Sunday, January 02, 2011

More Post Game

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The 49ers can learn something from the very short tenure of interim coach Jim Tomsula. Have fun. Tomsula told the team this week to just let lose and when things go wrong, don't worry, go to the next play. Football players, particularly quarterbacks, have to put in 10-hour days during the week. Someone has to be there to remind them it's still a kids' game. Here are thoughts from the 49ers last game.

-Unofficially, the 49ers will have the seventh pick in the NFL draft.

-This team grew tighter than most because of the London trip and the long training camp. Several players said they wanted to play for each other because they know the team will change. That, of course, includes Alex Smith, who sounded as if he had played his last game in San Francisco. Please, no tears. One thing about Smith, he did give his all. There's something to be said for that.

-As I mentioned in the blog, pretty good games by newbies Alex Boone and NaVorro Bowman. For Boone, it was the first time he had played in two years. He played most of the fourth quarter. "I was a little nervous going in," he said. "But it's just like riding a bike."

-Boone said Tomsula told him on Monday he would play, and his quote was, "We want to make sure you're not stealing from us."

-Tomsula got the ice bath from defensive linemen Isaac Sopoaga and Justin Smith. Tomsula said he was happy the players put up with him this week, and was thankful they didn't "stuff him in a trash can."

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Posted By: Kevin Lynch (Email) | Jan 02 at 05:56 PM

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Post game

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Not a bad showing by the 49ers young players - NaVorro Bowman, Alex Boone, Tarell Brown. Maybe the 49ers in believing that a complete overhaul is needed. Maybe all they need is a coach to motivate him and put them in the right spots. Whatever coach they hire, he should make the game fun for players. That's what Tomsula did this week. The game is so complex now, players need someone to make it fun for them.

Posted By: Kevin Lynch (Email) | Jan 02 at 04:25 PM

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Tarell Brown pick and score

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Several sites are now saying that the 49ers will have seventh or eight pick in the draft.

Cardinals drive" Tarell Brown picks and goes 52 yards for a touchdown. Bartell threw the ball behind Roberts allowing Brown to score.

Cardinals drive: Three and out for the Cardinals. I've been focusing in on Bowman and he's done a decent job, but he often seems to lose his balance, which isn't good for a linebacker.

David White and I are trying to figure out the 49ers draft position. The best we can figure it fall somewhere between 4 and 7.

49ers drive: Alex Boone was in the last series, and will be in this series.

Cardinals drive cont: Goldson has a hip injury and is probable to return.

Cardinals drive: New quarterback Richard Bartell is in the game. So is Taylor Mays.

49ers drive: Offense goes three and out.

Cardinals drive: Bowman did his homework before the game. The 49ers showed a blitz up the middle and just before the pass, Bowman signaled that the Cardinals would throw deep middle and that's what happened. The 49ers broke up the play.

49ers drive: Westbrook scores. Everything is working for the 49ers. Do you think they miss Singletary?

Cardinals drive: Picked off pass by Ahmad Brooks on a deflection off of the hand of Ray McDonald. It's Brooks first career pick. Too bad he couldn't do that against the Chargers a few weeks ago.

49ers drive: The Vernon Davis is doing a great job washing down the Cardinals' line. Westbrook is then cutting back behind the blocks. He did it on his 30-yard run and on his touchdown run. The 49ers want this game more than the Cardinals for whatever that means.

Cardinals drive: Lawson is just eating up the rookie tight end and long snapper. They can't block him, which you would expect.

49ers drive: 59-yard score by Vernon Davis from Smith. That was the first time all year the "pipe was open." Meaning there was no safety in the middle.

Posted By: Kevin Lynch (Email) | Jan 02 at 04:05 PM

Listed Under: Game Updates | Permalink

49ers lead 10-7 at the half, new stream for second half

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Jim Tomsula is running this game like a defensive line coach. He called off dogs with 33 seconds and the 49ers at about mid-field. He got booed.

49ers drive: Wow, what a tackle by safety Adrian Wilson. That's the most menacing hit I've seen all year. I'm surprised tacklee Brian Westbook didn't sustain a concussion there. Anthony Davis is leading the game in pushing Cardinals after the snap.

Cardinals drive cont: 49ers force a punt, so the 49ers will have a 1:40 to get some points.

Cardinals drive: Dashon Goldson is playing much closer to line of scrimmage in this game. This is an interesting game for Bowman, who used to playing in space and as an outside linebacker. Now he has to bang heads. Part of the reason Manny Lawson is having a good game is because he's going against long snapper Mike Leach inside of a tight end.

49ers drive: 49ers opened the drive with six offensive linemen and Smith threw for a first down. There's a modicum of creativity. The 49ers have yet to convert a third down.

Cardinals drive cont: Fitzgerald just beat Reggie Smith and Tremaine Brock for a touchdown at back of end zone. Even though Fitzgerald is getting double covered, Skelton is still going to him.

Cardinals drive: Skelton is moving the ball, he fit a nice ball into Larry Fitzgerald into a small window. The Cardinals have a first and 10 just outside the 10. The 49ers reviewed but confirmed.

49ers drive: Westbrook was open on third down, and Alex Smith missed him. 49ers punt.

Cardinals drive: By the way, the Cardinals only have one tight end. With starter Ben Patrick is out, and back up Stephen Spach pulled a hamstring in pregame warm ups. NaVorro Bowman looks like a different play at linebacker than he did earlier.

First quarter assessment: Great quarter by Alex Smith, who would have guessed with no pressure, he would have had a great start. It's interesting to watch Tomsula, because he has to coach the defensive line as well as be the head coach, so he's looking at still photo and talking with linemen during timeouts.

49ers drive: Another first down! Delanie Walker is showing off his run after the catch exploits.

Cardinals drive: The defense is playing like a bunch of wild dogs. The rookie Cardinals quarterback is not fast and the 49ers are hounding him with blitzes. It almost seems unfair.

49ers drive: Touchdown Ted Ginn Jr. 37-yard tocuddown pass on a perfectly thrown ball by Alex Smith. That's one of the best passes Alex Smith has thrown all year.

Cardinals drive: Manny Lawson is all over the place in the early going. Cardinals have yet to get a first down.

49ers drive: Two drives, two times the 49ers and Alex Smith throw short of the third down marker. I thought this offense would be a different. I thought they would play with a quicker tempo. They haven't showed that yet.

Cardinals drive: Rookie quarterback John Skelton is playing like a rookie quarterback. He should have been intercepted on third down.

49ers drive: Good scuffle between Darnell Dockett and Anthony Davis got involved. The 49ers punt on 4th and inches. Are you kidding? Tomsula got booed by this sparse crowd.

Cardinals drive: Great blitz off the corner by Shawntae Spencer and Manny Lawson to nail the quarterback. It thwarted the Cardinals on third down.

Posted By: Kevin Lynch (Email) | Jan 02 at 02:39 PM

Listed Under: Game Updates | Permalink

49ers-Cardinals - How irrelevant is it?

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Could this season finale against the Cardinals be the most irrelevant game in 49ers history. As I wrote for the newspaper, it might be better for the 49ers to lose this game. If they finish at 5-11 the chances are they'll play the Lions and the Panthers next year. If they win, they could face the Packers and the Saints. Also, depending on tie-breakers, their draft position could go anywhere from second overall to 11th.

Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see how this team responds under the much looser reign of Jim Tomsula. Also, you can see in practice that Tomsula isn't wedded to the run. His offensive focus seems to be on quick tempo. That makes sense, because the 49ers without Frank Gore are as equally good (or bad) with the run and the pass.

Posted By: Kevin Lynch (Email) | Jan 02 at 11:59 AM

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