49ers @ Colts preseason live blog

Posted By on August 25, 2018

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) throws before an NFL preseason football game against the Indianapolis Colts in Indianapolis, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

This is the live blog for the 49ers dress-rehearsal preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts. I will update this frequently with information and analysis from my living room in Oakland.

12:38 The following 49ers will not play:

  1. TE George Kittle
  2. RB Jerick McKinnon
  3. RB Matt Breida
  4. RB Joe Williams
  5. WR Max McCaffrey
  6. OL Erik Magnuson
  7. OL Garry Gilliam
  8. DB Marcell Harris

12:40 The following 49ers should start:

  1. CB Richard Sherman
  2. CB K’Waun Williams
  3. LB Malcolm Smith
  4. DL Arik Armstead
  5. DL Solomon Thomas
  6. RB Alfred Morris

1:09 According to Joe Fann of 49ers.com, Fred Warner will start over Malcolm Smith at middle linebacker, and Mike Person will start over Joshua Garnett at right guard.

1:26 Here’s what to watch in today’s game.

1:39 The 49ers win the toss and defer.

1:43 On second-and-6, Fred Warner explodes into the backfield and tackles the running back for a two-yard loss.

1:44 On third-and-8, the 49ers sack Andrew Luck. Solomon Thomas hit him first. Jeremiah Attaochu recorded the sack.

1:46 Dante Pettis returns the punt 21 yards.

1:47 The 49ers offense commits a pre-snap penalty on its first play from scrimmage — an illegal-formation penalty that negates an 18-yard run by Alfred Morris.

1:48 On first-and-15, Morris rushes for 11 yards.

1:48 On third-and-4, Garoppolo throws deep to Marquise Goodwin, who is covered. The pass in incomplete, and the 49ers punt on the next play.

1:53 On third-and-9, Luck completes an 11-yard pass to T.Y. Hilton, who caught the ball between K’Waun Williams and a linebacker playing Cover 3. Free safety Adrian Colbert injured himself during the play.

1:54 On third-and-9, Hilton drops a pass from Luck, although Ahkello Witherspoon had good coverage. The Colts punt.

2:00 First play of the drive, Garoppolo throws a play-action pass over the middle to Piere Garcon. Gain of 15. Two plays later, the 49ers run the same play, Garcon catches the ball over the middle and runs for a gain of 47.

2:02 On third-and-2 from the seven, Garrett Celek drops a pass in the flat. And on fourth-and-2, Kendrick Bourne drops a pass over the middle. The pass was high.

2:07 On third-and-3, Ahkello Witherspoon gives up a short catch to Chester Rogers, then misses a tackle and Rogers gains 19 yards.

2:08 On third-and-11, Luck scrambles for fives yards, and the Colts punt the next play.

2:12 Jimmie Ward has a quad injury and is questionable to return.

2:13 On second-and-3 from the Colts 22, Laken Tomlinson commits a 10-yard holding penalty, and the first quarter ends.

2:14 Alfred Morris rushed 7 times for 53 yards during the first quarter. He is a nice addition.

2:18 On second-and-5 from the 12, Garcon commits a holding penalty.

2:19 On second-and-12, Cole Hikutini drops a pass in the end zone.

2:19 On third-and-12, Garoppolo throws high and incomplete to Hikutini over the middle.

2:20 Robbie Gould makes a 37-yard field goal, and the 49ers lead 3-0.

2:30 On first-and-10 from the 49ers 15, Luck throws a touchdown pass to tight end Eric Ebron running up the seam, which is the weak spot in the 49ers Cover 3 defense. Reuben Foster passed off Ebron to nobody. Another missed assignment. The Colts lead 7-0 after than 75-yard touchdown drive.

2:47 On second-and-6 from the Colts 9, Garoppolo telegraphs a pass to Trent Taylor, and cornerback Kenny Moore breaks it up. On third-and-6, Garoppolo telegraphs another pass to Taylor, and linebacker Darius Leonard drops an easy interception. After a 27-yard field goal by Gould, the 49ers trail 7-6.

2:59 Another sloppy performance by the 49ers, who just got outplayed by the Colts, a team going nowhere.

3:14 On third-and-7, Joshua Garnett commits a holding penalty and Weston Richburg commits an illegal blind-side block, but the Colts decline both penalties because Garoppolo ran out of bounds for a one-yard loss on the play. The 49ers punt. Sloppy.

3:24 On third-and-7, Seantavius Jones drops a high pass from Jacoby Brissett, and the Colts punt. Reuben Foster injured himself during the drive.

3:32 On first-and-10 from the Colts 14, Dante Pettis runs a fade and drops a jump ball in the end zone. The 49ers kick a field goal a few plays later. They lead 9-7.

3:40 On third-and-6, third-round pick Tarvarius Moore, a college safety trying to be an NFL cornerback, gets burned up the sideline and gives up a 54-yard catch. Christine Michael runs into the end zone two plays later, and the Colts lead 14-9.

3:50 The 49ers commit another penalty and go three-and-out. Ten penalties and six drops so far.

3:56 On first-and-10, Moore gives up a 28-yard catch to backup tight end Darrell Daniels. The Colts punt a few plays later. Moore looks lost.

3:59 Nick Mullens trips over the center and fumbles. The Colts recover at the 49ers 9.

4:01 The Colts make a 25-yard field goal and lead 17-9.

4:08 On third-and-5, Mullens throws an incomplete pass up the sideline for Richie James. Bad pass for him. He should run routes over the middle. He’s too small to win consistently near the sideline.

4:15 The Colts make another field goal and now lead 20-9.

4:19 On first-and-10 from the Colts 36, Mullens completed a 35-yard pass up the sideline to Aldrick Robinson. Mullens scores on the next play with a quarterback sneak.

4:20 On the two-point conversion attempt, Mullens nearly throws a pick, but draws a roughing penalty. The 49ers will try again from the 1-yard line.

4:21 McNichols runs around the left end and into the end zone. The two-point conversion is good. The 49ers trail 20-17.

4:32 The Colts make a field goal and lead 23-17.

4:34 Mullens throws an interception and the 49ers lose. Stay tuned for my post-game Periscope report, which will start at 4:45.

This article has 151 Comments

  1. So every other starter and backup will be on the field, besides the starting back field. This 1st half should be fun to watch. 17 point 1st half. Unless someone gets hurt again.

  3. Just saw a stat that the 49ers offense has the highest yards per game in the preseason at over 420 yards per game. I know it’s only preseason, but the stat continues to support the idea that we can expect a potent offense this year.

  4. Would be great to see a couple turnovers caused by the defense. Football turnovers, not cherry.

  5. JJ Stokes just said something that never occurred to me and I’ve never heard before. He was talking about Sherman and he said that one of the things that Sherman does to frustrate receivers is that when he is running with them, he uses his long arms to slap the receivers arms while the receiver is running. When you run you have to move your arms and Sherman hits the arms which tends to throw receivers off a little bit. Over the course of an entire game, I could see where that would really annoy receivers yet not lead to any penalties.

  7. I am hoping to see better run blocking.
    .
    I would like to see Attaochu stay upright more.
    .
    Wonder how Nzeocha does with the first string. Bet they try to exploit his inexperience.
    .
    I expect Malcolm Smith to get injured.
    .
    Hope to see 3 sacks, but hope Luck stays healthy.

  12. I think Ryan is right – that was a good deep pass by Jimmy; but the defender was able to push Goodwin slightly off his line and that resulted in Goodwin not quite reaching the ball.

  13. Did Goodwin stop at the end of that route? Just enough so that the ball sailed past him?

  14. Take away that drop by Mostert and the 49ers have looked good to open the game on both sides of the ball. STs too actually.

    Solly had an excellent pass rush to generate the sack.

  16. Offensive line looks better with a running back who knows what he’s doing behind them.

  18. August 25, 2018 at 1:41 pm
    Nice article Grant, and an upgrade at the same time: 49ers should sign Chris Baker as part of their rotation thus avoiding the pitfalls in your article.

    The Cincinnati Bengals have released veteran defensive tackle Chris Baker, the team announced Friday, via AAron Dexter, USA Today.

    Also, if this happens Niners should move quickly to shore up their pass rush: August 25, 2018 at 1:41 p
    Age is but a number for Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Michael Johnson.

    Johnson is 31 years old and could be on his way out the door with the Bengals despite starting his NFL career with the team back in 2009. Michael Johnson, DE, Cincinnati Bengals is the next obvious cut in an apparent youth movement in Cincinnati…Via NFL Waiver Wire, 2018: Projecting Preseason Cuts Who Will Land With New Teams, by Chris Rolling.

    Baker Highlights:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50zWNjiFebU

    2. I think so. 3rd preseason game and he is the guy they’re bringing in when Garcon goes out.

  25. Two beautiful throws from Jimmy G to Garcon. Drive gets killed with a couple of mistakes though.

  26. JG was a little off target on a few of those throws that drive. But Celek has to make that catch.

  27. OL so far has looked solid. Morris looks like a reliable runner that still knows how to find holes. But it’s the 3rd preseason games and we already have 3 drops in the first few minutes. That’s unacceptable. Celek simply is unreliable. I wish Ross Dwelley would get a better look.

  28. Love Alf Morris…our first real running back this year. Forget McKinnon. He is a 3rd down receiving back only. Way overpaid for him.

    1. Before we make such pronouncements, how about seeing McKinnon in a play or two, huh?

      But yeah, Morris is a lock to make the team.

    2. Let’s not bury McKinnon yet…at least not until October. Are you volunteering to schedule the wake?

  34. Also, watch for camp surprises. I like Joseph Williams to take over for Matt Breida while injured.

  35. It seems to me that Morris just seems to continue to evaluate and adjust to the holes and openings as he is running – unlike perhaps some of the speedier backs that hit a hole hard but rely solely on their speed to pick up yards.

    2. Looks like last year’s boneheaded red zone penalties wil not be denied just because it’s a new season.

  38. So is this a case of the 49ers OL getting in sync, or the Colts D being terrible? Those holes they’re creating are huge. Morris had a couple of runs early where he had to avoid a guy early, but since then its been daylight.

  39. Garnett is mauling players. Defense is stout. JG should have 2 TDs…..
    .
    I am most impressed by Morris, especially since he just got here.
    .
    Great, good game management. Got the play off before they could throw the red flag.

  43. Wow, the Niners are committing unforced errors, but still marched down the field.
    .
    Glad they are lining Morris in the I, and let him attack the weakness in the line.
    .
    Looks good, but need to score TDs.

  44. dropped passes, penalties and missed defensive assignments the story of the first half. Ugh!

  45. sebnynah says:
    August 25, 2018 at 2:17 pm

    I am most impressed by Morris, especially since he just got here.

    Reply: Last week you were a speed, smoke and mirrors guy w/o appreciation for the guys in the trenches, twinkie…(I remember your flea-flicker, reciever purposely falls down, only to have the olympic type speed to catch a bomb when he gets back up suggestion)…Total time of play, 6.9 seconds…In what world would your play succeed ?…One w/o a defensive line !

    Quit jumping on board the gravy train and learn how to analyze team needs before, not after the fact, fool:
    Seb is the fool on the Hill:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEHckjjbE8I

  46. A little early perhaps, but fun to think back the last few weeks when the Oline was deep in Grant’s dog house. Very deep.

    1. #80, Good Call. Morris has shown. Rest him next week for reg. season, don’t need another injury !

      1. with his experience not only in the league but also with this offense he should be the best by a long shot.

      3. OL finally creating holes, Jet didn’t have that luxury. But yeah, Morris is the best “running” back as of now.

        1. OL made plenty of holes last week in Houston early on too but the back couldn’t hit it

        1. ? ‘If six
          Turned out to be nine,
          I don’t mind, I don’t mind’ ?
          -Jimi Hendrix

        2. I said 9 because they would have kicked the FG in a regular season game instead of going for it on 4th

  49. You crack me up Tommy! Just got back from a month in the British Isles ( yes Donald, England is included!) Good to see things haven’t changed around here! Seb is still taking a beating like the “Red headed stepchild “! Too funny!

    1. Welcome back! Want to hear my take on being aggressive?
      .
      I am impressed how the Niners went for it, so many times. A good way to lose games, is to settle for field goals.
      .
      Sign, still shooting themselves in the foot, but at least they are directly talking about the problem.

      1. Hey, I listened to the Lynch interview, and he never mentioned you.
        Maybe he’ll send you a candy gram.

        1. He does not need to acknowledge me. He just needs to do 9 out of 10 things I enumerate.
          .
          BTW, the one he did not do was AVOID THE UNFORCED ERRORS.

  50. Not all that pretty–things being vanilla, no creative scheming. But not a tire fire either.

  51. Got to agree with Grant..this is not an average team yet..just too many holes on defense.

    1. It’s preseason, with no meaningful scheming on both sides of the ball.

      I’ve seen much worse the last 50+ years and the teams involved went on to have good seasons (only a few have tanked totally). We’ll know way more about the guts and heart in late September/early October.

  52. JG has gotten away with a few bad decisions today. That one should have been an INT.

    1. Not his best game for sure. Colts seem to be reading him pretty well. I have every confidence, Jimmy will be in the film room after this game and will figure out what they were doing so that he doesn’t fall into some of those traps again.

      1. And considering the 9ers aren’t doing any regular season-type scheming….not all that bad.

  53. A case of beating themselves, inopportune penalties, dropped passes, and JG isn’t playing his best ball.

  55. Four penalties at the half…not great. But, we’re on track to reduce the number from last week!

    1. Corrwct me if I’m wrong .. but on Jimmy’s first pass to Garcon ..
      it looked to me the DB pushed Pierre in the back right before
      the ball got there …a PI …fer sure … but they didn’t show the replay ..

      I’m sure that pass wa TD !

    2. not all penalties carry the same weight, but the alignment issue on the first play of the Niner offense to negate that run is inexcusable because that play is scripted and has been rehearsed.

      1. Very true. I hope that those who flog the 9ers with the number of penalties they take understand that point. And, teams take penalties on both sides of the ball–not just an offense issue where the play is rehearsed.

  56. The Niners have shown cohesion and nastiness along the O line.
    .
    I am so happy JG is our QB.
    .
    Morris is a pleasant aurprise.
    .
    Glad Attaochu got a sack.

  58. Juan, Seb never learns. Unless the periodic cackling is checked, we’re in for a ‘long-winded’ season.

  59. Grant says…. “Another sloppy performance by the 49ers, who just got outplayed by the Colts, a team going nowhere.”

    It’s preseason Grant. No meaningful scheming, correct? Your point would be much more relevant if this game was played in mid November.

    1. this pre-season game is approached just like a regular season game with scouting reports, game prep, formation and personnel planing and substitutions. that’s why it is called a “DRESS REHEARSAL!!”

      1. The mechanics of the game itself….yes! The scheming of offensive and defensive plays–play calling–is quite simplistic in preseason vs the full-on regular season.

        1. computer reports, down and distance tendencies and play calling offensively and defensively are presented and called with a “regular season” mentality

          1. Coaching staffs across most the league typically don’t show everything in their repertoire when calling plays in preseason.

            1. HOWEVER, today’s play calling both on offense adn defense is structured specifically on the tendencies displayed by the opposing units of the Colts, so, in that sense, it is like a regular season game.

              in the previous two pre-season games, offensive and defensive calls were predicated on the installation going on during that week without specific reference to the entire play book or an actual game plan. additionally, in the first 2 pre-season games, plays are called specifically for a player or players who are being evaluated because a coach wants to see that player at the point of attack. if you don’t call a specific play how can you evaluate a player at the POA

              1. You and I will disagree. I can’t speak to what Indy was up to play calling-wise, but the 9ers didn’t exercise their full suite of options. If this was the first game of the season, I think we’d be seeing a much wider range of plays being run depending on match-up potential, etc. Emphasis on much wider and more nuanced. What we see this afternoon is not the best use of the 9er playbook–offense and defense. I never said nor intended to imply the 9ers were just calling random plays with zero thought.

  60. have there not been 4 or 5 accepted or declined penalties in just over one half of football attributed to the offensive line today???

    2 on Tomlinson, 1 on Garnett, 1 on Richburg – not good in 42 snaps!!!!!!!!!!!

  61. I am not panicking. These errors can easily be cleaned up.
    .
    I think JG misses Kittle.

    1. I agree but Kittle is injured a lot. Kittle will have to stay healthy. Speaking of healthy Ward mind boggling how he is perpetually injured Jimmy Glassbones

  63. Let’s Be real niners look lost, stupid penalties are killing them. Offense looks confused, Defense looks mismatched.

    1. Yeah, that running game was certifiably putrid…here comes 0 and 16.

      Pitchforks are by the gate. Starting tomorrow banners will by flying over Santa Clara calling for a total housecleaning, from Denise on down.

  64. Terrible game. Some players are not as good as last year…Foster, Colbert, Tomlinson, etc. Scary situation. Could Ward be worse than last year? yup.

      1. Snap Judgement 311–upper division with lab. Roll playing is used as a teaching tool.

  68. Horrible game, if this is the way they are going play. If this is going to reflect the regular season…. 4- 12 season if they stay healthy.

    1. No, this is a preseason game. There are several correctable areas to work on, but I am glad this game does not count in the standings.

      1. Didn’t hear Sherman’s name called. Wasn’t he supposed to be several steps behind every NFL receiver?

    1. At least Foster can go through the protocol without the pressure of being ready for the season opener. Hope he does well.

  79. Well, at least they did not incur a season ending injury.
    .
    Very sloppy, but correctable.
    .
    Hope they learned that settling for FGs is a good way to lose.

  81. The quintessential preseason game–some good (early running game), and a good dose of steaming crud. Yeah, it’s laughable, but at least the number of penalties came down a tad–if they’d gone up there would be unholy screaming. Gotta do better, agreed.

    Injuries seem to be on the less-than-catastrophic side, meaning we didn’t have three or four season ending events–not discounting Foster’s concussion at all.

    Would think the 9er coaches will address the work on their plates–lots of it. Grant…you think the position coaches are up to the challenge?

    Bring on San Diego!

    1. Cassie …
      Love your fortitude wrt your position-coaches questions ..
      but … alas … it seems that no matter ..how.. you rephrase
      them … Grant will ignore them… and I dunno why … but …
      I think he ..could.. work that theme … into several threads …
      Plus … he prolly will initiate a few blog arguments ,, along the way …
      as well …
      (Could be interesting …too !)

      All depends on how much “gumption” he has …

  82. Like starting unit offense and defense lines. Dislike sloppy play, armless sack attempts

    1. Handsless and armless receiving attempts as well. Dumb drops. Celek had a disappointing outing.
      I think a lot of roster decisions will be made this weekend and play out next Friday.

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