Originally posted by irief:
As usual, this thread has digressed into another blame Kap thread. To get back on topic, the question is how much of a factor was not having a burner on the outside in this loss. My contention is that it is pretty low on the list given the factors listed above.
Us losing in the NFC game was not Kaep's fault. I can't stand when people claim that (not saying you did).
If it wasn't for Kaep we would have been dominated.
I think the biggest factors that got us in that game were as follows.
1. Iupati going down (this is where we started downhill)
2. Bowman going down
3. Lack of a burner
If you watch the tapes on that game Kap was AMAZING. Seriously, he was playing some of the best football against one of the best defense in the NFL and was hardly getting any help from anyone else.
I do think you over looking how much a speedy guy would have helped us though.
Normally we depend on VD to stretch the field and give guys like Boldin/Crabs 1v1 with smaller CBs. Against the Hawks that isn't the case,
Chancellor and ET pretty much shut out opposing TE (if anybody wants to blame somebody during that game, VD is a great place to start)
This allowed Sherman and Maxwell (who are very physical corners and play their best against bigger/slower WR) to press Boldin and Crabs and pretty much take them out of the game as well.
Having a burner in there, like Patton/Ellington/Johnson will demand the attention of Thomas, which gives VD a little wiggle room, which in turn gives Crabs and Boldin better chances as well.
There is always a need for speed in the WR/TE core, no matter what type of offense you run.
[ Edited by Quest4six on May 16, 2014 at 12:42 PM ]