A Press Democrat Blog

Overtime

Ted Sillanpaa looks at the San Francisco Giants, other Bay Area sports and gives a dad's-eye view of Empire prep and youth sports trends

Is everybody insane? Harbaugh has accomplished amazing things with 49ers

Wednesday, at 2:13 by

By TED SILLANPAA I’ve read that Jim Harbaugh is just a little too cocky given that he hasn’t really accomplished anything particularly special coaching the 49ers. I read somewhere, and can’t remember where, that he hasn’t done anything “great” in his two season in San Francisco. In a society of sports fans and media members that use the word “great” far too quickly and often when it’s not merited, who on earth can say that Harbaugh getting what was a horrible… Read More »

Is everyone insane? Kaepernick called audible on the last play

Wednesday, at 2:05 by

By TED SILLANPAA Quick hitter…tired of the Super Bowl and tired in general. But, I’m still hearing 49ers’ fans and members of the media criticize the play-calling on the final series inside the goal line against the Ravens. Where were the running plays? Well, was fixing to run a misdirection play around left end, with Frank Gore lead blocking, when Jim Harbaugh saw the play clock running out and called timeout. I’ve not seen or heard any gas-bag writer or… Read More »

49ers’ Harbaugh did youngsters no harm

Monday, at 8:10 by

By TED SILLANPAA I spent Sunday in the last place on this planet that I would spend even one second considering about the outcome of Super Bowl XLVII. I was done with the Ravens’ win over the 49ers before the confetti finished falling to the Superdome turf. When I plugged back into the world on Monday around noon, a sports talk radio guest appeared on a station out of Sacramento to explain that 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh had spent… Read More »

49ers’ Harbaugh knows winning really is everything

Sunday, at 11:44 by

By TED SILLANPAA Jim Harbaugh was nothing more to me than a football coach who turned the 49ers around, led them to consecutive NFC Championship games. While members of the media who try to deal with him do nothing but complain about his bullying, all I really thought about was that the Niners started winning again when Harbaugh showed up. The 49ers led the Falcons 28-24 with 3 minutes, 53 seconds in the fourth quarter Sunday. It was third down-and-2.… Read More »

49ers Kaepernick Might Be One of a Kind

Monday, at 4:06 by

By TED SILLANPAA 49ers’ quarterback Colin Kaepernick is getting national media attention for kissing his own biceps after he scores a touchdown, but he should be getting it for being an other-worldly quarterback prospect. It seems silly to consider him a prospect after his record-setting playoff performance against the Packers, but he is still a work in progress … an amazing work in progress. Kaepernick is making it clear that even the most prominent, knowledgable NFL analysts don’t know what… Read More »

Make judgments today about 49ers, Packers

Wednesday, at 3:27 by

By TED SILLANPAA Everyone will have an opinion on the quality of the 49ers play-calling and the direction the club is taking in the Jim Harbaugh era … after Saturday’s NFC playoff game against the Packers. Then, it’ll be easy to spit out results-based opinion. So, let’s agree on a few things right now. Colin Kaepernick is the best quarterback for these 49ers. Harbaugh had this game in mind when he replaced Alex Smith with Kaepernick. Kaepernick earned the No.… Read More »

49ers’ offense: Slumping or sliding downhill?

Monday, at 2:52 by

By TED SILLANPAA The 49ers won’t be changing quarterbacks again any time soon, nor should they. Fans, thus, should simply hope that an offense that has averaged 15 points the last two games is just slumping, as opposed to trending wildly downward. Colin Kaepernick was fine at quarterback. He offset mistakes with big plays. The idea of returning to Alex Smith is nonsensical. The last thing the club needs after Kaepernick has settled in for three games is to put the… Read More »

It’s official: Kaepernick will start on Sunday

Wednesday, at 2:12 by

By TED SILLANPAA The 49ers announced Wednesday morning that Colin Kaepernick will start at quarterback in Sunday’s game in St. Louis against the Rams. Since there’s nothing, really, for head coach Jim Harbaugh to explain … no mind-bending explanation about how starter Alex Smith won’t be starting has yet been given. Really, though, it would be great to hear Harbaugh follow up Monday’s media conference explanation where he called Smith the “starter,” adding that Kaepernick’s not the “backup” because he,… Read More »

49ers will win with either QB; most just don’t want it to be Smith

Monday, at 8:42 by

By TED SILLANPAA It’s difficult to imagine my having more completely misjudged Colin Kaepernick’s ability to win as the 49ers’ quarterback. I didn’t think he was ready. He’s ready. (There’s no way to offer a mea culpa without giving the impression this is about me. It’s not about me. Honest.) Kaepernick turned in an electrifying effort in his first start in beating the Chicago Bears, then turned in a serviceable performance in  Sunday’s start and victory over the New Orleans… Read More »

49ers’ Harbaugh need not be our pal

Monday, at 7:34 by

By TED SILLANPAA I’m on Twitter (@TedSillanpaa) and, thus, remain amazed at media types who feel that we’re interested in their view of the type man they believe 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh to be.  I could be an outlier among 49ers’ fans, but as long as the club’s winning, I know all I need to know about Harbaugh. If they start losing, all I need to know is how he plans to get them winning again. The folks who… Read More »