Another solid but unspectacular game...and to be honest that's just fine. I'm not looking for Gabbert to be great. I'm looking for him to be a serviceable backup in the future. Is he Steve Deberg? A placeholder before the new guy? Is he Jim Plunkett? The bust who reclaims his career and goes on to be a Super Bowl Champion? Is he neither? Right now...I have no clue. I won't pretend otherwise. I keep thinking THIS is the week he reverts back to form...but then it doesn't happen.
In the meantime, it's interesting enough to keep an eye on and make the final four games of the season easier to watch.
2) Torrey: This isn't so much of a criticism as an observation. Torrey does the job he was signed to do and he does it well (stretch the field), but that's really all he does. LOL. It's kinda painful to watch him take a short pass and try to do something with it. As I said tho...that's OK. He isn't there to take short passes the distance. He's there to stretch the field, create space for other players, and occasionally make teams pay for not respecting his deep speed. He's currently averaging 23 yards per reception. I'll take that...but MAN he really has no RAC game.
3) Droughn: Call him the Gabbert of the RB position. Another game, another solid but unspectacular performance which is just fine because I'm looking at him as a backup long term anyway. Runs hard, catches the ball...He'll have a shot at the 53 next year.
4) Ward/Bowman: That was awesome. Both Bowmans callout of the screen before it happened and the blitz that forced the audible, AND the way Ward hardly even backpedalled before jumping that route. You almost never see a screen like that picked off. Great play by both players.
5) Armstead: Didn't have a perfect game, but MAN that guy has some power. I saw a couple occasions where he just blew up the guy in front of him and while he didn't get the tackle, he was a big part of why the play was stopped. There are some times when he got pushed past the play but its hard to say anything when there were also a number of times that the Bears ran the ball against TWO down linemen. Armstead isn't perfect, but he's in the trenches learning on the fly and he's playing well. I think we'll see him next year and be happy he got this playing time.
6) McDonald: Sigh. I'm starting to like what I see from him...but dude...Can you please just stay healthy? Guy just can't stay on the field. Celek is the same way. I like a possible future of Celek and McDonald, but that'll never happen if they are constantly injured. How many years are we going to have to go with a depleted TE group late in the season?
7) Hodges: Not bad. Not bad at all. He ain't Pat, but he might be a better option than Wilhoite. Seems quicker and I know he's better in coverage.
8) Tartt: I don't care what people tell me (and many have said I'm off base), but that was NOT an illegal tackle...or at least it shouldn't be. Cutler was still on his feet. He didn't hit him in the head. He didn't hit him with his helmet. He wrapped him up and took him to the ground. Are we really at the point that bringing a guy down hard is a penalty? Refs didn't call it and IMO shouldn't have.
What...is he supposed to gently place him on pillows?
9) Kap: So I see just before the game that Kap has met with management and that they are both open to a return next year. Yeah. Right. I'm sorry...I don't buy it. To me, it's one of three things. It could be that they are simply trying to create the illusion that they have no intent to release him to prevent teams form simply waiting till he's a free agent to make a play. It could be that they realize it's possible he won't pass his physical before April 1st and if they'll have to pay him anyway next year they might as well give him a shot to get his job back. Finally, it could be that they are interested in bringing him back, but not at the number he's scheduled to make and if that number goes down it might also make him easier to trade...although I don't know why he'd do that when he could just leave the contract as is and control where he goes.
Maybe they don't know if they can get another guy in the draft and are hedging their bets.
Who knows, but my guess is that Kap has played his final down and all we are hearing now is damage control in one form or another.
10) Draft position: One of the worst feelings while watching your favorite team play a game. Teams makes a great play at the end and you want to be happy but simultaneously realize that one play could cost you a QB to take you into the next decade. With that win and Cleveland next on the schedule, the 49ers may have just lost any chance at Lynch or Goff. Maybe it all works out in the end. Maybe they don't need one of those guys. Maybe those guys end up sucking anyway. Maybe they fall to the Niners anyway. Who knows what's gonna happen...
...but I HATE that feeling of wanting to be happy with the result but understanding what it might mean in the grand scheme.
[ Edited by Marvin49 on Dec 7, 2015 at 10:48 AM ]
.. Reid alway had concerned with concussion cuz he cared himself.