Jim Tomsula: “You either pull together or you fraction off.”

This is the transcript of Jim Tomsula’s Friday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department. Opening comments: “Injuries as far as practice goes, and I just went back in there and checked. Again, [LB NaVorro] Bowman, [S Eric] Reid, [TE Vernon] Davis will be in practice today. So, Vernon will be out there today. We’ll see exactly where that is with Vernon. The other guys I don’t think there’s…

October 2, 2015
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Eric Mangini: “We try to give sameness and likeness every week.”

SANTA CLARA — This is the transcript of Eric Mangini’s Thursday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department. Opening comments: “So, we are full-go on Green Bay. Obviously, another really, really good quarterback, another really, really good offense, very effective in running. What they do, and I’m sure you watched the game Monday night, he’s so effective with cadence, with his pre-snap reads in terms of evaluating what you’re…

October 1, 2015
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Trent Baalke on Aldon Smith, Colin Kaepernick and Vernon Davis

SANTA CLARA – 49ers’ general manager Trent Baalke just spoke with 49ers’ beat reporters at Levi’s Stadium. Here are selected quotes. Q: What’s your impression of Aldon Smith these days? BAALKE: Aldon’s like any young player, he’s growing up, he’s maturing. You see that with a lot of these guys. Some of them get themselves in a few more situations that you wish they didn’t. If you asked them, I…

August 4, 2015
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49ers’ Colin Kaepernick rages against fan on Twitter

This is my Friday column. Dear Colin, Even though you are 27 years old and have been a starter in the NFL for three seasons, you still lack a quarterback’s temperament. It troubles me. You actually pick fights with fans on Twitter. You picked one on Wednesday. Let’s analyze what you did. This is a teachable moment. At 3:37 Wednesday afternoon, you tweeted the workout you did that day: “1000…

February 19, 2015
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NFL snubs Colin Kaepernick, names Aaron Rodgers and Andrew Luck offensive players of the month

The NFL just named Andrew Luck and Aaron Rogers — not Colin Kaepernick — the offensive players of the month. When Jim Harbaugh was talking about Kaepernick’s greatness, I missed hearing about Kaepernick’s stats for the month of November. How do they stack up? November stats: Kaepernick: 87 completions/152 attempts (57.2 completion percentage); 1,017 passing yards; 6.69 yards per attempt; 4 TDs; 3 INTs; 78.2 passer rating. Luck: 88 completions/144…

December 4, 2014
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Kap needs instruction, not negotiation, from his coach

Here is my Thursday column on Jim Harbaugh’s logic and Colin Kaepernick’s earning potential. I had to laugh at some of the things Jim Harbaugh said Wednesday at the NFL’s owners meetings in Orlando. Harbaugh said Colin Kaepernick is “one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL,” and he deserves the big bucks. “I think we all know what Colin’s earning potential is,” Harbaugh said. First, I have to laugh…

March 27, 2014
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49ers stock report

Here is my Wednesday column. Here is the current stock report of six prominent 49er figures, letting you know if their stock is up or down. Jim Harbaugh: Stock down For eight consecutive years, his stock was up, up, up. That trend ended Jan. 19, the day Harbaugh lost the NFC Championship to the Seahawks the same way he lost the Super Bowl to the Ravens the season before —…

March 5, 2014
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49ers’ weak pass rush gives Packers hope

Here is my Saturday column on the upcoming 49ers-Packers playoff game. GREEN BAY, Wis. — The 49ers can beat the Packers, have beaten the Packers, know how to beat the Packers, should beat the Packers and probably will beat the Packers on Sunday.But don’t count out the Packers just yet. A few factors work in their favor.The first factor is their quarterback, Aaron Rodgers. That’s an easy one. He’s still…

January 4, 2014
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Rodgers on the 49ers’ pass defense: “I don’t think they’re too concerned about it.”

SANTA CLARA — Aaron Rodgers spoke to Bay Area reporters on a conference call Wednesday morning. Here is a transcript. Q: Was there any rust for you last week? RODGERS: No, I felt pretty good. I made a couple of bad decisions, but overall felt pretty good getting back into it. Q: What was the biggest adjustment for you? RODGERS: It’s a little bit like preseason, such a long layoff….

January 1, 2014
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49ers pass defense by the numbers

The 49ers run defense has been outstanding the past three games, allowing just 61 rushing yards per game — second-best in the league behind the Seahawks over that span. The 49ers pass defense hasn’t been outstanding the past three games. 49ers defensive stats and NFL ranks over the past three games: Opponents’ passer rating: 87.1 (20th-best in the NFL) Opponents’ completion percentage: 63.36 (22nd) Opponents’ yards per pass attempt: 6.7…

December 30, 2013
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49ers 34, Packers 28: Grades

SAN FRANCISCO – My grades for the 49ers after their 34-28 win over the Packers: KAEPERNICK: A. He outplayed Aaron Rodgers and shredded the Packers’ defense despite having no rushing threat, one wide receiver and one tight end. Kaepernick may be the only quarterback in the NFL who can pull that off. Here’s his final stat line: 29-of-37 for 412 yards, 3 TDs, a 129.4 passer rating, 9-for-18 on third…

September 8, 2013
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49ers-Packers matchups: Pass rushers v. Eddie Lacy

The Packers’ favorite personnel grouping on offense is “11” personnel – one running back, one tight end and three receivers. This gives Aaron Rodgers four immediate receiving threats on the line of scrimmage and one running back in the backfield to pick up a blitzer or a free rusher. But the Packers’ rookie running backs, Eddie Lacy and Johnathan Franklin, did not pass protect in college. Pass protection is new…

September 7, 2013
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Packers have a painful plan for 49ers, but a solution is in the strategy

Here is my Friday column previewing the 49ers-Packers game. Jim Harbaugh has to understand Clay Matthews isn’t bluffing. Matthews wants to take out Colin Kaepernick. Every Packer does. Matthews said so. If the 49ers run the read-option, the Packers will try to hurt Kaepernick. They’d be nuts not to. It’s legal. It’s smart. Knocking him out is the Packers’ best chance to win, and the read-option play is the best…

September 6, 2013
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Fangio: “The quarterback has never gotten any special attention. The passer gets special attention.”

SANTA CLARA – Vic Fangio spoke in the media tent Thursday afternoon. Here’s a transcript. Q: Nnamdi Asomugha still is in the blue non-contact jersey. What is his availability for Sunday? FANGIO: We’re confident he’ll be able to play on Sunday. Q: Is he the No.3 cornerback? FANGIO: That’s the way we’re thinking about it right now. Q: Are you going to go by matchups for the No.3 guy, or…

September 5, 2013
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This won’t be a rehearsal, this is a game to shape the 49ers’ roster

Here is my Saturday column previewing the 49ers’ Sunday preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings. If you expect the 49ers to treat Sunday’s preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings like a dress rehearsal for the regular season, you may be disappointed. Most NFL teams treat the third exhibition game like a dress rehearsal. The 49ers did that last season – Alex Smith played the entire first half. But, I’ll be…

August 24, 2013
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Whitner explains what it takes for a first-round pick to succeed

SANTA CLARA – Donte Whitner spoke in the media tent Monday afternoon. Here’s what he said. Q: Does it put a strain on you when you’re working with a new free safety? WHITNER: It’s not really a strain, but I have to do most of the vocal stuff back there. When Dashon was here, he had his side of the football field and I had my side of the football…

August 5, 2013
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Pre-training-camp playoff and Super Bowl predictions

We have nine more days to kill before training camp starts, so let’s predict which 12 teams will make the playoffs and which team will win the Super Bowl. I’m not looking to start a fight, just a discussion. I reserve the right to change my predictions as many times as I want before the season starts. NFC West: Seattle Seahawks. They won 11 games last season, and with the…

July 15, 2013
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Which NFL quarterbacks will have passer ratings better than 95 this season?

Last season, 10 quarterbacks finished the regular season with passer ratings better than 95.0. Those quarterbacks were: 1. Aaron Rodgers: 108.0 2. Peyton Manning: 105.8 3. Alex Smith: 104.1 4. Robert Griffin III: 102.4 5. Russell Wilson: 100.0 6. Matt Ryan: 99.1 7. Tom Brady: 98.7 8. Colin Kaepernick: 98.3 9. Ben Roethlisberger: 97.0 10. Drew Brees: 96.3 Which quarterbacks do you think will have passer ratings better than 95.0…

June 30, 2013
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Kaepernick vs. the QBs on the 49ers’ 2013 schedule

49ers fans and Bay Area residents are hyper-aware of Colin Kaepernick’s excellent 2012 season. He took Alex Smith’s starting job Week 10, started the final-seven games of the regular season and was one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL over that stretch. I thought it would be interesting to compare Kaepernick’s final-seven regular season games to the final-seven regular season games of each of the quarterbacks the 49ers will…

May 20, 2013
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Heath Evans: “Atlanta’s just a front-running team. I think they’re soft when need be.”

NFL Network analyst and former NFL player Heath Evans spoke on KNBR Thursday morning. Here’s what he said about the 49ers and the Falcons. Q: The 49ers are a four-point favorite on the road over the Falcons. Does this stun you? HEATH EVANS: No. Not at all. I was talking with Darren Sharper the other day, and I’m telling you – anyone that is picking Atlanta is either biased because…

January 17, 2013
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