12-02-2019, 11:51 AM
Now that Stanford's football season is over, and it is still football season, it seems more Niners talk is warranted, so...
I was able to see the first half of the Niners at Ravens game and then saw the stats. To me, the difference was mistakes. The Ravens made basically zero and the Niners made several. And if ever there was a game of inches, this was it. Niners just missing first downs. Ravens just barely making them. One team 1/2 FGs, the other 2/2. One team 1/2 on 4th down the other 2/2. The Niners missed Dee Ford in that game as I feared they would. Given how close it was without him, a good case can be made they win it with him.
It was frustrating to see Niners defenders hit the RB when he didn't get the ball, and Jackson never hit when he handed it off on the read options. The whole reason option football isn't suppose to work in the NFL is because it beats up the QB. Nobody is hitting Jackson when he doesn't hand off. Is it because they fear they will be called for roughing the passer? He's NOT a passer when he runs forward on the read option, so he can be hit after handing off. Defenses should assign someone to hit him on every single play on read options, whether he keeps the ball or doesn't.
Another observation. The Ravens WRs are not very good. It's hard to tell from watching the game on TV what coverages are being played, but I think it was proven yesterday that should these teams play in the Super Bowl, the Niners can leave the WRs in a lot more single coverage.
But honestly, the offense was the problem. Just not being able to convert enough 3rd downs at critical moments. They simply must make a more concerted effort to get the ball to Kittle. It's totally unacceptable for him to leave a game the Niners don't win, with 2 catches for 17 yards. The Niners averaged 6.4 YPP and the Ravens had 4.6 YPP. The Niners made more big plays but they just couldn't convert enough of them. Even had the Niners won, it's pretty clear these teams are very even and on any given day one can beat the other.
I was able to see the first half of the Niners at Ravens game and then saw the stats. To me, the difference was mistakes. The Ravens made basically zero and the Niners made several. And if ever there was a game of inches, this was it. Niners just missing first downs. Ravens just barely making them. One team 1/2 FGs, the other 2/2. One team 1/2 on 4th down the other 2/2. The Niners missed Dee Ford in that game as I feared they would. Given how close it was without him, a good case can be made they win it with him.
It was frustrating to see Niners defenders hit the RB when he didn't get the ball, and Jackson never hit when he handed it off on the read options. The whole reason option football isn't suppose to work in the NFL is because it beats up the QB. Nobody is hitting Jackson when he doesn't hand off. Is it because they fear they will be called for roughing the passer? He's NOT a passer when he runs forward on the read option, so he can be hit after handing off. Defenses should assign someone to hit him on every single play on read options, whether he keeps the ball or doesn't.
Another observation. The Ravens WRs are not very good. It's hard to tell from watching the game on TV what coverages are being played, but I think it was proven yesterday that should these teams play in the Super Bowl, the Niners can leave the WRs in a lot more single coverage.
But honestly, the offense was the problem. Just not being able to convert enough 3rd downs at critical moments. They simply must make a more concerted effort to get the ball to Kittle. It's totally unacceptable for him to leave a game the Niners don't win, with 2 catches for 17 yards. The Niners averaged 6.4 YPP and the Ravens had 4.6 YPP. The Niners made more big plays but they just couldn't convert enough of them. Even had the Niners won, it's pretty clear these teams are very even and on any given day one can beat the other.