2013 - Week 6: Thoughts after rewatching the game...

On point as always Marvin didnt think about the compensatory for Nicks....changes my mind a little. He is the perfect band aid in a lot of way...maybe injury prone, but we just need one good player who can get seperation and make some plays to loosen up the defense. Gordon has a lot of risk and there is no pick given back on a suspension. There is no certainty with Rio and Crabs....would really like some insurance....all the better if that insurance can start paying dividend right now.

Only concern I have is Ray Mcdonald, he is not exploding of the snap and with Dorsey maybe missing a game or two this will effect the run defense as well as the pass rush. Fangio clearly does not want to play Carradine and Dial but he really needs to. Look at Patriots, Ravens, teams that have been on top for years they develop players by getting them on the field, Carradine and Dial should get reps now so come play offs or late in the year this team will be deep for a late play off run.

Lemonier looked like rookie... had a great play for the Safety, but he over-pursued on several occasions and we got gashed for draws and screens because of it.

Originally posted by GORO:

Only concern I have is Ray Mcdonald, he is not exploding of the snap and with Dorsey maybe missing a game or two this will effect the run defense as well as the pass rush. Fangio clearly does not want to play Carradine and Dial but he really needs to. Look at Patriots, Ravens, teams that have been on top for years they develop players by getting them on the field, Carradine and Dial should get reps now so come play offs or late in the year this team will be deep for a late play off run.

With RayMac it may be the bicep bothering him and why he's not quite as explosive.

Originally posted by PhillyNiner:
On point as always Marvin didnt think about the compensatory for Nicks....changes my mind a little. He is the perfect band aid in a lot of way...maybe injury prone, but we just need one good player who can get seperation and make some plays to loosen up the defense. Gordon has a lot of risk and there is no pick given back on a suspension. There is no certainty with Rio and Crabs....would really like some insurance....all the better if that insurance can start paying dividend right now.

The thing with Gordon tho is that if he keeps his nose clean its a FAR, FAR better deal. He still has a few years left on his ROOKIE deal...so wouldn't lose him as a fee agent and he's stuck with us at a low price.

I don't think that's gonna happen tho.

Originally posted by NinerBuff:
Lemonier looked like rookie... had a great play for the Safety, but he over-pursued on several occasions and we got gashed for draws and screens because of it.

Agreed. He's too often pushed beyond the play. He'll learn tho. He's a rook playing a new position.

The problem with getting Nicks or Gordon isnt whether they would work here or keep themselves out of trouble though its the $$$.

1) CK played better in this game than in recent weeks. Unsure if his foot has been bothering him or not, but will not use that as an excuse. Just glad he's able to hit a some TD throws and come away uninjured. With all injuries lately, we lose Kaep, we're screwed.

2) I had a good feeling about this kid, worth trading up for and it shows on the field. Didn't think he would be this good this quickly, but as a mid 1st rd pick, glad he's stepped in and be a leader on the field. Heck, even Whitner seems improved with Reid on the other side.

3) Gore is Gore...we're spoiled since he's constantly producing out there, you almost expect him to. He deserves a SB ring before he retires, one of my all-time favorite Niners.

4) & 5) VD was our passing offense out there most of the game. I'm glad CK remember we have Boldin, too...haha. Can't wait for Crabtree and Manningham to come back. We'll need them to move the chains through the air late in the season when teams prepare to stop the run like the Cards did in the first half.

6) thru 10) Without Aldon, our pass rush is average. Lemonier made a great Sack/Safety, but we shouldn't expect him to even put up half the sack #s or be a pass rush specialist. Maybe we were spoiled with the AS/JS combo running stunts, now we see how important a pass rush is when a key player is missing. Also, Fangio needs to let Dial play, heard he's in the 350 lb. range and played for a good college, we're nearly mid-way through the season, a young player hungry to see the field and produce may benefit the Niners DL. I'm all for it, hope Fangio/Harbaugh make it happen.

Originally posted by NinerBuff:
Lemonier looked like rookie... had a great play for the Safety, but he over-pursued on several occasions and we got gashed for draws and screens because of it.

Dude are you serious?? The guy had a sack (safety) and a forced fumble that gave the offense life and help put the game away. He is a rookie and will make rookie mistakes but when you make plays like he did yesterday, you should be able to live with the novice mishaps.

Originally posted by reasonable1:

Originally posted by NinerBuff:
Lemonier looked like rookie... had a great play for the Safety, but he over-pursued on several occasions and we got gashed for draws and screens because of it.

Dude are you serious?? The guy had a sack (safety) and a forced fumble that gave the offense life and help put the game away. He is a rookie and will make rookie mistakes but when you make plays like he did yesterday, you should be able to live with the novice mishaps.

He is serious and he's right.

Sack was great and the forced fumble was good....but that doesn't mean he played a perfect game. He is too often pushed beyond the pocket and got victimized on draws.

Two things can be equally true. He made some good plays and was victimized on others.

Love the post as always. Just a few things to add.

I think for as good of a defense the Cardinals have this year, this was a very encouraging win. It was not pretty, but they got it done. The Niners let AZ hang around by not punching in touchdowns early, and even looked like they might let them steal it, but when it came to crunch time, Willis made a huge play in making Fitz fumble (his first since 2007). After that happened, I remember texting my buddy and told him, "This next drive is huge. They have no choice but to score here and burn some clock. If they don't I think we lose this game". I would have been satisfied with a 6 minute drive ending in a field goal, at that point.

The way the game was going, it looked like the Cardinals were going to continue to pound it right up the gut because TJE and Dobbs just were not providing the same presence that Dorsey had been. I did not think the defense would be able to withstand another short offensive series. Then came the defining moment of the game. One of the most dominating drives I have seen in the Harbaugh era. 18 plays. 89 yards. 9:32 off the clock. For the first time this year, it was like they'd had enough and told the Cardinals, "we are going to run you flat over, and there is nothing you can do about it". A buddy of mine, who is a Cardinal fan, text me to tell me that was the game because the Niners just completely broke their backs. Considering the Cardinals defense is currently 5th in the league in rush defense, that was impressive.

Eric Reid and Tramaine Brock are still playing great and consistent football. This is probably my biggest surprise of the season. I thought Reid would take his lumps through the first 6 games because of the opponent, but I really do not think we have lost anything out there with Goldson leaving. Tramaine is flat out making receivers work, and in most times he looks like our best corner.

Kap did a much better job escaping the pocket and also using his arm to beat the blitz. This was a step in the right direction. My thought is that if he can manufacture a passing attack without the best weapons on the field, it will be a great learning experience. Hopefully, this will help him take the next step when Crabtree and Manningham come back.

Finally, I am looking forward to this bye week more than any in recent memory. I can't remember a Niner team that was more in need of the week off. I hope Dorsey is alright because Tennessee is no slouch. They lost yesterday, but they made Seattle work at home for the first time since they played the Patriots in week 6 last year.

I like how you start off by post Kaep's career numbers

Originally posted by verb1der:
I like how you start off by post Kaep's career numbers

I'll keep doing that till he gets to 16 starts.

Great job, Marvin, as always.

That long drive in the 4th quarter was super impressive. It's what great teams do. Almost 10 mins of smashing it down their throats. Ending with a TD. Nothing fancy, but it sealed the game.