Greg Cosell spoke about the Super Bowl on KNBR Thursday morning. Here’s what he said.
Q: What did you think of the 49ers’ final four offensive plays?
COSELL: Here’s a perfect case where because the plays failed, everybody thinks that they’re bad play calls, therefore something was horribly wrong.
The first play was perfectly understandable because Gore had just run 33 yards and he was not in the next play. So they handed to James from the Pistol, something they’d been very successful with all second half.
The second play, and only Colin Kaepernick could answer this, he rolled out and Michael Crabtree was wide open. If he throws him the ball, it might have been a touchdown. I can’t tell you why Kaepernick didn’t throw him the ball. That was the design of the play. Michael Crabtree was wide open. The third play, I’m convinced that Kaepernick was throwing the ball to Crabtree out of the huddle because (Delanie Walker) was wide open on that side of the field, part of the reading progression.
Here’s the issue we’ve all faced – and I love Colin Kaepernick and I think he’ll be a great player – but because he’s already ascended in people’s minds to this hall of fame level, he’s at the point where he does no wrong. In fact, he had brain freezes on two of those final three plays, either one of which likely would have been a touchdown if he had executed the play properly, but no one will talk about that except me because I’m telling you this from watching the film, so therefore because the plays didn’t work they must have been bad play calls.
And the final play of the game was just Cover Zero blitz, which was the same blitz concept the Ravens did on the two-point conversion, which clearly forced Kaepernick to get rid of it before he wanted to. The same thing happened on the final play. I thought it was going to be a back-shoulder fade, that’s just my sense from watching Crabtree’s route. Kaepernick had to hurry himself because of Ellerbe getting in clean, so the defense won on that play. But the second and third down plays were plays in which Kaepernick simply didn’t execute well-designed plays, either one of which could have been a touchdown.
Q: Shouldn’t the 49ers’ coaches tried to eliminate the young quarterback’s brain freeze by handing the ball off to No.21?
COSELL: What happened was the first half, the Ravens’ D-line dominated. The 49ers couldn’t run the football. They couldn’t get Ngata blocked. They couldn’t get Ellerbe blocked. Gore in the first half only had 11 for 29.
In the second half, they didn’t run the ball real well either until the fourth quarter. Gore had 104 yards, but he had 54 of those yards on two runs. They were both Full House Pistol runs – one was 21 yards and the other was 33 yards – but if you’re talking about sustaining a run game throughout the game, that did not happen. The 49ers did not do that.
Q: Didn’t people think the 49ers’ run game would win that matchup?
COSELL: Yup, and quite frankly they didn’t. Ngata went out late in the third quarter. He was very, very effective in this game through three quarters. They couldn’t get him blocked in the run game consistently. That was a big loss for the Ravens and positive for the Niners.
Q: How did the Ravens jump out to an early lead?
COSELL: I think the secondary had some issues. One thing the Ravens did, which I thought was very smart, was their pass game was a lot more sustaining, a lot shorter throws. They threw the ball in the flat quite a bit, and I think the 49ers never really handled that well. The Ravens were able to make first downs, sustain drives, or make nice gains on first down with throws into the flat.
And then there were some break downs. The long touchdown at the end of the first half to Jacoby Jones, that kind of play can never happen. And it did in a Super Bowl. What they did on that was they singled up Culliver on Jones, they doubled Boldin in the slot and Smith on the other side, and Culliver just played the in cut and was totally out of position with no help over the top. He got beat. It wasn’t a great throw, but he was beat so badly that Jones was still able to catch it get up with room. It was just one of those plays, but a play like that can’t happen in the Super Bowl.
Q: Did Culliver have as bad of a game as it seemed?
COSELL: When you give up a play like that that becomes a touchdown, obviously that play is magnified. I didn’t come away from that game saying, “Oh my God, Culliver was awful,” there was just a couple of plays. There was a pass interference call on a third down.
But there were some plays that the Ravens made – that third and inches play after the challenge by Harbaugh where Flacco audibled. Rogers was all over Boldin. They executed the play at a really high level against unbelievable coverage. That was arguably as big a play in the game as any.
You can’t say they got out-coached. Plays like that help you win games.
Q: Do you ever evaluate officials or have opinions on calls?
COSELL: No. I don’t, and if you’re asking about the final play of the game, my immediate response was that was holding just like NaVorro Bowman held Roddy White two weeks ago. I don’t get into that.
Q: Wasn’t Bowman within the five yards though?
COSELL: You still can’t hold him when the ball is in the air. I don’t get into that stuff. It goes both ways all the time. That stuff to me doesn’t mean anything.
Q: I’m not sure that Bowman held when the ball was in the air.
COSELL: You’re not even allowed to hold within the five yards. You’re allowed to push and shove and be physical, but you can’t hold a guy.
Q: I though Bowman was just being physical, but anyway.
COSELL: I’m sure Falcons fans are saying the same thing 49ers fans are saying now.
Q: Why was the 49ers’ offense so much better after the blackout?
COSELL: I thought they had some success in the first half. Don’t forget, James fumbled after a long drive. I’m not sure we’d be having this conversation if he didn’t fumble.
I told you they would go after Ray Lewis, and they did. If the 49ers had come back to win the game, Ray Lewis arguably could have been the goat in the game. They went after him and had great, great success.
I don’t know if the 49ers’ offense was ever truly shut down. I think as the game went on, Greg Roman got a real good feel for where he could be successful, and then in the second half they were not stopped.
It was a great game. I think with Kaepernick, who’s going to be a really fine player, there’s a lot of positives here. I think the same discussions were had as last year after they lost, although I think there’s probably a more optimistic feeling now because of Kaepernick.
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Just a thought, but I can’t get it of my mind but if Alex Smith had been in on that last series, the game would have had a different outcome. I find it hard to believe Smith melting down three plays in a row. Regardless of the pressure.
Especially so close to the goal line. And riddle me this – Aside from Payton who is arguably the best QB at making changes at the line of scrimmage???
You’re hilarious. So what then, put Alex in for spit duty? Because I’d love to hear you go on about how Alex would gad the team in the same position at the end of the game after being down by 22.
Sleeper,
I am sure Alex would of brought the team back losing 28-6. Unbelievable
Sleeper,
Aside from Peyton Manning (note the correct spelling of his 1st name) you think Alex Smith is the next best QB at making changes at the line of scrimmage? Really? Have you watched any of the games he has played?
Alex Smith at one point had a 35td to 1 int ration in the redzone….Pre Harbaugh. Thats what I never truly understood, why they would be so run heavy in the redzone when Smith had a history being near perfect in the redzone with lesser talent.
Also, the long sustained drives that Smiths offense was capable of would have kept the score from being so lopsided.
And Smith has come back many times. Vs the Texans throwing 3 2nd half tds to Vernon. Vs Green Bay a few years back, bringing them to within 7 with 5 mins left (defense wasnt able to get the GB offense off the field), last season vs Phili (and the other 5 comeback wins) or even vs New Orleans in the playoffs, twice scoring go ahead TDs. This game with Smith would have much more resembled the game vs NYG last January than anything else.
The thing with Alex’s comebacks is that they were done with the help of great defenses. Our’s has been predominantly absentee since the second half of the Patriot’s game when J. Smith went down. I don’t see Alex coming back with our ‘D’ the way it is now. I worry about next season if J. Smith isn’t 100%.
@ devin that makes no sense…..how many points did the ravens score after the blackout?
Every niner QB who won the SB had a great defense, saying only Alex would require a great defense is plain dumb
its sucks for the haters but history supports the claim Alex could have made the comeback.
Now does that mean he would have – I don’t know and no one else does.
But if we were to argue the case, there are more facts that backs up the claim that Alex could have made the comeback.
Whatever
I remember Cosell saying at the beginning of last season’s playoffs that the Niners were pretenders while the Lions were for real.
I am starting to wonder when he says ad nauseum “from the film I watch” if he means japanese cartoons or something else….
Keep wtaching film Cosell, cause you still sound like a pretender….
David H
I remember that as well. This guy is a hack!
Agree with Cosell on the 3rd down play. Walker was clearly open for a rope to his outside shoulder, but Kaep was going to Crabtree from the time they broke the huddle.
Do you think the coaches coached it to be a one-read throw?
They could have. It is such a bang-bang play and it seems to be something that they do quite a bit.
If you go back and look at the Crabtree TD against GB, it is the same play they ran the next week against Atlanta, and several other times throughout the year. Although it looks like there are multiple receivers, all they are doing is clearing out the zones and looking to block downfield, they never even turn to look.
I just watched the play and to me it looks like Walker turns around looking for the ball, he even has he hands ready to catch in case Colin has already thrown it.
Is it possible that because of Walkers propensity for the dropsies that Colin decided he wasn’t going to even look his way on such an important play?
There were a couple of occassions Kaep held the ball too long as well which led to missed opportunities. Cosell mentioned the 2nd down play in that last series, but he had a pass to Moss almost intercepted because he double clutched. Admittedly that wasn’t long after he had been picked off, but it was almost as if he was second guessing himself on occassion. Kaep played well, but indecision cost some points.
The future sure looks bright though. Lots of good young talent on the 49ers roster, including one of the most exciting young QBs in the NFL. And the good news is he will continue to bust his butt to be the best QB he can be.
90% of CK plays were one read throws, the other 10% was him making plays on his own.
What I would love to see from Kaep next year is the pump fake. Drew Brees is a master of this. The second Kaeps arm comes in motion the safety dropped leaving Moss wide open.
Jack maybe he didn’t throw it to Walker because he had a flashback from the Rams game : )
Too bad Kap didn’t have a flashback to the Detroit game last year where Delanie ran the hot route slant and made the winning TD catch at the end of the game.
I am just glad to see that the passage of time hasn’t dimmed Cosell’s mind-reading powers.
hilarious, Claude!
lol +1
The problem is that the last play was just the icing on the cake. Refs ignored punching and shoving ravens, offsides, hold on the KO return the list goes on. Yet you see how close the game was. I was less incensed by the last play than many of the others.
I know this is hindsight and all, but looking back, i think i would have been more comfortable with taking the 5 yd delay of game penalty after the 2min warning and then having more area in the redzone than to have everything so compacted within the 5yds of the goal line. i think we could have had more variation in playcalling. I dont know. its just wow.
Should have run three times and attacked the edges. QB should have had one of those runs IMO.
I agree with you. The simple stuff would have worked.
Bay,
They had a QB run called to attacke the edge on 3rd down but he didn’t get the ball snapped in time.
And it appears that with Gore blocking for him, CK would have been in. Too many mistakes, thats the difference.
Good call Bay. With Ngata off the field, some pistol option plays at his replacement would have been interesting.
Scooter and Bay,
Did you two watch the game? The first play of the sequence was a read option give. The 3rd play was initially to be a running play, but another mistake killed the play.
Jack, first play was a read option, but could have gone back to it. I’m not counting the 3rd down play that never happened.
Scooter,
If you want to complain about the play calling I think it is important to take that missed 3rd down play into account. If Kaep could have done his part and got the play off it is a likely touchdown, or close to it. In my opinion, that was the “shot” play the coaches were looking for.
In hindsight I think that is fair Jack. Sure would have been interesting if they’d gotten that play off.
As Jack has stated, clock management mistake was huge. So was poor third down conversion all game long as everyone on Earth knows Kap focuses on Crab for 3rd downs (it’s gotten predictable), and red zone performance was awful – settling for FGs when they recovered a fumble and had first and ten at the Ravens 21. Different year, same issues. Clock management, third down conversion, lack of red zone performance, Harbaugh screaming on sidelines.
Well now we know that Cosell did not have it out for AS when his analysis of him were not always favorable.
Remember, just 10 games of experience under CK’ belt and already considered a top 5-7 QB on the rise.
I’ll take that any day of the week.
I thought Cosell was dead on with Smith. I’d be a hypocrite if I said he was wrong about Kaep. Cosell is experienced and he has the coaches film.
Sounds like from what Cosell said and from Kaeps reaction that he missed a read at least on one play. He’ll get better.
I’ve been watching football for a long time. I’ve never seen a QB play at his level with eleven games under his belt. Russell Wilson too.
I agree with the QBs. CK and Wilson will be fun to watch from here on out. I think both are smarter and less fragile than the guys they’re compared to: Newton and RGIII.
Brain Freeze!! What did I tell you????
And Cosell didn’t count the use of the time out in the 3rd Quarter. And using a time-out again on the 3rd and Goal, which exposed the pistol option. And calling the audible to the Fade Route to Crabs, which is already a low percentage play.
You are a hypocrite so technically Cosell was wrong.
It was LMJ’s fault for not running it in on 1st and goal. No wait, it was Frank Gore’s fault for taking himself out.
Anyways, like I said, the loss sucks. It doesn’t matter who was the QB, it wasn’t meant to be.
I am thrilled and looking forward to 2013 for KAEP as QB for a full season. Life goes on.
And we have this blog to drive each other crazy for 7 months until opening kick-off.
Until then — I hope you leave your cave once in awhile and get some sun to cheer you up.
(All this is in good fun. We really are all FANS even if we don’t see eye to eye.)
Adam, you should hear SY on KNBR podcast. He was on at 5pm. He thinks the 9ers had a big window for the pistol but it will close with the Ds catching up and when QBs get hurt (see RG3) ratcheting back the runs to keep the QBs healthy. Damn SY and I are in sync!!
Everyone’s a genius when they get to watch the film after the game.
Exactly, I’d like to see this guy actually try and call a play DURING a game. Bet you his “analysis” won’t come in too handy then. A lot of assumptions and hardly any insight.
The 2nd down play at the end of the game that Cosell references was virtually the same play that they ran immediately before the FG to end the first half. And Kaepernick did the exact same thing – held the ball – even though Crabtree was wide open for a sure first down and possibly a TD.
When the change at QB was made in the middle season( no I am saying that Alex needs to be the QB) the danger of having an inexperienced QB would be in the pressure situation of a play off game. It happened! Be it in the coaching staff ( play calling) or the QB . The result, no SB trophy.
Do you think Alex Smith could have brought the 49ers back to beat the Falcons like Kaepernick did?
No sense in arguing with the Smithers. They’re gonna believe what they want and are waiting for an excuse to bring his name up. I guarantee that the would have been upset, that AS didn’t get into the game, if the niners won.
Yes i do but i like our chances a lot more with CK
Grant , What does that have to do with the last three plays of the SB?
It’s all water under the bridge, but I don’t believe Alex would have beat the Packers.
The Packers of the playoffs were much different than the group that Alex beat in the first game of the season.
Aaron Rodgers did not have one of his better games nor was there a good running game for them in the first match-up.
No, AS IMO, does get us past the Falcons.
Grant,
LC and I feel the same way. With AS, the 9ers would have been close in a lower scoring game but no win is a given. He was playing well when sustaining the concussion.
Should read( No I am’ Not’ saying that Alex needs to be the QB)…My brain freeze!
Why is there such a desire to blame the coaches, and not accept that maybe Kap missed a couple of opporunities?
IMO Colin is going to be a great QB, but this was his 10th start, he is in the Super Bowl and playing a very good team, he missed an open receiver. things happen fast down there, he will learn and the coaches will see what he does best in the red zone and adjust.
I’m good with that 42.
I personally will not insulate CK when he is fairly critiqued.
I also believe that the last pass to Crabtree will gnaw away at him for a long time, because had he thrown the ball a few feet shorter Crabtree may have made a play on it.
But with the safety in CK’ face he had to deliver it quickly.
It hurts losing our very first Superbowl, but I want CK at the helm more than any other QB going forward.
We do not make it to the Super Bowl with Alex. the Offense became much more dynamic with Colin. The defense has been struggling. I don’t know if we would have beat the Packers with Alex.
Exactly. This offense with CK, for the first time in a long time, was multidimensional.
Kaep makes the whole offense more dangerous. If I’m an opposing D coordinator, I know who I’d rather see at QB…
On ESPN John Clayton says that Colin’s completion % in the red zone is around 47% and the ravens wanted to take away the run and force the pass.
If this is accurate, then Colin and the coaches need to work on his throwing in the red zone. Colin’s strentgh is the mid range to long range pass. The Niners will need to improve his short passing throws. Once this happens he will be very tough to defend against.
The 49ers player and coaches need to work on Red Zone production PERIOD!….for a team that made the Super Bowl, their RZ production was terrible…..some of us were of the mindset that AS was the issue in the RZ, evidently that’s not the case……JH and staff have 6 months to work on schemes, get the necessary players and refine the offensive playbook for the RZ, perhaps something positive will come out of it.
I said it after the game. For the 1st time in a game this year, Kap played tenatively. He made some decisions in that game that were horrible. You cant overthrow a guy on a 2 point conversion. You just cant. You have to give your guy a chance to catch it, even if hes not wide open. You have nothing to lose. Same thing with the 4th down throw to Crabs. Throw it somewhere that he can catch it. Kap missed open guys a few times this year. Overthrows and not seeing open guys. Lets hope that improves next season. I do believe Kap had a brain freeze on the 2 plays that Cosell mentioned. Needsd him to see the open man or run it in.
I don’t subscribe to Cossell’s theories most of the time, but this article would probably be much more palatable to readers if he used the word “inexperience”.
As Kap encounters these situations more and more, his instincts will be refined where he will know exactly what to do. And that, can also be called experience.
Yeah that was the one downfall with the switch to KAEP. It sucks to have lost the a chance to win it this year, but there is definitely momentum moving into next year. Now we know what he can do.
Just so I am clear :), I am not blaming Kap. He did a phenomenal job getting the niners to the SB.
Explosive, explosive player. Next season will be very exciting.
IMG,
our future is bright. At the QB position it is the brightest it’s been in 13 years.
Funny how all the NFL apologists are falling over themselves trying to make excuses for the refs. My beef is not so much for the non call on the final play, but the PI call on the Ravens final scoring drive. That was the most crucial call of all. It allowed the Ravens to keep the ball another four minutes and kick a FG to extend the lead to 5. If you are going to make the “just let them play” argument, then it should have applied to the PI call as well. I went back and looked at both plays and I just cannot see where one was a clear cut penalty and the other a borderline thing which could go either way. You can’t have it both ways. If you make the PI call, you need to make the holding call as well. If the holding was borderline, the PI was even more so. Consistency by refs is all we are asking for.
I couldn’t agree more.
Rick,
I should be a man and get over it. Truth be told, that’s the toughest part of the game for me. The ref’s and the lack of balance with their calls.
I could see the stress on his face in the first half. Second half it looked like he calmed down and started playing the way we know he can. We will be fine.
md
Did you hear Irvin and E. Smith talking about how the legs were shaking at their first Super Bowl?
I cannot imagine the stress Colin was feeling.
He is 2-1 in playoff games and came close to being 3-0. You are right; he will be fine.
Another gen from last nights SoundFX show was Joe Flacco preparing his teammates to cheat if need be in the final seconds. Check out the video…
http://www.mercurynews.com/49ers/ci_22539451/ravens-quarterback-joe-flacco-was-ready-cheat-beat
Nice
Cosell is spot on. Kaepurnicus will make his weaknesses his strengths by the end of training camp. As the saying goes, “The rich get richer”, that’s how the 49ers need to approach Free Agency and this years draft. Players that I would make a bold move for in the draft:
Star Lotulelei, NT, Utah
Ezekiel Ansah, DE/OLB, BYU (I like his size and upside over Mingo)
Barkevious Mingo, DE/OLB, LSU
I’m one of only a few here questioning the reads during the last series instead of GR/JH plays. Almost everyone was giving CK a free pass – he had two plays (run and pass). I just listened to SY on KNBR and he stated the same thing. He believes CK just looked at MC. Why? SY mentioned that CK gets two plays and didn’t have experience in a 4th qtr last 2 minutes of the game come from behind scenario since being named the starter. SY believes it takes experience to handle the last two minutes of the game. SY also had some interesting comments regarding the pistol offense and the longevity – seems he agree with what I mentioned here weeks ago. Check it out…good listen.
Check out this article:
http://blog.sfgate.com/49ers/2013/02/07/kaepernick-crabtree-had-prophetic-fourth-quarter-conversation/
While I love CK’s potential, his inexperience and immaturity is part of the reason the team was not successful at the end.
Jim Harbaugh has to put an end to the bromance. CK will have to grown and learn from this.
77fan, you deserve credit as does FDM and a few others that called it straight. Too many giving CK a pass on the last series.
Hofer you want me to call it straight? You are a dinosaur of a football fan. The game is evolving in front of your eyes and passing you up. You were wrong with just about every item you threw up this year and continue to be. When Smith was replaced you disappeared. Everyone knows why…..
As for Fan, he doesn’t know jack. He’s a Smither who now wants to attack the hottest new QB on the planet and he’s OUR QB. OUR teams QB. And he got our team to the sacred ground and was one play short of winning the thing.
Oh and note to you two dimwits, all QB’s have that exact conversation with their star players. Jesus have a real football conversation would you….
And Fan,
don’t pretend to like CK. I’ve read enough of your garbage to know the disguised backhanded compliments followed by jabs. Critique in the full second year. The kid passed just about every hurdle thrown his way. Got to the superbowl with half a seasons starts.
You look like supreme idiots right about now.
Same old bay….SMH.
Bay,
You have a bad habit of name calling when you are wrong. GCosell and SY agreed with me. SY went as far to say on his KNBR show today that running QBs will learn to play from the pocket. You should listen to him you may learn something. Are you still numb or just in denial?
Hofer,
WAKE UP. Colin Kaepernick is already a better pocket passer than your nephew Alex Smith ever was. Colin doesn’t wet his pants, take his eyes off of the receivers, bail to the right and check down.
CK actually climbs the pocket, goes through progressions and fires accurate passes. He is a pocket passer who has the ability to run…..
Why did you disappear for three weeks on the blog hofer?
Bay, I’m AWAKE! While you were trying to blame the defense, special teams, and the coaches, I questioned the last series of the game and the plays that CK went with at that time. You wished to find fault with everyone else. I’m surprised you weren’t still trying to blame the backup! SMH
“SY went as far to say on his KNBR show today that running QBs will learn to play from the pocket.”
Maybe Young needs to put his bias towards Kaepernick aside and realize that he just led the biggest come from behind road win in franchise history while playing nearly the entire game from the pocket.
This whole running QB thing is just used as a way to slight Kaepernick.
Gee Jack,
you noticed the transparency too lol.
Jack,
You are being close minded. SY gave CK a lot of credit. He just stated what he saw. Maybe it is you that is biased?!!
Hofer,
Maybe I am, but that doesn’t mean Young isn’t talking out of his backside. Last week he was talking about how Kaepernick hadn’t faced any adversity in his starts leading up to the Super Bowl. I guess he conveniently forgot how he came back from a pick 6 on his first postseason possession to have one of the most dominating games in NFL history, or the said 17 point comeback on the road in Atlanta.
Those aren’t my opinions, just facts. Isn’t that what you always tell others to stick with?
Jack, let’s face it CK had the best of all worlds sitting for a year and a half on a team full of pro bowlers. Any QB would be envious. Remember, adversity builds character and skills.
Bay Area Fan,
You are one jaded dude. I think you would be happy if CK threw for 500 yards, ran for another 200 and the team lost.
All you’ve done is attack and insult.That’s all you got.
I guess it didn’t occur to you that not only did CK and Crabs have the conversation, he actually went and threw it to him 3X and didn’t look at any of the other players. He abandoned the team. He hesitated on his throws.
Look back at the posts. I said exactly why I didn’t like the switch. It wasn’t because I like Smith and didn’t like CK. I thought it was disruptive, and the inexperience could haunt us. I said i was fine with CK for 2013 but for 2012 Alex was playing well for me.
I also thought the D might get worn out. This was way back during the Saints game. 23 Jordan and I went back and forth on this.
Towards the end of the season Prime Time had the same reservations but we fully supported CK for the playoff run. I even felt, after the GB game, that even if they lost and didn’t win the SB, I would be okay with it.
And they lost and I’m okay with it. That was the risk that Jim took.
And now it’s part of why they lost. I’ve accepted it. I don’t blame him. It’s just the facts. As good as he is, he wasn’t good enough not that day.
You can blame all you want, and insult everyone but the truth is he didn’t come through because he was forcing the ball to his bro Crabs. Our team did not win because he wasn’t quite mature enough, like, you, to handle the moment.
Sure he did Hofer. And he has a coaching staff that can has the ability to match their system to his talents. Having watched both of these guys play, I would have to say that through their first 10 starts as 49ers it isn’t even close. Kaepernick is way ahead of where Young was at the same point, and Young was playing for one of the greatest coaches of all time, and with a future hall of fame receiver.
Jack,
We’ll just let it play out. As I like to say, TBD!
I respect you and enjoy your reads, but the point is, when the finger pointing is going on, the QB does not get a pass. He was on the 5 yd line and all he needed was 6 points. He simply didn’t execute.
It is no secret that Young was not a fan of the QB switch. His opinion carries about as much weight as the other talking heads.
Jack,
I’ll give much more credit to the QB that played the game with HoF and SB win credentials than any talking head, but good try on making SYs analysis equal to a talking head.
Jack,
Hofer is very good at talking out of both side of his face…. Two years ago SY made a not so nice comment about Alex and the game being too fast for him. Believe it or not, Hofer did not agree with him when he made that assessment.
Hofer I could write an entire blog just on the subjects you were wrong about this year….
Bay, just admit you were wrong and are in denial. When I mentioned yesterday and earlier that the last 4 plays of the game were not from a GR offense, you said I lost credibility. You were wrong. Both GCosell and SY stated that CK did not call the correct plays and read the defense incorrectly. He gets no pass. Did the ST, defense, INT and fumble hurt the 9ers? Yes! But they had a hell of a chance to win on the 5 yd line if the QB doesn’t try to force it to MC. He has a lot of upside but it’s not easy getting to the SB. Will we see it again? I hope so!
Wrong about what Hofer? A series of 4 downs? Unlike you Hofer I can man up. I could be wrong. But I could also be right. If I were the coach I would not have saved my time outs. I would have used them and made sure we scored.
Critical moment and the QB and the coaches might have choked. And the ref might have choked as well. SO WHAT.
Hofer if you have even an ounce of 49er blood in your veins then support the hottest QB’s we’ve had since SY. Enough with your bs already. His upside is tremendous. And he’s ours……
Bay, I’ve given CK credit and accolades. But I’m not only looking to blame everyone else. CK blew it on the last series. No free ride as the starter. My point is you were ripping the coaches (mainly GR), the defense, the ST, and the refs. It seems you missed someone along the way but GCosell and ST reminded you who that person was that you missed.
*SY*
…and Bay add that the pressure got to CK and he made some critical mistakes that helped aid in the loss. Surely after all this time of pinning it all on Alex, you can shoulder some of the blame on CK. You don’t want to sound like a fan of only a player, but rather the team right homey? Buwhavahahha!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hofer,
I’m trying to hold back but it’s difficult especially when I’m talking to the biggest Alex Smith lover that ever walked the planet.
Look back over the last three years. You are assessing more blame to our hot young QB in one game than you did to Alex Smith in the last three years.
You exited this blog when they dumped Alex like trash. Partly because you are so hopelessly devoted to 11 and partly because you were more an 11 fan than a 49er fan.
Time for you to begin showing CK the same loyalty that you did to your mediocre crush AS.
“Buwhavahahha!!!!!!!!”
Did you choke yourself up in the middle there Prime?
Bay, again you missed the point completely. Is some of the fault on the defense, ST, and the refs? Yes. Is some of the blame on CK? Yes. Call it straight – SY and GCosell have!
Sorry about that Jack. Still have a sore throat from all the yelling Sunday and tears of sorrow. My life is all but a black rainy cloud after the loss on Sunday. I can’t do anything right!
Hofer,
I can have this conversation with folks that have called it straight for the last few years. You of all people have not called it straight. I can take that comment from tons of posters on this board, but trust me not from you.
Why did you exit this board for a while when they dumped Alex like garbage Hofer?
Bay,
I didn’t call it straight when you were only blaming the QB and not the HC, system, or plan? JH comes on board and AS is 20-6 including playoffs. He wasn’t a fantasy league QB but he was above average. I remember you only blaming the QB and I questioned the system, plan, and leadership. OK, see it as you like. There is no debate when you closed minded.
*you’re*
I feel your pain Prime…the sun finally started rising again yesterday in my neck of the woods : )
Kinda like AS didnt execute in the 4th quarter last year against the Giants.
Interesting we didn’t hear anything from you regarding the 2/9 3rd down conversions for the 9ers in the SB.
I guess it’s only the money down Hof in Alex’s game that got criticism from Bay. But CK, he is the chosen one with no flaws, again, the bias world according to the fanatic.
Bayareafanatic says:
February 7, 2013 at 9:36 am
MD,
look at this thread. It’s three guys that are spitting out crow feathers as they type. Coughing those things up in their sleep.
Did CK finish the job? No. More important, was CK put in a position to finish the job by the coaching staff in those final four plays? My opinion is NO.
———-
Bay,
I’ve lost credibility? Hmm. Seem GCosell and SY see the same things and you do not.
I know super bowl is over and we can not do anything about it! However no body was saying anything about this play that led to 7 points for the Ravens! Check this out
http://www.csnbayarea.com/49ers/was-miller-held-jones-108-yard-kickoff-return
I’ve seen that picture five different ways. Makes me throw up a little each time….
It’s the new kinder, gentler NFL – they’re just giving Bruce a big ol’ fat bro-hug. 0_o
I checked out ShowTime’s “Inside the NFL”, hoping to hear some one in the national media acknowledge that Miller was clearly held, out in the open, right in the f&*k%ng lane he would’ve easily filled. So they finally get around to the KO return for a TD by Jones, they show a replay from the most damning angle [from the 49er end zone with Jones running toward the camera], and no mention whatsoever of the brutal holding of Miller by two Ravens.
I realize no one is going to feel sorry for the 49ers, but it’s right there to see. It would be nice to hear a national outlet acknowledge that it happened.
I completely acknowledge bad calls are part of the game and mistakes will happen however when there is such a blunt foul such as the two Ravens holding a player off his feet and continuing to hold him throughout the play then there must be a call! I do not want anybody to feel sorry for us but NFL should allow teams to challange no calls if they led to a score!!!
Guys, cool off! Why can’t we have a discussion about the game, with out descending into old arguments. CK is the QB and will be for years. That has nothing to do with his performance during the game. And as always opinions differ.
Hack, agreed.
Well said
I’ve heard and seen Cosell and he knows as much about football as I know about brain surgery! I do think Kap didn’t release the ball quick enough on the one play! But even the best screw up! Ask Eli Manning, Peyton Manning , Aaron Rodgers, etc,.
Somebody pays Cosell for his opinion. I wouldn’t! The guy is the epitome of a “Brain Fart!”
I am a huge fan CK having followed him since high school here in the Valley. But I feel that CK was overly intent to get the ball to Crabtree on the last series and it worked against us.
I can understand the trust factor that CK and Crabtree had developed over the last 9 games, but CK has to learn that he can not lock into one WR in an effort to appease that football relationship.
CK is the consummate competitor and he will learn from this and continue to grow and spread the ball around for the best of the team.
As I mentioned to Fan77 earlier, I don’t mind any critique of CK if it’s fair, and so far what I’ve read seems to meet that standard.
But as I also said earlier, there is no other QB that I want leading this team then CK7!
AES,
I read somewhere that when CK was in Reno, the play clock usually ran down to 1 or 0, is that the nature of the pistol and trying to read the D?
I’m sure Colin is a bright guy, a savant as Jim would say.
Sadly the learning curve moment came at the worst time. But what’s done is done. The team does have a bright future because of CK. There’s denying that. Much brighter than if Alex was the starting QB.
I want him to play pissed. I want the team to play pissed. I want them to smack the league around and go 19-0. And they can do that if they grow up, Colin grows up, acknowledge where they failed – he failed — and move forward.
@AES – “But as I also said earlier, there is no other QB that I want leading this team then CK7!”
And you also said you were ALL IN when Alex was QB.
No wonder they call you the blog flip flopper
Hi DS or BS
oneniner says:
February 8, 2013 at 2:42 am
@AES – “But as I also said earlier, there is no other QB that I want leading this team then CK7!”
And you also said you were ALL IN when Alex was QB.
No wonder they call you the blog flip flopper
Lol. In this clowns mind it’s one qb or no qb.
Stating that AES is supporting the coaches decision to switch qb is a flip flop move. Wow it must suck being called a team fan. I feel sorry for you AES. How could you support your TEAM like that? Lol
Md DS is back! Just read the writing style. This is not oneniner
Kreuger twice today has bashed Lowell Cohn. He tried to get Greg Cosell to join in the second time he brought up Lowell..Cosell actually did a Harbaugh on Kreuger with a curt “I don’t even care”. Kreuger: “uh,uh,neither do I”..SO whyed he ask??? ..lol. Kreuger”Uh,lets move on”..lolLOL!
Colin who? Colin (kiss my bicep) Kaepernick…?
He was the losing quarterback in the 2013 Super Bowl.
The team may or may not reach the playoffs next year.
Seattle will beat them twice – count on it.
Kiss my bicep…….. get real..!
How can anyone say that Kap had brain freeze on the last few plays ? Everyone has said Kap made the correct audibles on those plays .So to me it was the fault of the OC or HC who called running plays that if audibled away from because of the defensive set up had a poor pass play as the only alternative for Kap to audible into . Those fade patterns in the corner of the end zone hardly ever seem to work and when they do work it always looks like it was lucky it was completed. The coaches had brain freeze on those last several playcalls !!!
And the refs handed the game over to the Ravens all day long and especially at the end !!!!!!!
But Kap played a great game !