West Coast Killers indeed. Tampa Bay learned the hard way that this isn’t last year’s 49ers, last year’s coaching staff, or last year’s Alex Smith. The 49ers put a beat-down on the slow-starting (and slow finishing) Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the tune of 48-3. The largest margin of victory since the heady days of Bill Walsh (and Super Bowl XXIX). The 49ers, if they beat Deetroit next week, would BECOME the West Coast Killers. A suddenly a very legit powerhouse in the NFC. Hard to believe the speed at which they have assimilated the new offense of Harbaugh/Roman, and Vic Fangio’s newly aggressive defense. I guess Joe Staley was right when he said the O line doesn’t suck. The line pitched a shutout in protecting Alex, and opened up the tough TB D line for 211 (125 for Gore, and Hunter had some nice runs and 65 yards of his own late) yards rushing, and 205 passing.
The game yesterday was a thorough and complete beat-down of a tough NFC South team in the Bucs. One thing I like is the team has never taken the opening kickoff. They either defer, or the other team wins the toss. It seems to set the tone when they stop the opening drive. Especially when they can back it up with a TD. The Niners forced a 3-and-out, and scored in 4 plays to set the tone. The 2nd drive was stalled by the Gore fumble, but instantly erased by the Rogers pick 6. And the rout was on. Alex Smith now has the 3rd best QBR in the league at 104.1. His numbers weren’t huge, but they certainly didn’t need to be as the Niners threw for 205 and ran for 211. That’s balance. The big numbers in this game? 127.2 rating, 3 TDs, 0 picks. More importantly, he led the team on successful drive after successful drive.
The defense has suddenly become a ball-hawking (Nate who?) secondary that has 8 picks in 5 games. The D line has 12 sacks (including 2 by Aldon Smith yesterday) without blitzing very much. They confused and baffled Josh Freeman all day, and stuffed LeGarrette Blount to the tune of 38 yards. This was a statement game that I was fairly sure the Niners would come out aggressive, and not buy in to the grind-it-out style that everyone seemed to think it was going to be. These guys came out throwing (mainly in 2 WR/2TE sets), so there was little of the spread formations that were used the last couple weeks. Althogh Walker did line up in the slot for some big plays, includiong the opening drive TD that Smith put in there perfectly. They even used a bunch of 3 TE sets that resulted in some decent runs, and they threw once out of that formation for a 12 yard gain.
The great thing to see is that, with all the different formations and sets the Niners are running, there is a ton of shit for other teams to try and figure out. Passing out of 3 TE formations, running out of the spread, and being aggressive with the offense has been the biggest sea-change for this team. Harbaugh has fully sold this team on his strategies, and philosophy. I really didn’t think it would happen this fast.
Forty Niners Forever 
The NY Football Giants did us no favors in knocking out Tavaris Jackson. They may actually become relevant now.
Whitehurst looks like the better guy in there in Seattle.
If it turns out that they couldn’t figure out whitey was better than Jackson, who everyone knew was horrendous, then that coaching staff is incompetent
Lots of people saw that this preseason. Not sure why Carroll didn’t. Or why Chilly Childress stuck with him through his time in Minnesota.
just caught the replay on NLF.com of the post game news conference. Smith said: “These coaches spend a lot of time teaching us, that’s just what they do.”
Again, I’m not sure if this is more of a highlight of Sing and Nolan’s incompetence or the brilliance of the staff that’s been assembled by Harbaugh. It was obvious that the Niners were more prepared for this game. Rogers was jumping routes without a care in the world, he knew what was coming.
It’s great to see a pro team respond to a college coach for once. Well, JH has the cred because he played in the NFL, but think about how many college coaches came up and stunk up the joint. JH has them listening to his teachings. Very cool….
And Chuck, you threw out that “2nd best/3rd best” stat up above. How about the running game? 215 yards (or whatever it was)? That’s an identity baby, and it’s only gonna get better with the OL finally figuring out how to work together and Gore sharing some of the load with Hunter so he’s super fresh in the 2nd half…..
Deetroit? They look like Tampa Bay so far.
Weeeeell, maybe not.
Academy Award for Hue Jackson? My God, man, Al wasn’t all that wunnerful…I know it’s tough to say “we’re finally rid of the bastard”, but enough is enough…
this post is an utter crock of bullshit. You obviously know nothing about how his players feel about him. He NEVER forgot them. He lent them money when they were in trouble. He paid for fucking EVERYTHING when they went out. To write what you wrote here, I’m sorry, it makes you look like an ignorant dumb ass….
How many head coaches did Al have? Everyone of them is saying of Hue: “that lucky fucker”…
I figured Gruden would say something. Like “bury his ass already.”
Did I miss something?
No, they’ve just shown Hue’s Gipper speech about 50 times today..
Chicago is wearing down.
Without Forte, they are bereft.
Don;t want to say anything, but Cutler is playing a hell of a game.
All I saw was Jackson fall to his knees after the win, crying his eyes out, and you could see he was trying to force the tears away so he could get back up and look like a head coach again. Go watch it. Certainly nothing to mock, that just makes you look like a dick, Twin….
go take a look at this video around the 1:06 mark till the end. Yeah, great fucking *actor*. Your 7:21pm post is a crock full of bullshit. Academy award? Watch this video and say that again….
here’s more fucking *acting* from Jackson.
http://tinyurl.com/3zzv5wc
Stop trying to play the fucking opposite of everything all the time. Admire the man for showing some raw emotion and keep your own issues of being the guy who is the single voice of dissent on every fucking topic…..
sorry, this is the one to look at at around 1:06
http://www.nfl.com/videos/oakland-raiders/09000d5d822f7cdd/Wk-5-Can-t-Miss-Play-Emotional-finish
Huey’s crying jag has been shown about 100 times today, I don’t need to see more.
fucking hell of an actor, man.
Whatever, everyone knows Davis was despised.. You know it too, your’re just in one of your snits. Eat it.
Uncle Cuddles was one of the the most hated men in football.That is not a voice of dissent. But what the hell, maybe Hue loved the man for giving him the job.Better guess, he knew Al couldn’t fire him…
No dumbfuck. Have you ever listened to his players speak about him? He has given 9 (NINE) HOF inductions. That’s the record by many. To say he’s despised is a joke. He’s despised by everyone who isn’t a Raider player, former player, family member or Raider fan.
There’s still a lot of fucking people that would be willing to go to bat for the guy.
Just admit it. That was a dumb fuck post. You make them often (like when you called me out for how many games were left “I’m never wrong!” only to find out that you were again, wrong).
Calling out dead men is a joke. I would think, you would know this more than most. Al Davis had passed his prime by decades in the league but he was honored by many until his death. We should all be so honorable in how we treat the people in our own lives the way Al treated his players and their families…..
Oh, I corrected the games left right away and apologized. Get off it.
STFU, he’s hated by the many he’s fucked,. pal. And it’s a long list. Fuck off.