Trent Baalke’s pattern with running backs

Trent Baalke has a pattern when it comes to drafting running backs. One year Baalke spends a second-round pick on a running back, and the next year he spends a fourth round pick on a running back. Then he repeats the pattern. In 2011, Baalke drafted Kendall Hunter in the fourth round. In 2012, Baalke drafted LaMichael James in the second round. In 2013, Baalke drafted Marcus Lattimore in the…

February 25, 2015
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49ers announce Marcus Lattimore’s retirement

The 49ers announced Marcus Lattimore’s retirement Wednesday morning. Here’s a statement from Trent Baalke, and a statement from Lattimore. BAALKE: “This was a very difficult decision for Marcus and it was clear after speaking with him that he had put a lot of thought into it. He is a high-character young man who has done everything asked of him and more during his time with us and we have a…

November 5, 2014
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Jim Harbaugh: “We’re not going to be concerned about what other people think or point out.”

SANTA CLARA — This is the transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s Monday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department. Have you had a chance to talk to RB Marcus Lattimore about his future yet? “He’s weighing his options and we’ll have an announcement about that, as we said yesterday. Still to come.”   Do you want to just give him space and let him have plenty of time to kind…

November 3, 2014
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Jim Harbaugh on Marcus Lattimore: “He hung back in the training room today.”

Here is the transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s Friday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department. Opening comments: “Hello. Happy Halloween.”   Pirates, right? “Correct.”   Which pirate are you? “Just a normal pirate.”   Not Captain Hook? “No, I don’t think so.”   How did LB Patrick Willis look in practice this week? Does he look ready to play? “He’s working hard every day. He says he’s feeling better…

October 31, 2014
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Greg Roman: “Don’t buy into the fact that we’re really doing that many more things. We’re probably doing less things.”

SANTA CLARA — Here is the transcript of Greg Roman’s Thursday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department. Opening comments: “Good afternoon. First of all, congratulations to the Giants. What a game, huh? Some high drama there at the end. What they’ve done is pretty remarkable. I know the city’s just pretty excited, as well they should be. Here we are facing the Rams again, division opponent, very good…

October 30, 2014
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Jim Harbaugh says he thinks Vernon Davis is good to go now

SANTA CLARA — Here is the transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s Wednesday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department. Do you feel like facing an opponent so shortly after facing them the first time, playing one game and then facing them again, does that cause any kind of complications for the coaching staff? “It’s a salty opponent. We understand that. We’ve played them twice in the same year, now going…

October 29, 2014
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Marcus Lattimore: “It was a huge injury so I knew it would take time. I just didn’t think it would take this long. But I feel good.”

SANTA CLARA — Marcus Lattimore was interviewed at his locker Wednesday afternoon. Here is a transcript. Q: What are you expecting to accomplish in practice the next three weeks? LATTIMORE: Consistency. That’s the main thing. Make sure I know what I’m doing. Make sure I’m having good practices — consistent practices — so I can be able to be out there on the field. Q: You practiced a bit late…

October 29, 2014
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Jim Harbaugh on Vance McDonald: “We’d like to get him the ball more.”

SANTA CLARA — Here is the transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s Monday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department. How are you? “Good, how are you?”   Good. How was your bye week? “Good.”   You come back to some team photos. Why so late? Do you always take team photos this time of year? “It varies. It was a good day, good day. Got good practice in today, good…

October 27, 2014
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Jim Harbaugh says the plan is for Marcus Lattimore to play this season

SANTA CLARA – Jim Harbaugh was interviewed by Bay Area reporters Thursday afternoon. Here’s what he said about Marcus Lattimore. Q: What’s the update on Marcus Lattimore? Do you anticipate him practicing sooner than later? Where is he in his progression? HARBAUGH: He has done very well. The way we’re thinking about it is he will be eligible after the sixth week. He could have a week of practice and…

October 9, 2014
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49ers move Bowman to PUP, Lattimore to NFI

The 49ers just announced that they waived Jewel Hampton, David Reed, Devon Wylie, McLeod Bethel-Thompson, Kion Wilson, D.J. Campbell, Kevin Greene and Colton Schmidt. Other roster moves: Marcus Lattimore, Brandon Thomas, Keith Reaser and Trey Millard were moved to the NFI list. Blake Costanzo was released from IR. NaVorro Bowman, Garrett Celek and Kaleb Ramsey were moved to the PUP list. Players on the NFI list and the PUP list will…

August 25, 2014
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Roman on the 49ers’ wide receivers: “There is a good chance you see more of them.”

SANTA CLARA — Greg Roman was interviewed in the 49ers’ auditorium Wednesday afternoon. Here’s a transcript. ROMAN: Afternoon. Had a great practice yesterday. A lot of spirit. Looking for another one today. Got a lot of things going on right now. Our offensive staff, just got to commend them. To a man they do a great job. Very fortunate to work with this group. It’s our fourth year together for…

August 20, 2014
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49ers’ backup plan stuck in reverse

This is my Monday column. Trent Baalke has to be swallowing hard this morning. Blaine Gabbert, the quarterback Baalke acquired to back up Colin Kaepernick, has a passer rating of 17.6 through two exhibition games. Trading for Blaine Gabbert was Baalke’s worst decision as an NFL general manager, worse than his decision to draft A.J. Jenkins or to trade for Jon Baldwin or to invest in a red-shirt draft choice…

August 18, 2014
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Jim Harbaugh says he is “very pleased with the job Blaine Gabbert is doing.”

SANTA CLARA – Jim Harbaugh was interviewed in the 49ers’ auditorium Friday afternoon. Here is a transcript. Q: What happened to Blake Costanzo? How did he get injured? HARBAUGH: Something with the knee. Q: He was placed on I.R. Could he return at some point this season? HARBAUGH: I don’t think it’s a season-ending injury, but I hate to talk and then be wrong and then get criticized for not…

August 15, 2014
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Harbaugh on Lattimore’s injury: “It’s not yet 100 percent, and I say that more from a physical aspect than from a mental.”

SANTA CLARA — Jim Harbaugh was interviewed Sunday morning in the 49ers’ auditorium. Here is a transcript courtesy of the 49ers. Yesterday, 49ers general manager Trent Baalke said that with RB Marcus Lattimore, it’s as much the mental barrier trying to get back into the swing of things than the physical barrier. How would you assess how he is mentally as far as trying to come back from that knee…

July 27, 2014
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Trent Baalke on Marcus Lattimore: “He’s close. How close remains to be seen.”

SANTA CLARA – This is what Trent Baalke said about Marcus Lattimore Saturday afternoon. Q: Why isn’t Marcus Lattimore active? Did he reinjure himself? BAALKE: He has had no setbacks. He’s coming off, as well all know, a horrific injury. We want to make sure, as does he, that he is 100 percent mentally and physically ready to go to help this football team and to give himself the best…

July 27, 2014
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OTA Notes: Marcus Lattimore improves

SANTA CLARA — Here’s what stood out to me during Tuesday’s mini-camp. THE GOOD 1. Marcus Lattimore — Looked much more agile than he did during OTAs. He caught one pass in the flat, planted his left foot, cut and exploded into the end zone for a touchdown. I haven’t seen him cut like that during practice before. 2. Garrett Celek — Caught a touchdown pass from Colin Kaepernick during…

June 17, 2014
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Jim Harbaugh on Aldon Smith: “He’s showing up. He’s working hard. He’s listening.”

SANTA CLARA – Jim Harbaugh was interviewed by Bay Area reporters Friday afternoon. Here is a transcript. Q: What do you think of the rookies and undrafted guys so far? HARBAUGH: So far so good. They’ve done a great job studying. Coaches have done a great job bringing them up to speed in the last two weeks. Excited to see then competing out here today. Q: What is the status…

May 23, 2014
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The importance of a college degree in football

I just found an interesting article in the Wall Street journal about  how the Eagle mostly try to acquire college graduates. The Eagles feel the more college graduates they have, the more successful the team will be. The article cites how the Patriots and Colts typically had the most college graduates in the NFL when they dominated the league last decade. Last season, the Seahawks and Broncos had the most…

May 21, 2014
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Harbaugh: “Superb year of football. Well, you can’t say superb.”

SANTA CLARA — Here is a transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s final press conference this season, courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department.   Can you give us an update on LB NaVorro Bowman? Is the timetable impacted because of the two ligament tears in his knee? “He’s got an ACL tear. We’ll see how MCL heals in the next two to three weeks. But, that’s not known if that has to…

January 21, 2014
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Harbaugh: “There was a time I was superstitious about not being superstitious, now I’m suddenly superstitious a little bit.”

SANTA CLARA — Here is the full transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s Monday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department.   Any challenge getting the guys back up for a game that doesn’t have quite the luster as this one yesterday? “Every game’s a challenge. Every game’s a big task. Tampa’s playing extremely good football right now. I’ve been following them the last month, playing good ball. So, we’re into…

December 9, 2013
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