This is my Monday column on the top-five questions the 49ers face this summer. Even though the 49ers are among the odds-on favorites to win the Super Bowl, like any other team, they confront certain issues. Two of their best players – Justin Smith and Frank Gore – are in their 30s and declining. The 49ers’ offensive MVP last season – Michael Crabtree – tore his Achilles tendon in OTAs….
I say Justin Smith is the most important player on the 49ers this season. He is the engine that makes that defense go. The 49ers’ defense was terrible without Justin Smith last season, and until Michael Crabtree is 100-percent healthy, the 49ers are going to have to win games with their defense. Who do you think is the most important player on the 49ers this season and why?
Matt Maiocco just tweeted Justin Smith has signed a two-year extension, keeping him a 49er through the 2015 season. The 49ers are taking a leap of faith by extending Smith, who tore a ligament in a his elbow late last season. They’re betting he can fully recover and dominate the line of scrimmage until he’s 36 years old. Is this a good move for the 49ers? Why or why not? Here’s…
SANTA CLARA — Here’s what Vic Fangio said Wednesday afternoon, courtesy of the 49ers. So, offensive coordinator Greg Roman had said yesterday, obviously he’d been through two offensive installs already and it was more for him about execution. What is it about for you during this mini-camp with the defense? “Well, the mini-camp is just a continuation of the OTAs where we’re installing our defense. Teaching the assignments, the…
SANTA CLARA — Justin Smith spoke to Bay Area reporters Wednesday afternoon for the first time this offseason. Here’s what he said. Q: How did you elbow surgery go? JUSTIN SMITH: I thought it went pretty well. They went in and repaired it. The strength and everything came back pretty good. I’m almost 100 percent. I’m looking forward to that. Q: Are you still rehabbing? JUSTIN SMITH: I don’t know…
What will the 49ers’ DL depth chart look like in 2013 and 2014? Here’s my best guess, and I’m interested to read yours as well. 2013 BASE ROLB, or “Leo” or standing rusher – Aldon Smith (although Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio could choose to play Parys Haralson here to keep Aldon Smith fresh for the sub packages, like 2011). RDE or Under tackle – Justin Smith, Glenn Dorsey NT or…
Trent Baalke held a press conference in the 49ers’ defensive meeting room Wednesday morning. Here’s a transcript. Q: Where are you guys in the process of putting together your board? BAALKE: We’re probably 50 percent there. Q: That’s all? BAALKE: It’s pretty much set. We’ve got some touch-up stuff we’ve got to do, cleaning some guys up. For the most part it’s set. Q: Last year at the this time…
There’s been some confusion regarding exactly how the 49ers will use their newest defensive lineman, Glenn Dorsey. So I wrote an article explaining Dorsey’s role. He will start at nose tackle for the 49ers, meaning he’ll line up in the strong side A gap, the position Isaac Sopoaga played for the Niners the last two seasons. Dorsey also will backup Justin Smith at “Under tackle,” or right defensive end. But…
What’s the correct name for the 49ers’ base defense: 3-4 or 4-3 Under? If you’ve never heard of the 4-3 Under, click here to read a detailed explanation of it. The article says George Seifert used the 4-3 Under when he was the defensive coordinator for the 49ers. His defense looked like a 3-4 because the weakside defensive end rushed from a standing position, a two-point stance. Here’s a description…
Many of my readers have been comparing and contrasting the 49ers and Seahawks this week, so I thought it would be interesting to break down the two clubs by offensive, defensive and special teams units. In other words, at this point in free agency which team has the better starting QB? Which team has the better backup QB? Which team has the better group of running backs? And so on….
The newest 49er, defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, spoke on a conference call Wednesday afternoon. Here’s a transcript. Q: What was your reaction when you heard the 49ers were interested in your services? DORSEY: I was excited. I really look forward to the opportunity. I got the call from my agent, and I hopped on a flight first thing. Q: Where do you make your offseason home? DORSEY: Baton Rouge, but…
Accoridng to Adam Schefter, the 49ers are working out defensive end John Abraham at their Santa Clara practice facility today. Abraham, who will be 35 years old next season, probably has some gas left in the tank as a situational pass rusher, as in nickel and sub packages, but he does not have as much left as Fred Dean did in 1981 when Bill Walsh signed him to be a…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
This is my Saturday article on the gradual construction of the 49ers’ roster. By GRANT COHN After the 2004 season, the 49ers were the worst team in football. They had practically no talent, they had won two games, and they had one Pro Bowler, long snapper, Brian Jennings. This season, the 49ers are going to the Super Bowl and they have arguably the most talented roster in the NFL. Nine…
The 49ers play the Ravens Sunday at the Super Dome in Super Bowl XLVII. In the meantime, I’ll break down the key matchups. DT Haloti Ngata vs. The 49ers’ offensive line As good as Justin Smith is, Haloti Ngata might be a better defensive tackle right now. He’s younger – Ngata is 29 years old and Justin Smith is 32 years old. Ngata is bigger – Ngata weighs 340 pounds…
In case you had any lingering doubts, the Baltimore Ravens’ offensive linemen have seen the film, and they will tell you that Justin Smith wasn’t diminished in either of the 49ers’ two playoff games.
