ATLANTA – The 49ers beat the Falcons 28-24. The 49ers are going to the Super Bowl. Here are the grades for the 49ers coaches.
Coaching: A-. These guys had an “F” after the first quarter. The offensive game plan was bad, the defensive game plan was bad, and the team was flat. It looked like the 49ers were going to fall victim to Third Game Syndrome for the sixth time this season.
Greg Roman started the first two drives with passes, and both drives went three-and-out. Vic Fangio started the game rushing just four defenders, and they could not get to Matt Ryan, who completed 10-of-13 for 162 yards and a touchdown in the first quarter.
Then the second quarter started, and the 49ers made adjustments. Roman started the first offensive drive with four straight runs to Frank Gore. Even though he was down by 17 points, he wasn’t afraid to establish the running game, which was key. Later on the drive, Roman called a pass to Vernon Davis. The Falcons didn’t cover him. He caught it and gained 27 yards. The 49ers scored two plays later. Once Roman got Gore and Davis going, the Falcons could not stop the 49ers’ offense.
On defense, Fangio started calling some blitzes in the second half, and the 49ers started bothering Ryan. That’s all it took to completely negate the Falcons offense, which scored no points in the second half.
49ers RSS feed
Loading ...
Good grade
I think the biggest issue is the pass rush. Alidon looks slow which is not a coaching issue.
Looks like it could be a Harbaugh bowl.
So happy right now I would give everybody A’s right now.
To my blog brothers congrats. To Grant, thanks for providing the forum. This game today was difficult to take both physically and emotionally. Did not see us coming back from a 17-0 deficit.
We got back to basics and we kicked some ass. Especially in the 2nd half. There is one I told you so that I will list. I said two weeks ago Akers should have been cut. He is DONE!
Big kudos to Atlanta at neutralizing our front four. We finally schemed and dug our way out.
Harbaugh you are a genius. CK you are my hero. Frank Gore you are my hero. Oline, you are the baddest ass large men on the planet!!!!!!!!!!!
+1000
Nice post bay!!!!
Don’t watch alot of CBS games but when I do I wonder how Phil Simms still is a commentator he makes mistake after mistake.
He’s the worst
I don’t see an A. The team came out completely flat and tried to give the game away. Yes they made adjustments but we remember Nolan’s nonexistent half time ajustments so are we really surprised? I’m okay with a B but too many times this year the Niners have come out flat; today we faced poor coaches on the other side. Hard to justify an A unless you comparing them to Atlanta’s coaches.
They are going to the Super bowl after beating the number-one team in the NFC… you really are a bit thick aren’t you…
grades seem pretty fair. i still think Roman has done an incredible job transitioning from the steady but conservative pro-style attack to the Pistol under Kaep. Offense started slow but then started to hum like a finely tuned machine.
Defense was just manhandled in the first half – as Kevin Lynch said on the radio, who would have thought the offense would become the strength of this team. Since I dont coach a lot of D at the pro level, i’ll refrain from smack talking about Fangio. He and the D found a way, and it was enough.
We’re going to have our hands full with Baltimore, who wants to beat us up as badly as we want to beat them up, and they have a running game. I think Kaep over Flacco is a key plus for us tho.
We’re going to the SB to play the Ravens! A+’s all around!
The grade is A+. What Grant cannot fathom in his boyish mind is that there are two — yes two teams on the field. The first half had nothing to do with game plans or even execution. It was all about a high-powered offense hitting on all cylinders until the Niners manned-up, took a collective deep breath and went after it.
It was great to see adjustments made after the D got abused in the first half. One thing that is stuck in my head and bugging me is Harbaughs meltdown and temper tantrum when the challenge didn’t go his way. You have to keep your cool since there is more game to play and coach.
I don’t agree with the F in the first quarter. I think the game plan was good. Atl is a team that starts fast and fizzles out just as fast. Seattle has some of the best Corners in the League and they were also torched in the first half by this team.
I predicted ATL would challenge our Corners. I said they’d move the ball at ease between the 20s. I also said that the Offense SF has in Kaepernick is going to get rolling and when it does, the game will be over.
In my view, SF left 10 points on the field. And the reason I don’t give SF an F in the first quarter is because this team needs adversity to respond. There were some blown coverages. I don’t put that on coaching. I aso don’t agree with showing your hand in the first quarter so that teams have time to make half time adjustments.
I just can’t wait to see Ray Lewis cry before the game and then after the game. The Niners showed Gonzalez early retirement and now the best LB in Willis takes over the mantle as the best winning it all.
Flacco will not compare in what the Niners have faced this year in terms of elite QB’s. Stop Ray Rice, limit Jones and Boldon and shine up #6.
I disagree, Flacco is pretty much Ryan, just not as consistent, but when he’s got time, like Ryan did at first and like Flacco did the last time we played them, he’s dangerous. He picked the Patriots and us apart. Their receives compliment each other and they do have a better running game than the Falcons.
They man handled the Partiots, who most thought would waltz into the Super Bowl. I think it’s fair to say there’s not only a comparison, but something to truly take seriously.
+1
Akers scares me!!!! He almost lost the game again, I knew he would miss that 38 yard 3 point, and that almost cost us the trip to the SB.
To: Coach Harbaw:
Re: Super Bowl sideline etiquette
1. No more childish ranting and raving over questionable calls by the refs. If you duplicate the behavior from this past Sunday, then you will embarass yourself, the team, the fans, and your brother/family. Get a grip. Grow up. Practice a little self control, buddy.
2. If you happen to win, there will be no excessive celebrations, no exuberant back slapping and strenuous hand squeezing (as in Detroit). Again, do not demean your own brother. Be a gracious winner. Okay?
Remember: Winning isn’t everything and losing isn’t forever.
Oh, yeah; one more thing. If the celebration includes alcohol, no DUIs…