The 49ers finally get their 2nd game in the muddy confines with the Buffalo Gals, uh Bills. This is week 2 of the let’s play-all-the-NY-(NJ)- teams-in-the-league-in-three-weeks deal. Not sure if this is some kind of NFL record or something but I ain’t looking it up. The NY round-up got off to a rousing start with the shellacking of the J-E-T-S 34-zip. The D pitched a shutout, and the offense racked up nearly 250 yards on the ground. Fodder for Alex to take another load of shit for his performance, but whatevs, as my kids are wont to say. The Niners won convincingly and, at least to me, seemed to stress throwing longer passes to stretch the defense and open up the running game. If that was the plan, it worked. Smith didn’t connect as much as I would have hoped, but he didn’t make any mistakes, and had a good day. The mid-range passing game is a work in progress. This is Crabs’s 1st year in camp, and Manningham/Moss are still getting up to speed with Alex, so this would be a good game to keep this work up. The Minnesota game plan failed as all the underneath passing clogged the running lanes, there were few yards after the catch, and the Niners appeared out of synch. Can’t say enough about the D, so I won’t say anything. Other than they stifled the Jets. A team that laid 48 on these same Bills.
Buffalo spent the offseason retooling their defense. To the tune of $100 million on Not-So-Super Mario Williams. He of the 1.5 sacks 4 games into the season. So much for that. In their two losses to their AFC East rival Jets and Pats, they’ve given up 100 points. Does that mean we walk all over them? One would think. But then again, we should have beaten the Vikings. Could this be a trap game for the Niners seeing as the New York Football Giants wait on the horizon? Possibly. but even then I don’t think this team will come out flat at home. I don’t see Spiller being that big a factor either. Ryan Fitzpatrick leads the league in TD passes, yet he leads the league in interceptions with 7. Seeing what happened with Minnesota, the Niners need to Shake up Fitz early and often. Something they didn’t do to Ponder and the Vikes. I’d throw some early blitzes in and really work on rattling Ryan. The Niners should prevail easily, 28-10.
Forty Niners Forever 
Nice post chuck, i don’t think we’ll have to worry about overlooking a team again this year. I think we were more out coached than outplayed in the Viking game. That game was a wake up call. I would like to see us get out to a lead and continue to be aggressive throughout. Last week was the ultimate hard nosed game that is becoming a 49er standard. I love our running game but I would like to see more of an aerial attack. However, i,m sure Harbaugh has the game plan in hand and we will just have to wait and see. I guess I really want to see Alex smoke em through the air. I think it would do the organization a good service. I think we handle Buffalo without too much trouble.
Yeah, last week was kind of a mixed bag in the passing game. They hit on some nice passes, but left a lot out there. It continues to be a struggle for Alex to hit anyone not named VD on deep routes. Crabs even had a weird game. Moss got the one shot on the underthrow by Cappy. Wish I could see the tape on what is really going on with Moss. His Minn game was very underwhelming and he seems very gun shy out there. I love the coach on the field aspect, but if he’s dogging it out there, he’s blocking Jenkins from making progress out on the field.
Well, when they attempt downfield throws so seldom, there isn’t going to be a lot of success. But we/they would have to live with more turnovers if they go deep more often. Fact of life. Is it worth it? That’s a question worth pondering when they’re 17-5 in the Harbaugh/Smith era…
I would continue to play with the winning formula but I would love to see em stretch the field more often. The possibilty for turnovers is always there whether running the ball or tossing it. If the play is designed well and executed properly chance of turnovers will go down. It would also make our great running game better.
The possibility for turn\overs is hardly the same in every situation but I’m hardly suggesting they never go deep, that’s a distortion of my post..And the Minnesota game was lost because our defense couldn’t get Minnesota off the field, who beat us with the kind of passing game you guys are spitting on..
Yes, they will need to develop a better deep passing game if they want to be sucessful in the playoffs. If Minn showed anything it’s that short passes can be stopped by a fast defense. Like I said, the Niners didn’t run enough in the Minn game early, and all the passes were too short. They were forced to abandon the run after getting the score close at 17-13, and then the D giving up yet another long time consuming drive.
Last week, the passes were longer, and even though a lot of them didn’t work, sending the WRs on deeper routes opened up the running game, and allowed the underneath passes to gain more yards after the catch. They CANNOT rely on short yardage passes to score points consistently.
I’m very encouraged that they are looking to go deeper.
During the season where a loss is not the end of the world that’s all well and good not having many interceptions, it’s a nice stat to have similar to how many low risk throws in a row are made without a turnover. But playoffs is 1 and done, like last year, so speaking for myself I want the ability to throw down field if that’s what the game is in need of to win. Niners came up short last time, I don’t want a repeat of that because down field throws aren’t in the toolbox so practice away in in-season games I say.
Well, it’s revisionist history to suggest they came up short because of anything but the two fumbles by Kyle. Ball security is paramount in the playoffs even more than the regular season.
That wasn’t my point. The lack of offense was equally damaging.
Whatever. Actuallly Smith went deep twice and we had the game in hand . It was NY who ran the offense you’re spitting on.
Spitting on? A bit sensitive aren’t you?
“Spitting on” is a common term these days, I didn’t invent it. The point is how wrong you are factually about that game, only in the interest of putting it on Smith. Manning ran the offense you’re trashing Smith for and the game was lost by special teams turnovers.If you want to say Smith could been better, fine. But they failed to go the super bowl because of those turnovers, not Smith.
Interesting point of view. Comparing Smith and Manning is a stretch even for the most ardent Smith supporter, which you apparently are. The running games of both teams are as disparate as the throwing game. Niners need to stretch the field, of that there is no doubt. If Smith can do it to someone other than VD more power to him and we plug the glaring area of weakness. Harbaugh is experimenting with the O, less conservative. It’s about time he did, taking Smiths training wheels off is the right thing to do and we shall see what the outcome will be.
It;s not an “interesting” POV, it is an accurate one. The obstinance from you boys about admitting why the NY game was lost and how the teams played the game speaks to your bias.
or more accurately your’s
LOL, classic comeback.
Well, the Giants defense had a lot to do with the outcome. The teams were even offensively, 352 for the Giants to 328 for the Niners. The Niners didn’t light up the aerial assault, bit they did get 150 on the ground.
The downfall was the turnover battle that the Niners lost 2-0.
That game can be sliced up 20 ways from Christmas, and 3 singular yards to a WR is as relevent as any, but my point is I don’t see the need for a limited offense, which we have now, by the time playoffs come aroung if they push downfield a few times a game.
12th- I agree a more diverse passing game will just make us better.
This is just Insider West lacking thew spittle on your chins. Smith is always one bad pass away from having his clock ticking or whatever the newest dumb metaphor is.And none of you can understand that it’s Harbaugh who wants the error free football at the expense of a lot of chunk yardage. Even the Red Zone failure last year was on Jim- Smith was the best in football in the RZ even under Singletary. Jim was regularly calling two runs and throw the ball away, take the FG.
Thanks for letting me know what I don’t know, very revealing.
Well, you guys seem a tight knit group, you basically agree on everything, and you dig Denny. Enough said.
Hey don’t knock the team mascot the anti-fan Del Mar. He’s our reverse mojo machine and he’s pretty damn effective at 1-3 while Alex and the boys are 3-1. See, we need this guy. (mainly fer da humor)
Ok off to our tree farm…
A bit touchy but nothing new there.
Winder, you were one of the most vicious attacking Smith on a personal level, I think you should fess up on how wrong you were and let it go. Touchy about Denny, of “Kill that fucking Jew” fame? You got that right, pal.
Twin – It’s true I hated Smith from 2007 through 2010 I thought he was the worse starting QB the 49ers ever had. As far as admitting I was wrong about him I already did that last yr. I don’t know how many ways I said that I was wrong about him but I ate my crow already. Now I am making observations about him with all the hope I can muster for his success. I am a 49er fan through and through and have always put the team first. And, my comment wasn’t about denny, it was about how the subject of Smith always brings out the best in you.
Say what you will, Mike, but the team obviosuly isn’t as sold on Smith as you are. Hence the make-good contract. I’ve been behind A Smith for the most part due to all the bullshit he went through with Nolan, Hostler, Singletary, and Jimmy-Hat. I thought he was going to split after the 2008 season, I thought he’d get the hell out certainly after the Singletary debacle, and he would have split had the lockout not occurred. Strange forces are keeping him here. It really doesn’t matter what you, I or the other 9,999,998 people say or think. He’s got this season to improve or get left behind.
I’ll be happy as hell if he leads the team to the promised land. That being said, the actions of Harbaugh lead me to believe he wants to stretch out the passing game going forward. This isn’t any earthshaking condemnation of the guy, but he does need to start hitting on deeper passes to anyone not named VD. Mainy because quick defensive teams, like Minn, can crowd the LOS and keep the short passing game at bay.
Yeah what Chuck said.
Alex had a pretty good long passing connection with Antonio Bryant back in 2006. If we work at the deep game, I think it will get better. It’s the last piece of the puzzle here. If you do not work at something, you are not going to be good at it. By necessity, we kept the offense pretty vanilla last year because of the lockout. The deep pass is not a primary thing in Harbaugh’s offensive vision. It’s an extra feature. A “nice to have”. We’re only now starting to move beyond that. That is not particularly Alex’s fault. I’m inclined to be patient. Before the year, I said I would not criticize Alex until we had four games in the can. We’re there now, but my criticisms are strictly limited at the moment. NO QB has a great game every week. The last two weeks do not erase or negate the two excellent games Alex had to start the year. Let’s see how things look at the bye. My gut feeling is that Alex may finally sway the doubters this year. But the long passing game with its exquisite timing will take time. Let’s give him the month he needs to show what he can do, and revisit this then.
I also don’t agree with the notion that being enthusiastic, but realistic, about Kaepernick is a slam on Alex. His athleticism is impressive, and the guy was pretty productive in college. He has a huge amount to learn about being an NFL quarterback before he can run the offense as well as Alex, but he clearly has the potential to be special. Frankly, I’d rather have two good QBs, or three, on the roster, than none. We just won 34-0. It should be a time to feel good about the progress we’ve made. Not to have recriminations about who was a true believer before there was reason or evidence to believe.
There you go being reasonable and rational again, you rascal. Keep this shit up I’ll begin to doubt yer ‘grumpy cred’. But good points all around: long passing game will improve greatly with practice. So coaches gotta build a game plan to
let this develop. None of this dink and dunk Viking baloney. Fangio, Roman, you hear us??
“Let’s see how things look at the bye. My gut feeling is that Alex may finally sway the doubters this year”. Right, if he hasn’t already started that process at 3-1 and 14-4. By the bye, the half way point in da season, we will have a better idea of progress made. And I, Phil, may be the last one to notice since the Bye falls on my 35th (+30) birthday, Nov 4th. So, I’ll be sober right? Wrong, The evah loving wife has a gigantic bash planned with her old frat/sorority gang bring their rock band up from the coast to our mansion in da sticks Saturday night fer a little partyin’. Thank yer freakin’ Gods there will be no commentary from fearless phil about a Niners game…
“I also don’t agree with the notion that being enthusiastic, but realistic, about Kaepernick is a slam on Alex. His athleticism is impressive, and the guy was pretty productive in college”. To say the least. Frankly we are blessed to have a coupla good QBs on the roster, been awhile. If we cling bitterly to the last big thing, Smith, Young, Montana, Brodie, Y.A. Tittle, Moses, we miss out on building the best Team we can have This year. If Kap pushes AS to glory in the post-season, ain’t that a good thing?
Correct answer: Yes it is.
When you understand what a “make good” contract is, we’ll talk. There is no indication anywhere but in your heed that Harbaugh is anything but happy as hell with Smith or that he needs to be any betteethan be the guy who took then a fumble away from the Super Bowl..That;s just absurd.
Couple of things come to mind, they looked at replacing him, they gave him a lowball contract offer and left him hanging and available to other teams for an extended period of time, the contract he ended up signing is a mid level value for a starting QB oh and its only guaranteed for this year. Yeah overall I would say you show far more confidence in him than management did.
He needs to improve his game, I hope he does, you don’t agree, good for you.
Oh, there’s no doubt he got low balled, you’re confusing business and performance, however. And I’ll ask you also-don’t lie about my posts, I’ve never said he has no room for improvement….
Someone in the national media said it, not me, that this is the only city in football where there would be any question at all about who the QB should be. Fact is, as soon as the team finally got respectable coaching, Smith took them within a scrub returner’s fuck ups of being in the Super Bowl.
But you guys flame on Smith and jack off to a QB whe barely beat out two other scrubs for the 2 job..
I think you are the confused one, in the NFL performance = pay (business) lack of performance = lowball.
I made 5 points above and you answered one then diverted the topic, why is that?
Maybe I missed the post of you offering a critique of Smith, perhaps you want to point it out to me so I can see my lie?
I have said repeatedly Smith deserves to start. That does not mean he deserves my undying affection, if he continues to improve he may earn however.
You do’nt dictate my responses. Ive been totally clear on where I stand on Smith,. If you don’t recall, look it up. But no, a low ball offer does not always reflect performance. The lock out had a lot to do with it, Smith’s oft stated desire to stay, the fact he had already renegotiated his original contract, much more. If you’re really saying his performance last year was subpar warranting a low ball offer, you are seriously delusional.There was some understandable caution about his performance- some were picking this team to go 7-9 this year…Don’t worry about Alex and the money he’ll make- he’s a smart guy, certainly smarter than the front office.,We won’t be having any benefits for Smith, he’s going to make a shit load of bucks- and unless you’re stupid enoufgh to think they won’t be in the playoffs this year, this will be his last low ball deal…
It’s not a matter of dictating, if you aren’t capable of an adequate response don’t pose a question. Cherry picking is the easiest way out. Smith got low balled and didn’t get any better offer from any other team because he is limited and therefore less valuable, market forces dictate his value. You can put all the lipstick on him you want but he is still no more than an average guy, hence the money. This oft repeated mantra of Smith got us almost to the bowl is a misnomer, the team did it despite having the QB who threw the least amount of passes in the league, with an awesome running game, defense and ST, he was a part of it not the driver.
You like to insult people and name call a lot, condescending too. Where did you get the notion you are so far above everyone else in your arguments and opinions?
Scoring Challenge this week VS Buffalo Bills:
Chuck: 28-10 Niners. In their two losses to their AFC East rival Jets and Pats, they’ve given up 100 points. Does that mean we walk all over them? One would think. But then
again, we should have beaten the Vikings.
Flavor: 41-6 Niners. “Buffalo is terrible. Niners 41 buffalo 6”
rtfirefly: 17-6 Niners. Phil: “Ya think RT’s gonna stick with 17-6?” RT: ” Yep. I roll with a winner… I almost had the first half score nailed again. Three games out of four”. phil fan says: There’s some logic buried in here somewhere!
Grumpy Guy: 24-20 Niners. Buffalo is terrible. Yes. But we’ll have a little letdown after last week. Not enough to lose, but it’ll be closer than we expect. 24-20, 49ers. Then Mad Scientist Jimbo pulls out all the stops for the Gigantes.
twin fan: 31-17 Niners. Buffalo is bad but they better get after Fitzpatrick.
That’s it fer the moment. Still waiting on 12th man, Del Mar, Winder, Nipper, phil, snarkk, etc
Gotta go to our tree farm (now a forest). Be back later. Check it out:
http://www.facebook.com/BrazilianFireTreeForest
interesting biz Phil
Yup. Low maintenance, good return on investment, fun
you sell the lumber worldwide?
Thanks fer askin’. Yes our major buyer has a complete operation for several generations, cutting/harvesting, hauling to their mills, cutting to various lumber sizes and shipping by container to Japan. This soft wood is in good demand locally too. Used here for ‘plywood cores’ inside a hardwood veneer.
Also a major component of my retirement plan.
Good for you Phil, looks like a winner to me. Scores well on many levels.
Ok back to the food fight….
30-13 Niners
Ok got it. Will update on the next thread
I’m feeling 24-10 Niners, saving something in the gas tank for the Giants.
Check! Done.
Only Crabby could compare Alex to First Ballot HOF Peyton Manning.
Don’t worry, Crabby. When the Niners DO win their 6th Super Bowl, I’ll be sure to send flowers to Alex’s career’s grave. Cuz he won’t be on the field.
Lol good one
What did I say about Peyton.,nimrod? Pay attention to my posts, don’t distort them, and you’ll be OK. Your idiotic nonsense about Super Bowls is even inaccurate, Peyton has suicked big Denny Dong in the post season- Alex probably *would* have the 6 Super bowls your feverished imagination thinks Manning has. with the teams Peyton’s had..11 tries? Shouldn’t there be a limit on how often a guy can embarass himself?
“Miss Manning”? Or do you have wet brain, too?
What matters is this year, bug boy. But first tell me all about Ms. Manning’s 6 Super Bowls…
Keep painting, Crabby. I’m going to leave you in your corner for now.
Bug boy was another who wasn’t content to critique Smith’s performance- like many of the Insider posters, he made it personal. Endlessly.
Personal. Yes. I can see how it is personal. Very clearly.
Maybe you didn’t pay attention to the outrageous attacks on Smith personally or maybe you particapated under a different screen name. So yes, those who did attack even his manhood and heart will be remembered for it. These people even attacked Lynch if he said anything positive at all about Smith. Here’s the deal, Grumpy: you people HATE it that Alex has perservered and become one of the best QBs in the league. But he has and is-you were wrong. I understand id you don’t want to say it to me- tell your neighbor or your hamster. You’ll be better for it.
We people?
I see.
You know nothing about me, Mike. Let’s keep it that way, okay?
Knock off the phony outrage. If I knew or gave a shit about your race, it would be an insult. As it is,”these people” just refers to those who piled the hate on Smith.
All I know about you GG is a comment you made about one of my cancers, and that certainly made sure I never would care to know more about you.
Twin making friends again?
Always.
Cross posted from Skeeber’s Cesspit:
Grumpy Guy Says:
September 17th, 2012 at 9:55 am
Berger – It’s not ALL the HC or offense. Some of it is, but not all.
Alex has been improving incrementally since the “We Want Carr” game. It’s happened slowly, and we did not immediately start winning, but he’s been a different guy since that night. It actually started under Mike Johnson, when Alex started tuning out Singletary, and playing to his strengths instead of trying to force balls into coverage.
You look at his accuracy now – balls hitting receivers more or less in stride much of the time – that was something he could not do three years ago. Some of that is Tom House, some of it is comfort level in the pocket. Some of it is gradually better pass blocking giving him the confidence that he does not have to just chuck it out ASAP. Compare to Stafford, who frankly looked horrendous at times last night.
Harbaugh certainly has helped, but I give Alex himself a lot of credit. He has turned his career around. Based off the first two games, I think he has a real shot at the Pro Bowl this year, whatever his stats are. If Troy Aikman did it with modest stats, so can he. He’s stealing Tebow’s slogan without the BS: “All I do is win.”
Clearly an inflammatory, hateful screed devoid of sympathy, logic or reason! Your point is Smith is a bum, right? Yuck yuck
Grumpy living up to his name again.
Yeah that’s it. Troublemaker..
Everyone needs a hobby, Phil.
Actually, I pointed out that his improvement began when Raye was canned. And I gave the numbers. I discussed it LAST year to deafening silence or disagreement here. Before last year it was all about Smith’s QB rating (weighted down by his rookie and injury years ) and HIS losing record, When his QB rating went up-it was deemed “misleading”, and when the team won- *they* won.
Finally realizing that Alex deserves some credit is nice and I’m sure it will last until his next interception.
Like many folks of late I’ve been a Smith fan since before I got here last year. Never could (still can’t) understand the irrational intense bias against the guy who had so many strikes against him as recounted endlessly. Things have changed in Ninerland and Alex has had a chance to grow and succeed. That said I’m also rooting fer Kaepernick to grow and help the team succeed.
The first comment I ever made on Chuck’s blog was praising, Alex of course.Spitblood went postal and wanted to know where I lived. The rest of the crew didn’t have a problem with that or Denny’s personal attacks on Smith. No BFD but you can all put up with some forceful advocacy for Smith- the few of us who supported him from the start have put up with 7 years of lies and hatred towards him..
Anyway, I’ve only posted here sporadically so we can all be happy. Maybe I’ll check in when he doesn’t have anything to do with them being in the playoffs, again.
Reposting these gems here in reply to Grumpy Guy who says:
October 2, 2012 at 10:30 pm. (See Above…) Excellent analysis
There you go being reasonable and rational again, you rascal. Keep this shit up I’ll begin to doubt yer ‘grumpy cred’. But good points all around: long passing game will improve greatly with practice. So coaches gotta build a game plan to
let this develop. None of this dink and dunk Viking baloney. Fangio, Roman, you hear this??
“Let’s see how things look at the bye. My gut feeling is that Alex may finally sway the doubters this year”. Right, if he hasn’t already started that process at 3-1 and 14-4. By the bye, the half way point in da season, we will have a better idea of progress made. And I, Phil, may be the last one to notice since the Bye falls on my 35th (+30) birthday, Nov 4th. So, I’ll be sober right? Wrong, The evah loving wife has a gigantic bash planned with her old frat/sorority gang bring their rock band up from the coast to our mansion in da sticks Saturday night fer a little partyin’. Thank yer freakin’ Gods there will be no commentary from fearless phil about a Niners game…
“I also don’t agree with the notion that being enthusiastic, but realistic, about Kaepernick is a slam on Alex. His athleticism is impressive, and the guy was pretty productive in college”. To say the least. Frankly we are blessed to have a coupla good QBs on the roster, been awhile. If we cling bitterly to the last big thing, Smith, Young, Montana, Brodie, Y.A. Tittle, Moses, we miss out on building the best Team we can have This year. If Kap pushes AS to glory in the post-season, ain’t that a good thing?
Correct answer: Yes it is.