Gratuitous 2013 WK4 SF @ StL : Let the excuse-making ensue! (1 Viewer)

[drummer]

Kevin Lynch just posted on his noon chat at SF Gate that he thinks Vernon Davis could be available tomorrow.

 

[drummer]

A few paragraphs from ESPN's NFL Nation:

Over the course of 10 quarters, you'd be hard-pressed to find two more evenly matched teams. The Rams outscored San Francisco 40-37 and outgained them 751-680 in total yards. The teams were even in the turnover battle and the Rams held the ball for just 1 minute, 35 seconds more.


So, why did it seem as if the Rams had the Niners' number? Why was Rams coach Jeff Fisher able to outmaneuver Harbaugh?

Attitude, for starters. The Rams openly admit that although they get up for every game, they treated both games against the reigning kings of the division a little differently.

“When you look at it on film, it was surprising the way they were moving people around, but when they played us they weren't able to get that accomplished,” Rams defensive tackle Kendall Langford said. “I think that speaks volumes about the guys we have here in our locker room and on our defense. It was not today, not with us. We took that mentality and ran with it.”

The Rams also showed the ability to find answers to the questions San Francisco posed schematically.

While other teams frantically searched for solutions to the zone-read attack that Kaepernick brought to the table, the Rams found ways to at least slow him down and force a key mistake. Yes, Kaepernick ripped off a 50-yard gain in the second meeting, but he also tossed an errant pitch that the Rams recovered for a touchdown.

Instead of sitting back and waiting for Kaepernick & Co. to dictate the tempo, the Rams came up ready to be aggressive and attack, making Kaepernick pay every time he left the pocket.

The Rams ran the ball aggressively in their two meetings with the 49ers last season. Will they try the same strategy without Steven Jackson?
On the other side of the ball, the Rams showed a willingness to do the thing other teams wouldn't against the Niners: run the ball. The Rams averaged only 3.8 yards per carry in the two games, but they stuck to it, attempting 64 runs and keeping the Niners honest.

http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/89123/can-rams-success-against-49ers-continue

Kevin Lynch posted in a chat on SF Gate today how he thinks Kaep has a case of 'happy feet' now. There are a lot of reasons for it which he fleshed out in the same chat, but without targets he could lean on in the past like Crabtree and even to a small extent in Delanie Walker, if Vernon Davis isn't available to play, the passing offense has little dimension if any. Lynch thinks that the 49er coaching staff doesn't have much trust in the young WR's and TE's (like Vance McDonald), so if STL bottles up the run game, the 49ers have to find a way to get the ball into their hands.

As far as the Rams rushing game: I'll ask a Ram fan their thoughts on it.

 

[Junior McSpiffy]

A few paragraphs from ESPN's NFL Nation:

Over the course of 10 quarters, you'd be hard-pressed to find two more evenly matched teams. The Rams outscored San Francisco 40-37 and outgained them 751-680 in total yards. The teams were even in the turnover battle and the Rams held the ball for just 1 minute, 35 seconds more.


So, why did it seem as if the Rams had the Niners' number? Why was Rams coach Jeff Fisher able to outmaneuver Harbaugh?

Attitude, for starters. The Rams openly admit that although they get up for every game, they treated both games against the reigning kings of the division a little differently.

“When you look at it on film, it was surprising the way they were moving people around, but when they played us they weren't able to get that accomplished,” Rams defensive tackle Kendall Langford said. “I think that speaks volumes about the guys we have here in our locker room and on our defense. It was not today, not with us. We took that mentality and ran with it.”

The Rams also showed the ability to find answers to the questions San Francisco posed schematically.

While other teams frantically searched for solutions to the zone-read attack that Kaepernick brought to the table, the Rams found ways to at least slow him down and force a key mistake. Yes, Kaepernick ripped off a 50-yard gain in the second meeting, but he also tossed an errant pitch that the Rams recovered for a touchdown.

Instead of sitting back and waiting for Kaepernick & Co. to dictate the tempo, the Rams came up ready to be aggressive and attack, making Kaepernick pay every time he left the pocket.

The Rams ran the ball aggressively in their two meetings with the 49ers last season. Will they try the same strategy without Steven Jackson?
On the other side of the ball, the Rams showed a willingness to do the thing other teams wouldn't against the Niners: run the ball. The Rams averaged only 3.8 yards per carry in the two games, but they stuck to it, attempting 64 runs and keeping the Niners honest.

http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/89123/can-rams-success-against-49ers-continue

Kevin Lynch posted in a chat on SF Gate today how he thinks Kaep has a case of 'happy feet' now. There are a lot of reasons for it which he fleshed out in the same chat, but without targets he could lean on in the past like Crabtree and even to a small extent in Delanie Walker, if Vernon Davis isn't available to play, the passing offense has little dimension if any. Lynch thinks that the 49er coaching staff doesn't have much trust in the young WR's and TE's (like Vance McDonald), so if STL bottles up the run game, the 49ers have to find a way to get the ball into their hands.

As far as the Rams rushing game: I'll ask a Ram fan their thoughts on it.

Hard to run when you're down by three scores out of the gate. My impression is the run game is underwhelming and I expect with the pass-rushing ace out, they'll choose to pass far more than run. But they may surprise and keep pounding away. Pead showed me more last week than I'd seen from him before, but considering his only other good showing was in a blowout against New England, he may be a strictly garbage-time producer.

In short, the run game is impossible to get a read on because the team has been in such a massive hole early.

 

[chinawildman]

I've said it before in the niners thread, and i'll say it again. Kap needs to learn how to win ugly. He keeps looking for big plays when they're not there. I actually WANT to see an Alex Smith-ish performance from him because it's a lesson he needs to learn. He started slow last year in the last 2 postseason games as well, but had at least someone to throw to to mount a comeback. Just doesn't have the horses for that this year.

 

[drummer]

ST. LOUIS — Though the St. Louis Rams were among the few teams enjoying the upper hand against the San Francisco 49ers last year, coach Jeff Fisher says it’s far from a rivalry.


Counting one playoff game, the series that used to be a battle of California is tied 62-62-3, with both teams at .500 at home and on the road entering Thursday night’s matchup. Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson showed up for Rams practice during the short-week buildup and fondly recalled any 49ers matchup as a big game.

“We hate the Niners,” said the 53-year-old Dickerson, who starred for the Los Angeles Rams in the 1980s. “That hasn’t changed. Anytime you face the 49ers I like their chances, even if the Rams were 0-5.

“There’s something about that game, the level of play steps up.”

San Francisco dominated for a long stretch before 2012, going 11-3 the previous seven seasons.

“Last year we got our feet back on the map,” Fisher said. “But I don’t think there’s a rivalry yet. Hopefully, it will become one.”

Since beating the Packers in the opener, the 49ers have been outscored 36-10 in losses to Seattle and Indianapolis. Sam Bradford absorbed his first six sacks of the year and the Rams (also 1-2) fell behind early for the third straight time — way behind — in a 31-7 setback at Dallas.

“We’re facing adversity. It gives us the opportunity to stare it in the face and respond,” 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said. “That’s a relentless quest for improvement, that’s where we’re at.”

Five things to watch for in 49ers-Rams:

FAMILIAR FOES: Besides meeting twice a year, last season they played nearly 10 quarters, with the first NFL tie in four seasons and a Rams victory late in overtime in the rematch. While both sides bemoaned missed opportunities, they loved what Fisher called “knock-down, drag-out” games that Harbaugh noted were “hotly contested.”

“That’s football in the good old days, the good old Big Ten football — you feel like you’re playing Wisconsin or Michigan State again,” Rams linebacker James Laurinaitis said.

S-L-O-W STARTS: The Rams have trailed by double digits all three games, overcoming an 11-point deficit against Arizona, falling a TD shy after Atlanta built a 21-point bulge, and coming up empty against the Cowboys.

The last two games, the 49ers’ offense also has been a non-starter. Colin Kaepernick was 13 for 27 for 150 yards with an interception and three sacks.

“The effort’s been extremely good and the precision needs to be better,” Harbaugh said.

OFF AND RUNNING: Kaepernick hasn’t hurt defenses much with his legs thus far, and the Rams will do their best to keep it that way by making him pay for any forays.

Neither team has generated much on the ground, with Frank Gore getting just 11 carries last week and totaling 142 yards on the season. No Rams players are over 100 yards. St. Louis hasn’t run much because it’s been playing catch-up all the time.

Neither had much luck running last year, either, with both Gore and St. Louis’ Steven Jackson averaging less than 3 yards per carry.

PENALTY PROBLEMS: San Francisco followed 12 penalties for 121 yards in a 29-3 rout at Seattle with six more for 48 yards in Sunday’s 27-7 loss to the Colts, taking the 49ers’ flag total to 29.

San Francisco’s defense gave Indianapolis five first downs by penalty, including on the first two snaps of the game. Three penalties were called on cornerback Tarell Brown.

“There were first downs by penalty. And, again, in a game that we were really a touchdown away at 13-7, up until seven minutes left in the fourth quarter, and there was a key drive there,” Harbaugh said. “I think our defense, that’s not something we want to be about. We don’t want to be giving first downs by penalty and we’ll keep working at it.”

NEW-LOOK LBs: 49ers All-Pro LB Aldon Smith is away from the team indefinitely to undergo treatment for substance abuse. Fellow All-Pro Patrick Willis is nursing a groin injury that could sideline him, too. That means some shuffling, and playing time for untested backups.

Dan Skuta, Corey Lemonier and Demarcus Dobbs will have larger roles in the effort to end the first losing streak of Harbaugh’s three seasons.

“Guys will be ready to step in there,” safety Donte Whitner said. “There’s no time for excuses. It’s all good when you’re winning games two years in a row, but a little adversity here and we’ll see what we’re made of.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/redskins/rivalry-resumes-for-rams-49ers-both-seeking-rebound/2013/09/25/d058f914-2618-11e3-9372-92606241ae9c_story.html

 

[seahawk 17]

As I stated earlier Rams are pathetic, and are never will be's. You can not hang with the grown ups of the NFC West.

ETA: Grammar may be off...shout out to the board police.

 

[MoveToSkypager]

Let's be serious here. 38-10 49ers

 

[Junior McSpiffy]

Well, that was anti-climactic.

 

[drummer]

Let's be serious here. 38-10 49ers

 

[drummer]

Well, that was anti-climactic.

I could post "The Silence of the Lambs", but that would make some 'grown men' mad here as well as elsewhere where 'grown men' get mad.

 

[Breesisdaman]

Lots of Chest pounding from a 2-2 team here. I look forward to seeing the 49ers come to the Superdome this year. I have that date circled on my calendar. Should I start an excuse thread for that one?

 

[Scoresman]

let this be a lesson that a "battle" between 2 1-2 teams is never thread-worthy.

so who's making the thread for Steelers-Vikings?

 

[MoveToSkypager]

Let's be serious here. 38-10 49ers

 

[Todem]

I think SF goes in and rocks the Rams. I know it's a rivalry.....but this is a statement game for the Niners. Lot's of questions, injuries, this is where you find out a lot about a team.

All of a sudden Harbough can't coach? Kap can't play QB?

I don't buy it.

And if they lose......then stick a fork in their Super Bowl aspirations. 1-3 is a tough hole to dig out of in the NFL.

I love this logic.... it's like what we heard when everyone picked the Giants to win in Carolina. The Giants just couldn't POSSIBLY go 0-3... so they'll win.

Sorry, but if the team has lost enough playmakers on both sides of the ball, then the "next man up" mantra hits a point of diminishing returns.

So...how did that work out.

Gore, Boldin...Davis....yeah they don't have enough playmakers.

Watch and learn son.