Tag: NFL

Niners kick off 2019 campaign, but questions remain

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Photo credit: sacbee.com

By Jeremy Harness

The 49ers will head to Tampa to open the season, against a beatable opponent in the Buccaneers, but there a few things that will need to be answered.

The first thing is whether or not the defense will be better. On paper, it appears they are poised to make a big stride. The 49ers drafted defensive end Nick Bosa with the second overall pick, but he missed all of the preseason with a high ankle sprain. However, he practice in a limited fashion Wednesday and appears to be on track to play Sunday afternoon.

Meanwhile, free agent pickup Dee Ford, a fellow pass rusher, practiced in full on Wednesday, and he is expected to be on the field to face the Bucs offense.

With these two on the field, the 49ers pass rush should be considerably better than it was in 2018, but now it’s time to show it on the field.

The 49ers have bolstered the running back position in the offseason by picking up Tevin Coleman, and as it turns out, he will be counted on more than was expected at the beginning of training camp.

That’s because Jerick McKinnon, who missed all of last season with a torn ACL, suffered a major complication with the same knee, and he has since been placed on season-ending injured reserve, meaning that the man the 49ers so coveted will go two full seasons without playing in a single regular-season game.

The team still has depth at the position, with Coleman and Matt Breida expected to split the carries, while Raheem Mostert, who had a breakout game against Oakland last season before breaking his forearm in the same game, will back them up and is expected to play mostly on special teams.

The 49ers have more injury issues, as receiver Jalen Hurd is dealing with a back problem, and he has been ruled out of Week 1 and could miss a few more weeks. Receiver Trent Taylor will also be out of Week 1, as he is nursing a foot injury.

Center Weston Richburg (knee) and receiver Dante Pettis (groin) practiced in a limited fashion Wednesday, but their status for Sunday’s game is uncertain.

Headline Sports podcast with London Marq: Raiders’ Peterman replaced by former Packer QB Kizer; Elliott says he’ll be ready for Week 1 with Dallas; plus more

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Photo credit: sports.yahoo.com

On Headline Sports podcast with London:

#1 The Oakland Raiders lost third-string quarterback Nathan Peterman to an elbow injury the injury so bad that Peterman will be out for eight weeks bringing him back at the earliest at the end of October.

#2 The Raiders signed quarterback DeShone Kizer who was just released by the Green Bay Packers after the last preseason game, Kizer was the fourth-string quarterback. The Raiders picked up Kizer just after he was released and after it was confirmed by team doctors that Peterman would be out eight weeks with the elbow.

#3 London talks about how important it is for the Dallas Cowboys to sign Ezekiel Elliott and that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says as soon as a deal is reached, the Cowboys look forward to putting Ezekiel in the line up this weekend against the New York Giants.

#4 For the second consecutive game, the San Jose Earthquakes are in the win column. The Quakes got a shutout against Orlando City FC and won convincingly 3-0. How important is a game like this to boost the Quakes’ morale after going without a win in three previous games before winning two straight?

#5 Chris Wondolowski on Saturday extended his league-leading goal total to 157 goals scoring his 20th goal of the season. A remarkable career and a remarkable season.

London Marq does Headline Sports each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco 49ers podcast with David Zizmor: Who do you believe? Jimmy G says bad passes were intentional; Will Brady come to 49ers?

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Photo credit: mercurynews.com

On the 49ers podcast with David:

#1 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo said he threw bad passes for incompletions intentionally. Is that something that is believable or something just to keep the press quiet about his misses during some of the practices?

#2 Is it totally crazy to consider New England quarterback Tom Brady to become a San Francisco 49er? This is what Brady friend and former teammate Chris Long wrote about in the August edition of Sports Illustrated and the idea is still reverberating today.

David Zizmor is a co-host for Sportstalk podcasts and does the  49ers podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: A’s open homestand Tuesday night against LA hoping to hang onto wild card hopes; Panda gets ready for Tommy John surgery after send off; plus more

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Photo credit: bleacherreport.com

On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast:

#1 The Kansas City Royals challenged the A’s when they were at Kaufman Stadium and so did the New York Yankees to conclude the road trip. Even through the pit falls, the A’s are only a 1/2 game out for a wild card berth. This thing could go right down to the end of the season?

#2 Pablo Sandoval, the man that San Francisco fans call the Panda, took a curtain call hitting for as a pinch-hitter on Sunday in the seventh inning in what can be considered the Panda’s last game in San Francisco. Sandoval played numerous positions for the Giants and will be having Tommy John surgery.

#3 The Houston Astros continued to prove their a force to be reckoned with after their starter Justin Verlander threw his third career no-hitter against the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday. It was the second time that Verlander threw a no-hitter at the Rogers Centre in Toronto.

#4. The Oakland Raiders get to open the season at the Coliseum against the Denver Broncos for Monday Night Football. The Raiders had a successful preseason and head coach Jon Gruden is confident about the team going into week 1.

#5 This is the Raiders’ last season at the Coliseum. Gruden certainly wants it to be a great send off for the Raiders and wants to drive them to a postseason that could get them to the AFC Championship to the finally the Super Bowl. He would love to bring a trophy to Oakland for the final year there.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez is the Oakland A’s Spanish play-by-play announcer heard on KIQI 1010 San Francisco. Also, join Amaury for That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland Raiders podcast with Joe Hawkes Beamon: Peterman wins backup job, looks sharp against Seahawks on Thursday Night Football

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sfgate.com photo: Seattle Seahawks tight end Jacob Hollister (48) scores a touchdown after a reception as he is tackled by Oakland Raiders’ Te’Von Coney, left, and Jordan Richards, right, during the first half of an NFL football preseason game Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019, in Seattle.

On the Raiders podcast with Joe Hawkes:

#1 It was preseason, but there were no giveaways in this contest at Centurylink Field in Seattle on Thursday Night Football as the Seattle Seahawks edged the Oakland Raiders 17-15. Players on both sides were working and fighting for jobs that later will see a roster trimmed down in half.

#2 For Raiders backup quarterback Nathan Peterman, he worked his way to the backup job throwing 20-27 for 158 yards. Peterman did have an impressive preseason.

#3 Third stringer Mike Glennon went 9-13 and 78 yards. Head coach Jon Gruden said after the Raiders third preseason game in Winnipeg, he will be going with three quarterback Derek Carr, Peterman and Glennon.

#4 Carr stayed back in Oakland with the rest of the Raiders starters and got rest before the Raiders open the season on Monday Night Football on September 9th at the Oakland Coliseum.

#5 Joe talks about from he’s seen how ready are the Raiders for opening night as they host the Denver Broncos.

Joe Hawkes has complete coverage of Raiders football and follow his podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco 49ers podcast with Joe Lami: Shanahan reviews backup quarterbacks in 49ers’ last preseason game

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sfgate.com photo: San Francisco 49ers’ Jeff Wilson Jr. (41) scores against the Los Angeles Chargers during the first half of an NFL preseason football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019.

On the 49ers podcast with Joe:

#1 It’s only preseason but on Thursday Night Football, both teams were clawing and scratching to get a win in a game that the San Diego Chargers had a three-point lead 27-24 on the San Francisco 49ers. How impressed were you with the work the 49ers put out?

#2 The 49ers used Wilton Speight, C.J. Beathard and Nick Mullens at quarterback. Was head coach Kyle Shanahan just trying to get confirmation on whose going to be the backup and evaluate who really looks good in the final preseason game?

#3 Wilton Speight threw for 51 yards going 6-13. Does he have a shot to make the team in some capacity?

#4 CJ Beathard went 6-9 for 58 yards and one touchdown and Nick Mullens went 1-3 for 13 yards. The numbers don’t say much, but it’s most likely these two will wind up being starter Jimmy Garoppolo’s backups.

#5 Talk about running back Jerrick McKinnon’s ACL tear — that will be his third setback during his recovery. The 49ers signed him for $30 million.

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

Smith leads Seahawks to exhibition victory 17-15

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Photo credit: @AroundTheNFL

By Jeremy Kahn

With their last exhibition game of 2019 season, the Oakland Raiders faced an old AFC West rival in a road game.

Geno Smith threw two touchdown passes in the first half, helping the Seattle Seahawks to a 17-15 victory over the Raiders at CenturyLink Field.

Smith, who played his college ball at West Virginia will most likely make the Seahawks and will be the backup to Russell Wilson.

Terry Wright was on the receiving end of Smiths first touchdown pass, as he snared a 39-yard pass from the right-handed veteran.

Jacob Hollister caught the final touchdown pass from Smith, as he was on the receiving end of a 11-yard toss.

All in all, Smith went 4-for-7 for 107 yards and those two touchdowns for the Seahawks and head coach Pete Carroll.

Mike Glennon started the finale, and went 9-for-13 for 78 yards and the Raiders ended up with a field goal on one of his drives.

Nathan Peterman went 20-for-27 for 158 yards, as he helped the Raiders get back into the game, when James Butler scored on a three-yard touchdown run; however, Peterman was sacked by Branden Jackson on the two-point attempt with 103 seconds remaining.

The Raiders were unable to secure the onside kick, and the Seahawks spoiled the Raiders attempt at an undefeated 2019 preseason.

UP NEXT: With the exhibition season now over, the Raiders will get ready for their 60th season opener against the Denver Broncos on Monday September 9, at the Coliseum. Game time will be at 7:20 p.m. on ESPN.

49ers fall to Chargers 27-24, but bubble guys show flashes

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sfgate.com photo: San Francisco 49ers quarterback C.J. Beathard rolls out to pass against the Los Angeles Chargers during the first half of an NFL preseason football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019.

By Jeremy Harness

SANTA CLARA – The 49ers lost their final preseason game of the year, 27-24 to the Los Angeles Chargers, but really, the night was about guys trying to make the team getting one last chance to put some good tape out there.

One of those guys is running back Jeff Wilson Jr., and on Thursday, he ran like he wanted that roster spot. He was the focal point of the team’s second drive, and to cap it off, he made an almost Walter Payton-esque cutback across the field to his right and got a kinda-sorta block from quarterback C.J Beathard on his way to a 41-yard touchdown that gave the 49ers a 7-6 lead near the end of the first quarter.

One quarter later, he also made a nice catch of a pass from Beathard that was at around his knees and was also behind him and converted it into a first down.

After an opening-drive field goal for the Chargers, D.J Reed Jr. took the ensuing kickoff and returned it 56 yards into Charger territory. Reed, who is a backup corner, is thought of as a guy who can play multiple corner positions – outside as well as in the slot – and with his special-teams playmaking ability, that should bolster his chances of making the 53-man roster that will suit up in Tampa for Week 1 of the regular season.

Dre Greenlaw is another guy who flashed on Thursday, and looks like he has solidified his spot on the team as a linebacker. After Damontre Moore whiffed on a sack attempt early in the second quarter, Greenlaw tracked Chargers quarterback Cardale Jones down and stood him up for a five-yard loss, to go along with a very nice open-field tackle on the first drive of the game.

Otherwise, the 49ers’ defense looked listless in the first half, regularly giving up chunk plays down the field before the Chargers were able to punch it in from point-blank range, eventually taking a 20-7 lead late in the second quarter.

The one things that has kept Kendrick Bourne from securing a spot on the roster has been his case of the drops, and that showed up the first time he was thrown to on Thursday, as he ran a nice crossing pattern but let the pass clank off his hands, taking away a first down.

However, he cashed in on the next opportunity he got, with a minute left in the first half. As Beathard eluded the Charger rush, he overthrew his intended target. But like a good backstop, Bourne was there to make a sliding catch in the end zone, the 21-yard touchdown cutting LA’s lead to 20-14.

NOTES: Prior to Thursday’s game, the 49ers released linebacker Malcolm Smith, who had spent most of his tenure with the team on the sidelines with assorted injuries, most notably a torn pectoral muscle that kept him out for the entire 2017 season.

The team also waived offensive linemen Willie Beavers and Dillon Day. The 49ers turned around and signed corner Chris Campbell, running back Brandon Wilds and receiver Nick Williams, who had a pair of catches in the third quarter.

UP NEXT: The 49ers take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, Sept. 8 at 1:25 p.m. Game will be broadcast on FOX.

Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria: Will Carr see some time on Thursday Night Football in Seattle?; A’s drop two in KC, hang onto wild card; plus more

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sfgate photo: Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr gets ready for the team’s NFL preseason football game against the Green Bay Packers on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019, in Winnipeg, Manitoba

Headline Sports podcast with Tony R:

#1 The Raiders have won three pre season games does that indicate much or it really doesn’t show much the real test will be on week 1.

#2 The Raiders conclude pre season play in Seattle at Centurylink how much time will quarterback Derek Carr get in Thursday Night Football.

#3 The Oakland A’s held onto second place in the AL Wild Card despite losing two out of the three to the Kansas City Royals. The Royals are a struggling team were the A’s an exhausted team going into Kansas City or the Royals just geared up and played up to the level.

#4 The Golden State Warriors opened up their new arena Chase Center for the press on Tuesday and the nuances showed corporate sponsored bars, parking garage, and corporate concessions. The Warriors play their first game in their new arena on Oct 24th against the Los Angeles Lakers.

#5 With former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck retiring from pro football due to injuries was the fans booing him at the Colts last pre season game after he announced his retirement. Was the reason for the booing that Luck bailed with just two weeks left in pre season and abandon his team or were these ignorant fans who don’t recognize that Luck can no longer continue because of pain.

Tony R does Headline Sports each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Raiders wrap up the 2019 exhibition season in Seattle on Thursday

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Photo credit: @Raiders

By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
SRS Contributor

Raider Nation, we have finally come to the end of the 2019 exhibition. The Silver and Black will play their final game of the exhibition season in Seattle Thursday night against the Seahawks. With no starters expected to play on both sides, this game will showcase players fighting for roster spots who want to put on a good showing for the coaches.

Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. PDT from CenturyLink Field.

Oakland is looking to close out the exhibition season undefeated. Last week, the Raiders needed a 33-yard field goal from kicker Daniel Carlson as time expired to edge the Green Bay Packers, 22-21, in a bizarre game that featured an 80-yard field for player safety.

End zones were marked by bright orange pylons at the 10-yard lines and there were no kickoffs. The field was reconfigured because of concerns about the areas where the goal posts for the CFL’s Winnipeg franchise were removed and covered with turf.

The game was actually a home game for the Raiders, who decided to move one of their two home games in the exhibition season to Winnipeg in a move that would save the team $500,000 in rent at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

Oakland is set to move to Las Vegas in 2020.

Quarterback Nathan Peterman, who is in a close battle with Mike Glennon to be the primary backup to starter Derek Carr, threw a pair of touchdowns, including a 17-yard strike to wide receiver De’Mornay Pierson-El in the fourth quarter to cut the Green Bay’s lead to 21-19. Peterman’s 2-point conversion attempt was intercepted.

Peterman, who took over for Glennon after the first quarter, finished 23-of-37 for 210 yards in three quarters. Glennon, who struggled in his appearance against the Packers, completed 4-of-9 passes for just 38 yards.

Seattle picked up their second win of the exhibition season last week, defeating the Chargers, 23-15, in Los Angeles.

Seahawks starting quarterback Russell Wilson looked ready for the regular season to begin, leading Seattle on two touchdown drives before calling it a night. The eight-year veteran completed 6-of-9 passes for 73 yards. Wilson also rushed for 31 yards.