This will be my first time blogging with this new setup. Not quite sure how it's going to work, but I'll give it my best shot. I think the updates will be instantaneous, as opposed to the old system in which there was about a 10-minute lag between the time I posted to when it actually showed up.
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Kickoff is several hours away, so please click here for an article in today's PD on 49ers safety Michael Lewis to help you occupy some time.
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49ers inactives: QB Jamie Martin (third QB), CB Reggie Smith, CB Shawntae Spencer, LB Roderick Green, LB Ahmad Brooks, C Cody Wallace, T Jonas Jennings and LB Manny Lawson.
Eagles inactives: QB A.J. Feeley (third QB), S J.R. Reed, RB Brian Westbrook, DE Bryan Smith, G Shawn Andrews, G Mike McGlynn, WR Kevin Curtis and WR Reggie Brown.
Hank Baskett and DeSean Jackson start at WR for Curtis and Brown; Max Jean-Gilles starts at RG for Andrews; Dan Klecko starts at FB for Tony Hunt,and Correll Buckhalter starts at RB for Westbook.
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Just ran into Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg, a San Jose native who was part of Steve Mariucci's staff as O.C. I asked him what to expect from his offense today. His answer: "Hey, we're just trying to score a point."
Defensively, I'd expect the 49ers to get back to basics and not try to match personnel as much as they have in the past. The 49ers need to scrap their passive approach and play an attacking style today -- the kind of football we haven't seen since they went after Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers in the exhibition season.
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Patrick Willis will indeed be wearing the green dot in today's game. It'll be his first game wearing the radio device in his helmet for direct communications from the sideline. Mark Roman, who held the responsibility the first five games, is the backup green-dotter.
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Hey, how 'bout those Rams? They won their first game under Jim Haslett, a 19-17 victory over the Redskins. It was the Rams' first win of the season.
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Eric Heitmann, Patrick Willis, Michael Robinson and Walt Harris are the 49ers' captains. John Taylor is the 49ers' honorary captain. Referee Ron Winter with the coin toss.
Eagles call tails. It's tails. They will receive.
FIRST QUARTER
--Niners kick coverage is Strickland, Hill, Walker, K.Lewis, Robinson, Keasey, Goldson , Ulbrich, Hudson and Brown. Nedney with his third touchback of the season. Eagles take over at the 20.
--Niners open in 3-4, with J.Smith at LOLB. DeSean Jackson drops pass with Clements in coverage.
--Third and 8. Niners come with blitz and Brown nearly gets a pick. The blitz was Willis up the middle.
--Rossum with great punt return of 45 yards to the Philly 18. Then, he starts game on offense as a receiver. That's believed to be the first offensive start of his NFL career. He has started nine games on defense in his career.
--On third down, Morgan is in, and Bryant Johnson is not. Morgan fails to make the catch on a slant. Johnson did not play at all on that drive.
--Nedney makes a 32-yard field goal. That hurts that they weren't able to punch it into the end zone. It's 49ERS 3, EAGLES 0 with 12:34 remaining in the quarter.
--Quintin Demps with a long return. Looks like Nedney got hurt while trying to make the back. His left arm looks injured. Eagles take over at the 49ers' 37.
--Niners now in a 4-3 defense. It'll be third-and-2 at the 29. Goldson, Banta-Cain and Brown are on, Sopoaga, Franklin and Spikes are out. Baskett with the catch vs. Roman. The ball came loose, but the 49ers didn't see it in time to challnege the call.
--On third-and-1, Buckhalter pounds it inside for a first down. Eagles have a first and goal at the 1. Don't think the 49ers have much of a chance to keep them out of the end zone.
--Buckhalter over the top for a TD. It's EAGLES 7, 49ERS 3 with 9:08 remaining in the quarter.
--The big play on that drive was the 49ers' inability to get the challenge on the third-down pass to Baskett. Director of football operations Paraag Marathe is up in the booth to advise Nolan on such calls.
--Morgan is in again in place of Bryant Johnson. Gore gains 6 on first down.
--Gore with 17 yards on second down to midfield. Delanie Walker is on the field, along with Davis.
--Throwback screen to Vernon Davis. The Eagles had it sniffed out. Three defenders were right there. A loss of 1 yard. It's third and 12.
--On third down, the Eagles jump offside.
--The Niners have Gore, Davis, Morgan, Bruce and Battle on the field. JTO gets the ball out to Davis just in time. He takes it 24 yards for a first down.
--Second and 1. Robinson is in backfield to take direct snap with JTO split out wide left. But it's a false start on Heitmann for an illegal snap.
--Second and 6. Eagles come with blitz (surprise!) and JTO throws it to Walker. He's not looking. Now it's third down.
--JTO tries to get pass to Gore before the blitz gets there. It's off Gore's hands.
--Nedney is on to attempt a 37-yard field goal. He had a shoulder sprain on that kickoff a while back. He makes the kick. It's EAGLES 7, 49ERS 6 with 4:25 remaining in the quarter. The 49ers' drive was 9 plays, 54 yards in 4:43.
--Coverage was finally good on the kickoff. Jason Hill and Keith Lewis with the tackle of Demps. It was a 17-yard return. Eagles take over at the 22.
--Eagles have three WRs on field, and the 49ers stick with their base personnel. Jackson with 1 yard on an end-around. So long, Big Sub.
---Baskett with a 10-yard catch. Eagles are at their own 46.
--Third and 7. Big play for 49ers' defense. Their dime package (Sub) is on the field. . . Jason Avant beats Harris in man coverage for a 17-yard gain.
--The Eagles set up the screen nicely to Buckhalter for a 25-yard gain. They're knocking on the door again with a first-and-goal at the 9 when the second quarter begins.
SECOND QUARTER
--McNabb to Jackson for 7 yards to the 2.
--Incomplete on second down to McNabb.
--Big third and goal from the 2 . . . Baskett with the TD catch over Harris. (Not a good beginning of this game for Harris.) Nolan is not happy on the sideline. Let's see the replay to see if Baskett did, indeed, get both feet inbounds. Yep, looked good. Now it's EAGLES 14, 49ERS 6 with 14:06 remaining. That was another long scoring drive for the 49ers' opposition, a 10-play march.
--Robinson with holding penalty on kickoff return. Niners begin at the 11-yard line. Robinson is now on the field with the offense.
--Gore with the carry, but there's another flag. Holding on Vernon Davis. That'll back it up to the 6. First and 15.
--Pass to Robinson for a first down. That was Robinson's first touch of the season. He comes out, Battle comes in.
--Gore picks up a first down after a couple runs.
--On second down, Morgan and Robinson . . . and Bryant Johnson makes his debut. The Niners run the option with Robinson taking the handoff from JTO and then pitching to Gore. It's a 5-yard gain.
--On third down, DeShaun Foster was stopped short on third down. The Niners will call out the punting team after no gain.
--INJURY UPDATE: FB Zak Keasey has been taken to the locker room for X-rays on his right arm. His return is questionable. (Moran Norris, who was among the 49ers' final cuts, signed with the Lions last week.)
--DeSean Jackson back deep to receive Lee's punt. He takes Lee's 47-yard punt right up the field for 19 yards. Eagles take over at their own 36.
--Jackson with 26-yard pass from McNabb. He was wide open against the 49ers' zone. The Eagles are on the march again.
--Third and 5. Can the 49ers stop somebody? The answer is no. Banta-Cain jumps offside and the Jackson catches a 26-yard pass down the field against Tarell Brown. The Eagles have the ball at the 7. The 49ers are challenging the call. Man, Nolan is really angry on the sideline, yelling at Banta-Cain.
--I didn't see anything on the intial replay that made me think this play will get overturned. Maybe Nolan is just trying to "slow down" the game again.
--Ron Winter said the ruling on the field stands.
--This is a huge sequence for the 49ers.
--It's third and goal from the 3. . . shovel pass? No, it's a quick strike to Jackson, who is stopped at the 1. The Eagles are sending out their FG unit. Akers with the 19-yard FG. That's a big stop for the 49ers' defense. Now it's EAGLES 17, 49ERS 6 with 4:30 remaining in the half.
--Keasey is back on the sideline with his right arm in a pretty substantial wrap.
--Niners begin this drive at the 28 after Rossum's 24-yard return. The 49ers have Walker, Davis, Bruce, Morgan and Gore on the field. Morgan is seeing a lot of playing time in this game.
--Niners will get the ball to open the second half. They need some points to close the first half.
--JTO incomplete on first down. The protection is holding up pretty well.
--Third and 4 after 6-yard hot route pass to Davis.
--JTO scrambles for the first down at the 49ers' 43.
--O'Sullivan scrambles again for another first down, as he dives ahead for 11 yards. The 49ers will have the ball at the Philly 46 after the two-minute warning.
--Battle for 13 yards on quick slant.
--False start on Barry Sims. That moves it back to the 38. First and 15.
--On second down, another false start. This one's on Vernon Davis. And now Davis comes off the field, replaced by Bryant Johnson. It's second and 19.
--Niners call a timeout to avoid the 10-second runoff after the penalty. They have one timeout remaining in the half.
--Completion to Isaac Bruce for 7 yards. The 49ers have it at the 35. They need some yards to at least give Nedney a better chance for points.
--JTO throws it away. I think he missed an opportunity early to get it to Gore. Nedney on for a 53-yard attempt. He made it. Barely -- by a foot. Wow. That was a big kick. It's EAGLES 17, 49ERS 9 with :29 left in the half.
--Nedney's kickoff is a touchback. The Eagles have :29 to work. Handoff to Buckhalter for 9 yards. The Eagles take a timeout.
--Eagles gain 5 on pass to Buckhalter. The Eagles call their second timeout with :16 remaining. They have the ball on their own 34.
--They complete a pass at midfield with :09 remaining.
--McNabb with a remarkable play to shove a pass to Buckhalter, who takes it to the 36 for 14 yards. Akers will come on to try a long field goal.with :01 remaining Akers will try from 54 yards out.
--Are you kidding me? The Niners block the kick. Strickland picks it up and returns it for a TD. That's incredible. The Niners are going to kick the PAT. Very smart to not go for two points at this point. McDonald blocked the kick. Strickland returns it 41 yards for a TD. Wow. No, double-wow.
It's EAGLES 17, 49ERS 16 at the half. That's the kind of play that goes against the 49ers.
--The Niners get the ball to open the second half. O'Sullivan is 9 of 14 for 71 yards (76.8 rating) at the half. Gore has carried 10 times for 49 yards, and Davis has three catches for 29 yards.
For the Eagles, McNabb has completed 15 of 22 for 191 yards and a TD (110.2 rating). Buckhalter has eight carries for 32 yards, and Jackson has four catches for 62 yards.
Eagles are 5 of 7 (71 percent) on third downs, while 49ers are 2 of 6 (33 percent on third downs.
THIRD QUARTER
--Pass to Bruce for 21 yards on first play of the second half. Niners ball at their own 43.
--Hot throw to Battle for big yards against the Eagles' blitz. It's a 26-yard gain to the Eagles 35.
--Rossum in at wideout. Catches a 4-yard pass.
--Gore busts one up the middle for 25 yards, making Brian Dawkins miss. Morgan and Bruce blocking well down the field. Morgan was blocking Lito Sheppard, who thinks he was being held.
--Gore takes it in from 6 yards out. That's a 49ers touchdown. It's 49ERS 23, EAGLES 17 with 11:14 remaining in the third quarter. Game on!
--INJURY UPDATE: Eagles LT Tra Thomas has a foot sprain. His return is questionable.
--Buckhalter with an 11-yard gain to the Philly 44.
--On third-and-1, McDonald stops Buckhalter for a 1-yard LOSS. He got past Thomas, who is back in the game. Eagles punt for the first time.
--Niners take over at their own 12 after Rossum's fair catch.
--Robinson with a big gain, but Sims is called for holding. He didn't need to hold on that play with Robinson already past him.
--Gore with nice 7-yard gain. It probably would've been no gain.
--Vernon Davis is alive! He puts together a 57-yard catch and run to the Eagles' 27. That's his fifth catch of the game. He came into this game with five catches for the season.
--The 49ers have to burn a timeout with the play clock winding down.
--After Wragge false start and a couple Gore runs, it's third and 7.
--Pass to Gore. Close to the first down. They're calling it fourth down. It's fourth and 1. The 49ers are going for it.
--Robinson and Gore in the backfield. Gore gets it over the right side. He is one determined guy. Niners with first down on the 15.
--Foster is in for Gore. He runs for 1 yards and 3 yards on back-to-back plays. It's third and 6 from the 11.
--JTO tries a throw-back screen. Davis was open, but the ball is overthrown. That probably would've been a TD.
--Nedney on the field to try a 29-yard FG. It's good. Now it's 49ERS 26, EAGLES 17 with 3:01 remaining in the quarter.
--Around the NFC West: The Cowboys lead the Cardinals 14-13, and the Packers lead the Seahawks 17-10. Both games are late in the third.
--Eagles take over at the 23 after the kickoff. Let's see what the 49ers' defense is made of.
--McNabb goes deep. It's incomplete, off Roman's hands. But they call illegal contact on Walt Harris (vs. Greg Lewis). It's a 5-yard penalty and a first down.
--Buckhalter gets to the sideline, avoids a tackle attempt by Michael Lewis, and gains 28 yards to the 49ers' 39.
--Takeo Spikes with his third INTERCEPTION in three games. He cut in front of TE L.J. Smith to make the pick. The 49ers take over at their own 12. That was a huge, huge play at the end of the third quarter.
FOURTH QUARTER
--As we start the fourth quarter, one thing should be noted: The 49ers have yet to surrender a sack.
--Third and 10 for the 49ers . . . Yikes. And that's a sack. Sorry about that. Vernon Davis surrendered the sack. Hey, what do you expect from the team's No. 1 receiving option?
--Eagles take over at the 38 after a not-so-impressive Andy Lee punt.
--Niners come with blitz, but it doesn't get close. Jackson makes a 17-yard catch. He has six catches for 98 yards.
--Buckhalter for 15 yards to the 11.
--Spikes and Justin Smith stop Buckhalter for 1-yard loss.
--Completion to Baskett in front of Brown. It'll be third and 1 from the 2.
--McNabb with a 2-yard TD pass to Smith vs. Clements, who appeared to be in position to make the interception. It's 49ERS 26, EAGLES 24 with 11:38 remaining. Now, the offense has to see if it can get the job done.
--Rossum's return gives the 49ers the ball at the 27. Right now, the 49ers have Bajema and Davis in the huddle -- an indication they'd like to run the ball.
--Deep for Davis. Underthrown. Incomplete. Bajema stayed into block on the play.
--On second down, Morgan might have run the wrong route. Another incomplete pass.
--It's third and 10. Why didn't they run on first or second down?
--Davis thrown for a big loss back to the 20 on a screen. That was a horrendous series. Now, Lee will have to punt. A three-and-out with virtually no time running off the clock.
--Jackson with a nice return, and Delanie Walker with an incredible, decleating hit to upend end near midfield. Eagles' ball, down by two points.
--Eagles are already in field-goal range -- at the 24 after two plays to Buckhalter.
--Patrick Willis got his hands on the ball and should've had an interception. Instead, it's now third and 10 from the 24.
--McNabb gains 4 yards on a scramble to the 20.
--Akers to attempt a 38-yarder. That was close. And Clements ran down the field to argue. It barely got inside the right upright. That makes it EAGLES 27, 49ERS 26 with 7:46 remaining in the game.
--Just before the kickoff. Nolan challenged the field goal. He just threw the red flag. I'm not sure this can be challenged. Just listening to Rod Brooks on the sideline. He said it looked good to Brooks. This might be a useless challenge. This sure looks like a play that has no chance of being overturned. This could really backfire on the 49ers . . . and Nolan.
--No surprise. The call stands. Niners have only one timeout and no challenges remaining.
--Walker on an end-around. Bruce misses a block. That goes for a 10-yard loss back to the 30. That makes it third-and-18. Walker is shaken up and leaves the game.
--O'Sullivan picked off by Quintin Mikell, who returns it to the 49ers' 7. Now, the defense needs to hold the Eagles to a FG.
--It's third and goal from the 7 . . . three-man rush and Haralson bats it down at the goal line. The 49ers will hold them to a FG attempt.
--Akers makes a 25-yard FG. It's EAGLES 30, 49ERS 26 with 5:14 remaining.
--Gore gains 1 yards on first down from their own 19.
--With the play clock running down and guys shifting around and around, JTO calls the 49ers' final timeout with 4:20 remaining.
--Illegal formation. It's second and 14. JTO gains 11 yards on a scramble. Not quite sure how he got away.
--It's third-and-3 . . . JTO stripped as he was throwing. Looks as if the Eagles recovered with 3:11 remaining at the 49ers' 20.
--That might do it, folks. The 49ers have ZERO timeouts remaining.
--Eagles tack on a field goal, and then Juqua Parker returns an interception 55 yards in the closing seconds. It's a final EAGLES 40, 49ERS 26.
Hi Matt. Love the blog. I just thought of something. Tell me what you think if you have time. Nolan says his players are making mistakes. It’s a brilliant strategy to save his job. It’s like a boxer getting knocked out, and on the way to the canvass he throws a fury of punches. The reason it will probably work is because the York’s are not football smart. If the players are under performing, and it’s not the scheme, well it must be the talent! And who’s the talent evaluator….Scotty Mac!! I think Nolan is not bus chucking the players, but Scot. It’s survival mode at this point. I think the York’s are going to have to make a decision between Scot and Nolan, and I think Nolan knows it. I wish I could see the look on McCloughans face when Nolan trash’s the players! I wish they could get them both out, but that is unrealistic. What do you think of my theory?
Do you know if the Defense is going to "stay the course" from a vanilla standpoint today?
The coaches job is to get the team ready to play on Sunday. So far this team has come out flat from the first game of the year. Nolan has not only been passing the blame off on his players for this, but he makes strange decisions on defensive play calling and game decisions. We have too many good players to be playing this poorly. Its time for him to go, hes been given way more time to get this team playing decent than any other coach has ben given.
Chip,your analogy needs work and Nolan was just stating the obvious: players are fumbling, missing tackles, not picking up their blocks, throwing INT's, getting dumb penalties, dropping 3rd down passes, missing field goals, and getting burned for 60 yrd TD's.
You can hate Nolan but blaming him for everything that makes you sad is just....
Hey Matt....Have a great day at the old stick
how big is it for 49ers deffence to have Westbrook, Curtis and Brown missing from the Eagles offence??? are the safeties and the LBS gonna have more freedom maybe to blitz more???
With 5 active LBs a nd 9 DBs we will mainly play our infamous BS defense. The Eagles are going to overrun us on the ground.
Matt, to state the obvious, your observations and thoughts about any changes that become obvious in our defensive approach to this game (compared to previous) will be very welcome! It seems to me the coaches are on the hot seat...
bvc49, All players make mistakes on all teams. Coach's job is to adjust! Nolan never does, hence the poor product. Enjoy!!
Here we go again with the field goals. Oh and so far it doesn't look like Nolan is going to mix it up on defense. Still a lazy, ineffective 4 man rush. We got lucky on that drop by D. Jackson.
Was that not a block in the back on Keasey on that long kickoff return?
Way to challenge the non-catch, Nolan!
Go figure, the defense gives up 3 yards on third and 1. I'm still awaiting for us to stop the opposition on third and short. Oh TD Eagles on short yardage, what a surprise.
Oh, and do you think he knows who "Buckwalter" is yet?
Sah-weet non-challenge on that 3rd and 2.... We are the worse team in nfl it seems when it comes to challenging
Nolan won't challenge that call because the completion was too long. It has to be 6 yards or less for Nolan to challenge. Plus, the it's still early and the defense doesn't need the rest yet.
The only positive from this game so far is that they're feeding Gore early and often.
"The big play on that drive was the 49ers' inability to get the challenge on the third-down pass to Baskett. Director of football operations Paraag Marathe is up in the booth to advise Nolan on such calls." LOL!
I suspect Parage & Jeddi were at the buffet table when they didn't challenge that Eagle catch.
The trend continues, stalled drive for another FG. At least the O is keeping the ball long enough for the D to rest.
matt...i'm assuming that nolan is going to take full responsibility whatsoever for the 4 points (maybe 7) that he cost the niners with that non-challenge? ;-) prediction: niners lose by 3, and nolan takes no blame for the 4 points.
Again a 4 man rush on third and 7. Walt Harris is not having a good game today.
Nice scheme on defense Nolan! Those damn players just won't execute!
The defense continues to struggle....looks like its gonna be a loooong game.
Even our blitzes are conservative... 5 man that last time? Thanks for the aggression? I guess?
In the words of the great Steve Young [I knew if we had to kick field goals instead of getting in the end zone, we were on our way to a loss].
in england we say its time for you P45
in the usa i think you call it pink slip or something
anyway your fired for you break break defense
Ray McDonald got to McNabb's face as he released the ball to Jackson. That was with a 5 man rush. I like the call even though it resulted in a completion. At least it makes McNabb thinks when standing in the pocket. But knowing Nolan, he will back out and continue his 4 man rush again. So far, the defense has been pathetic. Two controlled drives by the Eagles, two TD's. Nolan is predictable.
This defense is pathetic, absolutely no pass rush, letting teams march wayyy down the field and no creative blitzing. This is it, 5 games into the season and this is what the team is. Fire Nolan for christ sake!
over/under on 3rd down conversion % for PHI: 67%. over/under on # of 10-play drives fo PHI: 3. any takers?
Bad call on third and short. Why do a pitch instead of letting Robinson pound it in?
Way to take forever with your conservative call, Nolan! A bad call and we take a delay of game in the process? He needs to go.
niners cannot get a 3 and 1 at all this season they suck and their line is horrid.
We need to get rid of Nowin and old Mark Roman and Walt Harris, they are past their time. They get beat everytime!
This games over now! I'm out
Weak challenge get nolan out of there
doesnt matter if tbc was offside nolan
big play weas still given up
i liked nolan at first but he is so weak
Sieve is what the niners d is, this is terrible football.
It's so BOOOOOOOORING!! This team is regressing. Things have to be done as soon as this game is over. Nolan must go. It's the middle of October and this team shows nothing. USC or Florida could kick the hell out of the 49ers. They will not even break 500 this year. God, I can't stand watching this anymore...out to the garden I GO!!
This defense is unbelievable! Where are the blitzes? Same old crap from Nolan.
NOW you challenge?!?!? Dude, you're pretty clueless, Nolan. I hope the press kills him for effing up BOTH challenges (Desean and the non-challenge).
incorrect non-challenges: 1
incorrect challenges: 1
head coach fired at halftime: priceless.
Reid is almost as bad as a decision maker as Nolan.. not going for it on 4th and goal from the half yard line against this D??
Blitz=short gain, no TD. Now what happens, if we continue to do so...
I read from one blogger stating that Nolan is insane because he's doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results. Rushing the same front 4 and expecting different results is definitely insane. Matt, has the Niners gotten any sacks this season with a 4 man rush?
another 30+ points plus given up today what you all think
One other thing...listening to the radio while watching is wretched. Joe Starky is a MORON! When I listen to the game on radio and watch the idiot box at the same time..
I don't think Starky is watching the same game. I mean you miss so much. If it was not for Gary Plummer listening to a 49ers broadcast over the radio is like chewing on glass.
McNabb has 156 yards so far?!?!? Nice, Nolan. Way to show different looks!
Advice to coaches of upcoming opponents: leave your starting WRs home for a rest and follow the example of Seattle and Philly; use your backups and walk-ons and walk all over the hapless/hopeless Niner defense.
who wants to bet eagles march down field for at least 3 points?
LOL, this is great.. here comes the field goal
WTH! The clock was stopped before the whistle blew!
Unbelievable ... we are so lucky...
Good for us with that 1 second. Finally a break for us.
That might have saved Nolans job for another week ..
No... That was a fluke-y special teams play that happens from time to time. McNabb is still torching us, and the D looks awful. The last TD has nothing to do with Nolan. We're close in spite of his stupid challenges, non-challenges and such.
i totally agree that had nothing to do with him... but if that fluke didnt happen we would have been mentally out of this. and game over...
wow im speechless
Wow we're leading! Now let's see that pathetic defense stop somebody.
what the hell happened?
One minute I am tilling my garden, I come in to check on the abortion known as 49er football..we are winning....
Maybe it's me
what the hell happened?
One minute I am tilling my garden, I come in to check on the abortion known as 49er football..we are winning....
Maybe it's me
what the heck happened?
One minute I am tilling my garden, I come in to check on the joke known as 49er football..we are winning!!!
Maybe it's me
No hope for this defense. Still a 4 man rush.
Sims needs to be benched, NOW!
i am lovin this....finally the vernom is let loose...go niners
i am lovin this....finally the vernom is let loose...go niners
That was an easy touchdown if JTO had gotten the ball to Vernon. He was wide open with 3 linemen in front of him.
I've been bashing Nolan a bunch, but I like him riding the momentum and going for it on 4th down... Didn't end up with a TD, but I like the attacking mentality... Even if Sam Rosen doesn't agree. :)
I've been bashing Nolan a bunch, but I like him riding the momentum and going for it on 4th down... Didn't end up with a TD, but I like the attacking mentality... Even if Sam Rosen doesn't agree. :)
I've been bashing Nolan a bunch, but I like him riding the momentum and going for it on 4th down... Didn't end up with a TD, but I like the attacking mentality... Even if Sam Rosen doesn't agree. :)
I've been bashing Nolan a bunch, but I like him riding the momentum and going for it on 4th down... Didn't end up with a TD, but I like the attacking mentality... Even if Sam Rosen doesn't agree. :)
Sorry for the multiples... This new board is kinda wacky.
why are we not running the ball?????? this is retarded play calling!!!! W are up in the 4th and Gore has been running great today? why mess with something thats working?
Yea Martz has the tendency to get away from the run late in the game. We were ahead and Gore has been awesome. Hope they run more on the next drive.
i get that the O needs to hold the ball long enough for the D to get a breather, but seriously, does every niner 3-and-out have to lead to points for the opponents? someone (matt? me?) needs to research the percentage of niner 3-and-outs that lead to opponent points. i mean, for pete's sake, come through one freaking time D!!!
Nolan just topped his dumbest challenge of the season. WTF?!?!?!?!?!?!?
update from previous post...
incorrect non-challenges: 1
incorrect challenges: 2
"challenged" head coach fired after the game: priceless
update from previous post...
incorrect non-challenges: 1
incorrect challenges: 2
"challenged" head coach fired after the game: priceless
game over....
it seems that it was just a flash in the pan 3rd quarter
it seems that it was just a flash in the pan 3rd quarter
another bonehead challenge by nolan. He should of challenge that catch by basket in the 1st half that led to the eagles td. FIRE NOLAN !!!!! He Stinks doesn't accept the blame and blames the player. He's constantly outcoached
Same old niners...pathetic, can't make a play when they need too. I think the razor called it. They play 3 quarters of decent football, then totally fail in the 4th. The only good thing is that the Raiders got pounded today.
"And San Francisco's head coach just challenged the skirt length of one of the Gold Rush Girls !!!"
"And San Francisco's head coach just challenged the skirt length of one of the Gold Rush Girls !!!"
Oh Nolan....
You need to resign
30 points again? 2 insanely stupid challenges, 1 insanely stupid non-challenge... What does the dude need to do to get canned?
Rollin Nolan out the door...
Somebody should be packing his office right now.
comprehensive update from previous post:
incorrect non-challenges: 1
incorrect challenges: 2
wasted timeouts (including challenges): 4
false starts after timeouts: 1
challenged, waste of a head coach fired after the game: priceless
comprehensive update from previous post:
incorrect non-challenges: 1
incorrect challenges: 2
wasted timeouts (including challenges): 4
false starts after timeouts: 1
challenged, waste of a head coach fired after the game: priceless
Maybe Paraag Marathe will be the next head coach since, he's doing a wonderful job of challenge coordinator.
comprehensive update from previous post:
incorrect non-challenges: 1
incorrect challenges: 2
wasted timeouts (including challenges): 4
false starts after timeouts: 1
challenged, waste of a head coach fired after the game: priceless
Maybe Paraag Marathe will be the next head coach since, he's doing a wonderful job of challenge coordinator.
comprehensive update from previous post:
incorrect non-challenges: 1
incorrect challenges: 2
wasted timeouts (including challenges): 4
false starts after timeouts: 1
challenged, waste of a head coach fired after the game: priceless
Why did we abandon the run down by only 1, then by 4?
comprehensive update from previous post:
incorrect non-challenges: 1
incorrect challenges: 2
wasted timeouts (including challenges): 4
false starts after timeouts: 1
challenged, waste of a head coach fired after the game: priceless
Mike Nolan should be fired before he leaves the stadium.
That was an ATROCIOUS way to lose. he wasted a timeout on a field goal challenge?
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH.
Fire Mike Nolan TODAY!
comprehensive update from previous post:
incorrect non-challenges: 1
incorrect challenges: 2
wasted timeouts (including challenges): 4
false starts after timeouts: 1
challenged, waste of a head coach fired after the game: priceless
Denise York, " well at least he sure does look sharp in that suit, with his ray bays and that watch he keeps looking at!"
Good effort, but in the end they got beat by a better team and that's the sad reality. They just are a poor team with a poor head coach and a medicore management.
haha...what a joke this team is.
Can we fire Nolan now, please?
oh man how embarrassing....
If Cousin Scotty knows anything about the NFL (and that's in question) he has to realize that most freshman Pop Warner coaches are better game managers than NoWin. Even if the team was playing well, which is also questionable, given the amount of attention he's given to a defense that would struggle with a decent Pop Warner team, the side line faux pas alone is enough to fire his butt. RIGHT NOW, PLEASE!!!
Anyone and I mean ANYONE who thinks Nolan should be COACHING THIS TEAM tomorrow is a complete IDIOT!! Nolan is a FOOL, a TERRIBLE GAMEDAY COACH, have been saying it for 3 years, CUT THE CORD!! Keeping him makes the whole organization and the media that covers him who supports him look like a BUNCH of FOOLS!!!
This is exactly what I predicted would happen yesterday. As bad as Nowin is normally, he's worse under pressure. One of the worst displays pf game management I've seen in 25 years of being a Niners fan. The only good news out of another loss is that we should at least be 1 game nearer Nowins exit. Get rid of this clown, before it's too late. 9-7 could win this division, let's at least give ourselves a chance to rally. Nowin has proved in 3.5 seasons he can take us nowhere. A change could ignite us.
Nolan likes to point the finger when in fact it's his inability to get the players he's drafted ready to kick butt on sunday. Now a guy like Billy "the chin" would not have this problem guaranteed. I'd love to see him teamed up with Holmgrem as GM.
whatever nolan-haters....JTO lost this game on his own. ...his lack of commanding a 4th quarter drive is the only consistent theme in all our losses.....JTO is a career backup......why would you throw a hot route because of a 3-man rush?....it is what it is.
Two more games, two more losses (including to the garbage Seahawks) and Nolan is gone at the bye week. The only big question is who replaces him. I'm for Singletary. The Niners are squandering what certainly appears to be (at worst) an average talent team in a very bad division. The Niners have been in every game and could easily be 5-1. An NFL team reflects its head coach, and this team manages to look stupid and embarrass itself in games it could and should win. I'm tired of it. If I wanted shameless mediocrity I'd become a Raider fan.
oneniner,
OPEN YOUR EYES Nolan's Son, Mike Nolan is a FOOL!!! The ONLY and I MEAN ONLY thing he has ever PROVED is he KNOWS HOW TO LOSE and HE KNOWS HOW TO DO IT MANY DIFFERENT WAYS!!!! That's IT, PERIOD!!! CUT THE CORD!!
Sadly, "shameless mediocrity" is something we can only dream of under Mike Nowin, Ronnie. Still, with another pummeling next week in New York, that should be it for Nowin. If the Yorks have any sense that is, which they clearly don't. Groan.
40 Points.
And this guy Nolan is a defense minded coach???
Wonder what his "Monday Morning Presser" will be like?
"Uh, the team failed to execute their assignments and made mistakes..."
I'm with everybody else. How long are the 49ers going to stay an embarassment under Nolan. How about JTO, he's a real turnover machine. Maybe we can put him on defense. Could be this is the reason he's always been a backup. Good QBs don't make these same turnovers at this rate. Nolan is consistantly "totally clueless" managing games. Every game it's something new he screws up!!!
Ho Hum...another game, another loss. More horrible gameday management from Nolan. What an embarrassment. John York slinks lower and lower, hiding in his luxury box, hoping it will all go away so he won't have to make a decision.
We went into the 4th quarter with a 9 point lead and an inteception that gave us the ball. From that point on, the Eagles outplayed us on every level by a gigantic margin. Like we were a high school team, run by the girls field hockey coach. Of course, its better than last year, when we had whole games at that level. But, still, a complete collapse.
JTO did not make the same types of mistakes he did the last two games. He was having himself a fine game until the 4th quarter, then his noobness became simply too much.
Aside to oneniner...
As said earlier, Mike Nolan is responsbile for all factions of the team to be game-ready. With simple (and numerous) mistakes like illegal formation or taking time-outs because of poor-clock management, plus poor defense (especially the second-half), it's obvious that Nolan does not have this team in sync to do the proper simple basics. Maybe it's how he and/or his coaches can communicate. Be that as it may, Nolan MUST GO...but as long as the dreaded, hardly-visable John York runs the franchise, I don't see that happening for some time. I hope I'm wrong...
Hey oneniner....the only reason we had to go get JTO in the first place is because Alex Smith was a BUST and possibly the most overrated #1 overall pick in ages and should NEVER have been drafted, and now we are trying to make up for it with patchwork QBs before we draft another one. All I can tell you is pray very hard that McClueless and Big Nickel are nowhere near the next QB pick when it happens...we've seen what kind of garbage they pick. And it's going to get them both fired here real soon....I hope.
Maybe GW Bush and Hank Paulson have a little bar change left from the big $800 billion Wall Street rescue. We could sure use a bail out down at 4949 Centenial, Santa Clara. Where is Larry Ellison when you need him?
gilroy al...i have to disagree with you. nolan doesn't find different ways to screw up. his screw ups are actually the same every week. here's a checklist you can fill out every niner game:
___ bad challenge(s)
___ wasted timeout(s)
___ false start/delay of game coming out of a timeout
___ vanilla defense
___ going for it on 4th down when you shouldn't
___ not going for it on 4th down when you should
___ not converting 3rd downs greater than 4 yards
___ giving up 3rd down conversions greater than 4 yards
___ generally outcoached scheme-wise by the opponent
___ bad 1st half on the road
___ few, if any, in-game adjustment(s)
___ making opponent's scrubs look like stars
___ making niners' stars look like scrubs
if nolan is still the coach for the rest of the year, fill out this checklist during the game. i call it "the nolan 13." enjoy!
"A fish stinks from the head down!"
The sad fact is that the "head" in the case of the "Forty-Stinkin'-Niners" could be Mikey, Scotty, Johnny or Neesey. Any and all of them fit the description. The team is merely a reflection of the braintrust. Period.
Hey Gainesville Danny,
Do you mind if I use that checklist over at my site (http://www.ninersnation.com). If you've been over there feel free to post it yourself. If not I was gonna throw it up on the front page (and of course credit you).
Alex Smith will be much better in this offense that JTO.....the offense is not the problem...its JTO that SUCKS....we had this game won.....JTO misses Vernon Davis for a TD, JTO turnovers - that was why we lost this game.
# 1 I do not ever remember any Coach challenging a field goal?
# 2 We challenge a clear catch.
# 3 We do not challenge when the ball is clear drop.
# 4 No Adjustments ever!!!
# 5 At Least we can score from time to time. Clearly more entertaining than the previous past years.
# 6 To me the problem is Nolan. He clearly does not have any engagement with the players.
# 7 We can not win home games with teams that do not have 100% of their good players suited up.
# 8 When does the pain end.
# 9 We are going to have our collective xxx handed to us next week in New York...
An awful loss, to say the least. I must be incorrect because neither this Matt or the other Matt have said differently...but after seeing the replay, that field goal the Eagles kicked was just not good. It did not go through the uprights and was clearly not a field goal. If it was a baseball game, it still would have been ruled a foul ball, and all you have to do in baseball is hit the foul pole. That ball did not even do that, as, if you saw the replay, could easily see that the ball disappeared behind the upright.
They had a chance to get the call right and they blew it. If they're not allowed to challenge field goals than I stand corrected. But if they aren't allowed to challenge field goals, then I may give up on the game altogether.
I do hate Nolan now more than ever, though. Baskett dropped that 3rd down ball early in the 1st and he stood there like a moron.
ninersnation, no problem. feel free to post the checklist. it's a handy tool on gameday...that and a bottle of johnny walker blue. :-) p.s. and it goes without saying, FIRE NOLAN!
overrall the team played well.....JTO is killin me!!!!...i really want the guy to succeed but cmon guys how many times do you have to say "dammit" in the 4th quarter this season before you call it what it is - BACKUP.....I HAVE NO DOUBT A.SMITH WILL BE THE PERFECT QB FOR THIS OFFENSE. Never has he played with an offense like this that requires much discipline from the WR"s.....!!!my QB is killing me!!!!HELP
Where do we start? Ball control? Challenge the direction of the wind or the color of the sky? Nolan is CLUELESS.
I'm beginning to buy into the Darren Plan, what more needs to be shown to the good Dr before he realizes the shortcomings of the best dressed idiot in the NFL?
I'm watching on TV praying for the crowd to lambaste the offense and Nolan. This was as bad as I've seen a game managed and we may as well throw in the towel and give the NFC West to AZ. Our team shows ZERO heart when the game is on the line.
Play calling, whether it belongs to Martz or not was absolutely garbage today. Single back formations and next to no screen calls? We Suck, Nolan needs to go and Singletary should have an interim gig to show what he can do with Manusky and Martz without Nolan meddling in the process.
Stop the charade and spare us the pain of waiting for the end of the season, it's over at this point and too many guys are milling around piles instead of hitting the other team.
We're a laughing stock.
By the way, Voice of Reality, you asked about a place to eat next week in NJ. I had issues getting to reply to your original thread and realized after the fact you wanted a Saturday Night venue. If you're staying in the vicinity of the stadium, try Manny's, and make a point to look for my group at the 12C Parking lot pole on Sunday, I'm gonna try my best to remain a loyal fan while praying for Nolan to get ushered off the sidelines.Here's the link for Manny's -
http://www.mannyshd.com/
I think our team has some good talent on it. What we need is a coach to come in like what Nelson did for the Warriors a couple of years ago. We need a veteran-respected coach that isnt an idiot when it coms to game decisions. I can only hope that Holmgren will not take next year off and he comes aboard in some way to save us from 6 years of mediocrity.
Josh Holmgren will need a year off after the one he's having in Seattle. I'd love for him to be in the plans, but right now we need to change direction and get Nolan off the sidelines, what a TOOL. Perhaps he should challenge the height of the goal posts?
I was hoping that the team will get blown out and fire nolan after. If York not going to do any changes before the season ends and teams are 5-11. That tells you the Yorks don't care about the team! sick of tired Nolan excuses. The owner and the coach are letting the fans down and they don't seem to care for us faithful fans loosing our FAITH. what make you think building a new stadium will make the team any better.
So the Patriots in their four games have scored only, 17,19,13,10. But against the Niners they score 30 pts.
That's 4 of 6 games, more than 30 pts. yikes...
Atlanta, Miami and Baltimore have rookie head coaches and were all horrible last year yet all three are better than the Niners are after 3 1/2 years of Nolan.
So the Patriots in their four games have scored only, 17,19,13,10. But against the Niners they score 30 points.
That's 4 of 6 games, more than 30 points.
Atlanta, Miami and Baltimore have rookie head coaches and were all horrible last year yet all three are better than the Niners are after 3 1/2 years of Nolan.
I was hoping that the team will get blown out and fire nolan after. If York not going to do any changes before the season ends and teams are 5-11. That tells you the Yorks don't care about the team! sick of tired Nolan excuses. The owner and the coach are letting the fans down and they don't seem to care for us faithful fans loosing our FAITH. what make you think building a new stadium will make the team any better.
So the Patriots in their four games have scored only, 17,19,13,10. But against the Niners they score 30 points.
That's 4 of 6 games, more than 30 points.
Atlanta, Miami and Baltimore have rookie head coaches and were all horrible last year yet all three are better than the Niners are after 3 1/2 years of Nolan.
oneniner - not sure how Alex is going to be better in this offense than JTO....it's difficult for me to understand how a QB who doesn't see the field well and holds the ball even LONGER than JTO is going to do better. Smith needs 8 seconds to get rid of the ball. He still thinks he's playing in the Mountain West with that spread offense and no rush on him to speak of. He was a wasted pick, bottom line. McFraud blew that whole thing terribly when they could've traded down, they wanted too much, so they got stuck with the #1. Possibly THE WORST draft ever to have the #1 overall pick. Should've took Braylon, but didn't. Smith was, at best, a mid-late first rounder in any other draft, maybe even a 2nd. He was over-hyped, and an Urban Meyer system QB. Clearly we should've taken the Tedford product that year, we might have our future QB right now. Funny, Rogers, a Cal guy, wanted the Niners too, but we had to take the "Bust". Now it's time to get over it and move on. Alex can go be a wealthy 2nd or 3rd string QB somewhere else.
9erwarrior - i feel the same. Don't worry, the blowout is coming next week. I am thinking it could very well be Nolan's last.
Anyone see Atlanta stick together and rally around Mike Smith today when it looked like Da Bears were gonna steal a Win in their building with less then 20 seconds or so to play?
Show me anything even close to that sort of TEAM UNITY under Nolan.
Therein lies the problem, an unapproachable power broker with no sense of the team chemistry or pulse that needs to tick when the chips are down.
He'll point to execution and tough breaks along the way, but where do we see him inspire the troops when things are about to implode? It boils down to Clueless, Mindless Leadership, searching for answers on gamedays.
If York and Staff don't understand body language and demeanor at this point they never will.
Mooch inspired, Cowher, Harbaugh,Mike Smith,Jack Del Rio,Ken Whisenhunt, even Jim Haslett, pumped up their rosters to excel in crunch time. Nolan approaches this like its a business outing, everyone follow the script and obey the itinerary.
When the bullets are flying and the plan is altered, he looks for a rest stop to regroup.
I want FIRE and PASSION, Singletary and Martz might actually be an excellent pair to do that.
Roll the dice and see what we get over the final 10 weeks. We alreay know what Nolan has to offer, Plain Jane, No Imagination, Vanilla, Predictable, Boring, Play for 3 Football.
Sadly I'll be in the upper deck next week at Giants Stadium, well too far away to have him hear what's on my mind.
Time for him to use his suit for another interview, anywhere but here.
Dr York, pull the trigger, he's done all he's going to do, cut your losses and see what Mike Singletary has to offer. On the job training, audition for an extension for 10 weeks. Can't be any worse then this garbage.
Is anybody really surprised that the Niners lost? Until Nolan gets fired, this team will be the joke of the NFL. Look how much the Cardinals have improved with a new (decent) coach. When will the York's catch a clue? I predict (hope) Nolan will be fired during the bye week. Until then....I will be watching the Cardinals!