OK in the trenches

[Upnorth]

DL great vs the run, but needed a bit more pass rush. Although perhaps they were playing more of containing Kap's running and making him beat them with his arm.

I hope that is how they played it because if that was our pass rush yikes
It looked like perry tried a few times and was shut down

[Harlan Huckleby]

I know, thread jack here, but maybe we could send Collins for experimental treatments in Germany like Kobe and Peyton?

just fuse, baby, fuse

[wist43]

So was losing Hayward and Burnett doms fault too? Capers can call what he wants but when tramon and both our safeties play like practice squad players you can't do much. They didn't execute.

On a side note, jolly REALLY makes a difference. Didn't think he'd be this good so soon

Yes, losing anyone to injury is Dom's fault - the fumes from his hair is enough to make anyone light headed

[mraynrand]

I hope that is how they played it because if that was our pass rush yikes
It looked like perry tried a few times and was shut down

You have to think the threat to run has every pass rusher on his heels a bit. You don't want to give up contain and surrender the big run. Still, Jones, Perry and Neal were pretty ineffective (Neal did have on nice inside burst, but the ball was away pretty fast)

[wist43]

Yes, Capers deliberately wants to play the smallest, softest players and schemes.

You have zero credibility with statements like that. Zero.

You can say his scheme is ineffective. You can argue that he needs to blitz more, or play more down lineman, or whatever. But your insistence that Capers simply wants to play soft players and schemes reveals much about you and sheds no light on Capers.

And besides, you have been crying about the lack of stoutness up front, and after a pretty stout game up front, you simply decide that it didn't really count - next week he'll go back . . .

SF was better yesterday, especially in the last six and a half minutes. McMillan and wife were awful. Just awful. Burnett's presence was glaringly obvious.

I think TT must take some blame. He hasn't found a complement for Burnett, nor has he found the depth.

I'm being somewhat facetious Fritz - sarcasm, get it?? I hate how Capers runs his defense, even though I think he has all the ability in the world to be one of the best in the business. I think he can dial up pressure with the best of them - but then turns around and rushes 3, or decides to let receivers run loose everywhere in the secondary - it's maddening to watch.

And how could McMillan and Wife be anything but awful - Rock Hudson was full-on 'light in the loafers', and Susan Saint James's voice was an octive lower than his!!! Just an odd pairing... even though she was somewhat of a babe

[wist43]

Dom had them puzzled enough to burn a couple of timeouts. Very talented big men on this D.

I think Jolly is the straw that stirs the drink - always loved Jolly as a player. He brings a toughness that has been lacking.

We were, in fact, very good up front yesterday - I found that very encouraging. Of course the mess in the back end is another long running failure of Capers that isn't likely to be fixed any time soon.

[mraynrand]

I think Jolly is the straw that stirs the drink - always loved Jolly as a player. He brings a toughness that has been lacking.

His teammates love him for it, apparently. Shoulda let them defend that 4th and 1-2 near the goal - just to see if they could do it.

[wist43]

We'll get a snap count from McGinn in a couple days but I think they played a considerable amount of 2-4 nickel and it was highly effective at times. The pass defense behind it not so much.

He played a bit of 2-4, but not anything like he has previously - and, amazingly, SF didn't try to run against it. 3rd and 10 against that 2-4 is a plausible run down. Of course our secondary can't cover anyone, so I suppose the path of least resistance yesterday was thru the air.

I think Boldin is still open for business.

Still, Capers did not go into a 2-4 on 3rd and 6, or 2nd and 8 like he has heretofore been want to do - that speaks to 'a lesson learned' to some extent.

If he reverts to his old ways next week, then it will show that a leopard really doesn't change its spots. I have zero faith in Capers - and for good reason. We have record setting futility to indict him with.

[wist43]

His teammates love him for it, apparently. Shoulda let them defend that 4th and 1-2 near the goal - just to see if they could do it.

Giving them another down was moronic - I'm sure MM will defend it in his presser, but as soon as he did it, I was screaming at the TV. Stupid.

You've forced 4th down, thank your lucky stars you held them, and let the decision be theirs - if they go for it, hunker down and slug it out. If they kick the FG, you held and call it a win.

Giving them another down, and space to operate was idiotic.

[mraynrand]

Giving them another down was moronic - I'm sure MM will defend it in his presser, but as soon as he did it, I was screaming at the TV. Stupid.

You've forced 4th down, thank your lucky stars you held them, and let the decision be theirs - if they go for it, hunker down and slug it out. If they kick the FG, you held and call it a win.

Giving them another down, and space to operate was idiotic.

you can lose a team over a play like that. Hopefully MM will say something like "Sometimes you make the wrong call, I wish I had that one back"

[3irty1]

I think Jolly is the straw that stirs the drink - always loved Jolly as a player. He brings a toughness that has been lacking.

We were, in fact, very good up front yesterday - I found that very encouraging. Of course the mess in the back end is another long running failure of Capers that isn't likely to be fixed any time soon.

Hard to disagree with that. He seems to bring the hustle, intensity, and attitude we relied on Bishop for. He's a tone setter and makes everyone around him better.

I'm not that discouraged by the back-end play. They were 2011 level of leaky for about 2 plays in a row on one particularly uncontested Boldin catch followed by the Kendal Hunter run but on the day they were much better than any 2011 game. This reminded me of the Indy game last year if you replace Wayne with Boldin. Those crafty vet types are getting open at will in the middle of the D, winning some slap fights with slot corners and safeties to get open at will.

Some of those were just great throws/catches though. One that stands out in particular was a great throw just over Hyde who was in perfect position and into VD's hands. No defending that level of execution. All in all I blame the special teams and offense for losing the game, not Capers or the defense. They gave up a game and a half worth of yards in a game and a half worth of minutes. The offense had terrible starting positions throughout but almost didn't participate in the battle for field position. They either quickly scored outright or went 3 and out. Plus they had turnovers.

[pbmax]

I think they have played contain on Kap since he torched them scrambling in the first half of the playoff game.

I think they need to send a blitzer to hurry up that pocket because giving him that kinda time back there is tough on the DBs.

[wist43]

We'll get a snap count from McGinn in a couple days but I think they played a considerable amount of 2-4 nickel and it was highly effective at times. The pass defense behind it not so much.

Another comment on the 2-4, as we discussed during the offseason - if you put enough size on the field, and show that you may, or may not be filling gaps with rovers - rovers with size - then the 2-4 can be a different animal.

If your '4', in the 2-4 are your outside rush LB's, and Jones and Hawk?? Forget it, it's a useless front. Sending your outside guys flying up the field, undisciplined, unconcerned with containing the pocket, then backed up by smallish LB's that aren't very good to begin with?? Yeah, that will give you mess we had last year.

In the end, it's still another loss... we gave up 500 yds of offense, and got killed in TOP 38:35 to 21:25.

We're a 2nd tier team compared to the Niners, and they proved it again. Packer fans can hang their hat on moral victories, but a loss is a loss, and we still don't measure up to the Niners. That's the bottom line.

[pbmax]

you can lose a team over a play like that. Hopefully MM will say something like "Sometimes you make the wrong call, I wish I had that one back"

That I am not sure about. Because the other side of that equation is Harbaugh who despite Harlan's protests seems at least even odds to go for it. Even if you stop them, its a terrible field position situation. No points and possession deep in your own territory is almost as likely to yield 3 points as them just kicking it. Huge incentive to go for it for the 49ers.

I think they could have stopped them, but then its up to the O to reverse that field position disadvantage.

I think the players can see each side.

[wist43]

I think they have played contain on Kap since he torched them scrambling in the first half of the playoff game.

I think they need to send a blitzer to hurry up that pocket because giving him that kinda time back there is tough on the DBs.

I agree... just about any QB can pick a defense apart given enough time and a comfortable pocket.

If you're not blitizing and playing coverage - but your coverage sucks?? Time to rethink that a bit, and step on the pass rush gas pedal. Hopefully force the quick throw, make the tackle, and get off the field.