SANTA CLARA — The Niners have been working to improve their 31st –ranked red zone offense the past two practices, and their top two quarterbacks have had a tough time. Alex Smith was sacked four times and he only completed six passes to wide receivers in team drills. His best throw was a 15-yard strike to Mario Manningham, who was knocked out of bounds right in front of the goal…
SANTA CLARA — The Niners’ cornerbacks stood out at Friday’s practice. Tarell Brown beat Randy Moss both times he faced him in one-on-one drills. Brown also broke up two Alex Smith passes intended for Mario Manningham – one in a red zone seven-on-seven drill and the other at the very end of practice. Smith tried to throw a quick pass to Manningham but Brown tipped it out of the receiver’s…
SANTA CLARA – On Friday, Alex Smith discussed why the Niners defense has recently dominated the offense in practice, how the passing game has progressed what he thinks of A.J. Jenkins so far. Here’s a transcript, courtesy of the 49ers. How would you describe the last two days as far as it pertains to who has gotten the better of whom out there? “Lopsided the last couple of days….
SANTA CLARA – Friday in the media tent, Jim Harbaugh explained that his defense dominated his offense in practice. He also explained why Mike Iupati did not participate and why Alex Boone did not finish the team drills. Here’s a transcript of the press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. Opening statement: “Hello. [G] Mike Iupati was excused from practice today, expecting their first child, [his wife] Ashley and Mike…
SANTA CLARA – All four of the Niners quarterbacks struggled in practice today. Alex Smith threw three interceptions – one to Bowman, one to free safety Darcel McBath and one to reserve linebacker Mike Wilhoite. McBath’s interception came after a Mario Manningham tip in the middle of the field, but the other two picks were in the end zone. The entire offense was working on red zone efficiency, so Smith…
SANTA CLARA – Here’s the best of what I could see at Thursday’s padded practice: NaVarro Bowman picked off Alex Smith on the second play of a red zone seven-on-seven drill. Smith was throwing to Vernon Davis, but Bowman had great coverage and easily snatched the pass away before Davis could get his hands on it. Frank Gore was the best running back on the field once again today. It…
SANTA CLARA – Former University of Oregon record-setting running back LaMichael James spoke outside of the media tent this afternoon. He talked about punt returning, learning the playbook and being in a huddle for the first time since high school. Here’s what he said. Q: Do you have any idea how they’re going to use you in this offense? JAMES: I really don’t have any idea. I think the first…
SANTA CLARA – The Niners’ 260-pound running back Brandon Jacobs spoke in the media tent for the first time on Thursday. He discussed the NFC Championship Game and his first impression of Jim Harbaugh’s offensive playbook. Here’s what Jacobs said. Q: Are there things in Harbaugh’s playbook that have surprised you so far? JACOBS: Yes – not as far as the plays, but as far as the formations. There’s a…
SANTA CLARA – Starting center Jonathan Goodwin spoke in the media tent Thursday about guards Alex Boone and Leonard Davis, how the Niners 31st ranked red zone offense can improve and how physical these padded training camp practices can get. Here’s a transcript. Q: Greg Roman said you guys are going to do a lot of red zone work today. Is that one of the main areas you guys need…
SANTA CLARA – Greg Roman spoke at the podium this afternoon and discussed the red zone offense, the running back rotation and his impression of undrafted rookie wide receiver Nathan Palmer. Here’s a transcript, courtesy of the 49ers. Opening statement: “Hey, good morning. How many practices have we had now? [media response: 6] Yeah, you lose count sometimes. It’s all about the next day. [Head] Coach [Jim Harbaugh] was just…
SANTA CLARA – Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio talked about what makes NaVarro Bowman and Carlos Rogers so good, the Niners cornerback competition and how good the defense can be this year. Here’s a transcript, courtesy of the 49ers. What are some of the things that have allowed LB NaVorro Bowman to emerge as an All-Pro, as such a young player, in his second year, last year? And also, you have…
SANTA CLARA – Wednesday afternoon Carlos Rogers discussed what he’s taught the younger cornerbacks, what Randy Moss has taught him and what he makes of the newest Niners cornerback – Perrish Cox. Here’s a transcript. Q: What is this group of cornerbacks like? ROGERS: They’re very talented. These are young guys who are asking me: “What should I do? What should I be thinking on this play?” Perrish Cox (is…
SANTA CLARA – 24-year-old All Pro inside linebacker NaVarro Bowman spoke in the media tent this afternoon. He talked about how he got so good so quickly, what he’s learning from defensive line coach Jim Tomsula and how he can stay grounded. Here’s a transcript. Q: What allowed you to explode the way you did in just your second NFL season and your first season starting? BOWMAN: Going through my…
SANTA CLARA — I’m writing this because A.J. Jenkins is the first round pick and everything he does is news. He is the famous name in Trent Baalke’s envelope days before the draft, and Jim Harbaugh recently defended him to the media. What happened on the practice field today is the most astonishing thing I’ve ever seen in an NFL practice. It was Jenkins’ second rep in one-on-one drills against…
SANTA CLARA – Perrish Cox has been getting beaten on the outside pretty consistently so far in training camp, and today he was getting beaten on the inside during team drills by Kyle Williams. Cox’s main value to the team is his ability to play the “nickel back” – the cornerback who covers the slot receiver. The Niners have one very good nickel back – Carlos Rogers – but they…
SANTA CLARA – Kyle Williams had his best practice of the offseason, and he was the best wide receiver on the field today. I saw him catch nine passes, including the catch of the day – a diving 20-yard reception over the middle in front of Perrish Cox. Williams also beat Tramaine Brock for a deep touchdown in one-on-one drills. If Williams dropped a pass, I didn’t see it happen….
SANTA CLARA – Here’s what I saw from the running backs at Monday’s practice: It’s interesting to watch Kendall Hunter and LaMichael James. They’re about the same size. They’re both quick, shifty running backs. Some people thought James might duplicate Hunter, but they’re actually quite different right now. They complement each other. Hunter is an outstanding blocker, and James isn’t at this point. James got thrown onto his back by…
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…
How did your thud-ball session go yesterday? “Good. Lively, hard-hitting, aggressive, but I thought we worked well together and got a lot out of that first day in pads.” There was one incident on the field where it appeared as if you sent off WR Brian Tyms. Can you explain what happened out there? “Yeah, it was an incident that, just the way we do things, how we do…
SANTA CLARA – Twenty-nine-year-old running back Frank Gore discussed his two-a-day work load and his feelings about finally having to compete with so many talented running backs for carries. Here’s what he said. Q: Harbaugh said you’re doing what you always do – coming in at 6:15 a.m., getting your sweat on. What do you do in that hour? GORE: I do about 30 minutes on the elliptical and then…
