Niner News Thread
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Coach's Notebook: Dec. 28
http://www.49ers.com/news-and-event...k-Dec-28/dc974d20-9fcf-487a-8875-f7315529b0fd
Coach Jim Harbaugh addressed the media at 49ers Headquarters on Wednesday as his team prepares for Sunday's matchup at St. Louis.
Have you guys decided how you’re going to fill that roster spot yet?
“Pretty much. We’ve narrowed it down. We’ll let you know when we make a decision.”
Does TE Delanie Walker’s prognosis have anything to do with your decision?
“Well, I told you it did. 7-10 days we’ll know if he’ll be back for the postseason.”
Does that mean 7-10 days you’ll know…
“How he’s progressing.”
But does that mean 7-10 days you’ll know who you’re going to replace with the roster spot?
“In 7-10 days we’d know if he has a chance make it back for the postseason. Therefore, whether to keep him on the active 53 or put him on IR for that spot.”
Is that 7-10 days from now?
“From Monday. We’re off to a bad start here.”
You have on a new outfit today .
“I do. This (a grey hooded sweatshirt) was given to me by one of the players. A known agent. Trusted friend. I’m wearing this today. Feels very good. Very comfortable. Means a lot to me.”
Who gave it to you?
“I’ll let him tell you that. I don’t know if he’d appreciate me coming out and saying that. He’s one of those guys that, obviously we’re friends, but I don’t know if he’d want the coach-player, that kind of thing. We’ve got each other’s backs. Means a lot to me. Nice present.”
The WR Braylon Edwards decision … Could you just take us through that decision a little bit and how Braylon handled that?
“Professionally. Like we explained to Braylon, we’re doing what we feel is in the best interest of the team, like all decisions.”
The timing of it with other wide receivers being banged up seemed a little bit odd. Why make that decision now?
“Well, I don’t feel the need to explain it or rationalize. Get the best roster out there that we can. The best for our football team. That’s why the decision was made. That’s what all decisions are made by.”
He said that injuries were what were preventing him from getting in sync with the offense. Is that what you felt as well? It just didn’t seem like he was on the right page with the offense throughout the season?
“Like I said, I don’t feel a need to say why. No disrespect to Braylon. Appreciate his contributions. Everything for us is Rams, Rams, Rams.”
Has WR Kyle Williams definitely been ruled out this week?
“No.”
Will there be competition for that roster spot?
“Yes.”
Is WR Ted Ginn, Jr. making good progress?
“Yes, he’s making very good progress.”
What’s the danger in facing a 2-13 team that you’ve shutout before? Especially the position that this team is in?
“That they have a lot of good players, good coaches. I would imagine, playing very loose. Nothing to lose. That’s a dangerous team because you never know what could happen. Any kind of deceit and trickery could unfold. Trick plays; let it all hang out kind of mentality. Go out in a blaze of glory, as [Special Teams Coordinator] Brad Seely would say. We know it’s going to be a 60-minute game. That’s what we have to prepare for.”
Are you pleased with the Pro Bowl haul? I know Monday you said nine, 10, or 11. You guys were just short of your estimate, but still pretty impressive.
“Yeah, definitely really excited about yesterday. I think I was more excited than some of the players. I think those guys that were voted to the Pro Bowl accept that in a very humble way, understanding that it’s a team effort. A rising tide lifts all ships. I know that’s how those guys could feel about it. Now, it’s Wednesday. Now it’s the Rams.”
Without us knowing what you’re going to do with that roster spot, can you maybe share with us what WRs Joe Hastings and John Matthews have looked like on the practice squad and how they’ve performed?
“Worked very hard, like all the practice guys have. They’ve worked extremely hard. They continue to do that. They know what the situation is and we’ll let the competition unfold.”
Will you bring outsiders in for this competition or will it be all in-house?
“We probably won’t. It will probably just be in-house.”
Is it important when you put together a wide receiver corps that the parts are interchangeable? That the styles are similar?
“Is that important?”
Yeah, is it important? So you can plug guys in? Is that a factor at all?
“Style? That’s your word. Style. Define that, what does that mean? Everybody exactly the same speed, the same size?”
Similar. So that the quarterback can, without regard to really who it is out there running the route, that the guy’s going to be doing pretty much the same thing at the same time to get open?
“Yeah, I don’t think that’s real realistic. Everybody is a little bit different. You’re not going to get the exact same players at really any position. There’s timing that has to be practiced. It has to be run through.”
With you saying it most likely staying in-house, no interest in adding Terrell Owens or looking in to that aspect?
“Again, we don’t comment on specific players. We talk about 49ers.”
We don’t talk to General Manager Trent Baalke much. He’s a lot behind the scenes. In the transformation of this season, what has he meant to this? You’re sort of the face of the franchise right now. Can you give us a little insight?
“I don’t agree with that … the face of the franchise moniker. I reject that. We’re a team. And as part of the team, the personnel department and staff, scouts, General Manager - Trent, everything works in that way as a team. Everybody’s contribution is highly important. In terms of how I work, it’s shoulder to shoulder with Trent and [CEO] Jed [York] and the rest of our organization.”
Who first brought LB Aldon Smith to the attention of the scouting department? Do you remember? Was it Trent or was it an area scout?
“Well, when I get here, he was on the board. He was somebody that we were looking at. I can’t remember how many, there might have been 500 or 600 (draftable players) at that time when I came on board. Better question for Trent and the scouts. He’s done a nice job, hasn’t he? Doesn’t matter who gets the credit. The guy who deserves the credit is Aldon. He’s doing a fantastic job.”
You guys did have the haul of Pro Bowl guys, but he wasn’t on that list of guys who made it or alternates. Was that surprising?
“Yes. There’s others probably deserving to be on the list. But, like I said before, the guys who made it were voted to that particular all-star team, Pro Bowl, they humbly accept that. The guys who didn’t are lucky. We’d rather have all that is said about us, said against us. We don’t really want to make any all-star teams or any awards that are individual awards. I hope all the guys that did make it aren’t making any plans to be there, to be quite honest with you. It’s a wonderful honor and like I said, I was excited about it yesterday for the guys. Hopefully no one is making any plans to be there. The greatest award you can win in football, to me, is to be voted captain by your teammates. That’s the greatest award.”
On that note, when you have the different captains each week, who selects those for the game?
“Different captain each week. That’s the special teams captain. [RB] Frank Gore and [LB] Patrick Willis are always out there. Those are the two guys that were voted by their teammates. Now since Patrick hasn’t been out there playing, [DT] Justin [Smith] was the second place vote getter on defense so he’s been out there the last couple weeks. We always add a special teams captain, whoever was the special teams player of the week the week before.”
With T Joe Staley getting invited to the Pro Bowl, did you know that he had that much respect around the league from players and coaches? That he was Pro Bowl starter caliber?
“Asking me to put my thoughts in the minds of other people? He’s played that caliber. Yes. That’s probably the better question.”
I kind of meant it in terms of - have people approached you and talked to you about him in that way?
“Other players and coaches around the league? No, there’s not a lot of conversations with any coaches around the league, other than my brother. Other than good game and shake hands after the game, that’s about the only time you talk to other coaches.”
http://www.49ers.com/news-and-event...k-Dec-28/dc974d20-9fcf-487a-8875-f7315529b0fd
Coach Jim Harbaugh addressed the media at 49ers Headquarters on Wednesday as his team prepares for Sunday's matchup at St. Louis.
Have you guys decided how you’re going to fill that roster spot yet?
“Pretty much. We’ve narrowed it down. We’ll let you know when we make a decision.”
Does TE Delanie Walker’s prognosis have anything to do with your decision?
“Well, I told you it did. 7-10 days we’ll know if he’ll be back for the postseason.”
Does that mean 7-10 days you’ll know…
“How he’s progressing.”
But does that mean 7-10 days you’ll know who you’re going to replace with the roster spot?
“In 7-10 days we’d know if he has a chance make it back for the postseason. Therefore, whether to keep him on the active 53 or put him on IR for that spot.”
Is that 7-10 days from now?
“From Monday. We’re off to a bad start here.”
You have on a new outfit today .
“I do. This (a grey hooded sweatshirt) was given to me by one of the players. A known agent. Trusted friend. I’m wearing this today. Feels very good. Very comfortable. Means a lot to me.”
Who gave it to you?
“I’ll let him tell you that. I don’t know if he’d appreciate me coming out and saying that. He’s one of those guys that, obviously we’re friends, but I don’t know if he’d want the coach-player, that kind of thing. We’ve got each other’s backs. Means a lot to me. Nice present.”
The WR Braylon Edwards decision … Could you just take us through that decision a little bit and how Braylon handled that?
“Professionally. Like we explained to Braylon, we’re doing what we feel is in the best interest of the team, like all decisions.”
The timing of it with other wide receivers being banged up seemed a little bit odd. Why make that decision now?
“Well, I don’t feel the need to explain it or rationalize. Get the best roster out there that we can. The best for our football team. That’s why the decision was made. That’s what all decisions are made by.”
He said that injuries were what were preventing him from getting in sync with the offense. Is that what you felt as well? It just didn’t seem like he was on the right page with the offense throughout the season?
“Like I said, I don’t feel a need to say why. No disrespect to Braylon. Appreciate his contributions. Everything for us is Rams, Rams, Rams.”
Has WR Kyle Williams definitely been ruled out this week?
“No.”
Will there be competition for that roster spot?
“Yes.”
Is WR Ted Ginn, Jr. making good progress?
“Yes, he’s making very good progress.”
What’s the danger in facing a 2-13 team that you’ve shutout before? Especially the position that this team is in?
“That they have a lot of good players, good coaches. I would imagine, playing very loose. Nothing to lose. That’s a dangerous team because you never know what could happen. Any kind of deceit and trickery could unfold. Trick plays; let it all hang out kind of mentality. Go out in a blaze of glory, as [Special Teams Coordinator] Brad Seely would say. We know it’s going to be a 60-minute game. That’s what we have to prepare for.”
Are you pleased with the Pro Bowl haul? I know Monday you said nine, 10, or 11. You guys were just short of your estimate, but still pretty impressive.
“Yeah, definitely really excited about yesterday. I think I was more excited than some of the players. I think those guys that were voted to the Pro Bowl accept that in a very humble way, understanding that it’s a team effort. A rising tide lifts all ships. I know that’s how those guys could feel about it. Now, it’s Wednesday. Now it’s the Rams.”
Without us knowing what you’re going to do with that roster spot, can you maybe share with us what WRs Joe Hastings and John Matthews have looked like on the practice squad and how they’ve performed?
“Worked very hard, like all the practice guys have. They’ve worked extremely hard. They continue to do that. They know what the situation is and we’ll let the competition unfold.”
Will you bring outsiders in for this competition or will it be all in-house?
“We probably won’t. It will probably just be in-house.”
Is it important when you put together a wide receiver corps that the parts are interchangeable? That the styles are similar?
“Is that important?”
Yeah, is it important? So you can plug guys in? Is that a factor at all?
“Style? That’s your word. Style. Define that, what does that mean? Everybody exactly the same speed, the same size?”
Similar. So that the quarterback can, without regard to really who it is out there running the route, that the guy’s going to be doing pretty much the same thing at the same time to get open?
“Yeah, I don’t think that’s real realistic. Everybody is a little bit different. You’re not going to get the exact same players at really any position. There’s timing that has to be practiced. It has to be run through.”
With you saying it most likely staying in-house, no interest in adding Terrell Owens or looking in to that aspect?
“Again, we don’t comment on specific players. We talk about 49ers.”
We don’t talk to General Manager Trent Baalke much. He’s a lot behind the scenes. In the transformation of this season, what has he meant to this? You’re sort of the face of the franchise right now. Can you give us a little insight?
“I don’t agree with that … the face of the franchise moniker. I reject that. We’re a team. And as part of the team, the personnel department and staff, scouts, General Manager - Trent, everything works in that way as a team. Everybody’s contribution is highly important. In terms of how I work, it’s shoulder to shoulder with Trent and [CEO] Jed [York] and the rest of our organization.”
Who first brought LB Aldon Smith to the attention of the scouting department? Do you remember? Was it Trent or was it an area scout?
“Well, when I get here, he was on the board. He was somebody that we were looking at. I can’t remember how many, there might have been 500 or 600 (draftable players) at that time when I came on board. Better question for Trent and the scouts. He’s done a nice job, hasn’t he? Doesn’t matter who gets the credit. The guy who deserves the credit is Aldon. He’s doing a fantastic job.”
You guys did have the haul of Pro Bowl guys, but he wasn’t on that list of guys who made it or alternates. Was that surprising?
“Yes. There’s others probably deserving to be on the list. But, like I said before, the guys who made it were voted to that particular all-star team, Pro Bowl, they humbly accept that. The guys who didn’t are lucky. We’d rather have all that is said about us, said against us. We don’t really want to make any all-star teams or any awards that are individual awards. I hope all the guys that did make it aren’t making any plans to be there, to be quite honest with you. It’s a wonderful honor and like I said, I was excited about it yesterday for the guys. Hopefully no one is making any plans to be there. The greatest award you can win in football, to me, is to be voted captain by your teammates. That’s the greatest award.”
On that note, when you have the different captains each week, who selects those for the game?
“Different captain each week. That’s the special teams captain. [RB] Frank Gore and [LB] Patrick Willis are always out there. Those are the two guys that were voted by their teammates. Now since Patrick hasn’t been out there playing, [DT] Justin [Smith] was the second place vote getter on defense so he’s been out there the last couple weeks. We always add a special teams captain, whoever was the special teams player of the week the week before.”
With T Joe Staley getting invited to the Pro Bowl, did you know that he had that much respect around the league from players and coaches? That he was Pro Bowl starter caliber?
“Asking me to put my thoughts in the minds of other people? He’s played that caliber. Yes. That’s probably the better question.”
I kind of meant it in terms of - have people approached you and talked to you about him in that way?
“Other players and coaches around the league? No, there’s not a lot of conversations with any coaches around the league, other than my brother. Other than good game and shake hands after the game, that’s about the only time you talk to other coaches.”
Jim Harbaugh is the TRUTH. He aint talking in the 3rd person, or constantly saying stupid shit like "the team has taken on my personality" or caught in salon getting a pedicure. The man is a blue collared, hard nosed FOOTBALL coach in and out. Period. All he gives a shit about is his team and winning. Best thing to happen to the 49ers since Bill Walsh.
What's funny is that the Baalke promotion to GM seemed like another doomed in-house move by Jed York.
He's done a fine job in both the draft, and especially free agency. Lots of people, myself included, questioned if he was the right person for the job...
I think Baalke definitely deserves to the NFL Exec of the year award, in my biased opinion.
This last draft had immediate payoffs: Aldon Smith, BRUCE MILLER, Kendall Hunter, Chris Culliver
Free agent studs: David Akers, Carlos Rogers, Donte Whitner, BLAKE COSTANZO aka The God of Special Teams, and Goody has been doing a fine job of anchoring our young O-Line.
GO NINERS.
He's done a fine job in both the draft, and especially free agency. Lots of people, myself included, questioned if he was the right person for the job...
I think Baalke definitely deserves to the NFL Exec of the year award, in my biased opinion.
This last draft had immediate payoffs: Aldon Smith, BRUCE MILLER, Kendall Hunter, Chris Culliver
Free agent studs: David Akers, Carlos Rogers, Donte Whitner, BLAKE COSTANZO aka The God of Special Teams, and Goody has been doing a fine job of anchoring our young O-Line.
GO NINERS.
I wasn't too happy with Baalke becoming the GM since he was hired from WITHIN, but man .. after seeing the players he brought it to make this team the best of the best... I'm fucking happy he's our GM, to me it seems like he does know his football players very well and what exactly he expects and wants out of them..
