Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
Going into the game, I did not think this was going to be a cake walk. For one, Colin Kaepernick is starting to settle into Chip Kelly's system. For two, having a 1-7 record allows them to take risks and to play free and easy---my worry going in was that if the game were close, Kelly would go for two and the win. When that exact scenario presented itself, I was supremely relieved to see him kick the PAT.
Before I get to the Cardinals, I want to tip my hat to Kelly, Kaepernick, the 49ers defensive line and the hitting of their secondary. They came to play and made the Cardinals earn every inch of that close victory.
I think I would like to offer my concerns first, because, in closing, I want to emphasize the positives of which i feel there are many.
Concerns:
Run Blocking---obviously the 49ers made run defense their priority in this game and they were successful bottling up the Cardinals o-line and David Johnson. Like other teams, especially the ones in the division, it looked like they knew when the Cardinals were going to run. They were rarely fooled. By the time the 4th quarter came along, their defensive linemen were making so many stops that the ILBers didn't have to bite on play action, which is why the Cardinals' play action pass on 1st and 10 with a tad under 2 minutes left in the game was an absolute no-no.
David Johnson---now that he is getting the vast majority of the snaps, he has become strictly a finesse runner. By that I mean, in skiing terms, he's not running downhill, he's slaloming. He's decelerating on contact and not lowering his shoulder or delivering any punishment on the tacklers. Even in a pre-season game, rookie RB Ezekiel Elliott lowered his should on Kam Chancellor and made a statement that tackling him was not going to fun and easy. But, back to Johnson, it's not that any RB should lower the shoulder on every sign of contact, necessarily...but the best RBs do in key situations. For example, had DJ done so at the goal-line versus the Seahawks, that TD could have won the game. Instead, he decelerated and let K.J. Wright stand him up on the one yard line.
Andre Ellington---this team really missed Chris Johnson because CJ reminded DJ how important it is to run tough and to battle and fight for yards. Ellington wants absolutely no part of contact and does absolutely nothing to inspire or challenge DJ. For weeks I and others have been clamoring for bringing up Elijhaa Penny---at least he will lower his shoulder and fight for yards.
Carson Palmer---I forget which team said it last year but they said they were hoping to capitalize on the 3-4 Palmer aberrant decisions he makes each game. Palmer was having a big first half---but his two turnovers in the second half were both inexcusable for a QB of his experience and caliber. But this is what Carson does repeatedly and this year it is affecting the team's chances to close out and win games.
Earl Watford---love the enthusiasm, but am very concerned about the lack of pop, leverage and aggression he's showing at RG. It is to the point where I am hoping the coaches try Cole Toner or Taylor Boggs.
All TEs---worst TE blocking in BA's 3 1/2 year tenure as HC. Lousy technique and inconsistent effort.
J.J. Nelson---BA and CP wanted to feature him in this game, but the game hasn't quite slowed down fro him yet. I think eventually it will, especially when he learns to look the ball in, catch, tuck and slip under contact when necessary. His deep ball tracking needs work as well, although Palmer's timing on deep balls hasn't been sharp.
Contain on Defense---lost it twice on the 49ers' game-tying TD drive and it nearly cost the team the game. The first time it looked like Calais Campbell had contain to Kaep's left, but Campbell isn't fast enough to do that job. Credit Bettcher for sending an athlete moments later like Deone Bucannon off the edge to Kaep's right---but what in the world was Bucannon doing and thinking? For one, he can't take an inside angle rush, for two he has to break down and sit on Kaep's first move so Kaep doesn't just take a sidestep and bolt free from the pocket.
49ers' Easy 1st TD---Up 14-0 the defense very clearly lost it edge, focus and desire. Yet another series of colossal coverage mixups and breakdowns---first leaving McDonald so wide open over the middle and then having Marcus Cooper and Pat P. standing side by side in no man's land while Patton drifted past them wide open in the end zone.
What's Going On?
I think that BA, CP and the offense plays at times like they want to score two TDs at once---they are so programmed to think that FGs are unacceptable that everyone gets impatient. With the Cardinals' defense playing pretty well, sometimes they have to feel good about taking points whatever way they can get them. i was happy to see BA call for the FG those 2 times in the 1st half because on both occasions it was close enough to go for it on 4th down. Those decisions by BA are key reasons why they won this game---unlike other close games where the offense came away empty in the red zone too many times.
It's good to be hungry to score TDs every time, but Palmer is doing what Kurt Warner was doing before he settled down---trying to make every play a big play at the expense of getting stripped or throwing forced errors into coverage.
On defense, it is losing focus on key assignments and responsibilities, especially late in games when those things matter the most.
The Positives:
1st Quarter Offensive TD. Hooray.
David Johnson's pass receiving. Sensational.
Carson Palmer's late game determination. Resilient.
John Wetzel's pass protection. Huge.
D.J. Humphries' pass protection. Usually Ahmad Brooks has been tough to contain.
Larry Fitzgerald's stellar play, toughness and leadership. Legendary.
Michael Floyd's bounce back performance. Spectacular.
Jefferson and Swearinger. Highly productive.
Chandler Jones, Calais Campbell and Markus Golden. Explosive.
Josh Mauro's versatility and toughness. Unsung.
Justin Bethel. Improving.
Pat P. Glue.
Gabe Martin. STs ace this week.
Ryan Quigley. Solid.
Chandler Catanzaro. Clutch.
Close Win. Timely.
Before I get to the Cardinals, I want to tip my hat to Kelly, Kaepernick, the 49ers defensive line and the hitting of their secondary. They came to play and made the Cardinals earn every inch of that close victory.
I think I would like to offer my concerns first, because, in closing, I want to emphasize the positives of which i feel there are many.
Concerns:
Run Blocking---obviously the 49ers made run defense their priority in this game and they were successful bottling up the Cardinals o-line and David Johnson. Like other teams, especially the ones in the division, it looked like they knew when the Cardinals were going to run. They were rarely fooled. By the time the 4th quarter came along, their defensive linemen were making so many stops that the ILBers didn't have to bite on play action, which is why the Cardinals' play action pass on 1st and 10 with a tad under 2 minutes left in the game was an absolute no-no.
David Johnson---now that he is getting the vast majority of the snaps, he has become strictly a finesse runner. By that I mean, in skiing terms, he's not running downhill, he's slaloming. He's decelerating on contact and not lowering his shoulder or delivering any punishment on the tacklers. Even in a pre-season game, rookie RB Ezekiel Elliott lowered his should on Kam Chancellor and made a statement that tackling him was not going to fun and easy. But, back to Johnson, it's not that any RB should lower the shoulder on every sign of contact, necessarily...but the best RBs do in key situations. For example, had DJ done so at the goal-line versus the Seahawks, that TD could have won the game. Instead, he decelerated and let K.J. Wright stand him up on the one yard line.
Andre Ellington---this team really missed Chris Johnson because CJ reminded DJ how important it is to run tough and to battle and fight for yards. Ellington wants absolutely no part of contact and does absolutely nothing to inspire or challenge DJ. For weeks I and others have been clamoring for bringing up Elijhaa Penny---at least he will lower his shoulder and fight for yards.
Carson Palmer---I forget which team said it last year but they said they were hoping to capitalize on the 3-4 Palmer aberrant decisions he makes each game. Palmer was having a big first half---but his two turnovers in the second half were both inexcusable for a QB of his experience and caliber. But this is what Carson does repeatedly and this year it is affecting the team's chances to close out and win games.
Earl Watford---love the enthusiasm, but am very concerned about the lack of pop, leverage and aggression he's showing at RG. It is to the point where I am hoping the coaches try Cole Toner or Taylor Boggs.
All TEs---worst TE blocking in BA's 3 1/2 year tenure as HC. Lousy technique and inconsistent effort.
J.J. Nelson---BA and CP wanted to feature him in this game, but the game hasn't quite slowed down fro him yet. I think eventually it will, especially when he learns to look the ball in, catch, tuck and slip under contact when necessary. His deep ball tracking needs work as well, although Palmer's timing on deep balls hasn't been sharp.
Contain on Defense---lost it twice on the 49ers' game-tying TD drive and it nearly cost the team the game. The first time it looked like Calais Campbell had contain to Kaep's left, but Campbell isn't fast enough to do that job. Credit Bettcher for sending an athlete moments later like Deone Bucannon off the edge to Kaep's right---but what in the world was Bucannon doing and thinking? For one, he can't take an inside angle rush, for two he has to break down and sit on Kaep's first move so Kaep doesn't just take a sidestep and bolt free from the pocket.
49ers' Easy 1st TD---Up 14-0 the defense very clearly lost it edge, focus and desire. Yet another series of colossal coverage mixups and breakdowns---first leaving McDonald so wide open over the middle and then having Marcus Cooper and Pat P. standing side by side in no man's land while Patton drifted past them wide open in the end zone.
What's Going On?
I think that BA, CP and the offense plays at times like they want to score two TDs at once---they are so programmed to think that FGs are unacceptable that everyone gets impatient. With the Cardinals' defense playing pretty well, sometimes they have to feel good about taking points whatever way they can get them. i was happy to see BA call for the FG those 2 times in the 1st half because on both occasions it was close enough to go for it on 4th down. Those decisions by BA are key reasons why they won this game---unlike other close games where the offense came away empty in the red zone too many times.
It's good to be hungry to score TDs every time, but Palmer is doing what Kurt Warner was doing before he settled down---trying to make every play a big play at the expense of getting stripped or throwing forced errors into coverage.
On defense, it is losing focus on key assignments and responsibilities, especially late in games when those things matter the most.
The Positives:
1st Quarter Offensive TD. Hooray.
David Johnson's pass receiving. Sensational.
Carson Palmer's late game determination. Resilient.
John Wetzel's pass protection. Huge.
D.J. Humphries' pass protection. Usually Ahmad Brooks has been tough to contain.
Larry Fitzgerald's stellar play, toughness and leadership. Legendary.
Michael Floyd's bounce back performance. Spectacular.
Jefferson and Swearinger. Highly productive.
Chandler Jones, Calais Campbell and Markus Golden. Explosive.
Josh Mauro's versatility and toughness. Unsung.
Justin Bethel. Improving.
Pat P. Glue.
Gabe Martin. STs ace this week.
Ryan Quigley. Solid.
Chandler Catanzaro. Clutch.
Close Win. Timely.
