Originally posted by 49erphan:My impression is that the defensive players and Mangini seem to be getting things consistently dialed in better than they were. If so, the Browns aren't going to have much success in scoring. If so, that means even if the offense sputters some, they could still put up enough points to beat the Browns.
I suspect the running game isn't going to be effective - if my hunch about that is wrong and the running game is effective, I don't think the Browns have much of a chance of winning as long as the 9ers defense looks solid. If my suspicion is correct that the 9ers running game won't be particularly effective and the defense is fairly well dialed in, then, of course, the game comes down to Gabbert and the passing game. There's a good chance Boldin will have a solid game - and he could be key to the offense getting more crucial third down conversions. If Gabbert can get something going with Ellington and/or Patton, I think the 9ers have a really good chance of winning (that is, as I said earlier, if the 9ers defense is as dialed in as they have seemed to be lately). I have this gut feeling that Ellington might have a big day today.
I think you and I are on the same page about the running game. And with 6th string tight ends playing today, the whole game might rest on our wide outs.
Our defense... Playing better, but they need to come out and play in the first quarter, and it come out flat. Johnny Manuel will run circles around them if they aren't on him early and often.
