The pash rush was pathetic, that’s for sure. I didn’t notice hardly any blitzing though, could that have been the reason? It didn’t seem very often that more than 4 guys were rushing. You’d think they would have taken a cue from NO’s blitzing success against the Niners’ offense.

Regarding JTO…sigh. He made me yell at my TV a couple of times. I don’t know that the INTs were more of a telegraphing thing so much…especially the INT in the end zone. It was just a horrible pass behind the receiver, which he sidearmed. Just plain dumb. I don’t remember the other INT off the top of my head, though. Regarding the fumble…yeah, he held on to it for too long, but the guy came from his blind side, and he had a good ten feet until sideline. It seemed reasonable to see if someone could get open for a few more seconds, and there’s no way he could have seen the DE coming or prevent a fumble in that situation.

I think the biggest problem was the OL, not the DL. They couldn’t give JTO any time to throw the ball. They’re going to have to pick their men up better or we’ll be seeing many more sacks coming.

i agree with everyone’s comments about the saints game. even if the niners turn it around with a winning season this year, nolan still needs to be let go. i just can’t tolerate anymore excuses to keep him. being a niner fan i feel like i’ve suffered 400 years of slavery plus the holocaust. this streak of being a loser isn’t all nolan’s fault but i believe it takes a much more talented coach to take a team this bad and make a champion out of it. great that you all love the team and often want to highlight the good points but highlighting and emphasizing the weak points is what makes a champ. we have a 2nd rate coach, several 2nd rate QBs, and a 2nd rate secondary. Our OL is below average to average at best. I do believe that our weak pass rush is capable of improving though. i’m just sick and tired that this once great historical franchise is still wallowing in the mires with the perennial losers of the league.

It takes a few games to figure out a team each each year. And as the season goes on a team evolves. After four games we’re starting to see some things repeat, though. O’Sullivan is still hanging onto the ball too long, sometimes looks down his primary receiver, and I think he’s having trouble keeping track of DBs in deep patterns. But remember, this is only his fourth game as a starter in the NFL.

There were way too many sacks, even in a Martz high risk/high reward scheme. You want your QB to live past the tenth game. I wouldn’t be surprised if JTO got a concussion. What seemed obvious to the viewers was that more running, Gore and the others, would have slowed down the rush as well as moved the ball down the field. And if Gore actually breaks one the pass rush is really compromised.

The pass rush was non-existant. The bend-don’t-break strategy doesn’t work against someone like Brees who picked the team apart.

And, as Unleash wrote, how does VD always disappear? Is he wearing camouflage out there?

Despite my blood pressure shooting through the proverbial roof, I am confident that the Patriots game next week will result in a big “W” for us. Wishful thinking, maybe…but I believe the win against the Lions created a false sense of confidence on the squad. Yes, I know the Lions are a bona fide NFL team that we beat hands down. Truth be told they were pathetic. Unfortunately our last week’s win came at a bad time. I wish we had played the Saints following the Seahawks win. Did we let down and/or relax our guard a bit coming off the Lions slaughter? Maybe, but our so-called leader, General Nolan, is replaying the old classic “Ground Hog Day” for our viewing pleasure. Please God, stop the bleeding already. I think the Yorks and Nolan should go on a “Permanent Vacation” We will beat the Patriots, gosh darn it…if for nothing else, to honor Steve Young’s legacy. Long are gone those days in the 80s where it was uneventful to watch the Niners play on any given Sunday or Monday (we can forget about this day of the week for awhile) and simply win effortlessly—at hoe or away. Yes, my wife says I live in the past, but I will never give up on my team and support them to the hilt. But for God’s sake, get rid of GQ Nolan as he has disgraced the coaches that have come before him. Let’s beat the Patriots!

1. We need more blitz packages. We have talented DEs and OLB. USE THEM. Green and Haralson should come in more often. Lawson should be used more. We have talented DBs, but no CB not named champ Baily can guard a WR with a great QB for more than 4-5 seconds.
2. Smarter Saftey play. Though people claim we overpay out secondary, Michael Lewis is earning every penny. He’s been all over the field, making plays. But the other two safteys, Goldston and Roman need to step it up. Both got burned for touchdowns and need to get it togather. They are FS, they can’t be as aggressive as Lewis.
3. Ronald Fields and Ray McDonald. These guys need a punch in the face. They have made countless deflating personal fouls on third down.
4. Barry Sims need two punched in the face. Wow. That’s it is wow. He got destroyed.
5. Mike Martz needs to realize who lines up behind JTO. Frank Gore needs to get the ball 3/4 of the time in the red zone.
6. Nolan! He’s a little observation, Brees 5/12 to start off running the 3-4 and 403 w/ blitz packages. He thinks we are covered and starts with the nickle and dime. 375 yards later, we leave the dme with our heads down

To only real positive of the game is like Arizona, we should have won. 5 red zone trips, 9 points. Despie the negitive I pointed out in this comment, I’m a very positive fan and I’m going to think that this was just a bad game. I mean, even Joe Montana struggled in the Superdome. Well, we only play there once every two years. Lets recover and kick ass against the Pats. GO NINERS!

From the SacBee, Barrows mentioned that our receivers were covered all day. You don’t necessarily see that on TV. Part of the reason why JTO holds onto the ball so long is to find someone to throw to when all options are covered. And why he throws into tight coverages. If he threw the ball away, a good idea on those interceptions and the fumble, his numbers might be a little more Alex Smith-like. The obvious solutions are more handoffs to Gore (and Foster, who isn’t chopped liver) and more screens. And if Johnson and Bruce can’t move fast enough to clear the coverage, stretch out the field with VD. They can’t ignore him. Someone has to go with him downfield. And the O-line has no credibility. Remember, Warhop was fired from Dallas by Parcells because the OL play was too inconsistent.

Anyway, the offense isn’t great but there are correctable things there.

The defense worries me. I think the strategy that the coach uses is either flawed or he’s using it to hide fatal flaws in the talent. Since defense is supposed to be Nolan’s strength, this isn’t a good sign.

I remain baffled at the lack of touches for Gore considering how successful he was. Gore touched the ball 18 times for 113 yards but he clearly did not touch the ball enough. Whatever ratio they planned for Gore either wasn’t enough or simply wasn’t reached.

Being down 21-6 isn’t exactly a situation inducive to running the ball.