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Young team just did not bring it early. Lots of inexperienced mistakes by Kaepernick.
First of all, Kaepernick was not trusting his reads and was slow to release the ball on throws in the first half. He was waiting for the reciever to get open and it allowed defenders to push him out of the pocket and to get to the reciever to make them covered. The biggest one that I saw was when near the endzone on 3rd down and a couple yards to go he had Crabtree wide open near the sideline and it was his first option. If Crabtree caught that ball it was a TD or close to it with first a goal. Instead He ran to the sidelines and almost got sacked. Niners kick a FG instead. That was 4 points missed.
Second, on that long pass to Vernon Davis that was just off his finger tips. If caught that was a TD he clearly beat his defender and no safety was in position to catch him. When the ball was in the air you can see him look back and slow up. He then had to try and speed up again to try and catch up to it, but could not. If he ran at his normal speed it was a TD.
Third, the very first play lining up incorrectly pushed the niners back. Intead of a 20 yard gain and getting the field position in their favor they had to kick from the 18 yard line giving the field position advantage to the Ravens who capitalized For a TD.
Fourth, the secondary really sucked at playing zone defense all year. The corners play so much better man to man, but almost all first half they played zone. It took way to long to adjust. Then when they needed a stop in the 4th when all the momentum was on the Niners side after their missed 2 point convergent attempt they went back to zone and playing way back off the receivers. They drove down the field for the FG. This also almost always gave up 5-8 yards on first down making it easy to get first downs all first half and that final drive.
Fifth, that wasted time out in the third quarter on a first down was needed late to stop the clock to give the niners some chance to have a hail marry or a even a good drive. They would have had an extra 45 seconds on the clock. Ginn had a good return on that last free kick. 45 seconds from the 45 yard line is not hard to get some shots into the end zone.
Sixth, after that fumble recovery from Brown at the 25 yard line they were able to only get a FG. A TD there was needed. Kaepernick fell down on 3rd down instead of attempting a pass or running the ball. Sometimes the QB must trust his WR to make the play. The Ravens sure did and it resulted in many first downs on 3rd down deep down the field. So instead of punting it was a first and it was a 30 yard gain.
Seventh, where was the runs by Gore, James, or even Dixon from first and goal from the 7? They were getting great yards on runs with Ngata out. And the TD before that Gore ran for the TD easily. I think Roman went to what he did in Stanford instead of what the Niners are good at.
Eighth, when James fumbled there were 3 niners close to the ball and they looked at it, but none made any attempt to jump on the ball. What was up with that? Its the Super Bowl. Jump on every ball that might be close to being a fumble.
Ninth, if you get beat deep, at least touch the man on the ground Culliver!!!
Tenth, Ravens sure did get out of a lot of tackles behind the LOS. Aldon Smith missed one, Bowman missed two. Some were on 3rd down which would have resulted in a punt and once a FG attempt. Instead they resulted in TDs.
Eleventh, Brooks going off sides on 3rd down turned a FG into a TD. Also, in the 4th on the last drive Flacco ran to his side and instead of going after him, Brooks stood there with his back to the QB. Instead of an easy sack or at the least putting pressure on Flacco to hurry his throw or make him throw it away, was able to get a good throw off for close to a first down. That sack could have pushed the Ravens out of FG range.
Finally, Moss was so lackadaisical on some passes thrown his way. Resulting in an INT and a near INT and if caught was a first down. Instead the niners had to punt and guess what? A TD by Baltimore happened on the next drive. He needs to go. He was a good leader in the locker room, but he never performed for the team. I almost would rather have had Ginn starting over him at WR. Ginn at least can run fast still.
I know I am missing some, but these are the ones that really stuck in my mind.
First of all, Kaepernick was not trusting his reads and was slow to release the ball on throws in the first half. He was waiting for the reciever to get open and it allowed defenders to push him out of the pocket and to get to the reciever to make them covered. The biggest one that I saw was when near the endzone on 3rd down and a couple yards to go he had Crabtree wide open near the sideline and it was his first option. If Crabtree caught that ball it was a TD or close to it with first a goal. Instead He ran to the sidelines and almost got sacked. Niners kick a FG instead. That was 4 points missed.
Second, on that long pass to Vernon Davis that was just off his finger tips. If caught that was a TD he clearly beat his defender and no safety was in position to catch him. When the ball was in the air you can see him look back and slow up. He then had to try and speed up again to try and catch up to it, but could not. If he ran at his normal speed it was a TD.
Third, the very first play lining up incorrectly pushed the niners back. Intead of a 20 yard gain and getting the field position in their favor they had to kick from the 18 yard line giving the field position advantage to the Ravens who capitalized For a TD.
Fourth, the secondary really sucked at playing zone defense all year. The corners play so much better man to man, but almost all first half they played zone. It took way to long to adjust. Then when they needed a stop in the 4th when all the momentum was on the Niners side after their missed 2 point convergent attempt they went back to zone and playing way back off the receivers. They drove down the field for the FG. This also almost always gave up 5-8 yards on first down making it easy to get first downs all first half and that final drive.
Fifth, that wasted time out in the third quarter on a first down was needed late to stop the clock to give the niners some chance to have a hail marry or a even a good drive. They would have had an extra 45 seconds on the clock. Ginn had a good return on that last free kick. 45 seconds from the 45 yard line is not hard to get some shots into the end zone.
Sixth, after that fumble recovery from Brown at the 25 yard line they were able to only get a FG. A TD there was needed. Kaepernick fell down on 3rd down instead of attempting a pass or running the ball. Sometimes the QB must trust his WR to make the play. The Ravens sure did and it resulted in many first downs on 3rd down deep down the field. So instead of punting it was a first and it was a 30 yard gain.
Seventh, where was the runs by Gore, James, or even Dixon from first and goal from the 7? They were getting great yards on runs with Ngata out. And the TD before that Gore ran for the TD easily. I think Roman went to what he did in Stanford instead of what the Niners are good at.
Eighth, when James fumbled there were 3 niners close to the ball and they looked at it, but none made any attempt to jump on the ball. What was up with that? Its the Super Bowl. Jump on every ball that might be close to being a fumble.
Ninth, if you get beat deep, at least touch the man on the ground Culliver!!!
Tenth, Ravens sure did get out of a lot of tackles behind the LOS. Aldon Smith missed one, Bowman missed two. Some were on 3rd down which would have resulted in a punt and once a FG attempt. Instead they resulted in TDs.
Eleventh, Brooks going off sides on 3rd down turned a FG into a TD. Also, in the 4th on the last drive Flacco ran to his side and instead of going after him, Brooks stood there with his back to the QB. Instead of an easy sack or at the least putting pressure on Flacco to hurry his throw or make him throw it away, was able to get a good throw off for close to a first down. That sack could have pushed the Ravens out of FG range.
Finally, Moss was so lackadaisical on some passes thrown his way. Resulting in an INT and a near INT and if caught was a first down. Instead the niners had to punt and guess what? A TD by Baltimore happened on the next drive. He needs to go. He was a good leader in the locker room, but he never performed for the team. I almost would rather have had Ginn starting over him at WR. Ginn at least can run fast still.
I know I am missing some, but these are the ones that really stuck in my mind.