By Scooter_McG
What do you get when you pit two out-of-sync offenses against two of the best defenses in the NFL? Well, a great punting battle. At least that's what we got tonight.
The 49ers went down 11-10 against the Broncos in Denver, sinking them to 1 win and 2 losses on the season - the same record they had after three games in 2021. It was both a disappointing result and a disappointing performance.
The game will go down as one of the most dire offensive displays in some time. Neither QB could get in a rhythm all game, and while the running games had their moments, it wasn't enough to overcome the miscues in the passing game.
The 49ers actually got lucky with what was a boneheaded play by Jimmy G to step out the back of the end zone, but turned out to be the better outcome as his throw would have resulted in a pick 6. JG also missed an open Deebo Samuel on a blown coverage despite looking at that side of the field, while he underthrew him on another one where he beat Jewell out of the backfield on a wheel route. The one where he didn't see Deebo wide open it could be argued was just down to progressions, but the frustrating part is his progression started on that side of the field on what looked like a concept that put three receivers at three different levels to the right. Of course, with the game on the line, Jimmy G came up with the crucial turnover as he threw to a well covered Deebo and the ball got tipped for the INT.
On the flip side, both defenses had strong displays that kept their respective teams in the game and came up with big plays throughout.
Here's what stood out to me:
- Aside from one good drive that ended in a TD in the first quarter, the 49ers offense couldn't get anything going. The running game was largely bottled up, and Jimmy G looked, well, let's say rusty. Aside from the misses by JG outlined above, the team had a number of opportunities starting in good field position but failed to make anything of it. It was a sloppy offensive display with some penalties that backed them up in the first half, and some turnovers in the second.
- The 49ers appeared to go away from the running game a bit too often in this one given how good the Broncos pass defense is and how much JG was struggling to get anything going. In particular on the play that was a safety, it seemed a very strange play call given the situation. To then lose Trent Williams on that play was adding insult to injury.
- Jaylon Moore was woeful when he stepped in for Williams at LT. He whiffed on his first snap, almost got JG killed when he literally decided to block nobody rather than his man, and his last snap saw him back pedal faster than Tyreek Hill to ineffectively try and block. He was mercifully benched for McKivitz after that, who didn't fare a whole lot better. Replacing Williams if ne needs to miss some time could be problematic.
- On defense, they did an excellent job of stalling the Broncos offense for the most part, getting some timely negative yard plays to stop drives. However, the run defense did have some issues and when it mattered most in the fourth quarter they were once again unable to close out the game. In saying that, the offense has to wear the bulk of the blame for this one.
- Interestingly, Demo Lenoir got the start in the slot over Womack and he made a lot of good plays in this one, routinely being around the ball.
- It would be remiss not to mention the excellent job by Wishnowsky and the punt coverage unit. They did a good job of making the Broncos start from deep in their territory most of the game, bar on the turnovers.
Hey Scooter_McG, and Razoreater, I spotted eMJay, GEEP, and ribico. They were all 3 hanging out together, "whistling past the old graveyard!"
ReplyDeleteAnonymous
DeleteActually, we were checking out the graveyard to see where you buried your other personalities.....Jaxson16 and 49Reasons......
Why this clown still posts under anonymous is beyond me.
DeleteAlso, says he wont be back til October, never leaves.
IS there an actual block button cause that would be amazing!
No way to block him, but I will delete his posts in an attempt to curb his behavior.
DeleteThanks razor. He's currently polluting multiple blogs, I guess he's beyond your reach there ;)
DeleteRazor
DeleteAs a very wise person once told me, " if you've got nothing good to say, don't say anything.......
On to the Rams game......
The offense was offensive. That is all.
ReplyDeleteJimmy G showing us why Lance was drafted. Yeah....Just not a good game at all from from the Offense.
DeleteWatching the press conference. At least Kyle is taking responsibility.
DeleteAnyway, we will always beat the Rams in the regular season. So we will be .500 after next Monday hopefully! :p
It sure was. Can't help but think if JG hadn't been kept out of all the practices this offseason the offense might have clicked a little better.
Delete"Can't help but think if JG hadn't been kept out of all the practices this offseason the offense might have clicked a little better."
DeleteThis is the line Matt Maiocco has been pushing. I don't see how that could have happened. Lynch made it clear that Jimmy was told that he was welcome to join the QB room and it was his choice not to take part and focus on his rehab.
Maybe so Mood, but this is what you get when you essentially bring in a QB from off the street just before the season starts. No TC, no playbook... the 49ers better hope JG gets up to speed quick or this season will get away from them fast. Today was inept.
DeleteOk it would have been better if had some reps but it was his decision.
DeleteAlso its not that he doesn't have experience in our offense cuz its not that much different.
Shanny still doesn't trust Jimmy G cuz he rather wants to not lose instead of alle or morning that's who he is to cute sometimes.
Scooter,
DeleteI agree with you that Jimmy has rust because of missed time. However, this is not the same as "essentially bringing in a QB from off the street just before the season starts". Jimmy has worked with the same playbook for 5 season. He was asked this question several times over the past 2 weeks and he acknowledged that there are a few new plays he was not familiar but it's overwhelming the same playbook. I'm pretty confident that he will get better over the next few games. But the problems related to shoddy O line play will remain, unfortunately...
Its less the playbook as it is timing. He and his WRs need to work out timing. Oline needs to work out his cadence. These are things that get worked on during camp.
DeleteMood, there was a certain amount of hyperbole in my comment to be sure, but you get my point.
DeleteNot being able/ willing to offload JG meant they couldn't go get a veteran backup QB this offseason. They got a bit lucky in the end that JG was willing to restructure his deal and stay, but now we are seeing the repercussions of putting a QB in the game that had next to no offseason.
If he and the offense don't get up to speed quick the team will be staring down the barrel of a lost season, barring some defensive miracles.
Thanks for the post mortem, Scooter. I am too mortified to comment. I will get myself another drink and retire for the night with visions of McGlinchey ending up on his butt or back on many of the pass plays
ReplyDeleteIt's not just rust when your veteran QB's footwork looks like he's in Pop Warner, and your HC can't dial up a play if his life depended on it! The Broncos did what every team does against Jimmy, they stacked the box after the Niners broke a few runs, and then that was it. Kyle had no answers. How is it that Kyle still doesn't know how to call plays for Jimmy when the defense starts creeping up closer and closer to the line of scrimmage?
ReplyDeleteI watched 22 year old Trey Lance stand at the podium, and took accountability for every single bad play of his, in detail. And then a 30 year old veteran QB in his 8th or 9nth season, doesn't take responsibility. For Trey Lance, it was I need to be better, after the Chicago game. But for Jimmy, it's WE need to be better, and he wanted to make sure well knew that didn't have a training camp, because he reminded us 5 different times in his pressor.
ReplyDeleteI have to admit I barely paid attention to Mike McDaniel when he was on the staff since Kyle is supposed to be the offensive genius. Now I'm wondering just how much the loss of McDaniel has affected this team.
ReplyDeleteThe formula to beat the niner's offense is simple. Sell out to stop the run and make the niners offense beat you through the air. Past results seem to substantiate that this formula will work well over 50% of the time.
ReplyDeleteAnd let's not lose sight of the fact that the 49ers still only lost by a point, thanks to a herculean effort by the defense, and Kyle Shanahan gifted the Broncos 3 POINTS by declining a holding penalty that would have knock them well out of FG range!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds crazy, but I am almost out of words to describe Kyle's ineptitude at this point, when it come to key decision-making!
After some strong morning coffee to get over last night's game, I was reminded how Wilson has won against the Niners for 10 years since the Harbaugh days with a specific backbreaking play.
ReplyDeleteAs the aggressive D line over-pursues him into the backfield on his dropback, he runs right up the gut for a first down or a back breaking throw to receivers improvising to get open.
Occasionally in the last few seasons (as pointed out by Armstead in one of his interviews couple of seasons ago), they seemed to have figured it out: rush with 4 in a disciplined way so as to squeeze the pocket steadily and puss Wilson back. It seemed to me that it did not matter how they played the back end -- Cover 2 or Cover 3 zone.
Yesterday in the second half the D line seemed to lose that discipline in their eagerness to sack Wilson. On that critical play during the scoring drive, the end zone view showed vast expanse of green in the middle without a Niners' defender.
The D Line probably missed Armstead's leadership yesterday.
That comment above is from me, Mood.
DeleteOn that last drive that ol' bugbear certainly reared its head. But for the majority of the game they did a good job.
DeleteUnfortunately, having those kinds of lapses in the fourth quarter is becoming the norm for the 49ers defense. But... the offense really did them zero favours.
"As the aggressive D line over-pursues him into the backfield on his dropback, he runs right up the gut for a first down or a back breaking throw to receivers improvising to get open."
DeleteMood, how that stymies DC after DC after DC, I just don't get.
Rib,
DeleteI think at some point in the fourth quarters, some in the D Line get tired and become impatient. I think Armstead's presence would have helped Hyder and Ebukam (IIRC, those were the two guilt parties but I'm not sure) be patient & keep containment.
I thought JG looked awful live. Seeing some of the breakdowns on Twitter... yowzer. Worse than I thought live. Got very lucky to not have more INTs and missed some wide open guys as a result of locking onto his first read. Broncos defense didn't even pretend to respect the deep ball.
ReplyDeleteI thought JG was meant to be the better QB than Lance right now?
If you needed a reason why he was Lance's backup, you got it last night.
DeleteHe needs reps with the starters to develop timing.
DeleteLets all take a collective breath, its only game 3 of 17.
I like Kyle, he's the best coach since Habrs (and in many ways better since he didn't get himself kicked out after 3 years), but the call at the endzone was horrendous. 1st down should have been QB dive, get a yard, 2 or maybe even 3 to get your butts out of the endzone...then do it again on 2nd down. You may only have 3rd down to try to really convert but at the worst your punter isn't punting with his heels on the backline nor is your QB lined up 7 yards deep on a playaction!! IN THE ENDZONE!!!
ReplyDeleteNot only did that play result in a safety, since JG basically had defenders running free at him (Burford and McG need to work on their communication and understanding of assignment) but was also the play that Williams was hurt on.
I seriously hope Kyle never calls a playaction in the endzone ever again, it takes too much time to run and results in your qb having to take his eyes off the defense.
And still they lost by 1. Should have accepted the call that would have moved Denver out of field goal range, the d was controlling Denver at that point so no need to worry about RW making something crazy happen.
Kyle is a good HC and getting to two NFCCG's in five seasons proves it. There shouldn't be any debate about that.
DeleteBut that doesn't mean he is infallible. It is ok to criticise Shanahan when he makes mistakes, and he does make them. Good on Shanahan this week for owning the decision to run a play action pass at the 49ers 1-yard line as a bad call.
On the decision to not accept the penalty which led to a FG... I can get his reasoning there. How often have we seen the defense gift a new set of downs to the opposition in such a situation? They had the stop, and accepting the penalty risked giving up the stop.
The reason not to like it was that it was the risk-averse, play not to lose decision, rather than the foot on the throat, full of confidence, going out to destroy the opponent decision. But even so, I get it.
Looks like Williams will be out 4-6 weeks. Let's hope whoever replaces him does better with a full week of practice with the 1s.
ReplyDeleteAgree with Hammer on this tweet:
ReplyDeleteJack Hammer
@JackHammer_NFL
On this whole, "Garoppolo didn't have a playbook all offseason."
Stop it. Garoppolo has been with the #49ers since 2017. He knows the playbook.
Again, its not the knowing the playbook, its getting the timing down on those plays. If guys being on teams means they don't need offseason then Tom Brady should have just showed up for opening gameday during his 15+ year run in NE and not practiced or gone to any training camps.
DeleteEven though these dudes have played together, getting the timing of routes, the depths, etc just takes repetition...so while that INT was all on Jimmy the timing between him and Deebo isn't there and that could have been a factor.
Thankfully its just the 3rd game, remember last season they were 2-4 and also 3-5 and went on a run. Thats not to say that should be repeated or is possible to replicate, but get a win Monday night and they're back to .500 and tied for 1st in the West.
Azeez Al-Shaair out two months ligament damage
ReplyDeleteI think they chose wisely. Greenlaw has been running on tackling fuel.
DeleteIt's clean.
DeleteIt's cold.
Now that's what I call "high quality H2O"
Not having a left tackle for the Rams game - that's not good.
ReplyDeleteAll depends on how limited McKivitz's ankle is. He did an adequate job filling in last year.
DeleteI don't ever want to see Moore at LT ever again!
DeleteIt's another year of much the same - injuries.
DeleteAcross the league - lots of injuries.
DeleteFeels like dudes are injured more now that they practice less.
DeleteeMJay, seems that way
Delete"Feels like dudes are injured more now that they practice less"
DeleteOr it could also be related that the 49ers have to scratch and claw for every last inch on the field, in order to get anything done! Deebo and Kittle are twisting and turning 4 or 5 yards downfield, with multiple defenders draped all over them, trying to wrestle them to the grass?
There is just nothing explosive about this Jimmy G led offense, in fact, it's basically the opposite of explosive.
All I know is that Kyle needs to something. Last year was Deebo's epic wide-back arrival, and he turned the season around when he took a tunnels screen 80's yards to get the 49ers back in the game VS Chicago. Who knows, maybe Jordan Mason is the next coming of Earl Campbell, and he can be this years Deebo!
ReplyDeleteAnd BTW, Jimmy is two games over .500 in his last 22 starts for the 49ers. This idea that all Jimmy does is win, is an outdated concept!
Plus, Trent Williams might miss half of the season now at LT.
JL and KS need to do whatever it takes to get the running game going. I know it's tough when you are consistently facing 8 or more defenders down in the box on almost every play, because opposing defenses aren't worried about Jimmy beating them downfield! Figure it out now Kyle. Opposing defenses spent the off-season scheming up ways to contain Deebo, so that's not something that can bail Jimmy out again this season.
And where is DANNY GRAY? For crying out loud Kyle, figure it out. You don't use a 3rd round pick on a speed-demon deep threat simply to use him on clear-outs. Something drastic needs to happen because this 49ers offense is already on life support. We're talking RED ALERT! Do Resuscitate! Please Kyle, DO RESUSCITATE!
We will see how it develops the season is still long so we have time to improve.
ReplyDeleteThe more I think about what went wrong in this one, the more I keep thinking it can be put down to not running the ball enough. Yes, there were plenty of other issues on offense, but I think they are all the types of issues we've seen a number of times before from this team with JG at QB when they don't commit to the run.
ReplyDelete18 carries for the RBs vs 29 passes by JG (+ 4 sacks) - that isn't the run-pass ratio that finds success for the 49ers. And given they had the lead the majority of the game it wasn't like the stats were skewed playing catch up football.
Isn't this the same complaint that posters had last year on multiple blogs? Like I said above - force the 49ers to pass and you immediately up your odds of winning the game.
DeleteAnd Jordan Mason? Can we see what we have in this kid? He seems to have something. I like Jeff Wilson, but what I'd like to see right now is Wilson sharing significant carries with Mason. I know it's a tough position for young players, a lot of blocking assignments to learn on the fly, but I'd rather see Deebo getting more snaps as a WR than a RB right now, because him and Jimmy have developed chemistry in the passing game over the years, and Jimmy could use a security blanket right now on the short to intermediate routes.
DeleteAnd I wouldn't blame you if you rolled your eyes, Scooter_McG, but I have to say that Mac Jones is growing on me. He's kind of an acquired taste. Don't get me wrong, I still think it was a mistake for the Patriots, even though they paid a fraction of what the cost would have been for the Niners. He's too limited to build a team around in an AFC division that includes Josh Allen, and rockstar Mike McDaniel! However, it's good to see Maccorkle working hard to fix one of the concerns I had, with his obvious lack of conditioning. I guess he realized pretty quickly that he's not playing at Alabama anymore. He could get away with not hitting the weight room at Alabama, playing behind that OL. Different story in the NFL, so that's good to see the young man figure it out early. And I stood up and gave him a round of applause when he willfully hopped himself off of the field at the end of the game, because that's what I want to see out of my QB. Would Jimmy ever hop himself off the field? I highly doubt it!
Deletewith our o line he couldnt run the ball.
ReplyDeleteScooter +1 on lack of running the ball. Niners have to run the ball to be successful.
ReplyDeleteI mean yeah, if a team is one dimensional, no matter the team, they become pretty easy to beat.
DeleteThe takeaway for me and hence the continued disappointment is that it appears KS didn't need to pass the ball as much. As Scooter notes, the niners weren't really in a catch up mode until near the end. This happened last year and it appears that the same thing will happen this year. The blueprint for opposing defenses is very clear.
DeleteHowever, it's still early. Let's see what the offensive genius has planned for the Rams.
Even after everything, Niners are the only team in the nfc west with a positive point differential (+10), LA is -9, Az is -25 and Sea is -23.
ReplyDeleteHopefully this grows on Monday night.
So what was JG saying and referring to in the vid that's gone viral?
ReplyDeleteWhat video is this
DeleteJimmy G: Your offense sucks
DeleteShanny: Open your eyes
Film Room: Never lies
To KS - "all your plays suck man"
DeleteIt definitely looked like he was saying something along those lines, but not sure who it was directed towards. It's possible he was just having a go at himself.
DeleteBut... if that was directed at Shanahan... big yikes. Can't have that. Especially when JG was at fault for a lot of the mistakes.
A link to the video please.
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nyf90w9roE
Delete*Full disclosure: This is made for Cohn TV.
DeleteThanks, Razor.
Delete"*Full disclosure: This is made for Cohn TV."
DeleteLol! That gave me a good laugh, thanks razor.
BTW guys, I'm not Nostradamus.
DeleteIn case you guys were wondering what I meant about "human nature" in regards to how skeptical I was that Jimmy G could simply take an embarrassing pay cut, after essentially getting benched in favor of an inexperienced, 22 year old, and peacefully coexists, and even excel if called upon ..... well, you guys are about to long overdue lesson.
How a bunch of grown men could have been this clueless when it comes to the competitive nature of professional athletes, is beyond me, but I am guessing that you're about to learn about it the hard way now.
Jimmy G and his excuses. I expect him to dice up the Rams after the turd he laid at the feet of Shanny.
ReplyDeleteWilson was no better and he is making lots of money. I say bring on Purdy.
DeleteUnder, lmao - we're nowhere near that yet!
DeleteI know, just wanted to stir the pot...
DeleteHow concerned is Richard Sherman about the Niners, after predicting them to win Super Bowl LVII?
ReplyDelete"Yeah, I'm really concerned," Sherman said this week on his podcast. "I'm really concerned now, offensively. I'm not concerned defensively. They're on a historic track. But offensively, I'm very concerned. If you can't protect the quarterback, you're in a world of trouble. And the NFC West is not as tough as it's always been, but the Rams are still tough. They'll see them this week."
Way to go Kyle. Once again you are likely going to squander yet another Super Bowl caliber defense. And DeMeco Ryans will find a HC job after another heartbreaking season, and Kyle's 49ers will start this cycle all over again, picking up the pieces of yet another missed opportunity. Only things get tougher moving forward, as the 49ers will eventually feel the effects of the loss of 3 first-round picks, smack dab in the middle of what should have been a wide-open Super Bowl window, all because Kyle Shanahan simply can't seem to sort out his QB situation!
Niners favored over the Rams - well granted the Niners have done real well against the Rams during the regular season but...
ReplyDeleteRams game turned the season around last year, lets get a repeat
DeleteSure enough games to be played.
ReplyDeleteBut Kyle should alter his offense more like Jimmy G was in New England.
And next season with Trey we should stop with the Navy and Army plays that Trey got and go more traditional so more pocket and play action where he was pretty good in at NDSU./
Well, that sure didn't take long, for Mike McDaniel to severely damage his reputation - three games into his head coaching career.
ReplyDeleteI've been following sports, mma, etc, long enough to know the difference between TUA stumbling around as if was punch drunk, and a "back injury"! What was McDaniel thinking?
"San Francisco 49ers running back coach Bobby Turner has returned to the team, starting with Friday's practice."
ReplyDeleteMM
Just saw this...best news I've heard all week. Was real worried about the run game. Should improve some in the coming weeks.
DeleteTotally agree
DeleteWhat does that say, if anything, about Anthony Lynn?
Deletecubus, there is good and then there is better.
Delete"What does that say, if anything, about Anthony Lynn?"
DeleteNothing much, IMO.
Lynn is the assistant HC and run game coordinator who was helping out as RB coach in Turner's absence. Turner is primarily the RB coach and, contrary to some uninformed talking heads, had clearly stated before he had left that he was returning to his job after recovery.
Over or under -- 2.25 seconds snap-to-throw for Jimmy G on Monday?
ReplyDelete