Third-Quarter Review

Trent Dilfer likes routine. He fell into a groove in his previous start against the Rams by throwing deep and he didn't it a little bit too much. To open the third quarter, he continued to throw quickly to backs and tight ends in the flats. On the first drive of the quarter for example, instead of waiting to throw over the middle to a wide open Maurice Hicks, he hit Vernon Davis near the sideline for no gain on 3rd-and-5.

Dilfer made an outstanding play with defensive tackle Darnell Dockett draped all over him in the second drive of the third quarter. He was still able to get the ball 30 yards down field to a wide open Davis even though Dockett hit his arm. Dilfer has got some strength.

The most impressive part of wide receiver Arnaz Battle's 57-yard catch-and-run for six was his vault at the end. He soared about 7 yards before landing in the end zone. He also made a great move on safety Oliver Celestin, who's a third-stringer who started because of injuries. But the 49ers haven't been able to take advantage of injured teams before. They lost to the Rams who were missing three of their offensive linemen, the Ravens, who were without five Pro Bowlers, and the Seahawks, who were really battered.

Posted By: Kevin Lynch (Email) | November 27 2007 at 09:44 PM

Second-Quarter Review

Looking over the game tape, Fox showed "Big" Michael Lewis' head shot after "Little" Michael Lewis went 51 yards on a punt return. On Frank Gore's 11-yard touchdown run, the Cardinals ran their third straight blitz, so when Gore broke a tackle at the line of scrimmage, there were no linebackers in the second level. Gore than faked out the safety Terrence Holt to get into the end zone.

Mike Nolan didn't pass on 2nd-and-3 with 11 seconds remaining in the first half. That left six ticks on the clock for the Cardinals successful Hail Mary play to Larry Fitzgerald. Nolan admitted it was a mistake. He should have thrown one more pass so the Cardinals wouldn't have had enough time for another play. It's a good thing Neil Rackers missed a 32-yard field goal in overtime, or Nolan would have been grilled again.

Trent Dilfer completed six passes to Frank Gore in the first half, one was a screen, another was a smoke or quick hitch pass, and the rest were check downs.

The Cardinals played the 49ers like no other defense this year. They often went with a nickel defense even on first- and second-down, and they rarely went with an 8-man front (six times in 33 plays in the first half). Most teams beg the 49ers to throw deep with their defensive formations. Arizona probably wanted to get Antrel Rolle, who had two interceptions for touchdowns the week before, onto the field more. The result was short passing by the 49ers. Only two passes of over 10 yards were thrown and they were two worst passes Dilfer threw in the half.

Wide receiver Darrell Jackson reminds me of a kid who just started wearing pads. He seems averse to contact and he can't hang onto the ball. Twice against Arizona it was knocked from his grasp and we all know about the trouble he has had catching passes.

Posted By: Kevin Lynch (Email) | November 27 2007 at 04:14 PM

Patrick's Special

Flying home from the team's 37-31 win over the Cardinals, linebacker coach Mike Singletary leaned across the aisle and whispered to Mike Nolan what Patrick Willis' statistics screamed.

"Patrick's special," Singletary said.

With a cast the size of a toaster-oven dangling from his left arm, Willis set a 49ers record with 17 solo tackles and 18 overall against Arizona. He also had a half sack and a pass defensed. Willis had struggled after breaking the hand against the Giants. He averaged 12 tackles a game before the injury, and six tackles a game afterwards. Now he seems to have adjusted.

Willis, of course, also had the game's signature tackle - running down receiver Sean Morey in overtime to save the game.

Nolan said that Willis earned an "MVP" recognition for the game, which we assume is the same as a game ball. "Big" Michael Lewis, the safety, also was an MVP. On special teams, "Little" Michael Lewis , the return man, earned a game ball. Offensively, quarterback Trent Dilfer and running back Frank Gore received game balls.

Nolan also recognized some honorable mentions on defense: Bryant Young, Marques Douglas, Mark Roman and Walt Harris.

Asked what influence new offensive assistant Ted Tollner had on the 49ers offensive outburst Nolan said, "How much to what degree, who knows?"

Dilfer after yesterday's game said Tollner influence was nearly nonexistent since Tollner was still learning the offense. Center Eric Heitmann said Tollner does bring the experience of knowing defenses.

Read More 'Patrick's Special' »

Posted By: Kevin Lynch (Email) | November 26 2007 at 02:33 PM

Dilfer Breakdown-First Quarter

Stat Shop

Dilfer against blitz: 0-2 sack, hit, one dropped pass

Throwing short: (0-10 yards): 5-8 32 yards, TD

Intermediate: 0-1

Long: 0-0

Right: 2-4 9 yards, TD

Middle: 2-3 12 yards and a drop

Left: 1-2 7 yards

3-step: 1-1 7 yards

5-step: 0-0

7-step: 1-1 10 yards and a sack

Moving: 1-2 2 yards, TD

Shot: 2-6, 13 yards, scramble.

In the first quarter, Dilfer only threw one bad pass. Another to Darrell Jackson was dropped, a third was overthrown when Dilfer was hit in the knees and Darnell Dockett forced a high throw with his pass rush that fell incomplete.

Posted By: Kevin Lynch (Email) | November 26 2007 at 02:22 PM

Fourth Quarter Review

-Mike Nolan said in today's news conference that the offensive line has played well the last month. However, for three quarters they were dominated by the Rams linebackers, who were too quick and athletic for them. The line deserves tremendous credit for how they protected during the last three drives, which accounted for 182 yards when you consider a sack for 4 yards and a false start penalty. Adam Snyder, who struggled in the first half, was brilliant in the fourth quarter, although he was helped by Dilfer constantly stepping up in the pocket.

-Larry Allen is one of the best trippers in the league - a Hall of Fame tripper. When Allen started losing his grip on Claude Wroten, he hauled off and kicked Wroten in the shin. Wroten went down like a shot.

-I wrote earlier that Gore is not the same player and isn't seeing the cutback lane. It might be that Gore can see it, but just can't make the cut to get there with his sprained ankle.

-By not going down with 16 seconds left, a stunt that was called a "brain fart" by Nolan, Vernon Davis didn't cost the 49ers any time. The clock was stopped so officials could briefly discuss whether Davis fumbled, so no time was wasted.

-Trent Dilfer did well to fire to the end zone the first two times on the 49ers' second-to-last drive. But he got greedy on 3rd-and-10 from the 28. Needing a first down, Dilfer went to the end zone again, throwing a pass behind Darrell Jackson who was double-covered.

Read More 'Fourth Quarter Review' »

Posted By: Kevin Lynch (Email) | November 19 2007 at 11:09 PM

Third Quarter Review-Offense

-Joe Staley is an emotional player. He was screaming, after the 49ers failed to convert a 3rd-and-1. Just like last year, the 49ers are getting no push. They were repelled three straight times on short yardage runs. Just one conversion could have been big for them. In one of these games, the 49ers are going to get all the luck going their way on offense. Tight end Delanie Walker makes a terrific catch on the sidelines but he's ruled out of bounds. Why can't he make that play in the middle of the field. Darrell Jackson goes down the sideline and gets belted in the face mask when the ball is in the air and there's no call. Trent Dilfer doesn't see Jason Hill wide open down the field in the first quarter and then misses Arnaz Battle open in the fourth quarter.

-I don't understand it. In their third drive of the third quarter, the 49ers had 2nd-and-3, and they split tight end Vernon Davis out in the slot. Two players follow him out there, a linebacker and a safety, leaving six defenders in the box. Fullback Moran Norris is in the game as a lead blocker, a perfect scenario for a run. What do they do? A one-man screen to Frank Gore that loses 7 yards. Gore is so frustrated he goes offsides on the next play.

Posted By: Kevin Lynch (Email) | November 19 2007 at 08:25 PM

Second Quarter Review-Offense

-Vernon Davis is a tight end, but the 49ers should split him out wide at least a third of the time. It sets up a mismatch with Davis if he's covered by a strong safety or linebacker. Also it takes more defenders out of the middle for the run game, and it makes it more difficult for a defense to put eight in the box. Such a formation spreads things out.

-There are some many things wrong with the offense, but one might be calling audibles. The 49ers had a very tight formation with two tight ends spread as receivers. The Rams responded by putting nine defenders up. The 49ers then ran an outside stretch play that had no chance against that defense. You have to call an audible there.

-On the Fox broadcast, Chris Myers said that Frank Gore wanted to dedicate the game to Dick Nolan if the team won. It was also reported that Mike Nolan delivered his father's eulogy at the funeral Saturday.

-Trent Dilfer was sacked once, hit twice and hurried once in the first half. Three of the four quarterback disruptions were on left tackle Adam Snyder.

Posted By: Kevin Lynch (Email) | November 19 2007 at 03:26 PM

The Nolan Presser

Coach Mike Nolan, in a lengthy introduction to his Monday news conference, said he wouldn't make any changes to his coaching staff for the rest of the year. To see it go to http://cbs5.com/sports/49ers.mike.nolan.2.461096.html

Nolan probably wants to put to rest all the speculation, so the players and coaches know that the staff will stay in tact. Nolan said the problems with the team are too prevalent to just isolate a coach or two. He didn't rule out making changes at the end of the season.

Nolan has control over his staff, which could set up an interesting dynamic after the season not too different than the one the Yorks faced with Dennis Erickson. Ownership and management wanted certain coaches fired, Erickson refused and then everyone was fired. For now, it appears that Nolan's job is safe. But the Yorks may insist on making changes to the staff.

Nolan talks to the Yorks often and said he spoke with John York last night. "He's been very supportive," Nolan said Monday. "He understands some of what's been going on." Read More 'The Nolan Presser' »

Posted By: Kevin Lynch (Email) | November 19 2007 at 12:16 PM

Film Review First Quarter Offense

-Trent Dilfer did a pretty fair job, the 49ers did throw for over 200 yards for the first time in 22 games. But what Dilfer lacked was touch. On his first third down pass, he could have lofted a throw to Vernon Davis who was cutting across the field on what's known as a "7" route or deep out. Instead he fired it and missed Davis who had a step on strong safety Corey Chavous.

-After the Nate Clements' interception, and a pass for 9 yards to Arnaz Battle, the 49ers couldn't pick up 1 yard for the first. On second down, Frank Gore tripped unintentionally over defensive end Adam Carricker's shoe or he would gotten the first down easily.

-I hate writing this because he gives so much to the game, but Gore is not the same back as last year. He hasn't seen the cutback lane well at all and the sprained ankle seems to be preventing him from lifting his feet.

Posted By: Kevin Lynch (Email) | November 19 2007 at 11:41 AM

First-Half Review

Notes-Offense-First Half in Seattle.

-Alex Smith took two steps and heaved the ball 53 yards in the air on a Hail Mary attempt to end the half. When Smith worked out for 49ers' coaches and scouts, before he was picked number 1 overall three years ago, he threw a pass 70 yards flat-footed on a blustery day in Salt Lake City, Utah. That's decent evidence that Smith is still impacted by his separated shoulder or sore forearm, despite Mike Nolan's (and Smith's) comments to the contrary.

-Former quarterback turned commentator Ron Jaworski said Smith is locking his left leg, which is causing his shoulders to raise up while he throws. The result is an over throw. After facing so much pressure, Smith might be doing that because he's not used to striding into his passes. Jaworski also noted that the 49ers don't motion on offense or show different formations. They showed plenty of different sets this season including some new ones Monday Night, but they don't motion as much as they did last year under Norv Turner. The motions can cause confusion, but it can also confuse the offense, and as everyone has seen, the offense is confused enough.

-When Patrick Kerney sped by Vernon Davis unblocked, wide receiver Ashley Lelie, who was in the slot, raced down the field, open. If Davis makes the block, if Alex Smith sees him and if Smith makes a good throw, it's a long gainer and maybe a touchdown. But that's also a lot of if's. My apologies to Delanie Walker. I fingered him for messing up the blitz pick up, when it was Davis. Read More 'First-Half Review' »

Posted By: Kevin Lynch (Email) | November 14 2007 at 01:09 AM