The Alex hooraw (zzzzzzzzzzzzz) tomorrow notwithstanding, game one of the season looks to be a real interesting matchup. A real barn burner for the last opening day at what is the grand old (crippled, and derelict at 43) dame of football stadiums, Candlestick Park. After the Pack had manhandled the Niners for, oh 18 years, the Niners suddenly have the upper hand. Beating Green Bay in their house to open the 2012 season and trouncing them in the playoffs last year at home. In both games, the Niner defense held the high-flying Green Bay passing game and Aaron Rogers to fairly pedestrian passing numbers (249, and 278 respectively). This was accomplished by pressure. The Niners didn’t blitz, or even sack Rogers much in either game (3 in the 1st game, 1 in the playoffs). But they were able to generate constant pressure with their base defense, which allowed more downfield coverage, and thus picks (1 in each game). It doesn’t sound like a lot, but Navarro Bowman’s pick in the 1st game slowed a GB comeback, and Tarrell Brown’s pick in the playoff game kept the game tied. Each pick was followed immediately by a touchdown on the Niners part. Those were both big momentum swings in the Niners favor.
So, Green Bay has us up in their sights. They have been perennial Super Bowl contenders, and therefore feel its their God-given right to reach and succeed in the playoffs. They don’t lose very much, either, and we have handed them some of their most recent painful losses. Beyond that, the Niners edged the Pack out last year for the #2 seed, and the playoff bye, and used that to their advantage.
You don’t (or ever) hear much trash talking come out of America’s Dairyland, but the Cheeseheads are a proud lot, and don’t take very kindly to losing. Especially to the 49ers. A team that they used to beat with sickening regularity. I’m sure the Cheeseheads will be out in full force come opening day (and they are pretty damn nice and unassuming for the most part having seen them at the Stick for 2 straight playoff losses back in the day), but they certainly aren’t nowhere near the assholes that the Seahawk fans are. And what has Seattle done?
Beyond that, it beats talking about the preseason. Plus, one of our own, 12th man, is going to the game. Take some pics and I’ll post them here, 12th.
Forty Niners Forever 
I thought if you were on the pup list to start the year you were done for the season. But I could be wrong.
No, Chuck, they change the rules on the PUP every year. The IR puts you out for the year.
The PUP is just for some 6 weeks or so. I think. Like I said, they change it every year and I can’t keep up.
We’re both kinda right. Here’s te deal:
A player who finishes the preseason still on the PUP list can then be placed on the regular-season PUP list. Such players must sit out the first six games their team plays. At that point, teams have a three-week window in which to allow the player to begin practicing; from the day the player begins practicing, teams have an additional three-week window in which to decide whether to activate the player to the 53-man roster. If either of those deadlines pass, the player must remain on the PUP list for the remainder of the season.
That’s about what I figured would happen.
Manningham and Crabtree can be evaluated through pretty much the first half of the Season.
If AJ comes along well enough to be active they’ll have the option to let one or both practice while not needing to declare them Active on Sundays.
Not holding my breath with AJ however.
Little I’ve seen of AJ so far, he’s playing timid.
It’s mental with him.
I fully expect Patton to make a major push for playing time.
He and Chad appear to be very aggressive with their play.
Lockette? Can’t make that call at this point.
Seems to me he’s taking an awful long time to gel with Kaep too.
Guessing Marlon and Kasim Osgood will stick simply for ST contributions.
Hawkins and Collie?
2 weeks left in Preseason to see if they can standout.
That should have posted 10 hours ago.
arf!
Caught some of the NYG/Indy game tonite too.
Fleener looks lost too.
I’m surprised, especially since he has some history with Luck.
Similar to AJ perhaps, being timid of the Pro level?
Worrying about contact instead of running proper routes and thinking on the fly?
Yeah thinking on the fly a lot of us have trouble with that.
It is early. But based on what you saw, Vance looks pretty good, then. Even with the drops, he gets open and rumbles around pretty well.
Rumble!
Good to see Baalke can admit it when he fucked up. Bubye, AJ. Good luck keeping upright in KC.
Wow. One crappy wr for another. One guy at least has some numbers in the NFL.
New thread is up.