From the look of it, the Green Bay Packers played this game is if it was their Super Bowl. Kinda Like NASCAR in that Daytona is the first, and the biggest, race of the year. Well, sorry Green Bay, you lost 34-28. To prepare for this matchup, their first game since the last beat-down handed to them by the 49ers, Green Bay sent their coaching staff to Texas A&M to learn how to stop the read-option, they consulted with the coach of the Hawaii Warriors, who beat Kappy at UNR in 2010, and Clay Matthews had Kappy on his mind all offseason, yapping to anyone that would listen that he would “hit Kaepernic early and hit him often.”
Well, a funny thing happened to the game plan. Green Bay did an awesome job stopping the run. Well, they gave up 90 yards on the ground. A far cry from the 323 yard rushing the Niners laid on them in the playoffs last year (181 from Kappy, 119 from Gore for a tidy 3 hundy). Unfortunately for the Packers, they negelected to stop Kaepernick and newly acquired Anquan Boldin. Kaepernick put up 412 yards through the air, and Boldin had 208 of those on 13 catches. VD also pitched in with 98 on 6 catches, and 2 TDs. There’s a lot of whining from the Packers fans that it would have been different without 2 of their DBs Casey Heyward and Morgan Burnett in there. There’s also a lot of whining about the comments Kaepernick made after the game regarding intimidation. “I’m not worried about what people are saying. If intimidation is your game plan, I hope you have a better one.” I love it. Matthews yapped all offseason about how he would hit Kaepernick. Well, he had to resort to a cheap shot to do it. When Joe Staley grabbed sister golden hair, he threw 2 punches at Staley. This resulted in (!) offsetting penalties. Which the refs later said should have led to the play standing, and as a result lead to a 4th down.
In my interpretation of the rules, the original hit by cheese-dick was not a dead-ball foul, but a continuation play. That immediately should have given the 49ers 1st and goal. The skirmish afterwards is where the offsetting aspect comes into play. If the rules are interpreted as they (wrongly) said yesterday, then it is OK to head hunt the opposition QB as long as you get a retaliation fight. Then the penalties offset, instead of protecting the QB against unwarranted cheap shots.
Anyhow, back to the game. Worrying to me was the lack of pass rush that the defense generated. The 2 sacks were pretty weak ass tumbles by Rodgers, and he had way too much time to sit back was wait for Jordy Nelson to come free. It’s hard to fault the DBs for their efforts too much because of the lack of pressure, and Eric Reid looked like a very solid safety in his debut, but the tackling by the group as a whole was terrible. Cox missed what should have been a minimal gain and let it go for a 12 yard score, and Asomugha looked overmatched at various points in the game, but did make a nice play to close it out. The run game was pretty much shut down, but then again, that was Green Bay’s prime directive. Stop the run. They did, but they couldn’t stop the pass. All in all, a good day for the home team. Even if they looked at times like they were still in preseason mode.
Forty Niners Forever 
I’m not worried too much about the tackling. That will get sharper.
The lack of pass rush is troubling. That has to improve. They got more DL inventory so these guys would be fresh throughout games, so where is the rush.
Second, there’s a black hole in WRs after Boldin. At least, so far. VD is now officially a wideout. If Boldin goes down, we’re back in deep doo doo again for WRs. Patton didn’t even get a play, I think. They need to get him in the game and see what he can do…
“After reviewing the play, Vice President of Officiating Dean Blandino determined that Joe Staley should not have been penalized,” an NFL spokesman said in a statement.
Well, that’s closer to the right call then either of the ones they came up with yesterday. But, huzzah for trying. And trying. To get it right.
I was a little surprised Moore didn’t see much action. He had a solid preseason. But then again, so did Patton. The hope is they can come in and do something if need be. Williams doesn’t have the size to block out a DB on contested passes. He should have been able to shield the DB on that long pass, but couldn’t. It was a shitty pass, but KW still should have come up with it.
Sister Golden Hair.
I love that shit. So let it be written, so let it be so. Clay Matthews 3 is to forever be known as Sister Golden Hair. Bravo, Chuck.
I’m definitely unsold on Kyle Williams. Guy is too small for a WR to do much damage, isn’t quick enough to be a scat back type, can’t block big corners/safeties, can’t wrestle away a catch, and oh, he’s still catching punts? Hope he proves me wrong. Meanwhile, give Patton reps and reps in practice, then let him loose about game #3, see what he can do…
America – Sister Golden Hair surprise, nice Chuck!
Clay tried to make it Sunday, but he got so damned depressed.
Yep the pass rush is what has me worried. I can’t believe that the Smiths and Willis were shut out of a sack.
Aldon got a sack Kevin 1st play of the game.
Yet the rush,and especially the DB’s lack of tackling was a major concern.To much YAC for those Chumps to get.
And fuck the.Golden Boy.Big fine.coming down.Suspension would be better you Punk Ass.
Aldon had 1.5 sacks, and Ray McDonald had half a sack . . .
I’m not worried over this first game. This is first game of a real preseason of games that count. Tackling wasn’t up to standards and the team is not up to midseason form yet but so what ……they won.
What a pleasure to finally have a QB who can actually throw the ball with some mustard on it. Or, with touch. Into coverage. Over the coverage. Way downfield. Or, check downs. Not over the WR’s head, or at his feet, actually into his hands — in stride. It’s been a while…
Shit, Nip. i agree with you. Seeing as the 1st team played barely a quarter’s worth of real action in the preseason, they played outstanding. I thought the defense would be better. But the hope is the pass rush gets stronger in the near future.
After watching the Seahawks struggle the first game, I hope the Niners don’t look passed them.
Oh, they won’t look past them, but I don’t think Seattle will play that shitty at home. If they do, the Niners will kill them. But again, I don’t see that happening. Could be that Wilson has a Cam Newton sophomore year . . .
Seatte relies heavily on the noise factor to disrupt the opposing Offenses, which works very well for them.
I’d love to see a Marv Levy-type hurry up script of plays employed, to counter the inane shifting and time wasting that causes us to burn timeouts and, take needless DOG penalties.
We had issues yesterday in our own building, which should never happen.
Harbaugh admitted as much (via Maiocco) about reducing the Playbook somewhat to accoutn for this issue.
Either way, a Win in Seattle is a tall order if we can’t get over the false starts and, crowd noise influenced faux pas phase of that stadium.
Seattle will have a much better ground game to contain as well.
Definitely be tuned in for that match up. Can’t miss game.
We also need to get our ground game in better shape for this matchup also.
GB looked suberb stuffing the lanes and, it looked to me that Goodwin was not getting off nearly as well as he should have.
Thought Iupati looked pretty good pulling to the right and working with Boone and Anthony however.
Looking forward to head banger on Sunday night.
Kaep can damn sure stick a throw.
Let’s hope he makes the Legion of Goons look like morons in Primetime.
Yeah. I was disappointed how bad the run game was, but then again. Green bay was bound and determined to stop our running. I don’t think Seattle will take the same man coverage approach that GB did, either.
Kappy will get a strong dose of zone coverage and shifting schemes. If anything, Kappy has shown that he can absolutely shred man coverage. QWhat I truly dug was the pass into double coverage that Kappy made (and Boldin caught). It WAS double coverage, but BOTH DBs had their backs to Kappy, and he stuck the throw.
Whatever they’re doing in getting plays in has to change. WTF is going on — looks like the days of Sing when Alex had to call timeout once every drive because he couldn’t get the play off. Get the call in ASAP, shorten the play calls, whatever. Being at risk of a delay of game penalty almost every play is crazy…
Yeah, I’ve said the same thing for years. What they supposedly do is call 2 plays in from the press box that has to be told to the players, and then when Kappy gets to the line, he’s the one to make the call.
What happened to the old method of one play call, then audible at the line if the defense is set up to stuff the play call? Philadelphia, on average, ran a new play every 22.2 seconds last night. The Niners can’t get one off in 40?…
Philly did not seem to have any problem getting plays called last night. what ran some 8 plays in under a minute or something like that?
Yes the play calling “Has to be faster”.
49ers probably have over 100-150 plays out of multiple sets+Kaep audibles out of some of those.With the insane crowd noise from their 12th fan rowdy fans,we have to be sharper and not.burn TO especially.in the 2nd half.
It Hasta be Shasta
Yeah, they need to rethink that for domes. They had problems in NO last year, but it wasn’t horrendous, but it was getting there.
I used to drink canned Shasta sodas like water when I was a kid. I think it’s still around, somewhere…
There used to be that Shasta plant right over the San Mateo bridge in Hayweird. Had the giant rotating soda can .. .
What Chip does in Philly is what he had done at Oregon.
They have sideline cards that each position looks to for specific assignments.
Again, for me, with the noise level at CenturyLink, we should script some no huddle, wrinkle-type packages just to keep them off their game.
The guys are not going to be able to hear themselves think on Sunday.
I still don’t know how a 67,000 seat outdoor stadium can be so loud without some sort of sound amplification.
Be nice if their little Guiness Book of World Records foray brings some added scrutiny.
How sweet would that be if they were found guilty of 12th Step noise improprieties.
You are right, NJ. I remember seeing that at an Oregon game a couple years ago. Harbaugh just seems to be so stubborn as to not change his routine for anyone regardless of the situation.
Chuck it’s actually a pretty simple concept too.
It basically allows the sideline to make the adjustments.
I’m hopeful Harbaugh and Roman have something new to bring to the fight this time around.
Not sure hand signals help the WRs when they can barely hear one another in the huddle or at the LOS.
Maybe they can use smoke signals instead NJ.
Oh shit Redskins tried that Monday…nevermind….They got scalped.
Alleykat we need any advantage we can get for this one.
The Skins have Haslett as their DC.
He’s average at best and doesn’t have many weapons at his disposal.
RGIII isn’t going to do it on his own.
I remember little of that Seattle game. Had to look at the playlist. Yikes. Blocked FG for a TD, a pick, a fumble, and a lot of no defense. Sea ran all over the Niners that night.
The problem with that game is it was right after the epic Monday night win over NE back east. Short week, hostile crowd, and a tired defense made for a perfect storm of a clusterfuck night.
And losing J Smith.
Agree Chuck, short week,timezone changes,Justin hurt,his brother by a different mother Aldon,ineffective and hiding his injuries (bum shoulder) etc
This time major different…Seascums played back east in humid Carolina,got the W but it took it’s toll. Their OL has issues.Their DL,Newton was toying with on that 80yard drive.Seascums are banged up..49ers keep red& gold rolling..with big in your face Petey,win as Jimbo body slams your sorry ass to the ground after the game in his “Sons of Harbaugh” attire.
Colorful analysis Alleykat, hope it’s prophetic as well.
Yeh, not one of those games you don’t want to be reminded about too often.
A real stinker.
One good thing is, it’s early in the season and weather shouldn’t be a huge factor this time around.
We need to control TOP and not allow Russell the time to pick his targets.
Should be another epic battle for the NFC West Division advantage.
Should say, want to be reminded about of course.
Thanks NJ..Yeah never to early in the week to get “Fired Up” for this game.
2 teams that hate each other.
2 Coaches that want each other “Hung on a Wooden Cross like Spartacus”
Yeah this is a big early season statement game in our division!!!
Payback’s a “Bitch” Seattle and your little midget QB Wilson will wish he was the volleyball in Castaway by the time this game is over..
Would be huge for us to steal a win there, no doubt.
Just hope we can overcome the noise and our own play calling delays.
That’s the kind of stuff that stifles rhythm and kills momentum.
Niners will beat down the Seashits good. Book it Dano!
No team is unbeatable at home regardless of home record, just ask New England. Niners are rested and ready and healthy this time. Wilson ends up with one eyebrow Sunday night.
Squawks are setting themselves up for a fall with all this record noise B.S.
The 49ers have to be pissed at what happened last year in Seattle. I expect both teams to come out ready to hit. Should be a tough, physical game. Even with the homefield advantage to the Squawks, I think we are a little better. The only thing that worries me is the little mental errors, problems getting plays in, and other effects of the starting group being rusty. We need to play a cleaner game than we did against the Pack. If we do, I think we win surprisingly comfortably, say 31-21.
The early over/under on combined unsportsmanlike penalties Sunday night? I’d say 4.
It’s gonna be a bit chippy.
Maybe. The zebras could come out taking no crap and put the Kabosh on that real quick. If they don’t, then, yeah, it could get ugly.
I’m wondering how much holding and crap the Seahag CBs will get away with this time.
Stay grumpy.