The 49ers offense dekes Reuben Foster during his first practice with the starters

SANTA CLARA Here’s what stood out to me during practice Monday morning. THE NOT SO GOOD 1. LB Reuben Foster. Last week, NaVorro Bowman described rookie Reuben Foster as an aggressive “downhill” linebacker. In this context, “downhill” means Foster wants to explode into the backfield and tackle the running back behind the line of scrimmage. This is a good quality for a linebacker to have, but also one the offense…

August 7, 2017
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49ers training camp report: The defense punishes Carlos Hyde

1 SANTA CLARA Here’s what stood out to me during practice Friday morning. THE GOOD 1. RB Joe Williams. Yesterday, Williams gained 32 yards on four carries. Today, he gained 58 yards on six carries and had his two best runs of the offseason. Both runs came when the quarterback was under center and Williams was in an I-formation. The first run was an inside-zone play. In one fluid motion,…

August 4, 2017
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49ers training camp report: Joe Williams has a big day

1 SANTA CLARA Here’s what stood out to me during practice Thursday morning. THE GOOD 1. Violent payback for the defense. Carlos Hyde made the defense seem soft on Wednesday when he ran as hard as he could through rookie cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon, who seemed to think Hyde would go easy on a teammate and run around him. On Thursday, the defense got revenge, both against Hyde and the rest…

August 3, 2017
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49ers training camp report: Joshua Garnett upsets Charles Haley

SANTA CLARA Here’s what stood out to me during practice Sunday morning. THE GOOD 1. DT DeForest Buckner. Today was the first day the 49ers wore pads, so I focused mainly on the players who hit each other, particularly the linemen – both on offense and defense. And the best lineman on the team clearly is second-year defensive tackle DeForest Buckner. None of the interior offensive linemen could block him…

July 30, 2017
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Joe Staley on the 49ers’ future: “I feel optimistic.”

SANTA CLARA Here’s what Joe Staley said in response to a question I just asked him in the 49ers locker room. ME: “How do you feel about the future of this team?” STALEY: “I feel optimistic. I think we have a lot of young guys on this team, a lot of guys that are stepping up. We need more guys to get into those leadership roles. I see the traits…

December 23, 2015
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Jim Tomsula: “Maybe we need to sprint off the bus.”

SANTA CLARA This  is the transcript of Jim Tomsula’s Monday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department.   Opening comments: “The injury report; what we’ve got here, we’ve got some bumps and bruises, but [TE Garrett] Celek is going for an MRI. But again, we still feel like nothing is broke, that it’s what our people have categorized a high ankle sprain. And obviously with those we’ll have to…

November 30, 2015
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Eric Mangini says Marshawn Lynch is hard to deal with

SANTA CLARA This is the transcript of Eric Mangini’s Thursday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department. Opening comments: “We’re following our normal procedures. So, we’re on to third down, red zone today. A little bit more familiarity with Seattle the second time around for our young guys and for everybody in general. So, it will be an exciting game to play, as it always is with these guys.”…

November 19, 2015
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Jim Tomsula: “I’m tickled to death and happier than heck that Colin Kaepernick’s our starting quarterback.”

SANTA CLARA — This is the transcript of Jim Tomsula’s Wednesday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department. Opening comments: “We’ll get you the full practice report afterwards. But, with the injuries here, with [RB] Reggie [Bush], we’re still working through it. I don’t know. I mean, he was out there yesterday working. Reggie feels really good and he’s smiling and he’s going. But, we’re going to have trainers…

September 23, 2015
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Eric Mangini on Arik Armstead: “He was a little tired towards the end there.”

SANTA CLARA — Defensive coordinator Eric Mangini spoke in the 49ers’ auditorium Tuesday morning. Here’s a transcript, courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department. Opening comments: “So, we just got through with our walk-thru, able to clean up some things from the Houston game, push forward on the training camp installation and we’ll get back to work here over the next few days. Talking and working and doing the things that…

August 18, 2015
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49ers training camp report: Day 7

SANTA CLARA – The 49ers practiced in shorts and shells Saturday afternoon. Here are the highlights. THE GOOD 1. WR Torrey Smith. Seemed to jam his right ring finger catching a pass from Colin Kaepernick during warmups. Smith was in visible pain for a few minutes as he shook his hand and held his finger. But apparently the injury wasn’t a serious. A few minutes later during one-on-one drills Smith…

August 8, 2015
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49ers training camp report: Day 4

SANTA CLARA – Here are the highlights from the 49ers’ fourth practice and first padded practice of training camp. THE GOOD 1. OLB Aldon Smith. Abused starting left tackle Joe Staley all afternoon. During one-on-one pass-rushing drills, Smith faked to the outside, came back inside and Staley never touched him. Later during team drills, Smith beat Staley around the edge and tagged Colin Kaepernick for the sack. 2. OLB Eli…

August 4, 2015
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Darnell Dockett raves about Arik Armstead and Nick Moody

SANTA CLARA – Darnell Dockett spoke in the 49ers’ auditorium Monday afternoon. Here are selected quotes. Q: It seems like Jim Tomsula is intent on resting the veterans as much as possible during training camp. Have you been battling him to get out there? DOCKETT: I’ve had some words with him, but he’s a good guy and he’s obviously been doing this longer than I have. And I’ve been doing…

August 4, 2015
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Quinton Dial: “Somebody’s got to pay for this work I’ve been putting in. Can’t wait.”

SANTA CLARA – Quinton Dial spoke in the 49ers’ auditorium Monday afternoon. Here are selected quotes. Q: You’re running with the first-team defense this year. Is that a good opportunity for you? DIAL: Yeah it’s a great opportunity. I don’t think it’s too much of a transition for me because starting with the last eight or nine games (last season) I’ve been running with the guys and I know what…

August 3, 2015
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49ers training camp report: Day 2

SANTA CLARA – Here are the highlights from the 49ers’ second practice of training camp, which took place at Levi’s Stadium. THE GOOD 1. WR Bruce Ellington. Made a team-high six catches during team drills, including two 15-yard catches over the middle and a 50-yard catch for a touchdown. On the 50 yarder, Ellington burned cornerback Chris Cook, and Colin Kaepernick’s pass hit Ellington in stride. Ellington and undrafted rookie…

August 2, 2015
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Eric Mangini on Jim Tomsula: “He cares deeply about (the players) and that resonates, I believe, in the locker room.”

SANTA CLARA — Here is the transcript of defensive coordinator Eric Mangini’s Saturday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department. LB NaVorro Bowman prepared for this and you’ve got to be excited to see what he does back on the field? “He’s been great. He had a really good spring. I’ve gotten to know NaVorro a little bit since I’ve been here, but it’s different when you start coaching…

August 1, 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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49ers’ draft had a distinct NFC West influence.

This is my Tuesday column. Look at it from Trent Baalke’s perspective. The 49ers’ general manager has to build a team that plays in the NFC West — the toughest division in the NFL. Last season, the Niners’ record was 2-4 against NFC West teams. Against the rest of the NFL, the Niners’ record was 6-4. They were pretty good, but they couldn’t compete in their own division so they…

May 4, 2015
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Armstead: “I don’t think I am raw. If you watch film of me, you’ll see a technically sound player.”

SANTA CLARA — This is the transcript of Arik Armstead’s first press conference as a 49er, courtesy of the 49ers public relations department.   It seems like most of the major draft analysts had the 49ers taking you. Did you have a real sense that they were quite interested in you? “Yeah, I had a good visit when I went there. I felt comfortable with everybody. I really loved it…

April 30, 2015
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Tomsula on Armstead: “He’s inconsistent in tape and he’s young.”

SANTA CLARA — Here is the transcript of Jim Tomsula’s post-Round-1 press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ public relations department.   As an old defensive line coach at heart, how exciting is it for you to get a defensive lineman that has a lot of high ceiling so to speak in terms of your first round pick? “It’s exciting. He’s a really good young man and obviously a defensive lineman….

April 30, 2015
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Baalke: “Five or six guys you could say that we coveted at that spot.”

SANTA CLARA — Here is the transcript of Trent Baalke’s post-Round-1 press conference, courtesy of the 49ers public relations department.   Can you talk about what happened at 15? Obviously, Armstead still on the board, Kevin Johnson. Were both of those guys considerations and that is what enabled you to drop two spots down?   “First of all, you never trade back unless you have a alternative plan in mind….

April 30, 2015
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