Too early to worry, but 49ers show they have issues to solve

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…

August 9, 2013
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Trent Baalke’s mid-offseason progress report

In my humble opinion, you’re doing pretty well so far this offseason, Trent. I’m not going to give you a final grade today. That wouldn’t be fair. You still have the draft in a few weeks, and that’s when you need to perform your best. You have 14 picks. You may feel this year’s rookies will be better and cheaper long term than what’s available on the free agent market,…

March 24, 2013
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49ers release Akers

The 49ers just announced they’ve release kicker David Akers. Here is Trent Baalke’s official statement: “The 49ers would like to thank David for his service, dedication and leadership over the past two years. He is a true professional who represented himself and this organization with class. We wish him, and his family, all the best.” Do you think the 49ers should sign a kicker, or should they draft one, and in…

March 6, 2013
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Grant’s 49ers mock offseason: 1.0

Many of you have asked me for my best guess about what the 49ers will do in free agency and the draft. This is my first best guess. I’ll make subsequent best guesses in the coming weeks. The 49ers will cut David Akers and Parys Haralson to create cap space to give the franchise tag to Dashon Goldson. Goldson probably wants a five-year contract worth about $8 million per year….

February 19, 2013
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49ers Super Bowl XLVII grades: Defense and special teams

The 49ers lost the Super Bowl 34-31 on Sunday. Here are the grades for the defense and special teams. Defensive line: C. Ray McDonald got pressure and recorded a sack, but the other defensive linemen were invisible. It was hard to tell Justin Smith was even on the field most of the time. He had almost no impact on the game, finishing with just three tackles. Linebackers: C. Credit the…

February 4, 2013
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Harbaugh on the Falcons: “They’re solid in every regard.”

SANTA CLARA – This is the transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s Monday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers.   How did DT Justin Smith make it through the game? “Good. Played well. Came out of the game as clean as possible.”   And did you expect him to kind of pick up where he left off? “It looked good in practice and the feedback that we were getting from him was…

January 14, 2013
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Harbaugh names Akers the starting kicker

SANTA CLARA – After a two-week-long kicker competition, im Harbaugh named David Akers the starting kicker on Thursday. Here’s everything Harbaugh said. Q: Who’s going to be your kicker Saturday? HARBAUGH: David Akers. Q: Why is that? HARBAUGH: I feel like he gives us the best chance. Q: What did you see from him the last week of practices? HARBAUGH: Suffice it to say we feel confident in David giving…

January 10, 2013
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Harbaugh on Justin Smith: “God willing and the creek don’t rise, he’s going to play.”

SANTA CLARA – Jim Harbaugh spoke in the media tent Wednesday afternoon. Here’s a transcript of his press conference, courtesy of the 49ers.   Have you made a decision on your kicker yet? “No. Not one that we’ll have made or announce yet.”   Will you not announce it until an hour and a half before the game? “That’s possible.”   I was on a conference call with former 49ers…

January 9, 2013
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Harbaugh on the 49ers’ kicker competition: “We have a leader in the clubhouse.”

SANTA CLARA – This is what Jim Harbaugh said about the 49ers kicker competition Monday in the media tent, courtesy of the 49ers.   Have you made any resolution on which kicker is going to be working for you on Saturday? “No. Not a resolution, but, we have a leader in the clubhouse, and we’ll see how it goes today and tomorrow.”   Can you say who that leader is?…

January 7, 2013
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Practice report: 49ers preparing for Packers, Akers v. Cundiff part II, and Justin Smith’s arm brace

SANTA CLARA — The 49ers appear to be preparing to play the Green Bay Packers next Saturday. At practice this afternoon, the 49ers’ offensive practice squad players were all wearing the numbers of the Packers’ stars: Ricardo Lockette was wearing No.87 for Jordy Nelson, Chad Hall was wearing No. 18 for Randall Cobb, and Garrett Celek was wearning No.88 for Jermichael Finley. These players were warming up on the far…

January 4, 2013
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Billy Cundiff on the 49ers’ kicker competition: “It’s a performance business.”

SANTA CLARA – Billy Cundiff made 10-of-12 field goals in Thursday’s kicker competition. He made a 55-yarder with a portable plastic holder. Cundiff spoke at his new 49ers’ locker after practice, and here’s what he said. Q: Do you know David Akers? CUNDIFF: Yeah we went to the Pro Bowl together in 2010. We’ve worked with the same kicking coach, Randy Brown. I’ve kicked David in the offseason. We’ve texted…

January 3, 2013
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Akers says he’s been bothered by the double hernia surgery he had last February

SANTA CLARA – During Thursday’s kicker competition, David Akers made 16-of-21 field goals. He missed from 53 yards out, 52, 48, and 43 twice. He spoke at his locker after practice. Here’s what he said. AKERS: It’s out of my control right now what they’ve decided. At the start of last year, 2012, I started out with a double sports hernia surgery in February, rehabbed all year, came into training…

January 3, 2013
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Steve Young on the 49ers’ kicker competition: “To me, it’s the last thing you want to do.”

Steve Young spoke on KNBR Wednesday afternoon. Here’s what he said about the 49ers kicker competition. Q: How does a slumping kicker like David Akers affect the quarterback’s mindset during a game? YOUNG: When a kicker’s in a funk, it’s a problem. I’ve got to wonder why they brought in another guy to compete with him. David’s been around a long time. He’s a veteran guy. If he’s hurt he’s…

January 3, 2013
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Harbaugh on the kicker competition: “It could be settled early next week.”

Jim Harbaugh spoke on KNBR Wednesday morning. Here’s what he said about Billy Cundiff and David Akers. Q: You guys have brought in Billy Cundiff to compete with David Akers? HARBAUGH: That is football. Football is competition. I think we’re on the right track there. It makes sense to me. Q: It’s sort of unprecedented. Do you have any idea of how you want to proceed? HARBAUGH: I don’t think…

January 2, 2013
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Report: 49ers to sign kicker Billy Cundiff

Matt Maiocco just tweeted the 49ers are signing kicker Billy Cundiff. The 49ers are keeping David Akers as well according to Maiocco. The two kickers will compete in practice for playing time. Cundiff played the first five games of this season with the Washington Redskins. He missed five of 12 field goal attempts, so they cut him. Last season, Cundiff made 32 of 42 kicks for the Baltimore Ravens. He…

January 1, 2013
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Harbaugh: “There are three options: We go forward with David, we bring in a new kicker or we go with two and let them compete.”

SANTA CLARA – David Akers missed two more field goals on Sunday. He has missed 13 field goals this season, worst in the NFL. This afternoon, Jim Harbaugh was asked if the 49ers will cut Akers before the first playoff game. Here’s what Harbaugh said. Q: What is the status of David Akers? HARBAUGH: He’s still our kicker. We’ll evaluate what we think is the best plan for moving forward…

December 31, 2012
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What we learned about the 49ers: The good and the not-so-good

SAN FRANCISCO – We learned a few things about the 49ers today – some good and some not-so-good. Here are those things. The Good The 49ers earned the No.2 seed and a first-round Bye with the win and the Packers’ three-point loss to the Vikings. The Packers and Vikings play again next weekend. If the Packers win, they play the 49ers at Candlestick in two weeks, on Saturday, January 12th…

December 30, 2012
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49ers Week 17 grades: Defense and special teams

SAN FRANCISCO – The 49ers stomped the Cardinals 27-13. Here are the grades for the 49ers defense and special teams. Defensive line: B. Ricky Jean Francois had a team-high six tackles (one for a loss), a sack and a QB hit. He played well. Ray McDonald didn’t get any sacks or tackles for loss, but he forced a fumble in the second half which Donte Whitner recovered. Linebackers: B. Patrick…

December 30, 2012
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49ers Week 16 grades: Defense and special teams

SEATTLE, Wa. – The Seahawks crushed the 49ers 42-13 Sunday night. Here are the grades for the defense and special teams. Defensive line: F. They couldn’t stop the run or tackle the quarterback. The Seahawks ran right down the 49ers’ throat all game. Ray McDonald and Ricky Jean Francois took turns getting moved aside at the line of scrimmage. On many  of the Seahawks run plays, it looked like there…

December 23, 2012
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49ers and Seahawks injury reports

Here are the 49ers and Seahawks injury reports, courtesy of the 49ers. 49ers Questionable: LB Tavares Gooden (ribs), LB Clark Haggans (shoulder), WR Mario Manningham (shoulder), DT Justin Smith (elbow), DT Will Tukuafu (concussion) Probable: K David Akers (pelvis), G Alex Boone (knee), LB Navorro Bowman (shoulder), LB Ahmad Brooks (shoulder), CB Tarell Brown (shoulder), S Dashon Goldson (foot), RB Frank Gore (wrist), G Mike Iupati (shoulder), RB Bruce Miller (shoulder), CB…

December 21, 2012
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