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 
dennis u keep doin what ur doin. 9ers 31-6
Well, so far so good this weekend. StL and now Seattle have lost. So a win by the Niners tomorrow would be seriously good for San Francisco and their NFC West quest..
Love it, Go Niners!
Shocker, Romo throws an INT blames Dez Bryant hahahahaha!
Romo is the best friend the Roadrunners have. They couldn’t buy a point against Dennis today before this game.
Not only is Romo sticking it to me today, but Rivers sucked me dry as well. Call me Lucky Pierre.
Romo is a great athlete who can make all the throws, he just hasn’t figured out he shouldn’t make ALL the throws yet and may never.
How bad were the fucking Jets today? I’d be shocked if Jesus H. Christ isn’t starting next week. WTF do they have to lose?
I was surprised plastic Jesus didn’t start the second half.
I’m watching race replays in preparation for the Breeders’ Cup at the same time I’m watching Romo and the Cowboys. Common denominator? Horseshit everywhere.
Not 5 secs after my comment but Romo bootlegs it in on 4th and goal.
How ’bout dem Cowboys!
I didn’t see the Jets today. I did see their game in Miami. Only a complete FU collapse by the Fins let them win that one. Kinda like the Roadrunners have done against Dennis this week.
My neighbor up the street is a huge Chiefs fan. He has two KC flags on the hood of his black Toyota. He’s been driving that car proudly around the streets of Pinole for a good five years. Last time he past me walking down the street from the liquor store I just shook my head at ’em. Next time I think I’ll throw an empty Budweiser can at his ass. His Chiefs suck major ass.
Make an Aints paper bag for the poor guy
Synopsis of the Jets game today= They stink especially Sanchize.
Rex is being stupid and stubborn. Not like it’s a Ryan trait or anything. And he’s handicapped by the OC he brought in from Miami, Tony Sparano.
John Fox threw out the whole playbook last year with Tebow after the Lions mocked him. You know the Broncos led the league in rushing last year, right? The Lions didn’t make the playoffs last year, too. They weren’t laughing after Timmy kicked the defending AFC Champs arses in the playoffs.
Even Rex has to do something different. There is a limit to losing games this badly without making major changes before ownership makes really major changes. I predict plastic Jesus gets a start real soon and keep an eye on puppy killer in Philly, the rope he hung his dogs with is getting snug on him too.
Disclaimer: That is not a racist statement, it’s an anti animal brutality statement.
No worries about that from me, 12th. I was the only guy I remember on the Insider who knew about the guy from Va Tech. I didn’t know his “business” off the field.
I agree with Dennis 100% on this one. Rex would be a bigger fool to bring The Puppy Killer to New York.
I’m not sure Rex’s clownery has any limits RT.
I still hate Romo and the Cowpatties. But this week, Dennis, ya got me. Welcome me to 7th place in your league.
Eli is having a tough day
I really like watching Carroll’s face as he sees the game going south. i thought Seattle was clearly the better team but it was really good seeing Detroit pull that one out. Time for the Niners to shine.
My nephew is over and is a Raider fan, has been forever, and I gotta sit through one of the most boring games in the history of football. I don’t care, i want to see Dallas lose this game, Fuck Dallas.
Winder that’s cruel and unusual punishment having to sit through a Raiders/Chiefs game. Secondary Family is just not that important to me.
I’m no Cam fan, but at least the young man comported himself well today in his postgame speech. Last week’s was a doozy. Hey, Cam. I’ve got something for your suggestion box; you’re 1-6. Start winning some fucking games!
I hate the Cowboys
6 TO, that’s crazy.
The Cowpukes have STILL never beaten the NY Giants in Jerry’s new playpen. There is a God.
Spoke too soon?
Was Bryant’s hand OB? It’s close. Not sure if it’s conclusive to overturn.
His fingers were two inches OB. Too bad.
Here we go again