49ers-Cardinals: Last chance for redemption?

by Fooch on Nov 10, 2008 3:00 AM PST in News Comment 8 comments

"Let me tell you something my friend. Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane."
-- Red, The Shawshank Redemption

"Remember Red, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies."
-- Andy Dufresne, The Shawshank Redemption

This has not exactly been an easy season for 49ers fans. A productive offseason and a 2-1 start to the season had some of us inspired to think that maybe things were finally about to turn around. Of course, things quickly changed and five losses later, the 49ers have reached what could be a final crossroad of this season. At 2-6, even the thought of a playoff spot is something only the most foolhardy of fans would consider. At the same time, I think this season can still be somewhat saved. Of course I have no idea what this saved season could possibly resemble. It could very well mean a playoff spot, but it could also mean only a few more wins all season. I really don't know, and I won't pretend to know the full extent of it.

However, one thing I do know is that this team needs to step up tonight in Arizona. Originally I was going to say any shot at redemption or respectability would require a win tonight. Now that I think about it, I simply want an all around effort from this team. The way I look at tonight's game, it's a perfect start to the second half of the season. A start of an entirely new season.

The 49ers are 2-6 but that doesn't matter. Mike Singletary's 49ers got beaten down by Seattle two weeks ago but that doesn't matter. I consider that last loss the final vestige of the Mike Nolan 49ers. The Mike Singletary 49ers take center stage tonight. If they come out and just get smoked by Arizona, then they are who we thought they were and that's that. The battle for a top 5 draft pick is on.

However, this team also has the opportunity to come out and make a statement tonight. My hope, which could very well be wildly misplaced, is that Arizona comes out just a little too cocky and the 49ers can give them a quick bloody nose. I think it's safe to say that I fall in the Andy Dufresne camp. I continue to hold out hope that this team can turn things around and finish this season on a respectable note. I realize there is some crazy talent at the top of the draft pool, but I'm sick and tired of high draft picks. If this team could go 5-3 the rest of the way (not likely but not entirely impossible) I'd be pleased as punch with that middle first round draft choice. I'm not saying it will happen, but I'd certainly be plenty pleased with it.

If they are going to try and make some sort of run at respectability it has to happen tonight. Give the explosive nature of the Cardinals offense, I'm quite content to have Shaun Hill leading methodical drives with 6 and 7 yard pass plays. In continuing the theme of a new season, it's rather fitting that Hill's first start of 2008 be against the Arizona Cardinals. The 49ers offense needs double digit play drives all night long. I have next to no confidence in the defense right now, so anything that can keep them off the field is a big plus as far as I'm concerned.

I realize many people have written off the season. The 49ers have done pretty much nothing to inspire confidence so it's entirely reasonable for people to be shouting out "2-14!" However, I believe tonight's game will really set the tone for the rest of the season. I realize they're all professionals, but obviously that hasn't been enough up to this point. Tonight's game will really show us what Mike Singletary brings to the table as head coach. He's had two weeks to regroup the team and prepare for the Cardinals. Maybe the team comes out fired up and throwing haymakers. Or maybe Coach Singletary lost them when he dropped his drawers. I don't know and I won't pretend to know. However, tonight will tell us a lot.

So what will it be? Will the 49ers use this second half to show the league and the fans they're a better team than we've seen so far? Or will they show the league and the fans exactly what people have come to expect from the 49ers the last few years? It's certainly dangerous to hope, but I guess I'm just a sucker.

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So by this, we should hope for the 49ers to crawl through a craphole all night but come out in the end free!

Formerly known as phutmasterflex

by PHUT! on Nov 10, 2008 9:06 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

crap hole

I’d say the first 8 games were that crap hole….

Niners Nation - The premier 49ers blog on the Internet!

by Fooch on Nov 10, 2008 9:54 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

touche

Formerly known as phutmasterflex

by PHUT! on Nov 10, 2008 3:31 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Which could also be a pun for a crap hole.

My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.

by howtheyscored on Nov 10, 2008 3:57 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Call a witch doctor

As much as the Cardinals are trying to break with their less than inspiring past, the past is looming over the team on Monday Night Football. Their last MNF victory was 23 years ago against the Dallas Cowboys. They’ve lost six times on MNF since then, twice to the 49ers. History favours the Niners but history may be all this year’s incarnation can cling to. At least it’s a glorious history, unlike your opponent’s tonight.

Any Niners Nation bloggers in the greater Sacto area, I’ll be in Roseville at Family Pizza off of Harding Way. I should be the only Cards fan in there and will have Shaun Hill’s Amsterdam Admiral helmet with me. Stop by, say hello, and depending on the current score, I may even buy you a Newcastle!

We all leave footprints in the sands of time, just watch out for the discarded fish hooks!

by Hawkwind on Nov 10, 2008 10:16 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Statement win tonight

I still maintain Arizona isn’t as good as everyone’s making them out to be. I think Singletary mans this team up, because like you said, this is the first game with the team as “his”. As bad as this team has seemed, there have been only a couple game that have been out of hand. There have been some very close games that were ultimately decided by JTO’s turnovers. I think if they protect the ball and get some longer drives going, they could have a winning record the rest of the year, and, with the off chance of Arizona crumpling under pressure, they even still have a shot at the division. I think Hill will maintain longer drives with less turnovers because of his better decision making and quick release.

I know it’s ridiculous to many of you to think they could still make the playoffs, but they still have a legitimate shot, but they HAVE to win tonight. This can be the turning point. It’s very reasonable to think they can go 6-2, or even 7-1 if they can beat either the Cowboys or Redskins, their two toughest games left. The Cards, on the other hand, could easily go 3-5, with the Giants, Eagles, Vikings, & Pats left on the schedule.

Have hope! Do not count this team out yet! At least wait until after tonight to lose hope for the season. Let’s see if I’m right—that if they can keep from turning the ball over and maintaining the time of posession, that they have a legitimate shot of beating most of the games left on their schedule.

STEVE HOLM! refuses to be the odd man out.

by UnleashTheGore on Nov 10, 2008 10:58 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

I don't have

Very much to add other than…

Damned I’m nervous..

by Ninjames on Nov 10, 2008 3:00 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Solving the mystery

There are certain areas where the Niners have holes. I know their interior defensive line has major problems, for instance.

What I’d like to see over the last half of the season is which players are over the hill (Roman?), which aren’t good enough to play in the NFL, and which weren’t functioning well under Nolan. I suspect that the determination will be harder to make with the same coordinators, although one would hope that Manusky was not the source of, nor so enamored by such things as the “big sub”. As far as the offense, S. Hill at quarterback will require Martz to back off his typical game plan. This should give us a better idea of the personnel.

I’d like to see the young players get extensive time, Balmer, Rachal, the receivers. Let’s see what we’ve got.

Maybe we don’t see much of this tonight. After all, the Niners are still technically in the race, but if they don’t win then there’s no reason to pretend. We need to find out who’s going to perform for the team in the future.

by Bob On The Coast on Nov 10, 2008 3:31 PM PST reply actions 0 recs