Game Thread: Week 1: 49ers at Seahawks, 1:05PM PST

[WizardHawk]

Jeez man, I kind of overreact like this in a lot of separate forums on this site. Didn't know it bothered you that much.

That said, to be a bit more on a serious tone I would like to see K9 played less (I held this stance last season) and I think Woolen might be on borrowed time here (this was also a popular opinion on this board last year). Yes I'm being a bit overdramatic but, so?

Leave forever. Your Dad "This guy is not a Seahawks fan." lol.... alright pal. Just ignore me and then you wont have to deal with me going forward, I dunno what to say. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

I mean we all probably think K9 sorts himself out with some sort of injury sooner rather than later. Feels inevitable. Not quite to Penny level, but almost.

 

[Sharkonabicycle]

I mean we all probably think K9 sorts himself out with some sort of injury sooner rather than later. Feels inevitable. Not quite to Penny level, but almost.

Yah no idea. He just looked so slow today.

 

[MrS]

Woolen will make a great play then turn around and look lazy and slow and give up the game

 

[jerseyhawksfan79]

This game was annoying as hell.

Despite Woolen having a couple mental lapses defense played very well so Seattle in theory should be in every game this year.
I get Mac game plans to be a running team with a solid defense and I like the idea but today that run game was ineffective. Could have used more crossing routes to get Kupp moving, out routes or WR screens. Gotta make the LBs back off a bit since it seemed like they were on the line most game. This was a game to let Sam make some more plays while the run game was shut down. Should have had the W and yet again another loss at home.

 

[Jikkle]

From a 9ers fan perspective, it was a battle of two teams that didn't deserve to win but somebody had to.

I thought both teams' defenses overall looked good despite some big lapses but were helped by some inept offensive play.

Neither offense was particularly sharp and both offenses only had one drive I'd say where I was like that was some consistently good offensive football there.

Watching either team isn't making me want to put money down on them in the Super Bowl but it's still week 1 and fortunately I wasn't exactly blown away by the Rams or Cardinals either so I say the division is still open.

 

[MrS]

This game was annoying as hell.

Despite Woolen having a couple mental lapses defense played very well so Seattle in theory should be in every game this year.
I get Mac game plans to be a running team with a solid defense and I like the idea but today that run game was ineffective. Could have used more crossing routes to get Kupp moving, out routes or WR screens. Gotta make the LBs back off a bit since it seemed like they were on the line most game. This was a game to let Sam make some more plays while the run game was shut down. Should have had the W and yet again another loss at home.

Are they mental lapses or effort lapses? He had a great TD saving pass defense and then on two big pays including the TD it just looked like he wasn't trying

Really what stood out to me is that there's Nothing special about this team, no one really stood out on O or D. Feels like another mediocre team that will not be in contention and won't be bad enough to get a too draft pick.

Oh and walker is finished i don't want to see Him again

 

[jerseyhawksfan79]

Are they mental lapses or effort lapses? He had a great TD saving pass defense and then on two big pays including the TD it just looked like he wasn't trying

Really what stood out to me is that there's Nothing special about this team, no one really stood out on O or D. Feels like another mediocre team that will not be in contention and won't be bad enough to get a too draft pick.

Oh and walker is finished i don't want to see Him again

I felt play calling was way to conservative. I'd like to see the playbook open up a bit more.
I'm going with mental lapses

 

[JMR]

Well, a gut punch way to end that game. On the morning after, here are a few things that are sticking with me:

• Walker is about useless. On the back to back 2nd half possessions where the O went 3 and out, he touched the ball 4 times and 2 of those were for negative yardage. He averaged 2 yards per carry on the day, which was half of what Charbs was able to do. Some people are saying the playcalling was too conservative, but I am not sure I agree. I just don't think Walker is able to help this offense work as designed, and we are going to have issues as long as he's getting ~half the totes. Remember how much better the run game was last year when McIntosh was part of it instead of Walker? I couldn't help think of that yesterday when KW was getting stopped at the line almost every time.
• Woolen is a liability that was exposed twice on SF's late go-ahead TD. He did make a good play earlier to save a TD, but he continually does the bait-the-qb tactic and it cost the team big time in this game. Looking forward to the day he is not on this team.
• On the playcalling topic, I will say the slow developing back alley abortion where Darnold rolled out and threw across the field to JSN for a WR screen that lost 8 yards is something that should never again see the light of day. Good grief.
• Overall, the D had a solid to good day, save the Woolen disaster on SF's final drive. They harassed Purdy enough for force errant throws and a couple turnovers, and the run D was fairly stuff most of the game. Leonard Williams seems to have picked right up where he left off last season, and Julian Love was all over the place. It was a huge bummer to see Emmanwori go down after his very 1st tackle, but it sounds like maybe it is not too serious.
• Darnold wasn't incredible or anything, but he was fairly accurate and didn't make reckless choices. He can't see his RT getting blocked into him to cause the fumble on that fateful final play, so it's tough to really pin that on him. We didn't really put the game on him until it got down to crunch time, and he delivered all the way up until it went wrong. I guess I come away more encouraged than not from his play.
• O line is probably going to get some scrutiny just because that's what normally happens when you struggle offensively, but I didn't think they had a bad day. I can't remember any false starts or holding penalties (maybe I missed 1), and the only sack came of course at the very end. I think I would take that just about every time.

It sucks to start off with a home loss after all the buildup to the season, but a few early struggles should have been expected with all the offensive change. I think these next 2 games are winnable with a couple things ironed out on O, so we'll see if they are able to figure it out.

 

[flyerhawk]

I think the. Biggest problem with the team was simply execution. Cupp dropping an easy first down catch. Woolen misjudging a pretty easy interception. JSN being unable to hold onto a big downfield pass.

I thought Darnold did his job as did the OL for the most part. Which is encouraging.

Certainly it is a disappointing loss but not a loss I'm going to get too worked up about.

Right now my biggest concern is WR. Cupp was a non-factor except for his one bad drop. 3 targets for 2 catches and 15 yards is not great. He and JSN are the only WR that has catches. That needs to change

People criticizing the offense for being too conservative is pretty wild since that was what fans were clamoring for the past few seasons.

 

[seattlefan75]

Its hard to say what the problem is as its only been one game and plus its two teams that know each other very well. I doubt we were going to see much of anything fancy.

 

[MrS]

I think the. Biggest problem with the team was simply execution. Cupp dropping an easy first down catch. Woolen misjudging a pretty easy interception. JSN being unable to hold onto a big downfield pass.

I thought Darnold did his job as did the OL for the most part. Which is encouraging.

Certainly it is a disappointing loss but not a loss I'm going to get too worked up about.

Right now my biggest concern is WR. Cupp was a non-factor except for his one bad drop. 3 targets for 2 catches and 15 yards is not great. He and JSN are the only WR that has catches. That needs to change

People criticizing the offense for being too conservative is pretty wild since that was what fans were clamoring for the past few seasons.

i was fine with trading DK, but man his absence is really felt. the WR corps is incredibly weak right now.

 

[flyerhawk]

i was fine with trading DK, but man his absence is really felt. the WR corps is incredibly weak right now.

They really need something from Horton.

 

[MrS]

They really need something from Horton.

And the TEs were basically invisible the whole game. That might just be the Niners LBs being above average to very good

 

[Sharkonabicycle]

I know some are saying the defense (outside of Woolen towards the end) did well but meh?

384 yards and what could've been 23 points (hey the block is just good special teams, but the missed chip shot was just a pure anomaly, that's going in 99% of the time)? I mean if it's 23-13 it's a semi blowout. On a positive note, it was nice to see the 2 picks and a fumble that just didn't bounce our way - good to see us forcing some turnovers.

Now NORMALLY with the Niners I would say that's not bad but:

• CMAC didn't seem 100% (he played but he had the calf issue and didn't practice all week)
• Kittle went out early.
• Aiyuk was obviously out (but known).
• Deebo is of course gone.
• San Fran has some new OL and Brown is ANOTHER year older.

I know they still have Shanahan, but Seattle wasn't going up against an insane cast of players there. It obviously didn't help that our offense started going 3 and out.

I'm really curious what happens to K9 and Woolen this week and whether they're in for Pittsburgh next week. I wonder what Charbs + Holani would look like as the 1/2.

 

[DJ "I'm blessed" Fieri]

Making my rounds after week 1.

The defense played well but the offense gotta get untracked.

Half glass full analysis: 4 point loss is a moral victory with Darnold and the rest of the offense not looking very good.

Still just 1 week!!!!

 

[Sharkonabicycle]

Making my rounds after week 1.

The defense played well but the offense gotta get untracked.

Half glass full analysis: 4 point loss is a moral victory with Darnold and the rest of the offense not looking very good.

Still just 1 week!!!!

Sup DJ.

Yah there was a couple good things on the defense. Love looked great. Hall had some nice pressure (but couldn't close)... Oh shout out to Ernest Jones as well - he looked good. But again they were dealing with San Fran's injured/beat up offense. I think if you had Aiyuk in and Kittle in for the whole game they easily blow open 30 points. Despite two turnovers they still had the opportunity to hang 23 (if not for a blocked FG and then a rare chip shot miss from Moody). Put up nearly 400 yards (although Seattle's O constantly going 3 and out or short drives didn't help).

About the only major highlight was special teams. Blocked kick, good returns, good punts, and decent punt coverage, and Myers of course nailed his field goals. That was the only really bright point I saw.

 

[DJ "I'm blessed" Fieri]

Sup DJ.

Yah there was a couple good things on the defense. Love looked great. Hall had some nice pressure (but couldn't close)... Oh shout out to Ernest Jones as well - he looked good. But again they were dealing with San Fran's injured/beat up offense. I think if you had Aiyuk in and Kittle in for the whole game they easily blow open 30 points. Despite two turnovers they still had the opportunity to hang 23 (if not for a blocked FG and then a rare chip shot miss from Moody). Put up nearly 400 yards (although Seattle's O constantly going 3 and out or short drives didn't help).

About the only major highlight was special teams. Blocked kick, good returns, good punts, and decent punt coverage, and Myers of course nailed his field goals. That was the only really bright point I saw.

Pearsall is a young stud, y'all limited Jennings and McCaffrey (on the ground) and Robinson....

Picked off Purdy twice.

 

[Cave_Johnson]

I'm surprised at all the Walker hate here.

Not sure what you guys were seeing. Walker had dudes meeting him in the backfield on almost every touch. Charbonnet at least had some holes to run through.

Honestly it reminded me a lot of what it used to look like when Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren were splitting carries. Teams seemed to stack the box on Harris and back down when Warren came in.

Charbonnet getting the goal line work and the slight majority of carries is still weird though IMO. Walker is first on the depth chart. I have to assume Walker is not 100%. And in any case the O-line just didn't perform as well as I was expecting them to.

Other obvious issues:

JSN with >50% target share is not sustainable.

The pass rush was weak, but I guess overall the D was okay outside of a few blown plays. Problem is those few blown plays were all it took.

 

[Screamin12th]

to much overblown hype and wrongly pointed fingers by most in here. You got players playing for the first time all year that never saw time in Preseason. You got a completely different offensive scheme ( thank god ) that hasn't been used in a real game. You got players out there not able to adjust the mentality yet for "real games".

To be honest It would have been better had the Seahawks started on the road, why you may ask? Hostile environment would have helped them possibly lock in a little better.

Players that saw little to no time in the preseason ( Walker, Woolen, Darnold, JSN, Kupp ) didnt all click. ZERO SHOCK there. I saw players they just were not 100% ready to play and their mind set wasn't where it has to be. THIS ALWAYS HAPPENS IN THE FIRST GAME, now it's at different levels and some get over it as the game moves on but not always.

I saw a defense that was giving up to many yards on first downs consistently. The 49ers were almost always in 2nd and short. I also saw the 49ers line up on a trick play perfectly telling me MVS 100% gave them insight as we had NEVER seen that play in the preseason. That leads to my next point. The 49ers were better prepared for Sundays game than Seattle was. Thats on the coaches not the players.

Now after saying that it was just 1 step away from a big win for the Seahawks. Woolen makes the INT, game over. JSN doesn't fumble, game over, Darnold doesn't fumble, game over. The 49ers played with more Desire in the big moments and THATS what needs to change.

Players that didnt have the best game- Darnold, Woolen, Witherspoon, William, Kupp, JSN ( Yes he had 2 fumbles ), Walker, Charbs, our WHOLE LINEBACKER GROUP! ( Yes jones had a INT but thats pretty much it ) Love, Lucas, Cross, Bradford ... hell the oline wasnt all that great and at times didn't open up any holes.

 

[Screamin12th]

Also they seem to not understand our runningbacks skills. They had Charbs running stretch runs and Walker pounding it up the middle ?????? WTF is that. I get it EVERYONE knows Walker is faster so maybe they thought it would fool the defense, It didn't! The play calling on offense was much better on the last drive also and the team looked like they had figured it out. To little to late.

Defense 100% needs to play better AND GET OFF THE FIELD! If teams continue to get 6+ yards every first down we will lose ToP every game by a huge margine. The Hawks didn't convert on 7 of their 3rd downs same as the 49ers but the 49ers faced a lot more 3rd and less than 3 all game long because of the failed stops on Short yardage type plays on 1st and 2nd down and because of the Gains on 1st down they were able to prolong their drives because of the 2nd and 3rd and very short yardage.

TACKLING WAS TERRIBLE! To many times did i see a Defender come flying in to lay a hit on someone and "Not wrap up" they were just throwing their body around thinking it would knock guys down. You can not tackle CMC that way or any NFL player 90% of the time.

It wasn't all bad though. We saw some good things and some good plays but they need to be more consistent on offense and defense PERIOD!