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NFL 2012 Week 2 |OT| The Replacements

F

Fox318

Member
GREEN BAY, Wis. -- This wasn't the new Alex Smith on display here Sunday, this was the old one.
This was the University of Utah Alex Smith, the quarterback in total control, relaxed, ready, brainy and dangerous.
This wasn't the quarterback Mike Nolan broke, Mike Singletary discarded, and Jim Harbaugh had to revive with tender care last year.
No, on Sunday, Smith was beyond all that ... and back to what he used to be: fully able to integrate mind and body into the flow of a very tricky contest.
This is an Alex Smith who can win big games. Huge games. Almost every game.
"He was just great all game," Harbaugh said of Smith, who helped lift the 49ers to a rousing 30-22 win over Green Bay. "Used his legs, used his arm, used his mind, used his toughness."
This wasn't so much a new 49ers offense, either, though Randy Moss and Mario Manningham proved to be definite upgrades.
This was last season's balanced 49ers offense, but run at maximum efficiency by a quarterback who isn't second-guessing a single thing or instinct.
As part of that, Smith threw 26 passes without an interception -- raising his streak to 185 dating to last season, which breaks Steve Young's franchise record of 184.
So what does it mean when Harbaugh says Smith used his mind to beat Green Bay?
"That's a good question," Smith said. "I mean, I hope I used my mind ... For me, it's making good decisions. Being good with the football,
being smart with the football."
It was just coincidence that Smith had perhaps the sharpest game of his 49ers career against Green Bay and Aaron Rodgers. The 49ers took Smith with the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2005 and passed on Rodgers, who went on to win a Super Bowl and was last year's NFL MVP.
But Sunday, Rodgers was the second-best QB on the field.
It was Smith, not Rodgers, who threw a snap touchdown pass to Moss in the first half and spoke about how happy he was for Moss to produce so quickly.
"Got a good look, what we were looking for, and yeah, he just blew open," Smith said of Moss. "I think his eyes lit up bigger than mine."
It was Smith, not Rodgers, who completed 20 of 26 attempts for 211 yards, two TDs and no interceptions. Smith had a 125.6 passer rating compared with Rodgers' 93.3.
(Rodgers had more completions and more yards but also threw an interception to NaVorro Bowman in the fourth quarter.)
And, most important, it was Smith who won.
Interestingly, Rodgers apparently now has to wear Smith's jersey in public after reportedly losing a bet with members of the band Boyz II Men, who sang the national anthem pregame.
"Someone told me about it," Smith said when asked about the wager report. "So I'll have to call him and get a picture of this."
Of course, there were many other reasons the 49ers won this game.
They played tremendous "nickel" and "dime" defense for most of it, and they got production from just about every member of their offensive unit.
But the man who made it all seem natural was the quarterback -- and he's the one who has seemed so shaky in that role until recently.
"He had to be great in understanding what the Packers were doing, what we needed to do to counter that," Harbaugh said.
Notably, the 49ers used backup Colin Kaepernick for one key play late in the first half, and Kaepernick's dash for 17 yards set up David Akers' record-tying 63-yard field goal.
Smith knows Kaepernick can come in from time to time throughout this season, and he understands.
"Check your ego, you know?" Smith said.
That's another sign this isn't a new Alex Smith, it's the old, unthreatened one. He's thinking through the game plan right along with Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman, and he sees the logic in using Kaepernick, too.
"That was fun to watch, wasn't it?" Harbaugh bellowed at the end of his news conference.
He was talking about the performance of his entire team, but he had to be talking about Smith, too.
Last year, the team and QB were a reclamation project. Now, already, after just one week of the 2012 season, the 49ers and Alex Smith are comfortably in the NFL elite.
You'd have to be dumb to ignore that, and nobody here is anything close to dumb.
Click to expand...
Smith>Young confirmed
 
S

squicken

Member
FrenchMovieTheme said:
We also got shots on the packers receivers every time. I really can't remember too many plays where we weren't laying a good solid hit on them. That takes its toll over the course of the game
Click to expand...

Your safeties and LBs are phenomenal. They just swarm to the ball and thump. Goldson in particular I noticed vs the Giants and again Sunday. I mean what Packer LB could have done what Bowman did on that INT? Baalke has just done a great job. Too bad so many years were wasted on awful coaches
 
T

TheLegendary

Member
DeaconKnowledge said:
They worked on tackling last season too.

Just face facts. Your D is garbage. At least Matthews was able to generate sacks.
Click to expand...
That's the only thing that's promising. They got good pressure on a team with a good line and a good running game.

But we had a safety who ran away from an easy tackle. Just straight up avoided contact. Can't have that and expect to have a good defense. He was replaced shortly thereafter. Inexcusable. Williams still seemed hesitant to tackle as well.

Maybe a sissy like Cutler calling them out will wake them up
 
K

K-19

Banned
Jason Raize '75 - '04 said:
sports_cheat_sheet.png
Click to expand...

American diversity.

USA USA USA USA!
 
B

Buckethead

Banned
DeaconKnowledge said:
I dunno, just from watching them is seems like they want to play like a much more physical team than they are. I thought AJ Hawk had a particularly good game Sunday, but everyone else was content to be pushed around and dominated. The Packers D-Linemen and half the linebacking corps just doesn't have the physicality to bully people the way Capers wants them to.
Click to expand...
I think the defense will improve throughout the season (it's very young and unexperienced) but you have to seriously wonder about Dom Capers ability to call plays.

He called a borderline prevent when a running QB came into the game and continuously stacked the box only to have them run outside.

I don't know what the problem is exactly but losing Nick Collins and Desmond Bishop were huge losses.
They both were really intelligent players who could adapt to whatever situation.

Only other guys I think can do that are Woodson and Matthews.
 
L

levious

That throwing stick stunt of yours has boomeranged on us.
Fox318 said:
He had a couple of pump fakes in there but I'm not as educated in studying football film than you.
Click to expand...


his first two td passes, pretty sure he pumped to the receiver he threw to. The second one I believe was a double move, but lj's right that they were both his first option.
 
T

TheLegendary

Member
Buckethead said:
I think the defense will improve throughout the season (it's very young and unexperienced) but you have to seriously wonder about Dom Capers ability to call plays.

He called a borderline prevent when a running QB came into the game and continuously stacked the box only to have them run outside.

I don't know what the problem is exactly but losing Nick Collins and Desmond Bishop were huge losses.
They both were really intelligent players who could adapt to whatever situation.

Only other guys I think can do that are Woodson and Matthews.
Click to expand...
You only need one or two guys that can adapt and be dynamic like that. The rest just need to play their role consistently, including simply making a tackle when you have the chance.
 
R

RBH

Member
Oakland wide receiver Jacoby Ford is scheduled to have surgery on his troublesome left foot this afternoon, head coach Dennis Allen said, and is expected to be out for "a significant amount of time."

Ford missed six games toward the end of last season due to the injured foot and re-aggravated the injury in the Raiders' second preseason game Aug. 17 at Arizona. He hasn't practiced since. Allen said the foot was simply not responding as hoped.

"After visiting with the foot specialist in Carolina, everybody thought that given a little bit of time (Ford) could come back from it," Allen said. "After giving it some time and re-evaluating, everybody, the medical people, felt like surgery was probably the best thing for him."

Allen said he and general manager Reggie McKenzie will discuss whether they need to bring up a receiver from the practice squad. Right now Brandon Carswell and Travionte Session are the two receivers on the practice squad.

The Raiders have four five receivers on the roster besides Ford -- Darrius Heyward-Bey, Rod Streater, Juron Criner, Derek Hagan and Denarius Moore. Allen said he's "very hopeful" Moore will play this week against Miami.
Click to expand...
http://blogs.sacbee.com/raiders/archives/2012/09/allen-ford-to-h.html


In addition to a potential season-ending injury suffered by receiver Jacoby Ford, the Raiders are dealing with playing without starting cornerback Ronald Bartell.

Bartell has a broken left shoulder blade. Because no surgery is needed, his recovery time could be less than six weeks. There is hope he could be back in four weeks. Bartell is meeting with a specialist to get more information.

Bartell was injured in the first half Monday. Pat Lee took Bartell’s place and he is line to start.

The Raiders had high hopes for Bartell when they signed him to a one-year contract this offseason. He had success in his career with the Rams, but he missed last season with a neck injury. This injury further hurts one of Oakland’s thinnest areas for the time being.
Click to expand...
 
K

KaYotiX

Banned
TheLegendary said:
You only need one or two guys that can adapt and be dynamic like that. The rest just need to play their role consistently, including simply making a tackle when you have the chance.
Click to expand...

Exactly, packers secondary needs a ass kicking. I'm tired of guys just lowering a shoulder into people and not wrapping them up. I really hope the D shows up on Thursday.
 
L

Levyne

Banned
I expect the Pack D to show up because I expect the shiny amazing awesome new Bears Offense to shit the bed against one of the worst D's in the league. It's science.
 
B

Buckethead

Banned
TheLegendary said:
You only need one or two guys that can adapt and be dynamic like that. The rest just need to play their role consistently, including simply making a tackle when you have the chance.
Click to expand...
One of those guys is aging greatly and cannot play his primary role anymore (coverage).
Two of those players are now injured, leaving only Matthews as a healthy difference maker.

When the defense was average-to-good (2010) there was also another player (Jenkins).

How is a loss of 3 playmakers not problematic?

It's not a matter of simply missing tackles. It's a matter of people not getting off blocks because they're average or inexperienced football players.
When you have more difference makers, you can swarm to the ball, make group tackles, and fuck up brilliant offenses AKA exactly what my Niners did to your Packers.

The Niners exploited mismatches and the defense couldn't adjust.
 
T

TheLegendary

Member
Buckethead said:
One of those guys is aging greatly and cannot play his primary role anymore (coverage).
Two of those players are now injured, leaving only Matthews as a healthy difference maker.

When the defense was average-to-good (2010) there was also another player (Jenkins).

How is a loss of 3 playmakers not problematic?

It's not a matter of simply missing tackles. It's a matter of people not getting off blocks because they're average or inexperienced football players.
When you have more difference makers, you can swarm to the ball, make group tackles, and fuck up brilliant offenses AKA exactly what my Niners did to your Packers.

The Niners exploited mismatches and the defense couldn't adjust.
Click to expand...
I didn't say it wasn't problematic. I agree with you completely. But we've got plenty of average football players, we should at least be average...right?
 
F

Futurevoid

Member
OriginofHysteria said:
I blame Eric Smith's inability to make an open field tackle for that score.
Click to expand...
:jnc Cromartie got juked out of his shoes on that. Come on. He was the first line of defense (after Wilson? got burned in the slot) on what should have been an 11 yard gain and whiffed at thin air.
 
O

OriginofHysteria

Banned
Futurevoid said:
:jnc Cromartie got juked out of his shoes on that. Come on. He was the first line of defense (after Wilson? got burned in the slot) on what should have been an 11 yard gain and whiffed at thin air.
Click to expand...

It really should have been an 11 yard gain, but no it was the score that literally put the Giants into the playoffs. I also recall that both the Jets and Giants played like garbage that game. It's just the Jets sucked worse.
 
B

Buckethead

Banned
TheLegendary said:
I didn't say it wasn't problematic. I agree with you completely. But we've got plenty of average football players, we should at least be average...right?
Click to expand...
I'm saying that tackling is inexorably linked with the talent on the field.

When one guy isn't opening a hole, another guy can't get to the QB.
When one guy isn't strong at coverage, the safety has to help out, and cannot play the line of scrimmage, etc. Chain reaction.

I remember DJ Smith missing a lot of tackles but he's usually a good tackler. But he shouldn't have to be in a 1-on-1 with a RB at all times. He should have some help.
On one Gore run to the outside Woodson slipped, where's Morgan right there to help him? Out of position and he follows that up with being a pussy.

I don't know. It's a headache.
 
F

Futurevoid

Member
OriginofHysteria said:
I also recall that both the Jets and Giants played like garbage that game.
Click to expand...
Giants offense, did. Absolutely. Couldn't get much going until the Cruz play and even after we grinded out yards. The Jets defense played tough. Revis in particular locked down Nicks well. The Giants defense played well also but it was against a Jets offense that was already melting down and an offensive line that was poor.
 
C

chuckddd

Fear of a GAF Planet
squicken said:
Brian Schottenheimer presents Bruce Arians' Unnecessary Shifting and Motion

iQieO1ziKVEaU.gif
Click to expand...

I actually think that Luck put that shit in himself. They loved doing that stuff at Stanford. Arians doesn't design a bunch of bad plays, it's mostly about when he calls them that drives people (ME) crazy. Take a look at the bunch formations.

EDIT: Can you point me at the gif making thread? I need to get a plan together before I get too deep into the all-22's.
 
S

squicken

Member
TheLegendary said:
Was it successful?
Click to expand...

The TE catches a pass in the flat off PA. Got open b/c of that and the formation. Not b/c of motion and shifting. Do the Bears look confused to you?

They did this alot. The Bears played quite a bit of straight Cover 1. Guess Arians was trying to use motion to get his guys open b/c Bears had little respect for their WRs. He didn't do much of this stuff in PITT
 
B

Buckethead

Banned
I'm really looking forward to Week 17 when McCarthy unveils his second offensive gameplan he's been conceiling all year.

2TE, 2RB sets.

It's going to be glorious!

I wonder if he's stashed a secret offensive line too?
 
D

DeaconKnowledge

Member
chuckddd said:
I actually think that Luck put that shit in himself. They loved doing that stuff at Stanford. Arians doesn't design a bunch of bad plays, it's mostly about when he calls them that drives people (ME) crazy. Take a look at the bunch formations.
Click to expand...
Yeah. It's Arians' situational football that sucks. He's actually a very creative play designer.
 
S

squicken

Member
chuckddd said:
I actually think that Luck put that shit in himself. They loved doing that stuff at Stanford. Arians doesn't design a bunch of bad plays, it's mostly about when he calls them that drives people (ME) crazy. Take a look at the bunch formations.

EDIT: Can you point me at the gif making thread? I need to get a plan together before I get too deep into the all-22's.
Click to expand...

Could be he tried to incorporate the Stanford stuff for sure.

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=438369&highlight=gif+tutorial

Don't use anything other than Bandicam to capture. godslay has a post near the end of the thread on using it
 
B

BaltimoreLarry

Member
I feel bad for Eagles fans. It's not that the Ravens are clearly going to beat them, which they will, because the Eagle fans can deal with one loss. But it's the devastating injury that will be inflicted on Michael Vick, knocking him out, as expected, for the majority of the season. I envision a Ngata full body splash, a la Siragusa/Gannon in the 2000 AFC Championship.

On the plus side, you have Nick Foles, so you'll get to see what he can do.
 
E

Equus Bellator Apex

Junior Member
Buckethead said:
Benson and Finley are the keys to tomorrow's game.

Their dropping skills are fundamental to the Bears' win.
Click to expand...

Benson is a fucking bum/terrible person. He has absolutely no heart and will quit on your team whenever he faces any sory of adversity. I spent a lot of time defending Lovie's descion to start him over Thomas Jones, but once the team started to depend on him he completely shit the bed.
 
E

eznark

Banned
squicken said:
The TE catches a pass in the flat off PA. Got open b/c of that and the formation. Not b/c of motion and shifting. Do the Bears look confused to you?

They did this alot. The Bears played quite a bit of straight Cover 1. Guess Arians was trying to use motion to get his guys open b/c Bears had little respect for their WRs. He didn't do much of this stuff in PITT
Click to expand...

It looks to me like he was trying to force Urlacher and Briggs to force commit to the strong side of the formation and was successful. Did they run weak side off tackle out of this formation at all? If so, this looks like it was clearly intended to open that up at some point in the future.

That motion and the resulting adjustments also make the quarterbacks job a ton easier, gives him some insight into whether or not his pre-snap key was correct or if he needs to adjust his primary read. There is an absolute ton of info for a smart QB to gain from those pre-snap adjustments.
 
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