The Gold Standard: San Francisco 49ers Podcast Network

This week, we take a look back at our interview with Zac Robinson, now the assistant quarterbacks coach with the LA Rams. Back in 2018, while an analyst with Pro Football Focus, Zac joined us to talk all things quarterback. Just how tough is it for a quarterback to pick up the West Coast system? What does Jimmy Garoppolo need to do to improve? And what should you be looking for when trying to eval...

On this week’s episode of the Better Rivals podcast, our rewatch series continues with a look back at the final game of the Bill Walsh Era, Super Bowl 23. What was the state of the 49ers entering a 1988 season that wasn’t as smooth sailing as you’d typically expect from an eventual Super Bowl champion?(10:47) Why was this game as close as it was entering the fourth quarter?(23:12) And what was the...

On this week’s episode of the Better Rivals podcast, we hop in our DeLorean and take a look back at the 1994 NFC Championship Game between the 49ers and Cowboys. Why was this game so important?(7:50) What stands out most re-watching it 25 years later?(19:27) And what turning points could’ve drastically altered the way we view this game today?(39:14) All that, plus the players who would best transl...

On this week’s episode of the Better Rivals podcast, it’s late-May on the NFL calendar which means we’re touching on everything from 49ers’ OTA storylines that probably won’t matter to our musings on the latest pop-culture happenings in our lives. What did Jimmie Ward do to wrong the injury gods so?(1:08) Is Tarvarius Moore’s potential move to FS a good thing? AND WHO IS PLAYING SAM?(8:16) All tha...

On this week’s episode of the Better Rivals podcast, we open up the mailbag to answer all of your 49ers questions as we try to get through the dead of the offseason. How do things shake out in the secondary?(6:30) What was our favorite move of the offseason?(30:00) And seriously, what is going on with all of the injuries in recent seasons?(45:32) All that, plus the team signs another Stanford play...

On this week’s episode of the Better Rivals podcast Oscar welcomes Eric Eager, Data Scientist at Pro Football Focus, to discuss his data study on the impact of coverage versus pass rush. Which defensive area is ultimately more important? Were there any surprising findings? And what does this all mean for team building? All that plus backyard burgers, queso, and the case of the missing George.   Le...

Niners Nation editor Kyle Posey chats with Frisman Jackson, Jalen Hurd's position coach at Baylor.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week’s episode of the Better Rivals podcast, we wrap up our coverage of the 2019 NFL draft with thoughts on San Francisco’s Day 3 selections and our takeaways with a third Lynchahan offseason in the books. What was our overall feeling about the 49ers’ draft?(1:15) Where did they find the most value?(20:35) And did we learn anything new about the team with the way they approached this draft...

On this special edition draft episode of the Better Rivals podcast, we cover all you need to know about the pair of wide receivers San Francisco added on day two of the NFL draft. How does Deebo Samuel compare to the type of wide receivers we know Shanahan prefers?(1:13) What does Jalen Hurd bring to the table that the 49ers don’t currently have?(21:58) And where do we hope the 49ers are looking o...

On this week’s episode of the Better Rivals podcast, the draft is finally here! As expected, San Francisco selected edge defender Nick Bosa from Ohio State and we go deep on all you need to know about the newest 49er. How does his athletic profile and production stack up with his peers?(1:05) Where does he win as a pass rusher?(10:38) And how does he fit in with the rest of San Francisco’s defensi...

SB Nation pulled all of its top NFL bloggers together to help create a mock draft and predict what might happen at the 2019 NFL Draft. Listen to hear where college football’s top stars could end up! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week’s episode of the Better Rivals podcast, we put a bow on our draft preview by taking a closer look at some of your draft crushes and outlining our preferred plan when things get real next week. Of the top safeties in this class, which do we like the most?(9:49) Which cornerback snuck onto our radar and won our hearts late in the process?(27:25) And if the 49ers have to take a linebacke...

On this week’s episode of the Better Rivals podcast, we wade through a deep wide receiver draft class to try and zero in on the prospects who could be on the 49ers’ radar come draft time.(6:55) How badly do the 49ers really need a big-bodied wideout?(16:03) Should they be looking to add more speed to their wide receiver corps?(33:07) And which prospects make their money with separation?(40:38) All...

The new editor of Niners Nation, Kyle Posey, joins Oscar to react to the 49ers selection for the SB Nation mock draft.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week’s episode of the Better Rivals podcast, we put the microscope on this draft’s cornerback class. What type of players are the 49ers looking for at the position? (10:18) Who are the best cornerbacks in this class and where do we expect them to come off the board? (23:09) And who are some names to keep an eye on later in the draft if they don’t go corner in round one? (37:04) All that, p...

On this week’s episode of the Better Rivals podcast, our attention shifts to the draft and the class of edge rushers. Is it Nick Bosa or bust with the No. 2 pick?(17:04) If Bosa isn’t available, what options should the 49ers be considering at at the top of the draft?(33:59) And who are some names to keep an eye on later in the draft that could provide some pass-rush help?(57:49) All that, plus wra...

On this week’s episode of the Better Rivals podcast, the free agency frenzy is upon us and whew buddy is there a lot to talk about. Will the 49ers themselves or their opponents feel the Wrath of Kwon?(22:26) Was trading for Dee Ford the right move at edge?(34:00) And, most importantly, are the 49ers valuing the right things in year three of the Lynchahan era?(10:19) All that, plus missing out on O...

On this week’s episode of the Better Rivals podcast, free agency is nearly upon us and it’s time to lay out our preferred plan of attack. Which player options should the 49ers pick up?(9:34) Are we in or out on some recent additions to the free-agent market?(17:10) And most importantly, which positions should the 49ers be focused on when the dollars start flying next week?(26:57) All that, plus on...

On this week’s episode of the Better Rivals podcast, our attention turns to the offensive side of the ball in our free agency preview. Are any of the free agent wideouts an improvement over what the 49ers already have on the roster?(15:39) What sort of trade packages would they realistically be looking at to bring in a player like Antonio Brown or Odell Beckham Jr.?(27:20) And should the team be s...

On this week’s episode of the Better Rivals podcast, we look to the defensive side of the ball to kick off our free agency preview. In a strong class for edge rushers, who has caught our eye?(11:00) How much would you pay Earl Thomas and are there other quality options if you miss out?(37:35) And is there anyone available to bolster a lackluster 49ers linebacking corps?(48:09) All that, the insani...

On this week’s episode of the Better Rivals podcast, we wrap up our evaluation of the current 49ers roster by identifying the team’s very best, core players. How are we feeling about our incumbent Tier 1 players after another season?(17:28) Which players make their debut in the top tier?(24:46) And what are our major takeaways after going through the entire roster?(37:24) All that, plus thoughts o...

On this week’s episode of the Better Rivals podcast, we continue our evaluation of the 49ers roster by looking at Tier 2 and Tier 3 players in our roster model. Which players do we think are on their way out in the near future? Which players do we expect to play a significant role on the next good 49ers team? And what happened to the core of the roster we thought we had last year? All that, plus c...

On this week’s episode of the Better Rivals podcast, the roster model returns as we begin to take stock of the current shape of the 49ers roster before looking ahead to the offseason and how it should change. What is the model and why is it useful? Which position on the roster is in most need of an overhaul? And which position could most benefit from improved development this offseason? Learn more...

On this week’s episode of the Better Rivals podcast, The Athletic’s Matt Barrows joins to discuss the new additions to the 49ers coaching staff, and address those pesky Antonio Brown rumors. Plus, Matt discusses his excellent story detailing the oral history of the 49ers thrilling Divisional Playoff win against the New Orleans Saints (26:00) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.c...

On this week’s episode of the Better Rivals podcast, it’s time to put a bow on the 2018 season and attempt to answer the questions we had entering the season. How did the revamped offensive line come together? What happened with the pass coverage? And did the 49ers manage to improve their ability to rush the passer? All that, plus we hand out some year-end superlatives, talk Robert Saleh’s evoluti...