49ers-Chiefs: Ask Niners Nation

Crabtree has had a very up and down season, with more downs than ups. He’s got 3 catches for 44 yards, although one of his catches last night was big on a touchdown drive. Given how he came in last season I’d imagine he’s been a bit disappointing thus far in particular because he’s struggled with some of his routes at times. Last night he did make a great block on a Vernon Davis catch (or might have been Josh Morgan). I think it’s just the ups and downs of being a young player in the NFL. He’ll break back out at some point this season.

that last year they asked Crabs to learn just a few plays (probably more than a few, but you get the idea) and once he had them down and honed them, he looked good. Teams had no tape on him in the NFL and our offense was evolving too (from power-running team to spread looks and back again) not to mention the opponents weren’t the strongest at times down the stretch.

This year he’s got to not only learn all the plays at Split End but also at Slot and Flanker as they want him to move around a lot. He’s seemingly not put in the work in the playbook (or is struggling to learn it all if he has) and it’s shown. The kid has raw talent out the wazoo. He’s physical, athletic, has great hands and runs great routes when he knows what route to run! It’s a chemistry and playbook thing at this point but I expect him to start to shine around the bye week, making a handful of catches per game by then.

Well, the actual end of game drive was certainly awesome. The first interception was his fault as I think he threw it too high to Gore. The wind was tough on passes, but I think he handled things well and was pretty solid. He’s always been solid at scrambling, but I think he actually needs the solid o-line play to be strong when scrambling (as opposed to running backwards and out of bounds).

There’s been talk of getting rid of Alex Smith since I started Niners Nation in December 2006. Some folks have been getting angry with Singletary lately because of some bone-headed decisions and apparent communication issues.

I think last night bought both Smith and Singletary some time, but if the team struggles going forward, the hot seat would certainly be there. I actually think this weekend’s game with you guys is as important as yesterday’s was with the Saints. Smith needs to show consistency and the team needs to be able to handle a noisy road atmosphere (which they didn’t in Seattle).

who don’t study the team inside and out….yeah they figure it’s all Singletary or Smith’s fault. Smith wasn’t great at all in Seattle but that game was just plain bad on all fronts. I think the team is so young they weren’t ready even if they thought they were. Sure maybe they bought into the hype a little too…

Smith is a funny individual in that he has to be comfortable or he panics. Not saying he can’t perform with guys in his face, but it can’t be immediate pressure on every single play, calls not coming in, penalties, when the game get’s out of hand he struggles. You just have to manage that. Not every guy is good in every situation. This is what we got, we can make it work, let’s go.

We all know Singletary isn’t an X’s and O’s coach or even a game manager. He’s a motivator, disciplinarian, visionary…those are his strengths. Again, you don’t wish he was something else, you just try and make sure there are people to support him and his shortcomings. The guys believe in him though and that’s huge.

1. A or B – depends on whether Charles at about 7ypc or Jones at >4ypc gets the workload.
2. E – Derrick Johnson on a tipped screen
3. A – Hali

3 false starts and 1 TO.

…..ish

Question 1: A – The 49ers rush defense is very solid. B is a possibility, but I just think the 49ers will lock it down.

Question 2: I’m gonna go with E, none of the above. I suppose someone could intercept him but I’ll say no interceptions on Sunday.

Question 3: I honestly don’t know enough about your pass rush at this point. I’d love to hear more about those four guys.

Question 4: 2 false starts, 1 timeout.

I think DJ will win with 3 sacks…followed by Tamba and Demorrio tie for 2nd place with 2 each, and Andy brings up the rear with one sack.

Let’s see…that’s 8 sacks from those four guys. Now if Eric Berry can come up with a couple…we could have a 10 sack game. Yep…Chiefs win.

Brandon will intercept him second..
Kendrick will intercept him third…
And Carr will intercept him fourth….

Let’s see, that’s four interceptions…yep…Chiefs win.

TJ rushes for 100 yards…
Jackie Battle rushes for 75 yards,
And Dexter for 100 yards…

let’s see now…carry the 5….bla bla……that’s 425 yards rushing.

Yep..Chiefs win.

though I’m sure I’ll get jumped on for saying that. Manusky, you love him. He’s like Rex Ryan-Lite. Sure he could be the guy somewhere and I don’t doubt someone will offer him a job…but he’s also a great DC and he loves it. He’s smart, confident, doesn’t let things get too big…but he doesn’t like talking to the media much, is kinda standoffish, and I think he likes where he is.

I hope he sticks around for the 2011 season at least.

O-Line and….I dunno. Alex wasn’t great but he didn’t have much time to throw, had Crabtree lining up in the wrong places and running the wrong routes, and the plays were coming in late…so I would have to say he definitely screwed the pooch.

Special teams allowed some yards and could have been better. The secondary bit on some plays but they were put in bad situations from turnovers too…

none of this is to excuse these things, just to say I can’t completely pin it on them.

because we showed that we can resemble an NFL team last night, but yeah the noise is a huge concern of mine. I hope though that they’ll examine the SEA game and identify everything they need to work on to overcome the crowd, as much as is possible.

is a 5 probably. Solid but generally goes unnoticed and makes no big plays. He knows the defense and is a good locker room guy…mostly holds his own but sometimes gets blown back, makes little-to-no penetration…

really, we want to replace him if only someone else would step up and perform. Hoping it’s McDonald or a guy we have on the PS, Tukuafu.

he could have a breakout game but thus far has been left out of most games. He’s on the field but his trust level with Alex is down because he doesn’t seem to know the whole playbook (they’re asking a lot more of him this year)

he left himself at home for the last couple games.

not in single coverage…it would take a 250lb. CB who can run a 4.4. He’s a freak, like, it’s not right that he’s that big and yet that fast.

Bracketing him or playing zone is your best bet.

…but since this is a weekly event around here WE could take a look at the Chiefs schedule and sign up for those sites right now (be pro-active).

I know, I know, that is crazy talk. I dont know what I was thinking.

The team schedule is a pretty good heads up…

I activated your membership just now.

However I’d leave the clock management up to someone else. I’ve only watched 2 or 3 games he’s coached and it seemed like he always screwed that up.

but he is inexperienced as a coach and it shows. he had never been a coach or even a coordinator at any level of football before he got this job, he was just our linebackers coach.

if he shows improvement at things like clock management, then he could be a Super Bowl-caliber HC. but if he continues to struggle with some of the basics of coaching, even as he becomes more experienced, then he could be on the hot seat as early as next year.

does a workout where he practices pushing against a dummy and then falling to the ground on his butt. He also practices raising his arms above his head, pivoting, jumping, and catching…as he sucks at all of them.

…but pass.

I want MORE draft picks not less. I REALLY like how Scott Pioli and Co. have drafted (even in 2009 draft) so far and what to see what else they bring in and coach up.

Signs of a geart “TEAM”…

…“Star” players who play self-less-ly:

I would point to J. Charles and how he has responed to (staying ‘positive’ and making playes each time he does get to touch the ball) coming in to rest T. Jones instead of the other way arond.

Players like D-Bowe bocking like a FB to spring Charles for his touchdown run was a ‘Team" first move. Very few WR’s are able, and even fewer WILLING to block for the running game.

Pop Quiz: What other team has a WR has who has showed time and again that he is able and WILLING to block for the running game (Hint: They are also a 2-0 team.)

but not much for big plays. Delanie Walker is just as fast as Davis and runs good routes too (he’s a TE too) and they’re both on the field at the same time in ACE formation. Morgan is a good possession receiver, Crabtree can be good at times, and Zeigler is tall and also likes catches in traffic. They all have great hands too.

I think Alex would find a way to methodically move the chains even if you stop the run and Davis…I hope!

They show flashes of being able to get it done, but that would probably be the best strategy for stopping us.

That’s a good question because there was a lot of talk about the Saints having 3 extra days to prep for the 49ers, but that didn’t seem to give them an edge. The 49ers aren’t too decimated with injuries so I don’t think it’s all that big a problem.

those two mistakes were both by backups.

the snap was by our backup center who practiced mostly at guard until a few weeks ago. the muffed punt was by a rookie 7th rounder who was supposed to be our third-string punt returner (behind Ted Ginn and Kyle Williams, who i think might be back for this game).

so really it was short-term injuries that cost us that game as much as anything.

It was confidence inspiring, but really for the 49ers they need to see consistent production before they can declare some kind of long term answer at QB. As a 49ers fan I want to see a strong outing from Smith this Sunday. As for Singletary, he’s still learning what it takes to be an NFL coach and has to work on his game management skills. And this Sunday at Arrowhead is a great test for that.

As for Maragos, he’s on the practice squad so he won’t be playing anytime soon. If he were signed off the practice squad I’d imagine it would be primarily for special teams work.

I’ll be at Camp Randall for the Minni game October 9th. I’ve been to 3 badger games, while the football isn’t the most exciting, the pregame/gametime experience is 2nd to none.

his best shot is next year, when both of our starting safeties will be free agents.

one of them (Michael Lewis) will almost for sure not be re-signed. his contract was recently reworked so this is his last year.

our other starting safety, Dashon Goldson, is coming to the end of his rookie contract and wants to be paid like a top-5 safety, even though he isn’t one. if he can find just one team that will overpay for his potential, then he’s gone.

at that point, Chris Maragos could be very much in the mix for a roster spot and could have a chance at some playing time.

The 49ers will likely avoid Berry like the plague and try putting Vernon Davis in favorable matchups with Hali and DJ. I mean, why risk it?

not sure why but yeah, like the black eyed peas, I gotta feeling

well, he was the best WR we had as soon as he stepped on the field. So they gave him a handful of plays to learn and threw him out there, and he did well with that workload. This year they’ve asked him to learn all 3 WR positions and the entire playbook…it’s been exponentially more than he was asked last year. Then he missed all of preseason with the neck (or did he just not want to play the preseason? Nobody knows).

So he’s been slow to come along this season. I think he’ll start getting it around the bye week.

Pass D: Nobody is real fast or a shutdown CB…they’re all solid, lunch pail guys. Our safeties are not awesome, one is smart, one is athletic…neither is a lot of both.

DL, LB’s are great, best unit on the team easily.

Justin Smith, Patrick Willis, Aubrayo Franklin wont make a lot of stat-sheet plays but will clog up running lanes at NT.

Delanie Walker is a big part of the offense as is the quiet but productive Josh Morgan (who has 9 recs for 102 yards in 2 games as a #2 WR). Also, you forgot GORE!

O-Line showed us against N.O. that they CAN be great…but they are young and most of them first time either in the NFL or in their position.

How is your pass defense…?

good pass rush (tied for third in NFL in sacks last year) without any real studs (maybe Ahmad Brooks, we will see). our secondary has it’s weaknesses, specifically Michael Lewis (starting SS).

your run defense is your strength correct?

yes. probably the best unit on the team.

How is your D line, linebackers, secondary?

D line = good; linebackers = good; secondary = needs more young talent

Who are the studs on Defense that we need to know about and look for?

Patrick Willis mostly, but you don’t need to look for him. he will find you. Justin Smith (RDE) and Ahmad Brooks (OLB) can also be studs at times, and Dashon Goldson (FS) makes some good plays.

Besides Smith, Crabtree, and Davis who else is a big part of the offense?

Josh Morgan had 6 catches for 70 yards last week, including many key first downs. he was quietly one of the 49ers heroes of the game.

Is the O-line good? Weak spot?

played incredibly well on monday, allowing no sacks and getting planty of push in the run game. they still need to prove they can play as well on the road.

I did vote though

however you can. Try to keep our safeties from getting deep and you can have your way. You can dink and dunk underneath all you want for the most part too. Runs to the outside can be a problem for us (Haralson…) at times too.

telling the 49ers how talented they are, and how bad the Chiefs are, and how they will win this game hands down and how they will take the NFC West in their sleep.

that should do the trick.

I live in the bay area and that’s the team I root for usually after the 10 am games are over since we usually play at 10/12 central time. Cassel’s going to have to pass the ball efficiently this game in order for us to win. We’ll need some real creative play calling but nothing foolish. This defense is beast and I think if we can get good pressure and sack alex early we might have an edge on him from playing like he did last week, cuz if he plays like that, we’ll probably lose.

it took us several weeks to get that cleared up on our own blog.

Also, is there still a plan to share a new stadium with the Raiders? They must realize that Oakland fans will trash the place.

Just like other teams like New York Jets/Giants, who are located in New Jersey. Or Dallas Cowboys who are located in Arlington.

I fear Cassel the most because I don’t think he’ll give our D good enough looks to get them ready for when we have to face a real QB in Atlanta the week after.

I fear Charles the least because your coaches will keep him on the bench while we let Willis and Spikes hammer Jones all day for 2-3 yard losses.

Definitely fear Charles/McCluster combo the most. Our one trouble with stopping the run is quick backs. If Charles can get around the outside of the OLB’s we’re going to have trouble, not to mention screens and passes to either of those two.

I probably fear Thomas Jones/Cassel the least. Jones running between the tackles won’t accomplish anything, and Cassel sounds pretty bad, even against our weaker secondary.

I think the initial candidate was our QB’s coach (the guy who relays the play from Jimmy Raye our OC). I think that is all over now though.

Common Sense told the media that Jimmy Raye isn’t a good Offensive Coordinator.