49ers NFC Championship grades: Offense

ATLANTA – The 49ers beat the Falcons 28-24. The 49ers are going to the Super Bowl. Here are the grades for the 49ers’ offense. Offensive line: A. Mike Iupati gave up a sack and was flagged for a holding penalty, but the other four offensive linemen played almost perfectly. Collectively, they helped the 49ers average 5.1 yards per rush. Running backs: A. Frank Gore got the 49ers’ offense going in…

January 20, 2013
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Kaepernick: “I eat a lot of five guys right now.”

SANTA CLARA – This is the transcript of Colin Kaepernick’s Friday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers.   What are your emotions right now as you’re about to jump on a flight and head to Atlanta? “Excited to get there.”   You mentioned a couple of days ago that you liked watching Randall Cunningham, Donovan McNabb, some of those other guys. Did you watch how they disguised the ball and…

January 18, 2013
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Roman on Harbaugh: “He’s got a great mind, he’s ultra competitive, very fair, always looking to do what’s fair and right.”

SANTA CLARA – Greg Roman spoke in the media tent Tuesday afternoon. Here’s what he said about Jim Harbaugh and the 49ers offense, courtesy of the 49ers.   We don’t get to watch WR A.J. Jenkins in practice but can you describe how he’s done this year and I guess the progress he’s made through the course of the season? “Yeah, A.J. is making really good strides, week-to-week. He hasn’t…

January 8, 2013
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Harbaugh has big praise for Kaepernick and Crabtree, big expecations for A.J. Jenkins

Jim Harbaugh spoke on KNBR Wednesday morning. Here’s what he said about Colin Kaepernick, Michael Crabtree and A.J. Jenkins. Q: What did you think of Colin Kaepernick and Michael Crabtree’s performances against the Cardinals? HARBAUGH: Really impressed watching the game in person, and then I watched the TV copy when I got home, but the coaches’ film copy was even better. The two of them really deserve to be highlighted….

January 2, 2013
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Can A.J. Jenkins contribute in the playoffs? Harbaugh: “Do I think he can? Yes. Do we need him to? Yes.”

SANTA CLARA – The 49ers’ first round pick, A.J. Jenkins, did not catch a pass in the regular season. He was not a contributor. This afternoon, Jim Harbaugh was asked if Jenkins can contribute in the playoffs. Here’s what Harbaugh said. Q: Where is A.J. Jenkins in his development? Can he contribute in the playoffs? HARBAUGH: Do I think he can? Yes. Do we need him to? Yes. We need…

December 31, 2012
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What we learned about the 49ers: The good and the not-so-good

SAN FRANCISCO – We learned a few things about the 49ers today – some good and some not-so-good. Here are those things. The Good The 49ers earned the No.2 seed and a first-round Bye with the win and the Packers’ three-point loss to the Vikings. The Packers and Vikings play again next weekend. If the Packers win, they play the 49ers at Candlestick in two weeks, on Saturday, January 12th…

December 30, 2012
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49ers Week 17 grades: Offense

SAN FRANCISCO – The 49ers stomped the Cardinals 27-13. Here are the grades for the 49ers offense. Offensive line: B. They gave up hardly any pressure this week, which was impressive because the Cardinals defense is ranked 10th in the league in sacks. The 49ers’ offensive line did not create much running room, though, and that’s becoming a trend. The Niners gained 129 yards on 37 carries – just 3.5…

December 30, 2012
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Why the 49ers-Cardinals game matters

There are two reasons why this game against the Arizona Cardinals matters deeply to the 49ers. First, there are playoff implications. If the 49ers win, they’ll be 11-4-1. They’ll get the No.2 seed and a first-round Bye if the Packers lose to the Vikings. If the Packers beat the Vikings, the 49ers get the No.3 seed and they would not get a Bye. They would play the No.6 seed at…

December 29, 2012
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Roman: “We’ve just got to execute at a higher level and finish drives better.”

SANTA CLARA – Greg Roman spoke in the media tent Thursday afternoon. Here’s what he said, courtesy of the 49ers.   Opening statement: “Good afternoon, we’ve got a tough opponent this week, Arizona. Their defense, we have a lot of respect for, we know pretty well. You saw what they did to Detroit a couple of weeks ago. They’ve got good players, some guys we really think are among the…

December 27, 2012
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Steve Young: “If I was the coach, I would immediately go to the game plan from Chicago.”

Steve Young spoke on KNBR Wednesday afternoon. This is his take on the 49ers’ blowout loss to the Seahawks and what the Niners should be doing on offense. STEVE YOUNG: They got beat up. They got pounded. I was disappointed. Late in the year, great teams don’t allow that. Earlier in the year, I can see championship teams having struggles in September and early Octorber – just get obliterated in…

December 26, 2012
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Kaepernick on A.J. Jenkins: “We want to get the ball in his hands.”

This is the transcript of Colin Kaepernick’s Week 17 Wednesday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers.   You’ve had a little bit of time to digest and look forward now to this week. Just what are your thoughts at this point? “Have to get this win this week.”   What did you learn from that game? They always say when you lose, you learn something. “You learn something whether you…

December 26, 2012
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Harbaugh says it’s important for the 49ers to gain momentum going into the playoffs

This is the transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s Wednesday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers.   How was your Christmas? “Happy Holidays. Yeah, warmest holiday wishes to everybody. Yeah, excited to be back. Big week for us. And looking forward to a great week of preparation.”   Can you give us any update on WR Mario Manningham? His status? “Yeah, he’s not going to be available the rest of the way.”…

December 26, 2012
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How will the 49ers make up for the loss of Manningham?

As you all have probably heard, Mario Manningham tore the ACL and PCL in left knee against the Seahawks and he’s out for the rest of the season. The 49ers now have lost their No.2 and No.3 wide receivers (Kyle Williams tore up his knee against the Saints). The remaining wide receivers on the 53-man roster are Michael Crabtree, Randy Moss, Ted Ginn Jr. and A.J. Jenkins. How do you…

December 25, 2012
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49ers Week 16 grades: Offense

SEATTLE, Wa. – The Seahawks crushed the 49ers 42-13 Sunday night. Here are the grades for the offense. Offensive line: F. Even though this group only gave up one sack, they gave up pressure the whole game. Kaepernick was running for his life and he took some big hits after throws. In the fourth quarter, Anthony Davis lost his cool and took two cheap shots on 190-pound cornerback Jeremy Lane,…

December 23, 2012
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Manningham out vs. Patriots

The 49ers have announced Mario Manningham is out tonight against the Patriots. This will be the second game in a row Manningham misses with a shoulder injury. Without Manningham last week against the Dolphins, Randy Moss played 29 snaps, was targeted four times and made two catches. Vernon Davis played 57 snaps, was targeted twice and made one catch. Delanie Walker played 40 snaps, was targeted once and made one…

December 16, 2012
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What do 49ers do without Manningham?

Mario Manningham sat out the last two practices with a shoulder injury. If he can’t play against the Dolphins on Sunday, the 49ers lose a key weapon in the pass game. Manningham is second on the team in targets and catches, he’s dropped just one pass all season and he’s a deep threat. How do you suppose the 49ers wide receivers coach and pass game coordinator John Morton is game…

December 7, 2012
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Harbaugh explains why Jenkins and James have not played

SANTA CLARA – This is a follow up to a blog I wrote earlier today on the 49ers top two draft picks – A.J. Jenkins and LaMichael James. Here’s what Jim Harbaugh said about them at his Monday press conference. Q: You talked in July about how A.J. Jenkins is going to be outstanding, yet there was an injury and he didn’t get on the field. Mario got injured yesterday,…

December 3, 2012
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The problem with LaMichael James and A.J. Jenkins

When the 49ers drafted A.J. Jenkins in the first round and LaMichael James in the second round, all we heard was how the 49ers didn’t need those guys this season. The 49ers are so deep and talented, those two high draft picks could afford to “red shirt” their rookie seasons, just lift weights and learn the system. Forget all of that. The 49ers need Jenkins and James right now. James…

December 3, 2012
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49ers Week 13 grades: Offense

SAN FRANCISCO – The 49ers lost to the Rams 16-13. Here are the grades for the 49ers offense. Offensive line: D. They were dominated by the Rams defensive line all game. They gave up constant pressure when Kaepernick dropped back, and they could not open holes in the running game. They also were flagged for numerous penalties. Running backs: D. Frank Gore – 23 rushes for 58 yards, and one…

December 2, 2012
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Harbaugh on A.J. Jenkins and LaMichael James: “We’ll learn more about them and see how they step up.”

SANTA CLARA – Here is the transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s Friday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers.   How did the week go? “Good week. Got a chance to work on our turf field today. And playing on turf this week. But, overall, good week. Thought the focus was good and the practices were good.”   Does the rain infringe upon your preparations at all? “Probably a couple different ways…

November 30, 2012
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