Here we sit, the 49ers 1.5 games up on Seattle, a recent pounding of the Bears in their rear-view mirror, and an apparent first round bye if they keep up the strong play. The offense is clicking along, the defense has been getting tons of pressure (Aldon Smith leads the league with 14 sacks), and the special teams (minus a couple fake punts) has been getting better. All these great feelings however have taken a back seat to a seemingly self-made quandary which has the airwaves burning, and the bloggosphere absolutely incendiary. The quandary of course is the instant QB controversy that sprung up out of the concussion to Alex Smith in the Ram game, and the subsequent dismantling of the supposedly impregnable Chicago defense by Colin Kaepernick.
The stupid thing to me is this could have been averted by Jim Harbaugh. All he had to say was Smith is getting one more day off to make sure he’s good to go down the stretch. Cappy gets the NO start, and things go back to normal. But Harbaugh seems to be the one holding the gas can at this point. He has baited the fans by calling them drooling idiots who don’t care if they win or lose, called the press liars, and left it to his starting SS Donte Whitner to say Cappy was starting. Which Harbaugh then denied. Alex Smith’s status is still unclear at this point, although it seems that he’s good to go. That his health even matters is up for debate. Cappy played a great game, but it was one game. OK, 1.6 if you include the 2.5 quarters of the Ram game. Even still, based on that, you usually don’t make a quarterback switch based on a handful of quarters.
The point being, there was a whole shitload of unneeded thrash around the team this week. Now if this was Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys, I’d certainly understand the impetus to get one’s team in the news by any means. But for all intents and purposes, this is the buttoned-down San Francisco Forty Niners. The classy team finding its way back to relevancy and the top of the football pyramid. Not a grandstanding hottdogging look-at-us kind of team. Harbaugh is really alienating everyone who is a fan of the team, and has made a chilly press relationship even more cold with his recent statements. For no other reason than apparently to leave the Saints in the dark regarding who starts.
So, I don’t get it. I also don’t expect the Saints to be pushovers as some think, due to their poorly ranked defense. They show a bunch of different looks, disguise blitzes, and have been playing better in recent weeks, and are always tough at home. Besides, the Niners are the agents of a lot of their recent problems. The Niners beat the Saints in the playoffs last year in one of the best games in NFL history, Gregg Williams was fired for his singling up on VD in crunch time in the playoffs, Williams was then suspended indefinitely for statements he made (knowingly taped) prior to that playoff game, and the whole Bounty-gate deal.
So, there’s certainly enough on NO’s plate to want to knock the Niners off. Who knows? Maybe this is Harbaugh’s way of getting the pressure off the players. Then again, what do I know. I’m a drooling idiot.
San Francisco 49ers Forever 
C’mon man!
Kap puts the first down on his back.
Coming back, I think.
flag or not, what a play
He can keep plays alive, and thread the needle.
That honestly was not much of a hold.
But be honest-without the hold, Colin doesn’t make the play.
It did not look to me like the DL was going to be a factor in the play at all. AD did not hold him long enough to make any difference IMHO.
I’ll try to look again at halftime.
I didn’t see it that way Twin
Maybe I’m wrong, I thought the guy draped on Colin was the guy who was held.
Watched it again – the DL was never closer than about 5 yards to CK when he released the ball at the sideline. The guy who almost had CK earlier in the play in the middle of the field was a different guy. I think if AD had let his guy go clean, Kap still completes the pass.
The defense had BETTER keep Brees from running off another seven here.
D. needs to make a stop here. Preferably a 3 and out.
The differences so far, are that our O-line does not pass block as well as theirs, and their receivers are not dropping anything.
Okay, can we all agree that the Chicago game was mistake free. We will now see what the Kape crusader is made of, and we will see if Harbaugh gets conservative playing from behind.
SHit. Got to pin them here.
Kappy’s backing too deep and running into the Saints ends on nearly every play. The Niners lines are getting beaten on both sides of the ball.
With those long legs, Kap’s version of a ‘five-step’ drop might be a little different than Alex’s. Could be part of the problem.
Even a 49er FG here makes a huge difference in halftime momentum. Big, big drive.
Why the hating on Ginn? They’re defending a Super Bowl win if he’d played against NY in the NFC title game..
Not if he played those punts like he just did here, though.
you gonna cry all game?
watch for a trick play
redemption is at hand for Williams
Mario hurt his wrist
I find it quite funny and ironic that we now turn to Kyle Fucking Williams for some reliable hands. Not that I disagree with it, he’s actually been very good this year. But that’s some “full circle shit” for sure.
It’s an absurd universe.
Very conservative play calling, but they got the first down.
Rookie mistake. Trying to make something out of a shit play. Should just fall on that one.
Damn I was just about to comment on the low snaps play after play. Bad play by Kaep. He’ll learn.
He had plenty of time after the snap. It was just a bad pass,
that’s 3 bad snaps today from Goodwin and the first pick of many for Kap.
Well, I’m convinced. Another throw Smith can’t make.
like against the Giants? Give it a rest Twin, your guy is out today, cheer the Niners.
Fuck off. I’m rooting for my team as I always have since 1974. But since when has QB play become immune to criticism? Oh,that’s right-since it isn’t Smith out there.
ok, cry all day you whiny asshole.
No, I’ll make honest evaluations as always, shithead. As noted below, decent first half for Kap. A couple drops but also a pick and a fumble they were lucky to not lose. B-
T. Brown needs to knock that guy out rather than going for the ball there.
needed that shit!!!!
CHRISTMAS CAME EARLY!!!!!!!
Brooks, tie game!!! Just like that.
OH YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FUCKIN A!!!!!!!!!!!!! Momentum Changer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THAT was a total fucking gift. Brand new game for the Second Half.
Damn! And we get the ball out of the break. Brooks with the play of the season.
Play of the season? Really?
Huge shift – from looking down the barrel of 17-7 or even 21-7, to tied up. Big time play by Ahmad.
Paging Dr. Greg House. Dr. Gregory House, Ahmad Brooks is coming your way…
TO THE HOUSE!!!!
Wow. The teams are equal in gifts. Goodwin has to get those snaps higher.
Now we will see how well Kap can shake off the miscue and get back on the horse.
I expect the scoring to quicken as we get late in the game, just like last January. We need to do some scoring.
Agreed
Yeah, the defense has been dropping those this year. Hell of a play.
Have to blitz a little more, need pressure on Brees.
First half: Kap has made some nice throws, a couple drops…he’s also not exactly the calmest guy in a storm. B-
Pick6 was huge. Time to get back to the run. D has its work cut out for them in 2nd half. Excuse the adolescent typing, I hate Mobile touch screen devices
just read Frank has 12 yds on 4 carries. We are playing the wrong game here.
I think we really use play-action to start this drive. Haven’t used it too much so far.
good point
need to chew clock and keep Brees on the sideline, don’t think we can win a full on shootout against Brees in the dome.
This is a must win for the Saints and they’re playing like they need it, We need to step it up.
27 of the 44 rushing yards have come from Cappy. Gore has to be involved more.
agree
on the move again!
Beautiful throw to convert on third down.
Gotta say, he throws a gorgeous pass . . .
Don’t like that play, though.
THAT was a good throw…
The one to Walker. Nice Drive- he’s up to a B.
Funny, Alex is sitting on a B. BENCH!!!
need to keep the run/pass balance
Run the ball!! Nice
TD…
just like that!
Beautiful drive
Gotta like Staley blocking 15 yards downfield. TD, GORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Humm Baby.
Wow. That was an impressive drive.
Be nice to see the D come out fired up as well. Get some pressure. They may look to run, though. I’m not too worried about that.
Like to see a take away here. Put the NO back on their heels.
LIKE THAT?!!!
You still want Alex to start next week right at this moment?
Another pick6!!
Brees has made a career out of answering drives like that though. The defense needs to stop him at least a few times this half.
Finally, a sack.
Good to see Moss involved in the teaching aspect to Kap although I’m sure he is saying he wants the ball too. Justin is an animal.
Yessss!
Yeah, like that!
Oh yeah!!
woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooohoooooooooooooooo
Dr. Greg House is having one helluva day. That one courtesy of Whitner.
Vicodin for everyone!
you are one sick guy Del, funny, but sick.
Lol, love it
Ha! That one hurt
I’ll say this- Coiln has been more Brees-like than Brees has.
apology accepted
lol
Hardly. Unllke you and your ilk, I never root against our team regardless of who the QB is.And I honestly evaluate what happens. Try it.
What apology? If we win this, we’ve won two games that Smith also would have won.
It’s killing you, isn’t it?
I’ll say this, it shows just how good this team can really be.
Time to open the throttle
hell yes it is, stomp em.
WE ARE BETTER THAN NEW ORLEANS GUYS !
Yup, we’re playing good on D and O
Good Phil?
Rally gud
Kaep has accounted for 190 of our 236 yards total offense.163 passing, 27 rushing.
a man for all seasons indeed, and he answered the question of can he shake off a bad mistake quite well.
I hated to see Colston go down like that, and I’ll glad he walked off OK. Too late for him to help the Coyotes after I benched all my Saints for the game today. But I hate to see a player go down like that.
The defense cannot relax here. This team can put up 30 in a half without breaking a sweat.
damn straight they can
Brown got the penalty AND gave up the catch. His jump was way too early, too.
BS flag, the WR did well but a flag?
No holding?
sorry but the flags are flying on just about nothing
We’re in New Orleans today.
guess so
Niners getting bent over on some of these calls
Shabby D. on that drive. It’s Drew fucking Brees. This game is far from over.
It’ll be over at 00:00. Until then, the 49ers had better be ready to play.
we need a couple nice drives by kappy and a couple stops on D and we’ll win this game !
It’s very important now to execute our offense, and come up with a couple of long drives ending in TDs. Keep scoring, and keep Brees from racking up TDs.
We actually need a number of first downs now, rather than a big play. This is where we see if Kappy can play like Alex at this best. Move the chains, eat clock, don’t make mistakes, score. This will be more of a challenge in some ways than anything he has faced earlier.
agree, need to chew clock and preserve the lead.
oh and score on the long drive too 🙂
I’ll disagree with you on this one, Grump. The running game has been ineffective and it is the TrackMeetDome.
I say they go downfield.
the refs are giving NO all the homer calls ! they don’t understand just how fucking good we are ESP with kappy at QB
was he down?
No.
refs suck today, at least for us.
Another low snap. We need to get that fixed.
I count 5 so far, what changed except the QB?
Crabtree was never down. Can’t we fucking challenge that? Apparently not if the whistle blew.
Another stupid ass NFL rule. Get it right! Bottom line.
TOLD YA
OOOOOf. JUST missed a big play there to Hunter.
Penalties are just fucking us
Jacobs!
thats on goodwin
Playing field position on 3rd and long.
I hate that fucking call. 3rd and 19 and we run the goddamn. At least try a short completion and see if you can get some YAC from our receiver. Not a fan of the play calling today.
Don’t agree Dennis, we have a lead, field position is vital.
TOLD YOU SO
Goodwin has at least half a dozen low snaps today. That’s just not acceptable.
Not a good punt by Lee, either – only 40 yards. We are about two minutes from this thing being tied again, unless someone makes a play for the 49ers.
That was a rough series. Is it OK to say that? I didn’t blame Kappy so it should be Ok, shouldn’t it?
what was Brooks thinking?
flag on them right?
About time. I thought they were going to hose us again.
Personally, though, I’d rather not call it on either, and let them play in those situations.
I thought that was the right call, holding an arm is more than the usual jostling.
Brees is so quick to step up in the pocket, makes sacks near impossible
smith!!!!!
Or not
Aldon says hello.
Horrible field position. 18 minutes to play still.
need that long scoring drive now.
A. Smith makes a play! That’ s pretty damn impressive, considering he’s sitting on the bench!
Nice throw there.