Here is what Greg Cosell about the upcoming 49ers-Seahawks game on a Sports Illustrated podcast. Q: Last year before the Super Bowl, we talked a lot about the creativity that Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman implemented in the run game. This year, they’ve taken that creativity to trips and bunch, and the way they set Anquan Boldin and Vernon Davis up in those multi-receiver formations was a thing of beauty….
SANTA CLARA – Alex Boone spoke in the media tent Friday afternoon. Here’s what he said. Q: What have you seen from Cliff Avril? BOONE: He’s a great player, quick off the ball, fast, explosive pass rusher. He can be utilized a lot on third down. Good hands. Good motor. Tough guy. Q: It’s going to be a very physical game. How do you plan to set the tone with…
Here is my Thursday column. SANTA CLARA – Jim Harbaugh must change his offensive play-calling system this week for the 49ers’ game Sunday night in Seattle against the Seahawks. Not changing his system would be an ego-driven mistake. Harbaugh wants to be perfect on every play. As a result, his system is one of the slowest in the NFL. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman typically calls not one but two wordy…
SANTA CLARA – Greg Roman spoke in the media tent Thursday afternoon. Here’s what he said. ROMAN: Had a good practice yesterday, looking forward to another great one today. We’ve got a big game, division opponent, a team we’ve played four times. We know a little bit about them, they know a little bit about us. They’re a good team. They’re defense statistically the past two years has been as…
SANTA CLARA — Colin Kaepernick spoke in the locker room Wednesday afternoon. Here’s a transcript courtesy of the 49ers. Let’s ask you about the commercial on EA Madden. Those are great. Is it a real deal? Are somebody’s eyebrows coming off after this game? “I’m going to let to you ask [Seahawks QB] Russell [Wilson] about that one.” How well do you know him? How did you get…
SAN FRANCISCO – My grades for the 49ers after their 34-28 win over the Packers: KAEPERNICK: A. He outplayed Aaron Rodgers and shredded the Packers’ defense despite having no rushing threat, one wide receiver and one tight end. Kaepernick may be the only quarterback in the NFL who can pull that off. Here’s his final stat line: 29-of-37 for 412 yards, 3 TDs, a 129.4 passer rating, 9-for-18 on third…
SANTA CLARA – Greg Roman spoke in the media tent Thursday afternoon. Here’s a transcript. ROMAN: Afternoon. Excited to move into the regular season. I think we’ve had a very productive preseason-phase. I’d like to thank everybody that was a part of the team during that time. We’re set and ready to go. We had a great practice yesterday and looking forward to having another great one today. Any questions?…
Here is my Wednesday column. Scott Tolzien is no longer a 49er. He deserves a proper goodbye. The 49ers’ third-string quarterback the past two seasons got cut on Monday. He was a terrific quarterback at the University of Wisconsin, the Johnny Unitas Award winner in 2010, but no team drafted him after his senior season. His arm wasn’t strong enough for the NFL then, it isn’t strong enough now and…
SANTA CLARA — Greg Roman spoke in the media tent Tuesday morning. Here’s what he said, courtesy of the 49ers. Opening comments: “Good morning. We’re working, guys are working hard. That’s what training camp’s all about. I think we’re very fortunate to have some really good leadership on offense. I think [WR] Anquan Boldin is a guy that’s done nothing but impressed since day one with how he approaches…
SANTA CLARA – Greg Roman spoke in the 49ers’ media tent Sunday morning. Here’s what he said. ROMAN: Welcome. We’re entering our second preseason week. Guys are working real hard. We’re working through a lot of different situational stuff, base stuff. We’ve got the Kansas City Chiefs in our second preseason game, so it’s another great chance to get out and evaluate what we’re doing and what we’ve got. Guys…
SANTA CLARA — Jim Harbaugh spoke in the 49ers’ media tent Wednesday afternoon. Here’s what he said, courtesy of the 49ers. How many of the vets do you expect to just get the night off tomorrow? “Just a few.” Which ones? “[LB] Patrick [Willis] for sure and possibly [RB] Frank [Gore]. We’ll see.” What about DT Justin Smith? “We’ll see. But I think the bigger, rather than go…
SANTA CLARA – Greg Roman spoke in the media tent Monday morning. Here’s what he said, courtesy of the 49ers. Opening comments: “Good morning. First game week of the season. Very exciting, it’s a chance to get with our young players and start to prepare for a game. As we all well know, there are 16 regular season games and every week is really a season onto itself. The…
SANTA CLARA — Greg Roman spoke in the media tent Wednesday afternoon. Here’s what he said. Opening Statement: “Good afternoon or is it morning? It’s day six, another opportunity for us to get better. We just had a good little P.A.A.C.T. practice, practicing our alignment, assignment, communication and technique. Going to head into some meetings and then have a great practice today. Any questions?” Yesterday, LB Patrick Willis…
SANTA CLARA — Greg Roman spoke in the media tent Saturday afternoon. Here’s what he said. Opening statement: “It’s just hitting afternoon, good afternoon. It’s exciting to be back, start training camp, a chance to build a great foundation and build the keel of our ship. The first week or two, we are totally focused on ourselves and getting out there practicing, teaching and putting ourselves through the paces….
SANTA CLARA — The 49ers just broke up into position drills. Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman walked to the north-east corner of the practice field, 100 yards away from the press, to watch the quarterbacks and running backs practice the read option. Specifically, they practiced read-option play-action passes in the red zone. Practice will end between 5:00 and 5:30, so I’ll have a full report up around 6:00. Back at…
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…
The National Football Post’s Dave Miller recently wrote a blog breaking down the top assistant coaches in college football. At the bottom of the blog, Miller wrote this: “There is a job waiting for San Francisco 49ers’ assistant Greg Roman should he decide to return to the college game. The New Jersey native is very well-respected nationally, not just on the West Coast.” So, I have five questions for you….
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…
As we learned from Craig Dahl, last season the Rams knew most of the time whether the 49ers’ offense was going to run or pass. This blog from Niners Nation breaks down how the Rams may have keyed on the 49ers’ offense. Were there any other ways Roman was tipping his plays last season? I can think of one way. When Roman started calling the Diamond Formation late in the…
