It comes to pass for 49ers, Panthers

This is my Thursday column on the difference between the 49ers and Panthers. SANTA CLARA – The 49ers face a version of themselves this Sunday. If the 49ers are a “Bob,” the Panthers are a “Roberto.” For the most part, the 49ers and Panthers are the same team: Excellent, hard-hitting defenses. Quarterbacks who run and throw. Offenses built around running the ball. And coaches who are the sons of coaches…

January 9, 2014
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Dilfer: “If you’re a skill position guy for the Niners, you’re only getting the ball if the play was designed to get you the ball.”

Trent Dilfer answered questions about the 49ers’ offense Wednesday morning on 95.7 The Game. Here is a transcript. Q: After last game, Michael Crabtree talked openly about wanting the ball more. He was visibly frustrated after a couple of plays. How does a quarterback handle that? DILFER: After you learn the hard way early in your career how to deal with it, you kind of like it. You want a…

December 18, 2013
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Cam or Kap? Still a tough call

Here is my Thursday column on the Cam-Kap conundrum. SANTA CLARA – “Merrill Feuerborn was adamant that we had to get Cam Newton and he was the future of the NFL,” Jim Harbaugh said at a recent press conference. Who in the world is Merrill Feuerborn? He is Harbaugh’s father-in-law. “You’ve got to give him credit, he saw it,” said Harbaugh, grinning. “I think the whole football world saw it…

November 7, 2013
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Dilfer thought criticism was unfair

Former 49ers quarterback Trent Dilfer said he felt particularly motivated to lead the Ravens to a Super Bowl title in 2000. Now as an NFL analyst for ESPN, Dilfer said he used as motivation the criticism he was getting as a sub-par quarterback when he entered the game. Dilfer felt it was demeaning to be criticized as a guy who just didn’t throw games away, but rather played conservative so…

February 3, 2013
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How will Mike Nolan game plan against the 49ers offense?

On KNBR Tuesday afternoon, Trent Dilfer said Mike Nolan likes to take away an offense’s fast ball. What do you think Nolan will consider the 49ers’ fast ball? Do you think he’ll double team Vernon Davis or Michael Crabtree? Do you think Nolan will load the box with eight defenders, or do you think he’ll play a two-deep zone and attempt to stop Frank Gore with seven defenders? I’m curious…

January 15, 2013
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Dilfer: “What do you load up to stop when you’re playing the 49ers right now with Colin?”

Trent Dilfer spoke on KNBR Tuesday morning. Here’s what he said. Q: What did you think of the 49ers victory over the Packers? DILFER: I’ve never been happier to be wrong than I was this weekend. Man, I was really scared for the Niners. I just didn’t know if they had an answer for Aaron Rodgers, I didn’t know how Kap would respond. I’m not one of these guys that…

January 15, 2013
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Young, Dilfer and Jaworski debate the 49ers QB change

Former quarterbacks Steve Young, Ron Jaworski and Trent Dilfer just spoke on ESPN about the 49ers recent quarterback change. Here’s what they said. DILFER: “I’m really wrestling with this decision to go with Colin Kaepernick. I see the splash. I see the athleticism, stature, big arm – adds an element to their team. “At the same time, I see three decisions he made yesterday against the St. Louis Rams that…

December 3, 2012
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Dilfer: “Jim fought for drafting Kaepernick.”

I just read a piece by Sports Illustrated writer Don Banks that has some fascinating background on the 49ers QB situation. Here are two brief excerpts from the 2,000 word article. Banks writes: “….like all NFL head coaches to some degree, Harbaugh ultimately wants his hand-chosen guy to succeed and prove the wisdom of his foresight. And he is convinced Kaepernick can lead the 49ers to their first Super Bowl…

November 30, 2012
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ESPN disputes Trotter’s report about Colin Kaepernick

Breaking news: ESPN is disputing Jim Trotter’s report that the 49ers have made Kaepernick the starter against the Saints. According to ESPN’s Trent Dilfer, Harbaugh told Smith that Kaepernick will get the first-team reps in practice, but the starting job is still an open competition. First team reps certainly implies Kaepernick is the starter. But it does mean there’s still some ambiguity. Obviously, this situation is fluid. We not only…

November 21, 2012
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Cosell: “Dilfer lost his job after being the Super Bowl winning quarterback.”

Here is the complete transcript of Greg Cosell’s interview from this morning’s Murph and Mac Show. Enjoy. Q: What does a Redskins team that was shut out Sunday in Toronto bring to the table? COSELL: Offensively? I would again answer not too much. And it starts with a revamped o-line that is struggling. And I know I tell you this every week, and every week I just validate it on film…

November 3, 2011
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The lowdown on the 49ers quarterback meetings

Here for your pleasure and enlightenment, and because it’s a Bye Week and nothing’s going on, I wrote a piece about what happens in quarterback meetings, focusing on 49ers quarterback meetings. The article follows. SANTA CLARA — What happens in an NFL quarterback meeting? And specifically, what happens in a 49ers quarterback meeting? You’ve probably wondered about all that. A quarterback meeting is something you never can attend, a place…

October 19, 2011
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Trent Dilfer’s #filmstudy of the 49ers

Trent Dilfer just wrote a series of tweets on the 49ers which he tagged #filmstudy. Here’s what he wrote. 1. Alex Smith DEALING in Big Moments whole year, Vertical accuracy has been very good. Passing game making strides” 2. “Iupati 77 is going to be a premier OG for years. Huge, great feet, great length, dominant at point and fantastic puller” 3. “O-line continues to gel and improve in their…

October 18, 2011
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