We’ve broken down the Niners matchups with the Green Bay Packers and the Seattle Seahawks. Now let’s break down their matchup with another rival – the Arizona Cardinals.
49ERS DEFENSE VS. CARDINALS OFFENSE: The Niners pass rush is young, excellent and improving, and the Cardinals pass protection is no good. They gave up 52 sacks last season, 2nd worst in the NFL. They gave up four to the Niners – they might give up eight to them next season. LT Levi Brown shouldn’t even be a left tackle. He should be a right tackle or a guard. He won’t be able to block Aldon Smith next season.
WR Larry Fitzgerald is one of the top-10 players in football, and he’s probably going to score at least one TD every season against the Niners, but it will be tough for the Cardinals quarterback, whoever that may be – Kevin Kolb or John Skelton – to buy enough time get Fitzgerald or any receiver the ball downfield against San Francisco. This matchup is a clear advantage for the 49ers.
49ERS OFFENSE VS. CARDINALS DEFENSE: Alex Smith turned in two of his worst performances against Arizona’s defense last season. His QB rating against them was roughly 70 and his completion percentage was about 50, far below his season averages (90 QB rating, 60 percent completions).
Arizona blitzes and gets a lot of pressure on quarterbacks – they were tied for seventh in sacks last season (42) with the 49ers and Cowboys. They don’t just attack the left tackle, they attack from everywhere with middle linebackers and safeties and corners. They identify the weak spot in the offensive line and exploit it. Against the Niners they blitzed right up the middle and sacked Smith five times in the second game. They’re going to blitz the Niners next season, too, until Alex Smith makes them pay for it.
Here’s a stat I bet you didn’t know about the Cardinals defense: It ranked No. 1 in the NFL last season in opponents’ third down conversion percentage (31.42). To put that in perspective, the Niners defense ranked 11th in the league with a 35.06 opponents’ third down conversion rate. When the Cardinals’ defense knows an offense is passing, they become elite.
But here’s the rub: They can’t force offenses to be one-dimensional because they’re not good at stopping the run. They ranked 21st against it last season. They also ranked 18th in first downs per play. So you can move the chains against the Cardinals, just not on third down. You need a balanced offense. You need to commit to your running game.
Frank Gore averaged 4.7 yards on 34 carries against the Cardinals last season. If he’s healthy enough to carry about 20 times a game against the Cardinals next season, the Niners should win both games. If he isn’t healthy, the Niners have big a problem, because neither Brandon Jacobs nor Kendall Hunter ran well against Arizona last season – each guy averaged less than three yards per carry. When the Cardinals beat the Niners last season, Gore only rushed 10 times. Smith passed 37 times, got sacked 5 times and the Niners lost. Gore is the x-factor in this matchup. If he’s healthy, the edge goes to the Niners. If he isn’t healthy, the edge goes to the Cardinals, especially when they play in Arizona.
49ers RSS feed
Loading ...
Great analysis on this one Grant. IMHO, the difference for the Cardinals in the 2nd game last year was that Skelton was able to step up in the pocket and make plays on the 9er defense. In the first game, Skelton did not avoid the rush as well and the 9ers defense shut everything down. I would say the 9er pass rush will be the deciding factor against the Cards.
Calling Gore the difference maker should cause quite a bit of concern for all 9er fans. I am a huge Gore fan but he’s on the back end of his career and I expect he will start missing more and more time with injuries. JH will need to develop viable options for the inside run plays. Jacobs most certainly is not the answer.
Good point about Skelton. The Niners D should be able to adjust to him this season. That game where he stepped up in the pocket and beat the Niners, his QB rating was 106.5. His second best QB rating in an NFL game was 85.7 against St. Louis last season. His career QB rating is 66.9.
I agree with you, Grant. The Cardinals beating the 49ers in Phoenix last year was a prayer win for them.
Pretty much everything that could go wrong for the 49ers, did go wrong for them. Smith and the Oline had a bad day, the defense gave up several big plays and Skelton was very un-Skelton-like.
That loss to Arizona was all on the failures of the offense. The defense gave them the ball 2 times inside the Arizona 20 on turnovers and they get 6 points. Add in the other first half possession where they took over possession at the 43, and the offense gets only 9 points. Terrible, any way you slice it.
These 2 games will all come down to how the 49er offense performs, because the defense will dominate.
Greg Roman deserves a lot of the blame for the offense’s poor performance in that loss. He didn’t call a balanced game. He played right into the Cardinals hands. Gore gained 72 yards on 10 carries. If he’d gotten another 10 carries, the Niners probably would have won, but that’s just my speculation.
Grant, the reason that Gore only got 10 carries in that game was because he was dinged and took himself out.
Harbaugh, Roman and everyone involved with the offense deserves the blame for that loss. Great field position in the first half and they only get 6 points. Then they come out in the 2nd half and put up 6 straight 3 and outs to finish the game.
This game, just like the NFC Championship showed how much this team relied on it’s D to carry the day.
Can’t argue.
“Greg Roman deserves a lot of the blame for the offense’s poor performance in that loss.”
I put GR in the same bucket as AS, they both need talented playmakers (in addition to VD) on offense to support their game to the next level.
Grant,
That’s what happens when you lean on the passing game without a viable passer. Harbaugh and Roman tried to gradually integrate the passing game into the offense as the season progressed. Harbaugh hadn’t given Smith enough votes of confidence for Smith to be chucking it around the field like he was in that Cardnal game . Did the same thing in the NFC championship game . Calling one a pro bowler and elite and clutch does not make him so. He has to do it on the field. Why dent JH call Patrick Willis elite?? Because Patrick Willis knows he’s elite. He doesn’t need a pat on the butt and a vote of confidence!!
The passing game did not progress with the running game last year, even before the injuries to Edwards and Ginn, they were moving the chains in the air!
@Jack
Didnt the Niners defense make a couple of blunders in the one they lost? Didnt Goldson make a mistake in coverage? It wasn’t all on the offense. And yes the offense could of and should of picked it up when the chances were there. The play calling was bland not only in the Cardinals game but others as well.
Grant your right the Cardinals defense is going to be tuff. Cant over state that. The NFC west as a whole is going to be very tough defensively.
undercenter,
The offense was given the ball 1st and goal on the AZ 4 yard line and got -1 yds then kicked a field goal. Then they are given the ball on the AZ 16, gain 12 yds and another FG. Good offenses will score a TD on at least one of those 2 possessions.
And yes the defense struggled on 2 possessions in the second half. They were on the field for all but 19 plays over the final 30 minutes. Even the best defense will eventually break down.
Undercenter I was at that game. If I recall correctly the Niners should have won that game 35-7. They should have put them away. Smith got the ball 4 times in the red zone and came away with field goals every time.
One time Ginn returned one to the 3 yard line. First and goal at the 3 and couldn’t get in. This is the kind of game where the defense needed help and the conservative game manager gave zero help. I think I saw two or three turnovers handed to the offense by the defense too.
Now a trend that continued all season, this was also the game where Andy Lee threw a fake punt touchdown to a lineman and the refs blew the call. All in all, I know I am beating a dead horse but Smith has to fix “his” redzone and 3rd down conversion issues. I’m sick of watching mediocrity in this area of his game.
Not disputing the offense blunders, thats a given, and they should of scored 14 pts not six not ten. I thought it was more of mis playing then the defense breaking down. Your right if defense is on the field a lot, they will yield yardage and points. I just like to make sure the reasons for the loss is recognized as reasons can be fixed but excuses can not.
@lameareafanatic, beating a dead horse? Dude that horse has been to hell, heaven, earth and around the universe a million times. You have beat that horse to death that I think it might finally be extinct. It can’t get beaten any worse from a supposed fan like you!
Prime…..It may be beatin to death, but it still is true.
MD 3rd conversions and redzone were so last years problem, what does it matter now and why even make a debate about it. The Niners will have new personnel this year to rectify it. Saying its an issue Smith cannnot or will not overcome is classic hater mentality dont you think?
Grant, good read. What I’d like to see more of is the “fudge factor”. You didn’t include any projections on how the upgraded offense would perform and how GR would use this new talent in key matchups against, for instance, the Cardinal pass rush. We know this upgraded offense is a work in progress, but I know you are creative and can think of specific scenarios (such as formations) to build your use case example. Just a thought…
Fair point. I didn’t include the new talent in this analysis because in my opinion the mathcup between the Niners offense and the Cardinals defense comes down to the trenches – The Niners need to be able to run the ball and pass protect. That’s the difference in the game. If Alex Boone can’t pull his weight at right guard, the Cardinals will exploit him and Alex Smith will not be able to get the ball to Moss or Manningham.
Could a checkdown pass to A.J. Jenkins on a crossing hot route be a good play on third down for Alex Smith and the Niners? Sure, but Crabtree’s going to be the slot receiver on third downs this season, not Jenkins. Jenkins will be on the bench. Is a check down to Crabtree a good play on third down?
why do you believe Crabtree will be the slot receiver this season? Jenkins has slot receiver written all over him. I think Crabs sticks at Flanker. Moss or Manningham at Split End. Maybe Manningham or Jenkins in the slot.
….From OTA – Jenkins is learning all three receiver positions.
Grant
Another equally correct way of putting it is to say that the Niners playmakers last year didn’t give anybody a reason to worry about getting the ball if the blitz didn’t get to AS.
This year, there will be.
There was Vernon Davis.
Just Davis, Grant thats not enough and you know that. DS is right we appear to have many more weapons this year. In fact lots on the offense should change for the good for having more weapons.
Neither Moss nor Manningham run routes over the middle much – do you think they’ll improve the offense’s third down efficiency?
Grant
For just about the whole regular season, Davis really stank. He was dropping sure TD’s (Cleveland game wide open perfect pass and drops a TD), getting caught from behind, not breaking tackles and had a weird habit of jumping on passes that didn’t require it, resulting in no YAC or incompletions. MC in the regular season was a lot better, but he didn’t scare anybody either. Then came the playoffs. If VD plays like that in the regular season, you’ll get your 25 TD’s from AS.
Davis made a big play in that game, a reception that took the ball inside the 20. The resulting red zone possession was another FG. This offense was atrocious in the red zone all season and it cost them this game plain and simple.
Believe it or not, Arizona had the No. 2 red zone defense in the NFL last season, allowing TDs just 39.66 percent of the time. The Niners red zone D ranked fourth.
The Cardinals defense really is a killer matchup for Alex Smith’s passing attack because they’re elite on third down and in the red zone.
Nobody feared or doubled covered an overweight Crabtree. Nobody game planned against Josh Morgan. It was stop the run and limit Vernon, otherwise well take our chances with Williams, and a banged up Braylon and Delanie Walker.
No DC was up all night figuring out how to stop that arsenal of weopons.
“Neither Moss nor Manningham run routes over the middle much”
This is past tense. I will bet you that this changes in JH’s offense. He will make it happen. Why? It’s all about the team, the team, and the team (seems like I’m watching the movie MacArthur – “the corps, and the corps, and the corps” lol). Agree?
“A zebra doesn’t change his stripes,” as they say. We shall see.
They do if they want longevity in the NFL. Otherwise it’s Not For Long if they want to play it rogue. Come on Grant, you know better. lol
The Niners need deep threat wide receivers to stretch the field, especially when passing on first and second down.
The Niners need what Moss and Manningham bring to the table, but neither guy is a complete WR IMO.
@Grant
Yes I do believe that will improve POCD, (performance on critical downs) reason is that Moss will probably take two defenders with him. Manningham will attract his fare attention, that leaves Crabs and VD as viable receivers. Got speed in the backfield, now if the play calling and the QB are up to snuff should be lights out
I’m guessing defenses will single cover Moss and Manningham on third down, banking on Alex Smith’s preference of throwing short, safe passes on third down.
Then thats where it comes too, got Moss one on one then thats where the QB has to make that recognition and throw deep to Moss. Thats what your looking for. Can AS do that eh I know he has the tools but…..
I’m predicting that pass will be available for Smith early in the season. Opposing defenses will start double covering Moss and Manningham when Smith proves he can hit them deep in single coverage. Until then, teams will continue to double Vernon Davis and take away the underneath stuff, like Crabtree and Jenkins and James.
Grant
Please re-think your post here. Nobody will single Moss on critical downs banking on some weird made up thing. AS will throw it to open players. Moss will be open a lot if singled. He is a big-time player. And they show up in pressure situations.
You are not giving AS his due now.
DS – defenses will not double team Randy Moss until he proves he’s still a threat. He hasn’t been good since ’09.
Defenses never double teamed Manningham last season. He was effective because he could beat single coverage outside the hash marks.
Grant
If Moss still has his speed, you’d have to be stupid to not be leaning a lot of coverages his way. And Moss in his last season had about the same TD’s MC has averaged in his 3 yr career. And that was the least productive he’s been. I think he will be better than his worst season.
The only thing that I’m freaked about with Moss is if he pulls his Raider days routine. But our contract with the guy assures me that if he did, he’d be gone the next day, and his career ends in disgrace. I’m betting he won’t do that.
If you single Moss and he beats you deep just once, nobody else will risk that again. Moss has been doubled his whole career and can deal with it.
Still, that was three years ago for Moss. He’s got to prove it before NFL defenses give him that type of respect again.
Every team will single Moss/Manningham/Crabtree on 3rd until AS proves he can convert first downs. Vernon will be the only one doubled until Smith proves he can move the chains
@Adam707
That makes 0 sense. You don’t single WR’s because of the QB. Did LF get singled since Warner retired? Or when JM got hurt, did teams stop doubling JR?
No. You double WR’s based on the WR. Not the QB.
Once again. Useless non football knowledge from the Alien.
Teams have dared AS to throw outside his entire career. He has never been able to capitalize on the single coverage on his wide outs. He doesn’t throw the route well, his eye sight line drops too quickly to let the route develop, and he is quick to check down.
This year at least he quit prematurely bailing out to the right side of the pocket. Well that is until the Giants game where he began that bad habit again.
Not hanging in there and attempting to exploit WR single coverage has most hurt Frank Gore. He has faced stacked boxes his entire AS career because defenses know how to play AS.
This year the telling sign will be what they do with Mr. Moss. I can hear the A-excuses already. Moss has lost a step. Well guess what, he hasn’t. Moss is the fastest receiver on the team. Prove me wrong Mr. Smith.
bay bay go away. Please come back no other day.
The Cards are a team the 49ers shouldn’t try and get cute with. A steady diet of running sprickled with play action passing and the occasional deep shot to Vernon, Moss or Manningham. Make the Cards second guess rushing the passer consistently.
On third downs, the interior of the OL has to perform better. This is a contest I would love to see LaMichael James get some opportunities on third down, either coming out of the backfield or splitting wide. I think he will be a matchup problem for the Cards.
Good call – James has a good chance to be the addition who helps the Niners the most against AZ.
What makes you think Alex has reached his ceiling?
I don’t think he has reached his ceiling. I am interested to see how much he can and will improve on third down.
But if a zebra cant change his stripes, how does Alex have a chance?
Playing quarterback is a lot more complicated than playing wide receiver. Randy Moss is 35-years old and he’s never really ran over the middle. He’s going to start now?
Manningham didn’t even run over the middle at Michigan.
Alex Smith was pretty good on third down at Utah, I’m sure. Can he improve on third down this year? Probably. Can he get the offense up to a league-average conversion rate of 38%? I doubt it.
But wouldnt the WC offense mandate that each receiver be able to play all three positions? See I think JH wants guys to be versatile so that the offense can be versatile. Having Moss run 9 routes and the odd crossing route makes no sense. To disguise and make him more of a threat, I see them being creative with him and Manningham, to open a alot more things for others. Moss could line up in the slot for some quick hitches and screens, slants, but yes, he made his money on the outside but with JH, he will expect more.
The Niners don’t run a pure West Coast offense. They tailor their schemes to the strengths of their players, and running over the middle has not been Moss or Manningham’s strength to this point in each player’s career.
Grant
How much of a middle will there be? Defenses may have to go with more than 4 DB’s a lot more often. That coupled with the rule changes of no head shots will reduce the risks. Don’t expect too many 8 man boxes once the Niners get rolling here.
I strongly feel the sudden increase in passing yards is much more tied to the rule changes than to the notion players are better today than they were 3 years ago.
No matter how big it is, I’m guessing you won’t spot Moss or Manningham in it very often next season.
I’ll be interested to see how many red zone snaps James actually gets next season. I’m thinking Jacobs will be ahead of him on that depth chart initially.
Grant
Do you think KH and James will be on the field a lot together?
I like those 2 plus VD and Moss and Jenkins/MC/KW/Manningham. Even if AS dunks it off, those 2 RB’s can get upfield fast. And if you have both, how many LB cores can keep up with covering those 2 all day? Much less the other playmakers? If the D goes to nickel/dime have AS change the play to a run.
I’d love to see that. I think Hunter needs to show he has reliable hands, first.
But Grant,The staff wants every receiver to be able to play every receiving position on the field.Interchangable receivers .
That would mean that Moss and Manningham and every other receiver would at times be called on to run routes over the middle. Of course the receivers all have things they do best and the game plan will call for them to do those things most of the time. BUT one of the wrinkles of this offense is that the defense can’t tell who is going to run which route,just by which players are in the game.
Grant,
This AIN’T Utah. This is the NFL. That reLly does mean not for long. I said it already. Smith has to prove he can hit all those weapons with the football. teams loaded the box and dared Smith to beat them last year. That’s why our 3rd down and red zone was so poor. The problem for those teams is that they couldn’t out kick us and our defense was the truth!!!
Grant,
Moss and Manningham should help the 3rd down and Red Zone pct. Manningham scored the go ahead TD on a nice skinny post in the red zone. He will make that same play here.
Moss can do the same thing, and he adds great hops on to the mix. The new receiving corps is set up nicely because they all bring the ability to attack different areas of the defense.
The vast majority of Manningham’s TDs in his Pro career have come from outside of the red zone.
That skinny post he caught was a 17 yard dart thrown by Eli Manning before Manningham broke. I’ve only seen Smith throw a pass like that one time.
In the most pressure of situations to beat the recent fav to win it all. If it has only been done once, that’s a good time.
Then Smith better get his act together during this offseason : ).
Seriously though, how many times do you see a WR catching a ball over the middle in the Red Zone. Generally those plays come from TE’s and RB’s while the receivers work the edges and the digs behind the congestion of the LB’s etc.
True – Moss should be a very good red zone target. But how often do you seen six-foot WRs (like Manningham) dominating in the red zone?
I am more interested in seeing what the 5’8″ guy can do in the red zone.
I don’t think Manningham will dominate in the Red Zone, that is Moss’s area. I do think he can be effective and improve the overall performance of the offense down there though. MHis contributions will be more on 3rd down where he can stretch the field.
Do you think Crabtree will be a good possession receiver on third down this year? Or will Jenkins take his spot?
I think Crabtree will become a far more reliable 3rd down and red zone target this season. Aside from the playoffs, he really started to come on at the backend of last season. But I think the player that will benefit most in the red zone from the additions at WR and RB is Vernon Davis. I think he’ll get 8+ TDs this year.
FYI TO ALL
The Niners lost a total of 4 games last year.
They had the lead in the 2nd half (4th quarter in 3 even) against the Dallas/Cards/Giants. So 3/4 losses, the Niner D had a late lead and blew it.
In comparison the Niners were lead to 6 comeback wins by their QB game manager.
Spin it as you like. The D were just as much a reason for the losses as the offense. Supposedly elite offenses score TD’s off of every opportunity. Fine. But only if elite defenses have to hold a lead in the last quarter.
If you give the pass on defense that you refuse to give to AS, you are a hypocrite. Being fair is harder than many think. Stop making “defensexuses”. The Niner D in that AZ game had a very manageable lead in the 2nd half and blew it. Same as the Dallas game. And in the title game, elite defenses have to stop a team on 3rd and 17 from getting a TD. They didn’t. Want to be a hard a*8 grader. Fine. But be equally hard a*8 to everybody.
Well said!
@FDM
I knew “they” would be here. Doesn’t change the facts though they simply elude them as they have all last season.
We have our 2 “defensexuses” posters here. Any more?
Wow … are you kidding me? Why do you think the Niners had the lead in the first place? The D and special teams set up the offense to score points. Had the QB been more productive in the red zone and 3rd downs, the Niners would have won those games by wider margins. An objective observer knows that the team’s strengths last year were the defense and special teams. A Smither like you, on the other hand, likes to make AS look good by placing blame on the defense.
DS, you want to protect Alex by blaming the AZ loss on the defense? Give me a break. The defense gave the offense the ball 2 times inside the Arizona 16 and the offense only gave them 6 points. If the offense had just done it’s job and scored a TD on at least one of those 2 possessions the 49ers win, even with the breakdowns in the 3rd quarter.
The 49ers offense then had 3 chances in the 4th quarter to get the lead back and guess what your Capt Comeback did, he went 3 and out 3 times to finish the game.
You might be able to make a case for it being on the defense in the loss to Dallas, but not this game. This one was all on the offense.
Jack,
What you’re saying about the offense can’t really be disputed, maybe at the margins, but that’s it.
Having said that, the defense gave up two long TD’s and one big gainer that set up a third TD [if my memory serves]. That performance was atypical for the 49er defense last year, and, therefore, a case can be made that the defense cost them that game. Just as a case can be made for the offense costing the 49ers that game, too.
exgolfer,
Sure, but if the offense does it’s job which is score points they are up 27-7 before the breakdowns in the 3rd quarter, and still win 27-21.
Jack,
Exactly, but, conversely, had the defense done its job, the 49ers would’ve won the game, as well. It works both ways, in this particular game, anyway.
No way exgolfer. The offense held onto the ball for 19 total plays on 7 2nd half possessions for a total of 6 min 26 seconds. Conversely AZ ran 37 plays and had the ball for 23 min 34 seconds. The defense was on the field the whole half because of the ineptness of the offense.
exgolfer
The point of the post that originated all of this is to prove that football is a team game because many here still don’t get it.
If a comeback happens it only happens if your team is scoring more points to overcome a lead by the opponent faster than that team can score in the given time.
And you don’t lose a game you have a lead in if you don’t allow more points than your lead in the given time left.
And thankfully the defensive/offensive players know this. If not, we are lost and we won’t win any titles.
You’re right DS, it is a team game, and to win all 3 phases need to play at a winning level. Unfortunately for the team the offense did not play at a winning level in this game, failing to take advantage of the help it was given by the defense being handed the ball 2 times inside the AZ 16 yard line. They then put further stress on the defense by not doing their job, failing to get a single first down the whole 2nd half.
Jack,
Are you saying that you don’t think the 49er defense could’ve [should've?] played better in that game? I cetainly do.
DS,
That is the way the math works.
exgolfer,
They played great and put the offense in great field position. Could they have played perfect football and bailed out the offense, I guess so, but that doesn’t happen often. The offensive unit should bare the blame for that loss, not the defense.
If you want to credit Smith for the come back wins in games he played poorly you can’t also blame the defense for the losses when the offense did almost nothing.
Look at the game log. The defense gave them the ball on the AZ 4, AZ 16, and AZ 43. In those possessions they gained a total of 26 yards, drives of -1, 12, and 15 yards and only got 3 FG’s. And you want to blame the loss on the defense? Give me a break.
No way exgolfer. The offense held onto the ball for 19 total plays on 7 2nd half possessions for a total of 6 min 26 seconds. Conversely AZ ran 37 plays and had the ball for 23 min 34 seconds. The defense was on the field the whole half because of the ineptness of the offense.,/b>
That’s true Jack, but you neglected to mention the fact it was the exact opposite in the first half, and that the Niners actually led in TOP over the course of the game.
The offense was not good in this game and more directly the Oline had a terrible game, and Smith looked jittery, but the fact is the Niners led 19-7 in the 3rd quarter with a fresh defense who had hardly been on the field the first half. The defense we all call elite has to put the hammer down. You know the Niners are not going to try anything risky with the lead as was their MO all season. The put it in the defenses hands, and they couldn’t hold it. They gave up two big plays for TD’s that were poorly played.
If you are going to single out one side, you have to do the same for the other. The Niners lost because the offense couldn’t get anything going in the second half and because our great defense wasn’t so great when they needed to be. It happens that way sometimes.
Rocket,
Why do you want to give the offense a pass? They were given the ball 2x inside the 20 yard line and did nothing with it. The only reason the defense was rested was because of the defense forcing turnovers. If the offense does it’s job in the first half and scores a TD on 1 of the 2 possessions they win the game.
“If you are going to single out one side, you have to do the same for the other. The Niners lost because the offense couldn’t get anything going in the second half and because our great defense wasn’t so great when they needed to be. It happens that way sometimes.”
Jack, do you see the difference with stating an opinion and backing it up with facts versus spewing negative hyperbole that is not substantiated. You take the stance that you are non-biased regarding the 9er team, yet your comments say quite the opposite!
As I said hof.
If you are going to be an a*8 evaluator to one, you must be to all.
Hofer,
What did I say in any of my comments today that I haven’t backed up with facts?
In this particular game the defense basically scored 6 points because the offense could do nothing with the ball when starting inside the AZ 20, that is a fact. If they score 1 TD on those possessions they end up with 23 points, that is a fact. The offense could only muster 9 points on 3 Red Zone trips, that is a fact. The offense only ran 19 plays in the second half on 7 possessions , going 3 and out 6 straight times to finish the game, that is a fact.
Please show me where I made an obvious and intentional exaggeration regarding how that game played out. I would love to see it.
Remember the FO went hot and heavy for a bunch of new defensive players this year to bulk up the defense, that was ranked 27th in the league. This comment is so dumb, I dont care to respond with a serious responce. Just a lonely little “it” needing some attention, from anyone who will give it to “it”. No matter how easy this is to debunk, it wont matter to ds or onelame, and Ribico, Adam “lately” ex golfer claude, and the rest of the Smith fans. This did get me to laugh though. Great job with that ds.
Quite a little list there md.
Remember last year, I was the only one you said.
Jack,
I didn’t give the offense a pass. I said they weren’t very good and pointed out a couple of areas they really struggled in that game. I just saw your point about the TOP as being misleading considering the defense was on the field for a very short time in the second half. You also can’t overlook the fact they gave up two big plays for TD’s that were not well played defensively. The defense had their part to play and didn’t get it done. Doesn’t mean I think they suck; I don’t, and I think they were the best part of the team, but even they had their off times. It’s football.
MD,
No unit on this team was perfect last year. The defense played very well for most of the season but did have games where they struggled at times.
That should have read “first half”
Jack,
I’m not sure why you’re saying Rocket and I are giving the offense a pass. The only thing we’re pointing out is had either unit, individually, played better, the 49ers would’ve won the game. If you want to say the offense played worse than the defense in that game, OK, but it wasn’t the offense alone that failed.
You didn’t answer my question, BTW. Do you think the two long TD’s and the long gainer that set up another TD represented good defense by the 49ers? Remember, it was Skelton [crummy] at QB, not Brees or Rodgers.
Rocket/exgolfer,
I will agree with both of you that the defense should have stopped AZ from making those big plays.
Hopefully you both also understand my point, which is had the offense done it’s job and scored a TD on either of the 2 possessions in which they were handed the ball inside the 16, those defensive breakdowns would have not effected the outcome. The offensive failures in the first half helped keep AZ in the game to the point where those plays led to the loss.
It is a team game.
The Niners lost that AZ game because of 2 things:
1. The D didn’t stop AZ from scoring after the Niners got the lead. Had they done that, it wouldn’t have mattered if the offense went in the toilet after taking the lead as long as they don’t make it worse (AKA TO)
2. The offense stopped scoring at the pace necessary to hold the lead after AZ scored. Had they done so, the fact that the D stank it up for a few plays there wouldn’t have mattered at all.
Team game guys. Want the “defensexuses” to go away? Time to put away the “Alexcuses” term as well. After all, both are excuses that don’t encompass the whole team.
It is a team game, and both units failed in this one.
The offense continued their trend of not taking advantage of scoring opportunities handed to them by the defense and special teams in the first half while going 0-4 on their trips into the Red Zone. They also had only one series in which they accummulated 20 yds or more.
The defense uncharacteristically failed to hold onto a double digit lead for only the second time all year, giving up 2 big pass plays to arguably the best WR in the league, Larry Fitzgerald.
http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/drivechart?gameId=311211022
I get your point on the lack of TD’s on the TO’s and I agree with you. If they put those opportunities in the end zone, we may not have even had a close game in the second half. My only contention was you can’t focus solely on the offense for losing this game. An elite defense has to protect a 12 point lead in the second half against a backup QB.
>>it wont matter to ds or onelame, and Ribico,
Since I heard my name called out, all I’ll say is breakdowns on both sides of the ball usually results in a loss (and it was – offense with trouble in the red-zone, defense giving up the big plays). Nothing rocket science-worthy there (no offense directed towards you, rocket ;)
btw MD, if you don’t like my jumping on your conversations, then don’t bring me up when i’m not involved. m’kay?
Pleaseribico join in and defend this nonsense.
What nonsense? That neither side had it’s best game? That they lost, as teams do, as a team?
What’s *your* argument?
Defensexcuses? Nice try at nothing DS!
Trying to put a blemish on our D is like putting a blemish on Harbaugh. We had 5 defensive players finishing in top 10 NFL catagories. And we had 26 defensive/special teams turnovers.
OK put a few loses on the D if you like, but run your numbers again and see how many times the D put the offense in scoring position only the have the offense give way to an Akers field goal.
Now, that would be a fair and unhypocritical assessment.
No AES
Fair for what you are asking is to compare how good the Niner offense was at getting scores in those situations and how good the D was at preventing scores in those siuations.
Oh…but one thing…that didn’t happen last year. AS and the offense didn’t put the D in bad situations all year long. Including the playoffs. So they didn’t have to face that situation.
Now the ST did. And how well did our D hold them off again? Yeah. Thought so.
If you were comparing performance by each unit after a sudden change of posession, that is how you do it. Not how many points the Niners got from their offense. If so, then what are you comparing it to (from the D’s side)? Nothing. And I can always be right if I’m not comparing something to something else.
…AES…..forgive my french but that was a dumb response to a comment full of facts….why not debate the facts…….did the defense give up the lead in those games?
…also…..Trying to put a blemish on our QB is like putting a blemish on Harbaugh.
Grant,
DS brought this up earlier and it would be interesting to see a breakdown of this if possible.
“If you were comparing performance by each unit after a sudden change of posession, that is how you do it. Not how many points the Niners got from their offense.”
BS,
No defense, no playoffs . Our defense was and is the best in football. If our offense is 38% on 3rd down and 50% in the red zone, we go 13-3 again but we still can’t win the Super Bowl because we might have Smith at QB. If not, then we are on to something because other teams can’t game plan us because of Harbaugh playing it safe with Smith in close games.
BS?
Talking to yourself again. That is because nobody likes you.
Too general of analysis 23, try and put some real thought into it, not just Smith can’t. That sounds like a 10 yearolds arguement, your not 10 are you?
…nice point DS…..Grant how about responding to that
We have now entered Bizarro World where the 49ers offense is deemed good and the defense and special teams are bad. Because good offenses set records for FG attempts, right?
When the D/ST units were not dominant the 49ers lost, with the exception of the Saints and Eagles games (although it was Justin Smith who sealed that win). The D/ST units couldn’t afford to make a mistake because the offense couldn’t pick up the slack. In 4 games last year the D/ST wasn’t dominant and the 49ers lost two of them. They couldn’t rely on the offense to help out if they had a bad day. Without a top notch D/ST the 49ers were a .500 team – just like 2009 and 2010.
I’ve seen Joe Montana, Steve Young, Peyton Manning and Cam Newton denigrated in order to make Alex Smith look better. Never thought I’d see Justin Smith and Patrick Willis thrown under the bus to make Alex seem like a real quarterback.
And the Niners had no business winning that Philly game if not for that offense.
The Niner ST never let them down till the title game. Both the offense and defense had prior to the playoffs at one time or another.
Nobody said the offense was better. At least I didn’t. I said a good part for the D being so dominant in the manner they were is due to the offense followed by the best ST in the NFL. Not the same thing.
The defense held the opponent to 20 points or less in 14 games last year. That is dominant. #2 in the league in scoring defense is dominant.
The offense scored more than 20 points only 9 times. The offense was barely above .500 at being adequate. Not great mind you, just adequate. And that’s giving the offense the credit for Akers’ record breaking season kicking field goals.
You can spin it however you want but the defense carried the team in 2011. The special teams contributed over half the points. The offense stayed out of the way and enjoyed the ride.
msc,
While I don’t agree with the idea the defense lost us games, I also don’t think you are looking at the big picture here.
You are saying the 9ers couldn’t win unless the defense was dominant and the offense couldn’t pick up the slack, yet the team had 6 4th quarter comeback victories.
Let me ask you to consider something: Do you think the offense was possibly called a certain way because the 9ers had leads? I already know the answer because Smith has said what they did, but I just want to know if you can allow yourself to admit that the Coaching staff reeled things in when the team had a lead.
You can’t say what you did when the offense came back and won games when they had to. If you want to focus on the Cardinal game as being a bad offensive performance, go ahead it was, but don’t paint a season long picture that overlooks the fact the offense played their part in a lot of wins. You don’thave to like the strategy to go 4 min offense with a lead, but guess what it worked and it wasn’t the players fault they were running it.
To have a 14 win season you can’t rely on one part of the team to carry you through the entire season. Doesn’t happen. The defense was the constant star of our team but the offense and ST’s took their turns coming up big for us and winning games too.
@msc
If the ST accounted for over half their points (have no idea if it is true, but I’ll take you at your word) in addition to setting up the defense with great field position (Andy Lee picks and Spillman tackles for 0 return yards), then isn’t it more accurate to say the ST lead the team?
Not the defense or offense?
Mind you the whole thing is just hypothetical. The team did it. But if you are nitpicking things, it was the ST that lead the team. And how come you are not posting a lot about them then?
>>The defense held the opponent to 20 points or less in 14 games last year. That is dominant. #2 in the league in scoring defense is dominant.
clemons,
if you look back at arguably the best defensive run in the history of the league – the ’70s steelers – you will find their differential between points scored and points given up very closely mirrors last year’s Niners team.
Great defensive teams dont need to light up the scoreboard to dominate. And 13-3 is domination.
The premise of this post is beyond absurd. BUT… I’m in a good mood today so I’ll play along. The 49ers passing offense was nearly the worst in the league last year being ranked #29. Even though defenses need not worry about the horrible passing offense, the 9ers rushing offense was able to be successful enough to be the 8th ranked rushing offense. Way to go O-line! In the 4 games the 9ers lost, the passing game averaged 137.25 net passing yards per game. They converted on 14/58 3rd downs which puts them at a dismal 24%. When it mattered most against the Giants in the playoffs the 9ers were a dismal 1/13 on 3rd downs.
In contrast, the 9ers defense was outstanding. The 9ers ranked #2 in the league in points allowed. They were #4 in the league in yards allowed per game. They were #1 in Turnover differential with an astounding +28 differential. The 38 turnovers generated by the defense allowed the team to be ranked a respectable #11 in scoring even with such an atrocious passing attack.
In summary, the 9ers defense carried the team. Without that dominant defense the 9ers don’t make the playoffs.
Houston,
They were ranked 29th in passing yards. In Yards per attempt – which is a much more accurate measurement seeing as though you can put up yards without attempts – the Niners were ranked 17th. Not great but middle of the pack gives you a better understanding that this passing game was not as bad as you are making it out to be. They didn’t use it as much as most teams; that doesn’t mean it wasn’t effective at times.
In contrast, the running game was ranked so high because they had so many attempts. The average per rush was only 4.1 but they had a ball control mentality and didn’t sway from it. That led to the Niners being ranked 5th in TOP which in turn kept the defense fresher. See how this works? Different elements of the team working together to win games.
I loved our defense last year, but they weren’t the inpenetrable wall you and some others are making them out to be. There were times throughout the season where they couldn’t hold leads or needed a play deep in their own end to pull it out when the opposing offense had moved the ball down the field into scoring position. The Saints were moving at will on them at the end of the playoff game. They were great for most of the year, but they did not win 14 games on their own.
It was a combination of great defense, ball control offense and great ST’s.
Pure and utter poppycock. They didn’t pass as much because they had no faith in their QB to get the job done. They had good TOP because their defense gave them so many extra possessions even though their offense couldn’t get first downs. The defense was awesome and the only reason the team lost just 4 games.
That’s a really disappointing response houston. Didn’t have faith in their QB? Where is your proof of that?
Your TO point is also severely flawed because you aren’t taking into account the offense didn’t turn the ball over. It goes hand in hand. You can’t just point to one side and forget the other. It’s weak.
They only lost 4 games becasue their system of game management which relied on the strengths of each phase of the team, was sound.
“The defense was awesome and the only reason the team lost just 4 games.”
“Defensexcuse”. Sure is easy when you guys just tee it up like this.
Houston,
Glad to hear you’re in a good mood. We’re all so lucky.
Yes, the defense was outstanding. One of the best, if not the best, in the league. Yes, the offense was poor in the red zone and on third down conversions. However, in your foaming diatribe against the offense, you failed to mention one area where the offense was outstanding, the best in the NFL [by a wide margin], in fact. Giveaways.
The defense didn’t rank first in turnover differential, the TEAM did. The defense created a lot of turnovers [tied for first with GB - 38 TO's], a huge contribution to the team’s success.
The offense on the other hand led the NFL in limiting TO’s with only 10. The team with the second fewest TO’s was GB with 14.
So, in TO differential, the offense was at least as responsible as the offense for the TEAM leading the NFL in that category.
In general to the thread:
Why is it so necessary for this to be a zero sum game? If the offense [read, Alex Smith] is good, it means the defense is bad? Come on, nobody is saying that, nobody. It’s when the offense is talked about as garbage all the time, it gets a little irritating.
Yards passing per game doesn’t tell the whole story. As Rocket wrote above, yards per pass is a better yardstick.
Knucklehead Beason, noted that he wasn’t that impressed with Smith’s 5 INT’s and pointed out that you can’t throw INT’s, if you don’t throw the ball.
True enough, but you also can’t throw for 300 yards and a bunch of TD’s if you don’t throw the ball, either.
The 49ers threw the ball less than every team other than the Broncos last year. And they don’t really count, since they had a FB posing as a QB most of the season.
It’s funny how there’s very little talk about the gameplans and play calling, and plenty of blaming Smith. Understand, Smith needs to get better, which he did last year and, IMO, will do again this year. But, if the 49ers are going to rack up big passing stats, the staff has to create game plans and call plays to allow the offense to put up those numbers. Then we will see if the offense can get it done.
@rocket:
Nice take down. It’s surprising how many people confuse volume with quality.
..this rubbish from Houston is nothing new…..he has been a waste of space since he joined the blog….
…exgolfer pretty much wrote it all……good points!!!
Houston,
Your assertion that they didn’t pass much because of a lack of faith in the QB is “pure and utter poppycock.”
The offensive style we saw from the 49ers last year was identical what Harbaugh/Roman had been doing at Stanford. The low number of passing attempts and yards can be traced back to the style of offense and the failures of the offense on third down to extend drives. More 3rd down conversions means more plays for the offense and opportunities to call for the pass.
If the offense can get close to the league average for 3rd down conversions in 2012 you will see an increase in both.
Houston,
Yes, let’s not let facts get in the way. The defense was the only reason the 49ers lost only four games last year. Yes, absolutely.
Special teams had nothing to do with it. The offense had nothing to do with it. Come on, Houston, that’s just kooky talk!
Look, the defense was the best unit on the team last year. The special teams were also excellent. Sure, the offense was not great, but it was most definitely contributed to the team’s win total.
@Houston
the 9ers rushing offense was able to be successful enough to be the 8th ranked rushing offense. Way to go O-line!
Look at this. http://footballoutsiders.com/stats/ol
especially the Power Success, Power Rank.
Everyone knows the D is the strongest unit, which overcame injuries with its depth, unlike the O and the ST, and no need to revisit all the injuries of the O/ST. The link shows the OL was not that great in certain areas and critical moments.
“Way to go O-line!” ? Not always.
Oh Rocket, just having a little fun with you. Didn’t realize you were so thin skinned.
Against the Cowboys, the 9ers elected to keep 3 points on the board with 11 minutes left in the game rather than accepting a 1st down via penalty which would have allowed the offense to take more time off the clock. Most observers felt the reason Harbaugh made that decision was that he didn’t trust Smith. As my former friend ex-golfer pointed out, the 9ers were ranked near last in passing attempts. They did not have a balanced offense like they had at Stanford with Luck because they didn’t trust the QB. The bottom 5 teams in pass attempts per game were all teams with weak QB play where the team was trying to play ultra conservative to prevent mistakes from QB’s they didn’t trust (Denver, SF, Hou, Miami, Jax). My friend Cosell was 100% right when he said Harbaugh was trying to limit Alex Smith’s impact on the game because he didn’t trust him.
So here’s my logic. Keep the same 2011 Offense – Keep the same 2011 Special Teams – Replace the defense with the 17th ranked defense (and I’m being incredibly generous to the O here) and do you guys seriously think this team only loses 4 games? Do they even make the playoffs?
@Houston:
Most observers felt the reason Harbaugh made that decision was that he didn’t trust Smith.
If by “observers,” you mean uninformed anti-Smith commenters on this blog, then I agree with you. Otherwise, that’s just a TIM-like unsupported supposition.
They did not have a balanced offense like they had at Stanford with Luck because they didn’t trust the QB.
In 2011, the 49ers ran the ball 498 times and dropped back to pass 495 times. How is that not balanced? And again with the trust thing? Nothing but pure speculation on your part.
Are you making this up as you go along?
Some just don’t get it Claude. If the offense can improve in the red zone and 3rd down this year most of these types of comments will go away.
@Jack:
I would like to believe that, but I’m not holding my breath.
Ok, I guess you guys are right. The 49ers were ranked #30 in pass attempts per game but that was no reflection whatsoever on the coaching staffs faith in the passing offense. The 49ers drafted Colin Kaepernick but that had nothing to do with managements faith in Alex Smith. The 49ers made a hard push to sign Peyton Manning but that had nothing to do with the teams faith in Alex Smith. The 49ers signed Josh Johnson but that had nothing to do with the teams faith in the current QB’s on the roster. Of course, I probably just dreamed all those things since the 9ers have such a potent passing game. After all, Why in the world would they do so much to shore up a position with which they have so much trust.
Houston,
I’m not thin skinned, exactly the opposite actually. I have no problem with opposing viewpoints. I just like to see some thought and research put into a viewpoint, and that post you made seemed like it came right off the top of your head with no clarification of facts whatsoever.
Claude and Jack have answered your argument pretty much the same way I would, but I’ll also add this:
Alex Smith was completing 66% of his passes that day and had thrown 2 TD passes and 1 pick. Are you honestly trying to tell me you don’t think Harbaugh trusted him with the type of day he was having? Seeing as though the strategy of playing conservative with the lead was used all season long, are you saying Harbaugh never trusted Smith at any point last year?
He took the points because he believed – like a lot of Coaches do – that you don’t take points off the board unless you are behind and need a TD more than a FG. At that time they were leading and the FG added to it. This was one of those times Harbaugh’s strategy of leaning on the defense to close it out didn’t work. It didn’t stop him from doing it again many times throughout the season with a lot of success.
Lastly, not sure why you list exgolfer as a former friend, but from the posts I’ve read, he is intelligent and understands the game very well. You should listen to him when he posts information. You just might learn something.
Of course, I probably just dreamed all those things since the 9ers have such a potent passing game. After all, Why in the world would they do so much to shore up a position with which they have so much trust.
Sarcasm is much more effective when you have a good argument. You don’t.
The passing attempts were lower because they ran more houston. This is isn’t hard to decipher, at least I didn’t think it was. If you look at Harbaugh and Romans history along with the fact they didn’t have an offseason to implement the system, this is what they do. They pound the ball, line up with mutltiple shifts and formations and run playaction. It’s the bread and butter of their system. They will most likley throw the ball more this year, as they did down the stretch last year because everybody will have a better understanding in year two and allow them to do more things.
They took Kap because they didn’t have a QB other than David Carr on the roster. Smith had agreed to comeback but couldn’t sign a deal until the lockout was over. They weren’t going to go into the season with Smith and Carr.
They tried to sign one of the best QB’s in the game. That doesn’t mean they wanted to dump Smith. It means they wanted to improve the position if they could as they’ve stated they would do everywhere since the day they were hired. They didn’t go out and try to trade for somebody or sign a FA that wasn’t Manning. If they had let Smith go and signed Flynn, your argument would have merit, but they didn’t and your argument doesn’t.
Josh Johnson was signed for barely more than the vet minimum and is competing for a backup position. He has a history with Harbaugh which is the only reason he has a job right now. If all goes as planned, he gives Harbaugh a reliable 3rd QB.
Any other dreams you’d like to share with us?
@Houston:
If you keep reaching like that, you are going to pull a muscle.
1. At the time the 49ers drafted Colin Kaepernick, the only QB on the roster was David Carr. The 49ers weren’t even allowed to negotiate with Smith. They had no guarantee that he was going to re-sign with the team.
2. Peyton Manning is a first ballot Hall of Fame QB who became available at a time when the only QBs on the roster were CK and Scott Tolzien. Wanting to upgrade the position to that level of player is not the same thing as having no faith in Smith. And while the 49ers kicked Manning’s tires, we only have speculation as to what they were offering to pay for the car.
3. Given that the Harbaugh has said that Smith is unequivocally the starter, the signing of Josh Johnson would seem to be about strengthening the depth at the position rather than replacing the starter. To the extent the signing reflects a lack of faith in anyone, it reflects a lack of faith in CK, not in Smith. Don’t get sucked into jordan’s wet dreams.
I wouldn’t say you are dreaming, but you clearly are slanting and misstating facts to support your personal opinion on Alex Smith. Isn’t that the same kind of nonsense that, when practiced by Smith supporters, led you to leave the blog?
@rocket:
Your 2:09 comment is pure brilliance. I wish I had said what you said.
You said it just fine Claude, but thanks for the props.
Houston,
I’m sorry we’re no longer friends, I’ll miss our long walks on the beach at sunset. Who was that who’s thin skinned?
As for the Harbaugh’s develoment of Luck at Stanford, it’s been very much the same as the way he’s handled Smith. The first year at Stanford Harbaugh ran a very conservative offense and Luck didn’t throw many TD’s, nor for many yards. The second year under Harbaugh, Luck threw more and, as a result, had much better numbers.
Maybe history may repeat itself. Smith cetainly seemed to improve last year and, IMO, there’s no reason to think he won’t be better still this year. The only question is how much better.
Rocket,
Thanks. You are one of the voice of reason on this blog. I don’t know how you suffer the fools so gladly.
Claude,
I ususally am in lock step with your posts, but your [not you're] last post went too far.
You keep muddying the water with facts. It’s just plain confusing. It’s much simpler to eliminate critical thinking and go with knee jerk reaction.
Please try to clean that up.
@exgolfer:
Sorry to disappoint you. I will try to do better in the future. Should I pattern my comments after ninermd’s?
Claude,
I was going to suggest a factually challenged blend, wtih percentage breakdowns, but I can’t afford to land on anyone else’s “former friends list”.
But you’re on the right track……
Awwww. That’s sweet…. Are you all wearing matching shirts? Do you gals get together to watch episodes of Desperate Housewives and Grey’s Anatomy. Or perhaps you have Bunko night with the other gals? Or on really racy nights are you gals doing the pole dancing fitness classes together?
I’m just wondering how much you are getting together to come up with all these ridiculous excuses. According to you, the 9ers have the 29th passing attack but that’s not a true indicator b/c they are 17th in pass yards/attempt. The 9ers are ranked 30th in pass attempts per game but that’s just how Harbaughs offense works. Sure the 9ers signed Kaepernick and Johnson and tried to get Manning but there were other factors there so that was no reflection on Smith whatsoever. Any other excuses I missed?
You all really must gab alot to come up with all these irrational defenses of what is obvious to everyone with any knowledge of football. The 9er offense was mostly average and occasionally abysmal. The defense was fantastic most of the year. They had the best front 7 in the NFL. Sorry gals but you need to go back to the drawing board to defend this idea from DS. His/Her post is an absurd notion beyond the point of ignorance. Anyway, good luck at Bunko tonight.
Houston,
I think it’s great you’re exploring your fantasies.
Good for you!
49ers O vs Cardinals D: better game planning, more weapons on offense, and – hopefully – better QB production gives the advantage to the 49ers.
49ers D vs Cardinals O: Niners need to limit big plays down field. AZ running game scares nobody. Advatage 49ers
Special teams: Advantage 49ers
Coaching: Advantage 49ers
49ers win both games.
There it is folks, expert analysis and breakdown from Mr. X’s an O’s himself. Great work Nickrow!
Thank you Prime Alex
Nick, actually your comment was succinct, to the point, and didn’t have the negative bite to it. Well done!
Nick,
That’s more like it!
If I remember the second game correctly, I was incredibly surprised at the lack of plays designed to exploit the constant blitzes. I remember this because I was thinking the same thing during the Ravens matchup on Thanksgiving. The vanilla playcalling was the limiting factor for the loss to the Cardinals and the Ravens, in my opinion. Hopefully with new weapons and a full offseason we’ll see more of the playcalling and offensive execution we saw in the Saints game.
it only looked like the Ravens were blitzing. in reality they brought a lot of guys up to the line of scrimmage (to help shut down the run game) but when the Niner’s passed often times they just rushed four and dropped the rest into coverage. O-linemen were simply beaten one on one and quick pressure got to Smith. So there wasn’t a built in hot route read for Smith to make.
So in essence, our OL stank up the joint in that game.
Not to be the pessimist but Gore can no longer be counted on as the X-factor. Jacobs, Hunter and James are all going to have to step up. I can’t see AZ getting more than 14 points against our D this year… especially at home. If the Niners can run the ball for a combined 100+ game I believe that’ll translate into W’s. Smith will be fine… Randy Moss is going to be awesome this year because he WANTS a ring and KNOWS this team is built now to win. Once Moss or MM or Davis torches them for a big play… they’ll pull a safety back and then we can pound the rock and setup some nice Play Action screens and medium routes. This year it’s all about execution.
@Benny
More than 14 points will be needed to put my mind at ease. We should have shut out AZ at home if not for that LF jerk. No other WR makes that catch with the concentration needed to catch that ball.
Don’t think he can’t get 2 of those in a game.
@DS
I agree their only real weapon is Fitz… but if I recall correctly… didn’t D.Goldson come within a inch of picking that ball?!? Man… I love his BallHawk skillz… just goes to show Fitz ain’t afraid to go up. I don’t believe he’ll torch us again ;)
I can see Aldon Smith getting 6 sacks vs them next year!
Benny
You’re thinking of CR. The ball went right thru his hands. I think both DG/DW were there as well. Didn’t matter.
I’m can’t wait to get some pay back. The only division team to beat us.
Benny,
If you are referring to the Fitzgerald TD in the second game it was Goldson that he took it away from. You can see it in the link below. Gotta love Jamie Dukes’ quote, “death by paper cuts for the 49ers with the field goals.”
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d824f8b8a/GameDay-49ers-vs-Cardinals-highlights
@Jack Hammer
That was the play I was thinking of… grrrr. That game was so frustrating to watch
@benny…..how is the music thingy coming….
@One
It’s been great bro… been producing all sort of projects. Just released this last week for an amazing artist. Tracked n filmed at the same studio where I did the Niner song =)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqdmZLNb2s8
…nice video….Thumbs up!!!
Benny,
That’s some talent there. That looks sweet!
-Bad team, why they got to draft him #1 overall.
-Bad coach, no help.
-New O-Coordinator.
-New Coach.
-New O-Coordinator.
-Antonio Bryant, locker room cancer.
-New O-Coordinator.
-Not enough good wide receivers.
-Shoulder injury.
-Trent Dilfer.
-New O-Coordinator.
-New Coach.
-Jimmy Raye.
-Need Offensive Linemen.
-Conservative play calling.
-Still no GOOD wide receivers.
…..meanwhile Cam has already taken responsibility for mildly inappropriate behaviour, during one of the GREATEST rookie campaigns in modern football.
………Ya stats don’t matter, LMAO.
From profootball talk.com- Hilarious!!
23 = broken record
Alexcuses above!
After all that semi-meaningful (pulitzer prize winning by your standards) analysis, that made some sense, you finish with: “if Gore isn’t healthy the edge goes to Cardinals,” basically rendering your analysis useless and void of any merit. That’s a great example of the single track mindedness that will never make you a journalist. Aim for the top, the bottom is too crowded.
The Niners D was on the field about a full game less (60 minutes) in the regular season in 2011 compared to 2010.
While the Niners had many issues on offense, this in my opinion is a whole lot of improvement. 60 fewer minutes is 60 minutes where we don’t get our best guys hurt. And the Niners in 2011 were not as injury prone as they were in 2010. 60 fewer minutes might have something to do with it.
Seems like a waste of time because no one knows how summer camp and the pre-season games will play out. We have no idea who will be on the final rosters of either team, who will start, etc. Predictions should be based on facts and the facts are not in yet.
DS, 60 minutes less also means more 3 and outs for opposing offenses. And in our case, more turnovers meant less time on the field.
BTW, nice ‘take’ on defensive number and time comparisions.
AES
No doubt. But Time of posession is frequently viewed as an offensive thing.
Sort of like Points allowed is seen as a defensive stat. But if the offense/ST are screwing up, that defense may be put in situations which don’t give them a great chance to hold teams to 0 points.
Last year, we gave up few points. Some of that is due to the non-defensive side.
That is why I call it a team game. There isn’t all that much that is truly individual in this game. Likely none at all when you really look at it.
And I love how this staff has created the “ultimate team 1st” attitude. Look at how Willis (Best LB in the game) had Smiths back during that whole fiasco. Everyone is buying in… going to be one heck of a ride this year!
Benny, exactly. Everyone has limitations and challenges. You play through them and work on getting better. All in!!
…Hoferfan67 – Why are you avoiding my question?
Which?
….”just curious; why do you think I am an extremist? ….Why do you think (Jordo and One) are in the same category”…?
In the context of *only* discussing AS.
…are you saying I blindly support Alex and never criticize him or see fault in his game????
I can understand the (Jordo and One) …..he is a hater and I am a supporter….
Because you agree with ds, and placing fault on our defense to defend Smith, because he’s all you think about, because you have dogged other players that took his job, because your already laying the “rg” excuse just in case, because you avoid my questions when asked if you thought Smith was the weak link on the team last season, because you get mad at peoples opinions on a lifetime below/average qb, because you call that qb “your qb” because you call him a cold blooded assassin……..Should I go on? God your lame
“…are you saying I blindly support Alex and never criticize him or see fault in his game????”
Regardless of the topic, your focus is discussing AS.
….wtf…..did you just stumble on the blog…….the focus on this site since 2005 has always been Alex first, other players second and team last…..
….if you are going to reach out and call people out (which is you absolutely have the right to do) — plz back it up!!!!
Hof……..His name says it all, but Hof I have to ask. What do you think about this new Defense vs Offense thing that ds posted. Im not asking you to choose a side, but Cmon that is a bold and IMO dumb. What do you think Hof?
MD, I didn’t read it. An NFL team is 3 phases and they all support each other. One Sunday ST plays exemplary and wins the game. The next Sunday the offense wins the game by being in sync and in a zone. The defense has often been the savior and receives the lions share of the accolades due to the previous regimes two defensive minded HC’s. Now with JH, it is taking time for the offense to catch up. Now with upgraded talent and the focus squarely on the offense during the offseason, I see them catching up quickly. All good signs!!!
“….wtf…..did you just stumble on the blog…….the focus on this site since 2005 has always been Alex first, other players second and team last…..
One, you asked a simple question and I answered it. I didn’t say I disagreed with every one of your comments. I have more of an issue with Jordo dating back 2-3 years. But when you come on the blog most of the time your comments are related to AS. Your choice but it is extreme especially when the topic is DAkers. Just my take.
Another voice of reason. Hof couldnt agree more. BUT, for anyone to even bring up ANY fault in the defense we had last year is ridiculous, and thats keeping it nice. I for one refuse to say the defense “blew” leads when they were on the field so damn much with 3 and outs from the offense, I refuse to excuse the Offense for being so poor with the defense handing them T.O after T.O and and coming away with FG’s. This will all go away when the season starts, but last season was truly a defensive masterpiece. And I refuse to give them ANY blame. For losses. Im telling you Hof. Next season this offense with hold their own and will deserve every praise they get. You watch Bra.
But Hof that is way too logical and sophisticated for the haters to understand that football requires all three phases to compliment one another in order to win.
They don’t see the Niners are building within and developing all three phases to win a championship.
For them the be all end all is the QB position. They won’t or can’t anknowledge it any other way because that would mean its an excuse.
Call it lack of intelligence in understanding the game or flat out ego, whatever the case it’s pretty sad that we have to keep explaining it. Go Niners!
..if I am extreme…ninermd is definitely supercalafragilisticexpealodocious
md
dumb = inability to acknowledge the Niners D gave up late game leads to their opponent due to their stupid belief that they have to be right despite that simple all knowing fact.
Did that happen or not? If so, why was it AS’s fault? If the D is as you say, that never should have happened once. Much less 3/4 loses and numeous comeback wins where the offense had to score because the D gave up more points than the opponents defense coming into/during the 4th quarter.
The defense gave up late leads… After the offense couldn’t build a good one. Ds quit trying to spin it in your favor. Since I answered your question answer mine. The defense was second in the league with points scored.. The offense average a whopping 20 and mainly because of the kicker. Who did a better job? The defense gave up 14 points a game, and our kicker was the offensive MVP? True or not Ds? You say scoring is all that matters.
..”The defense gave up late leads… After the offense couldn’t build a good one”….
…ha ha ha….what a dumb response…….i have idead next time why don’t we give the offense cement and sand so they can build it better……
…..”The defense gave up late leads… After the offense couldn’t build a good one”….
…ha ha ha….what a dumb response…….i have an idea next time why don’t we give the offense cement and sand so they can build it better……
@ninermd:
While I agree with you that it is misguided to fault the defense for “blowing leads,” you keep fudging facts to support your position.
The 49ers averaged 23.8 points/game, not 20. That average was 11th best in the league.
The 49ers’ defense was not on the field “so damn much.” The 49ers’ average time of possession (32+ minutes/game) was 5th best in the league last year.
MD,
The SF offense scored 14 points less than the Giants did over the course of the season. That is with a running oriented, ball control offense. You need to stop looking at this in a vacuum.
….its obvious ninermd the clown is only here to make us laugh……he brings no facts to the table…..
……..”The defense gave up late leads… After the offense couldn’t build a good one”…..= classic ninermd football knowledge
@oneniner
”The defense gave up late leads… After the offense couldn’t build a good one.”
I am definitely remembering that one. Good for a serious laugh.
: – )
@Grant
You need a HOF of quick one-liners that will just make us all smile and laugh. A quick link to us all when “drama” happens here to bring us all down.
I nominate this quote from md to be #1.
Some good notes from MM regarding today’s practice.
http://www.csnbayarea.com/football-san-francisco-niners/niners-talk/49ers-practice-notes-Moss-gets-deep-on-2?blockID=716188&feedID=5936
……”We Talkin’ ’Bout Practice…..Practice…..Practice”…..
….I know I know, practice is important, but we talkin about practice? Not the game that I die for, but practice?
No practice report?
grant–can you tell us what alex smith’s numbers in the red zone were in 2010–as I recall they were quite good…jimmy raye/mike johnson were the coaches…if my memory is true, amybe there were other causes to the niners red zone troubles in 2011
also i believe the numbers bear out that smith was quite good vs the blitz in 2011–maybe you can share those for us
Numbers were skewed. Other teams defense ahead and playing prevent in 2010. we were always behind it seems in2010.
Quality Excuse.
…..Grant – all this talk about 3rd down conversion rate……Did you know the 49ers were 2nd (titans made one more 4th down) in converting 4th downs in the NFL last year….
…..
…you are awesome oneniner…
@one
I’ve kinda seriously suggested we go for it more on 4th down.
It was the same with Raye as well though. We call imaginative plays on 4th down showing off our skill, as opposed to our 3rd down calls designed not to screw up.
@DS……every year fans like me scream that Alex should have the kind of control Manning/Brees etc have playing QB on their team…….
…4th down conversion tells you more about your QB than 3rd down conversions…..
….we’ve seen him better than average in 2 minute drills or situation where he is allowed to call plays or take full control of the ship….
LOL Onelame. Yeah 4th downs make or break qb’s because they are played out waaaaay more than 3rd downs. You would think that if “your” qb could complete 3rd downs. You wouldnt have to worry about 4th downs. Congrats on bringing another Alexcuse to the table. Frickin Genius. WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEW!!!!!!!
@oneniner
As I told you last week, the solution to this AS/MC issue.
Have AS wear a special pair of goggles that always show the team to be down late in the game, and have MC wear goggles that make him think it is always the first quarter, and it won’t matter if our D gets 30 TO’s or not. We’ll win.
….lets merge the technology with the helmet vizor……….don’t think it would be comfortable wearing googles and a helmet….
@oneniner
Dickerson wore goggle like glasses didn’t he?
Who cares about their comfort? Try being stuck in a car jam packed with stuff so you can’t move and your dad doesn’t believe in bathroom stops in 16 hr drives. You either hold it or not. Luckily I’m better than MC at holding it. lol
Plus, they get paid. I didn’t. Suck it up.
LMFAO!!!!!!! And he asked Hof why he called him an extremist. HA HA HA HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA Hey Onelame. Was Smith bad on 3rd downs and the redzone? Just wondering if you will ever tell the truth and answer the truth…. Ha ha haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Excuse me for being blunt Grant. But these embarrassing “fans” that are laying blame on the defense for our passing weakness. I have to say one thing to these dummies………+28. And that doesnt rep our passing rank. Ds and onelame and whoever else agrred with ds’s joke earlier. I am truly embarrassed to be on the same blog with you ——– . WOW What a great joke!
md, maybe if we smithers start to bullcrap the snaut out of things like some haters do, it will be fair playing field, whadda u think?
There is no BS in a top ranked defense and one of the worst passing attacks in the league. Where’s the substance in this? Latino there is nothing wrong with supporting the team and players, but the Alex Smith saga with you “Smithers” is on a whole different level. And this d vs passing comment is another chapter in how dumb you “Smithers” can be. Im on the Smith wagon this year, as I was last season. Know why? Because he played well, NOT GREAT but good enough for a short offseason. Ive been saying this all offseason. Get your seatbelt on, because Smith is taking this team to the Superbowl with BIG QB play. For the First time since 94…….. If I were you, Id jump off that “Smither” wagon that your jumping on now. There are Smith fans/ then there are “Smithers” and believe me it isnt a good look.
@latino….this loof will not debate the facts…….did the defense give up the lead in those games we lost or not?
And Latino…….This is the same dummy your on that wagon with. Hey Onelame care to answer ANY of my questions Ive asked? Or are you still the same old onelame that vanishes when asked about Smiths poor numbers in a certain category? Cmon Onelame. Just answer me this 1 question. Was Alex Smith a great qb last season on 3rd downs and the redzone? And maybe this one too. Is there ANY room for Smith to improve his game? Maybe 3 then. Is Alex Smith the best QB in the league and if so why did they go after Manning so hard?
Md i see your point but I could care less about who is under centre or who is handing out the water bottles. bottom line, its all about the team, winning, and being distracted from real life for 4 hours every sunday. the arguements against alex make no sense, he’s a player on the team I love, thats enough for me as long as he keeps winning.
Latino. You’re right it is about the team. I can agree with that. But dont you want the best players on your team? Especially at THE MOST improtant position on the field? Im pretty sure you wouldnt like Rachel blocking still. Gotta love your team, but you also should want whats best for your team. Right? Well some dont think Smith can do it, and some never thought he could, Some think he can finally do it (like me) and some thought he always has. Just want the 9ers to win,and for once I think Smith can really help with this want. You’ll see. He will be a totally different looking QB than we’ve ever seen.
@md
Your lack of awareness is astonishing. Really is. For somebody who attends all these games.
You can’tbe +28 if you are giving the ball away at the same rate. That margin is now 0. Not +28. That means the offense gets near 50% of that remarkable feat (AKA AS).
Also, go check out Jennings article on the sfgate blog. Our Pro-Bowl long snapper. Says he gets what the Niners are doing and has no ill will towards them. In fact he admires them for bringing in others to take/compete for his position.
So, taking your “logic” (poor use of the word) the Niners have no faith in Jennings. None. Zilch. Because they brought in 2 guys to compete for his job. So that means they must have1/2 the faith in Jennings that they do in AS who the Niners only brought in 1 new face for new competition.
Truly. Your reasoning confounds the worlds brightest minds.
…..I don’t believe he attends the games….he attends the free food and beer during tailgate…..
How did they do with all of those T.O ds? Isnt that what counts? The 28 means T.o’s not ratio in my post. Who scored more points on offense this year? Im very aware so stop trying to jump on Claudes **ts and answer the simple questions. What other offense got that many T.O handed to them in the league? I cant WAIT to see how you skate around these questions.
And as far as Jennings…… NO they dont. Do you know who they have faith in ds? Pretty much EVERYONE on the DEFENSE!!!!! You know WHY? BECAUSE THEY ARE TOP RANKED!!!! Man you are the newest blog Joke. Hmmm Simple “logic” tells you “if your smart enough to get it” Is the 49ers went deep into getting OFFENSIVE players. QB’s, RB’s and linemen. That says it all DS. Dont get mad at me because your an 8th grader in a college debate. I use to think you would say things just to make people react, but now I know you’re that dumb. Wow your pathetic.
Onelame. Next time you “roll” out to the Stick. HA ha haaaa Yeah right. Come by pole M and I can put my season tickets…….. Well that would be a waste. Jealous much? You broke joke? Its great that I can see things you lame’ cant on TV. Sucks for you. Ha ha haaaaaaa Maybe the Gents or Ladies can group up one game and confirm for you. LOL Lame!
MD, you mean the game on TV is different than the one live? come on man?
…lol…that was funny Latino….
@md
8th grader?
Please look at your 6:30 post and mine above and tell me which is likely from an 8th grader.
Again, the confounding md logic evades me. If the offense gave up 48 TO’s, those 28 the D are meaningless aren’t they?
The ratio is what matters.
GB had just about as large a TO margin. Some time, you need to check out this cool thing called the internet. Has all kinds of neat facts. Like top TO margin teams.
And you didn’t answer tthe initial point. Did the D lose a lead in those games or not?
Not an opinion answer by the way. It is already known. Just wondering if you still think the earth is the center of the solar system. If so, kinda makes meaningful discussion useless.
MD,
Funny, I used to think the same thing about BS. She makes stupid comments to get attention. Tuen I saw so many dumb comments I figured out that she truly is just this dumb. Thats why you don’t get a trail of people agreeing with her. I finally couldn’t continue to respond to all the stupid posts coming from her. I figure BS has to be a woman. There’s no way in he’ll a guy can be this dense when it comes to football. SO at least she has an excuse. She never lacd them up!
Lol ds…. To argue with a fool really means there are two. You win ds. WOW
And Latino. When your at the game, you get the whole field perspective you don’t get on TV. Try going out to one and you’ll see what I mean.
J23 + 1. To start a conversation about the defense to make smiths passing look better is a all time low for smith fans. Not even the great one lame has thought of something this drastic. I see a new short bus driver in our near future.
GB had just about as large a TO margin. Some time, you need to check out this cool thing called the internet. Has all kinds of neat facts. Like top TO margin teams. Ds says….
How did GB’s offense look last season? Just wondering if they turned those TO’s into tds or fg’s. Keep spinning old wise Internet user. That’s my point any jack*** can get stats off of the Internet, but actually war hong the game and understanding it you can’t do. There is NO way in hell you ever played a sport in your life. Talk about fantasy league. Your a kingpins dream secretary.
MD, are you serious about the comment seeing the whole field live versus on TV? And do you really think people on here, myself included have never seen a football game live and don’t know the difference?
Please dont use that analogy its embarrassing for you to questions people to correlate a live game vs. TV.
6:30 post md
Just look at what you wrote.
MD,
I’ve been to a lot of live games and I see much more at home than I do at the stadium. The camera angles and multiple replays on TV, as opposed to trying to see everything that’s going on while the drunks beside me are doing the wave isn’t even comparable.
You support the Niners with your season tickets. Good for you, but don’t try to pretend you are privy to some special insider view of the game. You aren’t, in fact I’d argue you see less at the stadium than you do on TV after factoring in all the stuff going on in the stands, waiting in line for beer and food, washroom etc. Being at a game is a great time and experience, but if I really want to focus and get into a game, watching on TV is a much better way to do it for me.
….Looks like things haven’t changed much, Crabtree missing OTA..
…..Crabtree is somewhere in Mexico…….http://lockerz.com/s/212633459… …..missing OTA….
….Glad Alex getting comfortable with Moss during OTA
If AS isn’t in Mexico, what the BLEEP is MC doing there!
Where else could he get a good Tequila?
Several players missed the INvoluntary practice. But the MC ‘haters’ will only take notice of Crabtree.
Yeah, good job of convincing us that you support the TEAM!
Crabs is a single guy, who gives a crap what he is doing? It’s not like he is taking pictures that could be considered inappropriate as a leader on the team.
http://drunkathlete.com/2008/09/08/alex-smith-loves-tequila/
Did AS?
How often did JR skip to go to Mexico? MC hasn’t gotten the chemistry with AS for 1 simple reason. He isn’t around! The Niners get 3 new WR’s including a 1st round pick, and you skip work? Way to show your will power.
And if my posts up to this point haven’t convinced you I am team guy, I hope you never have to be a juror in any meaningful trial.
@BigP:
You’re kidding, right?
DS,
Do you plan on ripping Manningham, Whitner, Davis, and Culliver for not participating as well or only spew hate towards Crabtree?
Who cares what Crabs is doing on Memorial Day weekend? Seriously? He wasn’t the only guy not there. Memorial Day weekend is the last opportunity many NFL players have to get away before a 7-8 month grind. Smith is a husband and a father now, he was doing the same thing when he was single. I didn’t care then and I don’t care now.
I usually respect what you say but this is just insane. Ripping MC for missing an OTA but leaving EVERYONE els who missed out of it. Absurd bitter hatred.
Claude,
Yes, I was. I don’t care what these guys do as long as they aren’t hurting themselves or anybody else. I’m sure you were wildin’ out when you were that age, I know I was. From Smith to Crabs, I’m not mad at them. They are having a blast, good for them.
@BigP:
Got it. The “inappropriate” comment that threw me.
Believe me, I have no problem with anyone blowing off steam in a non-harmful way. I do wish Crabtree (and the others who missed today’s session) had scheduled his trip so that it did not conflict with OTAs. Then again, I have no idea of the full circumstances, and it does not appear that Harbaugh is concerned, so I don’t see any reason to get upset.
Of course, that fact that Crabtree went to Mexico with Chad Ochocinco is another issue.
*The “inappropriate” comment threw me.
Claude,
I added the inappropriate comment as a light hearted jab at the fact that Crabtree was just standing there taking a photo. He wasn’t doing anything that could embarass the team. Smith has all kind of drunken photos on the web and I don’t care one bit. I think it’s funny(in a “remember those days” type of way). Most young men have been there before, several times. When I see this picture, I’m not hating, I’m thinking “good times.”
http://yadogg.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/hanging-around-drunk.jpg
Ease up DS. Crabs has been around all off season. I have no problem with him enjoying some vacation time during voluntary workouts.
@rocket
MC is not on an even keel with me right now. He is in the dog house. People who are in the doghouse don’t get the same privileges as those who are not (Whitner, Moss, Goodwin, Culliver, Vernon, etc).
MC put himself there. I didn’t. He needs to get himself out of there. This didn’t help his case. I’m sure JH will say he is fine with it. I bet he would have been more fine with it if MC were here though.
Haters!!!!
md
You’re like a newborne baby with your use of that word. Have no idea what it means or how it is used.
A mixture of funny and sad emotions overwhelms me with your inability to grasp it.
Memeorial weekend vacation. Crab has been to ALL offseason workouts and missed ONE. Anthony and Vernon Davis both missed today, as well as manningham and Whitner. Moss didnt show up til 2 weeks in. I hope you are joking with this post because if your not you have problems.
The sad thing is they are not joking.
1. None of those players you mention needed to be attached at the hip to AS to develop that chemistry.
2. None of those players said the crap MC said after the game.
3. Its really stupid to do. You have not lived up to what was expected. You need to be asking AS for extra time. Sleep at his house. Serve him dinner. You need to get it done because you haven’t come close to doing what the team needs from you. And if you never do, it better be because you can’t. Not because you chose not to.
In contrast, the same can never be said of AS. If he isn’t able to do what is expected it won’t be because he didn’t do all he could do.
DS,
You don’t think it is important for Manningham, as the new guy, to be attached to AS’ hip? He has less chemistry with Smith than Crabtree.
The guys shirt says it all….
http://49ersnews.files.wordpress.com/2007/02/asmith2.jpg
Good thing Crabs didn’t have a margherita in his hand or all hell would break loose around here. SMH.
The “serve him dinner” part was priceless.
I’ve got NO problem with AS having a good time.
But what caught my attention was the Sept. 8th date that the picture was supposedly taken. Obviously, this date is close to the season opener. Was AS hurt and unable to play during this time hence the little excursion to Mexico?
@msclemons:
September 8 was the date the photo showed up on the website. As far as I can tell, there is no indication when the photo was taken.
Smith went on IR prior to the start of the 2008 season.
Nice try.
Adam707,
Surely you didn’t just discover that BS has problems. Of course she does.
*@AES
My apologies to msclemons. Clearly, I am too tired to be commenting.
“None of those players you mention needed to be attached at the hip to AS to develop that chemistry.”
Considering the fact that Moss and Manningham havent played a single SNAP with AS in a real game i would say it is way more important for them to be at EVERY practice. MC has the 2nd best chemistry with alex to only VD. FYI his contract states he must be at over 90% of mandatory practices so as long as he’s over that people shouldn’t care. Unless you are incapable of being objective. Its funny becuase you talk so much crap to 23J, Bay, MD about being Alex haters and your the same way towards Crabtree. Sorry but this is just ABSURD
Adam707
None of those players you bring up were drafted by us. None of those WR’s have we invested so much. That matters a lot. Plus MC acting like a jerk since draft day. AS has not. A distinction you may not make or care for, but I do. A LOT! Also AS in the playoffs vs MC in the playoffs matter a lot more to me than AS in the regular season vs. MC regular season does to you. That much is clear.
AS is working harder than MC after MC had a worse playoff. If that isn’t a concern…oh well. MC HAS to be thinking about his horrible play every second if every day. JR was obsessed by any bad play. MC by the same account should be in a psych ward. But if he’s having fun in Mexico right now, that does not sit well with me. AS wasn’t even on contract when he organized Camp Alex. Which MC laughed at. So we know what reasons MC goes to OTA’s (money), and AS’s reasons (to get better without a contract and to help pay to get guys in here on a team he isn’t even on).
If MC weren’t a Niner would you bother to defend anything he’s done? On or off the field? I would rip him a lot more. Look at how I discuss the Raiders as reference.
Crabtree has the best hands of any wide receiver Jim Harbaugh has ever seen.
Don’t you trust Harbaugh?
“So we know what reasons MC goes to OTA’s (money), and AS’s reasons (to get better without a contract and to help pay to get guys in here on a team he isn’t even on).”
The Niners are #6 in the NFL with workout bonuses tied into contracts. They incorporate those measures into contracts because guys often skipped non-mandatory team training sessions. Patrick Willis and Justin Smith both have $500,000 workout bonuses in their contracts. Even Smith has a $250,000 workout bonus in his contract. You just don’t like Crabtree.
@msc
Why ask me? It matters not. Only matters what those players think.
…AES…there you go again branding a comment “Crab haters”…..I can honestly say when i read/copied/pasted it – I had no bad feelings towards crabtree…….just thought the story would generate interest….
……its just that I expected more…..from someone who was part of the reason we lost in the playoffs….
…there has been reports of how K. Williams has been working his butt off since last season…….I still get that feeling from Crab he didn’t do anything wrong last season or playoffs……or he needs to change anything….
….and again stop putting out faux news…..the hate for Alex is not in the same level as the dislike of Crabtree…..
@oneniner
+1 Especially paragraph 2.
Also looks like md is another “defensexuser” The D gave up the lead because the offense didn’t build one large enough.
Well of course! And this whole economic turndown we had happened because those jerks on Wall Street just needed more of our money. I bet md thinks that as well.
Have you read anything as outlandish as this? If that isn’t an excuse for somebody/unit (and an elite one at that) from somebody who claims to hate excuses/handouts, what is?
……that mdniner excuse was a classic……how can anyone with a brain come up with that….and to write it for everyone to read….
…..”The D gave up the lead because the offense didn’t build one large enough.”……
Sports Center is running a special on the NFC west right now. They had a poll question which was “can the Niners win the super bowl with Alex Smith.” The results of the poll was like 63 percent yes and 37 percent said no (note I could be off on a percent or so, as I got brain cramp at the moment). Seems like lots of others feel that the Niners can win the super bowl with Alex taking the snaps.
Sure they can undercenter, they almost made it there last year with him. If he shows improvement this year and the defense continues to play at a high level by forcing TO’s to give the offense extra possessions it could be a magical year
You know Jack, I expect two things next year. One I think the defense needs to get better and I think they will. I need to see Alex to play at a very good QB level which should translate into a better offense.
undercenter says, “I think the defense needs to get better and I think they will.”
What do you see them needing to improve on?
@undercenter
I’ve said before that other teams fans who come here are often more reasonable and less hateful than many here of Niner players. Who dat being one of them.
This poll shows that to be true.
Kind of the reason I posted it was to acknowledge that others seem to think it would work. AS will be better next I expect that of him.
*next year*
@undercenter:
What was not reported was that all of the “no” votes were jordan’s.
Fitz Bob Neal would have pushed the no total higher, but he could not figure out how to vote.
lol
The “no” votes were from fans too young to remember Trent Dilfer and the 2000 Ravens.
…lmao
Count me in the ‘win the SP with Alex group.’
I agree with Hofe; “All arrows are up.” Even if AS equals what he did last season, we win it all. But I believe AS shows significant improvement over last season.
I’m not convinced we win 13 games like last year, but an 11-5 or 10-6 record get’s our foot in the door. And no one will want to play us in the playoffs.
The 49ers could hit 13 wins again. The defense is likely to slip a little bit just because of the odds. +28 turnovers and only 8 missed starts for injury is probably not going to repeat. I also don’t think Akers can make another 52 FG attempts without his leg falling off. The D/ST will still be fantastic but might not be as dominant as in 2011.
The offense will have to pick up some of the slack but they don’t have to become the Saints or Packers. If they can get up to middle of the league in the passing game and keep the run game going strong there’s no reason they can’t get to 12 or 13 wins again.
I’m no Alex fan (surprise!) but the dude isn’t completely horrible – if he gets back to his late 2010 form (excellent against the blitz and in the red zone) he can easily get the team to that middle of the pack status.
@msclemons:
One reason the offense should “improve” is that the 49ers will be facing lesser defenses in 2012. AFC East defenses < AFC North defenses (4 top 10 defenses), and NFC North defenses < NFC East defenses.
On the other hand, the 49ers also are playing better offenses in 2012, but that defense is so good that I am not overly worried.
Good point Claude. The 49ers faced the best defenses in the league last year. The AFC North is becoming a monster for opposing offenses. Even the Factory of Sadness (Cleveland) has a good defense.
It’s a bit crazy that Taylor Mays is slated to start on a top 10 defense this year.
“msclemons67 says: January 14, 2012 at 5:45 pm
I’d like to sign up to join the Alex Smith cult now. I’m a believer.”
You have it in you to be an Alex fan : )
The problem is Jack, after I joined the cult the priests did horrible things to me the following week.
Pretty much killed my faith.
msc,
That just might be the nicest thing you’ve ever said about Smith:)
I agree with you though. If they can improve the Red zone and 3rd down efficiency execution to even league average, this team can beat anybody.
DS94everXev says:
May 29, 2012 at 9:23 pm
“Did AS?
How often did JR skip to go to Mexico? MC hasn’t gotten the chemistry with AS for 1 simple reason. He isn’t around! The Niners get 3 new WR’s including a 1st round pick, and you skip work? Way to show your will power.”
Wow DS. Are you trying to become the T.O. of this blog? Like T.O., you can posts a couple of good posts only to open your mouth and say something that puts a target on your back and wonder why people come at you.
No chemistry between AS and MC? You were kidding with that remark right? Because if you were serious that is one of the worst statements to date.
So just to humor you a little let’s just say for the sake of insanity that MC has not developed any chemistry with AS.
Maybe that’s why him being our leading WR last season (for a QB who didn’t throw that often) only serves to prove that he and AS did not have chemistry.
And yes DS, for a person who proudly takes credit for being the first blogger to use the word ‘hate’ on this blog, perhaps it’s time to look in the mirror. Because your lack of chemistry theory is full of holes. So if you exclude chemistry from the equation what else do you have?
AES
Every year with MC is the same. Is out of tune with AS to start the season. Then at the end things look good between them.
We all say “They are good now” only for MC to not practice the following offseason anywhere near as much as JM/JR did and the start of the year is another “feeling each other out” period.
If that pattern has not become apparent to you by now, can’t help ya out. The thing they need is reps together. Unless you blame AS for not having the arm to throw it 600 miles on target, MC needs to get his butt up here now!
That is what you have to do to beccome great.
crabtree has been practicing with AS and AS has been impressed so this is good enough for me as far as chemistry building…
AES,
What idiot would want to stake a claim for inventing the word hater?? It could only be BD, the miserable soul. BS only singled out Crabtree for missing practice even though 7 players were listed.
The term hater was really used heavily in the Rap industry. The term is actually “player hater”. The term is for a person that dislikes what another person does because he is envious or jealous of that person. Wishing hoisted in that persons shoes.
DS didn’t invent anything but a bunch of idiotic posts that make people wonder if she ever watched football before the start of last season last season.
DS94everXev says:
May 29, 2012 at 10:00 pm
AES
“Every year with MC is the same. Is out of tune with AS to start the season. Then at the end things look good between them.
We all say “They are good now” only for MC to not practice the following offseason anywhere near as much as JM/JR did and the start of the year is another “feeling each other out” period.”
I think we’ve been down this road more than a few times already DS.
Alex Smith is NO Joe Montana and Micheal Crabtree is NO Jerry Rice.
Time to close that chapter DS.
I don’t like MC’s attitude. You think it to be fine. I don’t think he is remotely near as good as he needs to be. You do. You think it is fine for him to skip TC in year 1, then stand on the sideline all year 2 in TC , then have the same rookie injury hold him back from participating in year 3 and it’s perfectly cool for him to take a break after so much time at work in year 4. I don’t.
That about covers it.
DS,
You should try reading this piece from the great Eric Branch:
http://blog.sfgate.com/49ers/2012/05/24/inside-the-numbers-crabtree-was-a-no-1-in-final-11-games-of-11/
Jack, MC disappeared in playoffs and it was 1000% his fault we lost to the giants. There i saved DS from having to respond to this. Hahaha
@Adam707
Not paying much attention to my many TO’s are everything posts are you.
We won the NO game because we won the TO battle. We lost the Title game because we lost the TO battle (we had the lead until the 1st one).
And if DG learns not to hit/injure our own guys who would have gotten those 2 INT, we win. Add to that the screw job we had in that fumble whistled early, we dominate. 0/13 3rd down and MC and all.
Why is it ok for Manningham and Moss to miss practice if they have NO chemistry with AS? Why is it ok for Goodwin to be missing practices when he was one of the big problems in pass pro last season, especially since there will be a new RG, you would think he would want to get “chemistry” with him. You are unfairly focusing your hate on one person simply becuase he questioned our QB who deserved to be questioned. He speaks highly of him now so give it a rest
@Adam707
If MC speaks highly of AS, it wasn’t a subject on this blog. If there is an article of him speaking (really want him defending AS) please show me.
And like I said. Moss/Manningham weren’t a huge investment. If they suck, it costs the team little. Also, if MC were what he was supposed to be, I doubt we get those 2 and a #1 on a WR. Please explain how we’d do that if he was “all that”. Mind you we didn’t just pursue these 3. We actually got them.
As for Goowdin, he is an aging vet. MC is entering the prime of his career. Are you seriously comparing them? Besides this gives the team more time to see/give time to any backups we have at C.
Glenn Dickey after that title game didn’t write that we needed to draft “C, C, C!” He wrote we needed “WR, WR, WR!” Our OL (C specifically) didn’t lose that game. Our lack of a real #1 WR did.
3rd down conversion rate lost the game to which also falls on the QB
Let sleeping dogs lie. The future is golden for the 49ers.
No ‘oneniner’ we’re talkin’ bout INvoluntary practice. You single out Crabtree in hopes to get the readers ire up against him. If he had missed a mandetary practice I along with you, would have issues. This is a non-story.
Non-story like the Cam Newton thing. And got 1,000 hits. Both can be true AES
It’s silly to compare these two DS. Two completely different situations.
Crabtree had no obligation (like many other players who according to your theory needed to work on chemistry) to attend this practice. Alex mentioned a name (C.Newton) to defend his passing yardage vs. wins. While AS spoke the truth, an intelligent person like AS could have used a little more tact. Crabtree’s actions are excused by an INVOLUNTARY practice, Alex could have use better jugdement.
How do you equate the two?
And the reason why the AS/CN topic had more than 1000 hits, is because many people here posted numerous times on the same issue.
It is silly to compare the 2. But not those 2.
AS lead Camp Alex for a team that ripped him and wasn’t even on contract with. Camp Alex was voluntary. And a big reason why we were so good last year. MC held out after being drafted in comparison.
MC laughed at it (Camp Alex). Then noticed nobody else laughing. So he finally showed up where he got…injured!
MC is at those OTA’s for money. AS is not there for money. If he were, explain the logic of Camp Alex?
Can’t. Can you?
AES….actually Crabtree could have used better judgement and attend OTA to build chemistry with Alex….
you had a point until Randy Moss showed for INvoluntary practice….
…if Randy is there, Crabtree should be there also………and FYI if there was one area INvoluntary practice is very helpful, it is to the passing game……
…Randy is a lock to make the HOF……Crabtree is close to being discarded after this season if he does not improve…….something I don’t think he understands…….
Its pretty clear Crabtree does not want to be a 49er or the labels that haunted him prior to the draft are all true. If he really wants to be the #1 WR on the roster, he should be in attendance wether its voluntary or not.
@DS
There is an advantage to Crabs being gone. It allows more reps for Jenkins to improve his game, and it allows for others to get more reps. I think that is a good thing.
undercenter, great for the rookies, but for a guy who is suppose to be the #1 and eventually be the leader of the WR core, what example is he setting?
Based on his production in the league to date, this guy needs to put the time in, he hasnt and that to me is concerning.
@ Heat
Perhaps a little harsh on Crabs? He went home and got some family & friends time around Memorial Day Weekend. He’s been here, he’s been working and from reports from the practice field he’s having fun out there. He’s inspired by Randy and he noticed the 1st Rounder spent on a WR. I’d agree that initially he wasn’t too thrilled to be a 49er, but I think that’s old news.
Whadda I know? But imo Crabs is fine.
@Latino
Careful. I said the same thing (MC not wanting to be a Niner) and AES…well he hasn’t gotten over that.
@undercenter
You are looking for the positives. No doubt. But if somebody were drafted to replace you and you didn’t show up for work (voluntary or not), how does that help you get better? Because that new kid is only going to get better.
It’s a good thing for Jenkins. But not for MC. And the issue is MC.
@Latino
I do have a problem with him not being there, but its like this, he could be working himself off the team. After his holdout I didnt hold my breath that he would ever be a true number one receiver. I also believe when Crabs contract runs out he signs with another team. With that being said yes I am glad Jenkins is getting more reps he wants to be a Niner and for him to get more reps will be to the benifit of the Niners and Jenkins.
@undercenter
“After his holdout I didnt hold my breath that he would ever be a true number one receiver.”
There in lies the difference between us regarding my comments on MC.
I did think he would be a true #1 WR. I followed what MS said about how he was upset when he was drafted he thought he was going to go higher. I mean, you can’t argue that things didn’t turn out well for MS, so why can’t the same happen for MC?
So when MC does/says what he does, it pains somebody (me) who did believe in him a lot more than somebody who was a lot less sure (you). I won’t be mad about something I never believed in the first place. Some people can be. Not me.
@DS
I understand that you had high expectations of him and he has let you down. And its true I had doubts from the get go with him so my expectations were not as high as yours. Being the type of fan that I am things like holding out rub me the wrong way. Dont get me wrong I want Crabs to succede as if he succedes then I know the line is doing their job and AS is doing his job and the coaches are doing their job. We both have stated its a team game and when part of the team isnt functioning it makes them all look bad. Its true I am looking past Crabs and looking to Jenkins, that may be a mistake on my part but it is what it is.
Its not like the players do not know way ahead of time when these team workouts are occuring so for Crabs to miss this to me is inexcusable for a couple reasons.
One, he has never participated in a full training camp since being drafted, injuries aside, participation in these things are very helpful. Secondly, the team drafted a guy to compete at your postion, he shows and you go on vacation, whats that all about. Lastly, WR & QB’s that dont have great chemistry, need to work together, AS and MC dont have that yet, guess who is always present and who isnt,?
Considering how porous the offensive line was in 2011, the absence of Davis and Goowin should be of more concern to everyone.
Without those guys getting in synch it doesn’t matter who is at WR or QB because it is very hard to complete a pass from your back.
AES,
If we just ignore IT, the story will go very quickly. Have you noticed he/she/it is the only one going off about this?
You can’t keep away from me. Even though I ask you to do so.
the argument is still good as far as the level of actionable personal commitment …. but AS has apparently moved passed whatever last off season shenanigans may or may not have been between him and Ctree…..
crabtree has been injured at inopportune times as has AS so i believe AS has given Ctree the benefit of the doubt and i will as well
Nobody can keep away from you DS. Everytime we click on the page 4 of the 5 recent comments are you making a ridiculous or incorrect statement.
@jg
No doubt. But there was never something that was all that public about it (said in public). And what would you expect AS to say?
I wrote a post in the last blog about how QB’s often take the personality of their HC. AS for the first time is. How he deals with the media is very similar to how JH deals with them. And in addition, AS won’t put down a teammate (he never did before either) and will only say positive things about them.
Those are things that JH strives to achieve. AS is just following his HC (commander in chief) lead. Just as any other successful duo of QB and HC have done.
Why dont you just man up hammer and show some inner discipline and not respond to every comment, Insted of crying about it, just do it, your just as annoying with every little jab at JH or AS when you can.
Today’s Homework assignment: Consideration & examination of the following two paradox:
1/ “If a tree falls in the forest when there’s no one there to hear it, does it really make a sound?”
2/ If the Press Democrat goes out of business and closes their facility but forgets to turn off the Server, does The Great QB Debate rage on endlessly anyway? Do the commenters keep posting on and on indefinitely?
Compare & contrast & discuss.
one is a discussion on definitions the other is a discussion on events
Or alternatively, one is the crux theme of Existentialism, and the other is navel gazing. But you get full credit for the assignment with kudos for being concise! : >) Please help yourself to Graham Crackers and milk.
Brotha,
The answers to all of your questions are yes : )..
Full credit for honesty!
@Jack
To answer your question on what I think the defense needs to improve on:
They are a very very good defense, would like them to become elite. In order to do that, a little improvement across the board will get them there. I do believe they can get better then they were last year. Its a damn good unit.
undercenter,
What specific areas do you see the defense needing to improve on to be elite?
Its really hard to say without becoming nitpicking. We did give up a rushing touchdown, thats hard to improve on. Pass rush could get better, from McDonald, and in turn that would make the pass defense better. Like to see some more blitzes. The one thing more then anything to make the defense better is to have the offense better. I am old school so I still believe defenses win championships, sometimes the best defense is a great offense.
Remember this defense is really good so to make it better, there would not be noticable changes or improvements.
I’d like to see the defense mix in an occasional disguised press at the line with an all out blitz. If they attempt it and it doesn’t work you give up the home run, but if your corners are physical enough at the line, it’s a very disruptive style of play.
If they occasionally used it and got good at it, then the defense could fake that coverage from time to time and further keep offenses guessing.
Philly has done a great job of it over the years.
i say the defense needs to get better at defending the 3rd and long….
+1 jg
If that one play was stopped, the Niners win the game. Virtual guarantee.
DS:
“AS lead Camp Alex for a team that ripped him and wasn’t even on contract with. Camp Alex was voluntary. And a big reason why we were so good last year. MC held out after being drafted in comparison.”
Hmmm, if I recall Crabtree attended Alex Camp I, got hurt and missed Alex II because of a surgery on his foot. Maybe if he would have practiced/played through his surgically repaired foot he may have garnered a little more respect from you, but I highly doubt it. He’s on your ‘hate’ radar and nothing is going to change that.
It is what it is, Mr. Team Supporter.
I said that AES
Gee. You are desperate for anything aren’t you? At least read my posts.
My 7:32am post
“MC laughed at it (Camp Alex). Then noticed nobody else laughing. So he finally showed up where he got…injured!”
And MC has done what to make me change my mind about him doing everything he can to get better? Oneniner is right about KW. SFGATE reported that about him (working his tail off every day). Why hasn’t our supposed “best WR” doing the same thing?
JR lead by example. What has MC lead by example in his time here? How to stage a failed hold out and rip your teammates and get a ticket to Mexico when you had the opportunity to work out the kinks you have had with your QB your whole career?
MC has a habit of getting hurt when TC comes. He shouldn’t be dismissing the notion of getting this timing thing down as best he can before he gets hurt. And don’t throw that “MC got hurt last year at Camp Alex” at me. MC can just as easily get hurt getting drunk and falling down a flight of stairs in Mexico. Between the two, MC earns more respect points for getting hurt working at the thing he needs the most than he does getting hurt falling down a flight of stairs because he wants to get drunk in Mexico. I’m weird like that.
If you are going to nitpick my posts to death, at least have the courtesy of doing so correctly.
DS:
“MC laughed at it (Camp Alex). Then noticed nobody else laughing. So he finally showed up where he got…injured!”
Sooo DS, I should put all credence on this statement? Wow, I guess this remark should be regarded as ‘gospel truth’ huh?
Take a break DS, you are on ‘overload’ bud.
@AES
“Sooo DS, I should put all credence on this statement? ”
No
You should:
1. Remember what happened from memory.
or
2. Look it up.
MC didn’t show up immediately for Camp Alex did he? Did he help Alex organize it? Pitch in money to help bring players in? Stand by Alex? No. He didn’t.
He did ask reporters “Who is our QB?” when it was clear that AS was coming back and JH was supporting him and that Alex was about to organize the camp. Funny how MC is all silent and quiet with reporters all the time, except when he opens his mouth he is insulting somebody. How does that work?
Look it up if your memory fades so quickly. And you need the break a lot more than I do. You can’t read a post accurately. 2nd time in a few days by the way.
AES,
Let IT go. IT doesn’t care for MC and won’t change IT’s mind regardless of what anyone says.
The best way to combat a strong pass rush is to run short “stuff” underneath (screens) and utilize speed guys (Moss, James, Ginn to a lesser extent). I feel these guys will need to get involved more against ARZ’s defense for our offense to be more effective. If you can be successful with a few of these plays, the defense becomes much more honest. Conservatively, I say we split with ARZ this year and still end up 12-4.
@Mike
Maybe I’m too critical, but Iupati-Goodwin-Boone are big ‘ol guys whose best skills might not include mobility on screens. Traps and Draws can be alternatives with some screens mixed in. Outs, Hooks & Quick Slants can help too and I think Moss can beat the press on short and deep routes. I think the long ball will come mostly off play-action and that confounds a pass rush too.
The other thing is that running the ball effectively can take the steam out of a DL. Come’on Davis & Boone! Let’s roll!
One of the problems we had on offense last year is we didnt make adjustments when needed. Slants and outs are good, draws are good, and screens are good. Tuna has a good point in the mobility of the line. I am not sure if they are or not mobile. Its up to AS to read the defense and audible out of it. I know they call two plays in the huddle but sometimes neither one is the right one. When a player blitzes that area he blitzes from is now left unprotected. That is where you attack at. Coverage would be one on one so AS needs to make that pass deep to Moss. Blitzing is a gamble and you make the defense pay for it.
@ Undercenter
Agree. The teams that were able to pressure us without blitzing, G-men, then could press our WRs and combo the safeties to both cover VD and be in the neighborhood against the run. The Niners will have to burn a few defenses with Moss or a little flare to James to loosen things up.
As to your point about the QB, well, the Great Ones made most defenses scared to blitz ‘em; Montana, Stabler, Marino, P.Manning, Brady, etc., so yeah, agree on that too.
jgwindsor,
Not every team has a WR like V.Cruz, but the way he and Eli exploited our ‘underneath’ defense may have created the mold for other teams to attack us in 2012.
This will definitely need to be addressed by Vangio & Co.
@AES
In the second half of the NFC Championship game, they took away the underneath routes and pretty much shutdown Cruz. I agree about other teams using that as a template, but it looks like Fangio and company are more than capable at adjusting to that strategy.
-
With the additions of Moss Manningham and Jenkins, everyone seems concerned about how we can improve the passing game with the receivers. That’s cool and all, but it’s a vague way to look at it. It seems very few people are focused on our passing game’s biggest flaw last season.
We lost to Baltimore and Arizona because we couldn’t protect the quarterback, or the quarterback held the ball too long. We really suffered against the blitz, and all year long we had the same question: where are the screen passes? Why don’t they adjust the playcalling to what the defense is giving us? Why doesn’t Roman EVER call a screen?
The 49ers need to call more screen passes this year, bottom line. We have a lot of capable halfbacks, let’s use them.
“He did ask reporters “Who is our QB?” when it was clear that AS was coming back and JH was supporting him and that Alex was about to organize the camp. Funny how MC is all silent and quiet with reporters all the time, except when he opens his mouth he is insulting somebody. How does that work?”
Are you sure MC did not make this statement while the Org was persuing M.Hasselback?
I’ve got no problem with how he speaks to the media. Harbaugh certainly isn’t considered a media darling is he? If the media has a problem with MC they should avoid him, I’m sure he wouldn’t have any issues with this.
But let me ask you this DS. If we all adopted Harbaugh’ endorsement last year that AS was his QB. Why are some not adopting Harbaugh’ endorsement of Crabtree?
Weren’t you on the “In Harbaugh We Trust” bandwagon last season when he made a pitch for AS?
Are you hedging on that same mantra with regards to Crabtree?
And if memory (which you seem to be questioning) serves me correct, MC was our leading receiver and finished 7th in the league with receptions.
Hmmm, not bad for a player who needs to (according to your mindset) practice with a surgically repaired foot and be at every INVOLUNTARY ota for better chemistry.
Why don’t we analyze Crabtree’ performance at mid-season instead of taking cheap shots at him before TC.
Is that fair enough for you DS? Wouldn’t that be the Team Supporter thing to do?
Which question will you (spin) eh, answer?
DS,
Jim Harbaugh said that Crabtree has the best hands of any receiver he has ever see.
You don’t agree with Jim Harbaugh?
Crabtree was ranked 25th in receptions.
I expect really good things from him this year, and I think he’ll surprise some of his haters.
Inside the numbers: Crabtree was a No. 1 in final 11 of ’11
Posted on May 24, 2012 at 12:11 pm by Eric Branch in 49ers, Wide Receivers…
I was going off E.Branch’ numbers LSX, but it’s neither here or there.
We got a HOF WR and drafted a guy #1. Look at those facts. I told you already that MC gets graded from me starting in the playoffs. Until then he might want to take your advice and shut up and not speak to reporters. Spend that energy on the field. Assuming he is available come playoff time.
7th in the league huhh. Talk about making stuff up to support your position. I already gave you my answer about the JH team thing. Must be getting old if you forgot. Go back and take a look if you are so desperate for the answer.
Hint: That means you are losing.
In that case you must give AS a bad grade as well for his poor 3rd (1-13) down performance against the Giants right?
Afterall, that’ your own position when it comes to grading players per playoff performances.
And if you are true to your playoff grading curve, well, it looks like you lose in showing fairness across the board.
Mr. Crabs has meaty claws.
It just takes a long time to coax them out of their shells ;)
Hopefully this season.