SANTA CLARA – Jim Harbaugh spoke to reporters after Thursday’s practice. He was thrilled with how his team performed in this minicamp, and he detailed what he liked so much. Here’s the transcript of his interview, courtesy of the 49ers. Opening Statement: “Very excited. That was an A++ practice today, and that goes for the whole Mini-Camp. It was outstanding by our guys. Tremendous effort, and really over the…
SANTA CLARA – Yesterday Alex Smith was the star. Today it was Colin Kaepernick. The Niners backup quarterback threw three touchdowns and only a few incompletions all practice. His best pass was a 20-yard line drive to Kyle Williams in the end zone. Williams was tightly covered by Donte Whitner. Kaepernick threw the ball so hard Whitner didn’t have a chance to bat it away. Earlier in a red zone…
SANTA CLARA – Justin Smith philosophized about his team and his future this morning at the 49ers facility. He said he’s got three, maybe four more good years of football in him, and that the Niners window to win the Super Bowl is right now. Here’s everything he said. Q: How’s minicamp going? JUSTIN SMITH: It’s been good, every day just keep installing, getting everything done that you can get…
SANTA CLARA – Here are some unofficial stats from today’s minicamp. Alex Smith completed 27 of 32 passes. In red zone drills he completed two touchdowns. For about an hour he didn’t miss a single pass. Most of his throws were short and intermediate ones to open receivers. Smith is clearly the most confident Niners QB when it comes to making decisions in the pocket. He was throwing the ball…
SANTA CLARA – It was defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s turn to explain the state of the Niners defense today. He said it has the potential to be the best defense he’s ever coached. He also talked about turnovers, and why he’s confident his players can continue to force them at a high rate next season. Finally, he spoke specifically about Aldon Smith and new cornerback Perrish Cox, and how they’re…
SANTA CLARA – Vernon Davis stated last week he believes the Niners should be Super Bowl favorites. Today he discussed that statement, as well as the progress he and the offense is making in minicamp. Q: How was it out there today for you? VERNON DAVIS: It was nice, it was nice. We got some things done. We had a chance to install some plays and catch up on some…
SANTA CLARA – Last season, Aldon Smith played about half of the Niners’ defensive snaps and recorded a whopping 16 sacks. This offseason he’s working to become an every-down player, and today he talked to reporters about his progress. Here’s what he said. Q: How’s the transition going to being an every-down guy? ALDON SMITH: It’s going good so far. I’m enjoying the learning process and the watching-myself-get-better process. Q:…
SANTA CLARA – Alex Smith threw two touchdowns and converted one third down in Tuesday’s afternoon practice. He threw his first touchdown to Vernon Davis. The offense lined up in the red zone, Davis ran toward the end zone and Smith threw the ball high over Davis’ back shoulder. Davis leaped in the air, caught the pass and landed on his back. It was the catch Wes Welker couldn’t make…
SANTA CLARA – Carlos Rogers hasn’t practiced for most of the Niners’ offseason program. Today, Jim Harbaugh said Rogers has been “working through something,” which means he’s injured. Rogers spoke after Harbaugh about that injury and about the offseason in general. Here’s what he said. Q: Are you working through an injury right now? ROGERS: Just strained my right calf a little bit in the workouts, toward the beginning of…
SANTA CLARA – This afternoon offensive coordinator Greg Roman spoke for the first time this offseason. He explained how the offense is working on red zone and third down situations, and he said the main goal for the team is to not jump offside at all this minicamp. Below is everything Roman said. ROMAN: Obviously we’re knee-deep in minicamp right now. It was neat during Phase 1, with our first…
SANTA CLARA – Alex Smith spoke to reporters after the Niners morning practice at minicamp on Tuesday. He said the offense has been able to try new thing and “push boundaries” because they have a full offseason this year. They hope the boundary pushing will improve efficiency on third down and in the red zone. Personally, Smith said he’s slowly perfecting his new throwing mechanics, and he’s changed exercises –…
While we’re waiting for next week’s Mini-Camp to arrive, let’s play a game. Who are the top-five running backs in the NFL? I’ll play the game first, and then you go. Arian Foster – Houston Texans: Led the NFL in yards from scrimmage the last two seasons with 4,072. Foster also seemed unstoppable in last season’s playoffs. He rushed for 153 yards and two touchdowns in the Wild Card game…
SANTA CLARA – Last season, Anthony Dixon was the 49ers’ short-yardage running back. Now, he’s competing for that job with Brandon Jacobs, whom San Francisco signed to a one-year, $1.5 million contract in March. Dixon caught up with reporters today to talk about his mentality this offseason, the improvements he’s made to his game and his no-gain carry on third-and-one in the NFC championship game. Q: What specifically do you…
Our friendly poster Jack Hammer sent me a tweet this morning with an idea for a blog. He urged me to investigate the statistical similarities between Alex Smith and Andrew Luck in each quarterback’s first season playing under Jim Harbaugh. So, I did. Thanks for the idea, Jack. Before I get into it, let me just say I’m aware this is an imperfect comparison, primarily because Luck was competing against…
SANTA CLARA – After practice, three of the 49ers quarterbacks – Alex Smith, Josh Johnson and Scott Tolzien – had a long discussion in the weight-lifting tent adjacent to the practice field as they did bicep curls. Occasionally Smith would set down his weights, face the other quarterbacks and elucidate a point with his hands – pantomiming what looked like routes. When Smith did this, Tolzien and Johnson sat, listened…
SANTA CLARA – 49ers running backs coach, Tom Rathman, spoke to a group of reporters after practice this afternoon. I transcribed the interview below. Here are Rathman’s main points: Brandon Jacobs “is a very physical runner” who “has the ability to pack it up inside and run over guys…If we want somebody to run outside, we’ll put somebody else in.” The Niners want to keep Frank Gore “fresh so he’s…
SANTA CLARA – Below is the transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s Tuesday post-practice interview, courtesy of the 49ers. Here are Harbaugh’s main points: Will Tukuafu is playing defensive tackle and full back in practice, like Isaac Sopoaga did last season. Vernon Davis has improved his route running and he’s having an excellent offseason. Rookie defensive end Cam Johnson did not attend practice due a minor procedure but he should be ready…
SANTA CLARA – This is the last week of OTAs for the Niners, and today was the one practice open to the media. It started like all their other practices – drills first, then scrimmaging, but one thing was different. Alex Smith flat out dominated the quarterback drills. Nearly every warm up pass to every uncovered receiver was perfect. Last year during training camp he’d miss a few passes as…
Although the 49ers offensive play calling needs to improve next season, Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman called their fair share of good plays last season. Here were their top-five. Frank Gore’s 46-yard run at Detroit in Week 6 thanks to the “wham” block from Delanie Walker on Ndamukong Suh. The Niners used Suh’s aggressiveness against him, allowing him to run free into the backfield on a run play before Delanie…
49ERS DEFENSE VS. PATRIOTS OFENSE: Arguably the best offense against the best defense in the NFL, but San Francisco matches up well and here’s why. The Niners can harass Tom Brady with their four defensive lineman – Aldon Smith, Justin Smith, Ray McDonald and Ahmad Brooks – and cover the skill players with their seven other defenders (linebackers and defensive backs). The Niners can do what the Giants defense did…
