Second Quarter: 49ers Take 7-0 Lead
On the final play of the first quarter, safety Antony Smith blitzed and dumped 49ers running back Glen Coffee in the backfield for a loss.
An offensive pass interference call pushed the 49ers into a second-and-23 situation. But the San Francisco passed its way out of that jam, with the Rams failing to generate any pass rush.
Who is covering tight end Vernon Davis today?
A pass interference call on cornerback Jonathan Wade — who was struggling to cover Josh Morgan — moved the 49ers to the Rams 26.
The Rams slowed the charge with an actual blitz sack. Oft-maligned Chris Long, rushing from the defensive tackle spot, flushed out quarterback Shaun Hill. That inside charge put Hill on a platter for blitzing linebacker Larry Grant.
Then another pure pass rusher, defensive lineman C.J. Ah You, sacked Hill on the next play. The 49ers settled for Joe Nedney’s 43-yard field goal attempt, which missed.
So the struggle between these two NFC worst rivals remained tied 0-0.
The Rams responded to that stop with another three-and-out sequence. Kyle Boller tried to scramble for a first down on third-and-10, but the 49ers have a scouting staff. As a result, San Francisco defense was ready to collapse on him after he crossed the line of scrimmage.
The Rams defense delivered still another stop, but then the hapless Rams special teams literally handed San Francisco its first score. A Rams punt bounced off a Rams leg and bounced into the end zone as a live ball. Naturally, the 49ers didn’t try to pick the ball up on the run. They swarmed to the ball and fell on it.
On that bizarre breakdown, the 49ers took a 7-0 lead.
Look! It’s Keenan Burton! He caught a 12-yard pass on a ball that should have been picked off for a touchdown. Fortunately, Kyle Boller floated his pass and it made to the leaping Burton.
On a third-and-five play, Boller gunned the ball to tight end Randy McMichael for a first down. The Rams actually reached 49ers territory on the play.
The Rams were rolling into the red zone . . . but tackle Alex Barron failed to line up correctly, negating a nifty completion to Danny Amendola. That blitz-beating reception would have given the Rams a huge first down and a chance to score points in the first half.
HOW HARD IS IT TO LINE UP CORRECTLY? HOW MANY YEARS MUST A MAN PLAY NFL FOOTBALL TO LEARN THIS SKILL?
Good lord.
Unbelievable! One mistake after another. This team just plain sucks.
How bout those Rams ? Same old same old ! Penalty on the opening kickoff puts them in the hole after a great runback. Poor special teams screwing up a punt return gives SanFran their first score. Sure glad I bought the NFL ticket from DirecTV so that I only have to watch the Rams should I choose to do so. Does anybody know if the next home game is a sellout ?
With the Lions winning last week, it appears that Missouri will get the 1st and 2nd pick in the next NFL draft.
Greco was put in for Barron late 2nd qtr. Maybe Spags will wise up and rebuild this O-line. Greco needs to play. When smith comes back, put him at LT and let him learn. Give Setterstrom a chance. The FOX announcers rightly stated that the Rams offense this year was ”complete incompetence”.
I love the way you described that lousy pass Boller threw that should have been an interception but was actually a completion. I hope the coaches read what you write so maybe I can become a starter again. Keep up the good work Gordo.
You know, as bad as this looks, the defense is showing up. Only one touchdown given up. (so far)