Color me unimpressed, but the Niners played a very bland ho-hum type game vs a very inferior opponent. I didn’t expect a Sea – AZ type score, but I certainly didn’t see a 6-3 half time score either. In yet another game where Fangio’s defense decided to give a young QB time in the pocket by strictly rushing 4 guys and playing soft on the outside WRs, the Niners were outplayed in the 1st quarter, and fell behind 3-0. The offense? Well, after the 1st play, a 20 strike from Kappy to Walker, we were generic there as well. Wake caused a fumble on 3rd and 3 on that opening drive, and it was a struggle the rest of the way. There was a lot of 3 back, 2 WR formations, 2 TE 2 WR formations, and the Niners trying to run, with varying success. Early on, Miami was rushing 5 and getting through.Since the Niners had 2 TEs in there blocking, there was often no one open to throw to. Kappy took a couple needless sacks, but the WRs were covered, and TEs were blocking so he had nowhere to go. VD again spent a lot time in protection. He got 2 looks, and one catch.
The 2nd quarter was much the same. The niners didn’t let Tannehill do anything over 8 yards, and the Niners couldn’t generate much. However, with 3:15 left in the 1st half, the Niners finally took advantage of the 15 yard cusion that Moss got. The Niners quicly got down to the Miami 10 with about 55 seconds left, after LMJ made a nice catch and run in the flat and got OB. Here is where it got stupid. Kappy inexplicably took a sack out of the shotgun. 8 yard loss. Tick tick tick. Then Harbaugh dials up a run for a 2 yard loss. Tick tick tick. Then Kappy bascially throws one away with time juuust about gone to stop the clock. Smart, but it shouldn’t have come to that. So, they had a 1st and goal from the 11 and were able to run 2 plays in 55 seconds. Awful. The time outs were gone of course, as getting plays to the QB in time seems to be an issue once again.
The second half was punctuated by the muffed punt for a FG, and the 50 yard Kappy run. The Niners finally started dialing up the pressure, and got to Tannehill. Culliver made some nice plays on their deep balls, but Miami has maybe 2 third string WRs at best. Donte Whitner had the pile-drive of the day when he picked up Regggie Bush and body slammed him to the turf. Aldon Smith looked great in getting pressure. There was one play early where A Smith lined up a half-step behind and off of Juston Smith’s right shoulder. I told Garrett, watch A Smith. He’s getting in there. Sure enough, he got through for his 1st sack.
This game, while the Niners had a few big plays, ad a couple nice passes, sure felt like a preseason game. The Niners played their base D for most of the 1st half, and while they stopped the big plays, they let Miami diddle around all over the place. The offense was a staid, boring, pack a bunch of guys on the line and run up the middle thype deal a lot of the time. What was encouraging was they ran out of the shotgun more in the 2nd half. LMJ broke off some nice runs in the 2nd half as the Niner line wore down Miami’s D line. And Kappy’s keeper was nice. It was set up by a run in the 2nd quarter where Kappy handed to Gore, and faked the keeper reverse. The RDE totally committed to the run on the play. Flash forward to the 4th quarter, and they ran the same plsy, with Kappy keeping the ball. The RDE totally bought the fake to Gore, and Kappy was free and clear.
This all plays like the Nolan/Singletary ‘let’s keep it close til the end and hopefully win’ philosophy. These coaches are either playing it close-to-the-vest because of the New England game coming up, or they seriously think they can win in the playoffs with this philosophy. Well, they can’t. Not unless they score 2 or 3 times on defense. Kappy’s stats look OK, and the numbers all look like a win, but we let a crappy team hang around most of the game. But, if not for the bungled punt, this game could have gone either way. These coaches either have to generate a real offense, or suffer the consequences. The Niners need to really open things up for Kappy. Otherwise, the QB switch is merely window-dressing.
Glaring problems? We gave up way too many 3rd down plays to Miami, and the Niners didn’t do shit on 3rd down. I don’t know the numbers, but Miami must have been close to 50% converting, and the Nners around 15%.
Here are some pics I took of the game.
Opening drive offense – 2 WRs, 3 RBs. Miami rushing 5.
Opening drive defense – Base 3-4. Safeties deep. Bowman on Bush in the slot. Rogers backed out of press before the snap.
Later in the game – 5 rushers. Willis covers the strong side TE, Golsdon moves up to take the slot left WR.
One of the few multi-WR sets of the game on 3rd and one. Didn’t make it.
Kappy throws to Miller for a 2 yard gain. The only 3rd down conversion other than the 50 yard run.
Dixon with a nice run to the one.
Forty Niners Forever 
We’ve been fans in search of an offense for years now. I thought with JH that we’d get one. Is it better than Jimmy Hat? Yes! Is it capable of beating a good defense in the playoffs? I can’t see any evidence that it is. Sure we’ve had some big days, mostly running, and have put up some points on shitty teams (BUF, NYJ), but we’ve looked pedestrian when we shouldn’t. It’s kind of cringe worthy flash forwarding to the playoffs against a D like NYG (when they play us), or SEA (especially in Seattle). Speaking of SEA, that game will be a good test of what kind of offense we can look forward to in the playoffs. Or cover our eyes.
While it’s true that we’re just a couple Akers close misses from being 11-2, as we and many teams have proved in the past, the RS record is great until it’s not — it’s all about the Playoffs.
JH/GR have to loosen up. The conservative play-not-to-lose stuff is not going to get us a 6th ring. We all know how brilliant we are in making these assessments, why can’t they figure it out?
Hey Chuck, no problem with what happened, maybe next time. I did like the no huddle offense in the 3rd quarter, caused Miami to burn a time out. would have liked to have seen that used more
From the last thread, 12 asked “why the switch”, and I answered. Harbaugh is still going to rely more on defense, running, and a minimum of mistakes. And with Kappy-as I said- the occasional bolt of lighninmg.He got a 50 yard TD run and a perfectly thrown bomb to Moss. I can’t believe I’m having to defend what they’re doing with Kap.Moss catches that ball-and that was a proper non-call on interference- and Colin is 19 for 24 for 232, two “bolts”, and a QB rating somewhere north of 120. WTF did you want? Try to get a grip, boys. It’s not enough that a guy who could very well be leading the NFL in QB rating in a week is cooling his heels on the bench, now what they’re doing with the #3 in Total QBR isn’t good enough. It was stupid enough to bitch about Smith, now Santa brought Denny an early wet dream for Christmas in Kappy and the bitching escalates.As Denny’s Rocky Mountain Guy says, the most important thing on offense is still having the fucking ball when the play is over. If Colin can continue his relatively error free play and his receivers actually catch the deep throws,the switch will have worked. Yes they can win with this offensive philosophy- the biggest if is Kap being able to keep mistakes down, as he mostly has so far.
Twin, you’re a guy who can’t see the wood for the trees. Have all the happy happy joy joy stats you like, this team is not beating a good defense with that play calling. You are so impressed with beating second and third tier teams with this methodical style. We know the team can do that, what we don’t know is how they will fare against a good/great defense and we are not learning anything by beating teams we should beat with this safe formula. When are you going to get it?
All these stats and wins mean nothing in the playoffs against good teams.
I know, tell me again who is # 3 QBR or what completion percentage, what friggin difference do you think that makes to the Giants D or the Pats in Foxborough?
This team needed to open things up with Smith under center and that goes double with Kap. Berger was right, I hate the formations they are using with Kap, neutering the guy big time.
I’ve been playing with Yahoo Playoff Generator today (nothing better to do today except thaw out the Old Mercedes from yesterday’s all day snow and last night’s 0 degrees).
Just picked on analysis combined with hunches, and here’s what I got:
AFC
New England, Houston, Denver, Baltimore, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh
NFC
Atlanta, San Francisco, Green Bay, Washington, Seattle, Chicago
1st round matchups would be:
Steelers @ Broncos (rematch from last year)
Colts @ Ravens
Bears @ Packers
Seahawks @ Redskins
I love parity.
Chuck, I didn’t notice Davis in to block a lot. Or anyone else for that matter. I don’t think I saw any six man protections much less seven. I saw a delayed release from Walker or Gore a few times but that was about it for beefed up protections. They sent five about half the time I think and we had trouble blocking four. That’s new. Smith had extra protection most of the time.
I think Kaep’s been Alexized, or Harbaughed or whatever you want to call it. Hit safe throws and don’t take chances. Lots of short routes. And a new offense. I think we’re looking past Miami and getting some of this new Kaep offense on film.
Singletary/Raye never ran so few receivers in their games. In the first half only two plays had three WRs. Lots of 2-RB/2-TE sets (22 personnel).
The “diamond” seems to be the set we were featuring yesterday. College crap if you ask me. Dierdorf called it the read option set, option yes, but there was no reading from it.
It’s handy in that it puts nine defenders in the box and doesn’t tip its hand to a particular power side. That should force some favorable single matchups on the outside but we rarely exploited that. Making me think it was more to test some of the runs and the effective play actions from them.
With that set, think pistol with a FB on each side, either or both sides can be a TE, RB, FB. Sometimes Davis was one and he would motion into the slot from it or not.
I don’t think it worked particularly well against a bottom half defense and we don’t have any college teams on the schedule so what’s the big idea here? Too many players not knowing where to be doesn’t help either.
They have commited 27 penalties the last 3 games(4th in the league overall) that will put you in alot of 3rd and long situations.They have to cleanup their act with those numbers down the stretch and especially come playoff games or it will bite their asses.
I added some pics on the Niner pics page. The first option in the right hand column.
I didn’t watch VD on every play, NoFear, but in the early series he was blocking a lot.
Twin, what do I want? A better showing than struggling at home against a shitty team. More play action. Less of the jumbo packages.
There were only 6 penalties yesterday. That’s an improvement.
And yeah, NoFear. A lot of the 3 RBs in the backfield. Problem was they were missing blocks and Kappy was on the run.
Plusses were definitely seeing Gore get good yards on few carries. He prettty much got a day off, for him.
LMJ is a keeper. Where the fuck was he last week? He is faster than shit, and he should have been playing in StL. Gore had one screen that was as tough a RAC as you can ever see. LMJ on screens to the outside would be deadly. Seeing the pistol and the no huddle was a refreshing change in the 2nd half.
Dennis, does this mean I get you in Round 1 of the playoffs with RG III out?
Can I just say congratulations now?
Our OL was asleep most of the game.. LMJ, was one slip away from taking that opening kickoff to the house. I agree, get LMJ in space (screens etc), that dude is stupid fast. Kaep knows the pistol — I watched him single handedly kick the crap out of my Cal Bears.. It’s very tough to defend especially if you don’t see it often.
Wow. in even more interesting news, Brandon Jacobs has been suspended for the final 3 games of the season, thus ending his Niner career. Bad news for the New York Giants as they are desperate for RB help, and can’t sign him as they could have had the Niners simply released him.
He was posting pictures of a Giants uni?? Wow, that’s a no-no.
he was trying to get cut, but Harbaugh took the low road.
Do not fuck, lest ye be fucked. At least when dealing with Jimbo the Merciless. Harbaugh is a living illustration of ‘Revenge is a dish best served cold’.
Jacobs has a totally legit beef. Unless we hear that he wasn’t in shape, it’s bullshit to treat a vet like he was a rook with years ahead of him. They wasted a precious year of his caeeer- now it may be his last year.The guy wanted to play..
Agree Michael.They totally wasted his season.He was ready to go awhile back and they kept rear-ending him without the Crisco.A two time SB winner deserved alot better.Instead he got corn-holed,and i can understand why he would be PISSED OFF!!
They brought him in to get those tough yards.on third down and short,yet nevet used him in the role.
Agree
Notice when we call TO’s because there is so much confusion we never come out with a play worth shit. Clock management, timeouts, and challenges need to be delt with in a more productive way. God, I don’t mean to whine about it especially with a win but it would be nice to see a well oiled machine. Oh yeah, Fuck Pete Carroll.
Did Carroll and Harbaugh have a history before the “What’s your deal” game?
Carroll? Who is he? Oh yeah, he’s the guy who has beaten Harbaugh in every matchup between their teams in college and in the pros.
I think.
Or maybe I got that backward.
Not sure. Probably just the history of school competion.
Just that Carroll was king shit of the Pac 10 when Harbaugh showed up. Harbaugh knocked him off the mountain.
Does it matter, Twin? You get your boot on the throat of a long respected opponent, and you don’t pull it off until it’s time for the next game.
Then you do it again.
I think it’s called competition.
Twin, 10 seconds, Wonderlic test, can you name the OC and DC of Paul Brown’s great 50’s teams? I know you know the answer; you got to watch one of them when you were young.
It’s called competition.
Why are you picking another fight, it was a legit question. I guess the anser is “no history”..
Plenty of history, the two previous years.
http://sports-glutton.com/2011/01/07/jim-harbaugh-vs-pete-carroll-round-2/
Yeah, I’ve said it all year. I have no idea what the thought process is around Brandon Jacobs. He apparently came to camp in great shape. He said the best shape in 4 seasons, He was playing well in preseason and got hurt. As near as I can tell, he was ready to play by around week 6. He got stonewalled, and then the hilarity started.
Maybe Harbaugh has a thing for guys having the temerity to get injured.