The Harbowl: 49ers @ Ravens

Website · Post #1 » by **Nicky Nix Nook** » Tue Nov 22, 2011 6:13 pm

This is obviously our biggest test of the season. Brother vs. Brother, Bully vs. Bully. This is going to be a grind-it-out football game. I expect a lot of field goals and blood to be shed.

I love this quote: "Attack each day with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind." -Jack Harbaugh

I'd say Jim has really taken that advice to heart.

Sandlot · Post #2 » by **Sandlot** » Tue Nov 22, 2011 8:13 pm

They really thrive when Ray Rice is a center point. Our D has to take him out of the game and make Flacco beat us. Offensively we have to commit to the run. The longer we can hold on to the ball the better. It should be interesting to see how well we convert on 3rd down. That will be a big factor for this game.
Our offense struggled against Cin and Cle who have similarly strong defenses. Hopefully we are ready to go.

Dalbi · Post #3 » by **Dalbi** » Tue Nov 22, 2011 9:13 pm

With Lee Evans back from injury, I think our defense could be exploited with him and Torrey Smith. Both have a lot of speed to their game and could really open up holes for Boldin and Rice if we get beat and have to give our corners help. They are not elite players but they are big for the Ravens offensive success.

I think we can handle Ray Rice running the ball but we need to watch for the short passes to Rice.

Offense is the tricky part since they have a lot of great players. I don't think we will be able to just start running the ball and succeed. I think a good strategy is to go to the quick passes. Hopefully this will eliminate Suggs and their pass rush as well as force them to open up running lanes.

RIPskaterdude · Post #4 » by **RIPskaterdude** » Wed Nov 23, 2011 4:58 am

Don't have high hopes for this game; I think our 8 game winning streak comes to an end here, but better now than against someone like Seattle or St Louis.

I also have a feeling that due to the short rest (playing on Sunday afternoon and then traveling to the East coast to play on Thursday?? WTF!) that Rice will either run for 100 yards or get that first running touchdown against us this year.

I'm also interested to see how our offense does, if we fail in the redzone like we did last week, it's going to be an ugly 6 to 17 type game, IMO.

Badly Browned · Post #5 » by **Badly Browned** » Thu Nov 24, 2011 5:10 pm

I have no idea what to think of this game, I think the short week and 3 time zone change will really effect us, especially in how the coaches gameplanned.

Even if Ray Lewis plays, sounds like he wont be 100%, which should be good for us. D needs to keep Ray Rice in check, make Flacco throw it 50+ times. He may beat you a couple times, but our D should also be able to force some turnovers as well. As for offense, just keep those chains moving. I won't be as frustrated with Red Zone D this game, the Ravens have a very good D after all, but just gotta put points on the board. Can't have another lapse in blocking assignments on FGs like last week.

Post #6 » by **Wolfay** » Fri Nov 25, 2011 2:22 am

Smith has already been sacked 4 times and we're not even half way through the second quarter.

Post #7 » by **Wolfay** » Fri Nov 25, 2011 3:11 am

Our o-line is getting raped: Alex sacked 6 times and Gore might as well be running backwards, but our defense is doing well and the score is tied 6-6.

Wavy Q · Post #8 » by **Wavy Q** » Fri Nov 25, 2011 4:28 am

O-line looked like last years o-line, like what the actual **** was that.

Also the secondary missed assignments on multiple 3rd down attempts

Post #9 » by **Wolfay** » Fri Nov 25, 2011 4:42 am

Jay From LA wrote:O-line looked like last years o-line, like what the actual **** was that.

Also the secondary missed assignments on every 3rd down attempt

Fixed, but I do think it would've been much better if we had a full week to rest and prepare.

We're still in the playoffs, but now we have to listen to a week and half of how Smith sucks and 49ers are just pretenders.

RIPskaterdude · Post #10 » by **RIPskaterdude** » Fri Nov 25, 2011 5:20 am

xx_skaterdude_xx wrote:I'm also interested to see how our offense does, if we fail in the redzone like we did last week, it's going to be an ugly 6 to 17 type game, IMO.

Well well well....

Badly Browned · Post #11 » by **Badly Browned** » Fri Nov 25, 2011 5:36 am

I knew it was going to be bad when Chilo came in, but holy s---. Put Brady behind that oline tonight and he gets sacked 12 times easy.

Yeah, defense wasn't perfect, giving up too many 3rd downs in the 2nd half, but that they only gave up 16 points and kept it close while Alex ran for his life on every play shows how legit that D is. Hell, the ticky tack chop block and pass interference don't get called and the Niners win this game.

RIPskaterdude · Post #12 » by **RIPskaterdude** » Fri Nov 25, 2011 5:39 am

Both of those calls were bull. If it was in San Fran, neither one gets called.

Sandlot · Post #13 » by **Sandlot** » Fri Nov 25, 2011 3:45 pm

Jay From LA wrote:O-line looked like last years o-line, like what the actual **** was that.

Also the secondary missed assignments on multiple 3rd down attempts

I seriously think that is in large part do to Chilo playing RG in place of Snyder. Chilo might be the worst player I have ever seen get significant minutes. It also multiplies Davis' pass protection issues. I hope Snyder gets healthy fast.

I think the secondary was overly focused on denying the deep ball. They beat us short too many times and then just took off. The Ravens played exactly how we are set up to play. They stuck to the game plan and executed and we didn't and we lost.

turk3d · Post #14 » by **turk3d** » Fri Nov 25, 2011 4:53 pm

Two bad calls (terrible PI call on Brown who made a great play coming up with the IT and then taking back Ginn's touchdown). That and Snyder getting hurt and Smith playing like bad Smith (his INT hurt as well). Harbaugh's game plan was probably the worst he's had all season. He made the mistake of coming out to conservatively against a very good defensive team.

He should have used the same game plan he used against the Giants and come out throwing and throwing vertical. They were stacked against the run and the short pass. Plus Snyder apparently makes a huge difference to the O-Line. Passing on 2nd and 3rd and long didn't help them any however. Also a case of big Bro outcoaching little Bro. Hopefully they'll be able to recover next week as they get back to playing in their division for a change.

Badly Browned · Post #15 » by **Badly Browned** » Fri Nov 25, 2011 7:23 pm

So, my thoughts after sleeping on it.

I thought Alex did well enough considering the circumstances. Yeah, he held on to the ball too long a few times, but pre-2011 Alex would've thrown 3+ picks and fumbled the ball a couple times last night. Only Rodgers would prolly make something out of all that pressure Alex faced. Brady would get murdered behind that o-line play.

Alex's interception wasn't a good throw, but Braylon still could've prevented the pick there, even if it meant offensive PI. Not sure why we are targeting Braylon on a deep route anyways, as he clearly has lost a step since coming back from injury.

It looked to me that the Ravens planned to blitz all day, cover the short-medium routes, and sort of leave the deep stuff open. It makes sense though since we rarely throw it deep. The Ted Ginn TD catch was pretty bad defense by the Ravens. Still pissed that Chilo gave the refs a reason to call that chop block. Also maybe why we didn't see many screen passes as Roman saw how soft the Ravens were deep, but the O-line could never let us take advantage of it. By the end of the game, Ravens had 3-4 guys beating 5-6 of our guys right down the middle.

We came in with our generic gameplan of trying to control the clock (which we actually held a close TOP) and chip away with short passes and the run game. The Ravens were prepared for it, and actually rubbed the Niners offensive MO right in our faces.

Then on defense, we focus our entire gameplan on taking away the deep passes, rushing 3-4 and setting up deep Cover 2s. Too bad the Ravens gameplan seemed to focus on all the underneath stuff. On the TD drive, they dinked and dunked us to death, and even then it was a few missed tackles that killed us on 3rd downs. That the offense was stalled so bad and the defense still only gave up 16 points and kept it close? That defense is legit.

So yeah, Jim got outcaoched last night. From the outset to the in-game adjustments. First time all season, sure maybe the short week played a part. However, even then you simply are not winning many games when you get murdered in the trenches all game.

A few things about the offense I get out of this game: we are one Chilo away from having the worst o-line in the NFL, and we need more explosive playmaking Wide Receivers.

Wavy Q · Post #16 » by **Wavy Q** » Sun Nov 27, 2011 8:06 am

turk3d wrote:Two bad calls (terrible PI call on Brown who made a great play coming up with the IT and then taking back Ginn's touchdown). That and Snyder getting hurt and Smith playing like bad Smith (his INT hurt as well). Harbaugh's game plan was probably the worst he's had all season. He made the mistake of coming out to conservatively against a very good defensive team.

He should have used the same game plan he used against the Giants and come out throwing and throwing vertical. They were stacked against the run and the short pass. Plus Snyder apparently makes a huge difference to the O-Line. Passing on 2nd and 3rd and long didn't help them any however. Also a case of big Bro outcoaching little Bro. Hopefully they'll be able to recover next week as they get back to playing in their division for a change.

I disagree with the pass interference, he armbar'd clearly on replay, it looked terrible live. The chop block was horrendous though

turk3d · Post #17 » by **turk3d** » Mon Nov 28, 2011 1:37 am

He played him perfectly on the PI. There was more interference on the receiver on that play than on the defender. You can't defend more perfectly, the defender was step for step on him, was not faceguarding and was going for the ball which he has a perfect right to do. Just about the worst PI call I've seen all year.

Sandlot · Post #18 » by **Sandlot** » Mon Nov 28, 2011 7:22 pm

turk3d wrote:He played him perfectly on the PI. There was more interference on the receiver on that play than on the defender. You can't defend more perfectly, the defender was step for step on him, was not faceguarding and was going for the ball which he has a perfect right to do. Just about the worst PI call I've seen all year.

I'm all for blaming refs for a Niners loss, but Brown was literally holding the receivers arm.

Website · Post #19 » by **Nicky Nix Nook** » Tue Nov 29, 2011 2:17 am

Tough loss but I also kind of expected it (not that that made it any easier).

I feel like we just got beat. Our inability to pass protect was the main part of this loss, but give a lot of credit to the Ravens' D. Our receivers weren't getting any separation, but there were also times when Smith just held it too long. I think he may have been intimidated by the moment--which isn't good for the playoffs. But hopefully we learned something and I think it's good to lose so we can work on our weaknesses, and I'm especially happy we didn't lose to a crappy team.

Hopefully we see them again in the Superbowl

FootballFan33 · Post #20 » by **FootballFan33** » Wed Nov 30, 2011 7:14 pm

turk3d wrote:Two bad calls (terrible PI call on Brown who made a great play coming up with the IT and then taking back Ginn's touchdown). That and Snyder getting hurt and Smith playing like bad Smith (his INT hurt as well). Harbaugh's game plan was probably the worst he's had all season. He made the mistake of coming out to conservatively against a very good defensive team.

He should have used the same game plan he used against the Giants and come out throwing and throwing vertical. They were stacked against the run and the short pass. Plus Snyder apparently makes a huge difference to the O-Line. Passing on 2nd and 3rd and long didn't help them any however. Also a case of big Bro outcoaching little Bro. Hopefully they'll be able to recover next week as they get back to playing in their division for a change.

Good Points. I agree.

Those calls changed the momentum as points were really hard to come by.