Is Ward a lock to start at Nickelback? Fangio: “I don’t think you can assume that.”

SANTA CLARA — Vic Fangio spoke to Bay Area reporters Wednesday afternoon. Here is a transcript courtesy of the 49ers. Are these the first real looks that you’ve been getting of DT Tank Carradine since he got here last year? “Yes. Last year at this time he wasn’t practicing, and that you guys know, didn’t practice until some point in October, November. And he wasn’t physically ready to go then….

June 18, 2014
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Tank Carradine: “I say rushing from the inside is a little easier.”

SANTA CLARA – I asked Tank Carradine a couple of questions during a group interview in the 49ers’ locker room Wednesday afternoon. Here is a transcript. ME: What’s different for you rushing on the inside against a guard as opposed to rushing on the outside against a tackle? CARRADINE: “When you’re rushing the guard, everything goes on at the line of scrimmage. When you’re rushing the tackle, you’re more in…

June 18, 2014
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49ers’ top-5 position battles of the offseason

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…

June 1, 2014
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Baalke: “I like long arms.”

Trent Baalke held a press conference Friday at the NFL Scouting Combine. Here is a transcript. Q: Frank Gore will count $6 or $7 million against the salary cap this season. Is that reasonable? BAALKE: The simple is there is no reason it can’t be. We’re in a good shape from a cap standpoint. There really is no decision to be made. We can move forward exactly as is if…

February 21, 2014
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Harbaugh on Kaepernick’s development: “I don’t know that there will be dramatic increases when you’re that good.”

Jim Harbaugh held a press conference Thursday at the NFL Scouting Combine. Here is a transcript. Q: How has coaching in college helped you evaluate draft prospects? HARBAUGH: It helped. I feel like it still does. There are players in this class who I didn’t coach, but I recruited them. And some I did coach. So you continue to know guys that went to other schools. You remember recruiting them,…

February 20, 2014
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Harbaugh: “Superb year of football. Well, you can’t say superb.”

SANTA CLARA — Here is a transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s final press conference this season, courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department.   Can you give us an update on LB NaVorro Bowman? Is the timetable impacted because of the two ligament tears in his knee? “He’s got an ACL tear. We’ll see how MCL heals in the next two to three weeks. But, that’s not known if that has to…

January 21, 2014
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Harbaugh on Kaepernick: “Talked many times about his different qualities. Showered him every day.”

SANTA CLARA — Jim Harbaugh spoke in the defensive meeting room Tuesday afternoon. Here is a transcript courtesy of the 49ers.   Are you feeling fresh or are you feeling a little jetlag? “I feel great. I feel great. One of the other bonuses of a long stay away, you get nine days away, is just how fresh your facility feels when you get back and the practice fields, the…

October 29, 2013
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Harbaugh on Walker: “I’m not happy to see him in a Titans No.82 jersey.”

SANTA CLARA – Jim Harbaugh spoke in the media tent Wednesday afternoon. Here is a transcript. Q: What are your early impressions on Tank Carradine and Quinton Dial? HARBAUGH: It’s early. Had some walkthrough at this point. Excited, that’s my impression. I know they are. It’s much like their first day in football. I’m sure that there is some gravel in the gut and some anticipation, excitement, nerves, all those…

October 16, 2013
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Harbaugh: “We didn’t get a fast start in terms of moving the football offensively.”

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…

October 14, 2013
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Fangio on the Cardinals: “They’ve got a very talented offense in the skill positions.”

SANTA CLARA — Vic Fangio spoke in the media tent Thursday afternoon. Here’s a transcript courtesy of the 49ers.   How do you feel just about the way the defense has rallied these last few weeks with a couple very significant guys out of the lineup? “Well, the guys that have come in and replaced those guys have played well enough for us to keep playing the way we like…

October 10, 2013
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Harbaugh: “We made some big plays in the passing game.”

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…

October 7, 2013
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Kaepernick’s brilliance masks issues for 49ers

Here is my Monday column. Enjoy. SANTA CLARA – Let’s focus on the good after the 49ers’ Week 1 win over the Packers, a very good team, probably not a great team. THE GOOD After just 11 starts, Colin Kaepernick probably is the best quarterback in the NFL. You could say he singlehandedly beat the Packers. His defense gave up 28 points, he had no rushing attack and still he…

September 9, 2013
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49ers 41, Chargers 6: Grades

Here are my grades for the 49ers in their 41-6 preseason win over the San Diego Chargers. QUARTERBACKS: B+. Colin Kaepernick completed three short passes and then left the game. Colt McCoy was decent, completing 8-of-15 passes for 56 yards and a touchdown.  His longest completion was a 12-yarder. B.J. Daniels played well, better than McCoy. Daniels completed 5-of-9 passes for 76 yards and a touchdown, and he ran 6…

August 29, 2013
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Fangio on Eric Reid: “I thought he played pretty decent in the game last Thursday.”

SANTA CLARA — Vic Fangio spoke in the media tent Tuesday afternoon. Here’s what he said, courtesy of the 49ers.   Can you give us an update on where things stand with S Eric Reid and how he’s been looking in this last week? “He’s been doing well. I thought he played pretty decent in the game last Thursday. And then, he basically didn’t practice on Saturday and Sunday, had a little physical…

August 13, 2013
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49ers place Manningham, Hunter, Williams and Fleming on the PUP list

The 49ers just announced they’ve placed Mario Manningham, Kendall Hunter, Kyle Williams and Darius Flemming on the Phyisically Unable to Perform list, and Tank Carradine, Quinton Dial, Luke Marquardt and Marcus Lattimore on the Active/Non-Football Injury list. Manningham potentially could miss all of training camp and start the regular season on the PUP list, meaning he would miss the first six games. The 49ers potentially could activate Williams and Hunter…

July 20, 2013
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Seahawks-49ers unmatched as rivalry

Here is my Tuesday column on the Seahawks-49ers rivalry. The 49ers and the Seahawks have the best rivalry in sports right now, and it isn’t even close. Here are the top five reasons why: 1. They are two of the best teams in the NFL. 2. They are in the same division. 3. Their head coaches hate each other. 4. Their players hate the other team’s coach. 5. Their players…

June 18, 2013
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Fangio on Carradine, Reid, Asomugha, Rogers and more

SANTA CLARA — Here’s what Vic Fangio said Wednesday afternoon, courtesy of the 49ers.   So, offensive coordinator Greg Roman had said yesterday, obviously he’d been through two offensive installs already and it was more for him about execution. What is it about for you during this mini-camp with the defense? “Well, the mini-camp is just a continuation of the OTAs where we’re installing our defense. Teaching the assignments, the…

June 12, 2013
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Justin Smith estimates he’ll be 100 percent healthy in one month

SANTA CLARA — Justin Smith spoke to Bay Area reporters Wednesday afternoon for the first time this offseason. Here’s what he said. Q: How did you elbow surgery go? JUSTIN SMITH: I thought it went pretty well. They went in and repaired it. The strength and everything came back pretty good. I’m almost 100 percent. I’m looking forward to that. Q: Are you still rehabbing? JUSTIN SMITH: I don’t know…

June 12, 2013
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Daniel Jeremiah on Eric Reid, Tank Carradine, Vance McDonald and Corey Lemonier

Here’s what Daniel Jeremiah, former NFL scout and current NFL Draft analyst for the NFL Network, tweeted before the draft about Eric Reid, Tank Carradine, Vance McDonald and Corey Lemonier. Jeremiah on Eric Reid: “5 game study and I can’t get excited about Eric Reid. Love size/speed but he misses too many tackles and he’s late off the hash too often.” 18 Mar “Teams are split on Eric Reid. He…

June 10, 2013
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