Training Camp Report: Aug. 14
Posted by on August 14, 2012 – 6:40 PM
Alex Smith remains one of the hottest players at 49ers Training Camp presented by HP. After he led the 49ers on a 92-yard scoring drive to close out Sunday’s Fan Fest and connected on several deep sideline throws the following day, San Francisco’s starting quarterback put together his best practice of camp on Tuesday.
Smith threw several passes throughout the day and about two hours into it, you could count his incompletions on one hand. Highlights of the day included several deep throws to his longest-tenured target, tight end Vernon Davis, and several to new wide receiver Mario Manningham. Smith also hit back-to-back red zone touchdowns to Randy Moss.
Colin Kaepernick, who’s strengthened his chances of being the team’s No. 2 quarterback, also connected on several deep balls and red zone touchdowns to Moss.
Score this day for the 49ers offense.
Let’s take a look at the offensive explosion from Tuesday’s camp session.
-49ers general manager Trent Baalke visited with a colleague to start practice, it just happened to be one from a different sport. Baalke spoke with Golden State Warriors GM Bob Myers for about 20 minutes.
-In a team period to start the practice, Smith started his hot day with a deep middle seem route to Davis. The 49ers tight end made a tough catch in traffic on a route the duo has mastered in recent seasons. With the third-team defense facing the starting unit, safety Colin Jones almost recorded his first interception of camp, but couldn’t corral the incoming pass and settled for a quality pass breakup on a Kaepernick pass. The first-team defense, with Ricky Jean Francois lining up at nose tackle, recorded an interception thanks to the fourth-year lineman’s agility. Jean Francois tipped a Scott Tolzien pass at the line and stuck with it long enough to record the interception – the first of any defensive linemen in camp. Kaepernick tossed the other takeaway of the period when undrafted rookie cornerback Deante’ Purvis came up with a deep sideline interception.
-In a red zone 7-on-7 period, Smith found Moss on consecutive skinny post touchdowns against Purvis. Michael Crabtree added a touchdown catch on a Kaepernick back right corner pass against Carlos Rogers’ coverage.
-In a move the ball period with 1:38 left on the clock, Smith led a six-play scoring drive that ended with a 30-yard touchdown pass to Manningham. It was a perfectly thrown pass for the new 49ers wideout to run under past Purvis’ coverage. In the same period, the second-team offense, led by Josh Johnson, settled for a 45-yard field goal from David Akers.
-In another midfield team period, Kaepernick and Manningham hooked up on a 50-yard touchdown against Anthony Mosley and Michael Thomas’ coverage. Manningham got behind both young defenders to easily catch Kaepernick’s long pass.
-In a red zone team period, Smith found Davis in the back of the end zone for an impressive score. Davis displayed amazing leaping ability to stab Smith’s pass out of the air, while tight-rope walking his landing in the back of the end zone.
-In a later midfield team period, Smith connected with Manningham on a 40-yard deep ball down the right sideline. Chris Culliver, a steady contributor in camp, broke up a Johnson pass intended for Chris Owusu.
-Following a punt period, the team was once again together at midfield. And once more, Smith connected on a deep seem route to Davis on the first play of the period. It also stood as play of the day thanks to Davis’ ability to catch the ball over safety Darcel McBath, who had his back turned to Smith. Moss recorded a 40-yard touchdown pass from Kaepernick. Somehow the respected veteran wideout was left wide open by the third-team defense.
-In a split-team period that saw the first-team offense face the second-team defense and the first-team defense face the second-team offense, NaVorro Bowman stripped Kyle Nelson in the open field for the only takeaway of the period. Nelson later caught a touchdown on a red zone pass from Tolzien.
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By ace on Aug 14, 2012 | Reply
ok here’s a bit of advice dont leave randy moss uncovered, he’ll make u look silly for that, and lets just say it again for fun alex smith should have made the pro bowl last year and will this year,thank you alex for hanging in here with us its been ruff at times but thats what makes us stronger, go grab that ring alex we believe in you !!! go niners !!!
By ace on Aug 14, 2012 | Reply
i think alex smith really came out last year, he was really good in making plays when he had 2, not every series, but if we are gonna blame him for losing shouldnt we also praise him for winning 13 games last year, and the saints game will stand up for a long time as one of the greatest games ever… go niners !!!
By jgo2015 on Aug 14, 2012 | Reply
Nice to hear that Alex is doing well, The reason all the previous coaches and present coach wanted to keep Alex around is because they saw something, a talent and desire and I saw flashes of it too; now it’s coming to fruition…Good Luck Alex, I wish you well and go Niners.
Win or Lose, you stck with family, even though I don’t know any of the Niners personally you are like family. Luv all of you!!!
SUPER BOWL BOUND!!!!!!!!!
By hmrhead on Aug 14, 2012 | Reply
Love your enthusiasm ace, but Alex was not a pro bowl qb last year. Very solid year and played within the system. But to make the pro bowl, it means you were a top 3 conference qb. He was definitely not that.
I hope you’re right this year though.
By trob0 on Aug 14, 2012 | Reply
@hmread….actually Alex should of been to the pro bowl last year. His numbers weren’t terrific but leading your team to 13-3 isn’t easy. He had the lowest number of picks in the LEAGUE! Oh and last year at the end of the season I believe Kurt Warner said Alex Smith was on his top five list of best qb’s….Thats Kurt saying that, just one of the top qb’s in the game….no biggy
By ELEVEN YEARS WITH ALEX on Aug 14, 2012 | Reply
the difference last season was the kicker …he went to probowl ….alex was ok but big let down in giants game instead of getting the offense together and being a leader he gave up and threw the ball in the dirt several times late in the game when we needed a score or atleast a drive …..
By ELEVEN YEARS WITH ALEX on Aug 14, 2012 | Reply
if alex was a probowl QB last year then why did not 1 team sign him up …i mean if drew brees was out there someone would have gotten him right ….yeeeeeeeep…..right thank you …..he may be a bit better this season but the season shall tell us all ….till then stop the alex is the best until he actually does somthing
By ELEVEN YEARS WITH ALEX on Aug 14, 2012 | Reply
and before you tout the 13-3 record the defense won at least 6 of those and special teams won 7 so alex won 3 not bad …as it is a team sport ….yet alex still is behind in many ways ….
By trob0 on Aug 14, 2012 | Reply
That was probably the worst argument I’ve ever heard. If your a Niners fan you soooooo don’t sound like one. Thats how I know I’m a true fan, I still with my team, and support them through the ups and downs.
By niner life on Aug 14, 2012 | Reply
Hey eleven years get a life and learn the game of football! I hope Alex Smith runs circles around u this year. 6 years no coach…….in come Harbaugh and turn the team and Alex Smith around. Go Niners!!!!!! I smell something and it smells like 9ers year and another SB!!!
By Niner Forever on Aug 14, 2012 | Reply
I truly believe this is our year. We have tremendous amount of talent in every aspect. Hope the we stay humble and work hard as we did last year….if we do…then I certainly dont doubt that we will have our 6th Super Bowl!!! Whos got it better that us????? Nobody!!!
By Brad on Aug 14, 2012 | Reply
I’m really tired of “11 years” (what does that even mean?).
Let’s all JUST IGNORE HIM from now on.
He obviously is desperately seeking attention with his repetitive posts and alter ego “Jerome”. He never supports anything with facts and his opinions are completely uninformed and purposely designed to try to garner attention for himself.
Alex had five 4th quarter comebacks last year (tied with ’89 Joe Montana for the franchise record). If that isn’t winning games, I don’t know what is.
Oh, and by the way, he was sacked 44 times last year, whereas our incredible defense was only able to get 42 sacks in comparison. To be able to have a TD:INT ratio of 3.4 (17/5), while getting sacked that many times and learning and running the 7th new offense in 7 years with no training camp, etc. is spectacular!
Come on, you’ve got to be kidding me – who has ever done that!
He is a great quarterback right now and I am certain that he will be even better this year with all the additional weapons and additional knowledge of the system by the entire offense.
I truly enjoy the other fans’ posts. They are supportive of the players and team, respectful of others, offer intelligent insights or constructive criticisms, and are entertaining to read.
Therefore, LET’S NOT READ OR RESPOND TO ANYTHING “11 YEARS” POSTS. I am sure we will all be lot happier by not acknowledging his existance. To do so merely seems to encourage his childish and generally vitriolic posts.
GO 9ERS! LET’S HAVE ANOTHER GREAT YEAR!
By CforPavs on Aug 14, 2012 | Reply
The Alex Smith debate rages on, and there may be no conclusive answer, YET. But you got to give it to the guy for sticking around. And now, like some of the GREAT QB’s in the game, Alex has been rewarded with a very good coaching staff behind him (good karma?) to guide the ENTIRE team to victory.
He showed last year he can WIN. He got it done when it mattered (uhh… Saints? He was pretty good, in one of his first BIG TIME games. Forget the Giants game, even the beloved Steve Young loses to an Aikman or a Farve), and he has shown that he deserves the reigns to this offense. And this year he’ll have some decent wideouts!!!!!
Alex and this team is primed to win it ALL. Be thankful Alex Smith stuck around to be the QB who helps them do it. He’s no Joe, but with this Defense, I think Alex can with the big one.
Go NINERS!!!
By layzie16 on Aug 15, 2012 | Reply
Brad 4 President…i agree brother lets just ignore him…great facts man…im embellishing in the great season we had while other so-called fans are nitpicking
By Mike on Aug 15, 2012 | Reply
Great point brad,couldn’t agree more. This year is going to be special I just know it. But lets all remember what being a fan truly means, through the good,the bad,and the ugly, u stick through it through all the players, and all the games. Forever a 49er faithful. GO NINERS!!
By 49Wayz on Aug 15, 2012 | Reply
No excuses this year. Let’s deliver and win.
By Texan49ersFan4ever on Aug 15, 2012 | Reply
I love to see them air ball it, but the running game is looking good so far this preseason!
By ace on Aug 15, 2012 | Reply
most running yards by any team in first week 260 wow go niners
By Montana2Rice4Ever on Aug 15, 2012 | Reply
Thanks brad, I dunno about president but you can definitely be in my cabinet. And to mister 11 years, I say this: if you’re not a believer then why the hell are you even reading our training camp reports? Good call on David Akers being a great addition. Blaming Alex for our loss to the giants? Come the $&@? On dude! A young receiver fumbled the ball at the worst moment you could ever fumble the ball. Twice. And the team has forgiven him, I think Kyle will have a surprising year this year. If you’re gonna talk the smack at least try knowing what you’re talking about. I actually have to agree that Alex was just outside of pro bowl material last year. With Brees and stafford blasting 5000 yards and Aaron Rodgers doing his thing and such and him throwing less than 20 Tds I can see how he didn’t get that vote. What he did do is show us true faithful why he got drafted where he did, why we’ve had his back for 7 years and why he will win us a super bowl and make all the “why didn’t we draft Rodgers” haters see the light. If he had gone through through half of what Alex smith has, he’d be a third stringer in Cleveland by now. Here’s to Alex smith, the true niner fans, and the return of the true west coast offense. Let’s all enjoy the coming years of dominance.
By Montana2Rice4Ever on Aug 15, 2012 | Reply
P.s. if you really want to know what ” the difference was I can point out a couple things. 1. Jim harbaugh. His attitude has restored a sense of identity that we haven’t had for way too long. Nolan had his strengths, and I wish we could’ve just demoted singletary back to linebackers coach because he was really good there but Jim came in ready to win and has made everybody around him feel the same. 2. Since we’re talking about bad-mouthing Alex smith, how about the fact that he was running invitational drills with his teammates during the lockout when the rest of the league was sitting at home playing madden on their xboxes? If you are not a true fan, at least wait until the regular season so you can try to open your mouth after we shock the packers in their own house on September 9th.
By Ojay on Aug 15, 2012 | Reply
I agree, that 11 years is not a true fan or even a fan at all. Alex did a good job last year and he will do even better this year, because of the weapons that he has around him now. Good job by the organization also. We have a lot of speed and depth at wideout position. All of the wideouts runs at least a 4.5 40 or faster, so we can open it up a little bit more this season when we have to. We will still stick to the game plan, with the ground and pound with Gore and Jacobs first. Just do what we do best and we will be like a machine out there. WHO GOT IT BETTER THAN US NOBODY!
By # 1 D-FENSE 2012 on Aug 15, 2012 | Reply
wow,its great to see so many new faces to our morning taligate blog,all good arguments and opinions, I wanna switch gears a bit tho’. I was more than mildly surprised with coach harbaughs comments yesterday about kaepernick over-taking j.j. and tolzein as the #2 qb. coach was quoted just 2 days ago in the san jose mercury news as saying that tolzein is very accurate in practice,on gameday and shows a great command of the huddle and o-line adjustments at the line of scrimmage,whereas kap has struggled a bit with his accuracy in goal line and red zone drills. thats a remarkable turn-around for kap,,,? is it?,, or is coach harbaugh trying to do what norv turner last year could not? that was hide tolzein from prying eyes and get him on san diegos prctice squad,,,nope he was swooped up by ballke and harbaugh,jed york was in the broadcast booth friday and was quoted saying he,ballke and harbaugh wanted tolzein bad and were peeved at how well tolzein did against us in last years pre-season finale’
By bo9ers52 on Aug 15, 2012 | Reply
can’t hardly wait for the season to begin, its gonna be a terrific year for the niners, evrything is going in the right direction,…”NINERS BABY!!!!!
By # 1 D-FENSE 2012 on Aug 15, 2012 | Reply
?????????????????
By macklinr61 on Aug 15, 2012 | Reply
Love how our coaches are challenging the players! Testing arm strength, accuracy and letting the results make the QB decision. To avoid further injuries to starters, I’d like to see 90% of the Texans game be driven by Tolzien and Johnson. That would be a great test to decide #4 once and for all. Fangio wants more plays for his defense. So, if either QB stalls, it’s okay. It’s only pre season and the defense gets more snaps.
By hackphx on Aug 15, 2012 | Reply
If Smith is to have a successful year(super/pro bowl) Boone will have to prevail. RG has been a 9er Achilles heel for years robbing Smith of the security he needed to develop. That “deer in headlights ” thing is the one criticism of Smith i personally have not argued against. Last year he was courageously effective against the bull rush. If he gets another split second this year he can reach elite.
By jgo2015 on Aug 15, 2012 | Reply
I do believe that 9ers are on the verge of something Great!!!
I Love everyone going back and forth because that means it’s time for FOOTBALL!!! I had my moments of doubt in Alex, but there was something said I believe by his college head coach and that was, once Alex knows the offense; LOOK OUT! With that said…Let’s get it on!!!!
By Rick E. on Aug 15, 2012 | Reply
As a lifelong 9ers fan (in WI) it warms my heart to see so much love for the red & gold! The biggest difference in 2012′s Alex Smith from the previous years is the love! He’s never walked into a season with the full support of the fans, organization, coaches, and players like he has this year. 9ers for LIFE!
By give_it_to_gore_we_gonna_score on Aug 16, 2012 | Reply
6th superbowl ring
2012-2013 pro bowl king alex smith=all us fans throwing party at candlestick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11111
By give_it_to_gore_we_gonna_score on Aug 16, 2012 | Reply
niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinersssssssssssssss for life