The quest for 6 starts today in the final opening day at the venerable crumbledone, AKA Candlestick Park. Funny, I remember the opening season at the Stick back in 1971. It was an astroturf monstrosity back then, which was akin to playing on the concrete in the parking lot. Players routinely broke legs and separated shoulders on that field, and I seem to remember Jim Lash shattering both his elbows in his short and ill-fated time with the 49ers. The Joe Thomas legacy, shitty as it is can only praised for putting the natural grass back into the Stick. To supposedly ease the stress on a fading OJ Simpsons knees. Simpson did little as a Niner, but at least he got the carpet out . . .
Anyhow, will the 2013 season be the lucky one for these Niners? Lots of people think so, but the word out of Vegas is that the Broncos are the odds-on favorites to win it all. At least that’s what the numbers were a couple days ago. Crazy. I think if the Niners had faced Denver last year instead of Balt it wouldn’t have been close. Sour grapes? Maybe, but the future is now. The Niners play 4 playoff teams in their first 5 games, and the 5th team is one they couldn’t quite figure out in the Rams. The early sledding is rough, and game one is against a team that was embarrassed badly by the Niners in the playoffs. The Packers. I hate to be overconfident, but I think we should win this one fairly handily. The Pack has geeked and overgeeked themselves silly for months over the read-option. Green Bay head coach Mike McCarthy sent his entire staff to visit with Kevin Sumlin’s staff at Texas A&M to learn the read-option. I think we may use it, but not much at all. I think Roman and Harbaugh expect the Packers to overreact to the read-option, and will shadow Kappy. Either with an LB or a safety. Maybe they’ll even switch them up. The Niners can exploit this throwing behind the linebackers and getting behind the shadow over the middle. A good spot for VD and VM.
Forty Niners Forever 
Great game. Clutch plays by clutch players at clutch times and we earned it. My wife now freely admits her love for Boldin and I’m feeling pretty ok with that. 13 receptions, 208 yards, one TD, and I have him starting in BOTH my fantasy leagues. Jimbo needs to send his brother an extra special thank you note for that trade. What a freaking studly game. Awesome.
That was a bit of the good, the bad and the ugly there.
Good: Boldin, Reid looked very sharp at safety, Justin and Aldon look great, VD has better rapport with Kaep. No turnovers.
Bad: Our CBs blew way too many tackles. We left three long TD passes on the field – VD dropped one, and Kaep is not in rhythm with KW on the other two.
Ugly: Some dumb penalties. Clock management is still precarious. Nnamdi made one play at the end but looked very shaky for 59 minutes before. There was some obvious rust with some guys, not unexpected in Week One.
All in All: A “W”, that’s all you can ask for in September. On to the Shithawks and Pete the Cheat.
The Ravens weren’t doing the Niners any favors when they traded Boldin to us. He wouldn’t take a pay cut, they needed salary cap relief, they were in a fucked up situation. All the other teams in the NL knew this so Balt was never going to get anything decent for him. The only other offer they got was Minnesota who offered a 7th rounder. they took the best deal they had on the table.
Hell of a crazy-ass game. Can’t believe the refs fucked the late hit on Kappy. The call should have been 1st and goal Niners. TE play wasn’t a deal ball foul, but the fight was. It was a continuation play. The fight was after the personal foul. If they had called that 4th down, the Niners would have protested the game. Anyhow, I’m worried how the pass rush disappeared after the 1st quarter. The run game left a little to be desired.
Still and all, GB ttreated this game like a playoff game, and the Niners still won. Kappy with 400+. Bold in with 200+. Slow, ODB?
Uh, no.
Trestman (he’s gone!) wins his debut as head coach of da Bears.
Yeah, grump. The DBs weren’t tackling well. Cox had a huge whiff. Nnamdi was decent Reid was flat great. He’s looking better than Goldson already. Smart solid guy. Say what you will, and I thought this would be easier,, but GB gave it all they had, and still came up short. Matthews is a punk. I loved the shot of Matthews barking at Kappy after a sack, and Kappy just smiled at him.
Getting in the QB’s face and barking after a sack? I’ve seen that kind of sh*t result in taunting and by definition, it probably should have. Would have been sweet. Kap played with great poise. I mentioned on the Press Democrat blog that I thought they’d forgo the read option and try to beat them from the pocket, and that is what they did (virtual shoulder pat).
From Boldin, after the game. “I keep telling people how good of a quarterback he is. Everybody looks at how athletic he is and say he’s a running quarterback. He’s a quarterback first. Being able to run is just a bonus for him.”
That is what I’ve been preaching since day one. CK’s stardom will be based on his arm, his head, his leadership. Anything from his legs is a bonus.
For a first game of the season, very exciting. Niners will cut down on the penalties, and will tackle better as things move along. Reid looks like a player already. Not afraid to make a hit, and hey, that pick he made off the grass was very nice. Kid has talent. GB loaded up against the run, so OK, Kaep passes for 400+. Really, not much throwing to the other WRs, it was Boldin and VD that did the damage. If they eventually get Boldin, Manningham and Crabby on the field together, that would be good stuff. Is Kaep better than Alex? Uh, is filet mignon better than hamburger? Future looks bright, we can only wear shades…
Nnamdi had a pretty suspect game at least until he broke up that pass late in the 4th. That was a huge play for us.
Reid is the real deal. Nnamdi? Well, he’s the 3 for a reason. Cox was shakey as well. But all in all a great win to start the year. Seattle looked like shit, and should have lost, but woulda coulda shoulda for the Panthers. At home Seattle wi’ll play better.
Giants down by 6. Bout time for Romo to cough one up.
Why teams like the Cowboys and all that end with the letter s, get into the “prevent defense” is beyond my comprehension. Whomever had the unmitigated gall to insert the “prevent defense” is really above and beyond my pay grade.
And I wish them, and their first born male child — dead.
Okay, the offence was darn good, but the D was suspect at best, way too many missed tackles and I agree Chuck where the hell was the pass rush?
Who won the game tonight? How bout that Tony Romo!?!?!?!
Go right ahead and retort with what you have. I’ll tell you this. Means nothing to some, but it means everything to me…I think Tony Romo is a nice guy. Football aside. I’d allow my daughter to go to the prom with Tony. Same as I said with Steve Young. There’s something said to being a nice guy…
You’re nuts. You must be committed to the stable.
Of course Tony Romo won.
It’s September.
Not January.
touché.
Quote of the day came from Kap in the post game presser: ‘if intimidation is your game plan, you better find another one’ Love it!
Niners victory! Burp! Football fights are a joke. Pushing and shoving with helmets attached. HO HO HO! Chuck finally witnessed your pic on the FLAP. You look like a mild mannered accountant. I had this image in my head of a big blustering type with your big arms draped over another inebriated type.
New thread is up.