SANTA CLARA – Here’s the best of what I saw Saturday Night.
Randy Moss had his best practice of training camp. He beat Tarell Brown twice in one-on-one drills. The first time he turned Brown around on a double move, and the second time he beat Brown deep down the middle of the field but Alex Smith overthrew the pass. In an 11-on-11 red zone drill, Moss beat Carlos Rogers and caught a high Smith pass for a touchdown. Moss looked like the best offensive player in practice today.
Reserve nose tackle Ian Williams dominated the second team offensive line at times. On one play in an 11-on-11 live hitting goal line drill, Williams pushed backup center Daniel Kilgore five yards back, right into the ball carrier – Anthony Dixon.
Perrish Cox was a monster on the field today. He broke up a deep pass to the fastest player on the team – Ted Ginn Jr. – and then he landed the hit of the day on Dixon. Dixon was the lead blocker for Kendall Hunter on an outside run. Cox launched himself into Dixon as hard as he could and knocked the 240 pounder onto his back. The whole team roared, and Carlos Rogers yelled, “Get your weight up, A.D.!”
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1) Glad Cox had some nice plays.
2) AD is toast.
3) Glad our Dline has some nice potential depth.
4) I like hearing Smith to Moss connections.
5) The Oline needs to step it up.
AD might still make this team. Don’t assume he won’t because we’re loaded at the position. ;)
Have heard virtually nothing on LaMichael James, Grant. Is he just overwhelmed right now, missing so much early, or is he just not performing>
This D revolves around the front 7. The entire team does. How does the pass rush look? Is there depth at OLB we can count on? Maybe some good info can be had during 1-1 pass rush drills…
It’s hard to say how our pass rush looks when our o-line can’t block a jv pass rush right now. You need to really invest some time in reading more reports than Grants. They are all saying the o-line is suspect.
The O-line has been a problem for quite a while.
AD will need to really pick up his game if he wants a spot. There are other areas of need that we could use depth and if Coaches really believe Hunter and James can be more than 3rd down heroes and run up through the tackles then I really don’t see a place for him. Unless you think he will beat out Cartwright.
With others fully capable of playing FB, I don’t see Dixon making the team at that position and the RB numbers are clearly against him. Alex and Moss still have work to do to build chemistry, but that’s what TC and preseason’s for. I’m going to see them in Denver the 3rd preseason game, so will give a report as to how they’re coming along. I thought Cox would make an impact…he got off to a rough NFL start, but the dude is a football player. He can also return kicks. Am loving our CB depth. Also good to hear Ian Williams is stepping up. Need to give the starting DL some breaks this season.
Our CB depth? Are you serious. Our CBs aren’t great in coverage. Our team is superb against the run, but the only problem with that is that 11 of the 16 teams we face, only focus on the passing game and have no running game.
This Defense is perfect to play against the 489ers. It however isn’t the answer against pass oriented teams.
Umm.. we actually have a lot of CB depth. Pro bowler in Carlos Rogers, Tarrell Brown probably will join him there this year. Read an article recently that Chris Culliver ended up as the 6th best overall defensive rookie in last years draft, not to mention Perrish Cox looks like a steal and Tramaine Brock isn’t a slouch. Not sure where you get your info from.
@ Kurt
Well said, but nothing is going to impress Chris. Have you read his comments? He scorns everybody on the team and most everything posted here. Mr. Negativity will find fault no matter what.
My apologies for not being clearer. I am not saying that there isn’t depth at CB positions. There is plenty of depth.
I look at the team in comparison to the teams they are going to be facing.
This year, the CBs will face the top three passers in the league. They will face the top 4 of the top 5 NFL offenses of 2011 and 6 of the top 8.
Two of those offenses had over 5000 yards passing, one team missed it by 76 yards, and another missed 5000 yards by just over 100 yards.
Teams are going to spread out the 49ers CBs and while our CBs excell in zone coverages, we do not have any that are “shut down” man to man corners.
So for that reason, we have the wrong kind of depth. Grant touched on the issue about a week and a half ago saying much of the same thing.
@Chris,
If opponents are going to spread out the 49ers as you predict, then they will leave their QB exposed. If they do that consistently, their QB will get killed. I’m not sure teams are willing to take that risk.
Afterall, didn’t the Niners play Detroit and New Orleans last year?
It’s amazing how people jump to conclusions based on outcome of a single practice. AD will be fine. He’ll give Jacobs and Cartwright a run for their money – pun intended. The o-line is young athletic, and has bruising size. They’ll be fine this year.
Let’s wait at least until a few real games are Played before making predictions and projections about roster spots and player performance.
@Nick:
I agree with you about waiting to see how players actually perform in games before projecting the 53 man roster. That said, I don’t expect a completely rational response from fans, even after a few preseason games. Remember how upset some people got when Kory Sheets was cut?
@nick/claude
JH has only announced a few starters (AS is the only one I know of but their are likely others). Then you have the ones we know will start (pretty much the whole defense + VD, 4 of 5 OL from last year and FG I think is the starting RB). The only area of complete uncertaainty are the WR’s. And JH/GR has complimented them all very nicely. The order of who is what will be determined by who plays best in TC. The Niners can dump any but AJ (who they wouldn’t for obvious reasons) and still be ok salary cap wise.
Just the way it should be.
Enjoy the process! I know I will.
:- )
I don’t remember either team losing a qb in the NO or DET game. Infact, I don’t think any of the teams who implimented the spread offense lost a QB all season. .
I believe once again Grant has already addressed the synopsis of why the spread works well at alleviating pressure on the qb.
Here is a link to NE spread and a quick summary http://www.operationsports.com/forums/madden-nfl-football/362044-running-new-englands-spread-air-raid-offense.html
That is why he predicted a 49ers loss at GB at NE. Both teams run a near flawless spread offense.
http://49ers.pressdemocrat.com/2012/07/inside-the-49ers/predicting-the-niners-record-next-season/
So our unbelievable pass rushing LBs will be back in coverage instead of putting pressure on the passer.
vs Detroit: 5 sacks, 10 QB hits
vs NO: 3 sacks, 7 QB hits
The Niners didn’t have to blitz, they generated plenty of pressure with their base D. The Giants pretty much neutralized the vaunted GB offense in the playoffs with solid pass rush. The spread O doesn’t work so well against teams with a fierce pass rush.
Grant, nice work. Always enjoy your comments. I frequently read, but never comment. Just thought I’d let you know I appreciate you keeping tabs on the details…
Overthrew a wide open randy moss? Gee…. Shocker! Only further proving my point! It doesn’t matter if u threw all the best recievers in the world on this team. As long as Alex is throwing the ball, the recievers are almost useless.
That been the case his entire career. But it’s a new season. Let’s see if 11 can prove the entire NFL wrong…
Like he proved you wrong last seasons?
Claude nice Ebonics.
Bottom of the NFL in
Scoring
3rd down conversions
Yardage
Team went seeking Manning
Did not meet Smiths hold out demands
Smith shopped himself to the NFL with NO TAKERS.
Yeah Claude you are right. He proved us all wrong.
Thank god for our defense.
Claude I look back over the years and one thing is common amoungst you, Hofer, Oneniner, prime and DS. Not one critical comment about Smith.
I know I post a positive comment from time to time. While I am far from balanced it at least makes me occasionally objective.
You clowns will never be able to say the same.
Thanks for thinking of me bay.
:- )
@Bay:
Nice crack on the extra “s.”
Still in love with fantasy football numbers, I see. Also, not being careful with the facts again. Let’s see if I can help you.
1. The team finished 11th in scoring. How you come up with “bottom of the NFL” is bewildering.
2. The one stat you have to hang your entire argument on. Thank God you don’t overinflate it’s importance and completely ignore the more relevant passing stats. Wait a minute, that’s exactly what you do.
3. I love how you blame Smith for the fact that Harbaugh runs a conservative, run-first offense.
4. Actually, it’s pretty well documented that Manning approached the 49ers.
5. Smith did not hold out, and the team did up its offer of guaranteed money after he went to Miami.
6. Smith did no such thing. Prior to free agency, every one in the NFL knew that Smith was going to resign with the 49ers. Did you not read Maiocco’s, Barrows’ Sando’s, etc.’s numerous articles reporting that very expectation? Smith himself made that clear. He made no effort to schedule any visits until after the Manning thing became public knowledge, at which point, every team but one had addressed its QB need. Smith visited that team, and reports differ as to who rejected whom.
Wow, it gets tiring and boring having to repeatedly dispose of the same litany of lies, half truths and distortions. Let’s keep it simple. Last year, you loudly brayed that the 49ers could not win with Alex Smith as QB. You were proven wrong. You repeatedly claimed that the 49ers could not beat teams like the Saints with Alex Smith at QB. You were proven wrong. You said that Smith was a below average QB. You were proven wrong. According to the league’s official passer rating statistic, Smith finished the season as the league’s 9th highest rated passer. 9th.
That’s what I mean by Alex Smith proving you wrong last season. When you compare his performance and achievements to your predictions and all-knowing assertions, Smith made you look like … well, like you don’t know what you are talking about.
It would be nice if you came on this blog and did something besides run down the quarterback of the team you claim you root for. You keep telling us that you know a lot about football, but if you insist on limiting your comments to a single topic, one on which you have repeatedly been proven wrong, no one is going to believe you.
This sounds like the presidential election of 2012. Each of you comparing different categoriesto assert your position.
1. The team finished 11th in scoring, but the offense ranked 26th in total offense.
2. The 49ers Passing game, of which Alex Smith gets 100% credit for as he was the only passer, was ranked 29th
3. The kicking team outscored the offense. The kicking team accounted for 166 points while Alex Smith accounted for 108 points.
4, Team ranked 29th in yards per game. (Mostly attributed to QBs in the NFL) *This team was a run first team though, but that fact would be left out on any campaign ad.
5. Team ranks tied for 24th in the league for TDs. *see above again mostly attributed to the QB
Now the flip side of the argument.
1. Alex Smith lead the entire NFL in only throwing 5 intercetions.
2. Ranks 8th in passer ratings according to ESPN
3. He lead his team to the NFC championship game with no receiving weapons on offense
4. All the points you listed Claude.
So when you guys are arguing, it would help if you argued about the same stats instead of picking and choosing which ones help your arguments. I think that the fact that the team went 13-3 and all the way to the NFC championship game is enough for Alex Smith to keep his job until someone can show they can do better.
Chris
I can tell you are also a new reader of the blog.
Expect this between these 2 (bay/claude) all year long. Enjoy. Or if you’re not, skip it. Either way, these 2 are going at it.
Chris welcome and yes you are correct with the info you provided. Claud is a spin doctor. Sadly now he wants Dmith to take credit for Akers scoring.
He’s a bored retired lawyer we can leave it at that. Real football fans witness average QB play and we want a QB that steps it up beyond that. No more excuses…..
…….why dont you give him the full biography of everyone like you did before? while your at it, tell him what a sour old fart you are?
Or I can give them your login to lifestyle LL.
….you keep refering to a lifstyle I had to google and have no idea about but you seem to know a lot about, please share?
Hey bay, are you back to your investigating reporting trying to exploit people’s personal lives like you did with DS and now claiming that Heat is some sort kinky guy while also informing newcomers of what Claude does for a living?
You never could keep it football related , thats pretty sad! Oh but wait, they attacked me first right!!! Get serious!!!!!
Love to hear that P.Cox is a fearless tackler. Having Cox in on special D packages will wreak havoc for WR’ and RB.’
D.Whitner and D.Gols are already getting recognition for their fierce hitting, now we can add Cox to the list.
All good.
DS knows more about sewing, knitting designing a home, more then she knows about Football. That is a stone cold Lock !!.
DS94everXev says:
August 5, 2012 at 1:33 pm
Chris
“I can tell you are also a new reader of the blog.
Expect this between these 2 (bay/claude) all year long. Enjoy. Or if you’re not, skip it. Either way, these 2 are going at it.”
@Chris
And expect DS to welcome all newcomers with open arms until they say anything to critique Alex Smith (lol)!
Not paying attention. I hope you weren’t this bad in school AES. lol
Chris, if you don’t act like a jerk (claim I’m racist for liking AS/JS while knowing JR is my fav player ever, and can manage to refer to me/players with their name), I’m cool with you. Whatever your views are.
And yes. Welcome.
:- )
So DS. Are you inferring that I called you a racist?
I dare you to find a post where I made this comment.
Stop playing the victim on this blog by making things up.
As if your credibility hasn’t already taken a nose dive. Now you resort to claiming unfounded comments.
Take a vacation DS. You are in serious need of some R/R (lol).
We got a little over five days three hours and some minutes till the Vikings come into town for the first pre season game. The only thing that I am wishing for in that game that the Niners suffer zero injuries. Will be nice to see how Jenkins and James look among others. Have to check on Boone and his new position, and the new additions Moss Manningham, Jacobs.
I hope the Vikings bring their A+ defense (if they have one). I hope they blitz like the Saints did last year in the exhibition game.