Buyer Beware: The Cardinals Game Was A Fluke | Page 5

MadDog49er · 2009-12-15T14:27:55-08:00

It was nice to go to bed late last night with a studly victory over a hated divisional rival, especially the Arizona Cardinals. The team played well, the coaching staff seemed prepared, and the fans were pumped. Now, back to reality. Niners' fans have to take this game for what it is: A fluke. The Cardinals are a better team than the Niners right now, but as we know, every game is a new game, and you can only take one game at a time. This was one game. A great game for the Niners, and a stinker for the Cards. Any victory is sweet, but the reality is that the Cardinals had no business turning the ball over seven times. Our defense is simply not that good, and their offense is simply not that bad. I hope fans do not expect the defense to be a turnover-creating machine from every game on out. This was an exception. The same goes for Frank Gore, who looked terrific. However, let's not kid ourselves. Gore is a middle of the road running back. He's going to have a few great games, some average games, and some poor games. This was one of those special nights where everything fell into place. The offensive line opened up huge holes, and dominated the Cardinals DL throughout the game. However, this is not our normal OL. We have struggled all season, and I doubt this one game changes the reality that our line generally stinks. And, I sincerely doubt that our team suddenly falls back into the "smashmouth" philosophy. Who would we be kidding? We are a passing team that works best when the field is spread out. It just so happened that for one week, we could line up in a regular offensive formation and run at will. Our CB's contained Fitzgerald and Boldin to less than 70 yards receiving TOTAL, but let's be realistic. Our passing defense was amongst the worst in the NFL going into the game, and I sincerely doubt that we are going to play weekly at a high level. It was just a wierd, wierd game. And, finally, for those who think the Niners' pass rush has been solved, this would be another mirage. No doubt that we should salute the excellent effort of Justin Smith, Ahmad Brooks, Parys Haralson, and company. But once again, the offensive line performance this week by the Cardinals was a joke. If they played this poorly the week before, they would have surrendered 56 sacks to Jared Allen and the Vikings. They just stunk for a week, and we looked fresh. So, while celebrating this victory, which was very sweet, the reality is that this game is indicative of the NFL. One week you can stink, and the next you can shine. The week before, the Cards whacked the Vikings and the Niners lose to the crappy Seahawks. This week, the Seahawks were crushed by the Texans 34-7, the Vikings destroyed the Bengals 30-10, and the Niners defeat a good Cardinals team. So, I raise a toast to the David Baas', Dashon Goldson's, Ahmad Brooks', Dre Bly's, Adam Snyder's of the world this week, fully knowing that these players had terrific games. But, let's be realistic in our expectation of these guys down the road. It is simply one week in the NFL. One wild and wacky week.

Dec 15, 2009 at 3:20 PM

#61

valrod33
Hall of Small
Posts: 138,115

Originally posted by King49er:
I can't comment in his threads, I'll get 25 percent...

you just commented

Dec 15, 2009 at 3:20 PM

#62

Brazilian49er
Veteran
Posts: 7,333

Originally posted by King49er:
I can't comment in his threads, I'll get 25 percent...

Come on dude, you're sitting at 15%! You have some wiggling room.

Dec 15, 2009 at 3:21 PM

#63

Butter
Veteran
Posts: 2,484

Originally posted by Brazilian49er:
Originally posted by Butter:
Originally posted by Brazilian49er:
Originally posted by ninertico:
No, the Seattle game was a fluke, not this one. It is a matter of opinion after all. You know, like the one you had on Brooks.

Man, Warner was lucky his ankle wasn't blown apart!

Are you talking about the foot right under Brook's left shoulder? I think that is Brook's left foot???

No way man. Otherwhise it wasn't Brooks out there yesterday. It was Gumby.

Oh, I think you're right. I thought Warner's right foot (by Brook's wrist) was his left foot. My bad.

Dec 15, 2009 at 3:22 PM

#64

Hoovtrain
Veteran
Posts: 34,853

Originally posted by MadDog49er:
Originally posted by AB83Rules:
Sorry, dont agree MadDog, yeah they beat a good Vikes team, but the D came out and out played the cards last nite.

We deserved it, and we arent a terrible team, we have talent, and we proved it.

The only game we werent in was the Atlanta game, all the others we have won or lost close. Thats not a bad team. Thats a team with some questions, but a team that doesnt give up or in.

You are right. We are not a terrible team. But, we are also not a good team. We lost the Seahawks last week, and they are not a good team. We have a losing record, and a ton of issues, including the inability to run consistently from week to week, cover anyone on the secondary, etc.

So based on your rationale, Arizona is not a good team. According to your logic they just lost to the Niners (twice) who as you pointed out is not a good team. And the Niners lost to Seattle, who you also pointed out is not a good team, hence making us and the Cardinals bad teams. Oh and Seattle.

Dec 15, 2009 at 3:24 PM

#65

luv49rs
Hall of Fame
Posts: 62,732

Originally posted by grizzlyadams:
Wow, you can't enjoy a win for even 24 hours! That's weak and sad.

Dec 15, 2009 at 3:25 PM

#66

fryet
Veteran
Posts: 3,325

MadDog, why don't you find some children to tell them there is no Santa Claus? (:

Dec 15, 2009 at 3:25 PM

#67

kstolai
Veteran
Posts: 11,313

Originally posted by JMC52:
Yea get real MD we beat them twice now, we have gotta get that sand outta your mangina

lol

Dec 15, 2009 at 3:25 PM

#68

HessianDud
Veteran
Posts: 22,995

Why do some Niner fans always have to be like this after we win? There was a guy at the bar last night talking about how this game was rigged in the Niners favor, that the NFL wanted the Niners to win because its a better story for them to cover or something. I said, "Hey man, we beat you guys fair and square, we're built to beat you and we did. Get over it."

and he said, "I'm a Niner fan!"

I told him to shut up and enjoy the win. Why make excuses for a good performance?

Dec 15, 2009 at 3:26 PM

#69

BrianGO
Veteran
Posts: 10,300

Originally posted by Young2Rice:
We dominted them in every aspect of the game. What do u mean fluke?

Like the fluke Minn won against us? The fluke TENN that beat us? The fluke that Seattle beat us? The fluke that GB beat us? Don't forget the fluke HB pass in INDY that beat us.

What fluke?

I think I would agree with MadDog that 7 turnovers in one game is a fluke (a well deserved one though), but I also think we have a very good defense which we have depended on for almost all of our wins.

And except for when we played Jacksonville and Seattle (on the road), our offense has been horrible; and those are also the ONLY two games where we used the spread offense from beginning to end.

Also, MadDog says that Gore is a "middle of the road" running back? I can't believe he thinks that. Gore is a top 3 running back. When he has ANY space he is dangerous enough to break a long run at any time. What other back in the league can do that?
1) Chris Johnson
2) Adrian Peterson
Who else?

Who in the league breaks more tackles than Gore?
Not Stephen Jackson.
Not even Adrian Peterson.
Nobody breaks more tackles than Gore.

Alex Smith is poor as a dropback passer, so every defense has spied Gore in every game we have played. He gets the ball, and there are 3 guys tackling him. The only running backs who I have ever seen who could break out of a wall, are Marcus Allen and Barry Sanders. So he is not as good as them, OK, I'll except that. But average?

Dec 15, 2009 at 3:26 PM

#70

oldninerdude
Veteran
Posts: 4,330

Originally posted by GoFD74:
Originally posted by 49erman5692:
maddog you quickly forget, we barely lost to the vikes and colts

Exactly. We've been in every single game this year with the exception of the Atlanta blowout. That's not to say we're ready to contend for a Super Bowl, but when you can play your schedule tough every single week and be in just about every game, you know you're starting to turn the corner and challenge for a playoff spot.

We're starting to get production from positions that used to be glaring weaknesses over the last 5 years (QB, WR, TE, pass rush, safety) so to say that the win last night was a fluke is completely off-based and REALLY missing the reality of what's happening with this still developing team.

Last night was more of a sneak preview of next year; a snapshot of how good this team can be with a few more playmakers and more disciplined, consistent play....a culmination of what Singletary has been trying to build here.

What I saw last night was a team that is starting to believe in themselves, even if some of their fans don't.

Exactly.

Dec 15, 2009 at 3:26 PM

#71

Butter
Veteran
Posts: 2,484

Originally posted by fryet:
MadDog, why don't you find some children to tell them there is no Santa Claus? (:

That was actually pretty funny.

Dec 15, 2009 at 3:28 PM

#72

Lifer
Veteran
Posts: 1,175

The 49ers are a classic middle of the pack team. They have some talented players, and they can do some good things. But they can't put it all together and they haven't learned how to win when it counts.

If you look at the recent history of the 49ers, you'll see that they almost always play their best football when it's too late. Over the last few seasons, meaningful games have been few and far between, but when they do play a meaningful game, they fall flat. It's only when the season is all but over, that they play their best ball. I know this morning a lot of fans have visions of sugarplums and playoff berths dancing in their heads. But the truth is that this team is already all but mathematically eliminated from the playoffs. The time to show up and play a good game was LAST Sunday in Seattle. That's when it mattered; that's when it counted; and that's when it would've made a difference. Last night the team was playing for pride. Singletary will choke on the words, but it was a moral victory, that's all.

Dec 15, 2009 at 3:28 PM

#73

HoneyBadger49er
Veteran
Posts: 19,054

Originally posted by Brazilian49er:
Originally posted by King49er:
I can't comment in his threads, I'll get 25 percent...

Come on dude, you're sitting at 15%! You have some wiggling room.

it was 25 for trying to call him out in the Crabtree thread, and apparently it was inciting, so I don't wanna make that same mistake again by arguing with him...even though I disagree with this thread completely...

Dec 15, 2009 at 3:28 PM

#74

leolion
Veteran
Posts: 1,564

I would agree that the 9ers are not that good. But, then neither are the Cards (or anyone else for that matter). We are enduring an age of NFL mediocrity where wins are determined more by lucky breaks and bad officiating than by great play. If you doubt that, compare Cincy's, NO's and Pittsburgh's results between this year and 2008.

Dec 15, 2009 at 3:28 PM

#75

LottOfDefense
Veteran
Posts: 2,752

In one way I agree, even Roman looked good stripping the ball and recovering the ball twice. But Goldson's play was awesome he was squarely putting his head on the football. His int. was well placed jumped where he caught the ball at its peak.

I think at the end of the day you got to take your hat off to Manusky. His boys came prepared. But it is not like the 9ers could not play better. Alex Smith had accuracy problems and there were quite a few drops. May be there just starting to realize their potential. Since we are 49ers fans that idea sounds better than some unique aberration.