How the 49ers built a championship roster

This is my Saturday article on the gradual construction of the 49ers’ roster. By GRANT COHN After the 2004 season, the 49ers were the worst team in football. They had practically no talent, they had won two games, and they had one Pro Bowler, long snapper, Brian Jennings. This season, the 49ers are going to the Super Bowl and they have arguably the most talented roster in the NFL. Nine…

February 2, 2013
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Super Bowl MVP odds: Kaepernick 7-4, Flacco 11-4, Alex Smith 100-1

These are the current Super Bowl MVP odds, according to Bet Firms: Colin Kaepernick: 7-4. Joe Flacco: 11-4. Frank Gore: 7-1. Ray Lewis: 7-1. Ray Rice: 10-1. Michael Crabtree: 14-1. Anquan Boldin: 16-1. Vernon Davis: 18-1. Torrey Smith: 20-1. Ed Reed: 33-1. Aldon Smith: 40-1. Dennis Pitta: 40-1. Randy Moss: 40-1. Patrick Willis: 50-1. Terrell Suggs: 50-1. Bernard Pollard: 66-1. Dashon Goldson: 66-1. David Akers: 66-1. LaMichael James: 66-1. NaVorro…

January 31, 2013
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Alex Smith wants the 49ers to release him, and I want a million dollars

As you probably know, NBC reported Monday morning Alex Smith wants the 49ers to release him before free agency starts in March. Sure, and I’d like to win the Powerball Lottery, too. Here’s a more realistic offseason scenario for Smith: After the smoke clears from Super Bowl week, he or his agent can give the 49ers a list of teams which Smith finds desirable, and the Niners can see if…

January 28, 2013
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Report: Alex Smith wants 49ers to release him before free agency

NBC is reporting a source with knowledge of the situation says Alex Smith wants the 49ers to release him before free agency starts in a few months. NBC says the 49ers would prefer to trade Smith, but Smith wants to be released and to choose his own team, not get traded to a team of the 49ers’ choice. Do you take issue with Smith’s demands? Do you think the 49ers…

January 28, 2013
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Walker: “It’s a little different going from Alex throwing a nice firm ball to going to Kap, he throws a little heater.”

SANTA CLARA – Delanie Walker spoke at his locker Friday afternoon. Here’s what he said about Alex Smith and Colin Kaepernick. Q: What’s the difference between catching passes from Alex Smith and Colin Kaepernick? WALKER: It’s a little different going from Alex throwing a nice firm ball to going to Kap, he throws a little heater. It gets on you real fast. Q: Do you feel like you’ve adjusted? WALKER:…

January 26, 2013
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Kaepernick: “My gift is my curse.”

SANTA CLARA – This is the transcript of Colin Kaepernick’s Thursday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers.   Hey Colin, what is it like to wake up as Colin Kaepernick these days, pinched yourself yet? “It’s the same as it was six months ago.”   Did you expect when you took over the starting job that you’d be standing here, still playing in February? “I was hoping so.”   How…

January 24, 2013
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Alex Smith: “I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t a little bittersweet.”

SANTA CLARA – Alex Smith spoke in the locker room Wednesday afternoon. Here’s what he said. Q: Is it bittersweet that the 49ers are going to the Super Bowl and you’re not the starting quarterback? ALEX SMITH: I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t a little bittersweet. Yeah, I want to be out there. It’s what you work for coming into the season. That was the mindset. That was…

January 23, 2013
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Matt Ryan vs. Alex Smith

If you were an NFL general manager, which quarterback would you rather build your team around – Matt Ryan or Alex Smith? Ryan is a year younger than Smith. Ryan probably has a better arm, too. He made a couple of perfect deep passes in the first half against the 49ers. Alex Smith struggles to complete those passes consistently. On the other hand, Matt Ryan threw two second-half interceptions in…

January 22, 2013
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Cosell: “Crabtree has become a big-time NFL receiver.”

Greg Cosell spoke on KNBR Thursday morning. Here’s what he said about the 49ers and the Falcons. Q: Was Kaepernick’s record-breaking performance aided by an awful Packers defense? COSELL: I think that’s fair. I think the numbers reflect that. He had three scrambled in the first half for 53 yards. All of them came against man-to-man coverage concepts. Two of those plays they doubled Michael Crabtree. I think that playing…

January 17, 2013
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Harbaugh on the Falcons: “They’re solid in every regard.”

SANTA CLARA – This is the transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s Monday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers.   How did DT Justin Smith make it through the game? “Good. Played well. Came out of the game as clean as possible.”   And did you expect him to kind of pick up where he left off? “It looked good in practice and the feedback that we were getting from him was…

January 14, 2013
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Now Kaepernick takes advanced test

This is the first half of my Friday article on Colin Kaepernick. SANTA CLARA — There is a lot of romanticism about Colin Kaepernick, and he is very good. Jim Harbaugh may in fact have showed his genius by making the switch to Kaepernick midseason. But where is Kaepernick at this point in his career? In a Thursday interview, Alex Smith, the quarterback whose job Kaepernick took in November, talked…

January 10, 2013
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Steve Young on Kaepernick: “They cannot put him in a situation where he’s deep in a hole.”

Steve Young held a teleconference Wednesday and spoke about the NFL playoffs. Here’s what he said, courtesy of ESPN.   Q.  I wanted to ask you about Atlanta and how this team seemed pretty easy to dismiss or forget about, the Falcons and obviously they have not won a playoff game with Matt Ryan and they almost lost some of the easier games at home this year.  How do you…

January 10, 2013
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Stakes higher for 49ers this time around

This is the opening for my Wednesday analysis of what’s at stake for Jim Harbaugh and the 49ers on Saturday. This will run in the Press Democrat newspaper, and I’m also posting it here. This week the 49ers are in the same position they were in a year ago — No. 2 seed, first-round bye, home game. It’s a great situation to be in, but the stakes are different. Last…

January 8, 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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Who is Tom Gamble and what would the 49ers lose if he leaves?

Tom Gamble, the 49ers’ Director of Player Personnel, is being courted around the league to become a general manager. He’s already interviewed with the Jaguars, and the Jets, Browns and Chargers are reportedly interested in him as well. About a year ago, the Raiders expressed interest in him, too. Gamble has a great reputation in the NFL. He was a college scout for the Indianapolis Colts from 1998 to 2004….

January 4, 2013
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49ers Week 17 grades: Quarterbacks

SAN FRANCISCO – The 49ers stomped the Cardinals 27-13. Here is the grade for the 49ers quarterbacks. Quarterbacks: A. Colin Kaepernick was not good in the first quarter, but neither were the rest of the 49ers. He completed just one pass for five yards in the first quarter. He almost threw an interception, too. From the second quarter on, Kaepernick played the best football of his life. He completed 15…

December 30, 2012
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Steve Young on Kaepernick: “He’s played five games. How much do you trust him? I kind of trust him!”

This is what Steve Young said about Colin Kaepernick Wednesday afternoon on KNBR. Q: What did like about Colin Kaepernick’s performance against the Patriots? YOUNG: I think more than anything, handling it. Everyone has a sense of how hard it is to play NFL quarterback and play really good NFL quarterback. It takes all of you, and you get challenged week-to-week in ways you never thought possible. We put another…

December 20, 2012
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Carroll: “If Jim’s not sending a card, that’s fine. I understand. We’ll try to get one in the mail soon.”

SANTA CLARA – Pete Carroll spoke on conference call with Bay Area reporters Wednesday afternoon. Here’s what he said. Q: How much has Russell Wilson evolved, and how much has the offense evolved since the last time you played the 49ers? CARROLL: We really started out with the idea of not going too far too fast. We didn’t want to overexpose him. We were excited about him in camp and…

December 19, 2012
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Vernon Davis says he and Colin Kaepernick are not yet on the same page: “He just stepped in. Me and Alex, we’ve been here.”

SANTA CLARA — This is what Vernon Davis said in the locker room Tuesday about his on-field chemistry with Colin Kaepernick. Q: What was Colin Kaepernick like in the huddle after the score was tied 31-31? VERNON DAVIS: He had this will-to-win attitude. His demeanor was on another level. His mind was clear. He was ready to win. He was talking. He was getting guys in the huddle. Telling guys…

December 18, 2012
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Which 49ers are expendable?

I just wrote a blog saying the 49ers should cut David Akers ASAP. Are there any other players the 49ers should sever relations with at the end of the season? If so, who? Ted Ginn Jr. comes to mind. He doesn’t get any snaps at wide receiver any more, he lost his kick returning job to LaMichael James and now he’s bumbling punts. He doesn’t do anything well anymore. He’s…

December 17, 2012
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