We got injured. Again and again and again. In today’s NFL, it is getting harder and harder to field a team that can survive the rigors of a typical season and stay healthy enough to reach the playoffs in good shape. And go from there. Even harder, although Philly just did it, is the ability to pick up the pieces should your quarterback go down.
We of course are in the middle of this with the injury to Jimmy G. Our backup, CJ the Beater, seems to be able to keep us in games, but can’t get us over the hump the way Jimmy G did. Last year. For all the hooraw around Garoppolo, and I was firmly entrenched in the love-fest, Jimmy G was 1-2 to start this season before getting hurt. Funny thing is, with CJ’s next start, both CJ and JG will have 8 starts under their belts. Jimmy is of course 6-2, and Beathard is at 1-6, and more than likely to not be able to beat Green Bay on the road for a 1-7 start to his career.
Looking at the Beater’s numbers last week, and they look like a team that was playing from behind. Which they were. But they shouldn’t have been. 34-54 for 350 and 2 TDs is a good job, and the 150 rushing is also very solid. We statistically dominated the game. Josh Rosen was 10-25 for 170. 75 of that came on the first AZ play. Ooops. So Rosen went 9-24 for 95 yards the rest of the way. AZ rushed for 56 yards and was 2-12 on 3rd down conversions to our 10-17.
And they had a 16 point lead with time running out.
The big problem with this game of course was the turnovers. FIVE in total. Pierre Garćon provided AZ with their first one on our revolving brand of our usual customary whiff on a catchable ball that was then picked off. CJ was responsible for three more as he was strip-sacked twice, once for the backbreaking TD the other way that salted the game for AZ as we were behind 2 with 4 minutes left, once on a promising drive early in the 3rd quarter, and a pick on a desperation pass on 4th and 19.
The worst turnover however, was the fumble by Robert Mostert, the guy replacing the guy (Brieda) replacing the guy who was supposed to be the starter (McKinnon). The Niners were driving quickly down the field and would have taken the lead. A lead they held for all of 10 seconds this game.
For all the shit the defense has been getting, this was a solid effort by them. Granted, it’s the Cards, and AZ dropped a shitload of passes, and generally looked like a winless team, but the tackling was better than in recent games. Rosen had some pressure, but 1 sack ins’t enough.
So, once again, we are at the point where we need to lessen the turnovers and make plays. Good luck in GB . . .
Forty Niners Forever 
I’ve recovered from Jimmy G.’s injury. I’m not as down on the team as most, I guess. With a healthy Jimmy G., we’d be 3-2 and talking playoffs. But this, this must be fixed! That’s why my draft is D loaded:
The 49ers Defense
12 TD passes given up 28th in the NFL
99.0 QB Rating 21st in the NFL
1 int tied for 30th in the NFL
9 Sacks Tied for 24th in the NFL
A pass rush would fix most of those problems. Which is why I think if we got Khalil Mack, we’d be in MUCH better shape.
That’s why my draft was pass rusher heavy. I don’t think it’s enough, however. I think the secondary needs to be upgraded as well, both at corner and at safety. Definitely pass rush first.
Mack got $150 mil as well as the two 1sts. All moot, though, imo. No way the Raiders were trading him to us.
We need some veteran influence I think we should hit FA hard and draft the BPA for the whole thing.
Granted it’s an opinion from a former 9er but….Kinda makes ya wonder, whether Saleh made this call or, if he and Lynch differed somehow on what this Defense was supposed to be?
Top Pick, limited production thus far, now this?
Donte Whitner says Solomon Thomas is not fit for 49ers’ scheme
https://tinyurl.com/yas72at5
The Broncos have showed 1/2 of what we’ll need to beat the Rams. They have a very good secondary and have slowed the Rams O to a crawl.
The bad side is an O-line that’s getting mangled by Aaron Donald and Co. and a mediocre-at-best QB in Case Keenum. If it weren’t for an idiot receiver’s taunting after he thought he’d scored a TD, it’d be 13-10 Rams, with the Broncs showing tons of fight. Uh, well make that 20-10.
The Broncs have put pass rush pressure on Goff, as well. But the coverage has been as good as you can hope under the new rules.
RAMS!
That taunting penalty wound up costing the Broncs 7, Rams won by 3. The Rams showed they can be beaten.
Well, after the Rams bye week next week, they’ll be 7 and OH baby. 🙂
Too bad the dogs are dying, Capon.
Why is taunting a thing in the NFL? Didn’t see the play, but really. These are grown-ass huge men trying to kill each other out there, and we equate trash talk with head hunting?
Stupid. Yet another dumb thing about the NFL.
new thread is up.