Jim Tomsula on the status of 49ers’ injured center Daniel Kilgore: “I didn’t ask.”

This is the transcript of Jim Tomsula’s Friday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department. Opening comments: “Injuries; [LB] Ahmad [Brooks], you saw Ahmad got back yesterday, had a good practice. So, we limited him, and then he’ll be out there practicing today. So, really glad to have him back in the building. [RB] Reggie [Bush], today they’re going to do some work with him on the side and…

October 16, 2015
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Alex Boone: “I think this is one of the best teams we’ve had.”

SANTA CLARA – Alex Boone spoke in the 49ers’ auditorium Monday afternoon. Here are selected quotes. Q: How has it been moving to the left side in training camp? BOONE: It’s great. It’s different, obviously, playing next to Anthony all those years. Now I go and play next to Joe. Both great tackles. Footwork’s a little different. Handwork’s a little different. At the end of the day it’s coming along…

August 4, 2015
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Jim Tomsula on the 49ers’ offensive play-calling: “We have cut down verbiage.”

SANTA CLARA This is the transcript of Jim Tomsula’s Wednesday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department. First off, how’s LB Aldon Smith’s foot? Is it minor? “He got it stepped on. He had it stepped on earlier in OTAs. So, then he got banged again yesterday, that’s all. It’s aggravated. We’re not going to push it. He’s got the ice bags on and there’s really nothing else to…

June 10, 2015
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HBO’s Harbaugh profile an exercise in sensationalism

This is my Tuesday column on HBO’s feature about Jim Harbaugh. I know you want to hear more about Alex Boone calling Jim Harbaugh “clinically insane.” Everybody knows that stuff already. I’ll get back to that in a minute. Tuesday night, HBO is airing a snap shot of Jim Harbaugh’s return to the University of Michigan. What do we learn from the show? That’s what we’ll get into first. Then,…

April 20, 2015
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Grading the 49ers’ offensive line: Past and present

The San Francisco 49ers had the best offensive line in the NFL when they played in the Super Bowl a couple of years ago. Here’s how I grade that offensive line player by player: LT Joe Staley: A. The best offensive tackle in the league in 2012. LG Mike Iupati: A-. One of the best left guards in the NFL along with Evan Mathis of the Eagles and Ben Grubbs…

March 25, 2015
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Which player(s) in the draft could take the 49ers to the playoffs next season?

Jayson Braddock–the man who reported Colin Kaepernick is on the trading block–believes Amari Cooper, Danny Shelton, Randy Gregory or Kevin Johnson could take the Niners to the playoffs. That’s if one of those prospects falls to pick No.15. I disagree with Braddock. If the Niners are going to return the to the playoffs, they need to fix their offensive line, which gave up more sacks than any other offensive line in…

March 21, 2015
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49ers’ 2015 mock draft 1.0

This is my first 49ers’ mock draft of the year, but it won’t be my last. Feel free to make your own and post it below. Round 1. La’el Collins, OG, LSU. Trent Baalke says he wants the 49ers to run the ball, but Mike Iupati is a free agent and Alex Boone has just one more year on his deal. Collins is the best run blocker available at the…

March 1, 2015
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49ers and Adam Gase — good match or bad idea?

This is about gravitas and Adam Gase. Gase is the favorite to be the next head coach of the 49ers. Gase is the only coach the 49ers have interviewed twice so far this offseason — they interviewed him for a second time Tuesday, according to reports. Gase is 36 years old. He looks like a teenager. He has been an offensive coordinator for two whole seasons and has done impressive…

January 13, 2015
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49ers 27, Saints 24: Grades

They aren’t dead yet. The 49ers beat the Saints 27-24 in overtime Sunday afternoon, handed Sean Payton his first loss in the Superdome since 2010. Now the 49ers are 5-4. Here are their grades. KAEPERNICK: B+. It was fourth-and-10 from the Niners’ 22-yard line, one minute and 34 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Niners’ down by three. Kaepernick had to save the game. He rolled to his right. Nowhere…

November 9, 2014
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49ers doomed by play-calling

This is my Tuesday column. The Bears and the Cardinals and the Broncos and the Rams are not defeating the 49ers. Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman are defeating the 49ers. Before the season started, if you had known the 49ers’ defense would rank second after eight games without NaVorro Bowman and Aldon Smith, what would you have expected the Niners’ record to be? 7-1? 8-0? If anything diminished the Niners…

November 4, 2014
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Grading 49ers at the break

This is my Sunday column. The 49ers just finished dead week. These are their midterm grades. COLIN KAEPERNICK Pocket proficiency: B. Was a C-minus last season. Completed just 57 percent of his passes and posted an 81 passer rating inside the pocket in 2013. Has completed 69 percent of his passes and posted a 90 rating inside the pocket this season. He’s finding the open receiver quickly and throwing the…

October 27, 2014
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Alex Boone: “Sometimes people hit us with some exotic stuff. It gets a little complicated.”

SANTA CLARA – Alex Boone was interviewed by Bay Area reporters at his locker Thursday afternoon. Here’s a transcript. Q: Last week it seemed like on a lot of Frank Gore’s longer runs he wasn’t being touched until he was well down field. Was that a particularly good run blocking game for you guys? BOONE: Yeah, especially against their front. They’ve got a great front five. And their defense, really,…

October 9, 2014
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How the 49ers mauled Josh Mauga in the second half

Did you notice how well the 49ers ran the ball inside in the second half against the Chiefs? Chiefs’ defensive coordinator Bob Sutton primarily used a two-gap scheme without a strong safety in the box to play the eighth gap. Chiefs’ linebacker Josh Mauga often lined up in front of a guard and was responsible for two gaps. Mike Iupati and Alex Boone mauled Mauga, and the 49ers gouged the…

October 7, 2014
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49ers 22, Chiefs 17: Grades

SANTA CLARA – The 49ers eked out a 22-17 win over the Chiefs Sunday afternoon. But the 49ers should have lost. The Chiefs gave away the game. With four minutes and 19 seconds left in the fourth quarter Kansas City committed one of the stupidest penalties you ever will see: Fourth-and-2 at the Chiefs’ 36-yard line. Phil Dawson was on the field to attempt a 54-yard field goal and, if…

October 5, 2014
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Harbaugh: “You tell me what you want me to tell you and I’ll help you out. We’ll save each other both time.”

SANTA CLARA — Here’s a transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s Friday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department. Where is CB Chris Culliver in the protocol? “Right on schedule. Should be good to go.”   Has he gone through the — “Final?”   Yeah. “[Nods].”   So, would CB Perrish Cox be the starter on the other side? “Well, no sense to say exactly what our next plan would be.”…

September 12, 2014
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Daniel Kilgore: “Ray McDonald is a heck of a guy.”

SANTA CLARA — Daniel Kilgore was interviewed next to his locker Wednesday afternoon. Here’s a transcript. Q: What can you tell us about the Cowboys’ defensive line? KILGORE: They’re fast. They’re pretty quick. Good defensive front. Q: What’s the biggest thing you think you’ve conquered this offseason? KILGORE: Becoming more comfortable day in and day out with practice. The more experience, the more comfortable you get. I’m excited. First career…

September 3, 2014
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Harbaugh: “I’m strongly opposed to domestic violence or violence to children. Will not be tolerated.”

Jim Harbaugh was interviewed on the Murph and Mac Show Tuesday morning. Here’s a transcript. Q: How did you bring back Kassim Osgood? HARBAUGH: If we make the decision to designate Glenn Dorsey as the player exemption to return then it would open up a spot. Q: What’s it like having Alex Boone back on the team and is there any awkwardness given that he wasn’t around all offseason? HARBAUGH:…

September 2, 2014
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Predict the 49ers’ record

In light of the preseason results so far, do you have any idea what the 49ers’ record will be this season? Considering Daniel Kilgore will start at center instead of Jonathan Goodwin, Joe Looney will start at right guard instead of Alex Boone, and Anthony Davis will start at right tackle after missing almost all offseason rehabbing his shoulder, I say 10-6 at best. What do you say?

August 26, 2014
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49ers’ biggest concern is the offensive line

This is my Tuesday column. Forget Colin Kaepernick and his development. Forget Frank Gore and his old legs. Forget NaVorro Bowman and his busted knee. Forget all of those concerns. The biggest concern facing the 49ers is the offensive line, from center to right guard to right tackle. Through the first three preseason games the 49ers have gained just 38 yards on 15 direct handoffs, running plays designed to go…

August 25, 2014
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