What a shame. The NFC Championship game played out just like so many other games that the 49ers had won this season: win the battle of field position, ride a stellar defensive performance, and scratch out just enough points on the offensive end. And that formula paved the way to a lead in the 4th quarter with possession. And yet victory slipped away. Still, if the '9ers had came away with the W yesterday, you get the feeling that Giants fans would have been doing even more head scratching; asking themselves "how did this happen?" After all, the Giants did look like the better football team.
Eli Manning outplayed Alex Smith, and by a wide margin. Aside from the two big Vernon Davis plays, the 49ers did close to bubkiss on offense. Wide receiving was exposed as a major weakness for the Red&Gold, whereas it was shown off as an asset for the Giants -- Victor Cruz absolutely torched the '9ers in the first half. Although credit the '9er defense and coaching staff for righting that ship in the second half (Cruz had just 2 receptions after the break). [Side note: I think that a major metric for how NFL coaches are evaluated should be their team's 2nd half performance as compared to the 1st half. Halftime is where the most significant strategic adjustments are made in the chess match against the other coach. The 49ers have made major 2nd half improvements all year, which is one of the reasons I love Harbaugh.]
But just as turnovers did so much for this 49er team all season, turnovers are what did them in on Sunday. Or maybe you could say that Ted Ginn Jr.'s injury did them in. Kyle Williams looked lost out there on punt returns all day. He once signaled for a fair catch when no one was near him. He caught one punt by flat-out diving for it--a risky move with little upside. And of course he was the principal goat on the two plays that defined the game. And the Giants took advantage.
Any unlikely playoff run (such as the one the Giants are on now) requires a lot to go right. The team needs to get their breaks, and the Giants certainly cashed in a few yesterday. Most obvious is the Brooks-Conrad-esque performance by Kyle Williams. But there was also the Ahmad Bradshaw fumble-that-wasn't, after he was ruled down (unreviewably) by forward progress. There were 4 instances where a 49er DB had a great shot at an interception. Unfortunately, those 4 instances occurred over 2 plays, and each time the two DBs crashed into each other, canceling out each other's shot at the ball. On another day the 49ers may have won the turnover battle, and in turn the game.
'Twas still an incredible season. No one could have expected them to get as far as they did. I'm taking comfort in the fact that there's no reason they shouldn't be able to do it again next year. On the negative side, no one will be surprised by the 49ers next year. But they should be able to apply the same formula. Combine that with incremental improvements in Alex Smith and others, and they should be fine.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Championship stone cold locks!!!
Waking up on this day of football and the anticipation is greater than ever. As a lifelong Niner fan, I have bee through the ups and downs over the years.
The Niners have a chance to go to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1997. Back then, we were still in the upper echelon of the league with Young at QB and Mariucci at the helm. Since then we would only reach the playoffs three times in the next 13 years. What a journey is has been. I feel lucky to have been a part of this journey, especially now that it is on the upswing again as we come into today one win away from the big show.
Today is going to be a day to remember at the stick! The house is going to be shaking and the Giants are not going to be ready for the beat down that is about to ensue. As history shows, the Niners have had a tough time getting through this game. In the span from their first Super Bowl win to their fifth in 11 years, the Niners lost four NFC championship games. That being said, today the tides will turn in our favor. The story line is just too good. Harbaugh's first season has been one for the record books! The combination of the Smith brothers and this unbelievable defense is going to get it done.
Stone Cold Lock:
49ers -3
Final Score:
49ers: 30
Giants: 20
As for their opponent in two weeks.....
You can get into this game and talk about all the different players and play makers, but really it comes down to one situation. Can the Ravens defense stop the Gronk and Brady show? No one really has been able to stop this combo and I don't see that changing at all. It's going to be a big day for Gronk and Brady. While T-Sizzal (Terrell Suggs) and the murderer (Ray Lewis) are trying to get to Brady, the rest of the team is going to be seeing the back of Gronk's jersey as he runs away from them for the score. Once Gronk and Brady connect for the first two scores of the game, the Ravens are going to have to play catch up all game.
Stone Cold Lock:
Over 52
Final Score:
Hatriots: 38
Ravens: 31
Indy here we come! Brady against his childhood team!
See you at the Stick!
-Mr. A
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Darron Thomas to enter the NFL draft!
With that out of the way, everyone wants to know, who is going to fill the void of DT at the helm. My first guess is that Bryan Bennett will get the initial push as the starter, but do not sleep on a great incoming freshman from Hawaii, Marcus Mariota. This 6'5" 190 lb. stud has 4.4 40-yard dash speed and has been running the zone read option offense for his entire high school career. My guess is that Marcus is going to light up the practice field and by the spring game this coming year, he will show that he is ready to lead this team. Below is a good article with some background on Marcus.
-Mr. A
30 years and five days later...
This paints the best picture of the game last night for me!
NIIIINEEEEERS!!!!!!
Cheers,
Mr. A
P.s. If you want to see it again, here it is!
http://blog.sfgate.com/49ers/2012/01/14/relive-the-49ers-winning-drive/
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
From the slammer to the Rose Bowl defensive player of the game!
As if a 2010 DUI (suspended for the entire 2010 season) and then a season ending knee surgery wasn't enough for Kiko Alonso. In May of this year, Alonso was arrested and booked on burglary charges. Again, Alonso put his eligibility in Kelly's hands. Like we all know, Kelly handles these situations with discipline but also with a plan. Alonso was given a similar opportunity that Blount got after the Boise punch. Again, the player in the spot light shined, worked his ass off, and made the best of a bad situation. It not only made Kiko a better person, but also a better football player. Kiko was named the defensive MVP of the Rose Bowl last night with a handful of great plays and one timely interception.. This was just a great example of how a young man can learn from his mistakes. Kiko learned from the mistakes he made and made sure the past stayed behind him. His positive actions spread through the locker room as he turned his life on and off the field right side up. This should be a good lesson for all the young kids and young athletes out there. If you screw up and are given a chance to redeem yourself, don't be greedy. Use it as an opportunity to make yourself shine.
Here's a more in depth article about Alonso's story and the game last night.
Happy new year!
Go Ducks! Great win last night! What a send off for LMJ, you will be missed. Good luck in the NFL and hopefully you get drafted by the Niners!
Cheers,
Mr. A
P.s. Hey Cliff Harris, you should have taken notes from this guy!
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