49ers Vs. Cardinals: Ask Niners Nation

I think he’s had something like 14 consecutive solid games.

The real question will be asked when he has his first truly bad game of the year. QBs can sometimes make it through the season without such a game, but it’s rare. Has he earned enough slack back that he can take a couple bad losses and still have the support he has now? That I don’t know.

Almost everyone is positive about him right now, no one calling for his head, or calling for Kaepernick, or thinking about drafting a QB. If Alex keeps playing at this level I think everyone would be happy to see just how high Harbaugh can take him and the offense when they get more comfortable in the system, when the playbook expands, when the chemistry and timing between the receivers develops.

But I think that people are really starting to feel good about him, especially after last week’s strong performance against NY. For most of the season, he’s been avoiding mistakes and letting Gore and the defense carry us, but in the Giants game Gore was limited and we had to call mostly pass plays, and he stepped up and delivered the win. I think he’ll just keep getting better as he continues learning Harbaugh’s system.

And as for Gore, I believe we’re saying that he’s fully healed for this game, but who knows…

Too bad everything else about the franchise sucked and almost tricked the non-believers

It isn’t really anything special considering the rest of the league. We are probably in the decent category. The run game is not all Frank Gore because Kendall Hunter has been able to step in and play quite nicely. Its just that Frank was on a hot streak so we gave him the rock. Smith is a clutch quarterback that is able to do what is asked of him. The receivers are talented, but there is something missing and they just are not wowing us. Could be the loss of Morgan. The line has been excellent but we still wait for them to regress. We replaced a very talented RG Rachel with a more workman Adam Snyder and it has paid big time. Gives Anthony Davis a veteran beside him that will work with him.

We’re 26th in yards per game, but 7th in points, which is the bottom line. Our defense is great, but most everyone overlooks our number one (usually) special teams. Not only do they consistently give us good field position and tackle well on coverage, but Akers is a monster field goal kicker.

I think Harbaugh is balancing all three facets of our game so that everyone is as focused as possible. Everyone contributes to the win each week. Sometimes it may not be pretty, but whoever needs to step up for the win always seems to do it.

but they are top 10 in points scored. We also give up a lot of yards in the air, but we don’t allow any points. Epitome of a “bend but don’t break” defense

We are built for close victories. We are one of the best teams in the league when the game is close and on the line.

These teams hate each other and the Cardinals are playing better then they have all season.

seems to be an active conversation going on at Niners Nation

This team is pretty good at all positions and there is sufficient back ups to make it through just about any injury and stay competitive. As long as we resign all our free agents we should be set with whomever we pick up in the draft and maybe a spare LOMBARDI TROPHY to go with the other five.

It would be nice to have another safety/cornerback. Also maybe another WR depending on the Josh Morgan situation and if we re-sign Braylon Edwards. Our front 7, our RBs, fullbacks, offensive line and our TEs are basically set.

Cornerback. Let Rogers teach him to be a professional. Next would be the most talented DL that can be a project. We need depth and a future there and in my opinion we can’t get enough. As far as our offense, I think we just need more time. The receivers are still young and very talented, the QB position looks set with Smith being the veteran presence while Kaepernick gets groomed with fallback option Tolzien too. Hunter looks to be our future with Dixon our bruising back possibly (if he doesn’t come back they will then draft another) Miller is all we have asked for in a fullback and the line needs more time. Iupati will be a probowler for years and Davis just needs more time. If there is an elite OL available they always get picked

Personally I would say DB on defense. I’m not sold on Brown and although we have some progressing talent at the position like Culliver and Brock I think it could stand to be solidified. Offensively I think we let Braylon go and even though we will get Morgan back from injury this could be an area of need for us. Some Niner faithful also think its time to draft and groom and hard physical running back to replace Gore in yrs to come, I’m not one of those I think Hunter and Dixon will be phenominal for us and are the future. Also I think Harbaugh will always try to upgrade the O line no matter how good they are.

Cornerbacks and depth on the D line, but could see a safety or O-line after round 1 if BPA

you guys stole our favorite corner last year in PP, but seems like he isn’t the lock down corner he was supposed to be. Given it’s only his first season, I literally believed he would have been lock down day one.

We definitely have our #1 CB in Rogers, as long as we can lock him up, but if we can lock down the other side of the field our defense will be unstoppable. As for WR, I don’t think we’re very deep at that position and we need a deep threat.

As some people have said on NN, Harbaugh is running Singletary’s game plan better than Singletary could. We’ve been running the ball a heck of a lot until the NY game, but it’s not the same ol’ formation time and time again.

The problem was always predictability and lack of adjustments. Harbaugh has shown he and his staff can both adjust to what they’re seeing from the other team, as well as mixing formations to create mismatches, confuse defenses and setup plays later in the game. Even if you know it’s a run, it’s hard to figure out where when there’s 3 people in the backfield and 2 TE’s at the line.

I feel the same way about the NFC west. Living in AZ for the past few years, if the Niners weren’t going to make the playoffs, I’d rather it be the Cards than the Hawks or Rams. I’d rather win a good division that be the slightly less bad team.

I think there’s a good chance Alex gets a 2-3 year extension, which would be almost a lock if we get a playoff win. Alex has repeatedly shown that he’s not greedy come contract time, since he hasn’t lived up to the huge early payday. I also don’t see him rolling the dice with a new team and new system, given he’s finally having success and should get some consistency from the coaching staff.

On the coaches, I think it’s a mixed bag. Singletary and his staff really was that bad. They made a ton of mistakes and didn’t really know how to game plan. On the other hand, I think Harbaugh really is that good, but not just because of himself. Harbaugh is a great coach because of the attitude and direction he has installed in the team, but also because he can maximize the skill sets of excellent coaches across the board. Singletary could not recruit top coaches or even work well with the ones he had.

If Gore is out, then Hunter is a good start. If Gore is healthy, I wouldn’t risk it unless you’re in bad shape for a bye filler. Hunter gets a fair amount of yards per week and has busted a few TDs. I don’t think any of the Niners receivers are great fantasy wise until we execute better in the red zone. I expect it to improve as the season progresses, with most looks at Crabtree or Braylon. I would go with Crabs if I had to play one of them.

Yes.

O.o

Gore is out and I don’t think that your number 2 back can produce as well as gore does. Alex Smith is averaging under 250 yards a game right? He’ll have to step up his A game. Hopefully this is a good one

I do enjoy your blog and always wanted the 49er-Cardinals rivalry to work out. I would like it to be a clash of the titans every year and for Fitzgerald to wear a 49er helmet.

None of my AZ friends ever heard of this site

Jesse Reynolds said we are the arrogant ones. I’m confused, what is my identity? Am I arrogant? I spent all freaking day yesterday practicing being arrogant. And now I have to go try to figure out how to be fun. If your football team is this confusing, we’re in trouble.

It’s a netherworld of the underdeveloped.

That site belongs to the trolls now. Seriously, everyone there is a troll or an idiot. People around here are much friendlier and more intelligent, both at NN and other football blogs and what brought me into SB Nation, McCovey Chronicles.

Maybe Harbaugh works his magic and Kolb succeeds

I don’t think the Niners were ever seriously considering him once Harbaugh was on board.

That’s where the 49ers CLAMP DOWN. I’d say the best location on the field to try and score on the 49ers is in the 30-40 yard range. Let Fitz make a play in the open field or hope someone can get behind one of the corners. But the shorter the field, the harder it will be to score.

Makes more sense to me to pound the ground in the Red Zone, and pass to get there. Wait a minute, that might work, forget I said anything.

ZERO rushing TD’s given up this year.

Marshawn Lynch, Cedric Benson, LeSean McCoy, Legarrette Blount, Jahvid Best, Brandon Jacobs

ZERO TD’s between all of them and some of the ones I left off. Like I said above, if you want to score, do it outside of the red zone and in the air.

Like the other have said, the long ball is probably the best way.

If Fitz doesn’t have a big game, the Niners will almost certainly win. I’d say you’d need at least one big TD catch from him, and probably a few field goals, and then your defense needs to clamp down.

I will say though that if AleX regresses into old AleX territory, you guys have a shot, but he’s been so good for so long that I can’t see that happening.

Morgan was getting some big plays until he went down for the season. The ball gets spread around.