The 2014 season got off to a resounding thud, as the Johns beat the Jims 23-3. Yet another loss for Jim at the hands of his older brother. This one of course doesn’t mean as much, but still, John Harbaugh has to feel a little smug next time they meet for dinner at their parents house.
All in all, a very desultory effort by the team, as the offense stalled out behind Gaine Blabbert (and later Josh Joshson), and the backup defense was gashed for 8 yard runs all night. Unfortunately for me, I missed the opening drive until the very point I wanted to see something different. Which of course was the 3rd and 1 from the 7. Per usual, we packed the line and ran up the middle for no gain. If you haven’t heard me yet, this is a large issue with me. I mean, why do we even practice the 0 yard rush? We do it 3o times a game. Yes, there were a lot more 2 WR formations on 1st and 2nd down, but again there were a lot of 1st down rushes for 2 yards or less. Yippee.
Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss.
I know I shouldn’t read too much into this, but the philosophy seems to be the same as last year. Anyhow, the 49ers were very lucky the only injury they suffered on defense was and ankle injury to Lawrence Okoye, as the defense was on the field for 40 of the 60 minutes. Jimbo should give them the week off as they had a full week of practice time in that game.
Highlights are the solid returns and a catch by Bruce Ellington, who showed a nice burst. I hear Hyde looked good on that opening drive, Ward was solid in run support, and Tank & Dial looked pretty good to great on the line. Mike Purcell on the other hand wasn’t all that good at NT, but then again, the LBs were often nowhere to be seen in run support or on screen plays. Wilhoite looked good, but the rest were out of position most of the time. Even Christian Okoye had a couple nice plays before getting hurt. And Chris Cook had a nice pick late, and he played well in single coverage on an end zone pass.
Reclamation project Blaine Gabbert looks to be way behind schedule in regards to becoming a decent backup. Then again, there were a lot of drops. Stevie Wonder among the few. I’m still not very thrilled with our passing game. Our routes do not seem to be designed to gain separation from the DBs out there. They seem to be strictly comeback routes and sideline passes. These are fairly easily defended, and with Gabbert throwing, it was ugly, as he ended up 3/11 for a whopping 20 yards. Josh looked like he had a better idea of how to run the offense (6/8-63 yards), but we’ll see if Gabby gets left behind.
Forty Niners Forever 
I’ve got three words for all of you who are worried the Niners have a lot to clean up after last night’s performance – the Dallas Cowboys. I don’t care if we play our B team on 3 hours of sleep with no cleats, helmets and pads and the team is suffering from the Ebola virus – we still beat the Cowboys by 9 points even if all three of our remaining preseason games are also flops. The Cowboys are that shitty of a football team. And I don’t care if the fix is on and the Russian mafia has compromising pictures of Kaep in Florida, we still win by 9 points. So, in a way, we have four more remaining preseason games.
Now the Bears, Cardinals and Eagles? We’ll need to be on our A game for them.
Couple of thoughts on the game itself. Personally (and I’m gonna get some heat for this and really why would anyone open themselves up for additional grief in life?) I thought Blaine Gabbert looked good. I thought, like Harbaugh said, he got the team up to the line, made the right calls, and stood back there like a pro, scanning the field. His throws were awful, but everything else looked good. And let’s not forget – Harbaugh won with Alex Smith. Alex Smith has yet to throw a nice pass in the NFL. Harbaugh coached Smith up. Plain and simple. Gabbert’s smart enough to get in and out of the huddle successfully, with presence in the pocket and backups around him. You give Gabbert the A team with Harbaugh’s coaching staff continuing to learn his strengths and Gabbert will give you a better chance to win football games than Josh Johnson. Josh Johnson is a turnover waiting to happen. Gabbert can and will clean up the sloppy throws. And Gabbert, to me, looks light years ahead of Colt McCoy.
Jewel Hampton stinks. Jewel Hampton is a career NFL practice squad guy. If anyone, in the future, mentions Jewel Hampton as a reasonable option for running back in regular season, I’m gonna go ape shit. Bananas.
The 49ers should have drafted two running backs. If Hyde continues to hit holes as fast as he did in this game, he should win the starting job over Gore hands down this year. Gore should be Hyde’s backup and in reality, the 49ers should have also drafted another running back in the fourth like Devanta Freeman (who went to the Falcons) because Lattimore (and I’ve been saying this since day one) probably will never be an effective NFL running back. But, I should just be happy with Hyde. Kid’s a beast.
Where the hell was Trey Millard? There’s all kinds of talk around him. Is he Pupped?
I was excited about Trey Millard before I watched that Fox round table and now I’m even more intrigued. I’m not a Bruce Miller fan. Miller can block, no question about it. But he can’t run the football and / or catch the ball and be a real threat to break tackles and pickup serious yardage. He has hands but he’s severely limited after the catch. In short, Bruce Miller is really limited in what he can do and that has a limiting effect on your offense. I look for Trey Millard to be a great addition to the team next year and for him to knock Miller off the roster. But again, I’m not a fan of Baalke playing these games. JC or CJ Copeland (can’t remember his name) was available as an undrafted free agent who went to the Bengals (to play alongside fellow LSU back Jeremy Hill), and Copeland could have contributed this year. I understand why Harbaugh and Baalke draft injured guys like Millard because it gives them a year to learn the system while they heal and you get them at what appears to be a discount. But time has a value as well and what you gain in draft choices you lose in years of eligibility and roster spots – not to mention years of wasted resources if they don’t pan out… like Lattimore.
Hampton is Kory Sheets. A non-goer.
NFI for Millard. Nevermind. Slight possibility he’ll play this year.
All the talk is that Goodell is lowering the boom on Aldon for 6 or 8 games.
If so, he’s a major league hypocrite.
For a 7th round pick, Miller’s fine. And he’s a good blocker. He’s a good fit for how they use him.
Encouraging was seeing Hyde pick up the LB coming in on the blitz early in the game.
Millard? Yeah, didn’t know he was IRed. These kinds of picks are getting old. Seeing as Lattimore is still on the shelf.
I’d be fine with an 8 game suspension if they gave Aldon credit for the 5 games he took off last year.
BLEEP the Preseason! Okay it’s still better entertainment than the Giants. Damn what a sorry club.
Randy Moss talks about players complaining? Who, hisownself a serial complainer, is he talking about? Moss, Brandon Jacobs, James? BFD, the guys on the bench have to complain or somebody might think there’s a good reason they’re riding the pine.
Pre-season one in the books and it wasn’t about winning. Well, maybe just a little, but both coaches had more on the agenda than winning a pre-season scrimmage. Jim’s old Stanford pal is a bust. No wonder they bullied him! He stinks.
D-line takes great conditioning to play more than two snaps in a row. Purcell hung in at the nose but looked pretty easy to control and take down on some plays. Funny thing about playing another team… I’ll bet he did learn a lot about what a ridiculous position NT is to play, especially the head up two-gap variety. I want to see him again in the third or fourth PS game.
How long has Dial waited for that debut? Coach him up on the twists and stunts and four man pressure will be fearsome with Justin just-in.
Complaining is as common as breathing. As a nurse once said to me while I was laying in a hospital bed, “looks like you’re too sick to complain.”
Good post NoFear!
Just watched a few pre season games. The Arizona Cardinals? WOW!!! Fantasy Football Sleeper Watch: WR, John Brown. That kid can play. The Cardinals are either legit Super Bowl contenders or the Houston Texans under first year head coach Bill O’Brien suck. It’s clearly a little of both but I think the Cardinals will finish second in the division this year by knocking either the 49ers or the Seahawks out of the playoffs. With the 49ers’ run defense as suspect as it appears to be, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if the 49ers didn’t make the playoffs. (Then Harbaugh and York would be light years away regarding a contract and that just spells one thing for 49er fans – post Jim Harbaugh pain).
Johnny Manziel will be a circus. So glad he went to the Browns. That’s Karma for Art Model moving the team and changing the name. The curse of the Bambino…. The fans don’t deserve it. Certainly some see Manziel as a savior. I have to laugh.
The Tennessee Titans are another team I think could surprise some people this year. Locker absolutely needs to stay in the pocket and I think Whizzerhurtz is the man to keep him there. The Titans have a lot of young, skill position players on offense in Hunter, Wright, Green and McCluster… and they picked up the Blind Side. My guess is if Whizzerhurtz can pound it into Locker’s head that he’s not a running qb at this level, and Locker gets the message and goes down instead of fighting for additional yards, the Titans will be a wildcard team giving the Colts a run for their money.
And last but not least, Norv Turner. The evolution of Norv is a man who used to know how a ride a running back with his play calls – Emmitt Smith, Frank Gore, ect. Then in San Diego and with the Browns, Norv was pass happy making a name for Rivers, Gates and Gordon. But now the Vikings have the best back in the NFL and the question becomes can Norv revert back to his old ways when he was putting the spurs to Smith and Gore? I’m betting the Vikings’ offense is legit this year with Cassell at qb, play action and Patterson becoming a star.
I posted this on Skeeb’s:
Dennis should be happy. Johnny Football had a fairly decent debut. Hard to tell – second teamers on both sides, shoddy refs, ugly game, Cleveland sucks. But all in all, he looked pretty good (couple dropped well thrown passes as well as a kneeldown to end the first half degraded his stats). Much better than some seasoned vets I’ve seen so far – cough, cough, gabbert.
I may have been wrong on the kid.
Alex Boone: My assessment of our offensive line is this…. Johnathan Martin sucks balls. He won’t make the team. I said it before, I’m sayin’ it again. Nobody worth their salt gets trucked like Martin did by Aldon. I don’t care if Aldon goes to the Hall (not Juvie). I don’t know if I like Looney either. Joe Looney doesn’t have the mental discipline. He’s a big, baby Huey kid. In fact, that’s his new nick name – Baby Huey. Writers on these blogs are always worried about a running back missing pass block and the qb getting killed. I think Baby Huey could get Kaep killed. Now Marcus Martin – no relation to Johnathan Martin? Marcus Martin could start today at LG. And I think by week 4 of the preseason Marcus Martin will have earned a starting job along the O line, and my guess is at LG.
So if I’ve figured out the O line landscape well enough then it’s my guess the 49ers will negotiate with Alex Boone only if Daniel Kilgore flops at center or there’s a significant injury. If Kilgore is evaluated by the 49er coaching staff as someone who’s as good as Goodwin, Boone won’t be negotiated with, but he also won’t be traded.
Johnathan Martin – Cut
Marcus Martin – Starting LG
Looney – Guard backup
Kilgore – Starting Center.
Synder – Backup swing man.
If this is how it shakes out, Alex Boone won’t be traded, but he’ll be asked to stay at home and not be negotiated with either. If someone gets hurt, the 49ers have options.
I read somewhere, and I could be wrong, but I think the 49ers are something like $10 million under the cap and they can roll that money over to next year if they don’t apply that money to a new deal for Crabtree or Iupati … or Vernon or Boone.
The only way I’d trade Boone was if Baby Huey started to dominate. It’s too early to tell, but if I’m Boone I’m paying real close attention to Looney. If someone gets hurt or Baby Huey can’t get his head around the game, you gotta negotiate with Boone. If you trade Boone, you obviously don’t have that option. And let’s not forget… Boone is your backup OT if Staley or Davis go down. Snyder’s good, but Boone’s better.
Here’s to hoping Marcus Martin and Kilgore create immediate chemistry playing side-by-side.
Where do you see Iupati playing?
My bad… Iupati LG, Martin RG.
“Elvis Dumervil dominated 49ers tackle Jonathan Martin in one-on-one pass rushing drill.”
A reader on a csnbayarea article posted tweets from today’s practice against the Ravens. The other was that Staley dominated in pass blocking.
Yeah, Spitty, doesn’t look too good for J. Martin.
I think M Martin ends up at C. J Mart was dog meat, but a lot of the 2nd string was.
So Spit thought Gabbert looked good the other night? I don’t know how to respond to that statement. In fact, I’m not going to. There’s enough strife in my life as it is.
A toast Dennis to better days……
Gabbert looked light years ahead of Colt McCoy. He got the plays called correctly, players lined up right, and he looked good standing in the pocket. He didn’t have happy feet. Those things need to come first. McCoy couldn’t even do that. Decisions about where to throw the football and accuracy come later, when the game slows down because you know the system. I’d rather have Gabbert than McCoy, and that’s saying something because McCoy has a ton of heart while Gabbert has none. But you gotta walk before you can run. Gabbert walked. McCoy never could.
The 49ers haven’t had a good backup yet in the 3 years Harbaugh’s been the hc (aside from Kaep who was thankfully moving Smith out). I think that’s a mistake. Who knows if BJ Daniels will become anything with Seattle. He’s now stuck behind Terrell Pryor, competing for a practice squad position. But instead of drafting scrubs like Borland, Dontae Johnson and Aaron Lynch (three players I really don’t like although Dontae Johnson reportedly intercepted Flacco and took it back to the house yesterday), the 49ers should have drafted a qb to develop and trade. If Gabbert keeps doing what he did in his first pre season game, there will be no trade market for him…. which might mean no demand which might mean a long-term solid backup deal with the 49ers. But by then Harbaugh will be coaching the New York Giants and Jim Tomsula will be returning this team to its rightful place in the cellar with York applying heavy Putin-like sanctions to all media outlets who report something negative about the 6-10, 2016 Niners. Can’t wait.
And that’s another thing to think about….. Kaep’s deal was designed to help the team to compete for Super Bowls. But if Jim Harbaugh leaves, I could see Kaep holding out and looking for a trade alla Boone. The only problem I’d have signing Kaep’s deal was if Harbaugh left. Harbaugh leaves and Kaep becomes Alex Smith with Mike Singletary sayin’ “Go get ’em, kid!” before each game. York loves Tomsula. Think Tomsula is going to have the nutz to bring in an OC like Nolan did who could help Kaep? In no time flat, without Harbaugh, Kaep’s on the scrap heap without confidence with fans questioning his intelligence, his accuracy, his leadership abilities….
Then it’s, “Let’s see what Blaine Gabbert’s got!” Because with a bad head coach who’s defensive minded, everyone loves the backup qb. Right now, Kaep’s the man because he’s supported by Harbaugh. You lose Harbaugh and if Kaep’s smart, he holds out and demands a trade. Tomsula and Blaine Gabbert is enough to get me to take up drinkin’ again. Just the thought makes me parched. Who would you rather have? Gabbert and Tomsula, or Singletary and Smith? Because those who question Harbaugh are advocating a return to the Singletary years. Jed York and his minions aren’t going to have the insights to find another good hc’ing hire.
From watching the Johnny Football-Lions game, there’s a guy I wouldn’t mind the Niners having at all – Kellen Moore, 3rd yr. Boise St. and currently (for how long?) 3rd stringer for the Lions.
I remember that kid. Awesome leader. Tons of heart. No arm. Maybe he’s developed an arm? This is probably his 3rd year in the pros. If he can make all the throws, he’s got a real chance.
He was 12 0f 13 playing with/against 18th stringers, still he was the best looking QB in the game. It will be interesting to see if he beats out Orlovsky for #2 or if the Lions keep him at 3. Should he become available, he won’t be on waivers long.
Jason LaConfora wrote an interesting article about the 49ers / Ravens training camp. He said he thinks Harbaugh is done in SF with likely suitors being the Dolphins and Raider. I disagree. I think likely suitors will be teams in playoff contention who’ve lost faith in their head coaches or who’ve got older coaches looking to retire – Bill Belicheck, Tom Coughlin, Mike Smith. And when a good team picks up Harbaugh, Jed York will have egg on his face and the 49ers will suck once again. LaConfora writes the Yorks feel 5 million for Harbaugh considering how talented the team is. If that’s right, I have to laugh. Harbaugh is directly responsible for both inspiring these players and also bringing in the talent. Harbaugh leaves and this team is 6-10 overnight. Unfortunately for the 49er fans, they either aren’t informed or if they are, they aren’t outraged. To save Harbaugh, Jed York needs to feel the heat on the blog before the 2015 year.
LaConfora also said he’d be surprised if Josh Johnson didn’t beat out Gabbert. Great…. Josh Johnson and Jim Tomsula. Del Mar Dennis would much rather laugh at a 6-10 team than root for one trying to get over the bubble into 6 rings territory. But Del is a coward, let’s not forget.
Spitty, looks like we got you in weeks 3 and 12 in Dennis’ ESPN league. I say we because I guess I’m sharing the team?????? I’m hoping my co-owner is Phil, otherwise he’s unknown to me.
Should be fun. I don’t know why we’re playing twice; we’re in different divisions. Screwy scheduling format.
I won’t be playin’ in that league this year. I’ve already informed Dennis. Too many flakes.
Chuck, me, Dennis, Rob, Barley – I don’t think I know the other 4 guys. Is “Blind Legions” V? Sorry to see you go.
Thanks, RT. I’m sure you guys will have a blast!
Jon Martin has no balance to compete at OT IMO.
Good size, no feet, questionable upper body strength.
He might, MIGHT, survive as a backup OG, if the Boone situation dictates it.
I have no interest for Preseason games other than staying healthy.
It’s a time to put plays on film against another team.
Improve or get cut, that’s about it.
LMJ should be available by opening day according to Matt M.
If you’re gonna sit around and cry about Jim Harbaugh like Del does at least be consistent about your crying. Del hates Harbaugh because Harbaugh lost a Super Bowl (which the Niners don’t do) and Harbaugh was too much of an ass to bring in Peyton Manning. Now that’s ironic. There’s no other word for it. Peyton Manning lost two Super Bowls, one almost single-handedly with a pick 6 against the Saints that iced the game away. That’s a choke artist. And Del likes that guy? I mean, if there was ever a loser out there it’s Peyton Manning, but Del prefers a two time Super Bowl loser to a one time Super Bowl loser? Are you even a Niner fan, Del? Your brain needs to be a little moist to have these thoughts rest gently upstairs without conflict. And then Del loves Tony Romo? There’s your evidence Del’s mind has gone soft. Nobody in their right mind could be dumb enough to like Tony Romo. The key phrase there… “right mind.”
So now we come to Jim Harbaugh, who after 3 years of very real success is stuck making 5 million per year with a kid for an owner (who Del doesn’t seem to mind), telling Harbaugh he’s not worth 8 million per year when it was clearly Harbaugh who hand-picked Colin Kaepernick and developed him. And Del and others on this blog are stupid enough to say the 49ers were “stacked” before Harbaugh got here (total joke), and stupid enough to think Kaepernick wasn’t worth big money (Kaepernick did more than earn his pay the last two years compared to guys like Dalton, Romo, Stafford and even Alex Smith – look at Kaep’s playoff wins).
What about guys like Alex Smith, Dashon Goldson, Delanie Walker and now Donte Whitner? What Jed York free agents left the 49ers since Steve Mariucci and went on to more lucrative contracts? Terrell Owens? The fact is that Harbaugh’s such a good coach that when players play here their stock around the league rises significantly. Who didn’t see that Delanie Walker would be a very average player in Tennessee? But the Titans signed him hoping Walker would bring them some SF magic. Donte Whitner? Same thing.
The Yorks are idiots. Plain and Simple. There’s no more idiotic family owning a team in football right now. The resentment from Harbaugh is already kicking in. If I was Harbaugh and I had brought the team to 3 NFC West Championship games, found and developed a star qb, assembled one of the best coaching staffs in the league and wanted to be paid like a Super Bowl winner only to be rebuffed by a kid who’s prior win loss record was 76 wins and 114 loses, I’d be happy to play out my contract and go else where. Jed York? What a fuckin’ idiot.
Charges were brought against that Louisiana governor for accepting $400k from Eddie D in 1998. I’m not sure when Eddie D lost the team, but if it was in 1999, prior to Jim Harbaugh the York’s record was 76-114. People on this blog are fuckin’ idiots.
NJ’s an idiot for thinking Trent Baalke is the answer to this team’s troubles.
Del’s an idiot for loving legitimate losers while incorrectly claiming Harbaugh’s a loser.
Unca’s an idiot for thinking this team was “stacked” before Harbaugh got here – a total myth I debunked a while ago showing how much turnover Harbaugh’s facilitated since taking over.
There’s only one guy responsible for the 49ers’ turn around – Jim Harbaugh. When he leaves and you guys had sat back and were dumb enough to be okay with Jim leaving, unafraid of sub 500 seasons once again, I’m gonna lay on the shit so heavy you won’t enjoy blogging here ever again. I’ll be merciless. NJ for his fuckin’ stupid ass opinion that he’d rather have Baalke. Unca for his stupid ass opinion the team was stacked prior to Harbaugh’s hire even though the team went 6-10 the year prior. And Del so belligerent he can’t tell the difference between a winner and a loser. In Del’s mind Peyton Manning is 3-0 in Super Bowls. Oops! Don’t tell Del Peyton’s lost two!
When Harbaugh leaves and this team starts slowly declining from NFC Championship games to missing the playoffs to bottom of the division, I’m gonna hammer on you idiots the like of which you’ll never recover from. Bruce Arians, Jeff Fisher and Pete Carroll? Please. You want to know Jim Tomsula’s record against those guys his first year as our head coach? 0-6.
It’s time this blog started to pull its head out of its ass.
Why don’t you listen to that video clip you posted on an earlier thread with Randy Moss’s assessment of guys not buying in Spit.
He played for Harbaugh and obviously speaks his mind, like him or not.
You may dislike my opinion of Baalke but facts remain, he built that roster.
Harbaughs’ job is to make it successful.
It’s been pulverized here adnauseum that it’s been a 1 dimensional team.
Is Harbaugh truly developing Kaep or using him as an extension of the running game?
Yes, he may have wanted Kaep over Alex but again, Baalke was the guy that played the hand, and made the deal, to capitilize on the transition.
Perhaps Jed sees and hears those grumblings, about guys not buying in, before he opens the wallet?
Maybe these holdouts are a result of guys being frustrated with Harbaugh?
Something is going on behind closed doors that obviously is impacting the negotiations.
You simply choose to bash Jed and/or the Yorks.
Who hired him exactly?
The commentary about Parcells (within that video), suggests that once a HC loses the attention of the players, it’s time to move on.
That’s got nothing to do with Jed, if in fact that happens to be the case.
I don’t overlook the success Harbaugh has shown since his arrival but, he’s abrasive as well as competitive.
Your video clip suggests that all isn’t well within the locker room.
This could explain some of the commentary regarding WRs quitting on routes now couldn’t it?
Harbaugh/Roman aren’t fooling anyone with the passing game if they don’t utilize the entire roster.
Bottom line, Baalke does his job, Jim has to do his.
Jed appeased Jim with the extension of Fangio didn’t he?
I’d suggest that Fangio has done more, since his arrival, with the Defense, than Jim has with the Offense.
Facts also remain that once we get into the big games it’s been the Offense that falls short.
Stubborn play calling in the SB. Living and dying with Crabtree in crunch time.
Let’s see how our season starts without NaVorro and Aldon.
I’m more concerned for the impact the OLine will have in improving the point production, especially in the Red Zone.
Looney has some big shoes to fill if Boone remains AWOL.
If Harbaugh/Roman haven’t added anything to the passing game, we’re right back where we’ve been.
Relying on the ground game.
Here’s Del’s hero: BWAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHHHAAAHAHA
But you don’t like Harbaugh? The brain has gone soft. Soft…
Let’s see, 3 and a half minutes left to tie the game and Manning throws a pick 6 in the Super Bowl? That’s Tony Romo-esque. HAHAHAHA. And Del likes this guy? What an idiot.
Spit you’re quick to pound on Tomsula but, he and Fangio might not be terrible options, if Harbaugh can’t get an extension.
I’ve read that Ed Donatell is also a guy worthy of DC consideration.
If Harbaugh departs, it’s something he chooses to do, not necessarily an indictment of Jed.
From all that has occurred since Jed took the reigns, Jed hasn’t impressed me as someone who’s clueless.
His father John, totally clueless.
Let’s remember that every guy on the team answers to Jed.
We as fans see and hear little of what is actually going on behind closed doors.
If Harbaugh is being truthful about money not being the ultimate deal breaker, I think it’s pretty clear that Jed has negotiated in good faith from what’s been reported.
Either Jim is feeling the pressure to get past 2nd place or, he’s just out of excuses and want’s to prove he can clear the bar, before becoming a lame duck HC.
We’ll just have to wait and see what develops.
No need to stop grinding your axe.
If Jim enters the 2015 season as a lame duck HC, Baalke will have to find a way to get compensated, that’s HIS job.