The 49ers lose to the Bears by three, 31-28. If it wasn’t for Dilfer and his 4th quarter touchdowns, the 49ers would have left Chicago embarrassed. Well I’m sure they are still embarrassed, mainly for letting Grossman look like an All-Pro. I can’t go into great detail about the game as I watched it on NFL.com. I have to wait until the replay on NFLN tomorrow to watch just how bad the defense was. I guess at this point we just look forward to Gore coming back and hopefully the defense is playing lots of the Vanilla package and they’ll all get on the same page and shutting teams down….
This Just In…49ers Sucking at Halftime
The 49ers are making Rex Grossman look like a Hall of Fame quarterback. Not sure why, because it’s Grossman we are talking about. I hope Nolan at some point teaches the team how to tackle. Through two quarters there are three bright spots. Walt Harris seems to be back in form, well at least on that interception return. Alex Smith has only thrown one incompletion. Well he’s only thrown it three times and Andy Lee is a punting God.
AN: Clements Unchanged by the Money
I’m going to try a new feature and see if it flies. I’m gonna call it Around Ninerland (unless someone can think of something better), it is basically like Monday Morning Punter, but not on Mondays. So without further adieu…
- Nate Clements says money no big deal. [If that is the case, then Nate if you are reading this could you spare a dime?]
- Walt “Anti-Kwame” Harris is set to play for the first time this preseason against the Bears. [Now if we could just find a way for the other Harris not to.]
- Manny Lawson: The Forgotten One [Don't worry Manny we haven't forgotten you.]
- Gore gets more time to eat his cookies [F the preseason, Frank you the man.]
- Franklin feels he’ll be ready for the Cardinals [Don't rush coming back, but we can't wait to see your fatass in the middle.]
- Memories, all alone in the…. [Is it possible to ever play the Bears not in Chicago.]
- Saturday’s game against the Bears will re-air on NFL Network on Sunday, Aug. 26th at 8:00pm PST.
Kwame Finally Benched?
Adam Schefter reported on NFL Network’s Total Access that rookie lineman Joe Staley is to be announced as starting right tackle. Schefter was kind of vague on when the announcement would take place, but he said expect it soon. Which if (prays) comes true, Kwame Harris takes his rightful spot…on the bench.
Willis Unseats Moore
According to Matt Maiocco, rookie Patrick Willis has taken over the starting weak inside linebacker position. With this Moore goes to backup and Smith slides over to strong inside.
49ers Own Bay Bragging Rights
The 49ers scored late in the 4th with a Thomas Clayton touchdown to go up 26-21. I haven’t watched the game yet but from hearing others seems that tackling is still an issue. Aside from that the numbers from Alex Smith look good. 8-12 for 106 yards and a TD. Also seems Ashley Lelie is making Nolan take notice by showing his skills and trying to lockdown the No. 3 wide receiver spot.
On the defensive side of the ball rookie Patrick Willis had 7 tackles and Mark Roman came up with an interception.
49ers vs Raiders
The 49ers take the field for their second preseason game today, against the hated Raiders. For those that aren’t watching the game locally. NFL Network is going to replay the game tonight at 12:00am PST.
John Crumpacker says to pay close attention to the 49ers third offensive series of the game, whether it comes in the first or second quarter. Joe Staley will come in at right tackle and David Baas will come at right guard and play with the starters for a series.
This is important because this will put pressure on Kwame Harris and Justin Smiley two players who aren’t guaranteed jackshit.
Players out for todays game: Bryant Young (back), Aubrayo Franklin (knee), Walt Harris (calf), Frank Gore (hand) and Patrick Estes (ankle).
Also of note when the 49ers open the game with three receivers, Taylor Jacobs will line-up with Darrell Jackson and Arnaz Battle.
Highlights: 49ers vs Broncos
NFL.com has launched a new website and with it they now have a very nice video section. Seems that they will put video highlights up after each game. So here is the link they came up with for the preseason opener against the Broncos.
http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80174422
Not only that but they also have it where you can watch highlights from games that go back to the 2004 season.
NFL.com Game Highlights - Click the drop down menu for different years
49ers Fall Short in the End
With under two minutes left the 49ers had a chance to take the lead, but a bad pass on fourth-down by third-string QB Shaun Hill went incomplete. The 49ers started out strong behind Alex Smith who looked sharp and precise for the time he was in. He wasted no time on finding his new go to receiver in Darrell Jackson who he hit in stride while being blanketed by Champ Bailey. Smith also made a nice pass to Arnaz Battle that made it to the one/two yard line and running-back Michael Robinson punched it in for the score. Aside from that the only incompletion Smith had was in part to - surprise -Kwame Harris, who let Broncos John Engelberger have his way with him. Shouldn’t be long now until the pussification that is Kwame Harris will be riding the bench.
Besides that Trent Dilfer looked good, Michael Robinson ran well, as did Maurice Hicks, and rookie Tarel Brown had a nice interception. It will certainly be entertaining to watch the 49ers this season, as long as Kwame Harris and Derek Smith are on the bench.
