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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Jets-49ers matchups: Part II

The 49ers play the Jets Sunday at the Meadowlands. In the meantime, I’ll break down one key matchup per day. Wide receivers Santonio Holmes (5-11, 192  pounds) and Jeremy Kerley (5-9, 188 pounds) vs. the 49ers defensive backs. The 49ers defense, as great as it is, does not match up well against big tight ends or small, explosive receivers who can line up all over the formation – in the…

September 26, 2012
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NFL Draft: Niners could gamble on a slot

A No. 3 wide receiver isn’t the most pressing of the Niners’ draft needs, but it’s likely somewhere on the list. And with a pair of big-bodied wideouts in Michael Crabtree and Josh Morgan, it wouldn’t be a surprise if San Francisco targets a slot receiver.

April 6, 2011
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