while making no major mistakes and getting sacked only twice even though he had no running game. RUNNING…

November 22, 2015
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Eric Mangini: “Another difficult quarterback, another difficult group of wide receivers.”

SANTA CLARA — This is the transcript of Eric Mangini’s Thursday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department. Opening comments: “Good morning, everybody. So, we are full go on the Giants. Similar pattern for us, working on third down, red zone here today. Another difficult quarterback, another difficult group of wide receivers, but working on it and excited to get going.”   There was a report that LB Ahmad Brooks won’t…

October 8, 2015
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49ers practice highlights

SANTA CLARA – Here are the highlights from Tuesday’s practice. THE GOOD 1. RB Kendall Hunter. Led all members of the first-team offense with five touches during team drills (Carlos Hyde and Anquan Boldin each had three touches – tied for second-most on the first team). One of Hunter’s touches was a catch on a screen play, and another was an eight-yard touchdown run on a stretch-zone run to the…

August 25, 2015
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Jim Tomsula: “Honestly, I don’t know the first thing about grass.”

SANTA CLARA — Here’s a transcript of head coach Jim Tomsula’s Friday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department. Opening comments: “Good afternoon. Injury report; [DL Glenn] Dorsey we are still, we’re staying on that. Looking good though, looking real good. You see him out there running around and pushing and pulling, so feeling good there. [WR Bruce] Ellington in the process, [LB Philip] Wheeler in the process, we’re…

August 21, 2015
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49ers training camp report: Day 12

SANTA CLARA – Here are the highlights of the 49ers’ eighth padded practice of training camp. THE GOOD 1. RB Reggie Bush. Didn’t play during Saturday’s preseason game against the Texans, and may not play at all during the preseason – the coaches seem to want to keep him healthy. But, from the looks of practice, Bush will play a lot during the regular season. Today he had a team-leading…

August 18, 2015
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Jaquiski Tartt: “Really, a lot of teams, they honestly didn’t throw my way in college.”

SANTA CLARA — Here is a transcript of Jaquiski Tartt’s first press conference as a member of the 49ers, courtesy of the 49ers public relations department. Where are we hearing from you tonight? “I’m on the road, actually. I’m headed to my school to celebrate with my teammates and my family in Birmingham.”   Who called you from the 49ers and what is your take on playing for this team?…

May 1, 2015
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Trent Baalke answers lots of questions

SANTA CLARA— Trent Baalke answered a few reporters’ questions in the 49ers’ media room Wednesday afternoon. Here’s a transcript of the interview. BARROWS: Has Justin Smith decided whether he will retire? BAALKE: As I said at the end of the season, I think at this stage of his career, he has earned the right to make that decision when it’s right. I think he’s still sorting through that process. He’s…

March 12, 2015
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49ers 27, Saints 24: Grades

They aren’t dead yet. The 49ers beat the Saints 27-24 in overtime Sunday afternoon, handed Sean Payton his first loss in the Superdome since 2010. Now the 49ers are 5-4. Here are their grades. KAEPERNICK: B+. It was fourth-and-10 from the Niners’ 22-yard line, one minute and 34 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Niners’ down by three. Kaepernick had to save the game. He rolled to his right. Nowhere…

November 9, 2014
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Vic Fangio: “I didn’t do a good enough job coaching and we didn’t do a good enough job playing.”

SANTA CLARA — Here is the transcript of Vic Fangio’s Thursday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department. Does it look like you’re going to have LB Patrick Willis back in your defense this week? “It’s questionable right now.”   Going back over that Broncos game, do you wipe away some of that since he was out of the lineup, a lot of the other guys were out of…

October 30, 2014
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Vic Fangio says the Rams like to throw deep

SANTA CLARA — Here is the transcript of Vic Fangio’s Friday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department. What have you seen from Rams QB Austin Davis? “I see a guy that’s playing very well. Since he’s come into the starting lineup, these guys have averaged 26 points a game and well over 400 yards a game. He’s thrown the ball extremely well with accuracy. He’s got a high…

October 10, 2014
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Vic Fangio on Alex Smith: “Sometimes too much study is paralysis by over-analysis. I watched the tape and prepared for him just like any other quarterback.”

SANTA CLARA — Here is the transcript of Vic Fangio’s Thursday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department. What went into the decision to play LB Aaron Lynch so much more? And how do you use him? Is it similarly to the way you use LB Aldon Smith? Is it a little different? “Well, the decision was, he had been playing a lot in the first three games anyway….

October 2, 2014
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49ers 26, Eagles 21: Grades

SANTA CLARA – The 49ers beat the Eagles 26-21 Sunday afternoon. Here are the 49ers’ grades. KAEPERNICK: B-. Made both of the 49ers’ touchdowns happen. On the first one he scrambled left, drew the Eagles’ entire defense and threw back to the right, across the whole field to Frank Gore who was wide open. One of the most thrilling plays you’ll see. Next, Kaepernick scrambled to the left and threw…

September 28, 2014
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Vic Fangio struggles with the hand he was dealt

This is my Saturday column previewing the 49ers’ Sunday home game against the Eagles. What is Vic Fangio supposed to do? Call plays while hopping on one leg? Vic, try patting your head and rubbing your stomach in the coaches’ box. Say rubber baby buggy bumpers. Strike a pose. The 49ers’ defensive coordinator is running out of options. He tried blitzing. He tried not blitzing. Neither has worked. The 49ers’…

September 27, 2014
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49ers 14, Cardinals 23: Grades

GLENDALE, AZ. – The 49ers lost 23-14 to the Cardinals. Here are the 49ers’ grades. KAEPERNICK: A. Gained 290 of the 49ers’ 318 total yards. Ran 13 times for 54 yards and completed 78.4 percent of his passes. Passer rating was 103.3. The entire offense was Kaepernick. Hard to win in the NFL with a one-player offense. RUNNING BACKS: D. Frank Gore carried the ball 6 times and gained 10…

September 21, 2014
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Harbaugh: “The foot on the accelerator analogy, I’m not sure exactly what you’re saying there.”

SANTA CLARA — This is a transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s Monday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department. When Carolina Panthers DE Greg Hardy was inactive for the Panthers, did that cause you guys to reevaluate DT Ray McDonald’s situation at all whether he’d play or not? “No. We didn’t compare the two situations.” You talked last night about QB Colin Kaepernick making good throws. When you look back…

September 15, 2014
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49ers 20, Bears 28: Grades

SANTA CLARA – The 49ers lost 28-20 to the Bears Sunday Night. Here are the 49ers’ grades. KAEPERNICK: F. His worst game since two games ago. Looked like Tony Romo looked last week. Committed four turnovers – one fumble and three interceptions. Would have been five turnovers but one of the interceptions hit the grass before a Bears’ defensive back caught it. Also committed a delay of game penalty on…

September 14, 2014
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Vic Fangio says Ahmad Brooks is overweight

SANTA CLAR A — Vic Fangio was interviewed in the 49ers’ auditorium Tuesday afternoon. Here’s a transcript courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. staff.   How did NT Ian Williams play? I know it wasn’t a lot of snaps, but how did he look? “He did fine. I was pleased with the way he played. I was hoping to get him a few more snaps but he started tightening up a…

August 26, 2014
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Jim Harbaugh ends open practice at Levi’s Stadium after 45 minutes

SANTA CLARA – The 49ers have been talking about the Levi’s Stadium grass all week. Its roots haven’t set, the 49ers say. The footing is no good and patches of sod are coming up. Stevie Johnson slipped on the grass 45 minutes into practice, got up and started limping. Two plays later, Harbaugh pulled the team off the field and finished practice on the practice field which is closed to…

August 20, 2014
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49ers’ fill-ins can’t come up blank

This is my Saturday column. Before we get to the 49ers’ upcoming preseason game, here’s a brief history lesson. In 2010, the 49ers’ defense was ordinary. It ranked 13th in yards allowed and 16th in points given up. Four current starters were key contributors on that 2010 defense – Patrick Willis, Justin Smith, Ahmad Brooks and Ray McDonald. After the 2010 season, the 49ers drafted Aldon Smith and signed Carlos…

August 16, 2014
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