The Santa Rosa Press Democrat has not posted my sidebar on poor Kyle Williams yet, but they just posted my dad’s column. He puts the Niners season in perspective like only he can. He gives credit to Jim Harbaugh and Alex Smith in general, but in particular, in this game, he points out their shortcomings, which is a fair thing to do. To read my dad’s column, click here.
SAN FRANCISCO – Here are my grades for the 49ers, who lost 20-17 to the New York Giants in the NFC championship game. Alex Smith: D. Most of his 196 passing yards came on two long completions to Vernon Davis. Besides those two plays, Smith completed just 10 of 24 passes (42% – a Tebowesque percentage) for 95 yards. That’s awful. His best plays came when he scrambled – he…
SAN FRANCISCO — This is the live blog for the NFC championship game at Candlestick park between the Niners and the New York Giants. I’ll be updating this frequently from the press box. Since I’m sure all of you are watching or listening to the game, I won’t give play-by-play descriptions of action. Instead, I’ll give my feelings and analysis. 2:10 Ted Ginn Jr. (knee) is inactive today. So is…
The Santa Rosa Press Democrat just posted the article I wrote for their Sunday paper. It’s about the art gallery that’s growing on the hallway outside the team’s meeting rooms. Not just everyone can view the gallery, though. Only players and coaches and certain football-related personnel can. 49ers public relations director Bob Lange graciously invited me in to see it this week. In my article, I describe it and I…
The Santa Rosa Press Democrat just posted my dad’s prediction column for the Niners-Giants NFC championship game. We agree that the Niners will win, but we disagree on the score. He says they’ll win by one touchdown (27-20). I say they’ll win by two (31-17). To read his reasoning, click here.
Here’s a delightful column from the New York Daily News’ Filip Bondy on “ten good reasons most football fans – and non-football fans – in San Francsico are softer than the unarmed Giant fans who figure to be in their midst on Sunday.” Among other things, he says 49er fans are generally too fit, too wealthy and too smart. Worst of all, they ride around on cable cars and “they…
Here’s my prediction for the NFC championship game. The Niners are going to beat the New York Giants 31-17 because they have better players and better coaches. Oh, and they have home field advantage, too. The Giants defensive game plan is going to be too simple. They’re going to commit eight defenders to stopping Frank Gore and the inside run game, and then they’re going to double cover Vernon Davis…
The Santa Rosa Press Democrat just posted my article for their Saturday paper. It’s a Niners fans’ guide to the NFC championship game. If you’re driving to the game, I’ve got a shortcut to help you beat traffic. If you’re taking public transportation instead, I’ve got all the relevant BART and MUNI info. And if you’re staying at home, I’ve got the television info, too. You name it, this guide’s…
The Santa Rosa Press Democrat just posted my article for Friday. It’s about how these 49ers set the tone in their football games. It’s also about Tony Montana vs. Joe Montana, in a sense. I spoke to Anthony Dixon and Blake Costanzo for the piece. To read it, click here. To set the tone for yourself, listen to ‘Tony Montana’ here. (Warning: Curse words)
My dad wrote his column for Friday on the lexicon of Jim Harbaugh. He chronicled all of the head coach’s favorite phrases. He even grouped them by category. The Cohn Zohn feels confident this is a comprehensive lexicon, but if you discover an omission please bring it to light. To read my dad’s column click here.
Here’s how I expect the Niners offense to attack the red hot New York Giants defense. I expect the Niners to split out Vernon Davis at wide receiver often, much more than usual. The Giants are going to double team him, probably with a cornerback and a safety. I expect the Niners to use that against them. They’ll split Davis out wide and have him run deep. Two Giants defenders…
Here’s what Greg Cosell said about Alex Smith this morning on KNBR’s Murph and Mac Show. Q: The reasons I liked the Niners to beat the Saints are the same reasons I like them to beat the Giants – coaching, defense and Candlestick. But I guess we’ve got to add quarterback to that list, huh? COSELL: And you’re right about that. They’re defense, despite Drew Brees’ numbers, played exceptionally well….
Ralph Barbieri asked Steve Young about Alex Smith Wednesday afternoon on KNBR. Here’s what Young said. BARBIERI: I was never convinced the Jim Harbaugh fully trusted Alex Smith until the end of the Saints game. Is that fair to say? YOUNG: “Well, let’s get a little perspective. They’ve been together on the field for six months total. So, we talked about is before the first game: ‘Please, just start slow….
After his knockout hit on Pierre Thomas last Saturday Donte Whitner is famous around the country for his viciousness, but around the 49ers practice facility he’s known for his politeness and mild manner. It’s as if he’s two different people – on-the-field Donte and off-the-field Donte. I sat down with Whitner at his locker this afternoon and asked him to describe his two different identities. To read my article on the two…
SANTA CLARA – Here’s the transcript of Alex Smith’s Wednesday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. How do you see the Giants defense get different the last few weeks from the team you saw November 13th? “I guess I’d kind of agree with Coach [Harbaugh] in the sense that when we played them, obviously they were coming off a pretty big high. They were on a big win streak, had…
SANTA CLARA – Here’s the transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s Wednesday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. Last week you said you didn’t want to overcook it. Is that the same message this week? “Yes, I mean we prefer not to overcook it. Burnt meat, stale bread doesn’t taste real good. Like to get it just right. Not undercooked, not overcooked.” How much have you looked at the weather reports for…
SANTA CLARA – Here’s the transcript of Vernon Davis’ Wednesday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. Vernon, obviously you guys aren’t in that underdog role have you have been in earlier in the year. Does anything change now that you’re not in that role anymore? “To answer your question, no it doesn’t. We can still go out and play our game. We’re not worried about everything that everyone has to…
The Santa Rosa Press Democrat just posted my dad’s column for Thursday, so I’m linking to it. When they post my article I’ll link to that, too. Here’s an excerpt from my dad’s column: “Alex Smith had one great game. Check that. He had one great part of one game. He needs to show it wasn’t a fluke, a one-time deal. He needs to do it again. Joe Montana and…
The Santa Rosa Press Democrat’s sports section is doing a special playoff package every day this week, and for Wednesday we’re focusing on the Giants and 49ers wide receivers. The great Phil Barber was assigned to write on the Giants wide outs. I got the Niners wide outs. Quite a contrast. To read about the Bi-Coastal Battle of the Wide Receivers, please click on the following two links. Phil on…
The Santa Rosa Press Democrat just posted my dad’s Tuesday column, so I’m linking it because I’m a good son and it’s a good column. We drove down to Santa Clara together this morning and my dad asked Harbaugh a series of questions 15 minutes into the press conference. He wrote his column on his interaction with the head coach. To read the column, click here.
