YEEAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhmmmmmm, uh. OK. Preseason. Like real football, but without any true meaning. True, there are position battles to fight for. WR being the most intriguing to me with the Crabs/Mario/Moss situation. The rest of the positional fights seem to be for backup roles, so there isn’t a ton of excitement there. The way it goes these days, you get about 10 series on offense and defense of 1st string players, and a lot of slop in the entire preseason. The caveat being the 3rd preseason game is usually reserved for a good bit (say one half) of starter action. We’ll see. Last year, Harbaugh went off-script and barely played the starters, and they were trounced by the Texans.
Jim Harbaugh gives a lot of creedence to fighting for positions during these practice games, but realistically he and the other coaches see what’s happening in practice day in and day out. Who’s busting ass and who isn’t. Who’s making plays, who’s on the sidelines. So, beyond these guys getting through these games without any serious injuries, what are you looking for Friday night against the 6 Kings? Me? I’m looking for Michael Crabtree in an actual preseason game. I ain’t holding my breath.
Anyhow, here’s the long awaited preseason schedule:
- Fri Aug 10 – Minn @ SF 6:00 PM
- Sat Aug 18 – SF @ Hou 5:00 PM
- Sun Aug 26 – SF @ Den 1:00 PM
- Thur Aug 30 – SD @ SF 7:00 PM
One last preseason story. Many (including me) were a bit baffled by Gregg Williams and his Saitns defense’s incessant blitzing during the first practice game of the extremely truncated 2011 preseason. It seemed like a bullshit move to come out balls to the wall since it was obviously a weird situation that the 49ers (and all teams) were in. The 49ers showed nothing that game, and were pounded relentlessly by NO and their all-out blitz attack. Many were (rightly so) worried about the blocking, or lack thereof, during the blitzing frenzy. It warmed my heart to hear the 49ers say they used that game as impetus to get prepared for the playoff game on January 14. Great for the Saints! They won a preseason game! Well, good on the 49ers. They won the playoff game in epic fashion, and the Saints are getting ground into berger meat by Goodie Goodell. “I suppose that you’re accomplice in the wood chippah?”
Forty Niners Forever 
I do not understand why Michael Crabtree is taking a great portion of the blame for the 49er loss.
The obvious choice should be Kyle Williams but for whatever reason he is a victim here.
Michael Cratree was targeted 5 times the entire game. I keep hearing Alex Smith was 1 for 13 on 3rd down opportunities. So what happened in the other 8 opportunies?
Its a gamble to play grind it out ball control against Rodgers, he can struck so quickly. I think we need to score early and allow our D to pin back their ears and rush Rodgers like crazy.
Crabs gets some blame because he was our #1 receiver and drafted to be exactly that. He simply hasn’t produced to that level and was a non factor in his most important game. VD in the same circumstances showed up to play.
The Giants D had something to say about it too.
Looking at the passing charts Vernon Davis ran 3 deep patterns and they hit on 2 of them in the NFC Championship game..
All 5 Of MIchael Crabtree’s target opportunities were short passes. 4 to the right and 1 to the left.You can’t be the #1 receiver if the team gives you the title in name only, If you are running 7 yard hitches and have to break 4 tackles to score you’d be frustrated too.
Kyle Williams had 2 long passes and 2 short passes thrown to him and came up empty.
You guys crack me up. You’re already stipulating how you want the GB game played out to get us a victory. Ain’t nothing getting us a victory in Green Bay. That shit is gonna be Waterloo all over again.
A successful trip to GB will be if the plane lands safely. It all goes downhill after that…
….The fog bank rolls in on Del Mar…
In the NFC Championship we didn’t have enough scoring to make any errors but this was a formula that worked most of the year for us. Then we got two critical errors – ballgame. We knew our O was weak in various phases (3rd down, RZ, thin WR corps) and it really bit us in the playoffs. Gas tank, empty. Agree the game plan on O (Roman’s) was too conservative but where were our weapons? Morgan hurt, Edwards gone. Replaced by who? Williams…not enough depth and we paid.
I think the brain trust learned and now we have some tools in the WR dept. I’ll blame Crabs for being accident prone and not working more with Alex but he’s supposed to be to blame for the NFC title loss? No. We were too fucking thin on O, WRs. Hello Baalke. Too conservative on O? Hello Roman. Is Crabtree a stinkin’, rotten prima-donna Maxi Pad? Yes he is but that’s not what cost us a trip to the dance.
Agree, if we play GB like we did the NFC Title Game we’re gonna lose that one too. Love to see the passing game open up: Moss deep opening up underneath crossing routes. Running outta the spread, yes. Vanilla ain’t gonna cut it in GB even with our D because we will again have no margin for error and errors have a way of happening to visitors in GB. Yeah grab a lead and make Rogers pay…27-24 Niners.
Wise guy, play calling is a function of players skillsets. If during the week in practice you show the ability to catch deep balls then that goes into the mix. If you show the ability to catch 5 to 10 yard pass plays then that’s where they target you. What in Crabtrees 3 year football career shows he has an ability to catch the deep ball, or get separation, or game awareness to turn his head quicker than his pre determined cut mark to aid his QB who is already barely getting throws off in time.
The guy needs to step up or step off, year 4 coming up. With Alex as your QB you won’t put up monster numbers but that’s all the more reason to spend every minute possible on the field with him so he’s not so gun shy when your number is called.
Crabs has done the exact opposite, so with such a conservative QB guess what happens?
I’m not understanding all this negativity on this blog. The 49ers are slated to have an oustanding year and a run to the Super Bowl. So much doom and gloom I’m beginning to think some of you sound like jealous Raider fans taking great joy in trashing a 49er.
I think you will find that’s what we all expect. That is not to say we have a perfect team or should be satisfied with players not putting out enough to push us over the top. we were just a little bit short last year, I would hate to get so close again and fall short.
I’m a fan, not a cheerleader.
Hey, Wiseguy, let’s get one goddamn thing straight…I’ve paid my goddamn dues. Chuck and Grumpy may have sat in the ‘Stick seats before me, but that’s because they’re older than I am… I’ve been a goddamn fucking 49er fan since I left Mother’s womb. It was Mom and Dad who taught football when I was a youngster…but when my bastard Father left my Mother and screwed everything away…
wiseguy ya shoulda seen it over here before: scary weird. Now we’re practically little angels, serious. Yeah we grumble about the team but the bad apples have been tossed out long ago. One great thing about 49ers Forever is that Chuck the blogmeister is a normal guy, no power tripping or control freak tendencies. Far as I can tell. We get to hang out and talk guy crap but really it’s not meant to be negative. We all love the Niners, even Del Mar Dennis we think. Lol
Sorry but I get this very negative vibe here. Too negative as it seems you come here to whine and cry and trash a player you all seem to dislike. You make it uncomfortable for someone to have a view different from yours. It was my hope to find a site where we could all share views in a respecful manner. There is a bullying mob mentality here.
I was transferred back East for work and get enough grief from the Eagle, Giants and Redskin fans around me.
You say Unca Chuck the moderator is a regular guy? He’s fanning the flames and goading the mob on. If you think he’s not powertripping he’s got you brainwashed.
Seriously how do you guys spend a week attacking Michael Crabtree with what amounts to unadulterated pettiness?
As a 49er fan I have also paid my dues and I am thoroughly putoff by this.
I love my 49ers too much to bitch like this or even listen to this.
Enjoy the season
Have a nice trip, and don’t forget to pick up your panties.
This ain’t your kind of place, son.
Grumpy Guy If I were to stoop to your sophmoric level I might reply that your significant other told me to keep her panties after the best night she’s had in years.
Chuckle. You almost pulled it off, but misspelled ‘sophomoric’. Don’t use words you can’t spell.
Need to improve your game, son. We’ve had better trolls than you here.
Either that, or grow a thicker skin and get off the rag. One Crabtree is enough.
Grumpy Guy I hope that one day you share with all the fellas here how you mentored Jerry Sandusky and taught him a few things non-football related.
Del, we could have gone to GB last year in winter and won just like the Giants did so why not this year in good weather?
The Giants are built for cold weather. Niners? Not so much. And the Giants have Eli Manning. Niners? Not even close.
Hey! Maybe Maxi Pad took heed to my recent rant. He spoke briefly to reporters today. He said he’s had a calf strain. When asked to expand, Crabtree replied, “I don’t know too much about injuries, bro,”
Always the Great Communicator, that Crabtree.
Classic. Crabtree doesn’t know too much injuries, you could of fooled me!
Crabtree is a carefree hangin’ out kinda guy to da Max who is our TRUE NUMBER ONE… but only in the injury dept.
Weather won’t be cold in GB in September and Alex and Eli had remarkably similar numbers in the champ game, due to the defenses, so I think if the D is in form and Alex doesn’t shoot himself in the foot we can win. 27/24 sounds good to me.
Crabtree: “I’m in the flow.”
Hell, Dennis has been saying that all week. Aunt Flo…
http://www.csnbayarea.com/football-san-francisco-niners/niners-talk/Crabtree-Im-in-the-flow?blockID=753133&feedID=5936
Grump, that’s too fucking funny Crabtree used that exact line to describe himself. If and when he decides to talk next… If he says the reason why he doesn’t like talking to the media is because he likes to “Stayfree” of trouble and people shouldn’t judge him because he’s an easy going and “Carefree” kind of guy…I’m really gonna have some serious gender doubts. 😀
His next press conference will be on a Summer’s Eve.
Mr. Disposable Douche . . .
Killin’ me here!
Yeah, it never gets cold at the Stick, Dennis. Off your pills?
Chuck, I hope you’re joking. The avg. Hi/Lo temps for SF in Nov. are 63/50; Dec. 57/46. I’m not talking the poor fans in the seats. Boo-hoo it’s cold, I need my sweater and jacket. I’m talking FOOTBALL weather. You go find me when a game at the ‘Stick was played under 40 degrees. I dare you could find one at 45. Our park may be windy, but don’t say it’s cold compared to all those other stadiums east of the Mississippi.
And, no, I’m not off my pills. If I were, I’d be done posting here. Check that. I’d be done.
Crabs difficulties have been well-documented. Fails to get separation, Can’t break clean and is easily jammed and thrown off his routes. Does’t adjust to defenses. Can’t figure out slants. My hope is was and will be that these better guys coming in will help him to figure the game out. He’s been #1 because of little competition. Now? Who knows? He either gets better or he slides down the depth chart. Frankly I think he wants out.
Crabs thinks he is a number one…. but so far he has been strictly number two. And, yeah, that’s what I mean.
I don’t think we like Crabs. He plays soft and thinks the same way. He’s very shy with the media. Probably plays for the money and tries to fit in someway. He’s a guy who is trapped by circumstances.
Soft shell Crabs?
The annual crab feed at my former high school, Salesian, was, and continues to be a huge event. Back in the day I would help set up and wait on tables. What do you expect? My uncle was the school’s principal. I had to make it look good. 😛
Wow. Just wow. Was wiseguy really Spitty in drag, or did he really expect somebody like me to conduct an Alex love-in?
No, that couldn’t have been Spitty. I’m just now seeing the exchange between Wiseguy and Grump. Too negative? Really? Well, sorry bud.
Whatever. My problems with Crabs are well known. If Wiseguy doesn’t like it, well, tough shit. Either leave or provide some reasons WHY he isn’t to be at least questioned for his seeming lack of commitment.
I’m all ears, Wiseguy. Tell ya the truth, the reason I was really irked is because of an argument on another blog.
Yeah I guess this ain’t the place to come for a Maxi love fest. Lotsa room on the Web- and there’s da door dickwad.
“Hasta la vista, dickwad”.
-Arnold T-2
In the scene where Arnie takes the .45 cal to the other (liquid silver new model) terminator and blows him to smithereens