Here is my Saturday column on the upcoming 49ers-Packers playoff game. GREEN BAY, Wis. — The 49ers can beat the Packers, have beaten the Packers, know how to beat the Packers, should beat the Packers and probably will beat the Packers on Sunday.But don’t count out the Packers just yet. A few factors work in their favor.The first factor is their quarterback, Aaron Rodgers. That’s an easy one. He’s still…
SANTA CLARA – Jim Harbaugh spoke in the media tent Friday afternoon. Here’s a transcript. Q: Are you satisfied with the week of practice? HARBAUGH: Yeah, I think it was a real good week, both teams ready to play. Excited to go up to Seattle and get this game going. Q: What did B.J. Daniels offer as the scout team quarterback this week? HARBAUGH: He did a real nice job….
SANTA CLARA – Alex Boone spoke in the media tent Friday afternoon. Here’s what he said. Q: What have you seen from Cliff Avril? BOONE: He’s a great player, quick off the ball, fast, explosive pass rusher. He can be utilized a lot on third down. Good hands. Good motor. Tough guy. Q: It’s going to be a very physical game. How do you plan to set the tone with…
SANTA CLARA — Colin Kaepernick spoke in the locker room Wednesday afternoon. Here’s a transcript courtesy of the 49ers. Let’s ask you about the commercial on EA Madden. Those are great. Is it a real deal? Are somebody’s eyebrows coming off after this game? “I’m going to let to you ask [Seahawks QB] Russell [Wilson] about that one.” How well do you know him? How did you get…
SANTA CLARA – Here’s what Jim Harbaugh said about Clay Matthews Monday morning. Q: What’s your reaction to the aftermath of Clay Matthews’ illegal hit on Colin Kaepernick? HARBAUGH: I think there was a lot going on on that play or series of plays. You had the third down play where we got stopped short. That brought up a fourth-and-one. We got called for an illegal formation and the Packers…
On running downs like first-and-ten, the Packers will line up Clay Matthews on the right side of their defense against Joe Staley. But on passing downs like third-and-seven or any time Green Bay is in their Nickel defense, it would be logical for them to move Matthews to the left side of their defense and match him up against Anthony Davis. Matthews has a major quickness advantage over Davis. The…
Here is my Friday column previewing the 49ers-Packers game. Jim Harbaugh has to understand Clay Matthews isn’t bluffing. Matthews wants to take out Colin Kaepernick. Every Packer does. Matthews said so. If the 49ers run the read-option, the Packers will try to hurt Kaepernick. They’d be nuts not to. It’s legal. It’s smart. Knocking him out is the Packers’ best chance to win, and the read-option play is the best…
SANTA CLARA – Greg Roman spoke in the media tent Thursday afternoon. Here’s a transcript. ROMAN: Afternoon. Excited to move into the regular season. I think we’ve had a very productive preseason-phase. I’d like to thank everybody that was a part of the team during that time. We’re set and ready to go. We had a great practice yesterday and looking forward to having another great one today. Any questions?…
SANTA CLARA — Mike McCarthy spoke to Bay Area reporters Wedneday morning on a conference call. Here’s a transcript. Q: A lot was made of the trip your coaching staff took to Texas A&M. What was gained from that? McCARTHY: They were able to eat some good barbeque. They had a good time with Coach Kevin Sumlin’s staff down there. Got a chance to talk football, talk about A&M’s approach…
SANTA CLARA – Colin Kaepernick spoke in the 49ers’ locker room Wednesday afternoon. Here’s what he said. Q: What were your thoughts when you found out the Packers were the first game on the schedule after the way you guys ended their season a year ago? KAEPERNICK: We’re just worried about this game right now. We’re not worried about what happened last year. Q: Harbaugh said he’ll be talking to…
SANTA CLARA – Jim Harbaugh spoke in the media tent Wednesday afternoon. Here’s what he said about opposing defenses’ approach to stopping Colin Kaepernick and the read option. Q: The referees went around the league this offseason and explained that while a quarterback is carrying out his fake on the read option, he is not afforded the protections of a passer in the pocket, he can get hit. Is that…
Clay Matthews was asked about defending the read option on ESPN radio Tuesday morning. Here’s what Matthews said: MATTHEWS: “One of the things that the referees have told us is that when these quarterbacks carry out the fakes, they lose their right as a quarterback, a pocket-passing quarterback, the protection of a quarterback. So with that, you do have to take your shots on the quarterback, and obviously they’re too…
SANTA CLARA – Greg Roman spoke in the media tent Tuesday afternoon. Here’s what he said about the Packers defense, courtesy of the 49ers. Opening statement: “Good afternoon, really proud of our players for winning the NFC West again. As we head on into the postseason, here we are staring at the Green Bay Packers in the face again, just like we were out of training camp. It’s a…
SANTA CLARA – The last time Joe Staley faced Clay Matthews, Staley gave up three sacks and got his nose broken. Staley will face Matthews again Saturday night. Staley spoke about Matthews Monday in the 49ers media tent, and here’s what Staley said. Q: When you found out you were playing the Packers, what was the first thing that came to your mind? STALEY: Excited. Excited for the opportunity to…
The 49ers play the Giants on Sunday at Candlestick. In the meantime, I’ll break down a couple of key matchups per day. LT Joe Staley vs. DE Jason Pierre-Paul and DE Osi Umenyiora Staley did not play well against the Giants last Season. Week 10, he gave up 1 sack, 1 QB hit and 3 QB hurries to Pierre-Paul and Umenyiora. That was the worst game of the season for…
The 49ers play the Detroit Lions Sunday night at Candlestick Park. In the meantime, I’ll break down one key matchup per day. Alex Smith vs. the Lions’ secondary: CB Drayton Florence, CB Chris Houston, CB Jacob Lacey and FS John Wendling. The key for Alex Smith is to avoid obvious passing downs, like third and 9, because the Lions can put a ton of heat on him with only four…
SANTA CLARA – Here’s the transcript of Greg Roman’s Thursday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. Opening Statement: “Good afternoon. We had a really good training camp. Thought our guys were dialed in every day. I think we got accomplished what we wanted accomplished in camp and we’re able to turn the page here this week, get into the regular season. So, obviously we’re knee deep in Green Bay. Looking…
The 49ers play the Green Bay Packers in three days. In the meantime, I’ll break down a few key matchups a day. ROLB Aldon Smith: 6-4, 258 pounds, 22 years old, 35 3/8-inch arms. vs. LT Marshall Newhouse: 6-4, 319 pounds, 23 years old, 34-inch arms. This is the key one-on-one matchup and if Aldon Smith dominates it, the 49ers should win. Marshall Newhouse got manhandled last season by defensive…
As we examine the details of team building this offseason, let’s also look at the big picture, just for fun. How do the Niners match up against the Green Bay Packers, their first opponent next season? NINERS DEFENSE VS. PACKERS OFFENSE: Green Bay may have the best offense in the NFL, but it doesn’t match up well with the Niners defense because Green Bay’s offensive line simply isn’t good enough….
