On Tuesday, January 29th, 2013, Randy Moss named himself the greatest receiver of all time. MOSS: “Now that I’m older, I do think I’m the greatest receiver to ever do it. I don’t think numbers stand, because you can talk about this and this. I think that I’ve had…this year has been a down year for me statistically. The year before I retired was a down year and then Oakland…
SANTA CLARA – LaMichael James spoke at his locker Thursday afternoon. Here’s what he said. Q: You said earlier you were hitting the hole a little too fast. Have you adjusted to that? JAMES: I have not. I really haven’t, but I will eventually. I’ve just got to keep doing me and not try to be someone else. Just continue doing what I’m doing. If I’m going to hit it…
ATLANTA – The 49ers beat the Falcons 28-24. The 49ers are going to the Super Bowl. Here are the grades for the 49ers’ offense. Offensive line: A. Mike Iupati gave up a sack and was flagged for a holding penalty, but the other four offensive linemen played almost perfectly. Collectively, they helped the 49ers average 5.1 yards per rush. Running backs: A. Frank Gore got the 49ers’ offense going in…
SANTA CLARA – This is the transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s Friday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. “I can tell by the audience that we’ve probably ploughed through all the ground there is to plough through.” You don’t want to answer any questions today? “No, I didn’t say that. I said judging by the sparseness of the crowd, we probably have covered everything.” Keeping the farming reference…
SANTA CLARA – Jim Harbaugh spoke in the media tent Friday afternoon. Here’s what he said about Randy Moss, who will be a free agent after this season. Q: How has Randy Moss handled his increased playing time since Mario Manningham got injured? HARBAUGH: Good. He’s been good. Q: He’s nearing the end of his one-year contact. Will you approach him and ask if he wants to come back next…
Greg Cosell spoke on KNBR Thursday morning. Here’s what he said about the 49ers and the Falcons. Q: Was Kaepernick’s record-breaking performance aided by an awful Packers defense? COSELL: I think that’s fair. I think the numbers reflect that. He had three scrambled in the first half for 53 yards. All of them came against man-to-man coverage concepts. Two of those plays they doubled Michael Crabtree. I think that playing…
SANTA CLARA – Jim Harbaugh spoke in the media tent Wednesday afternoon. Here’s a transcript of his press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. Have you made a decision on your kicker yet? “No. Not one that we’ll have made or announce yet.” Will you not announce it until an hour and a half before the game? “That’s possible.” I was on a conference call with former 49ers…
SANTA CLARA – Michael Crabtree spoke at his locker Wednesday afternoon. Here’s what he said. Q: You struggled in the NFC Championship game last season. It seems like you’ve really blossomed this season. What do you attribute that to? CRABTREE: It was last year. I don’t really know what happened. We talked about opportunities, I said something about that after the game last year, and I meant it. I’m a…
SANTA CLARA – The 49ers’ first round pick, A.J. Jenkins, did not catch a pass in the regular season. He was not a contributor. This afternoon, Jim Harbaugh was asked if Jenkins can contribute in the playoffs. Here’s what Harbaugh said. Q: Where is A.J. Jenkins in his development? Can he contribute in the playoffs? HARBAUGH: Do I think he can? Yes. Do we need him to? Yes. We need…
SAN FRANCISCO – We learned a few things about the 49ers today – some good and some not-so-good. Here are those things. The Good The 49ers earned the No.2 seed and a first-round Bye with the win and the Packers’ three-point loss to the Vikings. The Packers and Vikings play again next weekend. If the Packers win, they play the 49ers at Candlestick in two weeks, on Saturday, January 12th…
SAN FRANCISCO – The 49ers stomped the Cardinals 27-13. Here are the grades for the 49ers offense. Offensive line: B. They gave up hardly any pressure this week, which was impressive because the Cardinals defense is ranked 10th in the league in sacks. The 49ers’ offensive line did not create much running room, though, and that’s becoming a trend. The Niners gained 129 yards on 37 carries – just 3.5…
There are two reasons why this game against the Arizona Cardinals matters deeply to the 49ers. First, there are playoff implications. If the 49ers win, they’ll be 11-4-1. They’ll get the No.2 seed and a first-round Bye if the Packers lose to the Vikings. If the Packers beat the Vikings, the 49ers get the No.3 seed and they would not get a Bye. They would play the No.6 seed at…
Steve Young spoke on KNBR Wednesday afternoon. This is his take on the 49ers’ blowout loss to the Seahawks and what the Niners should be doing on offense. STEVE YOUNG: They got beat up. They got pounded. I was disappointed. Late in the year, great teams don’t allow that. Earlier in the year, I can see championship teams having struggles in September and early Octorber – just get obliterated in…
This is the transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s Wednesday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers. How was your Christmas? “Happy Holidays. Yeah, warmest holiday wishes to everybody. Yeah, excited to be back. Big week for us. And looking forward to a great week of preparation.” Can you give us any update on WR Mario Manningham? His status? “Yeah, he’s not going to be available the rest of the way.”…
SEATTLE, Wa. – The Seahawks crushed the 49ers 42-13 Sunday night. Here are the grades for the offense. Offensive line: F. Even though this group only gave up one sack, they gave up pressure the whole game. Kaepernick was running for his life and he took some big hits after throws. In the fourth quarter, Anthony Davis lost his cool and took two cheap shots on 190-pound cornerback Jeremy Lane,…
SANTA CLARA – Ricky Jean Francois very well may start in place of All Pro defensive lineman Justin Smith this Sunday night. Bay Area reporters and Randy Moss interviewed Jean Francois at his locker Friday afternoon. Here’s a transcript. Q: Is it tougher playing inside or outside on this defense? JEAN FRANCOIS: I say the inside is a little harder, because most of the time you’re taking on a center…
I just wrote a blog saying the 49ers should cut David Akers ASAP. Are there any other players the 49ers should sever relations with at the end of the season? If so, who? Ted Ginn Jr. comes to mind. He doesn’t get any snaps at wide receiver any more, he lost his kick returning job to LaMichael James and now he’s bumbling punts. He doesn’t do anything well anymore. He’s…
FOXBORO, Ma. – The 49ers beat the Patriots 41-34 and clinched a playoff berth. Here are the grades for the 49ers’ offense. Offensive line: B+. They gave up just one sack – Rob Ninkovich beat Joe Staley. Other than that, the offensive line gave Kaepernick a ton of time to throw all game. They also created huge holes in the running game in the first half when the 49ers averaged…
The 49ers have announced Mario Manningham is out tonight against the Patriots. This will be the second game in a row Manningham misses with a shoulder injury. Without Manningham last week against the Dolphins, Randy Moss played 29 snaps, was targeted four times and made two catches. Vernon Davis played 57 snaps, was targeted twice and made one catch. Delanie Walker played 40 snaps, was targeted once and made one…
SAN FRANCISCO – The 49ers beat the Dolphins 27-13. Here are the grades for the 49ers offense. Offensive line: C. They’re a big, strong run-blocking line that struggles in pass protection. The 49ers came out passing in the first half and the line wasn’t up to it. Anthony Davis gave up three sacks in the first half. He was a complete liability and he forced Greg Roman to abandon the…
