Following the bitter loss to the Seahawks last week, the San Francisco 49ers will move to to face the Oakland Raiders on Sunday. Here’s some of the latest updates:
Harbaugh rumors
Over the past week or so, the rumors surrounding coach Jim Harbaugh leaving the 49ers has swelled from a trickle to a river.
On Wednesday, it was reported that Harbaugh apparently got into a conflict with GM Trent Baalke.
CSN Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco reported that while Harbaugh and Baalke have had issues in the past, a recent butting of heads may have been the final straw.
“But that changed a couple weeks ago when an undisclosed incident or series of interactions occurred that irreparably tore at the trust that must exist between a coach and general manager. (The source would not disclose the specifics of the disagreement.),” he wrote.
Harbaugh has been linked to head coaching gigs at Michigan, the Oakland Raiders, and the New York Jets. On Sunday, ESPN reported: “The Oakland Raiders and New York Jets both are expected to, at the very least, inquire about Harbaugh’s availability in a trade, a source said.”
It added: “One NFL source is convinced the Raiders are the favorite to land Harbaugh, but the Jets also are known to be keeping a close eye on Harbaugh’s situation.”
And former 49ers have said that Harbaugh is “loved” by his team.
“The vibe in the locker room is that the players love him,” ex-RB Marcus Lattimore said Tuesday, via CBS. “We love everything he does … I love Coach Harbaugh and so do the other players. We are not having the greatest season, but look at his track record.”
On Wednesday, Harbaugh--in talking about Sunday’s game against the Raiders--“spoke extensively and glowingly about Davis, and yet at his Monday press conference he shut down opportunities to talk about his current employer, 49ers CEO Jed York,” says the SF Chronicle.
Harbaugh, responding to the rumors Wednesday, also strongly said: “I’m not going to speculate. It’s our job to move on without excuse, without apology and get it right. Make it right. That’s our intentions.”
Kaepernick a man of few words
Colin Kaepernick has been the subject of widespread criticism recently--namely regarding some of his decision-making.
But when he was asked questions about what the 49ers will do against the Raiders, he didn’t say much--likely purposefully being short.
Here’s what part of it said, via 49ers.com:
Reporter: “How is the team bouncing back right now? Where’s the focus?”
Kaepernick: “The Raiders.”
“What about you personally?”
“The Raiders.”
Kaepernick had a run of 18 consecutive games with a touchdown pass snapped last week against Seattle. It’s imperative Kaepernick begins a different kind of streak, a winning streak.
The 49ers need to win their four remaining games to keep their playoff hopes alive. In addition, they need NFC Wild Card contenders like the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions to stumble in the final quarter of the regular season.
“We know what we have to do,” said Kaepernick, who maintained that San Francisco’s confidence on offense has not been shaken.
When asked what he’s most looking forward to about the biggest rivalry in Bay Area football, Kaepernick simply said, “Winning.”
Offense having big problems, analyst says
NFL Films’ Greg Cosell wrote a piece on Kaepernick’s problems this season.
He contrasted and compared Seahawks QB Russell Wilson and Kaepernick.
“Kaepernick has made many unstructured plays like this too, but a big difference is Kaepernick remains predominantly a pre-determined thrower. If that pre-determined throw is not there his tendency is to break down in the pocket, drop his eyes and look to move,” he writes on Yahoo Sports.
He then stipulates that “Wilson can be very good at making unstructured plays in the pass game; the Seahawks’ offense is built on Wilson’s legs and the power running of Marshawn Lynch. As the 49ers found out, you can’t allow Wilson to beat you in the pass game that way.”
After analyzing the 49ers-Seahawks game film, Cosell adds that Kaepernick “had really poor ball location against the Seahawks.”
“The first interception to Sherman was one of those throws. Brandon Lloyd was open to the outside, but Kaepernick was inaccurate to the inside and Sherman had an easy interception.”
NEXT PAGE: ‘Substantial increase’ in police at 49ers-Raiders game
More police at Raiders-49ers game
During the Raiders game at O.co Coliseum Sunday, there will be an increase in security, including undercover officers wearing the gear of both teams.
The Raiders sent out a press release in the security presence, describing it as a “substantial increase,” reports the Sacramento Bee.
Both teams used to meet during the preseason but that stopped after two people were shot in 2011 at Candlestick Park. Also, there were reports of fights and beatings.
The teams last met in 2010. The 49ers won that game 17-9.
“Public safety is a top priority for the Raiders, O.co Coliseum, and local law enforcement and all are working diligently to ensure that fans enjoy a safe and secure environment,” the Raiders said in a statement.
Justin Smith talks next year
Longtime 49ers defensive tackle Justin Smith, 35, said that he’s not sure what’s going to happen next season.
“I haven’t given it any thought,” he told the SF Chronicle. “It will be something to think about after the season.”
Smith is still playing at a very high level despite being in the league 15 years, but he said the team is merely focused on making the playoffs.
He also said he’s been taking a second day off from practice
“They’ve been really cool with it,” Smith said. “Whatever you need to get ready to play Sunday.' That’s pretty much it.”
Boldin talks ‘Battle of the Bay’
WR Anquan Boldin said that even though the Raiders have the worst record in the NFL, “those guys are going to come out with something to prove.”
“Whenever you have veterans like that, especially coming off the game that they had against St. Louis, they definitely want to make a statement and those guys are playing for pride, so you can never underestimate that,” he said, referring to the St. Louis Rams’ 52-0 destruction of Raiders last week.
Boldin also said the rumors about Harbaugh and Baalke aren’t of concern.
“It’s something that we don’t pay attention to at all. Honestly, whether it’s true or not, we can’t control what people are saying or all that outside noise. Our job is to come in here and do our job well and that’s to come in and play and prepare each week, so that’s what we do. Everybody outside, we let them talk and we just come in and try to do our job,” he said, via the Raiders website.
