Pitt and Balt SB contenders but not us?

[wartyOne]

You give Baltimore's passing game the edge over ours?

Purely statistically, 30 teams in the league have a better passing game than we do.

Granted, that doesn't take into account how often our defense allows us to start with a short field, or how we're a run-oriented offense.

Both Baltimore and Pittsburgh easily have better receivers, and Roethlisberger is unquestionably a better QB. Smith is doing what's asked of him and isn't turning the ball over (which is good). Until proven otherwise, Smith can't take over a game the way Roethlisberger can.

 

[EaseUrStorm]

It's justifiably really hard to put the 49ers over all these parennial playoff teams, especially with how much of a mess they were last year. They find a way to win the next two games (Giants and Balt), and you'll see that thought process change real fast.

It's a lot easier to project these veteran playoff teams will turn it around if they're struggling. When Philadelphia was hurting early on, I still wouldn't want to play them over a lot of other teams. If the 49ers started struggling and lost the next three games, I don't think it would surprise a lot of people.

 

[Ray_Dogg]

You are forgetting the Cards game. I don't see how we have a chance against Baltimore after playing the cards 4 days before on the West Coast. I'd also be shocked if the Cards beat us.

 

[Flyingiguana]

ravens vs niners in the super bowl would be like lsu vs bama

 

[maniax]

Defense wise, I think our defense is younger and just as good as Pittsburgh or Baltimore.
You could argue that we don't have a Palomalu or an Ed Reed but those dudes are getting old.

The one thing that I think we are lacking compared to Baltimore and the Ravens is the deep vertical passing threat. Both Roethlisberger and Flacco can go deep but Alex so far is not taking those deep vertical shots maybe that's by Harbaugh's design? Can Alex throw the deep ball like the other two QBs I'm not sure.

 

[Flyingiguana]

our biggest weakness on d was the secondary but rogers and culliver have turned into a solid tandem. we might have the best d in the league, but we'll have to see how things go over the next couple big games that are coming up.

 

[CalamityX11]

Purely statistically, 30 teams in the league have a better passing game than we do.

Granted, that doesn't take into account how often our defense allows us to start with a short field, or how we're a run-oriented offense.

Both Baltimore and Pittsburgh easily have better receivers, and Roethlisberger is unquestionably a better QB. Smith is doing what's asked of him and isn't turning the ball over (which is good). Until proven otherwise, Smith can't take over a game the way Roethlisberger can.

Baltimore having the better recievers?(WRs,TEs,RBs) than us???

This I don't really agree with. As a whole, I feel we have better recievers than Baltimore's. Especially since Baltimore's deep threat is 50/50 with the dropsies.

 

[Mozart'sGhost]

We have a simular team compared to them. Ya, Pitt may be more explosive on Offense than us but what gives.

Do people look at them as more likely contender teams because of past
Success and expierence in the playoffs? I see 3 teams that depend of defense to win games..

I'm really worried about what those defenses will do to Alex Smith and the Niner offense. It will be an interesting look to see where the team really is both offensively and defensively after those games. I think Roethlisberger will tear our defense up because they won't be able to sack him and his receivers will expose the lack of speed in our secondary. The plus is that the 49ers will be at home for Pittsburgh where they usually play much better. I can't wait to watch.

 

[Southern9er]

With as efficient as Smith has been I am wondering if Harbaugh is waiting for the right moment to open up Alex more. Its been addressed before, but perhaps Harbaugh is using the first half of the season to get Alex the confidence he needs to take the next step. Grant Cohn said it in his grades, with better play from the QB this team is unstoppable, but when you are only calling 25 pass plays, that is coaching not the QB. I would like to see what this team could do with 35 pass plays.

Regardless of how it happens, this offense (STs & D) will have to find a way to put more points on the board against teams like NY, BAL, & PIT. Could we have survived a shoot out against GB or SD? I know our D changes the game, but I don't think we can ride this strategy to the end.

We are going to find out just how good this D. We should be able to get good pressure on Eli and the Giants will be high after a big win over NE. But the Harbaugh Group just seems to find a way to choke teams down and force them to play the 9ers game.

 

[BINGO]

Just curious, what makes Balt better to you?

I'm about 6'0, 165 and I'd guess I run around a 5 flat in the 40.

Damn Sick, you're a skinny dude. I'm the same height and weight 204 lbs. My actual football weight is 190lbs. So as an old man now in my early 30s I bet I can run a 4.7 / 4.8 forty. I earned all section in the 200 meter dash in high school. I was timing in the high 23s. During double session football, I was timed in the 4.3 secs in the forty. That's uber unofficial timing but I had wheels nonetheless during my era. We produced a couple pro guys in my area too (had I know what I know now, in terms of not going to the local high school and isteand opt to enroll in a private school in my area such as St. Josephs, or Don Bosco prep) I would have been developed / coached differently and would have certainly been playing at an elite DI institution. I got recruited by Fairfield University; Iona College; Uconn (when they were trash); Umass; Marist College; Rutgers (when they were trash); etc.

 

[SRPnVA]

They're about to talk about if we're a threat to GB on first take.

 

[EaseUrStorm]

You are forgetting the Cards game. I don't see how we have a chance against Baltimore after playing the cards 4 days before on the West Coast. I'd also be shocked if the Cards beat us.

Good call, let me re-check the schedule! I knew we were playing Balt Thanksgiving and with the dates didn't realize we had another game in there. So in reality the New York and Pittsburg games are the playoff gauge games for us.

That short week against Baltimore does throw things off and sets up for a letdown. Baltimore does have a tougher game against Cinn right before us, but they're not a team that will should be banged up coming out of that one.

 

[CalamityX11]

Damn Sick, you're a skinny dude. I'm the same height and weight 204 lbs. My actual football weight is 190lbs. So as an old man now in my early 30s I bet I can run a 4.7 / 4.8 forty. I earned all section in the 200 meter dash in high school. I was timing in the high 23s. During double session football, I was timed in the 4.3 secs in the forty. That's uber unofficial timing but I had wheels nonetheless during my era. We produced a couple pro guys in my area too (had I know what I know now, in terms of not going to the local high school and isteand opt to enroll in a private school in my area such as St. Josephs, or Don Bosco prep) I would have been developed / coached differently and would have certainly been playing at an elite DI institution. I got recruited by Fairfield University; Iona College; Uconn (when they were trash); Umass; Marist College; Rutgers (when they were trash); etc.

where you from Bingo? a lot of those universities are around or within my area(CT)

 

[CalamityX11]

They're about to talk about if we're a threat to GB on first take.

just got home form lunch, did i miss it?!?!?

 

[Ray_Dogg]

With as efficient as Smith has been I am wondering if Harbaugh is waiting for the right moment to open up Alex more. Its been addressed before, but perhaps Harbaugh is using the first half of the season to get Alex the confidence he needs to take the next step. Grant Cohn said it in his grades, with better play from the QB this team is unstoppable, but when you are only calling 25 pass plays, that is coaching not the QB. I would like to see what this team could do with 35 pass plays.

Regardless of how it happens, this offense (STs & D) will have to find a way to put more points on the board against teams like NY, BAL, & PIT. Could we have survived a shoot out against GB or SD? I know our D changes the game, but I don't think we can ride this strategy to the end.

We are going to find out just how good this D. We should be able to get good pressure on Eli and the Giants will be high after a big win over NE. But the Harbaugh Group just seems to find a way to choke teams down and force them to play the 9ers game.

This is the system that Harbs runs. Pun intended. He ran it in college and he's doing the same in the pros. If it ain't broke don't fix it. So far Alex has shown he can get it down when we do need the pass. The real test will be when we play more elite run stopping defenses that have their own explosive offense. Hopefully our elite D can keep it close and we can grind it out like we have been.

 

[deep9er]

I'm really worried about what those defenses will do to Alex Smith and the Niner offense. It will be an interesting look to see where the team really is both offensively and defensively after those games. I think Roethlisberger will tear our defense up because they won't be able to sack him and his receivers will expose the lack of speed in our secondary. The plus is that the 49ers will be at home for Pittsburgh where they usually play much better. I can't wait to watch.

agree, it'll be good games and show where the 9ers stand? both sides of the ball will be tested by these teams. the way we're heading to the play-offs, see it as a good thing. then we have some games left to work on it.

 

[Thepatty13]

With our playoff chances looking really good, do you see Harbs going more vanilla and saving his creativness for the post season?

 

[maniax]

With our playoff chances looking really good, do you see Harbs going more vanilla and saving his creativness for the post season?

I'd like to see him get more creative with Braylon. Braylon is a special talent on this offense.

Vernon has to get more involved as well.

 

[Rathman44]

Wow
Flacco has thrown over 3500 yards in each of the last two seasons, I am not sure Smith will ever top 3000 yards.
Flacco is much better than Smith IMO.

the last two years, smith has thrown for a little over 2300 yards each year. He has participated (not necessarily full games all the time) in 11 games in each season. If you extrapolate that out over 16 games, he easily gets over 3000 yards. Also, take into consideration who was coaching him and the awful play calling. i actually kind of like the flacco-smith comparison, with the main difference being that one has had a harbaugh coach his whole career while the other has been coached by idiots who do things like take their pants off during halftime speeches or where reebok suits on a football sideline.

 

[Mozart'sGhost]

With our playoff chances looking really good, do you see Harbs going more vanilla and saving his creativness for the post season?[/QUOTE]

Hope not. They won't be able to play that way in the playoffs and survive. They'll need to work on passing the ball in real game situations.