Smith Not Sure If Career With Niners Is Nearing End

June 13th, 2013 Matt Loede Posted in Injuries, News

49ers defensive lineman Justin Smith says his surgically repaired triceps is “almost 100 percent,” Cam Inman of Bayareanewsgroup reports. The looming question now is whether his 49ers career is almost complete.

Smith, the mainstay of the 49ers’ defensive line, is entering the final year of his contract, at a $7.5 million base salary. He has talked about wanting to play a couple more years, but the 12-year veteran fears his future will be impacted more by the NFL’s aversion to aging players than by last season’s injury.

“At my point in my career, nothing’s a given, nothing’s a guarantee,” Smith, 33, said Wednesday at minicamp. “They don’t like old guys anyway for football.

“So I’m going to enjoy this year, do the best I can this year, and hopefully it’s enough for us and the team, and we’ll get it done.”

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Colt McCoy in early lead for backup spot

June 5th, 2013 Al Sacco Posted in Main, News

When Colt McCoy was acquired by the San Francisco 49ers this offseason, the thought was he would compete with Scott Tolzien for the backup quarterback job. The 49ers love competition and it seemed like a real possibility that the two quarterbacks would have to duke it out through training camp and the preseason for the right to be the teams number two signal caller. However, as the 49ers begin another round of OTAs, it looks like McCoy already has a strangle hold on the position.

“He has been in that role since he got here,” Harbaugh said. “He’s doing very well, picking up the system. And a guy that is really serious and focused on being good and doing a good job. He’s got a lot of things that motivate him to work hard. And he’s worked extra hard, too. He’s doing well.”

With McCoy looking like a lock for the backup role, Tolzien will have to worry about fending off rookie B.J. Daniels for the third quarterback spot. Because of his athleticism, Daniels could help his case by playing a more versatile role for the 49ers.

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WR Crabtree Gets Stitches Out

June 4th, 2013 Matt Loede Posted in Injuries, News

Michael Crabtree

While it’s still going to be a long process for wide out Michael Crabtree, there was some good news on that front, as he had his stitches removed after having surgery for his torn right Achilles’ tendon.

If he plans to play in 2013 – and coach Jim Harbaugh has been consistent in saying the injury isn’t season-ending – he must get to work right away.

Dr. Dan Solomon, an orthopedic surgeon with Marin Orthopedics and Sports Medicine in Novato, said an aggressive approach to rehabilitation would get Crabtree in the pool and working on his range of motion as soon as the surgical wound heals.

The rehabilitation routine for Achilles’ injuries has been honed and improved over the last decade or so, one of the reasons the injury is not the career-ender it used to be.

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San Francisco 49ers: OTA News and Notes

May 30th, 2013 Al Sacco Posted in Main
  • Left tackle Joe Staley had a minor arthroscopic procedure done on his knee during the off-season and is not taking part in OTAs. The 49ers expect him to be ready for training camp.
  • Running back Frank Gore is also sitting out the spring practices but the nature of his injury is unknown. Head coach Jim Harbaugh did say it was nothing serious.

    “Just working through something,” said Harbaugh. “Nothing too serious.”

  • Wide receiver Kyle Williams and running back Kendall Hunter were both participating in individual drills and should be ready for the start of training camp. Both players are rehabbing from season ending injuries suffered in 2012. Williams (knee) and Hunter (Achilles) were both hurt on the same play during the second half of a 49ers’ victory against the New Orleans Saints.
  • Other players sitting out in order to rehab injuries were outside linebacker Aldon Smith (shoulder), defensive end Justin Smith (arm), wide receiver Mario Manningham (knee), outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks (unknown), and guard Mike Iupati (shoulder).
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49ers Lose Crabtree to Achilles Injury

May 22nd, 2013 Al Sacco Posted in Features, Injuries, Main, News

The San Francisco 49ers suffered a huge blow on Tuesday, losing wide receiver Michael Crabtree to a torn Achilles tendon. Crabtree had surgery today (Wednesday) and is expected to be out about six months. That would put his return in late November, somewhere around week 11 or 12.

Achilles injuries can be tricky though, and considering the position Crabtree plays, there is always the possibility he could be out longer. He will need to cut an run routes with authority, which is something that could take more time.

With the injury, the 49ers are losing a major piece of their offense. Crabtree finally emerged as the go to receiver the 49ers imagined him being when they drafted him out of Texas Tech. Crabtree posted career highs in receptions (85), yards (1105) and touchdowns (9) in 2012.  He was also invaluable to the team on third downs. Crabtree had 32 receptions on third down and 24 of them were converted to a first.

With Crabtree out of the picture for the foreseeable future, the 49ers will turn to Anquan Boldin to handle the number one  receiver duties. No one is entirely sure when Mario Manningham and Kyle Williams will be ready and how effective they will be when they return. The team will also be hoping A.J. Jenkins can begin to mature and make a significant contribution this season.

Expect to see tight ends more involved in the passing game as well. Vernon Davis was not targeted a lot towards the end of the regular season but he should be a major contributor with Crabtree out. The 49ers also have rookie tight end Vance McDonald who could see some work in the slot.

-Al Sacco

@ninerscommunity

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San Francisco Awarded Super Bowl 50

May 21st, 2013 Al Sacco Posted in Main
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The San Francisco 49ers have won the bid to host the Super Bowl on it’s 50th anniversary in 2016.  The decision was made by the NFL owners, who chose San Francisco over Miami. The city of Miami was recently denied 350 million dollars in stadium improvements by the state legislature which greatly diminished their chances.

The 49ers, on the other hand, are set to move into their new 1.2 billion dollar stadium in 2014. Levi’s Stadium, which began construction in April of 2012, was the center piece of the 49ers’ bid to host the game. The Stadium’s construction is nearly half way done as all of steel work  is complete. The venue, which was planned to hold 68,500 people, is being built to accommodate additional seating up to 75,000. The NFL requires stadiums to have a capacity of 70,000 or greater in order to host the Super Bowl. The league was provided with a map that included the added seats.

The NFL owners have shown a tendency to select new stadiums as the venue for the Super Bowl. This year’s game will take place at Met Life Stadium in New Jersey. Recent games have also taken place at newer stadiums in Indianapolis and Dallas.

Securing the Super Bowl is another step forward for the franchise that returned to prominence in 2011. The 49ers continue to take steps forward not only on the field, but as an organization.

Kudos to Jed York and the San Francisco 49ers.

-Al Sacco

@ninerscommunity

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All eyes on A.J. Jenkins this offseason

May 19th, 2013 Al Sacco Posted in Main, News

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver A.J. Jenkins knows he’ll be under the microscope from day one this season. The teams first round pick in 2012, Jenkins struggled to even get on the field. When he did see action, he failed to make any kind of an impact. Jenkins did not record a catch and saw the only pass thrown his way bounce off his hands. If he is to have any kind of a future with the 49ers, he’ll have to show significant growth in his sophomore campaign.

“Obviously, I want to contribute a lot more than I have been.” said Jenkins. “So I’m going to make that happen and come back, bigger, faster, stronger.”

Jenkins has begun to the take the steps necessary to make that happen. He spent six weeks in Atlanta training with quarterback Colin Kaepernick and fellow wide out Ricardo Lockette. The trio focused on strength and speed training. Lockette, for one, believes Jenkins is about to turn a corner.

“I think A.J. will definitely surprise a lot of people this year. Last year, he took it as a building year. This year, from what I’ve seen so far, it’s night and day. I expect big things out of him. He expects big things out of himself and (Colin Kaepernick) expects big things out of him. I think Niner nation and the Niner empire will be proud of what A.J. Jenkins brings to the field this year.”

The 49ers hope Lockette is right. With Anquan Boldin only signed for this season and Mario Manningham and Kyle Williams coming off of injuries, Jenkins has an opportunity to play a major role in the near future.

 

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49ers Fans! Enter The New Era Photo Day Contest!

May 17th, 2013 Matt Loede Posted in Features

San Francisco 49ers (ANGLE)

New Era, the official on-field headwear of the National Football League, is teaming up with the NFL to launch the Back to Football Photo Day contest. So what this means is that 49ers fans will now have the chance to join the ranks of Frank Gore to also become THE face of the 49ers.

The contest, which is live at www.speakwithyourcap.com or through New Era’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/neweracaps?fref=ts) will require 49ers faithfuls to submit photos of themselves showcasing how you personally “speak with your cap.”  Whether you wear your cap sideways, backwards or flexed at the brim, show how you are bringing your own style to the game.

32 fans (1 per team) will ultimately be chosen and win a complimentary trip to New York City for two. The winners will enjoy a four-day VIP experience and will be professionally styled in their favorite team’s looks for a New Era photo shoot that may be used for a year-long advertisement and promotional campaign.

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