Greetings from Candlestick where I must confess – my one week of NFL beat-writing experience has given me no insight into what will happen tonight.
I can easily imagine the Niners looking lost and fragile and reprising their Stinkeroo in Seattle.
And I can just as easily imagine them channeling their head coach, looking like a bunch of half-crazed Singletarys and pushing the Saints around.
Very intriguing. Particularly for Week 2.
Just a housekeeping note: Due to my deadlines, I won’t be blogging or
posting any content here during the game. But I will be posting pregame
notes here leading up to kickoff:
• A PATTERN IS DEVELOPING: Drew Brees three games vs. the 49ers in a Saints uniform. 2008: 23 of 35, 363 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT. 2007: 31 of 39, 336 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INT. 2006: 17 of 28, 186 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT.
• JIMMY IN THE SKY: ESPN has reported that offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye will stay upstairs to call plays tonight. Alex Smith will wear a wristband with play calls listed. The play calls will correspond to a number on Smith’s wristband. (By the way, ESPN reported this around noon, about the same time they bumped Lowell Cohn from his highly anticipated appearance on Outside The Lines. Lowell, sitting next to me, is still processing the day’s events. He tells me he’ll be fine).
• CONGRATS, TRAMAINE. AND DON’T BOTHER GETTING YOUR HELMENT: The Niners released LB Diyral Briggs today and elevated CB Tramaine Brock from the practice squad. Makes sense, huh, with only three fully healthy cornerbacks available and Drew Brees in town? Guess not. Brock is inactive for tonight’s game.
• NINERS INACTIVES: QB Troy Smith (emergency QB), WR Kyle Williams, WR Ted Ginn, CB Tramaine Brock, CB Will James, RG Chilo Rachal, C Eric Heitmann, OT Alex Boone.
• SAINTS INACTIVES: RB Chris Ivory, CB Patrick Robinson, S Chris Reis, LB Anthony Waters, T Zach Strief, Tory Humphrey, WR Adrian Arrington, DE Junior Galette.
• GORE EYEING RECORD: Frank Gore can set the franchise record for 100-yard rushing games tonight. Gore is tied with Joe Perry with 20 career 100-yard games.
• WILL THE NEW STADIUM HAVE THIS?: Opposing quarterbacks have thrown just five touchdowns in the past 11 games at Candlestick, the lowest in the NFL during that span. On the road, the Niners have allowed 15 touchdowns in their past 11 games.
• AND DISCIPLINED, TOO?: Dating back to last year’s postseason run, the Saints have committed one turnover and 11 penalties in their past four games. They have not committed a turnover in their past 10 quarters.
• BEFORE THIS THEY REALLY USED TO STINK: The Saints will be
attempting to start 2-0 in consecutive seasons for the first time ever.
They have been playing football since 1967.
• SENTENCE I WILL BE TYPING AGAIN IN 2010: The Rams, Seahawks and Cardinals all lost Sunday.
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