Finished first half Ravens/Niners. No movement in the run game for the Ravens, got nowhere. Attacked the middle early and often with Bolden, eventually got the safety to cheat up. With Whitner cheating they set him up late in the 2nd half, they ran Bolden over the middle on an intermediate cross, Whitner bit and they had Smith open for 7 but Flacco didn't throw a good ball. Was intercept but Smith drew a PI, shit call, two bad calls against the Niners so far, 10 point swing. Ravens redzone O was trash, not working the ball to Pitta at all.
Niners OL was a mess, better unit this year on the interior. Smith had opportunities, they blitzed him often, he had VD, had him multiple times in the first half but he was dropping his eyes quickly. Niners OL couldn't hold up. Webb's presence is felt, he can press and just play his side one on one.
Edit: Ngata also had a pretty good half, won one on one easily.
Finished the game. Davis and Rachal were awful, no trust/communication between the two, led to too many pressures. Doubt the Ravens blitz Kap as much.
Niners were baiting Flacco often in the third quarter. Ravens discovered they had Pitta on the roster and went to work. Niners disguised their split safety coverage, made it look like it was two man under when it was in fact a cover two type (never truly know what these teams are doing). Flacco thought he had the quick out to Pitta especially with the MLB trailing behind him, and the CB running with the WR, but Culliver pealed off the receiver and came back for the out. Happened twice but Flacco's arm strength and Culliver not getting over in time led to completions. You need to be pin point to get away with those throws and he was.
Ravens countered by running Pitta vertically in a smash/china concept, isolating Whitner once again. Whitner, for whatever reason, flowed to the corner route even though the CB was running underneath it and had angle. By the time he realized he fucked up it was too late, so he basically knocked Pitta to the ground. Saved a TD and wasn't called for interference.
Then the Niners countered by having Whitner rob in a split safety look. Culliver played over the top of Pitta and Whitner would go underneath if he broke inside. Pitta broke inside, Flacco throws, Whitner reacts too late and Pitta gets in for the score. Perfect coverage call, still come empty.
Probably the best exchange between the DC/OC, good stuff. Flacco got away with throws, he really doesn't give a fuck at times. You have to fit the ball in tight windows, so I guess that's a good thing, can't wait for the perfect play, need to take your chances.
