3-1 could just as easily been 1-3 or 4-0

pasodoc9er · 2011-10-05T12:37:05-07:00

No question we are a much , much better team this yr, but really the major change is Harbaugh. 1).The biggest W/L difference, is we definitely beat SEA. We could have beaten Cowboys, but JH played not to lose and did. So there is one coaching loss. Last yr we had virtually all coaching losses, and our wins could just as easily all been losses. We are a gazillion times better at HC,QB coach, and game calling. This is all pure Harbaugh 2) OL may or may not be better this yr, but it sure as heck is being coached up or coached around this yr. The biggest help has been throwing 1 to 3 steppers, so OL really doesn't have to hold their block more than a millisecond. This is basically coaching around a weak or non-functioning OL, and having quick slants or outs, which allows alex to receive the snap and sling it. This in turn, moved the box 8 off the LOS, and guess what else magically improved? 3)Correct, the running game magically got better with the box 8 moving back to a 4-3 or 3-4 , thus opening the running lanes for frank and hunter. Also, however, by moving the D into a conventional 3-4 or 4-3, once the quick hitting passes start to click, alex has the chance to throw a 5-7 stepper, and we connected on half a dozen really big gains. For the last 8 yrs, our front 5 on OL have been blocking 5 on 8 and it just doesn't work to try and throw, or worse run on that D alignment. Quick hitters are the only way to get the box 8off the LOS. Once that happened, everything else opened up, and now for the first time we are seeing what our OL can and cannot do. It has meant that we can throw some 5-7 steppers once box 8 moves off line. Also enter Hunter, who is fastest and shiftiest guy with ball on entire team. 4) Receivers: With Braylon here we got a sense that our O could actually pass and be pretty sure that if braylon was the target, he would catch it. I think that gave a positive boost to the WR and QB both, a sense of confidence, if you will, and even tho Braylon is out, he helped show us we could pass effectively. Maybe it was a mental thing, maybe alex and the OL just had to see it work. End result was, there was definitely more confidence in the passing game for the first time ever. Now we have Morgan, Craps, vernon, delainie, frank , hunter, Miller...shucks a whole bunch of guys can catch the ball, and I think Vernon is going to be used in slot some for a real D nightmare. We have gone from a team that couldn't pass or passblock to a team that is a real threat to pass the ball. And all started with having alex throw 1 to 3 steppers, to back the box 8 off the LOS. 5)The D has gotten rid of some guys who none of us ever agreed upon as to whether they could passrush, or cover, and DB and CB still remains a problem today, but again it is being coached around. JH was stymied by Vick last Sunday when big Mac, justin, and Soap all got near him, but he escaped each time. The effort on DL this yr is 10X better than last yr, again attributable to HC. 2nd half, JH blitzed carlos rogers, Bowman, and several others from D backfield, and their quickness caught Vick. It was a brilliant D call change, and the really fast DBs and CBs(plus bowman at LB) were the answers to mr Vick. He had 293 yds passing first half and only 107 passing 2nd half. He also got sacked, knocked down, hit, spun around and slammed to ground a bunch more times. Our 3 starting DLs, plus the addition of an unheralded Aldon, and Bowman, really did the number on the eagles and vick. As for Justin, what can you say about a DL who chases the play to the other side of the field makes a tackle while doing a strip. Truly a thing of beauty. Our front 7 has been praised frequently, and they are something to behold. Think back to Saints and Texans games. We've come a long way... a truly long way. Also, re: our CBs and DB, "If you can't cover, then blitz"....well, we sure saw some of that with Carlos rogers et al on Sun. 6)ST with Ginn and Lee, and now Akers....wow, that is a fearsome group and good for probably 3 Ws already (not just by themselves, but they definitely contributed...also, teams are now afraid of Ginn.). 7)Lastly, look at the fans. They are starting to go back to days of Montana/young, when they really enjoyed going out to root for their team. With erickson, noln, and BM(bigmike), that never happened. Never. Why? Because none, not one of those yokels knew how to lead...how to coach. Now we have a coach, a real coach, who gives us a shot every game. I actually had us losing to Eagles, based on qb and coach. I really like JH but thot with his experience, Reid would outduel JH. Didn't happen....matter of fact it was just the opposite. JH outcoached Reid, showed terrific ability to change D plan at halftime, and basically should have gotten another game ball. He has had a large part to do with each and every win, (but he did cause the one loss to dallas...so what at 3-1?), but we were still in that Dallas game and could have easily won it. Say what you want about any other coach in the league, but right now JH is on course for Coach of the yr. Where we end up, who knows. I do know it will be fun to watch, and for 1st time ever, we are going to be in every game. We have finally moved on from the dark, miserable last 8 yrs. 9ers are back, and everyone knows it.

Oct 5, 2011 at 12:41 PM

verb1der
Member
Posts: 15,613

tried to read, lol

Oct 5, 2011 at 12:41 PM

Jamespowers
Veteran
Posts: 2,469

lead the dallas game throughout, they tied it at 14 in 3rd qrt. Just needed one play. The Philly win makes up for the dallas loss. Every year, every team has a game where they were in complete control and lost at the very end. Over the past 8 seasons, we have had like 5 games a year like that. Limit that to 2 and 10-6 is very possible.

[ Edited by Jamespowers on Oct 5, 2011 at 12:42 PM ]

Oct 5, 2011 at 12:42 PM

Texas9erFan
Member
Posts: 286

Didn't read.

Oct 5, 2011 at 12:42 PM

SAVAGE49er
Veteran
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Cool!

Oct 5, 2011 at 12:43 PM

Ninefan56
Member
Posts: 5,106

Good analysis, fair and real.

Oct 5, 2011 at 12:45 PM

BimmerKing
Veteran
Posts: 23,278

Read first sentence, lol

[ Edited by GuessWhosOn3rd on Oct 5, 2011 at 12:45 PM ]

Oct 5, 2011 at 12:49 PM

cNiner
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Posts: 6,440

we have not beaten a good team in a while , Philly we cought them when they are down , lets see if we can keep it up and beat Tampa @ home then comes the real test I cant belive i am going to say it , the Lions the team that went 0-16 is the real test !

oh by the way we benched chilo he needs to be cut to make a statment to the team that if you don't hack it , you don't belong !

Oct 5, 2011 at 12:51 PM

Cjez
Hall of Fame
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Member Milestone: This is post number 300 for Cjez.

we beat tampa, i'll be hard. As of right now, I still need a fluffer.

Oct 5, 2011 at 12:51 PM

pasodoc9er
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cniner,it was already too long, but i should have mentioned talent selection by HC has improved drastically.

Oct 5, 2011 at 12:52 PM

#10

stillpans4gold
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Posts: 440

...or 2-2

Oct 5, 2011 at 12:59 PM

#11

pasodoc9er
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Posts: 21,040

Tampa has a young good team, and an excellent young coach. I like our coach better. As for the game, I think this is another where the coach wins it or loses it. Tampa has lots of talent all around, good coach, so this should be a really good game. I don't think I want to pick a winner but maybe give us 3 pts for home advantage.

Oct 5, 2011 at 1:02 PM

#12

DRnSFw
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thanks captain obvious

Oct 5, 2011 at 1:34 PM

#13

boast
Hella Fame
Posts: 156,775

if valrod had been born a girl, his name could just as easily been Valentina.

Oct 5, 2011 at 1:39 PM

#14

hondakillerzx
Veteran
Posts: 19,281

so could the patriots, if they lost 3 games or won all 4...