Down Goes Frazier
Dec 24, 2012 Post Game Spread
San Francisco 49er fans tuned in Sunday night to watch their Super Bowl contending team in action and were instead treated to a throwback game to the Mike Nolan era. The 42-13 drubbing by the Seahawks was their worst beating since 2006.
The 49er defense was awful, the offense was awful, the special teams were awful, and the coaching was awful. Making matters worse, all this awfulness could not be blamed on Alex Smith.
The 49er loss, coupled with Green Bay’s win over Tennessee, dropped the team from the second to the third seed for the upcoming playoffs. They will get no bye week. They can still win the NFC West with a victory over Arizona next Sunday. That should be an easy win, but Colin Kaepernick has played three games against NFC West teams and has yet to win any of them. What distinguishes NFC West teams, of course, is good defenses.
The Seahawks held a whopping ten minute advantage in Time of Possession, and they scored touchdowns on all four Red Zone efforts. The 49ers didn’t score any TDs in the RZ until the last garbage time minute of the game. Even worse, they had a field goal blocked and returned for the TD that made the game essentially over by half time.
The battle of the hotshot young QBs was no contest. Russell Wilson was in total control and his elusiveness bedeviled the 49er pass rushers the entire game. The team also had trouble early in the year with another elusive QB in Christian Ponder, who hasn’t baffled too many other teams all year. Kaepernick, on the other hand, looked rattled, hesitant, confused, inaccurate, and continued to have problems getting plays executed before the play clock expired.
The defense obviously misses Justin Smith. Since he went out in the Patriots game, the defense has given up 66 points in little more than five quarters. During this stretch, the offense has scored just 23 points. This does not appear to be a winning combo.
Compounding the wilting of the team in all areas, just like last year an injury free season has gone south as the playoffs approach. There’s no guarantee Justin Smith will return this year, Vernon Davis left Sunday’s game with a “minor” concussion, and Mario Manningham was carted off with a leg injury. The WR corps is once again looking very thin at crunch time. Rookie first round pick AJ Jenkins should suit up next week, but he has yet to catch a pass the entire season.
With the change in QBs, the team has gone from a ball control offense to a home run or bust offense. The quick scores or three and outs is wearing out the defense, which still looked tired from the Patriots game. If they hit as many home runs as the Patriots, this approach might work. But they don’t. And it doesn’t.
Changing offensive philosophies in mid season is not generally a sane idea. It only seemed like a good idea (to some folks) because Jim Harbaugh has had a golden guru touch so far. Pete Carroll, on the other hand, installed his offense, and the QB to run it, at the beginning of the year and waited for it to mature. As the two coaches met at mid field after the game, it was Carroll finally having the last laugh — a laugh he may be enjoying for quite some time.
The team is a lot better than it showed Sunday night. But they are not a team entering the postseason on a roll. That distinction belongs to the Seahawks.
Tags: AJ Jenkins, Alex Smith, Christian Ponder, Colin Kaepernick, Jim Harbaugh, Justin Smith, Mario Manningham, Mike Nolan, Pete Carroll, Russell Wilson, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Vernon Davis
December 24th, 2012 at 6:23 am
What sums up last night were the delay of game penalties.
It’s the QB’s responsibility and they call the foul on him.
There is a play clock above the goal posts and when you’re still barking signals 2 or 3 seconds after it hits 00 it shows you’re not paying attention.
I’m not saying to watch it but when you come to the line of scrimmage take a glance and you’ll know if you have to hurry.
To me this is a very stupid penalty and they are deflating and drive killers.
It is discouraging because it keeps happening.
December 24th, 2012 at 6:32 am
The opening line for the finale Cards game is Niners by 14.5 to 15 points.
That’s hard to digest considering the ass whipping.
December 24th, 2012 at 7:39 am
you are right about the delay of game penalties and burning timeouts. i was absolutely livid about them last night and almost blew a gasket at berger’s
December 24th, 2012 at 7:51 am
I also hate the personal fouls\called after the plays are over.
A Davis should know better than to push a DB in front of the zebras. Lot’s of crap being said
out there. When the whistle blows
you just can’t touch the other guy by losing your cool.
When you’re getting your ass handed to you it is totally classless to take cheap shots.
This is not what the Niners are.
Seahags like to bait you into committing the personal foul.
December 24th, 2012 at 7:59 am
Anyone have the stomach to watch last night’s replay?
I’d rather drink a quart of warm month-old eggnog. Just going through this week’s permutations in my head, I have us ending up as the 3, and the Bears as the 6. I’ve always said playing the Bears in the first round is just as good as a bye. We beat them by 3 TDs.
December 24th, 2012 at 8:38 am
We laid a Dodger Dog last night. Time to flush it down the toilet and move on.
December 24th, 2012 at 8:41 am
IMO, the formations we were using in the 4th quarter with 3 WR and one back should be our base formation. Frank got his longest run out of the formation. It also gives the QB more options for hot reads if the blitz is coming.
December 24th, 2012 at 8:43 am
Renojim got so mad about the delay of game penalties the dogs went in to the other room!
December 24th, 2012 at 8:52 am
Seattle was 11 for 13 on 3rd downs. That has Alex Smith’s fault written all over it.
December 24th, 2012 at 9:15 am
LOL!
December 24th, 2012 at 9:16 am
Dennis, one of those “stops” was the last play of the game kneel down.
When it counted and the Seahawks were trying to convert on third down, we stopped them precisely ONCE in twelve tries. That is completely pathetic.
December 24th, 2012 at 9:23 am
Did I ever mention to you yahoos I do not like calling two plays in the huddle?
December 24th, 2012 at 9:25 am
Some of those plays on 3rd down reminded me of the days when Charlie Kruger was trying to catch Fran Tarkenton and could never get there. Collinsworth was right on with his Fran comparison.
December 24th, 2012 at 9:32 am
If rushing four doesn’t put heat on Wilson you rush 5 or 6. He scrambles and reverses his field often. If you have someone looking for his backdoor move he’ll stop being cute when you tag him as he spins into you
December 24th, 2012 at 9:33 am
When you force your opponent into just one punt during the entire game you’re gonna lose.
December 24th, 2012 at 9:40 am
Looks like the rivalry is getting more heated. It’s good to have a rival you can really hate.
The Seahags have my vote.
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/12/24/the-seahawks-really-enjoyed-beating-jim-harbaugh/
I can see Harbaugh in his old pickup tooting his horn.
December 24th, 2012 at 11:07 am
Nice to see the QB getting his share of the blame on this blog. Looks like there’s a new hanging posse sheriff in town.
It turns out Justin was responsible for every position on the defense. At least that’s where all the fingers are pointing today. What a joke, we’ve been whupped up pretty good with Justin playing too, especially by Lynch.
“They were worn out.” RJF was apparently worn out from *watching* most of the Pats game. And the offense was tired from *watching* the defense get tired.
You gotta love how prepared we were for the rolling Seahawks and their noisy stadium. Not!
We’re probably better off without the bye week. We can’t win more than two in a row no matter who is under center and I’m sure the bye would count as a win week. I’d say we need the weekly rhythm if we had any.
December 24th, 2012 at 12:30 pm
Berger, Kevin Lynch is filling in on KNBR this week and he said quite a few other teams call two plays in the huddle. Can you or anyone else verify that? And if that’s true we need to go ask them how they expedite the play calls. We’re just a tad slow on the uptake.
December 24th, 2012 at 12:47 pm
If other teams do it I don’t care. I do not like it. Many other teams do do it. When you see a QB yell “let it roll” or “kill” they called two plays.
I would rather simplify it by calling one play which gets the team to the LOS quicker. Have the QB call an audible if he needs to change. He’ll have the time since only one play was called in the huddle.
December 24th, 2012 at 1:01 pm
Some teams just line up and call the play at the LOS. You see Brady and Manning doing this often. But their coaches use formations that give the QB more options to choose from when the ball is snapped. Those two could not do that with the SCO formations.
December 24th, 2012 at 1:10 pm
Alex has learned to handle the noise in Seattle. He didn’t handle it so well at first but he’s pretty good at it now. Kaep just needs some experience at it so he learns to handle it better too. I thought he handled it better than Roman and Harbaugh! Running at Red Bryant does not work but we kept trying. Anybody notice us calling two screen passes when they weren’t even getting a pass rush? Things that make you go hmmm.
December 24th, 2012 at 1:39 pm
Berger, I concur with calling only ONE play in the huddle. But Jimbo’s a very stubborn man. I don’t see him changing that anytime soon. You shoulda seen ‘em at today’s press conference. Jimbo looked like someone stole his Christmas tree, left him a lump a coal and gave him a mocking salute as he drove off in his stolen truck.
Merry Effing Christmas Harbaugh
December 24th, 2012 at 1:44 pm
How do you know when you’re making a good sauce?
Ans: When you’re using a stick and 1/2 of butter. I already have the defibrillator charged at 350 and set to go. Clear!
December 24th, 2012 at 2:31 pm
SANTA
i have a christmas list
some of these came early !
1. pittsburgh out of the playoffs
2. a dallas loss
3. a raiders loss
4. an NFC west championship !
5. a 1st round bye in the playoffs !
December 24th, 2012 at 2:36 pm
SKEEBS !
” dropped the team from the second to the third seed for the upcoming playoffs. They will get no bye week. ”
WRONG the pack have to beat minnesota in minnesota to get the 2nd seed ! if we beat the retardinals and the packers lose we get the bye !
December 24th, 2012 at 3:13 pm
When we win we’ve looked very good on most occasions but when we lose man do we stink up the place. Harbaugh needs to hit the drawing board.
December 24th, 2012 at 3:27 pm
WINDER
good point
imho we do look much better when we win than when we lose !
but you are right imo
this whole win 2 lose 1 thing has me a little concerned now .
the good news is …
this game might be a bit of a wake up call for us !
maybe this will light a fire under everybody , players , coaches and our man jimmy too !
December 24th, 2012 at 3:37 pm
rob’s quote of the year!
“imho we do look much better when we win than when we lose !”
Brilliant deduction!
December 24th, 2012 at 4:41 pm
A ruling on Sherman will be announced on Thurs due to Christmas holiday.
Per ESPN & NBC:
Schefter reported Sunday that Sherman’s appeal hinges on the fact that the cup containing his urine specimen was broken, forcing the collector to put a second cup underneath it to collect any leakage. Sherman is arguing that the seal of that second cup was previously broken, breaking the chain of custody and invalidating any resulting positive test.
Florio broke down some reasons why the collective bargaining agreement that the league and the players negotiated makes a successful appeal using those criteria unlikely.”
December 24th, 2012 at 4:48 pm
Worked for Ryan Braun.
December 24th, 2012 at 5:12 pm
RIP Jack Klugman
December 24th, 2012 at 6:15 pm
Manningham tore his ACL & PCL. Done for the year and most of next, probably.
December 24th, 2012 at 6:20 pm
Maybe just done, period, if it’s that bad. No guarantees coming back from multiple torn ligaments.
December 24th, 2012 at 6:31 pm
Bring on A.J. Jenkins!
December 24th, 2012 at 11:46 pm
Merry Christmas all.
December 25th, 2012 at 12:20 am
SKEEBS
sorry to hear about manningham ! he would have been real nice to have had come playoff time imo !
btw we’re likely to finish 11-4-1 ! slightly better than the 11-5 i predicted , good news indeed !
IMO it looks like BULLIT will wind up being the winner of the OUTSIDER prognostication contest !
SO congrats to you BULLIT and a big UP YOURS to the so called (regression) “experts” and stat geeks like football outsiders etc. !
December 25th, 2012 at 2:38 am
Merry Christmas to all, even Scrooge.
Those at home and those away from home.
http://bit.ly/10e5VTH
December 25th, 2012 at 6:12 am
NOT TO BE OUTDONE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThRwFK5PM4w
December 25th, 2012 at 6:17 am
the GOOD
” there was a theme to Harbaugh’s brief session it was that his team has to “reorganize, refit and regroup,” a phrase he trotted out on four occasions.
The good for 49ers fans is that Harbaugh apparently has a knack for getting his teams re-channeled after defeats. The Niners are 7-0 after losses or a tie since 2011, winning those bounce-back games by a combined score of 165-37.
”
MAYBE we’ll fix the things we got wrong vs. seattle .
LIKE
‘What do the 49ers have to do offensively to avoid taking timeouts and delay-of-game penalties? “Fix it,” Harbaugh said.’
i hope this game re-lights a fire under us ! we now have to win our next four games !
December 25th, 2012 at 7:30 am
hmmm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69EcnxJmnd4
December 25th, 2012 at 8:54 am
Merry Christmas! Here’s some Carol of the Bells!
http://youtu.be/k4NH1j3Vo40
December 25th, 2012 at 9:10 am
I can’t add anything about the game that hasn’t already been said in various forms of we stunk. Bummer about Mario. I do have to wonder are we suffering some kind of WR karma? Are we paying for having the best WR in the history of the game, and 3 SB’s with him, and so now we cannot field a competent even mildly threatening group?
Happy Christmas all.
December 25th, 2012 at 9:21 am
barley- The bad WR Karma is because we are committed to the Sardine Can Offense.
December 25th, 2012 at 11:05 am
Merry Christmas Niner Faithful!
Maiocco sez Vernon Davis SHOULD be available to play Sunday
http://www.csnbayarea.com/blog/matt-maiocco/49ers-must-get-davis-involved-manningham-out
December 25th, 2012 at 12:13 pm
Berger, I love me some Trans-Siberian Orchestra Christmas. This song always chokes me up. Merry Christmas.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQNirj6lbGY
December 25th, 2012 at 5:21 pm
wow ! after you watch del’s video there’s one called
homeless boy st ….
watch it if you want a real tearjerker !
December 25th, 2012 at 5:44 pm
What was that movie called again with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan – ‘Getting Bent Over in Seattle.’ ?
Let’s quickly wipe those tapes and burn after viewing.
Merry Christmas Skeebs and niner brethren!
December 25th, 2012 at 6:18 pm
What’s great about the wide-ranging emotions of Christmas is that after I watch those heartfelt videos, I can laugh my ass off hearing Billy Bob Thornton in “Bad Santa” tell a kid, “Why don’t you wish in one hand and shit in the other. See which one fills up first. “
December 25th, 2012 at 7:59 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNHIETXh4Vw
December 26th, 2012 at 11:03 am
49ers have signed S Curtis Taylor and NT Lamar Divens to practice squad.
December 26th, 2012 at 11:06 am
In other exciting news, it’s Wednesday.
December 26th, 2012 at 1:54 pm
It’s time to regroup and we will see what this team is made of this week. The absence of J. Smith meant so much to this team because he continually makes the big play and make everyone around him play better. The Niners will not go anywhere if others don’t step up. Jimbo has to see that his game plan has been found out by the league and that if he wants to go deep into the playoffs he’s gonna have to cut the offense loose. A steady diet of misdirection, run accurate pass routes, SCREENS, and such.
December 26th, 2012 at 4:43 pm
Lots od 49er on the Pro Bowl squad. For all the fans who don’t think Goldson is woth the money, his peers voted his as starting FS.
December 26th, 2012 at 5:09 pm
Berger
Pro Bowl selections are done by fans and not peers.
Like baseball and basketball this is just who can stuff the most votes into the ballot box.
I believe Goldson is a good player
and deserving of the accolades.
I don’t think he’s worth the coin he’s asking for. Just my opinion
which isn’t worth much.
December 26th, 2012 at 5:18 pm
The one travesty in the Pro Bowl selections is Morestad beat out Andy Lee as the NFC punter.
His average is 2 yards longer than Lee but Lee dropped 35 punts inside the 20 (56%) and Morestad dropped 18 inside the 20 (27%).
Obviously voted on by people that don’t know the nuances and finer points of football.
December 26th, 2012 at 7:03 pm
Pro Bowl voting is players, coaches and fans.
December 26th, 2012 at 7:08 pm
Yep you are right. Didn’t realize it was weighted 1/3 for coaches, players and fans.
I can admit when I’m incorrect.
December 26th, 2012 at 7:24 pm
WE have the most pro-bowlers
San Francisco (9)
NaVorro Bowman, inside/middle linebacker
*-Dashon Goldson, free safety
Frank Gore, running back
*-Mike Iupati, guard
*-Aldon Smith, outside linebacker
*-Justin Smith, interior lineman
*-Joe Staley, tackle
*-Donte Whitner, strong safety
*-Patrick Willis, inside/middle linebacker
December 26th, 2012 at 7:39 pm
I now wonder how much attention will be paid to the WR position in April with Manningham going down?
He got a multiple year deal here this year.
AJ is pretty much a Mario Clone.
We still don’t have a bonafide field stretcher at that position, assuming Moss is 1 and done.
December 26th, 2012 at 7:41 pm
One thing is clear at this point.
I’ll be a MN Viking fan on Sunday.
I’d still like the BYE week first and foremost.
December 26th, 2012 at 7:47 pm
Go Vikings!
December 26th, 2012 at 8:25 pm
Berger did you see we signed a 340lb NT to the Practice Squad?
Maybe there’s hope for a traditional 3-4 Fat Man in the Middle yet?
December 26th, 2012 at 8:27 pm
The pro bowl punter selection is a travesty? Overreact much?
.
I wish they’d just shit-can the game as it is by far the most worthless of the all star games.
December 26th, 2012 at 8:27 pm
Lamar Divens, most recently from the Houston Texans
December 26th, 2012 at 8:28 pm
Will Jenkins ever get on the field? I know Harbaugh has a bit ov an aversion to rooks, but really.
December 26th, 2012 at 8:29 pm
of
December 26th, 2012 at 8:31 pm
WE need the bye most of all !it would give us extra time to prepare and get healthy ! most importantly it means we would only have to win two games to get to the superbowl !
all important stuff imho
December 26th, 2012 at 8:35 pm
We don’t control our destiny now unfortunately.
We have to win to get the Division crown but, we need MN to win on top of it, to get the 2 Seed as well.
MN will be playing hard, that’s all we can ask for.
December 26th, 2012 at 8:37 pm
http://www.titansonline.com/team/roster/Lamar-Divens/933f6671-650c-48bf-ab80-2650f8cc1a57
December 26th, 2012 at 8:38 pm
Would love to see Kaep, AJ and LMJ come to the head of the class now.
The 3 of them have likely had extensive time together in the early stages of Camp.
I’m praying that we have had a contingency plan for those guys to be ready to roll at this stage of the Season.
December 26th, 2012 at 11:03 pm
Chuck
I happen to think Andy lee is the best punter in the league and should be recognized as such. Sorry if you feel otherwise.
December 26th, 2012 at 11:59 pm
With any luck, we’ll be going to the Super Bowl and it won;t matter anyway.
December 27th, 2012 at 12:08 am
Interesting storylines for the Vike’s game.
Peterson is banged up and he’s trying to break Dickerson’s rushing record.
Without AP Vikes don’t have a chance especially with Harvin out.
Toby Gearhart just doesn’t strike fear into the Pack.
December 27th, 2012 at 1:50 am
Been picking through the WR rankings to keep myself informed –
Learned that Jerry Rice has a cousin coming out from Vandy, Jordan Matthews.
Seems like a legit performer too.
Biletnikof-list worthy.
Several guys, including Jordan, have decent size and numbers.
There are a fair number of these Rd 2-3 graded guys too.
Jordan is 6’3″ 205
Aaron Dobson / Marshall 6’3″ 230
Cordarrelle Patterson / TN 6’3″ 205
No clue how to slot us for a WR since I never saw AJ coming last April so….?
I’ll be surprised if and when we grab one.
Dobson is also on the Senior Bowl Roster.
December 27th, 2012 at 2:02 am
I’m curious about Aaron Mellette from Elon too.
Big kid, small school.
Hard to figure.
6’4″ 220 with nice numbers.
He too will be at the Senior Bowl.
Have to keep an eye open for him also.
December 27th, 2012 at 2:36 am
3 CBs on the Sr Bowl Roster have great numbers too.
2 guys from UCONN.
Blidi Wreh-Wilson and Dwayne Gratz.
Both guys tackle and intercept while showing excellent 40 times.
Desmond Trufant from Washington also looks interesting.
The CB class looks very deep too.
Not a lot of RD1 guys but, quite a few from 2-Mid Rd range.
December 27th, 2012 at 3:06 am
Going to add S/CB David Amerson from NC St to the mix also.
Listed as a Jr.
Not certain he’s coming out at this point.
2012 COACHES ALL-ACC FOOTBALL SECOND TEAM: CB-David Amerson, NC State, 6-3, 194, Jr., Greensboro, N.C.
Amerson finished the season with five interceptions, and his career total of 18 is third-best in ACC history. In Saturday’s win over Boston College, Amerson returned his INT for his third career score. The Pack is 5-0 this season when he picked off a pass.
December 27th, 2012 at 5:48 am
New post is up.