Yeah, I figured this would happen. Granted, it was the defending NFC champs on a short week and a cross-country-early game, but the team at least kept trying, despite falling way behind in the 3rd quarter. And yeah, Carolina looked like they were close to unraveling completely after a Cam Newton fumble led to a FG and the subsequent kickoff was muffed by Ted Ginn and led to a quick TD.
The truth is Carolina is a better deeper team, but the team looked good at times, and looked overmatched at times. 529 to 302 in yards tell you a lot, and TE Greg Olson beat Anthoine Bethea like a drum all day. Our single coverage on Kelvin Benjamin was beaten badly as this didn’t help the pass rush in any way. . Turnovers didn’t hurt Carolina early (Niner FG off the tipped pick) but it was a killer for Hyde as Carolina got 6 off his fumble. Gabbert looked fairly solid till he started firing picks in the end. VMcD had a great play on a deep crossing route for a 75 yard TD, but dropped a big play on the next drive when the 49ers had clawed back into the game. Next pass was picked off and the route was on.
Carolina was able to take away our run game with their defense, and it showed. Forcing Gabbert to take charge came with fair results, at least early. The Niners even had a 10-7 lead after scoring on a nice 28 yard pass to Torrey Smith. This off a Carolina fumble. But this lasted exactly one play, as Greg Olson caught a 78 yard bomb from Newton, and Carolina added a FG to close the half.
17-10 and the end of the half seemed pretty solid especially when the Niners deferred on the kickoff to start the game. Problem is, the 3rd quarter started with 2 three-and-outs sandwiched around two long TD drives that the defense couldn’t get stops on. So a one-TD lead became a three-TD lead. After cutting it to a 34-27 deficit, the Niners once again couldn’t stop Carolina to the tune of 7-15 on 3rd downs. That needs to improve. Yeah, it was hotter than shit, and the aforementioned short week, yadda yadda yadda, but the team showed heart, if not consistency. All aspects played well at times, and all aspects failed at times. The signs of a young team.
Gabbert for some reason just flailed at the end as he tried to bring the team back from a 10 point deficit late. Throwing into double coverage was terrible, but it came at the heels of a big play that was dropped by VMcD. He had another game where he hit some nice passes, and threw some absolute bonehead passes, and missed another deep one. 17-36 for 243, 2 and 2 is another game where he didn’t throw for 50%. This cannot continue. He missed way too many open guys, and again threw check downs off no pressure.
On defense, the pass rush was nowhere to be found. O’Neill left the corners out on their own, and Newton took advantage. And as mentioned, Olson had the game of his life as he toasted Bethea with regularity. Benjamin as well. Tough game against a team that looked like the defending NFC champs.
We played like a young team coming off a short week and a cross-country flight. Sloppy and inconsistent. Thing is we get another road test in Seattle next week. The schedulers just love us. And for what it’s worth, the whole division is 1-1 right now.
Forty Niners Forever 
The pass rush and Secondary play depend on each other.
Without the ability to move Cam off his spot the DBs are toast.
All isn’t lost after 2 games.
There’s enough to see some reasons for optimism I think.
Have to get the Offense into gear. Gabbert takes the reigns, or the horns, for that discussion.
Can’t keep skipping throws to the quick hitters and expecting anything positive to occur.
I watched the Rams/’Hawks game today too.
One thing that should work for us is Russell on a squeaky wheel behind a less than talented OL.
Have to capitalize on that while we’re there next week.
Curious to see whether they’ll have the taller Dontae Johnson involved too, especially with Jimmy Graham.
Carolina had the distinct height advantage today with their WRs over our DBs.
Wilson really looked hampered yesterday, more than I can remember at any other time. A couple of times he was run down by guys he’d normally leave in the dust. He was also drilled a few times on sacks. All this to say, that ankle is in pretty bad shape. The Niners will need to exploit that with a strong pass rush, which should be viable given the state of disarray their OL is in.
One thing to remember is that we didn’t have to deal with Stewart who is much better than Fozzy Bear and Fat Tolbert. But all in all, not an awful 2nd game (like last year’s 2nd game). At some point Chip has to want to see someone with more talent than Gabby in there. He’s set up these beautiful routes, guys are open and they aren’t getting hit enough by the QB. More talent could be Kaep but I like the idea of Ponder. Why not?
Yeah, Lynch is sure being missed. And you have to wonder that if we have another game where the pass rush is nonexistent whether they bring Marcus Rush in from the PS. As a 3rd down pass rusher he could prove to be a disruptor.
Pressure was not there and Newton is going to kill that. But, hey, they ain’t the NFC champs for nothing. Given the Panthers had 10 days of rest to our 6 and all the rest, I think we did OK for ourselves. Nothing spectacular, but we have put up points at least.
A funny side note. Since Russell Wilson didn;t throw a TD pass, our own Blaine Gabbert owns the NFL’s longest active TD pass-in-a-game streak at 12.
And if the playoffs started today, we are in 1st place! Due to our 1-0 record in the division.
I wonder how long it would take to GET to Ponder. Gabbert would have to go down to injury, and Kappy would have to suck before I think he gets a shot.
He was the only one in preseason throwing to the WRs so, it isn’t the worst idea, I just don’t think it happens without some huge problems with the other 2.
What I liked about Ponder in the pre-season was he was the only QB who was anticipating routes and throwing receivers open.
You heard it here first.
Niners 20 Seahawks 16
Unfortunately, that will mean Gabbert stays in, but hey! You take what you can get.
Gabbert at less than 50% completion percentage. All QB’s get dropped passes so that doesn’t cut it in the excuse department. He overthrew or skipped off the dirt or didn’t pull the trigger or checked down way too many times. In his interview he keeps saying he should check down more, that its good to do.
The 3rd quarter was brutal for the second week in a row. The D was decent but got worn out, 83 snaps east coast in that heat? The O has to do a lot better than all those 3 and outs, especially in a row. Even if they don’t score, at least the D gets a breather.
I figured Gabbert wouldn’t be up to it and so far, despite last weeks win, he isn’t.
A poll on this protest B.S.
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/yahoo-poll-half-of-americans-oppose-kaepernicks-protest-154103124.html
Yeah that’s my take as well. A loss to Seattle may bring about a QB change. I don’t know. Gabbert lie good at times and flat shitty at times. I noted somewhere that 3 TD quarters are bad so far. 2 three and outs surrroundd by 2 long TD drives by Carolina sealed the deal.
Gabbert is inconsistent and Alex Smith heavy with the check downs, maybe because he has no confidence in his long ball and or receivers. He has the arm and see’s the field, just rushes things and is risk averse, which is possible if the run game is a monster and the D is on top of things.
This guy ain’t bringing a team back 21 points though.
I think we had 4 three and outs to start the 2nd half vs the Rams.
I think you’re right. I figure 2 more losses where Gabbert’s small balls and inaccuracy are the concern and they pull him.
Personally I don’t want Kap back as the starter. I prefer to see what Ponder has. Just don’t see the team skipping over the 12 million dollar back up to get to the painter.
I don’t think Gabbert was sacked. He had a beautiful clean pocket the whole game. Under that circumstance, there is no excuse for his performance. Hitting a strike here and there won’t cut it.
There were 2 sacks. But that isn’t even the problem. What pissed me off was the 3rd and 10 pass Gabbert threw sideways to a WR that had no blocking in front of him. it lost 2 yards. He checked down before the play even developed. If it was WR screen, then all the blockers ran away. It wasn’t a WR screen. It was a check down.
Thx for the correction, I missed a few plays here and there. I did see that particular play though inexplicable, like Kap missing an uncovered WR on the LOS in the Ram game. Gabbert just seems in too much of a hurry, panicked almost. He has time, this O line is the Berlin Wall so far, he better get his act together soon, the stage hook is coming.
Not that I mistake this blog for a democracy, but I would vote for Dennis to blog here. I know some posters don’t like him, Flavor for one and you too Chuck, but I like the old drunken sot. I take everything he posts for the tongue in cheek bullshit it is, and find it funny not offensive.
My 2 c
I like Dennis, but he pushed me over the edge. First, he stopped posting about football and posted about his drunken life and exploits over and over and over. Enough already! I’m not his bartender, nor his therapist.
What got me is his “I hope he dies from eye cancer” line. I survived cancer which very nearly killed me and left me disabled. I took care of my father in his last days dying from cancer. Excuse me if I’m offended, really offended. Dennis was warned and yet came back and posted the same thing. Excuse me if I’m offended, really offended.
If Dennis sticks to football and his ducks and his 40 ft. Christmas tree, I’ll welcome him back. I think at heart he’s a really good guy. But I have my limits, and if Dennis crosses them, I’ll speak (write) my mind and it won’t be pretty.
I remember that RT. I’m not saying he doesn’t cross the line, he does, but anyone who posts close to or over the line will offend somebody, not everyone will find everything funny all the time, we all have our own taboo areas, but they are ours.
I have a good friend who adopted a Chinese child, a little doll. Thing is anytime someone says anything derogatory about China he takes as a personal offense and wants to fight, usually in a bar watching football.
I don’t take anything Dennis says seriously.
Just my thoughts.
Gabbert is not long for his job. He sucks most of the time. Chipper will get tired of his ass. Looks like Kap or Ponder will be up next when Gabbert is relegated to the sidelines. We all know this is going to happen sooner or later.
Nope, not gunna happen. Dennis has burned way too many bridges with me, people here, and people other places in very disgusting ways. I already gave him 3 chances to keep it cool, but he went overboard every time.
Give ’em enough rope and all that.
It’s your bat and ball.
Found a few good ones in the spam filter, and about 60 from V and Dennis.
Chip mentioned in his press conference we need to throw more often early to open up the run game. I interpreted it to mean throwing more often on first down. I hope so.
Gabbert is OK. Criticizing him at this point is easier than criticizing Alex Smith because he has a pocket to throw from. Alex was usually under a lot of pressure. Still, give a couple more games for the WRs to get on the same page with this system. I just learned from Chip’s presser that his system allows the receivers to adjust their routes based on the coverage. They will need some game experience to get more on the same page with the QB.
Having said the above, even though Gabbert is OK he doesn’t seem to have the ‘it’ factor. I don’t think Kap has ‘it’ either. Does Ponder have ‘it’? I don’t know but I know our other two QBs don’t.
Personally, I would cut Kap over his 14 mil guaranteed next year for injury since he isn’t the obvious starter and go with Gabbert and Ponder. Then sign a PS QB.
I would cut him too. Can’t see paying 12mil this year and risking 14 mil next year on a back-up QB that didn’t beat out Gabbert and was benched for last year. Give Ponder a shot, as Chuck says, at least he throws to WR.
Doesn’t excuse the bad throws Berger. WR were open when he threw, its not like he is throwing anyone open.
He sucks. But the Chipper has to come to that conclusion not some fan.
I agree. Except for our WRs aren’t as bad as some people thought but they aren’t great either. Give a little time for this system to slow down for the receivers and QB. Allowing WRs to read defenses and adjust the route can make a QB look bad at times.
I like the system but it takes time. If we had a running game yesterday we would have looked much better. Chip needs to play action on 1st down more often. They had 7 and 8 in the box with us in a spread formation and Chip kept trying to run into it. It just did not make sense to me. By the time we had to throw the defense knew it. We did not do a good job of keeping the defense on their heels.
Exactly, Nipper, which is why any given fan’s opinion doesn’t hold any water. I think I’ll stick with Chip’s judgement on this matter. 2 games is a paltry amount of time to make sweeping judgements about a QB and whether to pull him or not. If and when Chip decides a change needs to be made, that’s when it will be the other guy’s turn. Until then Gabbert is the man.
Maybe so John, but Gabbert is ranked 33 out of 34.
My point being, is putting Kap in right now going to cure the ills? Chip doesn’t think so and that’s good enough for me. Gabbert is no one’s dream QB but there’s not a whole lot of options right now. 2 games. Not much of a sample size.
Me thinks Baalke has been on the phone with the Browns trying to trade Kap and they weren’t interested.
By the way, NFL Sunday Ticket now has a student discount. Its for streaming the games so you no longer need DirecTV satellite service. Works the same way, you get all the games. Its $99 cut into 4 payments.
My kid is in college but that isn’t necessary, just type in the nearest college to your home and a birth age appropriate to college and viola! Its good for 5 streaming devices too.
They said they couldn’t verify my student records and that I need to need to upload my student records. LOL. So much for that.
no shit, i just signed right up. try another college?
I used a local community college if it helps.