As you may know, Tuesday is the 30th anniversary of The Catch. My dad interviewed the catcher of The Catch – Dwight Clark – for his Tuesday column.
Clark talks about that catch, the 1981 Super Bowl team and the current Niners. To read the column, click here.
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Really cool article, Grant. Lots of details I never knew, and interesting about the conversation in Alex’s ear. Thanks for the link!
Great Article!!!
@ Grant…
I’ve been a avid follower of this blog for years and come here 1st for all my Niners news. My song ‘Back in the Bay’ is up at KMEL for Best Faithful Anthem and could get on the Radio. It has almost 22,000 views and has been written up in a couple local magazines. With one of your loyal followers it would be awesome if you could do a blog entry for it to give us a chance to win. I have put so much time and energy into this project and would be forever grateful!!! We are currently in 1st place!!!
http://www.kmel.com/pages/sf-anthem.html
Benny – You got my vote! I’m down with it. I was not thrilled with most of the other 10 songs.
@Grant:
Give the man some love. His song is worthy of its own blog entry.
@Benny:
I just voted for you. Will do so again when I access a different computer.
I was working as a weekend salesman at a furniture store on Mission St. I was so nervous that by mid 3rd quarter, I got a bottle of beer and closed the store – who could think furniture at a time like that? When the 49ers got the ball to start that last drive, I turned to the other salesman and said (about Montana) – “well, this is what he is supposed to be best at.” Everytime I hear about The Catch winning the game though I think about what FOLLOWED that play. Eric Wright pulling down Pearson by his jersey preventing a REALLY big play that would have put the Cowboys in range for a winning field goal. And then Danny White being hit by Lawrence Pillars as I recall and fumbling on the next play (he did not need many yards to get into field goal range) – Jim Stuckey got the ball and well, you know the rest. As far as I’m concerned Stuckey and Dan Bunz (in the SB) – neither of them top players – justified completely their being picked in the first round with just one play each, that rank amont the top plays in 49ers history and helped get us that absolutely fantastic GREAT first Super Bowl win. And it was sweet after enduring the three straight losses to the Cowboys in the 1970, 71 & 72 playoffs (that last one happening after we had a 12 point lead with less than two minutes to go in the game!). And you know what? I want another one this Saturday!!!!!!!!
Awesome reminder Mike!! I was at a wedding reception and the groom’s Dad had this huge contraption he called a mobile phone and I just remember the bride getting pissed ‘cuz all the guys were gathered around and listening to the game that he had on his phone. 30 years ago that technology was unheard of! Oh, and let’s not forget the “great for a game or two” Earl Cooper! Coooop!!!! But my all time favorite is still Hank’s chicken dance! Yeah man, we all want this Saturday!!!!! GO NINERS!!
Kezar – Thanks for sharing that story, good stuff.
Grant – Thanks for Lowell’s column.
Loved Dwight’s confidence saying if “the catch” failed, “We would have scored on the next play.”
wow, couldnt have written it better myself, Kezarmike. yes, back then its not like all of this was preordained, i was nervous as hell, but Joe always had a way of delivering the 3rd and 8 or 3rd and 21 yard pass when we needed it most, just pure athletic genius. And lo and behold, in this up and down game, when it looked like we might not pull it out, Joe drops back…and back…and back…and pumps…and boom – 1970, 71, and 72 avenged, just like that. I jumped so high that my fist pump tore off all the skin on the knuckles of my right hand. Not a problem. Woulda given more for the cause ;-).
Awesome piece Lowell and Grant, thank you.
Here’s the step i’d love to see Alex take sometime in 2012: as Harbaugh is giving direction just before the sideline communications cut out, Alex says “shut the heck up coach, i told you, i GOT this”. think like a predator, Alex Smith.
One of the most poignant moments of my life…was watching The Catch on a little black and white with rabbit ears. My buddies and I yelled so loud the little ol’ lady who lived next door called the police. When the police came to the door and we told them what was going on, they laughed uncontrollably.The spell was lifted that day…beautiful!!!
Interesting read from Mike Sando’s ESPN blog. He displays a chart that breaks down Drew Brees and Alex Smith’s stats by how far their passes traveled past the line of scrimmage.
http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/56844/long-short-of-saints-49ers-qb-comparison
This is what jumps out at me in Mike Sando’s Brees/Smith QB comparison chart.
Brees more than doubled Smith’s attempts in the 10-20 yard range but the difference is less drastic for all other pass distances. It’s very clear we don’t throw many mid-range 10-20 yard passes.
Brees is a ridiculous 51.7 Pct. on passes over 20 yards.
However, Alex Smith’s numbers are pretty good compared to a possible MVP (Brees)!
Doesn’t tell us anything we don’t already know. The three biggest weaknesses are short passes on 3rd downs that don’t net a first down. Don’t even have a chance of netting a first down. Lack of looking down field and lack of trusting his receivers to make plays down field for him.
Lack of confidence and lack of trust in the red zone. Ultimately this leads to lack of scoring. Someone asked who was better, Smith or Matt Ryan. I gave my answer yesterday but I will give a different one today. When they are on the field I look at their facial expressions and the look in their eyes. You couldn’t have two more different expressions. If you were to attach a thought bubble and add dialogue, it would sound like this:
Matt Ryan- God dammit, you need to catch that ball. I’m coming to you again and you better catch it. And you, Mr. Fat ass right guard, you better not let that guy get through.
Alex Smith- Whew, we almost caught that one. I over threw it a little, but at least no one else had a chance to touch it, other that my intended receiver. Coach is smiling so I think he’s happy with my decision. I know the whole stadium wants me to score, but if I don’t, at least we’ll get a field goal.
Sorry had to throw some humor in there. Ultimately I think with an entire off season Alex will be coached to take more shots down field. Not the 20+ variety, but 15-20 yard variety. This can be coached. Unfortunately, his biggest flaw will always be his accuracy.
Bay,
There might be a bit of humor there but realistically, thats about right. Somehow, in order for us to win this game, we need Smith to sac up and be more agressive. However, how can he be more agressive and remain as cautious as he is.
This means that JH has to design plays that work absolutely perfectly like the play to Vernon in the red zone against Pittsburg. The 1 yard pass when he was wide open. Smith only throws with confidence when he’s throwing sideways. Like the pass to Crabs last week in the Ram game. Even then, he often throws high, thereby preventing the wideouts to get yardage after the catch.
You are correct regarding these 3rd down passes that don’t even give the team a chance for a 1st down. Why even make that throw? in hopes that the receiver breaks 3 tackles and gets the 1st down?
His biggest weakness and the weakness the Saints are going to exploit is exactly what was converyed in Sandos chart. Smith does not threaten the entire field. You dont have to defend certain parts of the field because he doesnt make those throws and when he does, the throws aren’t accurate. Therefor, the inaccurate throws defense themselves.
Id have the same gameplan against the Saints that I had against the Giants earlier this season. Saints feel like all they have to do is take away the run and force Smith to beat them. A battle he cant possibly win against Drew Brees.
Niners should come out throwing the ball in an attempt to build a lead. Force the Saints to honor the pasing game and allow the passing game to set up the run. That will give Hunter a chance to get outside for big gains. Sorry to say that Frank Gore will not be a factor. He isn’t running hard and he isn’t looking outside of the line of scrimmage. Hes forcing himself into the intended hole. Needless to say, the holes won’t be up the hole in the middle.
Bay, I’m telling you, Dixon is the weapon this game. Saints don’t handle big backs well at all. Look at how Jackson punished them. Also Legarrette Blount ran well against them. Their corners are small and don’t like to tackle. Dixon would be major this saturday if he was given a chance.
if he doesn’t dance
@Crab15
Not enough information for me. They don’t include where the drops were.
I remember quite a few drops to our RB’s this year (short passes) and VD (intermediate deep passes). So that accuracy number is not very helpful without knowing how many or what % of passes (better yet) thrown in each range were dropped. And what impact those drops had on the accuracy number.
Not to mention the number of great catches the NO playmakers make all over the place. That TE of theirs had a few TD’s catches from horrible passes where VD would not have caught or dropped.
DS – Don’t beat around the bush.
Just say it, Crabtree dropped them all!
@Crab
I remember Crab dropping 1 sure TD, and that messed up TD where MC stepped out (disagre with) are ones that stand out.
I remember VD dropping a lot of balls. The easiest TD in his life.
I remember TG dropping or not even finding the ball several times which would have scored a few TD’s. Plus that bogus block penalty that brought back an AS to TG TD in Baltimore.
Come on man. I don’t like the idea of blaming any 1 player. I know (hope) you were joking, but still man. lol
DS – Drops are old news and negative energy, wouldn’t you agree?
Yes, I was joking.
@Crab15
: )
DS,
right or wrong Harbaugh has created an environment in which there is no finger pointing. It is a team. They don’t get down on eachother, they support eachother.
You have just exposed yourself as a “true” hater and a hypocrite. You have also said that we “need to support our team”. What you really meant is that you want us to support our QB. AND THAT IS IT.
Lets just call you what you are. You are an Alex Smith fan and a 49er fan second. Look at all the blame you just threw around in attempts to discredit Sando’s stats comparing Brees to Smith.
You even detail the drops and make it seem like those were the easiest catches in the world. Well I am here to tell you that it all balances out. The drops are balanced out by the inaccurate throws. In fact, there have been more inaccurate throws to wide open targets, then there have been drops.
I am not here to bash Alex anymore during the playoffs. I want to enjoy my team which includes Alex. However I will not sit back and just read this garbage about “my team’s receivers”. YOU are a HATER. I don’t want to hear one more word about Ginn. What has Ginn done? He has repeatedly put us in positions to score in tight games with returns. And he’s also caught some tough balls. In fact a couple of those 4th Quarter comebacks that you want to give Alex credit for were started with big returns from Ginn. Stop the HATING.
bay
Don’t direct posts my way.
Thank you.
DS,
I’ll stop directing posts to you when you stop randomly inserting my name in your posts to make a point. Amoeba.
I tried.
Don’t read my posts. You won’t read what I write about you. I see my name in your posts all the time as I scan past it. I don’t read it. You should do the same.
Why would you even care what somebody you absolutely hate says about you? A very simple approach to a complex problem.
In theory you shouldn’t know that I am writing to you since you don’t read my posts…. HATER.
@Grant
I am cool with the whole idea of you deleting all the posts on this thread starting with the 1:26 PM post.
It’s not adding anything of any interest and is just stupid. Ruining the atmosphere.
Of course you do. Cause you don’t like the fact that I exposed your true colors…
“@Grant
I am cool with the whole idea of you deleting all the posts on this thread starting with the 1:26 PM post. ”
Translation: Grant – please delete these posts so there is no written proof that DS really does read all of Bay/Jordan/9erGirl’s posts and will actually respond under extreme duress. Also, you’ll need to delete the written statement where DS acknowledges that she does like to talk about people, but does not want them to read her posts because she doesn’t want them to defend themselves. Would totally destroy the whole “victim” scenarios she likes to put herself in.
And note to Grant – you are required to obey her or she’ll go all psycho PMS Alien on your butt!!!
The deep ball can get better and more accurate. Montana said many times that he didn’t throw the long ball well until later in his career after they drafted JR.
Some of the deep issues are AS and some is the talent. My feeling is they need another play maker on offense and that person should be a WR. We’ll see what the team thinks in April.
@hof
Yeah. That JR guy might have helped him out just a tad. lol
@jordan and, to a lesser extent, bay:
Not surprisingly, you completely overlooked how that chart completely destroys two of your pet anti-Smith theories.
First, only 8.8 percent of Drew Brees’ passes are thrown more than 20 yards downfield. Alex Smith? 8.1 percent. So much for the theory that the problem with the 49ers offense is that Alex Smith is not confident enough to throw long. Or the theory that a team must throw deep a lot to be successful.
Second, notice how more than two-thirds (67.4%) of Drew Brees’ pass attempts travel less than 10 yards? Wow, that’s a lot of check downs and dump offs. Didn’t you label that as a sign of weak QB play? Guess you were wrong about that too.
I love this quote from Dwight: “People are always coming up to him and explaining where they were when he caught the ball.”
That tells you that The Catch transcends sports — it was a cultural phenomenon that lives to this day. We all remember where we were. I was at my best friend’s parents’ house. They were having a party in honor of the game. My friend and I were laying on the floor closest to the TV with a room full of people behind us. When he came down with it, the place just erupted. We were all jumping and hugging, screaming. As KezarMike pointed out, we got a little nervous on the ensuing drive, but again celebrated en masse when Stuckey came up with the fumble recovery. No drinking for me as I was only 15. But we celebrated long afterward, trying to recreate The Catch over and over in his front yard well after sunset.
Many years later, when the Niners had one of those open house fan events at Candlestick, the first thing I did was walk over to that piece of grass and just stand there. Several others did the same. Few words were spoken. Everyone realized this hallowed ground is the exact place where football history changed forever.
Somehow I missed the fact that Freddie Solomon is battling cancer.
Article from the Tampa Times about a fundraiser / appreciation dinner with Montana, DeBartolo, Lott and some college teammates: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/legend-of-freddie-solomon-gets-spotlight-treatment-at-university-of-tampa/1204016
Eddie D was a hot-head, but if you were on his good side, nobody could treat another person any better than Eddie treats those he loves.
Hope Freddie is going to be OK. I remember him well, and he was always enjoyable to listen to. One of the good guys.
LOL @ “my dad”
How old are you, kid? Why are you writing articles?
How old are you? Who writes LOL anymore?
I do…lol :-)
Yeah but… from everything I understand, you’re special and are allowed special considerations.
@Clark
How long have you read a blog? lol
@ Adam LMAO !!!
@Stan
KNBR just reported that Raider HC Hue Jackson is fired!!!
Yet another 1 and done Raider HC.
“The commitment to excrement” continues.
My first reaction was in Vietnamese: No Hue! Yes Hue!
1) Trade for Carson Palmer
2) Lose to San Diego at home with everything on the line
3) Huge penalties this year
4) Throw your players under the bus
Yep, that will get you fired.
@Adam
I thought the loss to Denver at home was the real killer. They had not lost a game to a division opponent all year last season.
That loss was disgusting to watch if you were a Raider fan. Tebow just running for 30 yards in the open field because the Raiders insist on being stupid and play man coverage all the time.
Simple way to beat the Raiders. Send all your WR’s deep, get a decent running QB, and have him run from a passing play all day.
Adam – What was the Raidas motive for firing Hue Jax this week? Why not fire him last week during our bye week, when focus was not on Niners?
It’s obviously a PR move by the lowly Raidas, to TRY and steal a little thunder from us!
The timing of this firing reeks of JEALOUSY!
They just hired Mackenzie as the new GM on Friday. Give him the weekend to at least determine if a move is necessary.
Chase – Hue Jackson was a goner before Reggie McKenzie was hired. McKenzie doesn’t walk in door with that kind of power.
If what you say is true and McKenzie was given that level of power in a couple days, then the Raidas are more of a joke than I thought they were!
“They are who we thought they were!”
@Crab
For the interview, Hue was not fired (going to be) before hiring McKenzie.
McKenzie says he wanted to go in a different direction.
Not exactly shocking news.
Sorry
Should read as “From the interview…”
DS – Of course the Raidas want you to believe that.
The Raidas have been known to be less than honest a few times over the last 50 years!
Don’t take the bait DS, not everything you hear is the truth.
By letting McKenzie say he wanted to go in a different direction, it makes him (McKenzie) look more legitimate to Raidas players, fans and the rest of the organization.
That’s ok with me if you believe everything they say.
@Crab15
I would not believe the Raider organization if they told rain is wet.l ol
My memory of the catch is crystal clear, even though I wasn’t quite 10 yet. And, that game had a profound influence on how my football fandom would evolve :-)
We only had 1 TV in the house and my best friend was banned from playing on Sundays (parents were strict Catholic). And, for those of you not yet born at that time, you should know there were only 4 or 5 channels to choose from if you were in an area that hadn’t been set up for cable yet.
Earlier that year, I had finally given up on trying to convince my parents that there was always something better on TV than football and decided to start watching. Not because it was interesting, but because I was out of other options and I wanted them to suffer for not being nicer to me. I was going to root for every single team the Niners played, no matter what!
My strategy hadn’t worked too well – the Niners won a ton of games. Then, the playoffs….I was cheering for the Cowboys (Lord, please forgive my sins!!!). When Montana hit Clark for THE CATCH – my mom went so completely insand that she lost her voice (and it didn’t come back for a week!). I think my dad had a tear forming in the corner of his eye. My uncle promptly went outside and smoked a celebratory hand-rolled cigarette (wink…wink).
Of course, what I remember most is the next 58 seconds…I was still cheering for the Cowboys to come back and win that one. My parents told me that if they won, I would be thrown into the swimming pool for my insolence. If you’ve ever gone swimming in January in an unheated pool, you know how cold it can be!!! They were dead serious.
I instantly became a Niner fan – right then and there….the Cowboys (or any other team) were not worth the price!!!
a journey through sins
9erGirlRockstar – I wouldn’t mention anything about swimming pools again, the creepy crawlers might come out. :-)
I was at the game of the catch. My seats were on the 27 yard line about 25 rows up. The catch happened right in front of me. Unfortunately, I never saw it. I was only 13 at the time. Not very tall yet. When the pass went up, everyone around me stood up. The next thing I knew, the stadium erupted. The noise was deafening. Strangers were hugging. There was pandemonium in the stadium. People were high fiving eachother.
Once the game was over, fans stormed the field. The last thing I remember is that fans were ripping out the sod in the corner of the end zone where Clark made the catch. crazy….
Dude, your old!
Well, at least you were converted from the dark side. Just took the threat of an ice bath to do it. I’ve been trying to convert some Cowboy fans for years – doesn’t seem to work.
Tried all the old arguments:
1) Staubach and Landry were good but they’re long gone
2) Danny White was just OK but nuttin like what we got!
3) Jimmy Johnson’s coiffed hair looks ridiculous
4) Cowboys inherit Niner trash
5) Jerry Jones is a jerk
6) I forget what the 6th one is :P
@Adam
Is it:
No chance of ever getting another Walker trade to help you get out of your miserable mess?
The trick is to get to them when they’re kids and scare the Cowboy right out of ‘em :-).
Haha, yeah. That Herschel trade bought them the 90s.
Saturday will be epic matchup of great offense meets great defense. We haven’t seen an offense like NO all year ad they haven’t seen a defense like ours.
This is the Niners coming out debut, we’re going knock Brees around, cause turnovers and yes, Alex will manage the game and win it, that’s what he does,he’s a clutch winner.
Drew Brees is only as good as his players he is throwing to. He threw for over 5000 yards and over 3000 of those yards came against losing teams. He will meet a great D this weekend.
@Prime
You are kinda right. NO never played a team remotely like us. We have played some teams similar to them. NYG, Detroit all came in with huge highs, and came out losing a bunch of games afterwards.
Check out what happened to those teams after they lost to us. : )
DS do you think Fangio will bring the heat or play four down and cover the multiple receivers?
It has always been my belief that to beat a high scoring team you gotta get to the QB but the Niners have not blitzed much and Brees is one of the best at alluding the rush.
@Prime
All great QB’s love it when you blitz them. SY has made it a point in every interview about being a QB to bring this point up.
Great defenses don’t have to blitz a lot of guys. They hide who is coming and who isn’t more often than not. The only reason to blitz is if you can’t get pressure on the QB with the basic 4 rushers. No other reason.
Why do it if you can get there with 4? The Niners are so good this year as opposed to years past because they have been able to get pressure without losing that extra guy in coverage. That is part of the reason why we have so many Int’s I think as well. More defenders, more hands, better chance of getting a teams hands on the ball.
The Niners have some nice blitz packages, and have used them when needed and they have worked more than not.
But I start the game with my base D and have NO prove they can beat us. Not to get out of our comfort zone without them making us do so. When Pit lost to us, their HC said “The Niners made us play their game. So they won.” That is/should always be your approach to any game. Make the other team beat you, and make the play your game in order to do so. Don’t help them out at all by doing things you don’t normally do.
DS, great point!
You’re welcome Prime.
bay is going on one of his little tirades right now. Just ignore it. lol
Good point Michael Crabtree. What kind of game do you think you’ll have this Saturday? Or is primeniner starting in your place? Bwahahahaha!!!!!
The catch – was the begining of the end of the Cowboay dynasty. The Niners never could beat the Cowboys in the playoffs and the catch did that. Shame on you 49erGirl, a dunk in the pool would of been two easy for your loyalty to the Cowboys if I had been your parents you would of been whipped with the famous wet noodle. How big is the task to win the Super Bowl this year. Asuming the Packers win this weekend and the Patriots win their confernce the Niners would have to beat three potential Hall of Fame QBs in a row to win the Super Bowl. That my friends would be one hell of an accomplisment.
Undercenter – Yes…I am still ashamed. Hurt me to put it in print, but it had to be done :-)
Winning a SuperBowl is a tremendous task in any season, that’s what makes the victory so sweet! I think the Niners have as good a chance as any other team with the way the defense and special teams have played this year. We have a ball control offense that doesn’t makes mistakes and a defense that forces the other teams to alter their game plans. They’ve already defeated two SB MVP QBs this season, what’s a few more?
The way this season is playing out, it wouldn’t surprise me if fate has already determined there will be a Harbaugh Bowl II this February. Niners vs. Ravens. A rematch none of us will ever forget!!!
undercenter – I believe 9erGirl was rebellious towards her parents and was rooting for whoever Niners opponent was.
She was a temporary Cowgirl fan (deserving of being dunked in icy pool). :-)
I agree with you, that would be killer to beat 3 potential HOF QB’s to win Super Bowl. Wow, Brees, Rodgers then Tebow…………..joking!
Good one, Crab…ya got me!
@undercenter
I have been hoping the Niners to play:
NO Saints
GB Packers
Baltimore Ravens (to get revenge for that early defeat)
Beat all 3. No more debate of any kind here.
@DS I also prefer the Ravins, yes revenge is sweet.
DS,
Beat all 3. No more debate of any kind here
****************************************************
Surely you jest?
In my Leslie Nielson voice: I’m quite serious and don’t call me Shirley.
Nice.
@rocket
In a recent post of yours to 23J I think it was, you discussed how there were some here who may be too positive (please forgive me here. I know I am not quoting you accurately here, but I feel my word conveys the same basic message as yours) you were Shirley (for Adam) including me to be among that group.
So, you already have your answer from me. lol
qoute from mike tyson:”everbody has a plan until they get punched in the face.”thats the mentality i hope the defense takes with come saturday.im so thru with all the talking,please hurry up sat.
power rankings of the remaining teams IMO
NO
GB
Bal
NYG
SF
NE
hous
den
I just finished watching yesterdays NFL channels NFL Total Access. It kind of reminded me of the SF Giants championship year. The Niners are getting NO respect. Sounds like they believe that SF shouldn’t bother showing up since there’s no hope anyways.
I doubt that they’ll be given a chance (in the commentators eyes) when they kick the crap out of the Aints and move onto winning their final two games bringing home their 6th Lombardi Trophy.
Hopefully the Saints feels overly confident about the game. It’s gonna be a sad week for Louisiana football (and 23Jordan). LSU got spanked in the BCS Championship, and now NO is about to get the surprise of their lives!
Screw their game, ours worked well enough against quality opponents all year. Time for the JH era to start getting the respect it’s due (in the media). They are not a fluke, they’re the real deal.
GO NINERS!
MCofSac,
You have to admit one thing. They Niners aren’t getting any respect because they don’t have a QB. Tebow gets more respect than Alex Smith. At least he is a threat to beat you deep. Tebow will and can throw deep better than he does underneath.
I’m scratching my head today because I watched the ram game last night and Alex Smith had issues throwing screen passes to our running backs. He was throwing the ball too low and too hard. I don’t understand this guy. He’s throwing 6 yard darts to KH on screen plays. WTF!!!!!
AS may NEVER be considered a great QB but with dominating D, & ST play all we need is good enough (out of him).
JH is not going to let us lose this game.
Trent Dilfer proved that you don’t have to be an elite QB to bring home the trophy.
Even though Tebow won, I’d rather have AS at this point.
Jordo, why can’t you take Bay’s lead and leave the negativity behind until the 9ers are out of the playoffs. We’ve heard this song over and over…you’re sounding like disco. Give it a break.
@hof
Bay hasn’t left all the negativity behind yet. Needs to work on the whole other bloggers thing.
Jordo, why can’t you take Bay’s lead and leave the negativity behind until the 9ers are out of the playoffs?
I don’t know. Maybe it’s because he is a d!ck?
Jordo, why can’t you take Bay’s lead and leave the negativity behind until the 9ers are out of the playoffs?
Dont worry, “jr. game manager” will win his first playoff game and prove the doubters/haters wrong once again.
Jordy, Don’t change a thing, you crack me up.
Another groupie for Jordo. lol
Hof…. Ive got copyrights on the word Groupie. ;-)
Hue Jackson must be really pissed right now.
We should all be happy that the Niners didn’t hire Hugh Jackson. What a ego maniac, who proved once again that his ego was bigger then his coaching ability. ( see the Rev ) Hugh, maybe we will see you in a movie, oh wait a minute that was Hugh Jackman, never mind.
@Neal
We should be happy that our GM and owner never bothered to care to hire him.
@DS,
He was handy for the Rooney rule and cheap, no travel expenses.
Hey Grant,
Have you bumped into Sando yet? Say hello from the group here (many) that follow his excellent work!
Sweet story here about David Akers:
http://espn.go.com/espn/story/_/id/7446366/rick-reilly-david-akers-amazing-year
MG, that was incredible! I never dreamed that Akers had gone through that kind of adversity. How cool is it that his success this year is every bit as vital and meaningful to him personally as it is to the Niners? Does EVERYBODY on this team have a jaw-dropping life story?
Thanks for the link, man. GO NINERS!
This is just out of the blue but I stumbled across JH’s “Who’s got it better than us” as a ringtone. For the Faithful who are interested I came across it at crackberry.com under the artist San Francisco 49ers, and it was my favorite price, free.
Im nervous about this game folks…. It reminds me of the high powered 49ers beating the crap out of the top defensive Bears and NYG of the 80′s. Im telling you.. If we beat N.O. we are winning the Superbowl. Barring injuries of course. Wheeew. Im gonna have to get hammered in the lot before this one.
“If we beat N.O. we are winning the Superbowl”
I actaully agree with you. This game will give us so much confidence moving ahead to GB, maybe? Its old school football versus run and gun football. We gotta literally punch NO in the mouth. Dome teams are soft and NO is not completely soft but they can be beat up and if our front 4 can get to Brees, we win this game!
Agreed, but their O-line is very good. This is the best bteam in the NFL were playing Sat. Im not worried about GB because their defense is so bad and their O-line is garbage too. Ill be yelling like never before on Sat. I hope the others will be too. ON EVERY PLAY!
MD,
Keep in mind the Giants won a few of those matchups. It hurts to bring it up, but the Niners got their butts kicked by Parcells and Co. a few times.
As for winning the Superbowl, I’d love to agree but I still don’t see the Niners going into Lambeau and winning. If they get the Giants at home however…well then we can talk. First things first, they have to beat the Saints which will be a tall order.
For those of you jonesing for some Greg Cosell, ProFootballTalk has an interview with him here: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/01/10/previewing-the-nfc-with-greg-cosell/
The first 5+ minutes are devoted to his thoughts on the 49ers-Saints match up. While Cosell touched on likely strategy in places, I did not hear any prediction as to outcome.
My notes:
Cosell is fascinated by the contrast in styles. NO exemplifies the modern, passing NFL where the QB is the focal point. Saints play “fast break football orchestrated by most important player on field, the QB”
The 49ers on the other hand have as their model “old school football.” “It’s the running game; it’s defense; it’s special teams; it’s turnover differential; it’s physical; it’s efficient; it’s relentless.” Their game is “out of the 1970s guide to winning in the NFL.” I liked the way he ticked off those last three adjectives, and I thought I noted a positive tone in his voice.
Within their old school approach, 49ers use “deception elements” in both running game and passing game. Very effective, simple things (e.g., bringing WR in motion, suggesting end around, causing defense to react to possible end around, thereby opening running lane for Frank Gore)
Pass game not complex, but 49ers create difficult matchups (e.g. Vernon Davis). 49ers do just enough in pass game.
Turnover differential (+28) is best in league – “one of most important contributors to winning in NFL.”
AS threw for < 200 9 times;" Who would have thought that would be a determinant in being a 13-3 team in this era's NFL?"
NO’s defense is multiple – more blitzes than any other team, but also more plays rushing 3 and dropping 8 than any other team. Very difficult to prepare for and play against.
Harbaugh will incorporate a couple of wrinkles/variations to create shot plays (30-40-50 yards); 49ers need some big chunk plays; will try to accomplish with deception and with some elements that are different from the norm.
Defending against NO – NO uses more formations than anyone. Most teams feel that you cannot try to match up to every formation – "sensory overload." Instead, teams have to match up by "receiver distribution." Doesn’t matter who splits out wide (Colston, Graham or Henderson); it’s just a guy split out wide. So, rather than saying “you have this guy and you have that guy,” SF should/will match up against receivers by where they line up (not by who they are).
The defense can’t touch the QB or the WR’s without flags all over the place. Marino and Collingsworth both said they wished they played in this era. Soon it will be all offense. Just playing catch!
lol hof
Then after another 20 years, it will just be the NFL Combine all year.
Guys competing in 40 times, bench,etc. We seem to be heading in that direction anyway. All this obsession on Stats…soon the game of football will just be getting in the way of Stats, plus no need to risk your own well being.
Thanks Claude, I liked the breakdown. Cosell has actually been very positive about the Niners this year for the most part. He’s had a hard time getting around Smith’s use in this offense, but he’s generally praised this team quite a bit. He’s already said in an article that he doesn’t see the Niners has a serious contender to go all the way, but in a one game winner take all format, anything can happen.
@rocket:
I know, but I didn’t really get the “Pretender” vibe out of this interview. Then again, it was only five minutes.
Again, my favorite part:
49ers football. Physical. Efficient. Relentless.
That is such an apt description.
Sorry about the run away bold. It should have ended after “relentless”
A great way to celebrate “The Catch” would be to see “The Sack” on Saturday. Aldon Smith, loops around Justin Smith, swats DelaPuente to the ground and pummels Drew Brees onto the Niners logo at midfield. The ball flies out of Brees’ hands on his way to the our coat of arms painted sod. Navorro picks it up and returns it for a TD. Momentum rises and the home crowd raises its unified voice in primal war cries that don’t abate until the end of the game. Brees walks, head down, defeated towards the dugouts at Candlestick with Niner logo red paint on his jersey’s right shoulder and back. The Niner photographer captures this moment to immortalize “The Sack”.
Ill take a win and a GB loss. So I can squezze one last home game of the year. It would be nice to beat GB, but Im being Greddy. lol
If this were the NBA I’d be worried about the league/refs handing a Superbowl to the larger TV market, so I wouldn’t want to face NY in the NFC Conference Championship game.
I’d love for the Niners to have an additional game at home, but no matter how we get to the SB, they’ll say (ESPN NFL Network) that the Niners were fortunate to not have had to face whoever loses in GB this Sunday.
Oh no. Are you a kings fan still upset from 02? Your boys should have hit their free throws. Lol but yeah coming from a laker fan… The nba is crooked. And it starts with stern!
Guys! Guys! No offense (well, maybe a little offense) but all of you are PATHETIC. Without even realizing it, you give the Cowboys the biggest compliment by remembering this game even more than all the other playoff victories and 5 Superbowls. You cherish this game even more than you do the dramatic way the 49ers beat the Bengals one week later in the SUPERBOWL! Why? Because it was beating the Cowboys that made it what it was to you (and still is). If you had defeated another team in exactly the same fashion it would be remembered as a great game – but not the classic, earth shattering, universe moving game that you hold onto. But Landry’s Cowboys were (and even remained during the 80′s decline) the team with the most enviable history and class. And speaking of this myth that this one game changed the fortunes of two dynasties, you seem to forget that the next year the Cowboys went to the NFC Championship game while the 49ers went 3-13 and missed the playoffs. And, by the way, Landry’s Cowboys were 3-1 against the 49ers – including back to back victories in the 70 and 71 season Championship games. Hmmm. You know what was the 40th Anniversary yesterday? The Cowboys beating the 49ers in the 71 season Championship and going on to beat the Dolphins in the Superbowl. Yes, you’re pathetic.
Both points made Nick
Your opinion and your offense with this one. lol
I could care less about this game. If JM and the Niners blew the next game (Super Bowl) I doubt this game would be so important in so many people’s minds.
You know “Yeah we beat the Cowboys then stank the following week losing the one game everybody in the nation is watching.” does not roll off the tongue as well as “Niner Dynasty started with this game.”
well said -