Author:
TANK
[ Edit | View ]
|
Date Posted: 15:55:29 01/06/03 Mon
I woke up this morning, work staring me in the face, unmet deadlines remaining from the Friday before, and I wasn't looking forward to the day...foggy and cold, the newspaper wrapped in plastic...I got my self my first cup of coffee and fought to free my paper. There it was...the front page read "Fantastic Finish: Garcia, Owens Spark Stunning 49ers Comeback." I realized it wasn't a dream...and my day suddenly got much, much better. I pulled out the Sports Section and sat back to enjoy the hot java...it is a good morning, indeed.
People like to point out that the Giants special teams gave us six points with two missed FG's, but don't forget our special teams gave the Giants seven, so eliminates that spin.
By all accounts, it sounds like Terrell Owens took over the team's leadership role at halftime. Sideline cameras show him telling Garcia and Streets to give it all they got. This impresses me far more than post game "killer instinct" comments to the press. He may have turned the corner. His contract extension negotiations should be ongoing...Owens has earned a HUGE signing bonus.
I hate to be a party pooper, but I was troubled by a number of things yesterday. As wonderful as this win was, it is history. It would be sickening to lose next week, and then this great victory will be quickly forgotten. Particularly if we struggle in Tampa like we did in the first half of yesterday's game.
RED FLAG #1: The running game was nil! The o-line was dominated when it tried to run block. The short yardage situations made it even more disgusting. I know several of you think the offense should just stick with the no huddle and throw every down, but that isn't likely to win a championship. Pastor Dave wrote of passing to set up the run, but I wonder if even after 45 passes and 354 yards passing, could the 49ers have established the run if needed at the end of that game? I doubt it. Can they run for a first down in short yardage situations next week? I worry about that. I am not so certain this line can do it. Warren Sapp and Anthony McFarland will be even more dominant, getting an even bigger push up the middle on rushing and passing downs.
Lets face it, Garrison Hearst isn't getting outside on anyone these days. He has to run between the tackles, and this banged up line isn't moving anybody. Hearst averaged 3 yards a carry against the Rams and 2.5 yards a carry against the Giants. Something is breaking down here. I have argued that Barlow is a temporary answer, but the line needs help.
Defensively, 9r4life appreciated Ahmed Plummer's stand at the end of the game, but Kerry Collins (not Rich Gannon or Chad Pennington or Donovan McNabb or Jeff Garcia...Kerry Collins!) ate him alive for three quarters. Armani Toomer beat him every which way. TIM says Plummer has a groin pull. That won't heal by next Sunday. This is a scary predicament. I hope we face Rob Johnson, not his evil twin Brad. The pass defense needs to step up this coming Sunday. This defense needs to be able to force a punt in the first half...
Slappy: YES! Terry Donahue needs to find another CB in the draft or, preferably, a veteran in free agency. Does anyone know who will be available?
The best thing about Jeff Garcia's performance yesterday was not his scrambling or the quality of his passes. It was his decision making. In the last four drives he led, he made only three obvious errors, and one of them was okay: 1. QB sneak on third down; 2. INT on two point attempt; and 3. the overthrow of Stokes in end zone that forced 49ers to settle for a field goal (okay). The two point conversion could have been a crucial blunder obvious to all of us, so I won't go into it. The overthrow of Stokes was an acceptible decision - far better than throwing an INT - but, he had time and Owens was coming open back over the middle. Everything else, the other 20+ plays were beautiful. He spead the field, used several receivers (not just Owens), and tucked in the ball and ran at the right times. Considering the speed of things happening around him, I am very impressed. I had visions of earlier losses to San Diego and Green Bay (or the end of the first half against the Chiefs) racing in my head, but Garcia obviously learned from those painful situations.
I said in an earlier post that Garcia had slipped this year. For twenty minutes on Sunday, he climbed back up to being his best. That is a tremendous credit to him because he had been complaining about the miserable stress he was feeling late in December. Hopefully, this was cathartic for him. He followed up an emotional win against the Raiders with a sub-par performance against Kansas City. I hope he can string a couple of these "Garcia-ball" games together with strong decision making.
Speaking of cathartic experiences...I hope this game helped Mariucci and Knapp excise their deamons, too. Remember, Knapp is potentially calling his last game as a 49ers coordinator every time out. His contract expires after the last snap of this season. I don't think I saw anything on Sunday that changed my mind about the coaching of Mariucci and Knapp...you guys all know how I feel about them...but I think the next game might set the decision for John York. Mariucci against Jon Gruden...face to face...who can coach in the moment better?
I still instist that Mooch and the 49ers need more talent. They need to resolve the pass defense problems, address the inadequacies of the special teams and build a more dominant line for Hearst and Barlow, while not losing the protection that Garcia needs.
|
Feedback: 
