Official Packers vs. 49ers Game Day Thread

[mraynrand]

Saw that earlier. It could be worse but that's not the first time that "they didn't beat us, we beat ourselves" line has come out. It seems to be part of their internal messaging. Someone should tell them that when they say it in public it just sounds whiny.

He could just as easily say "We need to play better" - it means the same thing and doesn't create bulletin board material, if that even becomes relevant.

[denverYooper]

http://www.packersnews.com/article/20120910/PKR07/309100334/Christl-Baranczyk-column-Bishop-s-absence-shows-punchless-run-defense?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

Only the 49ers coaches know for sure exactly why they incorporated into their game plan a formation where they sent in their base personnel – two backs, a tight end and two wide receivers – but then flanked fullback Bruce Miller wide and also flanked their halfback at times presenting the look of a four and five wide-out set. Miller, who weighs 248 pounds, was no threat to make a play along the sideline, but he pulled Tramon Williams out with him in coverage and left the Packers with linebackers covering wide receivers.

The 49ers employed that formation four times on three different series in the first half and clicked on four completions for 46 yards to wide receivers being covered by Hawk and Perry. And they all proved to be key plays as the 49ers came away with 13 of their 16 first-half points on those possessions.

Clearly it would be a mismatch for any linebacker in the league to try and cover a wide receiver, but just as clearly the 49ers were trying to expose weaknesses in the middle of the Packers’ defense. It also forced the Packers to eventually adjust and play nickel against a two-back set.

The 49ers, in turn, responded by lining up in an I-formation and Frank Gore ran behind his fullback for 5 and 21 yards on his first two carries against the Packers’ nickel. Gore’s 21-yarder led to the 49ers’ second TD and a 23-7 lead.

[RashanGary]

quoting post above

Well, the Packers can’t be pushed out of base that easily. Wist has been saying it for a full year now, Capers is too quick to abandon base. This year, our base defense is considerably better than a year ago (with our lineman and LBs being much better players than our backup secondary players.) We have to find solutions. Seems weird to train LB’s to split out, but it would make sense. Great running teams can do this on us all day.

[pbmax]

Well, the Packers can’t be pushed out of base that easily. Wist has been saying it for a full year now, Capers is too quick to abandon base. This year, our base defense is considerably better than a year ago (with our lineman and LBs being much better players than our backup secondary players.) We have to find solutions. Seems weird to train LB’s to split out, but it would make sense. Great running teams can do this on us all day.

Its not strictly a LB on a WR. On the play I remember, Perry was responsible for funneling the WR to the defenses leverage and he bought a fake and allowed the WR to escape to the one place he was not supposed to get to. Its man coverage but essentially zone principle. A matchup zone if you will.

Its going to take Perry some time. If you want to play base, he has to learn coverage if the O floods his side of the field.

Even if he moves outside with the back, he still has a coverage challenge with techniques to learn. He's probably better off learning one technique at a time. Such as not buy a head and shoulder fake.

[pbmax]

Also we need harlan to commission a poll. The board needs to decide whether to claim McCarthy/Capers DON'T adjust at halftime. Or make bad adjustments. Can't be both.

[smuggler]

The less Bush sees the field, the better. Him playing is a less a sign of his improvement, but of the youthfulness of the rest of the corners.

[denverYooper]

Some notes on PFF scoring from Wes Hod https://twitter.com/WesHod:

Pro Football Focus assessing three drops to Jermichael Finley in loss to San Francisco. No other NFL tight end was taxed with more than one

Few PFF notes: Newhouse graded out well in pass pro, all 9 Benson carries went inside right, Bush targeted 7 times in coverage, Shields once

[rbaloha1]

Saw that earlier. It could be worse but that's not the first time that "they didn't beat us, we beat ourselves" line has come out. It seems to be part of their internal messaging. Someone should tell them that when they say it in public it just sounds whiny.

IMO Bush is talking about the miscommunication which resulted in tds and open receivers.

This is fixable but for some reason the breakdowns are still occurring.

[Smidgeon]

Some notes on PFF scoring from Wes Hod https://twitter.com/WesHod:

I find it interesting Finley was credited with three drops. Reading in other places (McGinn being one), they said that you'd be nitpicking to give him two. One was obvious, two were nitpicking.

And Shields targeted once? Why didn't he start over Bush? :\

[sharpe1027]

And Shields targeted once? Why didn't he start over Bush? :\

I hope Shields steps up and can supplant Bush, but the coaches clearly think he's not there yet. That stat could be misleading without knowing more. It depends partly on who they were each covering and how many passing plays they were on the field for. Also, it can sometimes be difficult to determine who is being targeted when there's zone coverage.

[RashanGary]

I find it interesting Finley was credited with three drops. Reading in other places (McGinn being one), they said that you'd be nitpicking to give him two. One was obvious, two were nitpicking.

And Shields targeted once? Why didn't he start over Bush? :\

Bob McGinn has been polishing Finley's knob as long as Finely has been here. No shock there.

[Joemailman]

I sure don't remember 3 drops by Finley. The one on 3rd and short was obvious. The other two?

[Smidgeon]

Bob McGinn has been polishing Finley's knob as long as Finely has been here. No shock there.

Seifert said the same thing in his ESPN blog. It wasn't just McGinn.

[Bossman641]

3 drops for Finley? I can remember 1 for sure, 1 possible, but have no clue what the 3rd would be.

[ThunderDan]

Finley had a drop when the D was clearly holding him. It should have been PI or Defensive Holding. Instead Finley got one mit on the ball because the other was trapped. He then get the second hand free but couldn't secure the catch. All of the Packers were screaminig at the refs.