Crazy crazy game yesterday. No reason to go into the details, we all saw the excitement, the drama, and the coming out of Colin Kaepernick. That being said, the Niners are facing a team that looks somewhat like the Falcons (pocket passer, pounder of a RB, and a dominant WR in Antuan Bouldin), but also like the Niners themselves. Big and strong on both lines, they try and impose their will on every opponent they face.
Flacco reminds me of Matty Ryan, in that I didn’t see him much, but he’s put up solid numbers his whole career. Ray Rice is a force to be reckoned with, and their defense is as fundamentally sound as ours is. Beyond the brother angle, this game is a very good matchup. Old school hard nosed football. Power running with some dramatic flair thrown in by the emergence of Colin Kaepernick and his running ability. Deep shots on both sides. All in all, a pretty good deal.
We’ve got forever before gametime but the wait starts now.
Forty Niners Forever 
What is hard to stop with the Ravens is Ray Rice and their screen game.
Would look for ways to neutralize that and blow it up.
I’m not worried about screens. No one has thrown screens against us with much success. I’m worried about Rice, Bouldin, and Smith. It’s up front that determines the success of their run game and ours. If the Niners don’t get pressure, it’ll be just as bad a 1st half as last week. Which is why I’d like to see us come out blitzing. Nail Goldson’s feet into the turf 20 yards downfield so he doesn’t bite on play action or double moves.
Balt’s LBs are slow. I’d look to stretch them with a lot of LMJ on pitches, and maybe a screen or 2 of our own. Miller had a phenomenal game blocking last week.
And one last thing (well, not last). I think the biggest run of the game for Frank was the last one of the day for him. 3rd and 15 on the 8 yard line, and he gets 10 to give Andy Lee room to punt, and Lee pinned Atl far enough back to not even come close to reaching the end zone on a Hail Mary pass . . .
Ravens are 4.5 point dogs to open the line.
From Sando
Kaepernick has the NFL’s highest Total QBR score (94.1) and second-highest passer rating (105.9) in the playoffs this season.
Sando also manages to fit a praising of Russell Wilson into this piece on Kap of course.
I hope AJ Jenkins takes a leaf out of Crabs book and works his ass off in the off season and TC cause as of right now he has shown just about nothing in any game this year, for a #1 first round pick that is dismal. Crabtree would be hearing it from all of us, not sure why Jenkins is getting a pass.
Harbs said Jenkins would have to step up when Manningham went down but he simply hasn’t.
So much for writing his name in an envelope the night before the draft, sounded good and promising at the time.
Too soon to write him off but he needs to get his ass in gear quick or the team will pass him by.
Well he sure isn’t getting a pass from me. Hey, maybe I’m wrong and he puts on 15 lbs, memorizes the playbook, and kicks some serious ass next year, but my gut says nope, ain’t gonna happen. Maybe he has some kind of NFL career, but as a first rounder, I wouldn’t bet on it as there is ZERO evidence to support it.
Crabtree took a long time to develop into the receiver he is right now. Crabs is blossoming right now and it’s year what for Crabs? Crabs has both hands and great route running ability. I think Jenkins only has hands – at least that was the scouting report on him coming out of college, and there’s already evidence to support that (despite Jenkins’ recent drop). It’ll take Jenkins years to become a great receiver that Harbaugh, Roman and Kaepernick can trust. It doesn’t happen in year one, and it might not even happen in year two. But it will happen. It’s like Nolan said, “Some players come into the league ready to contribute earlier than others.”
Actually Spit I think Crabs caught 8 passes his first game, that’s from memory though. He did take 3 years to become the player he is today. Granted Crabs came onto a team thin at the position, but Jenkins has 0 catches in 18 games as a first round pick and he isn’t injured! You keep saying he will be fine but what do you base that on?
I hope you’re right and he is just a slow developer but so far I haven’t seen a damn thing that gives me any inclination one way or the other.
Barley I tend to agree, as of right now it don’t look too promising but there is still time I guess.
Crabs was drafted 10th, Jenkins like 29th or whatever. There’s a difference between the two. Jenkins is a long ways from a bust. People were saying the same thing about LaMicheal James, and the same thing about Colin Kaepernick.
Spit, I wrote this at the bottom of the page “4 appearances, no catches, 1 drop in 18 games.” He was drafted 29th in the first round. Any way you slice it that is not looking good for the kid at least so far.
LMJ had Gore and Hunter in front of him, nobody expected much from him this season and Kap has to beat out Smith who Harbs said was the starting QB in training camp so no expectation there.
You are making up parallel scenarios that don’t equate to try defend Jenkins and still haven’t said why you believe he is or will be good.
We’ll just have to wait and see. In my very ultra humble opinion, wide receiver is the one position that takes the longest to get up to speed.
Charlie Garner, remember him?, gives Tim Brown some cover for his story.
BTW thanks to Twinfan for posting the vids above. The Kaepernick one is the most and best quality video I’ve seen of the Niners all year after I downloaded it. Nice thanks from coconut land. Alex I’ll watch next…
Yeah good vids. Kap sure has made a lot of spectacular plays so far in his short NFL career.
I remember those dark days all too well from the Smith vid, glad for him he came out on top in the end. He gets a SB ring and played a large part in earning it this year.
Spit, do you make this shit up as you go along? Do you not think people don;t remember 4 years ago? Crabtree missed all of training camp, preseason, and the first 5 games of the 2009 season. In his first action he caught 5 balls for 60 yards. Great? No, not really. But he came in cold and caught passes. He has always put up decent, if not spectacular numbers. Jenkins (yeah, on a deeper team), came in slow and overwhelmed. He still hasn’t whelmed yet, despite the loss of Kyle Williams and Mario Manningham.
When they sign a guy off the street 1/2 an hour before kickoff, you know you are not in anyone’s plans. Can he work his way back onto the team’s good graces? Sure. But again, getting Chad Hall was a direct result of AJ still not being ready to play in the NFL.
Chuck I should of read your post before replying to Spit, you had it all covered already.
4th round fliers don’t factor into a team’s roster plans. And most get on the playing field if the 2 guys in front of him get hurt. 1st round WRs do.
Again, they are saying that after an entire training camp, preseason, season, and post season, that Chad Hall is the better option. Ginn shouldn’t be the better option, let alone walk-on guy.
The problem with the Tim Brown theory is that Rich Gannon must have been in on it as well. 5 picks? Ouch.
And if Callahan is so stupid as to sabotage his own career for the betterment of his friend Chucky, then la de fricking da, he’s a moron of the highest order.
When Michael Crabtree was drafted you just need to look at the coaching and state of the team’s talent especially the offensive line.
AJ Jenkins didn’t have the obstacles that Crabtree had to overcome.
4 appearances, no catches, 1 drop in 18 games.
It’s so nice everyone gets along. Fellowship is a wonderful concept.
Yeah and I’ll choke the living shit out of any of you who disagree!!!!
😉
Fuck yeah
Niners are thin at receiver, Crabs, Moss and ????? Yet the #1 pick is a non factor, says it all right there so far.
He’s a dud.
The let Greg Williams out of his cage today and reinstated Sean Payton
You think this has ANYTHING to do with the fact that Goodie Goodell is travelling to New Orleans to host the Super Bowl?
Timing is everything.
Good point.
Hard to believe that AJ is so bad that we couldn’t use him even at cleanup time. There must be a story behind this.
Maybe once U get into coache’s doghouse U don’t leave for awhile if ever.
No way could it be that bad. AJ and Kappy worked together for the first 8 games on the scout team. You’d think they’d build up some kind of rapport. I don’t get it. He must not be showing much.
Could be Winder but I have a feeling he hasn’t picked up the pro game sufficiently. Here’s hoping he does cause another Rashaun Woods would suck when the Niners do need a contributing WR now and next year. Woods was picked 31st in the 1st round by the way.
Oh, I remember Woods. At the time I thought he was a good pick too.
Now this did surprise me, Jerry Rice says Callahan did sabotage the team to lose the SB. This story gets crazier.
Remember that AJ Jenkins was going to be mentored by Jerry Rice and train with him in the hills.
That was just a bunch of feel good malarkey that never happened.
I do remember and he should have done it.
AJ sure needed to get with Jerry ,besides all his vast knowledge as the “Greatest Reciever of Alltime” those hills up off of Edgewood Rd where Jerry always ran,would even get Pablo Sandoval in shape.
AJ get your shit together next year,are even Eddie D will come out an say: “Your Gone”!!