The 49ers and Seahawks’ offensive game plans were polar opposites Sunday night. Let me explain. The Seahawks did what the whole world expected – they ran at Ricky Jean Francois and they threw at Carlos Rogers. The Seahawks’ message was simple: We’re going right at your weakest links. Stop us. It was as basic as an offensive game plan gets, and it worked. The 49ers did the reverse. They over-finessed…
Here are the 49ers and Seahawks injury reports, courtesy of the 49ers. 49ers Questionable: LB Tavares Gooden (ribs), LB Clark Haggans (shoulder), WR Mario Manningham (shoulder), DT Justin Smith (elbow), DT Will Tukuafu (concussion) Probable: K David Akers (pelvis), G Alex Boone (knee), LB Navorro Bowman (shoulder), LB Ahmad Brooks (shoulder), CB Tarell Brown (shoulder), S Dashon Goldson (foot), RB Frank Gore (wrist), G Mike Iupati (shoulder), RB Bruce Miller (shoulder), CB…
Let me start by listing everything that’s working against the 49ers this week. They are trying to win their third game in a row. They haven’t won three games in a row this season. Seattle’s crowd and home field advantage – the turf – will be tough for the Niners to overcome, even more so than last Sunday night. At least the Niners won’t face a time change and will have…
Ed Werder is reporting Richard Sherman, the Seahawks’ No.1 cornerback and best defensive player, likely will play against the 49ers Sunday night. Sherman is missing his third straight day of practice today to fly to New York to appeal his four-game suspension for using performance enhancing drugs. Werder says the NFL will not rule until next week, so Sherman should be able to play this week against the 49ers.
SANTA CLARA – This is the transcript of Greg Roman’s Thursday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. Opening Statement: “Good afternoon. Everybody is working hard, everybody is focused. We know how good Seattle’s defense is. I think they are statistically the third ranked defense in the league in yards given up. But the reality of it is, they’re good at every position, safeties do a great job of covering…
This is what Greg Cosell said on KNBR Thursday morning about the 49ers upcoming matchup with the Seahawks. Q: What makes Seattle’s defense so good? COSELL: They play a ton of man, and they play press-man. They’re a challenging defense. They don’t give you things. It’s earned yards. There’s a difference between earned yards and easy yards. The Seahawks defense gives you earned yards. You have to work really hard….
SANTA CLARA – Pete Carroll spoke on conference call with Bay Area reporters Wednesday afternoon. Here’s what he said. Q: How much has Russell Wilson evolved, and how much has the offense evolved since the last time you played the 49ers? CARROLL: We really started out with the idea of not going too far too fast. We didn’t want to overexpose him. We were excited about him in camp and…
SANTA CLARA – This is the transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s Wednesday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. I heard you say yesterday that the Cowboy will ride. Do you expect DT Justin Smith to play Sunday against Seattle? “If it’s humanly possible.” Is it going to be humanly possible? “We’ll see. We’ll see how he feels today and tomorrow.” How do you feel about just the overall…
The 49ers play the Seahawks Sunday night in Seattle. In the meantime, I’ll break down the key matchups. The Seahawks’ cornerbacks vs. Michael Crabtree A year ago, Michael Crabtree beat Brandon Browner for a 41-yard fourth quarter catch to set up David Akers’ game winning field goal in Seattle. If you take away that great catch, Michael Crabtree averages three receptions and 25 yards per game against the Seahawks in…
Here’s what NFL Films analyst Greg Cosell said on The Murph and Mac Show Thursday morning about the Seattle Seahawks cornerbacks’ rough play against the 49ers wide receivers last Thursday night. Q: Did your film study show the Seahawks DBs were too physical with the 49ers? COSELL: “Clearly there were plays when you watch the film, you say, ‘Boy, that probably should be a pass interference penalty.’ [Jim Harbaugh’s] concern…
First Pete Carroll responded to Harbaugh’s claim that the Seahawks’ cornerbacks were too rough Thursday night. Now one of the cornerbacks in question, Richard Sherman, has fired back at Harbaugh as well. Here’s what Sherman told the Seattle Times Wednesday: “Sometimes, man, when the bully gets bullied, that’s how that happens. He’s the same guy who said the other guy was irrational and ignorant for talking about the refs.” Richard…
On Friday, Jim Harbaugh was asked about the Seattle Seahawks cornerbacks “locking up” the 49ers wide receiver with physical play Thursday night. Harbaugh answered by suggesting the cornerbacks – Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner – were holding the Niners receivers. Here’s exactly what Harbaugh said: “I wouldn’t use the words ‘locked up.’ There’s another word I would use. But, we’ll take that up with the officials in New York, and…
SANTA CLARA — Here’s what Greg Roman said about the Seattle Seahawks defense at his Tuesday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. Opening Statement: “Good afternoon. We’re back in the division. The Seattle Seahawks defense, I think, they’re ranked fourth overall statistically. Pretty high against the run, they play a lot of man coverage outside, their corners are doing a real good job. Their secondary has great length. They’re…
