What started out looking like a beat-down of a demoralized Cowboys team, and Tony Romo in particluar, turned out instead to be a gutty victory by Romo and the dreaded Cowboys. the game hinged on a couple plays. As the 1ast half was winding down, Dallas faced a 3rd and 9. romo missed on a deep ball, and apparently forced a punt. However, Brooks was lined up in the neutral zone for a penalty. On the subsequent 3rd and 4, Romo hit Austin on a short slant that Whitner just flat missed. So, after outplaying Dallas through the first 28:10 of the 1st half, the Niners caved in at the wrong time, and gave Dallas 7 to close the half. To make matters worse, the Niners got the ball with 1:48, but had no timeouts. Thus, the clock ran out on them.
The 2nd half seemed to devolve into a field possession battle for Harbaugh. After Kitna killed a Dallas drive by throwing a pick into the end zone, Smith returned the favor, and Kitna then drove Dallas downfield for the tying TD. The niners inexplicably then left DeMarcus Ware unblocked for a 7 yard sack on the ensuing possession. Punt. Kitna was again picked off on a tipped pass that Brock caught. Smith made a great read on singl;e coverage on Walker split out to the right, and hit him for a 30 yard score. The Niner D stiffened , and forced another Dallas punt on Romo’s return. After the punt and the penalty, the Niners had excellent field position. So, naturally, the Niners run up the middle a couple times, and Smith scrambled for 12. On the enuing 55 yard FG, Dallas was assessed a 15 yard penalty for leverage. Harbaugh said he trusted his defense with a 2 score lead at that point. Unfortunately, there were 11 mintues left . . .
The aggravating thing is, with the game in hand, the defense gave up a ton of short passes to Austin and Witten. The TD to Austin was a very good play, but the whole drive was pitch and catch. The pressure that was there all day evaporated. At that point, the D should have been fairly fresh, but after the subsequent 4 and out (they threw a slant!), the D was gassed. At least they kept Dallas out of the end zone.
The OT was more of the same. 7 yard run. 8 yard sack. 10 yard pass on 3rd and 11. It got overturned anyway after Harbaugh called a timeout, thus allowing the replay to happen in the 1st place. They should have just went ahead and gone for it. Dallas wasn’t going to challenge. Chalk that up to inexperience. These guys have to plan for contingencies like 4th and short, and how to get a play off quick. Same thing with the illegal formation call. Harbaugh chewed the ref’s ear off while the play clock ran down and forced a time out.
Way too much Gore. Way too much Ginn. At some point soon, Harbaugh has to trust Smith and the O line with a game that is more committed to passing. After everyone screamed for more passing than the Seattle game, the Niners threw the ball 4 more times. Not exactly the offensive juggernaut most envisioned. Yes, it’s early. Yes, they are learning on the fly. Yes, this is the safe approach. The problem with playing it safe in the NFL is that usually bites you in the ass. Just ask Miami’s defensive coordinator, or Minnesota’s linebacker coach . . .
Forty Niners Forever 
http://blog.sfgate.com/49ers/2011/09/20/where-have-all-the-faithful-gone/
This is a good article by Scott Skinner? Skinner? He almost nailed it, too. Niner fans have been too good to Jed York, and for the first time in a long time I’m actually happy with the direction this team is headed. But what Skinner missed is that Jed York deserves to see all Cowboy fans at the Stick. You don’t lie to your fan base talking about “Nation wide search,” then hire within only to draft Colin Kaepernick with Jake Locker and Andy Dalton available. You don’t draft Crabtree with Oher available. You don’t let your dim-witted head coach with rocks in his brain fire the GM a week before the draft, then usurp Baalke on draft day and allow Singletary to pass up Earl Thomas in favor of Anthony Davis. You do enough of this bullshit and the fans will leave you in the dust. What Skinner missed is that Jed York deserves to see Candlestick a ghost town. Why? ‘Cause you can’t spin silence.
“Only one way to find out.”
I say go in, and out, swinging. Not sure, considering nobody in their right mind thinks we’re going to see a SB anytime soon, what we have to lose. At the very least, running out of a run formation into an 8-9 man box on first down is ten different kinds of fail. I don’t get the “confidence building” mantra. I don’t think this “confidence” gained is ultimately worth a damn. What exactly, is there to lose THIS season? Play the young guys, take some chances, let them build some confidence taking some chances. I have no idea what the players think, but I seriously doubt they want their “confidence” built up. They want to take a swing, I’ll wager. Let em.
I completely agree, but the more heat Harbaugh takes, whether it’s right or wrong, the end result will be Harbaugh playing like his team is in contention for Super Bowls. The media just sucks, all there is to it. They need to relax (won’t happen) and stop caring about wins this year. This year is for evaluating and teaching players how to preform. Kyle Williams should be starting, Hunter and Dixon should get expanded roles, the O line should be shuffled to insure fresh legs in the 4th, and the D should blitz early and often. What difference does it make? Play “balls to the wall” football with no regard for wins and losses. Do that and you’ll shape the team for tomorrow in an aggressive manner. Don’t do that and it’s because the media has effected the lens which Harbaugh views this season. Harbaugh’s been strong enough to stand up against the media, and I’m sure he’s justified his actions because the team is getting better. But Harbaugh needs that little voice inside his head that says, “Fuck it – we aren’t competing this year.”
It’s that other evil little voice in his head, the one that sounds like Tattoo, saying, “Jeem… Jeem… our deeveesion sucks goreela balls… even our sheety teem can ween it…”
I hate that little fucker, myself.
Seriously. We need to figure out what the hell kind of team we are this year. We are AT LEAST a year (i.e., draft) and probably two from competing legitimately with anyone outside our utter crap division.
Regardless of what you think of Phil Simms, this quote is relevant.
“What we’ve got right now is flag football, baby…The coaches, you’ve got to give them credit. I give them credit. They’re spreading the field, and they’re taking advantage of the rules and what’s going on, and it’s truly making defenses useless. If you’re not an offense that’s going out there and just trying to go for it every single series, you’re a team that really probably has no chance of winning the Super Bowl.”
A bit overstated (EVERY single series?), but trying to slow things down when passes (and TD’s) are flying past you ain’t gonna cut it.
Jed has Harbaugh for 5 years Spit, he needs his Stadium right now. The article about the Cowpattie Fans in attendance is pretty poignant but, Jed still got people in the seats.
For a long distance fan like myself, I would like to tailgate at the Stick at least once, but by all accounts, it seems that experience is drying up anyway.
The NFL is going Corporate.
No more everyday Joes soon. We’re too poor and, too rowdy.
They want to sell you the beer and food inside, it’s about the profit margins and brand recognition. Hate Jerry J.O. all you want but, he’s selling merchandise.
Jed seems to be hell bent on turning Santa Clara into 49er Fun Land. It’s a new time in the NFL.
Loyal as I am, it’s almost laughable at times to see how Sports is Marketed and spun.
Yeah, Jed got Cowboy butts in the seats because they drive him nuts and there are a lot Cowboy fans nationwide. But what happens with the Browns come to Candlestick? I foresee Jed buying a lot of tickets.
NJ, as of last year, it was pretty much same-as-it-ever-was. It was the Seattle game, and while the playoffs were still relatively in reach, it was nothing like the Dallas game with thouesands of their fans here. The stadium was about 3/4 full. Then again it was the Seahawks. I took my 13 year old son, and we cooked up some burgers, and threw the ball around, and dad had a couple coldies. I don’t think they are going to change things that much regarding the tailgating thing. At least at the current site.
Plus,. I think you have time to get out here. Whatever happens won’t happen til 2016 . . .
NEW POST
NEW POST
NEW POST