SANTA CLARA – Alex Smith threw two touchdowns and converted one third down in Tuesday’s afternoon practice. He threw his first touchdown to Vernon Davis. The offense lined up in the red zone, Davis ran toward the end zone and Smith threw the ball high over Davis’ back shoulder. Davis leaped in the air, caught the pass and landed on his back. It was the catch Wes Welker couldn’t make…
Who are the top-five Niners under contract right now? Recently, we’ve focused on players who don’t have contracts, like Coby Fleener and Carlos Rogers and Alex Smith, to name a few. What about the players the Niners have currently? Who are the best ones? Here’s the top-five. 1. Justin Smith – He’s the best player on the team, arguably the best defensive player in the NFL. He’s a great run…
SANTA CLARA – Jim Harbaugh was especially talkative today. His Monday press conference transcript was almost 5,000 words. I’m focusing on about 80 of them. One writer asked Harbaugh an Alex Smith question. Harbaugh responded by calling his quarterback tough. Then he went on this tangent: “These guys are my heroes. All of them. Alex was heroic in this game. So was Justin, so was Donte, so was Aldon, so…
Lawrence Dushensky of the NFL blog This Given Sunday asked me six questions about the 49ers. The theme of his line of questioning was this: Can the 49ers shock the Saints? And how could they possibly do it? I’m linking my six answers to my six questions at the bottom. To be clear, I do think the Niners can “shock” the Saints. I think the Niners will win 17-16. I’m…
SANTA CLARA – Vernon Davis spoke in the media tent this afternoon. Here are selected quotes from his group interview. Q: We just talked to Greg Roman, and he said the past four or five weeks that he can tell you’ve become really comfortable in this offense. Would you say that time is right for you, too? VERNON DAVIS: I’d say the time is right. When I first got in…
Here are five reasons the Niners have a good chance to beat the Saints on Saturday. 1. The Niners can get pressure on Drew Brees with their front by attacking the weak link on the Saints line – center Brian De La Puente – with Aldon Smith on stunts. Justin Smith can occupy Pro Bowl left tackle Jermon Bushrod and Pro Bowl left guard Carl Nicks and free up Aldon…
Here are my Week 17 grades for the 13-3 49ers. Alex Smith: B+. He made one very nice play in this game – the eight yard touchdown scramble on third and goal in the first quarter. He slipped in the pocket and when he bounced back up it seemed like he wanted to throw the ball away, but he didn’t. Instead he plowed his way into the end zone. He’s…
Here’s what Jim Harbaugh said today at his Friday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. Have you guys made a decision yet (on who will fill the open roster spot)? “No, we haven’t made an announcement yet. We won’t until tomorrow, most likely.” What’s the purpose of waiting until Saturday for that move? “Until we know exactly how we want to do it. [WR] Ted [Ginn] had a good workout…
It turns out Jim Harbaugh overshot his Pro Bowl prediction. Eight Niners made the NFC Pro Bowl team – one or two or three short of his prediction. Six Niners ended up making the team as starters, and two made it as reserves. The starters are Justin Smith, Patrick Willis, Joe Staley, Carlos Rogers, David Akers and Andy Lee and the reserves are are Frank Gore and Dashon Goldson. Not one…
SANTA CLARA — Here’s the transcript of Vic Fangio’s Friday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. Coach, how do you prepare for the Steelers team when you don’t know if Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger is going to play or not? “Well, mainly you just prepare for their offense. Their running game’s not going to change a bit, no matter which quarterback is playing, and I don’t think their passing game…
SANTA CLARA — Here’s what I observed during today’s warmups. Greg Roman and Jim Harbaugh’s father, Jack, having a serious conversation in the middle of the practice field. Patrick Willis gingerly high stepping hurdles. I would be extremely surprised if he plays this Monday night. Joe Staley jogging back and forth across the field with a backwards cap on his head. I doubt he plays this Monday night, either. Aldon…
SANTA CLARA — Frank Gore wasn’t on Thursday’s injury report. So, he got only 10 carries against the Cardinals on Sunday either because of a strategic choice from Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman – a choice that didn’t work – or he was dinged up during the game and now he’s fine. Either way, they’ll need to give him more than ten carries to win the game on Monday night….
The great Matt Barrows made his case on KNBR a few days ago for DT Justin Smith as the Niners’ 2011 MVP. That’s a terrific selection, and it’s hard to argue with it – Justin Smith has been the best player on the league’s best defense this season. He’s certainly been the Niners most excellent player. But if I were picking their most valuable player, I’d go with Alex Smith….
SANTA CLARA — Here’s what Wednesday’s injury report looks like. 49ers: Did Not Participate in Practice: CB Carlos Rogers (knee), LB Patrick Willis (hamstring) Limited Participation in Practice: CB Tarell Brown (ankle), WR Braylon Edwards (knee) Cardinals: Did Not Participate in Practice: RB Chris Wells (knee, hamstring) Limited Participation in Practice: S Sean Considine (achilles), DT Darnell Docket (quadricep), TE Todd Heap (hamstring), LB Joey Porter (knee), S Kerry Rhodes (foot), P…
SANTA CLARA – Here’s the transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s Wednesday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. When you play a team with such a quick turnaround as the Cardinals, do you have to do much work between those games or can you use a lot of the same stuff that you did for the first week preparing? “There’s some carryover. Then you know them from doing them a couple weeks…
According to Matt Maiocco, Patrick Willis’ pulled right hamstring will not need surgery, and he will probably only miss this Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals. Maiocco says all Willis will need to recover is rest, so he probably will not practice this week. To read Matt’s report, click here.
SANTA CLARA – Here’s what Jim Harbaugh said this afternoon about Patrick Willis, who injured his right hamstring on Sunday against the Rams. Q: Have you gotten any results from the MRI of Patrick Willis? HARBAUGH: No. Nothing to share. Q: What is your sense of the severity of that injury? HARBAUGH: I would not be able to tell you. I’m not in Patrick’s body. Q: But just the black…
SANTA CLARA — Here’s what the 49ers all-time leading rusher, Frank Gore, said at his locker this morning. Q: Do you put the division championship aside and move on to the next piece of business? GORE: Our goal was to be division champs. Now our next thing is to try to be No. 1 or No. 2 seed and we’ll go from there. Q: You’re not going to want to rest?…
SANTA CLARA – Here’s the transcript of Vic Fangio’s Tuesday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. Vic, what was kind of your role in Baltimore, I know you were sort of a nebulous consultant? “The first few couple years I was there, I was special assistant to the head coach and basically did a lot of work with the coaches, both sides of the ball, and worked with the head…
Here’s the transcript of Ray Rice’s Monday morning conference call. Q: The 49ers haven’t allowed a 100-yard rusher or a rushing touchdown this season. What are your thoughts on facing them? RICE: You look at the other side of the ball and you look at what’s going on over there and it kind of reminds us of our own defense. They take a lot of pride in not only stopping the run,…
