Niner News Thread
- Thread starter Chree
- Start date
sucks. management fouled sleeping on the kid. he could have been real nice to have, especially a different style runner athleticism. similar the way sproles spells LT. or felix spells barber.
hope they figure out a way to spark the offense during this bye week.
what if we brought TO back? could help elevate our passing game quite a bit.
hope they figure out a way to spark the offense during this bye week.
what if we brought TO back? could help elevate our passing game quite a bit.
That won't sit well with many Niner fans, but it would be fine with me. Owens is still a major threat in the passing game, but I think more importantly for our offense, he's one of the best blocking WRs in the league. He's (his mouth has) been fairly quiet the past couple seasons. I think he might have grown out of his bitchmade stage by now. Singletary would be able to keep his ass in line anyway, just look at Vernon Davis these days.
exactly. send them jason hill and some other bum wideout for TO. i didnt realize we had 7 until now, we shoulda had sheets from the start. could have let him grow within our system into a more complete back.
TO, Crabtree, Morgan, Vernon, Bruce, Walker could be quite a offense. some youth, some vets, deep ball guys, possession guys, and play making guys.
maybe their plan is the big off season transaction of brandon jones
for some reason if TO is traded, i could see the asshole patriots picking him up and scoring 60 a game
TO, Crabtree, Morgan, Vernon, Bruce, Walker could be quite a offense. some youth, some vets, deep ball guys, possession guys, and play making guys.
maybe their plan is the big off season transaction of brandon jones
for some reason if TO is traded, i could see the asshole patriots picking him up and scoring 60 a game
49ers Sign OL Mitchell To Practice Squad
The San Francisco 49ers announced Tuesday that they have signed OL Khalif Mitchell to the practice squad.
Mitchell (6-5, 318) returns to the 49ers practice squad after being released by the 49ers on September 8. He was originally signed by the Niners as an undrafted free agent in April 2009.
Mitchell, a 24-year-old native of Virginia Beach, VA, played collegiately at East Carolina.
The San Francisco 49ers announced Tuesday that they have signed OL Khalif Mitchell to the practice squad.
Mitchell (6-5, 318) returns to the 49ers practice squad after being released by the 49ers on September 8. He was originally signed by the Niners as an undrafted free agent in April 2009.
Mitchell, a 24-year-old native of Virginia Beach, VA, played collegiately at East Carolina.
Seven-year pro Battle may be moving from WR to punt returner
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091013/sports/910139918
SANTA CLARA — While one door is closing for wide receiver Arnaz Battle, another opened with the 49ers' decision to release return specialist Allen Rossum.
Battle has been the 49ers' No. 3 receiver. But that role is likely to change with the addition of rookie Michael Crabtree, the No. 10 overall pick in the draft.
And that isn't the only additional obstacle for Battle. Crabtree's arrival comes at a time when high-priced free-agent pickup Brandon Jones rounds into shape after missing extended time with a broken shoulder blade.
Sure, it's been a frustrating time for Battle, but he has maintained his smile and a good sense of humor.
The 49ers under offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye are throwing fewer passes to their wideouts than any team in the league. Battle, Isaac Bruce and Josh Morgan are the only 49ers wide receivers who have caught passes in the first five games.
Yet, the 49ers have seven receivers on their 53-man roster.
“Yeah, seven,” Battle said, laughing. “Last year we had five (receivers) and that was with (Mike) Martz, and we threw the ball a lot. So it's backwards. It's frustrating, but what can you do?”
Battle, a seventh-year pro in the final year of his contract with the 49ers, was the team's primary punt returner in 2004. He averaged a solid 8.6 yards on 31 returns with a touchdown.
But he returned only 12 punts over the next four seasons. Now, Battle appears to have regained his role from five years ago. Understandably, he looked out of practice two weeks ago when he muffed two punts against the St. Louis Rams at Candlestick Park.
“You just have to get back in the comfort zone of doing it in the games,” Battle said. “In that first game, I struggled with the wind a little bit and adjusting to the ball. But it'll come around. I'll be ready to go.”
Battle said he is ready for just about anything, including the NFL trade deadline on Oct. 20. Already this week, the 49ers have released Rossum, activated Crabtree and allowed practice-squad running back Kory Sheets to sign with the Miami Dolphins.
“You never know what's going to happen,” Battle said. “Any time a player is on the field, he knows it's on tape and he wants to put positive things out there. If it's a trade or playing my contract out and having an opportunity to reach free agency, when I have an opportunity to get on the field, I want it to be positive.”
Sheets will get his opportunity with another organization. When Frank Gore was lost for at least two games with an ankle injury, coach Mike Singletary cited Sheets' faulty blitz pickup as the reason he was not activated for a spot on the 49ers' 53-man roster.
The Dolphins signed Sheets after running back Patrick Cobbs was lost to a season-ending knee injury Monday night. Sheets exchanged handshakes and hugs in the 49ers' locker room upon learning he was moving to Miami.
“I like it here,” Sheets said. “The players were cool, the coaches were cool and I put in the work here but unfortunately it's one of those things. It's how the business goes.”
Sheets, an undrafted rookie from Purdue, rushed for 177 yards on 39 carries (4.5 average) and three touchdowns in the exhibition season.
GORE MENTORS CRABTREE
Gore will remain in the Bay Area to continue to receive treatment on his right ankle. Gore has missed two games with the injury, but said he expects to play Oct. 25 when the 49ers return to action against the Houston Texans after the bye week.
Gore said he will offer as much help as possible over the weekend to Crabtree, who will continue to study the offense. Gore was seen speaking with Crabtree on the sideline Sunday when they were inactive for the 49ers' game against the Atlanta Falcons.
“He asked me about playing in the NFL,” Gore said. “I told him it's tough when you don't know what you're doing. But when you know the offense, and you know what you're doing, it's just football again. If you don't know what you're doing, it seems real fast.”
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091013/sports/910139918
SANTA CLARA — While one door is closing for wide receiver Arnaz Battle, another opened with the 49ers' decision to release return specialist Allen Rossum.
Battle has been the 49ers' No. 3 receiver. But that role is likely to change with the addition of rookie Michael Crabtree, the No. 10 overall pick in the draft.
And that isn't the only additional obstacle for Battle. Crabtree's arrival comes at a time when high-priced free-agent pickup Brandon Jones rounds into shape after missing extended time with a broken shoulder blade.
Sure, it's been a frustrating time for Battle, but he has maintained his smile and a good sense of humor.
The 49ers under offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye are throwing fewer passes to their wideouts than any team in the league. Battle, Isaac Bruce and Josh Morgan are the only 49ers wide receivers who have caught passes in the first five games.
Yet, the 49ers have seven receivers on their 53-man roster.
“Yeah, seven,” Battle said, laughing. “Last year we had five (receivers) and that was with (Mike) Martz, and we threw the ball a lot. So it's backwards. It's frustrating, but what can you do?”
Battle, a seventh-year pro in the final year of his contract with the 49ers, was the team's primary punt returner in 2004. He averaged a solid 8.6 yards on 31 returns with a touchdown.
But he returned only 12 punts over the next four seasons. Now, Battle appears to have regained his role from five years ago. Understandably, he looked out of practice two weeks ago when he muffed two punts against the St. Louis Rams at Candlestick Park.
“You just have to get back in the comfort zone of doing it in the games,” Battle said. “In that first game, I struggled with the wind a little bit and adjusting to the ball. But it'll come around. I'll be ready to go.”
Battle said he is ready for just about anything, including the NFL trade deadline on Oct. 20. Already this week, the 49ers have released Rossum, activated Crabtree and allowed practice-squad running back Kory Sheets to sign with the Miami Dolphins.
“You never know what's going to happen,” Battle said. “Any time a player is on the field, he knows it's on tape and he wants to put positive things out there. If it's a trade or playing my contract out and having an opportunity to reach free agency, when I have an opportunity to get on the field, I want it to be positive.”
Sheets will get his opportunity with another organization. When Frank Gore was lost for at least two games with an ankle injury, coach Mike Singletary cited Sheets' faulty blitz pickup as the reason he was not activated for a spot on the 49ers' 53-man roster.
The Dolphins signed Sheets after running back Patrick Cobbs was lost to a season-ending knee injury Monday night. Sheets exchanged handshakes and hugs in the 49ers' locker room upon learning he was moving to Miami.
“I like it here,” Sheets said. “The players were cool, the coaches were cool and I put in the work here but unfortunately it's one of those things. It's how the business goes.”
Sheets, an undrafted rookie from Purdue, rushed for 177 yards on 39 carries (4.5 average) and three touchdowns in the exhibition season.
GORE MENTORS CRABTREE
Gore will remain in the Bay Area to continue to receive treatment on his right ankle. Gore has missed two games with the injury, but said he expects to play Oct. 25 when the 49ers return to action against the Houston Texans after the bye week.
Gore said he will offer as much help as possible over the weekend to Crabtree, who will continue to study the offense. Gore was seen speaking with Crabtree on the sideline Sunday when they were inactive for the 49ers' game against the Atlanta Falcons.
“He asked me about playing in the NFL,” Gore said. “I told him it's tough when you don't know what you're doing. But when you know the offense, and you know what you're doing, it's just football again. If you don't know what you're doing, it seems real fast.”
49ers hope to see Gore, Crabtree on field
http://www.mercurynews.com/49ersheadlines/49ers/ci_13555040?nclick_check=1
While most 49ers will get away during their bye week, running back Frank Gore plans on a stay-cation at the team's facility. He won't be alone: He has wide receiver Michael Crabtree to break in.
"Me and Crabtree are going to get it done," Gore said Tuesday.
The 49ers hope to have Gore (ankle) and the newly signed Crabtree back when their season resumes Oct. 25 at Houston. That's good, because the 49ers could use the help — from Gore, from Crabtree, from anywhere.
They rank 29th in the league in total yards, 31st in first downs per game and 27th in third-down efficiency. The offense was so horrid Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons that coach Mike Singletary indicated changes are in store along the offensive line. Right guard Chilo Rachal, for example, could be out of a starting job after back-to-back poor games.
The 49ers clearly need more firepower if they are to have any chance of keeping up with the league's elite. Teams with a 300-yard passer this season are a combined 23-8 (.742). Those 23 wins by a 300-yard passer are the most in NFL history through the first five weeks.
The 49ers, in contrast, haven't so much as topped 200 passing yards since the season opener (209 against Arizona).
Gore insisted Tuesday that everything will be fine, even along the offensive line. He returned to practice on a limited basis and said the ankle and foot injuries he sustained at Minnesota on Sept. 27 are just about healed.
Gore has rushed for 1,000 yards for three consecutive seasons. He said he retains faith in his blockers.
"I feel that they'll be fine," Gore said. "We just need to clean up the small things and just play together. I like that (Singletary) is challenging these guys. We just need to get the M.E.s — the mental errors — out of the way."
# Kory Sheets will get his chance, but it won't be in a 49ers uniform. The Miami Dolphins signed him off the 49ers' practice squad as a replacement for running back Patrick Cobbs, who is out for the season because of a knee injury.
An undrafted rookie from Purdue, Sheets packed his bags with mixed emotions. He was eager for his opportunity in the NFL but wished it could have been in San Francisco.
"I've been with these guys all training camp, and we went through the grind together," Sheets said. "I've bonded with these guys. But this is just part of the business."
Sheets ranks behind only Mike Alstott in Purdue history with 3,341 rushing yards.
He had 39 carries for 177 yards (4.5 per carry) and three touchdowns during the preseason. The 49ers liked his running style but considered his other skills, such as pass protection, too raw. Sheets did not get promoted even with Gore out because of an ankle injury. The other backs on the roster are Glen Coffee, Moran Norris and Michael Robinson.
# Because of heavy rain, the 49ers conducted their morning walkthrough Tuesday at the Marriott hotel and spent their afternoon practice at Off The Wall Soccer, an indoor facility in Santa Clara.
Some of the players actually were bummed out that they didn't get to go play in the rain.
"I would love to go play in this," tight end Vernon Davis said. "There might be a game down the line where we have to play in this type of situation. "... But whether we're inside or out, wherever we are we're going to get better."
# The 49ers re-signed Khalif Mitchell to the practice squad. Mitchell (6-foot-5, 318) has defensive-tackle experience, but the 49ers will work him on the offensive line.
# Isaac Sopoaga, a native of American Samoa, is teaming with countryman Joe Salave'a to raise money for tsunami victims back home.
Salave'a, the defensive-line coach at San Jose State, said three of his aunts and a cousin died when the tsunami struck the village of Leone.
"Guys like me and Isaac, we are just trying to do our part, whatever that may be," Salave'a told 49ers.com.
http://www.mercurynews.com/49ersheadlines/49ers/ci_13555040?nclick_check=1
While most 49ers will get away during their bye week, running back Frank Gore plans on a stay-cation at the team's facility. He won't be alone: He has wide receiver Michael Crabtree to break in.
"Me and Crabtree are going to get it done," Gore said Tuesday.
The 49ers hope to have Gore (ankle) and the newly signed Crabtree back when their season resumes Oct. 25 at Houston. That's good, because the 49ers could use the help — from Gore, from Crabtree, from anywhere.
They rank 29th in the league in total yards, 31st in first downs per game and 27th in third-down efficiency. The offense was so horrid Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons that coach Mike Singletary indicated changes are in store along the offensive line. Right guard Chilo Rachal, for example, could be out of a starting job after back-to-back poor games.
The 49ers clearly need more firepower if they are to have any chance of keeping up with the league's elite. Teams with a 300-yard passer this season are a combined 23-8 (.742). Those 23 wins by a 300-yard passer are the most in NFL history through the first five weeks.
The 49ers, in contrast, haven't so much as topped 200 passing yards since the season opener (209 against Arizona).
Gore insisted Tuesday that everything will be fine, even along the offensive line. He returned to practice on a limited basis and said the ankle and foot injuries he sustained at Minnesota on Sept. 27 are just about healed.
Gore has rushed for 1,000 yards for three consecutive seasons. He said he retains faith in his blockers.
"I feel that they'll be fine," Gore said. "We just need to clean up the small things and just play together. I like that (Singletary) is challenging these guys. We just need to get the M.E.s — the mental errors — out of the way."
# Kory Sheets will get his chance, but it won't be in a 49ers uniform. The Miami Dolphins signed him off the 49ers' practice squad as a replacement for running back Patrick Cobbs, who is out for the season because of a knee injury.
An undrafted rookie from Purdue, Sheets packed his bags with mixed emotions. He was eager for his opportunity in the NFL but wished it could have been in San Francisco.
"I've been with these guys all training camp, and we went through the grind together," Sheets said. "I've bonded with these guys. But this is just part of the business."
Sheets ranks behind only Mike Alstott in Purdue history with 3,341 rushing yards.
He had 39 carries for 177 yards (4.5 per carry) and three touchdowns during the preseason. The 49ers liked his running style but considered his other skills, such as pass protection, too raw. Sheets did not get promoted even with Gore out because of an ankle injury. The other backs on the roster are Glen Coffee, Moran Norris and Michael Robinson.
# Because of heavy rain, the 49ers conducted their morning walkthrough Tuesday at the Marriott hotel and spent their afternoon practice at Off The Wall Soccer, an indoor facility in Santa Clara.
Some of the players actually were bummed out that they didn't get to go play in the rain.
"I would love to go play in this," tight end Vernon Davis said. "There might be a game down the line where we have to play in this type of situation. "... But whether we're inside or out, wherever we are we're going to get better."
# The 49ers re-signed Khalif Mitchell to the practice squad. Mitchell (6-foot-5, 318) has defensive-tackle experience, but the 49ers will work him on the offensive line.
# Isaac Sopoaga, a native of American Samoa, is teaming with countryman Joe Salave'a to raise money for tsunami victims back home.
Salave'a, the defensive-line coach at San Jose State, said three of his aunts and a cousin died when the tsunami struck the village of Leone.
"Guys like me and Isaac, we are just trying to do our part, whatever that may be," Salave'a told 49ers.com.
