How did the SF game "feel"?

[RugbyMuffin]

I had to listened to bits and pieces because I was at my parents place for the holidays and they don't have the NFL Ticket.

So I rigged my Sirius Radio so I could listen to it indoors, and listened to the game with one headphone speaker in. Holiday Multitasking.

Anyway how did the win look. It sounded like it was a team victory.

Where we playing with lots of attitude and spirit?

Or was it a luck of the draw game where they showed up played solid, and left?

Who looked particularly good out there?

I heard Warner had to come in and he seemed to play very well. I was happy to hear Wakefield make a huge catch at the end of the game.

Fill me in with all the good details if you could.

Peace and Happy Holidays

 

[az1965]

I will try to summarize. Best way to get details is to go to the game thread and wait for Mitch's detailed analysis.


General Comments
In general, we had a solid first half and an average second half. We were lucky to hold on to the lead and get a W.

Low penality game for us. 9ers had some bone headed penalties (personal fouls) that helped keep our drives alive.

I really liked play calling, mixing plays, involving a bunch of players on offense, had at least 3 long bombs! There was one questionable play call in the red zone where JJ was called to rush on 3rd and long in the red zone (he got only 3 yards).

Offense
Lienart got hurt 2 min to go in first half due to Big's missed cut block and sack on Lienart. He sprained his left shoulder and never returned. Lienart was really playing very well.

Warner was good. NO FUMBLES or INTS !

Edge got his 3rd 100 yard game. Shipp had his 4th rushing TD.

OL run blocked very well (except for 3 Milford Brown's misses) and pass blocking for pretty good (except for LD's miss causing Lienart sack and injury).

Fitz, Boldin, and BJ all had solid game. Fitz almost had 100 yards and a TD.

Wakefield caught and ran a 19 yard pass play!!


Defense
Defense was good for the most part. One TD in the second half was due to the very short field they got with the punt fumble. Their running game and Gore specifically was kept in check (only 50 yards).

MLB Biesel turned out to be new diamond found. He had really good game.

Rolle got his first int of the year but was looking like he was running in mud after the pick.

We were +2 on TO (got two fumbles and an int).

Griffith laid a SOLID wood on Vernon Davis but was flagged for personal foul that was totally bogus.

D had 4 sacks!

Special Teams
Rackers hit all 4 his FG's but one 39 yarder was a miss on the left that was a blown call by refs, good for us .

We gave up two long returns one on punt and one on KO. The punt return was for almost 60+ yards but turned out to be a non factor as Smith threw an int on the first play.

Our punt and KO returns were non existent.

 

[Crimson Warrior]

We were handing them their @sses until hollywood went down. We were freaking dominating.

After that, we were outplayed.

lienart is a stud.

 

[O]

It was a win!
It felt great!!!

 

[az1965]

It was a win!
It felt great!!!

Oh yes, that too...

 

[ajcardfan]

I thought Walters' fumble was the key play turning the game from a blowout to a contest.

Most impressive thing---- getting the ball with 5 min to go after SF scored a TD and running out the clock. We ran the ball in that situation, and mixed in a couple of clutch little 3rd down passes. Had we been able to do that in the first half of the season, we'd all be talking about the division title we clinched today.

 

[Crimson Warrior]

I thought Walters' fumble was the key play turning the game from a blowout to a contest.

Most impressive thing---- getting the ball with 5 min to go after SF scored a TD and running out the clock. We ran the ball in that situation, and mixed in a couple of clutch little 3rd down passes. Had we been able to do that in the first half of the season, we'd all be talking about the division title we clinched today.

I was thinking pretty much the same thing watching the end of the game.

I was saying to myself: Man it's so nice to be able to get four or five yards a pop on the ground, even when the defense is playing eight in the box.

 

[nurnay]

I was very impressed with the defensive effort. Gore was essentially shut down, which is saying a lot. Losing Leinart hurt. If we would've been in the second half, it wouldn't have been even close.

 

[Chopper0080]

We dominated this game. The score really didn't represent how well we actually played. The offense came out firing on all cylinders and even the anouncers were commenting on how efficient we were. The defense did exactly whet theywanted to do as far as the gameplan went. We loaded up to stop Gore and made San Fran beat us threw the air. Gore went on to have 50 yards rushing or so and San Fran made some bog plays n the passing game. We were 3-3 in the red zone when Leinart went out with two touchdowns. After that we settled for field goals. Leinart looked all pro and the line did very well. Wilson was all over the field and Biesel should be on the roster next year. Also, we got pressure on San Fran with just 4 rushers. If we look as good as we did in the first half next week, Green will be back. Unfourtunately, we will be playing the Chargers and they are heads above San Fran.

 

[PJ1]

I thought Walters' fumble was the key play turning the game from a blowout to a contest.

Most impressive thing---- getting the ball with 5 min to go after SF scored a TD and running out the clock. We ran the ball in that situation, and mixed in a couple of clutch little 3rd down passes. Had we been able to do that in the first half of the season, we'd all be talking about the division title we clinched today.

Agreed. We had things under control and Walters was in the middle of a nice return when he fumbled. Loved us being able to run out the clock. Highlight of the game for me.

 

[CardEd]

A road win feels good anytime. The first half , I felt that's how I thought we would play this whole year.

 

[Captain Matt]

I was in the 14th row at about the 10 yard line (SF bench side) and "felt" the hit on Vernon Davis. Wow. In the post-game everyone was talking about how gutsy the guy is. I grant you that the big-hit-catch was impressive, but did anyone see the pass play on the next set of downs? He cuts into the left flat about 7 yards deep and senses a hit just as the ball is released - rather than completing his route, making the catch and getting a 1st down, he stops dead in his tracks and reaches for the ball.... missing the catch. I think this set-up the 4th and 6 that they converted. It was on the big screen once for about 2 seconds I was laughing my ass off. Dude was scared to death.

Boldin's numbers weren't huge, but there were 2 plays that stick out in my mind as Boldin-only plays. He caught a 2 yard pass and turned it into a 4 broken tackle, 6 yard, 1st down conversion. And on the Fitz TD series he carried like 2 dudes on his back down to the 5 yard line. There has been a lot of discussion about getting Boldin more involved. I'm officially onboard. Slot, 2 RB sets, reverses, WR-option plays.... whatever... he needs to touch it more than 5-6 times a game.

After the first drive the defense dominated. Bryant being out helped (as only Davis burnt us deep), but I thought little Arnez Battle was being man-handled by our d-backs. The only catches I recall him making were quick-outs. Okeafor had another big-time game, and we controlled the interior well.

The Walters fumble was interesting because it looked like the Cards recovered (initially) and the ref signaled that we had. Then the pile clears and a 9er comes up with it. So they change the call. Of course this was after the Rackers kick which was wide-left...... LOL. From my vantage it looked to be no good, and the fine folks on the 9er jumba-tron showed it 20 times along with a blow up of the ball's flight over the goal-post. I told the poor fans sitting next to me that it was a shame the play was not-reviewable.

I'm not sure what the 9ers plan was, but keeping Smith in the pocket and staying away from Gore did nothing but help us. It seemed like the scouting report suggested our dbs were beatable (and normally I couldn't agree more), but they stepped-up very well in this one. Maybe like the o-line out dbs are improving?

 

[football karma]

Watching the game I came to this conclusion:

Alex Smith doesnt have "it"

He will make some Jake Plummer like plays where he gets out of the pocket and hits a guy downfield who has gotten behind the defense, but I dont see him as a QB who will consistently make good reads and deliver the ball accurately.

For a guy who has a 1500 yard rusher to lean on -- he hasnt been very good.