August 2009 Archives

    Singletary cuts back on the workload

     

    Two-a-day practices concluded last Wednesday, and now 49ers coach Mike Singletary is scaling back on the contact as the regular season approaches.

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    Davis would be fourth option

     

    Rookie quarterback Nate Davis might be in serious competition for the 49ers' No. 3 job with veteran Damon Huard, but there is little doubt Davis he would be Mike Singletary's fourth option to enter a regular-season game.

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    Marvel Smith plans to retire

     

    One of the 49ers' major priorities when the offseason began was to strengthen their offensive line. But heading into their third exhibition game, the 49ers find themselves in worse shape than they were when the 2008 season concluded.

     

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    For no particular reason, this evening I decided to peruse one of my favorite reference books. Let me tell you, it's a real page-turner.

    It's called the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement, 2006-2012.

    Again, there was nothing that inspired this bit of reading, other than my quest for knowledge. But I did find myself focusing on a certain chapter entitled, "Article XVI, College Draft."

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    Hill (and his back) is back

     

    No, 49ers quarterback Shaun Hill did not require assistance to walk. Instead, there he was jogging around the perimeter of the field prior to the start of practice this morning.

     

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    Q&A: The run game

    When I dipped into the mailbag this morning there seemed to be four topics, in particular, that dominated the thoughts of 49ers fans. Therefore, over the course of the day, I'll post Q&As on each of those issues.

    First up: Jimmy Raye's offense and the run game.

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    Main man on offense is RB

     

    For the fifth time since the opening of training camp, 49ers offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye met with the media. Raye has been a delight during these sessions with his well-reasoned and straight-forward answers to the media's questions.

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    Martz: Alex Smith needs to move on

     

    Two former NFL head coaches with 49ers ties addressed the team's quarterback situation in a national conference call this morning.

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    In their words: QB decision

     

    Here's what coach Mike Singletary, Shaun Hill and Alex Smith had to say today after Hill was announced as the 49ers' starting quarterback:

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    Hill wins 49ers starting QB job

     

    Shaun Hill will line up behind center when the 49ers' offense takes the field for the team's regular-season opener Sept. 13 against the Arizona Cardinals.

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    Help is on the way for pass rush

     

    The 49ers activated defensive lineman Ray McDonald today off the physically-unable-to-perform list just three days after coach Mike Singletary said he did not know whether McDonald would be available for the regular-season opener.

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    Singletary wants longer to consider

    Coach Mike Singletary said he's not ready to name a starting quarterback, as he continues to mull over the decision with his staff.

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    Singletary: No timetable for decision

     

    Nothing much was settled Saturday night in the 49ers' quarterback competition during their 21-20 exhibition-game victory over the Raiders at Candlestick Park.

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    Exhibition 2: Raiders at 49ers

     

    This is a pivotal game in the Niners Great QB Debate of 2009, as Alex Smith gets the start. Shaun Hill is scheduled to see plenty of action with the No. 1 offense, too.

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    Picking sides: Smith or Hill

    Alex Smith and Shaun Hill are good friends - very good friends. And on a personal level, it does not seem to matter that they both want what only one man will get. They remain allies despite their very public 49ers quarterback competition.

    So if Smith and Hill are such good buddies, why is there such vitriol among their fans?

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    Crabtree parameters set?

    It's a reasonable question that has been posed in the past day: Now that the Nos. 9 and 11 draft picks have signed, will that help the 49ers reach contract terms with Michael Crabtree, the No. 10 selection?

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    Smith gets his big chance

     

    Coach Mike Singletary said he's closer to a decision at quarterback, which is good news because the 49ers open the regular season in three weeks. Don't read anything into it, but Alex Smith will get the start Saturday night against the Raiders.

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    Q&A: Lawson must earn third-down role

     

    The 49ers are taking it easy today, as they have just an afternoon special-teams practice scheduled in Santa Clara.

     

    I'm going to take it easy, too. But I've set aside a few minutes to respond to some questions submitted this morning.

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    UPDATE: The 49ers reached an agreement on a one-year contract with free-agent cornerback Eric Green, National Football Post reported. Green, a fifth-year pro, signed with the Dolphins this offseason after spending his first four years with the Arizona Cardinals.

     

    The 49ers must create a spot on their 80-man roster for Green. The 49ers informed fullback Zak Keasey they will release him with an injury settlement, a league source said. Keasey is expected to miss 8 to 10 weeks with a broken forearm. The 49ers have the option to re-sign Keasey later in the season.

     

    * * *

     

    Singletary: We made progress

     

    Coach Mike Singletary was pleased with what he saw from these two days of practices against the Raiders.

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    Hill inching ahead of Smith

     

    Oh, yeah, the 49ers' offense practiced today, too.

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    A day for the defense

     

    I intended to watch the 49ers' offense again this morning. But the 49ers' defense stole the spotlight.

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    Halfway finished with 49ers-Raiders work

     

    Day 2 of the 49ers-Raiders practices is set to begin at 8:30 this morning. I'll be trying to keep my eyes peeled for anything noteworthy.

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    Gore sets tone for day with Raiders

     

    The 49ers and Raiders have concluded their first of four practices over two days. Then, the teams will get together on Saturday to play a little exhibition game.

     

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    Day 17, practice 25: Willis returns

     

    It's Day 21 since the first day 49ers rookies reported. It's Day 17 of practices. And it was practice No. 25.

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    Clayton's injury is season-ender

     

    The 49ers designated RB Thomas Clayton waived/injured today. Clayton, who sustained a torn right ACL in Friday's game, is out for the season.

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    QB + Mystery = Easy decision

    Coach Mike Singletary did not announce a leader -- or any preference whatsoever - in the great 49ers Quarterback Competition of 2009. And most impartial onlookers can't say that one quarterback distinguished himself over the other in the exhibition opener Friday night.

    That means one thing.

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    Singletary's day-after reaction

    The 49ers are exploring their options at running back and fullback, coach Mike Singletary told reporters today after potentially long-term injuries to Thomas Clayton and Zak Keasey.

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    49ers: Player-by-player recap

     

    Here's the all-80 man review from the 49ers' 17-16 victory over the Denver Broncos in the exhibition opener Friday night at Candlestick Park.

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    Niners postgame report

     

    Just back from the victorious 49ers' locker room, where coach Mike Singletary opened his postgame remarks with the following words: "Thank God it's the preseason."

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    Exhibition: 49ers vs. Broncos

     

    Regular updates from tonight's 49ers-Broncos exhibition opener at Candlestick Park.

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    Pre-game pep talk . . . and Q&A with RJF

    There will be plenty to watch tonight when the 49ers open the exhibition season against the Broncos at Candlestick Park. And I plan to watch it - several times.

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    Crabtree discussion continues

     

    Over the past couple weeks I've spoken to dozens of individuals - none of whom wanted their quotes attributed to them - about Michael Crabtree and the 49ers. There was a theme that quickly developed.

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    Day 17, practice 23: Hill gets first shot

     

    The 49ers went through a "mock game" this morning to iron out some of the procedural aspects for their exhibition opener. The unveiling occurs tomorrow against the Broncos at Candlestick Park.

     

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    Day 12, practice 22: Defense holds

     

    The afternoon practice had one of those dog-day feels to it. The team concluded with the two-minute drill.

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    Day 12, practice 21: 'Taser' is unveiled

     

    The 49ers' version of the spread offense is called the "Taser," offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye revealed. (Insert your own don't-taze-me-dude bro joke here. I'm feeling a little sluggish today.)

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    Day 11, practice 19: Blitz-happy defense

     

    The 49ers' defense is making sure that the 49ers' offense will be ready for the regular season.

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    Day 10, practice 18: Smith banished to hill

     

    Moments after tight end J.J. Finley coughed up the ball and cornerback Dre' Bly stripped running back Thomas Clayton, 49ers coach Mike Singletary offered a challenge to his team in the afternoon practice.

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    Johnson leads QBs through daily drills

    When Mike Riley was hired at Oregon State in 1997, he tabbed Mike Johnson to fill one of the most important jobs on his coaching staff.

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    Day 10, practice 17: First game nears

     

    The 49ers' exhibition opener is just four days away, and coach Mike Singletary said he has not settled on a rotation at quarterback.

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    Niners' offensive review

     

    Today was a quiet day in 49erland, as the team had just a brief walk-through practice scheduled for the afternoon.

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    Day 8, practice 15: Numbers don't lie, but . , ,

     

    If today were a real game, Alex Smith's consecutive-completion streak would have been the second-most in 49ers history.

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    Day 8, practice 14: Raye of hope

     

    New offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye might not be the most charismatic coach in the universe. And his offense might be a heck of a lot less flashy than the one the 49ers ran a year ago.

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    Day 7, practice 13: First non-padded practice

     

    After 6 ½ days of practices, 49ers coach Mike Singletary finally gave his team a break. Oh, they practiced this afternoon. It's just that they did it without full pads.

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    Day 7, practice 12: Good day for defense

     

    This is when I'm supposed to draw out some of the interesting tidbits from the morning practice and explain how it's going to carry over into the regular season.

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    Jones expected to be out 8 weeks

     

    Coach Mike Singletary said he expects receiver Brandon Jones to be out eight weeks with a small fracture of his right shoulder.

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    Day 6, practice 11: Jones sustains shoulder injury

     

    Receiver Brandon Jones did not return to practice this afternoon after landing hard on his right shoulder on an attempted diving catch in the end zone during 7-on-7 passing drill.

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    Day 6, practice 10: Michael who?

     

    The 49ers this afternoon issued a statement about the Michael Crabtree situation. The contract impasse is in Day 10. Crabtree will miss his 10th practice later today.

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    Lots (or not) going on this morning

     

    A long, eventful morning at 49ers training camp, where the club just went through its ninth practice of the summer.

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    Updates: QBs and Crabtree

     

    If, as coach Mike Singletary said, there was no leader in the 49ers' quarterback competition when training camp began, there certainly is no leader after the first eight practices.

     

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    Day 5, practice 8: Smith in good spot

    The 49ers were on the field for a monster practice of more than 3 ½ hours (including walk-through, pre-practice stretching and post-practice stretching). And one thing about the quarterback situation is becoming more and more obvious.

     

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    The Education of Bear

     

    Rookie tight end Bear Pascoe is just that: a rookie. And the young man has a lot to learn about the rigors of playing in the NFL.

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    Day 4, practice 6: Linemen injured

     

    Offensive guard David Baas and defensive lineman Kentwan Balmer sustained injuries that knocked them out of practice this morning.

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    Day 3, practice 5: QBs hit the mark

     

    Here is one clear observation through the first five 49ers practices of training camp: The team's passing game is far ahead of where it was a year ago at this time.

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    Patrick Willis sat out practice with a right ankle strain, according to the team. It's not a sprain - it's a strain, which means it's an injury to a muscle. Sprain is a ligament issue, so I believe this is good - and not a big deal.
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    The windy was gusting on the 49ers' practice field, and that made it difficult for the quarterbacks to get the ball down the field today.
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    It's Day 6 of 49ers training camp for rookies (and the second day of practices) and the 49ers' top draft pick is still not under contract. And word is that the 49ers and receiver Michael Crabtree are getting no closer in their contract talks.
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    Quarterback Alex Smith heard cheers from the crowd in the 49ers' afternoon practice, as he looked particularly sharp in the team's 11-on-11 drills.
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    Here's a rundown of the action during Saturday's morning practice at 49ers training camp:
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    The 49ers did not ease into Camp Singletary. Nope, it opened with a drill called the "nutcracker." And probably don't need to know a lot more than that.
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    The problem with Alex Smith winning the starting QB job out of training camp became apparent on his first throw of 11-on-11 drills at training camp this morning.
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Who is Matt?

Matt Maiocco is in his 14th year covering the 49ers. He has reported for The Press Democrat since 2000. He is a three-time winner of Pro Football Writers of America awards. Rotoworld.com ranked "Instant 49ers" as the No. 2 NFL team blog in the country in 2007. Maiocco has written two books, "Roger Craig's Tales from the 49ers Sideline" and "San Francisco 49ers: Where Have You Gone?" Matt can also be heard regularly on KNBR (680-AM) during the season. He is also been added this season as a regular guest on ESPN's "First Take."

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