Originally posted by TexasNiner:
So, I finally got a chance to watch the second preseason game. And I was left with an odd feeling of familiarity.
Sure, we looked a lot better than last week. But we usually beat up on the Raiders. That way, and otherwise, it all seemed like deja vu.
QB Play:
Alex looked solid, but far from elite and moved the chains without putting points on the board and threw a critical pick when he misread the D.
Beyond Alex, we have nothing we can bank on in case of injury or poor performance. CK showed flashes, but he's a rookie and as much hope as we have for him, there is no telling what his future holds. After that, we have a journeyman from the UFL. Bottom line, we haven't brought in proven QB talent that would even be a backup for most teams since Jeff Garcia left. Just draft picks (high and low) and career backups and wanna bes who have never given us either starter quality talent or even solid depth.
Even the Raiders have Boller and Edwards as legit backups, and they both are arguably better than most, if not every QB that has been on our roster since Garcia.
RB/Oline Play: Gore is Gore. Otherwise some young guns who are preseason studs and we'll see from there. Oline, solid at run blocking, still making mistakes on pass protection.
Defense: Solid, but still limited QB pressure. Didn't really miss any of the guys we let go, but didn't exactly see anyone show they will elevate the D to what it's been the last couple of years.
Coaching: Still trying to pound the ball into the endzone anytime we are inside the 10 with a ex-player who is a rah rah, intense guy with no NFL Head Coaching experience. Do I think he will be better than Sing? I do, and I am hopeful for the future. But given his mentality and the way he responds to the media, I think he will have some growing pains that will be very similar. He has had success at the college level, but I think Sing could have motivated college kids had he started at a small school and then moved to a better school who hadn't had recent football success as well. Whether that player/coach mentality translates into success at the NFL is TBD.
Overall, I just don't see anything too different from years past. That combined with our schedule has us at the same place we've been for years. 6-10 if a few games go wrong, 8-8, MAYBE, just MAYBE 9-7, if every close game goes our way. Bottom line, we are pretty much a .500 team and a game or two will determine the difference.
Until we can get high level QB play and pressure the QB consistently, two things this team seems unwilling to upgrade, I don't see how things will change.
Anyone see anything different.
"Alex looked solid, but far from elite and moved the chains without putting points on the board and threw a critical pick when he misread the D."
Were people expecting him to look elite? I don't hate Alex Smith, but I don't think he is going to ever be "elite". Elite quarterbacks play well with zero time in the pocket, throwing to any NFL receiver you put in the lineup. I've seen Brady and Rogers throw touchdowns when there were guys running free and unblocked straight at them. Does anybody care about their O-line play if a touchdown pass is the result? No. The O-line gets credit regardless of how much time they allow. All that matters is touchdowns.
I have rarely seen Smith make the types of plays elite quarterbacks make. Giving him a little more time, might make him a "good" or "solid" quarterback, but "elite" left the building YEARS ago.
"CK showed flashes"
CK is going to be good. As long is he is not retarded (like Nate Davis) he is going to help us in the short term future. He usually hits receivers with perfect passes that allow them to turn and go, rather than turn, jump, catch the ball, reset, then go.
"Solid, but still limited QB pressure"
The Raiders left a lot of people back to block. Aldon Smith was double teamed much of the time. He got a lot less playing time, as Haralson played almost the entire first half. Brown should have handed his intercepted ball to Aldon, it was Aldon's pressure which caused the bad throw. He only broke free a few times, but his raw ability to bull rush and swim around blockers is only going to get better. Aldon will be a force for us THIS year.
I think McDonald and Smith had good pressure too. The Raiders were throwing to backs and TE's, and getting rid of the ball quick. Also, their quarterbacks made some spot on throws. I think the defense looked just about as good as good as last week.
Bowman flew right by the running back to force a bad throw on a blitz like a lightening bolt. Our pressure is going to be much better this year for sure. Also, our run stopping looks just as good as ever.
"Coaching: Still trying to pound the ball into the endzone anytime we are inside the 10"
I am a little bit with you on this one, but play-calling is probably the last thing to worry about in the preseason. I think Harbaugh is extremely smart. He'll adjust to whatever he needs to, in order to put the ball in the endzone.
"Bottom line, we are pretty much a .500 team and a game or two will determine the difference."
There are so many little things that determine record. We should have beaten New Orleans, Philadelphia and Atlanta last year. Those are good teams. With our new defense, and good coaching on offense, I think that could easily make a difference. You never, know, momentum is a fickle thing. Just a LITTLE bit of leadership in the right places, can make a huge difference.
We finally have coaching, and we have needed a quarterback for a long time. But CK just looks SO impressive. He throws the ball like "Nate the Great" but he is the opposite above the shoulder's. He is extremely smart, and with Harbaugh coaching him, I really think he could make some noise. And if he is ever confused, he can always scramble. I would like to see him play this year, but we'll see.
[ Edited by BrianGO on Aug 22, 2011 at 6:52 PM ]
