Blogs

Gameday Story: The Forty Niner Way

The first 49ers Gameday Magazine cover story of 2012 discusses this year’s incoming rookie draft class and their quest to learn “The Forty Niner Way.” Seven players from all over the country have been chosen to be the next batch of great players, but before they get there, coaches and veterans have schooled the NFL newcomers on what it takes to truly become a 49er.

This year’s rookies posed for the cover after a recent training camp practice. They also stood close to Jim Harbaugh’s “Forty Niner Way” street sign, recently installed by San Francisco’s coach prior to the start of camp. Graphic designer Ben Mayberry touched up the image to give the cover its final look.

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Morning Tailgate: Aug. 8

This time of the year is a great time to examine stories of collaboration and camaraderie. Training camp is a grind, there’s no doubt about it. But the way that coaches and players come together is pretty remarkable, too.

Take this example to heart, Dashon Goldson’s cell phone provider is…. Wait for it… Vernon Davis.

Yes, the 49ers tight end recently gave the Pro Bowl safety a cell phone with the carrier service paid for an entire year. FoxSports.com’s Alex Marvez shared the details in a recent story on Davis’ leadership.

More 49ers headlines can be found after the jump.

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Morning Tailgate: July 26

Jim Harbaugh certainly has a way of getting the most out of people. It’s not just on the football field, it can take place off of it, too.

Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee recently spoke with the 49ers coach about his philanthropic work in Piura, Peru. Harbaugh discussed his role in Piura and why the commitment is so important to him, so much so, that he missed a week of rookie minicamp.

“Harbaugh first visited Piura in 2009 after hearing a friend describe his own experience with the Most Blessed Sacrament Parrish there,” Barrows wrote. “The 49ers coach has been going back ever since, and he even missed a rookie minicamp — gasp-worthy when it comes to control-freak NFL coaches — to go this year. He used the word ‘transformational’ three times in a recent interview in describing the effect of the visits.”

Harbaugh has continued his positive messaging back home with the 49ers and has transformed the team’s walkway from the locker room to the field. Harbaugh recently had a street sign placed along the walkway that simply reads, “Forty Niner Way.”

Rookies and select veterans have seen the sign in person. The entire team (including Dashon Goldson, who signed his one-year franchise tender this morning), will get to see it today as it’s veteran check-in day at camp. Practices begin on Friday.

More 49ers headlines can be found after the jump.

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Morning Tailgate: May 17

Matthew Stafford probably wasn’t consulted, nor was Eli Manning, Tony Romo, or Tarvaris Jackson for that matter, but it’s more than likely that all four quarterbacks would agree with ProFootballFocus.com’s recently released top 10 performances by a 3-4 defensive end in 2011.

PFF’s ranking show five of 49ers defensive tackle Justin Smith’s 2011 performances cracking the top 10 list.

Smith’s Week 10 performance vs. Manning and the New York Giants was tied for the seventh-best performance along with, who else, Smith’s Week 1 outing against Jackson and the Seahawks. Furthermore, PFF selected Smith’s Week 2 clash with Romo and the Cowboys as its fifth-best performance, Smith’s NFC Championship Game against Manning as its second-best effort and finally, Smith’s Week 5 dominance against Stafford and the Lions as the single-best game from a 3-4 end.

In actuality, the 49ers list Smith and fellow starting defensive lineman Ray McDonald (who made the list at the No. 9 spot for his Week 3 outing vs. the Cincinnati Bengals) as defensive tackles in the team’s 3-4 scheme. However, Smith has been named to the Pro Bowl in each of his last three seasons as a defensive tackle. He was also selected first-team All-Pro at defensive tackle, and second-team All-Pro at defensive end for good measure.

Whatever postion you consider him, Smith’s dominance continues to be discussed long into the offseason. More of the latest 49ers headlines can be found after the jump.

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Morning Tailgate: May 16

Aldon Smith’s impressive 2011 season continues to linger into the offseason.

The outside linebacker who totaled 14.0 sacks as a rookie and broke the San Francisco 49ers’ rookie sack record in the process is out to prove he’s a complete player this offseason.

Smith’s working on his pass coverage and ball skills during the team’s offseason program, all while looking to make himself an all-around threat. Smith’s progress was discussed in two recently released news articles. Not only is Smith listed on NFL.com’s list of top 10 players under the age of 25, but two of the best performances from year’s No. 7 overall pick earned additional recognition.

More on Smith’s impressive rookie campaign, the latest 49ers headlines and more after the jump.

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Rookies Add Energy to Football School

49ers football school workouts received a jolt of energy on Monday as the 49ers rookies joined the veterans.

“There were a lot of bodies and a bunch of eager people ready to get in there and learn,” said three-year veteran Kyle Williams. “It’s always refreshing when you get some guys that are ready to work hard and this means everything to them. It was good to get them out there today.”

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Slowey Lines up at Center with 49ers

Jason Slowey must have left quite a first impression on 49ers general manager Trent Baalke during an All-Star showcase this offseason.

After finishing up his four-year career as a tackle at Division II Western Oregon University, Slowey moved to center during the Players All-Star Classic in Little Rock, Ark., in February. While he was there, the 49ers sixth-round pick had a lengthy conversation with Baalke about life and football.

So when Slowey, six other fellow draft picks and dozens of free agents and tryouts took the field for the first time on Friday during rookie minicamp, Slowey found himself snapping the ball at center.

“It’s an adjustment, that’s for sure,” Slowey said after the morning session. “It’s not left tackle at Division II anymore. I made a lot of progress today. I started out a little rough, a little shaky – putting some balls on the ground – but towards the end I started to get a hang of it a little more. I felt more comfortable so I’m looking forward to going out there this afternoon.”

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Meet the Rookies: 2012 Edition

The 2012 49ers draft class is one marked with intrigue and excitement. From traditional powerhouses like Notre Dame to up-and-coming programs like Oregon and even Division II schools like Western Oregon, the new crop of 49ers bring their own share of interesting stories to the team.

In his third year at the helm of the 49ers draft room, general manager Trent Baalke was able to add some explosive offensive weapons while adding some back-end depth on the final day. Above all, the 49ers are excited to bring another group of high character players in the locker room at 4949 Centennial Blvd.

Baalke and his staff felt good about the 49ers prospect board heading into the draft and are even happier with the seven players they added to the roster.

“It creates competition,” Baalke said. “I can’t say it enough, that’s what this game’s all about, is competing and developing this roster from the top down and the bottom up. And as those things come together, that’s when you start to develop a team that we feel we can play long into the year with.”

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Morning Tailgate: April 30

Now that the 2012 NFL Draft is in the books, several prominent football writers have praised the performance of San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke.

The 49ers GM identified a player, Wake Forest guard Joe Looney, as a prospect worth drafting in the third-round. However, Baalke moved back three times, picking up a sixth-round pick (Michigan State safety Trenton Robinson), and three selections in next year’s draft (Carolina’s third-round pick, Indianapolis’ fifth-round pick and Miami’s sixth-round pick).

When it was all said and done, the 49ers ended up selecting Looney in the fourth-round and had four additional picks to show for it.

The draft day experience for many of the 49ers rookies was unique to say the least. First-round selection A.J. Jenkins’ arrival in the Bay Area was documented exclusively by TV49.

Robinson’s experience was also captured over the weekend by a Michigan television station.

More on Robinson’s draft weekend and other 49ers headlines after the jump.

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