Mike Florio interviewed Alex Smith on Pro Football Talk Live Friday morning. Florio asked Smith what the 49ers learned from their losses to the Vikings and the Giants, and here’s what Smith said.
ALEX SMITH: “What it takes to win. I really feel like before those weeks we were feeling good, we had won back-to-back games, we got off to a great start against Green Bay and Detroit, and then to kind of go to Minnesota and lay an egg – not to take anything away from them, obviously they beat us. We just didn’t prepare and play as well as we were capable of.
“Then to put two great wins together after that, and then another one with the Giants. The thing that stuck out about the Giants game was that it was so uncharacteristic of our style of play, especially offensively. Just inefficient, turning the ball over, not doing all the little things it takes to win games.”
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That loss to the Giants was a blessing in disguise. If and when we meet in the playoffs, it will be one of the greatest games in 49er history.
Not sure I’d go so far as to label it that way FDM, but hopefully they learned from it because they will most likely have to go through the Giants again.
Quite possibly in New Jersey.
Would not want it any other way, on the road, a little pay back!
I am not ready to concede a better record to the Giants. Both teams are 6-2 and based on the remaining schedule I see the top four teams as: Atlanta (14-2), Niners (12-4), Bears (12-4 with a loss to the Niners), and the Giants 11-5.
Giants remaining games: Steelers, @ Bengals, Packers, @Redskins, Saints, @ Falcons, @ Ravens, Eagles.
Niner remaining games: Rams, Bears, @Saints, @ Rams, Dolphins, @ Seahawks, @ Pats, Cards.
Rick, great points on the remaining schedule. I don’t see SF going 12-4 though. The team is not going to win homefield advantage. So, then you look at a first round bye. I believe that goes to Chicago. I believe your 12-4 record is where they will finish. SF on the other hand I believe finishes with a 9-7 record. The remaining games, CHI, NO, NE, SEA, and at Rams will be loses.
SF defense isn’t scoring points and SF offense isn’t going to score points on CHI D. They aren’t going to be able to keep up with NO on turf, Tom Brady will pick apart the secondary with our lack of pass rush, and divisional games are always tough.
All that being said, I believe this is an SF team that could win the SB. They are going to have to establish running the ball sucessfully from the wildcard game. In the playoffs, it is the team that establishes the run, (NY G last year) who wins the SB.
Go Ninersssssss! I hope we have a chance to play giants in the playoffs again!
I hate to say it but I think Jim Harbaugh and staff may have been outsmarted by the Giants and Vikings coaches; the Giants may have figured out how to outcoach Jim Harbaugh. So if we meet the Giants or Vikings again we have to do a better job in outmanuevering their coaches. We have the better players. Also we need to tell Alex when he gets behind not to panic and try to do too much too soon, just nibble away at it and be patient and take what the defense gives us and we will catch up sooner than we think.
Before the season I thought I would be feeling good about 6-2 at the half way mark, but the Giants and Vikings games harsh my mellow a wee bit. It’s the way the 49ers lost that concern me.
Was it the 49ers not playing up to their normal standards, or are the better teams starting to have the 49ers number?
In both of those games, the 49ers abandoned the run a full quarter too early. The Niners also had problems covering speed out of the backfield.
If the Giants get a lead they will blitz Alex; so the Niners should practice quick screens and other strategies in anticipation of the blitz.
; the 49ers coaching staff should put together a quick strike team specifically to counter the blitz.
They are one of if not the best team against the blitz. The sacks are a result of Alex not getting rid of the ball
I have complete confidence in Jim H and his coaches to be prepared for the Giants if we play them again.