Blogs

MT: 49ers Reach 90-Man Roster Limit

Following a third week of “Football School,” the San Francisco 49ers will finish the month of May with two sets of Organized Team Activities (May 21-23, May 28-30).

Those voluntary workouts are expected to have a great turnout. The 49ers offseason program has been heavily attended every step of the way from many of the team’s veterans. Now, the rookie class can participate in the offseason schedule. With the signing of fullback Jason Schepler, the 49ers are at a 90-man roster.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee analyzed San Francisco’s personnel and noted the holdovers from the 2012 NFC Champion squad. Wide receiver and inside linebacker are two positions with the most change heading into 2013.

More 49ers headlines and upcoming appearances can be found in today’s Morning Tailgate.

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Morning Tailgate: Frank Gore Turns 30

Happy Birthday Frank Gore.

The San Francisco 49ers all-time leader in carries (1,911), rushing yards (8,839) and rushing touchdowns (51) is coming off his fourth Pro Bowl season and has much to celebrate over the course of his eight successful seasons in the NFL.

Gore has rushed for more than 1,000 yards six times and had a hip fracture end his 2010 season after 11 games. He was on pace to surpass the 1,000-yard mark that year, too.

The 5-foot-9, 217-pound running back continues to prove doubters wrong. It started when he was a third-round pick in the 2005 NFL Draft and has continued all throughout his time with the 49ers. Gore’s 30th birthday should only serve as more motivation for the physical runner to continue his dominance.

According to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com, Gore ranks 34th on the NFL’s all-time rushing chart with 8,839 yards. He is No. 3 on the active list behind Steven Jackson (10,135) and Adrian Peterson (8,849).

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MT: Harbaugh Trades Khakis for Denim

Jim Harbaugh and Trent Baalke showed a sign of solidarity on Wednesday at the 49ers, Levi’s Brand pep rally.

Both of the key figures wore Levi’s jeans at the rally, so did their players (Patrick Willis, Frank Gore, Vernon Davis, Justin Smith and Colin Kaepernick).

It was especially unique to see the 49ers head coach wearing an all-denim outfit. Harbaugh is known for his everyday attire of khaki pants and a black microfleece top.

This day, however, was a special one for two iconic Bay Area brands.

Having the 49ers coach celebrate the moment with a fashion statement made it even more unique.

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MT: 49ers Among NFC Favorites

NFL.com wants fans to predict the outcome of the 2013 season.

The San Francisco 49ers are one of four teams left to win Super Bowl XLVIII. Voting ends May 9, so be sure to support your team in this offseason poll.

Another team from the NFC West is included in the final four, too.

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MT: Adam Snyder Brings Versatility

Adam Snyder has made 83 starts during his eight-year NFL career and he’s played at every position on the offensive line during his seven seasons with the 49ers and one-year stint with the Arizona Cardinals.

Snyder, the 6-foot-6, 325-pound guard, re-joined the 49ers on Monday to bring veteran depth on the offensive line. San Francisco’s former third-round pick in 2005 will join his teammates at 49ers Football School on Tuesday and get right back to work with his new, old team.

Snyder, 31, will get an opportunity to compete for a backup role this upcoming season, according to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com.

If that’s the case, it shouldn’t be a concern to Snyder, a respected teammate who has been known to put the team-first in everything he does.

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MT: Quinton Patton’s Work Ethic

The 49ers were excited to see Quinton Patton’s name available when it came time to make the No. 128 overall selection in the 2013 NFL Draft.

The Louisiana Tech wideout had 24 touchdowns in two seasons, both of which he was given first-team All-WAC  honors. San Francisco knew they were getting a competitive player in the 6-foot, 202-pound wideout, but they were blown away when Patton tried to visit team headquarters earlier this week.

“He’s just a good, solid, all-around receiver,” general manager Trent Baalke said of Patton after the draft.

Jim Harbaugh liked Patton’s eagerness to get to work with the 49ers, but it turns out, Patton’s made a habit of logging extra hours on the job.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com and Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee both caught up with Patton’s college coach, Sonny Dykes, to hear more about his hard-working ways.

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MT: 2013 NFL Draft Preview

Finally.

The wait is over. The draft board is finalized. The prospects are eager. The fan base is ready. The draft bash is all set.

The 2013 NFL Draft begins tonight and it couldn’t have come any sooner. We broke down prospects and spoke with analysts about the endless possibilities, but that was all build up to the inevitable conclusion. The three-day draft gets underway tonight at 5 p.m. PT and the future of the San Francisco 49ers will come into greater focus when the team makes its first selection.

Will it be at No. 31, or will San Francisco move up to select a player they’ve been coveting all along? The outcome will be known shortly.

In Trent Baalke’s three drafts leading the team’s draft-day decisions, the 49ers general manager has traded nine times. In 2010, Baalke’s first year as Vice President of Player Personnel, Baalke moved up to select tackle Anthony Davis, a player who recently signed a five-year contract extension through 2019. Baalke also traded back in 2010 to select, two-time All-Pro linebacker NaVorro Bowman, another player who has been extended until the 2018 season.

It’s worth noting that Baalke has never traded out of the first-round in three years. In 2011, he moved up in the second-round to select quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

With 13 selections heading into draft day, the possibilities for Baalke and his personnel staff are endless.

It’s safe to say the world will be watching. NFL Draft prognostications are endless, but they’ll stop very soon. We’ve compiled the top mock drafts for your consideration in today’s Morning Tailgate.

Share your draft opinions on social with #Draft49 and if you’re having a draft party or attending our event in San Jose tonight, use #49ersDraftBash to showcase your experience.

Thanks everyone for checking out our blog and enjoy the draft. 49ers.com/Draft will have you covered all weekend long.

Now, on to the links…

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MT: 2013 Draft Week Arrives

In a matter of days the San Francisco 49ers will have 13 opportunities to add to the roster in the 2013 NFL Draft.

Starting Thursday, the three-day draft will see General Manager Trent Baalke and his personnel staff find the best prospects for San Francisco.

There’s plenty of speculation going on as to who the 49ers will take with the No. 31 overall pick and if the team will actually make 13 selections in the draft. Baalke said last week that he’s treating every selection with the utmost importance and that there’s potential to move up and move back in the draft via trades.

For now, it’s a waiting game and an exciting one at that.

Over the weekend we finished our “49 in 49” series. You can check out all 49 profiles on this year’s intriguing prospects. Maybe one of them will be a 49ers draft pick just like LaMichael James was in 2012.

If you’re attending the 49ers Draft Bash , here’s all the information you’ll need for the event.

More draft headlines can be found in today’s Morning Tailgate.

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MT: 49ers 2013 Schedule Analysis

The 49ers will have five primetime games in 2013 and several noteworthy matchups in the final year at Candlestick Park.

With the 2013 regular season schedule being released on Thursday, it’s now known that San Francisco will face four playoff teams in the opening five weeks of the season. The 49ers will also open the final season at The ‘Stick against the Green Bay Packers, the very same team they opened against on the road in 2012.

It will also be Colin Kaepernick’s first regular season start at quarterback and his 11^th career start as he enters his third season with the 49ers. The last time Kaepernick faced the Packers at Candlestick, the dual-threat quarterback rushed for 181 yards in his first career playoff outing. It was also the most single-game rushing yards from a quarterback in NFL history.

The other 15 regular season games on the 49ers schedule provide several quality matchups. Free agency departures from the 49ers like defensive tackle Ricky Jeans Francois, tight end Delanie Walker and safety Dashon Goldson will all face their former team in 2013. Jean Francois and the Indianapolis Colts will visit the 49ers on Sept. 22, Walker and the Tennessee Titans will host the 49ers on Oct. 20 and Goldson and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will welcome the 49ers on Dec. 15.

The 49ers will also play the Titans the week before they cross the pond to face the Jacksonville Jaguars at London’s Wembley Stadium.

More thoughts on the 49ers schedule and other team headlines can be found in today’s Morning Tailgate.

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MT: Kendall Hunter Back Sprinting

The San Francisco 49ers enjoy a bevy of talented running backs who can run Greg Roman’s complex offensive system. One of them, third-year runner Kendall Hunter, is back running sprints this offseason. He’s doing so five months removed from a torn left Achilles. Perhaps, Kobe Bryant might want rehab notes from the 49ers running back.

Hunter shared details of his progress with Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle.

“I’m just doing what the trainers want me to do,” Hunter told Branch. “That’s the process. I feel and know I can do more, but I’m not going to rush whatever the coaches and trainers want.”

Hunter rushed for 371 yards in 2012, good for 5.2 yards per carry. Hunter also scored two rushing touchdowns before injuring himself on Nov. 25 against the New Orleans Saints.

Hunter told Branch he’d like to participate in OTAs in May or San Francisco’s mandatory minicamp in June, but the talented running back understands the importance of a patient rehab process and expects to be held out of action until training camp.

More 49ers headlines can be found in today’s Morning Tailgate.

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