With rookie mini camps around the corner and OTAs around the bend too, let’s rank the Niners top-10 offseason battles in reverse order. 10. Michael Crabtree vs. his left foot. Will Crabtree win the battle against his left foot this offseason? He’s 1-2 in his professional career when he’s faced the foot in the summer. It beat him in ’09 when it sustained a stress fracture and held him out…
According to Matt Maiocco, Ahmad Brooks will count $2.85 million against the 49ers’ salary cap in 2012. For all the figures of Brooks’ deal, read Matty’s article here. Just know that Brooks’ cap figures significantly increase in upcoming seasons, but in 2012 he’ll be a relative bargain. Here’s how this affects free agency: Currently the Niners have about $23 million in cap space. If they cut Shawntae Spencer, then they’ll…
Trent Baalke reiterated this morning at the NFL Combine that the 49ers want to keep their guys in place, as in re-sign their free agents. Baalke said there’s no priority list for who he wants to re-sign, which is baloney, probably. Let’s try to guess that priority list. Which of the 49ers free agents are most important to resign? And in what order? Keep in mind, no free agent is…
SANTA CLARA — Here’s what Ricky Jean Francois said at his locker this morning. Q: What does this team still need to work on? JEAN FRANCOIS: One thing I know we’re going to work on is getting a better start, not starting off real slow, and executing plays, getting back into the details a little more better. Winning the division championship was one… HARALSON: A little more better? Seriously? That’s…
SANTA CLARA – Here’s what Parys Haralson said today at his locker. Q: Was that the most complete win this season by the defense? HARALSON: When you’re playing a guy like Eli Manning, that’s a smart quarterback and I think he is one of these elite quarterbacks in this league with quite a few other guys. It was taking care of what we had to do, everybody being on the…
SANTA CLARA – Here is the transcript of Vic Fangio’s Thursday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. Vic, [LB] Aldon Smith was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month, is he just providing everything you could have hoped he would at this point? “He’s played well in this last month. His pass rush has really picked up. He’s had games where he’s had opportunity to play more because the type…
SANTA CLARA — Jim Harbaugh just said in his Wednesday afternoon press conference that he’s “not as optimistic or confident” as he was the other day when he said he expected Braylon Edwards to play this Sunday against the Cleveland Browns. Harbaugh says his waning confidence applies to the other injured players as well – Adam Snyder (right shoulder stinger), Parys Haralson (hamstring) and Tramaine Brock (broken left hand). Stay…
SANTA CLARA – The competitive portion of practice was brief but it was also violent. The offensive lineman took turns trying to prevent defensive linemen and linebackers from sacking a ball boy who was standing behind them in the pocket. Every time the coach yelled “hut,” the players collided and their helmets crashed. It was definitely nutcracker-esque. First, the drill was one-on-one. Aldon Smith had Joe Staley’s number, beating him…
It’s generally agreed that Fangio didn’t inherit a unit with a great pass-rushing outside linebacker – a key ingredient in the blitz-heavy 3-4 scheme he prefers to run. And at today’s press conference to formally introduce Fangio, offensive coordinator Greg Roman and special teams coordinator Brad Seely, Fangio did little to dispute the notion.
San Francisco hasn’t had a player record more than 8.5 sacks in a season since 2002 when Andre Carter had 12.5. In addition, Parys Haralson is the only San Francisco linebacker to rank higher than 29th in the NFL in sacks in the past eight seasons.
