Official Game Thread: Skins vs 49ers

[LyricalRico]

VERSUS



When: 11/6 @ 1pm
Where: FedEx Field

Is there any chance that John Beck could still break out?
Can Haslett get the defense back on track?
How hard with Harbaugh shake Shanahan's hand after the game?

Post your predictions and thoughts on the game here!

[hands11]

Ok, game three after the QB change.

Here is my take on how this could come around to look better. I think we could have seen the worst of the transition. But I do struggle regarding if that is really what is in the teams best interest.

So the O-line was thin to start with and then they lost two players.
Then they changed QBs
Lost there starting running back so they went to Torain who was next in line.
They lost there vet reliable WR and their speed deep threat was injured. Armstrong is back now.
And they went through trying to get Coley more involved when he got healthy.
Oh, and they lost there starting full back for a few games.

That is a butt ton for an offense to overcome given it wasnt a established offense to start with.

Here is how they can build it back up to something that doesn't look God awful.

You start to establishing something. It is all connected. You have to establish something to work off of.

Game three of Beck. So we should see he settling in. He wasnt the biggest problem last game.

The O-line can not power block the run or even pass block very well right now so you are going to have to open things up with the short passing game first then work the screens to get the running game working better.

For RB. Torain was the right move after Hightower went down but given the O line, Hulu is the better option right now. So you start him and let Torain come in for power plays. This will help the run because Hulu is more versatile and nimble. He can get out on screens and he can break it. Then in a few games, Williams will be back and that will help a lot.

Focus on Fred Davis and Gaffney. Even Logan has shown to be a receiving option so work the passing game short and mid range with these players. Davis is a huge mismatch most the time and Gaffney is looking very reliable. Bench Donte. He is done. I would even cut him to bring in another O-line player. We have enough WR to look at without him. He has no upside and this team is rebuilding so lets look at the other young WR once we get past the core I described above.

If they start Hulu and focus on Fred and Gaffney with screens to Hulu while mixing in Logan then looking long to Armstrong ( also use him in the slot like Moss ) then I think they can give Beck enough options to get some momentum.

If you work it that way, I can see the offense being successful enough that they can get some rhythm, stay of the field longer and get some pts. And if they can do that, the D will look better again.

So in summary, it isn't as bad as it looked the last two games. They has a huge transition to make given all the injuries. I was guessing 8-8 this year. They can still do that. And if you look at the standing,they are right in the mix for the playoffs still. Next week will be huge though. Three teams are 4-3. If they all win and go to 5-3 and we lose, going to 3-5, that wouldnt look so good.
But if they lose and we win along with the other 3-4 teams win, you could have as many as 6 teams at 4-4

[W. Unseld]

I like the analysis or at least the effort at this point in the season. My only question is when we inevitably get down, will we ever see any semblance of a hurry up offense? I can't remember a decent hurry up offense since Norv Freaking Turner.

[hands11]

I like the analysis or at least the effort at this point in the season. My only question is when we inevitably get down, will we ever see any semblance of a hurry up offense? I can't remember a decent hurry up offense since Norv Freaking Turner.

Very true.

Over the years of this team struggles, we have seen good defenses, but the offense has been bottom tier for a long time. They just have very little established to build from.

Moss established himself as a reliable player. So did Coley for a period. But other then that, what have they really had. No reliable O line. No reliable QB. No reliable RB. Losing Moss is a tough hit for an offense that just hasn't had much going for it. But at least they are finally past the Portis years. They really needed to move on from that approach.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/foo ... _blog.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/foo ... _blog.html

It all starts with the O Line but Kyle needs to help with the quicker plays to get things rolling. They can not go run first or they will just fall behind. And Armstrong really needs to step up. He is a good WR. Time for him to show it again. He is the one that needs to replace what Moss was giving them.

This is a huge game for them. If they win, they can still make a season of it and develop their players in a more positive environment so they can find the mid tier gems. If they lose. It could get really ugly this season and it will feel like ground hogs day. Its hard to develop talent in that environment.

Seems this team is still two drafts away from setting the offense right. They need a star QB and lots of O lineman. But overall, they need to build stability on this team. They just need to get established as to what they are with a more stable roster and that is only going to happen with smart moves over time.

The future is Brian O, Kerrigan, Fred Davis, Hulu and maybe one of the young WRs.
Now they need and O line, QB and middle LB to replace Fletcher and a CB
I would consider trading Trent William for more O lineman like the article details.
They have the kicking squared away pretty nicely. They have a great punted and FG kicker.

Obviously you need lots of other players around this but that seems to be the core.

[rasta028]

I can tell you how the game will go :
Skins get ball 3 downs and punt.
49ers TD
Skins get the ball again 3 downs and punt.
and so and so and so on....

[LyricalRico]

The only chance the Skins have IMO is to go all out to stop the run and force Alex Smith to throw the ball. Maybe he goes back to hold habits, turns it over, and they get short field opportunities. I really don't see any other way for them to win this game.

[hands11]

Skins coming off an 0-3 run.
SF coming off a 5-0

back in DC after two road games.

No one thinks the Skins can win.

I like their odds of winning then. Skins defense shows up. Mighty might get some nice returns.
Special teams plays great punting, FGs and returns get the crowd in the game.

Armstrong has a break out game.

After record sacks last week, they will adjust and roll Beck more and he will make plays with his legs.

Skins win. Book it.

[hands11]

http://www.predictem.com/nfl/sf-49ers-w ... s-pick.php

Here, just found this.

Not saying it is a sure thing but it never is. That is why they play the game.

Skins backs are up against the wall. Fletcher will have whipped the D. They still have weapons on D and there special teams are solid. Game 3 for Beck and they do still have some offensive weapon. I just hope Fred Davis is healthy enough to do his thing.

[LyricalRico]

I like the optimism, hands. Let's hope you're right!

[hands11]

I like the chances for the D to come out on fire. That Fletcher blow up on the side lines is just the type of thing that was needed to light a fire. And Landry is need to focus his effort better then he has. He is an impact player and he needs to start playing like one.

If the D can be top 5, then the offense can slowly establish themselves.

I can still see an 8-8 season.

I wouldnt be surprised at all if they put in a good game today. And with a few good breaks, if they win, the mood will turn on a dime. They will be right back in the race. If they lose, things will be really bad.

There is a ton riding on this game. Should hopefully be like a playoff game.

[hands11]

So far so good. SF walked through the Skins warm ups and the Skins reacted.

A must win game. I want to see a war out there.

I posted a link on the Wiz board so hopefully we get some folks joining the thread

[hands11]

Awesome. HULU is starting. That was one of the adjusts I wanted to see.

And Montgomery is back at center. Very smart.

Ah, just heard Trent Williams is out there also.

[hands11]

Wow, SF is a tricky group aren't they. Nothing very Orthodox about what they do.


Oh man, Smith was crushed. How did he hold onto that.


Fans are into the game now.

[hands11]

Ok. first huge mental mistake of the game for the Skins. Banks wanted to be a hero and he likely just cause them momentum and some points.

Way stupid. They had been hanging in this game. Now they have to fight to get off the 3 yard line.


oyy... Just when they worked their way out of it, Kyle has to go and get quit. That was not needed at that stage of the game. They were getting first downs doing what they were doing. Why risk it. Kyle you idiot.

[hands11]

Second huge mental mistake. Hulu - really ? Come on dude.

Cost them 7 pts, the momentum going into the half and probably the game.

You just can't beat yourself when you have such a small margin for error.

I am impressed by the way SF plays. Their coach really has had an effect on them.

[hands11]

This offense just has nothing. Only time they move the ball is when the game is already over.

They had a change to win this game. They were in it until 2 minutes to go in the first half. That was were they needed to be after what we saw last week.

Kyle just doesnt seem to be the answer. He is just to slow to adjust. I guess if he had a bunch of top rated established talent he would be ok, but then again, who wouldnt be good then. And he just looks like a weenie. I'm sure the players have a hard time dealing with daddies little boy. Just not a good situation for a pro team.

[LyricalRico]

Ugly, ugly game. Missed tackles on defense, too many turnovers, and Beck was completely oblivious to receivers that were wide open down the field. And with a Trent Williams meltdown to boot. They REALLY need to beat Miami next week, and if that means going back to Rex then so be it.

[hands11]

Ugly, ugly game. Missed tackles on defense, too many turnovers, and Beck was completely oblivious to receivers that were wide open down the field. And with a Trent Williams meltdown to boot. They REALLY need to beat Miami next week, and if that means going back to Rex then so be it.

I tried Rico. Just couldnt get any bits to join in during the game.

This was a big one for them and they couldnt get it done.

The D still held them to only 1 TD though and IIRC that was just before halftime after some screw up by the offense. SF does look like a really well run team. Just goes to show what this team is still missing. Seems to be coaching that motivates and adapts the system to the players. SF looked like an old school Skins team.

Rogers was quoted saying as much. SF players really like their coach and what he does to put them in position to succeed. They are motivated and having fun.

Well, at least they made the right moves. They put Hulu in the back field. They started a rookie G and moved Montgomery to center and they got Williams back. They also played more of the younger WRs. They have to see what they have to move forward. If the line settles back in, that should help. But lets face it, Beck is a rookie QB on a unestablished offense. It is going to take a little time to settle in and get better. He just doesn't have the reps in live action to make the right decision quickly and this was the first week in three weeks that the O Line had most the starters.

My biggest problem isn't the offensive players, it is the father son combo that includes Kyle. And that goes to the Danny. He should have never allowed that to happen.

Question, has there ever been another team that had a HC and OC that were father and son ?

[Rafael122]

The defense deserves better. It's one of those teams where if they scored 24 pts per game, they'd probably have 5 or 6 wins by now. It all starts tih the QB, we need a QB.

[Nivek]

The defense deserves better? Where was the defense the last few weeks when they were getting pwned by Buffalo, Philly and Carolina? Where was the defense when they couldn't stop a Dallas offense that couldn't even line up properly?

I agree that the offense sucks, but this isn't some championship level defense. It's a little better than average -- definitely good enough to win some games if the offense was any good. But it's not elite. They still need help at inside linebacker, safety and corner.