The Long-Run

Alright so throughout our schedule I won't lie, we've had a somewhat challenging but not the most difficult opponents and we've taken advantage of them. The positive of this is the obvious 9-2 record, but since we haven't played many great top-caliber teams (except for the Ravens or Giants), should there be any concern about how we will perform if we had tough games back to back?

Along with all of you, I too have confidence in our players and of course JH himself and how he can motivate our team to perform at a high level, so when it comes to these big games, maybe he just hasn't shown his best cards just yet...

On the other hand, we see the old O-line break down and we basically meet our match, a team that specializes on bringing pressure and practically punks the opposing O-line. Now, people say our team was exhausted from playing so many road games and such, which I won't disagree with, but nonetheless this game is one to learn from and build upon, cause when we run into PIT, we should be refreshed and ready to play one of our best games that we've yet to see. I expect us to come out firing and taking an early lead cause you can't f**k around with Mike Tomlin and Big Ben.

So my question here is should there be any concern in the long-run, like when we face tough teams back to back, or do you guys think that the 9ers can hands-down compete and win against anybody with Harbaugh?

great song.

Originally posted by rEspEctdA49ers:
Alright so throughout our schedule I won't lie, we've had a somewhat challenging but not the most difficult opponents and we've taken advantage of them. The positive of this is the obvious 9-2 record, but since we haven't played many great top-caliber teams (except for the Ravens or Giants), should there be any concern about how we will perform if we had tough games back to back?

Along with all of you, I too have confidence in our players and of course JH himself and how he can motivate our team to perform at a high level, so when it comes to these big games, maybe he just hasn't shown his best cards just yet...

On the other hand, we see the old O-line break down and we basically meet our match, a team that specializes on bringing pressure and practically punks the opposing O-line. Now, people say our team was exhausted from playing so many road games and such, which I won't disagree with, but nonetheless this game is one to learn from and build upon, cause when we run into PIT, we should be refreshed and ready to play one of our best games that we've yet to see. I expect us to come out firing and taking an early lead cause you can't f**k around with Mike Tomlin and Big Ben.

So my question here is should there be any concern in the long-run, like when we face tough teams back to back, or do you guys think that the 9ers can hands-down compete and win against anybody?

No concern. For some reason, OL's that have a terrible game rarely repeat that.

Originally posted by Joecool:
No concern. For some reason, OL's that have a terrible game rarely repeat that.

Yeah this was the worst performance by far but we're 9-2 and that says something lol.

I'm just kinda wondering since we haven't played top-notch teams consecutively, does this make us Less-prepared for a team like GB?

Maybe I'm overreacting, but I just want us to be ready to face ANYBODY. But, on the other hand, I have all the confidence in the world in Harbaugh cause he does such a great job not only motivating Alex, but our team as a whole.

No worries at all. We are already WAY ahead of schedule at 9-2 but we HAVE faced tough opponents, esp. at that time. Dallas, Cincy, Baltimore, Giants, Detroit, most traveled team, short weeks, media drama, no off-season, new offenses and defenses to install, etc. We can wrap up our division this w/e!

Back to your point, football is about matchups. Years ago, we were put together to beat the Cardinals and we STILL have their number. So, can we win back-to-back games against two really good football teams? Of course...we already have! But it all comes down to how we matchup...

We lost to the Cowboys but everyone knows we played conservative and lost in OT. We lost to the Ravens who match up very well with us and even that said, despite all that was against us, a couple plays truly changed the fortunes of the winner/loser.

The teams we would struggle with are defenses with exotic blitz schemes esp. the Saints who blitz 60% of the time. GB would be tough b/c of Matthews and they can employ exotic schemes as well as needed. We will struggle against teams that can consistently move the ball esp. with no pressure. In the AFC, we would struggle against the Ravens and Steelers the most...maybe the Patriots. The Ravens and Giants are both BIG and physical teams with a ton of depth. It's 50-50 there!

But first things first...we need to grow in a lot of areas esp. employing our own exotic offensive and defensive schemes to create mismatches. We're still dealing with 1/2 of the playbooks (at most) and a vanilla philosophy and the game plans have been designed to match the opponents. This team has another year or two before they will understand the full playbooks. Both the WCO and 3-4 take a good 2-3 years to master, minimum and that's with a group of special players.

In hindsight (and not a whole lot of foresight either), it's not surprising that our O-line got overwhelmed.
You give our team essentially two days to prepare against a team with a formidable defensive front in itself, then throw in exotic blitz packages.

With essentially the same personnel from last year, Harbaugh has made this team win with coaching and preparation.
So is it really a stretch that we lost this game (with the O-line doing the poorest) against a very good team that was banking on a blitz heavy defensive game plan that they knew we simply wouldn't have time to prepare for?

Always be concerned and never under-estimate anyone. That said, I'n not worried.

We have improved every week. I don't see that changing. I'm concerned about our secondary, Snyder out & Chilio RaBust in, and the D being on the field too long.
By playoff time. I'm confident that our coaching staff will have taken care of this.

We will be fine. I'm willing to believe that the long trip, short week, and the crowd made that game tough. To be honest though you just can't miss plays like we did on the road. If alex smith finds Walker on the opening pass play it could be a TD and that crowd will be shut up. If Rachal doesn't get called for a chop we get one more. I was at that game and the truth was we were in it and most of the people there felt like they had to play their tails off to beat us and that we were a good team and in some ways they got away with one. Back to the stick. Rest, refit, attack!

All i have to say is we went on an eight game winning streak and we need another one half as much to win the Superbowl

I think we will see this Sunday. If we see improvement in a number of areas including Smith finding his receivers earlier, oline conistency, consistent pressure from the dline, good backfield play, good play calling on both sides of the line then we will have some idea whether the Niners learned anything from their defeat. If it is sloppy and unmotivated then we will have reason for concern.

Originally posted by NCommand:
No worries at all. We are already WAY ahead of schedule at 9-2 but we HAVE faced tough opponents, esp. at that time. Dallas, Cincy, Baltimore, Giants, Detroit, most traveled team, short weeks, media drama, no off-season, new offenses and defenses to install, etc. We can wrap up our division this w/e!

Back to your point, football is about matchups. Years ago, we were put together to beat the Cardinals and we STILL have their number. So, can we win back-to-back games against two really good football teams? Of course...we already have! But it all comes down to how we matchup...

We lost to the Cowboys but everyone knows we played conservative and lost in OT. We lost to the Ravens who match up very well with us and even that said, despite all that was against us, a couple plays truly changed the fortunes of the winner/loser.

The teams we would struggle with are defenses with exotic blitz schemes esp. the Saints who blitz 60% of the time. GB would be tough b/c of Matthews and they can employ exotic schemes as well as needed. We will struggle against teams that can consistently move the ball esp. with no pressure. In the AFC, we would struggle against the Ravens and Steelers the most...maybe the Patriots. The Ravens and Giants are both BIG and physical teams with a ton of depth. It's 50-50 there!

But first things first...we need to grow in a lot of areas esp. employing our own exotic offensive and defensive schemes to create mismatches. We're still dealing with 1/2 of the playbooks (at most) and a vanilla philosophy and the game plans have been designed to match the opponents. This team has another year or two before they will understand the full playbooks. Both the WCO and 3-4 take a good 2-3 years to master, minimum and that's with a group of special players.

I agree, Harbaugh and his coaching staff have just started, just begun to scratch the surface. Give Harbaugh a year for the players to more fully learn the playbook, and for Harbaugh to shape his roster--then look out.

Before the season, most of us would have been happy just to have a winning record, maybe make the playoffs. This much success, this quickly, has been almost unbelievable at times.

I really hope the team, especially guys like Gore & Justin Smith, get to experience winning in the playoffs. That would be icing on the cake. IMHO.

I thought this thread was about the lack of long runs lately by Frank Gore.

Originally posted by Joecool:
I thought this thread was about the lack of long runs lately by Frank Gore.

nice

Your wish should be granted this Sunday, I hope he goes on another 5-game 100+ rush yd streak, really a big lift to our offense on those 2nd/3rd and short to pick up first downs.

Originally posted by cNiner:
All i have to say is we went on an eight game winning streak and we need another one half as much to win the Superbowl