347-7GO-9ERS

• The offensive line was struggling to contain the Raiders pass rush.  The coaches were struggling to get the plays in quickly.  Alex Smith was visibly frustrated.  Despite this his stat line read: 9/15 for 113 yards, 7.5 YPA, 1 TD and a 105.7 rating.  It seemed like Smith had to escape pressure nearly every time he dropped back.    His touchdown pass to Josh Morgan came on an overload blitz to his left, he rolled right and slung it over the defender to Morgan in the endzone, then promptly went to the infield dirt underneath a couple Raiders players.  He has to feel confident after being able to adjust, and knowing he can be even better when Crabtree and Davis come back.
• Gore and Westbrook proved how much better the 49ers run game will be when they are in for the regular season.  Gore took his first handoff of the game and ran behind Mike Iupati, breaking two tackles and going for 49 yards.  His second carry went for 9.  He dropped a pitch that would have been a big gainer, so it’s nice to see Raye at least thinking about running outside more.  Westbrook showed he still has good speed and moves.  He made three nearly imperceptible shifts as he took a delay handoff 17 yards on a 3rd and 6.  Dixon is an impressive rookie, but the two veterans are much, much better.
• I was really disappointed in the defensive secondary in this game.  They gave up three big pass plays, one a touchdown to Louis Murphy after he got behind Reggie Smith.  I don’t know if it’s the scheme, as they seemed to be running a loose zone and leaving a lot of people open.
• I was really impressed in the defensive front 7 in this game.  They are extremely active, stout against the run, and pressured Jason Campell plenty.  In fact, Travis LaBoy may have earned his roster spot with a big hit on a sack of  Campbell that sent him to the locker room with a stinger in his neck.  Patrick Willis also hit Campbell a couple times on A-gap blitzes.
• 7th-round draft pick Philip Adams may have earned his roster spot when he returned a punt 83 yards for the 49ers’ first touchdown of the game.  He displayed great speed and a compact running style that special teams coaches love.
• David Carr struggled to do much of anything, biggest play was a two-point conversion pass to Nate Byham.  Nate Davis did not play.

Discussing the preseason win over the Vikings, and other related news.

 

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For what could be Brett Favre’s final appearance in Candlestick Park (unless the Packers win the North and the 49ers end up hosting the Vikings in the playoffs), it was a less-than-memorable affair. He played 4 snaps and was ruthlessly driven to the turf by Patrick Willis and Takeo Spikes on a 3rd Down play. He also didn’t look too happy about it. I think that will be the highlight of this game for most 49ers fans. Myself, I hope we face them again.

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For the 2010 49ers, there are plenty of reasons for optimism.  The defense has been steadily on the rise, finishing in the top 10 in points allowed in 2009.  Meanwhile, the offense has a new sense of stability that it hasn’t had in some time.  Vernon Davis is coming off a pro bowl year, Michael Crabtree will now have a full training camp under his belt, and two first round picks come in to start on the offensive line.  The team has picked up free agent Ted Ginn, Jr. to overhaul the struggling kick return game, and add a deep threat to the passing attack, while also recently signing the explosive veteran Brian Westbrook.  The team is doing everything they can this season to address an offense that hasn’t been explosive since 2002.

Most importantly, this will be the first season that Alex Smith has gone from one year to the next both as the incumbent starter, and in the same system as the year previous.  It’s an unprecedented situation for a team who invested a #1 overall pick and loads of guaranteed money, yet only now has been able to support that pick with an investment in coaching continuity.  No matter the player, it’s impossible to believe any quarterback can do well amidst an annual revolving door at offensive coordinator, each running different offensive systems. 

Judging by Smith’s improvement in 2009, putting up the best numbers of his career, and doing so coming in off the bench–after two years spent rehabbing injuries–it’s impossible to think he won’t get even better after a full offseason as the incumbent starter.  Even if Smith experiences only incremental improvement, his increased knowledge and familiarity alone will make this a competent, if not potent offense.  If they can put up six more points per game than last year, they will chew up more clock and make things easier on the defense.

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Discussing the 49ers’ 37-17 preseason victory over the Indianapolis Colts, as well as recent roster moves.  Talking about the signing of Brian Westbrook, the retirement of Glen Coffee, the release of Brandon Jones, and the inglorious end to Kentwan Balmer’s tenure.

 

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We’re finally back to postgame reaction posts!  Hooray, Football!

I was at the game in Indianapolis, so it’s a much different experience from watching on TV.  The good: you can see the entire field and watch plays develop.  You can see exactly what happened on any given play.  The bad: you can’t hear the analysis from the announcers, and really it seems more dramatic on TV.  I had the privilege of joining the standing ovation as Peyton Manning received his 4th consecutive MVP award, and as Bill Polian received another Executive of the Year award.  Both are men well-deserving these honors, and have been great for the NFL.

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I’m known for coming out and making predictions in the preseason.  I’ve been right about some things and wrong about others.  I predicted an early losing streak in 2008.  When Nolan was fired I said Singeltary would be named interim.  When he was promoted I said he wouldn’t retain Mike Martz.  Though Hill was named the starter, I said Smith would have a better 2009 than Jay Cutler.  I’ve been wrong plenty, too.  I said Singletary would go to the West Coast offense in 2009, and that he’d hire Paul Hackett as his offensive coordinator.  I was way wrong about the selection of Michael Crabtree and how much he’d contribute.

When it comes to what the coaching staff is thinking, or what the organization is going to do, I like to think I have a decent handle on it.  My approach is to take all the things they say, match it up with the events on the field, and come away with a big picture of how I see things turning out.

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There is a psychological value to pressure, and no one understood that more than Bill Walsh.  The pressure on the 49ers of the 1980’s was both natural and manufactured.  The analogy of the diamond is fitting: coal, under intense heat and pressure, is formed into a gemstone.  An individual who is never challenged never grows, and the greatest teams in the NFL conquer the greatest adversity.

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The differences between Mike Singletary and Bill Walsh are easy to define.  Walsh was a skinny kid who barely cracked the lineup of his high school football team as a quarterback.  Singletary was the leader of one of the most feared defenses in the NFL, and a Hall of Famer at his position.  Walsh was an ingenious offensive innovator and ruthless strategist.  Singletary barely cracked the coaching ranks as an assistant under Mike Nolan.  Walsh made great sacrifices in his family life to achieve greatness as a coach.  Singletary made similar sacrifices to achieve greatness as a player, then sacrificed coaching for a time to rebuild his relationship as a husband and father.

I could go on to illustrate the differences in coaching style, sideline demeanor and training camp regimen, but I’d rather explore their similarities.  It should be well-known by now that Singletary sought Walsh’s advice when he decided to get into coaching.  He would fly to California on his own dime to pow-wow with the man whose teams so often stood in the way of Singletary’s Bears.  Knowing Mike Ditka’s dislike of Walsh, it’s a testament to Singletary’s character and appreciation for Walsh’s genius that he sought the counsel of a long-time opponent.

Here now is the first element that I think is actually similar to Walsh, whereas others draw a different comparison.

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Before Bill Walsh came along, the greatest 49er coach had been Red Hickey.  Sure, Dick Nolan experienced some success, but Red put the 49ers on the map.  He made them something to talk about in the days of Y.A. Tittle and the Alley-Oop pass to R.C. Owens.  He invented the shotgun formation.  After Bill Walsh, however, every other 49er coach is inevitably compared to him, and always will be.  He was, if not the greatest, one of the greatest coaches of the modern era, and his influence not only affected the 49ers for years after his departure, but the entire league.

Only two owner/coach combinations compare to Bill Walsh and Eddie DeBartolo, Jr.  Those are Jerry Jones with Jimmy Johnson, and Robert Kraft with Bill Bellichick.  This last pair is the only one to truly achieve something akin to Dynasty in the age of the Salary Cap and modern Free Agency.  It remains to be seen how that influence affects the Patriots franchise once Bill Bellichick retires.  The parity of today’s NFL has ensured a more competitive balance across the league.  Teams now rise and fall on a more cyclical basis, and this is a strength of the NFL from top to bottom.

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