Preseason weaknesses, and Harbaugh's report card. | Page 2

pasodoc9er · 2011-10-12T21:19:20-07:00

1) No big secret we needed a passrushing DL or a passrushing OLB. With aldon we got both, and unquestionably shored up that hole. Our front 7 truly is a tough bunch. 2)CBs and Ss were decidedly weak and the admonition "if you can't cover then blitz" seems to have been JH's ultimate plan. Actually, it turns out both Carlos and Culliver are turning out to be really good in coverage. Carlos is excellent at reading a qBs eyes. Both guys on the blitz are close to superhuman, after we had Vick shut down in first half but he always seemed to get away. 2nd half Carlos , Culliver and Bowman showed how speed can stop Vick. 3)Coaching adjustments during halftime. Philly was one helluva example. Also pregame, JH has covered up our weaknesses by coaching around them, be it either on the OL, in the D backfield, or with receivers. 4)Most important was the lack of an OL. Basically we already had drafted virtually all our guys, 3 first rounders and several 2nds. Problem was to A) get the OL to, pass block, and B), run block. Well, Bucs were no where near as bad as they looked, but I believe they got badly outcoached. JH coached away from liabilities, (Rachal) and used the speed of his DBs , Ss, and LBs to blitz. Guys that couldn't cover early on were blitzing and guys who could cover, intercepted, or knocked down passes. Basically we have the same OL guys, they just have been coached up, by an OC who happens to be our QB, RB, WR, TE, Rb, and playcalling coach...our HC. 5)the Confidence factor. Last 8 yrs we were beat virtually every time we stepped on the field. By not chewing guys out as did noln and worse, BM(bigmike), teaching proper ways to play every position on the field, and finally winning, has changed the Confidence factor. Now our guys step out there and expect to win...but do put a superhuman effort into it. 6)Last and most obvious, get a Qb. Tolzien was a fantastic choice. The other choice based on what JH saw, was to make alex into what he had been, a very fine QB. Problem was he never got coached here, not once, and had no HC who could right the ship. We all see what happened with great coaching, great play calling, and smart use of putting the right guy in the right position(esp the OL). Result ? a QB who virtually looks like a different guy from last 5 yrs...but isn't. If this were a report card the grade for JH would be A+. I still think we lose some games, but i bet we are in all of them...something Tampa can no longer say.

Oct 13, 2011 at 5:44 PM

#16

THEB
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Posts: 3,760

Originally posted by pasodoc9er:
So Brian are you telling me you won't lose sleep over our OL vs their DL on Sat nite? I am really uncomfortable with the fact that after Saints and Texans, we never really met a great DL. I thot the Bucs had one, but either they were overhyped, or our OL is a heckuva lot better than I had thot. The improvement has been exponential, OR the Bucs DL was really weak...personally, I agree with you that our coach outcoached Reid, and the Bucs coach. But a DL with Suh on one side and the other side no pushover, whew, that could make for a long day especially if OL can't hear signals...which they won't . It will be fascinating how JH goes about coaching this game, but my guess is silent signals, (hand signals), some no huddles, and 1 step drops to protect the qb and also , slow the passrush.

On D, we'll see how good we really are. Stafford/ cal johnson are good for 2 TDs minimum, and how jH attacks that will also be fascinating. My worry: we have played weaker teams than we thot this yr, and we are running into the cream of the crop Sunday. We'll find out.

Can't take you seriously until you start spelling thought right.

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Oct 13, 2011 at 5:45 PM

#17

pasodoc9er
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Posts: 21,040

overmiddle, you are a tough grader man. To me this team has been in the doldrums for so long that not only has it been resuscitated, but JH coached it up to the very top of the league. I would feel a lot better saying that on sunday after the game if we win in Detroit. If we do however, this is not a B coach. Heck, W or L in Detroit , JH still gets an A and if he can keep this up with occasional loses, is going to be up for coach of the yr. Long way to go tho, i agree.

Oct 13, 2011 at 6:32 PM

#18

BrianGO
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Posts: 10,300

Originally posted by pasodoc9er:
So Brian are you telling me you won't lose sleep over our OL vs their DL on Sat nite? I am really uncomfortable with the fact that after Saints and Texans, we never really met a great DL. I thot the Bucs had one, but either they were overhyped, or our OL is a heckuva lot better than I had thot. The improvement has been exponential, OR the Bucs DL was really weak...personally, I agree with you that our coach outcoached Reid, and the Bucs coach. But a DL with Suh on one side and the other side no pushover, whew, that could make for a long day especially if OL can't hear signals...which they won't . It will be fascinating how JH goes about coaching this game, but my guess is silent signals, (hand signals), some no huddles, and 1 step drops to protect the qb and also , slow the passrush.

On D, we'll see how good we really are. Stafford/ cal johnson are good for 2 TDs minimum, and how jH attacks that will also be fascinating. My worry: we have played weaker teams than we thot this yr, and we are running into the cream of the crop Sunday. We'll find out.

I would say I am more worried about not being able to communicate on the road, like you said. Smith's audibles weren't really working in the Bucs game anyway, so that is not a problem, but the snap count etc, will be a problem.
Harbaugh neutralized a good Bucs DL, so that is my main point.

I think if we double Suh, the rest of our line will be OK. Its not like people can't run against the Lions, they give up 4.8 a carry, and Smith has been getting rid of the ball very quickly, especially last game. Its not like last year, where he is dropping back and sitting there like a duck.

I'm more worried about momentum swings, feeling shell shocked by the noise, fumbles, special teams. The Lions are very much like us. But I think we have more talent overall if you look at everything on defense, offense and special teams, and if Harbaugh and Roman keep it up, we will keep seeing that talent shine against the Lions.

At the end of the day, I think the game will be won or lost on special teams.

Oct 14, 2011 at 2:02 PM

#19

pasodoc9er
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Posts: 21,040

Nice assessment, Brian, and I concur with ST, esp our guys CArlos and Culliver. They come up big, we win. Also tho, as mentioned, if other teams have avg 4.8yds/carry, I would suspect us to do better than that. Also we have Ginn, waiting for another breakout game. Like you, I hope they have silent hand signals, nods, touches to the belt, balz, buckle, etc, to call plays, because they are gonna need them. We do have a definite ST PK and P advantage, and who knows, maybe this comes down to that. Lee can change the balance in the game with his kicks. This is the game we really need 'em. I say 27 -28 Niners.

Oct 14, 2011 at 3:57 PM

#20

Joecool
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Posts: 70,984

Originally posted by pasodoc9er:
Nice assessment, Brian, and I concur with ST, esp our guys CArlos and Culliver. They come up big, we win. Also tho, as mentioned, if other teams have avg 4.8yds/carry, I would suspect us to do better than that. Also we have Ginn, waiting for another breakout game. Like you, I hope they have silent hand signals, nods, touches to the belt, balz, buckle, etc, to call plays, because they are gonna need them. We do have a definite ST PK and P advantage, and who knows, maybe this comes down to that. Lee can change the balance in the game with his kicks. This is the game we really need 'em. I say 27 -28 Niners.

I wouldn't entirely think like that. It's also about game plan and DET will be game planning that they have a great chance of winning if they stop Gore/Hunter. This is why it has been difficult for Gore in past years to repeat that 5.5 ypc from 2006. I think DET will have their Defensive Line turn it back a notch and not get too far upfield. Just like the Bucs game, Alex and the passing team, MUST show that DET needs to resort back to sending their Defensive Line upfield. If our passing team can do that, THEN we got them and will run all over them.

Oct 14, 2011 at 4:04 PM

#21

eddie_arkadia
Veteran
Posts: 58

Great quote from Michael Silver at Yahoo sports

"Jim Harbaugh," Davis said, "is better at being Mike Singletary than Mike Singletary."

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=Ao96fU9vrL74oOLO0dOWpqpDubYF?slug=ms-silver_jim_harbaugh_niners_alex_smith101411

Oct 14, 2011 at 4:08 PM

#22

Joecool
Veteran
Posts: 70,984

Originally posted by eddie_arkadia:
Great quote from Michael Silver at Yahoo sports

"Jim Harbaugh," Davis said, "is better at being Mike Singletary than Mike Singletary."

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=Ao96fU9vrL74oOLO0dOWpqpDubYF?slug=ms-silver_jim_harbaugh_niners_alex_smith101411

Oct 14, 2011 at 10:10 PM

#23

dtg_9er
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Posts: 33,204

Good post Pasodoc--was thinking of starting a "Why the 9ers will be in the playoffs--how far will they get" thread.

The improvements you cite are remarkable. I didn't think they would be playing at this level until the late middle of the season. They are now favored to be in the playoffs. So, how many playoff games can they win, against who?

If this were the end of the season the playoff teams in the NFC would be New Orleans, Detroit, Green Bay and Washington. If the 9ers look good this week end against Detroit they will have a chance against any of these teams. Then the question would be "How would the 9ers play in the playoffs?" And I believe Harbaugh will have them believing in themselves.

Oct 15, 2011 at 5:55 PM

#24

pasodoc9er
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Posts: 21,040

Dtg, altho I am basically optimistic, I learned a little of the dark side the past 8 yrs. Bucs were highly rated, good record, but got waxed. I think they were over rated and we were probably(ok definitely) under rated. That won't happen this game. We'll get our due( by some), but we KNOW this is a top 3 team, maybe top 2 team. They got a D that has finally got someone on other end of Suh, so running away from Suh won't help much...maybe. Probably, most fascinating thing will be how JH calls this game both O and D. On D, we are going to have to rush 4, as Stafford left alone looks like Brady. So 4 coming mixed in with our DB, S , and LB blitz. I would expect Aldon to play all game. He has gotten that good. Culliver and Carlos are going to have to have the kind of days they have had the last few weeks, which is pretty much be in somebody's pocket all day. If Stafford comes out and completes 13 straight passes we are in for a long day. Culliver and Carlos, also Bowman can change that...but will they? p-52...well you know what he is going to do. Our LBs i expect to have a good game, but #1 problem is Calvin. Who or how exactly is that going to happen. Aside from Aldon, we don't have anybody that can jump that high, and yet, he has sure caught a lot of jump ball passes that way. I suspect JH will have something, but can't imagine what it will be. Maybe nailing Calvin on LOS would be good for starters.

As for O, if I see anything but quick 1-2 steppers, i will be thoroughly surprised. 5-7 steppers against the Suh line is begging for a qb mugging. Brian mentioned above that when our OGs(snyder) pulled, the Bucs took the fake and expected run, only to see alex pass. For Suh, it is going to take two really strong guys to even minimally slow him down. Last time I watched him an entire game was against my Longhorns, and on one play, he was triple teamed, yet managed to push thru and grab Colt McCoys jersey and throw him down with one hand. Damndest thing i ever saw on D. Most impressive too. Granted that was college, but Suh is for real. He alone will be worth watching to see how JH tries to handle him.