SAN FRANCISCO – The 49ers destroyed the Chicago Bears 32-7 Monday night. Here are the grades for the 49ers coaches.
Coaching: A. The entire world expected the 49ers offense to come out running against the Bears. After all, the 49ers are a running team and they were playing their backup quarterback. They’d be nuts to come out passing.
But passing was exactly the game plan Greg Roman drew up.
He started the game with two tight ends, two running backs and one wide receiver – a running formation. The Bears responded by putting nine defenders in the box. Roman expected this. He called two play action passes in the first three plays. The first one went to Mario Manningham for 8 yards. The second one went to Vernon Davis for 22 yards. Brilliant. This was Roman’s best coaching job of the season. Maybe that is because he had Colin Kaepernick and was not limited by Alex Smith
On the defensive side, Vic Fangio was able to create pressure for the first time in a few weeks. From the beginning of the game it was clear the Bears offensive line could not figure out the 49ers defensive line. Fangio had Aldon Smith, Justin Smith and Ahmad Brooks rushing from all different spots on the line. Brilliant.
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It’s interesting that the 49ers have tried a pass first offense 4 times this year and failed 3 times.
Tonight that game plan was successful. What was the difference?
2 letters ck7
The difference was our FUTURE
I think what you said earlier has a lot to do with it, Msc. Playing with a big lead changes the way you play. We never got up on the Giants (Cruz owns us). We couldn’t stop Ponder’s ridiculously good game; which he hasn’t repeated yet. Playing from behind is different. Our D was on tonight, unlike last Sunday against the Rams where Jackson ran right up our faces and own our throats, eating the clock on the way. It will be interesting to see the game plan against the Giants later this year in the playoffs. Or against the Saints next week.
Let’s start circulating ugly rumors about Greg Roman so no team swoops in to steal him this offseason lol
Your last sentence regarding Greg Roman really tells the story.
The way you break up the grades and the interviews is profoundly annoying. I’d like to read them all but have no desire to repeatedly click and go back to read what are at best long paragraphs, especially on my mobile.
Can we really give Fangio credit for Rachel having his best game for the 49ers in his entire career?
REALLY good point! But he’s who showed up, so he’s who our guys embarrassed. About time he did something for the Niners!
The best part of the gameplan was letting CK be a qb and not using a bunch of that option garbage. Niner coaches were on top of their game.
Sean,
Hunter’s 2nd quarter touchdown was off an option play. It was a read option, and he gave instead of keeping.
True Jack, but Sean said “a bunch of the option garbage”. I didn’t see “a bunch” in that game, did you?
I saw the usual 3-5 they run each week.
Roman made a slight adjustment to the formation from when the scored on it against the Rams, and that really worked well a few times last night.
I also liked seeing the return of the super creative running game. The wham blocks, sweeps, etc. etc. The Bears never knew what was going to hit them.
After the clogged toilet offense we saw against the Seahawks and Rams it was refreshing.
Wait – are you implying that the wham was somehow missing from the Seattle game plan? Because we ran that play for about 80 yards by itself that game. The run game was plenty creative against the Hawks, it was the passing that left something to be desired.
I agree, Grant; probably the best called and designed offense of the year. Maybe of the past 10! Makes me wonder if they’ll ever give Alex the benefit of this kind of variety, creativity, and fresh thinking. I think AS’ injury forced the coaches to think outside the box they’ve created for themselves, and it turns out they’re pretty damn good at devising new attacks. Colin, of course, executed brilliantly. I’d like to see what Alex could do with a similar plan. YES, I know he’s constitutionally more conservative with the ball…but he didn’t get to be the third-ranked QB in the league by accident. How’s about cutting HIM loose?
Either way, man, things are looking good!