From Behind Enemy Lines: What the 49ers are saying

[JSn]

Official Site of the San Francisco 49ers - PR News

Not sure if there's a poster who officially does this stuff, but I thought I'd roll the ball and see what happens.

I'm not sure why they cite us as 1-1 with Cassel since he won the first game too. Does that make them feel better? It makes no sense to attribute that win to Brady.

Excerpt:

The 49ers face their first AFC opponent of the 2008 season this Sunday when they host the New England Patriots.

Despite easily handling the Kansas City Chiefs in week one, New England suffered a colossal loss when Pro Bowl quarterback Tom Brady blew his knee out in the game.

While some wrote the Patriots off after Brady’s injury, New England has far from let the curtain fall of their hopes for a Super Bowl repeat.

As Brady said, “I like our chances.”

Without him though, the 2-1 Patriots are 1-1 with Matt Cassel leading the team to a victory over the Jets in his first start at quarterback. Cassel is 48 of 72 for 448 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception for an overall 87.0 QB Rating.

And whereas the Patriots passing offense ranked number one in 2007 under the command of Brady, the offense currently sits at 24th with Cassel running the show.

Another notable stat is the Patriots offensive sack count. Brady was sacked only 21 times in 2007, but 2008 has been a different tale for his backup. Cassel has already gone down 9 times on the season. The uncharacteristic sack count for a New England offensive line that features Pro Bowl left tackle Matt Light, Pro Bowl left guard Logan Mankins and Pro Bowl center Dan Koppen is mostly a reflection of Cassel’s inexperience. The group does have a new starter at right guard with Billy Yates getting the nod over Russ Hochstein, who now sees action only in a tight end role on short yardage situations.

 

[TheComeback]

Re: From Behind Enemy Lines: What the 49ers are saying.

And I like how they blame the sacks on Cassel's inexperience. What does that have to do with the line's inability to block? They haven't been able to play at a high level since the superbowl.

 

[JSn]

Re: From Behind Enemy Lines: What the 49ers are saying.

And I like how they blame the sacks on Cassel's inexperience. What does that have to do with the line's inability to block? They haven't been able to play at a high level since the superbowl.

Well he doesn't drop back half the distance to the goal like they like, hehe.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

Re: From Behind Enemy Lines: What the 49ers are saying.

And I like how they blame the sacks on Cassel's inexperience. What does that have to do with the line's inability to block?

It has a big effect on the line. Blitz adjustments by Cassel instead of Brady. A different kind of mobility by the two. Defenses playing the QB differently. It may not affect the line's ability but it does have a big effect on their performance and stats.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

It has a big effect on the line. Blitz adjustments by Cassel instead of Brady. A different kind of mobility by the two. Defenses playing the QB differently. It may not affect the line's ability but it does have a big effect on their performance and stats.

I agree the defenses are playing the Pats receivers differently with Cassel at QB. Until Cassel proves he can get the ball deep, he will continue to face a ton of blitzes.

 

[Deus Irae]

Re: From Behind Enemy Lines: What the 49ers are saying.

It has a big effect on the line. Blitz adjustments by Cassel instead of Brady. A different kind of mobility by the two. Defenses playing the QB differently. It may not affect the line's ability but it does have a big effect on their performance and stats.

The Dolphins only blitzed 3-4 times all game.

 

[cavtroop]

Re: From Behind Enemy Lines: What the 49ers are saying.

I agree the defenses are playing the Pats receivers differently with Cassel at QB. Until Cassel proves he can get the ball deep, he will continue to face a ton of blitzes.

And until the OL proves it can block, Cassel can't go deep. Heck, or even medium.

Cassel showing that he can toss it deep (and even trying a few times a game) will loosen up the pass rush a bit.

Conversely, the OL blocking better will allow Cassel the time (which he hasn't had for the most part) to start tossing it further.

It's a chicken/egg kind of thing.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

Re: From Behind Enemy Lines: What the 49ers are saying.

The Dolphins only blitzed 3-4 times all game.

That could be, I wasn't paying much attention by the second half, it was so ugly; that said, blitz or not, Brady is going to help the OL adjust blocking schemes based on the defense a lot more and better than Cassel does - Super Bowl notwithstanding.

 

[Garbanza]

Re: From Behind Enemy Lines: What the 49ers are saying.

Brady made this o-line look good, not the other way around, folks. Brady has a pocket presence that Cassel can only dream of. Brady has a quick release - Cassel has nothing close to that. Brady can make the quick read. Cassel is in special ed.

 

[ALP]

Re: From Behind Enemy Lines: What the 49ers are saying.

russ is healthy?

 

[maryjane]

If the patriots don't dominate teh lowly 49ers. Well, I know Brady is injured, but future all-pro Cassel is in, so there's no excuse.

If they can't beat them soundly, it bodes ill.

 

[jmt57]

Back to the original topic, this column from the Sacramento Bee may give a bit of insight as to what to expect. If you scroll down to 49ers Quarterly Report the writer sums it up with these comments about SF:

No one will be yelling, Sell! Sell! Sell! after looking at the 49ers' quarterly report, but it's not exactly a bull market either. The 49ers are a .500 ball club, which is precisely where most people would have put them after games against Arizona, Seattle, Detroit and New Orleans. They're certainly better than last year's team (also 2-2 after four games) but not ready to take on any elite teams either as shown by their disappointing performance in New Orleans.

Overall. The 49ers are unquestionably better than they were a year ago. The question is: How much better? The offense took a huge leap from 2007 to 2008 but the defense has yet to make a similar jump. If it can, there's no reason why the 49ers can't be scratching and clawing for the division lead in late November. If it can't, then you might as well refer to the 49ers as "Lions West."

 

[satz]

Thomas and watson need to get healthy and step up blocking. We are too many instances where they do not block. I also think even for all kyle brady short falls he was big and DE size which helps . thomas and watson are out gunned by 40 lbs and cannot match up.