Quick Thoughts - Week 12 @49ers

[TJ]

-We would not have won this game 6-8 weeks ago. Th setting of the game was no different than St Louis or @Pittsburgh. Difference? We found a way to win and never gave up, particularly on defense.

-Chris Johnson is running on empty. I'm not sure how much he has left in the tank for the remainder of the season. Now, he has a knee injury. Ellington (depending on his foot injury) and David Johnson need to take the bulk of the carries

-How many times the past two weeks were we stopped on 3rd/4th and one? The offensive line is getting no push and our ball carriers are getting hit before they even reach the LOS, even with Shipley as a lead blocker. This is an issue.

-Honey Badger is a great player, but a liability in coverage.

-We really missed Frostee Rucker in this game. The d-line was getting no push in the second half, which was large in part to being razor thin d/t injuries. Gabbert, once he got comfortable in the pocket, made some really nice throws.

-Palmer will rebound. He is one of few QBs in the NFL to have selective amnesia when it comes to poor performances. The previous two games are example enough.

-CatMan needs to fix his PAT problem, but he's also making > 90% of his FGA. Mind boggling.

-I don't expect this same type of lackluster performance against St. Louis next weekend. This team is still seething from that loss. Also, St. Louis is battling numerous distractions. I expect a more inspired performance and frankly, to beat the living **** out of them.

 

[Cheesebeef]

the second half of the season is exactly why I thought extending CJ was a really bad idea when people brought it up. We got the best, last juice out of those legs.

Really hope one of Ellington/CJ isn't long-term. Need a rotation down the stretch. That or re-sign Kerwynn Williams for the bajillionth time.

 

[Cardiac]

Good post.

 

[BullheadCardFan]

All good points.

Especially concerning is the inability to get short yardage when we need it. Oline has to find a way to make it work. We have to try Watford in place of Larsen who got destroyed many times today. Sendlein was getting worked also.

 

[Russ Smith]

The frustrating thing on CJ is he got hurt on that god awful 2 QB trick play guy just hit him right on the knee.

Stupid play. He has been less effective in recent weeks it's been obvious, but hate to lose him now and then to lose AE in the same game really sucks

 

[football karma]

Those 3rd and short situations

Are they tipping plays via formation? It just seems the d is selling out on the run with LBs and safeties coming down to shoot gaps.

It's almost like I would prefer 3rd and 3 or so

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

If David holds on to the ball, he definitely has more juice and fresher legs. His role will definitely increase.

 

[Finito]

Been saying it since he started playing Iupati is horrible keep in mind this guy is supposed to be the best run blocker in the NFL and man has he looked bad in spots and I mean really bad

 

[Russ Smith]

If you mean the long pass to Torrey Smith I'm not sure that wasn't Rashad Johnson's fault. He came flying up and Smith ran right byhim. Mathieu clearly expected to have deep help, made a great recovery to not give up a TD on that play.

I thought Johnson was terrible today, one TD everyone wsa blaming on Minter, looked to me like it was Rashad who didn't pick him up. On the long pass and run by the TE, Johnson didn't come up and let the guy have another 10 yards running.

Weird game for him.

 

[Russ Smith]

If David holds on to the ball, he definitely has more juice and fresher legs. His role will definitely increase.

they showed him on the sideline twice holding a ball cradled and tucked up high I would say Arians has noticed the fumbling and is making him work on it.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

If you mean the long pass to Torrey Smith I'm not sure that wasn't Rashad Johnson's fault. He came flying up and Smith ran right byhim. Mathieu clearly expected to have deep help, made a great recovery to not give up a TD on that play.

I thought Johnson was terrible today, one TD everyone wsa blaming on Minter, looked to me like it was Rashad who didn't pick him up. On the long pass and run by the TE, Johnson didn't come up and let the guy have another 10 yards running.

Weird game for him.

Agree, Johnson was awful and out of position on about every big SF play.

 

[Jetstream Green]

I am going to give CJ a pass on this one... our pass blocking was not bad but our run blocking left a lot to be desired

 

[TJ]

I am going to give CJ a pass on this one... our pass blocking was not bad but our run blocking left a lot to be desired

Four substandard games in a row going back to the Browns game. He's out of passes. Dude needs to step up.

 

[82CardsGrad]

-We would not have won this game 6-8 weeks ago. Th setting of the game was no different than St Louis or @Pittsburgh. Difference? We found a way to win and never gave up, particularly on defense.

I'm pretty certain that if the 9ers had a Gurley or a Bell type running back, the outcome of this game might well have been quite different...

-Chris Johnson is running on empty. I'm not sure how much he has left in the tank for the remainder of the season. Now, he has a knee injury. Ellington (depending on his foot injury) and David Johnson need to take the bulk of the carries

Totally agree on CJ. In fact, even before he got hurt I was saying it was time to out him on ice... Problem is Ellington is more fragile that Nicked-Glass! The load may very fall on the shoulder of a rookie in DJ... Uh oh...

-How many times the past two weeks were we stopped on 3rd/4th and one? The offensive line is getting no push and our ball carriers are getting hit before they even reach the LOS, even with Shipley as a lead blocker. This is an issue.

Agree! This is a major issue... combined with the complete disintegration of our running game, will present a massive issue down the stretch and into the post season. In fact, these two issues alone may guarantee an early departure from the post season. Meanwhile, because our run game is no longer a threat, defenses can pin their ears back and relentlessly pound the crap out of Palmer. I hope he makes it out of the regular season able to still stand upright...

-Honey Badger is a great player, but a liability in coverage.

Puzzling... he's in position many times. And then, he's not... Frustrating...

-We really missed Frostee Rucker in this game. The d-line was getting no push in the second half, which was large in part to being razor thin d/t injuries. Gabbert, once he got comfortable in the pocket, made some really nice throws.

I keyed on CC a lot today and the guy was often double and even triple teamed! So you would think other guys would step up... Not so. UGLY situation here...

-Palmer will rebound. He is one of few QBs in the NFL to have selective amnesia when it comes to poor performances. The previous two games are example enough.

Yep... But man, I wish he would stop throwing into double coverage!

-I don't expect this same type of lackluster performance against St. Louis next weekend. This team is still seething from that loss. Also, St. Louis is battling numerous distractions. I expect a more inspired performance and frankly, to beat the living **** out of them.

I definitely don't see a blow-out at all. In fact, I can see yet another nail-biter. And another game where are current injuries are again, magnified and exploited. I can see Gurley going off... I don't fear Foles so much, but of course, we probably won't be putting much, if any pressure on him...
I think this game will come down to the final minutes/seconds... When was the last time the Cards easily won on the road against a division rival?? It won't happen next week... Further, since we entirely forgot how to run the ball, and with CJ banged up and Ellington hurt (we'll see how bad they both are), Carson will be a prime target for the Rams. This game has DANGER written all over it. I really hope we come out of it unscathed with no more injuries... even more than I hope we win!

 

[Proteus]

Chris Johnson's yards per carry has been under 4 for the past 4 games including today and 5 out of the last 6 games.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Chris Johnson's yards per carry has been under 4 for the past 4 games including today and 5 out of the last 6 games.

Well, Cooper and/or Iupati have missed part, or entire games the last 4 weeks. Larsen and Sendlein are a bottom rung Center/Guard combo and may be the worst run blocking C/G combo in the league.

 

[GatorAZ]

Been saying it since he started playing Iupati is horrible keep in mind this guy is supposed to be the best run blocker in the NFL and man has he looked bad in spots and I mean really bad

I said the same thing when we signed him. He never looked impressive to me when we played them throughout the years.

 

[NJCardFan]

I wouldn't be so hard on the team today. After back to back emotional nationally televised wins, a let down was inevitable. Thankfully the 'let down' came against an awful team and we were able to win. I haven't seen the game yet so my analysis is still to come(I'll watch it on Gamepass) but this was a perfect storm game. Like I said, this followed 2 emotionally charged nationally televised games we were able to win over 2 good teams not to mention the -10.5 road line. This really had loss all over it but we won. Now on to a revenge game next week.

 

[SoCal Cardfan]

Those 3rd and short situations

Are they tipping plays via formation? It just seems the d is selling out on the run with LBs and safeties coming down to shoot gaps.

It's almost like I would prefer 3rd and 3 or so

I would say yes, I think BA's play calling can get really predictable, based on nothing except the fact that I'm typically around 85% or better at calling off run or pass to my wife (which annoys the crap out of her)

Maybe I'm just lucky?

 

[cardpa]

I wouldn't be so hard on the team today. After back to back emotional nationally televised wins, a let down was inevitable. Thankfully the 'let down' came against an awful team and we were able to win. I haven't seen the game yet so my analysis is still to come(I'll watch it on Gamepass) but this was a perfect storm game. Like I said, this followed 2 emotionally charged nationally televised games we were able to win over 2 good teams not to mention the -10.5 road line. This really had loss all over it but we won. Now on to a revenge game next week.

Agree, after two emotionally charged games on national television you kind of expected a bit of a letdown. We also have to remember no Rucker or Redding today which I feel confident contributed to the defensive ailments. They solidify the run defense and get push inside on passes. Still no Floyd either. The team did just enough to garner the win so in the end that is all that matters. I think the defense had coverage problems and did not always be in sync with their alignments which resulted in free running receivers. Need to clean that up.

 

[CFLredzoned]

There's alot to be cleaned up. I'm most concerned with the red zone offense not being able to score with what seemed like 10 plays in a row from 1 yard out. That has to be making BA nuts. And that was after he apparently eviscerated the OL at halftime. Usually that works with the defense. Maybe not so much with the OL.

On the 3rd and 1 plays, I'm wondering how much BA is trying to go vanilla before the playoffs, by basically running it every time. We know there are pass plays that will work. Maybe he just doesn't want to wear those plays out - plus he really wants to see if the offense can run for a yard when it has to. I'm thinking in playoff time, we're going to see more passes in those situations.

 

[Krangodnzr]

It's been in the back of my mind for the past few weeks.

It's time to start David Johnson. Let the kid get 25 touches a game. I think he'll be the best back on the roster by the end of the year.

I think a lot of the issues have been injuries to our guards; losing Iupati and Cooper has been tough. Watford and Larsen have been a step down, but that is what you expect when you have two starters out. I think it also shows that Cooper is actually playing pretty decently, not 7th overall decently, but he is a quality starting lineman in the NFL.

I thought they got after Gabbert, but clearly the Cardinals are missing 2 or 3 athletes that can finish. Campbell has never been a great finisher, that is why he has only barely sniffed his potential. Golden is a nice effort player and long term starter, but not a great finisher. Okafor has been invisible as a pass rusher. Rucker has been the best finisher, and obviously him being hurt doesn't help the defense. I think the biggest Cardinals play of the day was Jefferson's sack on 3rd down to force a 4th and 20. The way Gabbert was playing, I think he converts a 4th and 10 easily.

And lastly, I think Gabbert is showing that he could be a long term starter in the Alex Smith mold...

 

[Shaggy]

Chris Johnson's yards per carry has been under 4 for the past 4 games including today and 5 out of the last 6 games.

Do you blame it on him or the Oline? There haven't been to main big holes for him to go through and maybe half the time, he gets stopped a few feet after he gets the ball. I'm thinking its more the Oline not giving him the holes and time to get started on the run. I could be wrong though.

 

[conraddobler]

DJ is the real deal doesn't help he's a rookie cause we'll get rookie mistakes out of him but he's the future.

 

[football karma]

btw: best play call of the day by BA?

end of game -- 2 mins and some change left, Cards first and 10. 49ers with 1 TO left

this had all the look of three hand offs, and a punt back to SF with 1:15 left in the game or so

instead, the quick slant on first down to John Brown for a first down --- 2 minute warning burned and three kneel downs ices it.