SAN FRANCISCO – The 49ers just lost 26-3 to the New York Giants. Here are the grades for the 49ers’ offense. Quarterbacks: F. This was Alex Smith’s worst game under Jim Harbaugh. Smith threw three picks – the most he’s thrown since 2007. In the first half he missed a handful of open receivers. Then he tried to force a few passes and got picked off. At the end of…
SANTA CLARA — Here’s what Greg Roman said about Alex Smith and the 49ers offense at the Thursday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. Can you just talk a little bit about QB Alex Smith and the improvement you’ve seen in him and what may have allowed him to take what looks like a pretty big leap this year? “I think Alex is performing exactly as we hope any…
SANTA CLARA — Vic Fangio spoke in the media tent on Thursday afternoon. Here’s what he said about the New York Giants offense, courtesy of the 49ers. Can you point to some of the major differences with the Giants offense from when you played them nine months ago? “There’s not much difference. No sense for them to change a successful formula. They have a real good offense, starting with…
SANTA CLARA — One Bay Area reporter asked Mario Manningham at his press conference Thursday afternoon why he’s so good catching passes along the sidelines. Here’s what he said. MANNINGHAM: When I was little, our yard wasn’t very big. Most kids when they’re little, they play one foot in. We always played two feet in, knowing that the yard was a little bit snug. If you didn’t get two feet…
SANTA CLARA — Here’s what Mario Manningham said about playing for the 49ers at his Thursday press conference. Q: Is it still in your mind that you could have been with the Giants? MANNINGHAM: Yeah, but no, because it’s not like I left a good team and went to a bad team. It’s a little bit easier because we’re just as capable of going back as they are. I don’t…
SANTA CLARA – Mario Manningham spoke in the media tent Thursday afternoon. Here’s what he said about the matchup with the New York Giants. Q: Any extra emotion for this week? MANNINGHAM: Knowing it’s my old team, I’m going to go out and treat them like we treat everyone else. I’m going to be a little fired up. Q: Does it make the film study easier knowing who you’re going…
SANTA CLARA – Here’s the transcript of Alex Smith’s Wednesday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. It’s become one of the better rivalries in the history of football. Are you looking for the same kind of game coming up? “Big game, no question. The history last year, we played them twice, the NFC Championship Game, all that. New year though, I think both teams realize that. Obviously it’s…
SANTA CLARA – Here’s what Victor Cruz said about the 49ers-Giants matchup to Bay Area reporters Wednesday morning on a conference call. Q: The Niners have shut down some good QBs and limited opposing passing games. How have they done that? CRUZ: I think it’s their aggressive play. I think their safeties do a good job of being heavily involved in the run. Dashon Goldson, he covers a lot of…
SANTA CLARA – Here’s what Tom Coughlin said to Bay Area reporters about the New York Giants Wednesday morning on a conference call. Q: How much of the success of your defense is related to your abilities to get pressure on the quarterback with just four guys? COUGHLIN: That’s always been our strong point. We haven’t gotten much pressure this year comparatively. Obviously it’s something we’re trying to regenerate. Hopefully…
SANTA CLARA – New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin spoke to Bay Area reporters Wednesday morning on a conference call. Here’s what he said about the 49ers. Q: Earlier today you told the New York writers nobody’s giving you a chance to beat the 49ers. Do you really believe that? COUGHLIN: That was my first impression earlier in the week. I probably should not have said it but I…
On Monday, Jim Harbaugh said Randy Moss will have his “big-catch day” soon, meaning Moss will catch a lot of passes. Here’s my question to you: How soon? Do you expect him to catch about eight passes and a touchdown against the Giants? Or do you think he’ll continue to get one target per game and play fewer snaps than Kyle Williams? I think the latter will happen. I think…
The 49ers play the Giants on Sunday at Candlestick. In the meantime, I’ll break down a couple of key matchups per day. CB Chris Culliver (6-0, 199 pounds, 4.36 40-yard dash) vs. WRs Domenik Hixon (6-2, 197, 4.39) and Rueben Randle (6-3, 208, 4.43). When the 49ers played the Giants Week 10 last season, Culliver mostly matched up man-to-man against Mario Manningham, who caught 6 passes for 77 yards and…
SANTA CLARA – Here’s what Jim Harbaugh said about the 49ers offense at his Monday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. We talked to offensive coordinator Greg Roman yesterday. He noted that it was obvious early on that QB Alex Smith was hot. That WR Michael Crabtree was hot. When you see that early on, do you then start to tailor the calls to fit the hot hands, so…
The 49ers play the Giants at Candlestick on Sunday. In the meantime, I’ll break down a couple of key matchups per day. The 49ers running attack vs. the Giants run defense This is a lopsided match up. The 49ers average 6.1 yards per rush – that’s No.1 in the league by almost a full yard per carry. The Giants defense allows 4.5 yards per carry – 25th best in the…
SAN FRANCISCO — Here are the grades for the 49ers 45-3 demolition of the Bills – a truly awful team. Quarterbacks: A. Alex Smith had the best statistical performance of his career. His QB rating was a near-perfect 156.2. He also rushed 3 times for 49 yards. He completed 18-of-24 passes, but only two passes were bad – a screen he threw too early to Kendall Hunter, and an overthrown…
SANTA CLARA — Wednesday at his locker, Alex Smith answered questions about throwing deep passes, among other things. Here’s a complete transcript, courtesy of the 49ers. Can you talk about just the challenge that the Bills bring? Head Coach Jim Harbaugh called them the best defensive line you guys have faced. “Yeah, extremely talented on the defensive side of the ball, across the board. It starts up front with their…
Here are the grades for the 49ers 34-0 trouncing of the Jets – the worst team in the NFL despite their 2-2 record. Quarterbacks: C. Alex Smith completed 12 of 21 passes for 143 yards. No touchdowns or turnovers. He did not complete a pass on third down. Twice he was sacked because he held ball for more than three seconds in the pocket. Colin Kaepernick attempted one pass –…
Alex Smith’s Wednesday press conference transcript from Youngstown, Ohio, courtesy of the 49ers. I think a lot of fans were wondering, in the 2nd half, why you guys didn’t push the ball down field more. Is that a factor of being down 17-3 and they’re just kind of taking that stuff away from you? “Yeah, for sure. I thought looking back on it, especially there in the 2nd half, a…
Jim Harbaugh’s Wednesday press conference transcript from Youngstown, Ohio, courtesy of the 49ers. How was the walk through back there? Seemed like old times being back in the parking lot? “Yeah, very familiar.” Are the buses a new addition this year? “Yeah, that was, Lou [Pezzola] added that.” Who’s Lou? Help me out. “Lou’s one of our security personnel.” So he came up with that one on…
New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan spoke to Bay Area reporters on a conference call Wednesday morning. He talked about the key players on the 49ers’ offense, the seven blue-chip players on the 49ers’ defense and the how the Jets’ defense will adjust to the loss of Darrelle Revis. The transcript. Q: Donte Whitner said the key for him in facing the Jets offense is keeping an eye on…
