Pete Carroll seems to be getting a handle on not shooting his mouth off these days. Or his players. His MO has been to do a little too much talking. Before and after games. While Jim Harbaugh tends to talk to the press in non-sequiters (Jive turkey gobble gobble, ropin’ and ridin’).
Still and all this game will be played on the likely rain-soaked turf of Seattle. This game will also bear little similarity to the previous meeting of the Niners and Seattle in week 7 at the Stick. That game saw a lot of Frank Gore and Marshawn Lynch. Russell Wilson had one of his worst days as a rookie phenom, and Carroll was still working on how to use Wilson in the framework of their offense. Wilson went 9 for 23 for 122 yards and a pick. Since that game, though, the Hawks have gone more read option, and have thrown more than earlier in the season. Passing to set up the run. Wilson has gone 13-2 TDs to INTs since that Niner game. And obviously they’ve been scoring at a very high rate. Of course, scoring on Buffalo isn’t all that, and AZ has been on a steady decline since they beat the Dolphins on Sept 30.
The 49ers? Well, beyond the fact that they’ve changed QBs, and they too run the read option now (out of the bug-eye formation), and are a little more aggressive in their passing game, their philosophy hasn’t changed all that much. They still try to pound the ball up the middle with Gore, and hit the edges with LMJ. They use play-action to try downfield shots. Very much like Seattle. Even with Seattle’s recent onslaught of points, the Niners have still outspcred them 357 to 350, but it’s basically a wash.
Defensively, both these teams are similar. A defensive backfield full of big-hitting safeties and good cover guys. The numbers bear this out. Even with Sunday night’s defensive collapse, the Niners still lead the lead in least defensive points allowed 218 points. Seattle is a close 2nd at 219. Both teams have 35 sacks, but Seattle’s defense is slowed by the loss of Jason Jones, Brandon Browner is serving his suspension for PEDs, and the impending suspension of Richerd Sherman is still TBD today. He may or may not be cleared, and even if suspended, could still have the suspension hit next week instead of this game. They do get safety Winston Guy back. He has served his 4 game suspension for PEDs.
The Niners of course may not be getting the services of Justin Smith. He of the 185 consecutive game starting (and 188 games in a row) streak, and the heart of the defensive line for the 49ers. Earlier reports of Smith playing have been clouded by the fact that Smith hasn’t practiced all week, and his status is less clear than when Harbaugh gave his ‘ropin’ and ridin’ report on Tuesday. Ricky-Jean would take his spot, and he had a decent game once the Niners got out of their zone coverage and stopped letting Brady hit 8-12 yard passes at will. Still and all, I think Justin is a game-time decision and could still play if he improves enough. Missing a few practices isn’t a deal-breaker for him.
So, I see a game plan similar to what they did vs NE. Come out aggressive. Try to get up early, and force turnovers in the bad weather. The big hope for me is that Kappy and Goodwin have figured out the center/QB exchange problems which plagued the Niners, to the tune of 4 botched snaps (but no turnovers), in the New England rain. They cannot keep making mistakes like that and expecting to win games.
Forty Niners Forever 
And in more news, slightly affecting FF points, and the refs admit blowing the Walker call.
Ouch. Yeah, I wondered why that play didn’t get reviewed, as turnovers are supposed to be automatically reviewed at the time, but it was waved off by the field judge. It certainly fell under the byzantine ‘catch and footabll move’ parameters that they currently use. Oh well.
So every ESPN station, Mike and Mike, The Herd, et al, are all talking about Seattle. And as usuall Niners are Rodney Dangerfield!! Which has all ways worked out to the Niners advantage IMO. think the SB against Miami. Anyway this should be a game the Niners win hands down. But I was wrongo about the NE game last week. So lets hear what the rest of you Sports analyst have to say.
Oh and I will go with Niners 34 – and the SeaChickens 13
Hey isn’t that the flip side of yer NE/Niners call? Got it…
ha ha close I think, like I said for NE i thought the Niners would lose badly, and for this game it should be an easy win. I was wrong about the NE game so hopefully I am right about this game
And I went through some of the postings about where, when, how will Alex end up?? well IMO, who cares, really. I mean he is not going to be a Niner which all of you have been clamouring for over the last 6+ years. Your wish has come true, so Alex should not even be a talking point.
He’s still on the team, Kevin, and the Niners could still end up needing him. The Alex talk will never end!
Muuuuwahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!
But seriously, I have 27-13 Niners. The defense won’t let Wilson get away with shit.
Chuck…You need to give the “Cowboy” alittle more credit.His consecutive start streak is at 185 games.3rd to Ronde Barber and London Fletcher.
Huh. Yeah I thought it was 185, then I read 152 somewhere else. i should trust my instinctts.
The Niners still have an open spot on their 53-man roster. I’d volunteer my services, but in my current shape I’d only be up for handing out towels and filling the Gatorade buckets. Those tasks are already being expertly handled by Alex. No need for me.
Yes Chuck, but all the talk was about at the end of the year and what to do with him. And My point was who cares, he will not be on the team. My question is who is going to be Kappy’s back up next year? A draftee? who is behind Alex right now?
A good part of the talk was about his contract terms and what if anything they can get for him. Where he goes matters a little if it is in the division too.
I think Alex tests the market, if he does not get close to the $8 mill, he takes a cut and stays a niner, Better the Devil you know…
I think Sherman is playing since a suspension will usually give the team the week to plan for it. I wish I knew more about Justin’s status though.
I don’t think our defense collapsed against the Pats. Actually I think they held up remarkably well against Belichick’s plan to wear us out with a second half no-huddle attack. But that makes me question what shape our D will be in this week and especially if they’re without Justin.
We destroyed their run defense last meeting and that may be our best option this week, as theirs should be Lynch.
Fairly low-scoring battle with Akers getting back his mojo and Kaep making the difference. Niners 24-20
Bet on the Niners to cover and the over. Easy money.
Scott Tolzein is the backup. The Niners may go out and get someone like Gradkowski next year, but even that’s not set in stone. The Niners could certainly take a flier on a later choice. They have 14 picks in the draft.
Alex has little choice in the matter. He’ll either get traded or released.
The trade window opens next March 12th, and the guaranteed $8.5 mill kicks in on April 1st. So, whatever’s going to happen will happen in those 20 days. I see that contract getting picked up easily. The Niners won’t pay that money to be a backup, but some other team willpay it for him to start.
My guess is, we sign a journeyman vet to compete with Tolzien for number two – let’s call him Josh Johnson Number Two. Then we draft a later round guy to develop, call him Tolzien Number Two. The ‘new JJ’ probably ends up like the old one, unless Tolzien clearly cannot handle the job. The ‘Tolzien Number Two’ guy becomes our third QB.
If Smith remains on the Niners, it’s because something infinitely terrible (as in career ending) happend to Kappy.
Smith will not stay here and back up. Not in a million years. Smith has been fucked over by the Niners in his 8+ years with the team. This would have to be thought of as the last straw. . .
All signs point to Richard Sherman playing, even though he missed the last 2 practices to go to his meeting with the commish (or whoever) to learn of his fate.
I suppose he could be suspended immediately, but they usually take care of this shit early in the week, not on a Friday, so it may be delayed until next week.
In other words, with a couple DBs hurt, coming off injury, or coming off suspension, we should be testing their deep coverage early and often. One thing I liked about the Eagles years ago was every game they played the Niners (and a lot of other games) they’d open up with a bomb. Like, here it comes, stop it. It worked enough for them to do it just about every game.
NoFear, Justin Smith’s a game-time decision. Which leads me to think he’s playing.
Unless they shut him down completely, I think he starts.
Cam Johnson promoted to the 53 man roster.That may be a hint of Cowboy’s avaliability.
They had an empty spot to fill, but that certainly fills a need for some added depth.
And, for what it’s worth, they upgraded Smith from doubtful to questionable.
Some good stuff on the blog today.