Criminy, no football around these parts for ages it seems. The one game coming up is Monday night, so it won’t even be here this weekend. Thank God the Giants are giving me something to watch. The Niners could learn a lot from the Giants as they coalesced late in the year to become a team in the true sense of the word. Subsuming personal greatness for the common good. Something the Niners already do pretty well, but the Niners have looked a bit less than the dominating team that started the season by whipping on GB (a contender) and Deetroit (apparently back to being pretenders).
The NY Giants game was a debacle in EVERY phase of the game, and the Seattle game was an offensive struggle. The run game was there for the most part as they gained 170 yard on the ground. Something Seattle isn’t used to giving up. Defensively they played well enough, and were assisted by five dropped passes by the Hawks. Special teams looked more like their special selves than in recent memory.
Which brings us to Alex Smith. Like the Minnesota and Giants games, the WRs in the Seattle game couldn’t seem to shake free of the coverage. Manningham was hurt in the Giants game, and missed the Seahawk game, so you have to hope Manningham would have done a little better than Crabtree did in getting open. Smith just seemed fairly tentative out there. The best game of his life (Buffalo) was followed by his worst (NYG), and the Seattle game featured a potentially devastating pick in the end zone by Seattle. Plus there were a few too many plays left on the field that Smith missed. VD was neutralized in these games. And this is something the additional WRs were supposed to address. Mainly Moss. When Moss comes in, he usually gets a CB and a safety over the top, so his presence should open someone else up. However, Smith struggled finding guys open. Like Moss in the back of the end zone on the INT. There were other plays were it seemed Smith wouldn’t pull the trigger even though someone was open. On the rollouts, he gives up half the field. and the defense simply flows to the guys on the righ half of the field. This was evident in the Giants game, when Smith was often throwing into traffic.
Granted, Seattle has very physical corners, and no one seems to pass very well against them, but as this team works its way to the playoffs, they are going to face strong defenses like Seattle and the Giants, and especially Minnesota, a likely firswt round playoff foe. And I also know that this passing offense is still a work in progress. The Buff and Jet games were tests to see how the deep passing game would work. Well, it worked great against a couple of lesser defenses. Good ones? Not so much. They still have work to do, and Smith has to work on getting the ball out quicker. He’s take some unwarranted sacks, but the flipside being better a sack than a pick. The problem there is Smith has already equalled his pick total from last year as he’s being asked to be more aggressive. Still and all, the game-awareness is lacking at times. He’s taking sacks when he should simply throw the ball away, and he’s missing open guys at times. Nitpicking a 5-2 team? Sure. Maybe. But I AM concerned about how well this team can do in the playoffs if they can’t get VD out from double coverage, and can’t get the ball to anyone else. The run game is a plus, but if the Niners can’t cionsistenl;y hit pass plays, the 8-in-the-box scenario we grew to hate in the Singletary days will come back as a defense we regularly face.
So, as long as the Niners can get through AZ on their way to the halfway mark, and the bye, they will be in excellent shape to lock up the NFC West. a 2-0 record in the division and a 2 game lead over AZ, and possibly Seattle as they have a tough game on the road vs Deetroit. If Seattle has shown anything, it’s that they are much better at home, going 3-0 at home, and 1-3 on the road. A loss by Sea would give the Niners the tiebreaker plus a 2 game lead over both.
Forty Niners Forever 
Nice read chuch. I like our chances on Monday, we’ve had some extra days to recoup from the SeaChicken game and when it comes right down to it we have the better team by far. That of course is my opinion. I think Vernon gets into this one and I believe that Alex will have a good day too. We should be able to control the time of possession fairly well and I just don’t see them scoring very much on us.
Lol, chuck
“I also know that this passing offense is still a work in progress. ”
Seeing that they’re 29th in passing yds/gm while giving up the 4th most amount of sacks when attempting the 25th most passing attempts, I’d say that’s a pretty fair assessment. Kind of like saying Aubrey Huff has had a bad year for the Giants. How the hell is he still on the postseason roster? Nothing but a goddamn good luck charm. Bochy’s more superstitious than I am. Tigers in 5.
Go Giants!
While being behind one of the best O lines in football.
Justin Verlander will neither confirm nor deny he’s dating model/actress, Kate Upton.
Shit. If I were going out with that girl I’d be shouting it from the mountain tops…
There are a lot better out there than Kate, but I bet she’s keeps him busy. Peyton’s off his bye week for our rematch this week, Dennis.
ZZZZito’s on fire.
And Manning gets to play that “vaunted” Saints’ defense. That’s 350 and 3 TDs — by halftime.
Vaunted? More like haunted . . .
6-1 Giants, bitches!!!!!
Don’t jinx it Chuck, STFU!
survived the jinx, ok carry on!
Niners? Whaaa….Who day?
Gentlemen I come to praise the San Francisco…… GIANTS!
Holy shit and Tebow too. You wanna ‘nother reason to belieb in da Almighty?
Fine youse miserable sinners, here’s another one:
DA SF GIANTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
eat yer heart out Del Mar you rat, : )
The way everyone falls over themselves praising Mount Verlander makes it all the more pleasing to see him smacked in game one. Great game. Looonnng way to go still.
Chuck — the thing I don’t see mentioned when Smith/taking chances/picks/sacks is in the conversation is that one of the supposed benefits of taking chances are the extra TDs. I totally get that when you throw into tight coverage or throw open the receiver, there are more chances for picks. But the balance to that is more passing scores. Smith is conservative, and his picks are generally less as a result. But if in opening it up, his picks go up, but TD’s don’t, well, hmmm, that dog ain’t gonna hunt.
You can make a good comparison with the current SF Giants and the 49ers. The makeup of the Giants roster suggests a team relying on pitching, timely hitting and solid defense. Last night Panda Sandoval jacked 3 out of AT&T and that’s what most fans were stoked about and remember.
Taking a backseat but in my opinion more important was Zito’s dominating outing shutting the Tigers down. Chicks dig the long ball but last night was out of character and an anomaly.
The 49ers are a running team and play stifling defense. Although sexy, asking them to be a passing team is out of character just like if the entire Giant’s lineup starts swinging for the fences.
That’s not who they are.
Zito AND Timmy The Freak. And don’t forget those two diving catches by Blanco. And Scutaru always seeming to get timely hits.
Basically, the same as two years ago with a new cast: Revenge of the Misfit Toys, Part Two.
Panda’s three deserve the accolades for being in WS history — being in the same breath as Ruth Jackson and Pujols. But I totally agree that what rocked me the most was seeing Scutaro with another 2-out clutch rbi single, and Zito, he of the 4 hits — all season long — going opposite field in between 3rd and short — and Buster going the opposite field again (finally), and then yes, Zito’s masterful in and out, speed mixing, and out-fooling job on what is admittedly, a pretty intimidating lineup. The defense was sterling, as mentioned, the only blemish was Pagan probably helping the HR late get over the fence, but I bet he comes up with that next time.
All in all, that IS how the Giants win. That’s what got them this far. The long ball is a bene, but just isn’t likely to be the reason. Good pitching beats good hitting in the WS.
Barley, if you look at the Buffalo game, the long passing game was perfect, and Smith hit 3 TD passes (no picks) and they gained a ton of yards in the air. The Giant and Seattle games were different. mainly because those defenses aren’t Buffalo’s. The thing is, this IS a work in progress. The deeper passing game won’t come easily or quickly. I don;t know about the reasons for some of these hesitations and reluctance to pull the trigger that happens with Smith sometimes, but just getting on the same page with the WRs is hard to do on the longer routes.
Missing Manningham for the Seattle game hurt as well, as Smith seems to be meshing pretty well with him. The hope is, going forward, that the Niners can siontinue to stretch the field. If they can then the run game can be that much more effective.
On to baseball: The Giants seem to be clicking on all cylinders. The D has been rock solid for most of the playoffs, and Deetroit is very shakey defensively. That will hurt them as the Giants are pretty good at putting the ball in play. Enough can’t be said about Scutaro. There’s a stat out there that Scutaro has apparently swung and missed around 65 times for the entire season. Think about that for a moment. I also heard he’s swung and missed 15 times since August 1. Those are Ted Williams type numbers. 15 times is ONE GAME for Pablo. And that isn’t any kind of dig on him. He just takes a much different approach out there.
Scutaro came up and played with the Oakland A’s. Sabean seems to bring a smallish utility INF every year. Freddie Sanchez, Theriot, Fotenot. Keppinger and now Marco.
The scrappy guys. Sanchez was nice, but very fragile. His AB agaisnt Atl in the playoffs was one for the ages.
Font and The Riot? They were OK. As was Keppie. Scooter is just incredible.
“Chicks dig the long ball” Yeah and the ones I know like to ball long, he bragged untruthfully
Ok almost fergot the scoring challenge. I’m calling 53-47 for Romney in the popular vote. Bank it. Now regarding the Redbirds I’ll say 24-12 Niners.
That’s a pretty bold call for Romney considering he’s +170 to win the election. But that of course is tied to the Electoral College, and not the popular vote. Many similarities between the EC and the College of Cardinals and selecting the Pope. Maybe if our president wore a silly hat our government would work more efficiently. We all know how well the Catholic Church works so swimmingly.
You think that’s bold? You should come over fer the joint birthday party next week. I’ll be modeling the new lampshade,,,
Consolidatin’:
Chuck: 17-9 Niners. I’m going 17-9. And that’s the baseball game . . . (funny dat. Hey Giants 2-0! And 2-0 again- phil)
12th man: 21-14 Niners down the birds.
barleyfreak: 20-3 Niners …I have no fucking idea what’s going to happen, Moss gets a TD, Gore gets a TD, Akers gets 2 FG’s. AZ’s offense gets pummeled. 20-3, Niners.
Irish Kevin: 21-13 Niners
Phil 24-14 Niners over the Redbirds
rtfirefly: 16-6 Niners
16-6
Winder: 31-6 Niners. dennis u keep doin what ur doin. 9ers 31-6
I’m going 17-9.
And that’s the baseball game . . .
Haha, lol I mean, good one
Mike Silver at Yahoo Sports view of the recent Smith QB play.
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nfl–conservative-play-call-late-raises-question-whether-niners-have-complete-confidence-in-qb-alex-smith-.html
Yeah, I don’t quite get that ANY slight or even implied criticism of AS can evoke such vehement defense. I mean I do get that in the end it is all about winning, but it is REALLY all about winning in January, isn’t it? The article’s last statement is what I think most of us who still have some doubts about him are alluding to:
“Whether it can work for the Niners come December and January remains to be seen.”
Instead, many take any criticism as a stark choice between black OR white. It really seems silly. I recognize that Smith has improved a great deal and deserves credit for his improvement and the games he has helped to win. But to somehow be completely above any criticism whatsoever seems really kind of strange.
That’s how I see it too Barley. The other point is I keep seeing that wins equates to Alex must be playing well. That’s not necessarily true and doesn’t insulate him from critisism in the press or the blogs.
Jim Trotter of Sports Illustrated takes the Smith question even further.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/jim_trotter/10/18/49ers-survive-seahawks-thoughts/index.html
Jason Cole goes even further and this was before the Squawks…
http://tinyurl.com/8oqlq93
Looks like there are lots of new candidates to join the coven.
21-14 Niners down the birds.
Coven? You mean the AS fan club?
Skeebs latest name for people that voice doubts about Alex’s play of late Phil. It’s been going on for a while now and is funny really.
Oh skeewad,poor guy’s getting worse…
He’s in full Alex defense mode 🙂 Chuck brings out the best in him.