Here are the grades for the 49ers offense from their 24-3 win over the Arizona Cardinals. Quarterbacks: A. Alex Smith played one of the best games of his life. He only attempted 19 passes, but he completed 18 of them, and Delanie Walker dropped the one incompletion. That’s a 95 percent completion percentage. Smith broke Fran Tarketon’s record for the most completed passes in a game in which he threw…
As you know, I’ve criticized offensive coordinator Greg Roman for Vernon Davis’ disappearance from the 49ers passing attack three-of-the-last-four games. Many of you have argued on Roman’s behalf, praising the way he’s used Davis to open up other players on the offense. I guess I just come from a different school of thought. In baseball, for example, you can intentionally walk or pitch around a batter, and there is not…
Here is what Jim Harbaugh said Saturday afternoon about Frank Gore, courtesy of the 49ers. This time last week, RB Frank Gore was obviously still in quite a bit of pain. Do you have a sense of where he is right now physically as far as his ribs? “Not exactly. He looks good.” The way he runs, he runs so hard and takes such a beating. Obviously, we…
The biggest advantage for the 49ers is the Cardinals QB, John Skelton. He struggles mightily in most situations and unfortunately for their team, it is a battle to get the ball to Larry Fitzgerald. Nothing like having a quality player on offense and not be able to get him the ball. Does that sound familiar? I don’t think the 49ers will blow out the Cardinals. I don’t think the 49ers…
SANTA CLARA — On Friday, Greg Roman was asked a few questions about running back Brandon Jacobs, who has yet to play a down for the 49ers. Here’s what Roman said. Q: Before your last series, Brandon Jacobs was in the huddle, but then Kendall Hunter ran out and replaced him. Why did that happen? ROMAN: I changed the play, I believe. I doon’t think it was fair to have…
SANTA CLARA — Here’s what Greg Roman said at his Friday press conference about Frank Gore. Q: The offense is averaging 5.9 yards per carry. How do you account for that stat? ROMAN: “I think it comes from a lot of things. It’s a very good average. I don’t know where it ranks at this point in the season relative to the history of the game. Everybody has bought into…
Greg Cosell spoke with Doug Farrar Friday morning on Yahoo’s Shutdown Corner Week 8 preview podcast. Here’s how Cosell said the 49ers will run against the Cardinals’ defensive front Monday night. FARRAR: San Francisco’s offensive line is much, much, much better. They were rocking (Seahawks DT) Brandon Mebane and putting him on his (rear) over and over. COSELL: Yes. That was a great offensive line performance. FARRAR: What the 49ers…
NFL Films analyst Greg Cosell spoke on KNBR’s The Murph and Mac Show Thursday morning. Here’s what he said about the 49ers’ game plan for their upcoming Monday night match up against the Arizona Cardinals. COSELL: “I think the 49ers will approach this game the exact same way [they approached the Seahawks]. I don’t think they’ll feel that the Cards can score very much. They’ve got a got a quarterback…
Arizona Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt spoke to Bay Area reporters Wednesday morning on a conference call. Here’s what he said about the 49ers. Q: Calais Campbell was talking on the radio yesterday about how much he and Darnell Dockett hate the 49ers. Does that represent your whole team’s view of the 49ers? WHISENHUNT: I certainly can’t speak for the whole team, but I think one of the things I…
There’s been a lot of debate lately about whether the 49ers should pass the ball more to Vernon Davis. Here are some stats to help inform the discussion: Last season, the 49ers targeted Vernon Davis on 21 percent of their passes. They targeted Michael Crabtree 25 percent of the time. This season, Crabtree is still receiving a quarter of 49ers the targets, but Davis’ target percentage has dropped to 17…
Here’s the question of the week: Should Frank Gore play against the Cardinals? He bruised his ribs in the second quarter against the Seahawks last week. He practiced on Monday and he says he can play against the Cardinals, but he probably will not be 100 percent healthy. The 49ers need Gore in December and January for their Super Bowl run. It would be wise to rest him in the…
SANTA CLARA – Second-round pick LaMichael James, who has not played this season, spoke in the 49ers locker room Monday afternoon about his development. Here’s what he said. Q: You haven’t played yet this season. You didn’t play much your first year at the University of Oregon, either. Have the two experiences felt similar? JAMES: It’s the exact same thing. I went to Oregon and I had to work my…
SANTA CLARA — Jim Harbaugh spoke in the media tent Monday afternoon. Here’s what he said about a few of his own players. Q: Frank Gore has 103 carries through seven games. Is that about what you want from him workload-wise? He’s carried the ball considerably less than he had at this point last year. HARBAUGH: No, didn’t have a number in mind. Q: Generally speaking, did you want him…
SANTA CLARA – Here’s what Jim Harbaugh said Friday about the 49ers’ 13-6 win over the Seattle Seahawks Thursday night. Last night you talked about it being the most physical 30 minutes. RB Frank Gore was talking about playing through bruised ribs. Can you just talk about how well he played with that injury and what you saw out of him last night? “Yeah, great game from Frank. Tough…
SAN FRANCISCO — Frank Gore was the star of the 49ers 13-6 win over the Seattle Seahawks. He spoke at the podium after the game, and here’s what he said, courtesy of the 49ers. Did you have the feeling that the game was going to be like this, where you get the ball a lot? “I just felt like whenever my coach called my number, I tried my best….
SAN FRANCISCO – The 49ers beat the Seahawks 13-6. Here are the grades for the 49ers’ offense. Quarterbacks: D. Alex Smith did not have a good game, but he did lead one touchdown drive in the third quarter and that was all the 49ers needed to beat the Seahawks. Smith was five-of-five on that drive for 60 yards and a touchdown. On the other drives, he was 9-of-18 for 90…
The 49ers will beat the Seahawks 12-6 tonight. If the game was in Seattle on turf, I would have to favor the Seahawks in a short week. But the game is at Candlestick, and the grass field will negate the great quickness and speed of Seattle’s defensive front. Both the 49ers and Seahawks will run more than they pass. Marshawn Lynch will carry the ball 30 times for 80 yards, Frank…
The 49ers play the Seahawks at Candlestick on Thursday night. In the meantime, I’ll break down a couple of key matchups every day. Frank Gore and Kendall Hunter vs. The Seahawks run defense This is the key matchup of Thursday night’s game. The Seahawks defense allows 3.3 yards per rush and 70 rushing yards per game. The 49ers offense gains 5.9 yards per rush and 176.5 rushing yards per game….
SANTA CLARA – Jim Harbaugh spoke in the defensive meeting room Monday afternoon. Here’s what he said about the 49ers 26-3 loss to the Giants. Q: How do you think Alex Boone did at left tackle after Joe Staley got hurt? HARBAUGH: Did fine. I don’t think any of us had our best day. It certainly wouldn’t be very human if it didn’t hurt today. But there’s no time. You’ve…
SAN FRANCISCO – The 49ers just lost 26-3 to the New York Giants. Here are the grades for the 49ers’ offense. Quarterbacks: F. This was Alex Smith’s worst game under Jim Harbaugh. Smith threw three picks – the most he’s thrown since 2007. In the first half he missed a handful of open receivers. Then he tried to force a few passes and got picked off. At the end of…
