Well, here we sit, atop the NFC West, tied with AZ. A team that has given up 932 yards in 2 games. It makes the Niners 691 given up look paltry by comparison. The Rams are being crushed by a tough early schedule, and they could very well be 1-7 at the mid-point of the season. Seattle is in full rebuild mode, and isn’t going to win many games this year. Which I think is why Jim Harbaugh is taking the slow and steady approach to build this team. As we all apparently realize, he isn’t going to change shit up much from what we have seen in recent memory. He wants to establish the run in order to, well, I don’t know, throw dump-off passes? Seriously, though, I’m of a mind that he’s going to slowly move the offense into something a little more passer-friendly as the season marches on. This year will end up a lot like last year. No one is going to run away with the division. It is really possible that the Niners, the Rams, or the Cards win it. It will come down to the division games. Get the best division record, and any tiebrerakers go to you.
Is this the prudent approach? The feeling here is, long-term this is the right way to do it. Try to run the offense you want to develop, and see who is worthy of it. The problem is, you will have growing pains, and guys like VD, who may very well be relegated to blocking duties again, will get pissed off at the direction of the team. Still and all, they CAN win the division this year. So, that has to be in the back of Harbaugh’s mind. Although, I’d think they have to change their offensive philosophy (short-term) to do it. As we saw in the 2nd half, the offense went into a stupor. Dallas didn’t seem to be doing anything differently, but the O line was getting progressively worse as the day wore on. Everyone seems to be clamoring for smaller WCO-type linemen, but it sure looked like the line was overpowered by a big dominating Dallas D line.
Alex Smith was 4-8, 48 yards in the 2nd half, with the pick, but he went back to pass 12 times. 3 sacks, and 3 scrambles. The 1st half netted 3 sacks for Dallas, but Smith went back to pass 19 times, and was 12-16, 131 yards, and 2 TDs in the 1st half.
Why the switch in philosophy? Was Harbaugh trying to protect Smith from getting hit? Was he protecting his linemen? Was he trying to slow the game down? Was he trying to show his ground-pound approach? I didn’t understand what he was trying to accomplish, but it pretty much gave the game to Dallas. The Niners had a huge TOP edge in the 1st half, even after Dallas’ 7:30 1st quarter drive that netted them nothing on the missed FG. The Niners gave it back, and more, in the 2nd half.
Regardless of the defensive shift (no more blitzing in the 4th quarter even though Romo was in the ‘gun all the time), I didn’t like how the 2nd half killed any progress that the team had made offensively in the 1st half. Growing pains? Conservative play-it-safe approach with the lead? Say it ain’t so. The last 2 coaches were scared shitless of getting a lead. They only opened up the offense when they were down by 3 scores. I don;t think Harbaugh will follow this path, but the result looked all too familiar.
On a different note, has anyone out there been to a game this year? After the raider debacle? I want to know if the tailgating situation has changed at all. I went to a game last year, and it was hunky-dory out there. Grilled some burgers with my son, threw the ball around, and had a couple beers. Has the situation changed with the new rules in place?
Don’t know how the new tailgating rules have affected the parking lot before the game. Don’t care. I ain’t goin’ to a game until the 49ers prove to me they can draft and develop talent. I’m encouraged by Miller, Culliver, Hunter and Aldon – and love that some undrafteds made the team this year. I also like last year’s draft of Bowman, Dixon, Bynam and Kyle Williams. I loved Phillip Adams, and it’s too bad he got hurt. I think right now, even with the injury, Adams is better than Spencer. It’s always been and always will be my contention that Singletary took over the first two rounds of last year’s draft – drafting Iupati, Davis and Mays. Funny thing is, I betcha Taylor Mays would have played better these last two weeks than Reggie Smith and Media Williams. Pee, whew… those two stinkers must go.
In short, I’m close to lifting my ban on Candlestick because the Niners look to be able to draft. “Nationwide search-gate,” could be irrelevant if Baalke continues to draft. It still speaks to what a complete fucking asshole douche bag Jed York is, but I’m not lettin’ that fucker ruin my fun. I can still make T shirts that say, “Jed York eats cock,” and sell ’em at the Stick.
New Englansd just signed Phillip Adams. Shit. I like him too.
Yeah, it’s a shame we couldn’t hang onto Adams. If he can get all the way back from the injury he could end up being a starter in a few years.
The future at CB is Culliver, and whoever we draft at CB next spring. Also at Free Safety. None of the current crowd is more than mediocre. We have about four guys who would make very good nickel or dime package CBs – the kind of guys you want as your 3rd or 4th guy. Quantity, but not much quality.
Braylon Edwards had surgery on his rt. knee and will “be out for a little bit,” according to Jimbo. Whatever the fuck “a little bit” may be. Harbaugh’s clandestine and surreptitious relationship with the media is wearing thin with me. Who do the fuck does he think he is? Our previous regimes, even going back to Walsh were never this secretive. His anal retentive ass needs to lighten up.
I’m not as harsh as you on JH, or perhaps anyone for that matter, but I agree that his attitude is kind of lame. I mean — I get it — he’s a HC. He’s responsible to the owners and winning. But it’s a business, and a little PR is probably going to help him in the end.
I honestly don’t see how hard it can be to just answer some freaking questions. The media is going to pry, prod, push, and in all ways annoy anyone they ask questions of. The more you deflect, the more annoying they’ll become. And since they are ultimately feeding all this news of MAJOR WORLDWIDE IMPORTANCE to us, the fans (the ones who pay the advertisers who pay for the whole dealio), it just comes off as unnecessarily pissy.
Save your tude for the opposing teams/coaches, Jimbo.
Phillip Adams is a perfect example of what I’ve been preaching about. A strong GM makes the head coach invest in players for the long run, doing without older players. In this instance, Phillip Adams should be on the roster and shelved, with the Niners cutting Spencer. But Harbaugh decided it was better for the team in the short run to go with Spencer. Total mistake. Spencer can’t even unseat Brock and Spencer has only played special teams. Phillip Adams could have done that. Baalke looks like he can draft, but he also needs control of the 53 man roster so he can force Jim to do more with less in the short run so in the long run the roster is better.
A good relationship between GM and HC isn’t the HC calling all the shots. A good relationship is the HC respecting the GM’s decisions and accepting them.
“Baalke looks like he can draft”
Tell me another funny joke. He’s as much the problem as is uncle Jed.
Let’s no be too biased.
If you go with my thinking…. Anthony Davis, Iupati and Taylor Mays were Singletary picks – and there is evidence to support this idea.
Then it’s …..
Bowman, who can definitely play.
Dixon, who can play.
Bynam, can’t control injuries.
Kyle Williams, who reminds me of a young Steve Smith with the Panthers.
Phillip Adams, who can play despite injuries and Bill Belichick seems to think so – (let’s not forget he’s a 7th round pick).
2011
Aldon Smith will be a beast.
Kaep – suspect.
Culliver – looks to be a stud
Hunter – who is a stud
Kilgore – who can play
Johnson and Jones – 6th round stinkers, but hey, 6th round….
Bruce Miller and Mike Person – both 7th round picks who made the team.
And what about Tolzien, Williams and Dobbs? Baalke should get some credit for those dudes, too.
So far, Baalke is doing a good job. Looks like that nation-wide search might have found something.
You were much more interesting and entertaining when you spewed Niner hate. Now? You’re as boring and unimaginative as our offense.
Baalke was in charge of that draft. If he allowed Singletary to usurp his powers and make those picks…well, that makes him a mook AND a pussy.
It’s early yet, and yeah, last year’s draft has the taint of Singletary on it, but even barring a whiff on Cappy, Smith, Hunter, and Kilgore look to be starters for a good long while. Culliver is a buit of a mystery, but we’ll see on that one. Tolzein could be the steal of the group.
A whiff on Cappy. The rest are solid.
baalke is doing pretty good imo
Agree Rob.
Better than your fantasy team right? Can’t wait for the clash of the Rhinos and Crocs!
By my estimation the Niners are starting to bring in talent. Even though it’s early, there’s evidence to support that Baalke is doing his job.
It’s never too early for the following….
Next year’s draft looks like there are late first round CBs available, but not many safeties – yet.
Here are some Scouts Inc potential first round cornerbacks to maybe watch this college football season.
Janoris Jenkins – North Alabama
Moris Claiborne – LSU
Cliff Harris – Oregon
Alfonzo Dennard – Nebraska
Dre Kirkpatrick – Alabama
Out of all these guys, Dre Kirkpatrick from Alabama is the tallest at 6’2″. All the other guys, ranked higher, are under 6 foot. And Dre Kirkpatrick has the first name of another certain first ballot cornerback Hall of Famer who I simply think the world of – Dre Bly. Bly should automatically be enshrined for intercepting a ball at Candlestick deep in our end of the field then preceding to high-step with Singletary on the sidelines to not even make the 50 yard line. The man should be in Canton, and I’m following Dre Kirkpatrick this season just for that reason. Haven’t seen him play a lick, but he’s my boy …. so far.
imho adams was ok. but no great loss !
iupati was my guy .. and of course was right once again !
imo tarrell brown might beat out both spencer and gulliver ! we’ll see tho , as all three are pretty much equal right now ! one of them might just step up and blossom into a good long term answer as our #2 corner !
i also like copernicus !
!
!!!
i hear this is going to be a good year for CB’s !
did clements sign anywhere ? imo he might have been the best FS we had !
Rob –
Iupati was your guy? Of course you wanted a guard in the first round who can’t play tackle. Of course.
It’s way, WAY, WAY too early for everyone to make judgements on Kaep. I was hoping he’d start this year because regardless if he’s ready, I didn’t think Alex Smith could ever do what he did last Sunday against anyone – (I’m still walking around talking to myself after that one). Kaep didn’t look good in the preseason, but that doesn’t mean he’s not worth a second round pick. He’s tall and he has a good arm. The rest is up to Harbaugh, and that’ll take time.
SPIT
i kind of thought gabbert would be the safest bet in this yrs. QB class ! i think you liked locker . oh well if we really knew our stuff maybe we should have been hot for cam newton ! that being said , i liked ponder and copernicus as QB’s we might have a shot at drafting . ponder went way early so my hope now is with colin k. !
alex imo is ok until we find our long term answer at QB !
I like Kaep too and if we didn’t grab him then he would’ve been a Raider. I think the kid has a definite future with the Niners and love the mobility and arm strength he has.
You guys are forgetting that the GM doesn’t just draft players, he signs them as well. Who did Baalke sign this year?
Alex
A secondary even shittier than last years
An injured Braylon Edwards
A former Pro Bowl C from NO who plays as shitty as the other four.
He ass needs to be fired post-haste.
Del,
You’re blinded by hate. Edwards was fine up until Sunday. Our secondary has improved, but it still sucks. Roger is better than Clements by leaps and bounds. Our center is better than Baas, ask Eli. Whitner is playing without Goldson. Gore was an okay extension. Gore didn’t break the bank, and if a year and a half of that money is guaranteed, it makes it easier for the Niners to cut him or rework his contract next year or the year after. They got Goldson at a bargain basement deal, and Edwards for 3.5 a year. They dropped Ginn’s number and signed Alex to a one year deal. The Ray McDonald extension looks to be a smart move.
Baalke is doing just fine, and he’s cleaning house pretty quick.
I’m certainly not giving up on Kap, any more than I’m now on the “Finally Smith Has Arrived” bandwagon. But I am on the “With Edwards Out We Need To See What Williams Can Do” bandwagon. We’ve been pining for some passing, and just lost maybe our best WR in what I still think is a thin gruel group of WRs. Maybe Williams can be a DeSean type. I’m all for finding out.
I’m definitely not on the “Alex has arrived bandwagon.” I gave my seat on that wagon to the blind kid in “Dumb and Dumber” who bought Lloyd’s parakeet – “Pretty Bird.” Same kid right now is holding that parakeet and my seat on the “Alex Smith has arrived bandwagon.” Poor fucker. However, I can recognize when Alex holds his end of the deal up, and he did, finally, against Dallas. Even though he claimed to do it against Seattle, Smith didn’t.
And Barley, don’t go tryin’ to change Kyle Williams into DeSean Jackson. He’s Steve Smith. Kyle WIlliams is a poor man’s Steve Smith.
I can see that Alex Smith bandwagon loaded with fans who don’t know football and the kid with the dead parakeet from Dumb and Dumber in the front seat, riding shotgun, petting the bird saying, “Pretty Bird,” as the whole fucker goes over the cliff and crashes into a firey inferno below. You wonder how a wooden wagon can explode? Easy. I loaded the fucker with coal oil, dynamite, C4 gas and fertilizer just last night. ‘Cause let’s face it, up ’til last Sunday the only Alex Smith wagon around was being driven by Yul Brynner and Steve McQueen – headed for Boot Hill. Problem is, they only packed enough shells and cigars for one day. They didn’t know they’d be gone seven years.
“Pretty bird.”
Rob ! Nate the Late ! went to Cincy with a lot of other ex-niners.
It’ll be like playing themselves. So, we’ll end up in a tie . . .
can both teams lose ?
http://blog.sfgate.com/49ers/2011/09/21/how-can-the-offense-improve-harbaugh-hears-from-vernon/
A fly on the wall was wearing a wire and sent me this transcript to the recent Vernon Davis / Jim Harbaugh closed door meeting.
Vernon: Uh, coach. I have some ideas about the offense.
Jim Harbaugh: Yeah, I got some fuckin’ ideas for you, too, Vernon. When I send your ass out in a pattern and our qb who is monumentally struggling put the ball on the money but you get alligator arms and can’t even turn you head for the football, that means the next week you’re relegated to blocking duties only. I mean, we know you can block. And look at your body you little fuckin’ pussy. You’re built like a brick shit house but you’re afraid to go over the middle? What good are you? You can’t fight for the ball in the air you little pussy. Get the fuck out of my office.
Vernon: Coach, that was just one play.
Jim Harbaugh: Vernon, go fuck yourself. I’m going to try to trade your little bitch ass next off season in favor of a TE who can actually move the sticks. Fuck you. Get the fuck out of my office, and take your bitch ass colleague, Delanie Walker, with you.