Baalke’s top-five moves of 2011

Trent Baalke is having a monster year. On Friday, the 49ers extended his contract through the 2016 season, this coming a few weeks after he won the NFL’s Executive of the Year award. Almost every move he made in 2011 worked out. It was like he was on a heater at a craps table in Vegas and he was hitting ten the hard way over and over again. Here are…

February 11, 2012
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The southwest corner

SANTA CLARA — For what it’s worth, the Niners really like each other. They may or may not man up against the Pittsburgh Steelers this Monday night – I think they will – but regardless, they get along. Anthony Davis and Mike Iupati are best friends. Parys Haralson and Aldon Smith act like brothers. Colin Kaepernick and Bruce Miller joke around with everyone. But there’s a cool section of the…

December 18, 2011
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8/4 Practice notes: Smith vs. Kaepernick

SANTA CLARA – Practice was windy and cold in the Santa Clara dusk. Braylon Edwards lined up with the first and second-team offense today and looked good, considering he’d been on the team for about an hour. He caught a few short passes and hustled hard. Madieu Williams stood behind the defense with secondary coach Ed Donatell and took mental reps. Donatell seemed to be talking Williams through the plays….

August 4, 2011
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The defensive backs

The 49ers ranked 24th against the pass in 2010, and their secondary could be even shakier in 2011. Their best cornerback, Nate Clements, signed with the Cincinnati Bengals, and Trent Baalke has yet to sign anyone to replace him. He did sign a safety today. His name is Madieu Williams, and he presumably will replace free agent safety Dashon Goldson. Baalke says he has a plan that requires patience. How…

August 1, 2011
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