This is what Greg Cosell said on KNBR Thursday morning about the 49ers win over the Patriots.
Q: Should the 49ers consider themselves lucky they beat the Patriots? There were so many fumbles they got back.
COSELL: They won the game, but you know what struck me? The second half the Patriots went to their speed no-huddle and the Niners’s defense got tired and they couldn’t rush the quarterback – it was really interesting watching it on film. It was really interesting for that long stretch there to see the 49ers on their heels, little pass rush, having to play some players that they probably didn’t want out there for that many snaps because they needed to get some guys some rest. It was really interesting.
But who else is going to do that? Seattle? I don’t know. They haven’t really done it this year.
Q: How much of the lack of pressure had to do with fatigue, and how much had to do with the absence of Justin Smith?
COSELL: Probably both. And then it’s funny, because all of a sudden late in the game after they were worn out, they had back-to-back sacks – the incredible one by McDonald, and then the great one by Ricky Jean where he just beat Solder. But for a long stretch, they got no pressure on Brady at all.
Q: Did you learn anything new about Colin Kaepernick from his performance against the Patriots?
COSELL: I wouldn’t say I learned anything new about the kind of player he is. You just want to keep seeing him play more and more snaps. He made some very good throws. I thought the touchdown to Delanie Walker was a really nice job by Kaepernick, because he looked left initially. It was a great designed play out of two backs and two tight ends. They actually shifted from the pistol to Kaepernick under center. I thought he did a really good job being patient in the pocket, looking to his left initially, then coming back to his right to Walker. I thought that was really well done by Kaepernick.
And the other element that Kaepernick gives you is running versus man coverage. Most teams when they play man coverage, they do not account for the quarterback. So if it’s third and eight and they play man-to-man, the quarterback can run, and he did that in that game in the first half. He gained 19 yards on third and eight, it was man-to-man, no one accounts for the quarterback and he can run. He gives you that added dimension.
49ers RSS feed
Loading ...
And the 2012 No Slush Sherlock award goes to Greg Cosell for his comment “The Patriots went to their speed no-huddle and the Niners’ defense got tired.”
Seriously… the no-huddle did hurt, but the 49ers lead melted because of a problem going back to August… injuries at edge pass rusher. Being a backup for Aldon Smith is alot like being the drummer for Spinal Tap.
Haralson, Johnson and Flemming were injured in preseason. Dobbs is out for the year. Haggans was also injured. Aldon was gassed by the mid third qtr.
If the 49ers don’t make it to the Super Bowl, lack of depth at the pass rusher spot will be the culprit.
Aldon Smith, in response to a question last week about the challenge of facing the Patriots’ no-huddle offense: “If you’re not in shape by this time, you’ve got a problem.” http://49ers.pressdemocrat.com/2012/12/inside-the-49ers/aldon-smith-on-the-patriots-offense-we-can-stop-them/
“Fatigue makes cowards of us all.” Vince Lombardi
Yup. That Chip Kelly stuff can drown the best defenses. I’ve seen it work on Stanford too many times to take it lightly.
What I liked about George Seifert’s defenses of the mid 80′s was depth at D-line. The 49ers defense absolutely smother teams after Montana and Co built early leads. Look what they did to Marino in the Super Bowl. The NY Giants used depth at DL to do the same thing vs the Pats in last year’s SB.
Easy to say, hard to do (especially post salary cap). Good pass rushers don’t last in the draft very long.
On Cosell… I’m starting to com around to him. At the start of last year he was not that familiar with the 49ers and would say obvious things we already knew. This season he’s more tuned in.
Some have stated Alfons had the flu. I know several plays in the second half he just stood there after the ball was snapped…
>>I know several plays in the second half he just stood there after the ball was snapped…
Pretty sure he was in coverage assignment during those downs.
If the offense would of gotton a few first downs during that time, defense would of had time to rest. Offense woke up when it needed to so all is good. That game was entirly on the offense to win/lose. Offense came thru.
I would agree. I think the O went 3 and out three times in a row? One decent drive would have given the D time to catch it’s breath and regroup.
I think we also saw just how valuable Justin Smith is to the defense.
I think no matter how you look at it we were going to win that game. If we had simply scored on a couple of the opportunities in the first half the score would have been simply too far out of reach and the Pats scoring flurry either way was going to come up short.
I expect a big defensive draft next year by the 49ers. The lack of depth at positions is glaring and needs to be addressed asap.
Coffee,
When you say there are glaring lacks of depth on the defense, which positions are you speaking of?
@ Jack:
I know you directed your question at Cfc, but I’d like to play too.
I would like to see a DT that can spell J. Smith and McDonald on more than a handful of plays (and eventually take over for Smith in a few years). If RJF is that guy, then I hope they start to give him additional minutes. Maybe it’s Dobbs, but I would prefer someone who doesn’t need so much development.
I feel the same way about the pass rush. I think they could use someone to play Aldon Smith’s 2011 designated pass rusher role. I also think it likely has to be someone better than a 5th or 7th round draft pick who needs a lot of development.
They also need to acquire a S for depth, and one to start if Goldson departs.
Finally, it’s not so much for depth, but I think they have to think seriously about replacing Soap at NT. When I watch him lay, I can’t help but think his game has fallen off. I have no idea if Williams is the answer, but his lack of playing time might suggest he isn’t.
Specifically I believe we need to address all three of the defensive line positions, outside linebacker as well as all of the defensive back positions.
I don’t know that we can resign Goldson and if so at what cost? Will it be worth it to give him a huge contract and cripple our ability to sign other FA’s? Whitner is just OK and our CB’s drop off significantly after Rogers. Culliver is to inconsistent although he certainly shows some nice flashes. Rogers is 31 and will either drop off or become to expensive at some point in the near future. I don’t have much confidence yet in either Brown or Cox to say that we shouldn’t continue to look for something better.
I could see Justin Smith retiring if we win the SB and if not he’s only got a year or two left max. Sopoaga might not return anyway and even so he’s pushing 32 for someone who’s had an inconsistent career. After that we have McDonald who is good in stretches but doesn’t stand out every game. Tukuafu is part offense and Dobbs is on IR. I dont know anything about Williams to say if he has a future or not on the team.
It also wouldn’t hurt to get another OLB, we need to spell Smith and Brooks and not have a huge drop off or have someone that can take over for a game or two if we have an injury right now that player isn’t on the team.
Claude
By all means, you MUST beg when you want to interact with the Great Jack Hammer! He has a blog of his own, you know! And he once played football in high school. And he paid $69.99 to get access to 49ers game film. He is more knowledgeable than all of us combined. Bow down!
^Look I know I’m as big of an instigator as any around here but I just don’t think that this was necessary. Even if you try and say you were only jesting the tone was clearly not friendly.
’tis the season.
@ Mr. E:
What’s with the instigating of fights/settling of scores/whatever it is you think you are doing? It’s irritating, so please knock it off.
CFC
Whatever. I avidly follow his blog and he does know his football. I’m just jabbing him a little for his pomposity, which has grown a bit of late, understandable for someone who is correct almost all of the time.
/shrug whatever you say but all it did was make you look like a jerk.
Claude
No instigating or scores to settle. Just a tad hungover. And had it up to my eyeballs with fake-a** serpent-tongued posers like Ribico. What happened around here? Where’s the familiar irreverence? Are we THAT serious nowadays?
Claude and Coffee,
Thanks for the responses. I only ask because on paper this team is very deep, we just don’t see all of it on gameday.
They have done a great job of managing the roster, basically utilizing spots 47-53 as a safe house for guys they want to develop and feel will be picked up by other teams if they try to move them to the practice squad. Guys like Ian Williams and Jewel Hampton.
They have a boat load of draft picks this year, and looking at the defense the only two guys who may not be back are Goldson and Sopoaga. Depending on how they feel the development is going for Williams and Robinson, maybe they make a splash.
It will be fun to hash it out once the season ends.
Jack
What’s your take on Goldson coming back?
Goldson is a great fit for this defense. If they can lock him up for 3-4 years I think they should do it.
Not saying this to suggest you don’t already know but it’s not just about who might not be back next year but the next couple of years. If we were to lose either or both Brooks and Aldon we’d be totally screwed at the moment and not just for the obviousness of the statement but for the fact that we simply don’t have two players to plug into those positions. If we do lose Goldson who do we have besides Whitner that we could trust to start?
The need for more players at DL is surprisingly absent from your response as well. JS is long in the tooth for his position and although McDonald is solid I don’t think we have any other truly ‘great’ defensive lineman so frankly I think our DL is a bit of a liability even now. If we lost either or both McDonald and Smith our situation would be dire.
Right now I just don’t see “good” depth at any of the above positions.
@ Jack:
I agree that they have developmental guys for the defense, but I would like to see a couple of guys who don’t need so much development, particularly at pass rusher and DT. I know Justin Smith is amazingly fit/strong/well-staminaed (yeah, I made it up), but I can’t help but think that a quality substitute would keep him fresher for the 4th quarter, reduce the risk of him wearing down at the end of the season, and extend his career.
At OLB they will have Harrelson coming off IR, along with Darius Flemming. They also have Cam Johnson on the PS.
At DL they have Dobbs, Tukuafu, RJF, and Ian Williams. (Only Williams has not contributed this year).
At safety they have Trenton Robinson, who may be the S in waiting should Goldson not come back.
A strong 4th CB would be nice, and I could see the possibility of a new NT to replace Sopoaga.
I really like the depth throughout this roster, and it will be fun to watch it shake out after the season.
Jac your listing the players that we have but not really assessing if they are viable starters plus depth going forward. Unless your assuming that because they are here now they will be next year and are already starter quality.
CfC,
I am assuming the only changes at starter will be NT and S. The others are pretty well set.
I guess I don’t share your optimism about the players waiting in the wings.
Dobbs and Tukuafu are both listed as playing both ways which makes me question where their focus is in practice, and Dobbs is currently on IR so it’s reasonable to question if he will be 100% when he returns. RJF again is good depth but is he a viable starter? If not he can remain at depth but we’ll still need to find people to replace Sopo and eventually Smith. If Williams doesn’t pan out and Dobbs isn’t a 100% then that leaves Tukuafu who plays both ways and RJF as your sole DL depth and that just doesn’t leave me with the warm and fuzzies.
Right now ask yourself, if JS and RM both were to go down how confident are you in the players that would step in? And when they step in who is there to give them a breather when their being dragged through a no huddle offense in the fourth quarter?
“At OLB they will have Harrelson coming off IR, along with Darius Flemming. They also have Cam Johnson on the PS.”
Again you have a player coming off IR which questions his health and Harrelson was a question mark to making the team coming into the season. With the depth they’ve had at OLB Johnson should have been brought up already if he was anywhere close and clearly he isn’t. Flemming isn’t even getting practice time at the moment and at 6’2″ 255 he sounds more like an ILB.
“At safety they have Trenton Robinson, who may be the S in waiting should Goldson not come back.”
If Goldson didn’t come back would you feel confident with Robinson starting? If Goldson doesn’t come back and Robinson starts what do you do if Whitner gets hurt? Is Robinson strong enough to carry the safeties with a no body plugged in with him? If Rogers or Culliver goes down are you confident that Brown or Cox could come in to play and not be a liability? Even Rogers seemed to have a slow start to the season and Culliver although talented appears to have a knack for drawing PI calls.
@ Jack:
I think Haralson’s contract is up after this season. How confident are you that either Fleming or Johnson can provide appreciably-better-than-average pass rush pressure?
Do you attribute the relatively few minutes of playing time given to Dobbs, Tukuafu, and RJF to their lack of skill or to the coaches’ insistence on giving as much (too much?) time to Smith and McDonald as possible?
Baalke has shown a great eye for talent, so I am not going to go off on an ill-advised rant second-guessing him. Maybe he found some gems in those guys. That said, the depth at OLB consists of a 5th round pick and a 7th round pick. The D-line depth consists of 3 undrafted guys (including Williams) and a 7th rounder. I wouldn’t mind seeing the team add a high draft pick or two (without overreaching) to the mix.
I agree that we need a stud DT/DE to start grooming behind JS to give him more rest as he gets older, and then eventually replace him. RayMac is fine on the other side but depending on what happens with RJF we may need a NT as well because I doubt Soap is coming back unless his financial demands are small.
CB and OLB, we could use some depth but it’s not a necessity imo. The guys we have are good and signed for the next few years. That doesn’t mean you ignore the positions, I just don’t think they need to use a high pick on them unless somebody falls that they didn’t expect.
Safety is a need if Goldson isn’t resigned. If he is, then they are in pretty good shape.
On offense, I see them looking at C, RB, TE and WR in no particular order. They may even dip into FA for Mike Wallace or Greg Jennings. Who knows?
With all the picks they have, this should be a draft where they package picks to move up and/or trade for picks in 2014. There really isn’t a lot of needs on this team and most of the core is signed for the next couple of seasons. Have to tip your cap to Baalke and company.
@coffee
you can Never have too many DBs!
and also, Cully plays a physical style of play, so it shuts down WRs but risks a few more penalties. Kind of similar to SEA’s DBs. Seems to be working pretty well so far.
@ rocket:
The only place where I differ with you is OLB. I think another really good pass rusher is a necessity, especially after Sunday night.
With all the picks they have, this should be a draft where they package picks to move up and/or trade for picks in 2014.
I agree. This would be the time to go for quality over quantity.
Claude,
The Giants are proof of never having too many passrushers and I agree with you that we could use another one. I just don’t see them using a high pick on one after signing Brooks long term along with AS being so dominant. My guess is they would take a raw pass rusher for the purpose you described, who can develop the other parts of his game unless as mentioned a player they have ranked highly falls to them. My biggest concern is the Dline and I hope they draft at least two new prospects to bring in.
“Right now ask yourself, if JS and RM both were to go down how confident are you in the players that would step in?”
If they both went down we are in trouble. I think they could survive one. That’s no different though than any other team that loses 2 of 3 starters on the DL.
“Harrelson was a question mark to making the team coming into the season.”
Not really.
You could be right about Johnson. As for Fleming he has been on the PUP list all season.
“If Goldson didn’t come back would you feel confident with Robinson starting?”
Not overly confident, but I don’t get to see him everyday in practice. If they think he is starter worthy I am willing to give the benefit, and let him prove they are right.
“I think another really good pass rusher is a necessity”
Wasn’t the rumor that they were interested in Bruce Irvin last year?
We didn’t see anything from Fleming due to his injury, and almost nothing from Johnson. I would venture to guess that Fleming is more of a run stopper, while Johnson the pass rusher solely based on their collegiate careers.
Regarding the lack of playing time for the backup DL, I think that is due to them keeping the starters in as much as possible. Early on it was noticeable when the backups came in, but it has been much improved as the season has gone on.
Jack
Trenton Robinson FS or SS?
Isn’t CJ Spillman the $6M man? That’s some coin for a special team only guy.
It’s $2m per, and thanks for bringing that name up. It slipped my mind. There you go…Spillman, Robinson, and McBath form decent safety depth.
@ Jack:
There has been speculation that the 49ers were interested in Irvin. I don’t know if that’s true, but, if so, it’s just one more reason to despise Pete Carroll.
I do know that a couple of sharp commenters on this blog were hoping the 49ers would look at him.
If they could coach up Brock, they could have smooth DB depth even after Rogers is gone. Anyone heard or have insights into Brock’s apparent inability to develop? Dude is fast and on BBs radar as a special teamer, so it’s clear that he has talent, but we’ve also seen him get picked on when he does play (NYG playoffs).
I think it will be a defensive draft. What to draft for depends on which free agents are resigned, and the health of Cam Johnson.
After 2011 Baalke admitted they were thin at OLB and drafted two. Then Haralson and the draftees were injured before the season started, making the 49ers worse thin minus one for 2012.
Depending on talent available, it could go something like pass rushing OLB first, then D-tackle…. however, if a good corner back or stud all purpose “every-down” back is there they could nab one. If Goldson is not retained, a safety.
The 49ers have two (and possibly three depending on compensitories) third round picks and a slew or later round picks. They should be able to find some good depth with that kind of draft capitol.
The 49ers did exactly what I was screaming for them NOT to do when they were up 31-3: they rushed three linemen and went to a prevent. For some idiotic reason, they continued to play this way on almost every snap until the game was tied.
Dial up some blitzes, and HIT THE QB. I don’t care if he completes a 10 yard “hot” route, it’s better than letting him have 4-5 seconds to stand back and find a receiver. Aldon Smith got an interception because Hernandez short armed the pass from Brady, because HE KNEW THAT HE WAS ABOUT TO GET HIT. Football is just as much psychological as it is talent. Don’t believe me, then ask David Akers. The 49ers had Brady rattled in the first half, then Fangio let up. They should have beat the snot out of Brady when they were up 4 TD’s. So a DB gets beat in 1-on-1 coverage and Brady scores one. Great. THINK HE WANTS TO GO THROUGH THAT @SS KICKING THREE MORE TIMES??? That is how the Patriots stopped “The Greatest Show on Turf” in their first SB win. The Rams completed their passes, but the receivers and Warner PAID for it EVERY TIME they touched the ball, and it had the desired effect.
Let’s hope that they learned something form their near miss.
Everyone talks about how the Niners defense got tired. But what about the Pats’ offense? They probably got tired too after that big comeback. They also had nothing left after that.
Pass rushing requires an intense burst of energy, more so than pass-blocking. Over time, a pass rusher will tire out more quickly than a pass-blocker. As far as the receivers and the coverage, I’d suggest that’s a wash, but the pass rush is where the fatigue factor can really play a role, in favour of the offense.
If the offense hadn’t stalled so much with the fumbles and conservative play calling, they could have given the defense more rest. Any defense will wear out if their offense goes 3 and out enough times. With NE’s offense running at such a fast tempo, it’s understandable that they were back on their heels. Apparently, the 49er defense was in zone, not prevent, during the comeback. Regardless, Brady can beat zone, man or any combination, if he has time.