Posted By: papa (15/09/2007 12:26:53 PM)
Comment: Hi Matt: A couple of days ago you said Vernon Davis was invisible. Tully Banta-Cain has been invisible in every game so far? I guess thay are great practice players. So far, I'd have to say we would have been better served letting the Rams have him. 10 sacks this season? He better get started soon.

Posted By: 49ers4ever (14/09/2007 11:35:43 PM)
Comment: Marc, The Rams offense looked just as bad as the Niners did last week, actually even worse, they lost their starting left takle, both thier starting cornerbacks are out, we beat them once last year, and should have beat them the second time, we held Fitzgerald and Boldin in check last week, sure they got a decent rushing total last week, but that's because we gamed planned to take away thier pass attack. Add all that up and I have nothing but confidence all the doubters will be eating crow come Sunday. And Mike, I didn't pray for the Rams to get injured, I'm just saying taking into account how banged up they are it's ridiculous that they are so heavily favored. I've seen alot of people predicting scores like 27-10 Rams. I think they might have the score right but the teams backwards. I feel like a little kid two days before Christmas, and I'm pretty sure that Santa is going to give me what I want this year.

Posted By: mike (14/09/2007 7:56:22 PM)
Comment: Let's hear it for our main man Patrick Willis, well deserved Defensive Rookie of the Week...AWESOME work!!! Keep it up broh, I hope he tears it up again vs the Rams. Way to go Patrick!!

Posted By: Jon in SoCal (14/09/2007 7:53:02 PM)
Comment: Mike and Mike in SF. It's OK to hear the voices in your head, just try not to answer them. ;)

Posted By: mike (14/09/2007 7:35:11 PM)
Comment: No doubt whenever injuries happen we need to jump all over it & take advantage of the weakness. But really I'd rather have any team we play having BOTH sides completely healthy & let's see who the better team is..who gameplans better, who better executes, who's UP for the challenge & ready to play. Straight up head to head. When the injuries come up who's got the better depth. It would suck big time if we ever got any key injuries so I really hate cheering for an opponents player going down. Just MHO...Matt, following up PWillis tackles, has the NFL responded to Nolan showing them proof that he had 15 tackles? AZ down, RAMS next on the list...BRING IT ON!!

Posted By: StonerLab (14/09/2007 4:55:33 PM)
Comment: Not only do I think we're going to win this weekend aginst the Rams but I believe the Cardinals are going to take out the Seahawks as well which would leave us at the top of the division after week #2, very nice. By the way Mike in SF (which ever one you are?) Willis beat out Peterson (Vikings) C Johnson (Lions) to take the Pepsi rookie of the week. Those guys were no slouches either in week #1, I think it makes Willis's award that much sweeter!

Posted By: kem99 (14/09/2007 4:23:48 PM)
Comment: marc, I don't have a problem with the Rams being favored at home this early in the season BUT you are forgetting that the 49ers actually played better on the road toward the end of last year than they did at home. Also, they did sweep the Rams in Nolan's first year and almost beat them last year in St. Louis as well in what was the much debated "4th and an inch" game. So the 49ers have proven they can beat the Rams in the dome.

Posted By: Mike in SF (14/09/2007 4:20:03 PM)
Comment: 49ERS4EVER, I think our offensive futility, broadcast nationally last Monday, probably scared a good number of the national guys off of the bandwagon. A strong showing this week and a 2-0 divisional record should go a long way to regaining the confidence of the national media. MARC, I agree that the 49ers shouldnt necessarily be favored, but the games at Denver and at Seattle last year went a long way to proving this team's guts on the road. (tag, you're it other Mike in SF)

Posted By: marc (14/09/2007 2:56:50 PM)
Comment: to 49ers4ever.even with the injuries the rams should be favored. we havent proved that we r a good road team yet, and we haent proved we can beat the rams in their house. although this looks like the best chance that weve had to beat them their since the early 2000s. like i said previously, we have the speed now to match up with their offense, and of course alot more overall talent.

Posted By: Mike in SF (14/09/2007 2:43:43 PM)
Comment: I love it - Churchill and Truman-esque. This is the real #2 and I'm happy to join forces!!! As long as you enjoy sparking a good and intelligent debate and not throwing out a knee jerk reactions i.e. after game #1: In addition to starting, Lelie should be a hall of famer (yet I have no proof as to why, consider the last 6 years of his career have been a total disappointment) and our O.C. should be fired ASAP. Ha ha - half kidding, but its pretty easy to get you all fired up on this blog. What most of you fail to recognize is we are ALL die hard fans that want the same thing - Wins - and we all tend to think with are hearts before our brains!!!

Posted By: 49ers4ever (14/09/2007 2:19:41 PM)
Comment: Darn Matt, and I was having visions of Alex having his first 400 yard game. Oh well, I still think with all the Rams injuries this is going to be a spanking. I can't believe all the national pundits are picking the Rams. Did they not see our vastly improved D shut down the offense of the Cards? I think this is going to be pretty good game for Niners fans to watch.

Posted By: Mike in SF (14/09/2007 12:21:47 PM)
Comment: Mike in SF is a dumbass! He doesn't know what he's talkin' about! No, not you. The other Mike in SF! Hey, wait a minute, I'm also named Mike in SF! This is getting confusing...

Posted By: Mike in SF (14/09/2007 11:54:55 AM)
Comment: Dear "Mike in SF", I've been posting here under the name "Mike in SF" for a while. Lately I've seen you posting a lot under the same name. I would like to propose that we unite our posting efforts for the betterment of the "Mike in SF" name. Instead of people getting confused over what you post and what I post, we'll share ownership of each post that either of us places here on Matt's blog. I'll try not to post anything too stupid. Whaddaya say? Partners?

Posted By: Bryan (Stockton) (14/09/2007 11:47:40 AM)
Comment: Matt, I was at the game Monday and thought B. Moore had a nice game. What did you think when you watched him on film? Seems Nolan made the right move by putting him at backup (not to mention Willis is a stud).

Posted By: Jim in Walnut Creek (14/09/2007 11:34:04 AM)
Comment: More pointed questions for Banta-Cain: Did he know that NE coaches were cheating? Who would need to know (be in on it), in order for the cheating to be effective (HC, OC, QB, etc)?

Posted By: marc (14/09/2007 11:18:20 AM)
Comment: we need to take advantage of the rams injuries. they will be without both starting corners(fahkir brown and tye hill), pisa tinasamoa(lb) and orlando pace and richie incognito. thats 5 key guys who r out.i hope we see a great offensive showing. alex to d jack should be there all day. d jack owns the rams.

Posted By: Mike in SF (14/09/2007 11:16:05 AM)
Comment: The beginning of something special? Its official - 49ers linebacker Willis voted Week 1 NFL Rookie of the Week. Linebacker Patrick Willis of the San Francisco 49ers is the Diet Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week for games played Sept. 6-10, the NFL announced today. Willis recorded 11 tackles and forced a fumble in his first regular-season game, helping the 49ers to a 20-17 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. Willis led the 49ers with in total tackles and joined Oakland's Kirk Morrison and Tampa Bay's Barrett Ruud as league leaders in Week 1 with nine solo tackles. Question for Matt - If the Coaches reviewed the tape and have now credited Willis with 15 tackles, can and/or will they submit that to the League office to make it official on his stats? NFL.com still shows him with 11 tackles and 9 solo.

Posted By: 49ers4ever (14/09/2007 10:07:59 AM)
Comment: Hey, isn't Lenny Walls the first round bust out of Denver that couldn't make our roster last year, when we were pretty thin at CB? Ouch for the rams is all I have to say. Who's their Nickel CB going to be now? Maybe they'll sign someone from a pop warner team. We should come out in 3 WR sets all day long.

Response: I believe you're thinking of Willie Middlebrooks. --Matt M.

Posted By: Piche Pedro (14/09/2007 9:20:50 AM)
Comment: It would be fun to see NFL comissioner Goodel make the Pats wear helmets with some kind of cheater logo on it,

Posted By: Haole Boy (14/09/2007 9:13:59 AM)
Comment: Hey Matt- if the Pats lose their first-rounder next year, which one do they lose? Is it the one they got from the Niners for Staley, or their original pick?

Response: The Patriots will lose their original first-round pick if they make the playoffs. --Matt M.

Posted By: Josh (Yreka, CA) (14/09/2007 9:02:38 AM)
Comment: Morning Matt! Once again a great read! I really think TBC and VD are in for HUGE games against the rams! Thank you again for your superior 49er coverage! By the way...it's starting to get really cool up here in Siskiyou county! Take Care

Posted By: Mike in SF (14/09/2007 8:54:03 AM)
Comment: Looks like we are catching the Rams on the road at teh right time - that's there best D.B. - RAMS LOSE ANOTHER STARTER After a poor Week One showing that resulted in a season-ending injury to left tackle Orlando Pace, the St. Louis Rams have suffered another setback. Adam Schefter of NFL Network reports that Rams cornerback Tye Hill suffered broke multiple bones in his back when colliding with a teammate on one of the last plays of practice on Thursday. Hill is expected to miss 4-6 weeks. Lenny Walls will start in Hill's absence.