Mario Manningham sat out the last two practices with a shoulder injury.
If he can’t play against the Dolphins on Sunday, the 49ers lose a key weapon in the pass game. Manningham is second on the team in targets and catches, he’s dropped just one pass all season and he’s a deep threat.
How do you suppose the 49ers wide receivers coach and pass game coordinator John Morton is game planning to compensate for the potential loss of his No.2 receiver?
There is an obvious answer – get the ball to the best tight end in football, Vernon Davis. But Morton seems to prefer pass plays for wide receivers.
Do you think Morton will feature Randy Moss? Moss played 41 percent of the offensive snaps against the Rams on Sunday, up eight percent from his season average of 33 percent.
Do you think first-round pick A.J. Jenkins will finally get to play? If he doesn’t get on the field when they really need him now, what does that say about him?
Do you think Morton will pack the game plan full of passes to Delanie Walker? Greg Roman, the apparent play caller and running game coordinator, seems to like calling passes to Walker at critical moments. Walker is fast and he’s a good blocker. Unfortunately his hands are so made of iron he needs an anti-rust solution. He has 12 catches and 7 drops this season. Call him Manos de Hierros. (If my Spanish is wrong please correct me.)
Do you think Ted Ginn Jr. will be Morton’s secret weapon this week? Me neither?
What do you think Morton will do without Manningham?
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Hopefully Aj gets to show what he can do didn’t draft him in the first round for nothing.
Exactly…
If Victor Cruz went undrafted and turned into the weapon he is now… Jenkins should get his shot to prove he was a 1st round pick
This is it. I don’t follow the Dolphins, but they are apparently weak against the pass. I can see some throws downfield to AJ or Randy Moss, cant double them both and account for Vernon, the running game worries me somewhat unless LMJ shows us something.
Some of you guys need to do your homework before posting. Miami has a very solid defense. Last week they held Brady to his lowest QB rating this year….but sure, they suck.
What he should do and what he will do are totally different things. Crabtree will see his usual share of targets but hopefully Roman makes a concentrated effort to get the ball in Vernon’s hands. There is nobody on the Phins defense that could stay with Vernon for a full sixty minutes. Besides Wake, nobody on the d-line jumps out to me so hopefully they don’t worry about keeping Davis in to block and they let him run free. I think it’s crucial for the team chemistry to have a big day for Vernon. His excitement fuels the team. Feed your best player the ball; it’s playground football 101.
@ jerod brown There cb Sean smith is pretty good he jumps out at me when I have watch some mia games there def is better than you think.
What is the explanation for VD’s lack of production lately? It seems that when it started a few weeks back, it was because opposing teams were focusing on him, doubling him, etc. Has that been the case each week? It’s hard to tell looking at the TV feed. Grant you should have a better idea being able to watch the whole field live.
Time to unleash the rookies!
M. Sando reported all 3 TD’s passes thrown by CK have come outside the pocket. How can he be classified as improving pocket passer when this is evident and he wants to run first?
http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/84072/final-word-nfc-west-61
CK’s numbers are very poor when facing 5 pass rushers and AS leads the league. A work in progress I guess?
Hofer if Im the Dolphins I want just a 4 man rush to contain the edges and force CK to play inside the pocket. Its clear he wants to escape and make plays off broken plays. Thats fine but not all the time. He is focusing too much on his athleticism and not the ability to sit and read and let plays develop from the pocket.
@hofer lol are you serious with that post.
FDM, that has always been my concern with running athletic QBs. They give you another dimension but they tend not to have patience in the pocket by beating you with their arm. Yes exciting, but not always winning.
Hov, yes it is a fact. Read the article.
hov
Instead of hating try learning. AS was tops against blitz (5 man rush). If you did it, you got burned. CK is well behind.
Interesting, based on this Sando post it could be a big day for Kaep.
http://m.espn.go.com/general/blogs/blogpost?blogname=nfcwest&id=84055
Hofer,
Who leads the league? Hes a backup. His stats don’t count.
Jordo, very small sample size.
AS is irrelevant, he is second string, he has not played in over a month. Say bye bye Smithers. He won’t be coming to a town near you next season, your such a hateful group. Now of-course if CK wins a Superbowl, all of you cult members will say AS could of done the same. A former slogan from the Smitherines. In Harbaugh I trust. Keep drinking the Kool Aid. hahahahahhahahahahahhahh
Maybe some should show Smith how to dump it off whether Kaeps facing pressure or not. Smith is benched. Deal with it.
@ ds. I mean bs I’m not “hating” you pull for your guy Alex that’s all fine I’m not gonna bash you for doing that like most people on this blog do but why can’t you support ck7?
Because it’s cheating…. As in unfaithful.
FDM,
I disagree that Kaep wants to run first — he keeps his eyes downfield most pass plays and only runs when he thinks he has to. A true run first QB, like Vick, looks more often to run than to extend the play.
As for all three touchdown passes coming from outside the pocket, that is not evidence he is not improving as a pocket passer — that conclusion would require examining the data concerning all his completed passes to see how many came from outside the pocket. It is, however, in my estimation, evidence that he still needs to improve as a pocket passer. Having watched CK for years at Nevada, I can tell you that he looks to me to be much improved as a pocket passer, but it is very much still a work in progress.
Hoferfan67,
Not everyone appreciated how Smith handled pressure (low-risk/low-reward (i.e. conservative risk management)), but I don’t think any objective observer could dispute he has become quite good at recognizing pressure and minimizing mistakes/losses. Kaep, both at Nevada and now for the 49ers, does not take a low-risk/low-reward approach to pressure – he takes a high-risk/high-reward approach. As a result his mistakes and losses will be much greater than Smith’s, but the potential for higher rewards will be greater as well. Add that to the issue that Kaep is still learning to recognize what type of pressure is developing, and it makes perfect sense that Smith would be better when facing 5 rushers.
University of Nevada is alot different than the NFL. Are they even a Div. 1 school?
Improving or thinking he is improving in the last quarter of the season is not a good situation to be in for a super bowl contending team outside of the QB position.
I do not disagree with you on the situation not being ideal. I clearly made the point that, although I have seen improvement in Kaep as a pocket passer, that the situation is still “very much” a work in progress. I am not sure how anyone could interpret that statement as anything other than indicating the situation is not ideal.
As for Nevada, yes it is a Div 1A school. In 2010 with Kaep as QB, they demolished Cal, which at the time was thought to have one of the best defenses in the Pac 10 (although that is not really saying much). And I am not sure how the comment that “University of Nevada is a lot different than the NFL” is relevant to the point I made. The improvement as a pocket passer is noticeable from his college days, and that observation is independent of the locale of his college days or the degree of separation between college and NFL football.
FDM
Kaepernick is not a run-first QB. He is similar to Roethlisberger. Don’t hold it against him that he runs in the 4.4s.
He has yet to prove he is not. When your most productive plays are runs, what is he, a running QB.
Really? Cause I see a QB that is sitting in the pocket longer than Smith, keeps his eyes down field longer than Smith and many times when he’s run out of the pocket still looks to deliver the ball down field.
I think he is more accurately described as a mobile QB instead of a running QB.
His most productive plays are touchdowns. The fact that he can run in the Redzone is a huge plus over Smith. Rethink your comment.
So in that instance Bay, where are the big explosive plays CK was suppose to add and take the heat off the running game? New wepons remember?
FDM,
you said, “When your most productive plays are runs, what is he, a running QB”.
He had 84 rushing yards in one game. Only 27 and 10 in the other two.
He’s had pass plays of 36 to VD and 57 to KW and 40 to MM.
He also had a 35 yard pass to MC wiped out by penalty and a 28 yard pass to VD dropped.
Just curious, are you bias? How are his biggest plays running plays?
Colin initially was absolutely a read one and run QB but admittedly I’ve noticed him spending more time going through his reads, or at least trying to as his playing time increased.
He still looks like he’d rather run sometimes but I will say that his propensity to simply drop back look and then run has diminished.
Bay is nice for putting up statistics. It’s unnecessary, though, because any unbiased eye can see that Kaepernick escapes pressure with his head up and his arm cocked, similar to Roethlisberger, different from Vick. He should be referred to not as a running quarterback, but as a quarterback whose elusiveness allows him to escape pressure and make plays.
By explosive plays do you mean like 50 yard passes in the air? There are non. What cannot be denied is that CK is exploiting the mid range pass more than Smith did.
And lets not forget he is moving the chains.
FDM,
we can argue till the sun goes down but at the end of the day Harbaugh sees more value, upside or whatever you want to call it in CK.
All hale Coffee, a true Niners fan who has his eyes wide open and is accepting the change!!!
FDM,
I think the ratio of run to pass is a better indicator when labeling him as a running or passing QB. Kaepernick has averaged 26.66 attempts per start, while completing +66% of his passes. He has averaged 6.33 carries per game, with only a few of those being designed running plays. Most of those carries are him breaking containment on busted plays. Alex Smith averaged 24.11 passing attempts per game this season.
No vertical passes for TD’s. Most productive plays have been runs and plays of 36 to VD and 57 to KW was in the the Bears game and the 40 to MM was all YAC.
We are seeing a decline in the production because teams now have film on him and it seems the pressure is becoming a factor as evidence in his decision making and turnovers.
Once again, I have nothing against CK, it was just a bad time to insert him as a starter and place the expectation of a superbowl on him. Reality not biased Bay.
I accept nothing. ;)
Well stated, Coffee’s for Closers. Kaep is much better at going through his progressions than he was in training camp. However, I think there are times it would be better he ran sooner, at least at this stage of his development, than hold the ball so long that it puts undue pressure on the OL to hold.
Wow,
everyone that says they see a decline in production with CK really needs to chill out. How do you make that type of assessment in 3 games? Say it at the end of the season. 7 games plus one or two playoff games gives us 8 or 9 games. That is a good sample size.
Let me do my best impression of you FDM so you can see what you sound like.
Andrew Luck passed for 300 yards in three out of his first four games. Since them he showed a steady decline…..
SMH…..
@ Bay
Its about the terms we’re using. There IS a decline in production; remember the points total from last week? That doesn’t mean Kaep is regressing. I agree with you that he continues to progress. I had to review my thoughts carefully because we don’t agree that often!
I certainly hope that sample includes more than one playoff game.
Bays says “FDM,
we can argue till the sun goes down but at the end of the day Harbaugh sees more value, upside or whatever you want to call it in CK.”
He may indeed see that Bay, but it does not mean it was the right decision. Just because he ses this, we are not to forget this was the year we needed to get to the Superbowl because every position is ready to compete for one. Is the QB position, TBA?
Alex Smith doesn’t guarantee you a superbowl berth.
Exactly Grimey….
Bay AL and CK are not in the category. AL has had entire year to develop and work through the growing pains. CK will not have seen or played enough to be fully prepared for playoff football with only 7 starts.
Your opinion.
No Grime it does not but you cannot underestimate the value of experience, leadership, and a winning formula versus potential, inexpereince and lack of chemistry going into the playoffs.
Its not something you hope develops in the last quarter of the season.
Once again we are pinning the hopes of a 6th tittle on a kid with 7 career starts in a pro-style offense and who has shown that he can be game planned for and made one dimnsional.
For all the things he was made starter for, in 3.5 games we have seen a fraction of his big play capability and added dimension to the vertical passing game. Wow!
Versus an 8 year vet with one playoff win. And a low 3rd down conversion rate…. Hmmmm. I’ll go with Coach of the year on this one.
Bay:
“everyone that says they see a decline in production with CK really needs to chill out. How do you make that type of assessment in 3 games? Say it at the end of the season. 7 games plus one or two playoff games gives us 8 or 9 games. That is a good sample size.”
It goes the other way too: all the “CK is the savior” attitude among some here is premature based on the sample size. It’s just too soon to know if he is the answer. Truth is we, as the fans, haven’t seen enough to go either way and therefore biases about AS make us lean one way or the other.
Calistoga,
step away from the Silver Oak buddy. No one is calling CK the savior. I know I didn’t. For me personally he makes the game more exciting for me. I wanted a change and it’s a change that comes from Harbaugh so I respect it.
The change Bay for you is more about the entertainment value for your fantasy football opinion as opposed to winning in general. We get it now.
FDM, yup you got it!
This is not to hate on CK, but for now he is a more talented and taller Troy Smith.
He goes through his one read, then waits for the pocket to break down, and the improvises to make a play. Ben Roth does this too. But Ben is elite, and he can make some reads.
The Rams figured that out and just went contain on him. On the one long run, they played man and that’s how he ran for so many yards. Once Gore took out the LB or player in front of him, there was no one around for 30 yards.
This is not a knock on CK — he’s young. In his 2nd yr. RG3 is in his first year and he’s seem to have figured out how to be productive without making a lot of mistakes.
The thing that will haunt this team is the switch in the middle of the season, benching a QB that was playing well enough to win most games.
Yeah — he stunk against two good defenses. But CK lost to the Rams, twice.
Smithers just can’t let go, you can take this to the bank, your man love is going to be a journeyman for the rest of his career, would not be surprised if he ends up on 4 or 5 more teams before his career ends.
QBs get a lot of hype for their excitement. We saw it last year with CNewt and now this year with RG. Didn’t we all see it with MVick also? Let’s give them all 5 years and then re-evaluate. One year is not a career.
Nothing of value once again Neal that adds to the discussion or any insight of your football knowledge. This is not a childrens blog. You cannot bring that elementary crap on here, its a waste of time.
Hofer,
Their was no hype for Alex Smith other then the Niners should of picked AR. Kaep is Harbaugh guy, he had a private workout for JH. Harbaugh knows QB’s and it is tough for a head coach to coaching Andrew Luck and then have to settle for delicate flower Alex Smith. It is a new time, a new era and time to let go Smithers, your all showing your real color in the hatred towards Kaep and Harbaugh.
FDM,
All you are is a depressed monkey, hey did you fight Big P yet.
Bay – Gotta say I love the wine references!
I know I exaggerated with the “CK is the savior” but with all of the hyperbole thrown out there since his big Bears game, it seems that a fair amount of people do see him that way because they hated AS so much. I prefer to take a much more measured approach to it all: I’m hopeful that CK is better, he’s certainly shown flashes, but I haven’t seen enough for me to be certain. His flaws and mistakes have been magnified due to the small sample size, just as his accomplishments have been as well. Was this JH’s decision? Of course. As a fan of the 49ers am I on board for the ride? Of course. Do I have concern that this will pan out? Of course. Did I have concern when we say games from AS like against NY this year and in the playoffs? Of course.
I don’t know how this will play out, hopefully with a SB win. Nevertheless, I will be watching every game and be rooting on whomever is out there on the field for the team.
FDM,
The comment of “outside the pocket” by Sando is off base. In at least one of those TDs, CK was flushed out of the pocket by the pass rush. In that play, he slid to his left, WHILE keep his eyes downfield, and threw a strike to Crabtree for a TD while rolling left.
He didn’t get happy feet, he didn’t panic and look at the pass rush, he was calm and delivered.
In 8 years, name ONE instance/play where Alex Smith did that.
Nick that play against the Bears he was wide open and CK could have ran it in himself. There was no pressure/blitz from the Bears that game and they played man to man all game. It was easy. Then look at the next 2 games where teams game planned for CK. Not as productive.
This is not about AS vs. CK. Thats over now. CK is the starter moving forward. This is about placing a superbowl contending team on the back of an inexpereinced QB. Lets not lose site of that. JH decided CK is a better opion for this to happen. I disagree and the only way to determine it is to see how ready he becomes over the next 4 games and how far he gets the team in the playoffs.
Sando’s comments weren’t off-base he was pointing out a matchup advantage the 9ers have over the Dolphins. FDM’s interpretation and spin is off-base.
What’s off base Cal boy? That all three TD passss CK has thrown have been outside the pocket. It’s does not get anymore black and white. Inside the pocket or out, it’s one or the other fool.
He is a running QB till he proves he can consistently stand in the pocket and deliver. He did it against the Bears but as we are seeing, the blue print to rattle him an make him stand in there an read defenses is limiting him as a complete QB.
I know in time and against MIA he will look good, lets see what happens against SEA and NE.
Well, I prefer to call it exactly as Harbaugh calls it; “extending the play.”
To be fair, throwing on the run outside the pocket does not always mean that the QB is looking to run first.
CK became a legend in college for throwing outside the pocket. Giving the defense another area of seems to be an plus rather than a negative as some here are intimating.
another area *of concern
What did SY say about playing in the pocket exclusively? Its the fundamental principle and job requiried for any NFL QB to be good.
When your QB’s first instinct is to make something out of nothing, that means ellude the rush and get out of the pocke. This results in not having enough time to set your feet and make an accurate throw. So insted of making an errant throw, tuck it and run. its instinctive and takes time to learn. Not what you want to be teaching in week 14 of a championship season.
I’m seeing it more each game. His time in the pocket is down from the Bear game to the Ram game. I suspect we’ll see him even run more from the pocket this game although it should be a win regardless.
“The 49ers’ Alex Smith was the lone quarterback to truly torch Arizona’s defense this season.”
If the coaches fail to get Moss AND Jenkins both involved to the tune of 5+ catches each, it will be a travesty. If the coaches fail to utilize the short passing game with any one of their RBs (hopefully LMJ), it will be a travesty. If the coaches fail to employ 5-10 designed runs for Kaepernick, it will be a travesty. If the coaches fail to target Vernon 5-10 times, it will be a travesty.
This should be their thinking going into every game.
sounds like its probably going to be a travesty
Well played and funny.
Agreed. SMH at this coordinator.
I hope AJ is used this week if he is’nt it means nothing. After QB the WR position is the hardest for a rookie to adapt to at the pro level. Many many many WR’s take a yr or 2 to get comfortable, hell it even took the greatest player in the history of the game [ Jerry Rice as if i needed to say] half of a season to adapt. i’m not positive but i think i remember L. Cohn and G. Dickey calling him a bust and draft mistake after 5 or 6 games his rookie yr.
“The Great Glenn Dickey” wrong? Say it aint so! Three games into the ’81 season he called Walsh a bust as a HC. That was the last piece of his I ever read.
Vernon needs a rebirth
A VD outbreak? Hohhh!! that joke never gets old
@Hov Their defense is certainly good. I guess what I meant to say was that I don’t see any LBs or Safeties that could stick with Davis.
Walker has made some incredible catches over the years and this year too, but he does drop easy ones, when you don’t throw the ball to VD and RM, it just shows poor game planning, neither of these two guys Morton and Roman are anything special as Coaches. This is something that Harbaugh and Baalke need to reevaluate when the season is over.
Ted Ginn has become as soft as butter both in the return game and as a WR. We cannot count on him. Crabtree will be bumped and braketed all day as he is every Sunday. As for Vernon Davis and Randy Moss, who knows, they have been missing in action for several weeks now.
The most concerning thing to me is our offense has become so predicatble. If CK was brought in to give us a spark, it has gotten dimmer and dimmer with each game.
So to answer your question, lets hope the defense can score some points, Gore has a monster game and our new QB can be explosive.
Ted Ginn has always been a crappy receiver, never liked to get tackle and his best friend is running out of bounds. He needs to go after this season, another number one bust.
Yeah, Walker is too unreliable. He can be such a drive killer with his hands-o-brick. Ginn is also unreliable when it comes to actually…catching the ball. He also is not a great route runner and shies away from contact.
If Mario is truly unable to play, they really should get AJ some snaps. I can’t see Moss getting open to the extent MM could. Game plan to get the ball to Crabtree, Davis, Moss, Jenkins. Walker has use though — he will get open and based on passed attention he can draw some defenders. Wish he was more reliable. He catches the hard ones and drops the easy.
BTW — I’m really quite over Ginn at this point. I think the value he brings to the offense as a WR is at this piont near zero. Too bad we’re down the two above him on the depth chart (Williams, Manningham). I sure hope AJ wasn’t a wasted pick and he can step up and be part of the package. He’s first rounder, for pity’s sake.
I’d like to know who is Ginn’s backup as a kick and punt returner. Also, why is Dixon not getting more reps? What is his limitation on offense.
Bay
Parrish Cox for punts. Maybe him and LMJ(?) for KOR.
As to Boobie, let’s see this week. I wonder if he’s any good at pass protect………?
Get into 22 personnel. This has been their most explosive personnel grouping all season. Don’t stray too far from what you know works.
A little more development on your recent blog wouldn’t have hurt. It ended kind of abruptly.
Thanks Neo.
Who is this Neo?
Keep up the blog. It’s a good effort.
“Thanks Neo.”
He is not The One.
Who do you think will get more targets against the Dolphins – Walker or Moss? Will both guys get more targets than VD?
Based on recent games, I’d say Walker. Hope he’s getting some quality time with the Jugs machine…
How are you supposed to predict with this offensive coordinator? His whole plan seems to be to not highlight any individual, but to utilize every weapon. Unfortunately, his schemes are not up to this task, apparently, but it makes it hard to predict.
A couple of things we do know are: he will not target VD or Moss enough and he will not utilize the screen pass enough.
Walker. No, Davis is going to have a good game.
I agree with Troglodyte Defense, you might as well play the fickle finger of death or throw darts at names if you want to predict who will be the leading receiving TE/WR on this team.
Or you could pick Michael Crabtree and get it right almost every week.
Big day ahead for both Davis and Crabtree?
Is it time for lunch yet?
True true, maybe I should have said good luck predicting who gets the next most targets after Crabtree.
As far as the question goes can I answer after I see how the Dolphins start lining up first. If they try to focus on taking away VD then you can expect them to just look somewhere else the rest of the game. Walker would get more targets then Moss anyway, hasn’t he pretty much this season?
What percentage of all plays do they line up in the 22, I wonder if the formation doesn’t appear explosive mainly because of the frequency in which it is utilized more then it’s advantages over defenses?
Coffee,
I don’t have a percentage for you, but they do it quite a bit. It is very effective for them in both the run and pass game.
What if the Dolphins stop Gore even from the 22 personnel. Do you stick with the formation? Would you adjust? If so, how?
It depends on how they are stopping it. A number of teams have tried to match up to it by bringing the safety down and putting 8 in the box.
Roman wants that to open up the pass. The Rams stayed base because they could shut it down with the front 7.
Good point. I meant if the Dolphins can shut down Gore with the front 7 like the Rams did.
22 personnel, split backs with James in the backfield. Play action fake to Frank who stays in to block post-fake, screen or pass to the flat to James. If they clog the middle, hit the outside.
For the sake of this exercise are they also sitting back in the 2 deep zone with corners off?
Yes.
@ Grant:
Shift one of the TE’s wide and throw slants, curls etc. to him and the WR until Miami changes its coverage.
Then I want to attack the edge with fly sweeps, zone reads (hello LMJ), quick slants, hitches, receiver screens. If I can get you running sideline to sideline it will eventually open up the middle.
Would you use more of Ginn or James?
How much would you line up VD at wide receiver?
Claude I called for that two weeks ago. But in fairness, they threw a lot of slants last game.
Can I get a naked bootleg?
Throw the Naked Bootleg in there for Bay while we’re at it. Worked well on that looonnng drive in NO.
@ bay:
Yes, they did, but since the Rams didn’t change their coverage, I wonder if they should have thrown even more of them.
@ Jack:
I tend to agree that this would be the time to get LMJ and his speed involved by running him wide.
The question I have with the fly sweep is who is going to run it, particularly if Manningham is out? Ginn? Is he in the doghouse after the pitch play? Moss? Hmmm.
I’m curious what a player says in the film room when they show him standing over a fumble just watching it. And the coaches loop it so that it plays 10 times in a row from different angles. Each angle just showing the player standing there watching it.
Claude,
I would use James.
As for Sunday, they were in the Red Zone 3 times and failed to capitalize. First was a pass a tad behind Manningham that cost a potential TD, then Walker drops a perfectly thrown pass. That is 8 lost points.
There has been a lot of talk in here about changes that should be made, and I say nothing major needs to change. They are who they are, and while some don’t care for that style of play it has been very effective.
@ Jack:
Would it change the defensive reaction if the player running towards the QB just before the snap is the RB and not the WR?
Or, are you talking about splitting LMJ out wide with Gore in his usual spot?
Based only on what I saw of James at Oregon want the ball in his hands on the edge more than Ginn.
Would prefer to see Davis shift or motion out to receiver instead of just lining up out there. This puts more stress on the D and can help the QB decipher coverage. For a number I would say about 5-10.
Oh, and I agree that the offense isn’t going to change very much, if at all.
Claude,
It might, but if they start to overplay the fly sweep you punch them up the gut with Gore on a real.
Time for A.J. to make his NFL appearance. TGJr will likely fill M.Manningham’ spot if he can’t go. But this is the perfect opp for A.J. to get some real-game experience.
I would like to see LMJ get on the field as well.
All hail to the rookies! (lol)
Today is Pearl Harbor Day. I would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to all of our current and our vets for their great service.
God bless!
Pretty soon you’re gonna run out of coaches to call out…
Solari. It’s his fault Staley is a Smither and sabotaging our new QB’s fledgling carreer by “laughing” at CK’s turnovers.
so are you supporting Staley for laughing at CK’s turnovers?
@ ribico:
Come on man; quit tormenting the nutjobs.
I know, claude. Technically speaking, it could be called “trolling”. Realistically speaking, that’s also what 99% of the “smither”-”hater” interchanges are here.
Right on cue, Nick.
Thanks for the Confirmation. So how long will you keep Alex’s picture in your avatar? Haha – poor Ribico. His hero is done. But he’s hanging onto the picture.
I like the idea of Niners #1. How long? Maybe when he’s no longer on the team. Yet as I look around I see plenty of other avatars with Niner players long gone. Do they piss you off as well? No? Then thanks for confirming it’s only about one guy with you haters.
Yeah, right. Niners #1. That’s interesting revisionist history. The number #1 in your avatar stands for 1st overall pick – a bad one at that. By the way, other avatars pay tribute to former Niner greats, not a bench warming bust. It’s good to know where your allegiance lies.
Smh.
So much ignorance and ill will packed into such a short comment. Way to disprove the stereotype.
And I shouldn’t celebrate the QB that was involved and responsible for one of the GREATEST 49er playoff victories of all time, no matter the era?
Man, you are one sad and hateful hater.
So that’s what the #1 stands for. A one game wonder. Or a one game playoff winner. Or 1% chance of ever playing for the Niners again.
Keep that avatar as an example of your stubbornness.
Just like ribico putting more mustard than needed. Go figure. I guess that’s what bitter people with a second string qb as a profile picture do.
MD,
Ever see those guys in the hood that have lost one of their homies to senseless violence. Then they walk around with a tshirt with his picture on it and a RIP.
Rib’s continued use of that avatar is similar. Sort of a celebration of his time here. We should get the Smithers a tshirt that reads, “vaya con dios Alex. Good luck with the Cardinals”.
Please forgive the noobie question – how can I change/modify my avatar? Thanks in advance.
Didn’t take long for the other two of the hater trifecta weigh in. The barbershop quartet won’t be complete until Welcher comes around to sing more of this nonsense.
Hey haters, worry about our current QB winning a single playoff game before talking about one game wonders, mkay?
Mr Auto
To change your avatar, use gravatar.com
Red Ribico
I know you love alex. Im not mad at your avatar. After all, alex is starting sunday! Not ever! Stop crying and begging! Hes outta here!
Thanks for the info., Nick.
Actually LD, I was wrong. It’s not Solari. According to Grant’s new poll, it’s Morton. People around here are really swinging for the fences to explain our lack of production.
Here’s an idea. Keep the QB, but replace the entire offensive staff. If only those guys had the track record of our starter.
49ers world according to Cohn:
1 – Harbaugh does not play nice with the media, he’s mean…
2 – Greg Roman stinks, he won’t force feed my best fantasy player, Vernon Davis…
3 – Greg Roman stinks, he is too conservative.. I play Madden and can score 50 every game.. I know offense!
3 – Harbaugh handled QB situation poorly, doesn’t know how to treat people…
4 – Offense needs more input from other coaches, Harbaugh throw’s Roman under the bus…
5 – Oh, other coaches are involved?
6 – Morton stinks
7 – Geep Chryst used to stink and now he is a little better
8 – Who else can I blame our 8-3-1 record and probable playoff bye on?
I also seem to remember a few years ago that Gore was much better catching out of the backfield. He now seems to be entering the WalkerZone of pass catching — pass on the way, pass on target, coin flip in the air on whether he’ll catch it or not.
Pass catchers out of the backfield are super important. Who do we have again? Dixon? Nope. Jacobs? Negatory. Gore? Not very dependable. That leaves James.
Bruce Miller. That boy can catch.
Love, love Bruce Miller in space, receiving or blocking.
Dump Ginn (a la Brayon Edwards last year) for his lack of effort to recover the errant pitch in St. Louis. Weak!!!
He’s used to fielding punts,which is no doubt exactly what that pitch out looked like to him. I’m surprised he didn’t try to call a fair catch.
And we put who in to return punts from here on out? We can’t scapegoat Williams for team losses any more, we’ve moved on to Roman for that. LMJ? Did you see his adventure trying to catch punts in the preseason?
Regardless of who plays WR and TE Miami’s run D is excellent and their pass rush is very good. so i predict alot of blitzes and deep zone coverage. I believe this will be CK’s best test so far. Miami’s strengths play right into what CK had problems with vs St Louis. If CK plays well and we handle Miami easily i will feel alot more confident about CK going forward this yr. If he does’nt lead the O to a good amount of points i will be very worried about the rest of the yr.
Lastly he needs to limit his mistakes and be a much better game manager.
Time for the heretofor unseen screen game to be exhibited, amiright!?
Old Coach
Looks like you’ve done some research since posing your question yesterday! Thanks for the insights
Gotta hit the short passes against the soft zone and extra rushers. Take what the defense gives you. It’s really that simple. Why they didn’t do more of that against the Rams still boggles me.
More Vernon Davis ……… more Randy Moss ……………… and please, if there is a Santa Claus …….. NO Ted Ginn except on Punt returns ……… Go Niners!
It’s amazing how fast contractors can actually work when they want to make that bonus:
http://newsantaclarastadium.com/headlines/sc-stadium-commemorates-%E2%80%98topping-out%E2%80%99
working fast! shoot, Ill give the stadium a couple of years to settle in before I test it out, by how quick its being thrown up…
Come on, why worry? It’s not like it’s being built in an earthquake prone area. Oh wait,…
By the lowest bidder….
Screens have to play a more significant role in the gameplan this week. LMJ/Miller in the backfield together. VD has to have a big game. The offense needs to get hot and there’s no better time than at home against a very good Miami Dolphin defense.
It seems to me that Morton has never heard of the phrase “screen pass”. That’s too bad since the screen pass netted NE a few key 1st downs and a TD last week against Miami’s D.
We don’t run screens very well. Even when we attempt them, they are usually poorly executed or sniffed out. I get screen envy sometimes watching other teams. It is such a necessary weapon to slow down the pass rush. That we have not been able to run it very well for years now is pitiful. I just don’t get it. Now Gore’s capacity to catch out of the backfield has diminished, unfortunately, and so Miller and James it is. They at least have to try it, to keep the D a little honest.
Our power run oline personnel does not lend itself to being a very good screen team.
If ham is out, We need to give Fins a lethal dose of VD and Crabs.
True story, I’m in busy drive thru at In-N-out burger right now, hot chick on foot took my order and then asked me if this was for here or to go?
… TGIF fellas!
It’s called a drive-in at In N Out because you should eat it in your car while you sit in the covered parking stall looking at the cute waitresses buzzing around you.
Syco – Good idea……Next time, no covered parking here though.
Crab
Enjoy the burger and the scenery :)
If Mario’s out we’ll probably see more of Ginn, at least as a deep clear out guy. I don’t know if Miami will think he’s a credible threat. The storybook version is Ginn has a good day against his old team; but I’m not holding my breath on that one. I’d guess his the #3 this week though. Maybe some Jenkins, and maybe James in the slot.
More likely they’ll (predictably) try to get it to VD & Walker more in place of MM’s production. Not sure I like that plan.
How can Jenkins not beat out Ginn’s 2 receptions for 1 yard in this next game? One catch would probably beat that whomping 1 yard of production. Still, I won’t be surprised if I see Ginn in there as the #3 WR while Jenkins watches and waits. I hope I’m wrong, though.
You did see the pass placement for that one yard of production, right? The fact that Ginn was even able to reach behind him and make that one handed snag will should be on a hightlight film.
Yeah, I saw it ribico, but are you really impressed more by that than his two catches for a half-yard average? How has that helped the team? And what do you have against Jenkins? You don’t want to see him get a chance to contribute?
Space, Ginn has been more of a specialist since he’s been here. How many lineups has he had all season? We are starting to have playmaker attrition, the “next man up” needs to start stepping up, not only Ginn, but Moss as well. Same thing in the backfield. Dixon and Bradshaw need to make the best of their opportunities. And if the staff activates our rooks, then those guys as well. I have nothing against Jenkins. That’s a question better directed to Grant.
ribico, that’s true that Ginn has been a return specialist, but I am speaking to this game if Manningham is out. I stated that Ginn will likely be the 3rd WR, but has not had production this season as a WR even though he has not been targeted that much. It’s more about the quality than the quantity when he did get opportunities. One total yard receiving is not quality IMO.
I hope he steps up and delivers in this game because it is an important one for the team. I just think that Jenkins would likely do as well if given a chance.
I think you meant Jacobs, not Bradshaw in the back-field, with Dixon, though. Not that I would mind Bradshaw, lol.
Yes, lol. Maybe Bradshaw is the guy we get from the Giants next year.
Next man up. It’s up to them to deliver.
Interesting post on Barrows blog RE players self reporting concussion symptoms after Alex Smith doing it then losing his job.
The offense needs to integrate more traps, draws and screens to slow down the pass rush.
I would sit manningham so hopefully he gets enough rest to play against patriots and the Seahawks! We need him more now due to kw injury! Go Niners
Here is what I want to see, the Kaepernick to Jenkins connection:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kibSOW2BVX0
I want to see a couple bombs to Jenkins – who on Miami is gonna be prepared for that?
Over all I have been very pleased with the work of Trent Balke. He has put together a potentially great team. However, Jenkins and James seem to be redshirting this year, which is beyond odd.
At what point do we attach the label “bust” to Jenkins and James?
You can’t attach a “bust” label to any player until they’ve played a season or two – or three – and have actually been in games.
Saceborn thanks for the youtube link. I was’nt sure if my memory was correct but i thought CK and AJ had a real good chemistry together especially late in the preseason. come on JH give the kid a chance. I’m still out on that limb saying he is going to be the next John Taylor.
coach, I think there is a chemistry there that could be built on the remainder of this season if Jenkins is given the opportunity which would only get better next season. I just imagine what it will be like next year with Crabtree, Manningham, Jenkins and Williams with an experienced Kaepernick throwing them the ball. I would love Jenkins to be the next Taylor, too, but if he can become a solid player who contributes, I would be okay with that.
Unleash a healthy dose of Jenkins and James in the game. And don’t forget to throw to Davis!!! Utilize his skill-set!
Well, let’s make everyone happy and line CK7 up at WR and let Alex Smith throw a seam pass to CK and see Alex’s YAC stats soar.
So Grant any blowout predictions this week i need to get my bets down….
coach, don’t encourage him, lol.
A hypothetical. If the 49ers lose to miami this sunday and it is because CK has a poor game IE multiple turnovers\poor passing yards even though he has time etc.etc.etc. Should JH bench CK for AS discuss amongst yourselves
No! you can never go back to Smith. What message does that send to the guy you hand selected as your QB?
The wagon has been hitched and you must live and or die by this decision. JH looks incompetent switching when things go south.
Despite his hedging on the “hot hand” theme, JH would come off as indecisive both internally and externally. Nope, it’s sink or swim.
old coach,
CK has to have a bad game of epic proportions in order to lose his job.
Here’s my description of epic bad.
4 INT’s with 2 pick-six’.
4 Fumbles with 3 recovered by the defense.
Cursing at his coach for calling a play that he disagrees with.
Kicking Staley in the shin if he laughs at his first mistake.
Of course, if CK can still find a way to win after all these mistakes, he’s my QB for the next 10+ years (lol).
AS has had for crappy games this season, something that the Smithers won’t admit.
Smith is done no matter how Kap plays. Hes never going to play as bad as the smitbers hope. Kap is going to be starting for thls team for a long time. Alex is a distant memory !
Jh can always go back to Smith. He used to being abused. However, thats what happens when you are not a good player.
Nice hypothetical, Old Coach. I think Harbaugh can switch back for the good of the team if he sits fit. However, as others have said, I doubt it happens unless it’s due to injury. Bringing Alex back to save our playoff hopes would put Alex in the “do or die” scenario. Oh, wait, he’s already dead if you listen to most folks here. If it’s entertainment that we seek, then this would be an interesting scenario to see Alex come in to get the “save” on the playoff seeding. If it’s pure “wins” that matter then let’s hope your scenario does not come to pass. Oh, wait, it can’t be just “wins” that we are after here, otherwise, Alex would still be the starter. Folks want “style” wins!
Does harbaugh stick with him if he feels the playoffs are in jepordy or if he feels a 1st rd exit is definet
old coach,
On a more serious note, I believe that one of Harbaugh’ reasons for going with CK was to prepare him for the playoffs.
It would shock me to see AS in the playoffs, but then again, this is Harbaugh we’re talking about.
If Kaep plays poorly, and they lose the next 2 games……things could get interesting after that.
Given how weak MIA is vs the pass, I would suppose they will work on their overall passing game…regardless of who gets Manningham’s snaps.
The way to win with Kaep at QB is to pass (7.1 Adjusted yards/pass vs 5.6 with Smith) and for Kaep to run (7.5 yards per run vs Smith’s 4.6).
Well let’s hope we increase the use of MC and keep VD out of the game plan. It’s fantasy playoff time and I’m facing VD. Haha. And foolishly started MC over McFadden in flex.
Grant earlier in the season we debated what it would take to get Jenkins on the field and at least we know the answer now.