Greg Cosell’s latest blog is up at NFLfilms.com, and it’s on the 49ers performance in the NFC championship game. He argues that Alex Smith was the goat of that game, not Kyle Williams. He says the coaching tape shows numerous plays where Smith failed to throw to wide open receivers. To read the article, click here.
Greg Cosell: “Smith was reluctant to let it loose on routes and throws that were not only well designed, but were open.”
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Hate Cosell all you want. He tells it like he sees it. I saw the game the same way. Several opportunities missed by the QB. He stunk this game. Starred against the saints. Stunk against the giants. Look at the last 1:47 at the game
I don’t have to hate him.
I just feel free to strongly disagree with him (and you, for that matter).
Smith did not have a good game. But he did enough to win and he was better than Eli (less good throws, but the good ones he did produced more than Eli’s).
If not for the botched punts we would have won this game 17-10 because Eli and the Giants could never pass midfield in the second half (and overtime).
Allan: He had a better game than Eli.what game was you watching. He is an ok quarterback but will never be a Eli or Arron. I say let him Colin and Tolzien go at it in camp and the best man wins.
Eli had 26 incompletions yeah he was great.
Tell you what: trade the 49ers and Giants’ WR’s – give the Giants Michael Crabtree, Kyle Williams and Brett Swain and give the 49ers Cruz, Manningham and Hakeem Nicks, then compare Eli and Alex’ stats.
Allan. Are you serious AS had a better game then Eli, you might want to watch the game again. AS was horrific with one for 13 for third down conversertions
@Neal
After the 1st half, the Giant WR’s were not getting open. Just like AS’s WR’s all game long.
Did you really see that big a difference between the two 2nd half and OT once the WR of the Giants were shut down?
@ DS Not a big difference but the Giants at least had play’s , unlike the Niner’s, best defense team this season and most horrific 3rd down offense maybe of all time. Also AS is not in the same league as Eli, Eli see’s the entire field, probably going to win a second super bowl
Jordan,
forget the last 1:47 which were terrible. Huge choke job. Look at the last 19 seconds. We had three time outs and the entire field to work with. Vernon was single covered and rant a post. Smith never threw down field on the first two plays. He checked down. He NEVER TRIED.
I gave him his props against the Saints and I also said that he needed to do it again. I said that he had NEVER put back to back games together. I also said that consistency is not his strength. You can hate what I say, but history and stats and results are on my side.
There is no one better out there and Smith is coming back. But he is keeping the seat warm until they find their franchise QB. Smith aint it.
He is average with an occasional good game. That shouldn’t be good enough at any position. Harbaughs mantra always be improving.
So Eli choked too?
Because he also had several chances to win the game as well (just needed a FG) and did not delivered.
A turnover saved his face.
Kyle fumbled 2 times but we were not moving the football at all. We were just waiting for a turnover from our defense. Smith got used to waiting for the defense as well. He played great against the Saints but he flopped against the Giants. Talk about no wideouts??? There is no way that a pro football game is played and a teams receivers are not open an entire game. I saw receivers open and clearly , Cosell saw the same thing. I was at the game, he has the film.
Bay, you are correct, inconsistency. Can anyone on this blog admit that??? That D Grant gave him was well deserved. Without the fumble in overtime, when and how were we going to win that game???
clearly eli choked as well…..
AS did enough to win the game with that stellar D…
unfortunate circumstances kept the offense from taking the field to see if there was any magic left
giants were lucky and good in a number of ways….
eli should have been picked off twice but for one niner knocking the other niner off the ball
bradshaws fumble was marginal
there were shoe string tackles by the NYG, one on AS, one on dixon, and a couple more i can’t put my finger on…
only main disappointment to me about this game, beside the fumbles, is the run play calling…it seemed to dissipate the last few minutes of the 4th qtr…
if the game is replayed on NFLnetwork on i will keep a tally of the 3rd down fiasco that has caused the niners problems for the year…..this probably was the biggest of the niners achilles heal….it will have to be addressed next year, can’t go forward counting on +28 TO and short fields
7 years and, in all probability, 2-3 more to come. I hate to be blunt Bay, but Alex Smith is the San Francisco 49ers’ franchise quarterback.
The difference between Eli’s choke and Alex’s choke is that Eli got the crap beat out of him. Alex didn’t get the beating that Eli did. I have mad respect for Eli because in spite of all the hits he took, he continued to look down field and give his patterns time to develop.
I have a Giants fan that sat behind me. He was nasty most of the game. I thought at certain times we were going to mix it up. The guy was blue collar and he was old school from NY. After the game he shook my hand and said I respect your team. Best defense I’ve seen all year. PERIOD. He said he felt bad for the Niner fans because the better team did not win on that particular Sunday. The guy said that this was not the way he wanted to get into the superbowl. The biggest thing that he continued to point out was the bad call on the fumble by Bradshaw. Said we got screwed.
He ended the conversation pointing out the toughness of his QB. Called him a man. He said that he heard how tough Alex was and watching him on that day, he says he didn’t see it. Said, ” all I saw was a guy that gives up on routes the first sign of pressure”. Mr. Giants fan wasn’t being disrespectful, he was calling it the way it was from a fans perspective. Our bleacher eye test.
I’ll end it by saying this. Alex is our QB. Not elite, not great but with this defense he is serviceable. Lets see what happens next year.
Like I said yesterday, rant, debate, disagree, etc, etc.
If the 9er coaches listened to Cosell, the 9ers would not have been 13-3 and have been on game away from the SB. For every Cosell there is a Tollner, Dilfer, Gannon, etc. Each watches film and has an opinion.
A teams top WR should not require throws to create separation on each and every play. AS will be signed long term and once they have some playmaker WR’s, we’ll see VD type catches from AS throws.
At this point, Cosell is all hyperbole!
Wow, maybe next time Alex will have a Defense to play against. Had I known that having only 11 players out on that field and all of them wearing the Home colors, I would probably be a little bitter myself.
Jordo and Bay you guys feed off each other and your credibility is waning with every post. Especially Bay, whom I somehow found myself agreeing with a couple blogs back only to smack myself in the head and wonder what the hell was I thinkin.
C’mon Bay you’re better than this.
difference between eli and AS are the rcvrs….and eli had multiple rcvrs getting open…..eli knows his system so well as do his rcving weapons he knows where they are going to be even on a broken play….
this is what i mean about AS making this offense his own….i didn’t see it this year …i.e. knowing were every weapon is at anytime during the route running as the play ticks along its development….
we saw an AS that could make all the throws and stick it into small windows as the season went along….the next growth is to become brady like ….know where rcvrs are …. i just figured it would take until the middle of next year before i would see if AS could take ownership of the offense to such a degree he makes the others around him better…..apparently others expected it from him this year last year etc. but all weapons have to be synchronous and it doesn’t happen until you have everybody in the system for a couple of years….
Would people please stop saying that Alex and the offense did enough to win the game? Obviously the score said differently.
If they did enough to win the game then it wouldn’t have been close, we would have not gone into OT and the last fumble would have never happened. They had two opportunities handed to them by the defense at the end of the game to drive down and get in FG range and they failed.
I don’t know if it was coaching, playcalling, bad route running or bad QB decisions, but they DID NOT do enough to win the game or we would all be talking about how our team was going to smash the Pats in two weeks.
Im not trying to start up the Smith debate again, but like I said yesterday. I was there in person and can see the whole field that some cant on TV. And Cossell is right. Im not blaming Smith for the loss. And two things gotta happen next year….Either Smith and Harbaugh stay with this plan and we get close, or Smith opens up a little more next year and hits those open recievers down field more often. Im hoping on the second one. Crabtree is getting bashed on here and he has been open on several occasions this season but never got a look. Yes he has dropped some passes but VD did also I think Crabbs is the type of reciever that feeds off of getting the ball more. He did lead this team in yards. That go’s a little ways to show he can and will be great, with more opportunity’s. If we get a V Jackson or Bowe, or D Jackson…. To stretch the field ‘and we need one of those guys’ they’re only going to be as good as the QB makes them. Qb’s make recievers. Alex has GOT to make good on those opportunity’s.
Also Ginn should NEVER touch the field again as a WR. If they resign him it better be ST ONLY… The guy is always getting injured.
49ergirl and MD,
enjoy reading both of your perspectives. They are realistic, honest and unbiased. Not one excuse listed which I love.
Hell of a ride lets see what next year brings. Pitchers and catchers report in 24 days lol.
Kawakami said he watched the whole game and didn’t see wide receivers open. And since Cosell has always seemed interested in proving his earlier assertions correctly then reevaluating I will happily go with Kawakami.
tkamb, exactly. So much to discuss this week after the game and he has to “prove” he was right about AS. Does he mention that the receivers are in the bottom half of the league? Does he mention that they are the worst of the 4 teams left in the playoffs? No he is about ego, ego, and more ego!!
Go with what you will, but I know what I see and trust my own eyes. Crabtree has been getting open this year. Ive said it after EVERY game I attend. Cossell also has what Kawakwami and I dont. NFL footage that is above the field.
Do you think not having ANY WR’s that could stretch the field have anything to do with Alex’s production on Sunday?
I mean the 49ers already had probably 1 of the worst WR’s Units in the NFL even before Morgan & Ginn went down?
Get a CLUE!
Great. Just what we needed after a heart-breaking game.
Some told-you-so from the clueless Cosell.
I bet he is happy the Niners lost. Just like Lowell.
I wouldn’t have posted but there is no “Up/Down” feature here to give you a thumbs up. You summed it up quite well so consider this an Alpha Bravo!
Dude, have you steamed out your cheerleader skirt yet? Cosell is spot on.
I’ll wear my cheerleader outfit and meet you anywhere anytime. I’ll be the guy wearing the Kilt. What will you be wearing?
PHD,
The truth hurts. Ceadder is having issues accepting it. He is not alone. Our QB is not Eli, and he is not elite. Never has been, never will be. He is average at best. A mini Joe Flacco. He doesn’t win games, he tries not to lose them. That’s what JH asked him to do.
At least he has one good game under his belt. Unfortunately, it wasn’t this one.
Jordo you’re a blowhard and a fool and I am done talking to you. I refuse to get into a battle of wits with someone who is so unarmed they have to use Greg Cosell as their crutch.
Did you see the game in person or on Fox? Cause Aikman was saying all game long that the 9er Receivers had to do a better job of getting open.
And there are plenty of other EXPERTS out there that were saying the same thing.
So I think we’re done here unless you have some EXPERT rebuttal to the contrary. Cosell is no expert.
Ceadder, Cosell uses the all 22 film which is his way to hide from the outside. Everyone I read including TK at the Merc, talked to that went to the game, what I heard from Aikman watching it on tv, said the 9ers WR’s aren’t/weren’t open, period.
I was there. The receivers weren’t consistently open, but they were open some of the time.
Ceadder,
I was at the game, like so many others this year and I always see the same thing from Smith. He only has and uses one option. Everyone else in the pattern is a decoy except for FG, who is the check down. He dent look at both sides of the field. How many times have you seen Alex Smith look one way and throw another? Look off A safety? Come on man. This guy has a long way to go. Do it more often than once in 68 games. He’s got to be better. He’s got a long way to go.
But you don’t have to be at the game to see this. Did you go to the game? Did you see it on replay? I did both. You see FG open on plays whan Alex is only looking at one side of the field and throwing it into the turf. How many passes did he throw at Crabtrees feet?
Cosell is an expert. He just doesn’t have your vote because he won’t tell you what you want to hear. He did that for you last week. So Cosell isn’t my crutch. I’ve been watching every game that Smith has played his entire career. He’s the one that needs the crutch. Luckily he has one in Harbaugh. Harbaugh can’t throw it for him.he had to do that himself.
Grant, then you’ll have to argue with TK of the Merc and my neighbor who btw is not a AS fan. They both said the receivers were terrible and they were not open. Others like MSando said the same thing.
Every example Cosell gave was correct. Sando and Kawakami would agree.
Smith left 7 points on the field when he missed Kyle Williams deep.
Grant, that’s not what Sando wrote. He thought WR upgrade is needed and stated, “It’s tough to blame quarterback Alex Smith for Crabtree’s irrelevance when Smith was completing game-changing passes to tight end Vernon Davis throughout the playoffs.”
That’s where I’m at with this offense. Difficult to only blame the QB when WR play is dismal.
Like Cosell said, Crabtree was open down the field on the first third down of the game and Smith chose not to throw it to him. Sando won’t dispute this.
No, the receivers weren’t consistently open. But, when they did break free, Smith never got the ball to them.
Yes, the Niners will upgrade their wide receiving corps this offseason. But like the Harbaugh and the players said – that was a Super Bowl team. They were better than the Giants, but their offensive game plan was poor, Alex Smith played poorly, the wide receivers struggled to get open for much of the game and the team got bad breaks.
Grant, agree. During the game we were both were on the same wavelength regarding running the ball or lack thereof. Too many ifs..
Harbaugh game planned like a rookie. That reverse call was unacceptable. An exchange between a rookie and second year player with a slick ball in the NFC championship game? Terrible judgement.
LMAO.
Grant, that reverse call blew my mind. At the time I even mentioned on the live blog they were trying to be too cute. Given the rain and field conditions, I thought JH would go with a conservative game plan that consisted of running 60% of the time and taking a few chances down field with VD. So disappointing to get this close…
Me too, especially when that was working to perfection in the first quarter. It’s as if he thought the Niners could win any way they wanted to.
Grant: Your comment on the reverse is as stupid as your dad’s article on Hargaugh being 11.
The purpose of the reverse was to force the Giants to change directions on a slippery field. The ball was not slippery because it was covered till just before the play. Hunter and/or Williams blew it. Don’t have the all 22 film, but on TV it looked like a good call because it was well-blocked and that side of the field looked empty.
Hofer,
You had a fit when I mentioned the missed pass to Kyle Williams on Sunday. That would have gone for a TD, and he overthrew him by five or six yards. We all know we need receiver help, that doesn’t change the fact that Smith did not perform very well in this game.
I jumped out of my seat when they ran the reverse.
Unless you do what Kawakami said he did, and watch the receivers instead of the ball, there is no way to come anywhere close to seeing how the play might look to the quarterback. By the time you understand how the OL is reacting, and the quarterback has reached his desired launch point, it’s too late to also see how open the receivers are. The coaches film is the only way to come close.
To harp on an overthrown TD pass is to acknowledge that great QBs all do it too. Alex Smith was two out of three throwing long for Sunday’s game.
There have been three playoff games where the Giants have stoned the 49er quarterback. In the first two games Montana came close to winning one time and was blown out the other time. Montana lost the close game after a fumble on the Giants 40 yard line on first down with a little over two minutes to play. If niners don’t fumble, the best chance the Giants would have had was a fifty yard drive from their own twenty with about thirty seconds and no time outs. No one at the time said Montana lost the game because he couldn’t get the 49ers into the end zone.
Smith had three chances for clear touchdowns and completed two of them. Just think what a team like the 49ers could do if they had two receivers who could take any short pass to the house like Taylor and Rice. ;)
Hoff…..This is where you lose me dude. Crabbs was open on some plays last Sunday. He has been open over this season on multiple times also. Im telling you. Its different when you can scan the whole field. This idea that Crabtree cant get open is ridiculous. Is he a great hands guy? NO. But he did lead the team in yards, and he was injured. And missed some time. Alex didnt lose the game. But he didnt help win it either. You gotta stop blaming the recievers for everything. Alex himself said he left some plays on the field. It just wasnt meant to be this year.
@ninermd
WR’s get open all the time and the ball is not thrown their way.
Do you really think that JR only got open on the times JM/SY threw him the ball? Or do you think he got open a lot, and out of those times he got open, the QB delivered the ball to him? I think JR got open a lot more than he did (remember him complaining about not getting the ball enough), and JM’s progressions took him to JR as the play dictated. Over time, JR became the #1 target on more plays than not because he proved that he is the God of WR’s. MC does not need to prove that he is God of the WR’s, but he does need to prove that he can consistently get open ALL the time. Double covered or not. When he has proven that he can get open all the time, AS will look to him. Even if he is covered. Until MC proves that he can get open all the time, don’t expect AS or any QB in their right mind to just toss it up in his direction when he is covered. First the WR needs to prove how good he is…then the QB will entrust him with the throw to a covered WR. It does not happen any other way.
WR’s need to get open a lot more than they get the ball. Ideally you would want all your WR’s to get open right? Play make believe and say they do on one play. Well, who do you throw it to? My answer is the player who you have the best chemistry/trust/etc with. And there is only one ball, so everybody else who was not thrown too was open as well.
Maybe some of the time AS threw it to somebody else not the WR’s, the other guy was open when he threw it. So, perhaps there was more than one good target, and AS chose the one he did. As a fan, we will never know the exact reason why he chooses one open target over another.
interesting to see someone saying receivers were open after everyone’s been saying nobody was open the entire game. wish we could see the film that he sees though, as it stands now we’re just going to get the generic cosell is an alex hater of course he thinks everyone was open and it was alex’s fault for not getting them the ball.
We all know AS will be back next year, and I assume he will be better then he was this year. Manning was obviously the better QB in this last game. My gut feeling is that AS is not the QB to take us to the Superbowl unless he has some major development.
How come Manning was the better QB in the last game?
I mean, I believe he IS better than Smith, but he did not PLAY better on Sunday.
He had a better first half but could do nothing in the second half and overtime.
They did not even got to the Niners 40yd line, so he was completely shut out after half time and those 2 turnovers saved his face.
Smith did not play well, but at least he delivered some good scoring drives that should be enough to win. Unfortunately, he delivered nothing more than that, which gave us no cushion to overcome the TOs.
didn’t AS deliver a TD in the 2nd half and didn’t he QB a FG drive as well to tie the game….
Denial is not a river in Egypt. So is it denial or delusion when you say Manning didn’t play better on Sunday? Because I saw all kinds of plays where he was nearly sacked and he made Houdini like throws to pick up first downs and keep drives alive. Alex on the other hand pretty much reverted to his play it safe at any cost ways that Cosell is merely pointing out.
What’s unbelievable about this article is that Cosell says Alex Smith missed receivers open all game and this was more important in the outcome of the game than the bothced punts.
But his 3 examples of plays Alex Smith allegedly missed open receivers were from plays in the beggining of drives.
How come 3 plays from behind our own 40yd line were more decisive than 2 turnovers that gave the Giants the Ball almost in the red zone?
And if there were other more important plays that the QB missed open receivers, why not using them as example?
I’m sorry but his analysis is lame, at best.
Blah, blah, blah….
Here we go with this. Everyone knows that Crabtree got shutdown. I was rooting for Crabs to have a great game, but he didn’t show up. Certainly Alex had a few bad throws (a couple were due to the wet conditions, and a couple were just bad throws), but for the most part he made the throws that were there. No body can hit every “open” receiver. Eli missed some shots as well…but you know what…game over. The season is over. we lost. we didn’t do enough to win the game. We’ll go in to the offseason and try to get better, come back next year and try to reach our goals.
Eli threw really bad throws which should have been intercepted
The elite class of QB’s put up enough production that it outweighs the turnovers. Risk reward. Our passing offense lacked production and left our team in a dog fight all year. The Alex supporters defended the lack of production which is asinine.
I said ALL YEAR the lack of production would come back to bite us in the ass. The game should have never been this close. In this game of football, you can’t DO if you don’t TRY.
Our OC blew it big time in this game by abandoning the run. Our QB’s caution limited his production all season and ultimately left us in a dog fight almost every game. The last one cost us a win. Can’t blame the Oline, can’t blame drops in this game, can’t make excuses about a lack of running game. I did see other creative excuses though. Wind lol, I was at the game and the wind was minimal. Wet ball? Hmmm it didn’t effect his throws to Vernon and Eli didn’t have a problem with it.
I just hope coach lets them compete for it next year which I am sure he will. Hope they are also smart enough not to break the bank for a QB that has limitations….
Thumb-sucking, crybaby stuff.
I agree with Cosell that Alex could have pulled the trigger on a couple of those throws but this lost is 95% on Kyle Williams. I don’t know why everyone is so afraid to call him out… death threats are ridiculous and people need to get a grip. But that fact is K.Williams 2 critical turnovers gave them great field position to tie and then win the game. Out D was playing lights out but when you give them the ball in the RZ you’re killing yourself. End of Story
RIGHT ON!
Kyle knows it! Everyone in the locker room knows it! We were in position to win the game and he botched a punt…not once but TWICE! You can’t blame coaches for giving him a chance to redeem himself. That was the right call, unfortunately he failed.
We’ll see what happens in the offseason, because now we know, Ted Ginn is ONLY good for returning kicks (as he’s USELSS as a receiver), Kyle can occasionally get open, but he CAN’T return kicks, and Swain is nothing more than a warm body on the field. So in short, our receiving corps sucks. I think it’s clear what our focus will be this offseason. Last year, we sured up our defense and it paid dividends. This year we sure up our perimeter and expect similar results.
If only Braylon Edwards would have panned out… he could have been the difference but we’ll never know. I’m not a Alex homer by any means but if Cosell is going to call him out he needs to call out Crabtree as well. Why is it Alex can hit Davis perfectly again and again but not Crabs?!? Hmmmm
Even if he hadn’t botched those punts, there was nothing indicating Alex Smith could drive the offense down the field against the Giants defense late in that game. It was three and out after three and out.
It shouldn’t have been so close so late, anyway. It shouldn’t have come down to Kyle Williams (who should have been pulled after the diving catch on the punt in the third quarter). The Niners should have won this one 31-17. All they had to do was use their offensive game plan from earlier in the season – run the ball.
And don’t forget the 2 INT’s they should have had if not for knocking each other out. Not going to be a hater either because the Giants won. With that said… like Singletary said after his 1st press conference… “WE CANNOT GIVE THE GAME”
@Grant
You are making things up with that 31-17 score now.
To get 31 in conditions like that without the Niner WR’s getting wide open all game long (open that is apparent to the announcers, not a hater like Cosell) is really stretching it.
The Niners should have won. But didn’t. I can easily place the blame on AS, DG, MC, JH, Seely and a bunch more. Care to hear the reasoning?
Fact is the Niners lost. Please get rid of your 31-17 prediction. That is why I don’t predict scores. If the team fails to get that score, you end up looking to place blame and not on the actual events. The ’89 Niners would not have gotten 31 points that day.
Grant, you should stop sounding like your dad. If you are myopic enough to think that those fumbles did not cost us the game, You should write with your dad in the gossip section where he and his ego belong.
so grant , u are calling out the coaches and their play calling…..
I should have bet a few thousand dollars on Greg Cossell coming out with this article. Like it’s any surprise. Over 95% of the posters here have been saying all season that Cossell was just waiting for the opportunity to say “I told you so!”
>>Even if he hadn’t botched those punts, there was nothing indicating Alex Smith could drive the offense down the field against the Giants defense late in that game. It was three and out after three and out.
Come on Grant, you’ve watched the team all year, right? That is their MO. The offense stinks it up for stretches, then puts together a drive that is finally needed. Niners get the ball back, they would have won this thing. And been in the Super Bowl – contrary to your Dad’s opinions.
Grant, check out the box score of the game. It’s only been two days and you’ve already forgotten the facts. Fourth quarter: Both Alex and Eli had their problems with the opposing defenses. They each had six play scoring drives. Alex drove us 48 yards whilst Eli only had to go 29 thanks to the knee to the ball muff.
31-17 Grant?
Do tell. O_o
Grant,
Without the botched punt Alex Smith did not have to drive the field again because the Niners were already winning (14-10) and Eli and the Giants offense NEVER crossed the Niners 40yd again.
So Alex Smith may have played bad (I thought it was average – better than Eli), and it shouldn’t have to be that close.
But the fact still is the without Kyle Willians mistakes, the Niners would have won.
If you’re going to play the what if game you have to ask what if Eli hits some of those passes where his recievers were open? Maybe they would’ve won 31-17. The fact is William’s two fumbles led directly to 10 points and that cost the niners the game.
philly, it’s not a what if game. Take away the 1st turnover(which should never have been allowed) there is no second turnover. 9ers should have gotten the ball back there BY RULE and it’s game over for the Smurfs. The 9er Defense wasn’t allowing that guy to do anything to them on the Smurfs side of the field.
Whereas our Run game was gaining ground on them enough to play keep away for the remainder of the game. Williams don’t even get near the ball it’s game over.
So you can say it’s a what if scenario but the truth is Williams screwed up. I still want him cut. He’s not a good Receiver, he sucks at Returning the ball and those are the things he does on this team. He was the best Smurf on the field all game long.
*I meant no second TD for Manning.
Sorry i wasn’t clear. I was just saying that scenario because Cossell and Grant and others on this blog seem to thing only Alex missed plays,and that Eli didn’t miss any. So yeah maybe if the niners made more plays on offense they might have scored more but the same can be said for the Giants. You can’t say if Alex made more plays they would’ve scored more and discount all the misses Eli had(26 incompletions.)
I thought the niners had the game won and Williams mistakes cost them the game. I don’t understand how anybody that watched the game came away thinking that it was Alex’s fault.
I can agree with that. Thanks for the clarification philly.
They played well enough to win. They went off script. I was screaming at them to run the ball, not because Alex couldn’t pass, but because the run was working. All those first down play action passes didn’t fool anyone. You put 10 in a box, if Gore gets free he scores an easy TD. What happen to the clever tackle eligible. But here’s the thing — ALL TEAMS LEAVE PLAYS ON THE FIELD! How come Cosell doesn’t yell at Brady for missing a wide open Gronk? The fact it is is rare the Niners get the perfect play call. The OC made bad calls. I can accept that. Just own up to it and move on. And you know what? I bet they have. One thing I like about this coaching staff is that they’re smart.
Let’s see how much Alex improves. He did get better. Is he “elite” yet? Time will tell. Give him some talented receivers and we shall see He likes throwing to VD. Give him 3 more of those guys with that kind of talent.
Niners, almost made it despite playing like crap on offense. Niners got hurt late in the year. Ginn would have made a difference. Delanie Walker not being out for 6 weeks would have made a difference.
But we lost. Accept it. Move on.
“It shouldn’t have been so close so late, anyway. It shouldn’t have come down to Kyle Williams (who should have been pulled after the diving catch on the punt in the third quarter). The Niners should have won this one 31-17. All they had to do was use their offensive game plan from earlier in the season – run the ball.”
I can’t agree with this sentiment more. So many called passes in the 2nd half – it was mind-boggling. Gore was averaging somewhere around 5 yds a carry, Hunter not too far removed from that (he’s amazing running the counter, wow!), the defense had clamped down on the Giants offense forcing 3 and out after 3 and out, and yet we schemed away from the run to put it in Alex’s hands. I have faith in Alex to run a tight game plan and to make SOME plays with his arm, but c’mon, man! Give Gore the rock and let’s use this OLine for what it does best – power-O!
truth
@ Grant,
Totally disagree. Kyle Williams absolutely lost this game for us. Any other interpretation is just crazy. The offense was mediocre, but fact is that it was good enough to win the game. Say what you will about coaching or Alex or the receivers- yes, all of that could have been better, but it was all good enough, that game was won. All Kyle had to do was hang onto the ball.
There never should have even been an OT, OT was a gift to the Giants gift wrapped by Kyle Williams’ completely bone headed move to let that ball bounce off his leg at the end of the 4th. If you aren’t going to catch it, don’t be anywhere near the vicinity. That’s football 101. Having made that catastrophic mistake, however, one would think that with his next opportunity he would have protected that ball with his life. Nope, careless and reckless again. He gave the Giants 10 points. And we lost by how many? Exactly, the team did enough to win that game, Kyle, and solely Kyle, did enough to hand that game, and our Superbowl ticket, to the Giants.
Blaming Kyle Williams is lazy. Harbaugh should have never put him in as the punt returner in the first place, not in the NFC championship game, especially not after that dive. And the game shouldn’t have been that close, either.
It may be “lazy” Grant but oftentimes truth is lazy.
The simple truth of the matter is that the 9ers had the game well in hand before Williams went in for the 1st one. You cannot deny that without his mistake that the 9ers would be going to Indy to get ready for the big game.
Cause without it the Smurfs could NOT have tied it up.
It’s even lazier to go back through the game and start naming other people as scapegoats when that one moment on the field changed it all. He should have NEVER been anywhere near that ball when he made the determination that he wasn’t going to field it.
I don’t know about other fans but I for one am insulted that people are sticking up for Williams to the point of pointing fingers around the room at the rest of the players. Did they all play stellar? NO! But no team EVER has stellar play at every spot. It never happens.
I don’t want the guy dead, but he DID cost the 49ers their chance. No two ways about it. You cannot fall into the trap of reasoning why that was. Should the coaches have kept him off the field the 2nd time? Hell yes they should have. It’s not like Hunter didn’t receive a Kick all season. Hunter was damned good at it. But at the end of the day Williams was THAT guy and as THAT guy it’s okay to be criticized. Look how long Craig has lived with the Fumble. Have some freakin class please. I won’t bad mouth you or your dad(unlike some fans) for your opinion. It is your opinion but at least let the man own his mistakes. You can play this game of if ands and buts, but my aunt is not my uncle and to suggest so is completely nuts and a waste of time. ;)
I agree with Grant. It is lazy.
The offense was frankly offensive, DBs were running in to each other, play calling was less than spectacular.
It was a group meltdown.
Piling on Williams is just plain dishonest. And the idiots who think it’s cool to send the death threats to Williams and Cundiff… big mistake. Aside from looking like worthless human beings (which you would be, of course) it’s also a threat that authorities take seriously. Wait for a knock on the door and a trip downtown.
Grant, I’m sorry if my “lazy” analysis insults you. Perhaps we were not watching the same game? Because the game I was watching looked like how the team played all season: mediocre offense, plenty of missed opportunities for points, but in the end, enough points to win thanks to our awesome D and special teams.
It is, much to all of our undying regret, unfortunate that he wasn’t pulled after the dive. But I don’t blame the coaching staff for failing to predict that one of their players would forget a basic rule of the game and put themselves anywhere near a ball they had no intention of fielding. That mistake is the most egregious and the hardest to forgive.
Of course I wish our offense had put up more points so that Williams’ 10 gift points to the Giants wouldn’t have mattered. They didn’t though, and the simple fact is, if not for Williams, they had done enough to get the W. It wouldn’t have been a pretty win, but a win nonetheless and one that looks like many others this season. I’m with Ceadderman, there is just no 2 ways around the truth here.
I do feel incredibly bad for Williams, I’m sure no one feels worse for his mistakes than he does. But the fact is he made them and he did cost the team the game. He knows it, everyone knows it. While spreading the blame to everyone else may be the “nice” thing to do and the politically correct thing to do, it is completely disingenous, saying otherwise isn’t lazy.
@Grant,
I noticed that most of your post recently are links to other articles, some that you wrote and some that others did. Is this because you’ve been inundated writing other articles or is it because this is how you plan to present the blog from now on?
I don’t me to come off as rude or sarcastic, I only ask because I generally don’t like to leave this blog just to read articles. I don’t mind it occasionally, but I’d rather come on this blog to read unique pieces that I wouldn’t typically find on other sights. I really like it when you do game/player/stat analysis, opinion posts, questions to us, commentary/reflections on interviews that you’ve done with other people, etc.
Just thought. Thanks for a great season of coverage & posting!
Grant’s “Money Ball” is relishing in Alex Smith controversy ;) Not saying it’s a bad thing but it is what it is.
You’re right, he knows how to start a fire in the middle of a flood of “non-news” days lol!
Cosell saw the game differently from every other observer I’ve read. My guess is that he was trying to show that his earlier criticism of Smith was accurate, which it mostly wasn’t. Matt Millen said that nobody was open and that Smith played well.
I agree that his no turnover mindset, which was so helpful to the team all year, cost him some opportunities Sunday. A long pass downfield at the end of regulation would have been low risk, high reward; don’t worry about an interception deep in Giants territory with ten seconds on the clock; try to hit a covered receiver that if completed would have won the game. So Alex doesn’t always think fast enough to grasp the possibilities. But overall he’s been real good this year with a subpar receiving corps.
I totally agree with colsell and it’s something I’ve known about Alex Smith his whole career. He’s a safe thrower and will never considtantly throw guys open like the true elite QB’s because if he’s not certain he can make the throw he won’t throw it. This is why I eventually see Kap or Tolzen taking over for him. I still believe he will be our starter next season but the young QB’s will be hot on his heels and he will be forced to perform better and hopefully the more comfortable he gets with the offense the better he will be but at the end of the day I still think he’s just a stop gap until the real QB of the future is ready
Very well put.
I don’t necessarily disagree with the younger QB’s getting better and maybe even playing better than Alex after a season or three of “seasoning”, but going 14-4 and losing the NFC Championship in OT due to a special teams flub shows Alex to be a pretty mean stop-gap, imho.
I see it a little differently, Dh. He IS a safe thrower; that’s why the Niners had the best turnover protection numbers in the league this year. I’ve seen him make all the passes, throughout the year, definitely coming on and expanding the repertoire as the season went on and he gained confidence. So his reluctance to throw a given pass isn’t related to whether he thinks he can throw it or not; it’s related to whether he thinks the receiver can/will go up after a ball that’s going to be contested by the D. I don’t know what you think of our receiving corps this past season, but I don’t see them as aggressive, dominating types who’ll protect the ball or their QB. Given that, Alex doesn’t throw when the guys aren’t open.
Eli had a great game in terms of being absolutely terrorized by our front 7, but getting back up after taking 20 qb hits, and keeping his team in the game. Most qb would’ve taken such a beating that their play would decline. Manning was somehow able to stay sharp and poised.
He didn’t play well late in the game, so I’m tired of hearing all the “Eli is a top 3 qb” talk, but he had a good game considering the amount of pressure we got on him, and the weather.
So the same should be true for Alex Smith.
My only problem is people saying that Eli played great and Alex choked.
I believe they were about the same. So either both choked or both played great (I say both played average but really tough).
Neither made a difference in the game.
Our defense was making the difference for the Niners than the KW mistakes made the difference for the Giants.
Smith did make a difference. The two Passes to Davis were monumentally aggressive and it showed Smith has what it takes.
Without that 2nd TD which was allowed by a stupid stupid stupid mistake, Eli wouldn’t even have had that good a day.
So while it looks like I’m piling on to the guy. Williams was the problem NOT Smith. I don’t care if Smith washes out. But at least let the man have the freedom to do so on his own without making stuff up.
the Truth is EliTE played average and Smith played better than average. The ball doesn’t go to the Giants in short field do you HONESTLY think he was going to move it against the Defense for the rest of the game?
Based on two consecutive 3 and outs w/o a gaffe on Special Teams(Williams), I say hell no. 9er D was havin NONE of it. Those gaffes allowed a 10 point swing in favor of the Smurfs.
So in a game where two Fumbles don’t cost you or even happen, who played better? Smith or EliTE?
Smurfs fans know they escaped.
@Allan
I agree.
The two most things (numerswise) that a QB does are TD passes and Int’s. Yards and accuracy are way below.
Both QB’s threw 2 TD’s.
Both QB’s threw 0 int
Both QB’s had multiple posessions the last 5 minutes. Both stank.
If you want to look into it further, AS had no passes that were nearly picked. Eli had 2.
Plus I would like to see how Cosell evaluated EM. EM definitely missed WR’s. For one thing, they got open once in awhile.
Eli outplayed Smith. Look at the numbers. Our defense is twice as good as theirs. Our offense is half as bad. Eli got his behind kicked by our defnse. We just needed some help from the offense. Eli hung in the pocket and gave his receivers a chance to make plays. He threw his receivers open. What QB in this league gives excuses or has his supporters give excuses about his inability to trust his receivers? Alex Smith would never give that excuse. He does not trust his own ability. He does not trust his own arm. That is the truth. Deal with it Smithers! The TRUTH!
Jordo, Eli should outplay AS! Look at the damn receiver group…don’t need a PhD to figure that out. VD is a talent that can get open, but a huge drop off after that.
The 9er brass will bring in some playmakers and AS will hit them because they will get open – no throwing them open BS. A group that will be together for at least 3-5 years. Back to the playoffs…
Hofer,
Throwing receivers open is the mark of a true quality QB. You’re right, Alex needs 4 Vernon Daviss. He needs 4 Calvin Johnsons. He needs 4 Andre Johnsons to play well. The guys have to be wide open to get passes from him.
Better than that, Alex has to let the receiver spend the night with he and his wife to see if he steals anything. That way, we all know that Alex trusts him. Just throw the damn ball to your receiver and put it in the best place possible to give him a chance to catch it. The trust is not on you. It’s on the receiver to make the play. Catch catch what you don’t throw him.
Hofer tell me about that series with 1:47 left in regulation. You tell me if that 1st or 2nd play to crabtree couldn’t have been completed. No threat of a an interception. Just horrible throws. One from 6 yards right at Crabtrees feet with no excuse.
Jordo, problem is MC can’t get open and how many tips for INTs trying to throw him open does it take? You’ll see you were wrong again just like you were wrong stating AS won’t start this year and he can’t get this team to the playoffs. Stay tuned…
i think AS was better in 2nd half…..TD and FG on drives…Eli didn’t have a drive and got his TD on the fumble on to a rcvr covered by the backup CB after brown got knocked out of the game….and eli threw two horrible passes that should have been picked off in the second half
@Jordan,
Our defense wasn’t twice as good as theirs. That is garbage. The Giant defense was coming off of a dominant performance against the Packers. They were playing just as well as the Niners defense was.
Rocket,
Are you saying the Giants defense outplayed us on Sunday?? Never. The packers fumbled the ball everywhere and they dropped 8 passed and you credit the Giants defense??? You have lost your mind!! The Niners played an epic defensive game Sunday. If not for those 2 fumbles and the weak QB play, we win that game easily. Our defense was stellar. Their defense didn’t stop us, our QB didn’t hit open receivers. Read the article again!
Jordan,
they don’t care. They have their minds made up. As for the defense, they saved the best for last. I’ll use a baseball analogy to sum it up.
Our defense is Lincecum and Cain. And like Lincecum and Cain, our defense needed some help. And like the San Francisco Giants, our 49ers offense did not give them the help they needed.
Wait until Cosell’s interview with KNBR this morning comes out. He actually goes into more detail about Smith’s choke job in the 4th quarter. Says what I saw to a tee. He didn’t make the throw.
I’d like to know what Smith was thinking with 19 seconds left and three time outs. We needed 25 yards for the winning field goal and he never threw it down field. IS THAT WHAT YOU CALL TRYING TO WIN THE GAME? ON FIRST DOWN VERNON HIS FAVORITE TARGET AND THE ONLY GUY HE EVEN LOOKS AT WAS SINGLE COVERED. Smith bailed out of the pocket with no one in his face and did not throw it down field. HE DIDN’T EVEN TRY.
On the other side of the ball you had a QB who had the balls to sit in the pocket, get the $hit beat our of him, but he sat there, gave time to the routes to develop and he tried making the throws.
Bay, if you dont like the 49ers QB and what their philosophy is on offense, why dont you go cheer for a team that takes chances down field and that has a QB that throws for 300 + yards every Sunday. Its clear your not happy with who the 49ers are and who they have at QB.
Its one thing to express an opinion but its another to make it a staple on here in your daily commentary. I mean, you have not stopped critisizing Smith since I have been on this blog and I have been on here for a long time. BTW, are you the former Telecat? Cmon, be honest, I read a comment you wrote about you taking pictures at the game. Is that you?
That’s a childish statement. We all know what your initials stand for, so redeem yourself.
@FDM
“Bay, if you dont like the 49ers QB and what their philosophy is on offense, why dont you go cheer for a team….”
+infinity to the infinite power.
@nickrow
Whose initials are you referring to? I have no idea what any of them stand for anybody.
Jordan,
I didn’t say the Giant defense played better than ours. I think I clearly stated that they were playing just as well which they were. Go back and read the analysis leading up to last weeks game and look at what was being said about the Giant defense. They were playing at a very high level and dropped passes or not, they shut down the best or at worst second best offense in the league in their building. The two TD’s the Packers got came on a bad call on a fumble and a terrible roughing the QB call. The Giants did a phenomenal job against the Packers. They held the Falcons scoreless the game before and Dallas to one of their lowest offensive outputs of the season the game before that.
There was great defense from both teams last Sunday. As usual you and Bay want to single out Alex Smith, and my response is simply you are looking to make him the goat because that is what you do.
There is little question he didn’t have a good game, but what you guys refuse to acknowledge is there are reasons why and it’s not all because Alex Smith sucks I’m sorry. Manning is the superior QB and he didn’t have a great day either. I’ve rewatched the game twice and he didn’t face this extreme pressure on every play like Bay is trying to pass off. Most of the times he got sacked were because he couldn’t find anybody open. He played about as poor a second half as you can play, yet we have you guys making excuses for him and ripping Alex Smith. Sorry man but that shows nothing but unobjectivity on this subject.
If you want to criticize Alex Smith for not playing a great game, I get that, he didn’t, but give credit to the defense he was facing and the conditions the same way you do for Manning. Neither QB played a great game, both had their teams in position to win and the difference was two muffed punts. That’s the reality.
I would put the reasons the Niners lost in this order: 1. Offensive/special teams game plan 2. Quarterback play 3.Trent Baalke’s weak replacement of WRs Edwards and Morgan (Swain + Hastings) 4. Kyle Williams
@ Grant,
I would flip flop your #3 and #4. But I like the list.
So AS is again the biggest reason the Niners lose a game. Based on Cosell’s analysis, the biggest reason the Packers lost is because AR missed throws. Forget winning and losing as a team, if the Niners win they do so in spite of AS and if they lose it’s because of him.
Guy has had it in for Smith all year and needs to support his thesis. Bottom line, 22 touchdowns, 5 interceptions. Plus, Smith arguably got more production than Manning with the two TD strikes to Davis. He missed an open deep pass to Williams and he missed on an open fly route to Walker, but that was probably because Walker was held up by illegal hands to the face, which was flagged on the play. Not a perfect performance, but under difficult conditions and against a good defense, Smith played well enough for the Niners to win. Would have liked to have seen him run a bit more as it was pretty effective when he did run. Cosell is simply wed to his thesis that Smith sucks and feels he must prove it every week. Uncharacteristic mental errors on special teams were the difference in that game. It was won before we started fumbling punts. It’s just not that complicated. (And I’m not trying to pile onto Williams, who I think can be a good slot receiver for us and was just trying to make something big happen.)
This is the straight scoop. Where is your rebuttal to this Jordo?
Spot on.
Ceadder,
If I’m not mistaken, manning threw for 2 touchdowns as well. Manning also completed some passes on 3rd down and got the giants some 1st downs. How did Alex do in that department? 1-13, oh crap, that was crap. 22 touchdowns in 16 games. That’s amazing!!! Now let’s see how many QBs had more with 16 starts under their belt. All except 2 maybe. 5 picks is good. But when you don’t trust your receivers, you’re certainly not going to take ANY chances throwing it! Lol.
Missing an occasional wide open receiver for a TD once a game can happen. But the good QBs make those throws. Under throw Williams and you get 50 like Cosell said, or you get a P.I. When the defender runs into Williams. Overthrow him and you get nothing!!
Giants defense is and was mediocre this year. What made them good??? Because they stopped this putrid offense with this average QB? They were not a good defense when we were pedi ting victory last week before the game!?!?
Cosell didn’t sound like he had an agenda when he heaped praise on Smith for the Saints game. He game him his props, and said he was surprised. Said Smith made some super throws. Nobody complained about his analysis last week. He was spot on. I agreed with him then as well. Smith has sucked most of his career and he does have to prove himself every week and he would say he needs to prove it as well.
What proof do we have that we were going to win that game if Williams does not fumble in overtime? None at all. Just belief as fans like all fans have. The proof is actually the other way around. We hadn’t moved the ball in 4 possessions prior to the fumble. Just 3 and outs. Errant passes to nobody by our QB.
This game was too big for Williams. He had a horrible game. He was shaky the whole game. 3 fumbles!!! He won’t make the opening day roster next year. If he does, it will show us how much our receiving corps have come. He was already 5th on the depth chart when the season started.
Ceadderman, how’s that son. The truth hurts. Deal with it. Smith said he played CRAPPY! Tis time I trust Alex. He’s right, he did play CRAPPY. Definition of Crappy- Like Shi-!!
all those 1st half 3rd down conversions didn’t amount to much….cruz was an animal the first half and shut down the second half….the TD in second half eli threw is the same kind of short field TD u admonish AS for…
AS had some super throws in this game as well….two TDs to VD and he stuck the ball in small window as well also to VD…he just missed another small window completion because of the defender’s finger tip….
giants defense improved immensely from the first half of season which made their overall stats average but they got 2 or 3 of their players back and that defense came together quite a bit and yet this average offense had a good measure of success against them….
proof is in the accomplishments of the season….
already in this game in the 2nd half after the deflating TD after fumble, KW came back with a good KO return and AS had a fine 17 yd run and hunter had another 15 yard run and then the FG to tie…. that was mid 4th quarter so proof enough for me showing me the niners could still move the ball….giants just had the one short field TD the whole second half
What proof do we have that we were going to win that game if Williams does not fumble in overtime? None at all.
Exactly we’ll never know because of Williams fumble.
Jordo states, “Missing an occasional wide open receiver for a TD once a game can happen. But the good QBs make those throws.”
Seems to me Eli missed a long easy pass right down the middle of the field for a TD in the 9er game during the year as well. It happens! The difference is his WR’s get open more than once a game.
So the consensus from media Tim K and fans at the game said they watched the WR’s and did not see them get open and did not win the one on one battles on the outside and in the slot, but now Cossell comes out and puts it on Smith? The haters like 23J and Bayarea say the same thing, my question is who has an agenda here?
I had friends over who never watched the 49ers play all year and the one universal comment was, your WR are terrible. After the game Sunday most beat writers said the same thing. Cossel has dogged Alex all year, why would he lose face now and admit hes wrong? Cause he’s terrible, that’s why!
Didn’t sound like Cosell dogged smith after the saint game. Gave him major props. You Smithers always feel like someone has an agenda. Steve young will be a liar on thursday as well. He knows good QB play but he’ll be labeled a hater when he tells us that Smith has to make a play in a critical game like that.
I see nobody said that the plays Cosell speaks about were not open. Look at the top of the screen for the first playnhe talks about. You can see Crabtree open. I got the replay. Receivers get open at some point during games. Alex smith only looks at half the field. He never looks one way and throws to the opposite side of the field. You have to know where guys are to do that. At least nobody is blaming the offensive line for the Giants pass rush. They had a good one and we know how smith plays when he’s getting any pressure. He hurries decisions and throws.
Dude don’t make any assumptions to what anyone will say two days from now.
You have no clue as to what Young will or won’t say.
This is why you have no credibility. Your dogged determination to hold onto your faulty belief all season long is tiresome. You don’t have a single clue as to what you’re talking about. So most of the time you’re non existent around here. Only when a critic says something you come back and go “Yeah, exactly as I been saying”. I seriously hate fans like you.
Go away Troll ya bother me.
Well, let’s recap the post season:
Alex Smith outdueled Drew Brees.
He played better against the Giants defense than Aaron Rodgers, and in a worse environment and with worse WRs (unless anybody believe that Crabtree+Willians+Swain are better than Jennings+Nelson+Driver).
He produced about the same (except yards) that Eli Manning in the Championship game.
Not to mention that he didn’t have a full training camp, got a new OC and a new playbook (again), and lost 2 of the first 3 WRs in the post-camp depth chart (Josh Morgan and Braylon Eddwards).
Not to mention 2: 13 regular season wins, defeating Michael Vick, Staford, Big Ben, among others.
All in all I’d say it was a pretty awsome year or him.
Anyone that are not happy with what Alex Smith produced this year just got to be kidding or are not a real fan.
Ceadder,
It really warms my heart to know you hate me. I don’t remember asking for your love. You’re in love with Alex. Criticism of him makes you fighting mad. I’m sorry I hurt your feelings. I’ll apologize to you for what Cosell said as well. Do you feel better now? I don’t give a damn what you think about me. I care even less about your love for Smith. Get in line. There are a bunch of others up here as well. I didn’t break your heart, Smith did. Read the article again clown!
Jordo stop bein a tool.
Smith didn’t play great Sunday. Neither did EliTE.
So what is your Effin point? You’ve been wrong about Smith ALL YEAR and now after we lose the Championship game you’re here to gloat?
Go build a better Alex Smith Voodoo doll and try again next year.
23j, you are such a fool it’s unbelievable. Did you even check what Cosell said about Smith vs. Saints outside of KNBR? Do your homework, bum.
GEEZ jackass,
I certainly did see what Cosell said about smith after the Saints game. I can read son. He gave Smith credit for making 2 great throws. Elite throws.
However, this game, he criticized smith for not making good throws. So now your butt hurts. Get over it. He stunk and he said so himself. He played CRAPPY! His words. That means like shi-! In case you don’t know the meaning.
Smith made more “Elite” throws in this game than EliTE did.
Choke on that.
I always wonder how often receivers are open and the QB makes the mistake. You almost never can tell from TV because we don’t see the full play with the receivers making their cuts, especially as they’re typically only open for a brief moment.
So on one hand its troubling to hear AS isn’t making the throw (we all saw the overthrow). On the other hand Cosell gave a couple of other examples. I’m sure all QB’s miss some, but how many?
The question is can Harbaugh improve this next year? I also think they still need better receivers. One thing that doesn’t get mentioned around our receivers is that the coachs and AS see them every week in practice. If they don’t win the tough catches in coverage during the week the QB won’t test them in a game. My bet is that during the week AS throw more aggressively to the receivers and doesn’t get the results that allow him to cut loose during a game.
So I’m sure AS is missing some (I saw him through away one near the 10 yard line with Gore underneath wide open enough to get a first and goal, but instead he threw it way in the end zone). Harbaugh can help improve this, the question is really how much without also adding better receivers.
That throw to Williams was Overthrown because it took him forever to get open, did you see the safety just wait in the middle of the field for Williams! C’mon on with Alex BS again, if VD was getting open, why couldn’t everyone else?
Crabprimetime,
Thats a JOKE, the world knows Williams was wide open. You must be on that planet with DS! maybe you are the guy with the agenda. Your wonder boy hero just flat out missed him!
So when are you and Cosell hooking up Jordo? Make sure to wear your Sunday best.
Ceaderman,
for most of the game there was no wind at all.
That throw was a choke. Williams was open by 5-7 yards. Grant were you there? What did you see?
Smith overthrew him, simple as that. It happens, it happened to Manning as well.
Ceadder,
It’s okay to be a fan, we all are. But I’m not an Alex lover. At least he got his extension. 2 years, 11 million with incentives. Take it or leave it. He’s got nowhere else to go anyway.
Ceadder,
The wind only affects Smith I guess. That my friend , is an Alexcuse! Number 37. Congratulations!
The wind affected Manning too smart guy. Stop making assumptions as to my thinking. You have enough to worry about going on in your own head as it is.
what did u really see on the KW overthrow….ball left hand and KW hadn’t even cleared the defender, he was not wide open ….AS was throwing him open and KW couldn’t get his burst on….the first order of intent in making this throw early in the game is to manipulate the defense mindset into the concept of stretching the field…happened a lot in the golden era ….come out throw a couple of long passes which end up incomplete and soften up the underbelly, sure every once in a while the pass was completed but that was the exception to the rule….walsh had this done often to help create space….i felt this was the intent of that play…. and those long TDs to VD was field stretching as well
Windsor nice assumption. I was there, when he released the ball he had a two step advantage which grew to a five yard advantage as he tried to run under it.
The throw wasn’t even close.
Meh, apparently people have forgotten how windy it was. Sometimes that’s all it takes is a good gust to alter the trajectory of a Pass. I’m just glad it was overthrown cause you’re right with that Safety sitting over the top Williams was not as open as SOME people think.
Nevermind that he’s never caught anything deep since he’s been a Receiver with the 9ers.
Cosell forgets the first rule of the game. Trust. Do I trust you to make the catch if I put the ball into tight coverage? What trust have our Receivers built up since Morgan went down. You know this answer so be honest. Trust builds chemistry and chemistry allows a QB to take some chances he may not necessarily make on the fly. It’s ALL based on trust.
Look at the trust Smith has in Davis to make the Catch now? Smith does it instinctually because he has built up a rapport with his Tight End.
When everyone else is saying that Receiver is a glaring need we have fans who seem to think that it’s still QB.
Ceadder,
Alexcuse #38, Trust? ” Sorry, I know coach told me to throw the ball to you, but I don’t trust you so I’m checking down!” Give me a break man. QBs job is to run the play. There was no safety over the top. He beat the safety as well.
Ceadder, well said. Everyone knows AS will be signed for starter money, now he just needs VD talent at WR. These guys are relentless and it doesn’t matter – wrong last year and wrong this year.
Thanks Hofer… they been wrong every year they been doggin on the guy. I kept tellin people, get him a Line that could keep him upright and he would do well.
He actually had a Line this season and it took us to 13-3 even though Smith was the most Sacked QB entering the Playoffs.
But yeah Smith sucks. Get the man some Receivers now and I bet he has a better year next year.
I never said Alex Smith played beyond reproach. So you can take your smarmy attitude and stuff it.
Wrong, Williams was wide open and Smith flat out missed him-by about five yards. Williams did his job on the play and Smith didn’t, pure and simple.
One play does not make a game. Joe Steve John Jeff Frankie and Y.A. all threw bad passes and overthrew Receivers in BIG GAMES no less.
Joe threw 6 picks in one Playoff game. Does Joe suck? You already know the answer to this because it’s rhetorical.
Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda…
There is blame to go all around in this one. Of course KW deserves alot of blame for not securing the ball. Alex deserves some blame for playing “crappy”, as he called it. The coaching staff deserves some blame for poor play calling. I’m sure Alex had some plays where he didn’t pull the trigger and missed out on some plays. You can look at tape of every QB in the NFL including Brady, Manning, Rodgers, Brees, etc and pick out plays in every single game where they didn’t go to the correct read. The truth of the matter is that if the 9ers don’t go 1-13 on 3rd down conversions, the fumbles wouldn’t have mattered. The same issues the 9ers faced all year with poor offensive play on 3rd downs was really the downfall in the Championship game.
Exactly. Let’s have Cosell review AR his last game. lol
Houston 9er nailed it. Smith didn’t play great. He didn’t play terribly either, and to single out him for the loss is illustrating some sort of cognitive bias against him that, clearly, Cosell has. He missed some throws, but he threw some perfect passes as well. And…so did Eli.
I said it before, and I’ll say it again. They replay that game 100 times, using the same strategy, and the 49ers win 60+ times, easily. I have no problem with the game plan, they just didn’t get the bounces, and the other team did.
He gets no love from me, just like Jamie Dukes doesnt. I mean before the Saints game, he had nothing nice to say, and wrote an article about how Smith wouldnt be able to win a match toe to toe with Brees. He won that game for us, and Cossell disappeared off the radar. After the win vs. the Saints he wrote no articles. and i know because i was waiting for one. He hid like a coward IMHO. Then, after the Giants loss, then he writes an article. Give me a break, Im boycotting his non-sense because. A real writer, should be able to be humble when they were wrong. Just like Duke’s counterparts on the show after Smith won us the game. He tried so hard to not give Smith credit, and even when he did, he was like ok he did aite, now let me see it again. Straight punk move. Grant C., Lowell. C, and both Matts are who i follow.
So in the coach’s tape, you can actually see a QB’s line of vision at the time when a receiver is open? On TV, sometimes they would show the routes, but with the line of srimmage out of view. You can certainly see a receiver is open and waving his arm, but what’s exactly in front of the QB at that very moment, with all the moving bodies?
Exactly.
I always wonder about that.
I bet AS, or any QB could kick the crap out of any of us if we played a game of football from the skyview angle.
actually, the the TV angle replay they showed after the missed KW pass deep middle showed it from AS perspective ….
Well, if this post-mortem is going to devolve into the old Alex Smith bashing crap, I’m out of here until something significant happens.
It’s been fun this season, see you all when the re-signings are announced.
No kidding. I have no interest in rehashing this argument for the next 6 months. I think it’s time to take a long break.
Echo that, see you after free agency!
Wow go away for a day and Grant loses his mind.
Did Alex Smith play great? No but he played pretty damned well against that Defense.
Stop blamin Smith for the loss people. Typical Homer mentality in the Bay Area.
Rule number one: When in doubt blame the QB.
Rule number two: If Still in doubt blame the QB and make things up to prove you’re right.
Cosell needs to be dropkicked. I really do not like how this guy cherry picks one or two plays and then says this stuff happened all game long. Let’s see his fat @ce stand in the pocket under duress and make those throws. He can’t. It’s one thing when you have a coach or an ex player giving the same critiques, but this guy never did a damned thing. I’m sick of this fool.
The problem is not so much this blowhard Cossell but the beat writers, journalists, and radio shows that give him a platform to misinform readers. He is the reason that I read or listen exclusively to ex-NFL players like Young, Dilfer, etc., for expert analysis, with a few exceptions like Mike Mayock. Beat writers and journalists are only good for news and interviews — not analysis.
The game Mayock was color commentator of the 9ers he said he likes AS and see upside – two sides to each analysis.
Housten:
You are correct. The entire pass offense played poorly, with the exception of VD. Alex appears to be very risk adverse. Mostly that is a good thing. But he is going to have to be willing to take more risks with the ball in the future.
I also think he does not trust his receivers. He trusts Davis and Walker. He did trust Morgan and Edwards. I don’t think he trusts Crabtree.
I think if neither Edwards or Morgan get injuried we are in the Super Bowl.
Cosell is spot on with his analysis. As much as people want to be postive about Alex Smith’s acccomplishments this year, the body of work to date shows that Alex Smith is merely a serviceable NFL QB. He just good enough not to lose a game. But rarely is he good enough to be the difference maker and win the game. During the season, you have to say Alex Smith is your guy. The team had no option other than Alex Smith this past year. Now when you look objectively at all the missed throws, wasted routes, plays left on the field, you ask do you really want to sign Alex Smith to a multi-year deal? The most courageous thing Bill Walsh did was replacing Steve Deberg, after a record setting season, and replacing him with Joe Montana.
Amen…
Alex did have a record setting season, for Alex! Man has a career year averaging 200 yards passing a game. Excellent game against the Saints. Crappy game against the Giants, his words not mine. But I do agree with him. At least he won a playoff game. I said he couldn’t, so props to him. Key word, INCONSISTENCY!!
I always hope alex will do well but for most of his career , It is fair to say he has been inconsistant, We have two young quarterbacks that I believe will develop under these coaches, Will be intersting to see if Alex can also get better at throwing people open or if inconsistancey is all we have!
Rebel,
I agree.
@VANiner
I completely agree with you. Alex Smith is – at best – an average NFL QB. At times, he’s brilliant. Other times, he’s plain padestrian. Due to lack of viable options, he’ll be back next year. But – as many have posted here – he’s only keeping the seat warm for the next QB.
Mark my words, we’ll never win a SuperBowl with Alex Smith as our starting QB.
pedestrian
Nickrow,
I agree.
Either Cossell is a liar or I’m blind. Because I had a good seat at the game and carefully watched the receivers coming off the LOS on all pass plays rather than focus on Alex. Receivers were not getting separation.
Maybe they got separation after the play was over.
@mood
Maybe Cosell thinks seperation means 2 inches?
That’s what Kawakami reported from the game as well. No one was getting open.
I don’t know what to think on this. The TV angles aren’t going to show us much, some fans say they were open, some say they weren’t. An analyst says they were getting open, sports reporters are saying they weren’t.
Your guess is as good as mine. I guess that’s why we have smart coaches. We dumb fans can just sit back and enjoy the show, I guess.
@Adam
chargersfan made a good point yesterday, don’t know if you saw it.
How many WR’s leave the Niners and just light the world on fire someplace else?
In 7 years, none have. I think that speaks more on the lack of great WR talent than lack of QB talent.
After all, how come none of them were (1) picked up by a great QB team and (2) excelled at their new team, assuming that anybody picked them up after Niners the released them.
Brandon Lloyd had a bit of success but he’s apparently not the kinda guy you want in the locker room and he’s not all that consistent.
It’s an interesting observation though.
Dunno but Kawakami seemed pretty emphatic that NO ONE was open EVER.
Meh… I don’t much care, the season is over. I don’t have to think about football until April. Time for a vacation :)
Antonio Bryant did with the Bucs. ;)
@Adam
The Niners traded Lloyd to the Redskins, who didn’t like him much. Trades don’t count since there is an acknowledgement the player is good (that is why the Redskins traded for him instead of risk him going to FA).
@Ceadderman
Antonio had sucess here with AS. So it isn’t like he stank here and got good right after leaving. He was also good before coming here.
@DS… I agree but he had some pretty bad moments. Prolly cause he couldn’t afford the belt to his uniform pants after spending his money on the Lambo that got impounded and the court costs. ;)
Sigh…it just never ends does it?
Alex Smith did not play a good game, he said so himself, but seriously why do you guys have to be so extreme for one side or the other? Did you guys see Eli lighting it up out there? He didn’t, and he also missed a bunch of throws including an overthrow to Manningham who was behind his defender. If you want to say he missed some plays, fine, he did, he also made the big plays to Davis. The team was in position to win the game without the fumbles. The 3rd down conversions aren’t all about the QB. If you are in 3rd and one you shouldn’t be stopped forcing a 4th and one which happened 3 freaking times. If you run your route a yard short of the first down marker and the QB hits you in the stomach with the throw, who’s fault is it that the 1st down wasn’t made? The simpleton takes I read here are mindnumbing sometimes. It’s like there are no other players on a football team. It’s the QB and nothing else. Alex Smith isn’t great, but seriously can we look at the team as a whole instead of singling this guy out everytime he doesn’t play a perfect game in some of your eyes?
I’m being forced to defend the guy who I’m not even completely sold on because some of the views here are so out of whack. Don’t make me do that.
The conditions sucked. The ball was wet, the footing was bad and oh yeah Smith wasn’t perfect. Neither was Manning yet I see nobody anywhere mentioning it because it just so happens his team won thanks to a couple of TO’s. The hypocrisy of this subject is out of hand.
+1
+1
It’s actually laughable. Can’t take any of this seriously. The 9er WR’s are not in question?!! AS made big plays during the playoffs and would have made many more given any talent at WR. These WR’s were the worst group in the playoffs period.
There is no question AS will be back and JH, TB and staff will do what is necessary to get playmakers on offense. Negative comments won’t change a thing just like they didn’t last year. Just their tighty whities in a bunch. lol
@rocket
Calm down.
I don’t see many new people here bashing AS. It is the same tired group who was here all season doing it. Bay and 23J leading the way of their once dwindling army, now the size of 1/4 a squad. They just post a lot because they can hate a guy after the loss. Nothing new there.
Skip their retard posts, and you really won’t see all that much AS bashing.
Try it for a week. There isn’t that much of it. People are blaming all sorts of things not named AS. Helps with keeping the blood pressure in check.
I wish I wrote that, Rocket.
Brilliant.
P.S.: By the way, I mentioned that Eli played about the same as Alex.
Rocket,
My feelings, too. I’ve never been a AS supporter, but the ridiculousness of the attacks by a supposed expert as Cossell makes it difficult to let them go unchallenged.
+1
Rocket, don’t calm down. You’re spot on, imho.
Make that +two on this end. :)
although, AS said the in 2nd half the ball got too dry and he had to keep licking his fingers for tackiness
i dont trust this messenger.
I dont think Alex played well in this game as noted earlier, but even Tom Brady occasionally doesnt see an open receiver or misses an open receiver. the criticism that Alex doesn’t take enough downfield chances is well known and widespread, but is also somewhat linked to how he’s been coached to play, or so the press tells us.
I get the feeling that Cosell has come up with a position that gets him some attention (at least in the Bay Area), and now he’s going thru tape looking for data which justifies his position, rather than being open minded.
Brady didn’t throw a single TD Sunday if I remember correctly. In fact he almost got broken in half when he went over the pile to score.
To Mr. Grant C.
If you have access to Cosell, please get more insights from him on these coach’s tapes.
Unless they show views from a QB’s helmet cam, how can one tell what a QB is able to see at anytime?
Or are these tapes just a glorified replay system that TV analysts use for frame by frame forwards and rewinds?
I want Alex Smith back next year. After watching the game Alex had a poor second half and missed several throws but his completetions to VD were beautiful. So yes we can blame the offense and Alex Smith for losing the NFC championship game and Alex himself state he left alot of plays out there that he would like back. But unfortunately we lost and this game is over. I believe Alex will grow with Jim H and become more comfortable in this system next year. The problem was he got rattled and knowing what we know about Alex is when he is not comfortable with the coverage he may hesitate. GO NINERS
Chicago,
Very well said. The truth. He will be back. Put your GM hat on and tell me how many years and $ for the new contract?
unbelieable….so u are putting the loss, i mean the loss on the offense and AS in particular and 23j u concurred…..just unbelievable…..
Woohoo, AS said ‘crappy’ after a team loss and this was a team loss lead by the special teams this particular time after they had such a great year….. so what….. he says he leaves plays on the field during wins as well….
That defense did a great job i feel bad for the unit…..it will be tough to repeat the performance they put in this year….that is why it is imperative the offense really improves next year….and of course also means AS has to grow significantly as well….
unbelievable with a ‘v’
The game was 14-10 with eleven minutes left in the 4th. The bouncing punt to the knee turned the season on its head. Since Kyle Williams plays on Special Teams, it’s called a Special TEAM failure.
The defense then holds the Giants to a 3rd and 15 and the front seven doesn’t get to Eli nor bat his pass down. T Brock, filling in for the TKO’d Tarrell Brown, does not bump the Giants receiver, Reggie Smith gets over too late to help. So, the Defense TEAM failed there in giving up the TD. 17-14 Giants with still eight minutes left on the game clock.
Niners take kickoff return, Alex scramble, Hunter big gain, Gore catch in traffic to get to *2nd down and 5 on the Giants 10 yard line*. They can get a first down here they are in great shape to score 7 not 3 and make it 21-17. Instead, *Giants D steps up* (Cossell seems to remarkably forget the Giants had a D as well) and Crabtree catches his (and all Niner WRs) first pass of the entire game at the 7yd line. Two yards short of the first down marker. So, Offense TEAM failure. Akers kicks field goal 17-17.
Regulation ends after another failed drive by *both* teams. Harbaugh was screaming for a time out before the pass to Crabtree but refs did not give it or he called it too late. Coaches Team failure. I relive all this to point out how Harbaugh (or Schembechler) was right in saying it’s not about one player trying to do too much and instead having to be disciplined (running away from the bouncing punt) and trusting his teammates to do their jobs and doing just your own job well enough (like wrapping the ball up with two hands in OT) to get a TEAM victory. THE TEAM, THE TEAM, THE TEAM. Jim Harbaugh has preached that all year.
After all this is rehashed I still call on Trent Baalke to trade Kyle Williams away to the Jaguars for their seventh round pick. He needs a fresh start. Cossell can say all he wants. THE TEAM lost this one in the last six minutes of the game.
and that transcript should reinform j23 and grant about the ability of the offense to move the ball late in the game….there were sparks of confirmable hope left
the last fumble negated any chance the offense may have had to pull the game out
the only time the giants got to the niner side of the field the defense threw them back to giants side of the field….except for the fumbles
Unbelievable.
We lose a hard fought game by an inch and here is the talk that Alex Smith sucks all over again.
Are we back on the early 90′s?
Cause thats the same crap we had to hear over and over about Steve Young after losing to the cowboys two years in a row in the Championship Game.
I thought some people said that the Niner woulds NEVER win a playoff game with Alex Smith (and before that they said that they would never even make the playoffs).
Well, they not only did make the playoffs and win but almost went to the Superbowl.
So we’ve already established that those people were wrong and didn’t have a clue (Cosell included).
There’s no need to go back to that stupid discussion.
Bingo!
Openminded well said. I watched this amazing game and got even more upset. We truly had the opportunity to go to INDY!!! Do you remember the Saints game when drew snapped the ball and the officials gave saints the timeout after the ball was snapped! how come we did not have the same opportunity!!! Also, what about the Bradshaw fumble when the refs calle the play dead when bradshaw was still fighting for yards!!! A Davis also had a great opportunity to get a major first down if he did not fall after a defender on the ground tripped him! Oh man, what an opportunity! Go niners
Chicago49er: I lived in Lincoln Park for years and had to control my 49er fanaticism when our Niners beat da Bears 23-0 in the playoffs. I know it must be tough on you out there! I’ve since moved away and enjoy the games at home with my 49er fanatic wife. It was a great season and I’m sure next season will be tougher as expectations were low in August but will be outrageously high this summer. The quicker we stop thinking about the many many many close plays the better off we will be. Go Niners!!!
Its amazing how polarizing one mediocre quarterback can be. Plain and simple Harbaugh it going to start the best QB available next year be it Smith, one of the backups or a Free Agent (aka Matt Flynn). Its going to be an interesting offseason.
Grant…
Looked to me like Harbaugh got spooked in the first half when the Giants offense was able to hold the ball for so long…Harbaugh really hadn’t faced playing a short offensive game all season because the 49er defense was so strong…
Harbaugh went away from Frank and put the game in alex’s hands…alex reverted to who he is and that was your ballgame…lots of blame to go around…
On another note…it’s been a real pleasure to watch you emerge from your father’s shadow this year…You’ve done a wonderful job…now polish that resume boy cause things don’t look bright for the PD…
Why anyone bothers to reply to that idiot 23j is beyond me. His only agenda is to hate Alex. Who cares what anyone but the coaches and the 49er players have to say. For us fans it should be about winning. If the Niners win be happy, if they lose to good teams that’s part of the deal. No one on here is qualified enough to say why we win or lose.
@prime
He also hates on others here as wel. Don’t forget that one.
How come he uses so many ! when he is writing his BS after a loss? He actually didn’t do that last year.
Prime, agree and well said. Part of me believes that Jordo wanted the 9ers to lose so he could start his blaming routine all over again. Like I said it doesn’t matter. JH didn’t listen to the negative last year and he won’t this year. He knows WR’s are needed on offense after the BE debacle and MC not showing up for the playoffs.
???
But hof you do reply to 23J, so how do you agree?
Hofer,
That part of you that believes I wanted to see my team lose needs to be killed. I’m a fan of my team, just not a fan of the QB. I was at the game in the rain in section 37 lower, cheering just as loud as you. I just was pissed that Alex once again looked like Alex I know. Not the one you think you know.
I give a damn about what you think I feel about this team. I never have. I will continue to express my opinion no matter who responds. I don’t need an audience. You clowns seem to feel like I need you to respond. DON’T. Id like that. DS and Crabtree, the same goes for you. Don’t respond. You said you wouldn’t but you continue to do so. No groupies in 2012 for me! Now beat it!
Jordo, that’s an expected comment after a full year of you being wrong, wrong, and more wrong.
I thought you were beating it, Jordy. Wasn’t that the deal? Smith re-signs and you’d never post again?
Alex Smith is the opposite of let loose, if you want a gun slinger, he is the wrong man for the job. He is the opposite of Aaron Rodgers or Eli Manning, he is the conservative guy in the group and will let loose every blue moon.He also has no receiver’s which does not help the cause.
Its interesting, Cosell says nothing about the horrible call on the Bradshaw fumble; Aikman and Buck were silent on it during the game; the post game coverage the NFL network and ESPN never brought it up. Nobody wants to talk about the Bradshaw fumble because they all know it was a horse manure call. The man was fighting for more yardage when the ball came out. No doubt about it.
The ref who made that call wanted the Giants to win.
I think the ref who made that call was biased, pure and simple.
ESPN got their wish, NY v NE and they’re right in the middle. It has been estimated [2nd hand knowledge] that ESPN could make an ‘extra’ 5+ million because of the matchup compared to SF or BAL being there.
That’s not why they lost, it just makes it that more difficult to swallow. I do firmly believe that certain refs do get ‘orders’ from time to time. Blow a whistle here, swallow it there…. who knows?
I’m glad you brought that up! I kept reading through all these post and alot of comments blaming Alex and inept receivers and KW and on and on! I was dumbfounded on the officiating. The first flag on VD after the td was terrible. That’s no different than the the crap tha packers do. As long as u don’t have a sharpie in ur uniform or use game equipment or the ball as a prop, ur good! The 2nd VD penalty at midfield. Where was the original flag for the guy ripping our linemans helmet off and the throwing it at him? Are you kidding me??? The ref was right there! But no, VD comes flying in to the rescue and there’s the flag. Instead of 15 yds forward to there 35, we’re back 15 to our 35. Loss of points. Ended up punting. Somewhere in there was that no call on the late hit out of bounds on AS right in front of JH. Ended up punting and that would of kept the drive going. Then on the KW ball hitting the knee! That defender ran the length of the field out of bounds without making any attempt to get back in and they completely missed that. The dipsh!t announcers didn’t even get that one. Then the famous Bradshaw fumble. That was the fastest whistle I have ever seen. You look at slow-motion replay and he went back 4-6 inches when that ball was coming out. We get that turnover and that’s pretty much game over there! On that 15 yard penalty they they got on Chris Canty, DW caught that ball I think short of a 1st down, watch that replay and tell me that guy that tackled DW wasn’t trying to punch him in the head(jaw). I thought for sure that’s what they were gonna call. I couldn’t believe I saw that. Anyway, long story, but more than 48 hours later I’m still pissed. That one may have went down as one of the ugly wins but it was definitely winnable. That was one of the worst officiated games I’d ever seen!
Oh man you just nailed it! it makes me so mad. And i agree with Jim H with the bradshaw fumble. The whistle was blown so fast that its almost like the ref expected the something! GO NINERS
I missed the thrown Punch but I was watching the game on a 22″ monitor so those kinds of things kinda get lost in the shuffle but the late hit out of bounds should have been called and the Offender ejected cause Smith gave himself up.
Good breakdown that shows Manning really didn’t play any better than Smith did. He benefitted from TO’s and it’s the only reason he came out on top.
http://espn.go.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/37259/eli%e2%80%99s-qbr-vs-49ers-why-so-low
not many like the QBR rating ……
many comments suggested eli didn’t turn the ball over……
those missed interceptions were such big missed opportunities to push that QBR into the teens for eli…..
Jh hasn’t promissed anyone anything for next year. All jobs are open. Now if that doesn’t get CK and Tolzien going, I don’t know what will.
Quarterbacks canceled each other out (both played just fair in bad elements against good defenses) and special teams were the difference. All of this “analysis” is just noise coming from people with agendas. The best that can be said about Cosell is that he is lousy about shedding insight about what is about to happen (see Saints-49ers).
The only opinions that count are Baalke and Harbaugh. If you want to know what they think of Smith, sit back and watch what they do. Unlike last year, Smith will have real options so no need to worry about him in either case. He has thrown himself “open.”
i wonder what other team would be interested in AS…..
it is a hard call because other teams may not even try to kick the tires because they believe AS is committed to the niners….opinion only
@jg
I said last year AZ.
And you don’t think he would liketo have LF if the Niners screwed him? Not going to happen, but that would be my first guess. Followed by Seattle with McC up there.
Chargerfan, you are a voice of reason! An outsider that is neutral and calls it as you see it. Great comment and very logical from a perspective from the outside.
Charger fan,
You think he has options, seriously? JH saved this man’s career. He couldn’t have played this way anywhere this year. There may be someone out there with some interest. Trust that the team will not have to stand in line. He was right for this team this year. He is definitely not the future. He has limitations. Too many.
Seahawks, Vikings, Chargers(yeah I know they have Rivers but…), Bucs, hell anyone that Runs a Numbered or WCO Offense would want the guy. If Norv makes it into next season Chargers would be a good fit for Smith. I think that might have been why he was wearing the SD hat when he was answering questions. He’s always had a good rapport with Norv and the two did keep in communication after Norv borked us with the last minute skedaddle to the Boltz.
You’d be surprised who would kick the tires as it were.
Hey Jordo, I know you’re the dooshbag leaving comments on my YT channel. You can choose to be an adult about this. If not I know that your cyber-bullying will be impressive to some people in the Law Enforcement community. Your choice little man.
@ceadderman
What did 23J do this time?
He knows what he did. Much of what he said I cannot repeat here. Let’s just say that it was an immature thing to do and leave it at that.
what is a YT channel…u mean utube
Yup. Exactly that. :)
You idiot . I wouldn’t waste my time doing whatever the he’ll you are talking about. Call whoever the he’ll you want to cal. I don’t give a damn. Your threats are idle you jackazz. Call them and tell them that! I don’t abuse the net and I don’t have time for games. Call whoever the he’ll you wish you clown!
YouTube, you are stupid enough to believe I would go off this site to deal with you? Threaten you for what? I shot you down with posts on this site. Please call your law enforcement people you clown. I dare you. How about that?
hahaha. Actually yeah I think you’re childish enough to do it. As I said bruh, be an adult about it or not. Your choice. I haven’t had anymore feedback since I called you out on it. Coincidence? Mebbe but I somewhat doubt it.
Ceadder,
You’re a liar, you made that crap up. I want to contact your so called law enforcement people or issue an apology. You should be banned for making those accusations on this blog without any evidence to support it. You’re a Bioch and a coward for that accusation. Hopefully these insults make you follow up and contact your law enforcement people on it. You’re a liar and a coward!
Allan @ 1:19
I hope that you’re not even loosely comparing Smith to Steve Young. Young was an incredible playmaker, leader, and probowl/superbowl/ hall of fame QB who routinely carried the niners. Although outmatched by Dallas and Greenbay a few times during his playoff career, I don’t remember his quality ever being questioned.
Smith on the other hand, has stunk it up for the better part of a decade. Yet the Niners have decided to stick it out with him like a bad marriage. Just because the organization can’t recognize talent, or when it is lacking, doesn’t mean the fans need to come up with excuses and weak comparisons.
“I don’t remember his quality ever being questioned.”
Then you weren’t alive in the late 80s?
No he was probably faded during much of that time so I doubt he would remember. ;)
I remember a lot of anger over releasing Montana in favor of Young. I don’t recall Young’s quality as an above average QB being questioned (although I’m sure somebody did).
Ceadderman- if you’re a Smith fan now, then you’re certainly faded 24/7.
sober up
Haha that’s funny. Guess Joe fell into a bad stash huh?
Look, Smith is a 49er. I am a fan of the 49ers. I will cheer them on at all times and I will be RESPECTFUL of them too.
Some fans can’t handle that but oh fareakin well. You were wrong about the guy when others were preaching PATIENCE.
Kyle Williams should be cut, but you do NOT see me disrespecting the man.
Alot of you clowns don’t understand anything. You wanted NOW results from a TEAM that was incapable of living up to that expectation over the past 6 years. This year we’re THERE and now you devolve into calling out the QB again. Give it a rest. You wouldn’t have gotten any better from Brady, Manning or Brees this Post Season.
So yeah I am a fan of Alex Smith, just like I am of Frank Gore, Vernon Davis, 15 and all the other 9ers. I guess you could say I’m a fan of Williams too so long as he’s a 9er. If you can’t respect that then go root for another team.
“You wouldn’t have gotten any better from Brady, Manning or Brees this Post Season.”
LOL…On that note I’ll leave now, but I might check in on this delusional echo chamber during next season’s ninerless playoffs.
Adam, you’ve got that right! BTW, how many playoff games did SY lose to Dallas before winning the SB!?? I remember when the anti-Young wanted SY hung when JM went to KC. It took SY time to get it together. JR helped…didn’t miss a beat!
well one could say we gotten better than Brees and really Manning was even stevens because after all special teams won and lost that game (though i get it Manning is in the SB but not of his own volitional) ….as for Brady, well 1 1/2 out of three ain’t donkey dong
Steve Young is my favorite 49er of all time, and that’s from day one (1946). One reason for the high esteem is the crap he took during his entire 49er carrier — up until the team won the 1995 Super Bowl.
What actually got the team over the hump in 1995 was a one year contract for a shut down corner back. That wouldn’t hurt the 2012 season if it also included a major threat at wide receiver.
for all the Alex haters, I’m posting this link again. This is a video of your idol/god speaking. What’s your response to this. I’d be interested in your view on this.
http://www.csnbayarea.com/blog/niners-talk/post/49ers-dare-to-compare-1981-vs-2011?blockID=630676&feedID=5884
Blashemy!!! :P
Drop one little p and the word changes entirely. *facepalm
Try this again.
BLASPHEMY!!! :D
Joe Knows!
Add Tollner, Gannon, Dilfer, SY, GR, and JH to the list. Like I said, the negative talk helps with the blog clicks but won’t change JH, or AS contract for starter money, and the fact the team lacks playmakers at WR!
Where in the world did Joe Montana get the idea that he was qualified to talk about quarterback performance?
Beautiful.
Hey Giant fan,
This is a niner blog, I don’t want to be rude but your presence now is like pouring salt on a wound. Please leave…. Your team got lucky and thats enough!!!!
Alex smith us the QB people. He will get better under harbaugh. He can’t get worse. Give him a real offseason and reps with his receivers including crabtree and then judge. He had Neanderthals for coaches his first 6 years. Big heads but no brains!!! JH has the “it” factor to make him better. He will get better here. Just give him some weapons and let it “roll”!!!!
I think GIANTS fan is a SF Giants fan not a Smurfs fan. I could be wrong but that’s what it seems like at this end.
Alex overthrew Williams. But several long passes to Vernon were perfect. No QB throws the ball great every time. I saw Eli, Aaron, and Tom Brady miss wide open receivers this Sunday. I agree that Alex needs to be more of a gunslinger in certain situations. But to point out a couple of missed opportunities as proof of anything, when you can do that for every quarterback in every game, is dumb.
Saw the last Niner offensive series in OT and I’d like to share my observations on it.
1st down:
AS rolls out and passes to KW as they both near the sideline. Pass falls near KW feet. I also notice that the defender on the play put his arm out to hit/grab the ball. His arm traversed KW whole body.
Had AS thrown it higher, the pass likely is batted down, and if bad luck was rearing its head (it did all day), the pass is Intercepted in FG range, Niners lose off of an AS Int deep in their own end in OT. AS made the right decision throwing it where he did. Had he thrown it out of bounds, and the defender PI, the penalty would not have been called (not remotely catchable). But with the ball thrown in play, if the defender comitted PI, then the Niners get the call. Bounced or not, it was close enough to KW.
Bounced pass prevents the INT 100%.
2nd down : Run by FG loses 1 yard. No possible fault on AS here.
3rd down:
AS spots a well covered VD (2-3 defenders near him), and throws a perfect dart which VD catches. But the defenders converge on VD, who STUPIDLY ran a 10 yard route when the Niners needed 11 (something the Niners have done all year, and I think may be the biggest problem on their poor 3rd down conversions this year) and the Niners have to punt.
Niner D forces Giants to punt a 2nd time in OT, KW fumbles the ball getting hit on a non-fumble worthy hit, Giants recover, and we don’t see AS get another shot.
DS,
Go over the 2nd to last posession in regulation. The one with 1:47 left in the game and 3 timeouts. Riddle me Joker!
The bottomline on the 3 point differential: the Giants great offense with an “ELITE” QB and an extremely good group of wideouts – 20 points (w/10 coming off 2 Niner turnovers) scored on a great Niner D, the Niners terrible offense with a “supposedly mediocre” QB that had a less than a mediocre group of wideouts – 17 points, scored with no Giant turnovers against what’s now supposed to be a very good Giant defense with an outstanding pass rush. The glaring reasons for that 3 point differential: the 2 Niner turnovers and/or the wideout talent differential of each team.
*** 2 second half Niner turnovers***
That’s about the size of it. :)
61, good analysis and it is difficult to disagree.
So Cosell says Alex was reluctant to pass on routes that were open, and Kawakami says that our WR’ were not able to get open.
Some of our blogmates who went to the game were echoing the same thing.
Watching the game on tv did give me the ‘all-field’ perspective that you only have when you’re at the game.
These comments will likely fuel another Alex debate during the off season.
But to me the most important comments came from Harbaugh when asked about Alex. He said that Alex will need to compete during TC. I guess anyone of us can ‘interpret’ that comment in many ways. But my take is that it doesn’t sound as if Harbaugh is giving Alex a resounding endorsement.
Based on this past season, Alex IMO gets the starting nod next season. But whether Harbaugh is keeping CK and Tolzien appeased and hopeful or is giving Alex a subtle nudge to improve one thing is certain, Harbaugh recognizes that the QB play must continue to improve.
After watching our WR’ on Sunday, my perspective is that we need to upgrade, especially in the area of ‘stretching’ the field. This element was not a part of our offense this season and in the post-season this is a must. Today’s defenses are too big, too fast, and too smart. Limiting our offense in any area (RB, O’line, WR, QB), will allow for the defense to ‘control’ the game by subsequently shutting down one area. The Giants IMO shut down our WR’ and have set the blueprint for other defenses to do the same.
Alex is ever improving and one ‘speed’ WR will enhance Alex’ growth and get us over the top. Next years team will be vastly improved from this year by making just a few tweaks. Harbaugh and Trent no doubt are already scanning and sifting through all the possibilities.
Unless the Mayans prediction 12/21/2012 is right (lol), look for the 49ers to make their run through the playoffs and win the 2012 Superbowl!
Just our luck if the Mayans got it right. This team should be a whole lot scarier next year with this years experience and an offseason with Harbaugh and staff under their belts. Can’t wait!!!! Curious to see how much better Aldon Smith can get in year two. And hope they can re-sign most of their FAs.
Number of teams who lost the last 7 NFC Championship games and made it to the play-offs the following year: One.
While I do expect the Niners to get back to the play-offs next year, I’ll be shocked if they make it again to the Championship game, let along the SuperBowl. A lot of things dame together this season to make it a magical season. The chances are higher that they will regress to the mean.
That should read “came together”.
The 9ers need to make a move and I agree with TK. Be bold and trade CK for a high pick and receive a high draft choice (or two) to help build the offense. AS has proved he can be clutch – Detroit, N.O. playoff game, 4 td passes to the only big play receiver on the team. Add a RB and WR, and this team can be set for 3-5 years.
Hofer i would not trade CK. We need to have an option in case of an injury. CK can sit on the bench and develop just like Aaron Rogers. He might be a great QB for us down the road.
Chicago, I think Tolzen has more upside and they can find a seasoned FA backup. I understand it would be a bold move but to keep up, they need talent on offense especially at WR, RB, and O-line – more draft picks are essential.
It worked for Atlanta, why not us? ;)
It did work for Atlanta – imagine if they didn’t make the trade and get JJones?!!
Htwaits,
It didn’t work for the falcons. That trade was horrible. Look what happened in the playoffs. Their defense suffered because they gave up too much to get jones. That very same defense got destroyed in the playoffs and they failed on 4th and one all year. Guess they should have thrown to jones on 4th and 1.
*did NOT give me*
If Williams does not run into the first punt are we having this conversation?
If you look at the box score Eli had two touchdown passes, Alex had two touchdown passes. When the Giants went ahead 17-14 Alex drove them to a tying field goal. Alex may not be the QB to win a Super Bowl for the 49ers and Harbaugh will fix that situation if that is the case. For this game no woulda, coulda, shouldas, the 49ers played well enough to win but didn’t.
The Giants were given two gifts, would they have won without them? The bottom line for the game is that the Giants took advantage of their chances. On the other hand, the missed receivers, blown interceptions, bad calls, fumbles, gave the 49ers more than two shots but they never cashed in.
When a game is so finely balanced as this one was with two excellent defenses, it is decided by mistakes. And this one was too. If there was one coaching error on the Niners part, it was not stressing to Williams, a back-up punt returner, the importance of prioritizing ball security over gaining yards.
Oh and saying Alex is the goat of the game is simply wrong. He played well enough to win, 200 yds passing 2 tds 50 yds rushing no picks no fumbles. Kyle Williams was the goat, saying otherwise is inane.
Insane too. :P
I’m sorry but there are three phases of the game – offense, defense, and ST. Generally in a playoff game the team that loses the turnover battle loses the game. No excuses for ST mistakes and poor play.
Your right, and no excuses for poor Qb and reciever play either. Special teams didnt lose this game alone. The passing game was horrible too. “To many plays left on the field”…A Smith. Except the defense the rest of the team stunk except “again” V Davis.
You are right we lost this game as a TEAM and we could have easily won:
Defense played an amazing game however they gave up two key TDs. Special team or KW had two turnovers in very critical part of the game which allowed Giants to score 10 points and the offense = Alex and the Wideouts did not show up when we needed them! Its sad but its done.
No MD, the Giants receivers were helping their offense move at will especially Cruz. For me, AS gets a pass this games as he hit VD for two tds and he hit VD for two tds against N.O. Get some WR’s with VD talent and you’ll see better passing. Should have signed a very inexpensive BLloyd.
Would love to see a Niner wide receiver get the same kind of separation that Cruz was getting on Rogers(probowl corner) in the first half. As a Niner fan I didn’t like hearing the accurate comments on KNBR that Manningham(who caught the TD pass in the 2nd half) is only the Giants no.3 receiver but is still better than the Niners no.1. Crabtree is a no.2 at best. Just like Smith his performance will improve with a true no.1 on this team.
I agree Hofer.
Hofer ,
How does the QB get a pass when the team goes 1-13 on 3rd down and the QB throws for 47 yards on those same 3rd downs. You’ve gotta be kidding me.
Jordo, these WR’s are terrible. MC can *only* get open by throwing him open? lol!
@ninermd
Victor Cruz made 1 catch on 3rd and long and put the Giants in FG range. It was a stupidly thrown pass by Eli. Not an elite level throw. And VC dove high and outside and snagged the ball.
Had he not made that catch, the Giants don’t score that first FG, and it is tied at half-time. Had he not made that catch, in all liklihood the Niners win the game.
No Niner WR would have caught it. No Niner WR would have gotten us in FG range right there. Eli has that WR, we don’t. We need that WR.
If im thinking of the same throw i do not agree with it being stupid. He threw it where he knew it would either be caught or incomplete, thats a smart throw in my opinion.
@Adam707
The Niners were in a zone, and had defenders behind Cruz. That ball could have travelled 8-12 yards easily past Cruz if he flat out misses it. Niner defenders were not that much further behind.
If Cruz does not come thru there, a Niner defender may be able to come up and dive for the Int. Or if Cruz tips it, CR is right there (he had good coverage) to pick it off. It was a prayer of a throw (I think it was 3rd down, so an incompletion would result in a punt more than likely).
DS…..Eli is the best QB in the league on 3rd and longs. That speaks volumes about his passing. Our recievers have caught badly thrown balls this year, and have dropped some easy ones. The point is…whats the point in bringing in a star reciever if the QB wont throw to him deep down field. Smith and Harbaugh have got to work on this.
@ninermd
We get a true #1 WR. That is somebody who can get open 10-15 times a game, even when double covered, and AS will finally be able to act like EM.
Who, besides VD on 3rd and long does a defense have to worry about? Eli Manning has way more weapons.
DB is actually the best 3rd and long QB ninermd. Same thing though. He has a ton of weapons who don’t drop passes and get separation.
All my talk about wanting to get LF has to do with this. Trade anybody for him. I said LB (NB) because we are deepest in that position, and AZ is not, and they need a dominate LB in a 3-4 and have none. We have Grant who on a 10 point scale is a few points below NB. So we lose a bit there.
You get LF, and he is WAY better than anything the Niners have at WR which is also are weakest area on the team. LF is like a 15 out of 10. The guy is amazing. MC is at best a 6, and everybody else is a 2 or so (JM is still unknown, but he is no LF). We lose a few points in our strongest phase (defense) and our strongest position (LB) and gain the best there is since JR in our weakest area. Give up a LB and several high picks for that.
Line him up on one side, line VD up at the other and who are you going to double team? Good luck stacking the box now. Want to run some quick slants with KW or some quick WR? It will be wide open now.
Or line VD and LF on the same side. Run KH our fastest RB the other direction. All the coverage is leaning towards VD and LF, and once KH gets passed the line of scrimmage, who is going to catch him now?
Or run FG up the gut with the two on opposite ends of the formation. FG lacks the burst speed, but nobody wants any part of him in the secondary, and he will hurt those guys.
The possibilities are endless. That is what both EM and DB has had for several years now. AS does not have anywhere near that. Let’s give AS that weapon, and get some better play calling in certain situations and this offense will kick (insert expletive).
Niners will win several Super Bowls with that trade. Who knows, maybe they find somebody almost as good as NB in the meantime. But the chances of finding somebody as good or almost as good as LF? Zero.
I guess I don’t care all that much about the throws downfield as you do. AS only has to be great throwing it 3-20 yards since this is the WCO. And, he did hit quite a few deep passes the last few games. He missed some as well. But so did EM, DB, TB (who also threw that retard pick in the 4th quarter which almost lost them that game).
Grant with all due respect I disagree with your opinion and I do not believe you are being fair by pointing fingers to the coach for the lost!!! I understand ultimately the coaching staff is going to get the blame for the lack of success or execution of the players, however, this is the NFL and every player on the field is a professional.
Rain or shine, it is the player’s job to execute plays after practicing the plays all season. It’s interesting how the media was ok with Jim H calling plays such as the long TD pass to our rookie Fullback in DC or the TD pass to K Williams against the cowboys or the Kendall Hunters runs ( a rookie) in very critical situations and now you blame the coach for calling a play involving two young players!!! At least if you are being critical please be consistent. If that play was executed correctly and KW scored a TD or set up a TD then everyone would have called Jim H a genius for his courage and creativity in an important game.
I agree the play was bold and maybe even too cute but you know what Jim H has been calling similar plays all season with success! So what this was the NFC championship and it was raining!!! So many experts are blaming Alex Smith for heisting and not taking chances by throwing the ball in this weather without two of his starting Wideouts and now the media is blaming Jim H for calling a bold play!
Giants have one of the best front four rushing D Lines in the NFL and the coaching staff was trying to take advantage of their aggressive play and the wet field position to produce big offensive plays. As you know that is called misdirection.
Anyway, sorry for the long post but you have to look at every decision from different perspectives to be fair. We are extremely lucky that Jim H is our coach and the future is bright. GO NINERS
Let me ask you something. We have two all pro Lb’s and a rookie of the year in Aldon. How many teams can invest a lot of money on their Lb’s like we’ll have to eventually. PW already has his contract. I would say that aldon is more valuable than Bowman because of his pass rushing ability.
So…… lets trade bowman now at his peak, youth under contract and all pro to a team for a top 5 pick. Throw in Gore and draft Richardson or Barkley at QB. Sign our important FA’s including Grant and sign Bowe. Sure up your secondary and RB position depending on who you get in the first round. We’ll have two first rd picks to play with…
what do you think?
@big niner
Why go QB? We need WR’s! Get LF for Bowman and several picks. LF plays for us on Sunday, we win. We win the Super Bowl.
Why risk an All-pro for an unknown player which is what all college players are? Besides teams needing QB, won’t pass up on a QB. They need to start all over again, and that is where you start. Not with a MLB in a 3-4 Defense.
Also, 1 added bonus working with AZ is that they have a 3-4, so no concern of the team worrying about converting from a 3-4 to a 4-3.
DS, Fitzgerald will never be trade!!! especially to us!!! do youy know something we don’t?
@big niner
See my post above at 6:48AM
Gotta disagree Big Fella…… We cant touch this defense it still is the main reason we were in the Div title game. I think we keep Goldson and Rogers, sign Bowe, D Jax or T Jax and stretch the field with more than 1 or 2 Wr’s. I think CK or ST are close to being ready if Smith cant get us there. But Heyafter this season I cant doubt Smith again, unless he fails big time.
MD, I agree – the chemistry on defense is solid – don’t change a damn thing other than drafting some more lineman and DB’s.
Barkley was a senior and is entering the draft. Having 3 Lb’s might prove to be good in the short run but bad in the long run. No team can afford 3 LB”S of top quality. But a Richardson or barkley type player might take us over the top. Grant filled in good for Willis and will be cheaper than Bowman long term.
As much as I don’t like to give up talent, we need serious help on offense!!
Barkley in not coming out this year.
He’s done with college. He’s graduating. Where would he go instead?
oops my bad guys :P I don’t know what I was thinking.
Big Niner,
Just curious. What would your terms be for Alex Smiths contract extension. How long, how much?
I know you didnt ask me but i would say 2-3 years 8-11 mil per. Thats around what all experts are saying. He’s in a rough situation though because he won’t go to free agency and make more the Niners can and most likely will low ball him.
Big Niner,
ThAts just it. DS knows nothing at all. Arizona would trade Larry to us. That’s preposterous. On top of that. Take a look at his contract. It is ridiculous. It’s a deal that has the cards in knots with the salary cap. DS k OSS nothing about this game at all.
Adam707,
With that being said, I’d go 2 years at 11-12 million total and put n some incentives. I’m telling you. I have a feeling that something isn’t right about this extension. We will see.
Well, it makes me nervous about commiting long term. That being said, Urban Myer has repeatedly stated Alex needs to learn and trust a sytem, he needs to know the ins and outs and trust it. I feel like he made serious strides this year under JH. Can he be better? hell yes he can!! I said this earlier in the year. Alex is like a experienced rookie. He essentially has not grown in 6 years due to the bad coaching situation, but has to endure all the bad crap with it.
JH is going to emphasize all if his short commings and tell him to work on them. A real training camp should really tell us where he’s at. Add some talent to the least useful unit, and we’ll see. The Niner’s have really not addressed the offense as much as the defense. We added O lineman but no real offensive playmakers. That’s what this year is for. To add some sizzle. In fact other than the lineman and KW, who have we drafted in the last 5-6 years on offense? VD, Crabtree, CK and…..my point exactly, only one difference maker.VD!
I look forwards to a heavy Offensive draft. Now to answer your question about Alex. I would give him a 3 year deal for 18m front loaded with incentives. It would still be considered a steal especially if we win.
On another note. I defense really showed up this year and that’s great. They actually helped the offense get a little better in the redzone towards the end of the year by practicing against them. I hope thios continues.
@big niner
We drafted KH (RB) last year. He is/will be a weapon. That is where the coaches need to blame themselves more. We should have used him a lot more this year, and against the Giants especially. Did the Giants ever stop the guy?
I meant to say the Cards would not trade Fitz and we would never want him with the contract he has. DS is a complete idiot for that post. Get real. Think before you type.
Cmon Ladies and Gents….Lets not go back to the “Smith” fighting again. This was a wonderful ride. Heartbreak at the end, but remember this was year 1 and a short offseason at that. We gotta a bright future ahead and a great front office and coaching staff that Stars around the league are going to want to play for. It might have taken me a couple of days to clear the depression, but after rotting in sorrow…This is the conclusion I’ came up with. Im sure most of you feel the same. Next year WE will be enjoying another great season. This time it will not end in defeat.
MD, well said! I’m with you I believe *STARS* in all positions around the league will want to play here as well!!!
I’m sure Nnamdi is kicking himself right now for choosing that “championship” team. Lol
+1
Barkley is staying for his senior year so that won’t work. Keeping Bowman ensures you a top 10 defense for years. Running backs come cheap, if you want one bad enough you can get him in the third round. Finding a wide receiver in the draft is much cheaper than free agency. If you go the free agent route wait for the initial rush then take your pick.
That is why after reading TK of the Mercury News yesterday and digesting it over night, I would trade CK. We’ll never know if he will make it and QB’s that are 2nd round picks have a very poor track record. Let’s get some value for him this draft and use it for a RB or another o-lineman.
I would keep CK, what happens if Smith goes back to his old way’s or get’s hurrt, we need a good back up.
Neal, good point but based on his performance this year and in the playoffs, he is getting better. My feeling is any failings in the passing game during the playoffs (and season) was due to the WR’s.
Hof, CK has no body of work to go by. Matt Flynn made millions with one big game. The NFL is not a trading league. I don’t think he has much trade value at this time. I like the idea of looking at a wide receiver in the draft such as Demaryius Thomas. Someone that played in a run offense who caught a few balls per game but had a huge yards per catch average.
Andrew, there are several teams drafting in the top 10 that could use a QB and this years draft for QB’s is very thin. They will over pay.
Most importantly, CK is a potential threat to the Precious so he has to go.
@hof
If you get rid of CK, who is your back-up? Tolzein?
And nobody is going to want a QB drafted last year who didn’t show anything on the field all year long. Why risk that?
Mcs,
Exactly right. Anything that threatens Alex’s starting job is a mistake. Hofer must be one of Smiths relatives!
Finding a good running back is kind of hard remember the Dexter Carter,Derrick Lovelle years.
Is anyone else disturbed at the report of Crabtree out clubbing, having a good time just hours after the game? No one should have been partying that night, especially a guy with one catch for a whopping 3 yards, on a route which was poorly ran 2 yards short of a 1st. I love this guy and wear his jersey every sunday but really crab? I hope that isn’t true
Hey 707, where did you hear MC was out “clubbing”??
Should he stay at home and sulk, who gives a pimple on a pig’s ass , what he does. Really not a big deal, maybe he needs to unwind.
95.7 the game. Chris Townsend did a 20 min segment on it yesterday. HE never confirmed, he just said he heard rumors that Crab was out at clubs enjoying himself just hrs after the game. I understand if he did go out, thats how some people get over it, but its just not the mentality i have ever had towards sports.
@Adam707
After the kind of post-season MC had, I want him sulking at home. Spend all his waking hours finding the mistakes he made and a solution so that he never has post-season like this ever again. I want him having nightmares all night, every night about how he wasn’t there when the team needed him most. I want him to be diagnosed with some kind of disorder if a psychologist ever examined him regarding his stride for perfection. JR sounds like he had some disorder the way he talks about never having played that perfect game. That is a #1 WR. That is how/why they are so freakin good.
To find fault in ones own work/performance even when no others can, and strive to redefine perfection.
I see AS having that. He blames himself all the time. I don’t see MC having that.
In the domain of the great JR, that is the baseline standard for WR. TO couldn’t handle that standard. This report about MC suggests he can’t either.
Thats the only way I have ever known how to handle a difficult loss. Go home and study what you did wrong and find a way to improve. There is always room for improvement no matter who you are. I’m not saying i dont see where Crab is coming from by going out, thats what some people do. And im sure its alot different when you have millions and are a professional. He’s a single guy with no kids ( I think) so i’m sure he enjoys that scene. Regardless he can do what he wants as long as he is productive on the field.
I’m not being sarcastic, but your mentality towards professional sports hasn’t much to do with the reality of professional sports.
As long as a guy doesn’t shoot himself in the leg with his illegal gun, or have his buddy-party involved in a knifing death, or be charged with rape — it’s all good.
You have your opinion and i have mine
Good for Crabs. He has a life. Some of you folks are really amazing. You don’t drive pickups with shotguns, do you? Wow.
Smith played pretty bad, hope he is not a one hit wonder, he needs to improve big time, although Cosell said that MC was wide open on a route, heard the entire game he was not open, so that is news to me.
I have to agree with the article. Smith consistantly doesn’t make a throw unless the receiver is wide open. There is a reason he was 19th in the league for total yards in the season. Cam Newton, the #1 rookie quarterback in the draft, had nearly 1000 yards more than smith for the season. Funny thing is, in the past I thought Smith was a better quarterback than what people were saying about him. I blamed the play calling, the receivers dropping the ball, and the line. This year I finally realized much of the problem is Smith because the play calling was way improved, the receivers seem to drop less balls, and the line (for the most part) did there job fairly consistantly. He just doesn’t throw the ball when, in some instances, you just have to make a play. I thought he played awesome at the end of the Saints game, but keep in mind, he played terrible from the 2nd quarter until the end of the 4th quarter. There is also a reason that they had 6 comebacks this year. Because they didn’t get it done throughout the game. I personnally think it is time to move on from Smith; even though I was glad to see him come back this season to prove what he had. Unfortunately, he proved to me that he will never be a consistant quarterback that can make the throws on a regular basis that he did at the end of the Saints game. On a final note, if you think about the season, (with the exception of the Tampa game) he never had a whole game in which he played well through the entire game. Nice kid! I just wish he was a better quarterback.
Cam has a lot of help with a very good receiver in Steve Smith (almost 1400 yds receiving). The 9ers playoff WR’s wouldn’t be starting on most teams.
I agree that the receivers are not great. Losing Morgan hurt us a lot since he was leading the team in receptions. Smith seems to be pretty good when the game is in the line and he needs to make a play. Does this mean the receivers work harder at getting open when the game is on the line. I think it means, Smith goes out on a limb, and puts the ball where a receiver can make a catch. This is what needs to happen on a regular basis for him to become more consistant QB.
Where is Adams WR drop data?
You will see that this years Niner team as easily among the worst WR core in dropped passes, and the OL was and alays has been bottom 1/2 or even 1/3 all of AS career.
And how many great catches did the Niner WR’s make compared to NO/GB/Giants? Mind you that is WR skill dependent. Not QB skill dependent.
Morgan is not the answer either.
When the 9er staff gets the WR’s after signing AS for starter money, we’ll know what they think.
Cam uses his feet and keeps his eyes down field. He’s not a check down king. Get off it already Hofer. You are so slanted in the Pro Alex direction it’s disgusting.
When Alex played well I more than sung his praises, when he doesn’t, not so much.
YOU NEVER CRITIQUE SMITH. You’ll call out the:
O-line
Receiver drops
Weather
play calling
You must have a magic tv cause on your set, Smith is golden and untouchable…
Bay, then you’ve only seen part of what I have written over the years here. You and Jordo are so skewed you want to blame the guy that works his tail off and has improved for all 9er weaknesses and losses.
JH will do his end of year evaluations and AS we be back. Once they get talent at the WR position the 9ers will be a consistent force for 3-5 years.
No debate and no argument!
North,
Sad, but true. However, the Niners will keep mediocrity an inconsistency around. It will continue to be masked by a better defense and better special teams. Watch and see.
Jordan,
lets be fair about one thing. They can’t get rid of Smith till they know they have something better. He’s a known commodity.
He knows the offense. He doesn’t suck. He’s just not really good. Hate to steal one from Cosell but he’s average.
I would love to kick the tires on Flynn though…… Lets also keep tabs and see where CK is next year. I think it was huge that CK got to sit for an entire year and marinate and learn…
North I 100% agree with everything you said but you made one mistake. Smith is not 19th in total yardage. Smith is dead last in total yardage for QB’s that played the entire season.
He is ahead of only the QB’s that played partial seasons.
Look I wish him well too. And for what it’s worth, he played far better than I ever expected him to this year. He played a hell of a game against N.O. Problem is look at his history. He plays one good game then disappears for three.
I couldn’t agree more. He was improved, but if the Niners ever want to be great again they have to have a more consistant offense, which includes wide receivers and the QB. I listened to a show on KNBR today and they made a good point. Who else would they get? I don’t think there is much more out there. Last year a lot of people wanted Kolb. Thank God that didn’t happen. I think we will most likely have Smith for a couple more seasons, unless Kaepernick starts to show some signs.
Bay, North,
Sign alex for 2 years 12 mil. With incentives. Sign Josh Johnson and may the best man win. Contract for Johnson 2 years 8 million and incentives as well. Let’s see what happens.
Flynn.
I’m still sick to my stomach from the loss and am unable to digest anymore Monday/Tuesday Quarterbacking.
Crabtree came into Camp Alex II with a surgically repaired foot. This was not a ‘mandetory’ or NFL sanctioned practice. Yet, Crabtree was lambasted for not participating. He was called a diva, loser, slacker, dallas cowboy wanna-be and a team cancer. He was obviously not fully recovered from his surgery yet started and performed with a modicum of success (led team in receptions).
Crabtree was given high marks from his head coach who also made it clear that Crabtree was a total team player, which should have silenced his detractors.
Excuse me, but doesn’t this refrain almost sound like the one we’ve been hearing from the Alex supportors for the last 3 years?
I guess Crabtree will never get the same ‘fair and balanced’ treatment that the Alex supportors have clamored for their guy.
If want to ‘knit-pick’ i’m sure we can find ‘skeletons’ in everyones closet. But it looks like the vogue thing to do these days is ‘pile-on’ and find your daily TMZ story on Crabtree.
Crabtree is an adult and if he decides to party hours after the game, how is that going to change to the games outcome vs. someone who decides to grieve hours after the game?
Geez, let it go already dude.
Everyone has a different take on it. Some people have no problem with it and some do. I for one don’t like hearing that. Do i think of him differently as a player? No. I still have his jersey and think he is a total team player. What a player chooses to do after the game is his business, but there are fans that won’t like hearing about one of the most important players clubbing after a devastating loss like that. But the fact is we know nothing about his demeanor if he in fact was clubbing, I for one just find it interesting.
what if he runs into a distraught fan? a fight unsues and we have a mess!!
Thats exactly what i’m saying. There are fans out there who would confront a player if they saw them having fun after a game like that. That would be disastrous
I agree Adam7, but i’m sure that every player treats a difficult loss in their own way. Maybe a night at the club was one way to help forget such a devestating loss? Ah heck, who knows?
Just glad he didn’t meet up with any of the so-called fans who wanted kill K.Will.
Yea i’m not one to tell a professional how to handle certain situations i’m not a part of. As a die hard fan it’s hard fan and someone who has played many sports i’ve never quite understood how people go out after a difficult loss.
On the Kyle Williams front, i follow him on twitter and am impressed with all the responses. For every one idiotic comment or “death threat” there are about 50 positive comments. Shows he has alot of support from the faithful
AES there is my issue. The stink of hypocrisy. Stick up for Alex but not for Crabs who is the number one receiver on the team.
Trust me AES part of the Crabs hate is because he doesn’t like Alex because Alex won’t trust him and throw him the ball. Braylon didn’t care for Alex either. Hmmm if the wide receivers don’t care for the QB maybe it’s because the QB isn’t very good.
There is a reason why Harbaugh at the beginning of the season said, “we are going to make the wide receiver position relevant in SF again”. REALLY? Tell Alex that cause he only looks at the TE and the checkdown.
Bay, who is the starting QB? Hypocrisy? Who has JH supported all year long? You and Jordo consistently attack the QB, yet the staff believes he is the long term answer (see JH press conference yesterday). Give it a break already!
Really Hofer? Cause he said there would be competition at every position “including” QB.
Bay, ok they pay AS starter money then make it competitive…that is JH’s mantra. When the focus is WR, then you’ll know the staffs thoughts!
where is it that braylon didn’t like AS……are u just saying BE was cut because he was mouthing off about AS….did i miss an article citing a niner inside source..
as for crabtree….it may be true i don’t think of him as a #1 but i do think of him as a good possession rcvr….don’t really think that is throwing him under the bus …
and i have always said AS needs to make this offense his own…..and my opinion now is that he hasn’t as of today…….but he did display some skills….whether they were mental toughness in being a game manager or last man standing in a shootout…it was good to see significant growth….
now will have to wait until next year and depending who the rcvrs are and if the RB situation is solid and if the OL can elevate their play as well can AS take the next step from this years top 10 QB to maybe a top 6 QB…
Hofer,
Who said smith was getting starter money? You seriously believe smith deserves 8-11 million a year??? Why? You pay a player what you feel like is fair. Alex needs an incentive laden contract. Maybe then he won’t play safe and decide to make a play.I want to see josh Johnson compete with Alex Smith!!
@23Jordan
A 27-year old QB with a 22-5 TD/Int ratio, sterling character and work ethic, and you wonder if there will be any market for that? Do you watch any pro football? For openers, he would be a big upgrade for two teams in your division and two others in ours. Or have you not watched Tim Tebow play?
@chargerfan
23J does not watch football. He comes here to hate on others. AS and other bloggers.
Look no further than the fact that he sounds mad and says the team who made the final 4 needs a new QB.
DS,
You clown. You know nothing about me. Youd be surprised how much football I’ve seen. Get your face out of Smiths jock. Keep blaming the receivers. It’s both, Alex and the receivers. Remember your John Taylor rant that was really Jerry Rice.
You are a free agent on this blog. You are lost and just a follower of other posts. You should stop referencing Montana, Young and Rice. You know nothing about them or football. You guess half the time and you’re wrong them as well.
Chargerfan,
That was in this system. What about those other teams systems. And for all the Smithers, it would be another system. He could never handle another new OC. JH made alex smith this year. No other coach in the league could have done what he did with smith.
Those stats were good for this team because we had a monster defense that had 38 takeaways. We had the best special teams in football. His stats wouldn’t been good enough for any other team in this league. Smith is not in high demand in this league. His resume is 1 decent year under Harbaugh. That’s it, that’s all. Look at the last 6?? He’s less than average away from this system and average in it.
Harbaugh is no fool. He knows tge QB position is lacking. He propped smith up all year. He’s no tool though.
23jordan it seems like we haven’t heard from you much. I don’t post much but read a lot and come on man. We had a great year. Alex will be back.
Crabs will be back. We might not win thirteen but i see playoffs next year. I love this team. Have you played football? Cant you trust coach at all about what qb we should have?