Thoughts From the Niners Game
Posted: Tue Oct 7, 2008 2:42 pm
Didn’t get to catch all of it; work-related stuff got in the way. Here’s what I saw in limited action:
- Matt Cassel definitely didn’t show any tangible benefits from the extra week of preparation. He still looked easily rattled at the first sign of pressure and I counted at least three times (in limited viewing) of him tucking the ball, putting his head down and plowing straight into the back of his linemen when facing backside pressure. Pocket presence is something that comes with experience but a QB must have some sort of fundamental ability to improve upon. Cassel just doesn’t seem to have that.
- His deep ball to Moss was a thing of beauty, though. And his timing routes with Wes Welker were crisp and effective.
- The pass-blocking didn’t provide Cassel with much help, especially the right side. Billy Yates was constantly abused and seemed lost picking up inside blitzes. Both tackles had trouble keeping the pocket from collapsing inward, leading to Cassel’s electric football’s spin-and-fall-down move.
- There are times when Logan Mankins looks like he’s one of the best in the game but this season it seems like he’s getting outmaneuvered in pass-blocking situations. I tried watching the plays in which he’s being beat and it seems like part of it is Matt Light moving far outside to pick up the outside speed rush, leaving a huge B gap for a stunting end or linebacker to breeze on through. Mankins isn’t getting into position enough to get his hat on the player coming in.
- The 49ers linebackers are amazing.
- The secondary is still having trouble transitioning in and out of assignments. Luckily they were facing the Niners and not a team with a competent passing attack. Rodney Harrison, however, looked better than usual in pass coverage, defensing three passes and intercepting one. Maybe the second-half scored dictated it, but I didn’t see Harrison in the box as much Sunday. Normally he’s playing in as a blitzing threat.
- Matt Cassel definitely didn’t show any tangible benefits from the extra week of preparation. He still looked easily rattled at the first sign of pressure and I counted at least three times (in limited viewing) of him tucking the ball, putting his head down and plowing straight into the back of his linemen when facing backside pressure. Pocket presence is something that comes with experience but a QB must have some sort of fundamental ability to improve upon. Cassel just doesn’t seem to have that.
- His deep ball to Moss was a thing of beauty, though. And his timing routes with Wes Welker were crisp and effective.
- The pass-blocking didn’t provide Cassel with much help, especially the right side. Billy Yates was constantly abused and seemed lost picking up inside blitzes. Both tackles had trouble keeping the pocket from collapsing inward, leading to Cassel’s electric football’s spin-and-fall-down move.
- There are times when Logan Mankins looks like he’s one of the best in the game but this season it seems like he’s getting outmaneuvered in pass-blocking situations. I tried watching the plays in which he’s being beat and it seems like part of it is Matt Light moving far outside to pick up the outside speed rush, leaving a huge B gap for a stunting end or linebacker to breeze on through. Mankins isn’t getting into position enough to get his hat on the player coming in.
- The 49ers linebackers are amazing.
- The secondary is still having trouble transitioning in and out of assignments. Luckily they were facing the Niners and not a team with a competent passing attack. Rodney Harrison, however, looked better than usual in pass coverage, defensing three passes and intercepting one. Maybe the second-half scored dictated it, but I didn’t see Harrison in the box as much Sunday. Normally he’s playing in as a blitzing threat.