The 49ers offense dekes Reuben Foster during his first practice with the starters

SANTA CLARA Here’s what stood out to me during practice Monday morning. THE NOT SO GOOD 1. LB Reuben Foster. Last week, NaVorro Bowman described rookie Reuben Foster as an aggressive “downhill” linebacker. In this context, “downhill” means Foster wants to explode into the backfield and tackle the running back behind the line of scrimmage. This is a good quality for a linebacker to have, but also one the offense…

August 7, 2017
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49ers training camp report: The defense punishes Carlos Hyde

1 SANTA CLARA Here’s what stood out to me during practice Friday morning. THE GOOD 1. RB Joe Williams. Yesterday, Williams gained 32 yards on four carries. Today, he gained 58 yards on six carries and had his two best runs of the offseason. Both runs came when the quarterback was under center and Williams was in an I-formation. The first run was an inside-zone play. In one fluid motion,…

August 4, 2017
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49ers training camp report: Tim Hightower — not Carlos Hyde — on field for first play of practice

SANTA CLARA Here’s what stood out to me during practice Monday morning. THE GOOD 1. DE Aaron Lynch. Lynch has lost more than 20 pounds since the beginning of OTAs when he says he weighed between 295 lbs. and 300 lbs. According to Lynch, he currently weighs 273 lbs. Good for him. I thought he would gain weight during the five weeks between minicamp and training camp when he didn’t…

July 31, 2017
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49ers training camp report: Joshua Garnett upsets Charles Haley

SANTA CLARA Here’s what stood out to me during practice Sunday morning. THE GOOD 1. DT DeForest Buckner. Today was the first day the 49ers wore pads, so I focused mainly on the players who hit each other, particularly the linemen – both on offense and defense. And the best lineman on the team clearly is second-year defensive tackle DeForest Buckner. None of the interior offensive linemen could block him…

July 30, 2017
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49ers training camp report: Day 13

SANTA CLARA – Here are the highlights of the 49ers’ ninth padded practice of training camp. THE GOOD 1. OLB Aaron Lynch. Started at left outside linebacker in the first-string base defense and at left defensive end in the first-string sub-packages. Today was only Lynch’s second day of team drills, and he already seems to have taken Corey Lemonier’s job. Poor Corey. 2. S Jaquiski Tartt. Today the Niners practiced…

August 19, 2015
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49ers training camp report: Day 9

SANTA CLARA – Here are the highlights of the 49ers’ fifth padded practice of training camp. THE GOOD 1. ILB NaVorro Bowman. During an 11 on 11 fourth-down drill, Bowman tagged Colin Kaepernick for a sack when Kaepernick was scrambling toward the sideline. After Bowman tagged him, Kaepernick threw a deep pass across his body to Anquan Boldin, who caught the ball for a gain of about 40 yards. After…

August 11, 2015
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Dontae Johnson on the 49ers’ defense: “Last year’s scheme was more so just playing. This year, it’s a little more thinking.”

SANTA CLARA – Second-year cornerback Dontae Johnson spoke in the 49ers’ auditorium Tuesday morning. Here are selected quotes. Q: With the new defensive scheme, how much more aggressive are you guys supposed to play as cornerbacks? JOHNSON: I guess you could say we’re playing more aggressive, but it’s putting us in better positions. Honestly giving the whole defense a better chance to make plays, make more plays, play at a…

August 11, 2015
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49ers training camp report: Day 2

SANTA CLARA – Here are the highlights from the 49ers’ second practice of training camp, which took place at Levi’s Stadium. THE GOOD 1. WR Bruce Ellington. Made a team-high six catches during team drills, including two 15-yard catches over the middle and a 50-yard catch for a touchdown. On the 50 yarder, Ellington burned cornerback Chris Cook, and Colin Kaepernick’s pass hit Ellington in stride. Ellington and undrafted rookie…

August 2, 2015
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Trent Baalke answers lots of questions

SANTA CLARA— Trent Baalke answered a few reporters’ questions in the 49ers’ media room Wednesday afternoon. Here’s a transcript of the interview. BARROWS: Has Justin Smith decided whether he will retire? BAALKE: As I said at the end of the season, I think at this stage of his career, he has earned the right to make that decision when it’s right. I think he’s still sorting through that process. He’s…

March 12, 2015
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Harbaugh: “You tell me what you want me to tell you and I’ll help you out. We’ll save each other both time.”

SANTA CLARA — Here’s a transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s Friday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department. Where is CB Chris Culliver in the protocol? “Right on schedule. Should be good to go.”   Has he gone through the — “Final?”   Yeah. “[Nods].”   So, would CB Perrish Cox be the starter on the other side? “Well, no sense to say exactly what our next plan would be.”…

September 12, 2014
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Dontae Johnson expects Jay Cutler to test him Sunday Night

SANTA CLARA – Dontae Johnson was interviewed next to his locker Thursday afternoon. Here’s a transcript Q: Going up against Jay Cutler do you expect to be targeted a little more just because you’re the rookie? JOHNSON: Yeah, absolutely. That’s just one of the things: “He’s a rookie. Let’s see if he can play this game.” That’s one of the things that comes with being a rookie. You’ve got to…

September 11, 2014
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Patrick Willis says the win over the Cowboys was “nowhere near satisfying” for the 49ers’ defense

SANTA CLARA – Patrick Willis was interviewed next to his locker Thursday afternoon. Here’s a transcript Q: Vic Fangio said the pass rush and run defense was not good against the Cowboys. What was your take? WILLIS: I totally agree with him. Even after the game, any time you get a W that’s the most important thing and W’s are hard to get in the NFL so we’ll take that….

September 11, 2014
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49ers 28, Cowboys 17: Grades

ARLINGTON, Texas – The Cowboys handed the 49ers a 28-17 win Sunday evening. Here are the 49ers’ grades. KAEPERNICK: A. Efficient. Completed 70 percent of his passes, averaged 8.7 yards per pass attempt, threw two touchdown passes and zero interceptions and converted 7-of-12 third downs. He found his receivers when they were wide open and he made some terrific throws while taking big hits. RUNNING BACKS: B. LaMichael James was…

September 7, 2014
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49ers camp progress report

This is my Saturday column. SANTA CLARA – Eight training camp practices down, three to go before the 49ers play preseason game No. 1 and you see this for yourself. Until then, here are my top five takeaways from camp. 1. Colin Kaepernick is improving. It’s his fourth season in this offense and he has it down cold – that’s the first thing you notice. He shouts a million things…

August 2, 2014
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Colin Kaepernick throws touchdown passes, Anquan Boldin throws punches at Darryl Morris

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…

August 1, 2014
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Borland beats Hyde again

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…

July 31, 2014
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Perrish Cox intercepts Colin Kaepernick twice, Stevie Johnson drops the ball three times

SANTA CLARA — Here is what stood out to me at the 49ers’ padded practice Wednesday afternoon. THE GOOD 1. Darryl Morris. Started off practice by beating Michael Crabrtee in a one-on-one drill. Crabtree tried to beat Morris with a move to the outside, but Crabrtee couldn’t shake him and Morris knocked away the pass. In team drills, he broke up two passes — one intended for Stevie Johnson, and…

July 30, 2014
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Dontae Johnson says Brandon Lloyd is the most difficult 49ers’ receiver to cover

SANTA CLARA — Rookie cornerback Dontae Johnson was interviewed by Bay Area reporters Tuesday afternoon outside of the 49ers’ locker room. Here’s what he said about the 49ers’ wide receivers. Q: Which receiver do you find the most difficult to cover? JOHNSON: I would say Brandon Lloyd. I feel like going against him allows me to be more patient in route recognition and understanding what receivers really are trying to…

July 29, 2014
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Colin Kaepernick shines (excecpt on 3rd down), and Jon Baldwin disappears

SANTA CLARA — Here’s what stood out to me during Tuesday’s padded practice. THE GOOD 1. Colin Kaepernick. His best practice of training camp. He was accurate on the short throws and the long ones for the most part. He finally hit Vance McDonald in stride deep down the middle of the field. Kaepernick had been overthrowing that pass to McDonald since last year’s training camp. 2. Chris Cook. Intercepted…

July 29, 2014
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