Forty Niners Forever

At least it isn’t season-ending, or even a knee problem, but Nick Balsa, uh, Bosa is out for 3-4 weeks with a calf issue. I’m still waiting for us to sign Leonard Floyd, but I thought they’d do that when Thompson went down way back to 5 days ago, or when CJ West went down eons, AKA 4 days ago.

This is getting tiresome. But the entire league is having injury issues, so, instead of the 49ers dropping back to the mean, the rest of the league is catching up to us and our injury issues.

Got my new 49er hat in the mail today. Expedited.

Here we are two weeks into the season, and SIX starting quarterbacks are out.

1. Sam Darnold – Sea
2. Jaxson Dart – NYG
3. Jayden Daniels – Commandos
4. Tua Tagliovua – Falcons
5. Caleb Williams – Da Bears
6. Kyler Murray – Minn

Funny thing is, both Minn and Seattle are 2-0. Minnesota has squeaked by its two wins, and Seattle squeaked out their win over the Pats.

The Bears are down to their third string guy Case Keenum as backup Tyson Bagent (???who???) is in the concussion protocol.

The Giants looked like hot garbage with Jamies Winston at the helm. Washington is another disaster with Marcus Mariota.

Sea looks to be pretty good going forward as they are a strong team and Drew Lock is doing his best Mac Jones impression.

Minnesota? Well, they have Carson Wentz. Murray went down on their first drive on their first game. For them that was prolly a good thing. Wentz crushed the Packers in the 4th quarter of the GB game, and squeaked out a win in the Chicago rain.

Soooooooo, you’d think with all these QB injuries, the phones in Santa Clara would be smoking hot. But the buzz around Jones seems to be non-existent. The latest story out of the Giants camp is that they are looking to trade for Jimmy G. Or JJ McCarthy.

Really? Are we simply stating “we want a #1 + a 3”? “We want Justin Jefferson”? Are we asking too much? Holding out for more later? Granted, it is still very early in the season, and many more guys can get hurt, or Wentz starts sucking, but the fact remains they have to trade Jones. They made the mistake with Darnold and a one-year deal as he would have been a great trade chip.

I mean, it would be a major fuckup if we simply let Jones sit on the bench for the duration of the season and sign elsewhere as a free agent. The team has pretty much established that Kurtis Rourke is fine as the backup, so a deal should be out there somewhere for Jones.

Well, offensively, we are a well-oiled machine. 8 trips into the red zone. 7 TDs and a field goal. Purdy has ~500 yards, an 80% completion percentage, 5 TDs, 1 pick, and a 125.6 QB rating. He’s completed passes to 10 different guys (including Jake Brendel). A little startling to me is the zero sacks given up. Mainly because the Rams came into the season with the ‘scariest defense in the history of the NFL’!!! GASP! Aaron Donald is back!!!!! Give them their rings already!!!

Of course we smoked them like a tri-tip on the barbie. And just ran away from the Dolphins.

But even the run game, at least vs LA, was rolling with the two-headed attack of CMC and Black. Miami not so much. But the really cool thing about those games was the fact that Shanny noticed early in that Ram game was that the Rams were using a 4-2-5 defense to take away big plays. So we ran very well against that. When McVay switched to a 5 man front, Shanny ran outside and passed on them. In the Miami game, they came out with a 5 man front to take away the run game, and we threw at will on them.

So good to see early-game adjustments by Shanny as sometimes he gets pig-headed about what he thinks should be working as opposed to what actually is.

Defensively is a different story. And I’ll preface this by saying the difference in the pressures so far this season is night and day. No sacks against Stafford, but he did his Stafford thing and threw a terrible pick under pressure. As they say now, he was uncomfortable all game. And we got 4 sacks on Malik Willis and the Flounders.

But the run defense is a big concern. Both games saw the halftime scores still close. CJ West and Thompson (before he got hurt) have spent these first 2 games getting pancaked and pushed around like shopping carts on black friday at Walmart. I really think McVay panicked WAY too early and stopped running. Miami as well. The Rams especially averaged 4.6 yards a carry. I guess McVay’s jet-lagged brain wasn’t functioning very well. Word is, Halton is gonna replace CJ West.

And based on what I’ve seen so far, we aren’t gonna sign anyone anytime soon. Mykel Williams is on track to be ready for the Denver game in 10 days, but we have to wait on that.

All that being said, both AZ and Denver are winnable games. About the only good thing the NFL did for the 49ers was to give them 3 home games in a row after all that travel. Then again, we only have 2 home games in the last 6 weeks.

Well, the Australia hangover that the 49ers sought to avoid, and the Rams banked on avoiding, worked. For the 49ers anyway. After a slow first half by the defense, the 49ers were able to win this game with an offense that, despite losing another WR in Demarcus Robinson, keeps clicking at a fairly alarmingly efficient rate.

Brock Purdy was 20-22 for 287, 3 TDs, and led the team in rushing yards with 30. CMC and Kaelon Black were used fairly sparingly (17 carries between them) as the Niners simply threw with little resistance. Heartening for me to see Shanahan go with what is working and not try to force his game plan on what he THINKS should be working.

The run defense, not very good against the Rams, was fairly awful vs Achane. At least in the 1st half when the game was still close, although we did keep them out of the end zone. Miami had the ball 3 times, and for 20 minutes in the 1st half, but only managed 6 points thanks to a missed FG.

The Niners had the ball twice and scored on both drives. What good teams should do. However, the Niners saved their best play for the initial 2nd half drive. Purdy hit Kittle on a 40 yard deep crosser that put the Niners on the Miami 25. 3 plays later, Purdy hit Kittle for a 12 yard score and the tide had turned.

Miami quickly panicked and abandoned the run and went 3-and-out. Their coach made a dumb mistake by abandoning the run. This time Juice got the score after he nearly tipped a pass intended for Mike Evans and a 21 yard gain, and his own 24 yard gain on a wheel route. Pinion fumbled a snap, and we scored quick on a 30 yard pass to Evans, and a 1 yard CMC run.

5 possessions. 5 TDs. The offense is clicking despite the injuries. But enough with the WRs going down. I guess the hope against all hope is that either Jacob Cowing or Jordan Watkins can provide SOMETHING to this passing attack. Otherwise we need to find someone else that can do the job.

The defense harassed Willis the rest of the way to the tune of 4 sacks, and constant pressure. Willis did hit one deep TD for 77 yards to Ryan Miller but by then the game was in hand.

Would LOVE to see the Rams trip over their dicks tonight and fully reap the reward of their poor decision-making regarding Australia. Plus the fact the NFL gave them a home game in Australia (Levi’s WAAAAAAY South it turns out), and an extra fucking day of rest. So happy to see the Melbournians embrace the 49ers, and they in return. I guess it is true that the 49ers are the most popular team outside the United States. The World’s team!

The Giants aren’t half-bad with Skattebo and Dart back. All about their defense tonight. Fuck McVay and the Rams.

Here we go with the first home game of the 2026 season. A trap game vs the woeful Miami Mammal Fish. They are in a world of disarray and are looking at a dismal season. In the order of 4 wins? Maybe if they are lucky. Malik Williams and his 7 NFL starts in 5 seasons with Tenn, GB, and his lone Miami start looks to improve on that. Between him and De’Von Achane, they can put up some yards on the ground. But really, we could beat Miami on the flight back from Australia.

Nothing is ever easy in this NFL though so I hope Shanny has these guys ready for this. I’ve seen too many games where we come out flat and stupid, expecting the other guys to wither at our greatness. Throw in the reacclimating to PST, and the prospect is there for a slow start. But hey, this won’t be it. I think we take this something like 31-13.

And no more fucking season ending injuries allfuckingready.

Once game down, two starting offensive players out for the season. De’Zhaun Stribling and Jake Tonges but suffered significant injuries in that opener down under. Stribling an ankle injury that ended up requiring surgery that they say may heal after 10 weeks. I guess we’ll see, but Tonges’ MCL is a season ender.

Can we get through a game without major injuries? Especially to our WRs? It appears not. This team is beyond snakebit where it comes to our #1 pass catchers. Yes, the Rams game was fairly easy, and the guys on the field took care of business, but ALL of the receivers now are over 30. Unless you count Cowing and Watkins. The hologram brothers. We were supposed to be easing Kittle back in after his Achilles, but now we are depending on the fairly invisible Luke Farrell to pick up the slack.

Losing any one of these guys, and we have the whole season infront of us, will be crippling and we will end up like last year’s team that struggled to get the ball downfield.

It’s just fucking maddening that Pearsall, Stribling, and now Tonges are all shelved. This offense is screaming for a youth injection, and as of now we have Kadeon Black as the only guy. Even if Kirk comes back in week 5, he’s over the 30 hill. I mean, how many more opportunities do Cowing and Watkins need before putting some numbers up in a game?

Not that I hold any stock in these power rankings. They just make me laugh. As in, we shellack the preseason faves to reach the Super Bowl to the tune of Stafford’s lowest points scored since he’s been a Ram, and we put up 27 on their dream team defense, and they get ranked 2 spots ahead of us.

Yeah, makes sense. Not really, but it’s just more click fodder for the unwashed masses to react to. I mean, if I was an overreacting guys of guy, I’d put the Niners at #1 ahead of Seattle as they needed a 4th quarter 3-pick meltdown of the #4 ranked QB in the league (:) 🙂 :)) Drake Maye to seal the win.

Sourdough Sam is looking at missing at least 4 more games, so Seattle is gonna get a full taste of the injury bug. Seattle has the possibly resurgent Cardinals as their next opponent, on the road, so that should be fun. Seattle looked fairly pedestrian in their struggle to win that game, but this early on, you never really know what you are gonna get what with all the non-practicing and non-playing of so many starters in the league.

But the hope is the guys have gotten back to the correct time zone and sleep schedule. Otherwise the nattering nabobs of Niner negativity will praise the Rams for their looking ahead to get back to normal.

Sure. Right. What I love about most of the coverage in the NF, it seems to be the way to go to downplay any success of the tem or its quarterback. Oh, the Rams didn’t get enough sleep! Poor guys! Just wait till next time! Wonder what the ‘power rankings’ will say about this game.

Anyway, the thing that really baffles me about all this coverage regarding players, stats, teams, power rankings, yadda yadda yadda, is how absolutely dependent ALL the wonks are to fantasy statistics.

Yeah, Josh Allen is a great QB. He does great things. He puts up yards. He wins games. Sure he’s a top guy. Stafford? Yeeeeaaaaah. He’s pretty good but he has a strong team around him. Justin Herbert? Yeah, good QB, but 0 playoff wins. Yeah, they seem to have the 75 year curse iof never having a very good defense, but not 1 playoff victory?

Then you have Dak Prescott. He puts up great numbers but really, he doesn’t win important games. He puts up gaudy numbers against the weakest division, the NFC East. And Dallas had very good defenses in his time at QB. He’s pretty much garbage in my book as he has done the least with the most at his disposal.

Lamar Jackson is another guy who wilts in the playoffs yet gets all the love as being a top QB. Yeah, he has a ton of talent, and has won a lot of games, and his numbers shine, but playoffs? 3-5? Pffffffffffffffffffft.

Drake Maye is #4 in the NFL because of 1 season against another weak-ass division, the AFC East and the easiest schedule in the NFL? Big numbers, but he faces a strong D and you get what happened Wednesday night. 3 picks in the 4th quarter. NE is a paper tiger. They will not make the playoffs.

Point being, these retarded fantasy stat-driven rankings will always go against a balanced team like the 49ers have now, and had back in the day. I mean, I think Russell Wilson was the last QB to get any kind of kudos for running a balanced offense. He didn’t put up gaudy numbers because he didn’t have to. throw in a dominant defense and there you go.

Anyhow, end of rant. Bring on the Mammal fish.

Well, that went about as well as anyone could have imagined. Offense running and passing well. The O line playing way beyond expectations. Myles Garrett a non-factor. New guys Mike Evans and Kaelon Black kicking major ass, and the sad retreads in Deebo and Dre G making plays all over the field.

Purdy was fairly awesome but for the early pick, hitting a beautiful strike to Demarcus Robinson, and converting a boatload of 3rd downs to Evans. 3 TDs and 1 pick works as he got the bad shit out ot the way early.

Here’s the main reason that Purdy never is thought of as the master QB that he is. 25-34, 205. 3 TDs, 1 int. Spectacular numbers? Of course not. He takes what is there. 3rd down conversions? 7 of 12. THAT is huge. Yeah, a lot of check downs. But better a checkdown than a pick or sack. Speaking of sacks, the Rams had zero. Myles Garrett was gassed after the 1st half.

The newly tooled Raheem Morris defense looked every bit ready to be a force in the league. I don’t even think Morris went too crazy with the looks and blitzes but the Rams were kept off balance through most of the game. And but for the soft call on Lenoir, the DBs and safeties were solid all game.

Tell ya one thing, I really wonder if Sean McVay catches any shit for completely throwing up the white flag with 5 minutes left. Seemed like a pussy move to me, but they really played this whole thing pretty badly.

The Lamb lies down in Melbourne

Ready or not, here we go. Another clusterfuck of an offseason has finally ended. This team can’t seem to get out of its own way sometimes. And that’s just the coach and the owner. And the pretender.

Lots of story lines for this one. Niners vs Rams. Early arrival vs late arrival. Home field for SF on the 8,000 mile road. NFC West supremacy. Purdy vs Stafford. Yadda yadda yadda. Game one becomes a pretty big deal.

Fact remains though that the loser of this game is suddenly down 2 games to their division rivals. Well, still a game back of Seattle as they didn’t play a division game, but still as with last year, our fast start got us into the playoffs and almost the #1 seed. Even with all the mayhem.

On a side note, I still find is pretty funny how little respect Purdy gets from the league at large. Guys like Prescott and Herbert are the ‘class of the league’ Herbert? 0-3. Prescott? 2-5. Drake maye is ranked 4th. Woo hoo. Shit, even Josh Allen is 8-7. The #1 QB in the league has not won an AFC Championship game. Much as I can’t stand Mahomes, the dude can win under pressure in the playoffs.

But all the wonks in the league gush over Prescott’s gaudy stats as he beats up on the also-rans in the NFC Least. And Drake May is suddenly God’s gift to the QB spot because he had the easiest schedule in the NFL last year.

Yeah, football is a team game, but come playoff time, guys like Herbert, Allen, and Prescott especially need to show me more if they are to be thought of as great QBs to me. Prescott has done the least with the most. Dallas is ALWAYS near the top in offense and has had a solid defense. Well, except for last year.

But, as with all these weekly ‘power rankings’ and other bullshit lists, what really counts is out there on the field.

Bring it on!!!