3-1 could just as easily been 1-3 or 4-0 | Page 2

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 2:12 PM

#16

Hitman49
Veteran
Posts: 2,040

game of inches...welcome to the NFL....

Oct 5, 2011 at 2:21 PM

#17

9erguy
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Posts: 3,376

parody. welcome to the NFL

Oct 5, 2011 at 5:34 PM

#18

pasodoc9er
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Posts: 21,040

I do want to compare this team to the Coach Walsh first yrs, when we went 2-14. 6-10, and SB, but the feel is about the same. Sure we don't have Joe, Jerry, Dwight, the all pro D backfield, all from same draft, nor the OL, Bob McKittrick, or the amazing D. What we do have is p 52, Frank and Justin. Also gone this yr are baas, heitmann, with new blood on OL and DL. It is really early, but Aldon sure seems destined to be a star. OL is starting to play together,(mainly due to JH going 1-3 step drops), we have Vernon, craps, and Morgan, and we have a guaranteed new star in Hunter. The coaching just got a whole lot better with the first 49er game plan change at halftime in 8 yrs, ending up with DB and S blitzes(plus a few by Bowman), and we stopped a legit team in the eagles who have their own fine coach. Also, kinda funny how a much maligned Qb suddenly is starting to look like the qb we had drafted 6 yrs ago...all due to a HC, who like walsh is also OC, QB coach, OL coach, D coach, RB coach, DL coach, and calls the plays. Man what a difference a really great coach can make.

The feel for what is happening is about the same however, in that in yr 2 with coach Walsh, even at 6-10, you knew we were in every game. This preseason, unfortunatlely shortened, i didn't feel like we ever were in the saints or Texans game. They just toyed with us. Since start of season ,however, JH has brought these guys along slowly, progressively, and suddenly the OL looks lots better, the D front 7 are becoming really a force, and even the CB and DBs who couldn' t cover, CAN blitz. Aldon with experience on the same front 7 with p52 and Justin is going to become a nightmare for opposing teams. Hunter is just a huge surprise, and so is craps, who I thot didn't want to play here(sure looked good last 2 games). Morgan is coming along, Vernon needs to be in slot more, and should get about 10 balls per game, the OL is being coached around by quick 1-3 step slants and outs...man what is not to like? Also, the coaching is back, with offbeat calls, both on O and D. You can tell we have a pro at the wheel as HC...and we all know we were long overdue. So when in the middle of next game you think back, see if it doesn't remind you of the days of yore, when the 9ers ruled the nfl...and see if it doesn't feel like we were in every game. (yeah we probably will get blown out somewhere, but I am talking generally here)

Oct 5, 2011 at 7:49 PM

#19

1stAndGoal49ers
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Posts: 392

Originally posted by DRnSFw:
thanks captain obvious

Oct 5, 2011 at 7:51 PM

#20

AXEGRINDER
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Posts: 25,685

LOL

Oct 5, 2011 at 7:56 PM

#21

m_brockalexander
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Posts: 13,379

You are a master of the obvious. With all your analysis, I want to know two things. One, would you rather they have lost the close games? Two, can you TURN THE PAGE and enjoy the fact that our team is in first place.

Oct 5, 2011 at 7:57 PM

#22

SonocoNinerFan
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Posts: 17,610

You lost me at "coaching loss"

Oct 5, 2011 at 8:12 PM

#23

Ether
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Posts: 1,515

So you're saying, if we didn't win the games we won... then we would have lost those games. And if we didn't lose the game we did lose, then we would've won.

Groundbreaking.

[ Edited by Ether on Oct 5, 2011 at 8:12 PM ]

Oct 5, 2011 at 8:16 PM

#24

tohara3
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Posts: 31,118

Originally posted by Ninefan56:
Good analysis, fair and real.

Oct 5, 2011 at 8:17 PM

#25

ProfessorKel
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Posts: 3,739

Originally posted by verb1der:
tried to read, lol

You guys are mean. lol

Oct 5, 2011 at 8:18 PM

#26

MadDog49er
Hall of Fame
Posts: 19,400

Or 2-2, or 0-4. All of the games could have gone one direction or the other. In the end, the team is 3-1, and that is a good sign.

Oct 5, 2011 at 8:34 PM

#27

global_nomad
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Posts: 14,827

I give us a pass for week 1 since Harbaugh was feeling out the team.

We played pretty well against Dallas, but no excuses for blowing a 10 point lead in the 4th quarter.

It scared me that we seemed to be "playing down" to the competition in Cincy. Good thing we made just enough plays to win.

Eagles game was impressive. For the first time in 10 or so years you can go down a list of 5-8 guys who made a "play" during that game. That was great to see, after YEARS of not getting the ball to our playmakers, and seeing the defense not create havoc. Yes the Eagles left the door open, but we gladly snuck in for the win.

-I'm really interested to see how we play the next two weeks against quality teams. Hopefully we can play up to their level. I think confidence has never been more high for years. Hopefully they can continue to build on that. If we run the ball well and continue to win the turnover margin every week we should continue to have a very successful record no matter if the W's are pretty or not.

Oct 5, 2011 at 8:34 PM

#28

Curticio11
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Posts: 34

Can you analyze what our preseason record Could have been while your at it? THANKS

Oct 5, 2011 at 8:54 PM

#29

stunder49
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Posts: 1,215

Oct 5, 2011 at 8:58 PM

#30

49ersVic
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Posts: 303

didn't read!