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

"Tigers Blood"

Sunoco, we ran against Philly because 1st we threw 1 to 3 step passes ,getting them to back off the LOS. Every team we have played this yr has tried or done that, figuring, heck , it worked to use Box 8 against them last time we played. Also there is ample video to prove that 9ers couldn't figure out how to beat a box 8. I have 8 yrs worth in my game film closet. But once JH had alex throw the quick outs or slants, the eagles backed off ,as did the cowboys, SEA, and Cincy. Yes they all tried to play us with 8 man DL, but JH backed them off with the one sure fix: 1 or 2 step passes, ie, snap it and sling it. Then the Ds backed off, running lanes opened up, and then the 5-7 steppers started working. Sure we ran on Philly, but we had to get them off LOS first. JH figured that one out early on, but it took him a while to implement it. Quick short slants and outs are now a major part of our O game plans, and once Ds back off, we own them. Against Marcus DeWare, I have to admit that didn't seem to make much difference.

Other point is ,my oh my, how well the OL is blocking. Reason? Couldn't be that by moving 8 guys off the LOS our 5 guys no longer had to block 5 on 8...and that has made a whale of a difference.

This is definitely a concern. Kansas City is a great example to look at... teams that win a lot of close games tend to go the other way the following season.

I would say the difference is, however, that the 49ers seem to have played down to their competition against Seattle and Cincinnati, looking worse than their record, where as the Kansas City Chiefs often looked very good in winning close games last year. Thus, when KC came back to the pack, their true colors shine through, where as when the 49ers finally start playing to their potential, they'll be better than we see them as now.

Additionally, unlike Kansas City, the 49ers defense is smothering. Now, you can coach offense, put them in positions to make plays by simply knowing the defense you're facing. However, you cannot make up for defensive deficiencies through coaching. As Bill Walsh said, "You can coach offense. On defense, you must have athletes." (might not be the correct wording, but definitely the correct message. When a team wins because of great defense, they generally continue to win. Great offenses (save those lead by top tier QBs, that introduces an entirely different dimension) are more prone to fall back to the pack after a big year with a lot of close wins.

Anyways, that's my (admittedly optimistic) opinion.

The opposite view is the turnover ratio. The 49ers are currently tied with the Lions with a +8 turnover ratio and have 11 takeaways, tied with Detroit and Green Bay for the NFC Lead. There are those who would say that Turnovers are essentially a product of offensive mistakes, and you don't really "force" them, but take advantage of them. Is this the case with the 49ers? Are they screwed when they play more disciplined teams that wont turn the ball over? It's a valid argument, as the combined turnover ratio of the teams we've played is -15, and even if you except the turnovers they made in games against the 49ers, it's still -6. So the 49ers have yet to play a team that is as protective of the football as they are themselves.

Originally posted by adembroski:


...The opposite view is the turnover ratio. The 49ers are currently tied with the Lions with a +8 turnover ratio and have 11 takeaways, tied with Detroit and Green Bay for the NFC Lead. There are those who would say that Turnovers are essentially a product of offensive mistakes, and you don't really "force" them, but take advantage of them. Is this the case with the 49ers? Are they screwed when they play more disciplined teams that wont turn the ball over? It's a valid argument, as the combined turnover ratio of the teams we've played is -15, and even if you except the turnovers they made in games against the 49ers, it's still -6. So the 49ers have yet to play a team that is as protective of the football as they are themselves.

I heard a great interview with Greg Cosell along these lines. He said turnovers are really just an "after" stat. Forcing turnovers really isn't anything you can coach into a team. So I definitely think it's a concern if they play a team that wont turn the ball over. The Niners need to continue to get better at sustaining drives. You can't just rely on turnovers...

Adembroski, you came close enough on Coach Walsh's comments re: ability of D players. Before him, however, Vince Lombardi said, "If you can't cover, blitz". Many others have said it since, but what exactly did we do different in Eagles game that finally stopped Vick? Right, we had CBs and DBs( who have had trouble covering), blitz. Why did it work? Because both Carlos Rogers and our S both were faster than Justin, Soap, and BigMac. With lightning fast DBs and Ss to blitz, Vick was dead meat. Also a tip of the hat to Bowman who is way faster and tougher than i had thot. After that, Vick was beaten mentally , and while the pressure kept up, he folded up like a cheap suit.

CB and S are our weak links, but if we blitz them in right situation, they are really effective. I don't think either the CB or S blitz were picked up and both guys got to vick so fast, he had no idea someone could be in his jersey that quick.

Mickey, I dunno if you can't teach forced turnovers, in that GB has tackling practice on ball stripping. I know that Justin Smith practices it because he said so. I suspect some guys are way better at it than others, but I know coach walsh taught ball stripping also. I bet anything JH does the same...but i don't know for sure.

Originally posted by pasodoc9er:
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.

The bolded is not true at all. First of all, we had several wins that no way we should have lost. Both Arizona games and the home Seattle game come to mind. In fact, I challenge you to name even one game we won last year that we deserved to lose. There were also several games we LOST that we should have won. New Orleans, Atlanta, and Carolina come to mind. Even that road Seattle game, if Norris catches that 4th down pass, I bet we wind up winning.

Andes, even in our wins the 12th man for the opponents has been our HC. noln? Er-wreckson? BM? Those guys were all a joke, were pure poison for this team, both on the crap they did teach, and moreso on the stuff they neglected to teach. Their wasn't half a HC between all three of them. HCs have literally destroyed this team for 8 long yrs now, and it is sadly true that none of those 3 had any business being a HC. Any wins we got last 8 yrs were in spite of the HC, not because of them. It is amazing we won anything with a hapless sack like BM(bigmike). noln just wasn't a heck of a lot different, and ericson...jeez. I think we are talking at cross purposes here, in that I believe we would won exactly as many games last 8 yrs with no HC as opposed to the jokers we ended up with. HCs? no. Team destroyers? yeah, that pretty well gets it. Coaching errors and omissions on BM's lack of effort are legion. Worse, if he made a mistake, we were bound to see it again next week. i go crazy just thinking of those 3 clods. They personally did their dead level best to wreck our team and dam near succeeded.

Fortunately times have changed and we now have a REAL HC, a professional.