Pre-Game Comment by 49ers coach....

[WarnerHOF]

How come we always get spanked by mediocre players such as Crabtree and Smith? I'm sure they always look forward to playing the Cardinals every year so they don't like busts.

 

[CFLredzoned]

FOX analyst Brian Billick spoke to 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio...

Oh. That 49er coach. How about the other 49er coach that works on the NFL Network putting his rep on the line on national tv - "Skelton will expose the 49er secondary." That was Mariucci on the NFL Network pregame show.

I just wonder how so many people didn't see this coming? At least we're not paid for this. People that are paid to be NFL analysts were on Skelton's jock all week. If he had tendencies to be this insanely innacurate, shouldn't it have showed up on film? Lombardi said that he watched Skelton play at Fordham for years. So how many of these bad games did he watch Skelton have? Probably none, if he was going to put his rep on the line like he did. I guess every QB responds differently when confronted with max protection, tiny windows. We saw how Skelton responds. What a shame. Was this the first time he's faced that kind of blanket-like coverage?

And what did Mariucci see in the 49er secondary that should have been so easy to expose?

 

[DieHardCardFan]

Until our QB's spread the ball around more & make them pay with other WR's or we get a guy who can stretch the field & can actually play nothing will change. I would say many QB's predetermine at the LOS where the pass is going.

In Philly Skelton hit 7 receivers for 21 completions and 315 yards. That is kinda spreading the ball around.

 

[Treefiddy]

Must be those non sophisticated defenses played in the Patriot League, that prepared him so well for the NFL. Seems possible that the Cards are so intent on Keeping Larry happy, that they have lost all insight into the concept of balance.

Agree with this. I see way too many passes forced to Fitz. This isn't something that is unique to Skelton. Kolb does it and Scud did it as well. There are plays where lining up you know the ball is going to Fitz. We lost a game on a quick pass to Fitz that even I saw coming.

I saw an interview a few years back about how between Boldin and Fitz, Fitz was always the guy coming back to the huddle saying, "I was open, why didn't you throw it to me?" He's clearly in the head of the coaches or the QBs (or both). I'm wondering if at this point, Fitz is more focused on his stats and legacy than simply being happy being a distraction by drawing two defenders away from everyone else.

 

[conraddobler]

Agree with this. I see way too many passes forced to Fitz. This isn't something that is unique to Skelton. Kolb does it and Scud did it as well. There are plays where lining up you know the ball is going to Fitz. We lost a game on a quick pass to Fitz that even I saw coming.

I saw an interview a few years back about how between Boldin and Fitz, Fitz was always the guy coming back to the huddle saying, "I was open, why didn't you throw it to me?" He's clearly in the head of the coaches or the QBs (or both). I'm wondering if at this point, Fitz is more focused on his stats and legacy than simply being happy being a distraction by drawing two defenders away from everyone else.

 

[D-Dogg]

And what did Mariucci see in the 49er secondary that should have been so easy to expose?

The plays were there. Skelton couldn't make them. The secondary is the weak spot on the 9er team. We had several downfield plays that Skelton threw high, or far past the guy. And he missed open players multiple times.

He looked like Derek Anderson out there.

 

[Duckjake]

Agree with this. I see way too many passes forced to Fitz. This isn't something that is unique to Skelton. Kolb does it and Scud did it as well. There are plays where lining up you know the ball is going to Fitz. We lost a game on a quick pass to Fitz that even I saw coming.

I saw an interview a few years back about how between Boldin and Fitz, Fitz was always the guy coming back to the huddle saying, "I was open, why didn't you throw it to me?" He's clearly in the head of the coaches or the QBs (or both). I'm wondering if at this point, Fitz is more focused on his stats and legacy than simply being happy being a distraction by drawing two defenders away from everyone else.

In the NFL Network show on Warner, Kurt talks about this. They showed a clip of him talking to Larry and Kurt said that Larry was coming to him wanting the ball so Fitz could get a 100 yards or something. Warner said he told Fitz he would try to get him the ball but WHAT ABOUT WINNING THE GAME (my emphasis) Warner said Fitz got a lot more team oriented after that.

Of course with Warner gone Fitz could have reverted back but looking at the man Larry is now I just can't see it.

 

[DeAnna]

In the NFL Network show on Warner, Kurt talks about this. They showed a clip of him talking to Larry and Kurt said that Larry was coming to him wanting the ball so Fitz could get a 100 yards or something. Warner said he told Fitz he would try to get him the ball but WHAT ABOUT WINNING THE GAME (my emphasis) Warner said Fitz got a lot more team oriented after that.

Of course with Warner gone Fitz could have reverted back but looking at the man Larry is now I just can't see it.

Yep, we already had that discussion
http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb/showpost.php?p=2528613&postcount=18