On Monday, the 49ers watched tape of their last meeting against the Cardinals, a 24-9 victory last year in which they forced seven turnovers.
Call that film “The Way We Were.”
Seven turnovers? In a game? The 2010 Niners have forced seven turnovers … in their past six games.
In fact, San Francisco hasn’t forced a fumble or intercepted a pass in its past eight quarters and has 12 turnovers this season, tied for the
fourth-fewest in the NFL. The Niners are on pace for 19 turnovers, 13
fewer than last year.
Safety Reggie Smith said watching last year’s seven-turnover bonanza brought back some memories.
“It was really exciting to see how many turnovers we had,” Smith said.
“I didn’t remember we had that many. We had turnovers left and right.
Dashon (Goldson). (Tarell Brown). Mark (Roman) had a fumble recovery.
There were balls everywhere.”
What a difference a year makes.
This season, 290-pound defensive tackle Ray McDonald has one more
interception (1) than the Niners safeties and one more touchdown (1)
than the rest of the defense.
“That’s kind of sad,” Smith said, “a D-lineman having a touchdown before one of us.”
So what to do? The 49ers don’t blitz frequently and their coverage
schemes are often designed to prevent the big play. Still, the defensive
philosophy hasn’t changed much since 2009.
Defensive coordinator Greg Manusky, in his fourth year, said creating turnovers has always been a point of emphasis.
“I think we stress stripping the ball during practice,” Manusky said.
“We encourage our guys to pick off the balls during practice. Just
sometimes they don’t go your way. You have some years where you’re
successful in turnovers and other years you don’t. Do I know why? No.”
• The soundtrack of the 2010 season must include hits such as “I’ve Got to Look at the Film” and “Going Forward, I’m Excited.”
But the media has made a contribution with “Why Hasn’t Brian Westbrook Played More?”
The question came up yet again today.
You know the particulars by now. Westbrook, who has a track record of
being an above-average NFL running back, has five carries and five
receptions this season, giving him five more touches than fullback Moran
Norris.
In explaining Westbrook’s lack of use, offensive coordinator Mike
Johnson said he wasn’t eager to take Frank Gore off the field — backing
away from the season-long refrain that the Niners need to get Gore more
rest, “I’m just trying not to take Frank Gore off the field unless he
is tired,” Johnson said.
Johnson also said that Westbrook’s late arrival — he signed on Aug. 16,
about four weeks before the season opener — limited the ways in which
he can be used.
“It just takes time and it’s something that needs to be taught through a
longer period of time like training camp,” Johnson said.
After three months, though, Johnson said Westbrook, a nine-year veteran,
is up to speed. Johnson said Westbrook was going to be used extensively
during a series against Tampa Bay, but an offensive holding call set up
a second-and-17 and scuttled those plans.
“He’s at that point where he is now understanding everything that he has to do,” Johnson said.
And that concludes this week’s chapter in the season-long novel, “Brian
Westbrook: The Big-Play Threat With an Even Bigger Learning Curve.”
• S Dashon Goldson (ankle) and K Joe Nedney (knee) did not practice.
Manusky said Goldson would play Monday, but Nedney’s status is less
certain. WR Josh Morgan (shoulder) was limited.
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