Larry Grant Fumble Recovery: Taste The Rainbow!

by David Fucillo on Dec 25, 2011 1:00 PM PST in San Francisco 49ers Game Recap, Review 2011

Larry Grant has Skittles poured on him following his huge forced fumble - Courtesy of 49ers on Facebook!

As yesterday's game wore on, there were different plays I thought could qualify as the play of the game. The 2nd and 18 pass to Michael Crabtree was initially topping the list. That play was huge on so many levels. This is not an offense built to convert many 3rd and 18s, so an incomplete pass would have been troublesome to say the least. Alex Smith has struggled at times on those deep balls down the sideline but he connected with Crabtree, putting the 49ers in position for what would prove to be the game-winning field goal.

However, that play was replaced within a few minutes. After the 49ers took the 19-17 lead, the Seahawks took over at their own 19 with 2:57 to go. I'll be honest, I thought the team was going to lose at this point. I felt myself expecting a Seattle drive to run out the clock and boot a game-winning field goal as time expired. The Seahawks picked up 26 quick yards on a pair of plays and my nerves were getting bad.

After two plays picked up seven, Tarvaris Jackson took off on 3rd and 3 and looked ready to get a first down. Thankfully, however, Larry Grant answered all our Christmas prayers with a huge forced fumble. He came down upon Jackson from behind and stripped the ball. Donte Whitner fell on the ball and that was just about it. The Seahawks did get the ball back one more time, but they were unable to get anything going in the final 41 seconds.

This is the second big game-saving strip of the season. Justin Smith had a monster strip of Eagles WR Jeremy Maclin that allowed the 49ers to secure that win. This wasn't quite the same, but given how the Seahawks drive was looking, it was close enough in my mind.

Larry Grant has really been quite solid in place of Patrick Willis these last few weeks. He is not any kind of replica of Willis, but I don't think 49ers fans could really ask for much more from him at this point. Although he missed some tackles on Saturday, he had arguably the defensive play of the game.

We won't know more about Patrick Willis' status until later this week. I would be a bit surprised if he played next week against the Rams, unless he can get in three full days of work. If he has to sit this coming Sunday, Grant is proving to be a very able replacement for the short term.

Tweet Comment 31 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Thanks for giving Grant the kudos

He certainly deserves it. And that makes it all the more sensible to sit PW out versus the Rams.

"One game at a time. Let's just keep it rolling." Justin Smith

by riderless on Dec 25, 2011 1:20 PM PST reply actions

Anyone know the link to those good you-tube full-game highlights?

by randolphforpresident on Dec 25, 2011 1:26 PM PST reply actions

nope

they haven’t been made yet.

by RedGoldWarrior on Dec 25, 2011 5:49 PM PST up reply actions

nice handle

i think ill take it

Demarcus Dobbs is Our Future

by MRandolph on Dec 25, 2011 10:13 PM PST up reply actions

What bothers me

is that the Niners can’t put together a first down or two at the end of games to run out the clock and secure the win. This has been troubling on more than one occassion. The Niners have proven susceptible to the big play at times and one big play is all it takes to lose. Why be content to go 3 and out and put it back on your defense? That shows a lack of confidence in the offense that really undermines my own confidence in the team.

by whatsURdeal on Dec 25, 2011 1:26 PM PST reply actions

THIS!!

"What the hell are you mixing in that look-aid"

by rlott#42 on Dec 25, 2011 4:10 PM PST up reply actions

To their credit

The 3rd and 3 after the fumble recovery was going to be a pass but they blitzed Earl Thomas off of the corner which screwed the play up.

"It's impossible to hide the fire inside" - Bob Seger

by Jaxson876 on Dec 25, 2011 5:31 PM PST up reply actions

I think it would be better to let Willis rest his hamstring for another two weeks.

Grant can play against the Rams and then a week off should provide WIllis with enough recovery time.

"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, either way, YOU'RE RIGHT !"

by Eastbayjim on Dec 25, 2011 1:36 PM PST reply actions

I would let him play some snaps in the Rams game, since we are anticipating a week off, for the playoffs.

Let him play minimal snaps and then take another week off. 3 or 4 games away and he could come in with more rust than we’d like.

"What the hell are you mixing in that look-aid"

by rlott#42 on Dec 25, 2011 4:11 PM PST up reply actions

The rams game could be a "trap" game

I hope we put together some good drives and score some TD’s instead of FG’s.

Coach Harbaugh is the truth!!

by chris z on Dec 25, 2011 1:48 PM PST via mobile reply actions

Yeah but it's against the Rams.

I'm just a simple Giants fan trying to make my way in the universe.

by Tim Lincecum's Bong on Dec 25, 2011 2:06 PM PST up reply actions

they would love to spoil our 1st round bye.

Can’t take them lightly

Coach Harbaugh is the truth!!

by chris z on Dec 25, 2011 2:10 PM PST via mobile up reply actions

Would they rather spoil

Or try to get the number 1 overall pick? I hope the latter lol

extrabaggs
"Just your typical Giants scoring rally: A faceburger on the basepaths, two errors from the second baseman and a bases-loaded balk."

by Badly Browned on Dec 25, 2011 2:11 PM PST via Android app up reply actions

you make a good point.

If they get the first pick, do they trade it? Do they pick luck and trade him? Do you trade bradford and keep luck?

Coach Harbaugh is the truth!!

by chris z on Dec 25, 2011 2:13 PM PST via mobile up reply actions

It would be hard to trade Bradford with all the guaranteed money he has on his contract, but teams like the Jets who are willing to take the money + have a bad quarterback could be an option.

by Anonymous1337 on Dec 25, 2011 2:59 PM PST up reply actions

If I am the Rams

I trade Bradford, eat his contract (of which they have already paid off 2 years of) and get Luck (who will be far cheaper).

Bradford has not looked impressive at all. And he has been injury prone. Luck brings a lot more talent than Bradford has shown.

The big question is, it it more costly to eat a contract or more costly to pass over a potential HoF QB?

Hopefully the Rams screw it up and trade Luck to the Vikes. I’d like to see him in purple, playing Rodgers twice a year.

by musamonster on Dec 25, 2011 3:49 PM PST up reply actions

The Rams could actually do something very dangerous for a division.

If Luck ends up being as great as advertised, I think he isn’t, drafting him and trading him to a better than top 10 team, it could reshape the top 3 of any division and possibly for years to come. Redskins will be all over Luck. Since they do have a top 5 need, potential superstar, in which they have several, they could look to trade back and remain in the top 5 and pick up extra Picks. I think Luck goes to Washington and RG3 goes to Indy.

"What the hell are you mixing in that look-aid"

by rlott#42 on Dec 25, 2011 4:15 PM PST up reply actions

Doesn't matter.

Every extra draft pick the Rams get will still he a bust.

Aaron Curry is the first Seahawk since Walter Jones to have a legitimate shot at Hall of Fame induction - John Morgan

by Fearless Frog on Dec 25, 2011 7:02 PM PST via mobile up reply actions

They're also

really really really really bad. In a neutral field I’d take the Colts to beat them 7 times out of 10.

I'm just a simple Giants fan trying to make my way in the universe.

by Tim Lincecum's Bong on Dec 25, 2011 3:16 PM PST up reply actions

I'm always very wary of trap games

But I honestly think the Rams are too bad for this to be a trap game. On top of the comical amount of injuries they’ve had this season, they just lost Chris Long with a torn bicep.

by tedler on Dec 25, 2011 10:40 PM PST up reply actions

they beat the saints

by Andrew9erfan on Dec 26, 2011 1:20 PM PST up reply actions

That's on the Saints

by musamonster on Dec 26, 2011 1:35 PM PST up reply actions

It took me a while to jog my memory, but I went to CCSF and I’m pretty sure I had some classes with Larry Grant (I definitely had some with Desmond Bishop). He was a pretty nice guy, definitely no big man on campus style ego, not that you could at CCSF where 99% of the student body couldn’t care less.

It’s good to see him do well and really fill in for an All-Pro as well as he possibly could. I hope he sticks around.

by Bitter Fan on Dec 25, 2011 2:00 PM PST reply actions 3 recs

Rec’d for proper use of the care continuum

by Anonymous1337 on Dec 25, 2011 3:00 PM PST up reply actions

I've a friend who had Ginn in elementary school classes.

And a guy I worked with had a friend who played against Willis in HS. And was wowed by him then.

by musamonster on Dec 25, 2011 3:52 PM PST up reply actions

Larry Grant does indeed deserve a lot of credit.

They were driving and things were looking scary as far as I could tell. He stuck with Jackson and made a huge play on him.

I’m really happy to know he’s on our team, backing up whoever might get injured.

Alex Smith Will Win a Superbowl
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Alex-Smith-Will-Win-a-Superbowl/205058042848290

by liberty_JAC on Dec 25, 2011 2:59 PM PST reply actions

I still believe we should not have give the ball back with 1 min to go

We needed one last first down to milk the clock to zero but playcalling was atrocious. Dudes like Brees or Rodgers can get their team in field goal position in less than 10 seconds, let alone a minute.

by RomeNiner on Dec 25, 2011 3:05 PM PST reply actions

Dudes like Brees and Rodgers

play in vertical passing schemes and have difficulties holding off comebacks from their opponents late because they cannot run the ball.

Alex plays in a West Coast-like run heavy offense which is not designed to eat up large chunks of the field at once. However, we can drain the clock like few other teams. Alex actually can put the team in field goal range in a matter of seconds, as demonstrated yesterday with the late pass down the sideline to Crabtree, quite reminiscent of a Rodgers throw. That got us into field goal range at the end of the game.

Obviously, you never want to give the ball to the other team with time on the clock, but things like that can’t always be helped. The Packers and Saints live on edge because they constantly allow teams plenty of time to respond with a score at the end of games.

Mischievously implosive purple pitching staff.

by SloIsLonelyForTheOrange on Dec 25, 2011 5:10 PM PST up reply actions

That

and their Ds usually don’t get the Big Stop. Ours has. When your D gets the stop, you don’t need a last minute comeback.

by musamonster on Dec 25, 2011 8:07 PM PST up reply actions

I was sitting in the next row

of the guys with the skittles!!!!!!

"The year we beat Miami in the Super Bowl, ... do you know how many defensive linemen were in our rotation? Nine, and we used them all quite a bit. We just wore the Dolphins out."
Bill Walsh quote

by Iupati_like_its_1999 on Dec 25, 2011 4:14 PM PST reply actions

larry grant

he’s been impressive. given that we lost the best linebacker in the game, the drop off has not hurt us. grant has shown skills in a number of areas. his pass coverage has been pleasantly surprising and pursuit of the ball carrier has been equally solid. the one thing i have noticed, is that bowman has not been as dominating. without willis, teams are making plans for him.

by ajra21 on Dec 26, 2011 7:09 AM PST reply actions