Linebacker Patrick Willis was outfitted this week with a radio device in his helmet. This would seem to be the next logical step in Willis' evolution as a team leader.
Up to this point, free safety Mark Roman had the responsibilities of relaying defensive personnel and the play call to his teammates.
When contacted today to get confirmation that Willis will be wearing the speaker in his helmet for Sunday's game against the Eagles, a team spokesman said, "(It's) still undecided for tomorrow's game."
This is the first season in which information from the sideline can be radioed to one defensive player. Players with the radio device are identified by having a green dot on the backs of their helmets.
Check the blog tomorrow morning for the official word prior to the 1:15 p.m. kickoff against the Eagles.
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One reader yesterday had a comment about Vernon Davis' pass-blocking. The question was legitimate: If Davis is such a good pass-blocker, why have the 49ers given up so many sacks?
My apologies for not having these numbers for the entire season, but . . . in the past two games the 49ers have surrendered seven sacks.
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OK, folks, here we go again. This is two weeks in a row. I wish I could take back my assertion that last week's game against the Patriots fell under this category, because Sunday's game against the Eagles really is . . .
A GPS game!
If the 49ers win this game - believe it or not, I think they have a strong chance to win this game - they'll be back in the thick of things in the NFC West. If they lose, things could get a lot uglier before they get better.
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Here is a look at some of the key matchups:
49ers offensive coordinator Mike Martz vs. Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson: Yes, these men have a history. Last year when the Lions played the Eagles, QB Jon Kitna threw for 446 yards. Pretty good, huh? Well, the Lions gained just 39 yards rushing on 11 carries, and Kitna was sacked 10 times for minus-53 yards in the Eagles' 56-21 victory. It goes to show that unless the 49ers prove they can slow down the Eagles' blitz, Johnson will continue to turn his defense loose on the 49ers. In head-to-head, Martz-Johnson matchups, they are 3-3. One of those Johnson wins, however, was the final game of the 1999 season when the Rams rested most of their offensive stars. In 2004, Steven Jackson rushed for 148 yards, as the Rams rolled up 419 yards of total offense, in a 20-7 win in
RT Barry Sims vs. DE Juqua Parker: Sims might get a break, as Parker has been hobbled with a knee injury. He is officially listed as questionable for the game. Parker (formerly known as Juqua Thomas before an offseason name change) leads the Eagles with 3.5 sacks, and Sims has struggled in pass protection since taking over for injured Jonas Jennings. Martz might be inclined to move
TE
QB J.T. O'Sullivan vs. FS Brian Dawkins: O'Sullivan admitted that on one of his interceptions last week his eyes were in the wrong spot. He did not see the safety creep up in coverage against Arnaz Battle. O'Sullivan better keep an eye open for Dawkins, a 13-year pro who has 33 career interceptions and has been one of the big hitters in the NFL for a while. O'Sullivan needs a strong game after throwing five picks in his last two games.
49ers defensive coaches Greg Manusky/Mike Nolan vs. Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg: Mornhinweg does not get the credit he deserves as being a very good offensive coach. He does not have Brian Westbrook at his disposal today, but he'll try to keep the 49ers' defense off-balance with a mix of Donovan McNabb's passing and Correll Buckhalter's running. The 49ers have to rid themselves of the shackles and play aggressive defensive ball. That needs to be evident on third downs, when the 49ers have seemed content to allow the first down - as long as they don't surrender the big play.
CB Walt Harris vs. WR DeSean Jackson: Harris is a veteran who won't be able to run with
DE Justin Smith vs. LT Tra Thomas: Smith might get more action at outside linebacker this week, as the 49ers could run more of their 3-4 defense. Smith will do a lot of moving around, but he'll be lined up against Thomas, a three-time Pro Bowler, for a good portion of the game. Thomas has done a fantastic job for 11 season of protecting McNabb's blindside. Smith is a very active player who will force Thomas to work hard from snap to whistle.
LB Patrick Willis vs. RB Correll Buckhalter: Willis needs to attack the line of scrimmage to make sure when he stops Buckhalter it's for minimal yardage, instead of 5 or more yards down the field. Buckhalter gets the call today in place of Westbrook, who is out with two fractured ribs. Buckhalter is a 217-pound back who has 10 or more carries in a game just four times since 2004 (and two have come already this season). The 49ers can't afford to let Buckhalter get decent chunks of yardage on first downs.
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I think this one will come down to turnovers, which doesn't bode well for us. Still, without Westbrook, we have a chance. Be interesting to see how well our D. plays. I don't expect a great offensive showing, but hopefully they will protect the ball and keep it tight. Tight-ish
"This would seem to be the next logical step in Willis' evolution as a team leader.
Up to this point, free safety Mark Roman had the responsibilities of relaying defensive personnel and the play call to his teammates."
This would, also, seem to pave the way for Roman to find the bench, if his play doesn't step up.
It's not just that Willis will be taking on more of a leadership role, but doesn't this raise the possibility that they may be making some changes at safety? That may be something to watch in this game.
I'll be watching the defense closely. If they continue to play more of a "bend, but don't break" style, I doubt that we can win. They definitely need to be more aggressive to have any chance.
I have no doubt that the offense will be aggressive. But can they deal with Johnson's blitzes? It's time to see if they can actually protect JTO once in a while.
Rookie question yet again. What the heck does "GPS" mean?
This is truly a pivotal game for Mike Nolan. If he loses this one, and then loses next week in NY, I think even the Yorks will make a move. If I know my Mike Nolan, he probably doesn't realize how bad it will be for him if he loses this week. Maybe after he "looks at the film" he will figure it out.
I thought that PW was NOT going to wear the stupid green dot because the coaches wanted him to just go out there and attack and find the ball and just play football. Will this be a distraction for him? It seems to me that the better idea would be to just let him play and have someone else deal with play calls. Then again, what is Nolan or Manusky gonna say anyway? "Patrick, stay in your lane. Big Sub, Big Sub, Big Sub, Big Sub." I guess it won't be that distracting then.
Matt, what's up on your new blog with the same comments being posted 3 and 4 times? Is is user error or error with the site? Highly annoying.
Since Roman won't be wearing the helmet, hopefully this means we'll get to see more of Goldson... and not just in the big sub package.
McBAD McFADE, don't like this guy, never have. Most over rated QB in a long long time.
They need to pound on this over rated puke. We finally have a team that can get to this guy. I hope we knock this guy OUT!! McFeeble is a loser. Chokes in a Super Bowl...how do you spend all of your life playing the game and you have dreampt all your life of being the QB driving your team down for the tie or winning points in a SB and what do you do? CHOKE!! I can breath...I am going to get sick WAAAAA WAAAAA what a dog!
Go Niners
If the 49ers lose this game, who does Nolan blame this week? I wish Nolan would say he's not a good coach. McNabb is going to throw 350 yards tomorrow. I want nolan fired so until then, go Eagles.
I've been saying it all season and I certainly won't stop now: RUN. RUN. RUN. Then pass.
Matt I see this game as another example of a strong team at less then full strength. In the same mode as Seattle and N.O.. Where we seem to fail miserably is with the plan.
Jim Johnson smells blood with respect to our pass protection, so common sense would suggest planning for quick release, play action dump offs, or flat out roll out plans to minimize the attack at 5-7 step drop range. Martz is smart enough to counter pressure and has weapons like Frank and Delanie and I'd hope to see more VD underneath here too.
We also need to see what Nolan can do to keep Donavan from getting comfortable because Marty will surely test the deep stuff with Curtis and DJax.
This game should go very much like the Detroit matchup last year, only this time Martz has to play keep away, which means Frank and the Marshall Plan, plenty of touches, look for mismatches and TRY to control T.O.P..
Nolan fails at strategy, and when it comes to Sunday matchups, 1 or 2 guys on each squad can change the outcome if you succeed at finding the key advantage. Might be as simple as kick returns, or as complex as blitz schemes, but Nolan consistantly gets outschemed, typically in the second half adjustments.
AZ and NE played keep away very effectively, can he and Martz devise a total plan and tweak it successfully against a Philly team that is missing some key players on offense?
Our O vs their D, that will decide this one. Martz has the Smartz, hoping we can execute.
Matt you'll recall that Osi (NYG) ate Tra Thomas alive last season and is extremely vulnerable to speed.
I'd add Lawson, (if he goes), or Ray/Parys along with CB pressure packages to his side and force the back to stay in protection mode.
This game screams for creativity from our defense and execution from JTO and the O.
Bring Pressure, squeeze Donavan and make him think about his feet. Like Brady, he is extremely uncomfortable when he has traffic around his legs.
Wow Matt - I'm surprised you think the 49ers have a strong chance to win this game. I know they're very banged up but despite their record the Eagles are still one of the strongest teams in the league. The 49ers are the 49ers. I think the Yorks must have slipped you something in the press trailer. Or do you have some inside info like Nolan has been fired and the 49ers just worked a trade for Albert Haynesworth?
Um...I don't understand the negative McNabb comment. But while we are talking about him...I noticed he was missing from the match-ups. Are the Niners going to forget to defend him? Cassel looked like a better than adequate QB against us; I think McNabb needs some attention from our defense. Also, how about trying Baas at NT, anything is better than Franklin. It is sad when your nose tackle gets pancaked by a RB in the backfield.
Matt, I couldn't agree more. I think the 49ers have a very good chance to win tomorrow with a couple of key changes. First, the defense has to be stout against the run and make McNabb pass to win. McNabb is not a consistent passer. Next, they need to beat the blitz with quick check downs to Gore and Davis in space.
Hmmm. I question your GPS game theory on this one, Matt. I think you called last week correctly, and we found out exactly where we were: better offense than last year, but not yet good, and inexplicably undependable on defense, apparently attributable to coaching. Just my $.02, but I think this game is about adjustments. The coaches have to produce something better than the last two games, because more of same is really unacceptable. It is not about where we are; it is about whether we can change course in a positive direction.
By the way, I too think we have a chance to win--IF the offense lives up to its potential, and IF the defensive coaches remember that it is players, not just schemes, that stop drives. Go 9ers!
For the first five games Romen used the device. However, two players are designated as users. In the past, who was the 2nd player?
Hey Matt,
What about those trade rumors for Williams and Hoosh? Anything coming of that? Just a comment: When Martz was hired I wrote to you saying that I thought that Martz would become the Niners HC after the season should they do well. Now I say 50/50, Martz is the head coach before the season is over if they don't do well. I think the defense isn't doing well because Nolan has his hand in the defense. Last year Manusky had more control and that is why they did so well.
Prediction: we get our butts kicked, and NoWin blames it all on execution by the players. I know I'm going way out on a limb with that one.
If Nolan loses this game, how can you bring him back on Tuesday??? If he can't get this one with how much the 49ers need it and with how many injuries an average at best 2-3 Eagles team he is NEVER GOING TO WIN ANYTHING!!