Should 49ers trade for Dwayne Bowe?

Tuesday is the NFL trading deadline, and according to Peter King, Kansas City Chiefs Pro Bowl wide receiver Dwayne Bowe is available. Evan Silva tweeted last night it would take at least a third round pick to trade for Bowe. The 49ers happen to have two third round picks next year. So, I ask you: Should the 49ers trade for Bowe? He’s big, he’s fast and he’s one of the…

October 29, 2012
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Week 7 grades: The defense

SAN FRANCISCO – The 49ers beat the Seahawks 13-6. Here are the grades for the 49ers’ defense. Defensive line: C+. Marshawn Lynch rushed for 103 yards on this group, which has given up 100-yard rushers two weeks in a row. However, when Lynch came Justin Smith’s way, Smith stopped him most of the time. Smith finished with a team-high 9 tackles, but he did get planted on his back by…

October 18, 2012
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49ers-Giants matchups: Part 1 – 49ers run O vs. Giants run D

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…

October 8, 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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Harbaugh on Rodgers: “He’d be something to watch if you didn’t have to play against him.”

SANTA CLARA – Here’s the transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s Wednesday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. You’re looking alive. Did you have enough sleep last night? Everything good? “Yes, everything’s scary good. Word’s out. Jack Jr. reported for duty yesterday at 1:27 p.m. He was 8 pounds, 8 ounces. Came 10 days early, which is to be expected. The good ones like to come in early. And also I think…

September 5, 2012
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Injury Report

SANTA CLARA – Two key 49ers were limping in the locker room this afternoon – Ted Ginn Jr. and Demarcus Dobbs. Dobbs was on crutches and his left leg was wrapped from the ankle to the knee. He hardly put any weight on the injured leg. Ted Ginn Jr. had a boot on his right foot, and as he limped slowly out of the locker room I asked him if…

August 27, 2012
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Five questions for the defense

SANTA CLARA – Tuesday was a defense-dominated day in the 49ers’media tent – Vic Fangio, Larry Grant and Ricky Jean Francois all spoke at the podium, and I spoke one on one to Chris Culliver in the locker room. I asked each guy the same few questions, and here are their responses followed by my conclusions. Question 1: How would you characterize this defense? FANGIO: To me it’s in the…

August 21, 2012
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Alex Smith on Ginn’s offseason: “He’s made a lot of tough catches.”

SANTA CLARA – Alex Smith spoke in the 49ers’ media tent after Jim Harbaugh on Thursday. Smith answered questions about Ted Ginn Jr., Leonard Davis and Mike Singletary, among other topics. Here’s a transcript, courtesy of the 49ers. Guys are predicting in the preseason that you are not going to do a lot of running, establishing a running game, is that going to be the same story this year? “No…

August 9, 2012
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Harbaugh says Crabtree and Ginn will start against the Vikings on Friday

SANTA CLARA – Jim Harbaugh spoke in the 49ers’ media tent on Thursday. He announced  Michael Crabtree and Ted Ginn Jr. are his starting wide receivers for Friday’s preseason opener against the Minnesota Vikings. Here’s the transcript courtesy of the 49ers. How much do you expect to play the regulars on Friday? “Well, it’ll vary from regular to regular.”   How about the starters? “The starters? We’ve got a number…

August 9, 2012
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Training camp report: Monday, wide receivers

SANTA CLARA – Here’s what I saw from the wide receivers at Monday’s practice: A.J. Jenkins played better – he caught four of the five passes thrown his way. In one-on-one drills, he lined up twice against undrafted rookie Anthony Mosley (from the University of Kentucky). The first time, Jenkins ran an intermediate route and telegraphed his cut. Mosley jumped the route and batted the pass away. In the second…

July 30, 2012
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Vernon Davis and the smell of the Super Bowl

SANTA CLARA – Vernon Davis spoke about the Niners Super Bowl expectations this afternoon, and here’s what he said. Q: How does it feel to be back? VERNON DAVIS: It feels awesome. I’m excited about the players we have here. I can’t wait until the season starts. Sometimes you want to skip preaseaon and get right to the season. It’s going to be a good year. I can feel it….

July 26, 2012
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LaMichael James talks

SANTA CLARA – Second-round pick LaMichael James missed seven weeks of the Niners offseason program because he was still in school. He’s working out at the team’s facility this week, and he spoke to reporters today about how he’s gotten himself up to speed, what he can bring to the team, and what he wants to accomplish in training camp. Here’s a transcript. Q: Were you able to make up…

July 23, 2012
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Ted Ginn Jr. says he’s bigger, stronger and healthy

SANTA CLARA – Ted Ginn Jr. attended the minicamps and the OTAs, but he didn’t participate because the knee and ankle injuries that kept him out of the NFC Championship Game all the way back in January still bothered him. Six months later, he’s apparently ten pounds heavier, stronger and healthy. The past two days he’s worked out with the rookies at the team facility, and he gave himself an…

July 23, 2012
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Top five athletes on the Niners

Who are the top-five athletes on the 49ers? This is an interesting question – people ask me all the time who is the Niners best athlete. My answer is a little subjective because we don’t have access to the data the team has. These are my sideline impressions from hours and hours watching the team. I base my rankings on speed, quickness, strength and endurance. Patrick Willis – One of…

July 5, 2012
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Ranking the Niners best players: Nos. 11-15

This is the third installment of my series on the Niners best players. To read the first two installments, click here and here. Today I’m ranking the 11th through the 15th best players on the roster. I’m eager to read your lists. 11. Ted Ginn Jr., PR. – Averaged the 2nd most yards per punt return in the NFL last season (12.3) of all players with more than 25 returns….

June 26, 2012
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Preview: How the Niners match up against the Seahawks

Yesterday we broke down how the Niners match up with the Green Bay Packers. Today, let’s check out how they match up with their main NFC West rivals – the Seattle Seahawks. 49ERS DEFENSE VS. SEAHAWKS OFFENSE: Seattle signed Aaron Rodgers’ backup and Mike McCarthy’s newest quarterback protégé, Matt Flynn. Although he’s only started two games in his NFL career, he’s performed marvelously in both of those games and many…

May 24, 2012
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Moss steals the show

SANTA CLARA – The Niners called today’s practice a Veteran Football School On-field session. Most of the veterans showed up. Frank Gore didn’t, and neither did Mario Manningham or Brandon Jacobs, but that’s OK because VFS is voluntary. But Alex Smith showed up. He stretched with the offensive lineman and chatted with Alex Boone, one of his good friends on the team. Michael Crabtree showed up, too. He stretched next…

May 10, 2012
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The 49ers top-10 offseason battles

With rookie mini camps around the corner and OTAs around the bend too, let’s rank the Niners top-10 offseason battles in reverse order. 10. Michael Crabtree vs. his left foot. Will Crabtree win the battle against his left foot this offseason? He’s 1-2 in his professional career when he’s faced the foot in the summer. It beat him in ’09 when it sustained a stress fracture and held him out…

May 4, 2012
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Grading the 49ers: Punt returners

Before: Tedd Ginn Jr. and Kyle Williams. Grade: B- Why: Until December, Ginn was one of best punt returners in the league and Kyle Williams was a talented backup. Then Ted Ginn Jr. injured his ankle and Kyle Williams sustained a brutal concussion, and punt returner became the Niners biggest weakness. Williams recovered and Ginn didn’t, so Williams had to return punts in the playoffs. The Niners forgot that Williams…

April 29, 2012
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