The 49ers offense dekes Reuben Foster during his first practice with the starters

SANTA CLARA Here’s what stood out to me during practice Monday morning. THE NOT SO GOOD 1. LB Reuben Foster. Last week, NaVorro Bowman described rookie Reuben Foster as an aggressive “downhill” linebacker. In this context, “downhill” means Foster wants to explode into the backfield and tackle the running back behind the line of scrimmage. This is a good quality for a linebacker to have, but also one the offense…

August 7, 2017
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49ers training camp report: Joe Williams has a big day

1 SANTA CLARA Here’s what stood out to me during practice Thursday morning. THE GOOD 1. Violent payback for the defense. Carlos Hyde made the defense seem soft on Wednesday when he ran as hard as he could through rookie cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon, who seemed to think Hyde would go easy on a teammate and run around him. On Thursday, the defense got revenge, both against Hyde and the rest…

August 3, 2017
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49ers 7, Cardinals 47: Grades

Here are the grades for the 49ers’ 47-7 meltdown against the Cardinals. KAEPERNICK: F. Killed his team’s spirit by throwing two pick-sixes to start the game. You could see it in the 49ers’ faces on the sideline during the first quarter – they had no energy, no emotion, no belief in their ability to win. And no belief in their quarterback. After the second pick-six, the coaching staff didn’t let…

September 27, 2015
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Jim Tomsula: “I really honestly don’t believe this is The Jim Show.”

SANTA CLARA — This is a transcript of Jim Tomsula’s Tuesday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department. Opening comments: “Probably the two guys you want to talk about; [C] center Nick Easton was added. I think you all are familiar with that, Harvard guy. And then, [T] Tanner Hawkinson to the practice squad will be a new name for you out of Kansas. So, there’s where we are…

September 8, 2015
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Jim Tomsula says Bruce Ellington, Michael Wilhoite and Glenn Dorsey will return to practice this week, plus more

SANTA CLARA – Here’s a transcript of head coach Jim Tomsula’s Monday conference call. Q: Last week you intimated you’d be shuffling around the offensive. Is the first unit the unit you’ve settled on? TOMSULA: No, it is not the unit we’ve settled. We are not settled there. We’re getting closer. I like what (Joe) Looney did, and I like where we’re going with RG Marcus (Martin). He’s really doing…

August 24, 2015
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49ers training camp report: Day 14

SANTA CLARA – Here are the highlights of the 49ers’ fifth non-padded practice of training camp. THE GOOD 1. TE Vernon Davis. One of those days no one could cover him. Made seven catches during team drills, and scored a touchdown against safety Jimmie Ward during one-on-one drills in the red zone. Ward jumped to swat the football, Davis jumped much higher and caught the football, barreled through Ward on…

August 20, 2015
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49ers training camp report: Day 11

SANTA CLARA – Here are the highlights of the 49ers’ seventh padded practice of training camp. THE GOOD 1. S Jaquiski Tartt. Played free safety for the second-team defense and picked off Colin Kaepernick during seven on sevens. On that play, Kaepernick stared down his intended target, Vernon Davis, who was running a post route. Kaepernick seemed to expect Davis to run a straight seam route, and the pass sailed…

August 13, 2015
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49ers training camp report: Day 7

SANTA CLARA – The 49ers practiced in shorts and shells Saturday afternoon. Here are the highlights. THE GOOD 1. WR Torrey Smith. Seemed to jam his right ring finger catching a pass from Colin Kaepernick during warmups. Smith was in visible pain for a few minutes as he shook his hand and held his finger. But apparently the injury wasn’t a serious. A few minutes later during one-on-one drills Smith…

August 8, 2015
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49ers training camp report: Day 5

SANTA CLARA – Here are the highlights from the 49ers’ second padded practice of training camp. THE GOOD 1. ILB NaVorro Bowman. Struggled in man coverage during OTAs and minicamp, but didn’t struggle in man coverage today. On the third play of 11-on-11’s Colin Kaepernick attempted a short pass to running back Jarryd Hayne. Bowman read Kaepernick’s eyes, dove in front of the pass and knocked it away with the…

August 5, 2015
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49ers 27, Saints 24: Grades

They aren’t dead yet. The 49ers beat the Saints 27-24 in overtime Sunday afternoon, handed Sean Payton his first loss in the Superdome since 2010. Now the 49ers are 5-4. Here are their grades. KAEPERNICK: B+. It was fourth-and-10 from the Niners’ 22-yard line, one minute and 34 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Niners’ down by three. Kaepernick had to save the game. He rolled to his right. Nowhere…

November 9, 2014
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Jim Harbaugh on Vance McDonald: “We’d like to get him the ball more.”

SANTA CLARA — Here is the transcript of Jim Harbaugh’s Monday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department. How are you? “Good, how are you?”   Good. How was your bye week? “Good.”   You come back to some team photos. Why so late? Do you always take team photos this time of year? “It varies. It was a good day, good day. Got good practice in today, good…

October 27, 2014
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49ers 17, Broncos 42: Grades

The Broncos eked out a 42-17 win over the 49ers Sunday night. Here are the Niners’ grades. KAEPERNICK: D. Carried the team in the first half. Posted a 140 passer rating in the second quarter. Would have been a 156 rating if Anquan Boldin hadn’t dropped a touchdown pass on third-and-goal from the 4 yard line. Kaepernick led a 7-play, 85-yard touchdown drive that took 2 minutes and 58 seconds…

October 19, 2014
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49ers 31, Rams 17: Grades

The 49ers dismissed the Rams 31-17 in St. Louis Monday night. Here are the 49ers’ grades. KAEPERNICK: A. His best game this season. The Rams stopped the 49ers’ run game and forced Kaepernick to win with his arm. He did. His deep 80-yard touchdown pass before halftime hit Brandon Lloyd in stride. On the opening drive of the second half, Kaepernick converted a third-and-12, anticipated an opening downfield and fired…

October 13, 2014
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49ers 22, Chiefs 17: Grades

SANTA CLARA – The 49ers eked out a 22-17 win over the Chiefs Sunday afternoon. But the 49ers should have lost. The Chiefs gave away the game. With four minutes and 19 seconds left in the fourth quarter Kansas City committed one of the stupidest penalties you ever will see: Fourth-and-2 at the Chiefs’ 36-yard line. Phil Dawson was on the field to attempt a 54-yard field goal and, if…

October 5, 2014
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49ers 21, Chargers 7: Starters’ grades

SANTA CLARA – The 49ers beat the Chargers 21-7 Sunday afternoon. Here are the grades for the Niners’ starters. KAEPERNICK: D-. Fumbled twice and committed one turnover. Completed 50 percent of his passes. Completed zero percent of his passes in the red zone. Posted a 64.2 passer rating. Performed poorly in areas he needed to improve this offseason – accuracy, touch, footwork and red-zone passing. RUNNING BACKS: C. Carlos Hyde…

August 24, 2014
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Vance McDonald drops just one pass Tuesday morning

SANTA CLARA – The 49ers had a light, leisurely practice in shorts and shells for about an hour and 45 minutes Tuesday morning. Here’s what stood out to me. THE GOOD 1. Colin Kaepernick. Attempted just 13 passes during team drills, but completed 10 including three touchdown passes: one to Anquan Boldin, one Stevie Johnson and one to Vance McDonald. Kaepernick’s first incomplete pass was intended for Bruce Ellington in…

August 5, 2014
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Colin Kaepernick throws touchdown passes, Anquan Boldin throws punches at Darryl Morris

SANTA CLARA – Here’s what stood out to me at Friday’s padded practice. THE GOOD 1. Colin Kaepernick. Completed 14 of the 19 passes he attempted during team drills. He threw three touchdown passes – one to Quinton Patton, one to Vernon Davis and one to Chuck Jacobs. This may have been Kaepernick’s best practice of camp. 2. Vernon Davis. Made five catches during team drills. One was a five-yard…

August 1, 2014
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Borland beats Hyde again

SANTA CLARA — Here is what stood out to me at the 49ers’ non-padded practice Thursday afternoon. THE GOOD 1. Patrick Willis. Forced a fumble. Will Tukuafu caught a pass over the middle, turned and took two steps upfield when Willis punched the ball out of his hands. 2. Michael Wilhoite. Punched a ball out of Quinton Patton’s hands during a red zone drill. Patton hadn’t taken a step with…

July 31, 2014
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Colin Kaepernick shines (excecpt on 3rd down), and Jon Baldwin disappears

SANTA CLARA — Here’s what stood out to me during Tuesday’s padded practice. THE GOOD 1. Colin Kaepernick. His best practice of training camp. He was accurate on the short throws and the long ones for the most part. He finally hit Vance McDonald in stride deep down the middle of the field. Kaepernick had been overthrowing that pass to McDonald since last year’s training camp. 2. Chris Cook. Intercepted…

July 29, 2014
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Dontae Johnson shuts down Anquan Boldin, Brandon Lloyd and Stevie Johnson

SANTA CLARA – Here’s what stood out to me at the 49ers’ second padded practice of training camp. THE GOOD 1. Dontae Johnson. Played like a monster. Broke up three passes. First, he swatted away a Colin Kaepernick pass intended for Anquan Boldin in the back right corner of the end zone. You rarely see a cornerback beat Boldin on a jump ball. Next, Johnson almost intercepted a Kaepernick pass…

July 27, 2014
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