Are we getting better?

I just want some feedback.

We lost this game the same way we lost plenty last season. We were playing to lose, scared to pull the trigger when we had already pinned them down and put the gun to their head.

Now that the negativity is out of the way...

We did take more risks and open up a bit more. Alex posted another decent game that was better than last week in my opinion and in QB rating. I see some light shining, am I wrong to be optimistic in the face of a loss?

in.......3.........2.........1........

You never stay the same. You can only get better or get worse.

Were getting better. 1-1 is better than 0-2 and thats what we were last year. Now are we getting better at finishing games? Thats the question you need to be asking, and the answer is, not yet. 9ers have 14 more and I need to see about half of those before I can make a final decision.

We could be a lot better if Harbaugh would stop handcuffing the offense and open the damn playbook.

No.


// Thread.

Yeah, we are getting better.

The dumb penalties have diminished this year, in fact they were hardly an issue on Sunday. I'm not a Smith supporter, but he looks much more confident this year and it is showing up in his play. Anthony Davis is getting it done this year, if barely.

Most importantly, we have signs of life on the pass rush front. While we're not where we need to be, this is very good news.

On the whole, we certainly have improved in key areas. Unfortunately, we're in rebuilding year one of rebuilding project #4, #5, or #6--I've lost count. So we're seeing a many of the same flaws that we're used to seeing. Given (yet another) two years, I expect we'll be a much better football team.

Originally posted by BubbaParisMVP:
Yeah, we are getting better.

The dumb penalties have diminished this year, in fact they were hardly an issue on Sunday. I'm not a Smith supporter, but he looks much more confident this year and it is showing up in his play. Anthony Davis is getting it done this year, if barely.

Most importantly, we have signs of life on the pass rush front. While we're not where we need to be, this is very good news.

On the whole, we certainly have improved in key areas. Unfortunately, we're in rebuilding year one of rebuilding project #4, #5, or #6--I've lost count. So we're seeing a many of the same flaws that we're used to seeing. Given (yet another) two years, I expect we'll be a much better football team.

LOL. We are rebuilding again. I thought we just did that for about a decade over and over again.

Originally posted by SanDiego49er:
LOL. We are rebuilding again. I thought we just did that for about a decade over and over again.

Right, you have to keep doing that until it works.

Personally, I don't get the guys around here that say, "We've spent enough draft picks on the OL, we need other positions." Rebuilding starts at the foundations, and until you build a solid foundation, you're going to continue building a house of cards.

It sucks but it's true, despite our many good players we suck at fundamental tasks. Until we are able to do what good NFL teams do, we are rebuilding.

It's results, not time or draft picks spent that matter.

If we would throw more slants, we'd be better.

If we threw more slants it might deter the defense from blitzing so much.

I counted 1 slant so far this year and it went for about 12 yards and a first down. I don't understand why we are not running 3 or 4 of these each game.

I was only upset with the one decision by Harbaugh. But besides that, and the fact that we lost, everything else was about what I expected or much better.

Much better:
1) Alex Smith is making plays in this offense. "Making plays" meaning: Throwing off balance, throwing on the move, throwing with pressure.
2) Pass rush was fantastic. McDonald is a beast, Aldon Smith was a half step from a sack several times but Romo gets rid of the ball so darn quick. Brooks was good too, and Haralson wasn't too bad either. (Obviously, we all now JS is a beast).
3) Bowman is a player, he will be a very good player in this league, he is already a good player.
4) Play calling was pretty good. It's not the play callers fault that Smith doesn't throw deep. He doesn't have the moxie of a Cam Newton or Tony Romo. He likes to play it safe, that's just how he's wired.

What I expected:
1) Gore not getting going. At this point, teams are game planning for Gore 90% and game planning for Smith 10%. With more passing yards, we can take the pressure off of Gore. The pass sets up the run in the WCO. On one-on-one's Smith needs to go down field more. Give Vernon a chance to catch a jump ball.
2) Pass defense. Much of it was to the TE. We have a third string safety and a backup corner in their right now. Tony Romo might make mistakes, but he makes up for them with big plays. That is his MO.
3) O-line was able to give Smith some good time in the first half. Then their defense made adjustments and destroyed our play-action before it got started in the second half. Our half time adjustments need work. We need to get away from the roll outs and quick screens.

Need to get better:
1) We need a more aggressive mindset. If you get awarded a 15 yard penalty for a first down, you take it. 15 yards is a lot; time off the clock is important when you're ahead in the 4th quarter. If you're down by 10, with 11 min left, you take the 3 points, but if you're up by 7, you've got to take advantage of huge, momentum changing penalties. Expect to score a TD, burn some clock, go for the win. Prepare for the worst, but don't fear it.


It was a mind-blowing frustrating loss, but we're definitely much better.
We played a team that was insanely desperate for a win, we made a decision to give this starving animal a chance to come back, and they did. The Cowboys are a good team, and we had the lead throughout all of regulation.

People have already forgotten that we have a new system, new coach, no off-season etc, on top of all of that.

If we keep up this pass rush, we will beat every team with below average quarterbacks this season. That alone, should put us at 8-8.

Originally posted by mayo49:
If we would throw more slants, we'd be better.

Agreed.

Originally posted by backontop:
If we threw more slants it might deter the defense from blitzing so much.

That too.