SANTA CLARA – Rejoice! Here’s ten minutes more of Donte Whitner’s Thursday group interview that you didn’t even know existed.
Q: Do you have a sense Harbaugh always has your back?
WHITNER: “Yeah, and those are the head coaches that you like. Like Rex Ryan, he will never throw his players under the bus and he puts all the pressure on himself. Coach Harbaugh does the same thing. A lot of coaches when they don’t want the pressure on them, don’t want the hands pointed at them or the media to turn on them, they put things out to the media that really shouldn’t be out there. ‘Oh, this guy should have made this play or he should have done this.’ That stuff never works and players really understand that and locker rooms understand that. If you do something negative coach is really going to put you out there in the media. I went through that in Buffalo with Chan Gailey. He would do that all the time. We didn’t understand why he would do that, it wasn’t making us better. It wasn’t helping us on the football field or helping us reach our goal. It really doesn’t help. The only thing it does is turn the finger pointing off of you and put it on the players. Guys don’t like to play for coaches like that.”
Q: How does he air you out when needed?
WHITNER: “He’ll come to you personally and tell you, or your position coach will tell you. He doesn’t go and point fingers in the media and he doesn’t point fingers in front of the team. He says it one-on-one and he gets the point across.”
Q: Whitner on brother Dawawn, former Ohio St player who had to stop football because of Diabetes I diagnosis about 2 1/2 years ago
WHITNER: “He really didn’t know. He was home and eating anything and everything. A defensive tackle, he almost fainted or something and he found out he had Type I diabetes. He lost about 150 pounds. He’s doing a little better now and he’s trying to get back into school. He ain’t playing. Defensive tackles, those are big guys. I think he was over 300 pounds. I think he’s smaller than me now. That’s kind of weird. He’s doing good, his health is doing good. He played for Ohio State for a while but once he lost all that weight he had to end that.”
Q: Do you play for him?
WHITNER: “I play for him. I play for a lot of my family – my mom, my grandma they passed away who really raised me. I play for all of them and they enjoy coming to watch. They’ll be here. It will be my first playoff game and it will be their first playoff game watching me, so it will be special.”
Q: What’s been the transformation for this defense?
WHITNER: “I think it’s a combination of the players who have already been here, the guys they brought in and drafted on the defensive side of the ball have been tremendous – NaVorro and Patrick and Justin came over eight years ago in free agency and you have younger guys coming in like Aldon and you mix some free agents in and have good communication – and have a good secondary or a secondary that’s going to go out there and compete and play and communicate and not blow coverages – that’s half the battle right there. There are so many teams in the National Football League who can’t even get lined up. You have guys running free. So that’s half the battle right there, fixing the secondary. The other guys have been here, so having a secondary with guys who are veterans, being able to get lined up first and foremost, understand the calls and then being physical and getting turnovers. That makes you into a good defense.”
Q: You guys play a retro style opposed to Green Bay or New Orleans and the weight of winning the game is often on your defense, how comfortable are you with that?
WHITNER: “We’re very comfortable with that. We understand that each and every game you might see things during the week but when it comes down to crunch time in a football game, coaches have to make decisions, players have to make decisions to get it done and win the football game. We understand that going into it, they say, ‘Our offense and this.’ It really doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is we come to the fourth quarter and where are we, what do we need to win the football game and what do we need to do to win the football game and can we get it done? That’s what it comes down to each and every week in the National Football League. Scheme doesn’t really matter at that point. It’s really about which team wants it more in the fourth quarter if it’s close and what do we have to do to get it and can we get it done. That’s what we’ve been doing all year long. A lot of our wins aren’t pretty but they’re wins. You ask any coach in the National Football League if he’ll take a bunch of ugly wins or a bunch of pretty losses and I guarantee they pick ugly wins every time. It doesn’t really matter. The only thing that matters is that fourth quarter and can we get it done.”
Q: The turnover differential for you guys has been huge … is that good fortune or preparation or both?
WHITNER: “Well, it’s preparation. A lot of times when guys get their hands on footballs out there it’s something we’ve seen throughout the week. You get a couple overthrows or a couple tips but a lot of them are guys really knowing the route and jumping the route, really knocking the ball away or really making a conscious effort knocking the balls out – fumbles – with Justin and Larry – those are game-winning plays that are conscious efforts. They weren’t just making a tackle and the ball popped out. They saw the ball and they punched the ball out in those two games, those two wins. Conscious effort to want to get that football, want to get it done, and we’ve been able to do it.”
Q: Trent Baalke took some heat for not making a splash in free agency … vindicated?
WHITNER: “Now it’s a splash. It’s not a splash when everybody else is looking. But once you make the playoffs and you’re sitting at home with a bye week and you have an opportunity to win two games and be in the Super Bowl, then it’s a splash. That’s how success happens. A lot of times, people aren’t going to believe until they actually see it. Now they actually see. Now it’s a splash. We’ve come here, we’ve contributed. He did a good job of bringing in free agents and he did a good job of drafting guys who contribute right now. In my opinion, I don’t know about everybody else, he should be exec of the year. We’ll see if that happens. Everybody he’s brought in, except for maybe one, and every rookie has really contributed to this football team and has really helped us win football games. And I don’t know of any other team around the National Football League that’s done that.”
Q: Have you guys shown there’s no need for a superstar?
WHITNER: “Superstars are made once you win football games and once you win Super Bowls and once people really get the opportunity to watch you in national games to understand who you are and hear your name and hear your name and hear your name. That’s how superstars are made. Patrick Willis has been a superstar on this football team for years but he hasn’t won and he hasn’t had a chance to be on a national stage and really show what he can do with everybody in the world watching. So now he gets that opportunity and now he can become a superstar if you go out and win a Super Bowl and play well. That’s how it happens: Winning creates superstars. Losing doesn’t.”
Q: What transformation have you seen in Alex?
WHITNER: “He’s taken charge of the offense. He’s not afraid to go out there and put his head down and get the extra yards and do the things that are tough. A lot of quarterbacks don’t want to be hit, they don’t want to be physical. Again, when it comes down to it, Alex, if we need six or seven yards, what are you going to do to get us six or seven yards to win the football game – are you going to use your feet, use your arm? He’s been doing that. People might say something about his stats or he’s not like Aaron Rodgers or the rest of the guys but he’s winning football games and he’s not turning the ball over. He’s only got five interceptions on the entire football season – there’s not many guys who can say that, I think that’s tied for an NFL record. That’s what he’s doing, he’s not turning it over, he’s checking at the line getting them in good run situations, good pass situations and taking care of the ball. That’s all we can ask for. On defense we all do our jobs. Alex don’t turn it over and we get points and we do our job on defense and we’ll be pretty hard to beat.
“In the fourth quarter when the defense is over there looking at the Jumbotron and you know it’s third-and-seven, you see Alex take off and pick up a first down and keep the chains moving, you appreciate that, and he’s been doing a good job of that.”
Q: Do you guys want to play hard for a guy like Harbaugh?
WHITNER: “Yeah, you get the team collectively playing hard for the coach instead of just a couple guys in a couple spurts, and that’s the difference. When you see somebody really cares about you as a person and your personal life, it’s easy to go out there and put it on the line for somebody like that, but when you don’t have a coach like that, it’s hard to go out there and stick your neck in and really do everything as if he really cared about you, because some of them don’t and you can really tell.”
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“Everybody he’s brought in, except for maybe one, and every rookie has really contributed to this football team and has really helped us win football games.”
*cough* BRAYLON EDWARDS *cough*
Ha ha I was thinking the same thing. He could’ve just said everybody, but he made a point of mentioning everybody…but one. The players don’t BS. They are straight shooters and know what’s going on.
I wish we knew what went on behind the scenes with Edwards. If the 49ers were happy with him you’d think they would have put him on IR and at least let him use team facilities for rehab, you know? Instead they booted him out the door.
Yes! Contrast that with Rex Ryan, who admitted he had no clue something was amiss with his team. And get this, they are still going to bring back the cancer next year.
Guilty as charged for the same thought.
Wrong. I think he meant Ronald Johnson the WR we cut in camp. Braylon was doing good before then injury, so I don’t think he would disrespect Braylon like that.
P.s.(just throwing this out there) I love a hypovrite Greg Cossell can be. Talks nicely about AS on t radio but on the national blog he rips him. He says he’s a manager, and blahblah I can understand that arguement….but how many times since the beginning have we all heard from Grant and other “haters” that “Alex made the play/played the best game of his career” this season? It’s funny how if you read the live game blogs that’s all you hear yet afterwards everyone forgets.I KNOW IN THE PLAYOFFS AS WILL RAISE HIS LEVEL OF PLAY AND THE PLAYCALLING WILL BE AMAZING. I trust this staff and I have comeplete trust and faith in them…maybe everybody who will try and movk should try and join for once. (sorry for the rant but I read a comment from A CERTAIN POSTER in other post ad was saying when we get blown out we better not make excuses for AS. Already saying we’re gonna lose before we even play is pathetic, and isn’t something a real fan would ever say.
Sorry for the errors my phone messed up, also I wasn’t calling Grant a hater. Just stating that because I know how sensitive the Lowells can be jkjk that was a joke. Lol just poking fun.
Cohns* my mind is a mess today ughhh
p.s.s. I`m nervous and scared as f#&% for the playoff game, nine years has been a long time!!
He might also be referring to the WR Ronald Johnson out of USC and drafted on the 6th round but did not make the team.
Greg Cosell just tells it like it is and because he is not a Niners fan who sees things with his heart he says what is the truth. He often says he respects Alex as being a tough competitor and for not turning the ball over etc.He just gives most of the credit for Alex doing as well as he has done to JH for managing Alex and putting Alex in the best position to perform at his best,as any good HC does with all his players.
We are passionate 49ers fanatics and it’s hard to be unbiased about our starting QB or any of our players. I guess it’s natural for some few fans to get mad when someone from outside their little group tells them the unvarnished truth ,that the Niners are winning with defense and ST’s and a good running game and a QB who doesn’t mess it all up by throwing picks or fumbling and who actually is contributing to the winning instead of being one of the main reasons for the losing.
And who cares that we don’t YET have a Franchise QB who can carry the team on his shoulders with his great play when needed? If we win the SB I will be happy for every Niners player and coach and fan,Alex especially ! He has worked hard and been a great team mate etc,he deserves good things to happen for him !
Nicely said Tim.
TIM,
It’s not hard for you to be “unbiased” regarding AS. We’ve always known where you stand. No new news from your posts or comments! TIM enough with the backhanded compliments that are transparent and meaningless.
BTW, did you see this link regarding AS:
http://49ers.pressdemocrat.com/2011/04/inside-the-49ers/tollner-alex-smith-close-to-becoming-a-championship-qb/
I’d say Tollner has more NFL credentials than Cosell.
Been listening to ESPN all morning and no one is mentioning the Niners. It’s all Saints or Packers in the SB. Never us. Let’s make these A-holes eat some crow. Go Niners!
It’s like baseball. Fans love scoring, and they love home runs. So that is what ESPN shows.
The year the Giants won the world series, the commentators would pick the other team in 5 to win their series. The Giants played their torture brand of baseball. It was ugly. Defense and pitching. ESPN never gave them love.
Fast forward, it’s the same with this Niner team. Fans love the big play. The long pass, the running back taking it to the house. We don’t have any of that. We don’t have anything that is marketable or that anyone wants to see on national scale TV.
What do you want ESPN to show? Alex and his 190 yards per game? The crowd would fall asleep and they would lose all of their advertisers which pay the bills…..
@bay..remember he also said wnningmakes superstars.any one with knowledge of football knows pwillis is a star.but now the rest of the world is finding out about jsmith.aldon and goldson.we as fans knew this,but it took winning for the rest of the world to see it.howie long even save his endorsement for jsmith as dpy.if anybody knows about the position ,he does.it hurt to say that but its the truth.
@bay:
We don’t have anything that is marketable to casual fans or that anyone with a superficial understanding of the game wants to see on national scale TV.
Fixed.
Huh. So the generic ESPN fan is addicted to big plays, big yards, gaudy stats. Are you saying that’s a bad thing? Lowest common sports fan denominator perhaps?
Replace “ESPN fan” with names of fans here who complain about the 9ers lack of big plays, big yards, gaudy stats. Still a bad thing?
Now you are guiding the conversation to “your” personal preference.
Why do you think they have the ESPN top ten? It’s what the majority of fans want to see. I didn’t say it had anything to do with our team. And i wasn’t criticizing our team. The original thread I replied to questioned why ESPN shows us no love.
We are not exciting and we are not sexy compared to the rest of the playoff teams.
The most exciting scoring we have is David Akers for god’s sakes.
Fans of today have never been introduced to football. Today the sport has become a video game, the evolved incarnation is Arena Football, which my become football as we know in the next quarter century. The Bill Walsh coached teams, with a fullback and halfback in the backfield, took football to a new level.
All the scoring with 40, 50 points scored before the half, has become boring. It all started with the rules taking defense off the table for tv ratings. Now the fear of serious injury has put more restrictions on the defense.
The games of ancient Rome were deemed to violent as time passed. I guess as a civilization we are in the beginning of that process.
Bay,
Is there a bit of Marc Anthony in your discussion of why ESPN doesn’t pay attention to the 49ers?
If they’re saying it’s the Saints and Packers in the Super Bowl, clearly they’re idiots. :)
Don’t worry, next week coverage will come, but it’ll probably be at the expense of us being a “speed bump” on NO’s way to the big dance.
Joel – I said “or”. Also not hearing much love for the Ravens out of the AFC. It’d be something if the Harbaugh brothers competed for the Lombardi.
It’s funny when he said “a good secondary or a secondary…” why the correction? Lol.
Oh well, Go Niners and show the world who the team to beat really is.
Thanks for publishing this article Grant. This was one of the most interesting pieces I have read in a long time.
Great article, Grant!
To All…
Five of our 2011 49er’s were selected to the NFL All Pro Team….
Patrick Willis, Navorro Bowman, Justin Smith, David Akers & Andy Lee
Sorry, Grant…I didn’t mean to steal your thunder on this one. I heard the news on SIRIUS NFL RADIO a short time ago.
55,
you aren’t stealing his thunder, you are keeping him on his toes.
Shows you that the Pro Bowl voters missed the boat on Navorro Bowman.
Yeah,my thought also
Here’s a link detailing the voting at every position: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/01/06/rodgers-tops-brees-easily-megatron-and-allen-lead-all-pro-voting/#more-177937
49ers notes of interest:
1. Frank Gore received one vote at RB
2. Joe Staley tied for third in the voting at OT with 11 votes.
3. Anthony Davis received as many votes at OT (1) as Mike Iupati did at OG.
4. Justin Smith received the second most votes at DT (35) and the third most votes at DE (9). Those 44 votes trail only the 49 received by Jared Allen among all DL.
5. Carlos Rogers received the fourth most votes (10) at CB.
6. Dashon Goldson received 3 votes at S.
5 49ers on the All-Pro 1st team leads the league and is a record for the 49ers.
Not to mention Staley and Rogers on 2nd team. Booyah!
Really glad to see the national media recognizes what Bowman has done this year. And a bit surprised to be honest. You’d expect an east-coast LB to make it ahead of a new guy.
great stuff – those guys all deserve the nod. awesome for Bowman too
With our All Pros this year being Willis, Justin Smith, Navarro Bowman, Akers and Lee, there is no question, we’d be a 4 win team without our Defense and special teams. I’ve watched every game this year multiple times and both units have played a significant role is our offense’s success.
We have to have our offense step up in the playoffs. If we hope to beat the Saints. We have to throw on them more than most people think we do. Their pass defense is just as bad as their run defense. Tracy Porter is weak link deep. Will we even exploit that at all. Roman Harper cheats at the line of scrimmage. We can beat this team over the top. We can get deep on them easily. Will the pass be there? Will the receiver catch it? Those are the questions? The Saits defense can also be beaten bynrunning the edges. You run pitches and sweeps on the Saints. Their D line is slow and they blitz the middle often.
Smith gets a chance to prove me wrong. If he beats the Saints. Then I have to issue an apology to the posters on this blog. If not, you’ll get a full dose of 23Jordan for a full offseason about the Smithers hero! ” I’ve said we were a QB away from a playoff win. I believe that. In a week, we het to find out!
Check that, maybe 6-7 wins. Our schedule was weak!
You think JH and the entire coaching staff don’t know what you just said ?
Do we have the right players to execute game plan is another story .
23Jordan, I know down deep inside you are a passionate fan and you want this team to have a great playoffs so please for god sake lets just cheer for the TEAM and ALEX to have the best game of their lives, OK! CHEERS AND GO NINERS
It’s the defense that’s carried the team all year, but it’s all Smith if the team doesn’t beat the Saints. Right.
Jordo, is there no end to the war that’s going on inside your mind?
Double standard.
Ribico,
If the defense gives up over 24 points, I’ll tear them a new one. I already broke the defense down the other day.
1. They can’t give up the deep pass, the quick strike.
2. They can’t allow The Saints to run the ball.
3. Patrick and Bowman have to hit Graham and Sproules levying the line of scrimmage.
4. We need to get pressure up the middle on Brees. He loves to climb the middle of the pocket.
5. We have to get off of the field on 3rd down. Play some press coverage.
6. Stunts on D have to be run up the middle by the Smiths.
7. Our safesties can’t gamble on picks, just make the tackle.
I agree with that, Jordan.
If the Rams (the *Rams!*) can hold them to 21 indoors, on turf, we’d better be able to keep them to at least that.
Rocket ,
I don’t want to see Smith fall on his face. He’s been doing that his entire NFL career. I can’t be concerned with that right now. Either he can do it or he can’t. football is a business. I say, after he loses to the Saints, we give him a 5 year contract, why 2 or 3, like some seem to think. because the Smithers believe in him. I don’t. Just my opinion. I know, the Smithers hate it. But they love me!!
23J – Wow, did you have lunch with Frederick P. Soft or something bro or did you get hacked? :-)
Oh and BTW, a Jordo apology means nothing. And a “full dose of 23Jordan” is just more noise and further reminder of the liar and welcher he is.
Don’t worry Ribico, the apology would be for you son. It’s not going to matter. Smith is going to throw his breakfast up on Saturday. He doesnt believe he can do it and he won’t!
Whatever, Dr. Phil.
I have never seen an alleged 49ers fan root so hard against one of the team’s own players.
Speaking of Dr. Phil, how low does jordan’s self-esteem have to be that he’d rather see the 49ers lose than admit he was wrong about Alex Smith? There’s some dark scary stuff going on in there.
Just gotta keep it real. Smith can’t win a game for us guys. If he can, well it’s about to be that time. It’s playoff time son. 190 yards passing and 4 field goals is not going to do it. It’s playoff time. Gonna need the best Smith game even you Smithers have ever seen. Funny, no matter how well you think he’s played this year, we are going to need so much more from him to win this game. The defense can’t stop Brees. Hopefully, they can contain him.
That Saint blitz. Can Smith solve it because it’s coming? Can he keep his composure and still move the offense.
We all know what’s going to happen if we get down 14-0. We all know that we get to see if Smith can be the QB you all think he can be.
ITs has absolutely nothing to do with being a Niner fan. If I were not a fan, I wouldn’t have spent my time here on this blog for the last couple of years. I’d post on my teams blog. I’m a Niner fan, not a Smith fan. Is he who I think he is? We will find out next Week!
Jordan,
I don’t doubt you are a Niner fan, but you are a defeatist fan. You talk yourself into negative views and then try to implement them on a blog where most are trying to enjoy what has been a great season.
What is it you are trying to achieve by constantly posting that you think Alex sucks? At least the over the top Alex backers are rooting for something positive to happen to the team. I’ve watched you predict the Niners would get pasted a few times this season – most recently the Steelers – because according to you Smith would wet his pants. Well he didn’t and the team won, yet here you are again predicting doom and gloom. I’m all for balanced views, but you have become one dimensional in your posts.
It’s all about how Alex is going to fall on his face and there is little doubt that is what you are hoping for believing you will somehow be vindicated for your beliefs. What I’m trying to tell you is, you’ve already been proven wrong. Whether he wins a playoff game or not, he’s done pretty near everything you said he couldn’t do. I realize you are never going to stop with this nonsense, but vindication isn’t happening for you on this issue.
Rocket,
Jordo keeps up with the game after game negativity because he knows he may get his wish of a QB playing awful and go into full diatribe mode.
BTW, I’ve never got into name calling with Jordo either…just calling him the way I see him.
You’re not a fan when you say we are going to lose! For f#@% sake we used to be called the Niner Faithful, it’s a joke what you’re saying.
Rocket,
Why is that you can post your opinion about players on this team and this team in general and myself, Bay, Md, Ninergirl, or anyone else respects your position and gives you a good debate. Free of the name calling and etc. However, when we decide to post an opinion inconsistent of yours, all the name calling etc occurs. Just as I said, I appreciate the class in which you conduct yourself. I’ve never disrespected you either.
However, I do disagree with you at times. I post my opinion. I’m not always right just like you aren’t. If it is my opinion, just respect it and disagree. I have no problem with that. I’ll do the same with you. I watched every game Smith has played as a pro. it may take me a little longer than you to be convinced about him than you. Just respect that. It’s not like the guy has a resume’ that should make every Niner fan love him.
I said he couldn’t win a playoff game. If he does, I’ll definitely have to respect that. Yes, we have the defense and special teams to get it done. I don’t believe we have enough offense and I do believe that if we had a better QB, we’d be super bowl favorites, hands down.
Are you enjoying the season? Trust me Rocket, I am too. I have a life. This blog is entertainment. That’s exactly how I look at it and accept.
So don’t let the topic of this discussion be my disdain with Smith. There is nothing you or any of the Smithers on this blog can do about that. It’s all on Alex. I’m not impressed yet. You are. Great.
You’ve not Hofer and I respect that. I enjoy the back and forth. I’m going to continue to do so. I’m enjoying the Niners success as well.
We just have different views on several issues regarding certain aspects of the team, not just the QB. However we keep it football. Take nothing I say personal because it’s not. I’d prefer it always stay football? It always does with us. I’ve never resorted to calling you names as well. NEVER.
@jordan:
Why is that you can post your opinion about players on this team and this team in general and myself, Bay, Md, Ninergirl, or anyone else respects your position and gives you a good debate. Free of the name calling and etc. However, when we decide to post an opinion inconsistent of yours, all the name calling etc occurs.
That’s easy. It’s not that you merely post an inconsistent opinion.
It’s that you are a total d!ck about it.
Jordan,
You are entitled to your opinion like I said down below. I also don’t think I’ve called you a name. Saying you are “defeatist” and “one dimensional” is a response to your posts about Alex Smith not a personal insult. I’m saying you are focusing on negative aspects when the positives far outweight them.
I have no problem with anyone disagreeing with me, in fact it would be pretty boring if we all agreed with each other. My point of this post was, you’ve been crying wolf in regards to Smith all season and not once have you been right. Now you are basing your entire view of him for the season on one game instead of regarding the season as a whole. I don’t understand that kind of reasoning is what it comes down to. If Smith comes out and wets his pants against the Saints throwing some picks and looking lost, then yeah you can rip away, but that doesn’t take away from the season. 13-3 is 13-3 whether they lose to a team believed to be better than they are in the playoffs or not.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I’m not a blind supporter of Alex Smith. I just think the guy has earned some respect and support from the fan base because he’s succeeded under some pretty daunting circumstances. You don’t have to praise him constantly, but at least give some props for what he has done well.
rocket,
Headed home. Have a good one bro.
@claude
2 reasons from where I stand:
1. They find ways to be upset when we win, and reasons to be happy when we lose. The exact opposite of how I define being a fan.
2. I have disagreed with everybody on this blog who I routinely have conversations with at least once, if not many more times. The difference is that they don’t call me “stupid, moron, loser, etc”. And I in return, don’t call them names either.
So, even we disagree, it remains civil. Unlike the way 23J, bay, ninermd, 49erGirl among others communicate a disagreement. You do it the way that those people have done it, and you get what we have now.
@Jordan,
I’ve said we were a QB away from a playoff win. I believe that. In a week, we het to find out!
**************************************************************
And if you’re right about him not winning a playoff game, it will be the first time all season you’ve been right about anything you’ve said about Smith. You lost this argument a long time ago Jordan.
Thanks Rocket. I appreciate that.
My pleasure…really.
Rocket, I like you because you keep it football. No insults, you’re full of compliments. You made my day my friend.
So how do we beat the Saints on offense Rocket?
I’m not into insulting fellow 49er fans Jordan. I don’t agree with your continuing assault on the QB, but you are entitled to your opinion.
What we have to do on offense is what we’ve been doing. Run the ball effectively, keep the clock moving with Brees on the sideline, and make some plays on defense to get the ball or force a punt. Obviously scoring TD’s in the redzone is a key, but the past 3 games they’ve been much better in the Redzone. If they play their game they can win. If they do things they haven’t all season – turn the ball over, take a bunch of costly penalities, don’t tackle well – then they will lose. Simple as that.
Ok Rocket. That’s not a bad analysis.
However, IMO, we really have not been running the ball well lately. We have gotten turnovers all year. However, we’ve played some big giveaway teams. Brees will throw picks because he gambles and wins more times than not.
Our red zone issues have not been solved Rocket. We’ve played the Rams and the Seahawks. Not exactly powerhouses. One of our red zone TDs was a fake field goal. My point is opposite. If the Niners play their game, they can’t win. I think it’s going to take a bit more scoring than we’re accustomed to.
I’ll tell you this. What happened in that Ram game concerns me. It was the 1st time this team seriously lost focus on defense. Maybe it was the blowout or the fact that it was the Rams. I just know that it appeared as though Fred P. Soft was on the plane to St. Louis.
My concerns are, our secondary getting beat deep. Our O line andQB handling the blitz. New Orleans screen game. No pressure on Brees with 4 man pass rush.
Jordan,
The redzone issues haven’t been solved, but they have been much better the past 3 games than they were, and that came against better defenses (Steelers,Seahawks) than we’ll see from the Saints. The Oline played very well the last 3 games and that is the key to success for the offense.
As far as running the ball, they haven’t been as successful, but they’ve continued to do it; they haven’t gone away from it which is a recipe for disaster with this team. Just the threat of it gives the Oline that much more of an advantage.
I’m not all that concerned with what happened last week or how it relates to the potential playoff game against NO’s for two reasons:
1) up until the last 5 minutes, the defense had given up one TD drive which was the first drive of the game. After that the Rams didn’t sniff the endzone until the last 5 minutes. That tells me the defense became complacent, and lost some intensity. If you do that in this league, you get burned.
2) We know what the Saints are going to do. There is no mystery here. They are going to come out and throw the ball and throw it some more. The defense is going to be focused on that. With two weeks to prepare, I believe our Coaching staff will come up with a good attack plan to counteract what the Saints like to do. They won’t stop them completely obviously, but I don’t see the Saints going up and down the field and putting up 30+ on us either.
That’s why I say the Niners have to continue to do what got them here. If they get down and have to catch up, then it’s time to change the plan, but until that time, it if ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
I so hate indulging the negative nellies here, but what is the threshold for pinning a loss directly on Alex?
Less than 200 yards? But we’ve won all year with that figure.
Field goals instead of TDs? How about if Gore is stuffed 3 times inside the 5?
A pick or 3? Yes, I could see blaming him for that, but he’s been careful with the ball all year.
Suppose the running game goes south, 50 or so yards. Or our RBs or returners suddenly develop butterfingers.
All Alex’s fault? In essence, do you pin *any* loss on the QB?
Who cares what gauge Jordo uses! It isn’t the JH gauge and that is what is important. Contract on the way…
@Hoferfan67:
Who cares what gauge Jordo uses!
Personally, I hope he uses a 12 gauge.
A better question is how will he feels when the Niners do to the Saints that which they do to everybody else.
AS plays smart football, DB less smart and turns the ball over. Niners take advantage and make far fewer mistakes than NO and win.
No great stats for AS. Just another win.
It’s called setting it up for failure. Good piece on ESPN radio earlier on that phenomenon. Closed minds and all that.
I have to agree with Hofer. Doesn’t matter. Jordan’s marginalized himself already. Even if he’s right, no one will care.
@Claude
That was harsh….just a little.
But I would be satisfied with a lifetime ban.
How To Deal With Difficult People: (the 23jordans of the blog): Whiners, Know-It-Alls, and Steamrollers: Strategies to cope with even the most hard-to-take personalities http://www.ptotoday.com/pto-today-articles/article/409-how-to-deal-with-difficult-people
Everyone is into the Alex Smith debate. In the meantime he has had 4 come from behind wins if I remember correctly. How many balls have Davis and Crabtree dropped or short armed? How many times has AS been sacked before he had a chance to make a 5 step drop. You can’t throw deep with a three step drop and he has had to get rid of the ball in a hurry many a time. Give him his props. when needed he got the ball down to where Akers could make the kick. He took the physical risk to get the first down and touchdown and didn’t slide to save his body. He has put up with 7 years of Sh$t from the fans when it was the coaches fault or the systems fault. A QB is great if his team wins. He is a laughing stock when his team loses no matter how good a QB he is. Even if he wins the Super Bowl there are those that will say we could do better if we had a better QB. Drew Brees or Aron Rogers couldn’t do much better if the receivers drop the ball. The couldn’t throw long if they can’t make a 5 or 7 step drop. It is not a one person game. The hero is the one who can take you to the promised land and in football it takes Twenty two players and a great special team to make one hero.
Mavin
Your post makes sense. Some here will not like that. lol
The Niners have 5 comeback wins. 4 on the road. 2 were against playoff teams: Cinci and Detroit. Another road come from behind victory was against Philly early in the year when they had already won the Super Bowl according to experts. The one at home was against the Giants, another playoff team. So the Niners had 5 come from behind wins lead by AS, and 3 were against playoff teams (2 on the road), and the 4th was against Philly in Philly.
And, one more thing.
Everybody is freaking about if we can come from behind from a big deficit against NO/GB.
Well the only time the Niners were ever down by 20, was in Philly, a road game. And AS and company found a way to win that game.
Check out how good Philly’s D is next to GB/NO, and they weren’t much better. So why exactly can’t the Niners come back from a deficit against NO/GB? Not that I want them to ever be behind.
23J – What happens if Lions upset Saints? Would playoff victory over Giants or Falcons satisfy you or will it take an NFC Championship win?
Crabs,
I said he couldn’t win a playoff game. I feel like that game will be against the Saints. If Smith plays well enough to win that game, I’ve got nothing else to say. I said he couldnt win a playoff game. The game will be against the Saints. No way the Lions win that game this weekend. I hope they do because that means we don’t have to see them.
We will play the Saints and I will be at the Stick rooting for my team. I don’t root against Smith. I just know what to expect. His best game isn’t good enough against the Saints.
Jordo, who are you kidding? You’ve always blamed AS when everyone in the NFL knew MS and MN weren’t HC’s. Now the 9ers have an HC that is working with AS and making him better. It is a process. They’ll continue to add pieces to the offense that will make the team and AS better. If the 9ers win or god forbid lose, the TEAM moves forward with AS as QB. Contract on the way…
Hofer,
It’s only my opinion. Your opinion is yours. Don’t be so emotional. It’s kind of difficult to want your team to win but want the QB to fail. I don’t root for Smith to fail. I’m just accustomed to it. Expect more of it next week. I’ve thanked JH 100 times on this blog for his work with Smith. Impelling you that JH can’t teach Smith enough to win this game. Hes reached his ceiling. What you see is what you get 190careful yards passing. That’s simply not going to be enough next week Hofer. Remember, it’s my opinion. No reason to lose your cool. After all, Smith has got nobody to throw to,remember?
Jordo, I’m emotional to the point of *not* commenting on one subject unlike you. You continue to post the same crap hoping just someone, anyone, is listening and takes you seriously. Not happening. Contract on the way…
>>I said he couldn’t win a playoff game.
Since when does *one* person win a playoff? Are you sure you are not watching reruns of the US Open, Jordan? The rest of us are talking about football, a *team* game.
@ribico
The same people who think JM did everything and is solely responsible for 4 titles in 10 years.
Seriously. Check out who hate AS and the ones who think JM did everything himself. Even after JM himself thanks thhe great team surrounding him.
That is no coincidence.
Hofer has it nailed. Jordo would like nothing better than to see AS stink up the joint, taking the team down with him, purely for raising holy hell here.
Hofer,
You’ve got me mixed up with yourself. I don’t expect or need anyone else to follow. The writing is on the wall.Extension or not, it will always be the wrong decision IMO. I’ll still be around to find out and so will you. It’s not life threatening either way. It’s a blog, get a grip my man. I won’t lose a wink of sleep. You’ll hear from me just as much. I post here because I can, not because I need followers.I’ve got those anyway in DS, Prime, Oneniner, Ribico, Exgolfer, Textree, Claude and many others! I appreciate my groupies. Thanks guys!! They love me!!!
Jordo,
So now I see how it is…hmmm.
To quote you:
“not because I need followers.I’ve got those anyway in DS, Prime, Oneniner, Ribico, Exgolfer, Textree, Claude and many others! I appreciate my groupies.”
So if you can’t be FAMOUS you want to be NOTORIOUS??! lol
@hof
23J really is that lonely guy in his basement.
How am I a groupie? He is the one tagging along after me.
Groupies tag along. 23J tags along.
Hofer,
My man! You got it. truly NOTORIOUS!!! I didn’t ask for them, they just showed up, starting coming ou t the woodwork! They are special, but they are mine! Lol.
Why is it that we’ll HAVE to play any different than the style that took us to 13-3?
If the Niners get torched quickly then maybe we’ll need AS to pass more, but I expect a similar Post game interview as Pittsburgh.
If it’s not broken, why fix it?
The above post was meant to be a reply to a 23Jordan post.
Mcof,
I guess you will find out that this recipe won’t work against this Saints team in the playoffs. It didn’t work against everyone because we lost 3 games.
We will have to see more from Smith to win this game. Brees will move the ball and the saints will score points. I think everyone on this blog knows that. Our secondary is the weakest part of our defense( safeties in particular)
We won’t win this game with 19 points my friend. We aren’t playing the Rams this week.
I think this about sums up my sentiments on our blog friend 23jordan: “The people who are the hardest to love are the ones who need it the most.” ~Peaceful Warrior
Openminded,
I like that bro. Thank you! Now, I feel loved!!! Lol.
Jordan,
I don’t think the 49ers would’ve won any games without the defense or special teams. The other team would just recover their kickoffs every time, with no special teams to oppose them. Then once they recovered the onsides kick, they would score on their first offensive play, with no defense to stop them.
@ex
Not to be a jerk yet again, but if their are no special teams, the opposition’s kick-off unit can just run it back into the endzone every time. No need to see the oppositions offense at all.
Can a recovered onsides kick be advanced by the kicking team? I didn’t think it could be, but I’m far from sure.
Oh look, jordan made another promise that he has no intention of keeping.
Welcher.
Bioch!
Is that French?
Yes sir, it is . Lol
My eyes read that first as Biotech. Jordan thinks Claude is a genetically engineered super human???
@ribico:
For once, jordan is right about something.
I was thinking it was a highly enriched French pastry, whose high egg and butter content give it a rich and tender crumb.
Recipe for bioch: disagree with 23jordan
Recipe for brioche: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1803634/brie-wrapped-in-prosciutto-and-brioche
Recipe for biotech:
http://technabob.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/kurzweil-terminator.jpg
Wait a minute, I’m getting my urban on.
Biatch:
A “gangster” substitute for bitch. Somehow, this word has found it’s way into the mouths of every white teen in america.
see also: biatchitude and biatchitudestein
Ex: “Hey there Stephen. Is it just me, or has Mandi really been acting like a Biatch? She hasn’t called me back in two days!”
K. I’m caught up. Fire away teens!
Oakland’s finest, Too $hort, invented that word.
Too Short…whatever happened to that guy. Why am I hungry all of a sudden? Any good Cheesecake recipes?
$$$$$$$$$
Especially, Open Minded’s “recipe for Bioch……..”
$$$$$$$$$
Hey the 9er’s are a decent team ! They just won’t be all that good against the Saints ! One reason and one reason only Alex Smith !!!
Glove,
I, unfortunatey share your thoughts. We are a very good team. We’d be unstoppaple with a QB. Hopefully, our staff will figure that out at some point. We are a QB away.
They already know that Jordan. They are grooming Kaep and they,like all 49ers fans,hope he is the real deal Franchise guy . Alex will be good enough to hold his place until he getsa ready AND Alex will be good enough for me to hold the Lombardi Trophy when we win the SB with great defense and ST’s and a good running game …and a QB who doesn’t mess it up.
Tim, how do you know who is being groomed? It is AS currently and not CK. Did you dream that you had a impromptu conversation with JH and he told you that CK is the *only* one being groomed? Only CK?
Don’t be silly Hofer. I am just a life long fan who HOPES that they are grooming Kaep or someone for the future Franchise QB,since the starter we have now id found lacking in so many areas of his game.
I have heard the JH loves him some CK and is excited about him,but of course CK has to prove it on the field,like any other player.
Alex is the MAN right now and I am happy he is doing better . As I said many,many times,I hope Alex goes to every pro bowl and every SB for the next 10 years and is MVP of them all !!! But that is the fan in me speaking from the heart. In reality ,IMHO,Alex is not a Franchise QB who can carry a team and we need someone like that if the TEAM is to be GREAT and a dynasty. We all hope for that !
There is nothing flashy and entertaining about this years 49ers but then again winning and being able to watch them another 3 more weeks is all the entertainment I need. The greatest thing about this team is that it is a complete and balanced team. Sure the defense and ST were exceptional this year but the offense to media not hold them back or lose them any of the three games.
Looking ahead and everyone thinks it will be the Saints, I think whoever it will be, the key for the Niners to advance will be the run offense and the pass defense to be playing at it’s highest level. If were required to air it out, that’s not our game. If we can’t limit the big play, it will be a short playoff. Stick to what hs won us 13 games cause to be successful in the playoffs it’s about running the ball, playing good defense, and not turn the ball over.
Why does SF Gate have a monopoly on shill beat writers? Kevin Lynch -crosses picket lines to do KNBR. He was the guy who just from one week to another was Singeltarys enemy- best friend a couple of years ago-so startling you KNEW SF Gates editor must have told him to shill it up.
And he talks funny too-sort of a Quentin Tarantino lips movement thing and sound..like they move faster then the words can keep up.
Just like 1981 all over again, no respect. We’ll get it when we win the SB!! Go 9ers!!!!!!
Rams beat the Saints because they were amped off of the Cardinals world series win. The Cardinals and LaRussa were at the game and the Saints had a letdown after punishing the Colts 62-3 the week before. They underestimated the Rams, who were winless at the time. The Saints got a punt blocked and the Rams ran an int back for a TD.
Tampa beat the Saints after the Niners embaraased the Bucs 48-3. The Bucs were fired up and had to win that game to stay in touch with the Saints win the division.
What is the difference in the Saints now and then. They have won 8 games in a row. Brees has an amazing report with immy Graham. Their defense is getting turnovers now like our defense has been getting all year. Niners can’t turn the ball over but must be aggressive enough to be assertive in the passing game. Their special teams are decent. Their kickoff kicker puts kickoffs in the end zone routinely. Their fG kicker is old but accurate(Kasay). Sproules is their return guy.( enough said). their punter isn’t all that.
What hasn’t changed even during their winning streak is that the Saints are not nearly as explosive on grass outside the dome. The last game they played on grass they nearly lost to the Titans. We aren’t going to face the record setting Saints offense at the Stick. It will be a version that on average scores 14 points less than at home.
So what you’re saying is that we need the St. Louis Cardinals to come to the game? Does anyone have any spare tickets?
Adam,
You just nailed it! Lol.
Rocket,
We keep wanting to find some isolated incident to make our case. Did you see that Titans game. I did. It was a great game. Jake Locker!! Cmon Rocket. Only time will tell.
Don’t get me wrong, I want us to win this game. I just don’t think our offense can do enough for us to win it. Time will tell. It’s just an opinion.
Jordan,
How in the hell did you get your hands on the 49ers’ scouting report on the Saints? And why in the world would you post it?
Just bought my playoff tickets!!! Paid grip for the nose bleeds but I don’t care. I’m in like Flynn!!! Getting pretty juiced. I want to buy one of those voo voo zella’s to annoy the saints on offense. Where can I get one?
You can get your vuvuzuella at eBay but get your order in quick as they come all the way from South Africa! You can also try those annoying plastic blow up tubes they used in the South Korea/Japan World Cup in 2002. Congrats on getting your tix!
And the irony that Tim Kawakami complains today-the Raiders dont send him PR alerts..but Tim banned me after I disagreed about his Jerry West euphoria!
And was I right or what?
If the Warriors EVER turn it around..Jerry on the couch in L.A. wont be the driving force.
eveyone is talking like new orleans is a shoo in.i for one dont care who we play.where does it say any where that our defense will give up 30+ pts.every one talks about the caliber of teams we have played,but yet i didnt see one put up 30+ on our defense.this is our moment and i say embrace it and not fear it.this is what we have waited for for 9 years.fear is not an option….if we believe that nobody has it better than us,then act like it.write like it and stop worrying about whom we play.if anything let them fear the niners.
23Jordan,
Still remember our bet (1 grand) if Smith wins a playoff game?
Is it still on?
KT,
I do remember. Let’s exchange information after this weekend. I am in the Bay area. Where are you?
Are you kidding, KT? jordan will never pay if he loses, but he will insist that you honor the bet if he wins.
Hmmm, Can 23Jordan confirm what claude balls just said?
KT,
You’re listening to one of my fellow groupies. Ask him to post a YouTube video of Vernon Davis running over a defensive back with a football. My claim was that Vernon does not seek contact. That he’s never tried to put his head down and run a defender over. He claims to have that video. Ask him to post it and you tell me what you think about it. You will find out that my groupie Claude is just that, a groupie. He’s a liar and a Smither. Ask him to post the video. Tell me what you think about the video?
Why don’t you two meet and open a joint account that requires both signatures to withdraw the $2,000 ($1k each).
Call me crazy, but why would a real fan bet against his team, how could u be honestly happy with either outcome?
@Drty 49
The simplest (most likely) explaination is often the one that is correct.
I propose this to you.
What is simpler (more likely):
1. 23J is not a fan, and hence posts as he does.
2. 23J is a fan, and cheers against them winning games.
I will let you choose the answer.
Exactly, Never in my life I’ve bet against the 9ers. I’d take the points if they were the underdog. That’s why I am willing to risk 1k on the next game straight up regardless who the opponent will be.
KT,
I’m a realist KT. I don’t allow my emotions to control the way I gamble. You see, I wouldn’t bet you if the Niners were playing the Giants or the Lions at home. The Saints, another story. Alex Smith against Drew Brees! That’s just too easy man. We will work out the details after tomorrow’s game. We will find a way to secure the winner gets paid and we will bet.
What happened to “We’re a qb away from a playoff win” phrase?
Doesn’t that phrase apply to either Saints or Giants/Falcons?
My bet is I don’t care who we’ll face. We’ll win our 1st home game here. Do we have a deal?
Ahh but Jordan – sure the offense will need to score points against whoever they face, Saints or otherwise. But Smith vs. Brees? That’s not the reality. It’s “elite” Brees vs. “elite” 49er’s Defense and “Average” Smith vs. “Average” Saints Defense. Our D will cancel out much of Brees’ advantages, and Smith will get some chances against the Saints. I forsee a close game unless one of two things happens:
1. The OL reverts back to what we saw in that preseason game against the Saints and can’t make holes for Gore and Hunter, and can’t protect
2. The Secondary goes too much for the big play like they did against AZ and allows the big plays in the passing game.
>>The Saints, another story. Alex Smith against Drew Brees! That’s just too easy man.
That is the most pathetic thing you’ve ever posted Jordo, and thats saying a lot. NO true fan of the 49ers bets against his team. EVER! You should be ashamed to even be interacting with the faithful here.
Take your low-life gambling urges to sportsline forums and leave us fans to discuss how the Niners WILL WIN next saturday.
Im calling for the Lions to upset the Saints.
@prime, didn’t take u for a jordan groupie, lol
@Ds9, I would make myself sick if I were rooting for a team I had no faith in, and constantly had to talk crap about, maybe its just me.
@Drty 49
It makes me sick that somebody who claims to love the same team I do has such thoughts.
DS,
Never said anything about love. Is that why you are an emotional wreck up here sometimes. Man up!! Or Alien up! Whatever you are!!! I love my family. I Like the Niners. I appreciate football. Get it???
Who is the groupie again?
DS,
DON’T READ MY POSTS!!! Hahahaha, what a wreck. You are so dizzy!!
Why anyone engages him after his welching and constant hating up until a 13win season and now playoffs, beyond me.
Save yourselves some santity and he will eventually go away
Great point.
Too bad this blog doesn’t have ignore button.
Don’t need one, just use your brain and follow your instincts. The same instincts that tells you to take a bet you won’t win. I’ll be on this blog after the Saints vs Lions game on Saturday with information so we can talk more about the bet.
Until then, allow my groupies to entertain you. Lol
@Prime
My advice exactly. lol
KT go back a couple days and look at the history of his betting and the comments afterwards, your just fueling a guy who says he’s all Niners, but really he is a clown in the Wringley Bros circus, don’t waste your time dude.
Primeoneidiot,
My biggest groupie just can’t stay away, it’s like a moth to light. You just can help it can you stupid? You’re the one groupie that I’m concerned with the most. We are going to have to do a groupie intervention with you. Dont worry, Alex Smith will be there. He misses you latching onto his nutz. Now I need you to get off of mine. After all, you promised!!! Now go away son!!!!
@jordan, I am new here, and really enjoy a differing of opinions, it keeps things interesting, but really dude, u sound like an idiot resorting to insults and trash talk to fellow fans.
Drty 49,
I’m not new here and you sound like an idiot and getting off on the wrong foot with me by insinuating that I am an idiot. Because you are new here, you probably need to read a few posts to know where the insults come from. You think you know, but you just don’t know. Heard that one before?
A bit of advice and sure most of the posters here would agree. Refrain from the name calling. It makes the experience here a lot more enjoyable. You respect me, I respect you. Even if you don’t agree with what I say. Ill make sure I do the same. Have a great day my friend.
@Drty 49
You have yet to witness 23J going nutty and cussng out F-this (actual sp).
This version that you have witnessed is the best version all year. He has no problems attacking anybody/everybody for any reason.
@Drty 49
Didn’t take very long. Less than 10 minutes (less time when you consider the time it took him to type up the reply).
See why I don’t read his posts?
By new here I am a new poster, but I have been reading your BS all year, and I was under the impression this was a place for opinions, mine is u sound like an idiot when u resort to trash talking, but itself just my opinion.
49,
Its good to known that you can read. Youre headed in the right direction. Reading is fundamental. Youve discovered its BS. Gee, youre clever. But youre a bit late here. Yes your opinion but one that I certainly didn’t ask for. Just why I said you were an idiot for rendering yours unsolicited. However, you have a right to say what you please. Be prepared to take it as well as you give it. I like wise guys because I can be one as well. Do you have anything football related to offer? I’d prefer to talk football if you don’t mind. If not, donyou mind if we move forward?
@ jordan, if u had read any of my previous posts u would already know I can talk 9er ball, wows just another failed insult, keepthem coming, its seems to be your m o.
49,
I’m gonna shut it down and head out . Have a great day my man. If you took what I said about talking football as an insult, you probably should try and comprehend what you read a bit better. No insult was intended. Great day to you sir!
Drty 49 – Welcome to the jungle. You sure you wanna do this?
Not the most classy move as a new poster, attacking a regular long-time contributor with name calling?
You remind me of that new neighbor that moves in on your street and he throws a noisy, raging, out of control keg party the FIRST night of occupancy! You know, it’s so high-schoolish that the cops come and break it up. Then your doorbell rings and it’s the cops. They ask you, “do you know the person that’s drunk, crapped his pants and is passed-out in the bush in front of your home?”
In the morning, you check your front yard and there’s trash, broken beer bottles and “stenchy” urine stains in your driveway!
Like 23J said, hopefully you’ll talk more (intelligent)football than the childish insults.
Welcome though Niner brotha. ;-)
23J – I see you have a new stalker. LOL….I will probably get ripped by your haters for having your back (see above).
As you know 23J, I once was a non-believer in Alex but it all changed after the Philly game etc. It’s ok to disagree on players but hopefully we can debate like adults in here.
I look forward to your positive comments about Alex Smith after he proves you wrong and helps us win the playoff game next Saturday. :-)
Or what 23j, you will unleash a fury no one has seen before, or will it be a bet you welch on, or will the contract extension finally send you over the golden gate bridge, either case, your right I’m done with you coward, your yellow and a hater and I’m just informing the newbies of your BS but it looks like they have figured it out already, see your hating and reputation are notorius, notoriously lame!
primer,
Done again, for the 2nd time in 2 days? You’ve got your head so far up Ds’s azz that you wouldn’t know a newbie if he stapled your dumb azz. Now you’ve been fired! You are no longer my favorite groupie. Now DS is looking for you. Run along and just tell her you’re down here!!
Talk about reading comprehension,, oh well cant argue with sombody who doesn’t understand what you are saying, good day to you as well than.
Good get lost and when the extension happens make sure you don’t come back loser!
Aldon Smith has been nominated for 2011 NFL Rookie of the Year. I think he’ll win it …
http://bayarea.sbnation.com/san-francisco-49ers/2012/1/6/2687349/aldon-smith-nominated-2011-nfl-rookie-of-the-year-49ers/in/2439840
I hope he wins it. It’s only going to boost his confidence. Imagine if Aldon has a really productive offseason and puts some muscle on his frame this summer. GO NINERS
Yeah, make sure you guys vote: http://www.nfl.com/voting/rookies/2011/YEAR/0?module=HP11_content_stream_voting_pepsi#playerId:09000d5d8253bf2f
Love me some Aldon! That kid is gonna be GREAT. He’s almost already there. Yeesh – beast!!
So does anyone on here have any faith in our secondary, I think we could be in for a surprise, or the saints receiver core to be more precise might be surprised.who have they played in the regular season with a D like ours?
@Drty 49
I really like TB, Whitner. Carlos has made some great plays.
My only concern is DG. He needs to understand that as a safety, he can’t afford to miss tackles. DG played a major role in the Niners giving up those 3 big plays in Arizona which were the difference in the game.
The mistakes he makes are the kind I have the least tolerence for; poor decision making.
I am fine with an opponent being better (stronger, taller, faster) than a Niner player. There is nothing that can be done about those things more or less at the time it happens.
But the mental aspects, taking poor angles, that kind of thing…gets under my skin. You could have done better, but didn’t.
If the other guy is better than you, that is how life is. But don’t screw up and be the reason why the other guy is better. Make him beat you. Don’t beat yourself.
And far too often DG beats himself.
I have a lot of faith in the secondary if the pass rush is consistent. If not, it’s going to be a long day.
@rocket
Come on. That is too easy an answer from you rocket.
We would have beat the Saints last year if the defense holds in the final minute, and that was Singletary’s 49ers. This year is different. This year’s 49ers WIN close games. That’s why I’m not worried about the Saints. Yeah the playoffs have me excited and nervous as hell, but I have a lot of confidence in the 2011 49ers. The Saints will be a tough challenge obviously, but it’s nothing this team (offense included) can’t handle.
How many times this year have the doubters said “Smith will fail this Sunday, Smith can’t do this, Smith can’t do that.” Then he succeeds. A week or two later, it’s the same negativity, and the same result: the doubters are once again proven wrong. A lot of you guys are saying this is Smith’s biggest test yet, and that goes without saying. But the offense has made plays when necessary all season long. Came back against the Eagles, beat the Giants with no running game, etc.
If the defense gives up some points and we aren’t sitting on a lead, the offense WILL score points. Have a little faith in Harbaugh, the staff, and the players. They will rise to the occasion like they have been doing all year.
@LSX
This is how confident I am in this Niners team:
Anybody, anywhere, anytime…Niners win.
Drty 49 / Prime Time – same person posting under different names?
Nickrow that’s a no
49ers have NFL-high 5 players named 1st-team All-Pros. One obvious omission is Aldon Smith who should have made the Pro Bowl and at least 2nd team All-Pro in my opinion:
http://blog.sfgate.com/49ers/2012/01/06/49ers-have-league-high-five-players-named-first-team-all-pros/
If 99 had been a starter he would have received a little more respect, I expect him to go off next year,if not sooner
Grant get some good stuff sometimes…
Goldson does need to concentrate on those monstrous, ball and man separating hits, the piks will come,
I hope it pours buckets of rain and the wind is howling next week, the theory of Dome teams playing outside in January is exactly the reason we got home field advantage!
I think buckets of rain would suffice, we would need our field goals.
Hey Jordo,
What kind if report does Brees have with Graham? History, English perhaps.
The word you were looking for was rapport.
Just busting your chops. Like I told Bay last week. Your are a genius. Your act is pretty good.
Da Coach,
No he didn’t, did he?
Oh, no, Jordan, say it isn’t so. Report, really?
Anything football related or are
You just looking to be critical of me? I think you still owe me a week off of this blog for losing your bet?
Haha. Man, you’re going to owe all of us an eternity off this blog if Alex is re-signed. Remember? :P
Chicago who cares what that low life thinks and cheers for. If this blog has not figured out his agenda by now we all need therapy.
There is no way someone can call themselves a fan and be so skeptical. It’s sports, entertainment, an escape for most from reality, the consistent predictions of failure by him towards Alex is just all smoke. He’s not a 49er fan, no frinkin way, he’s just trolling. Even Bayarea and Ninermd are Alex skeptics but at least they acknowledge some improvements from Alex this year. That guy, not once!
How does Bowman not make the probowl but makes all pro? Just a popularity contest I guess. I’m very happy for him but am worried we won’t be able to keep all three Lb’s once aldon and bowman get paid.
Look out for VD to have a monster game because he was left off the pro bowl ballet.
One third of the voting for Pro Bowl roster spots is from fans.
Fans = uniformed, especially about other teams [in general].
Where’s everyone sitting? For those going? I’m in UR 51 nose bleeds.
SEC 35. Right below you. You get a “Who’s got it better than us” T shirt when you come into the gate. Free T…..I likes. Home opener I got 6 flags. Maybe I can get two Tee’s. lol
Jordon:
Why do you want to blame Alex if we lose to the Saints or any other team ? I will only blame alex if what he has contributed to the team all year long is not repeated in the playoffs. Alex has not been asked to do very many things ,he has just been asked to not turn the ball over and make a few good plays every game to help his defense and ST’s and running game win the games.
If the saints score too many points because the defense lets them move up and down the field on them,then we should blame the defense. If the ST’s do poorly then blame them. If the running backs only run for a small amount of yards,then blame them. Or give the Saints (or whoever)credit .
BUT only blame alex if he directly causes bad things to happen. Don’t act like it’s all on alex if we lose. It might be,but only if it really is should you say that it is.
You sound like you want us to lose so you can blame Alex. :(
What I want is to see Alex raising the Lombardi Trophy !!! He deserves good things to happen for him and the team.
In the future I want an upgrade at QB for the team I love. I believe if we had a stud QB now that we would be unbeatable . But Alex is our starter and there is only two ways to go ,if you are a fan of the team you cheer for Alex to play his best and for us to win. If you are not really a fan then you might hope for Alex to mess up and lose the game for us ,so you can say I told you so and so you can hopefully get the upgrade sooner…then you can jump on the bandwagon again and become a fan of the TEAM . I choose the first option and will be cheering my head off (for Alex and all the players)during every playoff game !!! You should too !
Tim states, “He deserves good things to happen for him and the team.
In the future I want an upgrade at QB for the team I love. I believe if we had a stud QB now that we would be unbeatable .’
Tim, that is such a back handed compliment. So NOW you know more than JH and his very experienced coaching staff??!
Hofer:
Sorry,that is my opinion as a life long Niner’s fan. I want us to win but I don’t believe Alex is the future (and I doubt highly that anyone on the Niner’s staff believe he is a true franchise QB ).
I love alex as a tough,man of character with class who is a great team mate etc. I want to see him hoisting the SB Trophy !!!!!!! He deserves good things to happen for him and I am overjoyed that many good things are happening for him this year (marriage,starting QB on a winning team,playoff and SB wins ? (I hope !).
BUT ,just because I like and respect the guy and apreciate the job he has done this season,doesn’t mean I don’t know that he is lacking in many of the attributes needed in an NFL stud QB.
I have said many times that if Alex makes huge strides and fixes many of his deep flaws in his game,that maybe he himself can be the upgrade at QB . I would LOVE that,but I don’t believe it is the probable outcome. We shall see.
BUT for right now,Alex is MY qb and I hope he plays great and wins the SB with his play !
In conclusion …I don’t think it is a backhanded compliment to tell it as I see it. It only shows that I am fair and can see both sides of the issue. I am not an Alex hater,I just want upgrades at every position that can be upgraded,and QB is one of those spots IMHO .
GO NINERS ! (the whole TEAM,not any one player gets all the praise or the blame,in my book ).
@hof
At least Tim is going to watch the entire team and judge each of them.
23J made it clear that he won’t. If we win, it is due to AS not losing and the D winning. If we lose (we won’t) it is100% on AS.
True Tim did say what your quoted, but this site needs you hof to be an optimist. There are more than enough “keeping it real” folks. lol
DS94:
You don’t know how many times I have been called a wildly over optimistic 49ers fan . I try to keep it real and tell it fairly as I see it (just my humble opinion,as is yours or Hoffer’s etc). Before the season I predicted 10 wins and a Wester Division Championship. Sounded wildly optimistic at the time.
I love alex but don’t believe he is a Franchise STUD QB . But I do believe we can win a SB with the way he has played this season,if the defense and ST’s and running game play their best and the coaches knock it out of the park in their game plans etc.
Just because I see Alex and my eyes tell me that he is not ever going to be a great qB,doesn’t mean I am not optimistic anout the team and doesn’t mean I don’t get mad when some few fans hate Alex just for the sake of hate.
As a matter of fact,I am VERY optimistic about the future of this team with Jed and Paarag and Baalke and JH and this roster,(with a few adjustments ;)wink ) . GO NINERS !!! Win the SB and then get even better next year and the year after etc !!!
@Tim
You are one of a kind, I’ll grant (pun nor intended) you that.
I have consistenlty stated that as long as you (Tim) don’t go on a rampage against another poster as several others here have, and don’t cheer for the Niners to lose and look for ways for them to lose, that I won’t consider you a hater. Others here do consider you a hater, I don’t.
But, do you really think that when AS holds up the trophy that the team will be searching for anybody else? The last team to do that were the Ravens. They suffered the wrath of the football gods by getting rid of Dilfer. They got Elvis Grbac, and in 1 season, he destroyed that whole team. The Ravens are just now recovering from that mistake.
By the way, when that happens, AS will have won a Super Bowl in his 7th year. It took AR 6. And AS will have done so after being in a significantly worse situation than AR has ever been in his NFL career. Why is it that AR is worshiped when it took him 6 years to win a trophy and he had the best situation? If AS wins this year, does that make him better? Having to overcome all those obstacles (bad coaching, OC, OL, WR’s dropping balls, D which choked at the end of games, etc.), is that at all given consideration? Or is it just the stat sheet?
What is a “STUD” QB anyway? In virtually every measurable way, JM the best was not a STUD. He was quite the opposite. I remember a great many fans of other teams making fun of him because he looked so small, and could barely throw it 40 yards in the air. Their QB’s looked like monsters and could throw it 70 yards. Yet, JM, found a way to win, while their QB’s stumbled about like morons.
So a STUD to me is only defined by winning games. For the first time ever, AS won lots of games this year. Call that the JH effect or whatever, but he did what a QB must do. Find a way to win games.
This sums it up better than my ’81 analogy: http://www.csnbayarea.com/blog/niners-talk/post/49ers-channeling-The-Catch-mojo?blockID=626372&feedID=5884
So many weird parallels.
You younger guys have NO idea what that ’81 season felt like. And this is pretty similar, so soak it up. This may be the re-birth of the Dynasty.
Damn, I’m happy to say that. Crazy good feeling.
Yep,I am 60 years old and have been a die hard Niner’s fan almost my whole life. It was soooo sweet to FINALLY get over the hump after so many close calls in the 70′s.
I hope this is the start of a new DYNASTY,I think it is !
Some other things I don’t remember us bringing up:
Ed Debartalo blew it with his first HC hire. He went and hired a guy based more on his passion than his thinking. Just like Jed York did when he hired MS as his first HC.
They both learned their lesson by going to a top class university, Stanford to pick up a guy who had never been a HC in the NFL, but was getting lots of praise for his offensive mind.
BW chose a QB who was not highly valued by a lot of other teams (thus he dropped to the third round in 1979′s draft in JM). JH chose AS, a high draft pick (different) but who like JM many people had questions regarding his playing ability.
And like BW, JH is assembling an offense that is different in just about every way from other offenses in the league.
That article is great. I forgot they had 3 fumbles. That makes 6 TO’s. What are the stats for a team to win a game when they commit 6 TO’s?
Us young folk Tim have many more dynasties to come. It’s not the now or never attitude with Alex as you would like to see. It’s a 5 year project with Harbaugh. If that includes AS, then Alex signs a 3 or 4 year deal. Point is you old-timers need to win soon. Young pups like us have 49 more years of 49er football. Lots of time to even win 5 more superbowls.
@Prime
Bay the “seer” said that all people who support AS must be at least 55 years old. So, you can’t tell me you are young. That would prove bay’s post wrong. And that is just not possible.
I’m watching the Rams/Niners 3rd. Quarter. Our secondary is concerning.
@FDM
Not a concern really.
The Niners of old, would often fall under the same trap.
They get a lead, and sleep walk for awhile when they play bad teams.
When the score gets close, the D shows up again and beats the other team like they did earlier in the game.
The press complains as the Niners roll up yet another 10+win season. Talk about reviving the past Glory Days. lol
Not concerned with the defense. They were playing the rams and we were up by bunch of points so the defense started to play soft. They will be ready for the playoff game. However we should be concern playing teams such as Saints or potentially the Giants. GO NINERS
@DS not even to close to 55 and Bay likes gunslinger QB’s. That says it all.
@Prime
I am no where 55. Considering how much I believe in AS, I must be at least 110 years old. Hence the memory pills. : )
And I hadn’t ever heard bay liking gunslinger QB’s. Then of course I don’t read his posts, so that could be why I don’t know.
Does bay know that JM was the least gun slinging great QB in history? And that BW employed a offensive philosophy which does not require such a mentality, and in fact DIScouraged it? BW wanted a smart, accurate QB who can throw a perfect 10 yard pass, not a guy who can sling it 70 yards and hope it somehow falls into the WR’s hands.
Ninermd,
How do I get a free t shirt?
Just by going to the game. They are free when you enter the gates.
nice, thank you!!! I wonder if people will be waving them around like the terrible towel.
Go Lions
why?
lol
are the lions the 5 seed?
Lions are the 6 seed. They let Matt Flynn and a bunch of backups knock them out of the 5 seed.
I hope you 9er’s fans watch the Saints game last nite!!! A@# Whopp’in is coming. Alex Smith huge problem, you gonna have to score points. That’s just bottom line !!