SANTA CLARA – At his press conference Tuesday afternoon, I asked Greg Roman five questions about Colin Kaepernick. Here’s what Roman said. ME: Why are you playing Colin Kaepernick so much? What are you hoping to get from him that you aren’t getting from Alex Smith? ROMAN: Colin’s doing a nice job in his understudy role. There are times when Colin can bring in a different dynamic to the game,…
I’ve been thinking a lot about how the 49ers should use backup quarterback Colin Kaepernick. I think he deserves playing time. He’s one of the best weapons on the offense. I don’t think he’s going to play much against the Seahawks, though. I expect Jim Harbaugh to go conservative, rush Frank Gore and Kendall Hunter more than 30 times combined to get the offense back on track, so to speak….
SANTA CLARA – Alex Smith spoke at his locker Monday afternoon. Here’s what he said. Q: How do you rebound from a 26-3 loss? ALEX SMITH: Definitely not right away – that’s not me. Waking up, thinking about it, replaying it. Obviously we’ve got to put this one away quick with a quick turnaround Thursday. Big division game. Q: Do you like having a short turnaround after a loss? ALEX…
SANTA CLARA – Jim Harbaugh spoke in the defensive meeting room Monday afternoon. Here’s what he said about the 49ers 26-3 loss to the Giants. Q: How do you think Alex Boone did at left tackle after Joe Staley got hurt? HARBAUGH: Did fine. I don’t think any of us had our best day. It certainly wouldn’t be very human if it didn’t hurt today. But there’s no time. You’ve…
The 49ers’ offense played 61 snaps against the Giants. Here’s a playtime breakdown for the 49ers’ offensive skill players. Vernon Davis: 61 snaps (100%) Michael Crabtree: 49 (80%) Alex Smith: 45 (74%) Frank Gore: 44 (72%) Mario Manningham: 41 (67%) Kyle Williams: 34 (56%) Delanie Walker: 21 (34%) Kendall Hunter: 17 (28%) Randy Moss: 17 (28%) Colin Kaepernick: 16 (26%) Bruce Miller: 11 (18%) Will Tukuafu: 4 (7%) Garrett Celek:…
SAN FRANCISCO — Here’s the transcript of Alex Smith’s post-game press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. Can you put your finger on how things can change so quickly? Last week, from 621 yards to this week? “It’s a fine line. They are a good team, good defense. They don’t give up anything easily. We forced some things tonight. I feel like I forced some things. We, uncharacteristically, turned the…
SAN FRANCISCO – The 49ers just lost 26-3 to the New York Giants. Here are the grades for the 49ers’ offense. Quarterbacks: F. This was Alex Smith’s worst game under Jim Harbaugh. Smith threw three picks – the most he’s thrown since 2007. In the first half he missed a handful of open receivers. Then he tried to force a few passes and got picked off. At the end of…
SANTA CLARA — Here’s what Greg Roman said about Alex Smith and the 49ers offense at the Thursday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. Can you just talk a little bit about QB Alex Smith and the improvement you’ve seen in him and what may have allowed him to take what looks like a pretty big leap this year? “I think Alex is performing exactly as we hope any…
SANTA CLARA — Here’s what Mario Manningham said about playing for the 49ers at his Thursday press conference. Q: Is it still in your mind that you could have been with the Giants? MANNINGHAM: Yeah, but no, because it’s not like I left a good team and went to a bad team. It’s a little bit easier because we’re just as capable of going back as they are. I don’t…
The 49ers play the Giants on Sunday at Candlestick. In the meantime, I’ll break down a couple of key matchups per day. LT Joe Staley vs. DE Jason Pierre-Paul and DE Osi Umenyiora Staley did not play well against the Giants last Season. Week 10, he gave up 1 sack, 1 QB hit and 3 QB hurries to Pierre-Paul and Umenyiora. That was the worst game of the season for…
SANTA CLARA – Here’s the transcript of Alex Smith’s Wednesday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. It’s become one of the better rivalries in the history of football. Are you looking for the same kind of game coming up? “Big game, no question. The history last year, we played them twice, the NFC Championship Game, all that. New year though, I think both teams realize that. Obviously it’s…
SANTA CLARA – Patrick Willis spoke at his locker Wednesday afternoon. Here’s what he said. Q: Did your offense surprise you at all against the Bills? WILLIS: We got out here and practice every day and we see the way those guys practice. For them to go out there and put up the numbers that they put up, they were extraordinary numbers. We never underestimate our offense. We know that…
SANTA CLARA – Alex Smith sprained a finger on his throwing hand in the fourth quarter against the Bills on Sunday. Here’s what he said about his injured finger Wednesday afternoon. Q: How’s the finger feel? ALEX SMITH: Feeling alright. I think it will be fine. Q: Have you thrown a ball? ALEX SMITH: Played toss a little bit yesterday, a little bit today. It’s one of those things where…
SANTA CLARA – Here’s what Victor Cruz said about the 49ers-Giants matchup to Bay Area reporters Wednesday morning on a conference call. Q: The Niners have shut down some good QBs and limited opposing passing games. How have they done that? CRUZ: I think it’s their aggressive play. I think their safeties do a good job of being heavily involved in the run. Dashon Goldson, he covers a lot of…
On Monday, Jim Harbaugh said Randy Moss will have his “big-catch day” soon, meaning Moss will catch a lot of passes. Here’s my question to you: How soon? Do you expect him to catch about eight passes and a touchdown against the Giants? Or do you think he’ll continue to get one target per game and play fewer snaps than Kyle Williams? I think the latter will happen. I think…
SANTA CLARA – Here’s what Jim Harbaugh said about the 49ers offense at his Monday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. We talked to offensive coordinator Greg Roman yesterday. He noted that it was obvious early on that QB Alex Smith was hot. That WR Michael Crabtree was hot. When you see that early on, do you then start to tailor the calls to fit the hot hands, so…
SANTA CLARA – Here’s what Jim Harbaugh said at his Monday press conference about Alex Smith’s development as an NFL quarterback. HARBAUGH: I can’t tell you how much respect I have for him. He’s played so well, handles himself, does all the things that I wish I would have done as good a job as he has done on and off the field (when I was a player). Q: Are…
SANTA CLARA – Jim Harbaugh spoke for 20 minutes in the defensive meeting room Monday afternoon. Instead of posting the entire transcript in one blog, I’m breaking it up by theme to focus the discussion. Here’s what Harbaugh said about the sprained middle finger on Alex Smith’s throwing hand. Smith sprained it in the fourth quarter on his final pass attempt of the 49ers 45-3 victory over the Buffalo Bills….
SAN FRANCISCO — Alex Smith’s post game press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. On his experience throwing out the first pitch last night for the SF Giants: “Yeah I was keeping the ball down, isn’t that what good pitchers do? I was working the count, I had an open base… Yeah, it was great. Last night was awesome, obviously. All jokes aside, it was great. Today though, this was…
SAN FRANCISCO — Greg Roman’s post game press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. Feeling pretty good after that performance? “It was a good performance. I think we left some out there. We had some frustrating penalties in the first half. But, we came in at halftime, regrouped. Just decided we were going to start over. That turnover before the half I think was big, to get it in there….
