Yardbarker: Arnaz Battle

The news of this Wednesday

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:30:43 -0500

Here's the news for a relatively quiet Wednesday here at 4949. - Mike Singletary said rookie Ricky Jean Francois would replace Demetric Evans (shoulder) in the defensive-line rotation. Singletary also said Arnaz Battle and Brandon Jones will battle it out this week for the right to...

Football Outsiders and the 49ers: Team Stats Through Week 7

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 18:00:37 -0500

Welcome back for this week's look at how the 49ers' team stats rank in the NFL according to Football Outsiders (FO).* If you want a less stat-intensive look at 49er rankings, check out Fooch's weekly post on how the team stacks up against the rest of the NFL according to the internet punditocracy. Two things have happened since the last time I posted 49er team stats and rankings. First, they had a bye, meaning that some of their DVOA rankings changed simply by virtue of the N...

Niners players talk about loss to Texans

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 17:30:54 -0500

* * * Alex Smith Q: Did it work to your advantage to be able to watch the first 5 ½ games before getting into a game? Smith: "The last couple years I definitely tried to take advantage. I tried to take advantage of being in meetings. All things you hope that will help you get better." Q: Was there chemistry with Crabtree after working with him during bye week? Smith: "He played really well for a young guy, being here a couple weeks. He really competed. He was up...

49ers hand kick return duties to RB Glen Coffee

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 01:39:07 -0500

Fooch's Note: As small a comment as this was in the Chronicle article, it's obviously worth moving to the front page for discussion. To save space I moved most of the FanPost after the jump. For those wondering, Coffee returned 2 kicks for 25 total yards at Alabama in 2005, but does not appear to have any other kick return experience. Hmmmm...... Not sure if this is posted anywhere else but it says that Glen Coffee will be the kickoff return man. I don't rem...

Golden Nuggets: Bring on the game

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 05:01:41 -0500

Morning everyone. We're just about out of our bye week today, or maybe we were yesterday? Either way the 49ers now have an upcoming game and I can stop looking back on the recent loss and look forward to what should be a good game between the 49ers and the Texans. There's a lot of question marks in that game, from how good this team is to how good the individual units are. What will the change on the offensive line be, and will that cure some woes on offense? How will WR Michael C...

49ers not satisfied with 35-0 victory

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 19:54:55 -0500

The offensive line was not pleased with their performance today against the Rams. Glen Coffee gained just 74 yards on 24 carries (3.1 average), and Hill was sacked four times. "We're not excited just because we won," 49ers tackle Joe Staley said. "We know we have a lot of work to do." Said Singletary, "When it's all said and done, our offensive line will be one of the best lines in the league. I think sometimes we just cheat ourselves out of what we...

Fantasy quick-hitters

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 10:18:17 -0500

Arnaz Battle pushing Josh Morgan for starting job? Morgan has been one of my favorite sleepers, but his preseason has been pretty lackluster though he still holds onto the starting gig. Battle is a guy who always seems to produce in PPR formats, though he’s less of an impact player and more of a possession WR. Willie [...]

49ers training camp battles heading into the stretch

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 10:00:23 -0500

A month ago we did our rundown of training camp battles, adding an additional battle three weeks ago. My how things have changed...Some of the battles have been won and others are no longer really the same battle they were at the beginning of training camp. Additionally I think we can add a battle or two given how things have changed in the past week or so. QuarterbackParticipants: Shaun Hill, Alex SmithWinner: Shaun HillAnd there you have it. Shaun Hill didn't exac...

Battle-tested: 49ers wideout Arnaz Battle keeps plugging away

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 15:27:03 -0500

Arnaz Battle: Harder to kill than Jason, Freddy Krueger and Michael Myers combined

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 10:00:09 -0500

More photos » by Jeff Chiu - AP Browse more photos » One of my favorite 49ers is Arnaz Battle. I realize he's not a superstar receiver, but something about him is appealing to the fan in me. Actually it's multiple somethings. He came out of Notre Dame basically learning a new position (I believe he played some WR at Notre Dame). Not only did he learn the position, but he actually became a...

Fantastic. Michael Crabtree and his entourage are ******* nuts.

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 02:55:00 -0500

Michael Crabtree and his "advisers" are holding out for lots of money and threatening to sit out this year and re-enter the 2010 draft. Arnaz Battle, meanwhile, is still a starting receiver. Here's how the negotiations are going:Niners Camp: Hi, Michael, how are you?Crabtree Brigade: Not good man.Niners Camp: We know you want big bucks. How does No. 10 money sound? Crabtree Brigade: It sounds like Eminem doing an Earth, Wind and Fire cover.Niners Camp: What? Crabtree Brigade: Do...

49ers WR Arnaz Battle Fighting For His Roster Spot?

Sat, 16 May 2009 15:37:10 -0500

Arnaz Battle was the 49ers top wide receiver in 2006 and '07 but he finds himself in a battle for playing time and a roster spot in the final year of...

Updates on Battle, Sims and new 49ers uniforms in 2010?

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 23:18:47 -0500

The reasons why Arnaz Battle didn't make it to OTAs last week. Where Barry Sims will go. News on 49ers and their new uniforms in 2010.

Arnaz Battle missing: should we even worry?

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 12:39:41 -0500

Arnaz Battle of the 49ers has been missing some OTAs time without telling anyone why. Should we even need to worry? I don't think so!

Game Review: Ravens at 49ers

Mon, 08 Oct 2007 11:45:48 -0500

Baltimore went out to San Francisco looking for their first road win of the season. After dominating the first half, but only managing two field goals, they hung on for a 9-7 victory. Breakdown: This game was once again closer than it should have been. The 49ers had just 38 total net yards, one first down, and no net passing yards in the first half. The Ravens held the battle in time of possession. Once again, though, the team struggled in the redzone. There, where they went 0-2, McNair appeared to freeze up. He rushed his throws, failing to exploit man-to-man coverage when given the chance. The Ravens' offense had 198 total net yards in the first half, yet could manage just two field goals. Yes, it is wise to end every series with a kick--an extra point, a field goal or a punt. However, an NFL quarterback is paid to make difficult throws, whether it be splitting two defenders, dropping a pass behind a linebacker and in front of a safety, or giving your receivers a chance to make a play in man-to-man coverage downfield. McNair tried to go deep three times in this game, once resulting in a questionable pass interference call. The other two times he was wildly off the mark, too cautious with his passes. In one instance, he had Williams on a deep post pattern with the defender three steps in front of the receiver. McNair had plenty of time in the pocket and chose to "chicken out", deciding to throw the ball out of the endzone. On the play, the safety had vacated the middle and the linebackers had taken short drops. All McNair had to do was take a little "mustard" off of the throw and allow Williams to come back for the pass. At the very least, he should have given him a chance. In another instance, McNair had Williams deep down the left sideline, three steps in front of the defender. Once again, the safety on that side was in another area and, instead of throwing the ball in the field of play where Williams had a real chance to make the catch, McNair chose to throw it out of bounds. There were several other occurrences when the defense was in man-to-man coverage, where the receiver had position and McNair had time. Unfortunately, he only chose to check down to other receivers, making the "safe" pass. Fans might want to jump on the playcalling; however, if the quarterback is unwilling to challenge man-to-man coverage downfield, the playcalling is not the issue. This team could realistically be undefeated right now, if the offense could simply find the endzone. In every game that McNair has started this season, he has moved the team quite well "between the twenties," but has locked onto receivers in the endzone, failing to finish off drives. Either McNair regains his courage to throw downfield, or a change at the position is warranted. This team cannot continue to struggle in the redzone, or dink-and-dunk its way down the field, only to settle for field goals. Defensively, this was almost a perfect game. Outside of two plays, they simply imposed their will against a lesser opponent, controlling the line of scrimmage. Some will place blame on Chris McAlister for the 23-yard touchdown to Arnaz Battle; however, McAlister had perfect position, turned the receiver to the middle--where he was supposed to have help. Scott failed to get a deep enough drop to clog the passing lane, though, to possibly prevent the perfectly placed pass. Derrick Martin was simply beat by a faster man one play earlier, on the 42-yard strike to set up the score. Players are paid to make exceptional plays, and the 49ers did (twice)--unlike the Ravens' offense. More on the site-