49ers-Chargers: What to watch for in an otherwise meaningless game
by David Fucillo (Fooch) on Sep 2, 2010 7:01 AM PDT
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1 comment
In his post-practice media session yesterday, Coach Singletary spoke about how players had been practicing this week more just to get through today's game and get to the cuts and the regular season. There's a certain malaise that sets in after a month of training camp, at which point the team is just ready to be done with it.
One could say the same holds true here at Niners Nation. While we've been excited to have football back in our lives, training camp has officially worn out its welcome. Two months ago we were praying for even preseason action, and now we've reached the point where we just want some real football.
And of course this is occurring as drama has arisen in 49ers training camp yet again. Vernon Davis had some words for Michael Crabtree, which has everybody up in arms over what went down and trying to analyze the crap out of this situation. There's certainly nothing wrong with that, but I think it's just one more sign that it's time to get the regular season going.
Nonetheless, we have one last preseason game tonight. The 49ers host the San Diego Chargers in what has become an annual tradition wrapping up each team's preseason. Coach Singletary indicated Alex Smith would not play tonight, which means we'll see a lot of David Carr and Nate Davis. Maybe we'll even see Jarrett Brown get a few snaps in (don't hold your breath). I can guarantee some mention of the Crabtree-Davis dust-up at some point in the broadcast.
Beyond the drama, while Smith and some of the other starters will be sitting this last game out, there will be other players battling for their roster lives:
- It's entirely possible this is the last time we see Alex Boone in a 49ers uniform. The numbers crunch could send Boone to the waiver wire. If he were to clear waivers he would be eligible for the practice squad, but big offensive linemen often struggle to clear waivers (see Brian de la Puente in 2008). The injuries and changes along the offensive line, including the addition of Anthony Davis in the draft could spell the end of Boone's time in San Francisco.
- Jason Hill is one guy who very likely is coming to the end of his time in San Francisco. He'll end up somewhere in the NFL but I don't know if his special teams contributions have been enough to overcome whatever WR doghouse he is in.
- Defensive lineman Khalif Mitchell is a bubble guy who will want to provide one more strong performance to move off the bubble. I think he's got a very good shot of making the team, but given the balancing act of spots, he certainly won't want to leave it up to chance.
- Brit Miller and Jehuu Caulcrick are guys who have developed bandwagons of fans at different points in the preseason. However, both are likely on the wrong side of the bubble due in large part to Nate Byham's ability to split time between tight end and fullback. Given the fact that Moran Norris will be starting at the fullback position, they don't need a guy who can only handle fullback and special teams. Having the flexibility they have in Byham would seem to make it an easy choice.
Given how much roster turnover we'll see in the next couple days, do you have any particular players you're expecting to be gone come Saturday but will nonetheless be disappointed to see depart?
Golden Nuggets: Gameday!
by Ninjames on Sep 2, 2010 3:00 AM PDT
in Golden Nuggets
2 comments
Good morning everyone. It's gameday, and by the time you read this I'm going to be in a cold-medicine induced coma while I attempt to recover fully so I can make it out to San Fran for the game tonight. I know that there won't be many starters playing, but you can't beat gameday at the 'Stick if you want 49ers; and that's a fact. We had a bit of controversy at practice yesterday, and it's got me a little worried. Truthfully, I've been worried about Crabtree since the moment we drafted him. I just don't feel like he really wants to be here, it's just something I've always had in the back of my mind. I'm sure it's nothing, but then again, I'm not. Apparently I'm schizophrenic, just call me Tre9er, I suppose. Anyway, moving on to your links. Enjoy, foolios.
Phillip Adams is confident of his spot on the roster. Love that kind of attitude for the young guy out of the seventh rounds. Good stuff. (PressDemocrat.com)
Oh yeah, Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis had a heated exchange at practice. I guess it's not that big of a deal, honestly. (CSNBayArea.com)
Could the entire 49ers draft class make the roster? That's a pretty awesome thought, honestly. (PressDemocrat.com)
49ers Training Camp: Coach Singletary speaks on Crabtree/Davis and the end of camp malaise
by David Fucillo (Fooch) on Sep 1, 2010 4:06 PM PDT
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For those looking to further analyze the Michael Crabtree-Vernon Davis drama, here is Coach Singletary's post-practice media session transcript. Whether it's true or not, I think most folks here generally agree it had something to do with Crabtree not wanting to participate in preseason activities quite as much as Davis would have liked. Again, it remains to be seen how true that is, but that seems to be the common refrain from folks on the outside looking in.
And for those wondering about female issues (whether jokingly or not), Maiocco did get confirmation this is not a lady issue. Certainly glad we cleared THAT up.
As folks have indicated, this is just one more sign that it is time to get the regular season started. Even Coach Singletary recognized that the players seem to have hit that wall where they just want to end the preseason. Even bubble players have reached the point where they just want to know what their status is one way or the other. I mentioned I was reading the book A Few Seconds of Panic. I finished it up today and there is a good deal of discussion towards the end about that end of camp malaise and how players just want it to be finished.
For those curious about any remaining position/roster battles tomorrow, Coach Singletary had this to say:
On how much competition is left for roster spots:
"I'll tell you what I told the team. I told the team yesterday, ‘Tomorrow is one of those, there are several different categories. If you're a veteran, it's either you play tomorrow and you do something that, ‘Hey you know what, this guy can still play, let's keep him. I really didn't know it but I see it, okay, so let's keep him.' Versus, ‘You know what, this younger guy is really doing better, this other guy is not, then let's make that decision.' So, you know, you'll have that decision. Then you have a young guy that you think may make the practice squad or may make the 53 versus someone else. And you kind of look at that and you go, you try and project, do you think he's going to get to that next level. Has he shown you enough progress throughout training camp that he can get to the next level based on his last game? And that's all you have. So it's versus the other guy where he's done it but he hasn't really taken it to the next level, so this guy's going to make the 53, this guy is not. So it's just decisions like that. So when I say, ‘Yes, the majority of our roster is full, but there are still about five or six spots that can go one way or the other.'"
The transcript and a link to audio after the jump.
49ers Training Camp: Vernon Davis and Michael Crabtree Exchange Words
by David Fucillo (Fooch) on Sep 1, 2010 1:20 PM PDT
in News
141 comments
Apparently Vernon Davis and Michael Crabtree decided to take it upon themselves to inject some much needed drama into training camp. After all, it's clearly been long enough since Kentwan Balmer went AWOL, Glen Coffee retired, and Mike Singletary called out Nate Davis. We're heading into the fourth game of the preseason, which means we need a fourth dramatic story. It's just natural.
We really don't have much in the way of details yet, but I figured I'd post something on the front page for folks to discuss (thanks to LondonNiner for the initial FanShot), speculate, and provide twitter details that they stumble across. I've posted some details after the jump (so we don't push Drew's college football preview too far down). For now though, these are the twitter feeds to track (among others)
2010-2011 NCAA College Football Top 25 Preview
by Drew K on Sep 1, 2010 12:34 PM PDT
in Preview
18 comments
Fooch's Note: We started up more college football coverage last bowl season and I thought it would be worth providing coverage all season long. For those who are not college football fans, or prefer only 49ers coverage here, these posts can at least help provide some context when we get to the 2011 draft season next spring.
Hey Niners Nation, it's been a while since I've posted anything and it's good to be back in the fold. Now that the college football season is right around the corner, I plan on posting quite a bit more frequently.
This years season should be fun-filled and nothing short of exciting. There are several teams that will work their way up and down the top 25 boards. Next weekend will kick things off and I don't know about you all, but there is nothing better than waking up Saturday mornings to the voices of the College Gameday Crew, a hot cup of coffee, screaming fans, and of course cheerleaders. College football has had some of the most exciting and memorable moments in sports history. A lot of us have had the privilege of seeing some of them happen live. There is no doubt that there will be a few of those moments that will be engraved in to history forever in 2010 and 2011.
There has been quite a bit of controversy and speculation over the past five years or more in that there should be a playoff system in place for college football. Whether you're on one side or the other, nothing will change for this season. All the Bowl Games will stay put as they are. Last years National Champs, Alabama will be looking to repeat the success they had and are in fact the Nation's front runner once again. Will anyone be able to knock them off? And if so, who?
After the break, I will be putting together a preview of the AP Top 25 Teams in the nation. Feel free to discuss anything and everything college football related in this post. I look forward to many more throughout the course of the '10-'11 Season and I hope you do as well.
49ers-Chargers: The World According To Madden
by Ninjames on Sep 1, 2010 10:00 AM PDT
in News
10 comments
The Madden simulations (used loosely) continue with a look at tomorrow's game against the San Diego Chargers. So far, Madden has taken the 49ers as winners, albeit sometimes in very close matches. The end result isn't always right, and the stats aren't always right, but who cares? This is all for fun and I'm sure that Florida Danny will forgive me for calling them "simulations." Some things turn out pretty close, and it's fun to compare and see if anything can. For the most part, players that are "good" in real life tend to be "good" on Madden. For instance, Frank Gore kicks face in this game and Alex Smith tosses footballs way too high for receivers. It happens.
So basically, the situation is that I pop in Madden NFL 11 for the Xbox 360, turn the game on All-Madden difficulty with something like 8-minute quarters. I be sure to make the roster accurate, and I watch the game - providing commentary to all of you. At some point this year, I'd love to record a full game and provide audio commentary, but that's for the future. For now it's a good ol' text breakdown.
As far as the rosters go, they are going to be pretty far off. As in, Michael Crabtree will be playing for the 49ers, and the starters will likely play a full half of action. So don't read too much into it (honestly, who would at this point?) and just remember that this is for fun, and nothing more than that!
49ers vs Chargers: Five Questions with Bolts from the Blue
by David Fucillo (Fooch) on Sep 1, 2010 7:00 AM PDT
in Preview
47 comments
As we move into the 2010 regular season I am always looking for different ways to learn more about the 49ers weekly opponent. Thus far this preseason we've exchanged FanPosts where each blogger does a Q&A with fans on the site. This week, with the shortened week, we're mixing things up and going with an old standby, the exchange of five questions. John, of Bolts from the Blue, sent me five questions the answers to which he'll be posting at some point later today. In the meantime, he was kind enough to answer my five questions about his Chargers.
The Chargers are an annual preseason opponent of the 49ers and since they generally are the fourth and final preseason opponent, we can never really take too much from the games. Nonetheless, the Chargers are always an interesting team that will be in the playoff hunt again in 2010.
NN: What are the Chargers hoping to get out of this final preseason game? To put it another way, will starters see a lot of playing time (or even any playing time), what positional battles are still to be determined?
Bolts: You will probably see Philip Rivers, Antonio Gates, Ryan Mathews and the rest of the starters for one series on Thursday. It will mostly be to keep the rust off and to try some things. Basically, they want to make sure this "new" offense works as well as they think it does. The defensive starters might be in for more than one series since they have more things to work on (they haven't looked very good), but they'll most likely be out by the second quarter.
Strong Safety, which wasn't even supposed to be a battle, has turned into one. Steve Gregory went from being the "3rd down SS" to what seems like the full-time starter until rookie Darrell Stuckey starts playing better. Another good showing by Gregory and bad showing by Stuckey, and the rookie will see a lot more of the bench than he was expecting. I believe all of the other positions are locked up. Kevin Burnett started last year as the starting ILB and eventually lost his job to Brandon Siler, but this year went right back into the starter's role and nobody is certain why. Siler has looked nothing like the 2009 player that was earning a reputation as a big hitter, but a great game from him in SF could get the coaches rethinking that spot. Buster Davis has essentially locked up the slot WR role, but the better game he has (and the more he shows a newfound ability to stay healthy while taking hits) the bigger role he'll receive in the offense this season.
Join John and I after the jump for a few more questions and answers...
Golden Nuggets: Backups or not, I'm pumped
by Ninjames on Sep 1, 2010 3:01 AM PDT
in Golden Nuggets
34 comments
Good morning everyone. We're one day away from our final game of the exhibition season and I'm excited. Obviously, the fourth game will not be indicative of many things for the team as far as starters and the like are concerned, but it should be telling for some of the backup position battles, of which there are many. One cool thing I'm doing today is potentially obtaining a Jeff Ulbrich autograph. Some of you may remember that he's my favorite 49er of all time and I was on a quest to obtain one - well, business and things of that nature derailed it. But I had someone get at me on Twitter yesterday, and... well, I'll have a post about this if it goes through, which would be totally awesome. Anyway, I've got your links for today, enjoy and what not.
We heard something from Crabtree finally - he says he's fine to play but it's up to the coaches, though he did also show some support for Alex Smith, which is nice. (MercuryNews.com)
It's been said before, but it's worth another look: Singletary isn't very pleased with the backup quarterback situation. (PressDemocrat.com)
Here's a good article on NaVorro Bowman. I like him even more now that I know a bit about his story. (SFGate.com)
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