In keeping with The Who theme, it is onward and upward to the Frozen Tundra. The field that Curly built. Lambeau Field. In the great white you-betcha! At some point in my life I’d love to go see a game there, but anyhow, the Forty Niners are going back to Green Bay for their latest edition of Beat the Pack.
Beyond the fact that the Niners are being penalized for playing in a strong division, and the Packers are rewarded for playing in a shitty one, winning in Lambeau is always a challenge. In what has been a one-sided affair recently, the Niners are 3-0, including the last 2 seasons’ opening day wins (one here, one at Lambeau) and the playoff win early this year. Before that? Well, 1-13 between 1996 and 2010. One of course being the Owens Owens Owens game. The teams split the rest as they alternated between being dominant (GB in the 60s, Niners in the 80s) to doormats (GB in the 70s, Niners in the 60s). Overall GB leads 34-29. Time to get #30.
Truth be told, Green Bay shouldn’t even be here. Deetroit had a clear shot to the NFC North, as did Chicago. Both failed miserably. Meanwhile Green Bay staggered through their game without Aaron Rodgers, and got him back just in time to win the decider last weekend with the Bears, who went 3-5 to close the season. GB meanwhile went 2-5-1 without Rodgers, and Deetroi famously went 2-6 to blow the division. So, blame Jim Schwartz for the fact that we are playing outside this Sunday.
About the game. Well, I hope this one will be easier than the last couple. Green Bay does not scare me at all on defense. Sister Golden Hair is out with a thumb (!) injury, and they stop neither the run or the pass very well. The Niners famously ran all over them in the playoffs last year, and alternated that by passing all over them opening day. Green Bay’s strength used to be creasting turnovers, but this year they are -3.
The only new wrinkle that Green Bay has is on offense. That is rookie phenom RB, Eddie Lacy. He of the 1200 yards rushing, and 4.1 average. Aaron Rodgers of course is Aaron Rodgers. So the Niners need to do a better job of getting pressure on him. I’m hoping these last 2 games for the Niners were attempts to try different schemes regarding pressure. If not, we are in trouble. Atlanta and AZ have both been notoriously bad at protecting their QBs, yet the Niners generated 2 sacks on 98 passing attempts. This cannot happen with Rodgers no matter the weather.
The Niners of course stop the run well, and their pass defense has been great all year. But as noted, their most recent games they have been torched through the air. They didn’t give up a 300 yard game since game 1 and Aaron, but gave up 341 and 399 to Ryan and Palmer respectively. Palmer!
The good news is we seem to match up well with Green Bay with our base defense. The Niners only got 2 sacks in week 1 but Rodgers was harassed all game, and completed 56% of his passes. Kappy on the other had went for 70%. I don;t thin the game goes like the early game this year. I think the Niners can wear down Green Bay’s defense, and keep Rodgers from going too crazy. I’m thinking something like 31-20.
San Francisco 49ers Forever 
Winder, to continue your theme from the last thread, my hope is these guy do lean a little more toward opening things up. Again, though this has been my hope for 9 years now. There’s nothing wroing with ball control, but I think with the maturation of Kaepernick, and the aging of Gore, things will tilt toward the pass next year. Kappy needs to show progress in reading defenses, and adjusting quicker to what is going on in front of him.
He has made steps this year, and as next year rolls on I think the run/pass ratio gets closer to 50-50. We are at 55%-45% run to pass this season.
Annnnnnnd HAPPY NEW YEARS!!!
Be careful out there . . .
Thanks chuck, Happy New years to you and everyone else who’s here. Yeah we finally have some true weapons and to take it all we need to use em.
Carlos Rogers likely being out is not a good thing. The secondary has been torched a bit of late, and we need all the vets we can get. Niners should score against this defense. Don’t settle for friggin field goals in the red zone, go for it. With a gunslinger like Rogers, you can’t count on sitting on a 10 point lead and expect that to be enough…
Why didnt the coaches learn this against Brady+Pats last year? Hope it doesnt bite us on the ass. God we play dumb sometimes (no pressure, going away from hot players/players, sticking with what is not working = jumbo bullshit)
I’d love to go to a game at Lambeau in October. Upper mid-West Autumn crisp, sunny afternoon, with grilled brat smoke in the air with some local Wisconsin brew. Sounds awesome to me…
You could fly grill class!
Yeah, Snarkk, the lack of pass rush worrys me to no end. Rodgers can beat a healthy secondary, let alone a wounded one. The last few games we’ve pressured him simply by rushing 4 and using the usual underneath zone and man on the WRs. It would be wise to double Jordy Nelson. Then again, they spread the ball around so coverage is no easy task.
Again it’s all about the pressure.
I liked that we showed some different kinds of shit on offense last week. Quick as it was. I like our chances against this defense. I’d like to see ball control though. Don’t get into a shootout. Try to keep Rodgers on the sidelines.
An ESPN guy said that Kaep is not as explosive as he was last year. that when he was aloud to run the read option his passes were better and his runs were also
I agree with that Kevin, problem is the read option isn’t enough. Defenses learn to beat it so unless Kap can be a drop back passer too his success in the NFL will be short lived.
I think the coaches have the balance wrong a little, 55% run, and that when they do pass sometimes the play calling seems to not make the most of what Kap can do.
It is just a little tweaking I would like to see not wholesale spread O.
I’d like to see the play ratio broken down to quarters to get a better idea of the game plan going in. Interesting is that without CK7’s runs (including some by design and some scrambles) the ratio goes to 49% run. Worth noting as well is the games that running the clock out piled up the runs while not really a part of the game winning attack plan.
Well, we’re 12-4. I’ve had various problems with the play calling, Kappys progressions, and the state of out WRs, and such, but I think they are slowly giving Kappy more to do with the offense. Patton being someone to count on would be a nice boost to the offense.
One of these days they’ll let him bust loose. I’m hoping it’s soon.
Berger, condolences on your friend.
? missed that?
Happy New Beer Faithful.
#6 is on its way.
BLEEP THE NEW YEAR!
Anyone catch the Tx A&M vs Duke game last night?
Very impressed with Duke WR Jamison Crowder.
Little guy, very much like DeSean Jackson. Kid was money all night.
Not sure if he’s Draft eligible however since he’s listed as a Jr.
If he declares, I’d love to see Baalke spend a Pick on him.
Excellent hands, makes people miss and, he’s got PR ability.
Also, Duke CB Ross Cockrell did an excellent job on A&M WR Mike Evans all night too.
34-27 Niners. We’re going to score on these guys and Rodgers and co. will put up 3 TDs. It wont be enough. Our run game the difference as Kap will match Rodgers. “General” Patton could be the difference with LMJ on punts
Chuck sez: 31-20 Niners. The good news is we seem to match up well with Green Bay with our base defense. The Niners only got 2 sacks in week 1 but Rodgers was harassed all game, and completed 56% of his passes. Kappy on the other had went for 70%. I think the Niners can wear down Green Bay’s defense, and keep Rodgers from going too crazy.
27-17 9ers
I’m concerned about our Secondary in the cold mostly.
Rodgers can wing it and cold weather favors them.
Have to keep Rodgers from rolling.
Sacks would be nice but, we can’t allow him to buy time.
Hurries could be better than sacks in this kind of weather.
Talking below zero wind chill factor for this one.
Gotta keep their O off the field. Good place for the Power Run game.
Yeah NJ I expect a healthy dose of ground game on Sunday and that will keep AR sitting on the bench. Meanwhile Kaps going to outplay Rodgers like he always does. CK is only one of two QBs who have better passing stats on the road compared to home field I heard today.
The man is money in harsh weather:
http://www.sacbee.com/2014/01/01/6040802/49ers-kaepernick-has-excelled.html#storylink=omni_popular
Good stuff, Phil. Yeah, its not like only one team is playing in the cold.
New thread is up . . . . .
A question for all, does Roman call the same type of game he called in September or does he go run heavy this time. We have all seen how the cold affects both receivers and RBs. Some backs are fumble prone. Receivers have trouble catching the ball. I say go with the September type offense. The Packers could not stop them then, go with what worked until they get stopped.