Problem is, these guys have started leaking oil, blowing smoke, and are staggering to the finish line. In the grad scheme of things, most figured this race to be a close one. One that was going to come down to the finish line with the division winner at something like 9-7. Well, the Niners got their 9th win in week 11. Those were the heady days of this team being on fire and hard to stop. Since then, the Niner have gone 1-2, and have the (semi) daunting task of facing Pittsburgh. Yes, it’s at home. Yes, James Harrison will miss the game due to his hit on Colt McCoy. Still and all, big bad defenses like Pittsburgh’s give this Niner team fits, as their blocking has been atrocious lately. They’ve given up 18 sacks in the last 3 games, while only getting 6 of their own. The run game has been erratic lately. Mainly due to once again teams are packing the line and daring us to beat them by passing downfield. Smith is to be commended for absorbing a ton of punishment, but he cannot comninue to function in this way if the pass pro doesn’t get better in a hurry.
The scary thing is, these problems were very reminiscent of the problems that the previous regimes had. Even weirder is the Jimmy-Hat red zone offense was very successful when they got close. His problem was not getting close more often. The biggest problem I see is the is the WR corps. Or is that corpse? Ginn, Edwards, VD, and Walker have all dropped too many passes. Crabs has his share, but he’s been the most consistent. Williams has a couple, but he rarely gets balls his way. The defense has been playing well, but succumbed to 3 big pass plays. 2 of them to Fitzgerald on balls that Goldson could have prevented. The other one was to Doucet after the fake FG-TD-red-flag debacle. A BIG monemtum shift right there. What would have been a 13-0 lead instantly became a 1 point deficit.
So, looking at the schedule, 1-2 is very likely. If so, then it means that the team, after going 9-1 thru week 11, closes the season going 2-4 down the stretch. Not a good way to get playoff ready. This would give them (most likely) a WC game at home. The good news about that? They’d stand a much better chance of winning a playoff game if they have to go play right away. The bad news? The next game is a roadie most likely vs New Orleans. NOT a chance there to win. Even if they somehow keep the 1st round bye, they’ll have a tough opponent at home.
By the time the Monday night game rolls around, Pittsburgh will know if Balt has beaten SD on the road. If Balt wins, then Pittsburgh will likely rest Worthlessberger, as Balt would have to lose out for Pittsburgh to win the division. Not likely with each team having a game vs Cleveland. If Balt loses, then Meat-head would probably start to try and get a one-game lead on Balt. Much like the Niners situation, Pittsburgh depending on other teams to falter isn’t likely to happen. So, this game is BIG for both teams if Balt loses to SD. If Balt wins, then the game doesn’t mean as much for Pittsburgh, and hopefully we can then cruise to victory.
San Francisco 49ers Forever 
Too funny. WordPress put these random sayings on their dashboard page, and I ran into this one this morning:
I am a drinker with writing problems.
— Brendan Behan
Truer wiords were never spoken. And there’s a bar in Burlingame that bears his name. Great Irish pub . . .
Query: what would bring you more joy and satisfaction? Winning the #2 seed and bye but most assuredly losing to the Saints at home? OR Losing out on the bye and hosting either the Lions/Cowboys, possibly beating them, THEN losing at New Orleans.
I think the #3 seed gives us a chance at a playoff win and quite possibly a chance to avenge our OT loss to Romo and Co. Now wouldn’t that be fun?
In terms of growth for the team, what matters more? Winning a WC round playoff game, or getting the bye? For me, I’d go with winning a WC playoff game. Mainly for the experience of BEING in a playoff game. Something most of these guys haven’t experienced yet. The problem there is they’d be on the road the rest of the way, unless NO somehow loses to Atl. Or however this shakes out.
That being said, playing the Saints here would be winnable. It’s a hard deal to figure out. Getting the bye would be great to get guys rested up, and to (hopefully) get more in synch in the passing game.
You gotta get the bye, even though a WC game in round 1 would be in SF. I’ll take having to win 2 to get to the SB vs. having to win 3. Unlikely they get there either way, but still, 2 is better. And the extra week helps heal up Gore and others. I don’t think any more practice time on the passing game will make any difference, maybe a coupla trick plays. If they can’t get the ball to the wideouts consistently against a good team by this point in the season, another coupla weeks of practice won’t make much difference…
Nailed it snarkk, agree
Barrows provided this chart for targets/catches for this yr:
Joshua Morgan: 18-15, 83 percent.
Vernon Davis: 68-49, 72 percent
Kyle Williams: 21-15, 71 percent
Michael Crabtree: 91-55, 60 percent
Delanie Walker: 34-19, 56 percent
Ted Ginn, jr.: 32-18, 56 percent
Braylon Edwards, 32-14, 44 percent
We’re missing Morgan than we ever thought possible. It’s patently obvious what should be done with/to Walker, Ginn and Braylon. More Kyle and Crabs, and I still think VD should be targeted more in the RZ. Screw staying in to block. Run a goddamn post to the post.
I think Crabs is getting better as the year goes on. Yeah, Morgan is not flashy but he is reliable. The drop from him to Ginn was like going off a cliff. Braylon pretty clearly was a gamble that didn’t pay off.
Well, the pisser to me was running the corner fade to Ginn. Edwards or VD should get that route due to their height advantage. Put VD in the slot and send him to the corner. VD and BE are both 6’3″. Ginn is 5’11”. Or put him on the line, and have the Z guy cut inside.
What kills me is why not Edwards deep? I guess he can’t run. But I’d rather have Williams rather than Ginn running deep routes. Williams has proven to have better hands than Ginn.
I don’t get it.
Plus, on the 3 yard line, Edwards can surely get to the corner and jump, can’t he?
yup
our options in the passing game …
1.crabs 2. vernon 3. morgan 4. edwards 5. williams !
Bonds sat stoically as U.S. District Judge Susan Illston told baseball’s home run king that he had avoided prison but must spend one month in his two-acre Beverly Hills estate, two years on probation, serve 250 hours of community service and pay a $4,100 fine.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/12/16/BAGO1MDGSG.DTL#ixzz1gjUjeLcS
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