A Look Back at 2011, Three Bright Spots of The Season

January 25th, 2012 Steve Spooner Posted in Main

 

 

 

 

 

 

Even though the 49ers season is over, let us take a look back at some of the bright spots of the season that was. Alex Smith finally found a system in which to be successful with in the NFL, Vernon Davis became Smith’s safety net, and the defense became one of the best in the league. Though the season ended less than favorably for the 49ers, what they were able to accomplish this season when everyone counted them out, is incredible.
Going into the season the biggest question facing the team was can we win with Alex Smith at QB? Alex then went on to have the best season of his career by far and finally proved his worth to the team. Remember when Smith was the first overall pick in 2005 and he became a huge disappointment? Well he began to resurrect that career this year, and it helps that going into next season he won’t be having to meet with a new offensive coordinator, learn a new offense, learn new schemes, calls etc. Alex finally has a chance to make people really believe in him, especially since he is rumored to be resigning with the team. Smith’s stats this season were the best of his career throwing for 3,144 yards, 17 touchdowns and a career low 5 interceptions. He also threw the game winning touchdown against the Saints in the playoffs. So for once in his career Alex Smith is on his way to stability and success in the NFL.
Vernon Davis came into this season facing the same uncertainty that faced Alex Smith. He had been labeled as a trouble maker, a player that couldn’t win, and was just a distraction. Well he proved all that propaganda wrong with a breakout season where he became the emotional spirit of the offense. Vernon also became one of the most potent threats the offense had as he is a very hard target to cover. Many people will remember Vernon this season as the man that caught the pass that got the team to the NFC Championship, but let’s not forget that he caught 4 touchdown passes in the postseason. Vernon’s season stat totals were 67 catches for 792 yards and 6 touchdowns. Looking forward to next season Vernon Davis looks to continue this season’s success, and supplant his name as one the top tight ends in the league.
The defense really made this team what it was this season. The defense was fierce, played with lots of energy and heart, and discipline. Rookie Aldon Smith led the team with 14 sacks, which was just one sack away from the NFL rookie record. The defense didn’t give up a rushing touchdown until the second game against the Seattle Seahawks in week 16, which is an NFL record. While the secondary had its injury problems, it held together enough to be respectable, and while it was suspect at times it held its own with the best of teams. The defense had 42 sacks on the season; add that to being +30 in takeaways and you get one of the best defensive groups in the league. Going forward this squad has so much room to get better and better and that should be a scary thought for the rest of the league.
Going into the 2012 season look for the 49ers to add another receiver, and another cornerback to add depth to the defense, and even though the team went 13-3 there is still room to get better with those additions. Kendall Hunter will continue to help take a lot of the load off of Frank Gore to keep him healthy in the long run. Things are really looking good for the San Francisco 49ers, with a renewed sense of spirit and heart and determination, this team is in for a great future, and that future is most definitely under way.

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Giants Targeted Kyle Williams’ Head Due To His History Of Concussions

January 25th, 2012 Russ Loede Posted in Main, News

The New York Giants went headhunting when they covered Kyle Williams’ returns on special teams on Sunday — and it worked.

“The thing is, we knew he had four concussions, so that was our biggest thing, was to take him outta the game,” said Jacquian Williams, who forced the second fumble, in overtime, to set up New York’s game-winning field goal.

“He’s had a lot of concussions,” said Devin Thomas, who recovered both fumbles. “We were just like, ‘We gotta put a hit on that guy.’” Later in the same interview, he told the Newark Star-Ledger that teammate and backup safety Tyler Sash “did a great job hitting him early and he looked kind of dazed when he got up. I feel like that made a difference and he coughed it up.”

By any means necessary.

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Alex Smith Likely To Re-Sign With 49ers

January 24th, 2012 Russ Loede Posted in Main, News

It is unlikely that 49ers quarterback Alex Smith will test the market when he becomes a free agent March 13, according to Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle.

On Monday, Smith did nothing to dispel the belief that he’ll back for an eighth season in San Francisco, and his second with coach Jim Harbaugh.

“At this point I love it here,” Smith said. “Love what’s going on. Love this team and coaching staff, everything about it. So no question I’d love to stay here.”

Smith indicated he’d prefer to not have contract negotiations drag on too long.

“I think sooner rather than later, no question,” he said.

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Harbaugh Upset About Non-Fumble Call On Bradshaw

January 24th, 2012 Russ Loede Posted in Main, News

San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh believes a fumble should have been called in a late game drop by Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw  according to Dan Hanzus of NFL.com.

With 2:29 remaining in regulation of Sunday’s NFC Championship Game and the score tied at 17, Bradshaw caught a pass from Eli Manning and had the ball stripped before he went to the ground at New York’s 21-yard line. The 49ers recovered the ball, putting them in position to score and win the game.

The play was blown dead, with game officials ruling Bradshaw’s forward progress had been stopped before the ball popped loose.

“In my opinion, that was a fumble,” 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said during his news conference Monday. “I’m sure the league will defend it and the officials will defend it. But to me, that play was still going on. There was still struggling by Bradshaw. … I felt like it was analogous with the tuck rule.”

A league spokesman confirmed to NFL.com and NFL Network that game officials made the correct call, citing this portion of the league’s rule book:

“Rule 7, Section 2 (b) of the NFL Rule Book (page 35) covers “dead balls.” The rule states: “An official shall declare the ball dead and the down ended: (b) when a runner is held or otherwise restrained so that his forward progress ends.” That was the immediate ruling yesterday, which is not subject to a replay review.”

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Kyle Williams Takes the Brunt of the Blame for Niners Loss

January 24th, 2012 Matt Loede Posted in News

Kyle Williams has been getting death threats on Twitter, and while his dad said he had a shoulder injury, Monday, he took responsibility for the loss to the Giants in the NFC Title game.

“You have to take full responsibility for it, which I do,” Williams said. “It’s something I made a mistake on. I’ll move through it. I promise you that.”

Williams still maintains that the punt that clearly on replay touched his leg and was eventually awarded to the Giants which led to points in the fourth quarter to tie the game, did hit him.

“I didn’t think it hit me,” said Williams. “I still don’t think it hit me.”

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Kyle Williams Was Playing With Injured Shoulder

January 23rd, 2012 Russ Loede Posted in Injuries

Chicago White Sox general manager Kenny Williams, father of 49ers’ wide receiver Kyle Williams, said that his son was playing with an injured left shoulder Sunday, an injury that happened in the third quarter.

Kenny Williams added that his family does not make excuses and did not blame his son’s miscues on the injury.

Injury or not, some people were apparently outraged enough to wish harm to Kyle Williams after his two turnovers, the second of which led directly to the Giants’ game-winning field goal.

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Smith Says the Offense Should Take the Blame for the Loss

January 23rd, 2012 Matt Loede Posted in News, Opinions

Alex Smith blames the offense for Sunday’s loss to the Giants in the NFC Championship.

“We were awful on third down. We got ourselves in a lot of third-and-longs and then when we were in third-and-manageable, we didn’t covert. Too many three-and-outs, didn’t help out the defense enough. Convert those third downs, you give yourself more plays, more chances.” Smith said the Giants changed up their game plan in the rematch.

“In the first game there was a lot of single safety, a lot of playing the run that left us a lot of one-on-ones outside. They mixed it up a lot more. They pressed us, played coverage, played cover-two.”

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49ers Lose Heartbreaker in NFC Championship to Giants 20-17

January 23rd, 2012 Steve Spooner Posted in Game Stories, News, Opinions

What a tough loss for the 49ers today at the hands, and foot, of the New York Giants. Congratulations to the Giants on making to Super Bowl 46 in Indianapolis to play the New England Patriots, in a rematch of Super Bowl 42. Many things compounded in this game that cost the 49ers the game. Two costly fumbles on special teams, not being able to sustain drives on offense, not converting on third down, are the biggest reasons why the 49ers get to go home instead of to Indianapolis.

Alex Smith had a respectable game going 12/26 for 196 yards and two touchdowns, but had trouble getting balls to open receivers when he had the chance. Frank Gore rushed 16 times for 74 yards, and Kendall Hunter added another42 rushing yards. Vernon Davis led the way in the passing game with 3 catches for 112 yards and 2 touchdowns. The team however was a dismal 1-13 on 3rd down, while the Giants converted a third of their own third downs. Eli Manning had a big game, despite being sacked 6 times, he went 32/58 for 316 yards and 2 touchdowns. Ahmad Bradshaw added 74 yards rushing on 20 carries for the Giants, while Victor Cruz had 10 catches for 142 yards.

The Giants also ran 90 plays as compared to the 49ers 57. Defensively both teams were very close but the time of possession helped to really wear down the 49ers defense. The Giants had the ball for over 25 minutes in the first half, and while the 49ers came out inspired in the second half, there just wasn’t much left in the tank when the game went into overtime. Both teams were able to pressure on the opposing QB, and didn’t really give up much in the rushing game, but the Giants were able to keep the 49ers receivers in check for the majority of the game. Special teams was were the Giants did their damage, getting two gift fumbles from 49er return man Kyle Williams, one in the 4th quarter on a punt that Williams tried to pull up on but couldn’t get his knee out of the way.

The second that helped the Giants win the game in overtime came when Williams went to make a play on a return but did not properly secure the ball and the Giants made him pay by causing him to fumble and give the ball back to the Giants offense. Despite being able to play well the better part of the game the 49er defense just had nothing left to keep the Giants from getting the game winning field goal.

While the way the season ended for the 49ers will sting for a good part of the off season, it was still a great season for the San Francisco 49ers. Jim Harbaugh has brought back the winning culture to the city by the bay, and is the leading candidate for coach of the year. The team is young and should be able to have success for the years ahead and be a playoff regular.

So while it’s not the ending any team wants to have, at least it was a fun ride while it lasted, so now it’s just time to look forward to the 2012 season and hope for more success.

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