One of my favorite lines from the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. Anyhow, remember the thrilling days of yesteryear, when the Niners were coming off 2 resounding division wins, they were 6-2, 1st place in the NFC West, and there was a clear cut starting quarterback on the 49ers? You know, 16 days ago? Well, on that fateful day 16 days ago, the 49ers played the hapless St. Louis Rams. A team that was 3-5 and stumbling around pretty aimlessly under 1st year head coach Jeff Fisher.
Most everyone figured a crushing defeat for the Rams, but a funny thing happened on the way to the victory party. Steven Jackson ran the ball down the Niners throat. Jerry Amendola caught a ton of balls for a ton of yards, and with some stupid decisions on both sides, plus a few missed FGs, the game ended in a tie. And, Alex Smith was knocked out of the game in the 2nd quarter after sustaining a concussion. Colin Kaepernick did well enough down the stretch of that game to win it, and also made a play which could have lost it. Fisher made some very dumb calls, but all in all, it felt like a loss for the Forty Niners, given the circumstances.
Fast forward to the present, and the Niners know now that the Rams, for all their faults and growing pains, aren’t a pushover. Jackson shredded the Niners defense early, and the D missed more tackles in that game than in all the rest of the other games combined. Bradford had way too much time, and Amendola torched Carlos Rogers all day. I heard Fangio this morning stress tackling and say if their effort is the same as the previous game, the results will be similar. I don’t see that happening.
Offensively, both QBs did well vs the Rams. The run game gained steam going along, and both QBs made some good throws. We should know by tomorrow who gets the call. Other than that, KW is out, and also it looks like Kendall Hunter is also lost for the remainder of the season. Jewel Hampton, an undrafted RB, has been promoted from the practice squad to take Hunter’s place. The Niners are going with 52 guys for now, but I’m sure someone else will be added shortly.
BREAKING NEWS: NaVorro Bowman has been signed to a 5 years, $48.5 million extension through the 2018 season.
Forty Niners Forever 
Grumpy, I’d say they relaxed whatever standards were in place for the eight years W occupied the office.
Twinfan, you drag my question through the blog in hopes of picking up supporters or demanding Chuck ban me like all the rest of the posters you can’t cow.
I asked you for answer not a poll. Spineless chickenshit.
The sine qua non of free speech is not the protection of popular speech, but the protection of that which is unpopular. The Supreme Court allowed Nazis to march in Jewish neighborhoods, NOT because they wore jackboots, but because in the marketplace of ideas, the suppression of unpopular speech and ideas can all too quickly lead to the suppression of any idea those in power find inconvenient.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Twin, you started this with your 5:15 comment.
Please stop.
It was started by Fear misrepresenting what your dear Denny is.But I ended it already and everyone is in agreement that being a racist and birther is not illegal per se.
Football blogs need bar rules: No politics and no religion period.
Yeah second that. Seems like twinfan has taken the demotion of Alex quite poorly so now we gotta listen (or just skip) his tantrums. Boring shit
Well, I think both of us have shown where we stand, Fear. Your question has been answered sufficiently.
Happy Holidays.
Now: RT asked for an honest answer on the game plan for St. Louis. That puts me in a bind because I wanted to say they were going to go with the Wishbone on offense and an 11 man front on defense.
So, I guess I have to say I have no idea. I’ll talk to Jimbo and get back to you. I’m guessing they mix running and throwing. Just a guess, though.
Because you don’t have a clue what you are talking about? Running and throwing, what a concept. I’ll have to check my late uncle’s Nebraska Cornhuskers playbook for that one. From 1939.
You don’t “get”: much, do you , RT?
The game plan is “running and throwing”.
Good job, Jack. You just predicted every football that will ever be played.
Ok I will take a stab at it. The Rams are aggressive at pass rushing so I expect to see a handful of screens/bubble screens and some designed QB runs. Kap natural ability to escape the rush is a bonus with that too. I would think some shot plays downfield are in order and Moss should see one or two of those. Ginn if healthy for punt returner and LMJ for kick returner. If Ginn is out maybe we see AJ punt returning. Crazy how we are back to inexperienced return guys again.
Jacobs will see more action but not crazy more as well as Dixon. I would be surprised to see LMJ in the backfield.
On D Amendola can expect to get jammed at the LOS more and maybe Cox (Rob loves Cox) will get to cover him at times out of the slot.
Rushing 5 a little more on Bradford to take him out of his timing throws he made all day.
I can’t imagine Seeley allowing another punt fake so tighter coverage on the gunners.
Oh and Kap to have a big day run and pass.
One would have thought the Wishbome and 11 man front would have clued RT on the nature of the post.
I think we’re looking at a potential Niigerian 419 victim here. RT: DON”T send any money to the brother of Nigerian prince. Too late? Bummer, dude.
Oh Twin. Making friends wherever you go.
LMJ should be used for screens and maybe a few draws. He’s got to get on the field for some plays. He’s a better option than Jacobs for more situations. Amendola absolutely has to be jammed. And they have to stop Jackson better.
Loved LMJ in college, lightning fast and a playmaker. As we haven’t had the benefit of seeing him play in the Pro’s it’s tough to judge but my thinking is blitz pickup is a big part of the Niner offense for their RB so I would presume Dixon gets the call.
I think I’ll agree with 12. Well, he agrees with me:running and throwing. I’m thinking there could be some kicking, too. What we don’t want is a lot of dropping things.
Jack, just what the fuck are you writing about? A Nigerian price? Where did that come in?
Jack Pardee’s son used to post on the Insider. He probably still does.
Doesn’t mean he was right, just knowledable. I beat him on a couple things; caught him on off-days, I guess. I wouldn’t dream of coaching against him. My hide would be sore for a million Sundays.
You were in the broadcast booth with the Pack; I just thought you were a Niner fan and would root for Kaepernick.
RT, the runnin’ and throwin’ thing was a joke. And I do root for Colin. I root hardest for guys I have doubts about. Never rooted harder than for Cody Pickett ( that’s a joke, too)
Peace.
Mike, we’re spectators. But I’ve seen 5 in person and I’m hungry for 6.
Besides, in the winter in New Mexico there’s nothing to do but change clothes every hour, winter, summer, make up your damn mind!
RT, my Dad used to brag that he never an agent. He also claimed that he was paid 800 bucks for doing the first Super Bowl ( as you know, not called the Super Bowl then). I’m not sure I believe the 800 buck claim, but when he told me that, I said “Dad, get an agent”..
never “had” an agent,
But he made the Hall of Fame. Of which,we should all be proud.
Of course I’m proud of him. Actually, he’s in a few Halls of Fame. It just blew me away when he said he got paid 800 dollars for that Super Bowl.Another interesting thing (to me, anyway). He got 55 dollars a week when he started out in Johnstown, Pa. The last work he did before he died was High School football in Billings, Montana.It was really a favor for an old friend, but the guy insisted on paying him something- 55 bucks a game.
maybe the 800 dollars was true, he would have worked for nothing, truth be told.
You don’t have to do what your Dad did, Mike. You know plenty of football and baseball on your own. Just my opinion.
I’m not sure I know what you mean doing what my Dad did, RT.
I meant he made the Hall of Fame.
RT, my life has been just fine. I loved my father and was proud of his accomplishments in his field, but I never felt any desire to emulate or best him in any way . You’ve spoken of your father and how you helped him when he became ill. If I have any regret at all about my Dad, it’s that we weren’t close in his later years.
This one has meaning for me Twin.
I took care of my Dad at the end when the family had abandoned him. It’s a tough fuckinh decision.
I prefer horses and dogs and cats, now.
Not an easy thing to do RT
A few of us talked about family and aging parents and such on the Flap yesterday. I can’t talk much about my experiences here, but I respect what others have gone through, having experienced much of it myself. That was a moving song, 12. And RT should be proud of what he did for his father, as I’m sure he is. Night all.
There are certain numbers of plays where they can use LMJ’s speed where he doesn’t have to block. Screens and draws spring to mind. He looked real good in his oppos in preseason.
Well if your’e right that gets 2 dynamic young guys on the field. Just hope he doesn’t do what the RB did to Steve Young (lawrence?) and miss his assignment. That RB went on to have a great career after that, in crime.
LaMichael had a rough childhood, I’ve looked forward to him getting a chance here.
I’m not familiar with his history outside on on field. I was happy to see him picked but a bit puzzled since we had Gore and Hunter.
They got AJ and LMJ For more team speed. Whether they use it or not remains to be seen.
They also signed Chad Hall to return kicks.
Did Hall go to the PS?
200+ comments, not reading them all. Can someone tell me what is going to happen if and when Colin loses 2 in a row, or he loses the 1st playoff game he is in? Alex won last year. So with picking Colin it is SB or bust. What happens if Colin does not take the Niners to the Promised land? Is he still the Starting QB next year, and will the Niners draft a QB if Colin does not win it all. To me this is what is wrong with going all in in the middle of the year with an unproven guy. No, No, 2 games does not make him the Guy.
The last 2 days is nothing but the Cappy/Smith debate, Kevin. And what it means if Cappy doesn’t reach the Super Bowl.
Truth be told, this teams is built on running and defense, so the passing game may or may not be the determining factor of getting to the promised land.
The safe call would have been Smith. And Smith starting some more this season hasn’t been completely ruled out, but it isn’t likely.
To answer you question, Kevin, Harbaugh is “all in” on Kappy until he’s not all in on him.It is correct that Jimbo is going for all the marbles this year- so he will not hestiate to switch back if Kap fucks up. Depending on all of the circumstances that may or may not affect Colin’s standing as the QB of the future, but Jimbo is hardly going to stand by and let Colin screw that proverbial pooch. He is going for the Super Bowl this year and thinks Colin gives him the best shot- THAT is the reason for changing now. If Colin does anything to shake that confidence, Jimmy isn’t going to stick with him until the doggy dies.
Harbaugh’s going all-in with Cappy. His guy. Come hell or high water. The Niners will likely release Alex after this season, but before the $8 mill is due him on 4/1/13.
Unless Cappy gets hurt or flat bombs out before the playoffs.
ESPN, NFL network, think Alex will get picked up by a team that needs a QB. Think Jets, Miami, Texans?? Of Course the next question is where do the Niners draft a QB next year?, early first round? Inquiring minds want to know.
Jimbo is madly in love now but we’ve seen what a ficlkle fella he is. Never the less,even if Smith has to bail him out this year, Colin will stiill most likely be considered the QB of the future.
IMO Alex will have some options next year if that’s how it plays out. He has a good track record since Harbaugh came. I don’t expect a hot market for him but he would be an upgrade on some teams right now.
Yes I think Harbaugh takes a QB next draft but probably a mid to back end guy. He has Kap and Tolzien so he needs a 3rd.
This is no fault of Jimbo, Kap, or any of the other “players:” in this little soap opera, but as many are now reporting, Smith losing his job is going to be a big setback for player safety after a concussion. Smith was thought to be OK before he self reported the concussion, in fact he played at a high level after suffering the concussion. There’s no rule and can’t be one to protect players who refuse to protect themselves. Players will now decide if they should report symptoms or not, I’m sure Alex is wondering whether he should have.
Alex is a cerebral guy, no way he puts playing before a brain injury. He is in a good position if he calls it a day now though, he has made 70 Mil or so from the 49ers. Other players are maybe more dumb, or “tough” in a stupid way, or have not made much money yet. I agree Twin it has the unintended effect of sending a “don’t report” message. Of course this is not new, the game was composed of that message for it’s entire history until 3 years ago. This is national news today and wrapping for dog poop tomorrow.
A storm in a tea cup. With the spotlight on concussions now we see players routinely examined after a hit, in Alex’s case it came on a QB sneak so there was not hit to be seen but that’s hardly usual.
A different angle. Where has Harbaugh steered this team wrong in his 1.5 years? Does anybody here doubt the man knows quarterbacking? Does anybody doubt his competitive nature and his need to win? Does anybody think he is being an asshole for it’s own sake or because he is trying to improve his team? What should a coach of the year do about having a more talented guy on the bench? Almost all coaches would have stayed with the safe decision, hard to complain if he had made that decision. I can think of only 2 coaches willing to put their reputations on the line to do what they think is right in this particular situation, Harbaugh and Billicheat.
I think Harbaugh deserves high praise for having the guts to do what he feels is in the teams best interests.
Aspects of his handling of it stink, it’s tough for Alex to swallow, fans are going to be vocal with either decision.
Nobody has a crystal ball. Nobody can say that with Alex this team can win X or with Kap Y. Looking at last years results and setting it as a benchmark for success of a QB makes no sense, he is a player on a team.
Harbaugh’s job is to field his best team to try to win a SB same as it is for the other 31 HC’s. In these parity days about 10 teams each year have a legitimate shot at going to the bowl and the Cowboys think they do every year but don’t.
Harbaugh is doing what he thinks is right and in the best interests of the team and that’s what he was brought here to do. If fans only want him to do the safe thing we should have stuck with Singleneuron or some other unimaginative HC.
This Niner team has as good as shot as the other 9 top teams to go to the SB, if Harbaugh believes Kap gives us a better shot at it then I am all in with him.
I am a fan of Kap for as much as I have seen and not a big fan of Alex also for what I have seen, but having said that I respect what Alex can do under Harbaugh’s system and guidance and yes it is possible Alex could take us to a SB game and he still might, but this is a game of talent and Kap has more and coupled with his decision making makes him more likely to get the team to the bowl and that is Harbaugh’s thinking not that of an armchair critic.