SEATTLE, Wa. – The Seahawks crushed the 49ers 42-13 Sunday night. Here are the grades for the coaches.
Coaching: F-. For the fifth time this season, the 49ers were flat and unprepared and did not win after winning two straight. That is Jim Harbaugh’s fault. His team is built around being more physical than their opponent. Tonight, their opponent was stronger and tougher and just beat them up. Bill Walsh used to say teams that depend on toughness always come against a team that’s tougher, and then what do they do? The 49ers folded tonight.
Their offensive game plan was bad, too. The Seahawks had given up 5.3 yards per carry over the last eight games, but Greg Roman came out passing – not at the Seahawks reserve cornerbacks – but at Richard Sherman, the best cornerback in the NFL. Huh?
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Spot on in the analysis and grades Grant. But one more thing I would like to bring up about the coaching staff. Does anyone else think that when you are down four touchdowns in the second half that you might want to play with a sense of urgency. There we are in the third quarter driving down the field, huddling up like we have all the time in the world. I really wonder if Harbaugh understands time management at all. It is bad enough that we constantly waste time outs on offensive ineptitude, but when you are way behind you have to play with a sense of urgency, and that was completely missing.
Thanks, Greg. Great point. I wish I had made it.
Coach Harbaugh (AKA Arrested Development) got the post-game “honk” right though, don’t ya think? :P
Hey, Grant. Did you realize that during the game Primetime was mocking Msclemons having a wife battling cancer? That’s a guy you want on your blog, for sure.
This was the game that the move to KAP blew up in Harbaugh’s face. It’s not to hate or say that Smith would have done better. But he’s been here before and usually has done well against the Seahawks. Even if his numbers are so-so, he won games.
The way the NFC is shaping up, A Niner led team with Smith, when he was playing well, which he was before his concussion, would have a good chance to beat ATL, and GB. He already beat them! Although Rodgers is playing out of his mind now.
Can he beat MIN, which he lost? At home? I think so? Against SEA? Yeah when they adjusted at halftime, the offense moved the ball. Which leaves Washington? RG3 is great, but the defense is okay.
SO there you have it. The move to KAP did prove some big plays at times, but inconsistency. He did nothing to win the game and looked lost today. He made the bad play against the Rams that gave them 9 points.
And that’s the difference between a 2 and a 3 seed.
Anything can happen next week but now the team clearly looks lost.
In Harbaugh we trust right?
With Alex at QB (or Brandon Belt) we would have won this game 50-42. Harbaugh is completely nuts and wrong as can be. I reserve the right to proclaim him a genius though if we win next week and Kaep has a good game.
Umm. No.
Neither Alex nor Kaep is going to win in Harbaugh’s offense when our defense gets bent over for 42 points. Just not going to happen.
When has Alex ever been able to lead this offense to 50 points on the road, in bad weather , against a good opponent?
John,
He was going to do it today. Lol.
Umm. Defense does better when it is rested and off the field due to effective ball-control offense.
Discounting the last play of the game a kneel down, the Seahawks had 12 third downs, and converted 11 of them.
We stopped them ONCE.
This team simply cannot win with that level of defensive collapse. Neither Alex nor Colin is Tom Brady or any other HoF QB who can put the game on his back and win it.
Seattle scored on their first two drives, against our defense when it was still fresh. Add in the blocked FG for a TD, and it’s 21 zip. The game was over, right there.
Fan,
it’s easy to pass over your posts because you don’t know jack. And when you post, it becomes pretty evident that you don’t know jack about football.
Last time AS played the Seahawks he threw for 140 yards. He had one TD and one INT. His running backs ran for 175 and his defense held the Seahawks to 7 points.
Colin Kaepernick threw for 244 had one td and one Int. His running backs ran for 50 yards today. His defense yielded 42 points. His special teams allowed a blocked kick returned for a TD. His Wr fumbled a pass near the red zone.
But I understand. You have an AS crush, so you want to put this on the QB. The game has passed guys like you up. You shouldn’t post…
Bay,
Couldn’t have said it better myself. if Alex plays tonight we win this game 45-42. Alex throws for 395 yards with 6 touchdowns. after all, his QB rating is 104 and he’s completed 70% of his passes. Ai vote we start him for the rest of the season. Alex owns Seattle! Lol
Bay
To be fair, if CK had hit that first pass to #82 we might have seen an entirely different game. Was that PI? Lots of people thought it was. But that’s neither here nor there, because Kaep was off tonite. He missed throws and didn’t throw when he should have.
It did look like a game that Alex might have handled better than Kaep. That’s not to say his physical skills would have magically improved, obviously not, but perhaps he might have diagnosed the defense more effectively than Kaep. That’s not beyond belief.
Kaep fell apart tonight, looked defeated on the sideline. He didn’t look good. It’s an experience he needed. He needed to have an understanding of what it feels like for a guy to have his entire team shrivel around him. It will teach him about his teammates and himself.
Who on offense stepped up tonight? LMJ, Crab, and Celek. Who failed? Gore, Manningham, VD. Kaep needed this one, not only for his own growth as a QB, but to recognize who his go to guys might be.
LMJ is a gamer, and you have to wonder what the hell the staff was thinking leaving him off the 46 for 13 weeks. They need gamers.
Cut Rogers and Ginn tomorrow.
Can’t cut Ginn cause we don’t have depth at the punt return spot.
We do need to diminish both of their roles starting yesterday.
Today was a game that you chalk up to experience. It just leaves you scratching your head when the defense which is our identity fails as miserably as it has two weeks in a row. Is is really just the loss of Justin Smith? Or is something else going on?
Yay for a meaningless 90 yard drive to pad that ridiculous amount of stats. How about putting together a drive without a timeout for once? How about pinning the defense back? You don’t know squat about football clearly when you post a bunch of pointless stats. Much more to the game “Fanatic”.
Josh,
Clearly, you have a better idea than the coach. What would you suggest be changed? I’m interested in knowing.
Bay,
Anytime anyone disagrees with you and your love fest for KAP and hatred for Alex, you can only resort to name-calling. You’re a class one douche who can only throw insults and berate everyone who offers a different opinion. I thought the point was to win the game? Alex won. KAP didn’t.
And I’m not a Smith lover. But a Niner fan.
23Jordan — You’re just as a big an idiot as Bay Area Fan. You guys should go on a date and have some idiot kids together.
Fan,
Did Smith beat the Seahawks tonight? Do you feel like Smith would’ve beaten Seattle if he had started tonight? See if you can be honest about that question. When did Alex Smith start hanging 45 points on quality opponents on the road? He had 140 yar passing in SF earlier this year. Smith could not have won this game.
I’m not going to try and insult you. Your lack of intelligence about this game tonight has done that for me. You are 1 of 4 people on this blog that feels like Smith would’ve won this game tonight. the problem is JH doesn’t agree with you.
One thing is clear, especially after last nights debacle….the problems the 49er’s have had this season don’t fall on who’s lined up under center, they fall square in the lap of Jim Harbaugh….the 49er’s have lost to teams the are, talent wise, not on the same level as the 49er’s…go ahead and point your fingers at Alex Smith for the losses to the Giants and Vikings, because he’s an easy target here….the Giants physically beat the 49er’s up on both sides of the ball….Kaepernick wouldn’t have made a difference in that game…..the Vikings went into the game with a roster that isn’t on the level of the 9er’s, but won because Harbaugh and Co. got out coached..in other words, Leslie Frazier had the Vikings prepared for the 49er’s, Harbaugh didn’t have the 49er’s prepared for the Vikings.
With that being said, the time has come for EVERYONE on this blog to scrap the Alex vs Colin BS, and take a long look at the big picture….with the way the 49er’s have been on for 2 games and off for 1 game, how they seem less prepared playing teams the second time around, and most of all, how they’ve been outscored 75-23 since the second half in New England, the issues run deeper than QB…….
Jordan dont waste your time. King sized morons have been waiting for weeks to say I told you so. If they chose this game to do it then they look extra stupid.
Go into Seattle with no intensity, ni running game and a defense that is lost without Justin Smith and you have no chance.
Wake up folks. This is not last years defense. Btw I knew Carlos Rogers was in decline, i did not know he was a huge liability. He dropped an int and gave up a td in the same drive. Carol went after him all night.
“King sized morons have been waiting for weeks to say I told you so.”
Plenty of those around. Some have even been waiting years.
55 Niner,
Good post. I agree that JH has to a better job I preparation. The team can’t continuously keep making the same mistakes over and over every week.
Bay,
Yes, I expected them to come out and blame Kap. He is not absolved from blame. He was skittish last night. he is having some real issues with clock management. He was indecisive on a couple of quick screens and outs. he did miss Crabtree in the end zone when he threw late to Moss and Sherman knocked it down. Lastly, he’s got to learn to throw the ball away instead of trying to evade speed rushers. Big lineman, no problem, fast guys, throw it away.
On the flip side. That was Seattle. That was another new experience for him. He gained a ton of experience last night. I’m sure he’s hoping to get some decent weather for his next few games. We have to get healthy real fast or we are in trouble. I’ll be the biggest Minnesota Viking fan in the world next week. Go Vikings!
It was statement game for the QB even more so than the NE game because of it being a division game. Lets not put it all on the defense. Colin Kaepernick did nothing to spark the offense and show leadership in turning the game around.
Sam B,
Kap moved the ball at times. He needed to get it done in the red zone. He got us there down 14-0. We needed 7 on that drive. He got a dose of some real hostile pressure from Seattle. We’ll have to see how he responds to it. He’s got some great game film. I’d love to be a fly on the wall in team meetings this week.
23 jordan he did not get it done plain and simple. If he crumbled in Seattle, what is going to happen in the playoffs in Green Bay or Atlanta or even if they get that far?
Still sticking to your laughable C- grade for Kaepernick, Bay? While at the same time ranting about Alex Smith and man-crushes? You need some objectivity.
Sam B,
You do realize that those 2 places are clearly not as tough to play in as Seattle. Seattle is the loudest stadium in the NFL with the best defense along with us.
The difference is Green Bay and Atlanta is that their stadiums are not as loud and we can play with their defenses. We know we can exploit their defenses. I hope you can be objective. I don’t remember you posting after the New England game when Kap beat the Pats. I didn’t say the kid was perfect, however, he gained some great experience from last nights game. I’m eager to see how he rebounds this week from a bad game. I’m looking forward to the playoffs.
So thats an excuse, cant win in loud stadium? Atlanta and GB will be loud come playoff time. That is not even an arguement. The end of the day he did not perform and show he is ready for the intense type games.
Sam B,
Let’s keep it real. A QB crumbling would be similar to Mark Sanchez. We’re talking about 4-5 interceptions and a fumble. That’s crumbling. The man was 19-36 for 244 yards with a pick and a TD. Not good enough, but hardly crumbling. C’ mon man!
Sam B,
Lets see if you can be objective. I’m sure you saw the game last week. Did he show that he could get it done against New England? Did he show it against the Saints? Did he show it against the bears? Those were big games. An answer to those 4 questions would be nice. I’ve already acknowledged that he didn’t get it done last night. can you acknowledge that he did get it done against those other teams? Quality opponents as well.
All I am saying is that the 2 games against the Pats and Seahawks would tell us if he was ready to lead and get the team to the superbowl. Right now I hae to say no he cannot. He looks like he is still in learning mode. That does not help us now going into the playoffs. There is no switch. It takes seasoining to get ready, not 6 starts. Look at Russell Wilson and how good he looks after playing the whole season.
Sam B ,
So beating Seattle would’ve proven to you that he was ready for the playoffs? Is that what you’re saying? Why didn’t you say he wasn’t ready if you really believed that, after the New England game? That’s the 64,000 question. If you firmly believed that, why not say so after a win or a loss? I’ve done that for 5 years with regards to Alex Smith. However, you didn’t post your comment last week. How come? Is it because you needed to see Kap have a bad game to validate your position?
1 stellar game does not seal the deal if he is ready for the playoffs. Its being able to follow that up against a division foe on the road, in a hostile grounds with a chance to win the division. This is my point, when the stakes are at its highest, we see the potential. Last night so much was on the line and a chance to prove his worth. It was tough and he didnt. Now its gets harder in the playoffs.
NE was a good game, that does not mean he arrives based on failing to get a much needed win last night.
Sam B,
So in your 2 game analysis there was a win against The Patriots on the road in the rain and cold, and there was a loss against Seattle in the rain in the cold. How does the loss sway you and the win does not. I’d like to think if you were being objective , you’d still be on the fence. New England is a Super Bowl calibre team and Seattle is an up and coming team. I’m reserving judgement if Im using your 2 game scenario. How did you not come to that conclusion?
“Kaepernick threw for 244 1 td 1 int” that’s the most inflated stat line I have ever read. Kaep had 100 of his yards and his td down 30+. Stop throwing out stats for today’s game. He was awful.
Sam B,
The New England game was just as important in terms of winning the division. If we don’t beat New England, we don’t win the division. Youre talking out of both sides of your mouth. With your analysis, the Arizona game should be just as important. That will be the ultimate game to win the division. If he beats Arizona, we win the division. Yes, beating Seattle would have been great. Didn’t happen. Do we win next week vs Arizona? Or do you think we lose and Seattle wins the division?
Each game he has played in he looks more nervous and less sure of himself. Now as the stakes get higher he has more pressure and he has not performed like a QB ready to take over a game let alone a playoff game.
Adam707,
I’m surprised. You’re usually a bit more objective. However, here is a couple of questions for you. How did the defense look last night? What do you suggest we do? Shoud we switch QBs? Do you think the QB switch was a mistake?
Sam B,
You just blew your entire argument out of the water. So you’re saying that he continued to regress against New England where he was offensive player of the week and threw 4 touchdowns in that game. He looked indecisive in throwing 4 touchdowns. I think our dialouge is over. You lose. Explain how winning offensive player of the week is regressing? Wow!
Its an opinion based on all 6 starts. The consistency of being able to handle the pressure late in the season. He did look nervous in the Pats game. Did you not see all the fumbles?
My point is looking at all the games he has played in he is still learning. This is what is concerning, the inconsistency, the big time throws to the rookie type mistakes. Dont just look at the boxscore and the TD totals. Look for thr poise, the leadership and decision making. Its been hit or miss. You dont want that going into the playoffs.
SamB
I love Kaep as our QB of the present and future, but I actually agree with you that he looked unsure of himself in the Seahawks game (but not the Pats game).
The next step in his evolution should be a hurry-up offense that he can go to, whenever he feels the need to, in which he has total freedom to call is own plays.
They should institute it right away, and limit the number of plays and formations he can use right now, and expand on it in the offseason.
Harbaugh should have named Kaepernick the starter at the beginning of the season. If he failed at all, it was in that regard.
Jordo, I’ve said multiple times last night that our whole team gave an F effort. I don’t believe we could have won that game with Joe or Steve back at QB. The defense looked like the Bills. Regardless of that Kaep still played awful as well. There’s no way around it. 3rd down conversion was pitiful. And so was the redzone offense. And we burned 3 TOs because he couldn’t call a play which you can’t use Seattle crowd noise as an excuse because this has been a recurring theme with Kaep. Which did get a cheap td down 35. When Alex was QB many of us put these two stat categories on him. And judged his performance off that. I am simply doing the same comparison as I have always done. Kaep played awful. He gave a losing effort. That’s a fact.
Sam B,
So you assumed th fumbles in the New England game was nerves. As it turned out, the fumbles were a result of a problem that he and Goodwin were having with the exchange. They figured that out. You saw how many times he fumbled last night.
Adam,
Vernon dropped the pass after the hit on the 2. Manningham fumbled his reception on Seattles 25 to start the 3rd. Kap threw that bad pick late across the middle in the 4th Qr. We got a field goal blocked for a touchdown. We just didn’t get many breaks last night. Penalties and getting plays off is killing us.
They corrected the snaps but failed on the clock management. Inexperience and inconsistency from week to week is showing up in different forms 23 jordan. You cannot sugar coat any of Kaepernicks mistakes. He is young and is gonna make mistakes. The arguement is he should not have been put in this situation and should have started week 1 so as to learn then, not after 6 starts and headed into the playoffs.
Defense was gashed. Wilson obviously targeted Rogers, which was a first this season. Carroll was the first coach to realize what we’ve known all along about him.
The Niners can’t play against a mobile quarterback who has a good running game and serviceable receiving options at RB. Vikings and Seahawks are the same team. Unfortunately, if Green Bay doesn’t falter next week, the Niners will face either the Vikings or Seahawks in the 1st round.
Fan please come on man! Yes CK is a young qb but this was a complete team lost! our defense was pushed around all night and the offense did not help the defense at all. In addition, Seahawks got away with PIs and holding all night long on both sides of the ball. Last night was a bad night and we got crushed so lets move on.
Chicago Niner! I was just there. I’m not saying that Smith would have won the game, although stats shows he was playing well and has done well against the Seahawks. People like to get into stats. Well Russell Wilson was 16-21 for only 170 yards. But through 4 Tds. He’s even younger then CK. CK showed his inexperience. It was a team lost, but CK was part of the team, touches the ball on every offensive play, and JH thought it was a good move to switch to him for the SB run.
It was high risk high reward. And when he plays like he did last night, double clutching the ball, showing his inexperience, well then it raises questions.
But you’re right, let’s move on.
Fan,
You seem to live in the moment, have you forgotten that AS had played 4 miserable games this year, Vikings, Seahawks, Giants and the Jets, we are not going back to AS, that train has past. Have you also forgotten what CK did against the Pats, threw 4 touchdowns, something AS has not done in 77 games. Your right time to move on.
“You seem to live in the moment…”
You should try it some time.
As much as I’ve always tried to have an even-handed approach to this QB debate and helped to defend AS when he was getting blasted: he would not have helped in this game. With the pressure that CK saw through good chunks of the game, AS probably would have gone down to sacks since he’s not as mobile as CK. At least CK did move around the pocket.
While the haters love to pin the losses to Minn and NYG directly on Alex, there is no way anyone can say CK was responsible for this loss. And for the same reason. No single player has ever been singlehandedly the reason for defeat. It was a total team let down.
23J, Bay, etc… we don’t need silly Kaepologies like loud stadiums to try and explain CK’s performance, you guys are doing your darnedest in out-Smithing those you mock. It was just a terrible performance by the team, the QB included. We’ll call this one a mulligan. The question is, do they bounce back?
Ribico
You can say Alex shat his pants repeatedly against the Giants, but that’s about it. Neither Alex v. Vikings nor Kaep v. Seahawks were on the QBs.
Merry XMas.
The answer: Time of possession, time of possession, and time of possession.
The question: What has helped the defense play at an elite level in 2011 and some of 2012.
Grant!
Do you know if your dad’s gonna drop his article tonight?
He just posted it.
http://cohn.blogs.pressdemocrat.com/16730/jim-harbaugh-is-over-rated/
Jeez! Over-react much???
I responded to Lowell column, it is waiting for moderation, this was my response.
Lowell, we know that you don’t like JH, that has been well documented, by the way we got our ass kicked in a couple of games in 1994, where Steve Young was driven to the ground many times, we also won a Super bowl, your no beter then a fair weather fan, who lives in the moment. This is not your best work, also if the Niners win the Super Bowl, which they still can, this column becomes a joke.You could of waited till the season is over to write your JH obit.
Neal,
Remember, LC wrote the Giants off after losing the first 2 to the Reds. Marching to their funeral is how he put it I think.
That being said, there is some validity to the questions he raises. No big deal, a win on Sunday and a Viking win and the 2 seed is theirs.
My dad didn’t write off the Niners.
yes I do Jack. I remember it very well, another one of his pre-mature obits. We still have a great chance to be the number #2 seed, also with that being said, we have seen many teams over the years that had the bye and then the following week they were off and stale, I am ok with playing the wild card at home, just want to be in the playoffs anyway we can.
Also on a side note, love your reponse with Prime Axel Randy yesterday and you told him to F off the site, with his getting on his soapbox with the QB move. 5 stars for that.
Grant
He didn’t mention Kaep much. What did Lowell think of Kaep’s response to him about asking a specific question?
He got my dad. Alex would have been more generous.
Grant,
It is doom and gloom, it is just one game. As Jack has mentioned the Niners still have a excellent chance of being the number # 2 seed. All great coaches have bad games, and that goes for columnist too.
No, they don’t have an excellent chance to get the No.2 seed. My dad nailed his column.
Grant, I didn’t say that he did.
My mistake.
Are you saying that a Viking win and a Niner win, they are not the number # 2 seed ?
No, I’m saying the Packers are probably going to beat the Vikings.
The 49ers gave up control of their destiny vis-a-vis the No.2 seed.
Jack,
I said it, maybe I was being overly optimistic. I can see the Vikings knocking off Green Bay and the Niners beating the Cards?
The game is at Minnesota, which is much better for the Vikings then playing at Lambeau.
They have a shot. Is it an excellent shot? No way, but all they can do now is win Sunday and let the chips fall.
I do like Minnesota’s chances at home more than in GB, but it will still be a tall task.
Sweet grant thinks the pack win. That means they lose and second seed goes to the Niners.
AP is unstoppable at home the Vikings run all over their non existent run defense and the Vikings win. I wouldn’t doubt if Peterson gets 190 and breaks the record.
Grant,
Thank you. You just said Green Bay would beat Minnesota. There it is right there. EVERYONE on this blog knows that your predictions aware 98% wrong. I willing to bet that Minnesota beats Green Bay and we win the 2 seed. Thanks Grant. You are the man!
Lowell nailed it.
The bottomline is the Niners had their fate in their hands and now they don’t. Now they have to hope another team takes care of their business for them because they couldn’t do it themselves.
This was a failure in all areas for this team. I’m not writing them off by any means but they just made life very difficult for themselves and it’s going to be a much tougher road in the playoffs if they wind up as the #3 seed. The Vikes have a chance, but the Packers will most likely win and the Niners have no one to blame but themselves.
Championship teams rise to the occasion and meet all challenges. The 2012 Niners have not done that. Hopefully they get it figured out soon.
Grant, I made several attempts to post on your Dad’s blog and it kept closing on me in mid-sentence.
Is there a word limit on his blog?
Things could be worse. We could be the Giants and have to win and have 3 other teams lose just to make the playoffs. Yes, Coughlin and his QB are two time SB winners but I think *they* are over-rated. Absolutely no consistancy from year to year. They just get the right bounces at the right time now and then.
I am a 49er fan with Alex with Kap it doesn’t matter was the transition premature some agree, I might be of that mentality, but speaking on a bias stand point I have to say this is bad coaching and bad decision making I directed a post to grant on the section about Justin smiths absence. Coaching has been our sore and our fall we need to find common ground if we want good offense then use what we have stop sticking to other to being conservative and running plays used for mr smith. If Colin has legs and arm stop sending out rushers first throw it, coach. Do you really have all the confidence in him yet doesn’t seem that may faith in him yes we all do and we see it. But your making me scare on how your play calling is not directed to all that was said he can do. Then the defense omg, don’t blame it on Justin’s absence sh*t happens we’re supposed to have trained backup situations and strengthen our weekend links to work as a core and harmony between th O and the D it seems when we win its either the O outplays the D or the D the O coaching is bad right now and I rate them a D. If we don’t get it together we are going to be looking on the outside early.
The problem with Harbaugh is that he thinks he can out think everyone. He tries to be clever by doing the opposite of what is expected. This is not the 1st time it blows up in his face! We should have just played FOOTBALL instead.
Try not to over analyze the game.
Tonight Seattle was the better team. They have great success at home and are so so away. I will admit that the Niners looked liked they were moving in slow motion tonight. What they do from here is what counts, especially with a new quarterback who is learning game by game. Just win the rest of the games and life will be great.
I mean at first I just found it kind of a funny coincidence but now that we’ve followed up 2 wins with a loss/tie for the fifth time this season I have to wonder what is going on. Harbaugh isn’t doing a good enough job of keeping Freddie P Soft at bay
I don’t think it’s worth over analyzing the players. A defeat like this really just starts and ends with the coaches. If they lose by 3 or 7 points then you can pick out some players performances. But this was a total domination by Seattle, and in then end you can’t blame one player or anther.
It was clear from the first qtr that Seattle was going to out-play the Niners, and they did. They were more physical, more emotional, better prepared and that’s something that evolves over a weeks preparation.
So it is what it is, and if the coaches do the same thing in the playoffs you’ll get the same results.
What is with all the false starts/timeouts getting plays in? That seemed to kill so much momentum on occasion. Grant can you ask, is it Colin being slow, or coaches being slow relaying the play? Appears we just lost first round bye with this loss, which I bet is going to cost us.
Delays of game are killing this offense!
Amen Ed.
That crap has absolutely got to cleaned up yesterday. You need timeouts in the playoffs. We can’t waste them like we are. This team has to figure out how to get plays in 3-5 seconds faster. Kap has to call the play 2-3 seconds further. The players have to know where to line up because the QB has to have time to call an audible.
I know the miners needed the win and all, but am I the only one wondering if the 49ers are working on the passing game and kinda trying to save our running game for the playoffs to where we won’t be quite so fatigued/worn down.Gore has had a light workload since his 25 carry game, and James seems to just now be getting his feet wet. If we can get Jenkins to step up next week and VD is healthy for the playoffs we just might have something. Also, did anyone else see how well Kaep and VD were connecting until the cheap shot happened. Good timing and on the money until the shot that only a piece of rubber could handle in injured.
Niners aren’t “saving” anything. I can’t understand how so many people bring that up. They’re trying their hardest to win every game, despite the evidence last night to the contrary.
As far as the cheap shot at VD, I thought it was a good football play. Kaep needed to put some of his famous “heat” on that ball. He threw a dirigible, gave the db time to get over and left Vernon out to dry. He throws it with more zip and it’s an easy TD.
Chris they aren’t saving anything. Don’t delude yourself into thinking losses aren’t what they are. They got their asses kicked by a team that showed up far more ready to play than they were.
They aren’t done by any means but they aren’t going to pull out some secret offensive strategy to surprise anybody either. This team has a formula for success: Run the football, throw off of playaction and play good defense. When any of these areas are off they struggle. Last night nothing worked and all areas of the team struggled. We’ll see how strong this teams character is next week and beyond.
Uhhh next week isn’t the test to how we stand its a gimmee especially at candlewick this was the test playoffs every game is going to be this hard get used to it if our team doesn’t make the necessary adjustments were toast with butter and jelly
Much improved team those Seahawks, compared to wk 7. Still tho? Com’ on NINERS!! What happened to the defensive adjustments and showing creativity in the offense….
Go light up AZ next wk!!!! ALL.BOUT.MOMENTUM.
Looks like the same crazies who had their pitchforks and torches out after the Rams loss, then put them away after beating the Pats, had to dig them out of the shed again.
They still hold the cards for the division title(no pun intended) but unfortunately need some help to get the bye.
Is it too late to ask Santa for a panic button for Christmas? Just in case.
LOL
The Coaches were outcoached . Offensive gameplan –pass–forget run stunk up the game.Defense looked tired and slow –no intensity—14 to 0—go for it on fourth down 3 points dont mean nothing when your down 14 and getting beat baddly—we go for three blocked and give up 7 —21 to zip –game over—-coaches better get this team fired up or seasons over
My only beef with Kaep, aside from the growing pains which are expected, is his tendency to over throw his receivers. I have no doubt that this will get fixed in the offseason but I hope they fix it sooner cause there were a good amount of plays where the DB was beat but the ball was overthrown. And the Win Win Loss thing is seriously getting on my nerves. How does that even happen consistently?
Let’s start thinkingabout next year. They’re definitely not going to the Super Bowl with this team, especially in its current physical condition. Which coaches need to be replaced? What needs have to be met by the draft
and free agency? This Seattle Seahawks team is going to be around for awhile. And St. Louis is coming up right behind them. What are the 49ers going to do, as this definitely is not going to be their year.
Thanks Rob for your prediction, I could care less about next year, we are going to win the divinsion and be in the playoffs two years in a row. Should we not play in the playoffs because Rob says this is definitley not our year? Did you feel differently when we knock off the Pats?
What is this? Am I on a Bills blog?
How about the grade for Grant’s prediction?
No kidding, everytime i here a prediction from Grant i hold by breath!!!
Grant, awesome quote from B. Walsh. But you need a number of elements – you need playmakers, a good scheme, and even then, you still need to hit hard. You can have a bunch of great athletes running the Walsh scheme in 1981, and if you get beat up you’re still likely to lose. Niners didn’t bring the lumber tonight, in retrospect its clear they were totally drained by the NE game. That’s why this was an obvious letdown game. And you’re right, within that context, we didn’t outthink anyone tonight, and our execution completely sucked. This is a violent, physical game, and its hard to play at a top level in every game – the lack of 16-0 teams supports this notion. Harbaugh may not be the second coming of Walsh or Shula. But he and the coaching staff are also now working with a team which has been sapped by injury. Onward and upward.
Harbaugh is a good coach. The coaching staff he has assembled are all great coaches. This game will serve as fuel for the fire in the playoffs. NBD
I am with you Houston
Word!!!! But the injuries worry me.
Injuries and fatigue worry me: the D was tired after the NE game and it showed in this game. Without the bye week given to the second seed they’re going to have to just keep playing with no break until after the NFC championship game. As good as the D is, it’s not that deep. They don’t sub much and it’s showing.
Here we go again with all this over-reaction.
These guys are human. They had a physically draining game against the Pats followed by a long flight home.
As far as I am concerned, the loss is already forgotten. If Minny beats GB at home next week, the Seattle loss will be merely a distant memory come playoff time. Even if the Pack wins, we will be assured of the 3rd seed and a home playoff game by simply beating an Arizona team which has given up on its coach.
A first round bye would be nice, but we have seen teams go deep in the playoffs from even the wildcard spot. It is just a matter of a team getting hot at the right time.
Rick,
Thanks for your commen sense and not overreacting.
Some writer predicted a 49er win 24-20. Grade – F
JH has got the Niners into the playoffs two years in a row. He doesnt throw the pass, he doesnt let the play clock run down, he doesnt drop passes he doesnt make penalities. The team once again was flat, thats on JH, the play calling is on JH, the results of the game are JH, the change of the QB is on JH. Grade C.
It’s not rocket science. The Hawks are on a roll and the Niners pitched a stinker. Gots to scrape that stuff off their shoes and get ready for the next game.
As to individual analyses, I’ll recall the words of my dear mother who said (frequently): “If you haven’t got anything nice to say, then don’t say anything at all.”
So, um……..
Last year the giants pitched a stinker against the Redskins in week 16. They ended up winning the Super Bowl.
Am I clutching at straws? You betcha.
Came down to the missed 3rd down opportunity by Crab. First series of the game, good chance to keep the crowd out of it and start a drive, but failed conversion, punt, and penalty to give SEA prime field position and the crowd got excited after that.
There is no question in my mind that Harbaugh is a good coach, who will usually guide this team to a winning record.
But.
The 800 pound gorilla in the room is Marty Schottenheimer.
Marty was another good coach who was fundamentally sound, usually posted winning records, but lacked the creativity or offensive imagination to take the last step, and win through the playoffs to a championship.
At this point, the comparison is at least open for debate, and only winning a Super Bowl is going to end it.
Except that Harbaugh is only in his second year of coaching, and it took three fumbles by one player (one recovered) to stop the Niners from getting to the Super Bowl.
Since the #2 seed plays the highest remaining seed left from Wild Card weekend, a rematch with GB as a likely possibility whether we are the 2 or 3 seed. But the difference is a home playoff game vs. an away game depending on where we end up next weekend.
How’s this for a dream playoff scenario.
Next Week GB beats Minny. SF Beats AZ . Chi beats Detroit. Sea beats StL. Wash Beats Dal.
Week 1 Playoffs: SF Beats Chi, Sea Beats Wash.
Week 2. Playoffs: Sea beats Atl. SF Beats GB
NFC Championship: SF vs Sea at the Stick. Revenge baby!
Chicago will not make the playoffs
Beating GB twice in GB. Delusional. Only Vikings can save our chances.
I hope you are right about Chicago because If they beat Detroit, the only way they miss the playoffs is if Vikings beat GB. As I said earlier, I am a big big Viking fan this week.
Intrestingly, if the Vikings beat Green Bay next week, they get to play them again the following week in Green Bay.
I would LOVE to play the bears in the playoffs. They’re terrible. Your scenario isn’t that far fetched either. Niners need to pick it up if they want to beat the Pack at Lambeau in January (or Seattle anywhere….)
JH took over the play calling in the 2nd half and we still sucked.
That Walsh quote is silly because it is out of context. The Niners D is plain tired from the 12-day schedule where they have faced an unusually large number of defensive plays. The Niners D will bounce back next Sunday. The biggest losses are on the offense: Mario (probably season-ending) and Vernon (probably for a week).
Having said all that, the Niners coaches need to come up with better red zone offense.
Bill Barnwell had a little bit of history here that’s worth noting in comparing the 3-game dominance of the Seahawks:
“A more interesting example in recent times is the team that previously held the post-merger record for three-game dominance: the 1987 49ers. That 49ers team, much like this Seahawks squad, produced their dominating run at the end of the season. In a 15-game strike-shortened season, the 49ers won 41-0, 35-7, and 48-0 during the final three games of the year, with two wins over pushovers and one over the 11-4 Bears. With all that momentum (and the combination of Joe Montana and Steve Young at quarterback) on their side, the 49ers promptly took their playoff bye and then … lost to the Vikings, 36-24. Bummer.”
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8777197/bill-barnwell-fall-giants-rest-week-16-news