SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS VS. DENVER BRONCOS GAMEDAY THREAD (PS, Game 2)

Originally posted by OnTheClock:

Players who stood out to me:

1. Bruce Ellington, WR
2. Kenneth Acker, CB
3. Quinton Dial, DL (again)
4. Ryan Seymour, OL (did quite well, I think he's very close to winning a roster spot, if he hasn't already)
5. Vance McDonald, TE (interested in seeing what he'll do in the regular season)
6. Daryl Morris, CB


On the Wilhoite vs. Borland battle, it seems like the only thing Borland lacks is the mental aspect right now. Once he gets that, he will quite easily be the better player at the ILB spot. As much as I like Wilhoite's experience and athleticism, he simply isn't as strong of a pass rusher, is average in run support, and overall just not powerful a hitter.

Morris stood out to you? I thought he was very average in coverage today and missed to many tackles. Otherwise I agree with ur list and ur stance on wilhoite vs Borland

Originally posted by Dr_Bill_Walsh:
It's okay, the Yankees kicked the Giants' asses the first exhibition @ Pac Bell

And then they got swept by the Dodgers. LOL

Originally posted by Jcool:

Daniel Jeremiah @MoveTheSticks

In college, Chris Borland was an excellent blitzer but he struggled in coverage. That's going to be his biggest challenge.

If Borland wins the job, I'm assuming he'll man the ILB position that focuses less on coverage, and more on run-plugging. Not sure if that's the "Mike" or "Jack" in this defense.

Originally posted by SofaKing:
If Borland wins the job, I'm assuming he'll man the ILB position that focuses less on coverage, and more on run-plugging. Not sure if that's the "Mike" or "Jack" in this defense.

^^^^This.

i dont think borland cant start, he refuses to be disciplined and cover his responsibilities. that td that dahl gave up is all on borland

Originally posted by FaTaL:

i dont think borland cant start, he refuses to be disciplined and cover his responsibilities. that td that dahl gave up is all on borland

you know for a fact that he refuses to be disciplined?

Originally posted by Jcool:

Daniel Jeremiah @MoveTheSticks

In college, Chris Borland was an excellent blitzer but he struggled in coverage. That's going to be his biggest challenge.

So blitz him and don't put him in coverage......


Why does this team always try to fit a round peg into a square hole?

My main concern after watching the last two games are that our guys aren't competing. We are getting our butts kicked more often than not by other teams 1sts, 2nds, and lower strings. Our defense moderately slowed the ravens and broncos but their firsts out played our firsts. (i know we have injuries)

The lack of TD's and scoring in general by our 1sts mirrors our issue from last year. I don't see an change in more TD's and less field goals. Our second and lower strings are playing like they are expecting to be cut while the ravens and broncos guys are trying to make the squad by a high level of play. It seems as the 49ers collectively think other teams are supposed to lose to them rather than them winning the game by winning all of the individual battles on each play. Maybe it's from a tough training camp but the collective fight isn't there yet.

We're the most defeated team in preseason aren't we? It's a little disturbing that we are so uncompetitive. The coaching staff may be using preseason as a teaching tool, but the number one rule is always be competitive. Never let your team get wiped out or they start to doubt themselves. I'm thinking some of this is on the staff.

Originally posted by Kronos2560:

Originally posted by Dr_Bill_Walsh:

It's okay, the Yankees kicked the Giants' asses the first exhibition @ Pac Bell

And then they got swept by the Dodgers. LOL

= cowboys are gonna stomp us

Originally posted by SanDiego49er:

Originally posted by Jcool:

Daniel Jeremiah @MoveTheSticks

In college, Chris Borland was an excellent blitzer but he struggled in coverage. That's going to be his biggest challenge.

So blitz him and don't put him in coverage......


Why does this team always try to fit a round peg into a square hole?

You can't blitz on every down, or even on every passing down. You certainly can't blitz the same LB on every passing down.

Originally posted by SanDiego49er:

So blitz him and don't put him in coverage......


Why does this team always try to fit a round peg into a square hole?

We're Apple to Seattle's Microsoft?

Think Different.

Originally posted by SofaKing:
If Borland wins the job, I'm assuming he'll man the ILB position that focuses less on coverage, and more on run-plugging. Not sure if that's the "Mike" or "Jack" in this defense.

Mike covers backs or settles into the middle zone; Jack usually covers the TE. Borland could be bad at both. I can't see him being effective against NFL TEs, so Jack is out. As far as Mike, he wasn't gonna be much help to Dahl on the TD pass anyway, but he opened up the passing lane when he ran downhill to cover the shallow cross.

Originally posted by fister30:
My main concern after watching the last two games are that our guys aren't competing. We are getting our butts kicked more often than not by other teams 1sts, 2nds, and lower strings. Our defense moderately slowed the ravens and broncos but their firsts out played our firsts. (i know we have injuries)

The lack of TD's and scoring in general by our 1sts mirrors our issue from last year. I don't see an change in more TD's and less field goals. Our second and lower strings are playing like they are expecting to be cut while the ravens and broncos guys are trying to make the squad by a high level of play. It seems as the 49ers collectively think other teams are supposed to lose to them rather than them winning the game by winning all of the individual battles on each play. Maybe it's from a tough training camp but the collective fight isn't there yet.

Agreed 100% and very well said !!

Like you said, there seems to be a sense of complacency, both from the coaches and players alike. The overarching theme seems to be hey is only a preseason game, is only meant for testing things out and we are the 9ers we should win anyway. While "testing things out" is part of what the preseason is about no doubt, but heck being outscored by a total of 54 points combined in 2 games certainly isn't or shouldn't be. We couldn't even score 1 single touchdown, like you mentioned even our 1st couldn't finish off drives, is the same ole red zone woes like we have been suffering for years which was supposed to a key focus of the training camp to sort out.

It all starts from up top. No coach with the right mind would put out that kind of performance on a new stadium opening even if is only the preseason. If I was Jed York I would be pissed and definitely the fans there thus the boo birds and could you blame them ? I think Harbaugh might have got the message when he said "we are done experimenting". Next game against the Chargers is also a home game if I am not wrong, we better bounce back strong to win and win big.

Originally posted by fister30:

My main concern after watching the last two games are that our guys aren't competing. We are getting our butts kicked more often than not by other teams 1sts, 2nds, and lower strings. Our defense moderately slowed the ravens and broncos but their firsts out played our firsts. (i know we have injuries)

The lack of TD's and scoring in general by our 1sts mirrors our issue from last year. I don't see an change in more TD's and less field goals. Our second and lower strings are playing like they are expecting to be cut while the ravens and broncos guys are trying to make the squad by a high level of play. It seems as the 49ers collectively think other teams are supposed to lose to them rather than them winning the game by winning all of the individual battles on each play. Maybe it's from a tough training camp but the collective fight isn't there yet.

Originally posted by brodiebluebanaszak:

We're the most defeated team in preseason aren't we? It's a little disturbing that we are so uncompetitive. The coaching staff may be using preseason as a teaching tool, but the number one rule is always be competitive. Never let your team get wiped out or they start to doubt themselves. I'm thinking some of this is on the staff.

Exactly. I'm not mad that we're losing. We could go 0-4 for all I care as long as we're being competitive and keeping it close but to get blown away twice in such fashions isn't encouraging. We have never been this bad in preseason at any point Harbaugh . Everyone plays the "starters weren't in" card and that's true but in both games, their second and third stringers clearly outplayed ours which isn't saying much for the "deepest team" and "most depth" in the league claims. And these back up QBs are flat out putrid. They can't even dump 5+ yard passes properly or sustain a drive to save their lives. Trotting out Gabbert for that long is a waste of everyone's time and meaningful reps. Our young WRs aren't getting anything out of this.