EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Colin Kaepernick scored on a 78-yard touchdown run during the 49ers exhibition season opener Aug. 10, and Jets coach Rex Ryan was watching. That week Ryan…
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Bad taste from Minnesota fuels 49ers win in New York
Sunday, September 30, 2012
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — That’s more like it. That was the refrain in the 49ers locker room Sunday after the team bounced back from a languid loss in Minnesota last…
Smith applauds Kaepernick’s contributions in 34-0 win
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Colin Kaepernick was impressive in his first extensive action vs. the Jets. Judging by the locker room reaction after the game, we should be seeing more of the same in the coming weeks.
49ers key matchup No. 1: Crabtree vs. Cromartie
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Now that Darrelle Revis is out for the season with a torn ACL, Antonio Cromartie is the self-proclaimed best cornerback in the NFL. He will be put to the test against the 49ers' No. 1 wide receiver.
49ers-Jets injury reports: Sopoaga questionable, Hill doubtful
Friday, September 28, 2012
Isaac Sopoaga left the 49ers' game against Minnesota with left knee and ankle sprains. On the next play, Adrian Peterson busted a 20-yard run. Ricky Jean Francois is being called upon to fill the void Sunday in New York.
49ers notes: Team leaves Ohio, Goldson’s wallet happy, etc.
Friday, September 28, 2012
After concluding Friday's practice at Youngstown State University, the 49ers are off to the Big Apple, where Rex Ryan and the Jets await.
Vernon Davis added to 49ers injury report
Friday, September 28, 2012
Tight end Vernon Davis, who leads the 49ers with four touchdown catches, was a late addition to the team’s injury report with a back injury. That injury did not keep…
Anthony Davis taking his mean streak back to Jersey
Friday, September 28, 2012
BOARDMAN, OHIO — Following an exhibition game this year in which the 49ers rolled up 260 yards on the ground, right tackle Anthony Davis was asked if he was…
49ers prepare for ‘Tebow package’
Friday, September 28, 2012
Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio says he takes Tim Tebow's running ability very seriously. "You do have to prepare for it."
49ers vs Jets Preview by SBRForum.com
Friday, September 28, 2012
If you’re a 49ers fan, there’s no need to panic just yet. San Francisco still looks the part of an elite team and should fare much better in Week 4 against the New York Jets.…
Roman on the 49ers offense: “We’ve just got to finish drives better.”
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Greg Roman’s Thursday press conference transcript, courtesy of the 49ers.
Opening statement:
“Is it afternoon yet? Yes it is, good afternoon. If I appear unshaven I apologize, but this Jets defense forces our whole staff to stay up into the wee hours of the morning. We know [Head Coach] Rex Ryan, I worked with Rex, [Defensive Coordinator] Mike Pettine and [Defensive Backs Coach] Dennis Thruman. Some really good coaches, great innovators, really changed defense in the NFL, forced offense to adjust. It’s been happening for the past probably six or seven years. It’s really given our offensive coaching staff a chance to bond early into the wee hours because one thing I can guarantee about the Jets defense is there’s going to be 11 guys on the field. You never know where they’re going to line up, but there’s going to be 11 of them. So, our plan is to go there, lineup and play football however they lineup. We know how talented they are and I’ll say this, our coaching staff, our assistant coaches, have done just a tremendous job. These guys are all-stars. [Running Backs Coach] Tom Rathman, [Offensive Line Coach] Mike Solari, [Offensive Line Coach] Tim Drevno, [Tight Ends Coach] Reggie Davis, [Wide Receivers Coach] John Morton, [Quarterbacks Coach] Geep Chryst, saw them all pretty unshaven about three in the morning this morning wearing white t-shirts, finishing up preparations for today. So, really proud of that group of guys and how hard they’re working. Really proud of our players and the kind of focus they have and it’s been a really good chance for us to spend some time bonding. Looking forward to the challenge and we’re just midway through the preparations. So, any questions?”
Could they be even more unpredictable because they have to compensate for losing one of the great cornerbacks in the game?
“Yeah, that’s just a tragedy. Such a great player was befallen by injury and I’m sure they are going to adjust somehow. There’s a lot of different ways they can do it and we might see all of them. I’m sure they will. A player of that magnitude allows you to do different things, isolate him. It’s obvious on film, it’s no secret that they would just lock him up on a guy and adjust elsewhere. Rob Peter to pay Paul, as they say. We just be ready for anything. Rex and Mike and that coaching staff are an outside the box type of staff, so we got to be ready for anything, no matter who’s on the field.”
Coach, you said you guys have been up to the wee hours and all of that. How does being in an atmosphere like this, in a hotel, on the road impact that kind of game planning for you?
“I think it’s really been positive because there are no distractions, and it just gives you the chance to hold up in a hotel room. Rather than play cards we’re studying film. It gives you a chance to be real isolated and really put our collective minds together to come up with the best plan. I think it’s been great.”
But now you’re saying you’re seeing the guys unshaven and all that like it’s a little bit different atmosphere. How different is that compared to if you were back in Santa Clara?
“A little different. The Jets force you to prepare because of the multiplicity of what they present. The last thing you want to do is be unsure as a player on the field. So, it just requires reassessing what you’re doing, how you’re doing it and possibly making the appropriate adjustments.”
Greg, RB Frank Gore ran effectively, but you didn’t run a whole lot. Part of that obviously you guys were down at halftime, but why didn’t he get a few more touches?
“You know we are always going to do what we think is best to win the game and every game’s going to play out differently. In that particular game he got the amount of touches he got and this game could be completely different or not, we’ll have to wait and see. It’s game-by-game. I think we moved the ball pretty darn well. It was a limited possession game. We knew that, we talked about it at halftime and we’ve just got to finish drives better. I’d say we moved the ball pretty well. We had a 13-play drive. We had a 12-play drive. I think we had 3 series in the first half and we just didn’t finish good enough. But I have ultimate faith in our players. We looked at, we got some things corrected and moving forward we can take that and turn it into a positive.”
Would you expect to have RB Brandon Jacobs on Sunday?
“He’s definitely practicing right now and we’ll have to wait and see.”
With his style do you have to include specific plays in your game plan that maybe other guys don’t run?
“Well, I’d say if you look at Brandon’s career, which we have, he’s run everything. He ran a lot of, last year in New York for example, he ran a tremendous amount of scheme. So, Brandon can do, it’s proven, he can do anything and it’s just up to us to decide what we feel he’s best at doing and then go with that. That’s generally our philosophy.”
We talked to Rex Ryan yesterday and he had a lot of praise for a lot of different guys. One guy that he praised that doesn’t get a lot of national attention was T Anthony Davis. He says he’s one of the best right tackles in the game. What have you seen the first three games from your RT?
“I think Anthony, and we’ve seen this all throughout this offseason, Anthony didn’t have an offseason last year. A new system was dumped on him so he started to immerse himself in it, played the season and now we had an offseason. Really from March on we’ve seen nothing but improvement, fundamentally, mentally, recognition wise and Anthony’s playing at a high level. Are there things that he needs to improvement on? Yes, but everybody does. He’s playing at a high level. Anthony’s the kind of guy I want to go into a conflict with because he’s going to fight. Win, lose or draw he’s going to compete and really proud of the way he has matured as a professional. He’s got a really great team mindset. He loves his team. It’s not just about him, it’s about the team. And for those guys on the offensive line they’re starting to build something. Anthony, he’s going to be a great one.”
It used to be that the left tackle would replace the oppositions best pass rusher. In recent years has it become, if you’re playing left or right, you’re still going to face someone who’s pretty…
“It’s week-to-week. Some teams flip their best guy, depending on the quarterback’s tendencies. It’s week-to-week. It really is. The left tackle though, probably higher percentage overall. But you can’t just isolate that as the only player that has a hard job. They all have a hard job.”
You were obviously on the staff with Rex Ryan in Baltimore with the Ravens. Did that give you any insider, at least to jump start in dealing with their defense?
“You practice against it every day. But the thing about Rex, Rex is always evolving. Those guys are always changing. I remember one of his favorite quotes was, ‘We’ll run all our new stuff early so that our old stuff will seem new.’ So, you’ve got to be ready for anything. You can’t get caught up in this, they’re showing you this, because a lot of it’s a setup.”
They’re usually so good against the run, in two of their three games this year I think it’s been allowed 180 yards or something like that. I don’t know if you’re going to say why that is, do you view that as an aberration. Do they have the personnel to have a good run defense?
“No question and I think they do. A lot of those runs were corralled pretty good and the back just made something happen. Some of those on paper you’d say wow that should never happen, really. The New York Jets play run defense, if you go back, as good as anybody. If they want to load up on the run, they’re going to get bodies down there. They’re going to play the 46. I think Rex and the Jets in general, the players, they’ve got a great run defense.”
What about Jets CB Kyle Wilson? What have you seen from him? Have you seen enough to be able to figure out what he’s good at, what he’s not good at, that sort of thing?
“I think there’s enough film out there that you can really get a feel for him. He’s a really good player, very competitive player, plays the game hard, competes. Just a good player. Probably be a starter on most teams and he is now, probably.”
What are the chances that maybe we see QB Alex Smith do something that people maybe will be waiting for him to do since he has the new weapons on offense, that’s air it out and throw it down the field? And given that they have some uncertainty at the CB position, or they at least have changes, what are the chances that you try to take advantage of that?
“You know, I can’t put a percentage on the chances, but if we get favorable looks, we would look forward to it, those opportunities. It all depends on the kind of look you get. Week-to-week, it’s different. If a team’s going to blitz the heck out of you, then you’re probably going to take some shots and kind of get in and out of what you’re doing. If they’re going to play way off, then it’s probably not in your best interest to just throw a punt to them. It’s week-to-week, down-to-down, and it’s something we spend a lot of time working on. We’ve got a lot of confidence in our receivers. I think they’ve been doing a really good job as a unit and we’ll continue to improve. So, not going to put a percentage of that though.”
Any possible lineup alterations since last week going into this week for whatever reason, injuries or whatever?
“Well, we’ll have to wait and see what the status of a couple guys on game day, and then we’ve got plan A and then there’s a couple other plans as well. It’s going to be kind of a game day decision.”
Young, Allen among first-time eligible HOF nominees
Thursday, September 27, 2012
The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced 127 nominees. The 49ers were well represented with first-timers Bryant Young and Larry Allen on the list.
49ers notes: Crean studies practice, Sopoaga sits etc.
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Indiana basketball coach Tom Crean lead the Hoosiers to the Sweet 16 last year, but there were a few aspects of 49ers practice Thursday that he hopes will make his team better.
Anthony Davis not fazed by praise
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Anthony Davis won't have any part of Rex Ryan's praise. "I feel like they're trying to make you complacent because I'm not near where I want to be."
Greg Cosell on Alex Smith: “He’s not quite ready to start just tossing it around unless they orchestrate it for him.”
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Here’s what Greg Cosell said on The Murph and Mac Show Thursday about the 49ers’ loss to the Vikings on Sunday.
Q: How were the Vikings able to put together three 80-plus-yards drives against the 49ers?
COSELL: It was a very good mix of run and pass. It was a case for the most part where they didn’t necessarily make a ton big plays, but their running game was sustaining. I thought Peterson really ran well inside. It’s funny, you don’t really look at three, four-yard runs as being big plays in games, but second and six is a lot different than second and nine or ten.
I think that first drive – 16 plays, 82 yards – the Vikings were predominantly in their base personnel offense. That means the 49ers had their base 3-4 personnel on the field.
I thought the other factor that really impacted the game was Ponder’s legs. A couple of important runs that impacted how the 49ers played. I thought they got away from playing their man coverage, which is a real staple, particularly in Nickel on a couple of important third downs and the Vikings were able to convert. Big third-down conversion on the play before Ponder’s running touchdown, it was third and 11. That would almost always be man coverage. They played zone. My guess is they wanted eyes looking back at Ponder.
Ponder played very efficiently. In some ways you could say he played how Alex Smith played last year. Ponder didn’t turn the ball over. He wasn’t asked to do an awful lot. He made a couple of good throws. He hit Harvin on a beautiful corner route on Carlos Rogers.
Percy Harvin was also a big factor in that game in the way he was used. The first thing you have to do with Harvin is indentify where he’s lined up. He lines up all over the formation. I think it was the second play of the game where they kind of missed him, they didn’t know exactly where he was. He caught about a 12 or 13-yard gain, which doesn’t seem like a lot but it is a lot when you play the 49ers.
Q: On the other side of the ball, do the 49ers lack a downfield presence?
COSELL: That’s a very interesting question. I watched the tape and there were not many downfield route combinations called. That really surprised me.
Now, they didn’t need to change anything in the first half despite the score, but when you start getting to the middle of the third quarter and on, you have got to call – in my view, anyway – I think you have to throw the ball a little more at the intermediate levels, take a vertical shot.
Now, of course they would argue that if Smith had just hit Moss who was wide open the game changes and that’s just a poorly missed opportunity. And that’s a valid point. But here’s a very interesting stat. In the first three games of the season, Alex Smith has thrown 94 passes and only four of those passes have traveled more than 19 yards in the air from the line of scrimmage.
Now you have to ask the question as to why. I think that the sample size from this year might be a little small. You guys know how I felt last year, that they played – and it’s too strong to say they played to hide Alex Smith, that’s not exactly what I’m saying – but I think they understood that Alex Smith is not a quarterback at the level of some of the elite guys. He’s good, and I think he’s getting better, they may think that he’s not quite ready to start just tossing it around unless they orchestrate it for him.
One thing to keep in mind. They called one of their shot plays – I think it was in the first half. Do you remember last year Bruce Miller caught a touchdown pass against the Washington Redskins? They called the exact same play in this game. It was the second series of the game. They called the exact same play, but the Vikings’ coverage took it away. Here’s a play designed to gain big yardage or a touchdown. Last year when they called it, it worked. This year they called it, it didn’t work. Sometimes that happens. But the issue was that was the only shot play they called in the game.
NFL, referees’ union agree to end lockout
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
The era of replacement referees is over in the NFL. The league reached an agreement with the NFL Referees Association Wednesday night.
Ryan: ‘I was hoping they’d go back to SF’
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Rex Ryan spoke with Bay Area media members Wednesday morning, expressing his wish that the 49ers would not spend the week in Ohio.
Alex Smith: “Looking back on Sunday, could we have taken more shots? For sure.”
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Alex Smith’s Wednesday press conference transcript from Youngstown, Ohio, courtesy of the 49ers.
I think a lot of fans were wondering, in the 2nd half, why you guys didn’t push the ball down field more. Is that a factor of being down 17-3 and they’re just kind of taking that stuff away from you?
“Yeah, for sure. I thought looking back on it, especially there in the 2nd half, a lot of times when a certain play’s called, whatever, playing very soft coverage. The couple times we felt like they did challenge us we did take a couple shots. A shot to [TE] Vernon [Davis], hit [WR] Mario [Manningham] down the field the one time. Yeah, we’re trying to stay balanced there in the 2nd half. Made it the one score game for a second and then it went back to two scores. You’re still thinking enough time, just put a drive together, get down and score and make it a one score game again. For me it’s just a matter of moving the chains and kind of getting the rhythm going.”
Obviously, WR Mario Manningham is from this area, can you just talk about his development since joining the club?
“Mario was an awesome player when he came here and I think it’s not so much the development, just all of us kind of molding and shaping this thing together. It’s going to change as we go on. To have the offseason together, then training camp was great. Mario’s a special guy, got a special set of tools, especially the passing game, just mold it and make it what it is.”
What’s he bring to the offense?
“Mario? I think he’s a guy that’s incredibly quick, great route runner, makes a bunch of tough catches, made another one on Sunday. A guy that can win one-on-one, that can really separate, I think. So, brings a lot to the table.”
Was there trust on that throw? You seem like you threw it before he even turned on the break.
“Yeah, he made a terrific catch in traffic and then somehow managed to get out of bounds, which was even better. It was a great catch. I threw it pretty early, it was up, made a great catch in traffic.”
During the course of a game or season does it ebb and flow what defenses do as far as taking away the underneath stuff or taking away the deep stuff? Does that sort of keep you on your toes?
“Yeah, there’s so much that goes into it, matchups. I think where a defense might feel they’re vulnerable, where they think they can win verse us and vice versa, where we think we can win in a matchup. Game situation dictates that. Talking about Sunday’s score, I think game’s even, you’re playing a lot different there in the 4th quarter, then all of a sudden you’re up two scores. It changes for both sides of the ball. It changes what they’re calling, it changes what we’re doing. So, all those things play into it.”
So when you face a team that their best player is no longer playing, he’s a cornerback, is there an element of how are they going to try to cover that up?
“That’s a great question for them, we’ll see.”
From your stand point what do you expect them to do?
“Yeah, don’t know. Don’t know what to expect. He hasn’t played this year, he didn’t play. He’s missed a little time and don’t know what to expect. The next guy has stepped up for them and has played. Don’t know if that’s going to change now that he’s out for the season. Don’t know. There’s the unknown right there.”
With the addition of WR Randy Moss and Manningham there was expectation of fans, oh they are going to be chucking it, really chucking it deep. To be honest you haven’t done much of that to those guys this year. Is that just a matter of you, again like you said, take what the defense gives you not necessarily forcing things. Have there been opportunities for those guys down field?
“That’s a good question. I really feel like left a lot out there with Randy, me and him. We missed, threw the high ball in the corner there, another high ball on the over. I really feel like we hit those two we’re not necessarily talking about this, especially with him. As far as Mario, we got a lot of guys, a lot of guys that can make plays, not just those two. Going to continue to spread the ball around and go to the best matchup. But looking back on Sunday, could we have taken more shots? For sure, but hindsight it’s so easy to say. When you’re in the heat of the game there, you’re just trying to get a score. You’re trying to move the chains and get a score and do whatever it takes.”
Do you think with Randy is that an issue of chemistry and just a new guy coming in and you need time?
“Running the corner route, I throw the ball, I threw the ball thinking back pylon. He rolled out of it, he ran a good route, beat the corner well and the ball just comes up high. We got to connect there. It’s on me, talked about it quite a bit.”
Alex, being here for the week out of your regular environment, what are the pros and cons in terms of preparation?
“The cons would be it’s somewhere different. It’s not your normal routine. You’re away from your family, things like that. The same thing with that, there’s no distractions here. We’re all hanging out with each other here in the hotel. The meeting rooms are two floors up, you go up you can watch film. You’re right here. You don’t have to worry about going home. For me, yeah I’m away from my wife and kid, but at the same time there’s no rush to go home either. So, I can sit here and watch film and really dig into the game plan. So, give and take for sure.”
When you guys were here last year, your big run was just starting. How much further ahead is the whole program than it was a year ago?
“We certainly feel like we’re a lot further ahead. With that, nothing’s guaranteed. This is the NFL. But for sure I think we would all say we feel a lot more confident about where we’re at right now than a year ago.”
Has anything changed since last year around the area that you’ve seen since you guys have been here?
“Here? I have noticed much difference to be honest. Still a Longhorn [steakhouse] across the street, Chick-fil-A. Not much.”
How much interaction have you had with Jets QB Tim Tebow over the years, through former University of Utah and University of Florida head coach Urban Meyer or through being in the NFL together?
“A little bit. More when he was in college, my first year out [of college] when he was there at Florida, got to know him. Went down and visited Coach Meyer and hung out a little bit with Tim. And then here and there, just seeing him, we played them a couple of times in Denver, just saying hello and seeing them in the offseason things. Here and there.”
Harbaugh on the Jets: “Very aggressive team.”
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Jim Harbaugh’s Wednesday press conference transcript from Youngstown, Ohio, courtesy of the 49ers.
How was the walk through back there? Seemed like old times being back in the parking lot?
“Yeah, very familiar.”
Are the buses a new addition this year?
“Yeah, that was, Lou [Pezzola] added that.”
Who’s Lou? Help me out.
“Lou’s one of our security personnel.”
So he came up with that one on his own?
“Yes he did.”
It’s obviously a unique setting to hold practice typically, but in conditions like this with rain having come down just a little while ago, is it a little slick out there? Do the players worry about that? Or just a walk through and everything’s fine.
“Outside here?”
Yeah.
“Didn’t hear any concerns or see any slippage.”
Do you practice outside today regardless of the weather?
“I wouldn’t say regardless. There’s an indoor building that we’ll have access to, and we’ll make that decision.”
What’s the biggest challenge in keeping this week the same or similar to what you would have if you were back in San Francisco?
“The challenge, see how much you can get out of a day. We have today; it’s a new day. We’re extremely excited about it. How much we can get out of today as it relates to preparation for the Jets game. Don’t know that there’s any rule that it has to be exactly like it was when we’re back in San Francisco or even similar. Challenge is to see how much we can get out of today.”
What’s your reaction to all of the fallout given the end of the Monday night game and there’s been, from the President on down, everyone has weighed in on the replacement refs. What’s your reaction to what you’ve seen in the last few days?
“I don’t really have a reaction to it or feel a need to be another person to weigh in on it.”
With that being said, do you manage a game differently at all when it comes to the replacement officials, the challenges or anything like that?
“No.”
Obviously, CB Darrelle Revis isn’t there, but they have another good cornerback in CB Antonio Cromartie. What do you see from him as far as his ability?
“Outstanding ball skills. Very aggressive. Talented, prototypical type of corner. Big challenge for us.”
What about their wide receiver WR Stephen Hill? Did you meet with him before the draft? And if so, what did you think of him at the time?
“I thought a lot of him, as you know, could picture or imagine, there are a lot of good players that are in the draft. The odds are they’re going to be playing against you. You have one pick. Other teams have quite a few picks. I think he’s a very good player.”
He seemed like a very unique guy, size, speed. Are they using him in that way and kind of just sending him downfield and taking advantage of that speed?
“Yeah, he’s been used and productive and doing a good job with it.”
What kind of leadership has CB Carlos Rogers provided your secondary since he’s been here?
“Very good. Consistently good. His approach to how he goes about his business, how he takes care of his business, both on and off the field. A lot of the times, you say, ‘a guy’s been consistent,’ but he’s been consistently good.”
Do you think he’s helped out with CB Chris Culliver’s development as well?
“He’s been a great teammate with, I would say, Chris and others. We have a really good group of veteran guys. You are just aware of it, that our young guys follow their lead because it’s a great example. With our team, I don’t know if we’ve ever pointed this out, I think we have, but when your best players are your hardest workers, it’s an outstanding thing. It’s one of the best things we’ve got going for us.”
When you guys came here last season, you were coming off a victory in Cincinnati. This one you’re coming off a loss in Minnesota. What is the mood been different this week with guys here that you’ve noticed?
“I think when you come off a loss, you want to get back to work and make darn sure it doesn’t happen again. That’s the mindset we have every day, including today, to work on that mindset in preparation for the game on Sunday.”
What sort of jumps out when you look at the Jets and prepare for them and what kind of football team they are?
“Very good, physical football team. Very aggressive team. One that you have to be well prepared for. It will be a great football fight on a big stage. A great place to play. All those factors and more.”
Have you noticed the closeness? Last year you talked about how you learned something about your team and the players learned about each other. Have you noticed that again this year?
“Yeah, we’re noticing it.”
Anything pop out?
“Any anecdotes or stories? Not an anecdote or story at this time.”
QB Alex Smith has really worked the short and intermediate routes and he’s talked about learning as he’s gotten older as a quarterback, take what the defense gives him and not necessarily forcing things down field. How has he done in that regard this season?
“Done well. Done very well. He’s playing at a very high level. None of us are 100 percent on all of our decisions. No player, no coach. I’d say he’s operating in the “A” category.”
Could you just talk about WR Mario Manningham? He’s from this area, obviously. Just how he’s developed as a player and how much you expect from him and his role.
“He’s a part of our team. He’s been a contributor in every game that we’ve played. Just has a knack, has a savvy, very talented. High character guy that makes plays. He’s fit in real nice here.”
You know one thing about the Jets, obviously this season, is them getting QB Tim Tebow. How curious are you to see how they would use Tim Tebow in Sunday’s game?
“More than curious. You have to be prepared for it. That’s our job.”
You mentioned the leadership on the team and how your hardest workers are your best players. Have you seen something different from them this week coming out of the loss? Did DT Justin Smith say anything? S Donte Whitner? Anything like that from those guys?
“Just their usual approach. Their belief is in work and in preparation and they go to work in what they believe in. I’ve seen what I’ve always see out of them. Consistently good in that regard.”
How has LB Aldon Smith come along from the decision making standpoint or the run-pass diagnose, and dropping and setting the edge and doing all the things that he wasn’t necessarily asked to do last year?
“Very well. I’ve commented on it. Pretty much every game that he’s played this year, that he’s been one of our top performers on defense. Doing a very good job.”
That swing pass to Minnesota WR Percy Harvin was very effective for the Vikings in that game. What should have been happening to kind of combat that one play?
“It was a breakdown on our part. We’ll work to get that rectified.”
As a full program, how far ahead are you than maybe last year when you here when you were a first year coach and didn’t have the offseason stuff, things like that, coming here this week?
“Farther. I don’t know the percentage of it. I think we’re farther along”
Any conversations with the Youngstown State University staff since you’ll be going their today at all? I know you’re busy, but any conversations with those guys at all?
“Yeah, I look forward to that. Seeing coaches and staff that we met there last year, and look forward to talking some football. Congratulate them on their great start.”
Are you going to see your dad this week? Is he going to come down?
“No. I’ll see him next week or the week after.”
Jets’ Ryan compliments 49ers’ Davises
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan explained to reporters today why he believes Vernon Davis is the premiere tight end in football.
Big back back: Jacobs returns to 49ers practice
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Brandon Jacobs was back at practice for the first time since being carted off the field on Aug. 18 in Houston after taking a helmet to the left knee.…
Manningham and Smith combination not clicking
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
The additions of Mario Manningham and Randy Moss have yet to mean more big plays for the 49ers. Is a failure to take shots downfield to blame?
The Green Room — Were the 49ers out ‘Niner’d’?
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
The Green Room crew talks about Minnesota's familiar gameplan that helped the Vikings beat the 49ers with their own style and strategy.
Latest HOTN Episode
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Our friends over at Hooked On The Niners (HOTN) have put out their latest TV episode for all to watch. These guys are always interesting and on point Watch Now!…
Hall yeah: 49ers of every era — including 2012 — represented in Canton
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
There are exactly two things in life that live up to their hype. One is the Grand Canyon. (It’s very large). The other is the Pro Football Hall of Fame,…
49ers add WR Lockette to practice squad
Monday, September 24, 2012
The 49ers replaced practice squad receiver Nathan Palmer with Ricardo Lockette, the latter player announced on his Twitter account Monday.
Injuries to Willis, Sopoaga not severe
Monday, September 24, 2012
BOARDMAN, OHIO – Jim Harbaugh’s phrase of choice when it comes to good news on injuries is, “We dodged a bullet.” It looks as if he and the 49ers…
Harbaugh on Youngstown, Ohio and looking forward to the Jets
Monday, September 24, 2012
Here is Jim Harbaugh’s Monday press conference transcript, courtesy of the 49ers.
I did not attend this press conference, which took place in the boardroom of a Youngstown, Ohio Holiday Inn.
I’m not in Youngstown, but I will be in East Rutherford, New Jersey to cover the game next Sunday.
How are you doing?
“Good. Excited to be here in Youngstown. Looking forward to a great week of preparation here. And feel like it gives us a unique opportunity to circle the wagons and get a great week of preparation.”
Do you guys need to circle the wagons after yesterday?
“Always need to circle the wagons. It provides a unique way, to get the preparation, the mindset, right for our next ball game.”
Can you talk about the decision to come back here to Youngstown? What was behind it? And how you’ll use it, as you said, to kind of grow as a team?
“Well, yeah that and quite a few things. To take out the air travel, somewhere in the neighborhood of eight hours of flight time in what would be a five-day period. So, that’s one of the biggest ones. And also the ability to be here as a team in a unique way during the season. The advantages that the town provides, the facilities at Youngstown State University are excellent. So, several reasons.”
What are the positives to being here, though? What are the things you can accomplish as a group off the field in that regard?
“Well, we’re all staying under one roof for every night that we’re here. And eating those meals together, training together, practicing together, meeting together. And learn more about your team. Learn more about the guys, their stories. And talk football, prepare for a game on Sunday.”
By the time that you guys played the Eagles last year, did you feel like you were on East Coast time? And did you feel acclimated to the time zone that you were playing in after that week here?
“I felt like it. And then you can never put yourself in somebody else’s body. But, we felt like it was a good thing, Matt.”
I understand that you had the chance to meet with Hall of Fame RB Jim Brown?
“Yes.”
How was that?
“It was an honor. It was enlightening. Thought I learned some good things talking to Mr. Brown. My family, especially my dad, has always been a big fan of Jim Brown. They’ve met on several occasions, and this was the first opportunity that I met Jim Brown. And I really enjoyed our visit.”
Do you think it was beneficial for the players, too, just the way they were kind of coming up to him and kind of listening in on those conversations?
“I think so. In fact, I’m pretty sure of it. Yeah, just from the interaction. Just good man-to-man talk, football talk, life talk. It was very good.”
What kind of stuff did you learn?
“Well, we covered several topics. Learned more about him, his story, how he saw the game. How he sees the game right now. That he loves football. And that he has a deep abiding respect for it. And he’s someone that wants to see others benefit from what he knows. So, not hoarding that knowledge, but sharing it. And I think he comes at it with a very unique perspective. He’s seen a lot as it relates to football, as it relates to life. Those are things that he’s most interested in passing on to younger players, younger coaches.”
Did you talk at all about RB Frank Gore? I know that you don’t like to compare guys, but he must be an admirer of hard-nosed running backs. Did he bring up Gore’s name at all?
“Yes. They visited together and all the running backs made it a point to shake hands, or take a picture and ask questions.”
Unique opportunity for WR Mario Manningham as well being this is his home town. Can you talk about his role on the team and kind of his growth? I know it hasn’t been very long here. And then also that opportunity for him to be back here kind of back in his backyard.
“Yeah, and several guys. [G/T] Alex Boone, [WR] Ted Ginn [Jr.], [S] Donte Whitner. I think that goes for several of just the East coast guys, Mid-West east coast guys a chance to practice, play in their area of operation. So, their families can come to practice and Alex can check in on his young son. There’s a lot of benefits that way, as it relates to Mario, Ted. Those guys are going to get home and see some family and same with Alex. And that’s a very good thing.”
But in Mario’s role with the team, can you just elaborate on what he needs to do and what you’re looking for from him?
“What he’s been doing, contributing. And he’s a very good football player that plays at a very high level. And that’s what he’s been giving us and he’s a guy you can count on.”
Your second year here, you came here last year, kind of got into it. Is this year easier as far as practicing here because you guys know what to expect and you know what facilities you can use and when, that kind of thing?
“I think some things will be, yes definitely. We’re doing it for the second time. We’re doing it again. Everything we did we’re doing it for the second time as it relates to being in Youngstown.”
What impact do you anticipate CB Darrelle Revis’ injury having on the New York Jets’ defense?
“I don’t know that.”
Well, Jets head coach Rex Ryan said he’s out for the year with an ACL tear.
“Yeah, so what impact that’s going to have on the Jets? I don’t know that for sure.”
We talked to a couple of your receivers and almost sort of counter intuitively they were disappointed that Revis wasn’t going to be playing because they really wanted to play against one of the best cornerbacks in the league. Do you kind of share that as a coach? Do you want to go against the best? Or do you sort of like the advantage of them being without their top cornerback?
“I don’t think any of us in football, whether it’s your own team or an opponent, you don’t want to see that happen to another player. You don’t want to see them be injured. Just like you don’t want that to happen to your own players. But, I think all players feel the same way. I feel pretty confident in saying that.”
Given the unique circumstances of the travel and all that stuff, what’s the message to the team when you address them? What’s your take on that? What do you tell them to get them going here as you move forward this week?
“What we believe in is pretty consistent. You go to work, find something to believe in and then go to work on that. And that’s what we believe in, is preparation. It’s going to put us in the best position possible to be successful. We go to work and we attack it. That’s our message.”
You mentioned yesterday that DT Isaac Sopoaga and LB Patrick Willis would have X-rays, how did those turn out? Negative?
“Yeah, turned out good for both of those guys.”
When you looked at the film of that game, in what areas do you feel need improvement most, after seeing yesterday’s game?
“Without really getting into specifics, we’ll address that with the guys when we come in. We didn’t play our best and we’ll look at the ways to go to work and fix that. Everybody, players, coaches, that’s something that we’re shouldered with doing. That’s our responsibility to get that done. The Vikings did, they played a very good game. It’s not our mindset, but I sensed this from people that live in a mythical, magical, fantasy world of just expecting that game, that we would win. It just doesn’t work that way. Your enemy has a vote on that and they played a very good football game and we got beat. So we’ve got to bounce back, that’s on us, to work and prepare. Yeah, we’ll go in with confidence that we expect to win any game, anywhere, anytime, anyplace. But that confidence comes through preparation and we’re going to do a great job of that again this week. We’ll be going against another very talented, very well-coached football team, another very hostile environment. That’s just a fact of business. That’s just the nature of football in the National Football League.”
Did WR Nathan Palmer, did he come here with you guys?
“Yes.”
And then he got shipped to Indianapolis?
“Yes. He was signed by the Indianpolis Colts.”
You guys brought in three undrafted rookies, and two of them, Owusu and Palmer are on 53-man rosters elsewhere. Does that surprise you at all? What did you see from those guys in training camp?
“Good things. Going back to the very first press conference we had of the year, after the very first rookie minicamp. I noticed on that day, that we had probably the finest group of young wide receivers I’d ever seen at a training camp, or in a rookie camp. So, no, it doesn’t surprise me.”
Now that you’re here a second time and you’re out with the community and you get to see this type of thing, does this start to become a real home away from home the more time you’re here, the more time you spend with the community, out with people and just being here with the team practicing?
“Yes. Made some very good friends. I learned a lot from a lot of the people we’ve met here. And continue to do that. The more time you spend, the better it gets. There was a young guy from over at the hospital named Tyler, who gave me this beautiful necklace with a picture of Woody Hayes on the front and a little bit of biography on coach Hayes on the back. I was admiring Tyler’s necklace last year, and he brought this for me this year. Had it waiting for me when we came over. Means a lot. Also, Tyler’s in remission from Leukemia, it’s wonderful news, wonderful news to get today. And a wonderful gift too, from that youngster.”
Is this a really interesting change of pace, being West coast guys and kind of coming back to the Midwest? I know some people were from here, but from day-to-day life over there, is it kind of a nice change of pace to be in this part of the country for a week?
“It’s very good. I consider myself a Midwesterner and a Californian and all those things. I don’t see that much difference to be honest with you. But yes it is great to be here.”
You currently obviously don’t have a wide receiver on the practice squad, does that present any sort of a challenge in terms of preparation?
“We’ll address that.”
Going back to yesterday’s game, TE Vernon Davis caught a third quarter touchdown pass, he’s been catching touchdown passes in consecutive games here. How reliable has he become as a scoring threat?
“The proof is there. Evidence is there. He’s been doing a very good job. He can do a lot of things really well and that’s what makes him a very fine player.”
He said he didn’t – when he caught the touchdown yesterday he didn’t celebrate because you guys were losing. Is that team policy or is that just every guy understanding the situation?
“You know, I’ve told you before what it is. It’s within the player’s personality. In terms of celebrating. So there’s no policy, no.”
His point was, you guys were losing so he didn’t celebrate, so just wondering.
“You asked if there was a policy, there’s not a policy.”
I know you haven’t been here long yet, but has head coach Eric Wolford reached out to you, the head coach at Youngstown State University? And have you guys had a chance to speak yet, or any interaction in that regard?
“Not yet. But I know he’s doing a heck of a job and has had a couple great early wins. Have a lot of respect for his program.”
Revis respect: Moss has strong words for former adversary
Monday, September 24, 2012
BOARDMAN, OHIO — There was a cease fire in the war of words between Randy Moss and Darrelle Revis on Monday. Instead Moss bombarded the Jets cornerback with praise. “I…
49ers notes: Hall of Famer Jim Brown visits, injury report, etc.
Monday, September 24, 2012
Owner John York invited Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown to visit the 49ers on their trip to the Youngstown area. Jim Harbaugh enjoyed the visit.Video: Harbaugh: 'It was an honor to meet Jim Brown'
WR Palmer runs fade route to Indianapolis
Monday, September 24, 2012
The 49ers currently are in Youngtown, Ohio, but one of their players was re-routed to Indianapolis. The Colts on Monday claimed Nathan Palmer, an undrafted receiver out of Northern…
Moss played seven snaps in second half
Monday, September 24, 2012
A possible big day for Randy Moss was curtailed by some bad throws and limited second-half snaps. Matt Maiocco details each 49ers' play time.
High-flying Hollywood 49ers brought back to earth
Sunday, September 23, 2012
MINNEAPOLIS – A 49ers team that had Hollywood A-listers Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson cheering for them last week had the D-list Vikings gunning for them on Sunday. Minnesota…
49ers get extra timeouts, Goldson disputes roughness call
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Replays showed Dashon Goldson did not deliver a helmet-to-helmet hit on Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph. The referee saw it differently, and five plays later, the Vikings punched it in the end zone to regain control of the game.
Smith laments two passes to Moss that got away
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Randy Moss was targeted six times Sunday in his return to Minnesota, one more than he had seen the previous two games combined. Still, Moss showed no interest in talking…
Injury report: Willis, Sopoaga walking fine
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Patrick Willis and Isaac Sopoaga were observed walking out of the 49ers' locker room Sunday with no noticeable problems after Jim Harbaugh said he would have to wait until he learned more to share details.
Vikings take it to 49ers in Moss’ homecoming
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Alex Smith misfired on a couple of throws, including one that could've resulted in an 18-yard touchdown to former Viking Randy Moss in the second quarter. As Smith said following the loss, the 49ers didn't execute.
Harbaugh appreciates, reciprocates support of S.F. Giants
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Coach Jim Harbaugh called the support of the San Francisco Giants for his football team "tremendous, tremendous," as he spoke to the media Friday prior to departing on a 10-day road trip.
Lions safety fined for Alex Smith’s bloody nose
Friday, September 21, 2012
The Detroit Lions are still feeling jolts from their Sunday loss to the 49ers. Safety John Wendling was fined $7,875 for his forearm shiver on sliding quarterback Alex Smith,…
Statistics do not support Alex Smith
Friday, September 21, 2012
On Wednesday at his locker, Alex Smith explained to Bay Area reporters why taking a sack is not all that bad.
Here’s Smith’s exact quote: “A sack’s not the end of the world. Sometimes the best thing is to protect it in the pocket and take a sack. A lot of times, the ability to make plays with your feet, you get out of the pocket, you scramble, you run, you make a play, those things don’t happen if you’re constantly just trying to get rid of the ball. A little give and take there. When you look at it, yeah we don’t want to take them, but some of them aren’t terrible.”
Alex Smith is doing great this season – all deference to him and the 49ers – but the facts don’t bear out his assertion.
Tom Moore, Peyton Manning’s offensive coordinator on the Indianapolis Colts for 14 seasons, did a study on sacks. This is what his study revealed: For every offensive series in which a sack occurs, the offense’s probability to score a touchdown or a field goal drops to one in seven. That’s a 14 percent chance.
Moore’s study also revealed that a penalty is not nearly as detrimental because the offense gets a repeat down to gain back the lost yardage. When a quarterback takes a sack, he loses yardage and the down.
Perhaps Alex Smith and the 49ers should reevaluate their thinking with regard to taking a sack.
49ers key matchup No. 3: Sopoaga vs. Sullivan
Friday, September 21, 2012
As head coach Leslie Frazier stated this week, the Vikings like to hand the ball off to Adrian Peterson. Behind center John Sullivan, they typically are successful. It will be Isaac Sopoaga's job to limit their production.
Back to Youngstown: Blue-collar 49ers to spend week in Ohio
Friday, September 21, 2012
Lots of Twitter questions about whether the 49ers will be spending next week in Youngstown, Ohio. The answer: Yes, yes, a million times, yes. Jim Harbaugh announced the decision…
Roman on Alex Smith: “He’s just gotten better incrementally in everything we ask him to do.”
Friday, September 21, 2012
Greg Roman’s Thursday press conference transcript, courtesy of the 49ers.
Opening Statement:
“Good afternoon. Didn’t take our players long watching the film of cleaning up the Detroit game, moving on to Minnesota and seeing that these guys are a very, very good defense. They’re well coached. They’ve got a diverse scheme. They’ve got [Vikings DE] Jared Allen, who some regard as the best pass rusher in the National Football League and if you look at the film and the stats, I think they make a pretty good case. Multi-time defensive tackle in the Pro Bowl, [Vikings DT] Kevin Williams. Secondary is led by one of the toughest corners in the National Football League, [Vikings CB] Antoine Winfield. And [Vikings LB Chad] Greenway and the linebacking crew are extremely good blitzers and sideline to sideline, hitting the gaps. So, we’ve got our hands full getting ready for them. Any questions?”
You mentioned Jared Allen. What kind of game did T Joe Staley have going from Week 1 to Week 2?
“Joe played a really good game, really good game. We just look forward to that kind of improvement, really from all of our players as the season goes on. I think Joe experienced that last year throughout the season, just got better as it went. We certainly expect that out of all our players.”
That was obviously an emotional game, especially it seems for your offensive line. Is that a worry for you, coming off a game like that when you’re facing another talented team like the Vikings?
“What do you mean?”
There was a lot of emotion in that Lions game, especially from your offensive linemen. Do you worry about a drop-off in emotion, in energy after a game like that?
“I see. I think we’re always trying to keep our edge and I think if you let it slip for a second, then you need to get a grip. I think our guys, having watched the film of this team we’re about to play, understand immediately that it’s going to take their best effort. That’s week-in and week-out. These guys, especially when they’re in that dome, it definitely plays to their strengths. We’re having a good week of practice and I think our players are dialed in.”
Yesterday QB Alex Smith talked about how taking a sack isn’t always the end of the world. How do you –what’s the line you draw for a quarterback to just get rid of the ball and avoid the sack or stay on your feet and try to make something happen?
“That’s a good question and I think a lot of people probably have different opinions on it. I think one thing you’ve got to consider is, what’s your ultimate goal? If your ultimate goal is too keep your stats low, in sacks, then he needs to get rid of the ball. Our ultimate goal is to win games and you don’t lose games getting sacks. You’re generally going to have a hard time, statistics show and just real life experience show, of ending that drive in points. But you don’t lose games because you get sacked, generally. You lose games by turning the ball over and not scoring enough points. I think each play is a lifetime unto itself and I think you’ve got to evaluate each play within the context of that play. There’s sometimes where you quantify a sack as a smart sack for a quarterback, at least I would, we would. And sometimes he needs to get rid of the ball. It’s case-by-case, point-by-point.”
And that’s part of the quarterback decision making process on every snap?
“I think as it’s happening, yes. No question. There’s times when a quarterback might hold the ball too long, simply just doesn’t read the play correctly and he holds the ball and the protection was pretty darn good and we get a sack. That’s not what we’re looking for. But if somebody’s loose in protection, it really wasn’t that clean of a read, well, I can’t get the ball out because I have somebody here. He might knock it if I raise the ball to get rid of it, the ball might get knocked out of my hand and might become a potential fumble. Which would you rather have? It’s case-by-case.”
At this point in the year, how closely are you monitoring the teams in your division and how aware are you of them?
“From our perspective, we’re really not monitoring them at all. It’s Week 3 of the season. I think everybody, all of us coaches at least, we’re all fans of the game too. We’re going to follow how other teams are doing, but certainly not going to emotionally invest in it at all. We’ve got our hands full taking care of our own jobs.”
This might be a silly question but I’ll try it. Do you guys teach your quarterbacks how to take a sack? When they know it’s coming, no matter blind side shot.
“I think that gets covered, in terms of how to handle the ball and how to protect yourself as best you can. Now a lot of that is in the heat of the battle, guys are going to react naturally. Sometimes things are happening so fast, you can’t. I’ve been around people that have tried to do that. We really emphasize ball security at every position, and that includes the quarterback.”
There was the play in that Packers game where a blitz was coming off the open side. How did Alex hold on to that ball?
“I can tell you from my vantage point as that play was happening, about two seconds before contact was made I said this is a sack-fumble. He just did a great job of getting two hands on the ball as I remember. We were pretty fortunate there. It was a great job by Alex, again, just being very strong with the ball in the pocket.”
It just seems like Alex Smith is more crisp and efficient this year. Does it look the same way to you too just up in the box?
“Yeah, there’s no question. We fully expect him to be, and always have, just to continue his progress of running our offense. He’s just gotten better incrementally in everything we ask him to do. That’s what we expect from all our players, is just constant improvement. The more you do something, the better you should get at it. That’s not how it always plays out. And that’s what makes special players special is that they’re continuing to get better as they go.”
How unique is QB Colin Kaepernick’s running ability? We obviously saw that play against Green Bay, but you look around the league at quarterbacks. How different is he?
“I think it’s pretty unique because, I know you guys see it too, when he runs he’s covering some ground now. I mean, he’s not taking little typewriter steps. He is covering some ground, those stride lengths. When he builds that speed up, he gets rolling. I’d say it’s unique. Can you remember another quarterback that had the running style he had? I can’t off the top of my head. He can build up some pretty good speed and you saw it in the preseason game against the Vikes, where he outran the DB for the touchdown. Colin’s a unique athlete, got a lot of positives.”
What about former QB Randall Cunningham? Similar to him?
“I’m trying to picture Randall running. Randall might have been a little smoother, no offense Kap, but he might have been a little smoother running. He didn’t cover the ground that Kap did. But maybe a little bit more fluid.”
That might be a decent comparison just in height, size.
“Yeah, yeah.”
You guys are increasingly recognized for all your personnel packages that you tried out there. Was there a time in your career or some sort of influence you had when you realized how do different personnel packages to keep the defense off balance?
“I think we really started that at Stanford, where it really got multiple. When you’re coaching in college, you have more players at your disposal on game day. So, if guys earn the right to play and have a role during the game, you can get them out there. It definitely creates a lot more for the defense to prepare for, not only in what you might do out of that personnel group, but the individual skill set of each guy. We really took that to probably a new level there. But I’d say it comes from [head coach] Jim’s [Harbaugh] idea or just his mindset that if a guy can do something really well and he works hard at it day-in and day-out, he’s going to get an opportunity to do it on game day. It’s a self-perpetuating philosophy.”
What makes WR Kyle Williams a good fit for you guys in the slot?
“Kyle’s a really shifty receiver, has got great quickness, change of direction, really good short area player, has got good hands. I think Kyle continues to improve as a route runner. He’s got the quickness you look for inside. He can get separation from a defender in tight quarters. I’d say that pretty much sums it up. A lot of times in the slot you’re going to end up running routes on a defender and it’s either the first read or you’ve got to get open in a short area. He excels in that area.”
Is that the role you envision him maintaining throughout?
“Yeah, I think as he continues to improve. There’s a lot of competition at the receiver position. The receivers, I think, are playing pretty darn well and we look forward to diversify what we’re doing with them and expand on everybody’s role, practice as well.”
Going back to Stanford, what were your initial impressions of Vikings RB Toby Gerhart and what have you seen from an evolution in terms of his game?
“Toby was a very unique back. I thought he had really good patience and vision and then he could convert it to power pretty quickly. I thought he had a good understanding of the game and played that way with his decision making. Always happy to see somebody you coach go on to the NFL and do well. It’s obvious that that’s what’s happened with him. I certainly wish him all the best.”
As far as the multiple packages, is that harder to do in an opposing stadium, just in terms of noise and getting everybody knowing which play you called and in and out of the game, is that more difficult?
“I’d say, not necessarily but everything becomes more –the environment stresses everything. So, you’ve got to really prepare for that in practice. So, it’s not specifically your personnel packages. [running backs coach] Tom Rathman handles our sideline substitutions for the most part and does an extremely good job, so we’re very fortunate there. I think it stresses all communication, what personnel is in, what play you’re calling, what’s the snap count. It requires a higher level of focus.”
Did you have someone at Stanford similar to TE Delanie Walker in terms of versatility?
“Not off the top of my head, no. Delanie’s a really good player, had a great game the other night for the most part. Did a great job handling multiple roles and I was really proud of how he played. When [TE] Vernon [Davis] had to step out of the game, he just stepped into the Y tight end position, did a very good job. Delanie is a guy we count on.”
Fangio on Ponder: “He’s a threat both running and throwing.”
Friday, September 21, 2012
Vic Fangio’s Thursday press conference transcript, courtesy of the 49ers.
From what you’ve seen, does RB Adrian Peterson look like a guy who is coming off an ACL injury?
“No, he really doesn’t. He still has his great speed, cutting ability and I’m sure that he’ll get better and better as he goes throughout the season. Week one to week two he was better. I’m sure he’ll be better week two to week three and it’ll just be a steady rise to where he gets that last little bit that he might be missing back. He had a lot more than anybody else to begin with so he still looks like the best back in the league. ”
With him back and some of their other pieces, how much can you take from that preseason game against them?
“Very little. We were just out there playing as they were. It was just simple football against each other just so we could evaluate players and I’m sure they were thinking the same thing, so very little.”
DT Justin Smith said yesterday that they do a lot of the same things that your offense does in terms of different looks, a lot of movement, a lot of personnel packages. Is it quite as much as the 49ers offense?
“They do do a lot. They do some unbalanced line which we do here also. They do some misdirection running plays, which we try and do also. They’ll run the boots. They mix it up pretty good.”
How closely are you monitoring other teams in the division at this point? It seems like everyone is off to a pretty good start, too.
“Not really. All the focus is on who ever we’re playing that week and this week being Minnesota. It’s too early to start looking at them.”
What are some things you’ve seen in QB Christian Ponder?
“First thing that jumps out is he’s a good athlete, he’s very fast. He’s got 40 speed in about the 4.6 range, which is extremely fast for a quarterback. He’s got a good arm. I think he’s got good command of their offense and what they’re trying to do. And he’s played well. He’s got a 111 quarterback rating after two games, which is very high. He hasn’t thrown an interception yet and he’s done some good things scrambling. He had a 20-some yard gain scrambling last week wiped out by a penalty. He’s a threat both running and throwing.”
The third outside linebacker, is he a guy that only gets on the field if there’s an emergency or do you try to work him into the game in your base defense a lot?
“That just depends on how the game’s going, how many plays we’re playing and how they’re coming. By in large with the guys we have right now he wouldn’t go in there much, but that could change as we move on. If we still had [LB] Parys Haralson he probably would have gotten some snaps in the first two games.”
Were you involved, was there a workout with Shawne Merriman?
“No, not that I’m aware of.”
With S Dashon Goldson’s range, the amount of ground he can cover, how much flexibility does that give you in your game planning, knowing Dashon can cover that much territory?
“That’s one of the big job requirements for a safety, to be able to cover, play the deep zones whether it be a half, a quarter or a third and have range coming out of those zones and he does a good job of that. He got us 6 or 7 interceptions last year, got us one the other night and he does a good job of filling on the run. He had a really good game tackling last week, which was well needed.”
When you’re in your nickel it almost seems like he was the third linebacker coming off in run support. Is that one of his big assignments when you’re in nickel that he’s got to come up field fast to play the run?
“Sometimes. It depends upon what call we are in and those ones where you saw him coming up pretty fast, that was his job to do and he did a very good job of it coming up there. He comes up there with the intent on making the tackle not hoping somebody else makes it. He did a really good job of that the other night. ”
Is that unique, that a guy that lines up 12 to 14 yards deep can make a stop, not for an eight yard gain, but for a one or two yard gain?
“He’s got a good feel back there for when to come up and to time it out and we try and help him with that as much as we can. But he does a good job of once he comes he gets committed to it, makes a good, quick decision and then when he gets there, he is able to make the tackle a good bit of the time.”
Is that one of the things that really pleased you coming out of the game was how well your nickel defense did against the run?
“It was. They handed it off I think 26 times. I think they got 80 yards or something like that, 3.2 per carry and one of those was the quarterback draw. Those guys really played the run well up front. Our four down lineman in nickel, our two inside backers and when we did involve a secondary guy, all seven of those guys did a good job playing the run.”
Do you expect a full day of work from NT Isaac Sopoaga on Sunday?
“He’ll definitely get more play than he’s been getting based upon the way Minnesota plays.”
Head coach Jim Harbaugh said that 50 yard screen to RB Joique Bell they had in the 4th quarter, I think he termed it our worst play since you guys have been here or most disappointing. Did you share his disappointment with that and if so, why was that so bad?
“It was just we had a chance there, it was 3rd and 17, a chance to basically end the game if we can hold them without a first down with 17 yards to go. They ran a screen against a play call that we should be good against a screen in and we just didn’t play it right. We over ran it and let it cut back against the grain there, it got into the secondary and the guy went for 50 yards. The point being there is that’s how quick things can happen if you just make one little mistake and in this case we had a couple guys make little mistakes and before you know it, it’s 50 yards later. And what you think is close to being over, now your lining up with your hands team out there for an onside kick.”
As a coach, everyone, obviously, is patting the defense on the back, with some justification. But you can point to those things, not that you want to, but obviously there’s always room for improvement?
“There’s always room for improvement. And particularly, one thing that play illustrates is when you make a little error, it can become a big play. And big plays are what takes down a defense faster than anything. We’ve got to be on point every play, not just when we’re in a tight game, tie score, one score behind, one score ahead. Whether we’re up 15 or three, we got to play them the same.”
I have a question about CB Tarell Brown and how he’s been playing and that big play, is that something that you would expect to get called?
“Not necessarily, you hope it gets called from a defensive perspective, but I’ve seen worse ones not get called over the years. I don’t worry about that.”
And just how has Tarell been playing?
“Been playing well. He’s done a good job the first two games. They threw a deep ball on him in the Detroit game that he was there with good coverage and like I tell the players, the corners have to answer the bell on the deep balls each and every game. They go for granted. Everybody thinks it’s just an incomplete pass, but that was a chance for a big play that they didn’t get and that corners job is to do that.”
Niners Continue To Run Through North by SBRForum.com
Friday, September 21, 2012
Already 2-0 vs. the NFC North this season, the San Francisco 49ers will try to bump that to 3-0 this Sunday when they head back to the Midwest to rumble with Adrian Peterson and the Minnesota Vikings (1 pm Eastern, …
Bakhtiari: I’ll keep going until it absolutely ends
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Erik Bakhtiari has been the picture of resolve for the last four years. But after getting cut for the ninth time — and the third time by the 49ers…
Ginn limited during practice, Jacobs still out
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Tedd Ginn was limited in practice Thursday and will likely be a game-time decision Sunday while Brandon Jacobs continues to make progress.
Williams finds slot in 49ers’ offense as rookies sit
Thursday, September 20, 2012
With Kyle Williams finding his niche in the offense and a bevy of other options at WR, 49ers' rookies may have to devote some extra attention to honing their special teams skills.
Hooked On The Niners Latest Show!
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Be sure to check out our friends at Hooked On the Niners, their latest TV show is now available for viewing at this link…
Alex Smith: “Sometimes the best thing is to protect it in the pocket and take a sack.”
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
SANTA CLARA – Alex Smith’s Wednesday press conference transcript, courtesy of the 49ers.
How’s that gash doing?
“Doing alright. Healing up hopefully.”
Kind of makes you look like a football player.
“It’s tough for me to look any tougher, but I guess it does.”
Is it sore?
“Pretty cosmetic, not too bad. Just kind of a surface thing.”
Has T Joe Staley been swapping tales about that?
“Yeah, there’s something, everyone is calling us nose bros.”
Was there any aftermath of that? Did the league ever punish anyone?
“Not sure. No idea. I haven’t heard anything.”
And now you face another really strong defensive front. What’s the challenge that the Vikings bring that might be different than Detroit?
“Yeah, every week. Thing that jumps out at you is obviously the defensive line, especially at home. [Vikings DE] Jared Allen almost broke the sack record last year. He plays really good at home with the crowd noise. He gets off the ball. [Vikings DT] Kevin Williams inside is an elite player. They’re good across the board up front. [Vikings LB Chad] Greenway is a really good player, good linebacker. The thing you see is they’re good in the back end too. Safeties are young guys, but they’re good players, play fast, disciplined. A good challenge for us, they do a lot. Different defense than we played the first two weeks. Have to handle the crowd noise at their place. I’m sure it’ll be loud.”
Head coach Jim Harbaugh was talking about his influence or not much influence and that you guys really have taken over this team, about winning and success really is about you guys. How much influence has he had on you? How much has he changed you over the last whatever, season and two games?
“Me personally?”
Yeah, you as a player.
“I say this a lot, this truly is the ultimate team sport, I think. I mean that, coaches included. Really, it takes everybody. And then if one piece isn’t in place, the whole thing doesn’t work. That’s really how I think about it. It takes all of us for that kind of chemistry and everything to kind of come together. Sometimes coaches say that, and obviously it’s us on the field doing it. Don’t want to sell short, obviously, the game plan getting put together, the preparation that goes in through the week because I really think that’s where a lot of winning and losing takes place.”
Speaking of team, you’ve got a two-week road trip here. How tough is that when you’re pretty much used to, you know, different things?
“Yeah, it’s different. It’s tough to be away from your family for sure. But at the same time, thinking back on last year, it was also a good experience for us. Kind of another little mini-camp, you’ve only got 53 going. You’re all together, there’s nothing really to do there. You practice, you prepare and you hang out with each other. Thought it was a good thing for us last year, enjoyed it.”
Can always get to know each other better.
“Yeah, for sure. New guys, you learn as you go. It’s another experience as well, back-to-back road trips. Always tough going back East. So, looking forward to it.”
You’ve taken the most sacks in the NFL since the beginning of 2005, 51. Have you been pretty sore on some of these Mondays?
“Some, not too bad lately though. Really felt pretty good coming out of this game, except for the nose and that was kind of my own deal running. Obviously you don’t want to take sacks, that’s to start off, but sometimes it’s not the end of the world. For me, another guy, the guy I’ve watched a lot of film on, you watch [Packers QB] Aaron play, Rodgers, guy that takes a lot of sacks, but he also makes a lot plays with his feet, keeps plays alive. There is some give and take there I think. Same can be said, I think there is some give and take with not just forcing balls and getting rid of a ball. And a sack’s not the end of the world. Sometimes the best thing is to protect it in the pocket and take a sack. A lot of times, the ability to make plays with your feet, you get out of the pocket, you scramble, you run, you make a play, those things don’t happen if you’re constantly just trying to get rid of the ball. A little give and take there. When you look at it, yeah we don’t want to take them, but some of them aren’t terrible.”
Will you have to make an equipment adjustment? I know Joe said he has to wear an older, tight helmet, because you don’t want that busting up on you.
“I’m not anticipating. I’m not banging heads as much as those guys. So, I hope it’ll be alright, maybe just a bandage over it or something, but hopefully not.”
Your former coach is on the other sideline. What’s Vikings special assistant to the head coach/linebackers coach Mike Singletary’s legacy with this team? Everybody is talking about how amazing it is what Harbaugh’s done in a little over a season. But what did he leave behind?
“That’s a better question for someone else. I’m not thinking about anyone’s legacy right now. For us, we were all here, the guys that were and we didn’t get it done. That’s kind of the bottom line. We had expectations for ourselves and didn’t get it done and it was on all of us. Not sure about any legacy or anything like that.”
What’s the difference between having a linebacker and a quarterback as a head coach?
“I don’t know if it comes down to the position they played. They’re different people, yeah. Everybody’s unique, everybody is their own person. So, I don’t really want to try and compare them.”
WR Randy Moss is going back to where he made his boom. When a guy is in that situation does he come up to you wanting to let him have a chance to show certain things? How does that play in your game prep, if at all?
“I’m not thinking about it. I’m going to go back and go through the reads and if the shot’s there, it’s there, the throw to him. That’s how this is going to work. It’s hard to dictate through the week preparing who’s going to get the balls, you never know. You try to anticipate how they’re going to play us, who they’re focus is going to be on, how they see us. You never really know until you play the game sometimes. Randy always, every week is going to play a big part for us. You never really know until game day sometimes what that actually is going to turn out to be.”
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