SANTA CLARA – The 49ers have been talking about the Levi’s Stadium grass all week. Its roots haven’t set, the 49ers say. The footing is no good and patches of sod are coming up. Stevie Johnson slipped on the grass 45 minutes into practice, got up and started limping. Two plays later, Harbaugh pulled the team off the field and finished practice on the practice field which is closed to…
SANTA CLARA — Jim Harbaugh was interviewed by Bay Area reporters in the 49ers’ auditorium Tuesday morning. Here’s a transcript, courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. staff. After going over the game on Sunday, are there still a lot of areas of concern that you have? Or did the film study kind of clear up some of the things that concerned you afterward? “We’re working. We’re working to improve. It’s an…
SANTA CLARA — Jim Harbaugh was interviewed in the 49ers’ auditorium after the Broncos beat the 49ers 34 to nothing. Here is a transcript. Q: Last week you said your guys got pushed around. Did that happen again today? HARBAUGH: Didn’t think we executed well enough in any area today. I’m sure we will see some good individual play, but, as the units go, there might have been a kickoff…
SANTA CLARA – Here’s what stood out to me at Sunday morning’s padded practice. THE GOOD 1. Bruce Ellington. Dropped a pass during one-on-ones, but during team drills he made seven catches, more than any other receiver. He made half of those catches running routes out of the backfield. That was new. He made his best catch as an outside receiver, though. He lined up against Dontae Johnson and ran…
SANTA CLARA – Here’s what stood out to me at Friday’s padded practice. THE GOOD 1. Colin Kaepernick. Completed 14 of the 19 passes he attempted during team drills. He threw three touchdown passes – one to Quinton Patton, one to Vernon Davis and one to Chuck Jacobs. This may have been Kaepernick’s best practice of camp. 2. Vernon Davis. Made five catches during team drills. One was a five-yard…
SANTA CLARA — Here is what stood out to me at the 49ers’ non-padded practice Thursday afternoon. THE GOOD 1. Patrick Willis. Forced a fumble. Will Tukuafu caught a pass over the middle, turned and took two steps upfield when Willis punched the ball out of his hands. 2. Michael Wilhoite. Punched a ball out of Quinton Patton’s hands during a red zone drill. Patton hadn’t taken a step with…
SANTA CLARA – Here’s what stood out to me at the 49ers’ first padded practice of training camp. THE GOOD 1. Tramaine Brock. Broke up three passes today. First, he intercepted Kory Faulkner who was trying to throw to Stevie Johnson. Then, Brock broke up a pass intended for Carlos Hyde. And then, Brock broke up a pass intended for Kassim Osgood. 2. Michael Crabtree. Dropped one pass in the…
The 49ers just announced that they have activated rookie wide receiver Bruce Ellington from the NFI list. Ellington sprained his ankle after mini-camp. Practice starts now. Stay tuned for my report.
SANTA CLARA — Colin Kaepernick was interviewed by Bay Area reporters Thursday afternoon. Here is a transcript courtesy of the 49ers. What did you get out of this three-day minicamp? “We got more work with our receivers, with our running backs. Great opportunity for us just to get better.” Are you a better redzone team now after this three-day minicamp than you were? I know that’s been a big focus…
SANTA CLARA — Jim Harbaugh was interviewed by Bay Area reporters Thursday afternoon. Here is a transcript courtesy of the 49ers. How would you asses this three-day minicamp? Did you guys get out of it what you wanted to? “Outstanding. Really pleased. Thought our players are getting better and better at multiple positions on our team. Coming out of this feeling really good that we improved as a football team…
SANTA CLARA — Here’s what stood out to me at Wednesday’s mini-camp. THE GOOD 1. Bruce Ellington — The only receiver who caught a deep pass. During one-on-one drills, Ellington ran deep against rookie cornerback Dontae Johnson. McLeod Bethel-Thompson threw a perfect deep pass. Ellington jumped up and caught the ball over Johnson, who is five inches taller than Ellington. 2. Quinton Patton — Was two-for-two against Tramaine Brock during…
Last year’s offseason was completely different than this year’s offseason. Last year was strenuous. Jim Harbaugh made every practice extremely competitive. Players got hurt. Michael Crabtree blew out his Achilles’ tendon right away. So, Harbaugh created an open competition for the No.2 WR job. That didn’t work out so well. Quinton Patton broke his finger during training camp. This year’s offseason has been much more laid back. Michael Crabtree, Anquan…
SANTA CLARA – This is what stood out to me at Tuesday’s OTA. THE GOOD 1. Brandon Lloyd: Best receiver on the field by far, although Michael Crabtree, Anquan Boldin, Vernon Davis, Stevie Johnson and Quinton Patton weren’t there. Lloyd made the catch of the day. He was running deep toward sideline and Blaine Gabbert threw the ball behind him. Lloyd jumped, twisted, caught the ball and landed both feet…
To get you prepped for Tuesday’s OTA, here are the 49ers’ top-five position battles. 1. Chris Culliver (6-0, 199 pounds, 25 years old) vs. Chris Cook (6-2, 212, 27) vs. Dontae Johnson (6-2, 200, 22) for No.2 cornerback Culliver is the favorite – the 49ers spent a third-round pick on him in 2011. But he tore his ACL a year ago and does not seem to have fully recovered yet…
This is my Sunday news story on Day 3 of the 49ers’ draft. SANTA CLARA — The 49ers waited until the final day of the draft to address almost all of their biggest needs. First, a speed receiver. The 49ers used the sixth pick of the fourth round to take Bruce Ellington from the University of South Carolina. Ellington immediately becomes the 49ers’ fastest receiver, and their shortest receiver, too….
