1-0 and the fans are rejoicing. Sort of. Guardedly optimistic? Depends on who you talk to. To me, the team looks a lot more coherent and solid that last year’s version. The lines look a lot better as well. and, speaking of last year, this season started just like last year. A strong Monday night victory against a supposed up-and-coming team followed by an East Coast trip through 3 time zones against a very strong team on a short week and the early game to boot. Hopefully the outcome of this game will be a little better than last year’s debacle at the hands of the Pittsburgh Steelers and their 48-18 thrashing.
This time around we only get the defending NFC champs, the Carolina Panthers. They of course were a field goal away from beating their Super Bowl conquerors, the Denver Broncos. So, how does this work out for us? Well, it is very hard to say. Our offense looks fairly similar to the one trotted out by the Broncos. Short passes, misdirection runs, runs from 3 WR sets, and some read-option. Gabbert had a fair-to-middling game, one where he missed wide open guys, but he also kept drives alive with his legs, and by buying time on the run. Still and all 22-35 for 170 and 1 TD isn’t going to stop any clocks, or even get the fantasy crowd excited, but a decent enough game. Will that fly tomorrow? I don’t think so. He left too many passes in the danger zone and should have been picked off a couple times, and missed an easy TD early on. The run game, namely Carlos Hyde needs to have a big game for this to work. I like the idea of getting a lot of WRs in the patterns to unload the box.
Amazingly, the 49ers last week were 4-4 in the red zone against what was supposed to be a top-tier defense. But they pretty much laid down by the end of the 3rd quarter, and their offense was flat to say the least. Carolina? Well, Denver has the blueprint for beating Carolina down pat. Pressure pressure pressure. Get people in his grille and make him rush his throws. Contain is also important, but the biggest thing is pressure. The DBs did well last week, and in the preseason. They again will be key to slowing down the Carolina offense. Keep the ball in Newton’s hands give the pas rush a better shot of getting to him.
Still and all, I think we lose, but we play well in the cause. 24-20 Panthers.
Forty Niners Forever 
Gabbert still makes rookie mistakes. Throwing into double coverage, missing open guys and checking down way too quick.
Granted McDonald’s drop was huge as that would have been a big play.
Are we in first in the division? I’m thinking we win the tie breakers! Raise you hand if you had the 49ers in 1st place after 2 games. My hand isn’t up.
I wouldn’t worry too much about the QB yet. We just went against two of the, if not the 2, best defenses in the NFL. We put 57 points on the board. That isn’t bad.
55 points.
The Raiders will be nothing if not entertaining this year. With 2:00 to go still, their two game net is Opponents 69 Raiders 63. LOL – take the over.
The biggest difference in this game was Carolina had Kelvin Benjamin and we didn’t. The other problem was our lack of pressure on the QB. Eli Harold is a terrible pass rusher. We really missed Lynch today.
The Niners are in 1st by tiebreaker.
Lol, the Rams held the seachumps to 3 points. Go figure. Fuck it, I feel better about the season already.
The Seahawk OL is a hot mess and they REALLY miss Beast Mode.
15 points in two games. They’ve only given up 19. They’re the Anti-Raiders.
We all knew this one was going to be a loss. Cam Newton with no pass rush to speak of, what else can you expect? Niners need much better players to compete with Carolina.
at leas they made it interesting. Although it’s funny that we are giving the team props and they gave up 46 points. And Gabbert completely sucks. If we aren’t cutting Kaep, my preferred move, then we might as well put him out there. Win or lose, I’d like to see him get sacked, hard. And he’s gotta be better than Blabbert’s boring ass. Blabbert makes me miss Alex Smith,…..
I’d like to see Ponder in there.
One of the biggest users of the Sardine Can Offense, Norv Turner, just used spread formations to get Minihaha on the board.
Color me shocked. AP’s hurt after being a non-factor all game (not why I’m shocked), but Badford looks terrific!
Seattle doesn’t look nearly as formidable as they did that’s for sure. But they still have a very good defense.
And Russell isn’t moving well on a bum wheel.
I liked what LA id on Offense. Lots of short stuff while sticking with Gurley enough to keep them honest.
Officiating certainly did a Class-A Homer job for LA too I thought.
Want to know how to best cover Kelvin Benjamin? With a pass rush, which we don’t have. And some Mensa has decided Marcus Rush should stay on the PS. I’m not saying he is the answer but what we are doing now is not working. Our Mensas have decided a 5th ILB is more important than a pass rush. They have also decided to use Eli Harold as a primary pass rusher. Maybe after watching the Carolina game film some changes will be made.
Eli is in Plebe-mode 101.
He was basically a designated rusher in College, now trying to learn other responsibilities as a Pro.
Liked him in College, hoping he’ll continue to improve with more game reps.
He’s obviously put in the off-season work to bulk himself up, which is a good sign.
One thing to his credit, he’s working at it.
Blaine Gabbert is really a tough sell. Chipper will have to come to his senses eventually and find something better. Chuck’s dog could play the position almost as good. Trouble is his dog would bring the ball back to the line of scrimmage and wait for a dog treat. And dogs are smart that way, they will not take the pounding. They bite back!
Gabbert is rushing things IMO.
He’s got to set his feet and improve his mechanics.
The plays are well designed and, for the most part, guys are getting open.
He’s got to deliver when it matters.
Can’t forgive the drops today but, Gabbert has his share of blame on others.
It’ll come with reps.
No reason to panic just yet.
I can honestly say I was able to watch and not want to vomit.
One immediate dividend with the Chip Kelly Offense, is the sideline communication system.
Will pretty much offset the 12th Quacks in Seattle I’d guess.
Gotta get the rhythm and tempo improved however.
We looked like a ‘short-week’ road team today.
Ground game never materialized either.
Have to have it next week.
Problem is we came out of the half completely shitty again. 4 3 and outs last week. 3 today. Carolina took advantage. For whatever reason we come out flat. Without all the turnovers we lose big.
True enough Chuck.
Gabbert needs to get into gear.
He’s throwing flat-footed/off balance too often for starters.
Heard commentary suggesting he’s picked up Chip’s Offense quicker than anyone Chip worked with previously.
Fine. Nice to hear and all but, he’s not executing it.
Hats off to the Defense however. They were out there much too long, thanks to those 3-&-Outs.
Brutal heat and humidity as well.
All in all, a valiant effort IMO.
As stated, they were watchable.
Have to clean it up on Offense, which starts with Gabbert making some clutch throws, and, his targets hanging onto the one’s he does deliver accurately.
Play design and play calling seemed to be on point most of the day at least.
Just didn’t execute enough.
Play of the day, (for me), was QPat hustling over to peel Kuechly off VMcD on the TD run.
Had VMcD handled the other throw on the opposite side of the Field that could have turned the game.
Yup. That was a killer. Hard to say what happens, but that could have been a game-tying score.
I expected the passing game to take time in a new system.
Having to grab WRs off the street late in PS didn’t help.
But, as we saw today, when the running game doesn’t get going, it stalls the rhythm.
We just looked flat and out of sync.
Let’s hope they’re up collectively for the nemesis ‘Hawks next week.
Carlos admitted he rushed his reads somewhat today.
Said he didn’t allow his blocks time to materialize.
Gotta get him going for one. He’s also gotta hang onto the ball for two.
Spotted them a gift scoop and score which didn’t help.
For the most part, OL gave Gabbert time today but, we know the results weren’t worthy of any praise.
New thread is up . . .