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 
My problem was, Gore to LT, 2 yards. 2 yard throw to Crabs. Designed Kappy run for 4, FG.
If it was me, I’d go play-action on 1st down because 999,999 times out of 1,000,000 the Niners and Harbaugh run on 1st down close. Then maybe I’d actually try to reach the end zone with a pass. Underneath shit down close will not work against Seattle.
agree, but you could also try a sweep also if they want to run. everyone crash in why not try the sweep
Seattle’s D line is fast and their LBs cover very well. It is hard to sweep against them. Especially down close with the DBs playing up as well. The play for Kappy was pretty much a sweep to the left. It almost worked, but Kappy got tripped up 2 yards short.
TE screen with VD and MacDonald blocking sprang Boldin from about same place in earlier game (AZ?)
The knock on LMJ is apparently he isn’t picking up the blocking schemes well enough. A huge part of Gore’s game is his blocking ability, and whoever mans the RB spot has to be 100% sure of how to block. Ask Steve Young how important a blocking RB is.
I don’t know about James’ situation here. We have a problem getting new talent on the field sometimes. Of course he has to know the protections and be able to do what’s asked there but he’s not an every down back in our system and more of a scat back that brings speed and elusiveness to the running game. That not being our game, and we not being able to get him on the field with plays designed to feature what he does, why bring him in? As a returner? Exclusively?
On the first series of plays in the NFCCG: True, the plays didn’t result in much yardage but were they bad plays to call? I don’t see anything wrong with the first down call. Run Gore off left tackle behind Staley, Iupati and Dixon. It sets up the next two plays and Gore has broken through under the big blockers fairly well.
The second down CK7 hit Crabs on a shallow cross but we sent five receivers out and every one of them was covered but Crabs.
On third down we tried to use the man coverage against them and sent CK7 on a delayed keeper. He did have a lot of defenders’ backs facing him, so it made sense.
After seeing how the last two promising seasons came to an end, I’m glad we didn’t turn it over passing to Crabs once there. LOL
Well, one man’s crap is another man’s gold. I have seen numerous trips to the red zone where we NEVER even bother to take a shot into the end zone. If Kappy picked the wrong guy to throw to on that 2nd down, well, that’s on him. But I’m sure he was the read to go to. Pont being, i HATE the 1st down run because we were in our usual jumbo package, and it did little to nothing. A throwaway down. Fuck setting up the next play. Take the chance on that play. One thing Walsh usually did was attack the end zone on a turnover. Especially one down close. It screamed play-action. Based on OUR tendencies.
When they talk about opening things up, this ius EXACTLY what I’m talking about and hoping for.
New thread is up, BTW.
Well said