Doesn't feel like it. I traveled up to Motown to see this team in person. It was a beautiful summer day as I stood in line to enter Ford Field. One of the first things I noticed was a picture of Jared Goff with the words, "Papi's Home". I thought it was funny given I had always thought of Goff as more of a "mijo", but I digress. I got through security with no problem, and the line moved quickly. The 49ers were well represented. I made my way down to the field area so I could watch Bosa warm up. He looked good. Deebo, Sherfield and Aiyuk played catch with our section twice a piece which was cool. To my surprise, Trey Sermon was inactive.
The game began on a sour note for the 49ers, but the defense bailed them out. Campbell's aggressive nature was apparent early on. I felt this game should be a blowout and that's just how it unfolded until a series of unfortunate events had 49er fans very nervous. From not executing on 3rd and 6 with 6 minutes to go in the game, to Kittle's greasy hands; the Lions were in business where they should have had no business. So with the injuries and the way the team closed out the game, it was more a feeling of relief rather than emphatic victory.
On the way out of the stadium, the Niners chant echoed quite loudly throughout the halls as we made our way out of Ford Field, which did hearten our collective 49er souls.
The Positives:
The offense looks like the strength of the team. To see Trent Williams perform was truly amazing. Except for the initial hiccup, Jimmy looked real good. Seemed to move in the pocket well. This could be a record year for Shanny in points scored. Mitchell looks like Mostert but not as upright a runner. Defensively, the pass rush was lethal making Goff very uncomfortable.
The Concerns:
Injuries. They rolled the dice on Verrett, and he didn't last one game. Mostert-rati, like a true sports car is back in the shop, likely not to return.
Discipline issues defensively, specifically Al-Shaair and Greenlaw in the running game left me wondering if the departure of Holland has had a residual effect. I saw Givens getting pushed around, along with Kerr. Seems like it might be a problem until they can get Kinlaw healthy.
Foot on the throat mentality is still missing in action. From the head coach down the team has to learn how to finish an opponent, otherwise a better team will rip our hearts out like Kansas City did.
News And Notes:
Signed: CB Dre Kirkpatrick, one-year deal Promoted
RB Trenton Cannon
CB Dontae Johnson from team's practice squad. IR RB Raheem Mostert CB Jason Verrett Practice squad Add: LB Curtis Bolton RB Kerryon Johnson Cut: WR Isaiah Zuber
Most yards per carry in NFL history for RBs in regular season + playoffs (min 300 att): Raheem Mostert 5.77 Bo Jackson 5.49 Bobby Mitchell 5.43 Jamaal Charles 5.40
Here was the throw right in front of our section to Sherfield by Trey Lance:
Here's a video my daughter took of this kid that apparently lost a bet. She put it on Tic-Tok and it went viral. Last I checked it was over 1.5 million and Draft Kings put it up on their website. Fun Times!
Very, very nice. Thanks for writing it and taking the pic. Your daughter too.
ReplyDeleteThe realist in me wouldn't be surprised if Kinlaw goes to IR and we abandon the Wide 9 for a while. Wouldn't be the worst thing.
Thanks, George. I'd be extremely surprised if they abandoned the Wide 9. Seems like they just need to be more like "Textbook Trent" when it comes to assignments.
DeleteAwesome Razor! Glad you could travel to the game and see the team in person! Thanks for the writeup!
ReplyDeleteHow is the chemistry between Shanahan, Jimmy and Lance? I mean between snaps did you see anything to suggest that Shanahan favors one or the other?
Thanks, Mugeek9er. Nah, I didn't see anything to suggest he favors one over the other. I said before that I thought Lance would see the majority of his snaps down in the red zone, and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
DeleteWhat a great experience for you and your family.
ReplyDeleteI am a huge fan of playful punishments for bet losers or lessons (I used them when I was a TEFL teacher)... maybe not tattoo punishments as they tend to last too long :D.
I agree with George in terms of the wide 9, though I think they will likely still use it on different opponents and in certain scenarios rather than abandon it all together. 1st and 10 would be more of a standard Seattle cover 3 alignment with only your LEO being wide, 2nd and 7 or Longer would be wide 9 alignment.
That said, the Dline was particularly disturbing because of how bad the secondary is. They gave up a ton of yards to an immobile qb with the worst receiving corps in the NFL. This is part of the reason why I think Jimmy got the nod. He's better suited to a ball control offense that just keeps the chains moving and keeps the defense off the field. Trey might be more explosive and the offense might indeed put up more points with him on the field, but it is more likely to come at a cost to the defense.
Yea, I really enjoyed it, Shoup. Doubt they abandon the wide 9 based on Shanny's belief that it was execution rather than scheme. Warner even said there were technique issues and "freelancing" going on. After an ass chewing I expect the defense to be much more disciplined against the Eagles.
DeleteThat would be problematic imo. The players they have in the interior are better at penetrating than holding at the point of attack. From what I saw even when they were disciplined, they were physically getting beat and this line is even better.
DeleteCan't argue your point. I was shocked because I assumed the hype regarding our defensive line. I didn't think anyone could run against us. I was dead wrong until proven otherwise.
DeleteNice one razor!
ReplyDeleteThis win definitely felt a bit bittersweet.
Thanks, Scooter. Can't wait to see how the team responds in Philly.
DeleteHmm, Dre Greenlaw is out for a minimum of 6-8 weeks, probably longer.
DeleteIf only we had been developing another big, tall, instinctive ILB to back him up. You know, an instinctive ILB like Jonas Griffith, who stands 6'4", and weighs 250 lbs, but still runs like the wind? Too bad those guys don't grow on trees, hah Scooter, and Razor?
Oh wait, am I to believe that the 49ers traded away their best potential Dre Greenlaw replacement? The kid who I told everyone to keep an eye on early on in training camp? You know, the kid who looked like the best defensive player on the field at times both late in trainng camp, and during the preseason?
I am sure glad ShanaLynch were smart enough not to take the bait, and trade away to Denver a player like that, in order to keep an undersized ILB who couldn't cut it as a Safety.
I mean, it's not like ILB's get injured or anything. And it's certainly not like this kid's potential was obvious to everyone watching the 49ers practice during training camp or the preseason, right?
SMH, without even getting into what Steve Young has been saying about the 49ers QB situation, I can say emphatically that my patience with ShanaLynch is quickly approaching a breaking point!
By the end of the season you're going to be an emotional wreck. Better to pace your outrage, lmao!
DeleteLol, you're probably right, Razor. My wife tells me the same thing. To be clear, I'm not really blaming anyone for the injuries, although I would have pulled Verrett, Bosa, and Ford after they went up 41-17 with 9;53 left in the 4th QTR.
DeleteAnd one of big things I would have done is I would have brought Trey Lance in for an entire series to see if he can use up some clock by expending the running game call sheet. Because if Trey is unable to expend the rushing game call sheet,' I don't know why Kyle is bringing him in and putting him at risk, using him almost exclusive in the run game.
What purpose does it serve to bring Trey in on 3rd and 20, just to have him run the football into the teeth of the defense, if you don't trust him to do the same thing with the team up 41-17 late in the game? I just don't understand why Kyle is using Trey the way that he is. If you don't trust him to throw the football, opposing teams are going to pick up on that real quick. And if opponents aren't respecting Trey as a passer, why the h_ll is Kyle letting him run keepers against a stacked box? Why would you risk injury to use Trey in that way, when it does next to nothing in terms of his development? I'd much rather Kyle just kept him off the football field for now, because all he is doing, IMO, is hurting the kid's confidence while exposing him to injury. And to me, that doesn't make a lick of sense! If Trey gets hurt doing this senseless stuff, it would be an epic failure, and a disaster of monumental proportions!
I'm going to keep saying this last thing, because I think it needs to be said repeatedly. Steve Young is absolutely right, IMO. Kyle is playing with fire right now, when it comes to his QB's. How did Steve word it? "the 49ers quarterback situation as 'fraught with terror', considering how it plays out!" I don't think he's exaggerating, and I don't think Kyle is considering all of the potential problems he could be creating, with the way he's handling this thing.
DeleteNot only does Trey HAVE to be better than Fields and Jones next season, he has to do better than Garoppolo, and Stafford, despite being an infant compared to those two seasoned veterans.
I am just gobsmacked that the way this is playing out. In a million years I would never have guessed this offseason would have played out the way it has. Not only did Kyle openly admit his disappointment in not being able to replace jimmy with Mathew, but now it appears that Kyle wanted Mac Jones all along, only to be overruled by John and ultimately Jed.
Unless Jimmy gets hurt (knock on wood), which would be very bad, or they end up winning the Super Bowl this season (which would be fantastic) I just don't see a scenario in which this QB transition doesn't end up splitting both the front office, and the fan base. That's the kind of stuff that almost always spells disaster in the long run. And that's if they are able to avoid a classic QB controversy this season, which is still a real possibility.
Thanks for sharing Razor! Looks like you guys had fun!
ReplyDeleteI think we win the next game but it will be closer. The Eagles have a better center than the Lions so the wide 9 will be tested again. Let's see how Demeaco adjust.
You're welcome. Yea, gonna be a real test of strength vs. strength when our offensive line meets their defensive line.
DeleteMatt Barrows
ReplyDelete@mattbarrows
LB Dre Greenlaw is having a procedure to repair a groin injury, according to multiple sources. It is not believed to be season ending.
12:10 PM · Sep 16, 2021
Wow! Just wow.
Here we go again. Who takes his spot, Harris?
DeleteDemetrius Flannigan-Fowles
DeleteCool. I was looking at the depth chart and they had Harris listed behind Greenlaw.
DeleteLikely Harris, but my concern is that Harris is, for the most part a hybrid moving in to LB position.
ReplyDeleteLosing Greenlaw and Verrett (please correct me if I'm wrong) that play on the same side could be a serious issue going forward.
It's starting to look like the football gods don't like the 49ers 😡 lol.
As long as we don't lose our main horses we should be "ok".
DeleteThanks for taking the time to put this out there Razor....
ReplyDeleteI would like to see one of the Tackles (Givens/Kerr) yanked if they lose gap integrity as they appear to have done on those long runs...
* I am not at PD often, but there is a "49erReasons" that makes Seb's posting volume look tame, believe it or not.
dip, he's here too.
DeleteYou're welcome.
DeleteI don't often agree with 49erReasons, but I like that he brings a different angle to the table. Cookie-cutter comments need some spice now and again.
ReplyDeleteThanks AES, I'm am going to try to be a little more optimistic moving forward, but some of these things are really bothering me.
ReplyDeleteFor instance, how long until we start talking about this:
"South Carolina football standout Javon Kinlaw pulled out of the Senior Bowl on Thursday with what reports say is tendinitis in one of his knees"
Of all of the questionable draft decision ShanaLynch have made that are catching up to this team, where does this one potentially rank? Remember, the 49ers drafted this kid to replace a durable, all pro caliber DT.
Hey, remember when Ford was dealing with the same thing? Take solace in this:
DeleteDr. Michael Banffy, Ford’s tendinitis was sever enough to require surgery after the 49ers’ run to Super Bowl LIV. The surgery is expected to help Ford build up his knee healthily rather than try and repair what is still there.
“The area of that tendon that is either removed or cleaned up or repaired is actually the same area of the tendon that we take very frequently for ACL reconstructions,” Banffy said. “And people are able to recover from graft harvests for an ACL very well. I think this can be very analogous to that and even less significant than that.” “You typically don’t see tendinitis this severe. But I’ve known other players in the NFL and NBA who (have had surgery). They’ve all been able to return back to sport and are actually quite happy they’ve had it done.”
I'm assuming the surgery Kinlaw had is similar, and that eventually the team will get it healthy. He's much younger than Ford was when he had the surgery and I don't know that it was as severe.
49R/Razor,
ReplyDeleteNo problem 49Reasons. I like to be the guy who goes off the beaten path sometimes.
I can't help but to think of Solomon Thomas in this instance. I certainly don't want to see Kinlaw become the new Solomon Thomas who languished on the roster longer than he should have. But, that said, Kinlaw is only entering his second year and I would venture that the 49ers are not even entertaining the thought that they might have another Solomon Thomas on their hands.
Thomas didn't have the physical ability
while Kinlaw showed that he's capable of manning his position. That's the big difference between Thomas and Kinlaw. Based on that, I see Kinlaw as being a force up front (especially in the run game) once he's healthy.
Thomas is a classic tweener, and his picture should be in the dictionary next to the word. How on the world any team would spend the #3 overall pick on an undersized interior lineman, which is the type of players who fails more than any other, is just beyond me.
DeleteBut hey, I am more worried about their most recent draft misses at this point, because I think they are clearly catching up to them.
Excellent information Razor. I hadn't heard of this particular medical procedure. That definitely makes me feel better about this. The defense definitely needs Kinlaw's big body anchoring the middle of the DL. He may not be the best interior pass rusher, but he can certainly penetrate the pocket, and he is an immovable force up the middle vs the run!
ReplyDeleteAs for Dee Ford .,. his comeback is, for me, one of those biggest stories in football right now. Certainly one of the biggest stories for the 49ers.
Like I said above, I've decided to channel more positive vibes moving forward. I know you guys would all appreciate a little less cup-half-empty commentary, and a little cup-half-full.
Cheers!
Plus, my sanity could use a use a new perspective.
Delete