The Good, the Bad & the Ugly

I agree, it is amazing the ways we find to lose. But overall, with all that, we just lost by 3 with time running out. We must have done a helluva lot of things right because by rights, with that many FUs, we shoulda lost by 21...and we damn near beat 'em. That tells me we made some giant steps...at least for one game. Also, a thing of note. Poti and AD have now played exactly 2 games, and there was not ONE sack on alex, plus the hurries were few. Guys, WE GOT AN OL. The good times are not far behind. To cross the finish line we need to go Walshian, and pay attn to the details...no, not in the game but BEFORE the game. And they need to be harped on again and again. No motion, no delay of game, no drops, no fielding a high punt in the wind, no late playcalls, no holds, no ....well, you know the rest. THAT is coaching...paying attn to fine details. Probably ought to figure out how to cover screens that ate our lunch, while we're at it.

Originally posted by Wodwo:

Originally posted by NCommand:
Lawson and Haralson need to be looked at big time. How long can we play a 3-4 when your two starting OLB can't generate ANY pressure what so ever?

Lawson got pressure.... Didn't you see the third down play where he made Brees scramble to the sideline and throw it away? I agree with Haralson, though.

I was willing to give Haralson a free pass for last year b/c he played with a severe hip flexor injury. But after two games? Our starting OLB's have a collective ZERO sacks and ONE QB hit. That is downright pathetic on any level.

The Good - Alex Smith, Gore, offensive line, run defense, and gameplan
The Bad - Bad luck on all the tipped balls, outside pass rush was spotty.
The Ugly - Turnovers, Davis' mental error, the Safety, Special Teams

Originally posted by m_brockalexander:
The Good - Alex Smith, Gore, offensive line, run defense, and gameplan
The Bad - Bad luck on all the tipped balls, outside pass rush was spotty.
The Ugly - Turnovers, Davis' mental error, the Safety, Special Teams

I agree, but would have to say the outside pass rush seemed to be disrupting their run game.

But what the "hell" is it gonna take for us to get a return game?!

Originally posted by craigyboy:

Originally posted by Blitz:

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by Blitz:
I don't know if I believe that "out coached" thing. I mean, when it comes down to it, the difference was mistakes, mistakes by individuals. The coaches didn't make Adams muff the punt...regardless of him being put in a tough spot, it was ultimately he who is responsible to catch the ball or not catch the dang thing. Walker fumbling...same thing. Alex with the s**tty pass to Gore...same thing. Hiking the ball into the end zone..same thing.

You gotta execute, execute, execute, and when it comes down to it... it's about doing your individual job's and not being the one to to be a f**k up.

I hear ya...certainly don't dismiss the notion that had the players made the correct plays in these situations, the outcome might have been different. I was merely noting that the communication issues from the coaching staff cost us the game as well. NO's made good adjustments at halftime and in the 4th by exploiting the middle of the field (our big weakness) and with screen plays offset by runs to the right side of the field (for a TD). They took advantage of the seams and managed the 1:19 to perfection for the win. Meanwhile, our coaching staff is asking a rookie punter to field balls...in candlestick winds in conditons where all he has to do call for a fair catch and let it drop. Also, we continued to punt to Reggie Bush. This is all on the coaching. We never took advantage of Westbrook (which would have caught the Saints off guard), didn't exploit our mismatches with VD and didn't stay with or come back to what was working on many occasions. That, is coaching. The Saints coaching staff did not put any of their players in positions to fail and made good in-game and half-time adjustments to win this game. Yes, the players still have to execute but at the end of the day, we were outcoached (not as badly as in Seattle though).

OK, yeah, i can agree with that.

And even with all that, I am finding it hard to believe that the niner's don't outscore the Siants if:

Baas doesn't give them two free points.
Walker doesn't fumble on the 10 yard line.
Smith doesn't throw an int inside the 15.
Smith doesn't throw an int to Gore.
Adams doesn't muff a punt deep in our territory, leaving the Saints with an easy field goal opportunity.

We lost by three points, I am having a hard time believing that the above long list of individual f**k ups does not eqaute to the difference between winning and losing in this game. Hell, Baas gave them , literally gave them 2 of those three points!

I know one thing looking at the above list, I can sure as hell see at a very conservative minimum... 3 points left on the table by us, even with all the other stuff you mention.

Kick the field goal instead of Walker fumbling...3 points.
Don't give the Saints 2 points free of charge with the Bass snap.

That's the game right there, even after spotting them the two int's by Smith (one in the red zone, denying us 3-7points) and the muffed punt (giving the Saints three points).

I don't know man, I just really find it hard to believe that this game didn't come down to the individual list of f**kups above. We lost by three, one man, one player,gave them 2 of those three...he f**ked it up and him alone..no excuse, s**t s**t s**t individual play. That leaves one point...and we can't find one point in that long list of individual f**k ups? Hard to believe, for me anyways.

the center postion has just proven how critical it is. the snap/safety most likely wouldn't of happened with heitmann but in all fairness baas for the most have been holding it down.
the dw fumble was for sure 3 or 6pts, but they played stripball when it counted.
adams fielding the windy punt was the nail on the coffin.
tough breaks that happens and unfortunately it all went their way.

I'm not taking away from the overall job Baas is doing. The point is, you gotta have situational awareness about your own individual environment. You, the individual, gotta be the one who acts like the "buck stops here", you gotta win your individual battles. It all pretty much boils down to that.

[ Edited by Blitz on Sep 21, 2010 at 09:59:50 ]

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by Wodwo:

Originally posted by NCommand:
Lawson and Haralson need to be looked at big time. How long can we play a 3-4 when your two starting OLB can't generate ANY pressure what so ever?

Lawson got pressure.... Didn't you see the third down play where he made Brees scramble to the sideline and throw it away? I agree with Haralson, though.

I was willing to give Haralson a free pass for last year b/c he played with a severe hip flexor injury. But after two games? Our starting OLB's have a collective ZERO sacks and ONE QB hit. That is downright pathetic on any level.

Well, the big picture is worse than that. Our TO ratio is not going to cut it. It is pathetic, the Rat Trap defense better start generating some TO's or we ain't going anywhere.

Originally posted by NCommand:

I was willing to give Haralson a free pass for last year b/c he played with a severe hip flexor injury. But after two games? Our starting OLB's have a collective ZERO sacks and ONE QB hit. That is downright pathetic on any level.

Oh, I agree with that... just wanted to point out that Lawson did get pressure.

It really seems like our starting OLB's don't have any pass rush moves. They seem to stick to the blockers like magnets.

I think we should replace Haralson with Brooks (when fully healthy) and sub LaBoy for Lawson in pressure situations. Lawson still makes good plays as a LB (the almost INT, tackle for loss), so keeping him on the field for base package on first and second down makes sense. Haralson... not so much.

biggest coaching fail was on Adams fumbled punt imo

Considering he had problems early in the game with a near turnover, I wonder if he didn't get specific instructions not to f**k around with any tough catches (aka a punt to the sideline)

I really hate that Al Everest got scapegoated for our personnel failure last year....Steelers ran a reverse kickoff return for a TD this past weekend, the guy is a damn good coach

and our ST coverage units look really bad, over-aggressive or something because it seems like every other return, someone is making a touchdown-saving tackle

[ Edited by znk916 on Sep 21, 2010 at 10:21:50 ]

Our return game is giving me a headache. It's such a glaring problem and it's carried over from last season. I hope Philip Adams got no sleep last night.

Originally posted by valrod33:

Originally posted by SybErkRimInAL:
Spikes out of the game was big. Bowman made mistakes in coverage that Spikes probably wouldn't have.

agreed

Bowman played well in coverage, gave a couple of short gains and didn't give up first downs. Those drives were Saints punts.

A well-thought out post, NCommand. That's something one can appreciate. I agree with virtually all you said. Good post.

Originally posted by pd24:

Originally posted by SybErkRimInAL:
Spikes out of the game was big. Bowman made mistakes in coverage that Spikes probably wouldn't have.

Really? I think we are better with Bowman in and Spikes out. Bowman was flying around and played pretty well for stepping in at halftime. He had 6 tackles. I think we need to infuse more speed into the D. I think Harlson, Lewis, and Spikes should be benched for Brooks, R. Smith, and Bowmen.

Very good observation and I agree with this 1000%!!!

Originally posted by OnTheClock:
A well-thought out post, NCommand. That's something one can appreciate. I agree with virtually all you said. Good post.

Thanks OTC! I appreciate the additions and perspectives as well.

Originally posted by Wodwo:

Originally posted by NCommand:

I was willing to give Haralson a free pass for last year b/c he played with a severe hip flexor injury. But after two games? Our starting OLB's have a collective ZERO sacks and ONE QB hit. That is downright pathetic on any level.

Oh, I agree with that... just wanted to point out that Lawson did get pressure.

It really seems like our starting OLB's don't have any pass rush moves. They seem to stick to the blockers like magnets.

I think we should replace Haralson with Brooks (when fully healthy) and sub LaBoy for Lawson in pressure situations. Lawson still makes good plays as a LB (the almost INT, tackle for loss), so keeping him on the field for base package on first and second down makes sense. Haralson... not so much.

I could live with that esp. if we brought back Briggs and were able to sub him in as well. I hate to see wasted pass rushers esp. from the OLB position in a 3-4 where non-stop pressure should be coming from both the SAM and WILL positions. Perhaps starting Brooks and letting Haralson come in on occasion will light a fire under him and prhaps subing Lawson for LaBoy and/or Briggs will do the same. If we can't (or aren't willing) to have full time pass rushers at these two positions, at least use the perceived "specialists" more and in unpredictable situations so we don't telegraph our defense anymore for the offense.

Originally posted by Hopper:
Brooks missed all of TC and Preseason and a regular season game and still pulled off a sack.

We have finally have a pass rusher on our hands, we need to use him more.

BTW: Brooks got his first sack last night and first break of the season in limited snaps. Break? Yeah...he BROKE Reggie Bush's leg last not on ST coverage. Ouch!