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It just seemed like a really bad dream the first half. Drive right down the field, miss a 20 yd FG from the middle of the field wide right. Watch the other team go up 14-0. Watch our offense flounder for most of the first half after the great opening drive. Watch players, including our QB drop like flies with injuries. 0-2 seemed like a given once we got down 24-14.
Something huge happened after that. I dont know how he did it, but Romo convinced Garrett and the doctors to let him back in the game. And going by what we saw for most of the first half, putting Romo back in didnt seem smart. He really wasnt playing well after that first series. I wonder if Kitna hadnt thrown that 2nd pick if Garrett would have still given in. Whatever it was, we're 1-1 today in large part thanks to it.
1) I'm not sure anyone watching knew the extent of Romo's injury (or even that he was injured) until he didnt start the 2nd half and the sideline reporter broke the news about fractured rubs. At least now we know why he threw the ball as poorly as he did (especially after the first drive). Nobody can ever question this guys toughness or desire to win anymore though. Broken ribs are bad, and not only to he overcome the pain, he played awesome football afterward. Major props to him.
2) I have been one of the biggest critics of overreacting to missed FG's, but even I will admit to thinking Bailey was toast after inexplicably blowing a 20 yd FG from the middle of the field. But the kid redeemed himself with that 48 yarder and nailed the game winner, albeit from short distance. I didnt think there was a chance in hell he'd make that game tying FG, and he killed it.
3) I have contended for years that there is major bias from the officials against us, and yesterday did nothing to change my mind on it. There is no excuse for blowing the call on the GL on that first drive when Austin was obviously intefered with (or at the least, illegal contact), especially when the same official turned around in the 2nd qtr and nailed James for PI in the endzone. Last week the Jets somehow had NO penalties against us, but this week were flagged 7 times vs a lousy Jacksonville team. Yesterday the Niners could basically do no wrong (no holding, no mugging our receivers) but last week were flagged 9 times for over 100 yards. The oficials could have also really cost us on the OT play where they ruled the Niner WR caught the pass in bounds, making it 4th and 1 or less than 1. I never thought it was complete live, nor did I see any replays where someone with a good view could have possibly thought that ball was complete. Yet somehow the officla with the best view of everyone called the ball complete. Fortunately Harbaugh called TO and gave the replay booth time to look at it. Its pathetic. And its blatantly obvious.
4) Awesome pass rush yesterday for most of the game, especially the 2nd half. We came up with a number of huge sacks in key situations. They struggled badly on 3rd down in the first half, then gave up no 3rd down conversions in the 2nd half and OT. Our front 7 really dominated against the run and pass and I dont think its crazy to think that if we can somehow get our top 3 CB's all healthy and on the field together, this defense might be really, really good sometime this year.
5) I just have to laugh and roll my eyes at people complaining about the playcalling. Yesterday despite missing our starting WR and numerous other guys hurt during the game (incl the QB) we still managed almost 500 yds of offense against a defense that gave up barely 200 yds last week. Our offense had its way alot of the night with a Jets D that held the Jags to under 100 yds passing, got 4 picks and held the starting QB to a QB rating of 1.8. (For comparison, we had almost 400 yds against them, and Romo's rating despite the late pick was over 100pts more than McCown's was yesterday) The only thing we're not doing all that well is running the football, and that will have to be a work in progress. The OL is going to have growing pains people, but it has the potential to be pretty good. By the way for the record, Trent Dilfer thinks Garrett is one of the best playcallers in the league. And he's right.
6) Props to Kevin Kowalski, who filled in for Costa. I dont know how many series Kowalski played yet, but the offense seemed fine when he was in and there were no bad shotgun snaps. I thought he really showed well in those last two preseason games, and he showed it was no fluke yesterday. This kid has alot of potential. Another UDFA gem by our scouts.
7) Not sure Derrick Dockery was any improvement over Nagy, if anything he was worse IMO and had back to back false start penalties one time.
8) The D as a whole came up big in alot of situations, but the play of the two safeties is still mediocre. Alan Ball gave up alot of completions, but his pick in the 2nd half was a nice read by him and a big play in that game. Hatcher, Ware and Lee all had huge games. Lee looks like a bona-fide probowler at ILB. Hatcher's game was the best I've ever seen from him. Ratliff was also alot more active yesterday. The run defense through the first two games has been outstanding. 10 sacks now through 2 games, and this is against two teams with highly regarded OL's, led by highly regarded OL coaches.
9) Jesse Holley really came through in a big way. He ran some nice routes and made 3 catches at crucial times. Props to him.
10) As I mentioned last night, this team has a MASH list of injuries. Way too many for just being two weeks into the season, and most of the injuries are to front line players. The bye week cant get here fast enough.
11) I liked what I had heard about Jim Harbaugh in college, but he came off as a damn whiner to me yesterday. He cried about every damn call, even soemthing that there is nothing to cry about, a 5yd penalty for one of his guys failing to report as eligible. All the while his team is getting the benefit of the doubt on virtually everything else. No holding calls on them. No PI's or illegal contact for mugging our guys.
We're a work in progress no doubt. There are gonna be some tough times along the way, especially until we get healthy. But if they can get healthy and the OL continues to improve so we can run the ball some, we could be a very interesting team in December and possibly January. The defense is looking like it could be very good, especially once we have Newman, Jenkins and Scandrick on the field together. Yesterday was a hgue win and it wasnt pretty, but it might have been the prettiest ugly win ever. We needed that one and the QB, defense and new kicker got it done when they had to.
Something huge happened after that. I dont know how he did it, but Romo convinced Garrett and the doctors to let him back in the game. And going by what we saw for most of the first half, putting Romo back in didnt seem smart. He really wasnt playing well after that first series. I wonder if Kitna hadnt thrown that 2nd pick if Garrett would have still given in. Whatever it was, we're 1-1 today in large part thanks to it.
1) I'm not sure anyone watching knew the extent of Romo's injury (or even that he was injured) until he didnt start the 2nd half and the sideline reporter broke the news about fractured rubs. At least now we know why he threw the ball as poorly as he did (especially after the first drive). Nobody can ever question this guys toughness or desire to win anymore though. Broken ribs are bad, and not only to he overcome the pain, he played awesome football afterward. Major props to him.
2) I have been one of the biggest critics of overreacting to missed FG's, but even I will admit to thinking Bailey was toast after inexplicably blowing a 20 yd FG from the middle of the field. But the kid redeemed himself with that 48 yarder and nailed the game winner, albeit from short distance. I didnt think there was a chance in hell he'd make that game tying FG, and he killed it.
3) I have contended for years that there is major bias from the officials against us, and yesterday did nothing to change my mind on it. There is no excuse for blowing the call on the GL on that first drive when Austin was obviously intefered with (or at the least, illegal contact), especially when the same official turned around in the 2nd qtr and nailed James for PI in the endzone. Last week the Jets somehow had NO penalties against us, but this week were flagged 7 times vs a lousy Jacksonville team. Yesterday the Niners could basically do no wrong (no holding, no mugging our receivers) but last week were flagged 9 times for over 100 yards. The oficials could have also really cost us on the OT play where they ruled the Niner WR caught the pass in bounds, making it 4th and 1 or less than 1. I never thought it was complete live, nor did I see any replays where someone with a good view could have possibly thought that ball was complete. Yet somehow the officla with the best view of everyone called the ball complete. Fortunately Harbaugh called TO and gave the replay booth time to look at it. Its pathetic. And its blatantly obvious.
4) Awesome pass rush yesterday for most of the game, especially the 2nd half. We came up with a number of huge sacks in key situations. They struggled badly on 3rd down in the first half, then gave up no 3rd down conversions in the 2nd half and OT. Our front 7 really dominated against the run and pass and I dont think its crazy to think that if we can somehow get our top 3 CB's all healthy and on the field together, this defense might be really, really good sometime this year.
5) I just have to laugh and roll my eyes at people complaining about the playcalling. Yesterday despite missing our starting WR and numerous other guys hurt during the game (incl the QB) we still managed almost 500 yds of offense against a defense that gave up barely 200 yds last week. Our offense had its way alot of the night with a Jets D that held the Jags to under 100 yds passing, got 4 picks and held the starting QB to a QB rating of 1.8. (For comparison, we had almost 400 yds against them, and Romo's rating despite the late pick was over 100pts more than McCown's was yesterday) The only thing we're not doing all that well is running the football, and that will have to be a work in progress. The OL is going to have growing pains people, but it has the potential to be pretty good. By the way for the record, Trent Dilfer thinks Garrett is one of the best playcallers in the league. And he's right.
6) Props to Kevin Kowalski, who filled in for Costa. I dont know how many series Kowalski played yet, but the offense seemed fine when he was in and there were no bad shotgun snaps. I thought he really showed well in those last two preseason games, and he showed it was no fluke yesterday. This kid has alot of potential. Another UDFA gem by our scouts.
7) Not sure Derrick Dockery was any improvement over Nagy, if anything he was worse IMO and had back to back false start penalties one time.
8) The D as a whole came up big in alot of situations, but the play of the two safeties is still mediocre. Alan Ball gave up alot of completions, but his pick in the 2nd half was a nice read by him and a big play in that game. Hatcher, Ware and Lee all had huge games. Lee looks like a bona-fide probowler at ILB. Hatcher's game was the best I've ever seen from him. Ratliff was also alot more active yesterday. The run defense through the first two games has been outstanding. 10 sacks now through 2 games, and this is against two teams with highly regarded OL's, led by highly regarded OL coaches.
9) Jesse Holley really came through in a big way. He ran some nice routes and made 3 catches at crucial times. Props to him.
10) As I mentioned last night, this team has a MASH list of injuries. Way too many for just being two weeks into the season, and most of the injuries are to front line players. The bye week cant get here fast enough.
11) I liked what I had heard about Jim Harbaugh in college, but he came off as a damn whiner to me yesterday. He cried about every damn call, even soemthing that there is nothing to cry about, a 5yd penalty for one of his guys failing to report as eligible. All the while his team is getting the benefit of the doubt on virtually everything else. No holding calls on them. No PI's or illegal contact for mugging our guys.
We're a work in progress no doubt. There are gonna be some tough times along the way, especially until we get healthy. But if they can get healthy and the OL continues to improve so we can run the ball some, we could be a very interesting team in December and possibly January. The defense is looking like it could be very good, especially once we have Newman, Jenkins and Scandrick on the field together. Yesterday was a hgue win and it wasnt pretty, but it might have been the prettiest ugly win ever. We needed that one and the QB, defense and new kicker got it done when they had to.
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