Here we sit, 11-3, completely overreaching early season aspirations, yet we are on the precipice of disaster. Yes, we control our destiny. Yes, we are one of the better teams in the league. But if we lose this next game, we stand to be shut down the rest of the season. Roll into Seattle a game down and we are toast, and might as well rest all the starters.
Which may not be a bad thing. I don’t know. The team that has overcome a huge amount of injuries suddenly isn’t. The Atlanta loss was galling at best, and an indictment of a defensive line that couldn’t beat a 2nd string Falcon offensive line that has given up a whopping 41 sacks through 14 games. With Jared Goff coming into town, the recipe for letting him sit comfortably in the pocket raises alarm bells in my head, regardless of Richard Sherman and K’Waun Williams coming back.
Robert Saleh needs to make some kind of adjustments to a pass rush that has reverted to last year’s ineptitude. After being shut out by the New Orleans O line, 2 sacks against Atl’s banged up line was unacceptable as the defense got shredded for 2 late TDs (well, 3 including the fucked up Cal play), and gave the game away after the Niners pushed the lead to 9 to start the 4th quarter.
We are where we are on the defensive line, and there is no help coming in the immediate future, so we need a better game plan that letting Goff pick our secondary apart.
Make it happen, Robert.
On the offensive line we also have a glaring issue with Ben Garland. He was beaten like a drum up the middle numerous times, and with Aaron Donald coming around, we need to adjust accordingly. Rollouts and quick slants may be the order of the day as the run blocking has been fair to middling , but the pass blocking has been awful. I see us running a lot, but I think LA will stack the box to stop it.
The season hangs in the balance as this team needs a victory to roll into Seattle with some confidence.
San Francisco 49ers Forever 
I think we can beat both of em, our offense has to play lights-out. We either win out or go to NO, no matter how you look at it it’s gonna be very tough. I still think we can answer the bell.
Well, we have to get through Dallas or Philly on the road. Yeah, they are varying shades of mediocre, but a road playoff game is tough any way you cut it.
Yeah they need to win out nobody wants a road trip anywhere to start a playoff run!
They will handle the Rams I believe, but that game in Fucking Seattle with their 12th man obnoxious fans and decibels reaching 120 like a jet are better yet Ted Nugent up close ( been there Cow Palace) loudest concert I ever went too,(( took some time to clear out the eardrums)they handled it in NewOrleans well,so hopefully they can in Seattle, start the heavy rock music in practice after the Rams game..
Intense game again, not the outcome we hoped for obviously.
The team looked tired to me except, Kittle and Mostert, and Jimmy was just a little off.
I think getting a bye is a major piece of if they can get to the SB. It’s been 11 weeks or so since they had any serious rest. If they end up on the road, I think they will struggle to keep the high energy necessary week after week. 5 games verses 4 and a weeks rest and almost no travel is huge.
Yeah, that stretch of games against GB, Balt, Sea, and NO was tougher than tough. Even tha AZ games were hard-fought, but that’s life in the NFL.
But a let-down was certainly understandable, we still shoulda won.
I just hope Saleh dials up a pass rush. Because Goff is still able to pass well with no pressure on him.
I don’t think he could afford to blitz Chuck. The DB’s were already outgunned, blitzing puts them under even more pressure. I felt like the D line was tired and playing with 3rd/4th string guys. Street had just come of IR and was rusty and the backfield injuries definitely was a problem, nobody able to compete with Jones’ height and strength advantage.
I expected a poorer showing by the D given how banged up they are. What surprised me was the O’s level of effort and focus, with a few exceptions. WR were a no show. I also think Shanny has to get Mostert the start, the first series was Coleman and went nowhere, 3 and out.
You’re giving up possession and its time to make the switch to Mostert and Brieda, with Coleman on spot duty IMO.
yeah, if the offense doesn’t click we won’t have much of a chance. They must understand that already so this will be just another test as most of the year has been.
I’m talking about now 12th. With Sherman and Williams back.
We have already seen what happens when we don’t generate a pass rush. I’d rather die by the blitz than lose by a thousand cuts.
Got it.
I’m hoping Streets will have a better game Saturday having had those snaps. Definately better with Sherman and k’wan back, even if they’re not 100% yet.
Shanahan kept it pretty vanilla v Atlanta. I think he felt they could win without going deep into the playbook, with an eye on the vital games coming up.
Mixed bag with Garland but not terrible. Same thing with him, more playing time should help.
WR position was not good and didn’t get open very much, same with Kittle honestly. Difference being, he is superhuman.
Funny they dont use Juice or Dwelley much as pass catchers, seems to me every team is sitting on Kittle on 3rd down, would be a no brainer.
Maybe that’s staying in the bag of tricks for now, but this team had great success using 2 good blocking, good pass catching TE’s not so long ago and its built similarly, using a FB.
Watching the game it felt like they should have leaned on Mostert more, both inside and outside. He is fast and powerful and has a Kittle type edge to him.
Debo has some of that too, but maybe he’s hitting the rookie wall?
And yeah, the offensive effort was bad. But I think the line had more to do with that than anything.
Richburg is a big loss and we need to do something about the pressure up the middle. Designed roll outs and the like. Get to the edge on runs as well instead of trying things up the middle.
Garland seems over his head despite all the glowing reviews from Shanahan.
I think it was more of a problem giving Jimmy G time to throw. He was under duress within 3 seconds almost every pass play. Hard to throw to the wideouts when they haven’t even hit their marks.
New thread is up.