Niner News Thread
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S Taylor Place on IR; FB Miller Promoted from Practice Squad
http://www.49ers.com/news-and-event...ce-Squad/fae0550c-31ae-48dc-8074-3ccbd22fb0ef
The San Francisco 49ers today announced they have placed S Curtis Taylor on the Injured Reserve List. In addition, the team has promoted FB Brit Miller from the practice squad.
Taylor, a 7th-round draft pick from LSU, has been place on injured reserve after suffering a hip strain vs. Jacksonville (11/29). Taylor had played in 7 games and registered 1 tackle and 8 special teams stops.
Miller (6-0, 243) was claimed off waivers from the Carolina Panthers on July 7, 2009, and spent training camp with San Francisco. He was signed to the 49ers practice squad on September 6, and has been with the team all season.
Miller, a 23-year-old native of Decatur, IL, played collegiately at Illinois.
In addition, the 49ers have signed WR Rodney Wright to the practice squad. Wright (5-9, 181) was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the seventh round (250th overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft and spent two seasons on the Bills practice squad. Wright then played for the San Jose SaberCats of the AFL from 2005-2008. Wright signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in April 2009 and was signed to their practice squad following the final cut down. He was released by the Chiefs on September 16.
Wright, a 30-year-old native of Bakersfield, CA, played collegiately at Fresno State.
http://www.49ers.com/news-and-event...ce-Squad/fae0550c-31ae-48dc-8074-3ccbd22fb0ef
The San Francisco 49ers today announced they have placed S Curtis Taylor on the Injured Reserve List. In addition, the team has promoted FB Brit Miller from the practice squad.
Taylor, a 7th-round draft pick from LSU, has been place on injured reserve after suffering a hip strain vs. Jacksonville (11/29). Taylor had played in 7 games and registered 1 tackle and 8 special teams stops.
Miller (6-0, 243) was claimed off waivers from the Carolina Panthers on July 7, 2009, and spent training camp with San Francisco. He was signed to the 49ers practice squad on September 6, and has been with the team all season.
Miller, a 23-year-old native of Decatur, IL, played collegiately at Illinois.
In addition, the 49ers have signed WR Rodney Wright to the practice squad. Wright (5-9, 181) was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the seventh round (250th overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft and spent two seasons on the Bills practice squad. Wright then played for the San Jose SaberCats of the AFL from 2005-2008. Wright signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in April 2009 and was signed to their practice squad following the final cut down. He was released by the Chiefs on September 16.
Wright, a 30-year-old native of Bakersfield, CA, played collegiately at Fresno State.
49ers hire Dwight Clark as business consultant; Willis leads Pro Bowl voting
http://blogs.mercurynews.com/49ers/..._campaign=Feed:+49ersHotRead+(49ers+Hot+Read)
Dwight Clark is back where he began.
The 49ers announced today that the man who came down with “The Catch” will serve as a business operations consultant for the club.
Clark will focus on special projects relating to corporate hospitality, community investment, premium seating and the new stadium sales effort, according to the 49ers.
“I am extremely excited and grateful to the 49ers organization for giving me the opportunity to once again be a part of the 49ers family,” Clark said in a statement released by the team. “The franchise is most definitely pointed in the right direction. I look forward to every contribution I can make on the business side.”
Clark played for the 49ers from 1979-87, twice making the Pro Bowl. His 6,750 receiving yards rank third in team history.
Of course, his most famous grab was a 6-yard scoring pass from Joe Montana to beat the Cowboys 28-27 in the NFC title game after the 1981 season.
Clark was the team’s general manager in 1998 and later served in the same role for the Cleveland Browns from 1998-2002.
Andy Dolich, the team’s operating officer said in a statement:
“The impact he has already made in regards to the history of the 49ers has been remarkable and we are confident he will bring the same effect to our business operations as well.”
# # #
Patrick Willis is the top vote-getter among NFC linebackers according to a Pro Bowl update released by the NFL today.
Willis has 182,196 votes. Drew Brees leads all NFC players with 848,624 votes.
Voting continues at NFL.com/probowl and on web-enabled mobile photes through Dec. 21.
Willis, now in his third season, is already the first 49ers player to make a Pro Bwl in each of his first two seasons since Ronnie Lott entered the league with four straight appearances starting in 1981.
http://blogs.mercurynews.com/49ers/..._campaign=Feed:+49ersHotRead+(49ers+Hot+Read)
Dwight Clark is back where he began.
The 49ers announced today that the man who came down with “The Catch” will serve as a business operations consultant for the club.
Clark will focus on special projects relating to corporate hospitality, community investment, premium seating and the new stadium sales effort, according to the 49ers.
“I am extremely excited and grateful to the 49ers organization for giving me the opportunity to once again be a part of the 49ers family,” Clark said in a statement released by the team. “The franchise is most definitely pointed in the right direction. I look forward to every contribution I can make on the business side.”
Clark played for the 49ers from 1979-87, twice making the Pro Bowl. His 6,750 receiving yards rank third in team history.
Of course, his most famous grab was a 6-yard scoring pass from Joe Montana to beat the Cowboys 28-27 in the NFC title game after the 1981 season.
Clark was the team’s general manager in 1998 and later served in the same role for the Cleveland Browns from 1998-2002.
Andy Dolich, the team’s operating officer said in a statement:
“The impact he has already made in regards to the history of the 49ers has been remarkable and we are confident he will bring the same effect to our business operations as well.”
# # #
Patrick Willis is the top vote-getter among NFC linebackers according to a Pro Bowl update released by the NFL today.
Willis has 182,196 votes. Drew Brees leads all NFC players with 848,624 votes.
Voting continues at NFL.com/probowl and on web-enabled mobile photes through Dec. 21.
Willis, now in his third season, is already the first 49ers player to make a Pro Bwl in each of his first two seasons since Ronnie Lott entered the league with four straight appearances starting in 1981.
IDK if this has been posted but here it is!
49ers icons Jerry Rice, Roger Craig among HOF semifinalists
http://blogs.mercurynews.com/49ers/..._campaign=Feed:+49ersHotRead+(49ers+Hot+Read)
Jerry Rice and Roger Craig, two key pieces from the 49ers’ dynasty, are among the 25 semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame’s selection committee announced its list today. The group will be whittled to a list to the Class of 2010 enshrinees announced Feb. 6, a day before Super Bowl XLIV.
Rice is a lock as the all-time leader in receiving yards, catches and touchdowns.
Craig is a trickier debate. He was a four-time Pro Bowler and a 1988 first-team All-Pro. In 1985, he became the first player ever to amass 1,000 rushing and receiving yards in the same season. He was also the first – and to this date, only – running back to lead the league in receptions.
Craig had three touchdowns – one on the ground, two in the air – in Super Bowl XIX. He had 74 rushing yards and 101 receiving yards in Super Bowl XXIII.
Here are the other Hall of Fame semifinalists with 49ers ties:
(Years in San Francisco in parentheses)
– Richard Dent, DE — (1994)
– Chris Doleman, DE/LB – (1996-98)
– Kevin Greene, LB/DE – (1997)
– Charles Haley (1986-1991, 1999)
– Rickey Jackson (1994-95)
For a full list of semifinalists, click here. Meanwhile, here is the explanation of the voting process, straight from the Hall of Fame:
# # #
The list of 25 semifinalists will be reduced by mail ballot to 15 modern-era candidates. That list increases to 17 finalist nominees with the inclusion of the two recommended candidates of the Hall of Fame’s Seniors Committee. The Seniors Committee nominees, who were announced in August, are Dick LeBeau and Floyd Little. LeBeau played 14 seasons (1959-1972) at cornerback for the Detroit Lions. Little, a running back played nine seasons (1967-1975) for the Denver Broncos.
The results of the modern-era reduction vote to 15 finalists will be announced on January 7, 2010.
To be considered for election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, a nominated player or coach must have been retired at least five years. A contributor, who is a nominee who has made outstanding contributions to pro football in capacities other than playing and coaching, may still be active in his pro football career.
Although there is no set number for any class of enshrinees, the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s current ground rules do stipulate that between four and seven new members will be selected each year. No more than five modern-era nominees can be elected in a given year and a class of six or seven enshrinees can only be achieved if one or both senior nominees are elected.
The Class of 2010 will be determined at the Selection Committee’s annual meeting on Saturday, February 6, in South Florida the day before Super Bowl XLIV. The election results will be announced at 5 p.m. ET during a one-hour NFL Network special, live from the Super Bowl media headquarters.
For the first time, the Pro Football Hall of Fame has teamed up with Van Heusen to ask fans to voice their choice for whom they think should be included into the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2010. The Van Heusen Fan’s Choice campaign which launched in September, mirrors the Hall of Fame’s selection process and will name the first-ever Fan’s Choice Class live on the NFL Network just prior to the official announcement from the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
After the first cut-down and more than 220,000 votes, the Van Heusen Fan’s Choice Top 25 list includes 14 candidates who also appear on the official Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee list including: Cliff Branch, Tim Brown, Cris Carter, Richard Dent, Kevin Greene, Ray Guy, Charles Haley, Lester Hayes, John Randle, Andre Reed, Jerry Rice, Shannon Sharpe, Emmitt Smith, and Steve Tasker.
Others making the Van Heusen Fan’s Choice Top 25 list who didn’t make the official Hall of Fame Selection Committee list include an athletic trainer, Otho Davis; a game official, Jim Tunney; a coach, Tom Flores; as well as former players Steve Atwater, Todd Christensen, Randall Cunningham, Ed “Too Tall” Jones, Jim Plunkett, Sterling Sharpe, Phil Simms, and Joe Theismann.
Fans are encouraged to visit www.fanschoice.com daily to vote for their favorites before the next Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee reduction vote to 15 modern-era finalists that will take place in January.
49ers icons Jerry Rice, Roger Craig among HOF semifinalists
http://blogs.mercurynews.com/49ers/..._campaign=Feed:+49ersHotRead+(49ers+Hot+Read)
Jerry Rice and Roger Craig, two key pieces from the 49ers’ dynasty, are among the 25 semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame’s selection committee announced its list today. The group will be whittled to a list to the Class of 2010 enshrinees announced Feb. 6, a day before Super Bowl XLIV.
Rice is a lock as the all-time leader in receiving yards, catches and touchdowns.
Craig is a trickier debate. He was a four-time Pro Bowler and a 1988 first-team All-Pro. In 1985, he became the first player ever to amass 1,000 rushing and receiving yards in the same season. He was also the first – and to this date, only – running back to lead the league in receptions.
Craig had three touchdowns – one on the ground, two in the air – in Super Bowl XIX. He had 74 rushing yards and 101 receiving yards in Super Bowl XXIII.
Here are the other Hall of Fame semifinalists with 49ers ties:
(Years in San Francisco in parentheses)
– Richard Dent, DE — (1994)
– Chris Doleman, DE/LB – (1996-98)
– Kevin Greene, LB/DE – (1997)
– Charles Haley (1986-1991, 1999)
– Rickey Jackson (1994-95)
For a full list of semifinalists, click here. Meanwhile, here is the explanation of the voting process, straight from the Hall of Fame:
# # #
The list of 25 semifinalists will be reduced by mail ballot to 15 modern-era candidates. That list increases to 17 finalist nominees with the inclusion of the two recommended candidates of the Hall of Fame’s Seniors Committee. The Seniors Committee nominees, who were announced in August, are Dick LeBeau and Floyd Little. LeBeau played 14 seasons (1959-1972) at cornerback for the Detroit Lions. Little, a running back played nine seasons (1967-1975) for the Denver Broncos.
The results of the modern-era reduction vote to 15 finalists will be announced on January 7, 2010.
To be considered for election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, a nominated player or coach must have been retired at least five years. A contributor, who is a nominee who has made outstanding contributions to pro football in capacities other than playing and coaching, may still be active in his pro football career.
Although there is no set number for any class of enshrinees, the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s current ground rules do stipulate that between four and seven new members will be selected each year. No more than five modern-era nominees can be elected in a given year and a class of six or seven enshrinees can only be achieved if one or both senior nominees are elected.
The Class of 2010 will be determined at the Selection Committee’s annual meeting on Saturday, February 6, in South Florida the day before Super Bowl XLIV. The election results will be announced at 5 p.m. ET during a one-hour NFL Network special, live from the Super Bowl media headquarters.
For the first time, the Pro Football Hall of Fame has teamed up with Van Heusen to ask fans to voice their choice for whom they think should be included into the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2010. The Van Heusen Fan’s Choice campaign which launched in September, mirrors the Hall of Fame’s selection process and will name the first-ever Fan’s Choice Class live on the NFL Network just prior to the official announcement from the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
After the first cut-down and more than 220,000 votes, the Van Heusen Fan’s Choice Top 25 list includes 14 candidates who also appear on the official Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee list including: Cliff Branch, Tim Brown, Cris Carter, Richard Dent, Kevin Greene, Ray Guy, Charles Haley, Lester Hayes, John Randle, Andre Reed, Jerry Rice, Shannon Sharpe, Emmitt Smith, and Steve Tasker.
Others making the Van Heusen Fan’s Choice Top 25 list who didn’t make the official Hall of Fame Selection Committee list include an athletic trainer, Otho Davis; a game official, Jim Tunney; a coach, Tom Flores; as well as former players Steve Atwater, Todd Christensen, Randall Cunningham, Ed “Too Tall” Jones, Jim Plunkett, Sterling Sharpe, Phil Simms, and Joe Theismann.
Fans are encouraged to visit www.fanschoice.com daily to vote for their favorites before the next Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee reduction vote to 15 modern-era finalists that will take place in January.
Singletary's Notebook: Dec. 2
http://www.49ers.com/news-and-event...ok-Dec-2/56869374-2f94-471b-bc68-84bdf1acb764
Opening statements:
“Good morning. Just a couple of the injuries: [LB Parys] Haralson, thumb contusion; [DT Kentwan] Balmer, shoulder sprain; [WR Josh] Morgan, hip contusion; [WR Arnaz] Battle, leg strain; [RB Michael] Robinson, stinger; [WR Isaac] Bruce, ankle. We’re getting excited about this week. We’ve got to have another great week of preparation to get ready to go up to Seattle and try and win a football game against a very good football team.”
On whether FB Brit Miller’s call-up is an indication that Robinson and Battle are iffy to play:
“No, I just think with Curtis [Taylor] having his injury and going down, we just thought it would be a good move to bring him up. Brit has been working his tail off. We have an award for the special teams player of the week, whether it’s offense, defense or special teams. And, he’s the guy who has won them all. You could name him every week. So, I just think he’s a guy who could really help us on special teams going forward.”
On whether the noise of Qwest Field will impact the difficult of calling the snap in the shotgun:
“No, I don’t think so. But, you can still run the spread and get him under center, however it works out. But, as far as the noise is concerned, that’s just something that we have to continue to work on. Everybody that goes in there has to do the same thing. Thankfully, this isn’t the first game that we’ve been in a situation like that. We just have to do a good job of managing it this week.”
On how he can improve his team’s tackling:
“It’s just something that’s an ongoing thing. We just have to get enough guys to the ball. Guys on the back end have to understand that we have to tackle. We just have to tackle. It’s not that you’ve got a guy – I think I said before – like [S Dashon] Goldson. It’s not a matter of him not wanting to tackle. It’s a good problem. He wants to come up and knock everybody out, but he has to come up and settle down and tackle a guy. Going forward, it’s just something that throughout the rest of the year, we just have to continue to focus on.”
On whether the team still practices with pads:
“No.”
On when that ended:
“A couple of weeks ago.”
On whether that was because at this point in the season it’s unnecessary:
“Negotiating with a couple of players. That’s all that was.”
On whether not practicing with pads has anything to do with the tackling issues:
“No. No, not at all.”
On whether the players approached him or he approached the players:
“Both. I think one of the most important things in anything you do is relationships and communicating. I’m constantly looking for any type of hindrances or anything that can keep us from getting where we need to go, anything that might come up trying to head them off. I’m all about being proactive. I don’t want to ever hear, ‘Well, coach, at that particular time, this was happening. You just didn’t know it.’ I don’t want to hear that. I want to make sure that I’m asking, and, at the same time, I’m inviting them to talk to me, not that I’m going to agree with everything, not that I’m going to concede to everything. It’s just a matter of, if that makes sense, then let’s look at it. If not, then we won’t do it.”
On how he hears from players’ grumbling and how he adjusts to make sure that everyone’s voice is heard:
“I think, first of all, I’m always around the players. I’m always talking to the players. I think, when you have captains on the team, when you have leaders on the team, I talk to everybody, whether they’re practice squad guys or not. Like I said, it really is all about seeing. Just opening your eyes and opening your ears and trying to see things and really reading body language. That’s a huge thing. I just try to be proactive that way.”
On whether cutting back on the padded practices was a discussion about wear and tear on the players’ bodies:
“Yes. I think when guys come out here and they have the pads on, it’s more of a psychological thing than anything else. The pads, how much do they weigh? They weigh a couple of pounds, but the fact that you have them on brings on the fact that you might hit. So, if the guy has sore shoulders, it’s just a matter of when you don’t have those things, you have the shells on, you just feel a lot better mentally. So, it’s more psychological than anything else.”
On whether any of the running backs have approached him about their concern of having lesser role in a spread offense:
“Absolutely. I think any great player, any great player that I’ve been around, whether it’s Walter Payton, whether it’s a great receiver, Jerry Rice – whoever it might be. When they’re not getting the ball, they feel like they’re not contributing. They feel like they’re not a part of it. I’ve talked to all of our guys and had them understand that we need to understand that, going forward, everybody will have their part in the success. Everybody will have their part. It’s really important that we’re for one another. It’s really important that we might as well, if we really want to win, If we really want to do this right, we need to be happy about the other guy. When somebody else has the ball, instead of me being upset about me not having the ball, go find a block and help free him up. So, whatever the situation, it’s just important that at this particular time of year, not everybody is going to be happy. Once again, we talk about a family. I don’t know one family anywhere in America or in the world for that matter where everybody is happy. I just think that it’s all about being a team player. It’s all about doing your best when you have the opportunity. But, I think everybody needs to know that the common denominator must be to win. It must be that. If it’s not that, than we’re thinking the wrong thing. We’re going in the wrong direction. I think everybody understands that, but it doesn’t take away the fact that I don’t feel totally great if I don’t feel like I’m making a contribution.”
On whether RB Frank Gore has expressed with concerned:
“I’ve met with all of our guys. I’ve met with all of our offensive guys, just had some open dialogue about it going forward. Everybody is on the same page, including Frank, and I understand full-well when that happens. It’s like when I was playing. If I didn’t get 10 tackles, I’m sitting there and I’m thinking, ‘Daggumit. Man.’ Somebody else got two or three picks, another linebacker, thinking, ‘I’m glad we won, but I’ve got to do a better job. How do I get another pick?’ He’s excited about it. I want to be excited about it. I can be excited about it for him, but at some point in time, I’m going to think about, ‘Wow, I need to do a better job to contribute more.’ So, to me, that’s what that is.”
On whether Gore is more concerned with winning or his statistics:
“Frank is a team guy. But, it’s like anything else. I don’t know if you’ve ever been in a situation where it may be a family member, it may be a team member and somebody else does something great. You want to be happy for them, but it’s a natural thing. You can’t take away from the fact that you want to do well too. You want to make sure that you’re doing everything that you can to make sure that you’re a part of that. I don’t think it’s any more than that, but to ask someone not to be natural, to ask someone not to be human, I just think it’s just a matter of everybody understanding where we’re striving to go. It has to be family. It has to be team, knowing that not everybody is going to happy all of the time.”
On whether the competition from wanting to do more is helping or hindering the offense:
“No, I think there’s nothing like competition. You want a situation where guys are saying, ‘Man, I’ve got to do more. I want the ball.’ If I’ve got receivers that don’t want the ball, then something is wrong. If I’ve got a running back who doesn’t want the ball, then something’s wrong. But, I think there’s a limit to it. There’s a point to being competitive and wanting to contribute and being selfish. There’s a thin line there somewhere, and everybody has to find that for themselves. But, I just think it’s important that we all understand that in order for us to get where we need to go, everybody has to be on board. I do know that, and I think they understand that. Frank is not going to lose his mind if he doesn’t get 100 yards because I think, at the end of the day, it’s all about winning. He may be upset at the moment, but I know he’s going to come back the next day and say, ‘Hey, you know what? I’m glad we won. I know I did contribute.’ The thing I want them to understand is, if you’re a running back and you’ve got wide outs that are making plays, that makes it easier. That makes your job easier. If you’re a wide out or you’re a quarterback, that makes your job easier. Everybody needs to understand that I don’t care about that game. If you didn’t shine that game, you’re number is going to be called, but just understand that everybody makes everybody else’s job better. So, to me, that’s really the bottom line that they understand that.”
On whether Hasselbeck looks different on film since the last they faced him:
“No, he is still throwing the ball on the money. He is still doing a good job throwing the ball. The timing has been great. Hasselbeck is Hasselbeck. He sits back there and if he has time, he is going to get the ball out and he is going to hurt you. I don’t see anything different.”
On whether the offense will change week-to-week based on the opponent:
“Obviously, I would like to see more carry-over. But, where we are right now, I think the most important thing is you want to go into every game just like every other offense. You are going to go into the game thinking that you want to be balanced. You have a game plan, but if you are running the ball better, then maybe you are going to run 60-40; if you are throwing the ball better, maybe you are going to throw 60-40. I think you have a tendency, coordinators, they can’t help it. You don’t want to outsmart yourself. If your team is doing something well against that particular defense, then you want to try to do it.”
http://www.49ers.com/news-and-event...ok-Dec-2/56869374-2f94-471b-bc68-84bdf1acb764
Opening statements:
“Good morning. Just a couple of the injuries: [LB Parys] Haralson, thumb contusion; [DT Kentwan] Balmer, shoulder sprain; [WR Josh] Morgan, hip contusion; [WR Arnaz] Battle, leg strain; [RB Michael] Robinson, stinger; [WR Isaac] Bruce, ankle. We’re getting excited about this week. We’ve got to have another great week of preparation to get ready to go up to Seattle and try and win a football game against a very good football team.”
On whether FB Brit Miller’s call-up is an indication that Robinson and Battle are iffy to play:
“No, I just think with Curtis [Taylor] having his injury and going down, we just thought it would be a good move to bring him up. Brit has been working his tail off. We have an award for the special teams player of the week, whether it’s offense, defense or special teams. And, he’s the guy who has won them all. You could name him every week. So, I just think he’s a guy who could really help us on special teams going forward.”
On whether the noise of Qwest Field will impact the difficult of calling the snap in the shotgun:
“No, I don’t think so. But, you can still run the spread and get him under center, however it works out. But, as far as the noise is concerned, that’s just something that we have to continue to work on. Everybody that goes in there has to do the same thing. Thankfully, this isn’t the first game that we’ve been in a situation like that. We just have to do a good job of managing it this week.”
On how he can improve his team’s tackling:
“It’s just something that’s an ongoing thing. We just have to get enough guys to the ball. Guys on the back end have to understand that we have to tackle. We just have to tackle. It’s not that you’ve got a guy – I think I said before – like [S Dashon] Goldson. It’s not a matter of him not wanting to tackle. It’s a good problem. He wants to come up and knock everybody out, but he has to come up and settle down and tackle a guy. Going forward, it’s just something that throughout the rest of the year, we just have to continue to focus on.”
On whether the team still practices with pads:
“No.”
On when that ended:
“A couple of weeks ago.”
On whether that was because at this point in the season it’s unnecessary:
“Negotiating with a couple of players. That’s all that was.”
On whether not practicing with pads has anything to do with the tackling issues:
“No. No, not at all.”
On whether the players approached him or he approached the players:
“Both. I think one of the most important things in anything you do is relationships and communicating. I’m constantly looking for any type of hindrances or anything that can keep us from getting where we need to go, anything that might come up trying to head them off. I’m all about being proactive. I don’t want to ever hear, ‘Well, coach, at that particular time, this was happening. You just didn’t know it.’ I don’t want to hear that. I want to make sure that I’m asking, and, at the same time, I’m inviting them to talk to me, not that I’m going to agree with everything, not that I’m going to concede to everything. It’s just a matter of, if that makes sense, then let’s look at it. If not, then we won’t do it.”
On how he hears from players’ grumbling and how he adjusts to make sure that everyone’s voice is heard:
“I think, first of all, I’m always around the players. I’m always talking to the players. I think, when you have captains on the team, when you have leaders on the team, I talk to everybody, whether they’re practice squad guys or not. Like I said, it really is all about seeing. Just opening your eyes and opening your ears and trying to see things and really reading body language. That’s a huge thing. I just try to be proactive that way.”
On whether cutting back on the padded practices was a discussion about wear and tear on the players’ bodies:
“Yes. I think when guys come out here and they have the pads on, it’s more of a psychological thing than anything else. The pads, how much do they weigh? They weigh a couple of pounds, but the fact that you have them on brings on the fact that you might hit. So, if the guy has sore shoulders, it’s just a matter of when you don’t have those things, you have the shells on, you just feel a lot better mentally. So, it’s more psychological than anything else.”
On whether any of the running backs have approached him about their concern of having lesser role in a spread offense:
“Absolutely. I think any great player, any great player that I’ve been around, whether it’s Walter Payton, whether it’s a great receiver, Jerry Rice – whoever it might be. When they’re not getting the ball, they feel like they’re not contributing. They feel like they’re not a part of it. I’ve talked to all of our guys and had them understand that we need to understand that, going forward, everybody will have their part in the success. Everybody will have their part. It’s really important that we’re for one another. It’s really important that we might as well, if we really want to win, If we really want to do this right, we need to be happy about the other guy. When somebody else has the ball, instead of me being upset about me not having the ball, go find a block and help free him up. So, whatever the situation, it’s just important that at this particular time of year, not everybody is going to be happy. Once again, we talk about a family. I don’t know one family anywhere in America or in the world for that matter where everybody is happy. I just think that it’s all about being a team player. It’s all about doing your best when you have the opportunity. But, I think everybody needs to know that the common denominator must be to win. It must be that. If it’s not that, than we’re thinking the wrong thing. We’re going in the wrong direction. I think everybody understands that, but it doesn’t take away the fact that I don’t feel totally great if I don’t feel like I’m making a contribution.”
On whether RB Frank Gore has expressed with concerned:
“I’ve met with all of our guys. I’ve met with all of our offensive guys, just had some open dialogue about it going forward. Everybody is on the same page, including Frank, and I understand full-well when that happens. It’s like when I was playing. If I didn’t get 10 tackles, I’m sitting there and I’m thinking, ‘Daggumit. Man.’ Somebody else got two or three picks, another linebacker, thinking, ‘I’m glad we won, but I’ve got to do a better job. How do I get another pick?’ He’s excited about it. I want to be excited about it. I can be excited about it for him, but at some point in time, I’m going to think about, ‘Wow, I need to do a better job to contribute more.’ So, to me, that’s what that is.”
On whether Gore is more concerned with winning or his statistics:
“Frank is a team guy. But, it’s like anything else. I don’t know if you’ve ever been in a situation where it may be a family member, it may be a team member and somebody else does something great. You want to be happy for them, but it’s a natural thing. You can’t take away from the fact that you want to do well too. You want to make sure that you’re doing everything that you can to make sure that you’re a part of that. I don’t think it’s any more than that, but to ask someone not to be natural, to ask someone not to be human, I just think it’s just a matter of everybody understanding where we’re striving to go. It has to be family. It has to be team, knowing that not everybody is going to happy all of the time.”
On whether the competition from wanting to do more is helping or hindering the offense:
“No, I think there’s nothing like competition. You want a situation where guys are saying, ‘Man, I’ve got to do more. I want the ball.’ If I’ve got receivers that don’t want the ball, then something is wrong. If I’ve got a running back who doesn’t want the ball, then something’s wrong. But, I think there’s a limit to it. There’s a point to being competitive and wanting to contribute and being selfish. There’s a thin line there somewhere, and everybody has to find that for themselves. But, I just think it’s important that we all understand that in order for us to get where we need to go, everybody has to be on board. I do know that, and I think they understand that. Frank is not going to lose his mind if he doesn’t get 100 yards because I think, at the end of the day, it’s all about winning. He may be upset at the moment, but I know he’s going to come back the next day and say, ‘Hey, you know what? I’m glad we won. I know I did contribute.’ The thing I want them to understand is, if you’re a running back and you’ve got wide outs that are making plays, that makes it easier. That makes your job easier. If you’re a wide out or you’re a quarterback, that makes your job easier. Everybody needs to understand that I don’t care about that game. If you didn’t shine that game, you’re number is going to be called, but just understand that everybody makes everybody else’s job better. So, to me, that’s really the bottom line that they understand that.”
On whether Hasselbeck looks different on film since the last they faced him:
“No, he is still throwing the ball on the money. He is still doing a good job throwing the ball. The timing has been great. Hasselbeck is Hasselbeck. He sits back there and if he has time, he is going to get the ball out and he is going to hurt you. I don’t see anything different.”
On whether the offense will change week-to-week based on the opponent:
“Obviously, I would like to see more carry-over. But, where we are right now, I think the most important thing is you want to go into every game just like every other offense. You are going to go into the game thinking that you want to be balanced. You have a game plan, but if you are running the ball better, then maybe you are going to run 60-40; if you are throwing the ball better, maybe you are going to throw 60-40. I think you have a tendency, coordinators, they can’t help it. You don’t want to outsmart yourself. If your team is doing something well against that particular defense, then you want to try to do it.”
Singletary calls for better tackling from 49ers
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-49ers-tackling&prov=ap&type=lgns
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP)—Tackling is the theme of the week for Mike Singletary.
In August, Singletary began his first training camp as 49ers head coach with intense tackling drills. His players were in full pads from the start, hitting each other in nearly every practice.
By the time camp broke, they were beat. And by midseason, some were feeling beat up.
Now, improved tackling is what Singletary is calling for from San Francisco’s defense heading into a key NFC West game at Seattle on Sunday. But the 49ers are no longer practicing it, having quit wearing pads about two weeks ago after some players made the suggestion to Singletary.
It’s not as if the tackling has been poor—the Niners’ rushing defense ranks fifth in the NFL. Yet Singletary, a defensive-minded guy to the core considering he’s a Hall of Fame linebacker, is always looking for more from this talented veteran unit.
“We have some guys, they don’t just want to tackle, they want to blow people up,” Singletary said. “We’ve got to do a better job breaking down and just making the tackle.”
Singletary named safety Dashon Goldson(notes) as one of those players who always wants the big hit. Goldson didn’t deny it, saying “I take my shots.”
But he said the defensive players need to be smart about doing so, taking proper angles and picking their opportunities wisely. Goldson is in his first season starting at free safety for the 49ers (5-6) and is second on the team with 73 tackles. He also has two interceptions, one sack and a forced fumble.
“It’s all about attitude,” Goldson said of the art of tackling. “It’s not really a concern. We just know we’ve missed a few. We make a lot, too. We make a lot more than we miss, so that’s always good.”
Linebacker Patrick Willis(notes) has a team-leading 107 tackles, including a hit on Matt Hasselbeck(notes) in Week 2 that knocked the Seahawks’ quarterback out of the game with broken ribs and a back injury. He still hasn’t completely healed even though he only missed the next two games.
“It’s a focus every week. If you want to be a great defense, tackling is the No. 1 thing you have to do,” Willis said. “For whatever reason, we’re men and we know that in order to have a good defense and to play good defense, you have to tackle. That’s something we have to take upon ourselves. We can’t work on it during the week and kill each other and tackle each other, but we can work on it by how we go to the ball, good feet, just small things we can do to help us during the season.”
Seattle coach Jim Mora knows the challenges of trying to improve tackling at this stage of the season. It doesn’t make sense to practice it, he said.
“You can’t, because you risk injuring a player who’s very valuable to you,” Mora said. “This time of the year some players are beat up and need some recovery time. A lot of tackling is just the will to do it as well. You hope you have the right guys.”
San Francisco has a relentless bunch that prides itself on getting after the quarterback. In Sunday’s 20-3 win over the Jaguars, linebackers Manny Lawson(notes) and Parys Haralson(notes) each had a second-half sack on Jacksonville quarterback David Garrard(notes) that led to a lost fumble.
The 49ers’ 25 sacks so far are only five shy of their total from last season, when their 30 sacks ranked 16th in the NFL. Yet the players know it’s not always about making the big play, but often times just getting the routine stop when it matters.
“Since it’s this late in the season we’re not really going to be doing much practicing hitting, because bodies are sore,” cornerback Dre’ Bly(notes) said. “Just try to focus on wrapping up as much as we can. We’re going to be playing some tough backs. We have to do a better job of tackling. Tackling is key, especially late in the season when you’re playing cold games. When it’s cold outside, teams enjoy running the football a lot.”
NOTES: Goldson had his sore right hand dipped in paraffin wax and placed in a plastic bag to keep it warm. “Like a nail salon,” he said with a grin. … Haralson is nursing a bruised thumb he said isn’t serious. The other injuries: DT Kentwan Balmer(notes) (shoulder sprain), WR Josh Morgan(notes) (bruised hip), WR Arnaz Battle(notes) (leg strain), RB Michael Robinson(notes) (stinger) and WR Isaac Bruce(notes) (ankle).
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-49ers-tackling&prov=ap&type=lgns
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP)—Tackling is the theme of the week for Mike Singletary.
In August, Singletary began his first training camp as 49ers head coach with intense tackling drills. His players were in full pads from the start, hitting each other in nearly every practice.
By the time camp broke, they were beat. And by midseason, some were feeling beat up.
Now, improved tackling is what Singletary is calling for from San Francisco’s defense heading into a key NFC West game at Seattle on Sunday. But the 49ers are no longer practicing it, having quit wearing pads about two weeks ago after some players made the suggestion to Singletary.
It’s not as if the tackling has been poor—the Niners’ rushing defense ranks fifth in the NFL. Yet Singletary, a defensive-minded guy to the core considering he’s a Hall of Fame linebacker, is always looking for more from this talented veteran unit.
“We have some guys, they don’t just want to tackle, they want to blow people up,” Singletary said. “We’ve got to do a better job breaking down and just making the tackle.”
Singletary named safety Dashon Goldson(notes) as one of those players who always wants the big hit. Goldson didn’t deny it, saying “I take my shots.”
But he said the defensive players need to be smart about doing so, taking proper angles and picking their opportunities wisely. Goldson is in his first season starting at free safety for the 49ers (5-6) and is second on the team with 73 tackles. He also has two interceptions, one sack and a forced fumble.
“It’s all about attitude,” Goldson said of the art of tackling. “It’s not really a concern. We just know we’ve missed a few. We make a lot, too. We make a lot more than we miss, so that’s always good.”
Linebacker Patrick Willis(notes) has a team-leading 107 tackles, including a hit on Matt Hasselbeck(notes) in Week 2 that knocked the Seahawks’ quarterback out of the game with broken ribs and a back injury. He still hasn’t completely healed even though he only missed the next two games.
“It’s a focus every week. If you want to be a great defense, tackling is the No. 1 thing you have to do,” Willis said. “For whatever reason, we’re men and we know that in order to have a good defense and to play good defense, you have to tackle. That’s something we have to take upon ourselves. We can’t work on it during the week and kill each other and tackle each other, but we can work on it by how we go to the ball, good feet, just small things we can do to help us during the season.”
Seattle coach Jim Mora knows the challenges of trying to improve tackling at this stage of the season. It doesn’t make sense to practice it, he said.
“You can’t, because you risk injuring a player who’s very valuable to you,” Mora said. “This time of the year some players are beat up and need some recovery time. A lot of tackling is just the will to do it as well. You hope you have the right guys.”
San Francisco has a relentless bunch that prides itself on getting after the quarterback. In Sunday’s 20-3 win over the Jaguars, linebackers Manny Lawson(notes) and Parys Haralson(notes) each had a second-half sack on Jacksonville quarterback David Garrard(notes) that led to a lost fumble.
The 49ers’ 25 sacks so far are only five shy of their total from last season, when their 30 sacks ranked 16th in the NFL. Yet the players know it’s not always about making the big play, but often times just getting the routine stop when it matters.
“Since it’s this late in the season we’re not really going to be doing much practicing hitting, because bodies are sore,” cornerback Dre’ Bly(notes) said. “Just try to focus on wrapping up as much as we can. We’re going to be playing some tough backs. We have to do a better job of tackling. Tackling is key, especially late in the season when you’re playing cold games. When it’s cold outside, teams enjoy running the football a lot.”
NOTES: Goldson had his sore right hand dipped in paraffin wax and placed in a plastic bag to keep it warm. “Like a nail salon,” he said with a grin. … Haralson is nursing a bruised thumb he said isn’t serious. The other injuries: DT Kentwan Balmer(notes) (shoulder sprain), WR Josh Morgan(notes) (bruised hip), WR Arnaz Battle(notes) (leg strain), RB Michael Robinson(notes) (stinger) and WR Isaac Bruce(notes) (ankle).
Of course not.
But the 49ers' last great quarterback, Steve Young, used the notion to illustrate another alleged absurdity -- the idea San Francisco should commit to a spread passing game as its primary offense because quarterback Alex Smith seems more comfortable that way.
"It’s great, it’s great," Young said of the new-look 49ers offense, "but Frank Gore needs to be traded. You can’t run the spread with Frank Gore being effective. He’s not the guy that is going to catch the ball (like) Marshall Faulk and slash and burn (like) Joseph Addai and different guys who have thrived in the spread."
Young made the comments during his latest visit with Ralph Barbieri and Tom Tolbert on KNBR. He addressed the subject a week ago as well.
Why can't the 49ers have it both ways? Why can't they spread the field with multiple receivers, including their speedy tight ends, and still get production from Gore?
"Frank Gore is an All-Pro running back in a pro formation," Young told KNBR. "There are a lot of ways to skin the cat. And so if we’re going to have to run the spread to really be successful and Frank is going to be in the game, then Frank is going to have to first of all suck it up a little bit and decide, 'Look, I’m going to have to change my game and I’m going to have to do some different things. But for the good of everybody, this is what is going to happen, and then I’m going to get mine when I get mine. I don’t know how it is going to happen, but I’ll wait around for it.' "
Young sounded skeptical.
"If that is how we’re going to be successful for the next half-a-decade, then that is how we can kind of get to the promised land of some playoff time, then let’s go all in," Young continued. "But that is what the spread does to you. You have to go all in. But I do not believe that Alex needs to have the spread to be successful. If he continues to get better and deal with pro defenses and make plays, then there’s no reason why in an offseason we can’t take 10,000 snaps from center and figure out a way to get really comfortable with that and then break it out next year and be a more dynamic offense."
I agree completely. Against the Jaguars in Week 12, the 49ers averaged 2.6 yards per carry on nine rushes and 4.5 yards per pass on 26 attempts from their preferred "spread" personnel group featuring Gore, Michael Crabtree, Josh Morgan, Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker. They used this grouping on 20 of 22 first-down snaps and 15 of 20 second-down snaps.
The 49ers ran only one play from their base offense and seven plays using two backs. Gore prefers running behind a fullback, but the offense has generally stagnated using that personnel. I'm very curious to see how the 49ers attack the Seahawks in Week 13. A power running game featuring Gore has worked well in the past.
"What offense do you run?" Young asked. "I think you can fiddle around with the spread, but especially with the tight end, if you are going to include the tight end, I think that you are going to have to work at trying to find sets that allow Frank to run from the I a little bit, a pro set, and find other places to get them the football and Alex to get comfortable. You can see if you blur your eyes how this might become something pretty cool."
But the 49ers' last great quarterback, Steve Young, used the notion to illustrate another alleged absurdity -- the idea San Francisco should commit to a spread passing game as its primary offense because quarterback Alex Smith seems more comfortable that way.
"It’s great, it’s great," Young said of the new-look 49ers offense, "but Frank Gore needs to be traded. You can’t run the spread with Frank Gore being effective. He’s not the guy that is going to catch the ball (like) Marshall Faulk and slash and burn (like) Joseph Addai and different guys who have thrived in the spread."
Young made the comments during his latest visit with Ralph Barbieri and Tom Tolbert on KNBR. He addressed the subject a week ago as well.
Why can't the 49ers have it both ways? Why can't they spread the field with multiple receivers, including their speedy tight ends, and still get production from Gore?
"Frank Gore is an All-Pro running back in a pro formation," Young told KNBR. "There are a lot of ways to skin the cat. And so if we’re going to have to run the spread to really be successful and Frank is going to be in the game, then Frank is going to have to first of all suck it up a little bit and decide, 'Look, I’m going to have to change my game and I’m going to have to do some different things. But for the good of everybody, this is what is going to happen, and then I’m going to get mine when I get mine. I don’t know how it is going to happen, but I’ll wait around for it.' "
Young sounded skeptical.
"If that is how we’re going to be successful for the next half-a-decade, then that is how we can kind of get to the promised land of some playoff time, then let’s go all in," Young continued. "But that is what the spread does to you. You have to go all in. But I do not believe that Alex needs to have the spread to be successful. If he continues to get better and deal with pro defenses and make plays, then there’s no reason why in an offseason we can’t take 10,000 snaps from center and figure out a way to get really comfortable with that and then break it out next year and be a more dynamic offense."
I agree completely. Against the Jaguars in Week 12, the 49ers averaged 2.6 yards per carry on nine rushes and 4.5 yards per pass on 26 attempts from their preferred "spread" personnel group featuring Gore, Michael Crabtree, Josh Morgan, Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker. They used this grouping on 20 of 22 first-down snaps and 15 of 20 second-down snaps.
The 49ers ran only one play from their base offense and seven plays using two backs. Gore prefers running behind a fullback, but the offense has generally stagnated using that personnel. I'm very curious to see how the 49ers attack the Seahawks in Week 13. A power running game featuring Gore has worked well in the past.
"What offense do you run?" Young asked. "I think you can fiddle around with the spread, but especially with the tight end, if you are going to include the tight end, I think that you are going to have to work at trying to find sets that allow Frank to run from the I a little bit, a pro set, and find other places to get them the football and Alex to get comfortable. You can see if you blur your eyes how this might become something pretty cool."
I heard that interview when he said all that and when I was listening I was like WTF??
basically he was saying that gore can't fit into the style of play the niners played the last game...gore is a good player, he gets yards...he has averaged among the top 3 in the last three years in yards...just coz the niners are running spread does not mean they will be playing out of the shotgun 100% of the time...gore can still succeed because he is a GOOD player not a good running back out of a pro set...
gore led the niners in receptions in the last two years, he is versatile and needs to be used any which way the niners can...i dont think going to more of a spread would hurt his game that much...it just adds another dimension...
basically he was saying that gore can't fit into the style of play the niners played the last game...gore is a good player, he gets yards...he has averaged among the top 3 in the last three years in yards...just coz the niners are running spread does not mean they will be playing out of the shotgun 100% of the time...gore can still succeed because he is a GOOD player not a good running back out of a pro set...
gore led the niners in receptions in the last two years, he is versatile and needs to be used any which way the niners can...i dont think going to more of a spread would hurt his game that much...it just adds another dimension...
