Aldon Smith is coming back. He's played in 3 of 8 games, but still leads the team with 4.5 sacks. I wonder if all the haters who think "he's only good because of Justin Smith" know that? If it's all Justin Smith, then why aren't Lemonier and Skuta (both of whom have been roundly praised by coaches and media) racking up sack totals in Aldon's absence? Huh.
Obviously I hope his life has straightened out. If he has a severe problem with addiction, it's not fixed after 1 month. It'll never be really "fixed", but I wonder how much good a single month away is going to do him when he's thrust back into the life of an NFL starter. I hope he makes it through OK. I also hope all the doubters and people who knock his ability will shut their mouths.
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Sunday, October 20, 2013
So Beautimous
That's much more like it re: the offense. In this first half they looked a lot more like the guys we saw when Kap took over last year. Not perfect by any means, but the QB running is working again (I wonder if his injury is better, or if the Titans didn't get the memo on how to stop that?), and that's opening everything else up. Kap is being extremely efficient with his passing, even with the complete lack of acceptable targets. They're running the FULLBACK out wide for god's sake. Crabtree and Manningham cannot get back soon enough. This team needs some NFL wide receivers.
May seem like a little thing, but the defense clamped down there at the end of the half. 2 timeouts + a 2 minute warning against a team that's really good at scoring late. Usually the 49ers love to give away those free points at the end of a half, I loved the way they looked. Titans couldn't even use their timeouts because they were thoroughly controlled. The Special teams are kicking tail too. This team looks like the one I was expecting to see for most of the first 6 games.
Also, the Rams are the worst kind of fake-tough. They wish they were Seattle or the 49ers. They are not. They want to be with the big boys by cheap-shotting and trash talking, but they can't back it up. And Jeff Fisher is overrated.
May seem like a little thing, but the defense clamped down there at the end of the half. 2 timeouts + a 2 minute warning against a team that's really good at scoring late. Usually the 49ers love to give away those free points at the end of a half, I loved the way they looked. Titans couldn't even use their timeouts because they were thoroughly controlled. The Special teams are kicking tail too. This team looks like the one I was expecting to see for most of the first 6 games.
Also, the Rams are the worst kind of fake-tough. They wish they were Seattle or the 49ers. They are not. They want to be with the big boys by cheap-shotting and trash talking, but they can't back it up. And Jeff Fisher is overrated.
Monday, October 14, 2013
That Offense
Look, I don't take wins for granted. None of us who were around for the truly lean times do. From 2003-2010, they won 3 games in a row only once. Hell, in those 8 seasons they only won 46 games total, or 5.7 per season. So when they win 3 games in a row by double digits, I shouldn't be complaining. But allow me to complain.
First of all, before we get too excited- who have they beaten? 3 really bad teams (2 at home), all 3 of which have had terrible quarterback play this season. This stretch of games has put them in positive territory in turnover margin, but is that a function of good defense, or really really bad play from the other guys? Both Schaub and Palmer looked like they don't even belong in the league. Truly abysmal. Again- the win is nice. A double-digit win over a division foe is great, but excuse me for thinking that this formula may not work against a team with a real NFL quarterback.
Second, I know style points don't matter, but what on earth is wrong with Colin Kaepernick? His stat line has been terrible, but the wins excuse that. What I'm worried about is the way he LOOKS. Flustered, uncomfortable, not able to run, throwing wildly off his back foot, stuttering around with no set drop or rhythm. He's completely different from what we saw last year. Is that down to the guys who are missing? I think most QBs (especially second-year guys with like 15 career starts) could be excused being uncomfortable when they lose their 2 best receivers from a year ago. If this improves when Crabtree and Manningham come back, then I'll know I'm just spouting crazy talk. I can't help but think that SOMETHING is wrong, though.
Maybe defenses have figured him out, or maybe that injury of his really is worse than they are letting on. When you look at the way he moves around, you'd definitely not be crazy to think something is keeping him from being truly comfortable. The Cardinals certainly aren't doormats when it comes to defense, so Gore not being totally effective is explainable. He did what he needs to do for them to be successful, and by the end they were sufficiently worn down. The passing attack is what worries me, though. They have to improve to beat better teams. Fortunately they don't have many "better teams" in front of them at this point. I hope I'm just worrying over nothing.
One thing I loved: this is one of the only games I remember where Vernon truly looked like an ELITE tight end. He's had big games before, but I don't remember him making the kind of catches he made in this one. The second TD was unbelievable and the play on the sideline where he reached up and behind himself to make the catch, then got both feet in bounds? Totally amazing. Very fun to watch.
I don't mean to denigrate the win, on the whole they played good and I'll take it, but since the opener the offense has been really herky-jerky and I very much hope the healthy return of players will improve that. The team that played today isn't going to beat Manning or Brees.
First of all, before we get too excited- who have they beaten? 3 really bad teams (2 at home), all 3 of which have had terrible quarterback play this season. This stretch of games has put them in positive territory in turnover margin, but is that a function of good defense, or really really bad play from the other guys? Both Schaub and Palmer looked like they don't even belong in the league. Truly abysmal. Again- the win is nice. A double-digit win over a division foe is great, but excuse me for thinking that this formula may not work against a team with a real NFL quarterback.
Second, I know style points don't matter, but what on earth is wrong with Colin Kaepernick? His stat line has been terrible, but the wins excuse that. What I'm worried about is the way he LOOKS. Flustered, uncomfortable, not able to run, throwing wildly off his back foot, stuttering around with no set drop or rhythm. He's completely different from what we saw last year. Is that down to the guys who are missing? I think most QBs (especially second-year guys with like 15 career starts) could be excused being uncomfortable when they lose their 2 best receivers from a year ago. If this improves when Crabtree and Manningham come back, then I'll know I'm just spouting crazy talk. I can't help but think that SOMETHING is wrong, though.
Maybe defenses have figured him out, or maybe that injury of his really is worse than they are letting on. When you look at the way he moves around, you'd definitely not be crazy to think something is keeping him from being truly comfortable. The Cardinals certainly aren't doormats when it comes to defense, so Gore not being totally effective is explainable. He did what he needs to do for them to be successful, and by the end they were sufficiently worn down. The passing attack is what worries me, though. They have to improve to beat better teams. Fortunately they don't have many "better teams" in front of them at this point. I hope I'm just worrying over nothing.
One thing I loved: this is one of the only games I remember where Vernon truly looked like an ELITE tight end. He's had big games before, but I don't remember him making the kind of catches he made in this one. The second TD was unbelievable and the play on the sideline where he reached up and behind himself to make the catch, then got both feet in bounds? Totally amazing. Very fun to watch.
I don't mean to denigrate the win, on the whole they played good and I'll take it, but since the opener the offense has been really herky-jerky and I very much hope the healthy return of players will improve that. The team that played today isn't going to beat Manning or Brees.
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Huh
The 49ers have totally Seahawks-ed their last 2 games. Look at the stat line, then look at the final scores. They don't seem compatible. I'm not real sure how these games have ended up being blowouts, but I guess the opposing quarterbacks being completely incompetent helps? Maybe that's also attributable to the defense- I can't tell if the defense is stepping up in the face of some pretty bad injuries, or if the other teams have just been that bad. Colin Kaepernick is not rewarding my faith that he was going to be a fantasy superstar this season.
Think about who the team is playing without: Willis, A. Smith, Manningham, Crabtree. Think of how many teams would be decimated by those kinds of injuries. The 49ers have out-scored their opponents 69-14 without those guys, and it certainly ain't in the way I thought they would be doing it earlier in the season. They are definitely borrowing heavily from the 2011 playbook, and they're doing it much more effectively. The penalties are almost completely eliminated, they actually had 3 timeouts at the end of each half tonight (a small but important victory for them), and no turnovers! They went through an entire game without turning the ball over. Finally.
Keep that formula up through the very very easy stretch of schedule coming up, and I will have no issues with the offense not being the fantasy point machine I thought it was going to be. If they get to that Seahawks game one game down or even tied, they are in very very good position. They are not pretty to watch, but this is the brand of play that made the successful to begin with, so I'm totally cool if they want to go back to it. 12-4 is back in play if they keep looking like this.
Think about who the team is playing without: Willis, A. Smith, Manningham, Crabtree. Think of how many teams would be decimated by those kinds of injuries. The 49ers have out-scored their opponents 69-14 without those guys, and it certainly ain't in the way I thought they would be doing it earlier in the season. They are definitely borrowing heavily from the 2011 playbook, and they're doing it much more effectively. The penalties are almost completely eliminated, they actually had 3 timeouts at the end of each half tonight (a small but important victory for them), and no turnovers! They went through an entire game without turning the ball over. Finally.
Keep that formula up through the very very easy stretch of schedule coming up, and I will have no issues with the offense not being the fantasy point machine I thought it was going to be. If they get to that Seahawks game one game down or even tied, they are in very very good position. They are not pretty to watch, but this is the brand of play that made the successful to begin with, so I'm totally cool if they want to go back to it. 12-4 is back in play if they keep looking like this.
Today is already a win
The Seabags have lost, which was extremely satisfying and awesome because dear lord I hate them, and Tony Romo has just LOL CHOKED a game away at a key moment. Wins all the way around, if the 49ers can stop sucking and beat an overrated Texans team at home, then that would just be gravy. By all rights San Francisco should win this game, but of course there's no Willis, and we have no idea what to expect out of them this season.
That Broncos/Cowboys game was incredible. That's an example of why the 49ers need to get their offense on track- it's going to be pretty hard to grind out victories against a team like the Broncos if their passing attack is working well. You have to keep pace with them and not screw up. Dallas almost did it, but then Tony Romo. SF will not be able to match them with the way they've played recently, probably not even with the 2011 formula. They need to score 30 or 40. Hopefully Crabs and Manningham getting back will open things up. Just limp along until that point and things should be OK.
That Broncos/Cowboys game was incredible. That's an example of why the 49ers need to get their offense on track- it's going to be pretty hard to grind out victories against a team like the Broncos if their passing attack is working well. You have to keep pace with them and not screw up. Dallas almost did it, but then Tony Romo. SF will not be able to match them with the way they've played recently, probably not even with the 2011 formula. They need to score 30 or 40. Hopefully Crabs and Manningham getting back will open things up. Just limp along until that point and things should be OK.
Where exactly were these Colts 2 weeks ago?
The Seahawks are a good team, but they are not this good. How in the hell are all these breaks going their way? Good lord. They can't have the other team hand them wins all season, right?
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