Jim Tomsula: “To answer that question would be that I had a view that Seattle was on the decline, which I do not.”

SANTA CLARA This is the transcript of Jim Tomsula’s Wednesday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department. Opening comments: “Everybody will be on the field today for practice. [LB NaVorro] Bowman will be normal Wednesday. We’re just going to stay on that deal leading into the game. As far as [WR Anquan] Boldin, [RB Carlos] Hyde, [CB Tramaine] Brock, they will be out there, they will be going and…

November 18, 2015
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Jim Tomsula: “We need the practice time instead of going out there today.”

SANTA CLARA — This is the transcript of Jim Tomsula’s post-game press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department. Opening comments: “Hello, good evening. Well there’s a wrap for the preseason. I thought the young guys represented themselves well. I thought they played hard and physical. I thought both teams did. There were still a few penalties. We do a good job turning second down into first down but we’ve…

September 4, 2015
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Jim Tomsula on Ahmad Brooks: “We’ve all known about this, the potential of things so this is nothing new to us.”

Here is a transcript of head coach Jim Tomsula’s Thursday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department. Opening comments: “[S Craig] Dahl, [LB Philip] Wheeler and [TE Vance] McDonald didn’t practice. You knew that. [LB Nick] Moody got a little tweak on the knee. I just talked to him, seems like that’s fine. Haven’t gotten to the trainer yet. And [CB Tramaine Brock] T-Brock pulled a muscle, I just…

August 27, 2015
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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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49ers training camp report: Day 12

SANTA CLARA – Here are the highlights of the 49ers’ eighth padded practice of training camp. THE GOOD 1. RB Reggie Bush. Didn’t play during Saturday’s preseason game against the Texans, and may not play at all during the preseason – the coaches seem to want to keep him healthy. But, from the looks of practice, Bush will play a lot during the regular season. Today he had a team-leading…

August 18, 2015
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Trent Baalke answers lots of questions

SANTA CLARA— Trent Baalke answered a few reporters’ questions in the 49ers’ media room Wednesday afternoon. Here’s a transcript of the interview. BARROWS: Has Justin Smith decided whether he will retire? BAALKE: As I said at the end of the season, I think at this stage of his career, he has earned the right to make that decision when it’s right. I think he’s still sorting through that process. He’s…

March 12, 2015
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Trent Baalke’s pattern with running backs

Trent Baalke has a pattern when it comes to drafting running backs. One year Baalke spends a second-round pick on a running back, and the next year he spends a fourth round pick on a running back. Then he repeats the pattern. In 2011, Baalke drafted Kendall Hunter in the fourth round. In 2012, Baalke drafted LaMichael James in the second round. In 2013, Baalke drafted Marcus Lattimore in the…

February 25, 2015
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Culliver on rehabbing an ACL tear, becoming a starter and going to court

SANTA CLARA – Chris Culliver was interviewed Saturday afternoon by Bay Area reporters outside of the 49ers’ locker room. Here is a transcript. Q: How does the knee feel? CULLIVER: It feels good. I’m cutting well. A lot of confidence. Training hard. Q: When you reported to camp last year, did you do so with the mindset that you would be a starter for the 2013 season? CULLIVER: No, I…

July 26, 2014
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LaMichael James says he weighs 208 pounds

SANTA CLARA – LaMichael James was interviewed Saturday afternoon by Bay Area reporters outside of the 49ers’ locker room. Here is a transcript. Q: Bruce Miller said you’ve been nothing but positive. Is that the mindset you’re taking coming into camp? JAMES: Yeah. If you don’t take that mindset, (training camp) will eat you alive. You come out here, long days – there is no reason to be upset. You’ve…

July 26, 2014
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Bruce Miller on Kendall Hunter: “This year we were really looking to bust him out and use him a lot early.”

SANTA CLARA – Bruce Miller was interviewed Saturday afternoon by Bay Area reporters outside of the 49ers’ locker room. Here is a transcript. Q: Does your heart sink for what happened to Kendall Hunter? MILLER: Yeah. One, just being a close friend, a teammate, a brother – you don’t ever want to see that happen to a guy, especially a guy like Kendall who puts in so much work, so…

July 26, 2014
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Carlos Hyde: “In practice right now, you don’t get too many chances where you get to run somebody over.”

SANTA CLARA – Carlos Hyde was interviewed Saturday afternoon by Bay Area reporters outside of the 49ers’ locker room. Here is a transcript. Q: Are you excited to put the pads on today? HYDE: Yeah, I’m pretty excited. It has been a while since I’ve had the pads on. Well, I take that back. I just had the pads on when the rookies had to report. I had the pads…

July 26, 2014
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Expanded change-of-pace-back stats

Here’s how Kendall Hunter’s rushing and receiving stats the past two seasons compare to the top change-of-pace-backs in the NFL. KENDALL HUNTER RUSHING 150 carries 729 rushing yards 4.86 yards per carry 2.69 yards after contact per carry 5 rushing TDs 1 rushing TD every 30 carries RECEIVING 11 catches 73 receiving yards 6.64 yards per catch 6.91 yards after catch per reception 0 TD catches DARREN SPROLES RUSHING 101…

June 23, 2014
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Is Kendall Hunter the best change-of-pace back in football?

Pro Football Focus has been publishing depth charts which they grade position-by-position. They recently published a 49ers’ depth chart and graded Kendall Hunter as a below-average “HB2,” or change-of-pace back. Here’s how Hunter’s rushing statistics the past two seasons have stacked up against the change-of-pace backs whom PFF rank as “good” or “high level.” Kendall Hunter: 4.86 yards per carry/ 2.69 yards after contact per carry Darren Sproles: 4.59 yards…

June 22, 2014
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Harbaugh: “Kendall Hunter had a great camp.”

SANTA CLARA — Jim Harbaugh was interviewed by Bay Area reporters Thursday afternoon. Here is a transcript courtesy of the 49ers. How would you asses this three-day minicamp? Did you guys get out of it what you wanted to? “Outstanding. Really pleased. Thought our players are getting better and better at multiple positions on our team. Coming out of this feeling really good that we improved as a football team…

June 19, 2014
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OTA Notes: Rough day for the passing game

SANTA CLARA — Here’s what stood out to me during Tuesday’s OTA. THE GOOD 1. Colin Kaepernick — The passing game wasn’t clicking, but Kaepernick made three beautiful throws. First, he dropped back and looked to his right, then looked to his left and hit Brandon Lloyd in the middle of the field for a 15-yard gain. Next, Kaepernick threw a touchdown pass rolling to his right during a red-zone…

June 10, 2014
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OTA Notes: Kaepernick misses open receivers, Lloyd impresses Harbaugh and Willis, Johnson beats Johnson for a TD, and more

SANTA CLARA – This is what stood out to me at Tuesday’s OTA. THE GOOD 1. Brandon Lloyd: Best receiver on the field by far, although Michael Crabtree, Anquan Boldin, Vernon Davis, Stevie Johnson and Quinton Patton weren’t there. Lloyd made the catch of the day. He was running deep toward sideline and Blaine Gabbert threw the ball behind him. Lloyd jumped, twisted, caught the ball and landed both feet…

June 3, 2014
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49ers need to wind down Frank Gore

This is my Tuesday column on Frank Gore. SANTA CLARA — Frank Gore exchanged knuckles with the 49ers’ PR guy as he walked off the practice field before 2:30 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. The key moment of Gore’s day. Gore left just as the OTA got competitive. He stretched with the team and warmed up with the running backs. He even wore his helmet. But when Harbaugh blew his whistle to…

June 3, 2014
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49ers grades and projections

This is my Thursday column. Dear player or coach for the San Francisco 49ers, This is your final report card for the 2013 season. Show this to your mother and make sure she signs her name at the bottom. COLIN KAEPERNICK: C+. I assumed you would improve, but you got worse. Somehow you became a less accurate passer, only occasionally hitting a receiver in stride. How did you get less accurate…

February 6, 2014
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49ers 23, Cardinals 20: Grades

Here are my grades for the 49ers. They beat the Cardinals 23-20 on a last-second field goal by Phil Dawson. KAEPERNICK: B+. Excellent in the first and fourth quarter, bad in the second and third quarter. He was flagged for a delay-of-game penalty on the final drive of the game, but he also made two beautiful throws on that drive – one to Anquan Boldin for 18 yards and one…

December 29, 2013
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49ers 34, Falcons 24: Grades

SAN FRANCISCO – Here are my grades for the 49ers. They almost blew a 10-point fourth-quarter lead, but ended up beating the Falcons 34-24. KAEPERNICK: B. His passer rating was 108.6 and he ran for 51 yards and a touchdown against a terrible defense. He also completed just 13 passes, and only a few of his completions actually hit his intended receiver in stride. All night, receivers had to adjust…

December 23, 2013
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