49ers practice highlights

SANTA CLARA – Here are the highlights from Tuesday’s practice. THE GOOD 1. RB Kendall Hunter. Led all members of the first-team offense with five touches during team drills (Carlos Hyde and Anquan Boldin each had three touches – tied for second-most on the first team). One of Hunter’s touches was a catch on a screen play, and another was an eight-yard touchdown run on a stretch-zone run to the…

August 25, 2015
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Jim Tomsula says Bruce Ellington, Michael Wilhoite and Glenn Dorsey will return to practice this week, plus more

SANTA CLARA – Here’s a transcript of head coach Jim Tomsula’s Monday conference call. Q: Last week you intimated you’d be shuffling around the offensive. Is the first unit the unit you’ve settled on? TOMSULA: No, it is not the unit we’ve settled. We are not settled there. We’re getting closer. I like what (Joe) Looney did, and I like where we’re going with RG Marcus (Martin). He’s really doing…

August 24, 2015
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49ers training camp report: Day 4

SANTA CLARA – Here are the highlights from the 49ers’ fourth practice and first padded practice of training camp. THE GOOD 1. OLB Aldon Smith. Abused starting left tackle Joe Staley all afternoon. During one-on-one pass-rushing drills, Smith faked to the outside, came back inside and Staley never touched him. Later during team drills, Smith beat Staley around the edge and tagged Colin Kaepernick for the sack. 2. OLB Eli…

August 4, 2015
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Greg Roman: “Had a very productive morning today in meetings and looking forward to getting a bunch of work done today. Any questions?”

This is the transcript of Greg Roman’s Thursday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ p.r. department. Opening statement: “Morning. Getting ready for a very good Seattle defense. I think these guys have gotten healthy the past couple weeks and are playing at a very impressive level. Very impressed at their Philly game and they certainly did a good job against us a couple weeks ago. I think we helped them…

December 11, 2014
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Predict the 49ers’ record

In light of the preseason results so far, do you have any idea what the 49ers’ record will be this season? Considering Daniel Kilgore will start at center instead of Jonathan Goodwin, Joe Looney will start at right guard instead of Alex Boone, and Anthony Davis will start at right tackle after missing almost all offseason rehabbing his shoulder, I say 10-6 at best. What do you say?

August 26, 2014
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49ers’ biggest concern is the offensive line

This is my Tuesday column. Forget Colin Kaepernick and his development. Forget Frank Gore and his old legs. Forget NaVorro Bowman and his busted knee. Forget all of those concerns. The biggest concern facing the 49ers is the offensive line, from center to right guard to right tackle. Through the first three preseason games the 49ers have gained just 38 yards on 15 direct handoffs, running plays designed to go…

August 25, 2014
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49ers have chance to show quality

This is my Friday column. The 49ers have been by far the worst team in the NFL during the preseason. In two games, the Niners have scored three points and given up 57. That means they’ve been outscored by 54. The Cowboys have been the second-worst team in the preseason. They’ve been outscored by merely 27. That means the 49ers have been twice as bad as the second-worst team. We…

August 22, 2014
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Joe Looney on Alex Boone: “He’s a heck of a player. I want to do a great job just like he did.”

SANTA CLARA – Joe Looney was interviewed next to his locker Tuesday afternoon. Here’s a transcript. Q: Do you think improved from the Ravens’ game to the Broncos’ game? LOONEY: Yeah, I thought I played a little better. There is always stuff I can get better at doing, but I thought I played a better game with my pad level. Q: You were on the inactive roster so much the…

August 19, 2014
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Greg Roman says it is “too early to tell” if Quinton Patton’s and Adam Snyder’s injuries are serious

Here is a transcript of Greg Roman’s Sunday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. staff. Opening comments: “Having a lot of good work against a very good Ravens team. Tempo is very similar to what we’d be doing against ourselves, but we get to do it against a different style of defense and certainly different style of players. Everybody’s working very well together and I think we’re getting a…

August 10, 2014
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Boone lacks leverage in his holdout

This is my Thursday column on Alex Boone. SANTA CLARA – Alex Boone is making a big mistake. Boone is the only 49er holding out of training camp. The 27-year-old guard wants a new contract. You can understand why. He signed his current deal at the end of the 2011 season when he was a backup tackle. The 49ers gave him a four-year contract and $1.7 million guaranteed. Then in…

July 24, 2014
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Kaepernick: “Bruce (Ellington) has been amazing.”

SANTA CLARA — Colin Kaepernick was interviewed by Bay Area reporters Thursday afternoon. Here is a transcript courtesy of the 49ers. What did you get out of this three-day minicamp? “We got more work with our receivers, with our running backs. Great opportunity for us just to get better.” Are you a better redzone team now after this three-day minicamp than you were? I know that’s been a big focus…

June 19, 2014
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How the 49ers have been successful running the ball vs. the Seahawks at Candlestick

Last season when the 49ers played the Seahawks at Candlestick, Frank Gore gained 131 yards on 16 carries. 18 of those yards came on one “wham” play, and 48 of those yards came on two “trap” plays. On the wham play, the 49ers let Alan Branch penetrate the backfield and Bruce Miller blindsided him with a wham block. Gore ran right up the middle for 18. On the first trap…

December 6, 2013
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Roman says the 49ers’ offense needs “chunk plays” against the Seahawks

SANTA CLARA — Greg Roman spoke in the media tent Thursday afternoon. Here is a transcript.   Opening comments: “Afternoon. Big division game this week. Very good defense we’re about to face starting with their D-line. They’ve got a lot of depth on their D-line. They roll them through, keep them fresh. Do a nice job starting with [Seahawks DT Brandon] Mebane in the middle. Not a guy you hear…

December 5, 2013
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Harbaugh says he “believes” Patrick Willis will start Week 1 against the Packers

SANTA CLARA — Jim Harbaugh spoke in the media tent Tuesday afternoon. Here’s what he said, courtesy of the 49ers.   Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio was telling me that you guys decided on S Eric Reid as the starting safety. What has he shown you to earn that role heading into the regular season? “Just everything we talked about, he’s been good. He’s shown that he’s picked up the system…

August 27, 2013
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49ers 15, Chiefs 13: Grades

My grades for the 49ers’ 15-13 preseason victory over the Chiefs: QUARTERBACKS: D. Colin Kaepernick completed one of two passes for negative three yards. He overthrew the one pass he attempted downfield. Colt McCoy and Scott Tolzien were horrible. McCoy threw an interception and Tolzien averaged just 3.8 yards per pass attempt. If those two keep playing like that, the 49ers won’t be able to trade either one for a…

August 16, 2013
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Training camp report: Culliver injures left knee, Vernon Davis catches a TD playing WR

SANTA CLARA – Here’s what stood out to me at Thursday’s padded practice. THE GOOD 1. Vernon Davis – He lined up everywhere – tight end, in the backfield and out wide. In a red-zone drill, Davis lined up at split end across from Tarell Brown. Davis beat Brown on an inside move and caught a touchdown pass from Colt McCoy. 2. Nnamdi Asomugha – He was the second-team right…

August 1, 2013
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The 49ers’ top 10 offseason position battles

Here are the top-10 position battles on the 49ers I’m looking forward to this offseason. Which battles interest you the most? 1. No.2 and No.3 cornerback: Carlos Rogers vs. Nnamdi Asomugha vs. Chris Culliver. Tarell Brown probably is a lock to start, so Rogers, Asomugha and Culliver will compete for the other two cornerback spots in the 49ers’ Nickel defense. Rogers and Culliver will compete to cover the slot. The…

May 5, 2013
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Baalke: “We have to have a good draft. We have to have a good free agency period.”

Trent Baalke held a press conference on Thursday, and here is a transcript courtesy of the 49ers.   [Question inaudible but was in regards to the 49ers use of the read option offense.] “You’ve got to do what the skill sets of your quarterback allow you to do. As long as you do that, I think you’ve got a chance.”   Did QB Colin Kaepernick scream “franchise-caliber” to you when you…

February 21, 2013
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Harbaugh: “Kendall Hunter is having an exceptional training camp.”

SANTA CLARA – On Monday, Jim Harbaugh spoke in the media tent and discussed the current quarterback depth chart, Michael Crabtree’s injury status and why Kendall Hunter is having a great training camp. Here’s a transcript, courtesy of the 49ers. Opening Statement: “Hello. I want to send our condolences to the Reid family on their loss. We’re saddened with grief for them. Our prayers are with them and Garrett, at…

August 6, 2012
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Jim Harbaugh says the defense dominated the offense “about every which way it could be dominated.”

SANTA CLARA – Friday in the media tent, Jim Harbaugh explained that his defense dominated his offense in practice. He also explained why Mike Iupati did not participate and why Alex Boone did not finish the team drills. Here’s a transcript of the press conference, courtesy of the 49ers.   Opening statement: “Hello. [G] Mike Iupati was excused from practice today, expecting their first child, [his wife] Ashley and Mike…

August 3, 2012
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