This past Monday, the Niners had their first encounter of the Super Bowl Champion, the New Orleans Saints. Their game began with San Francisco receiving first and Delanie Walker took the kick out near midfield, but a holding call against Moran Norris put them back to the 10. After two runs by Gore, the Niners needed to get a first down and decided to throw. Unfortunately, the center snapped the ball over Alex Smith's head. He had to chase it down to the touchdown and hit it out before defenders could grab it for a touchdown. This caused a safety and a rough start for The 49ers. After turning over the ball, the Niners give up a touchdown in the Saints' opening drive. The two teams continue to trade scores as the go back and forth ending up in the endzone.
Then the fourth quarter comes around and the saints made a 46-yard field goal to open up the quarter. It was now 14- 19 Saints and the Niners need to answer back. On the returning drive Alex Smith threw to an open Michael Crabtree, but the ball was tipped and picked off by Tracy Porter. At this point, Alex Smith was fuming and had a hard time staying focused. The crowd was cheering for the simplest gains and now quiet if not booing. They were frustrated too and all they could do is watch. the Saints drove it back on the Niners and hit yet another field goal. The Niners have to pull it together and work as a team if they want a chance for a win at this moment. The Niners drive back on the Saints with many hard runs and a couple key passes. Their offense was rolling and the crowd was getting into it. On a pass play, Smith hit Zeigler crossing down to the 7 and managed to get out of bounds. Gore then rushed in for the 7-yard score on the next play! The crowd is going wild at this point, with the Niners only down by 2. They go for a 2-point conversion with a short comeback route to Vernon Davis, but it seemed he caught it on the line and was pushed out. The refs called it out and no good or the conversion. However, they went under review and called the play good! The game is tied and the Niners jus need to bring it into overtime. On this final drive, the defense is giving it their all and the Saints Offensive Line is doing what they can to combat them. The clock is tcking dwn to the final seconds and then Brees passed it to Jeremy Shockey down at the 14. Out comes Hartley for the field goal attempt. On this final play, the Saints were flagged for a false start and that will make it more difficult. Moved back 5 yards, the kicker steps to kick it, and was tipped! Somehow how, it managed to slide in between the crossbars and the Saints pull away with the win 25- 22.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Niner/Raider double header
Last sunday, September 12th, both the Niners and Raiders played to start off the regular season. The San Francisco 49ers played the Seattle Seahawks on the road. As they enter the field, the Niners players are joined in hands with each other as a united force. As the games starts, the Seahawks win the toss and choose to receive. Unfortunately,that was a mistake for them because they muffed the kickoff return and ended up having to down it in the endzone. After that, their first played ended in an interception to Nate Clements thrown by Matt Hasselbeck.Once the Niners got on offense, this became a little difficult. The fans of Seattle were so loud that it was difficult to call plays which resulted in an early 49er timeout due to confusion. These fans will eventually help enough to the point of giving a slight edge to the Seahawks. Even with the good original field position, the Niners were not able to get into the endzone for a touchdown, and had to settle for a field goal. As the game progressed, Joe Nedney, the Niners kicker was the only one scoring in the game until Matt Hasselbeck scored on a 1-yard run. With this score, it puts Seattle up by one with 2:26 left in the first half. Trying to hustle and make a play, Alex Smith throws on the run, but the pass hit Michael Crabtree in the shoulder and was picked off for an interception. With the Seahawks' offense back on, they drive in and score on a 13-yard pass to Deon Butler. The score going into the half was 14-6 Seattle over the Niners. Coming out of the half, the Niners are looking to get back into the game. However, that is all what didn't happen. The Niners didn't score the rest of the game and fell apart on defense with a missing pass rush by the linemen, and a foolish secondary. The Niners ended the game with the score of 31-6. This was a hard loss for the team because they wanted to start off their season strong just like they did in preseason.
As for the Raiders, they paid a visit to Tennessee in hopes to defeat the Titans and start their 2010 season with a win. The Raiders receive first and come out with a shaky start. In the kickoff return, the Raiders fumble it and recover it on their own 20-yard line. The Raiders' first offensive series ends with a 3-and-out. After trading possessions a couple times, the Titans put together a legitimate drive and score a touchdown. This was their strong response to Janikowski's field goal made 34 yards out. Then, the Titans come back again with a field goal with put them ahead 10-3 by the end of the first quarter. The next quarter consists of the Titans distancing themselves from the Raiders. Even though they try to stay in the game with field goals, 24-6 won't be an easy comeback if you rely on field goals. At this point, the Raiders offensive line is the one aspect that is really hurting them in this game. They are having no luck stopping the Titans' defensive linemen. Jason Cambell has been sacked and hit several times, enough for him to become frustrated jogging into the locker room at the half. In the third quarter, the Titans score one more time as the final point making sure the Raiders do not come back. However, the Raiders put themselves out of the game more than the Titans beat them. If only they can show us the "new" Raiders team. The one that uses the Baltimore offense and has a different aura around them. We will see what is in store for this hopeful team. After this game, though, people are just seeing that typical raiders team that has a losing season every year. Surely not an example of the rest of the season, the Raiders are beaten by the Tennessee Titans, 31-6.
As for the Raiders, they paid a visit to Tennessee in hopes to defeat the Titans and start their 2010 season with a win. The Raiders receive first and come out with a shaky start. In the kickoff return, the Raiders fumble it and recover it on their own 20-yard line. The Raiders' first offensive series ends with a 3-and-out. After trading possessions a couple times, the Titans put together a legitimate drive and score a touchdown. This was their strong response to Janikowski's field goal made 34 yards out. Then, the Titans come back again with a field goal with put them ahead 10-3 by the end of the first quarter. The next quarter consists of the Titans distancing themselves from the Raiders. Even though they try to stay in the game with field goals, 24-6 won't be an easy comeback if you rely on field goals. At this point, the Raiders offensive line is the one aspect that is really hurting them in this game. They are having no luck stopping the Titans' defensive linemen. Jason Cambell has been sacked and hit several times, enough for him to become frustrated jogging into the locker room at the half. In the third quarter, the Titans score one more time as the final point making sure the Raiders do not come back. However, the Raiders put themselves out of the game more than the Titans beat them. If only they can show us the "new" Raiders team. The one that uses the Baltimore offense and has a different aura around them. We will see what is in store for this hopeful team. After this game, though, people are just seeing that typical raiders team that has a losing season every year. Surely not an example of the rest of the season, the Raiders are beaten by the Tennessee Titans, 31-6.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
No more than 53!
Similar to many players on the San Francisco 49ers' team, Nate Davis was released due to the Niners having to obey the maximum of an NFL team. Unfortunately, Nate Davis was such a positive aspect to the Niners team, on and off the field. As for his stats, Davis completed 23 of 44 passes for 301 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in four exhibition games. Those are really good numbers for a player in his situation and experience. With those numbers, the Niners' head coach, Mike Singletary was strongly considering him for a back-up job along with David Carr behind Alex Smith. However, when his numbers went down, Singetary started questioning his work ethic in the offseason and declared him not ready to compete for so much as the backup job. This resulted in his release.
Another key player that had to be released was Michael Robinson. He was converted to a running back when drafted by the 49ers in 2006. From then on, he gave his team some good numbers with 38 carries for 116 yards, 9 receptions for 47 yards, and 2 touchdowns. However, the Niners picked up some good players through trades and he lost his spot as the back-up running back for Frank Gore. The Niners required Brian Westbrook fromt the Philadelphia Eagles and Anthony Dixon from another team. These two amazing backs have just put Robinson out of a job when the Niners were looking to down-size. In the end, Robinson was released and went to join the Seattle Seahawks. According to Singletary, it was a hard loss because he is a great person with good work ethic and a great presence on and off the field.
Another key player that had to be released was Michael Robinson. He was converted to a running back when drafted by the 49ers in 2006. From then on, he gave his team some good numbers with 38 carries for 116 yards, 9 receptions for 47 yards, and 2 touchdowns. However, the Niners picked up some good players through trades and he lost his spot as the back-up running back for Frank Gore. The Niners required Brian Westbrook fromt the Philadelphia Eagles and Anthony Dixon from another team. These two amazing backs have just put Robinson out of a job when the Niners were looking to down-size. In the end, Robinson was released and went to join the Seattle Seahawks. According to Singletary, it was a hard loss because he is a great person with good work ethic and a great presence on and off the field.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Niners short out the Chargers!
This is such a significant game for the Niners this September 1st. For one reason, it is the final game of the preseason, and this team would like to end with a 6-0 record heading into the regular season. This undefeated record hasn't happened for decades. Another reason this game is important, is that the players are trying to show all their talent and what they could offer to the team, because the Niners coaching staff needs to narrow down the team to the maximum of 53 players for the regular season approaches. For these reasons, the Niners are especially determined to play hard this game.
As the game begins, the Chargers start with the ball first. On this offensive series, they give the Niners fans a good scare when, Chargers running back, Mike Tolbert broke through for a 32-yard run. Fortunately, that was the only large gain the Niners defense allowed throughout the entire game. As the Niners got the ball for their starting series, David Carr, the Niners quarterback for the day, led the team up the field with short passes and hard runs with Anthony Dixon until they were about 36-yards away from the touchdown. That very play, Anthony Dixon broke through the secondary on the Chargers' defense with two amazing cuts that got the whole crowd cheering in Candlestick. With one man to beat, Dixon gave him a stiff-arm and took him the last 10-yards falling into the endzone. With the first half coming to a close, the Niners lead with the score of 10-0. After half time, the Chargers decided to get back into the game with two unanswered touchdowns in the third quarter. By the fourth quarter, the score is 10 - 14 with the Chargers ahead. This is when the Niners shut things down and score, without letting the chargers into their red zone. The fans are up on their feet, screaming to see the final seconds of the clock wind down and their home team is the victor (17-14).
As the game begins, the Chargers start with the ball first. On this offensive series, they give the Niners fans a good scare when, Chargers running back, Mike Tolbert broke through for a 32-yard run. Fortunately, that was the only large gain the Niners defense allowed throughout the entire game. As the Niners got the ball for their starting series, David Carr, the Niners quarterback for the day, led the team up the field with short passes and hard runs with Anthony Dixon until they were about 36-yards away from the touchdown. That very play, Anthony Dixon broke through the secondary on the Chargers' defense with two amazing cuts that got the whole crowd cheering in Candlestick. With one man to beat, Dixon gave him a stiff-arm and took him the last 10-yards falling into the endzone. With the first half coming to a close, the Niners lead with the score of 10-0. After half time, the Chargers decided to get back into the game with two unanswered touchdowns in the third quarter. By the fourth quarter, the score is 10 - 14 with the Chargers ahead. This is when the Niners shut things down and score, without letting the chargers into their red zone. The fans are up on their feet, screaming to see the final seconds of the clock wind down and their home team is the victor (17-14).
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