5 things to know about the Raiders before camp opens

Here’s my training-camp preview for the Raiders. The Raiders may be on the upswing. They have a quality head coach (Jack Del Rio), college football’s top offensive weapon from 2014 (Amari Cooper) and a franchise quarterback (Derek Carr). But Oakland still has a ways to go before it becomes a playoff contender. Here are five key questions the Raiders will face during training camp: 1. Do they have a deep-threat…

July 22, 2015
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Jacobs visits Giants locker room after game

SAN FRANCISCO – I couldn’t find Brandon Jacobs in the 49ers locker room after the game. I waited until every player left. Still no Jacobs. So I walked to the Giants’ locker room. Who did I see? Jacobs. He was talking to Justin Tuck, his former teammate. Tuck was sitting on a stool. Jacobs was leaning against the locker, wearing camouflage pants and a green polo shirt. He was talking…

October 14, 2012
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Why the Giants defense can be susceptible to runs on third downs

Yesterday I broke down a couple of 49ers offensive line matchups with the Giants defensive front. I want to point out something. The matchups will not always be as simple as Joe Staley vs. Jason Pierre Paul and Anthony Davis vs. Justin Tuck. If you noticed against the Browns last Sunday, the Giants tried a variety of defensive linemen over all of the Browns’ offensive linemen looking for a soft…

October 12, 2012
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Roman on the Giants defense: “They’ve got an endless supply of scheme.”

SANTA CLARA — Greg Roman spoke after Vic Fangio in the media tent Thursday afternoon. Here’s what Roman said about the New York Giants defense, courtesy of the 49ers.   Opening Statement: “Good afternoon. Getting ready to play the Giants here. A really smart, savvy defense. They know how to win. Really starts with their defensive front, very talented players, very smart, heady players. They know how to change things…

October 11, 2012
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49ers-Giants matchups: Part VII – Anthony Davis vs. Justin Tuck

The 49ers play the Giants on Sunday at Candlestick. In the meantime, I’ll break down a couple of key matchups per day. RT Anthony Davis vs. DE Justin Tuck Tuck dominated this matchup last season, beating Davis for two sacks and five quarterback hurries in two games. Now Tuck is 29 years old and he looks out of gas. He has zero sacks and only two QB hits through five…

October 11, 2012
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The top-five best and worst moments of the 49ers 2011-2012 season

Here’s my list of the top five and bottom five 49er moments from the 2011-2012 season. The Best Moments 5. Justin Smith’s forced fumble v. Jeremy Maclin in Philadelphia to beat the Eagles in Week 4. The Niners’ record was 2-1, and although they had just stormed back from a 17-point deficit to take a one-point lead late in the fourth quarter. The Eagles had plenty of time to drive…

January 30, 2012
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Giants DE Justin Tuck on Alex Smith: “He is playing decent.”

Here is what New York Giants’ defensive end Justin Tuck said about Alex Smith Thursday to the New York media. TUCK: “He (Smith) is a guy who they are trying to keep out of position to win the football game. Obviously, with a back like Frank Gore and an O-line keeping them in third-and-short situations, and even if it is third and six or seven, they still feel that they…

November 12, 2011
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