Blogs

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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Morning Tailgate: Oct. 3

Patrick Willis was singled out Wednesday morning as the NFC’s Defensive Player of the Week.

However, it wasn’t just Willis who played a major role in the team’s 34-0 dismantling of the New York Jets.

According to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee, it was a team-wide effort that enabled San Francisco to improve to 3-1 on the season. Barrows offered his thoughts on the performance in a recent film study review.

“For the first time this season, every 49er who dressed for the game set foot in the game,” Barrows wrote. “And they just didn’t make token appearances. Everyone – from backup quarterback Colin Kaepernick to undrafted rookie Garrett Celek to dime cornerback Perrish Cox - played a role Sunday. Twelve different 49ers either had a carry or a reception on offense, and it would have been 13 if fullback Will Tukuafu hadn’t been interfered with on a late goal-line play.

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Morning Tailgate: Sept. 27

The 49ers were back on the field Wednesday afternoon as they took over Stambaugh Stadium at Youngstown State University. Perhaps the biggest news of the day was the regular season practice debut of running back Brandon Jacobs, who has returned to the field on a limited basis for the first time since being injured in Week 3 of the preseason.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee observed the beginning of Wednesday’s practice session and said Jacobs looked like he was moving well.

“If Jacobs is fully healthy Sunday, he likely would be worked into games as a short-yardage runner,” Barrows wrote. “Through three games, only two running backs – Gore and Kendall Hunter – have carried the ball for the 49ers. Gore has 45 carries for 264 yards, and Hunter has 18 carries for 64 yards.”

Today’s Morning Tailgate also features headlines about the rain-soaked practice, referees, Rex Ryan, Darrelle Revis and more.

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Morning Tailgate: Sept. 4

At long last, it’s Week 1 of the NFL regular season. The 49ers are headed to Lambeau Field for their season opener against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, but first they have a week of practice at team headquarters in Santa Clara.

The 53-man roster is set and it features a pair of players who are expected to play offense, defense and special teams this season for San Francisco. Will Tukuafu and Demarcus Dobbs take pride in their do-it-all roles with the team and are also roommates on the road. Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com spoke to Dobbs about the new responsibilities he and Tukuafu have added to their plates this season.

“Tukuafu and Dobbs were both converted into two-way players in the offseason,” Maiocco writes. “Dobbs played both ways in all three exhibition games in which he appeared. Tukuafu did not see two-way action in training camp until after the first three weeks of camp. He concluded the exhibition season in impressive fashion.”

Today’s Morning Tailgate rounds up the best coverage from Labor Day Weekend and takes a look forward to the Week 1 matchup.

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Robinson Races at Rookie Camp

Trenton Robinson couldn’t sleep very well last night. He tossed. He turned. He just couldn’t get his mind off of what was about to unfold – a three-day rookie minicamp at San Francisco 49ers headquarters that would signal the start of his career in the National Football League.

“I couldn’t wait to get out there,” said the team’s sixth-round selection No. 180 overall. “Last night, I really couldn’t sleep.”

If the Michigan State safety felt sluggish the night before, he certainly didn’t show it in the first of two rookie minicamp sessions held on Friday. With one of the first drills being a kickoff period, Robinson, the 5-foot-10, 195 pounder looked impressive while covering kicks.

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