Well, Super Bowl XLVIII hits the books as yet another beat-down of perennial SB whipping boys, the Denver Broncos. From the opening snap safety (50/1 odds on that happening) to the end of the 4th quarter, the Seattle Seahawks dominated the game in all phases. This game really brings to mind Super Bowl XIX where the 49ers faced off with the Miami Dolphins. For 2 weeks all we heard about was Marino Marino Marino. He would blow the doors off the Niner defense and score at will. Joe of course had a Super Bowl win under his belt already, but that didn’t matter as it was all about Dan Marino. The defense certainly take kindly to the fact that they were seen as the cannon fodder for Marino to feast on, and I certainly wasn’t shocked when we took it to them hard.
This Super Bowl build up was all pretty much Peyton’s paradise. He would singlehandedly dismantle this band of defensive no-name thugs and carry the Broncos to victory over Seattle. My first thought after the disaster that was the NFC Championship game was that Seattle would obliterate the Broncos. After trying not to listen to the Super Bowl hype machine, even I succumbed to the relentless blather regarding Manning. I figured that this game wasn’t in Seattle, therefore the noise wouldn’t be a factor, Manning gets the ball out fast, and that would thus render Seattle’s pass rush null and void, and getting Knowshon Moreno going would help things along. Stop Lynch, and there you go. Make Seattle one-dimensional and out-score them.
Sounds good, eh? Sure. Until the opening snap safety. Seattle had no problem ignoring Denver’s deep game and thus jammed everything 12 yards and under. This resulted in a lot of very short completions and no sustained drives. Denver got their first 1st down halfway through the 2nd quarter. While there were no sacks, Manning felt the pressure all day, and it caused 2 INTs and a fumble. I really thought this one was going to end up a shutout. In the end, Seattle’s defense outscored Denver’s offense 9-8. Crazy, but not that far-fetched.
Shit, now it’s the offseason.
Forty Niners Forever 
Hey Phil, yeah, me and Montana = sympatico.
The fact that Kaepernick keeps saying he made the right decision and he’d take that throw ten out of ten times tells me a coach or two has said that to him. And certainly that a coach has not told him it was the wrong throw. And that’s a little discouraging.
Yup. Stuck on stupid, ho hum
That’s my thought NF. Kap made the play he has been told to make, and shouldn’t have, and at least publicly he still believes it’s the right call.
There were no stand outs on the Seahawks’ offense to name MVP as great contributors (except for the Broncos) because they didn’t have to do a thing on offense to win.
Denver was a No Show for the biggest stage in football NoFear49er.
Sure, we know Seattle isn’t an Offensive juggernaut by any stretch but, Peyton looked like Brandon Weeden out there on Sunday.
Deer in the Headlights as it were.
Pathetic. Clueless what to do when a real Defense is on the field.
Nothing like saving your worst for the world to see.
Seattle’s Defense played one for the ages. No matter what Denver did they were doomed. Blaming Manning is stupid. The whole team got a beat-down. BLEEP!
Lol. Doomed. Damned. Dumb
That first pick is on Manning. The rest was the defense.
The MVP for me was the brown and white mutt (terrier?) which snatched up the loose pigskin at midfield and beelined it for the endzone. Showed a natural born killer instinct for the goal line.
I keep reading Peyton this, Seattle that. Did I miss something? Peyton’s opening a Papa John’s in Seattle? Granted, I’d love to own a Papa John’s in Seattle right now. I’d be cornering the market on Doritos and chocolate chip cookies, but I don’t find it particularly newsworthy.
This is the piece of the passing game I just don’t know re Harbaugh/Romam/Chryst. Is it read progressions or is it react to coverages at the line and don’t deviate from the pre-snap look?
It sure sounds like they don’t want Kappy doing too much reading. They want him to identify the guy singled up and throw to him regardless. Thing is, I did see him look off Kuechly in the Carolina game a few times. He has the skill to do that. Is it the time factor? Are they afraid he’ll screw up trying to do too much? I just don’t get it.
But heaing him say he’d make that throw again is not a good thing. He should think at it more like ‘was someone else open?’ Was there an easier play to make in that situation?
I think there was a lot of that last year. Especially with all the read options. Read one guy, make the decision. Understandable if CK7 was having difficulty reading and being fooled by pro defenses last year. Not so understandable this year, this late in the year, too.
My comment wasn’t meant to imply they told CK7 to throw to Crabs if he got single coverage no matter what else happens. That would be extremely stupid. For the coaches to demand it and for CK7 to do it.
My thought was that some coach or coaches intending to bolster confidence, offer support, cover for themselves making too much of trying to get Crabs in single coverage, whatever, has said to CK7 that that was the right play to make given the single coverage pre-snap read.
Because if CK7 had been told by his coach it was a mistake or a better play was there to be made he wouldn’t likely be going out on interviews saying he’d take that throw ten out of ten times. And if he would, that’s a strong sign of uncoachable tendencies. And if the coaches are not showing him that there were better plays on field so that he can learn from his mistake, that’s a strong sign of incompetent coaching.
“uncoachable tendencies, incompetent coaching.” SHUDDER
Thats what the biggest fear is for me
Well, there’s the rub. I haven’t seen what people have all said since the play happened, and that’s that Patton and Davis were open. But if so, then why won’t he concede that he should have looked elsewhere?
It smacks of Harbaugh/Kappy wanting to beat Sherman on the big play but that’s ludicrous, isn’t it?
Yes
Not how you attack a defense and win football games
Well, some of the complaints about the play calling appear to be valid. Harbaugh apparently wants to open up the passing game. Give Kaepernick more options.
http://www.mercurynews.com/tim-kawakami/ci_25062005/kawakami-how-do-49ers-deal-seahawks
Of course the article is 100% speculation and conjecture on his part.
Gets back to our debate Chuck.
If Kaep has 4 WRs on a given play call yet only focuses on one, what’s the point?
Job security for the run game coordinator?
He’s not taking the time to identify the best option, if he’s locked and loaded on the Pre-Snap Read.
To quote NF “Uncoachable tendencies or incompetent coaching”. 30/70 = CK/OC
This is the way Matt Stafford made a boatload of money.
Chuck it in Megatrons direction and have him win the battles 90% of time.
Doesn’t make Stafford a well rounded QB when he can’t utilize his eyes to find other options when Megatron is taken away.
That’s what concerns me with Kaep, insisting on targeting Crabtree in the biggest spots the past 2 years.
Developing a crutch or, locking onto 1 guy at the expense of the others is dangerous and myopic.
And hearsay but TK makes some good points starting with:
“Practical point: There might not be another quarterback who threatens Seattle the way Kaepernick does. If the 49ers can just figure out how to beat Seattle when it counts. Because if they don’t, who will?”
Who can beat SEA besides us? NOOOOBODY. So glad to read this from TK about our passing game:
Quoting: “I’ve heard that Harbaugh took over additional parts of the 49ers offense toward the end of this season, especially on pass calls.
One NFL source noted that if offensive coordinator Greg Roman had landed a head-coaching job, Harbaugh planned to take over almost all the play-calling responsibilities.
Roman ended up staying, but I think some of the 49ers’ offensive struggles in 2013 have Harbaugh thinking about pushing the envelope a little more.”
END Quote. Jesus push the envelop already Harbaugh. We are scaring no one with our passing attack. The run game coordinator is fooling no one and we have 2 bitter big losses. There better NOT be three (four if you count our ineptitude in 2011 NFCCG.= 2 complete passes to WRs? Or was it 4???) The honeymoon is over with Roman, Karpernick and you sir Jimbo are next. Get involved and end this shit. Thanks.
Last word from Kawakami:
“Practical point: The 49ers probably aren’t going to beat Seattle strictly by running it; Kaepernick needs more options in the pass game, and it sounds like Harbaugh is determined to open up the playbook to see what the QB can do.”
About time:
Well, based on what Kappy is saying, and what the coaches appear to be telling him, is go with the 1st read. I don’t see how anyone on either side of the deal can promote this idea going forward.
Stafford’s a great one to point at and say you can hit the well a few times and be successful for a short time, but go there too much and you don’t get any better and you take away the 1st read and you are beaten.
The hope is they approach Kappy’s progression a little differently going forward.
That’s why I’m 50/50 with this Roman vs Kaep thing Chuck.
We’ve schemed well in all our matchups within the NFC West.
Proves to me they know how to attack an opponent.
Comes down to execution.
If, BIG IF, Kaep isn’t seeing everything he has available to him, the play call argument is moot.
No doubt Harbaugh is the right guy to teach the position though.
All of this Seattle nemesis stuff is, simply Kaep learning to beat the best Defense with limited experience at this point.
Our Offense is still evolving in many ways, starting with Kaep.
In the end, this will make Kaep a better QB.
He’s got to get past the mental blocks.
Harbaugh was a quarterback for God’s sake. He talked to Walsh all the time. He HAS to know that he must teach his QB to go through his reads and not to telegraph the pass.
And here we are at least 6 months after we discussed this here with ANOTHER big season ending loss to show for the business as usual Niner passing approach. Clock is ticking Harbaugh and you’ve done nothing . Who’s done less to improve their passing attack than us? NOOOOOOOBODY
To quote NF “Uncoachable tendencies or incompetent coaching”. 30/70 = CK/OC
NoFear49er is right on with that analogy Phil.
A play call is only as good as the execution.
If there’s a communication issue between Kaep, Roman or Harbaugh on what’s expected, there’s inherent problems brewing.
Given the comparison to what Alex went through in his early development, with revolving OCs and Coaching changing in general, I’d prefer the continuity we have right now.
Small cracks can be repaired on the fly.
Overhauls just delay the learning curve.
Phil, reaching the NFC Championship 3 times in 3 years isn’t nothing. But the team needs to grow. Kappy needs to grow. Harbaugh and the coaching staff needs to grow.
Based on the lack of spreading the ball around leads me to believe kappy is not getting through his reads fast enough. Lots of talk out there that he needs a vet presence backup or some kind of mentor to help him along. It isn’t the worst idea I’ve heard recently.
Didnt say we have accomplished “nothing” but have NOT grown since Harbaugh/Roman arrived in our passing game. Honeymoons over with this poor performing unit including coaches. This on JH
That’s just it Chuck, we’re consistantly good enough to get there.
Says a lot, especially with such a young QB.
It’s always about self criticism in the NFL.
Nobody wants to be ‘just good enough’.
They’ll analyze the deficiencies and make the moves the need to make.
We’re a whole lot better off than most teams at this point.
Even with these so called revelations, it still doesn’t address the shitty play calling in the red zone. If Harbaugh took over more later then why was the red zone and 3rd down conversions going south toward the end of the year?
Like I said, I’m, sick and tired of playing this shit so close to the vest and be forced to win in the last drive so much. This was the philosophy that doomed both Nolan and Singletary. Harbaugh has gotten them further, and they have overall done better,
They seem averse to risking being aggressive to the cost of leaving points in the field. If they trust their defense so much, they should take more chances in the red zone. I’ve seen entire games where we don’t throw into the end zone inside the 15 in 3-4 trips. Strictly runs or underneath routes. It burns me no end. And that’s ALL on the coaches.
Yep. Seattle, after Aldon forces the fumble, you know what Walsh would have done. First play would be all WRs into the EZ to strike before the D knows what hit ’em…
It also compresses the Defense that Kaep is working against Chuck.
That’s where that ‘flat ball’ analogy gets into my head.
Kaep showed in the SB, that he can’t make a fine timing throw to a spot, as well as he can hit a bullseye with the fast ball.
Frustrating?
Sure, but, there’s some room to argue that getting picked in the end zone sucks more then taking 3s.
We have a ways to go, before we can be confused with the Broncos Offense.
Thank you. Another gripe about play calling = our limited selection of passing plays. WTF happened to screens and slants?????? Fucking Denver ran a WR screen on their 1st (2nd?) possession against the hawks and it went for 7-8 yds. but WE dont run them? Why? Lack of personnel? BUllshit! Rotten coaching 100%
Phil the Broncos possess a WR group that eclipses most everyone else in the NFL.
Where did that get them against Seattle?
Roman/Harbaugh/Kaep did a better job vs the Seattle Defense then Peyton did.
Look at the upside, we took them to the mat in our death match, at their bldg.
Yeh, we didn’t get it done but, we sure looked a lot more prepared then they did.
We have nothing to be ashamed of.
Seattle will make us better.
Roman did employ several TE screens this year.
Denver did it with WRs.
Didn’t take them anywhere however.
Again, we’ve shown the ability to devise good plans.
We aren’t executing with any rhythm or consistency.
That’s the challenge.
“Roman did employ several TE screens this year.” And they worked by and large. But again did we use them in SEA? Why in the name of Vince Lombardi do we STOP running plays that are working? No TE screen when AS handed us the ball on the SEA 8! Piss Poor Coaching NJ. We have a 3rd rate passing scheme that cannot WIN at top level NFL games. Simple proven fact. 3 years in a row.
Get used to more such losses with our 3 years running moron approach to our passing “attack”. The Emperor not only has no clothes, he’s not an Emperor- he’s a college coach! Piss poor coaching, piss poor.
Fix it
If you want to feel better about our Coaching staff, read the news that Cleveland added Jimmy Hat to their Staff.
Oh the bad Ol’ Days.
Lest we forget, where we were, just a few years ago.
I thought they were bringing in the Shanahan the younger.
Yes NoFear49er, Kyle the Shanny Younger got a 3yr deal.
Once again, Jimmy Hat will grace a Coaching Staff.
To what degree of success is always worth the price of admission I guess?
Now, if they had anything close to a starting QB, there might be something there to Coach.
At least they were smart enough to rid themselves of a mediocre RB, in favor of an extra Pick.
The trouble with Kawakami is he’s mostly a shit-stirrer. He likes to create controversy and invent stories rather than report them. Personally I don’t place more than the slightest value on what he reports. Intel rated F-5. Not worth burning but could have some value in a disinformation effort.
Well, yeah. The article is full of word like ‘I heard’ ‘an NFL source said’ ‘Harbaugh probably…’ yadda yadda yadda. He’s no Lowel Cohn, but few are. You used to accuse me of parrotting him, now the worm has turned.
Our passing game is piss poor. Ranked what, 30? 25? Our play calling stinks. Dont blame Kawakami or Kap, this is 100% Harbaugh.
I would give another year for JH to fix this problem that caused us to settle for FG in the title game opening possession just like ALL YEAR LONGGGGGGGG (amen) before I (Jed York) would even talk to Jimbo about an extension. No fixie Jimbo? No raise son.
Not going to be ok with 0-4 in big games.
We’ll get there Phil.
No need to panic.
This is the Draft Class to get young WR weapons.
Not panicked- pissed. No more honeymoon fer Jimi. 100% on him. Better WRs wont matter with this clown act approach to NFL pass game. Wont fix it.
I think Jim knows he’s got some things to improve on.
But, I get what you’re saying.
Pete just one-upped him.
Motivation is a good thing in sports.
Here’s what I was expecting to get from LMJ –
This kid is on my Draft radar this May –
Dri Archer – Kent State
Primo Pocket Rocket – 5′ 8″/180 – Speed to burn, runs well in traffic, great vision, excellent hands.
Our answer to Tavon Austin perhaps……
At a much cheaper Draft Slot.
I don’t think James has been given a fair shot yet. I guess he’ll have to prove himself at returner if he wants to get on the field. He’s a guy probably stuck in a miscast role here.
And he’s apparently gone the Brandon Jacobs route via Social Media NoFear49er, asking to be traded.
Something isn’t right with that scenario.
If he’s unhappy, and not making enough progress at this point, I’d check with Chip Kelly in Philly about a Draft Pick for his former Duck.
The Niners offense……..BLEEP! Chuck’s dog could do better near the goal line. ARF!
Phil, what was wrong with the plays called on that first series in the championship game? Besides the fact they didn’t get a TD or a conversion? I thought those plays called were fine. and Seattle’s D is pretty good I’ve heard.
Nothing, not one pass to EZ. As snarkk said BW would have likely sent 3-4 WRs into EZ on the first play while D was reeling . Major fail repeated all year long = settling for FGs. Many have commented “FG is a given in that situation you MUST attack EZ and go for TD”. Arguably we handed the MO right back to Seattle and it was a win for them to hold us to FG. We had no killer instinct and it cost us as Irish Kevin noted at the time. Not what we did (none of which succeeded) but what we fail repeatedly to do: aggressively attack while we have the momentum. Piss poor coaching. Incompetent coaching.
And what’s with the O finally getting around to attacking the EZ on the last play from 18 yards out = locked on QB attacking the STRENGTH, time on the clock, time outs available? Incompetent, piss poor coaching resulting in the D embarrassing our O and ending our season. No home run Casey, strike out!
Chuck has a pretty specific answer if that what yer after. Me I hate our scheme in the way we are too aggressive in wrong places (last play) and too timid in many others (first series)