This is the transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s Wednesday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. How was your Christmas? “Happy Holidays. Yeah, warmest holiday wishes to everybody. Yeah, excited to be back. Big week for us. And looking forward to a great week of preparation.” Can you give us any update on WR Mario Manningham? His status? “Yeah, he’s not going to be available the rest of the way.”…
Brent Jones spoke on KNBR Monday afternoon. Here’s what he said. Q: On a 1-to-10 scale, how much of an alarm meter would you ring on Sunday night? BRENT JONES: I think it’s a 10. The thing that scares me the most is the defense. There have been four games this year – the Vikings game, the Giants game, the Patriots game and this game where we just flat-out got…
This is the transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s Monday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. I did not attend this press conference. I was flying home from Seattle when Harbaugh was speaking. Did you guys get away with the run game too early yesterday? “Like we said last night, we didn’t do really enough good things. Only one thing you can do after a battle, win or lose, and that’s…
SEATTLE, Wa. – Justin Smith injured his elbow in the third quarter of the Patriots game last week, and he has not played since then. Without him, the 49ers have given up 70 points in six quarters. After the 42-13 loss to the Seahawks, Jim Harbaugh said he’s not sure he’ll be back for the playoffs. He also said he doesn’t think Smith’s absence would be a factor. Donte Whitner…
Adam Schefter just tweeted Justin Smith “is not expected to play Sunday night versus Seattle due to his elbow injury.” Smith is the 49ers’ best run-defending defensive lineman and he also sets up most of the 49ers’ pass rush. Offensive lineman pay so much attention to Justin Smith that Aldon Smith and Ahmad Brooks and Ray McDonald have an easier time getting to the quarterback. Losing Justin Smith hurts the…
SANTA CLARA – Joe Staley spoke at his locker Friday afternoon. Here’s what he said. Q: The Seahawks have the third ranked defense in the league. What makes them so good? STALEY: Very, very fast. Their defensive front is the fastest in the NFL, especially those two guys on the edge (Chris Clemons and Bruce Irvin). They want to get you in third-and-long situations, so we have to do a…
SANTA CLARA – Ricky Jean Francois very well may start in place of All Pro defensive lineman Justin Smith this Sunday night. Bay Area reporters and Randy Moss interviewed Jean Francois at his locker Friday afternoon. Here’s a transcript. Q: Is it tougher playing inside or outside on this defense? JEAN FRANCOIS: I say the inside is a little harder, because most of the time you’re taking on a center…
Here are the 49ers and Seahawks injury reports, courtesy of the 49ers. 49ers Questionable: LB Tavares Gooden (ribs), LB Clark Haggans (shoulder), WR Mario Manningham (shoulder), DT Justin Smith (elbow), DT Will Tukuafu (concussion) Probable: K David Akers (pelvis), G Alex Boone (knee), LB Navorro Bowman (shoulder), LB Ahmad Brooks (shoulder), CB Tarell Brown (shoulder), S Dashon Goldson (foot), RB Frank Gore (wrist), G Mike Iupati (shoulder), RB Bruce Miller (shoulder), CB…
SANTA CLARA – Jim Harbaugh spoke in the media tent Friday afternoon. Here’s what he said. Q: How did practice go this week? HARBAUGH: Good. Good practice this week. Solid week of practice. Q: Did you like this day because it might mirror what you might see in Seattle? HARBAUGH: It was good for us. A little wind. Q: Have you filled the last spot on the 53-man roster? HARBAUGH:…
Justin Smith did not practice Friday afternoon. He did not practice Thursday or Wednesday afternoon, either. Jim Harbaugh will address the media in about 15 minutes, and he may shed some light on Smith’s playing status for Sunday night’s game against the Seattle Seahawks. Considering Smith could not even practice in a limited capacity this week, it seems doubtful he will play in just two days. Smith injured his elbow…
Let me start by listing everything that’s working against the 49ers this week. They are trying to win their third game in a row. They haven’t won three games in a row this season. Seattle’s crowd and home field advantage – the turf – will be tough for the Niners to overcome, even more so than last Sunday night. At least the Niners won’t face a time change and will have…
SANTA CLARA – This is the transcript of Vic Fangio’s Thursday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. We ask you this from time to time, but after a game like Sunday’s where the Patriots had something like 92, 93 plays, how is your defense in terms of freshness and needing rest and things like that? “Well, there’s no doubt they ended that game a little more tired than a…
SANTA CLARA – The NFL fined Dashon Goldson $21,000 for his hit on Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez. Thursday afternoon in the media tent, Goldson answered questions about that and the upcoming game against the Seahawks. Here’s a transcript. Q: Do you understand what an illegal hit is now as defined by the NFL? GOLDSON: Apparently I don’t. I thought it was a clean hit. It’s just one of those…
This is what Greg Cosell said on KNBR Thursday morning about the 49ers win over the Patriots. Q: Should the 49ers consider themselves lucky they beat the Patriots? There were so many fumbles they got back. COSELL: They won the game, but you know what struck me? The second half the Patriots went to their speed no-huddle and the Niners’s defense got tired and they couldn’t rush the quarterback –…
FOXBORO, Ma. – The 49ers beat the Patriots 41-34 and clinched a playoff berth. Here are the grades for the 49ers’ defense and special teams. Defensive line: B. Justin Smith did not play particularly well, and then he left the game with an elbow injury. On the other hand, Ray McDonald played his best game of the season. He had half a sack all season, and he had two Sunday…
SAN FRANCISCO – The 49ers beat the Dolphins 27-13. Here are the grades for the 49ers defense and special teams. unable to get the football to the best tight end in the NFL. Not good. Defensive line: B. Justin Smith had five tackles, a QB hit and a leaping pass deflection at the line of scrimmage. He’s getting better as the season moves forward. Ray McDonald got pressure on Tannehill…
SANTA CLARA — Vic Fangio spoke in the 49ers media tent Thursday afternoon. Here is what he said, courtesy of the 49ers. What kind of problems do the Dolphins present? “Well, they’ve got a talented young quarterback who’s a good athlete, runs well. He’s a scrambler, got a strong arm. I think he’s gaining more and more confidence with every game that he’s played. I think they’re a much…
Here is what quarterback Ryan Tannehill said Wednesday to South Florida reporters, courtesy of the Miami Dolphins. On facing the 49ers defense) – “They’re an all-around good defense. I think everyone knows that they’re a good defense and it’s well deserved. They have good players all around. They start up front. Both Smith’s (Aldon Smith and Justin Smith) are good players. Really, their whole front is good. Their linebackers are…
SAN FRANCISCO – The 49ers lost to the Rams 16-13. Here are the grades for the 49ers defense. Defensive line: A. Justin Smith may have had the best game of his season. He had a team-high 8 tackles, including three for losses, 1 sack and 1 QB hit. Isaac Sopoaga and Ray McDonald helped limit Steven Jackson to 48 yards on 21 carries. Linebackers: A-. Aldon Smith had a sack…
SANTA CLARA – Here is what Vic Fangio said about the 49ers defense at his Thursday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. How much is it a luxury for you to have all four linebackers locked up for at least three more seasons after this one? “I think it speaks well for the organization that they’ve been able to in this age of salary cap. And it’s not always…
