September 2009 Archives

The 49ers face the winless St. Louis Rams on Sunday at Candlestick, and Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo joined the 49ers press corps on a morning conference call.

Running back Frank Gore is expected to miss at least two games after an MRI examination showed a right ankle strain and a right hind foot sprain.

The 49ers have games the next two weeks against the St. Louis Rams and Atlanta Falcons, followed by their Oct 18 bye week. The first game for which Gore might be available is Oct. 25 against the Houston Texans. 

Running back Frank Gore nursed a right ankle injury last week, taking part in limited practice. On the first play on which he touched the ball, Gore came up hobbling.

But 49ers coach Mike Singletary says the injury sustained early in the game Sunday against the Vikings is not related to Gore's pre-existing condition. We're trying to get official word from the 49ers' medical staff.

Do you want to know why the 49ers lost today to the Vikings? They were abysmal on third downs. (And, yes, Brett Favre's game-winning TD fling came on a third down.)

Defensively, the 49ers allowed the Vikings to convert 50-percent of the time (10 of 20). And, offensively, the 49ers were a staggering 0-for-11 when faced with a third down. If they convert one of those third downs, they win the game.

After the 49ers took the lead, 24-20, with 8:12 remaining, the offense got the ball back twice and could not close the deal. Glen Coffee had five carries for minus-1 yard, and Shaun Hill had an 8-yard completion on a third-and-17, as the 49ers had two three-and-outs.

I spoke with 49ers center Eric Heitmann, an eight-year veteran, about that topic after the game:

Mike Singletary had already delivered his postgame locker room address to his players. After the media was allowed into an interview room at one side of the locker room, he had more words to say.

Singletary began working the room, shaking hands with his players after the 49ers' crushing 27-24 loss to the Vikings. His job was to make sure the loss does not crush the season.

Running back Frank Gore did not take part in a full practice this week due to an ankle sprain, but he will suit up and play Sunday against the Vikings, 49ers coach Mike Singletary said.

Gore is listed as probable for the game. He has said he is fine, and he does not walk or run with any noticeable discomfort.

OK, now it's time to give Michael Crabtree a little love . . .

We tested our new podcast capabilities with "The Question Lady" on Tuesday, so today start trudging forward with our new toy. Niners quarterback Shaun Hill was kind enough to be our test subject.

Hill spent four seasons with the Minnesota Vikings from 2002 to '05. His career consisted of two kneel-down snaps at the end of the '05 season finale. He was a free agent after the '05 season and he did not get many phone calls - until the 49ers decided to give him a chance.

This is Hill's eighth season in the NFL, and this is the first time he has entered practices before the opening week of the regular season higher than No. 3 on a depth chart. (Last year, he was the No. 3 behind J.T. O'Sullivan and Alex Smith before it was discovered on the day before the season opener that Smith had a fractured shoulder.)

As always, I'm open to suggestions. Are there any other players on the 49ers you'd like to hear on the podcast?

There have been a lot of questions about the NFL's anti-tampering policy, and what it all means. Hopefully, this will answer a lot of questions.

Following the 49ers' 23-10 victory over the Seahawks on Sunday, we put together this video recap of the game. John Burgess, a fantastic photographer at The Press Democrat, supplied the action shots and the hard work behind the scenes to make it happen. We're going to try to do this after every 49ers' home game. Please check it out and let us know what you think.

The 49ers have won two games this season while fashioning the league's 30^th-ranked passing attack. There will be a time when the 49ers need a little more production from quarterback Shaun Hill.

But coach Mike Singletary said he hopes that day does not come any time soon. At his weekly press conference today, Singletary said he envisions a team that relies on its offensive line and defense.

The 49ers have filed tampering charges against the New York Jets for having illegal contact regarding unsigned draft pick Michael Crabtree, the New York Daily News reports. The newspaper cites "sources."

According  the report, the 49ers may believe the Jets contacted Crabtree's agent, Eugene Parker, to let him know they'd be interested in trading for his rights, or in drafting him in 2010 with a better salary than the 49ers are offering.

Frank Gore did something Sunday that only Hall of Famer Barry Sanders has done. That's some pretty good company.

Gore scored on running plays of 79 and 80 yards. Only Sanders has scored on TD runs of 75 yards or more in the same game in the history of the NFL. What made it even more special is that the 49ers needed those two plays for their 23-10 victory over the Seahawks.

Today, the 49ers were better than they were a week ago. They are 2-0, heading into next week's game against the Vikings.

"This league is about constant improvements," 49ers quarterback Shaun Hill said. "If we go out there next week and play like we did the first two games, it won't be good."

Running back Frank Gore scored on touchdown runs of 79 and 80 yards in the 49ers' 23-10 victory today over the Seattle Seahawks at Candlestick Park. He joined the select company of of Hall of Famer Barry Sanders, as the only other player in league history with two touchdown runs of at least 75 yards in the same game. Gore finished with 207 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries.

Consider this a "save the date" notice for Jerry Rice.

He better not have anything planned for Saturday, Feb. 6. Because that's the date he will be elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 

Rice, the all-time leading receiver, and the all-time leading rusher, Emmitt Smith, are among the 131 players, coaches and contributors who comprise the preliminary list of modern-era nominees for election into the Hall of Fame's class of 2010.

Michael Crabtree broke his silence last night. The unsigned 49ers draft pick made an appearance on national TV, seemingly suggesting to Lou Holtz that he is having difficulty with his agent.

On a segment called "Ask Dr. Lou," Crabtree asks of Lou Holtz: "Dr. Lou, what advice do you give players when dealing with an agent?"

Right tackle Adam Snyder assessed his Week 1 performance as follows: "I think I need to play better."

That's one point in which everybody is in agreement. Otherwise, he might not be the starting right tackle for long. The 49ers added veteran tackle Tony Pashos as a free agent prior to the start of the season.

The 49ers began their on-field preparations for their first GPS game (*-see below) of the season this morning with a brief walk-through. The main practice begins at 12:50 p.m., as the 49ers get ready to face the Seahawks on Sunday in a battle of NFC West unbeatens.

Coach Mike Singletary and some of the players were already available to the media to go over some of the issues . . .

The 49ers have certainly taken the high road in the contract impasse with receiver Michael Crabtree while holding firm to the belief that the organization is treating the No. 10 overall pick fairly.

And if the Crabtree and agent Eugene Parker believe the 49ers have acted out of line in their contract dealings with the unsigned draft pick, then team president Jed York said he would like to know about it.

The 49ers' pass rush and secondary were the main reasons the 49ers left Arizona on Sunday with a 20-16 season-opening victory.

It sure appears as if the 49ers are going with poll option No. 4 - "Move on without him. Lower contract offer, and try to trade rights after March 1, 2010."

Singletary: We got our tails kicked up front

Mike Singletary just concluded his first day-after game press conference to wrap up the team's 20-16 victory over the Cardinals.

Questions for the coach

Mike Singletary will meet with the media at 12:15 p.m. to discuss the happenings of the weekend, mostly notably the 49ers' 20-16 season-opening victory over the Cardinals.

Singletary sees plenty of beauty in victory

The 49ers managed just 203 yards of total offense and gained just 21 yards on 25 rushes. But that doesn't matter to coach Mike Singletary.

Game 1: 49ers at Cardinals

Welcome to the opening Sunday of the NFL regular season. I'll be multi-tasking from my perch in the press box here at University of Phoenix Stadium, where the 49ers meet the Arizona Cardinals.

Same personnel but a lot of mystery

There is one big reason I absolutely despise making predictions. I prefer not to blow my cover. I want readers to believe I actually know what I'm talking about.

From doghouse to team leader

Coach Mike Singletary announced six season-long captains for the 49ers, and they weren't necessarily slam-dunk appointments.

Singletary and game management

Mike Singletary had a Hall-of-Fame career as a linebacker. When he decided he wanted to get into coaching, of course, he worked on the defensive side of the ball. So what does this man know about game/clock management?

Raye's game plan

The 49ers entered the week with their entire offensive package installed. "Over, finished, done, none," offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye answered when asked if anything was going to be installed this week.

Sanders speaks for Crabtree

The 49ers dispute Deion Sanders' statement that two teams contacted the 49ers in an attempt to trade for receiver Michael Crabtree.