" Shaun Hill had a better morning practice than Alex Smith. Hill threw the ball well, and did a better job in the two-minute drill. Smith was unable to connect down the field, as he settled for short passes "
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^
As usual !

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http://www.knbr.com/common/global_audio/201/11227.mp3

Hell yea Shaun, go get that starting job!!! i know its not going to happen cuz its really not about whats best for the team right now, its about tryin to push both men (so u can argue its whats best for the team in the future). So Sing cld already know Hill is starting but not announce it. I hope he looks better all week!!

Also i Think snyder is a cool guy, im rooting for him. i hope he does GREAT at RT and we have the right side of our line for 10 years n we have smith as a backup for a couple seasons if need be. Nolan screwed Snyder too!!!!!

Hate HIM!

1st - Shaun Hill is the started unless he gets hurt. It's a done deal at this point.

2nd - Frank Gore is going to be a BEAST this year!!!

This is GREAT!!!!! Hill in 2009!!!

"Hill threw a DEEP BALL to Vernon Davis that Davis caught over the shoulder (yes, you read that correctly) in front of safety Jerome Boyd. He also hooked up with Micheal Spurlock on a DEEP PASS."

"Smith was not as sharp Tuesday. He finished the morning 7 of 13."
" In fact, he targeted Glen Coffee on short passes on the first five snaps of the drive and netted only 15 yards."

-MB

This is what happens when you play ANOTHER teams D.

...and this from the other Matt,just to confirm how wide the margin really is...
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"Shaun Hill looked sharp during 11 on 11 drills. Alex Smith was less so. Hill, who ran the first-team offense and mostly faced the Raiders' first-team defense, finished the morning session 12 of 14. One of those incompletions came when he spiked the ball during a two-minute drill. In that drill, Hill drove his team to the opposition 33 yard line, giving Joe Nedney a chance for a 51-yarder. It hit the left upright. Hill threw a deep ball to Vernon Davis that Davis caught over the shoulder (yes, you read that correctly) in front of safety Jerome Boyd. He also hooked up with Micheal Spurlock on a deep pass.
Smith was not as sharp Tuesday.
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It's only practice BUT this is exactly how much better Hill has been over Smith in GAMES as well as TC. No contest !
Will smith hold off Huard for the backup job? We all know Huard is better and more consistent and reliable and will move the offense better than smith. Will Sing break down and do the right thing or will he try to make Jed and Scotty happy as long as possible and keep alive the hope that somehow smith will become something in the NFL.? I hope they don't cut Huard because Davis is not nearly ready yet to be the backup.

As it stands right now, within credibility and record, Frank Gore is the BEST player we have on our offense.

When we're not passing he's running up the gut, and when we're not running he's delivering crucial blocks that save the passing game from our crappy offensive line's performance.

By the end of his career, no future 49er RB will be able to top his back-to-back record of having seasons over 1,000 rushing yards.

I am excited because we are really building the foundations of the team now, it seems. I mean, it is very probable that Smith will not flourish to be the QB we thought he would be and Hill while a better option and good to have around is not our solid QB we need.

But to see someone like Gore so focused and getting so much better (per his own words) at blocking is simply beautiful. First off he proves he is not only focused on Stats like many other players but on actual play: ""In this league, anybody can run and catch the ball," Gore said. He said blocking is where a running back can distinguish himself."" WOW, nice to hear that!!

And if Snyder works as it seems he will, we definately will have a solid RT for quite some time instead of just for 1 or 2 years like with Marvel Smith. Rachal is solid, Staley is solid, Heitman is solid, and Bass should be solid if he was not getting nicked so frequently. So it really seems like all we need is either for Bass to keep healthy or look for another LG and with monster blocking from Gore in the back and Vernon in TE we should FINALLY have decent blocking in the team!

I am loving this!!!!

SB

Couldn´t agree more with you regarding Nolan and Snyder... just one more bad decision from Nolan... hybrid defense, playing Justin Smith all around, allowing JTO Sullivan win the starting job last year (also Mike Martz there), and the list goes on and on...

I am a Hill guy as much as anyone.

But I want Alex to do well - or at least much, much better and really push Hil..

If the 49ers have two good qbs going into the season, it's better for all of us. We're going to need both of them.

WOW....One bad practice from Smith and everyone is acting as if he's been consistently bad all TC. Clearly he hasnt pulled ahead of Hill. Obviously, Hill should be our starter, but the reality of it is Smith has performed almost as good as Hill all TC. One bad practice is exactly that; one bad practice.

Gore has been the BEST player on this Offense since he got here. Lately for some reason I've just grown to respect the man even more. Despite losing season after losing season he's a warrior that gets himself seemingly in better shape every year. No doubt I have a man crush on this dude. GORE IS AMAZING & I hope he has a monster year & just TEARS IT UP & stays healthy. GO FRANK!!!!!!!!!!

Then there's Bruuuuuuuuuuce!!!!! The ageless one. Keep it up reverend!!

.....so the Raiders lost one of their top receivers?? Hey give 'em Crabtree. Parker can milk Al & he WILL PAY. Ah too late, I know we're passed the deadline. I do WANT Crabtree anyways. I want to see what this kid can do out on the field once he gets his a** out here.

I'm glad to hear Gore is fired up. But it's pretty much a given that he is going to walk all over the Raiders. Shaun Hill should be the starter. The debate should over by next week. I do want to know if Bruce's good day was against Namadi because he is the only Raider that could be a starter for any other team.

Wow, I'm reading more in-depth coverage about the Gore/Rathman occurrence, Frank is playing like a friggen junk yard dog, and Tom has had to literally pry him off the field before hurting somebody else's linebacker!

I LOVE THIS!

Send Gore after Cable . LOL

ONENINER????????????

Guys - David White (Beat reporter for the Raiders) watched the Raider Offense practice against the Niners starting D (This was while both Matt's watched the Niners O play the Raiders D). From his account on Twitter it sounds like the Niners D had their way with the Raiders O - Great news. Manny and Justin Smith stood out:

http://twitter.com/bydavidwhite

Great news Mike !!! Now lets see it when the regular season starts! I believe we were about 13th in the league in defense last season and that with a poor pass rush. We should be much improved this season but I want to see it in games,not on paper. I don't expect to see everything the defense can bring until the first regular season game.
I can't wait for a defense that can get the ball back in Hill's hands over and over again !

Soon, very soon it will be time to release Frank from his collar and chain. Then they will see the best RB outta Miami brutalize opposing defenses.

its just brutal to see how bad a coach he was, im glad someone else sees this, we cld go all day on it, glad he is gone.

49ers_CK: i dont think that its one bad practce ppl are jumping on. Its the patter that smith seems to choke when he faces Defenses that arent the 49ers. he just doesnt seem to have that clock in his head good NFL Qbs have. nor does he throw ppl open, and he is scared to let a pass fly therefore settles for dump passes when thats not even his strength. Listen I'm a HUGE 9ers fan and all i want is for the team to win. I wld love for smith to grow into the best QB in the NFL. i have nothing against him, im just being realistic and rooting for the best intrest of the team.

.:)..Gore is a Beast.....Really really excited to see him this yr......

My main man FG is on a mission....

...I predict the niners will send favre back to missi...!!!

Bro, thats a great idea. there has to be sites like this for other teams. if they have even some of the integrity that our boy MM has maybe we can get an honest opinion on how the 49ers D looks. Good stuff>

also thats why i dont even bother going to 49ers.com anymore, i want unbiased observation!! Keep it real Matt... great work as always!

Shane - Totally agree. Its fun reading Dave White blog as it sounds like the Niners were Physical with an F and beat up on the Raiders this morning. This is almost comical (White's words from here on forward):

** Otherwise, there was a lot of bad going on, especially in blocking drills.

49ers running back Frank Gore just blasted Raiders middle linebackers Ricky Brown and Kirk Morrison.
I did see Manny Lawson work Raiders left tackle Mario Henderson on consecutive plays, using a nasty inside spin on the second.
On one drill, 49ers end Justin Smith got his hands under Miller's pads and drove him like a blocking sled for a good 5 yards.
The Raiders running backs got beat to the ground by the Niners linebackers, with the exception of Neal and an occasional Justin Fargas. I kept looking for a positive sign. I'll keep looking.

"In this league, anybody can run and catch the ball," Gore said. He said blocking is where a running back can distinguish himself.

These are the words of a player who just gets it. 100% heart. I'll never forget the story about him crying after a loss a few years ago becuase other Niner players at the time weren't as upset about it. Gore is gonna beast on the NFL for years to come.

Old #4 is on the Vikes now...we play them in sota, should make our schedule a little tougher and we definitely need a pass rush. Good news Manny was showing some game today. I have a feeling that once the real games start with blitz packages and schemes to overload zones we will get more pressure than last year. with a more aggressive and quicker secondary and better depth all around, I'm liking our defensive unit more and more. Looks like Hill is becoming a better practice player so if that is the case he should be a better game day player too. Our starting O unit is looking better and deeper too. I can't wait for the opening game with the Cards when we come with the A game.

Is there ANY video of Frank Gore crushin' those Raider LB's???

It's good to hear the beast like mentality all our players are taking. Gore has always showed something special, and it seems he's hungrier than ever. But our defense is where I hope the dogs come out. They say defense wins championships. Any of our QB's would play with confidence, even Alex Smith who's best play is a dump pass to a RB. I'm confident Hill CAN get us in position to win if our team can play 9er football.

Stampede- you brought it back with that gore flashback I remember that. That's when we had wannabe rapper Brandon Lloyd on our squad. And a bunch of stat happy players, I glad those days are behind us. Gore is just the MAN!

Who blasted chaz schillings? Now the raiders lost their best WR. It's over come Saturday.

yeah Franky is gonna do big thangs this season. He's a leader and the epitome of a pro. I'm glad the Niners are finally building around him. Can't wait for Sept 13th.

You guys will love this final thought of the day from the Raiders Beat reporter from the Chron:

"Either Frank Gore is going to have an incredible season for the 49ers, or the Raiders' run defense has a world of work to do."

""In this league, anybody can run and catch the ball," Gore said. He said blocking is where a running back can distinguish himself."

We have a young Emmitt Smith on our hands gentlemen.

Many rivers to cross but the goal is defined and the vision in place -the signs are indicative of a hard working unit -let's watch the little things this week and see if another step forward is taken in Saturday's game.

I pick all of the above.

I respect your opionios . . . but I think you're off base here.

You should've said "We have a young Walter Payton on our hands."

Emmitt ran behind an 'All-Pro' line (one of the best in the NFL).

(Payton didn't have even ONE Pro-Bowler lineman until his NINTH season)

Emmitt played with a HOF QB & WR (not so with Payton).

Walter's favorite part of his game was his blocking. He got more enjoyment out of that than anything (except maybe smashing into guys who were trying to tackle him).

Emmitt was 'Walter Payton Lite.'

It's great having Rathman back coaching up our RB's... Gore and Coffee are gonna make a great combo.


Speaking of Gore, here's him and our other backs in the blocking drill vs the Raiduh LB's :-)

Agree 100% I think Payton influenced Singletary. And I think both of them have influenced Gore!!!

Payton played 13 years in the NFL.
The Bears were mostly terrible for the first 8 years of his career, until the arrival of Mike Ditka and Jim McMahon.

Not only were they terrible, but until the arrival of those two guys (along with their first Pro-Bowl O-Lineman, Jim Covert the next year) the Bears offense was simply pathetic.

Walter took an absolute beating during his first 8 seasons, as he simply was the only weapon the Bears had.

He never complained. At all.

In body and in spirit, he was simply an amazing man.

Gore getting excited during a blitz pick-up is 'Pure Payton.'

If every player played with that kind of passion and intensity, it would be hard for the 49ers to lose.

Damn, Jimmy Raye looks like Emperor Palpadine in the pic accompanying Maiocco's article http://tinyurl.com/lrnd4b

It is great to have Rathman back. He's always coached a prepared group of dedicated players where ever he's been. Having a guy with Gore's talent, competitiveness and work ethic to help him set the tone and get the work done sure helps too! Coffee and Sheets seem talented and may flourish under his coaching also.
I LOVE Walter, and I would take him ahead (barely) of Emmitt on my all-time team too, but I find it hard to disrespect Emmitt. He earned a lot of hard yards. He made plays at crunch time and he was the ultimate teammate. I hate to see him called 'anyone'-lite; he's the real deal too.

The crazy thing is, Gore was already a pretty damn good pass blocker BEFORE T.Rathman started coaching him up.

Emmitt was a great player. A warrior.

But:

A). He played on an offense surrounded by Pro-Bowlers and HOF'ers. Walter didn't.

B). He was known to pad his stats in Dallas (complain when he wasn't getting the ball when games were out of reach).

C). He was a selfish player. Towards the end of his time in Dalls, he disparaged his teammates when he basically said that "It's hard to shine like a Diamond when you are surround by crap."

If he had gone to Chicago and played on the teams that Walter played on for his first eight years, it would've been a whole different story with Emmitt Smith.