Well, we are almost at the make-or-break point already in this young season. A loss to St Louis would put the Niners 2.5 (possibly 3) games behind Seattle, and leave them 0-2 in the division. Seeing as Seattle has 2 tough roadies coming up (Houston and Indy) and they are fairly crappy on the road, the hope is the Niners can pick up a game in the next 2 contests, as the Niners come home to play the 2-1 Texans after this game tonight. Playing on a short week couldn’t come at a lousier time, but all teams are getting banged up.
Here’s the Niners injury report:
Mike Iupati G Shoulder Full Participation Probable
Vernon Davis TE Hamstring Limited Participation Questionable
Frank Gore RB Knee Full Participation Probable
Carlos Rogers CB Knee Full Participation Probable
Nnamdi Asomugha CB Knee Did Not Participate Questionable
Jonathan Goodwin C Elbow Limited Participation Probable
Raymond Ventrone S Concussion Limited Participation Questionable
Ray McDonald DT Ankle Limited Participation Probable
Kyle Williams WR Rib Limited Participation Questionable
Justin Smith DT Shoulder Limited Participation Probable
Navorro Bowman LB Wrist Limited Participation Probable
Anthony Davis T Shoulder Limited Participation Questionable
Patrick Willis LB Groin Did Not Participate Questionable
Most concerning of course is the status of our linebackers. Willis is most likely out. Bowman looks to play, but I hope he’s at close to full strength. Frankly, Goodwin being out could be a blessing as he’s been part of the problems with the pressure coming up the middle. I wouldn’t mind seeing how Kilgore Trout handles himself at center. VD practiced, but again, he’ll be a game-time decision.
The things to watch for are obvious. Dallas ran all over these guys last week, so the Niners look to get Gore rolling. If Gore and co. can rattle off some big runs, the hope is the coaches can scheme up some effective pass plays. TE over the middle for example. Dallas carved up the Rams mid-range defense for a ton of yards as well. The Rams run game is non-existent without Stephen Jackson, and if the Rams make any noise on the ground, it’ll bode badly for the defense as their passing game is putting up good numbers.
All in all a ginormous game for the 49ers. The coaching staff has to do some major adjusting to how teams are now playing them. The passing offense is doing nothing at this point. They either need to scheme things differently to get guys open quicker (slants, screens), or actually USE their WRs in the 3-5 WR packages. Defenses are getting all 11 guys on or near the line to jam everything up at times. REACT! There is little to no route adjusting by the WRs. No hot reads. Or they are jammed. The run game has been abandoned too early in the last 2 games. The Niners beat a pretty banged-up Green Bay secondary, but they stopped our run game at the cost of everything else. Defensively, the pass rush has been vastly underwhelming, and curiosuly enough, the run defense has been terrible. But this is a case of Seattle and Indy going to the run late in their games when the defense was on the field all the 2nd half. The Niners need to generate a pass rush somehow. Especially against the Rams. We will likely be nickel most of the game, so draw up some blitzes. Hit Bradford early and often. Play up to your capabilities.
Gut-check, reality check, or whatever body part check you want to call it, they can’t afford to go 1-3 and expect to realistically have a shot at the division.
Forty Niners Forever 
I’ll be the first to admit: I can’t figure Harbaugh out. Nothing he does or doesn’t do has or will surprise me. We could come out and go heavy run and feed Frank all night or run the hurry-up first series and actually throw the ball deep. Have we even tried that yet? Not a clue as what to expect.
And why the hell will we be in nickel most of the game? That’s why teams have been running the ball down our goddamn throat thus far to date. WE need to be the D. to man-up the Rams WRs and play tight coverage and load the box. Might as well call Bradford Alex Jr. He’s another check-down Charlie specialist. I wouldn’t play any Niner defender 12 yds down the LOS. Load that sumbitch up.
The Rams have absolutely no run game. They do however throw the ball pretty well. That’s why you use the nickel predominantly.
49ers inactives: LB Willis, CB Asomugha, WR Harper, QB Daniels, WR Moore, G Looney and FB Marecic.
That means Vernon and LMJ will give it a go, and Baldwin will at least have the opportunity to see some action.
Is the Owen Marecic era over already? I hope to Christ it is.
Hey NoFear, getting back at you late- computer, internet probs, don’t ask. Hopefully Niners are better than the tech out here. We moved to a new place and the ‘net is even worse but it’s better for us.
Hoping for a Niner win but betting the Rams take it by 10
Uh Chuck I know Sunday vs Colts was a steaming pile worth forgetting but wasn’t THAT the 3rd game day? Making THIS the, you know, 4th game day?
Good catch, Phil. 4th game day, soon to be 3rd game day loss.
Yeah I think the Rams win by 10
Late money at most Las Vegas books have pushed the Niners from 3 to 3 1/2 pt. favorites. O/U of 43. The offshore number generally started at -4.
But take heed: Since Fisher arrived on the St. Louis sidelines in 2012, the Rams own a 6-1 ATS record against NFC West foes, with the lone non-cover coming against Arizona in Week 1. However, St. Louis has put together a 5-1-1 SU mark within the division since the start of last season, while winning four consecutive home games against NFC West opponents.
On the flip side, Jim Harbaugh’s club has struggled to cash inside the division by posting a dreadful 1-9 ATS record the last 10 games against NFC West teams since December 2011. However, the Niners are 3-3 straight-up the last six divisional road contests in this span, which includes a 34-27 win at St. Louis to close 2011 as 12 ½-point favorites.
22-17 Rams.
You conservative you
Phil, 3rd and 11 and Jimbo calls a draw? We were playing for the FG and we deserved to miss it. Terrible 3rd dn call.
I know amazingly bad
Rams came in worst in 3rd dn conversions, and of course we give ’em their 1st try on 3rd and long. Mighty white of us.
Very fortunate Bradford missed that WIDE open WR for 6. Where the fuck was our coverage?
WTF is everyone? Did y’all forget that we’re playing on Thursday?
Bruce Miller was WIDE open and Kap didn’t see him.
Our best play call thus far is hoping for a Rams penalty.
Same shit, different day.
Rams D playing inspired early on.
Absolutely pathetic.
I can’t believe the offense is this clueless. Gotre up the middle gets 18 so naturally, they try delays and WR screens. Shoot me now.
i’m going with niners. i just don’t see the rams scoring enough to beat even a hobbled and struggling niner team. 20-10 niners.
So here we are 4th game of the season struggling, so what do I see…2010 offense 1st down run, 2nd down run. 3rd down a pass, a shitty screen!!! This is warmed over Nolan/Singletary offense!! I hope I don’t see this for too long. Cause we all saw how 2009, 2010, and 2011 went! As they say on the street, we be fucked!!
Spread the field and run up the middle. Harbaugh Roman get too fucking cute. Run it up the middle.
Just like that.
This may be all the scoring of the game.
Fucking penalties. This team is playing clueless.
Ball on the 10? No. We get them on the 8? Oh well. It worked out.
Another quarter of football and we score ZERO pts.
Did we fire Bo Schembechler Jr. yet?
Fuck me. Give it away.
I’m here for a game and no one else is?
ruben rivera just returned that punt for the rams.
3 man rush? On the 5? Fuck this.
When served Lemonier off sides? Make lemonade aid.
Wow.
Coaching. Clueless yup