This upcoming season, the 49ers arguably will have the slowest base offense in the NFL. I’m talking 21 personnel – Frank Gore at tail back, Bruce Miller at fullback, Vernon Davis at tight end, Michael Crabtree at flanker and Anquan Boldin at split end. When those players are on the field for the 49ers, their fastest players are the tight end and the quarterback. If the 49ers want more speed,…
Here’s what Quinton Patton said to the media after Practice No.1 on Friday. Q: What was your impression when you first got the play book. PATTON: It was pretty big. I was like, “Dang, I’ve got to learn all of this?” They were like, “No, you’ve just got to learn these for the weekend.” Q: Have you met Colin Kaepernick? PATTON: I spoke to him while he was working out….
In Peter King’s most recent article, he lets us know Jim Harbaugh has been at “a high number of receiver workouts” before this year’s draft. King cites an unnamed NFL G.M., who says this: ‘This isn’t about 2013 for the Niners. Harbaugh knows he’ll be there for a while. They just lost Randy Moss, and Anquan Boldin is there for a year, and they don’t know about A.J. Jenkins. Receiver’s…
Michael Crabtree was interviewed on NFL Total Access Tuesday. Here’s a transcript, courtesy of NFL Network. On why he clicked so well with quarterback Colin Kaepernick: “I think he trusted me more. Playing wide receiver, you need a quarterback who trust you. I feel like he trusted me.” On if there was a lack of trust with quarterback Alex Smith: “I wouldn’t say that. I don’t want a controversy.” On…
In my humble opinion, you’re doing pretty well so far this offseason, Trent. I’m not going to give you a final grade today. That wouldn’t be fair. You still have the draft in a few weeks, and that’s when you need to perform your best. You have 14 picks. You may feel this year’s rookies will be better and cheaper long term than what’s available on the free agent market,…
SANTA CLARA – Anquan Boldin spoke with Bay Area reporters Wednesday afternoon in the 49ers’ locker room for the first time as a 49er. Here’s what he said. Q: What was your reaction when you found out you got traded to the 49ers? BOLDIN: Kind of shocked initially. I really didn’t expect to be traded, especially from the conversations I had with the Ravens before I left to Africa. So…
Many of my readers have been comparing and contrasting the 49ers and Seahawks this week, so I thought it would be interesting to break down the two clubs by offensive, defensive and special teams units. In other words, at this point in free agency which team has the better starting QB? Which team has the better backup QB? Which team has the better group of running backs? And so on….
Greg Cosell spoke on KNBR Tuesday morning. Here’s what he said about the 49ers. Q: What are the 49ers getting in Anquan Boldin? COSELL: Boldin doesn’t win against man coverage very well. He’s a contested-catch receiver. He’s got really good hands, vice grip hands. He’s better in the slot than he is on the outside. You can throw the ball to him when he’s covered and he’ll make catches. He’s…
Last week I listed the five biggest questions the 49ers must answer this offseason. This morning I’m sitting on my bed thinking about the five biggest storylines of the 49ers’ offseason. Here’s what I came up with. Trent Baalke. He’s been inconsistent. In 2011, he arguably had the best offseason in the NFL, drafting Aldon Smith and Colin Kaepernick and Bruce Miller and signing Carlos Rogers and Jonathan Goodwin and…
Yahoo NFL insider Jason Cole spoke on 95.7 The Game this week about the 49ers’ need for a No.2 wide receiver. Here’s what Cole said. Q: Is Percy Harvin a good fit for the 49ers? COLE: “Sure, if you like to buy headaches.” Q: Literally? COLE: “Literally and figuratively. Look, I live in Gainseville, Florida. I watched all of his career. I know an awful lot about Percy. He’s just…
Greg Cosell spoke about the Super Bowl on KNBR Thursday morning. Here’s what he said. Q: What did you think of the 49ers’ final four offensive plays? COSELL: Here’s a perfect case where because the plays failed, everybody thinks that they’re bad play calls, therefore something was horribly wrong. The first play was perfectly understandable because Gore had just run 33 yards and he was not in the next play….
I don’t usually write about the officiating, but the officials put in a weak performance yesterday. They did not take control of the game from the outset. They missed defensive holding calls on both sides and they missed some blatant offensive holding calls, too. I can understand the final play of the game where the back judge and the side judge both swallowed their whistles. The last thing you want…
The 49ers called Sprint Right Option twice in the red zone on Sunday. Kaepernick takes the snap, takes three steps to the right and fires to the flanker, Michael Crabtree, who is sprinting to the sideline. If the quarterback doesn’t throw it by the third step, the play is over except for the QB’s attempt to run and make something happen, if he can. The first time the 49ers ran…
The 49ers lost the Super Bowl 34-31 on Sunday. Here are the grades for the coaches. Coaching: D. The 49ers got outcoached across the board. Jim Harbaugh did not prepare his team well. The 49ers were flagged for an illegal formation on the very first play of the game, a mind-boggling feat. The first play of the game is the play they practice dozens of times all week. It is…
The 49ers lost the Super Bowl 34-31 on Sunday. Here are the grades for the offense. Offensive line: A-. This group struggled in the first half when Haloti Ngata was healthy. They couldn’t open up any holes for Frank Gore, who had 11 carries for just 29 yards. And Anthony Davis gave up a sack on third and goal from the eight yard line. But the 49ers’ O-line dominated in…
This is my Saturday article on the gradual construction of the 49ers’ roster. By GRANT COHN After the 2004 season, the 49ers were the worst team in football. They had practically no talent, they had won two games, and they had one Pro Bowler, long snapper, Brian Jennings. This season, the 49ers are going to the Super Bowl and they have arguably the most talented roster in the NFL. Nine…
These are the current Super Bowl MVP odds, according to Bet Firms: Colin Kaepernick: 7-4. Joe Flacco: 11-4. Frank Gore: 7-1. Ray Lewis: 7-1. Ray Rice: 10-1. Michael Crabtree: 14-1. Anquan Boldin: 16-1. Vernon Davis: 18-1. Torrey Smith: 20-1. Ed Reed: 33-1. Aldon Smith: 40-1. Dennis Pitta: 40-1. Randy Moss: 40-1. Patrick Willis: 50-1. Terrell Suggs: 50-1. Bernard Pollard: 66-1. Dashon Goldson: 66-1. David Akers: 66-1. LaMichael James: 66-1. NaVorro…
KTVU is reporting the San Francisco District Attorney’s office said it will not file charges against Michael Crabtree. San Francisco police had been investigating Crabtree for an alleged sexual assault that occurred in a hotel after the 49ers’ playoff victory over the Packers. Here is District Attorney George Gascon’s statement: “The San Francisco Police Department — Special Victims Unit completed and submitted a thorough investigation of the allegations against Michael…
SANTA CLARA – This is the transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s Friday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. Any complaints? “New haircut there, [Bay Area News Group beat writer] Cam [Inman]?” I got it in Atlanta. I like to go to barbershops on the road. Sometimes I win, sometimes I don’t. “High and tight, looks good.” What resonated with you from your chat with John Madden on KCBS…
Greg Roman started the 49ers’ last two games, the playoff games against the Packers and the Falcons, with the same play – a quick pass to Michael Crabtree at the line of scrimmage. Roman called that play to start the game against the Patriots a month ago, too. Roman’s first play call has been a pass six-of-the-last-eight games. Roman has not led off with a handoff to Frank Gore since…
