kearly":2jzmtz7m said:
Everything about the 49ers first three games seems unsustainably weird.
They have scored the most points of any team in the NFL in the first half, but have scored the least points in the second half by far. They've scored 3 points total in six second half quarters so far.
They've lost some games because of tough calls going against them. But they also won a game because the Cowboys crapped it away in the first quarter.
I can't figure out how they lost to Drew Stanton by 9 points though. Sure, there were some calls that hurt them a little, but last year's SF team would have won that game by 30.
One thing that shouldn't be overlooked: SF's opponents have a combined record of 7-2, and the 49ers played two of those three games on the road.
Anyway, it's hard to figure out how good or bad this team is, if they are on the verge or implosion or just off to a wobbly start.
Well said.
To me....a lot of it I think is just odd stuff taking place in the second halves of games. You can look at it and surely see a pattern, but I'm not all that certain that the second half woes are because of any one thing.
They do have a history of taking their foots off the gas that dates back to last year. MANY games where they were up by a TON and gave up points late and still won.
Penatlies are HUGE. It isn't just the quantity either. Its the timing of them. Some of their lack of scoring is not having the ball a lot because the D keeps giving out LONG possessions by the other teams offense by getting critical 3rd down penalties. SOme real and some BS. The offense has moved the ball but then they either miss the field goal, get his with penatlies to knowck them out of scoring position, or get a FG blocked.
All in all, its really just odd.
If I had to put my finger o their problems for the most part, lack of pass rush is a BIG one. Stupid penalties at the wrong time is another. Lack of execution on offense has been a second half issue...particularly on the o-Line.
Good example there are two screens that were called to Hyde. Niners NEVER run screens. They ran two of them and both had HUGE amount of space for Hyde to run along way and in both case one guy missed a block to spring him (Martin on one and Iupati on another).
It doesn't look like a scheme issue or a talent issue. It looks like an "out of sync" issue that is compounded by the penalties and giving QBs all day to throw the ball.
Some of this can be fixed quickly. An offense can get in sync fast. A team can be better committing penalties (and hopefully refs will ease off the BS personal fouls).
The rough one tho is the pass rush. Justin Smith is just fine. He had his 4th sack wiped out by yet another penalty last week. Trouble is he's getting doubled and tripled and nobody is making the O pay for that. Lemonier so far this year has been hugely disappointing. Lynch has looked good and will probably get more snaps. Carradine has been inactive and the thing he does best is get after the QB so I'd expect him to be active soon.
This really won't get fixed tho till Aldon comes back. That's a long ways off tho and they could be out of the playoff picture by then.
