SANTA CLARA – Here’s what Carlos Rogers said Friday afternoon in the media tent about the Bears wide receivers and how they compare to Danny Amendola and Victor Cruz – two receivers Rogers has struggled to cover. Q: What makes Brandon Marshall stand out at wide receiver for the Bears? ROGERS: That guy’s big – 230, 240 [pounds], 6-3, 6-4. And he’s got a quarterback who can get him the…
SANTA CLARA – Carlos Rogers spoke in the media tent Friday afternoon. Here’s what he said he expects from the Bears offense Monday night. Q: The Bears have named Jason Campbell as their starter for the Monday night game. How much does that impact the game? ROGERS: It doesn’t matter. I think both of them have strong arms, the ability to throw any throw. We know what Cutler can do….
Now that Jason Campbell has officially been named the starting quarterback against the 49ers, the Bears’ passing game definitely will be impacted and mostly restricted to a conservative, low risk play calling style by offensive coordinator Mike Tice. Campbell’s release is nowhere as quick as Cutler’s, and Campbell’s ability to extend a play is marginal when compared to Cutler’s, so the Bears’ run game must keep the down and distance…
SAN FRANCISCO — The 49ers tied the Rams 24-24. Here are the grades for the 49ers defense. Defensive line: D. Isaac Sopoaga was a liability at nose tackle. He actually got planted on his back by Steven Jackson in the first quarter. Sopoaga was briefly benched for Ricky Jean Francois. Ray McDonald was flagged for a 15-yard helmet-to-helmet hit on Bradford. Justin Smith finished with eight tackles and two pressures….
The 49ers play the St. Louis Rams Sunday at Candlestick Park. In the meantime, I’ll break down a couple of key matchups every day. WR Danny Amendola vs. CB Carlos Rogers This is the key matchup for the Rams. Amendola has missed the past three games with a shoulder injury, but he’s going to play against the 49ers. He’s the Rams’ best offensive player. He will match up against Carlos…
SANTA CLARA – Carlos Rogers spoke in the media tent Wednesday afternoon. Here’s what he said about the 49ers defense. Q: You guys are ranked No.2 against the pass right now. How have the defensive backs stepped up this season? ROGERS: It’s our second year in the system. Guys are stepping up and taking on the challenges. Our defensive line and linebackers do a good job stopping the run, so…
SANTA CLARA – Carlos Rogers spoke in the media tent Wednesday afternoon. Here’s what he said about the Rams No.1 wide receiver Danny Amendola, who has missed the past three games with a clavicle injury, but will play and face Rogers this Sunday. Q: How does Danny Amendola impact their offense? ROGERS: A lot. A whole lot. He’s a guy they use in the slot – I’ll be facing him…
SANTA CLARA – Carlos Rogers spoke in the media tent Wednesday afternoon. Here’s what he said about the Rams offense. Q: How does Sam Bradford look on film? ROGERS: He looks pretty good. He looks better and the team looks better. Different coaches, different players. It’s going to be a challenge. Any time you play a division game, it’s going to be a challenge no matter if we’re on our…
Now that we’re halfway through the season, there’s a book on how to beat the 49ers. We know it, the 49ers know it – it’s their job to know it — and the rest of the NFL knows it. Let’s explain that game plan and list the teams that can pull it off. Stop the run with seven defenders. If you can do that, you can beat the 49ers. You…
Chris Culliver was the best 49er cornerback in training camp, and he’s been the best 49er cornerback the first half of the season, too, but he still doesn’t start. That should change. He might be the best cornerback in the NFL. He’s picked off two passes and knocked away five. According to Pro Football Focus, Culliver has allowed the lowest percentage of completions of all NFL cornerbacks who have played…
Carlos Rogers has given up short passes at a high rate this season. He’s allowing a 70.6 percent catch rate – 21st– highest in the NFL according to Pro Football Focus. In 2011, he allowed a 52.8 percent catch rate, which was 26th-lowest in the NFL. Rogers is getting beaten more often, but he’s allowing just 8.5 yards per completion – almost five yards per completion lower than last season….
The 49ers defense ranks first in both yards and points allowed. They haven’t given up a touchdown in four of their last five games. Give Vic Fangio credit. The defense’s statistics have improved since last season even though they’re not getting as lucky forcing turnovers, they’re not getting as much pressure on the quarterback, and Justin Smith and Carlos Rogers have declined a little bit. The 49ers defense has weaknesses…
SAN FRANCISCO — Here are the Week 6 grades for the defense and special teams. Defensive line: D. They got zero pressure on Eli Manning. They held Ahmad Bradshaw to 23 yards on 11 carries in the first half, but they gave up 93 yards on 16 carries to Bradshaw in the second half. At one point in the fourth quarter they gave up almost 70 rushing yards on 7…
SANTA CLARA – Victor Cruz spoke to Bay Area reporters Wednesday morning on a conference call. Here’s what he said about his rivalry with Carlos Rogers. Q: Do you have a rivalry with Carlos Rogers? CRUZ: I guess so. That’s what the media likes to call it, but I think it’s just friendly competition. Q: Do you have a friendly competition with a lot of cornerbacks? CRUZ: I think it’s…
The 49ers play the Giants at Candlestick on Sunday. In the meantime, I’ll break down one key matchup a day. CB Carlos Rogers vs. WR Victor Cruz When the 49ers and Giants played last season, Rogers covered Cruz on almost every pass play. That’s because the Giants like to line up Cruz in the slot in three-wide receiver formations and the 49ers counter with their Nickel defense, in which Carlos…
SAN FRANCISCO — Here are the grades for the 49ers 45-3 demolition of the Bills – a truly awful team. Quarterbacks: A. Alex Smith had the best statistical performance of his career. His QB rating was a near-perfect 156.2. He also rushed 3 times for 49 yards. He completed 18-of-24 passes, but only two passes were bad – a screen he threw too early to Kendall Hunter, and an overthrown…
Here are the grades for the 49ers 34-0 trouncing of the Jets – the worst team in the NFL despite their 2-2 record. Quarterbacks: C. Alex Smith completed 12 of 21 passes for 143 yards. No touchdowns or turnovers. He did not complete a pass on third down. Twice he was sacked because he held ball for more than three seconds in the pocket. Colin Kaepernick attempted one pass –…
The 49ers play the Jets Sunday at the Meadowlands. In the meantime, I’ll break down one key matchup per day. Wide receivers Santonio Holmes (5-11, 192 pounds) and Jeremy Kerley (5-9, 188 pounds) vs. the 49ers defensive backs. The 49ers defense, as great as it is, does not match up well against big tight ends or small, explosive receivers who can line up all over the formation – in the…
New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan spoke to Bay Area reporters on a conference call Wednesday morning. He talked about the key players on the 49ers’ offense, the seven blue-chip players on the 49ers’ defense and the how the Jets’ defense will adjust to the loss of Darrelle Revis. The transcript. Q: Donte Whitner said the key for him in facing the Jets offense is keeping an eye on…
My Week 2 Power Rankings, in tiers. Tier 1: The 49ers. Tier 2: Empty. Tier 3: Empty. Tier 4: The Texans and a few other teams. Tier 5: It doesn’t matter. No team ranks anywhere near the 49ers right now. They’re in another universe. They’re so good, it’s more interesting to rank the 49ers players against the other 49ers players. So let’s forget the Power Rankings for now. Let’s create…
