Well, game one is in the books. Crazy-ass game. Just when it was getting scary, it turned into the Ted Ginn show. 276 yards in KO and punt returns, and his 2 scores late in the 4th quarter sealed the game. He outgained both offenses. The D played well for the most part, barring the breakdown in the 4th quarter. 5 sacks and innumerable pressures werew good to see. Seattle didn’t run for much or pass for much.
Young Sir Alex? Well, he played what they gave him. Didn’t see the deep coverage, so it’s hard to see what was going on downfield, but he did miss aan open Crab in the end zone early on. Smith was more a victim of some questionable play calling in the red zone more than anything else. 1-12 on 3rd downs will not get the job done. 1-5 in the red zone won’t get it done either. Seattle seemed very intent on not letting Gore beat them. As he has had some of his biggest games against them. They forced the game into Alex;s hands, and he did OK with the sort passing game.
My fears of the defense being out of their depth proved to be unfounded. At least against Seattle. Jackson isn’t Romo, but the pressure was in his face all day, and the defense caused their share of havoc all game.
All in all, a game to build on. Let’s hope they give it a little more gas in the red zone next week.
Forty Niners Forever 
I think Harbaugh is just unsure of his OLine and is calling short passes and runs until he sees what type of protection Smith gets.
Denny, how ’bout dem bet?
Vanila is to be expected against a team like Seattle. I doubt you’ll see it against Denny’s ‘Boys next week.
Remember Geen Bay a couple years ago? Singetary went totally consrvative in the first half while green Bay got a 3 touchdown lead- Smith threw like 7 passes. Second half, went to the gun and Smith amost pulled it out, 3 TD passes in the second half, lost 30-24.
cowgirls lose !
uh oh
now my crappy phone died !
Speaking of the Cowboys (fuck the cowboys!), let’s face it. As 49ers fans there is no team — none — that we despise more than the cowboys. We beat SEA today and deserved to. Not because we’re SB bound, but because we’re better than them. But do they suck. The cowboys are not SB either, but they are better than SEA. We got bring the A game next week. Or at least B to B-.
Good showing by the D. Not to belittle it, but SEA is not exactly a bona fide NFL offense. But still — we were aggressive. Me wants more. I know their OL is suspect — but our DL did what needs to happen against a suspect OL — they brought he pain.
And just because it ALWAYS bears repeating — fuck the cowboys!
Dennis; seriously, all the stupid shit we have to read you write about Smith and you can’t even bring yourself to bet against him with a qb who is clearly better than he is? You’re either a fraud, a huge pussy or a terrible gambler. Take your pick.
My cat, Frank, escaped from my porch. This is all Rob’s fault. You’re gonna get a phone call tomorrow…and I best beat you in our fantasy league. If not, you’ll be getting two calls…
Interesting we don’t see Del around here after the Cowboys lose. Thought for sure he’d be here to man up. Cowboys stink. They always have been and always will be, overrated. The INT that Romo threw late? Just an affirmation of my previously held homo beliefs. Not that there’s anything wrong with romos.
That said, the difference between the Jets and Niners is the Jets are better on special teams and defense than the Niners. Now if Ted Ginn keeps takin’ ’em to the hizzy, all that could change. And Grump, I don’t care if Ted Ginn backtracks ten yards trying to make a play. If you turn the ball over to Alex Smith, Andy Lee will inevitably enter the game anyway, or David Akres, so what’s the diff?
But let’s say our D and special teams play well enough to beat Dallas. The difference is Mark Sanchez makes more plays than Alex Smith. In the 4th quarter, when the D has made their adjustments, Mark Sanchez can still pop one to win a game. Alex Smith can’t. Not only is Del right that Harbaugh doesn’t trust Alex Smith with the game on the line, but in this game, Ted Ginn saved Alex Smith’s bacon. Smith’s O couldn’t get anything going in the second half. The O scored three points in the second half. Can’t do that against the Cowboys. Smith apologists say it’s a team game, and they’re right. It is a team game, and Alex Smith needs to holdup his end of the game up. Passing for 124 yards isn’t getting it done. Not by a long shot. Cam Newton just threw for 400. And the qb position touches the ball the most, so it can make up for many other deficiencies. Game managers like Smith usually play for teams with great Ds, running games and special teams games…. like Dilfer and the Ravens. However, the game has evolved past that, to a point where all facets and especially the qb, must perform at a high level. The Packers are solid in every aspect. Smith must be too to compete for Super Bowls. He never will be. For the Niners to beat the Cowboys, Smith has to complete deep passes early and often. Period. No other way to beat the Cowboys. Niners / Cowboys are all on Alex Smith, unless Ginn can save Smith’s bacon again.
If Smith looks to handoff and check down, Smith sympathizers and apologists will blame it on everything in the solar system like lava rocks, meteor showers and bigfoot. But if the game plan calls for stuff underneath, it’s because Harbaugh and Roman don’t believe in Smith deep. I wouldn’t either.
Next week is big. I think the Niners can take ’em, but unfortunately I’m putting a lot of my hopes in Alex Smith throwing deep, and he’s never come through stretching the field. Ironic for a once spread offense qb. Not once in the fifteen years he’s been the Niner starter has Smith consistently completed passes deep.
“you can’t even bring yourself to bet against him”
Flav, you’re confusing the shit outta me… enough of that shit…
I have 2 questions for ya…
1. Who do you think is a better QB? A) Smith B) Romo
2. Who do you think is gonna win Sunday? A) SF B) Dallas
Don’t even bother answering the first question, because that insults my goddamn intelligence. If your answer to the second question is ‘A,’ name your price. But something tells me you’re too much of a pussy to bet on Alex Smith.
“Interesting we don’t see Del around here after the Cowboys lose”
6 mins pass before my next post, and this is the kinda treatment I get?
Harbaugh’s talk after the game belies the truth, This team needs to open things up downfield. The O was inconsistent at best, and woeful in the red zone. Harbaugh took a page form the Nolantary playbook. WIthout Ginn’s explosion, the Niners are up by 2 with 5:50 left, and the game in Smith’s hands.
At some point, Harbaugh will have to give Smith the reins to run this thing full-throttle. Blocking, running, blah blah blah, Smith needs to deliver downfield or they will get crowded at the line just like the last 3 years,
Unca: Here’s a thought. Maybe Harbaugh, Nolan and Singletary all HAD TO PLAY THIS WAY WITH ALEX SMITH. And don’t point to Norv Turner. Norv had Larry Allen and Jennings head butting and springin’ Gore for 1600 yards. Norv built off that.
Smith is a limiting factor. His game is handoffs and checkdowns, and when the D creeps up, he can’t throw over the top of them. This why we only managed three points in the second half. Like Steve Young said, Smith can’t throw receivers open downfield. Niners won’t contend against good teams when Alex Smith is “managing” the game. He needs to get better or have Ted Ginn bail his ass out of the Harbaugh dog house.
Chuck I’m looking for the WCO in terms of screens and designed roll outs. They should be staples and pretty basic stuff to implement.
Come next week, with Rob Ryan and DWare, we’d better have some short stuff to reveal to keep that pass rush at bay.
Not gonna complain, we got the Win and it’s a positive start. Need the confidence in little steps I guess.
You think I give a GODDAMN what the Cowboys do?
You people have no idea.
Seriously, I thought I was dealing some people who might level my Bullwinkle education. You people are dumber than a goddamn stump.
Seriously. You people are stoopid.
You’ve seriously had two strokes? I didn’t know that. I’ve been trying to give you a stroke for years. Now I feel guilty…….. kinda. Actually, not really. Actually, it make me happy. Actually, we’re down by two and I wanna go for three. There’s an old rule in playbook that states when kicking an extra point if the center stands up and the kicker can skip the ball off his head, through the uprights, it’s three points. Let’s go for three.
Alex looked more determined today to say the least. Made his reads, checked down, (nothing new),
and took off when he had lanes to do so.
Best play, back shoulder throw to VD.
Worst play, a tie, missing Crabtree free in the End Zone and sliding short of the sticks for a 1st down,
Question…..Did Harbaugh play it too conservative with a purpose? Was he messing with Pete or just afraid to show anyone what we’ve been working on? I have no clue why we didn’t screen with Frank and Kendell at least a little?
Either way, we got a win and didn’t completely embarrass ourselves, though we could have thrown more.
Was Vernon dinged BTW? He didn’t look particularly aggressive to me today? He’s usually chirping and bouncing up from tackles etc. Looked a little off for some reason.
Harbaugh held nothing back. This is what they’ve implemented thus far. Harbaugh doesn’t trust Alex Smith, so the Niners have to play field position, special teams football. To win with Alex Smith, all “other” facets of the team game better be excellent. Today they were. Tomorrow Ted Ginn won’t save Alex Smith’s bacon.
I will say 1 thing for Alex, he didn’t panic like he normally does. Stood in traffic and actually moved away from pressure in the pocket several times.
Wouldn’t you expect the WCO basics to include more designed roll outs?
Especially with the OL concerns? We stacked Boone and Snyder in there on several sets to boot. I’m happy with the Win, but way too conservative, unless the idea was to garner Fantasy Points for Akers.
I kid you not. I’ve had two strokes in my life. And I kid you not again. Reading your BS on this blog makes me wish for a third…
How bout dem Cowboys!
1.) Del’s right: Jim Harbaugh doesn’t trust Alex Smith
2.) Alex Smith only looks at the check down.
3.) Ted Ginn saved Alex Smith’s bacon today. 124 yards passing and 3 pts in the second half?
4.) Harbaugh is selling Alex Smith in the media. When will the madness stop?
5.) When doing a press conference Harbaugh will look you right in the eye and give you a bold faced lie the size of Shenequa’s caboose.
6.) Ted Ginn should only return. No receiving except for special, stretch the field plays.
7.) Our D is good.
8.) Let’s start Kaep next week. I’m all for pre-mature E-kaepulation. It’s good for me.
Was it me or, did someone else notice the guy in the stands, during the NFL Sunday Ticket telecast with the signed SF Helmet?
I could swear I saw Jed York’s signature on there?
Goddamn you Spit, #1 thru #7 is spot on. But #8 just ain’t gonna fly. We shoulda drafted the goddamn ginger.
Kaep sucks. You know where I’m coming from…I don’t want that POS on my team.
Give me the fucking ginger!
And, O, yes, the Cowboys are gonna kick are ass next week…
How bout dem Cowboys!
Del,
Regarding #8, what’s the difference? I agree, Dalton would have been better than Kaep, but we have Kaep. If the Niners are going to limit what Smith does, and Harbaugh is going to force Smith to be a game manager, why not ask Kaep to be a game manager? Shit, Kaep can handoff and checkdown just as good as Alex can. If a game manager is the lowest form of NFL qb, but you expect the next level which is greatness, a rookie should be able to at least manage, right? Sanchez managed the Jets his rookie year, so did Flacco. They both suck.
It’s like I was saying about Nate Davis: no pass protection, why not give Nate a shot, even if when he gets his clock cleaned they replace the ambulance with a short bus? Why not? It doesn’t matter. Last we had Troy Smith in garbage time but Nate haters were dead set against him. Please. If Alex Smith is a 2 outta 10, and the Niners aren’t going anywhere with a 2, then what difference does it make? What I saw today from Alex Smith was horrid. I can’t wait for Alex Smith to get injured again. Please. Honestly. Please.
As a former qb, Jim Harbaugh knows there will be games that the difference between a win and loss is the qb’s accuracy and plays. Harbaugh won’t tell you that, but he will by his actions of finding “other” qbs. The Niners drafted Kaep, and thought about taking a second qb late in the draft in Tolzien. Harbaugh doesn’t want a game manager who throws for 124 yards and goes 0-9 on his third down completions until late into the fourth quarter. Think Harbaugh wants a guy who can only score 3 pts after the D has made its halftime adjustments? Come on. Alex Smith is a one year deal here. Know how I know? I know because Harbaugh will have to ask Alex to do more, and Alex just played lights out as far as Alex is concerned. There ain’t more in the tank.
“Flav, you’re confusing the shit out of me”— DMD
an easier task is not to be found……
You are beating your chest about the Cowboys beating us next week like you’re some goddamn visionary or something. The Cowboys are favored to beat us, all you’re doing is taking the party line from Vegas.
And don’t confuse the bet with who’s going to win the game next week. The Cowboys will likely beat us because they are the better TEAM. A football game isn’t one or lost by one player (usually) it’s the result of a collection of plays (or not making plays) over the course of a game on O/D and ST.
I offered you a bet that would most closely rate the performance of the QB’s next week–Who will have the better qb rating, Smith or Romo? Romo is a better QB so I am basically giving you one of your wet dreams: the chance to bet on the favorite. You win, I let you talk as much shit as you want on my blog about AS for a 24 hour period (minus your dumbfuck death threat posts). I win, and you write a thorough post supporting Smith as the starting QB for the Niners this year. Jeez, for a guy who has made it his life’s work to blog negatively about a single player I would think you would jump all over that bet. In fact, NOT doing so shows me that you don’t mean half the shit you say about Alex Smith. I’m not sure what that makes you, a fraud or a hypocrite, Both?
NJ, here’s my take on Alex’s best and worst.
The pass to VD was nice, but I liked the one to Morgan better. The timing and accuracy had to be perfect, and they were – Alex lasered it right in between two defenders, no chance of either DB making a play. Thrown exactly where and when it needed to be. That was a thing of pure beauty. Alex does that more often and even Spit and Dennis could stop hating him. Well, maybe not.
Worst? The Crabtree thing was a tough play anyway. A Montana might see that developing in the end zone and get the ball in there, but most NFL QBs would not see it until too late and get sacked. I’d go with the deep route to VD where Alex got a little too much air under it and floated it past him. It’s questionable whether VD makes the catch with the safety closing – VD is simply not a warrior type, it;’s not the first time we’ve seen him alligator-arm one – but Alex did not give him the opportunity to make a play.
All in all, it was a dissatisfying game on offense – not terrible, but you knew it wasn’t up to the standards we’ll need the rest of the way. I’ll be interested to see how we scheme it next Sunday.
Grump,
Both passes to Vernon Davis and Morgan were great. I’ll call a spade a spade. Vernon Davis is a pussy. They were excellent passes, and yes, if Smith could do that all game, like a normal qb does, I’d take a big 180. Problem is, Smith can’t buy the time with his legs, and he can’t see the field. How many times have we all seen the deep receiver open while Smith checks down? Back in the day, when Norv Turner was the OC, Kevin Lynch was in the press box next door and he reported he heard Norv yelling Smith was way late on all his throws. That’s still one of Smith’s biggest problems. He can’t throw receivers open, he has no vision, he’s slow as Christmas in ball delivery and escaping the pocket, and he doesn’t have the players’ support.
But yes, if Smith fixed those things and won games when it mattered, not throwing for 124 paltry yards, going 0-9 on his first nine 3rd down attempts, or only scoring 3 pts in the second half, having Ted Ginn save his bacon with two amazing returns, then I’d support him. As it is now, I hope someone literally breaks his neck.
Problem is, guys like Patrick WIllis and Frank Gore work too hard to constantly make up for Smith’s bad play. Harbaugh knows that justice in the locker room equals motivation and good team chemistry. Alex Smith’s days are numbered in SF. But Harbaugh can treat Alex right for one year, Harbaugh’s players will know they can always trust him…. ’cause guess what? Harbaugh stuck by Alex Smith. And if you can stick with Alex Smith for a year….. you’ve got what it takes to coach in the NFL.
Grump/Spit agreed on most of your points. Alex remains an enigma, shows flashes and vanishes all in the same sentence.
One thing I’d have to add is the 1 year Contract as an opportunity to let it loose. What’s the reason for the 1 year deal? It’s an audition for the next Contract. Alex did show me some stones in the face of some early pressure. He climbed the pocket several times and took off when needed.
I’d prefer more play action and WCO screens and slants but, I’ll also assume this is part and parcel of the limited Camp work and needed time to gel with Crabtree and Braylon.
Loved the OL sets with Boone and Snyder and it does give me hope that we finally have a creative Staff to add some come color to the normally black & white film we’ve been producing for the Competition to scheme against us with.
Showing up for the Cowpatties and giving them a game is all I want to see.
A win would be sweet but, I’m not a lemming quite yet.
I’ve rarely seen dumber and more dishonest shit- the Insider is no worse. You idiots are watching the pitiful Crabtree wave his arms in the end zone- you’re not seeing that the pressure didn’t allow the throw. And that Gore dropped the fucking pass-and he clearly had roiom to to go for the EZ.
Smith put too muich air under the throw to VD-laughable. He had to drop it between defenders- which he did perfectly- it’s an INT without that “air”. VD blew that.Really, I could go on and on – you are not truthful commenters, your bias is too deeply ingrained. There is even the absurd notion that Harbaugh was insincere in praising Smith’s play. I see almost no mention here of the toughness Harbaugh admired, the kind of plays a Big Ben gets praise for. The TD at the end of the half ( where Harbaugh, presumably insincerely embraced Smith) , running for a first down, leading the blocking on a Gore run.Read noted Smith “disliker” Kawakami for a more reasonable account.
http://tinyurl.com/5udq2xv
I’m chalking this offensive blandness to a short preseason, and the uncertain blocking skills that Smith was going to face. Yeah, he had some very nice passes. The drag route to VD when Smith broke contain was much better than the usual roll right and throw OB. The throw to Morgan as well. It had to get there quick, and it did. The 3rd down pass to Edwards was nice only in the fact that it was the 4th quarter and the first (and only) 3rd down conversion of the day.
And, about the screens? They will not work against a defense that is playing it tight to the line. Which is what Seattle did. The couple misdirection runs worked nicely for the very reason that Seattle was attacking up close, and overpursuing. Still waiting for play-action on 1st down. And more passes that go for 10+ yards. It’s OK to go for 5-7 yards on 1st down, but then to run for 0 is pretty ineffective. You still end up with 3rd and 3-5 yards. Something that the Niners had infinite problems with yesterday.
They relied on the defense to slow down Seattle, and they did, for the most part. But, as we saw, with al the red zone problems, it didn’t take long for Seattle to get right back into the game. Harbaugh needs to understand that all those trips to the red zone have to result in TDs.
Smith’s record inside the 20 is actually off the charts. 30 TDs to 1 pick. They HAVE to get better, and I’m sure they will . . .
And whither the slant pass? The best way to stop an aggressive defense is to hit some slants. It seems as if the Niners cannot block down to open a throwing lane to hit slants. Either that, or Smith doesn’t hit them enough in practice. They nmay go for 6-12 yards, but as John Taylor showed, they can go for big gains as well.
“Either that, or Smith doesn’t hit them enough in practice. ” See, typical. There is nothing to support that conjecture.
Harbaugh game planned for this specific team, not for the fucking season, children. If anything threw a wrench in the plan, it was the running game and the flagrantly blown coverage on the Baldwin TD.
Do NOT underestimate the win- it was huge, regardless of the opponent, and even bigger because it was Carroll’s Seahawks. You can bet your sorry, hypocritical ass that Harbaugh was ecstatic with Smiith.
There ill be plenty of time to criticize Smith, some of it even justified perhaps, Sunday wasn’t one of them. He gets a solid, tough, WINNING “B”.
Instead of this becoming an Alex Smith fest regarding what Smith can and can’t do (124 passing yards, 0-9 on 3rd down, 3 pts scored in the second half says it all), Why don’t we focus on some other things.
First off, if you’re going to hit Ted Ginn with a pay cut, why not hit Crabtree with a pay cut as well? I mean, based on Crabtree’s play over the last three years, we just a lot more production out of Ginn then we ever have out of Crabtree. I don’t have any problem with Crabtree’s attitude, missing preseason and stuff, because York sucks. But now, with Harbaugh, production talks. Right now, I think Kyle Williams is better than Micheal Crabtree. Health – advantage Williams, hands advantage Crabtree, athleticism push, work ethic advantage Williams. For my money, Williams is better, and Crabtree’s contract is grossly unfair to a guy like Ginn who you just asked to take a pay cut. Harbaugh is in danger of losing his offensive credibility if he continues to start Crabtree over WIlliams. Harbaugh said, “We’ll start ’em regardless of pay, draft position or politics.” Right now, that’s certainly not the case with Williams and Crabtree. If Harbaugh’s working to get his offensive house in order, he walks a fine line between being patient with Crabtree and coming down hard on Crabtree.
Crabtree is starting to do interviews, trying to act like a normal wide receiver. I’ll tell you what Crabtree is ….. he’s a sensitive man. What Harbaugh needs to do is continue to be patient with Crabtree, then he needs to come down on Crabtree hard and push him with the kind of reckless abondon that says, “Son, you are overpaid and we don’t need you.” You can’t ask Ginn to take a pay reduction, then continue to baby Crabtree. That breeds a cancer-like resentment throughout the locker. Patience is needed with the kid right now, but in a month, If I was Harbaugh, things would come to a head with Crabtree. Cut, pay reduction or buy in. It’s one of the three, but it can’t be the way it is right now.
Braylon Edwards, 3.5 million per year.
Ted Ginn, 1 million per year
Crabtree, 5.3 million per year
Kyle Williams, 470,000 per year
Josh Morganua, 555,000 per year
Everyone now, “One of these kids is doin’ his own thing, one of these kids just isn’t the same.”
Crabtree has never justified his contract. You can’t be afraid to cut him. Crabtree should be making less than Braylon Edwards, and more than Ginn.
If the Niners don’t fix this inequality, it will erode team chemistry and sincere effort. In addition, it will erode Harbaugh’s credibility with his players.
You don’t cut him Spit, he’s a 1st Rd pick who apparently had suitors (NYJ?) which led to the infamous Contract Holdout.
I’ve said basically the same thing, find someone willing to pony up a high pick and deal him.
I personally feel that he doesn’t want to be here. Alex notwhithstanding, the Offense until Harbaugh arrived certainly wasn’t something he likely wanted to have any association with.
I’d measure his heart over the next several games and plan accordingly.
Perhaps Dallas would offer a 1 to get him in the mix with Austin and Dez?
It’s Harbaugh’s FIRST game in the regular season, so I’ll save criticism for when he actually deserves it. I don’t know what he’s thinking, anymore than Twinfan does. It is my OPINION, that if Smith, and the 49ers, are ever to sniff at a chance to go to the SB without having to buy a ticket, then they will have to take the training wheels off and pass the GD ball. If this is truly Smith’s last year — then let it freaking fly, at some point.
But again — it is only one game. I have criticized coaches in the past for not going for the jugular. I’ll do it again in the future if need be only because in my OPINION, not doing so eventually comes back to bite you in the ass. JH is a rookie coach, and the dude seems far more capable of amping it up. That he didn’t against Seattle in game ONE is nothing to get freaked out over. But in my OPINION, that shit won’t work against Dallas, or more than half the teams we’ll see this year.
Harbaugh can’t ask guys like Patrick Willis, Ted Ginn, Ray McDonald, Whitner and Frank Gore to fuckin’ lay it on the line each game like men and then have Alex Smith piss it all away with terrible play each week. Harbaugh is going to keep the training wheels on Smith and let the other guys win the game. Harbaugh clearly doesn’t want to do it this way, but what other choice does he have? This year, Harbaugh will prove he can do it with a game manager, and all head coaches should have a little of that in them. But Harbaugh wants to get naked, light the house on fire and have sex with the neighbor’s cat. Harbaugh’s offense wants to party. And Alex Smith is one major buzz kill, even if he severely increases statewide liquor sales.
Problem is, Colin Kaepernick might not be the heir to the thrown. So that further slows the qb transition to someone else. Thing is, though, at least Kaep and Tolzien have clipboards and are studying film and our playbook. At least we don’t have guys like McCown and Culpepper on the bench wasting everyone’s time. Then it would be doubly frustrating.