Week 9: Thoughts after re-watching the game...

Marvin49 · 2011-11-07T10:20:55-08:00

1) Miller: Its hard to believe that this guy was rushing the QB at this time last year. He seems to have the body type, the speed, and the ball skills to be a natural FB. He still has things to learn, but thats a pretty impressive find for Harbaugh/Baalke. 2) Alex: Its kinda funny. This has happened a few times this season. I think he's not playing all that well (not badly, just not a great game) and then I look up and he has a 109 rating. To everyone who says tho that he is being "protected", look at John Beck. Wash is TRYING to protect him as well. Prior to the garbage time stuff, he looked like a High School QB. 3) Goldson: I freely admit that I am not a big fan of his. I've always though he was a big hitter, but too often was caught out of place in coverage. I'll admit tho that he is having a very good year. He's blowing people up more than ever (and getting flagged on BS calls) but is still playing well in coverage. 4) Refs: This isn't a "they hate us" kinda complaint. This is just saying that the officials better get on board here. The Niners shift. ALOT. They are ALLOWED to do so. There have been several occasions this year where they have been flagged for a LEGAL shift. The NFL needs to get with those refs and teach them the freakin' rules. Is it unconventional? Yes...but thats not excuse for screwing it up. 5) Willis/Bowman: I hate to quote Matt Millen, but in this case he's right. They are the best LB tandem in the NFL. 6) Crabtree/Edwards: Bit by bit, little by little....this thing is really coming together. They struggle at times. Sometimes everyone isn't where they are supposed to be. This is still a work in progress. Ya know what tho? This division is all but wrapped up and they have 8 more games to figure this thing out before they start playing in January. More on that later... 7) Culliver: This guy is starting to really play well. I think he may be a force in the future. Next year (assuming Rogers is extended), Rogers and Culliver may be your Game 1 starters. 8) Brooks: I really like this guy. Ya know what I like most? He makes a great play and then he just walks back to the huddle. He doesn't celebrate. He just does his job and moves on to the next play. Several weeks ago he hit Andy Dalton so hard his helmet popped off. He got up, rebuttoned his chinstrap, and got ready for the next play. Love it. 9) O-Line: Still playing well. Allowed two sacks....one each to their outside linebackers....but not bad. The first hit on Smith was as much Smiths fault as it was Davis' fault. Alex never saw the guy coming. 10) Team Progression: Something kinda struck me this weekend. Everyone has hammered Alex Smith for several years over his poor play. In many cases, it was justified. One of the most frustrating things tho as fans was that this team would tease us. They would suck badly early, then come on late and give us hope that NEXT year would be different. Alot of that can be explained by the fact that a New OC would be there every single year and by the time Alex and the rest of the team started to really get it down, they had too many losses to actually contend. This year is different. The O is still struggling because they are still learning....but the team is winning anyway. This team is winning and that late season surge isn't here yet. I completely understand what Braylon Edwards is saying....this team is winning and they haven't really scratched the surface of what they can do. I don't know if they will get it all figured out or not. If they are true to form tho and get it figured out late in the year, watch out in January.

Nov 7, 2011 at 10:24 AM

Memphis9er
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To be fair Millen knows a little about linebackers...great work as usual man.

Nov 7, 2011 at 10:24 AM

Marvin49
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Originally posted by Memphis9er:
To be fair Millen knows a little about linebackers...great work as usual man.

...and in particular about Penn St Linebackers...

[ Edited by Marvin49 on Nov 7, 2011 at 10:24 AM ]

Nov 7, 2011 at 10:25 AM

HessianDud
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Posts: 22,995

spot-on.

This team has played the toughest part of its schedule, has only played one complete game, and has won 7 out of 8. It is almost scary to imagine how good they will be when they hit their peak.

Nov 7, 2011 at 10:27 AM

tbyrdc3
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Posts: 119

as always great read and I completely agree with everything you put up on here.

I feel next week is going to be a big test to our passing game. I feel that is the Giants weakness.

Nov 7, 2011 at 10:29 AM

SoTx9R
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Nice post

Nov 7, 2011 at 10:33 AM

NinerBuff
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Posts: 21,443

this team is winning and they haven't really scratched the surface of what they can do

Nov 7, 2011 at 10:36 AM

verb1der
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Posts: 15,613

8) Brooks: I really like this guy. Ya know what I like most? He makes a great play and then he just walks back to the huddle. He doesn't celebrate. He just does his job and moves on to the next play. Several weeks ago he hit Andy Dalton so hard his helmet popped off. He got up, rebuttoned his chinstrap, and got ready for the next play. Love it.

There are countless good things to say about this year's D.

Donte Whitner is another one of my favs who I feel deserves more credit. The Bills are missing this dude badly!

Nov 7, 2011 at 10:43 AM

thechamber52
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Posts: 1,302

Awesome work. Agreed on everything.

Nov 7, 2011 at 10:50 AM

HessianDud
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Posts: 22,995

Originally posted by verb1der:

8) Brooks: I really like this guy. Ya know what I like most? He makes a great play and then he just walks back to the huddle. He doesn't celebrate. He just does his job and moves on to the next play. Several weeks ago he hit Andy Dalton so hard his helmet popped off. He got up, rebuttoned his chinstrap, and got ready for the next play. Love it.

There are countless good things to say about this year's D.

Donte Whitner is another one of my favs who I feel deserves more credit. The Bills are missing this dude badly!

Brooks needs to be re-signed the same day as Carlos Rogers.

Nov 7, 2011 at 10:54 AM

#10

lamontb
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Yea Brooks hits look like the qb just got killed

Nov 7, 2011 at 10:55 AM

#11

Marvin49
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......Just noticed something else.....

Gore: 782 yards
Hunter: 217 yards

Thats 999 yards.....at MIDseason.

Nov 7, 2011 at 11:00 AM

#12

Mr.Mcgibblets
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Really like your weekly thoughts... keep up the good work.

Nov 7, 2011 at 11:06 AM

#13

Ninefan56
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Posts: 5,106

Thank you for the feedback, I really appreciate your summaries. Any creative wrinkles that Harbaugh put in this week?

Nov 7, 2011 at 11:10 AM

#14

Marvin49
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Originally posted by Ninefan56:
Thank you for the feedback, I really appreciate your summaries. Any creative wrinkles that Harbaugh put in this week?

Always. ;-)

I really liked the one that the commentators pointed out...

They shifted Staley over the the right to create an unbalanced line on that side and then had Vernon shift over to line up at LT. When the D countered on the strongside, the Niners ran LEFT between Vernon and Iupati and picked up over 10 yards.

Love it. They are just giving the D too much to think about.

[ Edited by Marvin49 on Nov 7, 2011 at 11:11 AM ]