Exhibition 2: Raiders at 49ers
This is a pivotal game in the Niners Great QB Debate of 2009, as Alex Smith gets the start. Shaun Hill is scheduled to see plenty of action with the No. 1 offense, too.
Let's get to the pregame notes:
--LBs Patrick Willis and Parys Haralson, DBs Michael Lewis, Tarell Brown and Eric Green, and G David Baas are not in uniform for tonight's game against the Raiders.
--S Dashon Goldson and LB Scott McKillop have the helmets tonight outfitted with the radio transmitters to call defensive players for the 49ers.
--There's nothing new in the Michael Crabtree contract stuff. His contract impasse has reached 26 days - the second-longest rookie stalemate in franchise history. I don't suspect there will be an announcement at tonight's game to honor the occasion.
--Mike Singletary is wearing a microphone for tonight's game. His edited comments from tonight will air on the 49ers' telecast on KPIX, Channel 5.
FIRST QUARTER
--Strong plays vs. run from Aubrayo Franklin and Manny Lawson on first two run plays by Darren McFadden. And a quick three-and-out, as JaMarcus Russell throws wildly on third and long.
--On third down for 49ers, Micheal Spurlock enters as third WR, joining Isaac Bruce and Josh Morgan . . . Pass to Vernon Davis for a first down to the 41. After the previous play,
--The 49ers don't convert this third down, as Smith's throw goes through
--Goldson with a big, low hit after a 20-yard pass play to Tony Stewart. Raiders with the ball at their own 45.
--By the way, with Lewis out of action, Mark Roman gets the start at strong safety.
--Manny Lawson gets the sack after Russell stumbles and falls. That's your first sack of the 2009 49ers exhibition season, and it was a gimme.
--Glen Coffee and Arnaz Battle are in; Frank Gore and Isaac Bruce are out. Coffee with a 16-yard gain.
--On third-and-6, Smith hits
--Alex Smith decleats Greg Ellis with a block on a reverse to
--Third-down pass goes through Morgan's hands. Ricky Brown with the interception, and Smith chases him down and saves a TD with a tackle at the 7-yard line after a 46-yard INT return. That's where the Raiders take over with 3:01 remaining.
--Smith's stats are awful: 3 of 8 for 30 yards and an interception. The throw wasn't great, but Morgan should have caught it.
--Jeff Ulbrich and Takeo Spikes stop Justin Fargas. It's third and goal from the 3 . . . Mark Roman with the nice play to break up the pass in the end zone. And now the Raiders are going for it on fourth down . . .
--No pressure, but Russell throws high to Murphy incomplete. The 49ers take over at the 3. Smith is back in there.
--Coffee ends first quarter with an 18-yard gain to the 34-yard line. As he broke into the clear, he wrapped the ball with both hands.
SECOND QUARTER
--This is very odd. In the middle of the drive, Shaun Hill takes over at QB. Why not let Alex Smith finish the drive?
--It's third-and-9 for Hill and the 49ers . . . Hill squeezes pass into Morgan to the 40. They're a couple yards shy of the first down. The 49ers are going for it.
--On fourth down . . . Hill's pass batted down by Tommy Kelly at the line of scrimmage. Raiders take over around the 40.
--Russell throws incomplete to Darrius Heyward-Bey, who right now has the same number of catches as Crabtree in this game.
--Russell throws incomplete to Darrius Heyward-Bey, who right now has the same number of catches as Crabtree in this game.
--Nate Clements had a great week of practice. But, man, did he look awful there. He just grabbed Johnnie Lee Higgins for a pass interference. That's a 22-yard penalty on No. 22.
--Two Raiders penalties move them back to the 26-yard line.
--Dre' Bly is shaken up after his part in a gang tackle of Louis Murphy. He got the wind knocked out of him. His return is probable.
--No pass rush whatsoever on JaMarcus Russell, who finds Murphy all alone in the end zone for a 24-yard TD pass. It's RAIDERS 7, 49ERS 0 with 8:45 left in the half. And after the 49ers' secondary were laughing Wednesday on the practice field, guess who's laughing last?
--Coffee with a 35-yard gain. He's showing a lot of speed. He has eight carries for 100 yards.
--Coffee is looking mighty good - and so is the 49ers' offensive line. They're dominating right now.
--Hill hits
--Coffee loses 3 yards, and Snyder hobbles off with an injury. Marvel Smith replaces him at right tackle.
--Drive stalls again. Nedney kicks a short field goal. It's RAIDERS 7, 49ERS 3 with 1:59 left in the half. Other than Coffee, there's not much happening with the 49ers' offense.
Quote from Frank Gore: "We're doing great, especially in the run game. Our team is moving the pile. We've just got to keep going and get some points."
--INJURY UPDATE: Snyder has a right ankle and knee sprain. He won't return to the game.
--If that's it for Shaun Hill, it was a pretty forgettable night for the 49ers' QBs. Neither one took any kind of step forward.
--Jeff Garcia enters the game after kickoff goes out of bounds.
--Raiders move to the 49ers' 28 with :39 remaining in the half. Pass sails high off hands of Higgins and seldom-used DB Allen Rossum gets the interception.
--Hill is back with :29 remaining. Hill back to pass, but takes the sack. On final play of half, Robinson gains some yards.
* * *
Because I have to get to work on my newspaper stuff, that'll be it for the in-game blogging. Enjoy the second half.
* * *
Wow, A.Smith going through progressions. Lookin pretty damn decent in that 1st drive. Right on A.Smith!
the guy cant catch a break...but i like the new found attitude we're seeing from alex smith!
i know the interception wasn't smith's fault, but you have to throw better than that. same old smith...
Alex with the INT. Good to know some things never change!
Alex competin for a safety spot too?!
Alex looked amazing! -I'm just going to say one thing, Glenn Coffee cannot block worth crap, and Wragge is horrible in pass-protection.
-I doubt that interception is going to taint Smith in the film room (But regardless, Al is going to have to get a TD on his next drive to stay in this contest) also it looks like our pass-rush is waking up finally!
Alex Smith owns Greg Ellis
WOOOOOOOO
Not to bad of quarter for alex.
3 for 9, 30 yards, 1 int. that's "not a bad quarter??" ummmm...you're a raider fan right?
Matt: When you say, the ball goes the receiver's hands, does that mean the receiver should have caught the pass and didn't, or the ball was poorly thrown and thus uncatchable?
Unless Shaun stinks it up later, I think we should still ease Alex into the season later on.
I think it's safe to say Alex is showing some promise (those throw-aways were actually smart, old Smith would've held onto the ball and taken a sack!).
AWESOME THROW! THAT IS WHY SHAUN HILL IS THE MAN! -He can make crazy off-tilted throws that save the day!
come on man, Bruce misses a catchable ball and then the ball goes Davis' hands. ill give you the int cause the pass was high. Now if Hill does the same everyone will praise him.
Alex is still throwing too high...Mechanical Flaw. Defense looks amazing! Season can't get here soon enough!
defense really looking good. justin smith saw 18 all the way!
is nate clements asleep or something?? that's another big play he let go! and this mistake cost the niner a td!!
O Line D Line That's says it all
Coffee is a talent!
Cover 2 defense. Clemens thought Roman was back there.
Roman didn't break on the corner. Same Roman, different season! And a TD for Raiders. Sucks. Sing will fix that! Lers hope Dre Bly only got wind knocked out of him.
Man does Coffee look good and our O-line is pounding this Raiders D. If there is one thing you can say about our GM its that he can find RB's in the 3rd round (Just don't pick receivers in the 3rd anymore).
Alex Smith = Fysical!
Take that Greg Ellis! Take that Ricky Brown!
Glenn changed his facemask to a Roger Craig mask... and he's looking like the next coming or Roger Craig!
MM - Snyder update ASAP please. We need him. He was awesome on those long Coffee runs off the Left.
I don't think either QB looked particularly good. Alex didn't do anything miraculous to swing the debate in his favor, but Hill hasn't closed the door on him either. Good thing Coffee is in there dominating, along with the line. Hope Snyder is OK!
It is preseason! But it looks like the Ravens have landed at the Stick.
Anyone else think that Singletary ran on two thirds of Hill's plays in order to protect his new starting QB? I'm rooting for Smith, but he isn't starting this year. The two drops don't help, particularly with one turning into an INT, but this competition is as good as done.
Ughh, this game just pumped some more leverage for Michael Crabtree.
Nate Clements once again shows how bad his "pre-caution" bubble can be, our running game is top-notch as always, our QBs are trash, and we have no pass rush.
Same old story, with the same outcome. -We're going to REGRET not drafting Oher throughout this entire season. -Marvel Smith looks like crap, Snyder is injured, and Wragge shouldn't even be allowed back onto the starting squad.
Smith was undermined by his receivers. Hill looked as bad as he did last year in St. Louis (for the first 58 minutes of that game). My kingdom for a QB!
P in Hawaii - I see the Broncos of the 90's not the Ravens. 191 total yards in offense and 4/8 on third downs in the first half. That's a pretty good O to me. Our O line was as dominate as I have seen them in years. Need to get the passing game going but I will take 50% on 3rd downs and nearly 200 yards in Offense in ONE HALF any day of the week. If they cannot stop the run keep running. Its simple - our back got 130 yards in the first half. That's not Ravens football my friend.
I heard Rice grew up catching bricks at a mill, thus honing his catching skills. I wonder if that same kind of training should be employed in the 49ers' practice.
Are you watching this game Snake Plissken? To call out anyone on the O-line after that half is beyond absurd, its down right stupid. Go sell crazy someplace else. Just foolish!!!!!
Yep. Bad o-line. About to approach 200 yards rushing yards with 10 minutes left in the 3rd.
watching from germany
50 yards passing
initially, looked as if smith was moving the chains with a couple of 3rd down passes....a couple of unfortunate catchable drops and we might be having some fodder for QB discussion. Hill given a chance to throw a couple of deep balls and clearly has no touch...basically just threw it to a zipcode.
As it is not much can be gleened from the QB competition.
will say that the raiders have rallied from their poor week in practice.
niners really are not doing a whole lot against two poor teams in the broncos and raiders.....but getting the running reps and moving towards the critical preseason game at dallas
I will be surprised if a QB is picked before the dallas game. If hill starts and does well and if smith comes in and does well also against dallas then it appears to be hills.
i believe the QB play next week will have to be very good to stay close to dallas....i wonder if the running game will be as effective next week.
Hmm, Davis at QB....guess there goes hiding his potential in order to put him on the practice squad scenario.
Honestly it's pre-season. The only thing I have been impressed with is Coffee. Clearly we can't judge this team till after the season starts.
As far as the QB play. Hill & Smith are probably the 3 & 4 best on the field tonight.
Why did we ever let Garcia go?
3 & 4? Let's say we gave you Garcia as #2. Who the heck is #1? Russell? Ahahahaha...
Yep, he had the best stats. But to give you this point none are in the top half of NFL QBs, sad to say.
passing game needs work, no doubt, but based on all the reports from MM this summer it sounds like its going to be fine. For whatever reason we have trouble with the Raiders press coverage.
Jimmy Raye???!!!
Nate Davis has the IT factor! Hill and Smith 3rd stringers on almost every other team in the NFL!
Montana_to_Clark - Here is what you said after last weeks game: "and Coffee is built like a WR".... Don't quit your day job bro. ha ha ha ha. Your football knowledge is as good as the Raiders run Defense. PLEASE BRING SOMETHING TO THIS BLOG OR GO POST ELSEWHERE.
Cut the guy a break. He brings an amusing factor to the blog.
I know he'd give roman a run for his money! Smith to Safety!
It's time to part ways with Alex. Do the right thing, Jed. Cut Alex and keep Hill, Huard and Nate.
Eh Mike in SF #2, I was watching the game and our o-line was collapsing horribly during key passing moments.
-Wragge was just getting demolished during the first half of the game (he's just never been that good of a good pass-protection guy). -But can I acredit some of these blown passing situations to the fact that Oakland probably took notes on us during our two-day practice.
Anywho, I'm not bashing the line, but all I'm saying is that it really shows what happens when David Baas and Frank Gore are not on the field (during the passing game). Coffee is amazing, but he'll catch up with pass-blocking eventually.
But I won't take back the fact that we should've drafted Michael Oher over the next coming of J.J. Stokes.
Agree with the Wragge comment 100%, it looked like he was wearing roller skates on a few plays. Our line is def built for the run and not pass protection. We need to get Bass back soon. FYI - MM said on Twitter that Snyder was walking around with no limp and no braces towards the end of the game on the sideline. That's good news.
Jury is still out on the Oher/Crabtree debate. I'm thinking it should have been Orakapo but we shall see as the season unfolds. In watching Crabtree on film i don't think he has any of JJ's problems. He looks special to me and I thought thought that of JJ coming out of UCLA. Time will tell..... I do appreciate your feedback (and alternative view).
I told you that Davis had more talent in his little finger than Smith has in his whole body and that of all his realitives,lol
Wait until he matures for a year or so !!!
And don't worry that Hill looked almost as bad as Smith tonight,he has had a few poor series before and then he comes back strong to WIN.
They better not try to put Davis on the PS ! He is probably the future and we know he is the only possible Franchise QB on the roster. He is very raw,but he looked good,as he always did in college. He was the steal of the draft (if he continues to grow (very likely!)and doesn't flop like Alex ).
I won't see the game until NFLN airs it tomorrow. Sounds like the QB's weren't too good but the receivers didnt help much. How'd the pass rush look?
I was impressed with how Davis improvised on the fly. Davis may be raw, but he is already more game-ready than Alex Smith. I say cut Alex. Keep Hill, Huard and Davis.
Oh for the love of God, get outta here with that BS. Seriously, get real guys. Talent should be the least of your worries with Smith. According to you guys he needs better game management, command, and the "IT" factor (whatever the f that is supposed to be). If you're going to criticize him at least justify it in a somewhat reasonable argument.
You guys keep watching the box scores and I'll keep watching the actual GAME. Like, you know, what's happening down on the field. Are you guys blind? Have you even been watching the games? Smith has tons of talent, he just needs more playing time and continuity so he can get a feel for the offense, and he will throw the offense on his back and this team will TAKE OFF. Just wait for it. He's doing pretty well for a guy who is coming off major surgery and has been through hell and back under that idiot Nolan.
I'm also tired of the man love for Nate Davis. LOL, the guy is a rookie 6th round draft pick and hasn't played a game yet. Get off his nutsack.
"I'm also tired of the man love for Nate Davis. LOL, the guy is a rookie 6th round draft pick and hasn't played a game yet."
Um...that would be 5th round, to be precise...
Your post had all the intelligence of a JaMarcus Russell sideline interview. OY VEY!
Nate has raw talent (even though he was facing practice squad fodder). -I watched Nate a lot at Ball State, his pass accuracy/arm is probably sharper than anybody QB we have right now... but again, he's still a little raw.
One thing about Nate we'll never worry about is Nate worrying about all the little things a bad QB can't seem to shut off. -Also, I haven't seen a QB in a niners uniform run and pass with that sort of velocity/accuracy since Steve Young. -Even for Nate passing against 3rd stringers, making the accurate 2-point conversion the way he did shows A LOT of potential.
Nate could be our future, Mike Johnson pulled the trigger on this guy during draft day, and there's a large possibility Mike Johnson could be our OC in 2 years, so anything is up in the air.
I'm disappointed becuase Alex Smith continues to try and have people killed out there. He continuously throws high, especially across the middle where you absolutely can't do that. Players expose ribs to big hits reaching for balls across the middle. Smith has had this problem since day one.
He has to get the ball down but when he does. he gets those batted down sometimes at the line of scrimmage. Has to try and find better angles to keep the ball down.
Anyone think Reggie Smith might deserve some starting time at safety. I like more speed in the secondary and Lewis does not have that.
All the top pass rushers that came out of the draft this year really have made an impact. Barwin looks great. Brown is showing so many movs down in Carolina. Sintomis an animal. Orakpo is Orakpo, wearing his guy down.
Fellas, someone is going to have to accept responsibility for this huge mistake me made by not getting ourselves a pass rush in the offseason. We don't have one and if we don't get somebody in here, we won't have one. Warner ans hassleback are gonna kill us!!!!