Brent Jones spoke on KNBR Monday afternoon. Here’s what he said.
Q: On a 1-to-10 scale, how much of an alarm meter would you ring on Sunday night?
BRENT JONES: I think it’s a 10. The thing that scares me the most is the defense. There have been four games this year – the Vikings game, the Giants game, the Patriots game and this game where we just flat-out got dominated. Certainly, the Justin Smith injury is significant. I think the most recent defensive collapse of the last two weeks can be attributed to that, but this defense is so much better than just one guy.
The reality is when you get behind so quick so soon, you’re in such a bad position to play catch-up on the road. You almost have to throw the ball, so you kind of have a one-way go. The run game, play action – none of that’s going to count. You’re not going to see Frank Gore 22 times. It just takes your strength away.
This team will not win the Super Bowl unless the defense carries them. It’s just the way it is. It’s reality. Earlier in the season I thought they could do it. Now that I’ve seen enough games, I’m starting to question it.
Q: From the first snap, Seattle pushed the 49ers’ defense back. You don’t see that happen.
BRENT JONES: It just doesn’t happen. I was scratching my head. What are the things that are different these last six quarters? You look at Justin and what he’s done, that hurts. But it’s not everything. We’ve got too many great athletes on this defense. I don’t know if they’re not motivated, I don’t know if guys are playing individually and not in the scheme, but I do know this: There have been a couple of games where they got out-physicaled. This defense should not be physically manipulated by another team.
If you go back historically and look at the great defenses that have won championships – the Bears, the Giants teams with LT, some of our defenses with the 49ers – that just never happened. There might be a glitch or two during the season, but you never saw our team give up four touchdowns in the fourth quarter. You never saw our team give up 11-of-12 on third down.
This was a crucial game. I know the people are talking about: “Hey, we’re fine. We’re still going to win the division.” But this put us – unless the Vikings beat the Packers next week – this put us on the road. Having to play in Green Bay in September is much different than having to play in Green Bay in January. And then likely having to go through Green Bay and Atlanta. This team can do it, but boy, you just talk about making it tough for yourself.
We’ve got through some games that were just phenomenal, and then we’ve laid some eggs in other games where that just shouldn’t have been the case. We’re a Jeckyl-and-Hyde team. I’m hoping that we get hot during the playoffs. I’m sure Jim Harbaugh and his staff will have the guys mentally ready to go, but I’m a little flustered and frustrated because I can’t figure out who that was or what that was that showed up Sunday night.
Q: There was a jarring difference in red zone play between the two teams. Seattle was able to score in the red zone, and the 49ers weren’t even able to get chances to score. What do you see?
BRENT JONES: It hasn’t been one of our strong suits over the last couple of years. I think a big part of that is when things get compacted, the receivers are a little less able to use their speed and their moves. That’s where Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker really have to get involved. Delanie’s starting to come around. The reality is both those guys together can create some havoc and give you an advantage because they’re going against linebackers or strong safeties. You can run crossing routes. You can maneuver with those two together. It just feels like they haven’t been in the zone at the same time. That’s an area that we definitely need to focus on. We need to get those guys more involved inside the 20. Those are two great receiving tight ends that can manhandle a lot of linebackers in coverage. We’ve got to focus more on them instead of trying to force the ball to Crabtree, running slants and fades – everybody does that. It’s a 50-50 nowadays because defensive backs are so used to those types of plays.
Q: The red zone interception last night started as a red zone slant to Crabtree. Do the 49ers need to make scheme adjustments?
BRENT JONES: I think so. I think the mark of a great coach, and Jim certainly has this, is you’re constantly evolving during a season. You can’t stick with your same plays. I don’t if there’s any go-to play that we have in the red zone, but when you talk about our receivers against very athletic corners – that’s a tough matchup. Now, Crabtree has some physical capabilities to him, but the greatest point to emphasize is our tight ends because I think they’re just more athletic and they are able catch the ball. Certainly some scheming can help.
And the other thing is we’re playing with a young quarterback. I’m still a huge fan of Colin Kaepernick. I think the kid has been remarkable. Sunday night he was playing from behind the whole time. That’s an unbelievable assignment to be on the road and be down 21 before you blink, with all that crowd noise and all of that stuff. It just changes the game plan. Basically the run game was dead at the end of the first quarter, and that’s brutal, especially for a young quarterback. Was Colin great? No. Was he bad? No. I think he’s still Colin. He’s still going to make plays. He’s still got unbelievable upside. And he still needs his defense much like any quarterback in this league needs their defense. You can’t just go out and lay an egg right off the bat.
Q: I can tell you’re a tight end from your insights.
BRENT JONES: I’m always pumping up my guys. Fortunately, that’s the one area of the field where you have to. It’s such a huge advantage to have tight ends or backs – you saw Marshawn Lynch’s touchdown catch. That was just a classic Texas route. We used to run that play with Tommy Rathman all day long. You either cover the tight end or you cover the back, somebody’s open. Whoever’s open is who you throw it to. We need some more of those types of plays.
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Redzone scoring and 3rd down conversations are a huge concern.
I love how Jones still refers to the team as “we” when he talks about them. Still a Niner at heart. He’s right too. This team has no redzone plays that are overly creative or effective. Davis has MIA in the second half of the season. Crabs is the only guy putting up numbers in the passing game right now and that isn’t going to get it done. They have to figure out how to be more versatile.
No kidding. Brent still bleeds red and gold.
I couldn’t find anything in that interview to disagree with. Brent nailed exactly how I feel about the team right now.
Brent is over reacting like most fans do. After a big win, the sky is the limit and after a dominating loss, the sky is falling. The truth is somewhere in the middle. The loss last week is not a 10 alarm. Keep in mind that Seattle needed that win much more than SF, the team was traveling cross country on a short week after a big win in New England.
The defensive struggles are worrisome but are fixable. The offensive struggles are worrisome but are also fixable. Akers looks more consistent. Players should be super motivated going forward. Coaching staff should be laser focused. If the Niners win next week and get on a roll in the playoffs, who’s to say they can’t win the Super Bowl?
Brent Jones is spot on. I would love to be a spectator in a room where Greg Roman and Jim Harbaugh and Vic Fangio answer questions and respond to suggestions off air from guys like Brent Jones, Joe Montana, George Seifert, etc.
Not just redzone and 3rd down conversions, I was looking over the team rankings at several sites and it seems the 9ers have dropped in several categories from first 8 games to current. Third down conversion, time of possession, team rushing yards per game, team passing TDs per game, and rushing 1st downs per game have all dropped. This is a ranking comparison versus the other 31 teams in the league. Interesting.
Now if only there was something different in the first 8 games from the last 7 that we could point a finger to :))
I forgot a couple, plays per game and yards per play as well.
In Harbaugh we trust!
Actually Hofer,
overall scoring by just the QB’s Smith is at 1.4 TD’s per game and Kaep is at 1.6 per game. Just about dead even.
That debate is dead. We are all in with our new QB. Instead lets try to figure out what happened to our defense which is yielding 11 more points per game in the second half of the season….
I’m not debating anything other than stating facts – first half of season versus second half of season. The first 8 games of the year the 9ers were 14th in team passing TDs per game, now they are ranked 20th.
The Smith/Kaepernich comparisons are lazy. There are bigger issues with this team than the guy behind center.
The coach that made the switch has lost his team, the rah rah, whose got it better than us is done. He played Smith and now the other players doubt his sincerity. The defense all of the sudden did not get bad, they just dont believe in their leader anymore.
Mr. Penniscola, did you have another coach in mind who can come in and regain the teams belief?
Jack
“There are bigger issues with this team than the guy behind center.”
100 percent correct, thankyou.
I agree, the QB issues are not the main issue, this crazy 2 wins and 1 loss cycle is….
this crazy 2 wins and 1 loss cycle is at the point where it’s supposed to be 2 wins and a tie. But there are no ties in the playoffs. This divisional game should be interesting.
Jack..
You pretty much corroborate what some of my posts have been saying since last season….the QB, in the grand scheme of this offense, is just a piece in the puzzle….and perhaps JH doesn’t feel he has all of the right pieces for the puzzle…..but, as I posted yesterday, JH is satisfied with putting 21 on the board, and the defense holding the opposition to 20 or less.. IMHO
Hofer, welcome back and happyholidays to you and your family. GO NINERS
Chicago9er, many thanks – my best to you and yours and Happy Holidays!
Hoferfan
Nice to see you back.
TX, thanks! Happy Holidays back at you.
All in. Arrows up. Right Hofer?
Nick, always will be. Good times!
Welcome back Hofer. I’m looking forward to Siper Bowl run. It should be exciting.
*Super
grant delete that post when you can. that text was for my wife not for the blog the blog! Lol
Thanks Grant.
No one ever said it was going to be easy.
This is why i was carping on the offense so much after the NFC Championship game – when you have a defense playing at all-world levels, you need to capitalize on that because that doesn’t last forever. But we went 3-19 on third downs…yes, color me bitter! Ok, back to the present. Brent’s comments are pretty spot on. This team is more volatile than most of our SB winners. But we had some volatile teams back in the day. The ’88 team was 6-5 at one point. This team has its flaws, and more important the injuries are just about to the point of being debilitating. Do they have it within them? No one can know right now, not even the players. They’re going to have to go thru the crucible, and see what they’ve got. You only know the champion when the rest lie on the battlefield, defeated.
on nfl access last nite they noted that alex smith had a much more successful rate in the red zone than kaeprnick, by about 20%—harbaugh has dumped the season
On ESPN.com they noted that the San Francisco defense was yielding 11.4 points a game with Smith under center. In Colin Kapernicks 6 starts the defense is yielding 22.17 points a game.
Chew on that stat.
Bay, look no further than time of possession which is the friend of the defense. The 9ers were 6th in the first 8 games and now they are 12th in time of possession.
Bay
The D gets worn down because as Hof cited earlier on the “bench CR thread” since CK took over our TOP and our running game is down forcing the D to play more and to get worn down,
Just a theroy
Bay,
Thats because. Smith doubles as the All Pro defensive end.
Bay
Does that have to do with Time of Possession? Colin throws downfield and scores whereas Smith dinks and dunks til Akers scores. Maybe the Checkdown King was really the MVP of the defense!
Stats wont say it but since the switch, the team looks to be in turmoil. The hunger is gone cause the dressing room is swayed by it.
Hofer,
Welcome back bro. Time of posession may be a factor. However, it can’t be that big of a factor. The team is giving up twice the amout of points. The New England game killed the defense. I still believe they were dead tired from that game. 95 snaps is ridiculous. Also, the Seattle game was the exception, not the rule. 11 for 12 on 3rd down is just sick. We know this defense isn’t that bad. No way.
Bay,
That stat has ballooned due to the last 2 weeks. In his starts leading up to NE the defense was averaging 14.25 points per game.
They have some issues on that side of the ball that could haunt them in the playoffs, but they will still win on Sunday.
I like GR but wasn’t an advocate of his playcalling. But it seems the way they handle the plays, they get two – one run and one pass – can’t all be blamed on GR can it?
Actually the reason the team had a better time of possession under Smith has less to do with Smith and more to do with the running game.
Smith has about a 3 minute TOP advantage over the Kaep led offense.
In Smith’s 5 starts his running backs averaged 199.8 yards per game. In the two games where the running game let us down, Smith’s TOP dropped by an average of 7 minutes. So what it Smith responsible for TOP or the running game that was clicking with Gore and Hunter?
In Kaep’s first five starts the running backs have average 85.6 . That is where your time of possession has taken a hit. Let’s remember that Smith has never been responsible for moving chains.
Now a fair question to ask is, has the offensive philosophy of the team changed? Playcalling? Or has the loss of Hunter impacted us more than we care to admit.
Running backs in the first five game for Smith 199 yards per game.
Running backs in the first five games for CK 85 yards per game. That is not a typo….
Bay,
All of that is interesting but the 9ers in the first 8 games were 14th in passing TDs per game and now they are 20th. They were 24th in third down conversions and now they are 28th. Playcalling could be part of it but they get two plays to choose from depending on the defense correct?
Jack,
you are correct that the points allowed have ballooned up over the last two weeks. But it is absolutely relevant to list that stat since it happened two weeks in a row.
If it were a one time thing like then it can be chalked up to being an anomaly. Like Smith’s game against the Bills.
Fangio is going to have to mix things up without JS in there or it’s going to be a short playoff run…
Now I see why you’ve been gone for the last few weeks Hofer. You still want to talk about the QB switch.
Smith was not responsible for the time of possession stat Hofer. He was high percentage but he was NOT moving the chains.
What has changed is the output of the running backs and the amount of points being given up by the defense.
Look everyone,
it’s prime scum. You ready to come out of time out and play nice?
Bay,
You said to chew on it, and that’s what came up. Sorry if you disagree.
Just looking at the trend Jack.
Seems to me that when we’re running we’re winning. We start throwing a lot, it’s like Jones is saying, we’re behind and not balanced.
“Seems to me that when we’re running we’re winning.”
100% correct, and every third game Roman goes off the script. It’s as though he get’s bored and has to do something crazy to wake himself up.
“Seems to me that when we’re running we’re winning. We start throwing a lot, it’s like Jones is saying, we’re behind and not balanced.”
Adam, yes and no. GR gives the QB two plays – one is a pass and one is a run. They choose which to utilize depending on the defense. If the opponent’s defense is weak in a certain area, then the decide to go run or pass heavy during the week when addressing the game plan. Looking at the numbers broken down by 1st half of the season, yards per play and plays per game have also gone more south than north.
Do we have ot go down the Colin-Alex road everyday, with every subject on the blog??? For godsakes, the decision has been made, and like it or not, Kaepernick is the starter…..there’s way too much emphasis being put on the QB by people on this blog. How about putting some heat on the coaching staff, and questioning why this team has been outscored 76-23 since halftime of the New England game…..if there ever was anything that’s cause for concern, that stat speaks volumes in itself.
*** NEWS ALERT ***
Niners set NFL ablaze with two recent signings!
Curtis Taylor and Lamar Divens have joined the team’s practice squad!!!
(has it really come to this …)
So we get Curtis Taylor back… I’m kinda thinking we need to be looking for some receiver options not safeties.
Wonder what the rationale is for this? Just a general feeling that we don’t have sufficient depth at safety or that we actually liked the kid when we drafted him in ’09?
Hope someone is scouring the depths and looking under some rocks for receiver candidates. Speaking of under rocks, T.O. wants to come back and retire a Niner. Or an Eighter as we must now call the team without Justin Smith. ;)
Let’s get T.O. and Chad Johnson while were at it. Could you imagine a team with Moss, Johnson, and Owens? It really would be the end of the world.
According to NFL, Harbaugh has said he does not plan to sign TO or any other vet receiver, but that it will be addressed. Like I said yesterday, 49ers will bring up Lockette or Hall.
This brutal beat down by Pete Carrolls’ little Seahawks makes me wonder if that was the fork.
“Justin Smith injury is significant. I think the most recent defensive collapse of the last two weeks can be attributed to that, but this defense is so much better than just one guy.”
————————–
I think I remember someone saying something exactly like this….and I hear he’s good looking and all his jokes are funny. No Mr. whatever your name is this week it’s not you. ;)
Coffee,
Thanks bro, I appreciate it.
To all doubters. Kap & Niners beat best team and QB in NFL at
Foxborough. Niners were drained, we were due for a crappy game. NYG had several poor games and won Super Bowl last year.
Patrick Willis is not worried so I’m not worried. Niner mojo returns
Sunday.
Let the skeptics panic. We will handle Zona and Vikings have a lot to
play for at home vs GB. Vikes have a good chance of winning. GB only 3.5 point favorites. Metrodome will help us get our bye week.
Keep the faith Niner brothas.
We’re due for a let down every third game. :P
Sorry about grammar, damn smart (dumb) phone.
Excuses are like @ssholes, everyone has one and they all stink.
Like Henry Hill said in Goodfellas: “Everybody takes a beating sometime.”
Crabs,
No stress. We are STILL the best team I football. The Seattle game was the worst under Harbaugh. The exception, not the rule, get the play calling together, the call in faster. Defense stunk it up for the 1st time in 2 years. We won’t see a game like that for a while.
Jordan,
I don’t think their is best team in football, everything is up for grabs, every week. Without Justin, our defense becomes very ordinary.
Everyone,
I hope you all realize that trolls need to be ignored. Prime time, the PD Niner blog misfit. One sad troll!
Neal,
Seattle was one game. Remember that. One game in the toughest venue in the league. Look at who else lost there. Teams that were picked to win the Super Bowl. N.E., G.B., and us. No worries.
Jordan,
If the scabs called the play right, Green Bay should of won, and we would of had the bye,what worries me they are hiding Justin Smith injury, most important player on the team.
23J – I agree, we are still the best team. Time to prove it to the skeptics now.
Crabs & Jordan,
Nothing really matters, we need to come out swinging in the playoffs, and the Seattle game will be nothing but a small road block on the way to the Lombardi. Good news we have proven to be a very good road team. We beat the Pats and we can beat them again on our way for a 6th tittle.
Beefcake Santa
Still posting? Aren’t you at least a little embarrassed about all your phantom posts? Hilarious!
Way to go the other day, mocking Clemons about his wife’s cancer. You are a classy one.
Prime, you were posting as “Santa” the other day and you mocked Clemons wife’s cancer. Everyone saw it. And anyone paying attention knew Randy was Oneniner, not you. Your false equivalence doesn’t fool people.
Crab, I am with you! This team still has the chance to win the west and even get a bye depending on the packers and the Vikings game!
Also let’s not forget the team is banged up due to their physical play and we are 10-4-1. We are playing without, Justin Smith, Haralson, Hunter, VD, K Williams and Manningham! If our kicker made the two overtime field goals we would have been in a position to be 12-3 with the chance to finish the season 13-3! People need to remember how horrible this team use to be just a few years ago! GO CAP and the NINERS. I believe in Jim Harbaugh super bowl or not. GO
NINERSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Cold Lake Michigan winds affecting you Chicago49er?
While I am right beside you with Niners in the SB, I disagree with the injuries excuse, Akers woulda coulda, “remember the past” way of thinking.
No need to bring any of that up, imo. Sounds meek. Give no quarter, take none either. Niners have talent to beat anyone on any Sunday on any field as long as we have Colin.
Chicago – Too bad Viking game is not at 10:00AM Sunday, would’ve been sweet if we knew Vikings won and we were playing for 1st round bye.
Prime
It’s obvious nothing bothers you. You rip on somebody’s cancer, then you get banned, then you keep posting as Grant continues to erase you, then you insult Grant again and again on his own blog.
You have no pride, no self-respect. And you know diddly about the Niners.
I hope Prime Axel, got a therapist for Xmas, insecure know it all, who absolutley knows nothing, , my guess he is a lonely and very unhappy in his dismal sad life.
>>best team and QB in NFL
QB? Maybe. Team? O_o.
You guys didn’t want to hear my stats about NE’s defense giving up HUGE passing yardage and scores to a bunch of crap QBs and teams. Depending on the how the rest of the year goes for the Niners, that win in Foxboro might be viewed as a completely insignificant aberration. Just as our loss in SEA will be if the rest of the year goes the other way. With this team… who knows?
Does anyone know the rules around the QB microphone? Specifically, are the coaches able to communicate to the QB between plays even if they don’t huddle up?
The Mics cut off with 15 seconds left on the playclock I believe.
23, you’re right, they automatically cut off with 15 seconds left on the play clock.
Once the 40-second play clock begins, coaches have 25 seconds to make a call and pass on information. The microphones for all the radio transmitters shut off automatically at the 15-second mark. A league official also is on site to monitor.
http://www.profootballweekly.com/2012/08/14/nfl-headsets-going-digital-in-new-technology-wave
I meant to add, that I’ve checked a couple different places that site the rule and none of them allude to whether the offense is in huddle or not so it doesn’t seem to matter. Once the 40 second clock begins the mic goes live and then is off when the ball snaps or the clock hits 15.
Thanks guys!
Hey Hammer!
I may have missed it, but did you run a picture analysis of Sunday’s big loss.
I still have issues with the C-hawks DB’ holding our WR’s and somehow convincing the ref’ that it’s an aggressive style of play. Were these the same ref’ that called the 49ers vs C-hawks earlier this season?
Sheesh!
One of the traits Harbaugh most appreciates about CK is his ability to react with a positive play after a negative one. He stated this after the safety in the Rams game and the wild pitch out to Ginn Jr. And again after the INT in the end zone against NE. And again after the miscued and fumbled snaps.
Colin seems to thrive in situations where he needs to put the team on his back and lead the O. He takes the risks. Makes the throws into coverage. His confidence is off the charts.
He has shown his ability to take off from the pocket and gazelle his way 50 yards to the end zone. Not once, but twice!
Harbaugh is all in and it’s Colin or bust. The injuries at WR have put us in a position to rely more and more on Colin’s legs rather than his arm. Colin won’t need as much time to call a play if he just calls his own number and runs and carries the Niners to the Super Bowl.
It’s your team Colin. Coach has given you Carte Blanche. Niner Nation is counting on you to get us there. Don’t let us down. Coach has more confidence in you after six games than he does in your backup after 26 games. You can get us past the NFC Championship this year!
Use Gore and Vernon along with Crabtree on third down. Throw the ball away instead of dropping back ten yards (or more) and taking a sack. Play the field position game! Use Andy Lee’s skills.
Keeping the ball out of the Arizona QB’s hand should not be an issue this Sunday. Don’t get too high after the win over a QB less team. But practice the ball control, time eating drive, formula that rests your tired defense that is playing on fumes for the last six quarters.
GO COLIN!
OpenMinded:
“The injuries at WR have put us in a position to rely more and more on Colin’s legs rather than his arm. Colin won’t need as much time to call a play if he just calls his own number and runs and carries the Niners to the Super Bowl.”
Sounds like a way to get Kaepernick injured. No, he is going to have to play the QB position the way it is supposed to be played to get the 49ers to the SB. I trust that he will.
Lucky we have a more than qualified backup QB if your worst case scenario happens.
I trust he will take us to the SB too and at this point don’t care if he plays the QB position the way he is supposed to or not. Just get us to the SB!
OpenM
More than qualified? For what?
One of the glaring coaching problems on offense has been the tempo. The play calls are slow to the QB, the team is slow to the line, and they are often on the verge of causing delay of game. The $hit needs to change. Why not play an up tempo, hurry up offense? Everytine they’ve tried that – with either Alex or CK7 – they’ve been productive.
Prime mocked Clemons about his wife’s cancer.
I don’t want to sound like a CK basher or a Smith lover, but when Harbaugh made the switch, there were pros and cons. Pros — More athletic, more dynamic, more big plays. Cons — inexperienced, not sure how he would be rattled in a tough situation. Because Alex is now the back-up, this is not about him but CK.
And there it is — there will be times when his inexperiences can be hidden by great team play, like all those fumbles in the Pats game but the D gave him a big cushion, or exposed, like the Seattle game, when the whole offense is out of synch because of time-outs, play calls, etc.
This is where we’re at — Entering the playoffs with a beat-up team, a tired defense, down to 2 healthy WRs and one who plays very old (even though I love Moss).
We enter the playoff stretch where we often abandon our offensive identity — Gore.
Look at what Minnesota does with AP, where everyone knows he’s going to run. And they were down their big receiving threat in Percy Harvin too.
It’s a super short season. Before the Seattle game, we might have scared some teams. Not anymore.
This was Harbaugh’s gambit when he made the switch.
I’m not trying to bash the team or the players, I’m not being negative, these are just my observations, which other professionals covering the game have mad.
It is what it is….. Maybe we catch lightning in a bottle….
Although CK hasn’t handled the time issue very well. I do recall the offense run by smith taking to many timeouts and delay of game penalties also. I remember mentioning this during a live blog. If I knew how to go back and look at what I’ve posted I’d show you. Any way we can find out about this stat anyone?
My point is. I noticed it happening with both. So I’m thinking there has to be someone else who should share fault.
The 9ers seem to be moving down in all offensive categories, while teams like Seattle and GB are peaking just in time for the playoffs. Add in the delay of game issues that Nick points out above, and there is a lot of work to do in a very short period of time to get ready for the postseason.
Prime why did you mock Clemons about his wife’s cancer?
You can’t dismiss facts/stats just because the 9ers changed QBs.
Pick your spots cleverly huh Hof? Why did you not have this discussion last week after Kaep threw 4 td passes?
Bay,
You tried to only blame the defense. I pointed out that there are issues in other areas. I’m not going to ignore the issues with offense just because of the QB change. You want to debate me, provide your facts.
Hofer
Compare Kaepernick’s performance at the Clink with the top QBs in the league who have played there this year and you’ll see that he wasn’t the problem.
There is ample evidence of referees missing holding calls against Seattle’s line and PI calls against their DBs, ample evidence that Russell Wilson may be impossible to sack, ample evidence to show that crowd noise and coaching gaffes contribute to offensive ineffectiveness. I don’t buy into those issues so long as Kaepernick is the quarterback because frankly, I think with his skillset he should be able to put up more of a fight than he did last week.
That was his inexperience showing. It should also have served notice to the coaching staff that they need to start trusting Kaepernick with a no-huddle, high tempo variant so that he can use his superior physical tools to wear down a defense that, playing at the Harbaugh-approved snail’s pace, can dominate the Niners offense.
This one is on the coaching staff. They should have let Alex walk last offseason and inserted Kaepernick at the beginning of training camp.
I’m looking at the offense collectively the first half of the year versus the second half.
Where have you been Hof? Happy holidays dude! You still all in?
Hoferfan67 says:
December 26, 2012 at 4:02 pm
“You can’t dismiss facts/stats just because the 9ers changed QBs.”
Hofe, all hypothetical in regards to those stats (BTW, welcome back), because there is no way of knowing how AS could have faired against the Bears, Patriots, and Seattle.
Could he have won these games? We have no way of knowing that.
What we do know is that AS had one of the highest passer ratings before going out injured.
But we don’t know if those type of numbers would have carried us in the above mentioned games.
What we do know is that AS does not make the same pass the CK threw to KW in the Bears game and the pass CK threw over the middle between two safeties to Crabtree against the Patriots.
Also, I can’t say for sure, but I would venture to say that AS would not have made a difference in our running game against the C-hawks.
What we need from CK (and where have I heard this before? (lol), is consistency. Right now it seems that CK is going from one extreme to the other in his game. The highs are starting to be challenged by the lows and until he can find a comfort area somewhere close to the highs, CK will become a hit and miss type QB.
Fortunately for CK, the learning process and game experience will eventually serve him well.
I expected the hic’cups I’m seeing in his game, but his upside is still to great to give-up on and well worth the wait.
MD,
Happy Holidays bud!
In terms of where I’ve been, when someone refers to me on a post not discussing or debating football, it was time to get away from the drama.
Oh come on Hof. You live for the drama. Lol hope you’re having a great holiday season! I’m starting a 3 straight campaign after minn wins Sunday! Roll with it brotha! We are still going to the Superbowl! Wheeew!
AES,
Happy Holidays my banter brother! LOL
Fact youve never embraced CK and you disappeared for a while after the switch.
Ive got some advice for you Hof. Protect CK half as much as you did AS and youll enjoy this experience so much more.
If the wind blew the wrong way 2mph you used it as an excuse for Smith.
You may not see it, but the room does.
Bay, I asked you to merely point out where my facts/stats were incorrect in my posts above and you wish to focus only on the switch at QB. I’m not discussing the QB change, just the rankings of the offense the first half of the year versus the last half of the year. All of the numbers are factual. Present your argument if you differ.
Hof you are attempting to have the same argument disguised as something else. Its tired Hof.
Bay,
Taking a look at the offense collectively is appropriate especially with the looming postseason. GB and SEA are peaking and the 9ers are not. There are issues and you wish to only blame the defense. I was addressing the other issues as well. If you wish to ignore them and not debate what I have presented, then that is your choice.
Hofer adjust your glasses. I blamed the running game.
bayareafanatic says:
December 26, 2012 at 12:40 pm
On ESPN.com they noted that the San Francisco defense was yielding 11.4 points a game with Smith under center. In Colin Kapernicks 6 starts the defense is yielding 22.17 points a game
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Help me with where the RBs or running game is discussed?
One loss to a hot team that grabs receivers on their routes and now the ship has sunk. Child Please!!!! There isn’t a team left that we will see in the playoffs that play that well at home. I promise you all that if we see the craphawks in the playoffs (god please let it happen) they will get humiliated by our team. GB???? No defense! Atl? Overrated! Minn? Running game only and does not play well on grass!!! Dallas? Child please! Wash? No defense that could stop our offense! Seattle???? Never going to play like the last game at the stick! 1-1 record folks!
Although it Didnt work out last game. I liked that they came out throwing. I thought they abandoned the run game a little early but it showed they are trying to be more than one dimensional. Ill go out on a limb and say they get back to basics Sunday and throughout the season. Run the ball and stretch the field via play action. One thing I think Harbaugh should do (not that I think I know more than the coach like some) is take it easier on the padded practices. Every third game they look tired and a step behind.
I still don’t think smith as the qb wins the last two games. So all of you Smithers that have a slight hope he’s coming back to play and are now on the blog after 1 bad game….. Forget it! Ride or jump ship. This season is just starting. Minn wins. We win. Bye week! J Smith is back and we roll off three straight. Superbowl Bound!!!! Whooot whoooooot!
I heard how KNBR tried to get Mike Silver to blast Lowell. He almost bit,then realized he was the guy who wrote the Honkinghorngate story. And then after almost being critical of Lowell,he went back at Harbaugh and said that Harbaugh’s denials is the same as he wasn’t interested in Manning,denial also. So the liar onus went back to Jim.
I’m starting a 4 straight campaign! Who’s with me? Wheeew! Lol
*3 wheeeeew!
Hoferfan67 says:
December 26, 2012 at 4:52 pm
AES,
“Happy Holidays my banter brother! LOL”
Thank you Bud, hope you’re having a great Holiday as well.
Are you surviving the rains in your part of the world? Last I heard, you had a downed tree on your property.
I can’t banter with you bud, you’re too much of a heavy hitter with all the stats (lol). All I do is live from game to game!
AES,
I’ve always enjoyed your reads! Yes, I had a tree snap off the trunk a few weeks back but all good now. Regarding the stats, just keeping it real. Stats are facts – difficult to dispute when the opinion is left out! LOL Cheers bud!!
What happened to the running game in the second half of the season? Does Gore wear out after 8 or 9 games? I realize that Hunter went down but the team didn’t even try to run that much in the first quarter against Seattle.
I saw too much quit from this niner team after the first half of the NE game up until the present. I’m a huge Kaep fan and fully support Harbaugh’s change of QB, but you have to wonder if there are some on the team who are showing their disapproval of the change by lackluster play.
Hopefully Jenkins can add a spark.