This is the live blog for the second quarter of the 49ers Week 8 game in Arizona against the Cardinals. I’ll update this frequently with information and analysis from my living room in Oakland.
6:17 The 49ers have the ball. It’s second and 7 from their 47 yard line.
6:19 Calais Campbell tackles Gore a yard behind the line of scrimmage on second down, and Smith checks down to Kyle Williams for a 4-yard gain on third and 8. Vernon Davis still has not been targeted for a pass. The 49ers waste great field position and an opportunity to put the game away early. Very conservative play calling by Greg Roman calling a run play on second and 7. Patrick Peterson fair catches Andy Lee’s punt at the Arizona 10.
6:26 Early Doucet gains 16 yards on a screen pass, but besides that play the Cardinals do nothing and go nowhere. They’ve had two nice screen plays and that’s it.
6:27 Ginn returns the punt 35 yards to the Cardinals 45. He gives the offense a second opportunity to put this game out of reach early.
6:33 Smith takes the Niners second timeout after taking a sack for an 8-yard loss on 2nd and 15. The Cardinals blitzed up the middle and the 49ers couldn’t pick up Daryl Washington. Greg Roman called a Gore run up the middle on first and 15. Gore got stuffed for no gain. Roman has called an extremely conservative game so far, and although the 49ers have moved the ball, they’ve only scored 7 points. Third and 23 at the Cardinals 47.
6:36 Alex Smith throws a short pass to Crabtree in the slot. He breaks a Patrick Peterson leg tackle and picks up 22 yards to put the 49ers back in field goal range. David Akers makes the 43 yarder. 10-0 49ers with 5:58 left in the first half. Very conservative not to go for it on fourth and 1. Vernon Davis still has not been targeted for a pass.
6:41 The Cardinals go three and out again. On third and seven, Fitzgerald ran a slant, Skelton threw a high pass and Culliver knocked it away. The Cardinals punt. Ginn returns it to the SF 32.
6:46 Vernon Davis finally gets a pass. He easily beats safety Kerry Rhodes on a skinny post from the slot for a 25-yard catch. Alex Smith has driven the 49ers offense all the way down the field on four straight completions. He’s been terrific on this drive, although he got lucky when Delanie Walker caught a tipped pass for a 14-yard gain. Now it’s first and goal at the Arizona 10.
6:48 Alex Smith holds on to the ball and takes a sack and loses six on first and goal from the 10. That’s two sacks he’s taken because he’s held onto the ball too long. It’s going to be tough to get the touchdown now.
6:50 Alex Smith hits a wide open Manningham for a 7 yard gain and it’s third and goal from the 9. There’s 1:47 left in the half and the 49ers call their final timeout.
6:51 Alex Smith throws a pass to Crabtree in the flat, Peterson jukes himself and falls on his back while Crabtree strolls into the end zone for the touchdown. 17-0. I don’t think the Cardinals offense can score 18 points in this game. They have 2 first downs and they’re averaging 2.6 yards per play.
6:54 Alex Smith has completed 14 of 15 passes for 146 yards and two touchdowns. He’s having one of the best halves of his career.
6:59 John Skelton throws a Hail Mary on the last play of the half and Chris Culliver picks it off. Just a dominant performance by the 49ers in the first half. Michael Crabtree has been terrific in the red zone, catching two touchdowns. Alex Smith has only thrown one incomplete pass. The defensive line is consistently hitting Skelton. Vernon Davis caught one pass and gained a whopping 25 yards. It’s like he’s the last receiver on Greg Roman’s mind.
7:07 Does anyone else think Patrick Peterson is overrated as a cornerback? He’s gotten whupped every time he’s played the 49ers.
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first
Lol
fitzgerald using smelling salts!! ouch!!
2nd and 7 why not pass. It looks balanced by the numbers but the timing is poor.
I agree, I want to see a pitch or draw too.
I agree.
I love it when Dockett talks *hit! And then VD reminds him that his team isn’t that good
C’mon Alex. Still with this? It’s third an 7 throw for the first down. Damn!
Ridiculous play calling there by GR especially on the 2nd and 7. It was a passing down to keep them off balance!
Geez Cards look terriable
holding on #70!!!
on that screen play!
That screen is killing us. Read read read. Wheeew
Culliver lost his guy.
Concur
there was a hold!!! against parrish cox
Wheeew. J Smith. That’s how you out fear in a qb
Ok now. Watch the damn screen!
holding on that screen!!!!
Trouble with screens.
need a turnover
Is Snyder playing tonight?
No. Out
nope
No.
Our defense isn’t getting the pressure, because arz is getting rid of the ball quick. That ain’t working either. Lamo!!!! Oh GO GINN !!!
Another boring SF win. Its a curse!
T.Ginn is a beast. Glad he is on my team.
Try a play action pass on 1st down.
Ginn starting to look like himself. Good sign.
Nice Teddy!!!
Ever since H-man announced he was taking names..he’s watched his P’s and Q’s.
Now there’s delaney walker 2012!
That throw was behind him
But catchable!
Grant, absolutely no VD!!
Nice sack Alex. You suck.
Yes it was his fault goodwin let him by right away.
Held the ball for 3.5 seconds.
Another sack that shouldn’t have been taken
MD, call it straight! He literally had 2 seconds! Ck your replay…
What???? Yeah right Hof. That was on smith. He had time to scramble for a sec he could have thrown that away. Rewind and watch it again
Nobody was open all he could have done was thrown it away.
THROW THE DAMN BALL AWAY HOFER< I MEAN ALEX!!!!!!!
“Alex wanted more time on the play clock.” Said Tirico. What’s new? Tell us something we don’t know.
Who was the hating moron that said MC couldn’t stay on his feet after the catch? Oh that would be the MC hater. Bs
why not go for it after that big play?
CRABS!!!!!!
bring in ck and run the option….. automatic 1st down….smh
Don’t need him getting smacked and hurt.
Nice second effort by Crabs.
a pick six or sack would be nice here
here comes the int
What…. are you a Cardinals fan. Calling for the CK option and pick sixes..
that’s our defense with the pick 6, and Ck option after that long 3rd and 23 conversion with a half yard to go.
Sometimes its better to take a sack!!! Yeah right!!
BW believed that if you did anything other than being wrong you would know that. BW thought a sack was better than an INT.
Not better than a throw away Hof. He had time to throw it away.
You’re being to critical. He’s not infallible as we all know too well!!
That was a dumb sack there.
NO NO NO fitz. Ha ha haaaa
AZ offense is f*ckd
Gruden’s a smither lol.
Lol – Gruden slobbers over every QB.
I know lol
Again you can’t take those Alex
Wheeew! D Dub! A little luck never hurt nobody
wheewww what a catch DW
VD
There he is. Wheeew! All day VD
Justin and Aldon need to ease up. We want Skelton in the game, not hurt. The 3rd string kid might be competent.
Haha!
Saw that coming. Davis!
Perfect pass to VD. There you go Grant!
he threw VD open….. what a concept!!
Good pass to VD Smith.
Wow! All I want tonight is for Alex to shut my mouth. Keep it up Kid.
VD sighting in AZ
Need that TD. We need the game manager to be smart with the ball. GR go straight at em! There ready to lay down!
Now thats a stupid sack come on ALex
That was really bad.
Alex smith is making some seriously good plays today. For people that were complaining about VD that was a 25 yard reception to him, and by the way perfect decision during the blitz by AS.
Smith…dude…throw the ball away
throw the ball away!!!
One step forward one sack backward come on Alex.
Throw the ball away. Anything is better than letting smack talking loser campbell make a play
Can’t take those damn sacks.
How dumb can you be to continually Keep taking hits/ sacks. What is he doing??
It looked like he ran straight to the defenders when he was sacked..
It’s known to everyone that Alex has below avg to bad with pocket awareness. He just has to have players open on 1st read.
a fade to Moss?
Run the Same play but Throw to Moss in the corner for a td. Let’s. Go
Niners looking good tonight go get em Crabs
Crabtree again baby!
And that is MC’s 1st 2TD day with Alex as QB. Throw the ball and he’ll make plays
Yes sir!
Niners!!!
Beautiful pass! Luckily PP fell down and MC could easily score. Good Job!!
Ahhh Hofe, PP got juked out of his shorts and then missed a tackle.
No luck at all bud.
MC is just punking him tonight plain and simple.
MC bailed you out there Smith. Another short throw when the needed more yards. Again a little luck never hurt anybody. Bs must be angry right now. That’s TWO for MC 15. Wheeeew!
Oh my gosh Crabtree is having a beautiful day. We really need to keep him here, screw getting dwayne Bowe that was a beautiful play.
there we go. Nice drive.
That’s ALL Crabtree. Turned a checkdown into a TOUCHDOWn!
Jordo, you are clueless as usual! You *are very consistent*!!
Helps that PP fell
The pass and juke made him fall
Doesn’t matter. Luck plays a part of any game.
15 passes and 16 runs this is the exact type of game the 49ers need to play all year, beautiful balance. This is 49er football.
Come on D
Crabtree is showing why he is the #1 receiver on this team tonight.
17 points in 1 half against a team who has not given up more than 21 in a game all season and we still have folks bagging on Roman. LoL!!!!
It’s not a big game. TBD if MC can replicate this game during the playoffs.
Check out Hofer doing a DS imitation! LOL!!!!
It’s nothing new.
HOF is DSL
Both are Alex Sniffers who try to control the conversation ad nauseum.
Same goes for AS for that matter!
Too easy with you people. I was just kidding. You are so serious when Smitty is having a good game. Cool your jets!! LOL
And Smith! LOL
This is where you don’t want them to get ANY kind of rhythm. I’m calling a turnover.
No prevent! Please!
Nice sack Bowman
Yes!
Daaaaaamn there it was. Wheeew
Arz offense is a train wreck but this a good defense the niners are scoring against. No turnovers to even give them a hint that they’re in the game!
As someone was calling him a couple of weeks ago Alex Zito is looking pretty damn good tonight maybe his performance will put a stop to the alex sucks talk for at least a week. GO NINERS
LOL I doubt it!
Doubt it
He’s had his ups and downs this first half. Heeeeey! There’s my turnover. Lol
Nothing will stop that.
The haters won’t stop. They can’t, or they’d have to admit they’re wrong. That’s been the problem all along. They can’t admit they were wrong about Alex, so every time he’s less than perfect, they seize upon it as an example of why he supposedly sucks.
Except he doesn’t.
+10
Cmon now, Alex is tolerated when he has his 2 or 3 good games of the year.
It’s the other 12 games we wish he was gone.
Damn those timeouts would have been nice right now.
maybe Crabs read Grant’s article on Bowe? looking sprightly tonight.
Nah, AS is finally giving MC a chance to make plays.
That tackle choked Aldon to death. Do we have to wait for the cororner to call holding?
it’s been bad the whole game.
That’s one interception.
Makes sense to bench Alex now. We do have the best defense right?
Trade deadline was pushed back to Thursday. Baalke must trade for Dwayne Bowe! Pull the trigger Baalke, we desperately need some receivers.
lol
AS stats:
14/15 for 146 yds and 2 tds
His QB rating is 146.8
I guess his finger has heeled. Jordo, it doesn’t seem he crapped the bed. Your comments tomorrow will be very subdued!!
Stats don’t matter except for twice a year when Alex has good stats.
Mwahahaha
MSC,
That’s four very good to great statistical games in the first half of the year for Smith, not two for the whole year. But let’s not let facts get in the way of your Smith bashing.
Looking good in all phases. At least as far as I can tell – watching the game on my phone, sandy knocked my power out. Lol
Sucks dude. I hope you and your family are OK out there. I hear she’s a mean *itch!
Thanks md. I’m just glad I don’t live on the jersey shore. Those poor b@stards are getting hammered.
Lol my brother & sister lost power at their houses but mines still on.
Stay safe Rib – that looks like a nasty storm.
Most definitely a great all around performance – every phase of the game is on target.
Smith 14-15 146 yards and 2 touchdowns. Thats solid. Crabs blessed Smith tonight. Gotta keep getting it to Crabs.
Crabs was very good in the RZ but only 42 yds receiving thus far. He should have a better 2nd half if they throw some.
Patrick Peterson was very bad, too.
Hofe, MC will never meet your expectations will he?
Well, at least now you have a better sense of how the AS anti-lovers feel (lol).
Grant, PP was very bad.
Oh damnJ23…. Your prediction is coming together. Lol
Md, I said the same thing….Scary as hell!
Jordo’s prediction WRONG as usual!!! Nothing new at the blog!
talking about Jordan’s crazy prediction
Damn, did anybody see the Spiral from Smith to crabs on The 4 yard TD. Looked damn near like a punt, but it was 6!!
Now you have resorted to critiquing spirals? Really??
Bench Vick? I worked yesterday, must have missed a collapse. Saw part of Romo’s collapse.
Maybe we should trade them our running QB?? JK LOL
yesterday Vick did’nt play that bad at all but the D was horrible.
PHILLY,
That defense and that offensive line. Can you believe that offensive line!
Reid is in desperation mode. He fired the DC after the defense had a good game, now he’s benching Vick after he finally had a good game.
I’m seeing Reid in San Diego next year.
I see him in Weight Watchers next year.
My 13 year old son just called me at halftime and asked me for a red Alex Smith jersey. He saw his halftime stats. Needless to say, he’s been officially grounded for 3 weeks! lol.
Good to see some sense in the family… :)
Tell him you cannot afford it, no more hours at the bottle depot, Daddy has to find a new job!
Rogers is not as good as Culliver or Brown.
Let’s have a complete game.
shut down on defense score at least another 17 points.
LOL, some of you are so predictable — first, it’s “Smith can’t throw so receivers get YAC.”
Then, recievers get YAC and it’s “Lucky the defender fell down”.
Accept that both AS and MC made it work, not one or the other.
Hey Hofer,
Did you give Crabtree credit for that or does that YAC only count for Smith’s passing yardage in your book?
Pounding, pound it!
Moss looked all good there!!!!!!!!!! Receivers looking good.
We need to step on there throat, and make it hard to breath!
Time for some wildkap!