Originally posted by AB83Rules:
I'm overally happy. Thoughts below.
Nice to be 6-2, and 2 games up on Arizona.
Alex is so off right now big time. He over throws and lays ducks into the WRs. Had the tip not happened on the Walker catch, that would of been a pick or eventual punt. Crabtree bailed out Alex, the short passes on 3rd and long have been a big no no lately. Lukcly Crabtree got them into FG range. Throwing 3rd and goal in coverage 4 yards short of endzone to Crabtree, luckly Peterson whiffed on the tackle. 18/19 looks nice, but he got bailed big time. I do like the Moss TD, he made the right read.
I went back and looked at the throw to Walker. I find nothing to show it would have been picked. The DB skyed to tip it. Had he not, it would have gotten to Walker at a rather high point. I doubt the other DB would have been able to make a play or it other than perhaps to jostle Walker into an incompletion.
As to short passes; AZ was playing their safeties deep on those plays giving no room for deeper completions. In that situation, you do exactly what Smith and the 49ers did; you take the short throw to the receiver best able to make YAC.
In the past, people have criticized Smith for not doing exactly what he did last night. Last night he delivered the ball in stride to receivers who were able to run for extra yards. He went deep into his progressions and made the most advantageous throw available. smh
Let's not forget: Though the AZ offense stinks, their defense is one of the very best in the league. They held Brady and NE to FEWER points than the 49ers put up. I don't see how anyone can fault the performance last night other than the fact Smith took some sacks he should not have taken. Even then, the lack of a TE that can read defenses and get open on short routes is still the one weak link in this offense. (Imagine how many sacks Romo would have taken Sunday if he had not had Jason Whitten)