Greg Roman says LaMichael James is a really good football player

SANTA CLARA — Greg Roman was interviewed in the 49ers’ auditorium Thursday afternoon. Here’s a transcript courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department. Opening comments: “It was great to start off the season with a win. We moved onto a Chicago Bears team on Monday that has a very experienced defense. Starting with their front four, they’ve got one of the best pass rushers over the last decade in [Chicago Bears DE] Jared…

September 11, 2014
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Dontae Johnson expects Jay Cutler to test him Sunday Night

SANTA CLARA – Dontae Johnson was interviewed next to his locker Thursday afternoon. Here’s a transcript Q: Going up against Jay Cutler do you expect to be targeted a little more just because you’re the rookie? JOHNSON: Yeah, absolutely. That’s just one of the things: “He’s a rookie. Let’s see if he can play this game.” That’s one of the things that comes with being a rookie. You’ve got to…

September 11, 2014
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Michael Crabtree says he is good to go for Sunday and is not worried about his contract

SANTA CLARA — Michael Crabtree was interviewed next to his locker Thursday afternoon. Here’s a transcript. Q: Are you good to go? CRABTREE: Yeah. Q: Are you going to practice today? CRABTREE: Yeah. Q: The calf injury was minor? CRABTREE: Yeah. Q: How excited are you to play the Cowboys? CRABTREE: I think my family is more excited than I am. I’m excited, man. I’m going back and instead of…

September 4, 2014
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Michael Crabtree (calf) and Anthony Davis (hamstring) miss practice

The 49ers just announced their first injury report of the season: Did not participate in practice: Michael Crabtree (calf) Anthony Davis (hamstring) Marcus Martin (knee) Do you think Davis and Alex Boone will start on Sunday, or do you think Jonathan Martin and Joe Looney will start? Are you concerned about Crabtree’s calf? Here is the Cowboys’ injury report: Did not participate in practice: Anthony Spencer (knee) Darrion Weems (shoulder)…

September 3, 2014
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49ers 21, Chargers 7: Starters’ grades

SANTA CLARA – The 49ers beat the Chargers 21-7 Sunday afternoon. Here are the grades for the Niners’ starters. KAEPERNICK: D-. Fumbled twice and committed one turnover. Completed 50 percent of his passes. Completed zero percent of his passes in the red zone. Posted a 64.2 passer rating. Performed poorly in areas he needed to improve this offseason – accuracy, touch, footwork and red-zone passing. RUNNING BACKS: C. Carlos Hyde…

August 24, 2014
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Jim Harbaugh: “predicting how many times we’re going to throw the ball isn’t something that I think is in our best interest.”

SANTA CLARA — Jim Harbaugh was interviewed by Bay Area reporters in the 49ers’ auditorium Tuesday morning. Here’s a transcript, courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. staff.   After going over the game on Sunday, are there still a lot of areas of concern that you have? Or did the film study kind of clear up some of the things that concerned you afterward? “We’re working. We’re working to improve. It’s an…

August 19, 2014
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49ers fans boo Blaine Gabbert at open practice in Levi’s Stadium

SANTA CLARA – Here’s what stood out to me during the full-speed portion of team drills at Friday evening’s padded practice in Levi’s Stadium. THE GOOD 1. Michael Crabtree. Participated during all of team drills and caught five passes. Worked harder today than he had during any other open practice this offseason. 2. Colin Kaepernick. Completed 13 of 19 passes. Carlos Hyde knocked down one of the pass attempts –…

August 15, 2014
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Kenneth Acker picks off two passes, Devon Wylie beats Jimmie Ward three times in team drills

SANTA CLARA – Here’s what stood out to me during Wednesday afternoon’s padded practice. THE GOOD 1. Colin Kaepernick. Completed 22 of 32 pass attempts during team drills. He threw two touchdowns during an 11-on-11 goal line drill – one to Anquan Boldin and one to Asante Cleveland. Kaepernick also got intercepted on a deep pass in the end zone – Perrish Cox jumped and caught the ball over Quinton…

August 13, 2014
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49ers camp progress report

This is my Saturday column. SANTA CLARA – Eight training camp practices down, three to go before the 49ers play preseason game No. 1 and you see this for yourself. Until then, here are my top five takeaways from camp. 1. Colin Kaepernick is improving. It’s his fourth season in this offense and he has it down cold – that’s the first thing you notice. He shouts a million things…

August 2, 2014
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Report: Crabtree injures hamstring, will miss a week or two

SANTA CLARA — Jim Harbaugh revealed Friday morning that MIchael Crabtree injured himself during training camp. Here’s what Harbaugh said: Q: “Will Michael Crabtree practice today?” HARBAUGH: “Not today, no. He is working through something.” Q: “Is it serious? Will it keep him out for long?” HARBAUGH: “No, probably a week. Maybe a week. Maybe two weeks. Same for Brandon Lloyd.” Q: “Is it related to his Achilles?” HARBAUGH: “No….

August 1, 2014
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Greg Roman says Carlos Hyde has “a Frank-Gore type of trait”

SANTA CLARA — Greg Roman was interviewed by Bay Area reporters in the 49ers’ auditorium Thursday afternoon. Here is a transcript courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. staff.   Opening comments: “Good afternoon. Into the meat of training camp right now. Guys are working hard. You get to this point in training camp and you’ve kind of installed your base offense. It’s about the fourth time that we’ve done it. Now…

July 31, 2014
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Colin Kaepernick shines (excecpt on 3rd down), and Jon Baldwin disappears

SANTA CLARA — Here’s what stood out to me during Tuesday’s padded practice. THE GOOD 1. Colin Kaepernick. His best practice of training camp. He was accurate on the short throws and the long ones for the most part. He finally hit Vance McDonald in stride deep down the middle of the field. Kaepernick had been overthrowing that pass to McDonald since last year’s training camp. 2. Chris Cook. Intercepted…

July 29, 2014
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Dontae Johnson shuts down Anquan Boldin, Brandon Lloyd and Stevie Johnson

SANTA CLARA – Here’s what stood out to me at the 49ers’ second padded practice of training camp. THE GOOD 1. Dontae Johnson. Played like a monster. Broke up three passes. First, he swatted away a Colin Kaepernick pass intended for Anquan Boldin in the back right corner of the end zone. You rarely see a cornerback beat Boldin on a jump ball. Next, Johnson almost intercepted a Kaepernick pass…

July 27, 2014
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Chris Cook on Brandon Lloyd: “Everything he runs, it looks like he’s about to take off and go straight down the field.”

SANTA CLARA – Chris Cook was interviewed by Bay Area reporters Sunday afternoon outside of the 49ers’ locker room. Here is a transcript. Q: How is this experience different that your experience on the Vikings? COOK: I’m not a rookie. I started my career in Minnesota. There is a lot of talent here. There is talent throughout the whole NFL. There definitely is better weather here. It’s not really different….

July 27, 2014
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Trent Baalke on Marcus Lattimore: “He’s close. How close remains to be seen.”

SANTA CLARA – This is what Trent Baalke said about Marcus Lattimore Saturday afternoon. Q: Why isn’t Marcus Lattimore active? Did he reinjure himself? BAALKE: He has had no setbacks. He’s coming off, as well all know, a horrific injury. We want to make sure, as does he, that he is 100 percent mentally and physically ready to go to help this football team and to give himself the best…

July 27, 2014
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Tramaine Brock breaks up three, Chris Cooks gives up nine

SANTA CLARA – Here’s what stood out to me at the 49ers’ first padded practice of training camp. THE GOOD 1. Tramaine Brock. Broke up three passes today. First, he intercepted Kory Faulkner who was trying to throw to Stevie Johnson. Then, Brock broke up a pass intended for Carlos Hyde. And then, Brock broke up a pass intended for Kassim Osgood. 2. Michael Crabtree. Dropped one pass in the…

July 26, 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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Davis has leverage in contract showdown

This is my Tuesday column on Vernon Davis holding out. SANTA CLARA – Taped to Vernon Davis’ locker is a white piece of paper that has a message printed on it: “Please come by the EQ Room and try on your helmet. Needs to be fitted by Friday, 5/23.” I guess Davis missed that message. You can tell he hasn’t visited his locker in a while. It looks like a…

June 17, 2014
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OTA Notes: Marcus Lattimore improves

SANTA CLARA — Here’s what stood out to me during Tuesday’s mini-camp. THE GOOD 1. Marcus Lattimore — Looked much more agile than he did during OTAs. He caught one pass in the flat, planted his left foot, cut and exploded into the end zone for a touchdown. I haven’t seen him cut like that during practice before. 2. Garrett Celek — Caught a touchdown pass from Colin Kaepernick during…

June 17, 2014
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49ers mini-camp: Phase 2 of a laid-back offseason?

Last year’s offseason was completely different than this year’s offseason. Last year was strenuous. Jim Harbaugh made every practice extremely competitive. Players got hurt. Michael Crabtree blew out his Achilles’ tendon right away. So, Harbaugh created an open competition for the No.2 WR job. That didn’t work out so well. Quinton Patton broke his finger during training camp. This year’s offseason has been much more laid back. Michael Crabtree, Anquan…

June 14, 2014
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