Here are my Week 17 grades for the 13-3 49ers.
Alex Smith: B+. He made one very nice play in this game – the eight yard touchdown scramble on third and goal in the first quarter. He slipped in the pocket and when he bounced back up it seemed like he wanted to throw the ball away, but he didn’t. Instead he plowed his way into the end zone. He’s got to make more red zone plays like that one in the playoffs.
The other thing Smith did well in this game was to not turn the ball over, but that came with a price. Smith rarely takes a risk on third and long – he often checks down, throws the ball away or just takes a sack – and a result the Niners offense continues to rank among the league’s worst in third down efficiency. Today they converted 6 of 16 third downs – 38 percent. Greg Roman’s conservative play calling gets some of the blame – the runs up the middle on first and second down that he calls usually create the third and longs to begin with. But Smith’s determination not to turn the ball over exacerbates the offense’s third down ineptitude. Both Smith and Roman will have to take more risks to beat a team like the Saints or the Packers in the playoffs.
Offensive line: B. Both the left and right sides of the line struggled to pick up overload blitzes on third and long. As a result they gave up three sacks. They couldn’t get much push up the middle, but they blocked well for Kendall Hunter’s runs around the edges.
Running backs: B. Frank Gore rushed seven times for nine yards. He hasn’t looked healthy since the Redskins game back in the beginning of November, so this Bye week the Niners earned will greatly benefit Gore and the whole offense. Kendall Hunter played very well in his place. He rushed 16 times for 76 yards (4.8 yards per carry), and he was particularly effective running off tackle, often rushing for six or seven yards on those plays. Roman seems to be figuring out how to best use his backup running back. Anthony Dixon ran very well up the middle at the end of the game, and his touchdown turned out to be the game-winner. It was encouraging that Roman has finally figured out not to use Hunter in short yardage situations – that’s what Anthony Dixon is on the team for.
Wide receivers: B+. Joe Hastings didn’t catch any passes, but Smith bounced one to him. Swain caught one, but he was open downfield on a third down late – Smith just chose not to throw him the ball. Michael Crabtree got all production from this group. He caught nine passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns, and he gets all of the credit for the first one. Smith hit him at the line of scrimmage on a bubble screen, and then Crabtree stiff armed a defender and ran 28 yards for the score. When the Rams loaded up the box to stop Gore early, Roman used these screen pass to Crabtree to counteract the defense.
Tight ends: A-. Justin Peelle blocked well and caught zero passes. Vernon Davis also blocked well, but he led the team with 114 receiving yards on eight catches. Davis and Crabtree were really the Niners only two weapons in the pass game today and the Rams still couldn’t stop them. You’d think a playoff team could, which is why the extra week of rest is so crucial for the Niners – they need Ted Ginn Jr. and Kyle Williams back for their next game.
Defensive line: B-. Justin Smith got nicked up early and missed a lot of time. Still, he made big plays when he was in the game, finishing with three tackles and a sack. Ricky Jean Francois filled in for Smith and finished with a unit-leading four tackles.
Linebackers: B-. Jim Harbaugh said after the game that Patrick Willis looked rusty. He got blocked out of few plays and only recorded four tackles. It was important that Harbaugh played Willis in this one, though – they couldn’t afford a rusty performance like this in the playoffs. Bowman missed a tackle in the backfield late on a Cadillac Williams one-yard touchdown run, but he led the team in tackles with ten and he also sacked Kellen Clemens once. Ahmad Brooks recorded one sack as well.
Secondary: B. They were largely responsible for allowing the Rams to score 14 points late. Chris Culliver got flagged for unnecessary roughness, and then Tarell Brown got flagged for pass interference in the end zone. Also, Donte Whitner got beaten badly on the Rams last touchdown pass. But besides those blunders, this unit played pretty well. Brown intercepted Clemens twice, and Dashon Goldson knocked Steven Jackson out of the game with a vicious hit to this left arm.
Special Teams: A-. They would have gotten an A if they hadn’t allowed the Rams to recover an onside kick late in the fourth quarter. David Akers and Andy Lee had superb games as usual. Lee punted five times and averaged 56.8 yards per punt. He also stuck one punt at the STL one-yard line. Akers made one of two field goal attempts, but more importantly he threw a big touchdown pass to Crabtree in the third quarter.
Coaching: B-. Jim Harbaugh managed the game well. Vic Fangio called a good game for the defense. Brad Seeley made a brilliant game plan for special teams. But Greg Roman continues to be relentlessly conservative on offense. He rarely gives Smith a chance to make a play in the red zone or in third-and-long situations. Now, you could argue that his conservative approach has been the right approach all season, certainly these last two games against the Seahawks and the Rams. Of course you want to put the game in the defense’s hands against those two offenses, but not against the Saints, not under any circumstances. Roman cannot go to his conservative comfort zone if the Niners play New Orleans in the first round, or else Drew Brees will make the Niners magical season merely a magical regular season.
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The secondary scares me heading into the playoffs.
Then jump back off the bandwagon, son.
F&*^ off douchebag. New poster?
@BigP
Way to take the high road there son. Nothing Whitner said was remotely close to deserving the reply you wrote man. How did he insult you? And he didn’t cuss you out.
If you want to gain the respect of more posters, you should apologize immediately.
And, to my knowledge Whitner is a new poster.
Welcome Whitner. : )
I hope you are not our safety Whiter. lol
*Whitner
I had a very nice New Year’s surprise, one that is 49ers football and 49ers blog related, so I feel compelled to share it here. Hope nobody minds. I call it -
In Your Dreams
As I’ve mentioned before, I watch all the Niners games at a local saloon called the Fish Tale Tavern in Townsend, Montana. It’s a working man’s kind of bar – “blue-collar” as Coach Harbaugh might say. Does anybody remember Jack’s Bar, now the Olde Main Street Saloon, in Sebastopol? Well, it’s kind of like that – an alley-like, old-fashioned, provincial place. Everybody knows everybody else, so if a stranger should happen to walk in, he or she immediately stands out. Well, I’d just ordered coffee and was waiting for the Rams to kick the ball off to the Niners when a stranger did walk in – a woman who could only have been from out of town.
I’m an old bachelor – a “two-time loser,” actually, as Jack Nicholson said in one of his films. But I’m not dead and can still appreciate an attractive woman when I see one – and I’m telling you that this woman was not merely attractive: she was a knock-out. Older, yes, but still a handful of years younger than yours truly and obviously a woman who took good care of herself – works out regularly (looking at her shoulders, I’d say she was more a swimmer than a jogger); eats the right foods in the right portions; knows how much make-up to put on (in her case she didn’t need much); knows how to fix her hair. And as a result, she was the type who looks great in anything – even in jeans and a loose-fitting, leather-sleeved, red-and-gold 49ers jacket, which was indeed what she was wearing and what made me sit up and take greater notice.
She had that trick of walking through a door and then coming to a standstill, holding a pose just long enough for the room to register her presence. The room did – and not a few elbows on not a few barstools prodded the drinking buddy next to them as if to say, “Hey, get a load of what just walked in.” This included the Green Bay fans, who didn’t seem to mind at all that the stranger was wearing 49er team colors.
But then I realized that the woman hadn’t stopped to hold a pose – or at any rate not only to hold one. She was carefully scanning the tables and patiently running her eyes the length of the bar, going from one patron to the next, apparently looking for someone. I sat at the far end of the bar, so figured she’d find whoever it was before she got to me – or not find whoever it was and then walk back out again. I watched as her gaze angled closer and closer. And then fell on me. And stopped. And didn’t go any further.
‘What?’ I thought, suddenly self-conscious and confused. ‘Why’s she staring at me? Did I spill something on my sweatshirt or what?’ And looking down at my sweatshirt, I remembered: I was wearing my game-day outfit, a gold-colored hoodie with “San Francisco Forty-niners” and the team’s logo prominently displayed on its front, the only one in town . . .
As I raised my head, the woman’s eyes met mine and she broke into a smile. The kind of smile that’s big. And spontaneous. And lights up a person’s entire face. In short, the proverbial big toothy grin that says “Hi!” with an exclamation mark and “I’m so glad to see you!” with another exclamation mark. And she didn’t end with just the smile. She immediately began making her way between the tables and hurried down the bar and stepped up to me as though she were going to throw herself into my arms and said, “Max!”
‘Holy Moses!’ I thought, taken aback. ‘Is this some part of my past finally catching up to me, here, at the Fish Tale Tavern, in, of all places, Townsend, Montana?’ If so, I was mighty happy that my past had finally caught up to me. But I quickly regained my composure -
“Do I know you?” I asked.
“Yes, you do. But you don’t know you know me.”
“?”
“Max, can’t you guess? ”
“Well, I suppose I should be able to, but . . .” I muttered, trying to be tactful.
“Max, it’s me! 49erGirl!”
“Forty-niner girl . . . ”
And then it hit me. Hard. And right between the eyes.
“49erGirl? You mean THAT 49erGirl?”
“Yes, yes!” she said.
Eventually we stopped laughing and hugging and calmed down enough to find her a place beside me at the bar.
“What in heaven’s name,” I asked her, “are you doing in this neck of the woods?”
Turns out she was visiting friends in Helena for the holidays. Helena is the capital of Montana and is only about a thirty-minute drive from Townsend. She needed a bit of a breather after the Christmas celebrations, recalled that I watch the Niner games at the Fish Tale Tavern, and for a lark decided to drive over, see if she could find the bar and me in it. Which, obviously, she could.
We spent the next several hours glued to the game and cheering on our team. We also talked a little about this blog, and the people who post comments here, agreeing that it was a lot of fun. “But, ” I couldn’t help saying, “I do wish ‘oneniner’ would learn how to use ellipsis points.” She only shrugged as if to say, “What can you do?” – and we let it go at that . . .
The game came to its closer-than-expected conclusion and we were both relieved when time finally ran out for the Rams and the 49ers had a lock on the first-round bye. We gave each other another hug, wished each other a happy New Year – and she was out the door and on her way back to Helena, on her way back to California, on her way back to Grant’s blog – and I wondered: was 49erGirl really here? And would we ever run into each other again? Not likely, I sighed to myself, but gave thanks for the brief time we did have together – and, of course, for the 49er win.
Happy New Year everyone!
Worth the long intro……that’s just fun!
I ran into a guy with a P.Willy jersey in Glouscester, Mass during Week#1 game, but connecting with someone on the blog tops that.
Happy New year! Great story!!!!
..yea in your dreams…….how about shaving her mustache and keeping it as a souvenir………..
There’s the oneniner we know and love
Oneniner,
You’re just jealous. There’s always hope for you. Maybe DS will invite you onto it’s imaginary spaceship and you could actually get those 47 tentacles to embrace your misfit behind!! I wouldn’t hold my breath though. I’m sure you know it’s lonely at the bottom!! Even with all those 6 screen names you have. Lol
Beautiful!
Great story Max, never would have believed that could happen! Happy New Years to you!
I’m in the Philippines too – Leyte. Go 9ers. Can you get any NFL football here?
zron,
You got broadband internet? I use Smart Bro wireless and get the games video at vipbox.com It’s okay if not a busy time of day. (2 AM, 5 AM games come in ok. 9 AM not so good).
For the audio I use nfl.com’s Audio Pass so I can listen to Ted Robinson & E Davis off KNBR. But there is audio on vipbox too. Good luck
OOPS it’s not vipbox.com
Correct address is vipbox.tv
I think its great to hear a story of Niner fans getting together (especially ftom our little community) and watching the game. All while this was happening I was passed out drunk from last night. Hope you all had a good amd safe New Years. Stay faithful friends :)
Wow, this story took me back to my teenage days, I thought I was reading one of those dirty magazine forums, I almost shut my eyes and lived through you, lol only thing missing was the dirty pictures.
Seriously though ,how random was that. pretty cool.
What a great story, I have been on this blog for a few days so I am not familar with 49er girl but glad you saw her in the flesh and the niners won ofcourse.
WOW!
I thought your Post Max in a word…..
Magical!
How else can you explain something like this?
I think this could be Karma for the 49ers….In a Good Way of course. Thanks for sharing!
As for oneniner….
He is what he is. Still though a 49er fan.
LOL
Nicely written-thanks for sharing. 49er girl is married but I’m sure with this portrayal you have engaged the fantasy life of more than a few posters here. Go niners!
Max- your a Pinoy in Montana?..uh,despite what people may think-I dont get into other posters personal lives and whatnot,uninvited. I’m more unpaid media critic…
And business-sports ot otherwise…
or
The offensive line scares me heading into the playoffs.
‘Torture’ — The Sequal
Talking about torture for the last two games, they are following the Giants lead from last year, which might be a good sign. The third down conservative play calling will work against the Rams but not against the Saints or the Packers.
I think the strategy is to be sooooo boring with play calls that the opposing DC falls to sleep and can’t communicate with his Defense and we gain some sort of advantage………..only guessing.
Brotha, lol. It’s working to the tune of 13-3!
yea 67, if we a playoff game or two, I am sure it will be the hard way.
Nothing scares me going into the playoffs because first off no one wants to play us and two, we have two weeks to prepare for out next opponent. This coaching staff will have these guys ready to roll. We are in a perfect situation, a week to heal, prepare and get ready to roll at the Stick.
Cool, story Max. 49erGirl is ‘gold’
Grant might be jealous, lol
Lucky to win that one bye week is very needed good season now is when the rubber meets the road let’s get the show in Ind.
Grades for offense look spot on but the grades for the defense and coaching seem a tad high. They let the worst team in football score 27 points. The secondary grade especially seems high – that wasn’t Tom Brady back there, it was noodle armed Kellen Clemens.
I think a lot of folks were worried about a let-down against the Rams and it happened. Luckily the Rams are bad enough that even a let-down resulted in a win. Almost losing to Fred P. Soft should be a bit of motivation for the team headed into the playoffs.
1st round bye and a home game. I’m praying for wind and rain at Candlestick in two weeks!
I wouldn’t so simply point to the defense regarding a few last quarter fluke plays with a team that has nothing to lose. It was that same defense that kept the 9ers offense on its own side of the field time and time again only to have the same offensive red zone struggles against a league worst defense. JKIR (just keepin it real) With the lack of receivers the defense kept the offense in good position.
I dunno Don – the offense managed 34 points. That’s a good showing against any defense.
Letting the Clemens led Rams score 27? That’s bad.
Max, that is a wonderful and wonderfully scripted story. What an incredible way to ring in the new year. It’s amazing the kinds of connections that can spring from forums like this and others. The sense of community and comraderie is real. Congrats to you and 49erGirl on sharing an experience that you will remember for years if not forever. And thank you for sharing it with us. Happy New Year to all! And go Niners!!
How about that Akers? 158.3 passer rating. :)
Happy Niners New Year, everyone!
I was going to make a statement like that, but coming from me it would have rustles some feathers.
But the perfect example that numbers don’t always tell the whole story.
Nice just the same Adam, I get the joke.
Should Akers be our RedZone QB? 100% scores/per attempts! I’m just saying………..
No, Jordo, not serious, only kidding
OK, 1-9er? Not serious, just kidding.
I LUV the 49ers in the Play Offs……..NOT kidding! : >)
@brotha
Sure.
Until the OL stinks it up and we lose the DA gets sacked by 800lbs of mean men. Then we lose the guy who has made so many kicks. lol
You’re right, DS. My bad. Akers is our points machine, better not risk him!
…number 2 seed…..yahoooooo……
Happy New Year Niners Fans. Great story Max.
This team is playing the style of football dictated by its personnel.
Look for some changes in offense next season with additions to the we’d receivers corps. It is the only area that needs attention.
We can beat a lot of teams with this style of football. None of the teams scare me. But throwing touchdowns when in the red zone rather than kicking field goals must be a priority in the playoffs.
See you all at the Stick in two weeks.
im so happy,you could graded everyone at an f.and it still would be the same.we are #2 in the playoffs and my wife may just have found a way for us to be in the bay area in 2 weeks.priceless…im loving 2012.now.never been to the bay area,i need suggestions.after we find accomadations then i will need a travel guide.not the tourist stuff,but the food and culture thing.personally ill take the bars and anything else but my love has to do the others.so any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.thx
Google “Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives”.
Wife took me to the last home game vs the Dodgers in 2010. We went to a dive that was featured on the show called the Tee Off Bar, and the food was awesome. The portions were generous, and the drinks were stiff. I had the Mac & Cheese, and the Pork Chops. They were the best I’ve ever had.
Hope you have a great time in the Bay Area & that you are able to watch the Niners stun the football world as they kick the crap out of New Orleans as payback for all of the blitzing they did in the 1st preseason game.
No Bay Area connection and still a Niners fan… love it!
eastcoast, once you find out where you are staying it will narrow down the suggestions and save you a lot of driving.
@eastcoastniner
I hope you have a terrific visit. If I can help with North SF Bay/Wine Country/ Marin-Sonoma-Mendocino Coast, let me know.
The City (SF) is a great place to visit. When I go in town to party I like to stay at the Embarcadero Hyatt. You can walk to lots good stuff and catch public transit too. Sutro at The Cliff House is $$$ but has great food and ocean views. North Beach neighborhood in SF, me & locals love Rose Pistola’s. Ciao Bella.
The stadium is just south of SF, near the airport.
For South SF Bay & Peninsula, or East SF Bay, others here hopefully will chime in.
yer Bro’
Go Niners!
Can the 9ers feel comfortable going into the playoffs with only two experienced receiving threats in Crabtree and Davis. Neither Swain nor Hastings got any separation against a suspect secondary. IMO… even with the return of Ginn & Williams, you need at least 4 -6 good quality receiving targets in the playoffs. Alex doesn’t throw for yardage but without better targets he’s running through wet sand.
…i don’t know about this swain kid….saw him not doing a good job blocking….he looked lost out there….
*Swain & Hastings* sounds like a bad Miami Vice spinoff duo. They didn’t get any seperation because they aren’t very good. We need Williams and Ginn back for the playoffs.
@BigP
Think about your last sentence a lot before you critique every little thing AS does heading into the playoffs.
@hof
Remember I said a long time ago that there will no longer be a QB debate come next year.
That means 23J will have nothung to say, contribute!
Zzzzz…
I don’t criticize every little thing, I just don’t tolerate people telling me he is better than he is. If he does well I cheer and if he doesn’t do well I express my opinion. That is how I roll.
Parlay,
Separation I not the issue. You need to understand how wide open they need to be for Smith to throw them the ball. He’s overly cautious with the ball and very few wide receivers have a chance in this offense with this QB.
Ted Ginn can run straight up the field past the defense bit he’s gonna have to stop and come back for the deep ball. smith throws it 45 yards max outdoors and 52 indoors. At some point, we are going to realize that separation is not the problem. The decision making of the QB has to come into question. He has to be the guy who makes the decision to throw them the ball.
I’ll agree that the Q.B. doesn’t throw into windows or throws receivers open, but that’s never been his game. That said, those two receivers in Hastings and Swain didn’t not get separation anyways.
Jordo, it’s 2012 and still spewing your crap. Not sure why you keep up this relentless non-debate!!?
JH was asked if BE was the long term solution at WR and JH said “we’ll see” and a week later he was gone.
JH was also asked if AS was his long term answer at QB and he said an emphatic “YES.”
Jordo, this is a non-debate. AS will sign a contract at the end of the year…case closed.
Hofer,
Do you have the contract? is long term 3 years or 5? is he a franchise QB? You seem to have all the answers. How come they are never to any of my questions? You seem to always hit and run. How about some answers Mr Head Smither.
If I were being critical of crabtree, you’d be right there with me. You are a crabtree hater and an Alex lover, a Smither. Now tell me more about that contract extension. How long is it? How much is it worth?
Extend the Jr. Game manager for what? Game managing? There have got to be 5-8 other guys available that we could sign that. Would be better and
cheaper. Thank god for defense and special teams!
Jordo, after each 9er win you sound more and more bitter. Get over it. AS is the QB as validated by JH and the contract is imminent.
..can someone plz write a long post to shut this moron up…….why can’t he just lets enjoy the win……
Yet Jim Harbaugh loves Alex’ performances. He loves him because he doesn’t force those kinds of throws and doesn’t turn it over. With this group of receivers, weak even before the injuries, Harbaugh isn’t going to trust them to be where they need to be if they were being led into the pass. Alex isn’t an all-star but he is far from the greatest problem in this passing attack.
By the way, Andrew Luck, the best QB in college football the past two years and the presumptive #1 draft choice couldn’t win the Heisman Trophy for the same reasons. He couldn’t pile of the stats because was held back by a conservative system (introduced by Harbaugh) and a weak set of wide-outs.
sigh…Jordan give it up man. He’s coming back and everyone knows it except for you it seems. Harbaugh has already said he’s the future, he’s led the team to the second best record in the conference and has done what his HC has asked him to do. I think it’s time for you to either accept this formality or start scoping out who else you want to cheer for. The QB you loathe will be back next year.
Which means 23jordon won’t be back?
Earlier this year, 23Jordan promised to kill himself if AS started a game, next season. He then retracted (good choice) and promised to NEVER write on, or read this blog again. It is for that reason alone that I’m hoping that AS re-signs, and starts next year.
…..is shawnte spencer still a 49er?…….
If you see a receiver catch a touchdown with no DB in the picture you’ll know he’s still around.
So swain and hastings combine for one catch for 6 yards right?
Yup… not a great showing. VD and Crabs picked up the slack but the newbies were sort of invisible.
I’d still rather have invisible WRs than T.oo O.ld or Moss though.
Hmmmm. While the great teams are entering the playoffs on all cylinders, we head in with a lot of question marks. We finished the game with a very lackluster effort that is not indicative of a strong well oiled playoff team. It wasn’t just the players, it is the coaching staff as well. Fangio could have pinned his players ears back and gone for the win by dialing up some blitzes with a big lead. Instead his defense stunk of prevent, and it almost prevented us from winning…..Roman is also proving to be gutless. These strategies will not work against the high powered teams and that is a guarantee…..
QB B
This week Alex mostly did was he was supposed to. Can’t fault him much because his weapons were on the sideline healing for the playoffs. And his coaching staff failed to get him Owens or Moss to bolster the WR corps. Alex had one spectacular play, and it came with his feet. His only error today was not running more. Hofer made a comment today and I full believe it, he said that for us to be more effective in the redzone, Alex will have to run more. Unfortunately Alex lacks instinct. For him to run more, that will have to be by design I believe. The only throw I think he wishes he had back was the underthrown ball to VD. If he leads him with that ball instead of underthrowing it, good chance it’s a TD. We’ve seen a full season of Alex now. Some bad, some mediocre, some good. What is missing is GREAT. There are moments in a game where he has to step up and it is there where he is missing. In this game those moments were key third downs and critically needed first downs to close the game out. 3rd down efficiency is horrid.
RB B
You heard it here first. Gore is done. If you don’t believe me, look at his face. He knows it. What a great 49er running back. He is from the same cloth as Hearst and Craig. Huge heart. Unfortunately, our coaching staff does not yet know how to use its other two running backs. I love the middle screen to Hunter though. Hunter is not as effective as Gore between the tackles. Figure out a game plan to showcase him. He can be special. Boobie still dances too much. Without Gore we are truly a team with no identity. A power running team with no power running back….
Offensive line B
They have really limited the break downs. They give their QB more time now to run the offense. They continue to help their RB’s be productive even though most of the time they face a stacked box. This group gets better and better. They are sometimes the victim of poor offensive strategies that do not take advantage of what the defense is giving them.
WR B+
Crabtree is Elite. The hypocrites in this room run deep. They say that you don’t criticize 49er players yet this WR got more criticism than any other 49er except for Alex. They question his ability, his motivation, his heart. He is the most potent weapon on this offense other than VD. Only thing holding him back from being a top 5 receiver is his QB for all the misses this year, and his coaching staff for not calling his number more in the red zone. He stepped up today on a day when we realistically had no other wide receiver options available.
TE A-
No second wide receiver, NO PROBLEM. VD stepped up. Made several nice catches. He was asked to assess the offense after the game. Interesting he began to say he wasn’t happy and then stopped himself. He is a team leader and has bought into Harbaugh’s team philosophy. Still though, wonder what he would have said if he could speak freely.
Defensive line B
Solid. Good. Not spectacular. These guys too are a victim of bland playcalling. I also know they are tired from many three and outs. If we are to go far in the playoffs, we need more pressure and it’s going to be on our front 4 because our coaching staff is reluctant to bring more.
DB’s B-
When you play with a lead, you do not let receivers get behind you. Period. Our biggest weakness on defense in the playoffs will be getting beat over the top. Why is Terrel Brown guarding their best wideout one on one in the 4th quarter? Not all bad, I know they got a couple of picks. And I also know they were a victim of a semi poor call.
LB’s B
Strong good performance. Not great. Glad Willis got to get out there. If for any other reason to shake off the rust.
Special teams B+
Akers is my fantasy kicker and Crabs is one of my wideouts. That pass play helped cement a first place fantasy finish for me this year. Lee, outstanding. Unfortunately not fighting for the ball during the onside kick left me scratching my head a bit.
Coaching staff B-
Expectations have been exceeded and now have to be reset. Is this coaching staff happy with what they’ve done or do they want more? If they want more, they are going to have to be willing to do more. Not stopping Arizona with a 12 point second half lead, and not burying the worst team in football today leaves many questions unanswered about this team. We saw what Swain brought today. No one can tell me T.O. would not have been an upgrade.
They failed to move the chains when they needed to most. It’s not all on Alex, it’s on Roman too. Roman has no guts and the conservative nature of our offense when trying to move the chains and when in the redzone are a huge part of this teams failures.
What are we going to do to keep up with the Saints and the Packers??? Only time will tell. Go Niners!!!!!!
Not bad grades, Bay, but analysis off due to your congenital dislike of AS.
>>And his coaching staff failed to get him Owens or Moss to bolster the WR corps.
No, coaching staff prevented malcontented head-cases from arriving and gumming up the works.
>>His only error today was not running more.
His job is not to take off – he’s looking to make the play downfield. He does have the ability, and the team should make use of it in playcalling. But I think Roman and Harbaugh will much prefer the RBs to do the running around here.
>>You heard it here first. Gore is done. If you don’t believe me, look at his face. He knows it
First? Hardly, we heard nothing but “Gore is done” around here earlier this season. Then he reels of how many 100 yard games in a row? Gore will be back to his self in two weeks. I’m not claiming first, but you heard it here also.
>>I also know they are tired from many three and outs.
Niners had a 10 minute edge in TOP in today’s game. If the DL is getting tired due to *that*, better look harder at the conditioning coach.
>>yet this WR got more criticism than any other 49er except for Alex.
That *all* stems from the way he first arrived here. You don’t do a diva holdout (agent-influenced or not) and not expect long lasting residual bad feelings. Nicked in his 2 training camps and the beginning of the season, he is finally making up for it with great play, the best of his career.
>>Akers is my fantasy kicker and Crabs is one of my wideouts. That pass play helped cement a first place fantasy finish for me this year.
Fantasy, eh? That explains the fetish towards big numbers.
>>a huge part of this teams failures.
Failures? You talk as if we are 3-13. How anyone can talk of “failures” on a 2 seeded team is beyond me. I would say idiosyncracies.
>>What are we going to do to keep up with the Saints and the Packers???
Today’s biggest stat for me was turnovers, 2-0. *That* will determine our playoff success. If we get the turnover edge in our games we *will* beat the competition, no matter who we are playing. You heard that here first.
+1
Ribico,
His job is to do whatever he can to keep the offense moving. You sound like Singletary, saying Smith isn’t supposed to run. It’s his job to do his part to keep the drive alive. If it means running then takeoff. That what the good QB’s do. Thats what he did to score early in the game. he surprised himself. Maybe he reached his run quota after that?
Jordan, he makes plays with his feet when he needs too. He has the 3rd most rushing yards on the team, a couple of TDs.
YOUR job is go back and tell me how many first downs he’s picked up rushing and how that compares league-wise for QBs. If he’s not in the upper half, I’ll no longer remind you that your time is running out on this blog.
Max, what a wonderful, amazing story — a close encounter of the 49er Girl kind. Is she real, or is she myth? With a story that good who cares?
It did seem kinda embellished, but I’m guessing it wasn’t; Cowboy Poet, ya’ know?
I loved it too.
Good thing we have 2 weeks to plan for the game. We have a lot to plan for. I think they should just stick to redzone offense everyday all practice.
Grant, your analysis is spot on. The 9ers need to open up the offense with less risk averse plays and trust the players including AS. Their style of play (not turning over the football) has been working and it will be interesting to see if they change the play calling for the playoffs or stay the course.
BTW, my upsets came through…SD, KC, and MIA. Good stuff!
…i disagree Hof…..the 49ers don’t need to open up anything…..if we win the superbowl playing like this…..nobody will talk about how conservative we played…all that will matter is we won…….
Win is a win and if they can win in the playoffs with the same game plan, all good. Don’t believe it though…
hof
How would you have called the game today ?
No WR played today who also played week 1. Passing takes timing.
.k…lets see…..we will either play the saints or the lions….
…last time we played the saints in preseason……brees was not putting up big numbers against our defense…..we lost because we didn’t expect them to blitz so much in preseason…….
…..the last regular season game against the saints we lost by 3….
…Lions – last time we played it was a close game and their QB was not killing our defense…..
……i believe in roman who said….you see conservative, while he sees opportunity……..
Hofer,
For once we agree! There may be hope after all. I thought we wanted the offense opened up 7 weeks ago? This offense is as open as it’s ever going to get.
Why can’t we open this offense? Because we are not throwing the football downfield. We can’t even throw the football in the 15-20 yard range. Why is it that our wide receivers are the only receivers in the league who can’t get separation? Separation BS!!!we need more aggressive QB. The play calling is not the problem.it’s tailored around the QB’s limitations, not str lengths. He doesn’t have any real strengths. He is improving some things but he is not strong in any area of his play. Smith is AVERAGE. He is a game manager. face it!!
DS, I would have liked to see more pass plays on 1st and 2nd down. The calls were too basic. I still think it is an OL and WR issue. How many playoff teams would TG and KW start for?
I keep going back to last year. With essentially the same players Smith was red hot in the red zone (30/42, 177yds, 9 TD, 0 INT, 118 rate). This year… ugh.
Smith isn’t worse this year, he’s much better. The receivers and RBs are about the same. The OL is a bit better. The only change? Play calling. Roman even tacitly admitted they play “not to lose” the FG in the red zone.
It’s frustrating… but it is also 13-3, so can’t complain too much. They’re going to need TDs instead of FGs in the playoffs though.
MSC, it’s just not passing in the RZ. The really good teams run for tds in the RZ. But I hear you, the play calling has been basic in the RZ.
Good point on the running Hofer. The O-Line has improved but it’s still not quite stout enough to open holes in a compressed field. Also, Gore isn’t quite the same anymore. Gore is still good but no longer great.
I can see that hof
But the Niners scored over 30 today. No return TD’s (D or ST).
So, it seemed to work today. lol
TG starts for nobody. KW starts for some teams. He does have speed, and look across the bay for a team that would pick him up.
Also see why the type of offense so many want here really does not work while checking out Oak. TO’s win/lose games. Not big pass plays. Palmer sure likes to toss it to everybody on the field. He must be color-blind.
Hofer,
Why has the play calling been basic all season in the red zone? After all, JH is this great coach. Did he all of a sudden, forget to coach red zone offense?
Is it possible that we don’t have the QB, backs, receivers and offensive line to be successful in the red zone? Certainly you can answer that?????
TG could start for Jacksonville, Indy, Rams, Seattle, Cards, Redsskins, broncos, Vikings Browns. Kw could start for half those teams. Every team bees a receiver to take the top off of the defense.
We can’t use Ginn successfully enough because our QB has arm strength issues. Can’t use a burner well if you can’t throw deep well.
Jordo, the 9ers are #5 in drops with 120+ less pass attempts. I guess we’ll get our answer in April during the draft.
Hofer, with Morgan presumably coming back where would you like the Niners to draft a receiver?
I think they could wait and draft a guy like Marvin Jones from Cal in the middle rounds because Morgan and Crabtree will probably start next year.
Grant, good call regarding Jones – like what I’ve seen from that kid. Morgan is one of my favorites and he and AS have excellent chemistry. Maybe it is more the 1st year offense issue but I don’t see big plays from the WR’s although MC is coming on…
Grant,
I’ve said it before and I will say it again. Smith is so hell bent on not throwing a pick that it bogs down this offense. He doesn’t realize how much pressure is being put on the defense and special teams. That bad part is that the pressure has increased as the season has gone on. Here we are in week 17, still talking about opening up the offense! This offense can’t be opened as long as Smith continues not to be aggressive with the football.
We can’t continue to almost never look to throw the ball downfield. Why not throw deep on 3rd and 15- 20? Doesn’t Smith realize that an interception on a deep throw is just like a punt from Andy Lee? Except for the fact that it’s an int added to his tally. Is that all he cares about is not increasing that tally to protect those stats? Can you be overly obsessed with not turning the ball ove in that way? A deep ball int is just like a long punt. Smith doesn’t even give our receivers a chance to make a play or get a pass interference call deep downfield. Referees won’t call pass interference if the QB throws the ball out of bounds!
Yeah, it’s always about the QB with me. It’s because in this 2nd season, (NFC)we’ve got the weakest one. We can’t beat the Saints with our regular season game plan. Our running game is brok en down and Smith is getting decent pass protection. it’s time for Smith to get aggressive with the football.
What game were you watching? The Rams were bringing heavy pressure on 3rd down and the OL wasn’t picking it up. Most of the time Alex only had time for a dump off to the hot reciver or a throw away. And you want him to go deep on 3rd down (you can’t see me but I’m shaking my head).
M2, you are talking to a wall.
M2,
I didn’t say specifically this game son. I’m speaking of all season. ALL SEASON. We have to stop making excuses. There are none in the playoffs. Either we get it done or we don’t. Bottom 3 in 3rd down efficiency. Let’s blame everyone except the QB. For your information Hofer, he leads the offense.
Broken record squaks again….
“an interception on a deep throw is just like a punt from Andy Lee”
What kind on nonsense is this?
1) Deep throws never happen on 4th down unless it’s late in a game and a team is desparate, so you’d be losing possession before your four downs are up.
2) On punts the coverage team knows where the ball will be kicked and can set themselves to cut off the angles and contain the return. On interception returns teams are out of position for coverage and a longer return is much more likely. This kills the field position game.
3)On punts you’re giving the ball to the other team because you have no other smart choice. Interceptions on deep balls just cause you to lose possession when you may have other opportunities to move the ball on your next down.
We all know you hate AS, and we all know he’s not Brady or Rodgers, but get a grip. Statements like this just make you look silly.
Red,
Can you read? Don’t respond to the post if you can’t read. The post says throwing on 3rd down, not 4th down. READ THE POST.
The point was that he’s not a threat to complete a deep ball and therefore doesn’t scare the safeties. READ the post or else you will look silly. Like you do all the time when you respond to my post. READING is fundamental. Try it calistoga!
Maybe I wasn’t clear: I wasn’t assuming you were talking about throwing on 4th down. My point there was that late in losing games is the only time most teams throw deep on 4th down. That scenario is the only time a deep throw that’s picked off is like a punt. If you throw deep and are happy to accept an INT at any other down and distance, you’re losing a down (an opportunity) to work with. Can you go into every play being scared of it happening: no. Teams need to take that risk, but to equate it to being the same as a punt is wrong.
Your point is still flawed for the reasons I outlined. Sure, throwing deep on 3rd and long and having it result in a pick isn’t the WORST thing unless it results in a huge run back/pick six, but you’re still turning the ball over on a down you don’t have to. Plus you’re putting your offense in a position where it has to play like D or special teams when the DB is returning the ball. The offensive players aren’t in position to defend the run back so the risk of a big play going the other way is huge. Also, if it’s 3rd and 15 or 20 like you say, the D is likely going to be on the lookout for that deep pass, knowing you have to go deep to move the sticks, so they will open up the underneath stuff. It’s not sexy, but with this kicking unit it’s the smarter play to go short and hope for the YAC that might give you the 1st down or a 4th and 5 or less. If you don’t get it, then you can set yourself up for either a near perfect punt, pinning them back where you want, or 3 points from your near perfect kicker.
That’s what this team is about: they’re not sexy, they work hard and play smart. I think the results speak for themselves: 13-3, a home playoff game, and a bye week. Unless you’re a Packer fan, what else could a fan ask for, especially with how horrid this team has been in recent years.
Goldson kills people dead. That is all. Need proof? Do a youtube search for Goldson hitting Mike Williams in the 49ers Bucs game this year. There have been many hits like it as well. He takes risks sometimes, but they can pay off huge. Every returning player from last year seems to have better hands this year, and Rogers apparently was never groomed to get picks, but now is our most dangerous weapon in the secondary. Sure, Brown and Spencer aren’t elite, but they are certainly not slouches. Neither is Culliver, who has a lot of potential yet untapped for future seasons. This team is primed to get even better in years to come, especially considering I didn’t expect Alex to get this good until he was in a good system for a couple of full seasons, and he’s already beyond that after just one. And if Gore gets hurt, we finally have an insurance plan in Hunter who ran for 4.7 YPC. We haven’t seen if the new Alex can go buck wild since we haven’t seen him try, so I’m excited and nervous to see what will happen when caution is thrown to the wind and he is unleashed. In summation, and to repeat an earlier point, Goldson kills people dead.
James,
Smith will never be unleashed. For him to play free like you speak, he would have to be given a free pass from Harbaugh to do so. There is no unleashing Smith. When he plays that way, he turns the ball over because his decision making is not good because his confidence is not intact. He has to believe he can throw a 20 yard out, on time to a receiver in order for him to do so. HE doesn’t even believe he can. That is why we see so many check downs. Why do we never have receivers open downfield until we absolutely have to have them. Remember the pass Ginn dropped late in thet Raven game. How many times can you remember that pass being thrown this year??? It was thrown in desperation that day. It will only be thrown in desperation. The Philly came was desperation. We still needed a strip to win that game.
Can you all say ONE AND DONE with me??
hihihihihi ..enjoy the beating by the Saints ….hiihihihihihi
Enjoy watching us in the playoffs.
Sour Raider fan??
Just sour, in general.
Must have a sticky keyboard: hihihihihih
Every computer programmer knows the ! character is the boolean NOT operator. !all = NOT all. Short for “NOT all there”. That sums up our little dweeb.
Assuming the Saints make it that far, of course.
Slightly off-topic but I just saw clips of Hue Jackson’s post-game presser. He was tossing players under the bus left and right.
Complete opposite of Harbaugh.
Quick question for all of the Smith haters. Who would you realistically rather have had play QB this year? How about next?
Smith was the best option this year. If they cannot secure Manning or Luck next year then he may be the best option again unless one of our rookies is ready to push for the job.
Flynn is a free agent. Might be worth a tryout but he’s going to get a ridiculous, Kolb-like contract. Too much risk. I think the Colts will keep Manning even if they draft Luck.
The other FA QBs are just average guys. Why replace Smith with another Smith? The 49ers will be drafting 28th at the highest so the draft is out – they already have a 2nd round QB on the roster.
Going into next year Smith is the best option unless something crazy happens. 49ers should see what he does with another year in Harbaugh’s system (and hopefully a stud WR in the draft) and continue to develop Kaep and Tolzien.
great story, Max!
very businesslike victory by the Niners. in an emotional, physical game like football, its hard to get up for every game…the playoffs will be a great test… i agree with some points above, and disagree with some others, but see no need to go negative on any player on a team which just went 13-3 and is the #2 seed in the playoffs…not all of our players are great, but together they are great judging by the category that matters most.
If the SD Chargers fire Norv Turner, do the Niners go after him for O.C.?
No
Depends on if Roman gets a HC offer somewhere. I can’t see Harbaugh firing Greg to pick up Norv. That would be a totally un-Harbaugh thing to do.
Yeah. Just asking because of our general poor RZ performance. The one thing AS has aleays been good at (as you have mentioned several times).
But JH firing the guy who helped him so much…I’m betting not.
I would rather have the continuity. Let’s see what the offense is like with a full season of OTA’s.
@txtree
The continuity thing isn’t such a concern to me because:
1. JH is the real brains on offense. So, the philosophy would not switch to such an extereme as it has for all the rest of AS’s career.
2. Turner did a good job with AS the first time around, so they know each other already.
Only issue is JH philosophy meshing with NT.
But why get rid of an OC that guided your team to 13-3?
@txtree
Well we always hear how great an OC Turner is. That he is at the very top elite level of playcallers, and GR currently is not.
Plus maybe Turner feels bad about leaving AS, and wants to finish up an incomplete job.
Note: I don’t really think this happens or JH does it. Just asking everybody to get away from the constant AS crap talk.
Don’t think that Roman will get a HC job next year, but probably after a year or two of successful seasons, and I wonder how much influence Harbaugh has the play calling. We might not need a big name like Turner.
DS,
Please turn your computer off and throw the plug in the garbage! You validate your alien claims with statements like that! Of course he would fire Roman!!! NOT. You’ve got to stop posting that garbage here. That’s just plain stupid! Fire your offensive coordinator from a 13-3 football team. That would mean another offensive coordinator for Smith???? Wouldnt that be 15 OC’s in 7 years??? Make up your
mind. You kill me! Bwahahahahaah!
23Jordan,
I think that’s the first post you’ver ever written that I agree with! Roman’s not going anywhere for a while.
Now if you could stop with the incessant and over the top Smith bashing, you’d be doing everyone on this blog a favour.
“Brown intercepted Clemens twice …” Technically he intercepted Clemens once and Norwood once (Clemens was the intended receiver on that one).
DS I think JH is loyal to his assistants and for a guy to come in a without any OTAs and not knowing his personnel he has done a good job.
Roman had the most difficult job of all the assistants. Another year and some speed at WR,look out.
For anyone to question the play calling and Smiths supposed lack of taking chances needs to look closer at the personnel on offense. You put JJones or Jennings on our team, look out.
It really sucks that AS/GR never had all their ideal starting WR in the game and in-sync all year. Not once this year did AS have a healthy MC/JM/BE/KW/TG.
Hard to place blame on anybody really. Just sucks big-time.
All the more reason why I am so excited about the future of this team (cue Empire Strikes back music).
More Alexcuses. Does the world have to be perfect for Smith? He’s an NFl QB. Just not a good one. It’s just one excuse after another one. either he can cut it or he cant. How about his strengths? What are they?? Can she make Joe Hastings a better receiver? After all, he’s been throwing to him all year in Camp Jr Game manager? What were Hastings stats today. I told you all, he’s too short to play in this offense with this QB. You need to be at least 6’5″ tall to catch that junk from Smith!!
Yawn…13-3…
Gosh 23J must be hanging out in his parents basement again.
Get out and have a breath of fresh air.
Can’t help but hate.
13-3
2nd best team record in NFL.
Proving post after post that you never have been a Niner fan.
P.S. I kept my promise. Didn’t read your post. I/Nobody needs too. We already know what you will write before you do.
DS,
You spend 24 hours a day on this blog, which proves you really are an alien. You don’t even sleep. You need the attention that badly. You post these victorious comments and continuously compare Alex Smith to Joe Montana and Steve Young. I know you are an alien because no human in their right mind would ever do that!!
I know you read my posts because you can’t help it. You read everything in this damn newspaper. You can’t help it. You don’t have a life. You need a friend. I mean a real one and not a cyber one. Anyone, maybe you should hit a bar. maybe oneniner will show up?? On second thought, if you find the right one, he might be there already!!! he’s lonely just like you!! He’s crying for attention just like you. See, you fools have something in common.
Your football knowledge is lacking. Truly lacking. It’s supposed to be. You’re an alien. I read your posts. The ones that aren’t. Too long. You are quite hilarious. In a sad way.
Remember, the great #82 , John Taylor runs out all of his routes to the end zone in practice!!! You killed me with that one, a classic!!!
that was rice who ran out the practice plays to the endzone
damnit i get it now….u were being sarcastic
Jordan 23 let’s bet about the extension for Smith, anything you want your terms if he doesn’t sign, what do you say?
Why don’t you shut your mouth. Really getting tired of the personal insults. You are a prime reason and a catalyst for many of the fights in here. Ultimately it starts fights and brings down the conversation. It’s also disrespectful to Grant. Give it a rest.
…bet if we did a poll – most would consider you a prime reason and catalyst for many fights on here….
……wanna bet?
You have to remember, hes alone. I understand his pain. We will talk about an extension when we see one. I already have a bet. How could I bet a guy and collect from a person with 6 screen names?? Lol you are killing me!
u have already stated the criteria for how u will hate upon the contract extension
Alex looked playoff ready, as did Vernon, Crabtree and Hunter. And you know Gore will be ready. Defense kind of slacked off in the 4th qtr. We’ve had trouble lately with the division tems Seattle, AZ, and now the Rams, so we’d be improve next year. Can’t wait to play New Orleans. Did you hear about that track meet between Detroit and Green Bay? Is there no (defensive) law in this land anymore?
Come on clown 23 J, let’s bet on Smiths extension big mouth?
Primeoneniertime
What will the extension be stupid? Is he the franchise QB? How many years? Why do you say 2-3 years for a 27 year old QB. He would only be 30 after it’s over. Wouldnt he be in his prime?? You don’t even believe he is the answer!!! Good because he is not!!! Why not 5 years, 6 years???????? Answer that genius!!! Why only 8 million? I thought he was a pro bowler this year and he will only get better according to the Smithers???? If so why only 8 million????
Backtracking already Jordan? You’ve been ripping this guy unmercilously all season, you’ve said repeated he won’t be back and now you’re saying if it’s only for 2-3 years it somehow means you’re right? Please tell me I’m reading this wrong because if I’m not you’ve reached a level of spin that is off the map.
Why so angry? Almost everyone agrees he will be back next year…
Rocket,
If you’d like to answer the question, be my guest? If not, just continue to be the voice of the Smithers. Youre good at that. You do it with a little class and respect. You’re out of bounds here. I’m exchanging with an alien right now. One of only 2 on this board.
Sure Jordan I’ll answer the question. My guess is he signs a 3 year deal averaging between 8-10 mill per season.
My question to you is simple: when do you admit you were wrong about all the things you predicted wouldn’t happen that are happening?
Watching NFL Network I really like Mooch. Deion not so much. Just too self serving.
+1
Have another bet 23j, your so confident it won’t happen, man up? You run your mouth lets bet and for the record this is my only screen name.
Regardless of amount and term, an extension is my prediction, stop being a chicken and bet me?
Oneprimerniner timer,
Who are you today? Too many screen names ? We will talk about a bet when we see who we are playing in the playoffs simpleton? It won’t be long. Maybe you’ll get the extension you speaks of tomorrow?
I asked you for a bet a few weeks ago, you never responded?? I’ll let YOU know if I have a wager for you, not the other way around. You’re probably an alien like your friend DS. Maybe you are DS!?!? Bwahahah!
@23jordan why don’t you bet Prime, you say all these things about Smith well maybe it is time you put your money where your mouth is. If you really believe the 49ers won’t sign Smith, I’ll take that bet too, you in?
FDM,
Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
How about a bet that Jordo can only comment on non-AS related issues FOREVER ! lol
@hof
23J said he would go away forever.
Guess what I want to happen?
DS, I’ve known Jordo for 2-3 years here. When he is not in his bitter AS mood, he posts some good reads. Just need him to change the ratio of anti-AS comments down to about 10%.
hof
I’ve read the blog for about that long as well. So I’ve read his stuff (up until now) along with you.
He used to be much more middle of the road. This year…not so much.
@Adam
The hater thing will lower in intensity next year. It’s just like when you corner a wounded animal. They get very vicious before going down. That is what is happening now.
No matter what, Niners will be favorites to win next year and be among the elite teams. No reasonable way to hate on that. Everybody knows that. lol
What more do you want from the guy? He’s already stated that he won’t comment on this blog anymore if Smith is re-signed.
I think that’s a pretty big gamble. Not sure he needs to stick his neck out any farther than that and what would be the point?
Let’s get back to football. The Smither vs. Hater thing is getting really old and is a real bummer to see every week – even after a win.
Bottom line is: 13-3, playoffs for the first time in forever! Nice New Year gift :)
Anyone heard why Gore took himself out of the game??
From some of these posts I’d swear the Niners lost if I hadn’t seen them win. The defense almost let this get away when it was already in the bag, but they won, have the second seed and two weeks to get healthy before facing the Saints most likely at the Stick. I’m reading posts saying they can’t win playing the way they are yet they’ve won 13 and been in position to win every game they played this year.
I’m also tired of reading all the negative stuff about the offense with no regard to the fact these guys have only been in this system since August. I don’t think some of you understand just how much work and repetition go into make an offense efficient and potent.
I watched Matt Flynn throw 6 TD’s today and not one of the throws was really contested or particularly difficult. He was able to do what he did because he knows every facet of that system. Knows where guys are going to be at all times. Knows how fast they’ll get in and out of a route. I’ll tell you right now, Matt Flynn is not an overly talented player. His arm is average at best, and he doesn’t run well; in other words he was a 7th round pick for a reason. However, he’s smart, has good timing and threw the ball accurately. The key is spending enough time in a system with familiar faces and getting to the point where each guy on that offense knows what the other is thinking without anything needing to be said. Watching Flynn today just convinced me even more that this team can win with Alex Smith if they let him grow in the system for a couple of years.
I wouldn’t say no to an upgrade like Manning if he ever became available, but other than that, I don’t see a better alternative to bringing Smith back, getting in a full offseason and improving from within.
…all the negativity is from 2-3 ppl……thanks for reminding us all that flynn was a 7th round pick……..and its all about growth in a system
How many reps did Flynn get with the 1st team this season before today’s game? We will stop the debate about the QB…. NEVER. just gotta enjoy the ride Rocket. It will never stop.
Jordo, is Flynn your new Kolb of this year? lol
Hofer,
I like Smith actually!! Aldon Smith, Reggie Smith, Justin Smith. Did I leave any Smith out. Oh yeah, Jr game manager Smith.
@Rocket, no offense man, but people complain about the offense because it sucks. No way to sugar coat it – the offense is the weak link on this team. Worst in the league on 3rd down. Worst in the league in the red zone. They’re doing barely enough to win and folks are worried that won’t be enough in the playoffs.
Note – I did not say Alex Smith is the weak link. The offense as a group has been pretty awful this year. I add this disclaimer so that the Smithers won’t freak out.
MSC,
I’ll say it for you. Alex Smith is the weak link. I’ll tell you why.
There was a time this year when the o line was really struggling, so the Smithers blamed the o line. Then the running game struggled before Gore ripped off those 6 100 yard games in a row. Then it was the wideouts who got the blame when Crabtree wasnt healthy, Edwards got hurt and Ginn dropped 100 (allegedly)passes and Williams needed chemistry.
Now guess who’s never gotten any of the blame???? You guessed it. The Smithers have been in denial and have been all year. He’s the leader of the offense and he controls what is done with that ball. He can hand it off, throw it or run it if nobody is open. No matter what, it is his job to make a play.
That extension has not been written because Smith is inconsistent and every executive in this leave knows it. Harbaugh has done an amazing job with Smith but even you aren’t sure about Smith yet. I’m for damn sure skeptical but you already know that.
So JH proved that we could win this division with Smith, the # 1 scoring defense and # 1 special teams, a
3rd place schedule. Nice. However, what is about to happen against the high powered offenses in the playoffs?
Hypothetically, what if we get blown by the Saints 31- 13? We get those 196 yards from Smith again. (his season avg). Then what happens?
49er offense does not suck…..they are worst in the league you stated….but also tied a NFL record today for least turnover in a season……
…A true fan will focus on the positive especially since it was this same offense that was part of the 13 wins….
msclemons,
No offense taken and the offense hasn’t been great obviously. What I’m talking about is the endless whining week after week about Smith and the redzone more than anything. We’d all love the offense to be more explosive, but as I mentioned it’s unrealistic for any of us to be complaining as much as some do on here considering the obstacles they faced.
I just shake my head at the fact some are never happy no matter what the result. The bottom line is winning games. They’ve won 13 and were in every single game they played, yet I read endless posts about how crappy the QB is and how this team can’t win in the playoffs.
After 9 years of watching lousy football, I’m quite happy with this season personally. I’d love to see them win some playoff games too, but I’m not going to bitch about a 13 win season. After what this team has been through it’s ridiculous.
@rocket
How was this grade blog material (we suck) any different from the other 15 games?
Remember TB? 48-3. Biggest win since 1987(?)
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
It wasn’t any different DS that’s the problem. 17 weeks of bitching and moaning about Alex Smith while the team won 13 games. It’s crazy.
Victor Cruz just caught a 5 yard out and ran for a 74 yrd TD, why can’t Crabtree do that? Is Cruz a better WR or is it cause Eli is a better QB that can throw. 5 yard out? It’s called SPeED, we don have any at the WR position!
MC is coming on but that is the kind of big play we have yet to see from the 9er receivers. KW has good speed but he is used in a limited basis. I agree with Grant that KW should start over TG.
next year we need to sign Vincent jackson or draft a good WR. We also need a Rb to compliment hunter and Gore. Dixon is not gonna be back.
yep. we need help at WR and more depth at RB in case Gore gets hurt. We’ll also probably bring in a #4 QB to challenge for a backup position in preseason. Another kickbut OLB would be nice too.
FDM,
Not just speed. Eli has the ability to beat you deep with any of his receivers because of his ability to throw accurately deep as well. In addition to that, he’s proven that he will beat you deep if you don’t honor the deep ball. That completely changes the defense. Defenses dont respect us like that. They know Crabtree is not a speedster. Ginn is, Williams is. The quarterbacks accuracy and guile has to be respected. Smith is a game manager whether you guys face it or not. It’s the truth. The truth is the light.
If your wideout gets behind the defense with speed or no speed and the QB misses him by overthrowing him or under throwing him, what difference does speed make? Our leading wideout has 3 touchdowns?!?! Whose fault is that. The quarterbacks!!!! He should have at least 7 or 8.
..Crabtree can……if he had another WR on the field who demand a lil attention…..the giants had 3-4 receivers on that play
he had those kind of plays when he was in college………
We dont have the receiving threats to stretch the defense like the Giants do. Nicks, Manningham, Cruz are all studs. Only receiver we comparable to any them is Crabs.
Matt Flynn anyone? hm……In a game that meant nothing for GB but everything for detroit, he throw’s 6 TDs…….Neither Favre nor Rodgers have done that…….he’s about to get paid.
Yes he is. That was one guy I had pegged in the offseason, that if the Niners felt a need to create some competition, it would be good to go after.
Every time I see that guy play, he’s pretty impressive.
I agree, pay day coming. Someone will put up the 5-year, 80-mill deal.
Seattle?
Could be. You never now. Several teams will be looking. Maybe Seattle, maybe Cleveland? I’ve heard that Miami isn’t completely sold on Moore, although… to me, he’s had a decent year.
*know
not that much money…but he’ll be somewhere else. He’ll be in like Flynn, hhahahaha couldn’t resist.
Oops, I was thinking 60 – $12 mil a year. Not sure where the 80 came from. But I’m guessing it’s $10-$12 mil a year.
Flynn looked great today, problem is it was his second career start. He’s this years Kevin Kolb. Somebody is going to pay him like and established starter out of desperation I’d guess and there’s a very real chance they’ll get burned. He could succeed, but it’s a big time risk with so little playing time.
Flynn’s price we up big today. No chance 9ers will sign him. 6 TD and 480 yards! When is the last time 9ers did this?? Stafford threw 5 TDs and 520 yards!! Something is very wrong in the NFL.
23j just man up and back up your predictions? If this were a playground you would be knocked out, if this were the business world, you would be broke, good thing for you you can trash behind your parents computer and blast what real fans truly believe in. Your sad kid.
@ 23jordan “Is it possible that we don’t have the QB, backs, receivers and offensive line to be successful in the red zone?” Thats to quote you. So pretty much from your observations its possible what we really need is 11 new offensive players in order to score from the redzone?
That was sarcasm. It seems as though we are the only playoff team who seriously has that red zone problem. We also have 1 of the 2 weakest QB’s in the playoffs. The other one gets it done in the red zone.( Tebow) What does he do???? what our QB might need to do. He takes off and does it himself.
There is no doubt we have red zone problems. To me it stems from play calling and one part or another part of the offense breaks down. We just dont have redzone problems there is a defensive problems too. I find it rather amazing that we are 13-3. One other thing is if the Giants win tonight that means we have beaten 4 of the twelve teams in the playoffs. And with a break here and their we very well could of been 16-0, a total of 18 points would of covered those three losses. Not bad for a team that most thought could only win six games this year.
Under center,
We could also be 11-5. Remember the 2 strips late by the defense. You have to remember that in the red zone, the coaches want to know what you are comfortable with as a QB when he’s asked to throw. How many fades as Smith completed? how many back shoulder fades. How many TD passes in the middle of the field thrown from the red zone into the end zone.
Our running game hasn’t been stellar there either. All I know is that Smith is not aggressive or accurAte enough with his throws in the red zone. The OC can only call what Smith feel like he can complete. Which is obviously not much. Guys here are trying to make Roman out to be Jimmy Rae. To them I say, it’s the QB stupid!! All of a sudden, Roman can’t call plays???? Question is, can those plays be executed?
Grant,
2 quick questions. How many wide receivers did the 49ers have on the roster coming out of training camp? What is Ginn’s contract status? Thank you.
Ginn is a free agent at the end of the season
I think Staley, Brooks, Synder, Rogers and Goldson are free agents next year too. We got to resign these guys!
aren’t there like 20 free agents at the end of this niner season
@23 jordan:
Regardless if we win or lose in the playoffs, an extension is happening, so put your garbage mouth on the line and make a bet? You can spin things around with others on here but enough is enough, you’ve been called out, are you gonna man up, or be a coward?
Adam you really think he is going to own up to that bet? He already welched on a bet with Claude and if you havent noticed, 23J, Bay, and MD might be the same person. Regardless, the more accountable he is with two bets, the more likely this troll will be gone, btw, mind your own business.
Nah, I’m not buying all the multiple-poster stuff (with you guys either.)
The writing styles are all different.
The bet with Claude kinda relied on subjectivity, as I recall. Does Davis run over guys or not? Correct?
Sometimes he’ll bang a guy, other times he’s easy to take down. So I don’t know, I can see both sides of that one. This pledge was pretty definitive.
Adam,
The bet was for anyone to find me a video clip of Vernon Davis running over a cornerback once in his pro career. That bet was issued at the beginning of the year. Here we are a year later and still no clip. Vernon runs away from contact and always has. He’s done it this year and was challenged by Patrick Willis to do it on sound Fx in the Ravens game and he still hasn’t done it. Ray Rice challenged him in that sound FX clip as well. I didn’t welcjph on the bet because the clip was never found. Claudes video wasn’t even close. It was sooo bad that he should have paid me for producing it!
Since that time, at least 5 posters have said the same thing about Vernon. That he doesn’t look for contact.
…i saw the clip……you did welch on the bet….
Oneniner,
Everybody up here knows that the only image you have in your head is Alex Smith. You couldn’t be objective if your life depended on it.
I’ll give you a chance. Name 3 negative aspects of Alex Smiths game? I know there’s more but I only want 3. Don’t respond to another post of mine until you can answer that question. I know it’s gonna hurt. Go put the 10 fatheads of Alex in the closet so he can’t see what you’re writing. Tell prime time to hold the door. Lol
Jordan,
The entire room knows Oneniner is trash. He even at one point made insults to your family. Why dialogue with him. He’s filth. Lonely like DS. Just ignore him. I do unless he replies to one of my threads in a disrespectful way.
Grants blog is a forum to dialogue about the team. I missed the disclaimer which states you can’t be critical about the QB’s. Yet those that defend are first to rag on Ginn. Humorous.
VD did try to run over somebody in this game….he lowered his shoulder and …..stay tuned until i see the replay…..i think he went down pretty easily
23j, we’ll see what happens in two weeks.
Yes sir we will.
23J, can stay as long as he wants (not any of our calls anyway). Love a little ‘edge’ on this site. We’re not all Alex ‘Stepford Wives” or guys.
I don’t ever recall 23J calling someone ‘a pathetic Uncle T’ and garnering a few supporters who should be ashamed for agreeing with that statement.
Really? hammering someone because he doesn’t like Alex?
C’mon, sad indeed.
AES, ha…a little edge and you give me grief regarding MC and his play! Can you say not balanced.
Hofe, you try to hide behind a ‘shroud’ when it comes to MC. At least 23J is ‘clear’ in his sentiments.
Don’t talk about ‘fair and balance’ when your sentiments about MC go back to Camp Alex II.
Your agenda has been ‘if Alex had better receivers his numbers would be much better.’ You want fair and balance? Try flipping that statement by saying if our R’cvr’ had a more accurate QB maybe they would have better numbers too. Is that fair enough Hofe?
AES, you are a turncoat. You can’t back your initial statements about AS and fold like a paper bag.
” if our R’cvr’ had a more accurate QB maybe they would have better numbers too.”……..
…are your receivers dropping any balls or they are so good they are all in the pro-bowl?
@hof
It is called consistency.
AES is trying so hard to create a Crabtree Hater crew…..or is Crabtreers…….
…..I don’t know one person on this blog that has criticized Crabtree the same way Alex has been put down …….not even close to when fans criticized Davis……..Crabtree critics do not exist…..
so please stop trying to sound balance by throwing out mis-information……nobody hates crabtree, most are still mad at him for missing training camp 2 yrs in a row……….the first TC miss cost us some games early last season……..he is redeeming himself in the eyes of those fans that expect the best from athletes……he needs to attend TC next year and I bet all will be forgiven………
Some of you hate Alex for the opportunity he has been given in life compared to yours…….you hate the fact that over and over he is been given a chance to do what he does best since he was in high school and college – which was win games…..
…and you hate him more now cuz you were wrong about him being a bust…….the truth is you are the bust……….buster!!!!!!(that was special effects. :-))
AES,
Trust me, I’ll be here long after Smith is gone. I don’t let these clowns get the best of me. I give as well as I can take and……
“We are still a QB away from a playoff win!!!”"
Jordo, yeah I guess you can hang for 10-12 years…
Bwahahahahaha!
….Bwahahahahaha!.. – …u do know is sound from a goat on its way to the slaughter house….
@oneniner
Lol. Very well done!
23j put your thumb back in your mouth, say good night to your Mommy and Daddy and give the hate a rest. In two more weeks you will be proven wrong again so to start the new year right, cork it clown!
Nothing better than seeing JJ watching the game with his ‘boys losing in his Taj Mahal. lol
My bad…in the Meadowlands. lol
Agreed Hofe, I can’t handle anything ‘cowboys’
go giants!
Is Romo choking yet?
@23j speed matter when turning something into nothing, like catching a hitch pass and turning into something. Speed matters when you get separation 10 yards from the LOS, and th QB can throw him open after that. Our WR get separation too late into the route and Smith is swarmed and either sacked or throws it away.
Now granted he makes some bad throws, who doesn’t but you make it sound like he is holding the team back. Ginn is not a starter in INdy win Wayne, Garçon and Gonzalez, that was far fetched. Besides Ginn can’t catch, Williams never got an opportunity til late, so that leaves Crabs, slow, and Morgan, slow.
You give Smith another speedster who can catch, we have a prolific passing attack. Now stop hating or just shut up!
Gonzalez ??? You’re kidding me right. Does he still play??? How did you like that 2 yard pass that Crabtree scored on today?
Prolific with a speed receiver. Do you really believe that? You have got to be kidding me. I’ve always taken you for being a little smarter than that. Smith can’t hit the side of a barn sometimes. Maybe the top of the barn but not the side of it. Do you believe he has some serious accuracy issues. Does he throw receivers open? Can. He throw a 20 yard out? Is his confidence and has his confidence been an issue in his career?
He doesn’t lack confidence in his receivers, he lacks confidence in himself! The receivers want him to throw them the ball. Hen just does not believe that he can make certain throws. It’s because he’s right, he can’t.
That was all in the past, hes now more confident, more accuarate, needs one more playmaker to be in the elite league. Stop looking backwards, look forward, how many QB’s in the league won 13 games this year? oh, thats right, it was just the Niners defense and special teams that did that. I’d like to see JH face if someone told him that.
23jordon, are you a FortyNiner fan?
Don’t ask me questions, you don’t exist up here!
Very mature…
Just wanted to know when you are going to start supporting the fortyniners. I guess you are not….
@txtree
Words are easy to say and lie about.
It is a lot harder to lie about behavior over a long period of time.
I’ll let you decide the answer to your question.
I just cannot understand some who claims to be a fan being so negative as to actually want his quarterback to fail. Alex Smith may not be the best quarterback in the league, but he is the quarterback of my tea, and I want him to win every game.
Team*
@txtree
Kinda why he has the label and respect that he does from virtually all but a handful of posters.
Okay Grant, time to tally up. What was your final record on calling winners over the season? I think today wasn’t one of your best prognostications… -L-
AES,
Would you say Alex has been less accurate this year or that the WR have dropped more passes?
..Good question …..Grown folk talk for AES..
That’s easy FDM. easily Alex has missed his receivers more than 30 times this year. That’s about how many drop the team has. No more than 35 drops.
That’s actually a recorded stat. I have the numbers prior to this game:
27 drops, 58 poor throws, 24 defensed, 10 hit at the line, 26 throwaways, 5 INTs.
Alex’s completion percentage this year was 61.4%. His lifetime completion percentage (including this year) is 58.1%. What do you mean when you say less accurate? Less accurate than what?
Hmmmm, ‘oneniner,’ Excuse me, I guess I missed somewhere that our QB is in the pro-bowl.
Go to bed son, stay out of grown folk talk.
I saw something in Crab today. He wanted more yards and he fought for them on every catch. I havnt seen much of that from him before.
Under center,
You’ve missed it then. The only thing that Crabtree has lacked in this offense is opportunities. Throw him the ball, he will catch it and run with it. He’s not a blazer but he’s a player. He s had a few drops this year but he’s also caught some bad balls fr om Smith as well. That what the Smithers don’t understand about these receivers. You can’t catch the ball when it’s not thrown to you, or thrown to you properly.
One more thing. Watch Braylon Edwards next year. He should never have come here. Receivers that want to catch lots of balls should never come here. Smith primarily throws to the intended target or he checks down. It the play isn’t designed to go to you, your not likely to get it. Braylon will eventually tell us all what happened this year with SF. Name 1000 receivers under Smith. Its not the receivers under center. Watch Braylon next year.
It’s exactly why a big name free agent wide receiver will never come here. Unless you over pay grossly.
So you guys don’t think the fact Edwards was injured, missed a bunch of games and never looked healthy played a factor at all? It was just cause Smith never looked beyond his intended target? Ok got it.
Rocket,
How many games have you attended this year? Edwards, when he suited up, ran around like everyone else on this team before games. I been to 5 of them. I’ve seen Smith 5 times a year when he’s been healthy long enough to play. I watched him miss wide open wide receivers all year last year. I’ve seen him do it this year. There are certain passes that he just won’t throw, open or not.
Bay said it best. FA is not the place to find that great receiver for this team. He does not want to play with Smith. A QB that throws for 200 yards a game???? How many of those yards go to one guy??
Harbaugh said he was going to make the wide receiver position relevant. I’m still waiting. Braylon made some real acrobatic catches of Smiths passes this year. 4 or 5 of them.
Rocket, do you believe that this offense would be structured as it is if Brady was the QB? What about Eli Manning?
Rocket, do you believe that this offense would be structured as it is if Brady was the QB? What about Eli Manning?
**************************************************
You can’t make a comparison like this Jordan. There are two very good reasons the offense is structured the way it is.
First and foremost is because this is the kind of offense Harbaugh likes. He likes to punish defenses with the ground game and beat them with playaction when they start to cheat on the run. It’s what he ran at Stanford and it’s what he’s running here.
The second reason is that the team didn’t have a chance to install the offense in the offseason. You can’t get that time back. One of the reasons the team has been successful is because they’ve kept it simple and haven’t turned the ball over. A full offseason and second year for everybody in the system and the passing game will be better next year.
If you take Brady or Manning and put them in a new offense with a new Coach and no offseason, they aren’t going to look like the Brady and Manning you are accustomed to.
>>It’s exactly why a big name free agent wide receiver will never come here. Unless you over pay grossly.
What bay and jordo have predicted this year, the exact opposite has happened.
In other words, look for the niners to clean up in FA, including WR, this offseason. What player in his right mind *wouldn’t* want to be part of the up and coming, already #2 team, in the NFL? Only players with the mindset of bay and jordo – that would seem to only be Santonio Holmes.
Another prediction by Mr. Pessimisticareafoolatic!
FDM, that would be an interesting stat. But the Alex ‘Stepford Wives’ may not like the findings.
Did I say turncoat? I’ll have to dig up some old AES posts…
AES you can run but can’t hide…….your flip flopping and inconsistent ramblings you try to pass as balance are being exposed……as nothing more than someone with no original opinion but a parasite feeding on other peoples comments…..
@oneniner
He is really going to regret saying that to me if we keep this up. lol
.. :-)
Congratulations to the team for a great season. And to the fans who stood by the team all these years.
Don’t know what you expect to find Hofe. I’ve made my feelings clear about Alex if that is what you’re refering to. Was I an Alex supporter at one time? Yes. Did I ever say I stopped being an Alex supporter? No.
I receive angst because i’m not ‘all in’ like many of you. Hey, i’m cool with that, i’ve never asked for anything on this blog. ButHofe, maybe you need to bring up past post if you’re not clear on my sentiments.
Fair enough. Just don’t say you are balanced because lately you have been anything but…
And you are balanced?
Hofe, Did I give Alex an A grade today?
What do you want AAAAAAAAAA+++++++
C’mon Hofe, I don’t understand your ‘balance’ scale?
Please help me…
Bay, are you?
AES, not about grades. Go back and read your comments on the previous blog articles. Not balanced…
Bay, I don’t pronounce myself as the “fair and balanced” poster here. AES has that moniker.
..”I receive angst because i’m not ‘all in’ like many of you”
Wrong!!! – …
…you receive angst from some cuz you make inconsistent comments about 49er players……..
……………………..cuz you decided to pick and choose which insults on the blog you feel deem as inappropriate…….turns out you never had a problem with insults from 23j, Bay and ninermd…..
..since you made that call you are no longer considered objective…….I just don’t get why you won’t come out of the closet!!!!
‘oneniner’ if you can say that you haven’t made ‘one’ bad remark towards anyone, I will apologize to you before the night is over.
Fair and balanced enough, son?
Me???…dude….I have made lots of bad, rude, terrible, horrible comments…….I am happy with who i am and ok on how most see me on here…..An Alex stalker or Alex Lover who occasionally does not give a F…. about your sensitive feelings when it comes to informal convo on the internet……..dude – I could be worse…its just that I too came from a good home and know how to tone it down…….and its not personal……..which is not a vibe i get from you……you take this blog thing personal…..
Nice try oneniner. You’re actually a misfit, who is somewhere in the middle of nowhere and is very lonely. You and DS need to hook up. You need each other. You both have issues. HOWS THAT PROBOWL THING WORKING FOR YOU AND YOUR IDOL?
@oneniner
The things that the heart of the hater club have said to myself among others are not remotely questionable about their feelings towards the one they attack.
AES was silent and to my knowledge, he never went at them for writing those things.
Then he wants to play blog-police on others. Then can’t handle the heat that comes back his way.
If I behaved like that every time somebody said something bad about me, this blog wiould be a mess.
If somebody says 1 bad thing about him, he loses his cool. I’d like to see him get tougher skin and not reply to every bad thing somebody says about him.
If everybody did that, man-o-man. For somebody who said he likes to read the banter between us all, he needs to learn to handle it better himself.
whtz up with this your B.S …Fair and balanced!!!!…I know foxnews do brainwash people but I didn’t know they were strong enough to brain-zap you with their logo…….
DS …the thing is…I do welcome those who feel they could be objective on the blog……I enjoy what i read from them….
..I know i am not here trying to be the voice of reason and I don’t pretend to…..I am very proud to wear my Alex/49er Supporter badge……especially after 7 yrs…..
..but what i cant stand is a fraud….AES is a pretender……..
@oneniner
I agree with all of that.
Well said!
AES,
I’m not all in on Alex either, just like a number of others around here. All I continue to preach is you don’t have to like the numbers, but don’t argue with the results. All season we’ve read people like Jordan say the team can’t win with the guy and all they’ve done is keep winning. There is a big difference between constructive criticism and looking for any possible way to criticize.
I wrote a post awhile back where I surmised that a few(not focusing on you just responding to this post) in here would rather be better in the stat sheets than winning games, and I’m quite certain of it now. Whether anyone thinks Smith sucks or not, the Niners have won 13 games and it’s not all because of the defense and Special teams.
I’m not an Alex Smith apologist by any means, but some people just can’t give this guy anything but grief and it’s baffling to me considering the team is doing as well as they have this year.
My sentiments exactly. It’s not so much I believe AS is the second coming as much as I can’t stand the negative comments from the overly critical.
I have to agree. The negativity and bitterness with some of this stuff is over the top. Depressing.
I don’t really understand it. 13-3, bunch of guys recognized to go to the Pro Bowl, coach of the year (most likely), maybe the comeback player of the year. Playoffs. Wait, did I just say PLAYOFFS?? Let’s rip off the Partridge Family right here: “C’mon get happy!”
Been pretty much like an early 80s game feeling. Maybe even better than that. This defense may actually be better than some of those 80s teams.
I think maybe some of this has to do with the people who were the “Young” generation. They don’t remember the time between Spurrier and DeBerg and how ugly all that was. Just as ugly, if not worse than what we just came out of.
All this stuff goes in cycles – good and bad. The sad thing is that the owners really didn’t have to let it get as bad as it did (since the Dynasty days.) They didn’t seem to care, but that’s a different topic.
Thanks Adam…
@hof
I wouldn’t mind if AS was the 2nd coming. : )
As I have stated before, I won’t bash AS as long as I see him trying his best and giving his all. I may have spent more time evaluating him if there was not so much hate for him.
But as long as there is hate,I won’t pile on. I am a Niner fan first. I don’t care to be popular. I will defend my team (players help make the team) from anything. Even other “Niner fans.”
@Adam – This defense, and definitely the special teams, probably are better than the 80′s teams; but, the 80′s teams were much better balanced. They had such prolific offenses to go with some very underrated defenses. Fans appreciate offensive football most of all. Consequently, those teams were easier to love.
Why don’t you guys just ignore the stupid comments? Seriously. How many people really say inflammatory s$%& on this blog? 1-2? IGNORE them. It’s not that hard. People say they don’t like the negative comments about Smith and that they are about the “team” yet they will throw every other player on the team under the bus in defense of Smith. It happens all day, every day. I see absolutely no difference between that behavior and Jordans. It’s over the top either way.
….Why does VD always jump to the ball?……it prevents those easy YAC…..
….
including the one j23 says should have been a TD if AS had thrown it better
Wow, really Jordan 23? You say a lot of ridiculous crap, and the worst part is that I think you actually believe what you’re saying. It embarasses me as a fellow 49er fan that someone can be so clueless.
I think you really just need to take a time out for a while. Step back from the keyboard and give it a rest. I think I speak for the whole blog when I say that were all sick of having to skip over your posts. Its all the same hateful repetitive baloney; seen one Jordan 23 post, seen ‘em all. And each one stinks of BS as much as the next one.
@BayArea
I am an expert at skipping his stupid hateful and offensive posts. Lessons are $100/year. Bargain price since he “promised” to leave.
But I am all for him/it to to take your advice. Very sound.
I am upset that such an entity claims to love the same thing as I do with all my heart.
It may make you question yourself until you see it is a fake.
You are quite weird as well as very uninformed. Don’t know football, don’t have friends, don’t get sleep, don’t have a life. You kill me! You do make friends here though. I gotta give you that. Well I guess you should, you do post 24 hours a day. You’re like a 7-11. You don’t close. Very good.
Fan,
You’re not doing a good job of ignoring my posts because you’re reading them now. I tell you I have more groupies than alex Smith. You are one of them as well. You think I’m blowing smoke. You need to keep it moving. You couldn’t possibly speak for anyone because you don’t have a voice. Your moniker says that you are a fan, a follower. You don’t have a voice so back to the kids table when you see grown folks commenting. If you have something football to say fanatic, say it. If not, go to sleep. It’s getting late.
So that is it? You want groupies?
Are we betting or not? tell everyone now if your in or if your a coward?
Txtree49er, Ill give him credit (23j) says just enough to convince us that he is a 49er fan but when someone takes it to the next level like he does with the constant hate on alex, its pretty clear he wants to get a rise out of people and is just trolling. so, I personally think he is not a 49er fans so thats why I pick on him as much as I can.
Best to ignore him, I wont cause I have this obsession with defending anyone that hates on my team like he does.
‘onewhiner’ I thought you went to bed already son. Time for you to get tucked in and have your nightly dream of you and Alex running on the beach like Rocky and Apollo Creed in Rocky III.
Nitynite son.
…is this all you got?…….you sound tired…..i totally got you off your game……damn dude….really?….this is your response to all we have been going back and forth about?
The 9ers could use a player like Cruz…ball is under thrown and he adjusts to the ball and makes the catch.
@hof
Both teams have multiple WR’s like that.
I think it helps to make a QB look better than he is. You?
thnx niners for giving the fans a great ride of a season….u showed this fan a good time….
now the playoffs are all yours…..play it for yourselves and each other….
Amen, brother.
So here’s what I’m hoping for:
Lions beat the Saints, Falcons beat the Giants.
We’d get the Falcons in two weeks, Lions would have to travel to Lambeau and maybe Suh could “accidentally” fall on Aaron Rodgers. Just a sprain mind you, nothing too serious. Gotta look out for my homeboy – sorta. :P
That sounds decent but we owe the Saints. We beat the Saints and Im thinking superbowl.. To be the best, you gotta beat the best and right now no team is playing better than the Saints.
The reason I am optimistic: NO defense wont stop Frank Gore and Hunter, our coaches will game plan over the next two weeks and these guys are legit coaches, and whoever comes out wildcard weekend will be limping and well be healthy and ready to go.
Yeah, we owe the Saints but, to be honest, Drew Brees scares the BeJesus out of me. That dude is on a whole other plane of existence.
Granted we have homefield advantage and they tend to score about 20 points less out of the dome, but still… Our defense will have to really being their A game – we slipped in this one today.
Our O-line is also going to have to step way up against the Saints. We can’t do what we did in pre-season and even as late as the Cards game and expect to win. I watched a little of Brady today, guy has like 5 years back there in the pocket to work. Wish we had that right now. O-line is always the last to come together.
Anyway, yeah, we do owe the Saints and a bunch of said in pre-season, “we’ll see Sean Payton again.”
But ‘d be a bit less nervous if it was the Falcons coming in. Gotta admit it.
@Adam
True.
But the NO team had better bring their A game as well.
My theory is that the big plays offenses make are more than not a resultof poor defensive plays (breakdowns, slips, bad tackling) than most people want to realize.
We’ll find out either way (NO or Atlanta).
Maybe they are just good. Damn good. Historically good. Give credit where credit is due, these guys have elevated the QB position.
Second thing would be: the wildcard teams beat the dog poo out of each other, regardless of who wins.
The third thing is: Vernon! Quit with the body catches and leaping in the air. http://static.nfl.com/static/content/public/image/getty/2012/09000d5d8259f64f_gallery_600.jpg
C’mon, Mang!
Adam, nice post. Drew Brees is playing amazing football right now and he is just crazy good so we have to be able to put pressure on him in order to have a chance to win.
Also i completely agree with you about VD. When i wathced him leap in the air to catch the ball, i was just thinking it would have been great if he could catch the ball with his hands so he could run for a TD. Go Niners
I want New Orleans. No one on here seems to have paid attention to how poorly they play away from home and especially on grass. Shoot they lost to the Rams, and almost got beat by the Titans. Even last year at the beginning of the year when the 9ers were playing awful it took a last second field goal to win.
Respect all opponents. Fear none.
If it wasnt for that botched punt last year against the Saints, we win that game. Our defense is much better and we will knock Brees around. Today Fangio showed a glimpse of his blitz package and they knocked out Clemons.
Wasn’t there also a shotgun center snap over AS’s head for a safety in the NO game, last year?
Perfect day! 49ers win, the raiders and cowboys lose and ‘onewhiner’ and his shadow DS are babbling themselves to sleep.
I dare you to find where I gave myself the blog police and fair and balance titles?
Since you guys pride yourselves on facts bring it on!
Have a good night flippy flopper!
Not to get too off topic (I’m assuming, from reading….er, mostly skipping past.. the juvenile nonsense over who said what about the QB that the topic is “Insult each other and try to rain on the playoff parade”), but…
I think Grant graded the entire defence too highly. They’ll need to play a lot better than that in 2 weeks. If Jackson didn’t get hematoma’d by Goldson, he’d have had a huge day. Clemons looked like he should have been in the pro-bowl discussion. Yuck.
Crabtree is a stud, showing why he was a consensus blue-chip draft prospect.
O-line (run game, specifically) isn’t looking too good. It was hard for me to tell what the rams were doing on D, (were they keying on the run?) but our rushing attack needs to pick it up. It’s been struggling for a few weeks now.
My best friend is a HUGE Saints fan, I’ll be likely making the 3 hr drive to his place in 2 weeks. I’ve thought about cheering for detroit next week, but I hate schwartz so much, I just can’t.
And, finally, cuz I can’t help it, I’ve got to wade into the Smith morass. He’s been amazing in not turning the ball over. I don’t know the stats, but he’s gotta be near some sort of turnover record for QB’s who started all 16 games over the last 30 years (someone, please look that up!). In all other aspects, he’s been ‘meh’. I’d like to see the coaches rely on his arm (and head) more often, especially considering the running game is simply not dominant enough for our current philosophy. Maybe as Harbaugh evolves, he’ll open up the passing game (I’m pretty confident Smith’s gonna be our man for the next few years).
“O-line (run game, specifically) isn’t looking too good.”
Their pass protection is suspect too. Pressure on the QB is what will determine how far the Niners go in the playoffs on both sides of the ball. The play of the O-line has to improve because they’re not really good in either the run or pass right now. Sure don’t want to see a repeat of the jailbreak pass rush on Alex the Saints had in that 1st preseason game since it looks like the Saints coming here. Would love to see a smug Sean Payton and crew end the season with a loss from the NFC West for the 2nd year in a row.
Not sure what the record is pertaining to Smith but according to Maiocco: The 49ers finished with a plus-28 turnover margin, tied for second-best margin in the NFL for a single season since 1970.
Oops, pulled the trigger to early on that one.
Matt has a review of the season (including records): http://www.csnbayarea.com/blog/niners-talk/post/49ers-enter-NFL-record-book?blockID=623178&feedID=2800
Prime Time, last time I looked this was the “Inside the 49ers” blog. You and your co-horts have tried to make it an “Alex Smith” blog. As soon as anyone has any critique of your boy, you guys get your panties in a bunch.
Hofe and I, were bantering today (which we’ve done before) and then your ‘clone’ buddy ‘oneniner’ swooped in with his ‘robin’ crusader partner DS.
When I ‘volly’ back at them for making their weak remarks, they say I take this blog seriously and i’m sensitive (all this while I was doing my ‘salsa’ dance ala Victor Cruz after the cowboys lost).
You guys are ‘clowns’ Prime, and cheapshot makes you the clown-ring leader. Your Alex ‘Wally World’ just isn’t mine. Get over it bud, i’m sure you’ll be ok.
You made some stupid remarks to me that were not remotely true, and you’ll get hammered for it.
Had you never done that and shut your trap, well…this probably never happens. You made your bed. Now “lie” in it.
You said you wanted to “banter”, well here it is. A public blog means you banter withne,you banter with all. I warned you of this when you once liked me. You said you like it. And I didn’t see Prime, one, myself, hof go over the line with you, so why aren’t you having fun with it all.
Just be careful what you wish for. Don’t put your hands down too many cookie-jars least you want to lose your hand. : )
DS, suddenly I feel I need to take a ‘hot shower’ after reading your threats.
Let it go DS, just let it go…
By the way, there are some FCC laws you may be violating here. Just keep it about football.
What happened to not reading my posts?
You clearly read mine by replying. Don’t worry I didn’t read yours as I promised. Bettter for all of us anyway.
Have a nice day.
AES,
These clowns are obsessed and in love with Smith. DS is an idiot. You can’t stop it from posting about you. It does it all the time. It can’t help it. This clown will put your name in every post it writes. Prime is a joke. Talks shi- and slings mud all day then wants to talk serious football with you at days end. Hes really oneniner anyway and everyone knows that oneniner is troubled and would’ve been banned from this blog long ago if Grant had a way of doing so.
DS is lonely and it is enjoying your argument with it. Leave it alone and it might go away. I’m sure it(DS) is seething right now having to read about the ever popular 49erGirl. Funny, an alien on fire!!!!
No we don’t want the Saints. We should have beat them last year, but this year Brees is playing out if this world.
I’m an Alex smith supporter. I trust JH to make the right off season decision. I just miss having an offensive juggernaut. A steam rolling O. I say we take a look at Flynn in the off season. If you watched the highlights today, he made all the throws and has had good QB coaching under McCarthy and sitting behind Rodgers. He is still a pure element from the ground that hasn’t been corroded. As much a’s I like AS, it might be time to move on. Only because a Better opportunity has arisen.
Now maybe we give AS a whole off season under JH to see what he can do but that would mean signing him to a long term deal to prove our real support for him. Do we want to do that?
Not to quibble, but I think we’ve got some pretty good talent on the roster already. Alex will get better but will never be Marino; ok.
CK & ST are, imho, intriguing prospects. If the 49ers re-sign Alex and stand pat with CK & ST I’ll be totally satisfied for 2012.
@brotha
JM had no chance to be Marino either (or to beat him).
I’ve said all year that AS can’t try or worry to be like JM. Just like SY had to stop trying to be JM. AS needs to be AS. Screw trying to be like somebody else. It’s hard enough for many people to be themselves, much less somebody else.
O.k, but we do need a couple of Wr’s, sign one and draft the other, a RB, a JH Tight end, safety, cb, OL ( athletic tackle that can play guard).
Big Niner, Flynn played like a starter. He just insured himself a big paycheck during free agency.
The concern with throwing money at a backup with limited playing time is you may end up with Rob Johnson. Thankfully, that is neither here nor there for the Niners this season. Looking forward to a meaningful Niner game in January.
Big Niner,
I’m sure you know my take on Smuth. Back in the day, Eddie D. Would make sure Walsh had the green light to get tge players we needed to deal with the cowboys. After that, our focus was the Packers.
After this season, I feel like we need to upgrade the QB position to deal with other NFL offenses in this conference. Our QB does not have to be elite but he needs to be better than what we have. He needs to be able to get the ball to the playmakers. We see guys like Antonio Gates and Jason Wiiten always open. They are slow as hell! However, the QB gets the ball to them in the red Zone. Our QB is too busy worrying about throwing a pick down there and our coaching staff is too. That’s why the play calling is so vanilla there. Hate Smith??? Not me. I just want a better player at QB. A playmaker, not a game manager.
Sounds to me like your doubting Harbaugh?
“Our QB is too busy worrying about throwing a pick down there and our coaching staff is too”
Ever stop to think that winning 13 games means your doing something right? Of course not cause you dont think, you just pop off with any real thought process.
Of course, the two tight ends you mentioned are now done playing for the year. It’s a shame if you’ve spent this great season complaining about Smith and not enjoying a very surprising run.
We should all be drunk now celebrating the New Year and 13-3! Any playoff wins are a bonus. It’s been a looooooooooooooooong time.
DS, didn’t you recently say that you don’t read my posts? And didn’t we come to an understanding that you would no longer reference my name?
Why do you persist?
And now you add a threat?
Who is being sensitive now?
Sorry to many questions for one night. Sleep on it if you have to.
I bid you adieu..
Can you do the same? Not mentioning me?
Good-night.
Are you threatened by the idea that there may be a cookie monster in a cookie jar?
:- )
First round bye week! Let’s hope our D shows up our first game! I’m sure JH and staff will have this team ready! Can’t wait! Its been a long time guys let’s hope things go well!
Just saw Dixon on Comcast. That cat seriously looks homeless.
Bay,
Man needs to cut his hair. Tell me what your thinking is about this offense now. Even if Ginn and Williams come back, I’m still concerned about this offense. I’m definitely not impressed.
Again, there is a reason why your new name is Mr. Pessimistic, 9 out of 10 blog enties is either critisizing a player or another blogger. Dude, you need to cheer up even if your entries are just jokes, there is a pattern developing with you. Cheer up up man, I hear the clown 23J does private shows for guys like you.
Prime you’ve made every dialogue with me personal. I’ve asked you to stop and you haven’t. Here’s some honest. I think you are a piece of $hit. The only person I dislike more than you is your mother. Simply because she gave birth to you. There now we know where we stand.
Mother jokes now? Wow, you really are a child in a pessimistic body. Its only personal cause you cant admit that you have been wrong about Smith since day one. Your opinion on him is so biased its almost up your a$$ and back again.
Stop the hating and just admit that the Harbaugh way and his offense is killing you cause you prefer the long ball attack and its killing you to see the 49ers in the ground and pound approach.
If you were a real fan you would just buy in, not because its the right thing to do, but because its won us 13 games. Stubborness and ego my friend will lead you towards an unhappy life!
“The only person I dislike more than you is your mother. Simply because she gave birth to you.”
..dude…now you are crossing the line…..
@prime/oneniner
Bay is truly the #1 hater.
Prime didn’t attack bay at all. And, bay replies like this.
Somebody has a pathetic life and needs to think about changing it.
If AES is around and wants to man up regarding calling hurtful posters, this would be a good time. Not holding my breath for that though.
Not a single putdown from prime (a little name calling in jest does not count). And somehow Primes mother gets involved. Judging by bays replies in many of his posts I wonder how his relationship with his mother must have been.
DS is that your nerdy slumdog millionaire view on the situation?
Ok so another question. Do we sign TO now? since our WR crew didn’t accomplish anything, except for crabs?
Curious to see what our staff does..
I am not so down on the D as some of the people commenting here. Steven Jackson is a great player and he seemed to be always picking up an extra five yards after being tackled. They put good pressure on the QB and pretty much had the Rams stymied until a couple of bad plays in the 4th quarter. These guys are human, and they probably started relaxing a bit when the game seemed in hand. They won’t let it happen in the playoffs. Guaranteed.
The Saints have nobody like a Steven Jackson. Their best back, Ingram is out for the season. I am not worried about Sproles or Pierre Thomas. The key is to put a good pass rush on Brees and jam their receivers at the line as much as possible. I am worried about Graham. We have been burned by the tight end a few times this year, but I am sure Harbaugh and Fangio will find figure out a way to shut down the Brees to Graham connection.
In the preseason game (seems a lifetime ago) the Saints blitzed Alex constantly, and the O-line was not prepared to deal with it. No way they get away with it now. I believe Harbaugh will put in a couple of new offensive wrinkles and the Niners will put up at least 27 points. Should be just enough to win.
Of course, there is still a chance that Detroit will upset the Saints and we will have the Falcons here, but I doubt it. Detroit does not play any D, and the Saints will crush them at home.
On a side note, I see a lot of people are ready to put Flynn in the HOF based on one game. Calm down fellas, Detroit is a putrid defensive team. Flynn has been a career backup for a reason. I don’t care what Flynn did against the Detroit D. What I saw was a Packer defense beset with injuries and ready to be taken down in the playoffs. I am beginning to think either Atlanta or the NY Giants could upset the Packers in the first round and we may get the NFC championship game right here on the soggy sod of good old Candlestick.
@Rick
Very good post!
Nobody here cares about how the Pack gave up so many points at home. Nope. From the so called experts on this blog the QB and offense win games. D and Special teams just go along with it.
DS ,
Your foot is in your mouth again. The Pavkers rested as many starters as they could on offense and defense yesterday. NObody is talking about that because we are all football savvy enough to know what I keep telling you that you don’t. You don’t know football. You should read the blog and not comment. You’re in over your head. Just say hi to people and add good post here and there. No comments from you in 2012. Once again, you are killing me! Lol
>>No comments from you in 2012
Heh, pretty big talk from someone who will *not* be here in 2012. Don’t tell us you are going to welch on that vow, eh Jordo?
DS is the main character in The Crying Game. Jordan quit responding to him. If he keeps piping up we’ll beam 49erGirl onto his ship to slap him around.
Let’s enjoy the playoffs and talk about team upgrades after the playoffs are over.
BTW dont you think Gore is done?
Bay, don’t worry, Jordan will quit responding to everyone here soon. As they say – words, even blog posting vows, have consequences.
Now Gore is done? He had 7 carries yesterday and they are clearly resting him for the playoffs when he will torch NO, DET, ATL or the Giants defense. Playoffs for the 49ers will be jr.game manager giving it to Gore and Hunter and pouding it repeatedely. You might not want to watch cause you prefer the long bomb passing game which the 49ers do not employ.
But once again, Mr. Pessimistic bringing negativity to the table, classic hater!
You know that the 9ers have some sneaky/cute plays that will help move the chains. Like te shifts to get the offsides
by the way, if you get a chance, check out the block that Gore makes on the play where Alex scrambles in for a TD…i only got to see the replay once back here, but its quite a play.
Fesnyc,
Both he and Justin Peele made great blocks at the goal line in that play. It almost looked like a designed play, the blocking was so good from those 2.
agree.
I give an A+ to the Rams. For beating the Saints earlier this season, paving the way for our #2 seeding.
Oh BTW, who was playing QB for the Saints the day they were beaten by a 2-14 team? The same one some have said we have no chance against?
Also the same QB who lost in Seattle in last years guaranteed win, Saints wild card playoff game. One of the many great things about the NFL is that anything can happen. Brees is a great QB but the game still has to be played.
@ribico
Why of course. Those are also the same ones who I rely on for financial advice. Don’t you?
Neither the PD (And who has more Democrats as fans then the Raiders?) or BANG carry a Raider blog like this. Only that scum SF Gate does. Vic Tafur is ok,but he works for the devil as I’m sure he hears it all the time from his editor on how to make nobody get upset…uh,the franchises that is.
The 49ers? They just let way up on the Rams at the end. If they had needed 50 points to make the playoffs as a criteria,they WOULD HAVE.
I doubt the Rams even think they are almost equals…
Our team is in the playoffs,we are division champs,we have a chance at the big prize.Anybody here happy about that -I (sure the heck) am!
Funny-but along the Rose parade route ALL the cute young woman were wearing Chuck Taylor type tennis shoes…no more white Nike’s as the required look in my day. Just stood out in red too…
btw,I wouldnt say Gore is done-but I shipped you not about Russell,about Lincecum,about Huff…and those franchises eventually admitted I was right.
And Gore’s hip isnt going to take a full season of a beating. He’s got some gas and much determination..he must hurt like hell..but unlike McFadden,Frank must feel a urge,need, to earn what he gets.
But,nature can’t be denied..a low pain is the worst pain. There is a good reason why a broken hip can kill the old.
Gee,that was too truthful..
i have a question that was posed by a co-worker:”it new opleans win and play the niners,couldnt the groundskeeper make the field a little muddy?’ my respose was that he had been watching too many buffalo wild wing ads.after further thought.wouldnt that be against nfl policy or could they do that and get away with it? i doubt it but as crazy as it seems ,the boston celtics of old would cut off the heat or have no hot water for showers.
Reminds me of the game in New England in the 80′s when the Pats grounds crew came out and swept an area for the holder when they kicked a field goal.
@Sean
I think they actually made it a rule where that would not be allowed after that Pats game.
yea,i forgot about that.cant remember the caoshes name but didnt he come from smu after all the pay for play scandal?
>>too many buffalo wild wing ads
Too many of those ads or too many of those programs on the NFL network about Al Davis.
No, we don’t need tricks like that, Saints will have their hands full as it is.
I think Lowell’s column was correct on Hue. Like Sing,he was drunk with the power-the prestige. It took more of their time to revel in then that time was spent hitting the books. Flashy suits,pedicures, what REAL football coach cares about that stuff?..Its like Ryan in NY..he’s advertising on porn sites,then blames his QB!
Modesty in wealth or power has died as an American virtue. Check Monta’s earrings..jeez,no shame in a bad economy to flaunt.
The schedule next year looks a lot tougher than this year…
Home:
Arizona
St. Louis
Seattle
Chicago
Detroit
Buffalo
Miami
N.Y. Giants
Away:
Arizona
St. Louis
Seattle
Green Bay
Minnesota
New England
New York Jets
New Orleans
Medic, we have a 2012 schedule discussion thread going on in the Ode to 49erGirl page.
There are those that think the Niners can solve their current (notice the word current as in not always) red zone problems by having the quarterback run more as they get closer to the end zone.
I can remember a lot of great running quarterbacks that had a lot of success but also had their seasons cut short. Montana and Young both added a great “extra” dimension to their respective offensives by being able to run with intelligence.
Maybe Young wasn’t always smart about when to run but he was exciting. Unfortunately I remember one season that lost it’s great ending because Young ran when he really didn’t have to. The playoff game was against Detroit at Candlestick and the winner was set to play Green Bay for the NFC championship the next week.
It was late in the fourth quarter and the Niners were ahead 7-0 and Young plowed into the end zone from a few yards out. A linebacker plowed into Young and broke some of his ribs. Taking the field goal would have left the Niners at 10-0 in a game they won 14-0. Young tried to play the next week but he wasn’t effective.
Another Super Bowl missed. Heavy duty running quarterbacks seem to miss more Super Bowls that smart running quarterbacks. It’s another aspect of the one and out syndrome — one hit and out.
For someone who started with the Niners in 1946, the unexpected great years have been a lot more fun than the years when anything less than winning the Super Bowl was a failure.
Enjoy.
Some serious emotional problem’s with people on this blog. On some site’s I would hate it when a moderator would interfere but this is one time I would welcome the input from one. It’s just football FCS and the personal insults show a lack of common courtesy to others that detracts from the reason we enjoy sports. Give it a rest. A person can have a opinion w/o the need for insults from others.
Totally agree GhostRider, but if give your own personal opinion, and even the slightest critique (especially if it involves Alex Smith), you be labeled a ‘hater’ and become a target as well. Stay here long enough and you’ll see what i’m talking about.
*you