Taking stock of Trent Baalke

Here is a list of every player Trent Baalke has acquired since he became the Niners general manager in 2010. I categorized the players by offense, defense and special teams. Is there a pattern in how he acquires players? OFFENSE Mike Iupati – 17th pick in the first round of the 2010 draft. Pro Bowl alternate in 2011. Randy Moss – signed in 2012 to a one-year, $2.5 million contract….

June 20, 2012
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Preview: How the Niners match up against the Seahawks

Yesterday we broke down how the Niners match up with the Green Bay Packers. Today, let’s check out how they match up with their main NFC West rivals – the Seattle Seahawks. 49ERS DEFENSE VS. SEAHAWKS OFFENSE: Seattle signed Aaron Rodgers’ backup and Mike McCarthy’s newest quarterback protégé, Matt Flynn. Although he’s only started two games in his NFL career, he’s performed marvelously in both of those games and many…

May 24, 2012
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Harbaugh pumps up Alex Boone, Anthony Davis, Colin Kaepernick, and more.

Here is the transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s Wednesday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. Recently Harbaugh’s had the pattern of pumping up certain players. Last week he announced that Michael Crabtree has the best hands he’s ever seen on a wide receiver. Last season he called Alex Smith a Pro Bowl quarterback. Today, he’s pumping up his right guard, right tackle and backup quarterback. I don’t know why Harbaugh chooses…

May 23, 2012
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Moss steals the show

SANTA CLARA – The Niners called today’s practice a Veteran Football School On-field session. Most of the veterans showed up. Frank Gore didn’t, and neither did Mario Manningham or Brandon Jacobs, but that’s OK because VFS is voluntary. But Alex Smith showed up. He stretched with the offensive lineman and chatted with Alex Boone, one of his good friends on the team. Michael Crabtree showed up, too. He stretched next…

May 10, 2012
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Grading the 49ers: Offensive line

Before: Joe Staley, Mike Iupati, Jonathan Goodwin, Adam Snyder, Anthony Davis, Alex Boone, Chilo Rachal, Daniel Kilgore and Mike Person. Grade: C+ Why: LT Joe Staley was a Pro Bowler and LG Mike Iupati was very good, but the mere presence of RG Chilo Rachal in the starting lineup at the beginning of the season nearly sunk the entire offense. Harbaugh benched him for Adam Snyder, who upgraded the right…

April 29, 2012
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Can Alex Smith and the 49ers shock the Saints??

Lawrence Dushensky of the NFL blog This Given Sunday asked me six questions about the 49ers. The theme of his line of questioning was this: Can the 49ers shock the Saints? And how could they possibly do it? I’m linking my six answers to my six questions at the bottom. To be clear, I do think the Niners can “shock” the Saints. I think the Niners will win 17-16. I’m…

January 13, 2012
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The southwest corner

SANTA CLARA — For what it’s worth, the Niners really like each other. They may or may not man up against the Pittsburgh Steelers this Monday night – I think they will – but regardless, they get along. Anthony Davis and Mike Iupati are best friends. Parys Haralson and Aldon Smith act like brothers. Colin Kaepernick and Bruce Miller joke around with everyone. But there’s a cool section of the…

December 18, 2011
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What I want to see from the Niners

The Niners are going to have to be creative and efficient to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night. Here’s what I want to see from them. It’s a given the Steelers are going to blitz, blitz, blitz the Niners offense. They will bring extra rushers up the middle and other times they’ll overload the right side of the Niners’ O-line – the Anthony Davis side – and run four-man…

December 14, 2011
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Re: the offense, Cosell wonders: “Do they not have enough dimensions, or do they not have enough talent?”

Here is the transcript of this morning’s Greg Cosell interview on KNBR’s Murph and Mac Show. Enjoy. Q: You told us the Ravens were a homework week – that they presented so many different problems on defense that you needed as much time as possible to prepare. That set off a little red flag in my brain and sure enough, nine sacks for Alex Smith. Do you credit that partially…

December 1, 2011
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Anthony Davis on how the short week affected the Niners against the Ravens: “It didn’t. We went out, we played, and we lost.”

SANTA CLARA – Here’s what right tackle Anthony Davis said at his locker today. Q: How do you guys look at this game, since Thursday night’s game didn’t go as well as you’d hoped it would. ANTHONY DAVIS: It’s our next game. I wouldn’t give it a title. It’s our next game. Q: Joe Staley and Jonathan Goodwin have both said some of the breakdowns on the offensive line are…

November 30, 2011
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Greg Roman describes Alex Smith’s skill set, and more.

SANTA CLARA – Here’s the transcript of Greg Roman’s Thursday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. Opening Statement: “We’re working hard on this Arizona defense. They had a coordinator change this year. Their defense is a Pittsburgh Steelers scheme. They brought in their defensive coordinator who had been with the Steelers for quite awhile. They play extremely hard. They’re getting much better, playing with much more confidence and expertise within…

November 17, 2011
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Greg Roman insists the Niners offense is not a Greg Roman offense

SANTA CLARA – Here is the transcript of Greg Roman’s Thursday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. Opening Statement: “We’ve got a tough opponent on the road. Every game is tough, every opponent is tough. These guys are really well coached. Play a 3-4 scheme, very aggressive, very physical. They had Dallas down late, haven’t won a game in a few weeks but they’re a very good team. The team…

November 3, 2011
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Harbaugh: “We live for the future.”

SANTA CLARA — Here’s the transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s Monday press conference. Enjoy. Q: What’s W.I.N. stand for? (Sign on the wall.) HARBAUGH: What’s important now. Q: What is important now? HARBAUGH: Today? Reviewing the film, learning from that, players getting treatment, day off for the fellas. And preparing for the Redskins. Q: On running plays, your offensive linemen are often well down the field at the end of the…

October 31, 2011
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For the Love of Boobie Dixon

Here’s the transcript of an interaction that took place yesterday in the locker room between Anthony “Boobie” Dixon, Ted Ginn Jr., Kendall Hunter, Gwen Knapp and me. Knapp first approached Dixon to ask him about Frank Gore, and I came in to ask follow-up questions. KNAPP: How do you relate to Frank Gore on the sideline and on the field? DIXON: I’m like his boxing coach on the sideline. KNAPP:…

October 13, 2011
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