First Half Tied 10-10

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First half assessment: Terrific first half by Troy Smith. He completed 6 of 9 passes for 171 yards, on pass to throw for 300 yards. But the 49ers couldn't take advantage of their big plays. They had a chance to take control of the game but a delay of game penalty forced a Joe Nedney field after Troy Smith fired a 3-yard pass for 6 to Vernon Davis. Penalties really stung the 49ers, including a bad call on Travis LaBoy that set up the Rams touchdown.

Rams drive: The 49ers doubled Danny Amendola on third down with Dashon Goldson over the top and they force a punt. For the third straight drive, Reggie Smith is in at strong safety. 49ers going with Brooks and Haralson at outside linebackers.

49ers drive: Anthony Davis gave up his seventh sack of the season on third-and-2. Smith did hold the ball a little too long.

Rams drive cont: The 49ers sent a blitz on third down and Danny Amendola and he got them in the red zone. Why blitz, particularly with left tackle who didn't play well in the last game. 10-10. So much for momentum. Also a bad call on Travis LaBoy, who hit Bradford in the chest, but they said it was hit in the head. Not so. It's 10-10.

Rams drive: For this drive, Reggie Smith is in and so is Travis LaBoy. Ricky Jean Francois is also in. Rodger Staffold, the Rams rookie left tackle is down after getting rolled up on.

49ers drive cont: 49ers drive stalls after they got a first and goal at the 3. The main problem was a delay game call after Troy Smith three a 3-yard TD to Vernon Davis. The play is taking way too long to get transmitted; the 49ers are breaking the huddle too late.

49ers drive cont: The 49ers are really going down the field. They are running a lot of two men routes and then sending them deep. On his first three passes, Troy Smith accounted for 135 yards counting the 37-yard pass interference call on Rams cornerback Ron Bartell.

49ers drive: Chilo Rachal is out and Adam Snyder is replacing him. No word on a injury for Rachal. He missed a day of practice during the week because of personal reasons.

Rams drive: Reggie Smith was in that drive for Mays at strong safety. Sack fumble, Rams recover. 49ers force the punt, momentum definitely on the 49ers side.

49ers drive: 65-yard pass to Josh Morgan to set up a Frank Gore 1-yard run. Joe Nedney hurt his right knee, but he seemed fine on the extra point. Troy Smith saw eight in the box, and the immediately went to Morgan. There looked like there was some confusion in the Rams secondary.

Rams drive cont: Bradford went right at the 49ers weakness, nickel back Tarell Brown and he had great coverage on wide receiver Brandon Gibson. Rams forced to punt.

Rams drive: Nate Clements interception was nullified by an off-sides by Ahmad Brooks. The rookie QB gets Brooks on the hard count. A veteran defense getting fooled by a rookie hard count? Not good.

49ers drive: First drive started with promise with a 34-yard completion to Vernon Davis, but two sacks and the Joe Nedney knee injury forces a punt. The 49ers were max protecting on the first sack with eight guys in and still gave up the sack. Not good.

Rams went 8 plays and covered 54 yards to set up Josh Brown's 32-yard field goal. Bradford was 5 for 5 for 41 yards.

Rams drive: Will James looked like he hurt himself on the kickoff coverage. He walked off the field however. Rookie Phillip Adams is replacing James in the nickel. James has head injury, doubtful to return. Tarell Brown is also playing nickel.

Rams rookie quarterback Sam Bradford is the opposite from what you might expect. He's excels when blitzed. He's in the top five of quarterback rating when pressured.

-Frank Gore told David White this week that he's surprised Bradford has done so well because Gore said quarterbacks from shotgun offenses don't do well. Fortunately, Alex Smith was nowhere in sight.

Here are the inactives for the 49ers: WR Kyle Williams, QB Alex Smith, CB Tremaine Brock, LB Keaton Kristick, LB Thaddeus Gibson, T Barry Sims, T Alex Boone, and WR Jason Hill.

Talking to my Chronicle cohorts David White and Scott Osler, there's a feeling Ted Ginn Jr. may break a punt of kickoff.

Posted By: Kevin Lynch (Email) | November 14 2010 at 02:15 PM

Listed Under: Game Day