Roman on Boldin: “From the first day Anquan got in the NFL he just lit it up.”

SANTA CLARA — Greg Roman spoke in the media tent Saturday afternoon. Here’s what he said.   Opening statement: “It’s just hitting afternoon, good afternoon. It’s exciting to be back, start training camp, a chance to build a great foundation and build the keel of our ship. The first week or two, we are totally focused on ourselves and getting out there practicing, teaching and putting ourselves through the paces….

July 27, 2013
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Training camp report: Ahmad Brooks commits encroachment, Colin Kaepernick finds Vernon Davis

SANTA CLARA – With 20 minutes remaining in practice, Jim Harbaugh set up a fourth down drill: Fourth and five from the opponent’s 20-yard line, the edge of the red zone. The offense had one chance to make a first down or a touchdown. The first-team offense faced the first-team defense and right away, Ahmad Brooks jumped offside like he did in the Super Bowl. The 49ers replayed the down…

July 26, 2013
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Training camp report: Kyle Williams, Chris Culliver and Eric Reid stand out

SANTA CLARA – Here’s what stood out to me at the 49ers’ Thursday afternoon pad-less training camp practice. THE GOOD 1. Kyle Williams – He looked as explosive and fast as he did last offseason. In 7-on-7 drills, Williams blew past Marcus Cooper on a deep route and easily caught a 40-yard toss from B.J. Daniels. 2. Anquan Boldin – He snatched a sure interception away from Tarell Brown on…

July 25, 2013
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Harbaugh on Kaepernick: “He’s universally respected in the locker room and loved by his teammates.”

SANTA CLARA — Jim Harbaugh spoke to Bay Area reporters in the media tent Thursday afternoon. Here’s what he said.   One of the themes for the team that loses the Super Bowl is how historically they have a difficult time coming back, whether it’s mental or what. Is that an issue that concerns you at all with this team? “Whether what context you put it in, firm believer that…

July 25, 2013
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Kaepernick: “Knock on wood, I haven’t been knocked out yet.”

SANTA CLARA – Colin Kaepernick spoke to Bay Area reporters Thursday afternoon. Here’s what he said. Q: How has your life changed the past few months? KAEPERNICK: I’ve had more opportunities to do things. For the most part for me, I’m worried about playing football. Q: Was it awkward for you last season going from a backup to the focus of everybody? KAEPERNICK: No, it wasn’t awkward. For the most…

July 25, 2013
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49ers facing a summer of questions

This is my Monday column on the top-five questions the 49ers face this summer. Even though the 49ers are among the odds-on favorites to win the Super Bowl, like any other team, they confront certain issues. Two of their best players – Justin Smith and Frank Gore – are in their 30s and declining. The 49ers’ offensive MVP last season – Michael Crabtree – tore his Achilles tendon in OTAs….

July 22, 2013
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Harbaugh on Eric Wright, Ahmad Brooks, Aquan Boldin, Michael Crabtree and Kaep’s cap

SANTA CLARA – Jim Harbaugh spoke to Bay Area reporters Monday afternoon. Here’s what he said. Q: What happened with Eric Wright? HARBAUGH: He did not pass his physical. Q: Why didn’t he? HARBAUGH: We don’t ever talk about that. He’s not on the team. Q: Were you aware of his DUI before you made the trade for him? HARBAUGH: The better guy to talk to is Trent. He’s got…

July 22, 2013
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Colin Kaepernick vs. Alex Smith: Which QB will have the better season?

Which quarterback will have a better 2013 season – Colin Kaepernick or Alex Smith? On the one hand, Kaepernick is the superior physical talent and it isn’t close. On the other hand, Smith had the superior passer rating last season – 104.1 to Kaepernick’s 98.3. This season, Smith will have the younger and better running back (27-year-old Jamaal Charles vs. 30-year-old Frank Gore), and the younger and better No.1 wide…

July 10, 2013
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Ranking the 49ers’ offensive skill players against the rest of the NFL

We know Colin Kaepernick is a rising star at quarterback, and we know the 49ers have one of the best offensive lines in football. Let’s take stock of the 49ers’ offensive skill players – wide receivers, tight ends and running backs – now that they’ve lost Delanie Walker and Randy Moss, and Michael Crabtree and Mario Manningham are injured. I count 18 teams having better offensive skill players than the…

July 7, 2013
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49ers playing-time predictions: offensive skill players

Predict how many snaps each of the 49ers’ offensive skill players will play during the upcoming regular season, and explain your predictions. Keep in mind, the 49ers’ offense played 1,032 snaps last regular season. Here are my predictions. 1. Vernon Davis – 1,000 snaps. He’ll play every single snap he’s physically able to play. 2. Anquan Boldin – 900 snaps. With Crabtree out, the 49ers need both Boldin and Davis…

June 21, 2013
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Could Vernon Davis play more wide receiver this season?

It’s worth noting that Vernon Davis participated exclusively with the wide receivers, not the tight ends, during the 49ers’ past mini-camp. Do you think that means Davis will play more wide receiver this year? The Niners probably need him to play more wide out because their best receiver, Anquan Boldin, is a much better slot receiver than outside receiver at this stage in his career. During team drills, Boldin lined…

June 17, 2013
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Harbaugh praises lots of players, including Kaepernick, McDonald and Patton.

SANTA CLARA – Here’s what Jim Harbaugh said after practice Thursday afternoon. Q: You ended practice early. Why? HARBAUGH: I really liked the practice today and the entire offseason. It was a great effort by our team. I like our team. I like where we’re at right now. It was a good camp. Q: It seemed like Colin Kaepernick and the first team offense really ended practice with a flourish….

June 13, 2013
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49ers’ mini-camp: Day 3 – Kaepernick’s best practice of the offseason

SANTA CLARA – Here is what stood out to me at Day 3 of the 49ers’ mini-camp. If you have questions about anything else that happened at practice, ask me in the comment section. THE GOOD 1. Colin Kaepernick – He hadn’t done anything spectacular this offseason until this afternoon. He’d been mostly dinking and dunking. Colt McCoy had been more aggressive throwing downfield. Alex Smith had been more aggressive…

June 13, 2013
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Kaepernick on Boldin: “The strides we’ve made have been huge.”

SANTA CLARA – Here’s what Colin Kaepernick said Thursday afternoon. Q: How tough has it been without Crabtree out here? KAEPERNICK: We have a lot of great receivers who are out here right now. Losing Crab, losing the other receivers who were here last season obviously isn’t something you want, but we have receivers out here working. Q: Are you worried about your timing and chemistry with the other guys?…

June 13, 2013
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49ers’ mini-camp: Day 2 – Asomugha dominates, Boldin does not finish practice

SANTA CLARA – Here is what stood out to me at Day 2 of the 49ers’ mini-camp. If you have questions about anything else that happened at practice, ask me in the comment section. THE GOOD 1. Nnamdi Asomugha – Played left cornerback for the first team defense and did not give up a completion in full-speed team drills. Asomugha broke up two passes from Colt McCoy in a three-play…

June 12, 2013
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Jenkins a sight not to be seen

Here is my Wednesday column on A.J. Jenkins. SANTA CLARA – Apparently, A.J. Jenkins is two different people. When there are no fans or media watching him, when Jenkins is all alone with his teammates and his coaches, the former first-round pick is a fantastic receiver. That’s what Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman said Tuesday. They said Jenkins had his best practices last Wednesday and Thursday, two practices which were…

June 12, 2013
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49ers’ mini-camp: Day 1 – The good and the not-so-good

SANTA CLARA – Here is what stood out to me at the 49ers’ Tuesday mini-camp. THE GOOD 1. Anquan Boldin – He was every quarterback’s favorite target, as usual. Five-of the-first-nine plays during 7-on-7 drills were passes to Boldin. He finished competitive team drills with seven catches and two touchdowns. He lined up at flanker and split end, but before the snap he usually went in motion and ended up…

June 11, 2013
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A.J. Jenkins: “In college, you’re wide open all the time. In the league, you’ve really got to have strong hands.”

SANTA CLARA – Here’s what A.J. Jenkins said Tuesday afternoon. Q: Did your mindset change when Michael Crabtree got hurt? JENKINS: My mindset going into this offseason was just trying to play more, regardless of whether Crabtree was hurt or not. It’ s unfortunate that he got an injury, but my mindset didn’t waver at all because he got hurt. Q: Roman said last week was the best you’ve practiced…

June 11, 2013
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Harbaugh on Mangini: “I was watching him on TV and he’s got a great reputation.”

SANTA CLARA — Jim Harbaugh spoke to reporters Tuesday after practice. Here’s what he said.   How’s LB Darius Fleming? “How is he?”   Yeah, we saw him go down with an apparent knee injury out there. “Didn’t see that.”   OK. Well, tell us about 49ers senior offensive consultant Eric Mangini then and— “Are you sure it wasn’t [WR] Kassim [Osgood], when Kassim went down?”   No, Fleming definitely…

June 4, 2013
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Boldin’s good work adds to Davis puzzle

Here is my Thursday column on the 49ers’ offense, sans Michael Crabtree. SANTA CLARA –Without Michael Crabtree, the focal point of the San Francisco 49ers’ passing attack last season, the 49ers need all of their receivers to step up – Anquan Boldin, Vernon Davis, A.J. Jenkins and anyone else who can run and catch and breathe. At an afternoon OTA session this week, Boldin stepped up. He was unstoppable. He…

May 30, 2013
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