SANTA CLARA — Jim Harbaugh spoke to Bay Area reporters in the media tent Thursday afternoon. Here’s what he said. One of the themes for the team that loses the Super Bowl is how historically they have a difficult time coming back, whether it’s mental or what. Is that an issue that concerns you at all with this team? “Whether what context you put it in, firm believer that…
This is my Monday column on the top-five questions the 49ers face this summer. Even though the 49ers are among the odds-on favorites to win the Super Bowl, like any other team, they confront certain issues. Two of their best players – Justin Smith and Frank Gore – are in their 30s and declining. The 49ers’ offensive MVP last season – Michael Crabtree – tore his Achilles tendon in OTAs….
Which quarterback will have a better 2013 season – Colin Kaepernick or Alex Smith? On the one hand, Kaepernick is the superior physical talent and it isn’t close. On the other hand, Smith had the superior passer rating last season – 104.1 to Kaepernick’s 98.3. This season, Smith will have the younger and better running back (27-year-old Jamaal Charles vs. 30-year-old Frank Gore), and the younger and better No.1 wide…
We know Colin Kaepernick is a rising star at quarterback, and we know the 49ers have one of the best offensive lines in football. Let’s take stock of the 49ers’ offensive skill players – wide receivers, tight ends and running backs – now that they’ve lost Delanie Walker and Randy Moss, and Michael Crabtree and Mario Manningham are injured. I count 18 teams having better offensive skill players than the…
This is my Friday column on the 49ers’ Mt. Rushmore. Let’s play the Mt. Rushmore Game for the 49ers. Who are the four greatest figures in 49ers history? I’m talking players, coaches or owners. You pick. Who would you carve onto the 49ers’ own Mt. Rushmore? We can agree on three people right off the bat – Jerry Rice, Joe Montana and Bill Walsh. Those are gimmes. “Each of them…
Here is my Monday column on Greg Roman. We’re in a football lull right now, but the 49ers are always in season. So, let’s dissect their most recent move, signing their promising offensive coordinator, Greg Roman, to a two-year extension through 2015. Roman is a good offensive coordinator. From 2011 to 2012, the 49ers’ offense ranked third in rushing yards and ninth in points per game. Jim Harbaugh thinks Roman…
Predict how many snaps each of the 49ers’ offensive skill players will play during the upcoming regular season, and explain your predictions. Keep in mind, the 49ers’ offense played 1,032 snaps last regular season. Here are my predictions. 1. Vernon Davis – 1,000 snaps. He’ll play every single snap he’s physically able to play. 2. Anquan Boldin – 900 snaps. With Crabtree out, the 49ers need both Boldin and Davis…
SANTA CLARA — Here’s what Frank Gore said to the Bay Area media Thursday afternoon. Q: What’s this offseason been like for you after getting so close in February? GORE: It was tough at the beginning, but once I got back and worked out and stuff, I kind of got better with it. I’m happy to be back. When I got back, all the guys were working. We’re going to…
The 49ers don’t play the Packers until September 8, but we’re killing time over here, so here’s a question for you: Do the 49ers still match up well against the Packers? The Packers did not match up well against the 49ers in two games last season, but this offseason Green Bay drafted two running backs – Eddie Lacy and Johnathan Franklin – and a defensive lineman – Datone Jones –…
SANTA CLARA — Jim Harbaugh spoke to the Bay Area media Tuesday afternoon next to the 49ers’ practice field. Here’s what he said, courtesy of the 49ers. This was our first time seeing WR Anquan Boldin out there. He looked like he’s still in playoff form, what he’s done all those years. What’d you see out of him? “Well, very impressed. Today, you got a good look at what…
This upcoming season, the 49ers arguably will have the slowest base offense in the NFL. I’m talking 21 personnel – Frank Gore at tail back, Bruce Miller at fullback, Vernon Davis at tight end, Michael Crabtree at flanker and Anquan Boldin at split end. When those players are on the field for the 49ers, their fastest players are the tight end and the quarterback. If the 49ers want more speed,…
Many of my readers have been comparing and contrasting the 49ers and Seahawks this week, so I thought it would be interesting to break down the two clubs by offensive, defensive and special teams units. In other words, at this point in free agency which team has the better starting QB? Which team has the better backup QB? Which team has the better group of running backs? And so on….
Steve Young spoke on KNBR Thursday afternoon. This is what he said. Q: Let’s start off with the first half. What did you see that had the 49ers behind for a second straight week? YOUNG: It was little stuff. It was things that you hadn’t seen before. You got the feeling like, not only the penalties, but the miscues and even the plays getting in. We’ve talked about this for…
Greg Cosell spoke about the Super Bowl on KNBR Thursday morning. Here’s what he said. Q: What did you think of the 49ers’ final four offensive plays? COSELL: Here’s a perfect case where because the plays failed, everybody thinks that they’re bad play calls, therefore something was horribly wrong. The first play was perfectly understandable because Gore had just run 33 yards and he was not in the next play….
The 49ers lost the Super Bowl 34-31 on Sunday. Here are the grades for the coaches. Coaching: D. The 49ers got outcoached across the board. Jim Harbaugh did not prepare his team well. The 49ers were flagged for an illegal formation on the very first play of the game, a mind-boggling feat. The first play of the game is the play they practice dozens of times all week. It is…
The 49ers lost the Super Bowl 34-31 on Sunday. Here are the grades for the offense. Offensive line: A-. This group struggled in the first half when Haloti Ngata was healthy. They couldn’t open up any holes for Frank Gore, who had 11 carries for just 29 yards. And Anthony Davis gave up a sack on third and goal from the eight yard line. But the 49ers’ O-line dominated in…
This is my Saturday article on the gradual construction of the 49ers’ roster. By GRANT COHN After the 2004 season, the 49ers were the worst team in football. They had practically no talent, they had won two games, and they had one Pro Bowler, long snapper, Brian Jennings. This season, the 49ers are going to the Super Bowl and they have arguably the most talented roster in the NFL. Nine…
I’ve watched the 49ers up close since training camp 2011. I know how dominant they can be. When they’re at their best, they can blow out any team in the NFL. But I don’t think they’re at their best right now, and I think they’re going to lose to the Ravens 20-17. Yes, the 49ers’ offense is hot. Colin Kaepernick is averaging 9.4 yards per passing attempt over the last…
Warren Sapp spoke on KNBR Thursday afternoon. Here is his breakdown of the 49ers and Ravens defenses, as well as his scouting report of the 49ers’ offensive line and the Ravens’ defensive line. Q: What do you think of the Ravens’ defense? SAPP: We love the Baltimore defense because of Ed Reed, Ray Lewis, Haloti Ngata, T-Sizzle – the names roll off the tongue. And everything they’ve gone through this…
These are the current Super Bowl MVP odds, according to Bet Firms: Colin Kaepernick: 7-4. Joe Flacco: 11-4. Frank Gore: 7-1. Ray Lewis: 7-1. Ray Rice: 10-1. Michael Crabtree: 14-1. Anquan Boldin: 16-1. Vernon Davis: 18-1. Torrey Smith: 20-1. Ed Reed: 33-1. Aldon Smith: 40-1. Dennis Pitta: 40-1. Randy Moss: 40-1. Patrick Willis: 50-1. Terrell Suggs: 50-1. Bernard Pollard: 66-1. Dashon Goldson: 66-1. David Akers: 66-1. LaMichael James: 66-1. NaVorro…
