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  • Thu., Aug. 08, 2013 6:00PM - 9:30PM PDT 49ers vs. Broncos -The game will mark the 35th preseason contest between the two teams, with Denver holding an 18-16 edge over San Francisco. During last year’s preseason matchup in Denver, the 49ers defeated the Broncos 29-24.
    -This will mark Denver’s first preseason trip to Candlestick Park since 2009 when the 49ers edged the Broncos 17-16.
  • Fri., Aug. 16, 2013 5:00PM - 8:30PM PDT 49ers at Chiefs -The 49ers and Chiefs have met nine times in the preseason. San Francisco leads the all-time series 6-3.
    -San Francisco has won the past two preseason contests. In the last meeting, during the 2003 preseason, the 49ers won 24-6 at Kansas City.
  • Sun., Aug. 25, 2013 5:00PM - 8:30PM PDT 49ers vs. Vikings -It marks the eighth time the 49ers and Vikings have met in the preseason.
    -The 49ers lead the all-time preseason series 4-3 and are 2-0 against the Vikings at home during the preseason.
    -The 49ers have won the past two contests, which were both played at Candlestick Park, a 17-6 win last season and a 15-10 victory in 2010.
  • Thu., Aug. 29, 2013 7:00PM - 10:30PM PDT 49ers at Chargers -It marks the 27th consecutive year in which the two teams have met in the preseason.
    -San Francisco leads preseason series 21-20 after the 49ers won, 35-3, at Candlestick Park last preseason.
    -It marks the 23rd preseason matchup in San Diego, with the Chargers holding a 16-8 series advantage at home.
  • Sun., Sep. 08, 2013 1:25PM - 4:25PM PDT 49ers vs. Packers In what will mark the team’s final season at Candlestick Park, the 49ers open the 2013 campaign by facing playoff teams from 2012 in four of the first five weeks, starting with the Green Bay Packers on September 8. This marks the second consecutive season that the 49ers and Packers have met in Week 1. Last season, San Francisco defeated Green Bay in two contests, 30-22 on the road in Week 1, and 45-31 at home in the NFC Divisional round of the playoffs. The 49ers overall record against the Packers is 28-34-1, including 17-11-1 at home.
  • Sun., Sep. 15, 2013 5:30PM - 8:30PM PDT 49ers at Seahawks San Francisco travels to division-rival Seattle to face the Seahawks in prime time on Sunday night. The overall series is tied at 14 games apiece, but under head coach Jim Harbaugh, the 49ers are 3-1 versus Seattle. The teams split the 2012 series, with each team winning on their home field.
  • Sun., Sep. 22, 2013 1:25PM - 4:25PM PDT 49ers vs. Colts On September 22, San Francisco will host the Indianapolis Colts for the first time since 2005. The 49ers are 18-24 overall against the Colts, including an 11-10 record at home. The Colts defeated the 49ers, 18-14, in the teams’ last meeting in Indianapolis, in 2009.
  • Thu., Sep. 26, 2013 5:25PM - 8:25PM PDT 49ers at Rams The Niners will have a short week as they will travel to St. Louis for a Thursday night, NFL Network showdown with the Rams on September 26. The overall series is split at 62-62-3, and 31-31-1 on the road. Both contests last season went into overtime, with the Rams winning, 16-13, in St. Louis, and the teams tying, 24-24, in San Francisco.
  • Sun., Oct. 06, 2013 5:30PM - 8:30PM PDT 49ers vs. Texans San Francisco faces the Houston Texans on Sunday night October 6, in front of a national audience on NBC. It marks the third prime time appearance through the first five weeks of the regular season for the 49ers. This will be only Houston’s second trip ever to Candlestick Park in the regular season, and their first since the 49ers won 20-17 in overtime, in 2005.
  • Sun., Oct. 13, 2013 1:25PM - 4:25PM PDT 49ers vs. Cardinals The second game of the back-to-back home-stand will be on October 13 vs. the Arizona Cardinals. San Francisco owns a 26-17 overall record against the Cardinals, including a 15-8 mark at home. In the 2012 regular season finale, San Francisco won 27-13, clinching the NFC West Division title for the 19th time in franchise history. The Niners have compiled a 7-1 record versus Arizona over the past eight games.
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Camp Preview: Specialists

Posted Jul 19, 2012

Taylor Price 49ers.com Goal Posts Blog

The San Francisco 49ers are set for training camp to begin at the end of the month. But before the team can defend its NFC West division crown this upcoming season, let’s take a look at the depth of each position group on the roster as they prepare for camp. Specialists close our series out.

OVERVIEW

How much of an impact did the 49ers special teams units have in 2011? For one, the group picked up a theme song (Future’s “Tony Montana”), broke two major NFL records (most made field goals in a season and lowest single-season net punting average) and had three representatives named to the 2012 Pro Bowl (Andy Lee, David Akers and Brian Jennings). The respected veterans enter training camp as one of the league’s top specialist trios in the league. They’ll be together for some time, too. Lee signed a six-year contract extension that’ll keep the three-time Pro Bowler in a 49ers uniform through the 2018 season. The timing of the extension proved how much the talented punter was valued in San Francisco. And while the team’s offseason program wasn’t as strenuous on tenured specialists with Pro Bowl pedigrees, the trio found ways to improve within their respective crafts. For Jennings, the offseason was a time to focus on refining his snapping mechanics in time for his 13th season in San Francisco. Akers, too, worked on his mechanics and did so while moonlighting as a youth soccer coach. Last season was certainly a whirlwind of an experience for the longtime Philadelphia Eagles kicker, who signed with the 49ers prior to training camp with the intent of winning his first Super Bowl. Akers connected on 44 field goals, a league record, and converted at least one made field goal in every regular season and postseason contest. Both Lee and Akers owe a great deal of their success to the steady snaps provided by Jennings, the longest tenured player on the 49ers roster. The trio also relied heavily on the team’s fast and physical coverage units which were the only group in the NFL to not allow a single return touchdown all season. In the return game, Ted Ginn Jr. figures to be one of the top choices for special teams coordinator Brad Seely. The team utilized several young athletes (Kyle Williams, Perrish Cox, Kendall Hunter, Chris Culliver, to name a few) at both kick returner and punt returner during the team's offseason program.

DEPTH

RETURNERS: Andy Lee (ninth season), David Akers, (14th season, second in San Francisco), Brian Jennings (13th season). NEWCOMERS: Kyle Nelson (first season) and Giorgio Tavecchio (undrafted, California).

The 49ers brought in Nelson and Tavecchio to develop depth at their respective positions and to help split up the training camp reps at the specialist positions. However, the pair of understudies will likely gain valuable playing experience in the preseason. Nelson has also practiced with the tight ends this offseason, providing the 49ers with depth at multiple positions.

STANDOUT STAT

44.0

The combination of Lee’s booming right leg and the league’s top coverage unit resulted in the 49ers posting a 44.0 net punting average last season, the best single-season mark in league history.

QUOTABLE

“Sometimes it’s underestimated probably, to be honest with you. Andy is one of those guys that wins games for our football team. And it’s great to see guys that play all the games, play all 16, 17, 18 games and help our football team win games, get rewarded with a new contract. So, we’re all really excited and happy for Andy about that. And selfishly for ourselves we’re happy and excited that Andy Lee will be with us for the next six years.”

-Coach Jim Harbaugh on Andy Lee’s underpublicized talent.

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