Week 13: Thoughts after rewatching the game...

So, I was too annoyed to wait until later to rewatch the game. Watched it again immediately.

1) Kaepernick: Lets everyone chill out for a sec. Nobody thought he was going to be perfect in every game this year. That's not the reason he was made the starter. First, the Intentional Grounding WASN'T intentional grounding. The ball started on the far hash and he was outside the tackle box. He threw the ball beyond the LOS. Lets not put a clear missed call on him. Second, the lateral. Bad play. No defending it, but lets be real here for a sec. Harbaugh/Roman NEVER should have called that play to begin with. The pitch itself was a "young QB" mistake and he's going to make those. He did enough tho to make up for it and if Delanie Walker can catch the damn ball he wins the game. Kaep STILL made plays that Alex could never make...and I say that as an Alex FAN. He escaped the rush on what would have been sacks several times...including the 50 yard run. He made throws Alex would never make (the outs to Crabtree and Manningham come to mind). It looks like the Rams were very concerned with Kaep completing passes deep down the field and were playong off for most of the game. Thats why the Niners were having success underneath. Kaep (just has he has in his last 2 starts) played very well on third down.

2) Play Calling: I am a Greg Roman fan. I've defended him time after time on this site. This game pissed my off from beginning to end. Ya know what Greg? Good things happen when Kaep gets to throw the ball. The pitch was a HORRIBLE call. Horrific. Almost as bad was the playcalling in overtime. They got the ball at the 50 and never took a shot. They have a QB now who can make those throws. You gotta use him. I also saw it in the red zone....2 runs that go nowhere, Kaep throws it to convert. Maybe try throwing it earlier

3) Defense: Great Game. They got let down by poor play on offense. They got pushed around a few weeks ago vs Jackson and made up for it today. Much better game.

4) Run game: Outside of a few plays at the beginning, they largely got shut down. Even thought they weren't having success, they just kept bashing against that brick wall. THROW THE DAMN BALL. Kaep can make plays Alex couldn't. LET HIM. I'm not saying stop running altogether. I'm just saying that sometimes one aspect of the game is working better.

5) Akers: I'm not a "cut this guy" kinda fan....but this is getting old.

6) Ginn: See #5.

7) LaMichael James: We need that outside speed element that Hunter gave them. Gore can thunder between the tackles and Hunter was a great change of pace. Jacobs is good for short yardage, but defenses are just condensing because they don't fear anyone getting out to the perimeter. It's time to activate LaMichael James

8) Manningham: I hope he's not hurt too bad. He's really becoming a clutch player.

9) Walker: WILDLY inconsistent. Athletically a game-changer, but the guy just seems to fight the ball. Two more drops and one of them was a perfect pass that would likely have won the game.

10) Penalties: I dunno if its the domes on the road or what, but the penalties are getting rediculous. Those 10 yard penaties are drive killers. Niners need to fix that crap. NOW.

EDIT: Had to add....
11) Crabtree: Looking like the guy we wanted him to be on draft day. Can create when the play breaks down. Kaepernick-Crabtree are going to be a threat for a long-long time. On that topic, a dynamic passer like Kaepernick will make it easier to keep and sign WRs and TEs in the offseason.

first...nice post

Thanks!
good analysis

I agree, Kaep played a decent game. Not spectacular, but seems like when forced to he can always lead our offense to a position for a score to win (Delanie dropping a TD, akers missing a FG, both to win the game).

I am scratching my head why they didn't use Jacobs more and also LaMichael James? Gore needs to stay fresh throughout the game.

What was the reason that we made Kaep the starter? IF it wasn't that he gives us a better chance to win now, it was a mistake.

I don't think he did that this game.

Good post. Walker is so frustrating because he's so physically gifted but those hands man.

Good points on everything also would like to add that oline got their asses kicked.

Originally posted by Jakemall:
What was the reason that we made Kaep the starter? IF it wasn't that he gives us a better chance to win now, it was a mistake.

I don't think he did that this game.

He DOES give them a better chance....but that doesn't mean they are going to win every game. Alex would have been crushed under that rush. He wouldn't have converted half the third downs that Kaep did. I like Alex, but Kaep gives the 49ers a better chance to win. He's going to make mistakes, but he's also going to make big plays to make up for them.

Originally posted by susweel:
Good points on everything also would like to add that oline got their asses kicked.

Yes....that Ram front ain't no joke tho. Thats gonna be a bloodbath everytime we play for several years.

Should've never come to Walker not making a catch on that drive. Ball should've been run 3 times,using the Rams last 2 timeouts and then running 40 more seconds off the clock after a 3rd down run. Akers makes a field goal and the Rams have about a minute left to get in field goal range with no timeouts. Coaching plain and simple lost this game today. I'm a big Harbaugh fan but today they dropped the ball. This coaching blunder may very well cost us the division and the 2nd seed.

How does the entire team (including coaching) get so unhinged when we are playing a supposed inferior team and are AHEAD in the game? We lead this thing until the final 1:30 and it felt like we were down by two touchdowns the whole time.

Originally posted by SanFranFanfrmVa:
Should've never come to Walker not making a catch on that drive. Ball should've been run 3 times,using the Rams last 2 timeouts and then running 40 more seconds off the clock after a 3rd down run. Akers makes a field goal and the Rams have about a minute left to get in field goal range with no timeouts. Coaching plain and simple lost this game today. I'm a big Harbaugh fan but today they dropped the ball. This coaching blunder may very well cost us the division and the 2nd seed.

I don't have an issue with going for the win on that pass to Walker, but Kaep did make a mistake in running out of bounds to stop the clock. That Personal Foul on Goldson was some BS too.

Not too concerned about the division or the #2 seed. They still have the lead in both and Seattle is about to lose it's biggest strength in it's 2 corners.

Originally posted by Marvin49:

Originally posted by Jakemall:
What was the reason that we made Kaep the starter? IF it wasn't that he gives us a better chance to win now, it was a mistake.

I don't think he did that this game.

He DOES give them a better chance....but that doesn't mean they are going to win every game. Alex would have been crushed under that rush. He wouldn't have converted half the third downs that Kaep did. I like Alex, but Kaep gives the 49ers a better chance to win. He's going to make mistakes, but he's also going to make big plays to make up for them.

That was a blitz...Alex does well with Blitzes.

I do believe that Kaep is the future and I think he has a heck of a lot more ceiling than Alex. I am just not sure he gives the 9ers the best chance now. He certainly has big play ability that Alex has not demonstrated..

Again, I'm commenting on this game specifically...we'll see how it turns out.

Also I can't remember a team playing farther off our wrs then they did in this game. Also seen more slants in this game than I have all season.

Great read as usual. I'd add a few points:
1. I'd definitely add that Kaep seemed to really struggle pre-snap. Not reading blitzes, frantic audibles with 2 seconds on the play clock, constantly burning time outs. We burned all our timeouts to avoid delay penalties in what was a close game throughout. Ultimately didn't have an impact, but could absolutely have cost us the game. This is another thing that took a while to sort out when AS was the QB.
2. We're built to run the ball and throw short/medium timing routes. It's the way the whole team is constructed, it's how we've played since Harbaugh became coach. It's what we've practiced every day for two years. Changing to a more downfield vertical stretch offense isn't going to be an easy process.
3. A screen or two would have been nice against their constant up-the-middle A-Gap blitzes.

Originally posted by Marvin49:

Originally posted by Jakemall:
What was the reason that we made Kaep the starter? IF it wasn't that he gives us a better chance to win now, it was a mistake.

I don't think he did that this game.

He DOES give them a better chance....but that doesn't mean they are going to win every game. Alex would have been crushed under that rush. He wouldn't have converted half the third downs that Kaep did. I like Alex, but Kaep gives the 49ers a better chance to win. He's going to make mistakes, but he's also going to make big plays to make up for them.

You have to be realistic. THIS game, Alex would have given a better chance. Kaep was a net 3 points since he gave up 10 points to the Rams. This is a game where the 1st year starter made mistakes to cost the game. Hopefully next week he'll be better and make plays to win games we wouldn't win with Alex. Kaep is classic higher highs and lower lows style of quarterback right now....