SAN FRANCISCO – The 49ers just lost 26-3 to the New York Giants. Here are the grades for the 49ers’ offense.
Quarterbacks: F. This was Alex Smith’s worst game under Jim Harbaugh. Smith threw three picks – the most he’s thrown since 2007. In the first half he missed a handful of open receivers. Then he tried to force a few passes and got picked off. At the end of the third quarter the 49ers were losing by 20 points. Smith completed a 6-yard pass on a crucial third and 21 and then followed that up with a 7-yard completion on fourth and 15 from his own 34 yard line. The 49ers had no chance to win after that play.
Colin Kaepernick played roughly 20 snaps. Coming into the game he was averaging 10 yards per run, but he only gained 6 yards on 2 carries against the Giants, and he was sacked twice for a combined loss of 17 yards. He threw one nice pass – a laser to Mario Manningham at the end of the first half.
Offensive line: D. They gave up 6 sacks – Smith took 4 and Kaepernick took 2. They also gave up 9 QB hits. Anthony DavisA gave up his first sack of the season, as did Alex Boone. Joe Staley left the game with a concussion and probably will not play Thursday against the Seahawks. Mike Iupati and Jonathan Goodwin were both flagged for holding penalties. On the positive side, this unit continued to block well in the running game.
Running backs: A-. Frank Gore averaged 4.5 yards per carry. Kendall Hunter averaged 6.5 yards per carry. The problem was they only rushed 12 times combined. Gore didn’t get a single carry in the second half.
Wide receivers: D. The offensive game plan seemed to revolve around getting the ball to Mario Manningham. He led the 49ers with 10 targets, but he only caught five passes. Kyle Williams caught four passes – two were third-down conversions. Michael Crabtree continued his slump against the Giants, catching just three passes for 26 yards. Randy Moss caught two passes, one for a 55-yard gain.
Tight ends: D. The Giants took Vernon Davis out of the game. They bumped him at the line of scrimmage and double covered him as he ran his routes. As a result he caught just three passes for 39 yards. Delanie Walker was targeted twice but he did not catch a pass. He could not break up an interception on a deep throw from Alex Smith.
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Worst game ive seen in a while….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWqKiqTfXuA
^^^lol
Coaching F
I blame Jack Harbaugh. Aikman said that Jack was with his son all week and helped out. Well Jack, your fired!
What’s your grade for Alex Smith?
What ya got to say now???? We not only beat we beat you down and humiliated you on your own turf! Time to eat some humble pie.
alex smith is not an ELI-te QB
Greg Roman should be included here. He deserves a big fat WTF grade.
+1000
GR killed two of the first series with the gimmicky CK plays that weren’t needed. Blame AS but what QB would want to come out when things are going well??! Replace him or knockoff the BS. CK wasn’t doing well anyway and gave the momentum back to the NYG’s!
Hofer
How many drives did Alex Smith kill? ;)
At least 3. Watch the play of OL ADavis he didn’t help matters but let’s place all of the blame on the easy scapegoat.
Hof tell them what they want to hear. It was all Alex Smith. Everything from the game plan, defense and special teams.
Alex played terrible today. Let’s call it like it is. Thursday night is huge. We will bounce back. Not worried at all. JH admitted it was a terrible game plan. No doubt!
Yes AS played like crap and yes it was a terrible game plan especially in the 1st qtr.
I thought Alex Smith exactly the way I said he would. I said he would crap all over the field against this team and that is exactly the way he played. I’m not surprised at the least. Why is anyone else. You thought a scent game against the worst team in football would make Smith elite. I NEVER did. Alex Smith has never confused me. He is INCONSISTENT. All average QB’s are. This will never change. He is who I said he was!
Attention seeker!
I think Smith deserves a new contract. How about a 4 year $60 million deal. Isnt that what BSPRIME said Smith should get this year. I say resign him now. I wonder how many Smithers think that Alex will be here next year. JH made the mistake of keeping him and giving him the job this year. I don’t think JH looks so smart right now.
BSPRIME , can you change that shi-Ty diaper of Smiths. He crapped all over the field. And yes, the Giants did stack the BOX!!! Bwahahahahahahahaha!
Smith will be here next season and will be the starting quarterback.
Not only did the game plan seem to not fit what was likely to work vs the Giants, Roman had no response once that was apparent. The same was true in Minnesota.
He also kept destroying the offensive flow with gimmick plays — there was way too much Kaepernick and there was very poor timing on when he came into the game.
There is no pass rush. I don’t know what the problem is, but it has been apparent for 6 games now. Yet, Fangio says he is not concerned!!!
Herbaugh has not provided leadership in utilizing the Niners’ new receivers. This is the way to open up the running game and vice versa. The receivers can get downfield, but we are more concerned with trick plays and heavy formations. Harbaugh looks passive and dumb on the sideline. His challenge was idiotic. I wonder if he knows the announcers termed it “silly”.
Yes, Alex Smith had a bad game. However, the more serious problem seems to be coaching — offensive coaching, defensive coaching, special teams coaching and head coaching. It’s like their college-type stuff is great when it works, but that they’ll get handled by good opposing coaches and seem to have no Plan B. That is a big concern in the long run.
Does anybody have any numbers on how effective Takuafu has been? It seems that the other team just goes where he goes and they find the runner.
dr
The worst time to bring in CK was after the deep RM pass. Alex had been struggling, then makes a great play, and is rewarded by being taken out of the game. Re-enters the game a play later and facing a 2nd and 22. Like that was fair. Then we go for it on 4th and 13 and throw a 3 yard pass as the only option for AS according to Aikman.
That whole sequence was deflating. We weren’t going to win after that.
looking at too many press clippings and stats, looked the worst in few years
I couldn’t believe how the NYG WRs were catchin EVERYTHING….our pass D was exposed n no pressure on ELI….worst game by our QB n our DEF…..
They had 5 yds between them and the 9er DBs. I could make those throws. Bad.
Hixon caught a couple hard catches n Nicks grabbed a beauty jumpball over brown i believe….im pretty sure AS doesn’t have the confidence or arm strength to make em….
Grant,
Your grades are incomplete…what’s going on? Both the DL and OL should get F grades. Terrible!
Fs all around
Roman needs to quit trying to be cute and run the ball.
LOL bring back Jimmy Raye
Jack, thank you. Probably the best comment of the day. WTH is he doing??! If he wants to start CK next year, quit the BS and start him now!!
Alex played so badly is was embarrassing to watch. Follows up hid best game ever with his worst. Looked scared and clueless. Horrible horrible horrible. Don’t think he’s capable of handling success
INCONSISTENT, the story of his career. You will never know what you’re going to get from Smith. Unfortunately, we can’t play Buffalo every week of the season. I had no question in my mind he’d crap all over the field. Just look at the last giant game. he doesn’t even see the field well enough to enjoy any success at the position. WE need a new QB. I’m not even certain he needs to continue to start. I say bench him now until his finger is better, next season for another team!
Adam707, take a step back. Re-watch the game. First look at EM’s OL and then look at the 9ers OL especially on the AD side. Last week AS had all day to pass this week, not much. On the deep pass to RM he had ample time and made a play. That was the difference but you make your own opinion you usually are spot on here.
C’mon Hofer, you’re making excuses for this performance? No one did well but Alex was the worst player on the team today. Except for maybe Akers.
Three turnovers. There is no excuse for that.
2/3 of Alexs ints he had time and rushed the throws. He made mistakes today he hadn’t made for two years. He played stupidly. 4th and 13 and throws a 5 yards out. Yes there was pressure but that wasn’t until late in the game. Half way through the 3rd and on. There is no one to blame Alexs performance on but himself. Sad and pathetic display of football.
Clem, re-watch the game. I did w/many replays. I said AS played poorly but prove me wrong. You said I was wrong last week then you changed your opinion after research. You know I call it straight!
HOF…and while we’re at it, the pass to Moss was under thrown. If he leads him more, hitting him in stride, he might actually score on that play.
I don’t blame the whole game on Alex. Taking him out on third down when he had just converted two in a row early on was dumb, but he didn’t have a good game and he is an average passer at best. That’s why they are afraid to pass down field w/him at QB.
NO EXCUSES.
Alex either does it this year or he doesn’t. He’s not getting it done against teams that matter.
Bench Smith now, the season is lost. Might as well waive him now and start over with the position. He’s getting no better.
“Bench Smith now”
That was sort of their offensive game plan yesterday especially in the first two series and we saw how that worked. Now on to Seattle…
Hey Grant,
I can understand your grades, although I would not get too aggressive just yet, after all every team has set backs.
Just some stats here:
A Smith 19 of 30 200 yds 3 picks
Manning 15 of 28 193 some near picks
SF first downs 14
Giants 19
SF passing 234
Giants 193
SF Rushing 80
Giants 149
SF total yds 314
Giants 342
SF Time of possession 27:45
Giants 32:15
Stats are pretty close to each other except for the running game, in which you give an A.
I think the real issue here is execution and a loss of last years initiative. The 9ers played a good first quarter and then went flat, while their opponent did their homework, remained composed and then executed their plan.
I would not give such low scores as stats are comparable. I would be grading on who wants it more (attitude).
Remember, everyone has a bad day.
Doc
Well put.
Turnovers are the thing that wins games. Not yards.
Today, AS threw 3 Ints. CK should have thrown 1 if the guy was a decent pee-wee WR.
That kickoff return to start the 2nd half is nearly as good as a turnover. Sudden play, gets the team into good field position. Only difference is that the defense knew they were going to take the field there. Other than that, there were 4 turnovers in this game.
You may want to mention, that when Eli got hot in the 2nd quarter, 4 of those passes were great catches. Passes that had AS had thrown end up at best being incomplete. And as the DW pass showed, Intercepted. Eli gets the added benefit of WR’s making great catches making him look great. AS didn’t.
EM’s TD pass to Cruz was one such pass. That TE of theirs made that catch with his hand on the ground. That is an Incomplete on a Niners team. That was a big play, and it allowed the Giants to get their first TD.
Smith threw some great passes to Antrelle Rolle. I’m thinking we should trade for him real soon. get him ready at WR for the playoffs. Alex has great chemistry with him!
Well said Doc. Some were excited with this loss, but their followers think they are consistent so it’s ok.
What ever DS, don’t you have a job or something to do?
Lame reply doc. Go back to med school if you think those useless stats mean anything. Turnovers determine games. We gave them. We didn’t get them. Game over when you have that many.
But you stick to those yards! And near turnovers. Those matter. Not.
This CK stuff is really out of hand. I could see once a game maybe even twice but every series or every other series is way too much particularly since almost none of it worked except the long pass at the end of the first half.
YUP, Grant and his colleagues need to get to the bottom of this nonsense. JJohnson was questioning on the post-game wrap that it was the 9ers way of beginning to incorporate CK as the starter. This doesn’t make sense since AS was having a career year. Some will say oh AS is afraid of the insertion of CK but what QB would like it??! It hasn’t a history of success unless the team is losing so why do it??! Typically he runs so he is no threat to AS and takes the ball out of the hands of KH and FG who are better runners.
Now it’s up to the media to not take a curt answer from JH or GR.
It’s time for JH to bench the weak link of the 2012 SanFrancisco 49ers. We all know who that is!
The real difference was in the QBs: one put the ball where he needed when it was all on the line and the other couldn’t — end of story! It’s the difference between winning games and winning the Superbowl.
AMEN!!!
Kinda basic, but others don’t see that.
Don’t forget the Defense didn’t make key plays when needed and in the second half got run through!
Plus, special teams sucked all around.
It is a team game and the Niners had all phases going when they were winning and against the Giants all phases failed.
I hate to say it but this game is a diferent game if Carlos makes the 2 gimme picks that he dropped. One for sure would have been a pick six. Plays are what make you win or lose. We didnt make them Giants did. As far as Alex it wasnt his best game but sorry guys he is still way better than Kaep at this point.
what 2nd pick play?
That was the worst coaching exhibition since the Samurai was running the show.
Quit with the gimmick crap. I want the Kaepercrapper once every 3 games, tops, and I’m willing to bet that we don’t see that idiocy next week. Put a qb in, and stick with him, good grief. Musical qb’s never, never works.
Smith’s play was terrible and disappointing, but holy cow, I think I was more disappointed in the coaching staff. What the heck was that?
I actually thought we were the better team in the 1st half, but that 2nd half, ugh.
Augusin,
I agree with you. Time to sit Smith down for good. Hes done. Any team that Smith can beat, Kap can beat. Smith is a game manager at best. Let’s see if Kap is any better. I’ve had enough. I hope the team has as well.
Agree 100%….weve seen the ceiling on AS n its not good enough for a SB…lets see wut CK can do
Angusin,
Good read. Nice to see those without an agenda call it straight!
Kapercrapper??? Really hof? And he has no agenda of his own? Child please
MD, you sure jump ship quickly! I’ll be there this year in the playoffs and I’ll save this comment from you believe me!
Angus,
I agree completely. I was frustrated with the picks, but at least he was letting it fly. If you look around the league, the big name QBs seem to have one or two picks a game (Brady=2 today). I think I actually prefer the game manager style after being reminded what a three pick game feels like.
I was way more frustrated with the play calling, though. It was completely destroying the offensive rhythm. Smith finally hits a bomb to Moss, so you bring Kaep in on the next play? Roman was feeling a little too cocky after the 600+ yard day last week.
But that was after Smith threw the 3 ugly picks. Roman thought he was going to throw another one and he almost did. Just remember, were talking about Alex Smith here. He can only game manage against certain teams. The giants are not one of them.
“Smith finally hits a bomb to Moss”….which Moss had to slow down for. Smith didn’t put the ball in the spot that would have allowed Moss to keep running into the endzone. I still don’t think that would have mattered anyway. Niners walked into the stadium thinking their poop didn’t stink.
“Offensive line: D. They gave up 6 sacks”
Grant, respectfully I disagree with you. They were owned today – 6 sacks!!!
By a team that was having trouble getting to Qbs coming into the game.
Exactly. And CK is the athletic one? They were able to get to him twice… on only 7 dropbacks.
Nothing against CK but they were bad play calls when the team was moving the chains plain and simple.
An athletic QB who ran backwards 11 yards following a big 55 yard completion by the QB who can’t throw deep. CK CAN’T GET SACKED RIGHT THERE. We had the momentum back with us after the RM catch. Then we just literally, gave it right back to the Giants.
“Oh, here you go. Our starter who has struggled today just made a big play. But we’ll put in a guy who doesn’t know the play he called in the huddle and fakes hand offs to imaginary players. Because that will surprise you Giant players. Then he gets 4 or more seconds in a clean pocket and takes a SACK!”
Pathetic. All around. Just pathetic.
Yeah, no one looked anything like a professional NFL player today, CK definitely included. Jordo better be careful what he wishes for. Or maybe not, for him it’s not about the team’s success, it’s joy in seeing AS do poorly.
BS says we had momentum???? What game were you watching? After those 3 picks, we had nothing. We were begging for a spark. We can’t get a spark with your idol in the game.
I suggest you Smithers start looking for another team. I think you know now that Alex Smith doesn’t have a chance in he’ll of being here next year. He’s a coach killer and I think JH likes his job. Bwahahahaha shah!!!!!!!!
i told you Smithers that your boy would throw up everywhere today. Guess what, he did. I don’t think he will be the top rated QB in the NFl now. NEWSFLASH, he NEVER was and never will be. Not even top 10. I’ll ask again. Which team will you be rooting for when he’s gone next year??
23
You and Neal need to meet up and just get married.
I guarantee you based on JH’s comment that the game plan was bad that they go back to RB’s running and AS passing on play action and this team will be smooth sailing to the playoffs. Good times.
Next year? Getting ahead of yourself. What team are you rooting for this year, Jordo?
second time this year niners don’t run much and same result they lose again. I’m not blaming game on Alex it’s cooaching here their blueprint is using run to set up pass , here they didn’t run much , then turning ball over 3 times. Def was put in bad situation all day , well we better stick to running 51% of games
Grant
This write-up took you way too long man. And it is way too long.
F- for everybody who embarrassed themselves today by putting on a Niner uniform.
Very short and best of all. 100% accurate. They all stank it up Grant.
How you give the TE’s anything but an F is ludicrous. DW didn’t fight for that first Int. You know, the kind some of you guys want AS to do all the time. The throw it up there passes hoping your guy comes down with it play. VD was a non-factor. Celek dropped a ball.
And once again, we don’t run the ball!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Our RB’s don’t deserve anything near a passing grade. They must have done something wrong, because in the first half, AS had already thrown it 20 times and we voluntarily stopped running the ball on them. Maybe this was some sort of weird deal of having the players get so pissed off that shall we play the Giants again, there is no chance we will take them lightly in the playoffs and you know. Actually show up and play the damn game.
Can u admit Alex played pathetically today? Worst game of career.
Can you admit that Anthony Davis sucked?
Can you admit that CK didn’t look any better than AS who sucked?
Can you do blame anybody but Alex?
I thought my second paragraph summed it up. Is Alex on the team? Just looking to start fights Adam707
Adam707, I asked you a question earlier. Did the OL of the 9ers or NYG’s play better. Count the time EM has to throw. BTW, it doesn’t make excuses for AS but facts are facts.
I just don’t understand how some people can watch that game and defens how Alex played. I have said this for a while now, I will praise Alex when he plays well and the opposite when he plays bad. In my opinion todays game was lost by qb and special teams.
Adam707, who is defending AS? Everyone I read said he was terrible. We’re just saying others were included and pointed to facts. Do you refute my facts?
Adam707, please point out a posting defending AS’s play.
Adam707
Use your zoom option in my original post. Find where I said AS played well. Look at the live game blog. Look at this blog and the other ones Grant has put up. Find where I said AS was great.
How come whenever I say everybody sucked, you think it means everybody but Alex Smith. But when the Niners win games, you don’t include Alex Smith as to the reason why?
PS I said everybody sucked after the Vikings game. Because they did. If you lose, you suck. Simple. But people here don’t read what I write. They read what they want me to have written so that they can start drama and fights. Grow up.
I never claimed anyone said Alex played well. I see people saying the O-line played well, and DS blaming Delaine for lack of fighting for a ball, saying the whole team played poorly. Those are excuses.
Adam707, then what excuses. Everyone said AS was garbage and we are including the other contributors. Terrible game.
Adam707, re-watch, DW was terrible fighting for that ball and should have at least defended it. He’s been terrible and as GC suggested, looking like the 9ers could have used CF in the draft.
No, they are not excuses, they are accurate observations. A loss this bad has many hands involved.
Adam
DW didn’t fight for the ball anywhere near as much as Cruz and Nicks did. He could have prevented that Int. Commit a PI if necessary. Penalties at the right moment, aren’t always bad. Turnovers are.
If you want to tell it like you see it, and you saw it as the whole team sucking, how is that an excuse? And find me a single Niner who disagrees with my conclusion of them ALL sucking. If you do, he won’t be a Niner for long.
Apologies, i am just a very emotional football fan. And today i was embarrassed to be at the Stick. IDK how Smith goes from last week to today. Clearly Costanzo is irreplaceable.
BS, you can’t admit it just one time that AS sucked today, can you say it, that he sucked today. huh huh. Would you give him a A or Aplus for his efforts tonight.
Now Walker gets blamed for Smith’s horrible pass. As usual, it’s everyone else’s fault when the Precious blows it.
DW should have run back to the pocket and sacked Alex before that craptacular pass could be thrown.
Clem, AS played terrible. Do you read?!!
And yes, DW has been terrible this year and should have at least defended the INT.
Adam,
I told you what Mr. INCONDISTENCY would do. It’s the story of Alex Smiths career. Just when they think it’s safe to assume he’s turned the corner…..BAM!!! like a ton of bricks, he comes falling back on his face. He is a backup in the NFL and he will be just that very soon. He can’t lead a team to a super bowl. If he can’t lead this ream, there isn’t a team for him.
INCONSISTENCY*
Thanks apple!
23 you sound so ridiculous now throwing around “I told you so’s” after how many attempts at it?
Seek attention else where. Someone give this child a soother or a hug.
BS,
Does Grant report to you? Is he on your time scheldule?, Get a freaking life.Your saying his blogs are way to long, your the biggest blow hole on the site. Their you go again protecting your little boyfriend. You need this blog way more than this blog needs you,
Neal
Find somebody who cares about your pathetic existence. There isn’t enough time in the existence of this universe for that, so I’ll just conclude there are none who give a crap about you.
I would call you BS. But that is an insult to both Bulls an Sh*t. They have their uses. You don’t.
Take your meds tonight BS, your embarassement to the site. Will you be leaving the site when AS gets kicked to the curbed?
Neal
Piss in a tree, then fall down and break your neck. You suck. Get the hell out of here. You are a disgrace to fans everywhere.
BS, I am a fan of the Niners, your just a fan of AS, when Smith is gone, you will be rooting for his next team. Right?
The problem is Smith does some things better than Kap and Kap has more physical ability than Smith. You’ll lose with either of them eventually. Kap tries to muscle everything and Smith is afraid to do anything. The QB we really need isn’t on the team.
Maybe we can graft Smith’s head onto Kap’s body? But then you’d have a superman afraid to throw the ball. LOL.
So much for the theory that we needed better receivers to beat the Giants. If this team isn’t stacked, I don’t know who is, then. Apart from the horrible QB play, it appears we were scared out of our skins this past week with the coaches focusing too much on what the Giants were saying. Coughlin had his team prepared. We won’t be cruising to the playoffs. And please, HC, please stop throwing that challenge flag.
It’s obvious that the giants have completely figured out the niners offense, I saw it in the NFC championship game , they know when to put pressure and when to back off and they completely shut them down in the red zone, they put just enough pressure on Alex and make him very un comfortable and keep it all in front of them
So tired of the trick plays, they never seem to work and GR always calls them at the worst time, when are offense is starting to roll these plays totally bog us down. Totally breaks the rhythm. Pound the ball, 14 times we rushed, lol… We were outcoached & outplayed. We have our work cut out for us to even win the division this year. Drowned my sorrows in beer and pray the Giants beat the Cards tonight.
@Ds
Right on , they talked all week and got punked , but if they see them in the playoffs it will be the same , sorry to tell the truth but they , know they should of redeemed them selves this game, so like I said earlier the giants are in there heads .
Funny reading the excuses. O line blocking poorly, “all players” playing poorly and what not. Today was lost on pathetic QB play and pathetic special teams. Case and point.
You thought the “Team” played well it was just Alex that didn’t?
you missed those two INT drops by our CBs (the rare times when they were near the ball)? You missed the 66 yard return to open the second half? You missed 1 of 3 FG (not that those pitiful points would have mattered much). You missed Bradshaw reeling off 10 yards at a clip in the second half? You missed the play calling that can charitably be called schizophrenic?
You watched this game, right?
oops… forget the points about the FGs and the KR. You rightly called out ST.
ribico
CK should have been picked off as well. Teams that win games take advantage of the opportunities that they are given. The Giants in all but the CK near Int did. We did not. Thus we lost.
I was at game. So yes i did watch it. I think if Akers hits those two FGs, and we go into half 10-9 its a completely different game. If they dont have a great return to open 2nd half its completely different. With that being said, the offense was horrible. People are saying the O-line played horribly and that is why Alex played bad (thats an excuse or “defending” him) But in reality the o line didnt start playing badly until late 3rd early 4th, when we were down by 20 and in obvious passing situations, with our starting LT out. Alex’s whole demeanor today just looked off. I have no idea what he was thinking on the 3 Int’s, he doesnt make those bone headed throws. 1 yes was a rushed throw and that can be blamed on the o-line but the other Int’s were rushed stupid throws. TO’s gave the Giants 13 points. I dont think the “everyone played poorly” analogy is correct. The Oline/QB/Dline/ST played poorly.
Oh, and ribico
No defensexuces now. After all, it was AS’s fault last year for not building up a sufficiently large lead for them to not lose it in the 4th.
So, no blame towards them now. This is the Blame Alex Blog. It was AS fault the Giants ran rampant in the 4th quarter. Even though time of possession wasn’t very different. Or wouldn’t have been had they actually stopped the run when the run was coming.
Adam707, I agree. Part of it is being replaced several ties per game. That is a slap in the face and GR and JH should know it. Let AS win or lose then make adjustments accordingly. You don’t take out AS when he’s playing well and moving the chains period. Excuse or not it is BS and no team has success doing this and JH should know it.
Well Adam, that doesn’t leave many. Do you think the secondary played well?
So, the WR’s were all open all the time then Adam707?
And coming from somebody who says that the trenches are where games are won and lost, and considering you just stated that the Giants won on both ends, how is it any more Alex fault for the loss than it is the OL/DL?
After all. If games are won there, and we lose there. What are the odds of us winning? But can’t blame Anthony Davis at all for that sack. He was supposed to let the DL go around him. That was part of the play.
BS, keep drinking the Kool Aid, you sound heavily brain washed and medicated for your cult hero AS.
Defense cannot be blamed for this loss. Considering NYG was handed the ball at the 10 twice and were held to 6, they played well. They held one of the most prolific passing offenses to 193 yards and a 6.8 YPA. Bradshaw may have had 116 but half were in the 4th when the game was over. The offense and ST lost this game. Pointing fingers at the D is just stupid
Adam707
The D allowed a TD after a huge play. Elite defenses don’t allow that. They shouldn’t have allowed a TD after the first AS Int. And they shouldn’t have allowed an Int after the 2nd half kickoff. Had they done their jobs, the score is close and we don’t throw it all over the place because that isn’t who we are. Int 2 and 3 I don’t think happen if the D performs elite in these critical moments.
And you think that the D looked great allowing Bradshaw to get over 100 yards? Most of them when we knew they were running it? But the Run defense gets a pass because you say so. Makes sense.
And how good was Culliver today? He is supposedly are best, but in the first half, he gave up a lot of plays. He was beaten a lot. Had Eli been more accurate, this game is out of hand quickly. Culliver gets a pass though because you say so. Makes sense.
And Carlos Rodgers had a potential game changing play go thru his hands. He gets that Int, he just maybe can return it for a TD. He gets a pass though for not making the play because you say so. Makes sense.
And our pass rush was just so extraordinary. Let’s play a game. You tell me 5 plays where they actually did something worth a damn. Because I don’t think they did. But they get a pass because you say so. Makes sense.
In what manner did the defense play well? Every phase and level of the game, they were beaten. But you say they get a pass. Makes sense.
The Oline/Dline didnt start playing poorly until deep in the game. Once the game was out of reach. As an o lineman i know its tough to pass block when the whole defense knows you have to pass. And even harder when youre LT is out and your RG is forced to switch and you bring in a new RG. Now flip it to the other side, the lack of pass rush is sickening. All that aside Alex still did play arguable worst game of career.
Regardless of all positions and poor individual play, momentum is changed if the ST plays well.
Please point to anyone saying Alex played good…
I saw a team get beat, in all phases..
I dont look at padded 4th quarter stats and say the defense played poorly. Sorry to say but the defense cant always bail out an offense when they turn the ball over. Like it or not the Giants have a very prolific offense, it cant be up to the D to stop them on every drive. Yes it was a bad drive after the 1st INT, but defenses cant stop them every time. What about them holding them to 2 FG’s after being given the ball inside the 15? Like i said previously they held EM to 193 passing on a 6.8 YPA with only 1 TD. So accusations of the secondary playing horribly are inaccurate.
So our D is not elite anymore because they allowed a TD off a turnover? Well that makes alot of sense.
Adam707
Had the D not allowed those TD’s, the game is close in the 4th quarter. And 6 sacks. 2 on CK by the way on like 7 drop backs or so….that isn’t good. We would have run a lot more, and the Int’s don’t happen because we are gashing them with FG and KH. The DL didn’t get any pressure on EM at all. Last I checked, that is on the DL.
Or if DW had done anything (I don’t care what it is, DON’T ALLOW AN INT!!!!) then the D isn’t put in that position. AS did what so many here want him too. Well, we lost the game because of it. Can’t throw DW open. Throw to the open guy or throw it away, and we will have a chance to win every game as long as we don’t turn the ball over. We did. We lost.
Well allowing a TD off a TO certainly doesn’t make the case of them being elite. Are you suggesting it is?
Your right, Elite defenses dont allow TD’s ever. But with that logic theres no such thing as an elite defense.
Then there is no such thing as an elite QB either. They all have had bad games and have thrown Int’s. Not so easy as that now is it?
A lot of it has to do with when things happened. The D giving up the TD after the DW attempt and the kickoff to start the second half stopped all momentum we had on offense. If the D holds, it gives us time to gain that momentum back while not changing our identity. True they held fine later in the game (Int 2 and 3 only allowing a FG), but by that point, Roman was calling the stupid offense and we lost our identity as an offense by that point. Trading QB’s like a stock trader does penny stocks.
I see it like the padding of stats for a QB in a blowout loss (really thinking of the J. Campbell loss to NE where he threw for over 300 yards last year). Sure, their final tally may look decent, but timing is of the essence. They needed to show up big in those moments and they didn’t.
sputnik
JM had elite defenses his entire career here. AS didn’t. JM also didn’t have a lot of comebacks in the 4th quarter when the team was down by more than 10 points. In fact he only had 3 such comebacks out of a total of 34 in his whole career.
I did the research back in September 7th on it.
“Only 3 out of 34 comebacks did JM manage to bring us back when down by 10 or more to start the 4th. So you are seriously demnented if you think JM had all these huge comeback Niners are down by 20 points wins (he only managed 1 by the way that was 20 points, his first one).
By the way, AS managed a 20 point comeback last year in Philly.
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/play-index/comeback.cgi?player=MontJo01
You can go back and take a look at it. Be prepared to have your memory of JM being perfect and having huge comebacks in the 4th quarter smashed.
Just Hail Mary that sucker every time. You might still lose but at least you go down like men. Nothing more pathetic than tossing four yards to Gore on a fourth down of the last play of the game down by 23 points.
@Adam707
100% no if and’s or but’s
Could someone tell me why they called their timeouts at the end of the game instead of letting the Giants run out the clock?
To make us suffer :)
It would easier to make a list of who *didn’t suck* today.
Gore. Bowman. Manningham, at times. Hunter. Andy Lee. Moss for one play.
…
I think I’m all out here.
Worst game by Alex in two years. Worst play calling since Jimmy Raye. Defense was awful. DBs look slower than my dead grandmother. Most of the front seven seemed to give up at the end. I didn’t think AD and Boone were as bad as some of the others but the O-line in general seemed overmatched.
And splitting the QB duties has almost never worked in the NFL, and it won’t work here. I do not think Kaep looked very good either, and I don’t think he is ready – but it would be better to make a choice, and give him the job, than to continue this musical chairs thing and have neither one get any continuity.
Grumpy
Lee didn’t do well. He had a good chance to pin the Giants deep in their own territory, and the kick went to the Giants 17.
Frank/Hunter needed to get into the ear of Roman and tell him to let us run the ball some. Bowman couldn’t keep Bradshaw out of the endzone. He could have, but didn’t.
Alex smith injured his throwing hand last week, I think that the coaches felt he was ok to play however I think the game we just saw showed that he was not okay to play, his accuracy was off big time. I think one bad game from him doesnt mean its time to jump ship and start Kaep, I think the coaches probably believed that even an injured smith would give the team a better chance to win then Colin Kaepernick at this point in time. This loss lies squarely on the shoulders of the coaches and the decision to abandon a run game that was effective and go full throttle to a passing game hoping to catch the giants off guard. You dont beat Eli manning with a shoot out you keep him off the field and wear the team with your power running game. This is the second time we have decided to abandon our strengths when it could have won the game for us against this team.
Not a Smith hater… Everyone played bad but the truth is that there is a reason Harb went after Manning in the offseason and we saw it today. If the Niners fall behind and has to throw the ball to come back Alex isn’t going to get it done. The two losses this year are the blueprint. I think Howie Long said it best after the game. “The differnce in the two teams today was one had a big-time QB and the other didn’t.”
As much as I’d like to see Kap, he is not the answer yet. Got to just tighten up special teams, establish the run early, and hope Alex manages the game and makes good decisions. The game sucked but they are 4-2…
Offensive line gave up 6 sacks, and 4 of them were the qb’s fault. 3 points. Inconsistency has plagued the qb position for years now! Enough said! Smack the craphawks!!!!!!
MD, nice backpedaling and it only took you 6 games. Always your true feelings? Top 7 my —!
JJJ,
Good Post, the Niners need to get a couple of 6 foot 8 inch receivers, all of AS throws are always high. With Smith you just don’t know what you are going to get. His play is so inconsistent. The game on Thursday he can play brilliant or he can sucked again, I just don’t know.
Thanks… My brother works with a guys who said Alex is better than Romo… Alex played Romoish with the INTs Sunday. What do you think about that one? Who would you rather have? Smith or Romo?
Giants handed the ball twice inside the 15, once on the 30. Niners O turnsover the ball 3 times, Holding nearly the most prolific passing offense to 190, and its the defense’s fault we lose. Wow. Well i guess that makes a lot of sense.
While I admit I’m a card carrying “Smither”…I ‘d say that was a wholly disappointing game from Alex…I’d also say that wasn’t a stellar performance by Kap either (Not much mention of a couple of butt-ugly throws he made or running into sacks).
But what I took away from this game was Harbaugh’s getting carried away with trying to mix two QB’s into the mix & it’s messing them both up & there’s no continuity in the offense. I’m OK with committing to one or the other & going with it! The Kap thing is just becoming a over used gimmick IMO & it seems to be bringing out the worst qualities in both.
hey Alex smith u really really suck against good teams your a bummmmm
You’re.
hov you have really bad breath…go brush your teeth
DS94everXev says:
October 14, 2012 at 7:31 pm
Oh, and ribico
No defensexuces now. After all, it was AS’s fault last year for not building up a sufficiently large lead for them to not lose it in the 4th.
So, no blame towards them now. This is the Blame Alex Blog. It was AS fault the Giants ran rampant in the 4th quarter. Even though time of possession wasn’t very different. Or wouldn’t have been had they actually stopped the run when the run was coming.
Yep just like its Alex smiths wins too! You dummy. Look at you losing your mind. Sorry Bs the defense is allowed some bad games. Why? Because they’ve been consistent and they are the backbone of this team. Smith and the passing game aren’t. Would have been nice to see more than 3 mighty points today, but hey I guess we’re used to seeing the defense keep offenses under 29 points. And the offense averaging 30 points a game. Lmao! YOu are truly pathetic. Elite defense, solid running game and below average passing game. Sounds familiar. Yeah that conservative safe mistake free football really works when they are down. Again without FIVE turnovers last season against the Saints and it would have looked like today’s game. Beat it Smither. This is a 49er blog! Blaming the defense. Ha ha haaaaaaa
Can you say that the defense played well? Comes on I can understand you have an Anonymosity to DS, but to give them a pass? It was a team loss, the Giants whipped us in all three phases…
I’m hanging this on the entire team and coaching staff, Alex included.
Who are you excusing, md?
This coming from a guy name latino heat lmao to funny haaaaaa shut up smiter
I believe this game was ultimately a TEAM loss. Defensively we were not lights out like the previous two weeks. However, we weren’t challenged as much as we were today with the likes of a 2X Super Bowl MVP quarterback.
Offensively, from the game plane, to the play calling, to the execution everything was out of sync. And it ultimately comes down to Alex Smith and his decision making. From pre-snap reads to recognizing vulnerable ties in the coverage, he just does not have “it”.
Alex Smith does not trust himself enough to make these decisions and throws that help the offense overall. He said it himself, he would check the ball down before taking a chance at turning the ball over. GIVE YOUR TEAM MATES A CHANCE TO MAKE A PLAY!
This take me back to something Coach Harbaugh said before. The best way to prepare as a player in the NFL is to playing time. And who is starting to get more playing time lately???
I would like to see the team attempt to trade Isaac Bruce and Arnaz Battle now for future draft picks or depth behind Haralson and Lawson.
I think what we lose in Isaac Bruce’s supposed mentoring, we gain in the experience more reps will bring the young guys this year. With all of that talent, it’s not much of a risk that we’ll have 2 legit starters and a worthy #3. Bruce does more damage than good at this point.
Best post of the day!
I think CK should even get more PT instead of scary Alex
So tank the rest of the season. Great strategy. Also a great strategy to only come out after Smith had a bad game. Such class I tell you.
Thats your impression MidWest tha
Thats your impression MidWest that we would tank if CK would get more playing time its pretty ridiculous your opinion ,cuz we at least point out what the weaknesses are from Smith.
Then why hasn’t he taken Smith’s place yet? The answer is simple: he isn’t ready yet. Harvaugh could care less if Smith has an affidavit from the President saying that he is the stater no matter what. If CK shows that he is ready to assume the position, then Harbaugh will place him in that position. Sorry, but I’m going to trust Harbaugh’s intuition over yours any day of the week. It has nothing to do with Smiths’ weaknesses whatsoever.
If Harbaugh wants to grab a SB he should replace Smith sooner than later and Smith would be a nice backup but he is not starting material, the fact that CK is getting more and more involved is a sign ;)
A sign of nothing since he is more running rhan passing. If. it happens, then I’ll support him like I did Smith. It’s your opinion that CK is the answer, but not Harbaugh’s.
I want to see Alex suceed but in the 2 losses the teams used the old “Force Alex to beat you and you have a great chance of winning!” (That has been the recipe since he came into this league!) NOW YOU KNOW WHY HARBAUGH WENT AFTER THE OTHER MANNING IN THE OFFSEASON!!!!
A couple more offensive game plans likes yesterdays and we’ll have no worries about Roman being offered a HC job anytime soon.
Everyone just relax..we are going to be fine. This loss was humbling and its time for the Harbaugh coaching staff to regroup, and I have faith that they will. What disturbed me the most was the offensive flow of the game, we had the Giants on the ropes in the first quarter and then it all evaporated into thin air. Once the Giants got the lead..the gameplan changed. We play for the lead and dont know how to play catch up. This game will teach us a valuable lesson and that is sometimes in the NFL you have to comeback to win.