NFC Playoffs

[Montalban]

I'm not going to call the defense mediocre after one bad game against the best offense in NFL. Now they may not be what they were but with the offense playing better than it has all season they can handle a down turn by the defense.

I hope so because this defense, as currently constructed, will not stop any of these three teams. I'll be interested to see how the loss of Richburg affects the run game and, more importantly, the passing game. If teams get pressure up the middle from Garland's poor play Garoppolo will struggle and perhaps become a turnover machine again.
I hope Shanahan realizes this and devises a short passing game plan with screens and such.

 

[poewelch84]

I hope so because this defense, as currently constructed, will not stop any of these three teams. I'll be interested to see how the loss of Richburg affects the run game and, more importantly, the passing game. If teams get pressure up the middle from Garland's poor play Garoppolo will struggle and perhaps become a turnover machine again.
I hope Shanahan realizes this and devises a short passing game plan with screens and such.

He's an NFL head coach who knows this team better than you and I ever could.

 

[poewelch84]

No, they didn't. They collapsed like a house of cards in the 4th quarter and were only saved by a miracle play by Kittle. You could say that the complete ineptitude of the 49er D on the Saints final drive allowed the 49ers to win. The defense was so bad that the Saints score too quickly and allowed the 49ers time to score again.

Who won the game and If I'm not mistaken they did hold the Saints to a field goal on the one of the turnovers or turnover I don't think the 49ers had many in the game.

 

[Montalban]

Who won the game and If I'm not mistaken they did hold the Saints to a field goal on the one of the turnovers or turnover I don't think the 49ers had many in the game.

I'm talking about the complete collapse of the defense in the 4th quarter where they gave up two straight TDs on the final two drives. But I think you knew that.

And let us not forget the 4 straight drives for TDs to open the game for the Saints.

 

[deep9er]

5 defensive starters from week one are out for the rest of the regular season along with two top reserves. This makes all three remaining games a crap shoot. Its looking really bad. That's the reason, though it goes against every fiber of my being, I will be rooting for the Cowboys to beat the Rams and guarantee us a spot in the post season. It would be devastating if the 49ers, the current number one seed, lost these last three games and missed the playoffs completely. As strange as it seems, its a very real possibility now that we have a mediocre defense.

Whaaaa??!!


Even with four starters out (Tartt, Sherman, Alexander, and DJ Jones), this D doesn't go all the way down to "mediocre"? Your Dark Cloud mentality strikes again.

It is certainly weakened but not mediocre. We've been playing without Alexander for awhile and the D held up fine. DJ Jones will hurt more so against the Rams and Seahawks, but they've been rotating players inside. Moseley has played well enough at CB that it won't drop to "mediocre".

Tartt's lost IMO is the biggest for today. While Marcell Harris has the physical tools, he doesn't have enough playing time to recognize things, take good angles, and tackle well.

 

[deep9er]

That can be done, as they've show recently, but can they stop anybody?

No they're not going to "stop" anybody till more starters return. They'll be ok but not 'stop' anybody. But then again, seems you're basing this concern only off the New Orleans game?

 

[deep9er]

I'm not going to call the defense mediocre after one bad game against the best offense in NFL. Now they may not be what they were but with the offense playing better than it has all season they can handle a down turn by the defense.

hmm, i should've just kept reading.

Yes, agreed.

 

[deep9er]

I'm talking about the complete collapse of the defense in the 4th quarter where they gave up two straight TDs on the final two drives. But I think you knew that.

And let us not forget the 4 straight drives for TDs to open the game for the Saints.

We all could've predicted a less than stellar performance from our D, vs NO. It was the third game of the toughest 3 game stretch in NFL history, it was the second road game in a row, and it was against the best offense in their stadium.

Did you expect the D to "stop" New Orleans?

 

[Montalban]

Whaaaa??!!


Even with four starters out (Tartt, Sherman, Alexander, and DJ Jones), this D doesn't go all the way down to "mediocre"? Your Dark Cloud mentality strikes again.

It is certainly weakened but not mediocre. We've been playing without Alexander for awhile and the D held up fine. DJ Jones will hurt more so against the Rams and Seahawks, but they've been rotating players inside. Moseley has played well enough at CB that it won't drop to "mediocre".

Tartt's lost IMO is the biggest for today. While Marcell Harris has the physical tools, he doesn't have enough playing time to recognize things, take good angles, and tackle well.

5 starters. Ford is out as well. The rush is menacing when he is in there. he is so much qyuicker than any other liineman.

 

[Montalban]

No they're not going to "stop" anybody till more starters return. They'll be ok but not 'stop' anybody. But then again, seems you're basing this concern only off the New Orleans game?

They couldn't stop Arizona in either game without Alexander and Ford

 

[Montalban]

We all could've predicted a less than stellar performance from our D, vs NO. It was the third game of the toughest 3 game stretch in NFL history, it was the second road game in a row, and it was against the best offense in their stadium.

Did you expect the D to "stop" New Orleans?

Actually I'm extremely pleased with the outcome no matter how bad it looked. At this point winning is all that counts.

 

[deep9er]

Actually I'm extremely pleased with the outcome no matter how bad it looked. At this point winning is all that counts.

then aren't you being two faced with:

I'm talking about the complete collapse of the defense in the 4th quarter where they gave up two straight TDs on the final two drives. But I think you knew that.

And let us not forget the 4 straight drives for TDs to open the game for the Saints.

 

[Montalban]

then aren't you being two faced with:

I'm talking about the complete collapse of the defense in the 4th quarter where they gave up two straight TDs on the final two drives. But I think you knew that.

And let us not forget the 4 straight drives for TDs to open the game for the Saints.

No. I'm only pleased with the outcome of the game, not the collapse of the defense. They blew their second nine-point 4th quarter lead in a row today just like they did in New Orleans.

 

[deep9er]

No. I'm only pleased with the outcome of the game, not the collapse of the defense. They blew their second nine-point 4th quarter lead in a row today just like they did in New Orleans.

You're the one who keeps saying there are 5 injured starters. But now you're the same one criticizing them.

 

[Montalban]

You're the one who keeps saying there are 5 injured starters. But now you're the same one criticizing them.

You shouldn't need all your starters to stop a 4 and 9 team with only one offensive weapon from moving down the field 70 yards for a score with 1:42 left in the game at home. They played scared and got beat because of it.

Having said that, the offense could have finished off that game and never put that defense back out there. As brilliant as Kittle was in this game if he had not fumbled the ball without even being hit, he has an easy first down and they run out the clock.

But, on the other hand, this game should not even have been close, the Falcons shot themselves in the foot so many times with silly penalties and a fumble which gave the Niners the ball on the one.

 

[deep9er]

You shouldn't need all your starters to stop a 4 and 9 team with only one offensive weapon from moving down the field 70 yards for a score with 1:42 left in the game at home. They played scared and got beat because of it.

Having said that, the offense could have finished off that game and never put that defense back out there. As brilliant as Kittle was in this game if he had not fumbled the ball without even being hit, he has an easy first down and they run out the clock.

But, on the other hand, this game should not even have been close, the Falcons shot themselves in the foot so many times with silly penalties and a fumble which gave the Niners the ball on the one.

You're being two faced, face it.

 

[Montalban]

You're being two faced, face it.

Two faced? I don't think so. Spot on accurate? hell yes.

 

[Kinzu]

Pete Carroll today upon hearing the news on Josh Gordon's suspension.

 

[deep9er]

Two faced? I don't think so. Spot on accurate? hell yes.

Anyone can be 'accurate' if you predict all possible outcomes?

 

[Montalban]

Anyone can be 'accurate' if you predict all possible outcomes?

My assessment of the players', and more importantly, the coaching staff's lack of effort in the Falcon game was spot on.