SANTA CLARA – Trent Baalke was interviewed in the 49ers’ media room Tuesday afternoon. Here’s a transcript. Q: What’s the process to determine if Ray McDonald will play Sunday or ever again for the 49ers? BAALKE: Right now it’s a legal matter, and there is such a thing called due process and we intend on letting that play out. Q: You let Aldon Smith play two days after a DUI….
Jim Harbaugh was interviewed on the Murph and Mac Show Tuesday morning. Here’s a transcript. Q: How did you bring back Kassim Osgood? HARBAUGH: If we make the decision to designate Glenn Dorsey as the player exemption to return then it would open up a spot. Q: What’s it like having Alex Boone back on the team and is there any awkwardness given that he wasn’t around all offseason? HARBAUGH:…
This is my Saturday column. Before we get to the 49ers’ upcoming preseason game, here’s a brief history lesson. In 2010, the 49ers’ defense was ordinary. It ranked 13th in yards allowed and 16th in points given up. Four current starters were key contributors on that 2010 defense – Patrick Willis, Justin Smith, Ahmad Brooks and Ray McDonald. After the 2010 season, the 49ers drafted Aldon Smith and signed Carlos…
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…
Here is a transcript of Vic Fangio’s Sunday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. staff. I’ll ask you the same question I just asked Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh. Which guys on your defense stood out to you at practice? “We had a few guys that have stood out here in these two practices. [LB] Aldon’s [Smith] obviously been practicing well, is one. Think our safeties have been…
Glenn Dorsey hurt his arm Friday during practice. It was unclear what he injured exactly. Adam Schefter just cleared that up. Dorsey tore his bicep according to Schefter. Dorsey may miss the entire season. After Dorsey tore his bicep, Mike Purcell took over as the first-team nose tackle for the rest of practice. Tank Carradine was the first-team three-tech in place of Justin Smith, who is injured, and Quinton Dial…
SANTA CLARA — Vic Fangio was interviewed in the 49ers’ auditorium Tuesday afternoon. Here is a transcript courtesy of the 49ers. What did you like from what you saw out at practice? “Not as much as I had been seeing. We messed up too many things today, I think, and I need to go look at it and see exactly what it was. A couple of them, I’m not sure…
To get you prepped for Tuesday’s OTA, here are the 49ers’ top-five position battles. 1. Chris Culliver (6-0, 199 pounds, 25 years old) vs. Chris Cook (6-2, 212, 27) vs. Dontae Johnson (6-2, 200, 22) for No.2 cornerback Culliver is the favorite – the 49ers spent a third-round pick on him in 2011. But he tore his ACL a year ago and does not seem to have fully recovered yet…
According to Adam Schefter, Michael Bennett will become a free agent next week. Do you think the 49ers should sign him? If the Niners did sign Bennett, he would replace Ray McDonald as a defensive tackle on the 49ers’ Nickel defense. Last season, McDonald had 5 sacks, 3 QB hits and 30 hurries in 807 snaps. Bennett had 11 sacks, 17 QB hits and 51 hurries in 759 snaps.
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…
SANTA CLARA — Vic Fangio spoke in the media tent Thursday afternoon. Here is a transcript courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department. Do you sense any, I don’t know if let down is the right word, but is it tough for these guys to get back to work after a big win against Seattle? “No. I don’t think so. Like I told you last week, the last four games…
NEW ORLEANS – Here are my grades for the 49ers’ 23-20 loss to the Saints. KAEPERNICK: C-. Kaepernick passed the ball well. He was 6-for-15 on third down and 2-for-3 in the red zone. His worst pass was an interception, but it didn’t cost the team anything. Kaepernick ran down the defender and made him dive for the end zone and the defender fumbled the ball out of the back…
Here is my Thursday column on the 49ers’ upcoming game against the awful Jaguars. Beating the Jaguars is way down the list of important things the 49ers must accomplish this weekend. Beating the Jaguars isn’t even top-three. Beating the Jaguars is expected. Everyone beats the Jaguars. The Jaguars are the worst. The 49ers should treat this game like an exhibition or a scrimmage. There is no way the 49ers lose…
SANTA CLARA — Jim Harbaugh spoke in the defensive meeting room Monday afternoon. Here is a transcript courtesy of the 49ers. Were there a few more people getting treatment today after having such a physical game yesterday? “It was normal, a normal day.” Did it seem like a more physical game than usual? “It was very physical.” On the 18-play drive in the fourth quarter, how well-executed…
SAN FRANCISCO – Here are the grades for the 49ers’ 32-20 win over the Cardinals. KAEPERNICK: C-. He was 8-for-11 passing to Vernon Davis and 8-for-18 passing to everyone else. The Cardinals absolutely could not cover Davis and Kaepernick took advantage. Kaepernick also threw an interception in the red zone, fumbled the ball in the pocket and fumbled a snap which he recovered. He was 1-for-8 on third down until…
SANTA CLARA — Jim Harbaugh spoke in the media tent Friday afternoon. Here is a transcript courtesy of the 49ers. You have a new quarterback. Why bring in QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson? “Really, always liked him. Always had a plan for him to be here. He just went to Minnesota after the first year. So, now we’re reconnected. It aligned and we had a chance to get him and put…
SANTA CLARA — Jim Harbaugh spoke in the media tent Wednesday afternoon. Here is a transcript courtesy of the 49ers. Coach, you want to comment, we just reported that three felony charges have been filed against LB Aldon Smith in connection with weapons and his party in 2012? Will you comment? “Well, the organization has a statement. My comment would be, we’ve been aware of the incident that you’re…
SANTA CLARA – Jim Harbaugh spoke in the defensive meeting room Monday afternoon. Here’s what he said. Q: Any word on Ray McDonald’s injured bicep? HARBAUGH: Not yet, no. Q: Did anything strike you on film last night about the way your team played last night? HARBAUGH: There was a lot of good, good overall play. Very disciplined, evidenced by the penalties, three penalties and one was a delay of…
Jim Harbaugh spoke in the 49ers’ media tent Friday afternoon. Here’s a transcript. Q: Can you fill us in on Aldon Smith’s status for Sunday? HARBAUGH: The task today was to go and have a great practice. The time spent Sunday will be for us to go get a win, beat the Colts. We’ll make those decisions. Q: Have you spoken to Aldon about the incident this morning? HARBAUGH: Yes….
SANTA CLARA – Vic Fangio spoke in the media tent Thursday afternoon. Here’s a transcript: Q: When did you find out that the Colts had added a running back (Trent Richardson)? FANGIO: Yesterday during practice. Q: What did you guys have to do as far as the preparations for this game? FANGIO: Obviously we went in and put a tape together of him running the ball for Cleveland for the…
