Game 1: 49ers vs Seahawks

[Danny Darko]

VS.



The season arrives after lockout-mania, an exciting free agency period, and a short sloppy preseason. The youth movement is on in Seattle, who saw an offseason of goodbyes to the old guard as Matt Hasselbeck, Lofa Tutupu, Lawyer Milloy, Sean Locklear, and several others were replaced by whipper snappers such as Kam Chancellor, James Carpenter, Tarvaris Jackson, Zack Miller, and Sidney Rice.
With Tom Cable on board the revamped line will emphasize a road grading ground attack in Search of Seattles first 1,000 yard rusher since Shawn Alexander, while trying to keep Jackson healthy enough to make it through the year as head stop-gap.

SF comes in with a rookie head coach, QB issues similar to Seattle's, a vicious group of linebackers, and Frank Gore. The Harbaugh vs Carroll saga continues as both teams fans tryout the phrase "suck for luck".


Injury update:



Seahawks-

Deon Butler (WR), Roy Lewis (CB), and Cameron Morrah (TE), John Carlson Gone forever (shoulder), Sidney Rice (WR) is looking doubtful with a nagging shoulder injury, and Robert Gallery (G) is looking doubtful with a sprained knee.

49ers-

Dashon Goldston (S) knee

Things to Watch:

1-Offensive line shuffle
In the absence of Gallery Carpenter will slide to left guard while the emerging Breno Giocomini takes his 6'7" nasty frame to the right tackle spot. This could allow Carpenter to maul and provide for a really powerful left side, or it could be more of the run for your life show starring Tarvaris Jackson.

2-Pre-snap defensive adjustments
David Hawthorne's brain will be on trial in the absence of Lofa Tatupu. Athletically, he should be a big upgrade, however, it will be interesting to watch his chess game as the full time starting middle linebacker.

3-Cornerbacks who look like linebackers
Browner will start. If the refs don't ride him for manhandling the 9er receivers he could be a giant upgrade to Kelly Jennings (sorry bout that)

4-The lesser entities in the middle of the D
Collin Cole is out, Branch is in with some quirky depth behind him. We can guess what kind of play Mebane and Bryant will bring, but the question mark is going to point at the mammoth Allan Branch when Gore comes running down hill.

5-Golden Momentum
Tate picked a good game to show why he was a 2nd round pick with upside. It will be interesting to see if that carries over and he's the hot target in the slot that can make a difference.

Predictions-

Seahawk youthiness will give SF the edge and in the end, both teams will be pining for a new QB.

SF wins 17-13

[Sweezo]

Clemons is having ankle issues again. We don't really have the depth/experience to suffer a bunch of injuries to any really. I am more worried than excited.

[Bulltalk]

I'm watching the NFL opener now between Green Bay and New Orleans. Some of you may be as well. By the middle of the 3rd quarter, I concluded that I wanted us to lose every game this season if that's what it takes to get Andrew Luck. I want a great QB. We need a great QB. I want our Drew Brees, our Payton Manning, our Tom Brady, our Aaron Rodgers... I don't want mediocrity or above average at QB. I want greatness. That's how you win big in this league, how you stay consistently competitive at the highest level in this league.

Everything is secondary to trying to get a great QB to me. EVERYTHING!

[Danny Darko]

sadly I'm with you. there is no real hope of us being awesome(this year) and I want a studly QB to lead what Pete is building. Let's lose every game by 3pts!

Also, I just don't see "star" written on Barkley or Landry Jones right now.

[Bulltalk]

sadly I'm with you. there is no real hope of us being awesome and I want a studly QB to lead what Pete is building. Let's lose every game by 3pts!

The thing is that the NFL is a league structured so that it is magnetized towards parity. Revenue sharing, amounts franchises must spend on personnel, non-guaranteed contracts, shorter careers than most other sports, high personnel turnover/more broad based free agency, higher draft picks for the worse teams, four-team divisions, etc, etc...

There's only a few ways to somewhat consistently beat the parity game:

1) Having a good ownership
2) Having good management concerning personnel choices in this type of league
3) Having one of the better coaching staffs
4) Having a very good or great QB

If you get these four things mostly right, you will somewhat consistently beat the parity game. Green Bay, New England, Pittsburgh are a few examples of franchises that have done a pretty good job of getting these things right. It's the formula for success in the NFL now.

We have done a lousy job in preparing for Matt Hasselbeck's replacement considering just how important the QB position is in the NFL. This has been going on for about 4 years now. It's reached the IMPERATIVE POINT now. There's no hope for this team to beat the parity game if we don't get that very good or great QB soon. Otherwise, mediocrity is likely the best we can hope for.

[Sweezo]

sadly I'm with you. there is no real hope of us being awesome(this year) and I want a studly QB to lead what Pete is building. Let's lose every game by 3pts!

I want a franchise QB, but once the games start there's really no way I'll be rooting for the Seahawks to lose. I think no one else here really does either, but it's tough.

Then again, Jackson's incompetence might allow me to root as much as I want as we steam towards drafting Luck next year.

I want our Drew Brees, our Payton Manning, our Tom Brady, our Aaron Rodgers... I don't want mediocrity or above average at QB.

Just for posterity's sake...

Drew Brees: NFL Draft: 2001 / Round: 2 / Pick: 32
Peyton Manning: NFL Draft: 1998 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1
Aaron Rodgers: NFL Draft: 2005 / Round: 1 / Pick: 24
Tom Brady: NFL Draft: 2000 / Round: 6 / Pick: 199

I do think Luck falls in the 'Manning' profile though of a clear #1 QB prospect.

[Bulltalk]

Just for posterity's sake...

Drew Brees: NFL Draft: 2001 / Round: 2 / Pick: 32
Peyton Manning: NFL Draft: 1998 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1
Aaron Rodgers: NFL Draft: 2005 / Round: 1 / Pick: 24
Tom Brady: NFL Draft: 2000 / Round: 6 / Pick: 199

I do think Luck falls in the 'Manning' profile though of a clear #1 QB prospect.

I get that logic, Sweezo. But how much of an effort have we made the last 4 years to draft a potential replacement for Hasselbeck later in the first round/or 2nd round/or 3rd round, or later? Teal? Is that it? We passed on Sanchez. That was a mistake. How many starting QB's, or potential starting QB's in the NFL now have we passed on in the draft the last 4 years?

All we've done is draft Teal, trade for CBJ, signed Jackson, the latter two never really having a chance of becoming a very good NFL QB. We really haven't given ourselves nary a chance at finding a potential starting QB the last 4 years. Meanwhile we've watched the likes of Freeman, Flacco, and a resurgent Vick make their mark.

We've put off focusing on the most important position for the future prospects of the franchise. Now it's become imperative that we do so. There's no more wiggle room for us. We can hardly afford to have a bust or two at that position in the years ahead, at least not if we want to become a legit contender for anything of import.

[Sweezo]

We passed on Sanchez. That was a mistake.

Drafting Curry might have been a mistake, but I don't know that passing on Sanchez was. Nothing he's done so far leads me to believe he's on verge of become one of the elites at his position. Put him at QB on the team this year and I don't think our fortunes would be significantly different. He works just fine for a team like the Jets but I don't know what he'd be able to do for us.

All we've done is draft Teal, trade for CBJ, signed Jackson, the latter two never really having a chance of becoming a very good NFL QB. We really haven't given ourselves nary a chance at finding a potential starting QB the last 4 years. Meanwhile we've watched the likes of Freeman, Flacco, and a resurgent Vick make their mark.

Oh, but I think you are forgetting Portis!

Freeman and Flacco were also middling picks. This picking a franchise QB thing seems so much of a crapshoot.

Basically, I think my only point is I agree that the 'Hawks need to get their franchise QB, but that they don't really have to get a high draft pick to get that done. Many of the elite QBs came from teams who were picking in the middle/end of the first round.

I'd like to have Luck but I don't want to see the team be so lousy that we are able to draft him. Our better bet might be a few picks later when we may have a shot at Landry Jones or Barkley.

But then again, if we get destroyed by a bad 49ers team...I may change my opinion. Considering how our schedule looks after week one, if we get clobbered tomorrow there won't be any hope of doing anything interesting this year.

[Bulltalk]

We passed on Sanchez. That was a mistake.

Drafting Curry might have been a mistake, but I don't know that passing on Sanchez was. Nothing he's done so far leads me to believe he's on verge of become one of the elites at his position. Put him at QB on the team this year and I don't think our fortunes would be significantly different. He works just fine for a team like the Jets but I don't know what he'd be able to do for us.

All we've done is draft Teal, trade for CBJ, signed Jackson, the latter two never really having a chance of becoming a very good NFL QB. We really haven't given ourselves nary a chance at finding a potential starting QB the last 4 years. Meanwhile we've watched the likes of Freeman, Flacco, and a resurgent Vick make their mark.

Oh, but I think you are forgetting Portis!

Freeman and Flacco were also middling picks. This picking a franchise QB thing seems so much of a crapshoot.

Basically, I think my only point is I agree that the 'Hawks need to get their franchise QB, but that they don't really have to get a high draft pick to get that done. Many of the elite QBs came from teams who were picking in the middle/end of the first round.

I'd like to have Luck but I don't want to see the team be so lousy that we are able to draft him. Our better bet might be a few picks later when we may have a shot at Landry Jones or Barkley.

But then again, if we get destroyed by a bad 49ers team...I may change my opinion. Considering how our schedule looks after week one, if we get clobbered tomorrow there won't be any hope of doing anything interesting this year.

Sweezo, it may be a crapshoot, but you have to roll the dice to win. My point is that we haven't been rolling the dice in an attempt to win. Picking Curry over Sanchez or Freeman was stupid. It gave us NO CHANCE to win at getting the player we need at by far the most important position there is. It ain't linebacker. Would you rather have Clay Matthews or Aaron Rodgers?

[Sweezo]

The Manning-less Colts look like the worst team in football. My God...

Ultimately, when it comes to the QB issue, I trust THIS front office knows it's a need and knows what they want to do in the future. If it would have been up to me, we'd already have drafted a guy like Sanchez or Claussen...and probably been not a whole lot better off than we are now.

[Sweezo]

God, I love football. Dalton's got 50+ yards and a TD as the Bengals lead the Browns 13-0, and the Jaguars are administering a similar punishment to the Titans.

I hate to wish Hass ill will, but hope the Titans just fall flat on their faces. If/when Jackson struggles the cries of 'we should have kept Hass' will be as loud as ever, and I don't want to hear it.

[Sweezo]

Well our offense looks terrible. The defense is fighting the good fight but the offense and special teams is conspiring against them.

Earl Thomas is all over the field.

[Sweezo]

16-0 at the half, and we've played worse than the score indicates. I don't even want to watch this anymore. The combination of the offensive line, no running game, and a **** QB is too much.

[Danny Darko]

not looking very good at all. Well at least in game of suck for Luck the bengals got a win. Who else are we "competing" with?

[Sweezo]

Nice looking rollout play and Jackson just guns it into Miller's feet. And overthrows Obomanu on a deep ball. It really doesn't matter if he has time or not.

Nice catch by Baldwin as Jackson almost missed him high on the sideline.

not looking very good at all. Well at least in game of suck for Luck the bengals got a win. Who else are we "competing" with?

No one. No one else is this bad.

[Sweezo]

TD Tate!

[Sweezo]

I can't believe they scored a TD to pull within two and then on the kickoff gave up a 102 yard TD return. How does that happen?

And now a punt return TD? **** right off.

[Bulltalk]

I've returned. My thoughts:

1) Our defense isn't that bad, and young too
2) We've got our safety combo in Chancellor and Thomas for years
3) McCoy is kind of a surprise
4) Leon Washington has been good since he arrived

I'm just trying to look at the positives. I know the OL is very young and bad for that reason, but Jackson just can't seem to play QB with that in mind. Do you know what I mean?

Well we've passed the first test in the Andrew Luck sweepstakes. The next big test will be against Arizona at home. Lose that game, and an 0-5 start looks probable.

[Sweezo]

I've returned. My thoughts:

1) Our defense isn't that bad, and young too
2) We've got our safety combo in Chancellor and Thomas for years
3) McCoy is kind of a surprise
4) Leon Washington has been good since he arrived

I'm surprised Washington wasn't really used in the run game. I like him as a change of pace with Lynch. Lynch looks good in spurts but tends to plow his way into the back of his line like a power back. Sometimes Washington's burst of speed would seem to be an effective compliment.

The defense looked just fine to me. The PI call against Browner was nonsense, and the defense still held and kept Gore out of the end zone three straight times.

Trufant looked good this preseason but did not look great today. Hopefully it was just a bad performance. If not, hopefully Thurmond can spell him a bit.

Still, as good as the defense looked against the run, not one sack? Against Alex Smith? Where was the pass rush?

Well we've passed the first test in the Andrew Luck sweepstakes. The next big test will be against Arizona at home. Lose that game, and an 0-5 start looks probable.

The battle between who develops first: Our O-Line or Arizona's defensive backfield.

Apparently Mike Robinson might be out 8 weeks or so. That really doesn't help our special teams, which appears to be a unit that needs a lot of help. I imagine the 'Hawks will give Mike Karney a call tomorrow.

[Danny Darko]

1-Offensive line shuffle
In the absence of Gallery Carpenter will slide to left guard while the emerging Breno Giocomini takes his 6'7" nasty frame to the right tackle spot. This could allow Carpenter to maul and provide for a really powerful left side, or it could be more of the run for your life show starring Tarvaris Jackson.

At time they mauled and they certainly still gave up alot of pressure, but considering how ridiculously young we are. I give them a c- on the day, but I'm encouraged that they will get better and Carp might be a good LG. Okung looked ok but not like last year. I think the ankle is bugging him or not strong at the very least


2-Pre-snap defensive adjustments
David Hawthorne's brain will be on trial in the absence of Lofa Tatupu. Athletically, he should be a big upgrade, however, it will be interesting to watch his chess game as the full time starting middle linebacker.

KJ seemed to have a very solid game.

3-Cornerbacks who look like linebackers
Browner will start. If the refs don't ride him for manhandling the 9er receivers he could be a giant upgrade to Kelly Jennings (sorry bout that)

well they did get him on a half bull pi, but they let him get away with contact all over, and Browner looked like a legit corner

4-The lesser entities in the middle of the D
Collin Cole is out, Branch is in with some quirky depth behind him. We can guess what kind of play Mebane and Bryant will bring, but the question mark is going to point at the mammoth Allan Branch when Gore comes running down hill.

newly acquired Hargrove was active, Branch made some nice plays quietly

5-Golden Momentum
Tate picked a good game to show why he was a 2nd round pick with upside. It will be interesting to see if that carries over and he's the hot target in the slot that can make a difference.

he did get a td that looked nice, but he wasn't targeted that much, then again neither was Miller. I think we have some depth sor for targets especially with Baldwin proving he's legit

Predictions-

Seahawk youthiness will give SF the edge and in the end, both teams will be pining for a new QB.
special teams eh? Unexpected. Tarvaris had moments, and he absorbed lots of hits with grace, but he also is not the man.

SF wins 17-13

More offense than I expected. I like several of our pieces, sucks about the two late td's to Ginn. Without them win or lose we are optimistic