Category: NFL

49ers preview: Jimmy G has practice to throw into sea of forgetfulness

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mercurynews.com photo: San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo tunes up at practice on Tuesday, Aug. 6th is expected to see some action on Monday Night Football Aug. 19th in Denver after sitting out last Saturday.

By Jeremy Harness

SANTA CLARA — Either the defense had a lights-out practice, or quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo had one of the worst in recent memory.

Garoppolo’s return from and ACL tear he suffered last September has been rather low-key up to this point, but during Thursday’s practice against the starting defense, he was a victim of Murphy’s Law.

To this point, 49ers fans are hoping that this is just a part of getting all the kinks out before the regular season starts and not part of any long-term issue. At one point in the live scrimmage, Garoppolo threw five straight interceptions.

Yes, you read that right. Five.

Straight.

Interceptions.

Now if there is a positive to take out of this, it’s that the starting defense is starting to show its teeth, something that did not happen very often during a 2018 campaign that saw the team finish near the bottom in takeaways.

The defense is a bit short-handed, as Dee Ford has been dealing with knee tendinitis but is expected to return next week, per reports. Meanwhile, top draft pick Nick Bosa suffered a high ankle sprain and will miss the entire preseason, and his status for Week 1 is in doubt because of it.

Simply put, the 49ers will need to improve on defense this season if they are going to contend for a playoff spot in a very tough NFC. Another positive sign came last Saturday, when the mostly second-string defense held the Dallas Cowboys’ offensive starters to a field goal after being backed up inside their own 10-yard line.

The 49ers will hold joint practices with the Denver Broncos on Friday and Saturday before they square off for a preseason game.

Headline Sports podcast with London Marq: Quakes have 4 straight fall-behind games going into Sporting KC match; Did Brown cave after he was mandated to wear new helmet?

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Photo credit: pressdemocrat.com

On Headline Sports with London:

#1  The San Jose Earthquakes took a tough loss to the Colorado Rapids in Colorado last Saturday 2-1. The Quakes came back down 1-0 to tie it, but the Rapids wrapped it up in the end for the win Colorado went back up 2-1.

#2 For Colorado, Diego Rubio received the pass from Keegan Rosenberry with space, Rubio was easily able to maneuver himself into an advantageous position in the 73rd minute for the go ahead and later game-winning goal.

#3 This was the fourth straight game that the Earthquakes had fallen behind in a game something. They’ll have to work on for their next game coming up as they play Sporting KC in their next match their second of three games on the road.

#4 How close or how serious do you think the Oakland Raiders wide receiver Antonio Brown was to calling it quits if he didn’t get to keep his old Pittsburgh Steelers helmet?

#5 A’s and Giants  played a two-game series, which concluded on Wednesday night. These are two teams fighting for a wild card spot and it was a series for the ages because a lot is at stake in the final two months of the season.

London is a beat writer for the San Jose Earthquakes and does Headline Sports each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Raiders take on Cardinals in the desert on Thursday

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Photo credit: youtube.com

By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
SRS Contributor

Looking to build off their victory over the Los Angeles Rams at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum last Saturday night in both team’s first exhibition game, the Raiders will travel for the first time in 2019 to Glendale to take on the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday at State Farm Stadium.

Kickoff for this exhibition game will be at 5:00 p.m. PDT, and can be seen nationally on ESPN.

Last week, the Raiders (1-0) defeated the visiting Rams, 14-3, as both teams held out many of its starters including quarterbacks Derek Carr and Jared Goff, respectively and opted to play younger guys and backups.

With Carr on the sideline wearing team issued sweats, Oakland started seven-year veteran Mike Glennon in the first-half, while letting third-year player Nathan Peterman handle the second-half to do battle for the QB2 position behind Carr.

Glennon completed 17-of-25 passes for 200 yards, but threw two interceptions, including one inside the red zone shortly before halftime.

Glennon did lead Oakland to their first touchdown of the exhibition season on the team’s first drive, which culminated in a 7-yard rushing touchdown by backup running back DeAndre Washington.

In the six drives that Glennon led Oakland’s offense: one led to a touchdown, two ended in interceptions and three ended in punts.

Albeit it was the first exhibition game for Glennon, he didn’t show that he was ready to be QB2 behind Carr.

Peterman played decent, but didn’t set the world on fire with his play.

Outside of the 50-yard scramble that setup Oakland’s second score of the game, Peterman was purely pedestrian. On the scoring drive, Peterman was flushed out of the pocket on third-and-4 from Oakland’s own 42-yard line before sliding down at the Rams’ 8-yard line.

Two plays later, Peterman threw a 3-yard touchdown to Alameda High School and UC Davis product Keelan Doss for a 14-3 lead that the Raiders never surrendered.

“He can run,” Oakland coach Jon Gruden said during his postgame press conference. “As he continues to gain command of the offense he’s going to be an interesting guy to watch.”

“It was a super clean pocket and I was able to get out to my left.” Peterman said. “Took off and I was about to slide then noticed that there was nobody else there. I think it was because of guys blocking downfield, guys making big plays for me. Tried to get in there, didn’t quite make it.”

Typically, the second exhibition game is usually when we get to see more of the projected starting lineup. So don’t be surprised if Carr starts the game and plays 2-3 series before giving way to Glennon and Peterman.

Defensively, the Raiders didn’t have that much to write home about but, second-year defensive end Arden Key played well. Key recorded a sack and two hurries. Oakland had one of the worse pass rushes in the league last season, finishing last in sacks with just 13.

Arizona (1-0) defeated the Los Angeles Chargers, 17-13, at State Farm Stadium.

Rookie quarterback Kyler Murray, who the Cardinals drafted No. 1 overall in the 2019 NFL Draft, made his pro debut against the Chargers and looked smooth. Murray completed 6-of-7 passes for 44 yards, his longest completion was a 14-yard short pass to star running back David Johnson.

The 2018 Heiseman Trophy winner is slated to be Arizona’s starter in Week 1 when the Cardinals host the Detroit Lions, so the Cardinals played it safe with its new franchise quarterback who only played one series on the night.

“I was just going out there and being myself, like always. Trusting in my abilities,” Murray said after the game. “I wanted to score. I wanted to go back in. I was definitely itching for more.”

Backup quarterback Brett Hundley saw most of the action following Murray’s exit, completed 10-of-14 passes for 104 yards and a 22-yard touchdown pass to second-year wide receiver Trent Sherfield in the second quarter.

San Francisco 49ers podcast with David Zizmor: Will injuries impact 49ers going into the regular season?; Mullens and Beathard, who will be the backup at QB?

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Photo credit: sfchronicle.com

On the 49ers podcast with David:

#1 What is it with all the injuries? It wasn’t even until the first preseason game and you had lineman Shon Coleman out after the third offensive play of the game with an ankle injury, wide receiver Trent Taylor had surgery on his broken pinkie toe, Taylor could come back from the injury in time for the regular season, running back Raheem Mostert and defensive lineman DJ Jones left at the end of Saturday night’s game Mostert with a concussion and Jones with a knee.

#2 Compare the quarterbacks Nick Mullens, who threw for 11 for 17 for 105 yards, and CJ Beathard, who went 13-17 for 145 yards. Looks like the quarterbacking situation at least for the first preseason game is a good problem to have for head coach Kyle Shanahan.

David does the San Francisco 49ers podcasts each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Barbara Mason: Giants to hoist Clark’s retired #22; Raiders’ Brown agrees to wearing new helmet; plus more

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photo from sfgate.com: Former San Francisco Giants player Will Clark gestures to fans during a ceremony honoring the 1989 World Series team prior to a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, in San Francisco.

On Headline Sports with Barbara:

#1 From that 1989 San Francisco Giants reunion on Sunday night at Oracle Park in San Francisco, former Giants first baseman Will Clark’s number 22 is being retired, Clark hit .303, 2,176 hits, 284 home runs, with 1,205 RBIs in his MLB career.

#2 The Oakland Raiders’ Antonio Brown said he will wear the NFL issued helmet losing the grievance wanted to continue wearing the old helmet that he wore when he was with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The NFL is insisting that all players wear the newly designed helmet that help prevent concussions. Brown said that if he is required to wear the new issued helmet he was going to retire. Brown has had limited play with his frostbite feet holding him back.

#3 Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden said that the Raiders wide receiving depth is as good as it’s ever been with Hunter Renfrow, Tyrell Williams, JJ Nelson, and Antonio Brown. Raider quarterbacks Mike Glennon and Nathan Peterman in preseason are impressed with the receiving core.

#4 The Oakland A’s keep on rolling. They are now 1.5 back of first place for the American League wild card. On Sunday, the A’s kept up their winning ways with a 2-0 win over the Chicago White Sox. A’s pitcher Chris Bassitt started the game and went seven innings, four hits, two walks and seven strikeouts.

#5 While the San Francisco Giants might be out a whopping 19.5 games in the NL West race, their wild card chance improved a whole lot on Sunday with their comeback win over the Philadelphia Phillies at Oracle Park with a 9-6 win. The Giants are now 3.5 games back and had the day off on Monday night.

Join Barbara for Headline Sports each Tuesday night at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Rookies Shine While Injuries and Penalties Concern 49ers in 17-9 Win

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file photo by sfgate.com: San Francisco 49ers quarterback Nick Mullens, right, throws a pass at the team’s NFL football training camp in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, July 29, 2019

By: Joe Lami

SANTA CLARA — Despite sitting nearly 30 players in their pre-season opener, the 49ers couldn’t stay away from the injury bug on Saturday night’s 17-9 win over the Cowboys.

Expected swing lineman, Shon Coleman, went down during San Francisco’s third offensive play of the game. Ruled with an ankle injury, he was put in an air cast and carted off the field.

The injury to the back-up tackle could be a huge storyline this season since he’s listed as the number two to both LT Joe Staley and RT Mike McGlinchey.

Reports also surfaced during the game that wide receiver Trent Taylor had surgery on a broken pinkie toe on Friday. He’s expected to miss the entirety of the pre-season but hopes to come back early in the regular season via a message from Instagram.

Both running back Raheem Mostert and defensive lineman DJ Jones went down for the conclusion of the contest. Mostert suffered a concussion, while Jones went out with a knee.

The battle for the back-up quarterback spot has been highlighted through camp so far. Despite their records, both Nick Mullens and CJ Beathard are neck and neck heading into the first game.

Mullens played the entire first half on Saturday night, throwing 11 of 17 for 105 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. Mullens found third-round rookie Jalen Hurd for the half’s only touchdown. Chalk the interception up to Mullens getting hit during a throw.

CJ Beathard saw the field in the second half. On his first drop back, he was sacked for five yards but fared better as his night went on. Finishing 13 of 17 for 145 yards, Beathard threw a pick and a TD to Hurd.

The Niners defense held up for the most part. Bending at most times but not breaking, they forced the Cowboys to kick three field goals. Dak Prescott started the first drive for Dallas, going four-of-four for 23 yards before stalling and forced to kick a field goal.

Penalties once again remain a concern for the Niners and could be a significant sign of things to come, as they committed 18 penalties for 216 yards. In both seasons under Kyle Shanahan, the 49ers have finished in the bottom third of the NFL in penalties committed and Saturday night was glaring.

Rookie Spotlight

Three rookies made an impression on Saturday night. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw made the immediate impression; tallying five tackles in the first half, including four on Cowboys’ opening drive. His pursuit is noticeable and it’s obvious the fifth-round pick from Arkansas has a nose for the football.

At times, he over pursuits; picking up a roughing the passer penalty after getting to the QB too late. However, on the next play, he continued to show aggressiveness getting a tackle for loss.

Jalen Hurd’s first catch in a 49er uniform found paydirt. After a play-action rollout from Mullens, Hurd broke one tackle and battled through another defender past the goal line. Hurd added his second of the night when Beathard found him in the left corner of the end zone to start the fourth quarter.

After spending three seasons at Tennessee as a running back, Hurd converted to wide receiver while transferring to Baylor. The 6-foot-5-inch receiver has the size and means streak to become San Francisco’s answer to poor red-zone performance.

We saw second-round pick Debo Samuel get the ball once, but the kid can fly. He was able to turn the corner on a jet sweep and pick up 14 yards like it was nothing. In the third quarter, he climbed the ladder on a 45-yard reception hopping over a Cowboys’ DB to make the snag.

He finished for a combined 75 yards on five touches. He will be fun to watch as the pre-season continues.

Glennon, Peterman lead Raiders over Rams in exhibition opener

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sfgate.com photo:  In this June 11, 2019, file photo, Oakland Raiders wide receiver Antonio Brown is shown during an NFL football minicamp in Alameda, Calif. The Raiders and their big personalities like Antonio Brown and Richie Incognito are ready to be stars on HBO’s “Hard Knocks.”

By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
SRS Contributor

OAKLAND — The NFL exhibition season is nothing more than drinking non-alcoholic beer. You’ll be satisfied momentarily by the buzz it creates but in the end, you’re sober again looking for another fix.

With roster spots up for grabs, the first exhibition game can go a long way in determining a player’s long-term future with a football team.

With many of the starters for both the visiting Los Angeles Rams and Oakland Raiders, including starting quarterbacks Jared Goff and Derek Carr respectively not suiting up, Oakland defeated Los Angeles, 14-3, in the exhibition opener for both teams at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on Saturday night.

Seven-year pro Mike Glennon, who signed with Oakland in the offseason after playing for the Arizona Cardinals in 2018, started the game for Oakland over third-year pro Nathan Peterman.

Glennon drove Oakland down the field on their first possession of the game, engineering a six-play, 70-yard drive in 2:45 resulting in a seven-yard touchdown run by backup running back DeAndre Washington for an early 7-0 lead.

But Glennon struggled overall, completing 17-of-25 passes for 200 yards to go along with two interceptions. Glennon’s second interception came in the red zone with Oakland driving down the field.

On the ensuing drive, the Rams would get on the board for the first time behind a 36-yard field goal by kicker Greg Zuerlein to make the score, 7-3, before halftime.

In the second half, Peterman took over the offense and quickly setup Oakland’s second touchdown of the game thanks to his 50-yard run on 3rd down-and-4 from the Raiders’ own 42-yard line moving the football to the Rams’ 8-yard line.

After a five-yard run by running back James Butler that moved the football to the 3-yard line, Peterman found reserve wide receiver Keelan Doss on an in-route for the score to make the game, 14-3, in the third quarter.

Peterman threw for 66 yards on 9-of-12 passes, and led the Raiders in rushing with 56 yards on three carries.

Second-year wide receiver Keon Hatcher, who is fighting for roster spot in a crowded wide receiver room that includes veterans J.J. Nelson and Ryan Grant, caught just two passes for a team-high 45 yards.

Nelson, who is in his first year with the Raiders after spending his first four seasons in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals, finished with 43 yards on two catches.

Grant added three catches for 32 yards.

Defensively, defensive end Arden Key recorded Oakland’s lone sack of the game. The second-year player finished tied with defensive backs Nevin Lawson, D.J. Killings, linebacker Marquel Lee and defensive lineman Anthony Rush with three tackles tonight.

Oakland held Los Angeles to just 190 yards of total offense on the night.

For the Rams, quarterback Blake Bortles started the game for Los Angeles but wasn’t impressive at all.

Bortles, who signed with the Rams in the offseason to be the primary backup to starter Jared Goff after spending his first five years with the Jacksonville Jaguars, completed just 3-of-8 passes for 50 yards on two drives before giving way to Brandon Allen (6-of-12 passing for 34 yards) and John Wolford (6-of-8 passing for a team-high 54 yards).

Rookie running back Darrell Henderson, Jr. led the team in rushing yards with six carries for 13 yards. Second-year wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge led the team with three catches for 48 yards.

The game was filled with penalties as both teams combined for 23 penalties (12 by the Rams, 11 by the Raiders).

Up next: Raiders will take on the Arizona Cardinals in the desert on Thursday night, while the Rams will host the visiting Dallas Cowboys at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum next Saturday night.

Raiders take preseason opener over Rams 14-3

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yahoo.sports.com photo: The Oakland Raiders DeAndre Washington carries for the Raiders Saturday against the Los Angeles Rams at the Oakland Coliseum in the first pre season game of 2019

By Jeremy Kahn

OAKLAND — Even though the game may not count in the standings or the stats, the Oakland Raiders looked good in their first preseason game.

DeAndre Washington scored on the Raiders first series of the game on a seven-yard run, as the Raiders defeated the defending NFC Champion Los Angeles Rams 14-3 before a crowd of 48,715 at the Coliseum.

Washington ended the day with six carries for 24 yards, including that seven-yard touchdown, helping the Raiders to the victory.

Mike Glennon got the start under center for Jon Grudens team, as Derek Carr did not even dress for the Raiders.

Glennon, fighting for the backup spot behind Carr and is in competition with Nathan Peterman, went 17-for-25 for 200 yards; however, Glennon threw two interceptions, including a 39-yard return by Sammie Parker. Kevin Peterman made the pick of Glennons other interception.

Peterman went 9-for-12 in the game, for 66 yards. He also led the Raiders with 56 yards rushing, including a 50-yarder scamper that setup Petermans touchdown pass to Keelan Doss on the first possession of the second half.

James Butler led the Raiders in receptions, as he caught four passes for 25 yards and Alec Ingold also caught four passes.

The Raiders offense in total gained 407 yards, while the Rams offense gained just 190 yards in the 11-point loss.

Rookie Darrell Henderson, Jr., led the Rams with six carries and just 13 yards rushing, while Johnny Wofford led the Rams in passing, as he went 6-for-8 for 54 yards passing.

The big story of this first preseason game was the penalties, as the two teams combined 23 penalties for 222 yards.

NOTES: The Raiders take the field again on Thursday night, as they travel to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Az., to face number one overall pick Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals.

In their opener, the Cardinals defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 17-13 at State Farm Stadium on Friday night.

San Francisco 49ers podcast with Joe Lami: Jimmy G expected to sit out Saturday night’s preseason contest

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Photo credit: @NBCS49ers

On the San Francisco 49ers podcast with Joe Lami:

#1 In this first preseason game on Saturday night, what’s to be expected from 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo?

#2 Garoppolo will not play on Saturday night. Usually in the first preseason game, you see the starter just playing with the other starters in the first quarter.

#3 After the ACL injury and the recovery in camp during 11-11 practices, Garoppolo hasn’t thrown a single pick yet.

#4 For the 49ers opponent, the Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott will team up with Amari Cooper. How important do you see that tandem on Saturday night?

#5 Last season, Prescott had 3885 yards passing, 22 touchdowns, and threw only eight interceptions — one of the best passing records in the NFL last season.

Join Joe Lami for the 49ers podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland Raiders podcast with Joe Hawkes Beamon: Carr might even commute with Gruden after becoming Vegas next door neighbors; Raiders have rough scrimmage against Rams

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Photo credit: @KrisWysong

On the Oakland Raiders podcast with Joe Hawkes Beamon:

#1 Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr has just bought a house near head coach Jon Gruden. This is an indication that Carr might be staying with the silver and black for awhile.

#2 Carr’s purchase makes him a next door neighbor of Gruden’s and getting a cup of sugar just became easier as told by Carr’s brother David to NFL Network.

#3 There were false starts all over the place in scrimmage with the Los Angeles Rams, who are playing the Raiders on Saturday, and it was reported that Carr was not in synch with receivers.

#4 Also, Carr was getting dropped passes and miscommunications in the scrimmage and not a great thing going up against the Rams on this Saturday night.

#5 In scrimmage against the Rams, Gruden said the receivers mishandled a pass and perhaps a game-ending pass. How much concern should Gruden have going into this first preseason game with the Rams after a scrimmage like that?

Joe Hawkes Beamon does the Raiders podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com