1) Kap: Peeps are always going to think I take it too easy on Kap, but to me...again...more of the same. I didn't see the WTF play he's good for at least once a game...unless you can call the fumble that but he was trying to put the ball away. He probably should have just thrown the ball away there so perhaps that would be the one WTF play.
He's also always good for a superhuman "how is that even possible" play. 4 and 10? Check. Superhuman. I know peeps are going to look at his below 50% comp % in this game, but that just brings up another topic...
2) Drops: WTF. Drops at the worst possible time has been an issue all year. Crabtree has usually been the culprit and even dropped one on that third down. This game tho....WOW. Boldin. What's up with that? To be fair, its very uncharacteristic of him so I don't see it as a trend...but that was rough yesterday. When I went through the game again last night, I counted EIGHT drops and another that would have been a tough catch by Boldin on Kaps final throw. That crazy. FOUR of those balls were third down passes to Boldin and another was the possible long TD.
As I said tho...I think this is an outlier. I don't expect Boldin to drop the ball 5 or 6 times a game.
3) Chris Borland: Woah. Forgive what might sound like heresy...but he may just be the Niners new ILB a few years from now. Pats still fantastic, but he's getting a bit older and keeps getting hurt. He's got several years left playing at a high level...but if Borland keeps playing like this, there is no way they could let him walk when he eventually becomes a free agent. I know this is WAY, WAY early and he's under contract for several more years...but Chris Borland is a baller. Some guys you can simply see as playmakers very early in their careers. He's one of those guys. He has no long speed, but when he's playing in a box he is LIGHTNING quick. So fast in small spaces...and he arrives with an attitude. Most importantly though, he's an instinctual player. Whatever "it" is, he's got "it".
If Willis comes back anytime soon, I think Borland takes Wilhoite's spot. He is playing way, way too well right now to take him off the field.
4) Aaron Lynch: MAN I can't wait to see Lynch on one side and Aldon on the other on 3rd down.
5) Gore/Hyde: There is still a place for Frank, but I want Hyde to get the ball more. Those outside runs by him are deadly. His legs are fresh. It just feels like everytime he gets the ball something good might happen. I love Frank. He's probably my favorite 49er of all time. He's not finished. He's still got something left...but I think we need a more even distribution of carries. Hyde did flat miss his assignment that got Kap sacked, but he's largely been pretty good in pass protection for a rookie.
Barring a draft pick or a surprise Gore resigning, Hunter and Hyde are most likely the future of the 49ers at RB. (Hunter and Hyde...I like the sound of that..lol). Hyde just has so much more juice in his legs than Frank does. Oh by the way, if Hyde gets more carries...Frank will have much fresher legs later in the year.
The Niners did something yesterday that they absolutely needed to do. They dedicated themselves to running the ball again. Everytime they get themselves in trouble, they always rededicate themselves to the run. They need to continue that trend...but it can't be 20 carries for Frank and 5 for Hyde. Frank will be toast by the end of the year. Bottom Line for me...MORE CARLOS HYDE.
6) Bethea/Reid: Jeez...I really wasn't sure about Bethea when he was signed, but he's been a HUGE addition. He will never be the enforcer that Whitner was. What he is though is SOOOO much better in coverage.
What's interesting to me and perhaps one of you guys breaking down film can confirm this or tell me I'm flat wrong as its impossible to see on a standard TV broadcast, but I get the sense that while Reid isn't making a ton of plays on camera, he is influencing the game through coverage. Its the only thing that makes sense to me. Why? The 49ers own the 5th ranked pass defense in the NFL right now and they are doing it without a consistent pass rush. Reid did make a mistake in coverage on the Cooks TD, but you are never going to be perfect. I also wonder if Ward might have been able to defense that play had he not fallen down.
7) Dawson: It's really nice to have a nails kicker. Last kick made me nervous, but he makes those pressure kicks when we need them most. Hats off to you Phil.
8) Brooks: Karma is real.
9) Offense Philosophy: Yesterday was a great game (at least it was after we won), but it's clear our offensive problems are still there...particularly in the second half. Whatever the reason...it just seems it requires Kap doing something superhuman to win a game (Kap to Crab, Kap to Gore vs Eagles, Kap to Boldin vs Rams). It's fantastic that he has that capability, but it would be nice if for once he didn't need to. We all have different reasons WHY that is. Kap progressing as a pocket passer, O-Line not protecting, WRs not catching the ball, O-Line not opening lanes for RBs, RBs not running all that well....Its not ONE of any of those. Its a little bit of all of them. They simply aren't in sync and are kinda disjointed.
Is that Roman? Maybe that's a part of it...but to me its really all about playing together as a team. Let hope they get it together down the stretch here. Any of us SF Giants fans know that all you have to do is get yourself in the tournament at the end.
10) NFC West: Palmer? Ouch. My fear there is that they end up losing just enough games to lose the division to Seattle. Truth is though...it doesn't really matter. Niners can only look at the team in front of them and hope for the best.
PS: Did anyone else see Vernon yelling at Lloyd after his only catch? Looks like he said "get the F off the field". Wonder what that was about.
[ Edited by Marvin49 on Nov 10, 2014 at 9:58 AM ]
