Week 7 grades: The offense

SAN FRANCISCO – The 49ers beat the Seahawks 13-6. Here are the grades for the 49ers’ offense. Quarterbacks: D. Alex Smith did not have a good game, but he did lead one touchdown drive in the third quarter and that was all the 49ers needed to beat the Seahawks. Smith was five-of-five on that drive for 60 yards and a touchdown. On the other drives, he was 9-of-18 for 90…

October 18, 2012
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Week 6 grades: Offense

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…

October 14, 2012
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When will Moss’ big-catch day come?

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…

October 10, 2012
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Harbaugh on Moss: “Just a matter of time before he gets a big-catch day.”

SANTA CLARA – Here’s what Jim Harbaugh said about Randy Moss at the Monday press conference. HARBAUGH: Randy Moss has been just great. A lot of people talk about the past or whatever, I’ve seen nothing other than a guy who works hard and wants to contribute, practices and says and does all the right things. Q: What’s been great about Moss’ play on the field on Sundays? HARBAUGH: Assignment,…

October 8, 2012
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Week 5 grades: 49ers demolish Bills 45-3

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…

October 7, 2012
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Alex Smith on deep passes: “Some days hit all of them and some days you don’t.”

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…

October 3, 2012
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Harbaugh on Bills: “Statistically a very good football team.”

SANTA CLARA – Wednesday in the media tent, Jim Harbaugh answered questions about the Buffalo Bills, Colin Kaepernick, Alex Boone, the rookies, Randy Moss and more. Here’s a transcript, courtesy of the 49ers.   The Bills obviously had a pretty rugged second half last week against the Patriots. What do you see from them? Obviously, they have challenging players on that side of the ball. What did you see from…

October 3, 2012
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Prediction: The 49ers will defeat the Jets, analysis to the first decimal

The 49ers will beat the New York Jets 23-13 on Sunday. Here’s how it will happen: The Jets will get the ball first. Either they’ll win the toss and choose to receive the kickoff or the 49ers will win the toss and defer. Tony Sparano, the Jets’ offensive coordinator, will call a Shonn-Green run up the middle on first down, and Green will gain one yard. Sparano will call a…

September 28, 2012
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Alex Smith: “Looking back on Sunday, could we have taken more shots? For sure.”

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…

September 26, 2012
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Rex Ryan on Alex Smith: “I was hoping he wasn’t as good as he is.”

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…

September 26, 2012
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Alex Smith: “Sometimes the best thing is to protect it in the pocket and take a sack.”

SANTA CLARA – Alex Smith’s Wednesday press conference transcript, courtesy of the 49ers.   How’s that gash doing? “Doing alright. Healing up hopefully.”   Kind of makes you look like a football player. “It’s tough for me to look any tougher, but I guess it does.”   Is it sore? “Pretty cosmetic, not too bad. Just kind of a surface thing.”   Has T Joe Staley been swapping tales about…

September 19, 2012
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Harbaugh on Sprint Theory vs. Marathon Theory, and more

SANTA CLARA – Jim Harbaugh’s Wednesday press conference transcript, courtesy of the 49ers.   You added a new/old outside linebacker? “Added yeah, [LB] Eric Bakhtiari.”   Is that a guy that when you released him you told him stay close by the phone? “No. I wouldn’t say there was anything said like that. We knew that whenever you let somebody go they’re exposed to the rest of the teams in…

September 19, 2012
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Prediction: 49ers blow out Lions

The 49ers will blow out the Lions on national television Sunday night, 33-13. Take this prediction with a grain of salt. I was way off last week, predicting the 49ers would lose by 11 to the Packers. Whoops. Here’s why I think the Niners will beat the Lions by 20: Detroit’s offense will be one-dimensional. They’ll pass almost every offensive snap. Detroit’s offensive line is completely overmatched by the Niners’…

September 14, 2012
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Alex Smith on the Lions: “The D line is definitely a strength of theirs. I mean, just look at them.”

SANTA CLARA – Alex Smith spoke in front of his locker Wednesday afternoon. He talked about turnovers, Randy Moss and the upcoming opponent – the Detroit. Lions. Here’s a transcript. Q: You’ve gone 185 pass attempts without an interception? Who do you give the most credit to that? ALEX SMITH: Throwing the football – the quarterback gets the attention, but it’s very much a team thing. A lot to do…

September 12, 2012
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The view from the press box

When you watch football on television, you only see what’s happening at the line of scrimmage. That’s just half the story. When I watch a game from a press box, I get to watch the other half. I want to tell you about the other half. I watch how the wide receivers run their patterns and how the defensive backs try to cover them. Seeing all that, I try to…

September 11, 2012
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Prediction: Packers defeat 49ers

The Packers will beat the 49ers Sunday, 34-23. The Packers are going to double-team both Justin and Aldon Smith. The left guard and center – T.J. Lang and Jeff Saturday – will take Justin Smith, and the left tackle and running back – Marshall Newhouse and Cedric Benson – will take Aldon Smith. Aaron Rodgers will have enough time to find open receivers and exploit the 49ers secondary, which is…

September 8, 2012
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Roman philosophizes about the read option, and more

SANTA CLARA – Here’s the transcript of Greg Roman’s Thursday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. Opening Statement: “Good afternoon. We had a really good training camp. Thought our guys were dialed in every day. I think we got accomplished what we wanted accomplished in camp and we’re able to turn the page here this week, get into the regular season. So, obviously we’re knee deep in Green Bay. Looking…

September 6, 2012
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Whitner: “I think this will be the first year Randy Moss sees one-on-one coverage.”

SANTA CLARA – Donte Whitner spoke in the media tent Thursday afternoon. He broke down what makes Aaron Rodgers so good and why he doesn’t throw many interceptions. Whitner also predicted Randy Moss would face one-on-one coverage this Sunday. Here’s a transcript. Q: Of all the aspects of the pass game that Aaron Rodgers and the Packers are good at, what jumps out to you? WHITNER: He’s a very confident…

September 6, 2012
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Carlos Rogers on Moss, Crabtree and Greg Jennings

SANTA CLARA – Carlos Rogers spoke in the media tent Wednesday afternoon. He said Randy Moss looks much faster than he did in training camp, and Rogers explained what makes Packers’ wide receiver Greg Jennings tough to cover. Here’s a transcript. Q: Were you just as curious as everybody else to see what Randy Moss had left when he showed up in April? ROGERS: Yeah, I was, but once I…

September 5, 2012
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Alex Smith on the Packers defense: “They do a lot to try to confuse the quarterback.”

SANTA CLARA – Here’s the transcript of Alex Smith’s Wednesday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. What are your emotions for the regular season opener? “Just to prepare myself this week. It’s the opener, everybody has a lot of emotions. Pretty jacked up, getting ready for this. But for me, just to not get ahead of yourself. Just kind of focus on the next meeting, next practice, day-to-day and putting…

September 5, 2012
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