A lot of the Super Bowl is going to happen on the ground. So which team has the better running attack? Let’s compare. Ray Rice: 26 years old, 5-8, 212 pounds, 4.42 40-yard dash. Career rushing average: 4.5 yards per carry. 2012 regular season stats: 257 rushes, 1,143 rushing yards, 4.4 yards per carry, 10 TDs, 61 receptions, 478 receiving yards. 2.36 yards after contact per attempt (rushing or receiving),…
SANTA CLARA – Aldon Smith spoke in the 49ers’ locker room Wednesday afternoon. This is what he said. Q: Have offenses been double-teaming you more and more as the season has progressed? ALDON SMITH: Yeah, I’ve gotten doubled a lot more. Quarterbacks are doing a good job of getting the ball out of their hands. Stuff like that. Q: How do you deal with that? ALDON SMITH: It’s freeing somebody…
Greg Cosell spoke on KNBR on Monday and Tuesday. Here’s what he said about the 49ers’ Super Bowl matchup against the Ravens. Q: How much more difficult will it be for the 49ers’ offense to do what they want to do against the Ravens’ defense? COSELL: Ray Lewis is going to struggle against this offense, because they’re going to make him have to run. I don’t think he’s at the…
Greg Roman started the 49ers’ last two games, the playoff games against the Packers and the Falcons, with the same play – a quick pass to Michael Crabtree at the line of scrimmage. Roman called that play to start the game against the Patriots a month ago, too. Roman’s first play call has been a pass six-of-the-last-eight games. Roman has not led off with a handoff to Frank Gore since…
This is the transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s Monday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. “Good to see everybody back. You guys made it back safe.” You made it back safe? “Yes.” And what was that trip like? “Happy flight. That was a happy flight.” Were you able to watch live television during the flight? “Oh yeah, yeah. Yeah, there were TV’s on the plane. Got to…
ATLANTA – The 49ers beat the Falcons 28-24. The 49ers are going to the Super Bowl. Here are the grades for the 49ers’ offense. Offensive line: A. Mike Iupati gave up a sack and was flagged for a holding penalty, but the other four offensive linemen played almost perfectly. Collectively, they helped the 49ers average 5.1 yards per rush. Running backs: A. Frank Gore got the 49ers’ offense going in…
This is the opening to my Saturday article on the keys to the game for the 49ers and the Falcons. The Falcons need a miracle to beat the 49ers this Sunday. That’s the consensus of NFL critics. The Falcons need a fire alarm to go off in the 49ers’ hotel at 3 a.m. They need the entire 49ers team — players and coaches — to evacuate the building and catch…
SANTA CLARA – This is the transcript of Colin Kaepernick’s Friday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. What are your emotions right now as you’re about to jump on a flight and head to Atlanta? “Excited to get there.” You mentioned a couple of days ago that you liked watching Randall Cunningham, Donovan McNabb, some of those other guys. Did you watch how they disguised the ball and…
SANTA CLARA – This is the transcript of Frank Gore’s Thursday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. You haven’t worn that in a while? “No.” Why’d you pull it out today? “It’s a work day. That’s about it. Just want to have a good work day.” What’s it going to take to have a good work day on Sunday? “We just have to play 49ers football. Do…
SANTA CLARA – This is the transcript of Greg Roman’s Thursday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. Opening Statement: “Sorry to keep you waiting. Good afternoon. Obviously we’re very excited to be back in the Championship Game against a great Atlanta team. They’ve won a lot of games this year, won a lot of games really the past several years, and the great thing about our guys is they’ve…
SANTA CLARA – This is the transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s Thursday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. Have you had any interesting guests come in and talk to the team this week? “No.” Sometimes you do. “Yeah, sometimes.” But not this time? “[ESPN Sportscaster] Chris Berman was here yesterday, he said a few words to the team.” How do you feel about preparation to this point,…
Greg Cosell spoke on KNBR Thursday morning. Here’s what he said about the 49ers and the Falcons. Q: Was Kaepernick’s record-breaking performance aided by an awful Packers defense? COSELL: I think that’s fair. I think the numbers reflect that. He had three scrambled in the first half for 53 yards. All of them came against man-to-man coverage concepts. Two of those plays they doubled Michael Crabtree. I think that playing…
I found some interesting stats on the 49ers’ running backs I’d like to share with you. According to Pro Football Focus, LaMichael James is averaging 3.37 yards after contact per attempt (14th in the NFL), has forced five missed tackles, and has a 56.2 “elusive rating,” 25th in the NFL. Keep in mind, James has rushed just 27 times (for 125 yards) and caught just 3 passes (for 29 yards),…
On KNBR Tuesday afternoon, Trent Dilfer said Mike Nolan likes to take away an offense’s fast ball. What do you think Nolan will consider the 49ers’ fast ball? Do you think he’ll double team Vernon Davis or Michael Crabtree? Do you think Nolan will load the box with eight defenders, or do you think he’ll play a two-deep zone and attempt to stop Frank Gore with seven defenders? I’m curious…
Trent Dilfer spoke on KNBR Tuesday morning. Here’s what he said. Q: What did you think of the 49ers victory over the Packers? DILFER: I’ve never been happier to be wrong than I was this weekend. Man, I was really scared for the Niners. I just didn’t know if they had an answer for Aaron Rodgers, I didn’t know how Kap would respond. I’m not one of these guys that…
SAN FRANCISCO – The 49ers massacred the Packers 45-31 on Saturday night. Here is the grade for the 49ers offense. Offensive line: A. Joe Staley gave up the one and only sack. He injured his arm in the game and did not play particularly well. But the other four offensive linemen sure did. Mike Iupati, Alex Boone and Anthony Davis all were terrific run blockers. Jonathan Goodwin only had one…
The 49ers play the Packers Saturday at the Stick. In the meantime, I’ll break down the key matchups. Frank Gore vs. the Packers run defense Frank Gore has slowed down big time since Week 7 this season. Before that game he was averaging roughly six yards per carry. Since that game, he’s slower, less explosive and averaging fewer than four yards per carry. But Gore is going to have a…
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…
This is the opening for my Wednesday analysis of what’s at stake for Jim Harbaugh and the 49ers on Saturday. This will run in the Press Democrat newspaper, and I’m also posting it here. This week the 49ers are in the same position they were in a year ago — No. 2 seed, first-round bye, home game. It’s a great situation to be in, but the stakes are different. Last…
SANTA CLARA – Greg Roman spoke in the media tent Tuesday afternoon. Here’s what he said about Jim Harbaugh and the 49ers offense, courtesy of the 49ers. We don’t get to watch WR A.J. Jenkins in practice but can you describe how he’s done this year and I guess the progress he’s made through the course of the season? “Yeah, A.J. is making really good strides, week-to-week. He hasn’t…
