SANTA CLARA – Here’s what stood out to me during Monday afternoon’s padded practice. THE GOOD 1. Tarell Brown – He returned to practice after missing the last two and was the starting nickelback in place of Carlos Rogers. Brown gave up just one catch while playing nickelback – a 15-yard completion to Austin Collie. 2. Aldon Smith –He sat out for an hour during the middle portion of team…
Here is my Friday column about what we learned in the 49ers’ first preseason game. It’s almost impossible to evaluate the 49ers’ starters after their first preseason game. We don’t know how much the 49ers game planned for the Broncos – probably not very much. And the starters played just one series. Frank Gore and Justin Smith did not play at all. That should change next week. Gore should get…
SANTA CLARA – Here’s what stood out to me at Friday evening’s padded practice. THE GOOD 1. Vernon Davis – Today was his best practice of the offseason. He was a dominant pass catcher at tight end, in the slot, at split end and at flanker. As an outside receiver, he beat cornerbacks on single and double moves with efficient footwork three or four times. He also blew past Perrish…
Here is my Wednesday column on Ahmad Brooks. Dear Jed York, We understand the population of NFL players is no different from the general population. There are people who do bad things. One of your players did a bad thing around 2 a.m June 8. Two of your rookies, Lawrence Okoye and Michael Purcell, according to the Sacramento Bee, saw Ahmad Brooks hit your practice squad player, Lamar Divens, with…
Here is my Tuesday column on the Seahawks-49ers rivalry. The 49ers and the Seahawks have the best rivalry in sports right now, and it isn’t even close. Here are the top five reasons why: 1. They are two of the best teams in the NFL. 2. They are in the same division. 3. Their head coaches hate each other. 4. Their players hate the other team’s coach. 5. Their players…
Here’s what Daniel Jeremiah, former NFL scout and current NFL Draft analyst for the NFL Network, tweeted before the draft about Eric Reid, Tank Carradine, Vance McDonald and Corey Lemonier. Jeremiah on Eric Reid: “5 game study and I can’t get excited about Eric Reid. Love size/speed but he misses too many tackles and he’s late off the hash too often.” 18 Mar “Teams are split on Eric Reid. He…
SANTA CLARA – Aldon Smith spoke to Bay Area reporters Tuesday afternoon. Here’s what he said. Q: How’s your shoulder? ALDON SMITH: Good. Q: Are you able to be on the field right now? ALDON SMITH: A little bit. Working out. Taking it one day at a time. Q: Do you expect not to get into full practice-mode until training camp? ALDON SMITH: I don’t know. Like I said, I’m…
SANTA CLARA – Before I get into the good and not-so-good of the second day of the 49ers’ rookie mini-camp, I want to share that I noticed three players playing two positions today – Eric Reid played free safety and strong safety, Al Netter played right guard and center and Andre Davis, Anthony Davis’ older brother, played right tackle and tight end. All three players seemed comfortable playing two positions….
What will the 49ers’ DL depth chart look like in 2013 and 2014? Here’s my best guess, and I’m interested to read yours as well. 2013 BASE ROLB, or “Leo” or standing rusher – Aldon Smith (although Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio could choose to play Parys Haralson here to keep Aldon Smith fresh for the sub packages, like 2011). RDE or Under tackle – Justin Smith, Glenn Dorsey NT or…
SANTA CLARA — This is the transcript of Trent Baalke’s Friday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. How do you guys envision DT Cornellius “Tank” Carradine as far as where he’ll play? Is he a defensive end? Is he an outside linebacker? “Well, he’s going to play down. He’s not an outside linebacker. In our system, it’s one of the things we really liked is the versatility. He’s a…
SANTA CLARA — This is the transcript of Corey Lemonier’s teleconference, courtesy of the 49ers. Did you have any, I guess, contact with the 49ers before the draft? “No, not any.” You didn’t meet with them at the combine or just nothing? “No, nothing like that.” So you don’t have any idea how they envision you in the defense? “Not really. I haven’t talked to them or…
