The Blind Side-The Michael Oher Story

I would highly recommend this film about the life of Michael Oher,  now of the Baltimore Ravens. Being drafted in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft, and starting at tackle for the Ravens in his rookie year culminates an incredible life journey from the projects in Memphis, TN. A young actor named Quinton Aaron plays Michael Oher, and the whole cast is terrific, especially Sandra Bullock, who plays Leigh Anne Touhy, the woman who was his guardian angel and now “mom” to Michael. This film is very warm and compelling and speaks more to the perils of the human condition for many people, as opposed to playing football.  This is a film well worth the price of admission.

MN

Player’s doin’ good and…………..

In thinking about Niner players who have exceeded expectations, or have become pleasant surprises so far this year, the two that stand out to me are…….. of course Vernon Davis, and Aubrayo Franklin.  Davis has blossomed into a formidable offensive threat as opposed to just looking good in Under Armour ads, and Franklin is delivering quintessential play from the Nose Tackle position. I also like what Shawntae Spencer is doing at CB, returning from injury.  Spencer is long and athletic and should be a defensive fixture for many years to come. Boy, I NEVER thought I would say this, but kudos to Barry Sims who has filled in admirably for Joe Staley and Adam Snyder. I thought he was just terrible last year, and was almost shocked when he was invited back to training camp. I not sure what happened from last year to this, but #65 is doing a heck of a job.

OK, to be fair……………..what players maybe aren’t “who we thought they were” this year?  Parays Harlason seemed to have emerged as a pass rushing demon last year, leading a weak pass rush team in sacks, and being around the ball constantly. We’re just not seeing that to the level we were last year, but perhaps in fairness to Haralson, teams are now scheming to block him more given the continued pass rush deficiencies that the Niners possess. I thought Dashon Goldson might be more of a factor as a starter. Not that he has been bad, but making a real defensive impact….no. Look for a safety to be high on the Niners 2010 draft shopping list.  I thought the aforementioned Adam Snyder might settle in a right tackle as his permanent position and start showing he could consistently play as a NFL starter. Nope. Snyder gets beat way to much, lacking the speed and footwork to contain many of his opponents. Ditto on the Niners 2010 draft shopping list for an offensive tackle. I also thought Snyder’s right side line mate Chilo Rachal would continue to make major strides as an NFL line as a sophomore, but that has really not come to pass. Rachal still seems to think he’s back at USC to often, and can just out physical his opponent. Not in the NFL young man. I think Rachal will ultimately turn out to be a very solid player,  but I guessed he would have a breakout year based on his play last year as a rook.

Other guys like Patrick Willis, Frank Gore, Justin Smith, Andy Lee, and Joe Nedney continue to bring their lunch pails to the field every week and do what they have in the past…………..play very well.

One other player that continues to interest me is San Francisco native Jason Hill. Is it just me, or does he seem to get open a lot, catch the ball, and run pretty darn well with it, when he gets a chance? Not that I would necessarily campaign that he should play in front of Morgan and Crabtree, but it sure seems he should be on the field more to this amateur observer.

Onward and upward!

MN

Thoughts and Questions From Week 11

>Anyone have a clue why the Niners got rid of Allen Rossum? Unless he was caught with his hand in the till or sleeping with someone he shouldn’t have, I don’t get it.

>Who in the hell whispered in Mike Singletary’s ear to throw the challenge flag with just over two minutes left in the game? Please tell me it wasn’t the money guy.

> We’ve all seen quarterbacks with the play list on their wrist in a little holder. Have you checked out defensive coordinator Greg Manusky? He has stuff written right on his forearms! Now that’s a man!

>When did NFL teams start all of these pre-game, energy expending, hoo-hah rituals to get up for the game? It’s hard to believe they are productive in any way, shape or form.

> Alex Smith’s hands should never, ever touch the rear end of a center again. Period!

>Third and one inch and we run a short dive with Moran Norris? We were in the house that Bart Star built and I can still see him faking into the line and throwing deep in those down and distance situations. And why not try that when you have two downs?

> The most disturbing stat of the day: Only the Raiders have more ‘three and outs’ than the Niners. Pass the ipecac.

>The Niner’s first complete pass came with 7:52 left in the second quarter! Forget the ipecac, I’ll just use my finger.

>Disturbing stat #2 from the game: Green Bay takes a shot down field 1 in every 6 plays. The Niners go down field 1 in 27! Bill Walsh and Sid Gillman probably just threw up in the St. Peter’s Sports Bar and Grill.

> Why dance in the end zone, no matter how wonderful the touchdown, when you are still losing? And where is the sense of urgency (no huddle) when you are driving with less that 7 minutes in the game. It takes zero talent to hustle. And if you say it’s too tiring, then stop the hoo-hahs and dances.

Despite all of the above, I think we still have a shot at the playoffs!

MJ

Smith versus Rodgers

The inevitable Alex Smith versus Aaron Rodgers debate is already well in motion prior to this week’s Niner-GB game. We’ve already heard…….”Boy if  GB wins, it’s just gonna fuel the flames more that the Niners should have picked Rodgers.”  I don’t think I personally need to wait for the game to be played to make the bold statement that Aaron Rodgers is, and will continue to be, a better QB than Alex Smith. Rodgers had the good fortune to be drafted by a much more stable and successful team than Alex Smith. Rodgers had one Brett Farve to observe and learn from. Alex Smith had no such mentor, and five different offensive coordinators to direct him. But I think more than anything, Rodgers, while not on a pathway to Canton, is just a more poised and determined player than Alex Smith.  The “determined” part may not all that fair, but Smith just doesn’t give the appearance that he really, I mean really, wants to take the game to his opponent out there. Who knows, maybe he’s a towering inferno inside, but externally he just appears to be in the mode of,  “oh well, whatever happens, happens.”  The other thing about Alex Smith is the wide spectrum of what he does with the ball. On one play he looks like Tom Brady, moving deftly in the pocket, picking out the most advantageous target, and executing a picture perfect pass. On the  next play he looks like Marsha Brady of the Brady Bunch is playing quarterback.  So Smith versus Rodgers? I’ll take Aaron Rodgers now, and I’d take him later.

MN

Geez Louise, when was a win so bad?

The radio talk shows have been ablaze in the Bay Area about the Niner-Bear game. Massive comments about how lousy Alex Smith looked, how Vernon Davis never got the ball, and how come they never do anything creative or surprising on offense? They won the damn game! Had they lost,  it would have time to pretty much fold up the tent, and warm up Nate Davis in the bullpen. Now they head to Green Bay to face Aaron Rodgers and the Packers with some hope of staying in the hunt. Believe me…………it could be worse, way worse.

How’d you like to be a Bear fan? This is a team that was in the Super Bowl in 2007 with Rex Grossman at the helm!  They FINALLY get a franchise Quarterback in Jay Cutler and the fans in Chicago immediately start planning for another run to the “big game.” Not exactly………… Cutler completed 5 passes to the Niners on 11/12, and now is leading the league in completions to other teams. Sure, Brian Urlacher’s season ending injury hurt the Bears, but overall they’re just not a good team. The Niners are better, pure and simple. Let’s have a big collective hooray for that!

MN

Niners and the 2010 Draft

The 2010 NFL Draft will be surely a pivotal one for the Niners. Purely and simply their last two drafts with the exceptions of Chilo Rachal, Michael Crabtree and maybe Josh Morgan, have been pretty much, stinkers. With two first round picks, and a lot of holes to fill, the 2010 draft looms very large for the Niners future. It may also loom large in the future of Scot McCloughan as the GM of the team. So, who might become future Niners in 2010? Of course, it’s never too early to look and speculate. An offensive tackle would arguably be the team’s number one priority. Just look at the last two NFL drafts and see how this position is valued by other NFL teams. There does not appear to be the depth of talent at OT that was there in 2008 and 2009, but two names to watch for in 2010 are Trent Williams from Oklahoma and Bryan Bulaga from Iowa. Pass rush, pass rush, pass rush……………..how many times do we need to say it?  This has been a Niner front four or front three weakness for way too many years.  An agile and quick  pass rushing DE like Carlos Dunlap from Florida or Greg Hardy from Ole Miss, could be the answer?  The big play ability of Niner safeties has been missing in action for way, way too long. In 2010 two absolutely stellar players are available. Tennessee’s Eric Berry, and USC’s Taylor Mays. Berry is a 4.4 guy with big time SEC experience and anyone who has seen Taylor Mays plays knows full well that this is a beast of a man who runs like a deer. Maybe he’s the closest thing the NFL has seen to Ronnie Lott in years?  Then there’s the Quarterback situation? Is Alex Smith or Nate Davis the guy that can really take the Niners to the next level? Certainly we could write pages on that hypothesis. 2010 is going to be a strong QB draft it seems with Sam Bradford from Oklahoma and Texas’ Colt McCoy on the board. But, two young guns may be even more attractive to NFL teams……………Jake Locker from Washington and Jimmy Clausen from Notre Dame. It is widely thought that both will declare for the 2010 draft. Then there’s Tim Tebow of Florida. I can hear it now. That guy will never make it in the NFL and anyone taking him in the first round would be certifiably nuts. Ah……don’t be so sure on either count. Tebow is a special talent with a King Kong level of desire to succeed at what ever in placed in front of him. So, what have we learned here?  I guess it’s that the Niners have a whole lot of “ciphering” to do, as Jethro Bodine used to say on the Beverly Hillbillies………….

MN

Don’t just watch Alex Smith on Sunday

Pay close attention to those big guys in front of him………………..The Colts have a quick and active defense featuring sack master Dwight Freeney that will really want to rain on the little success parade that Alex Smith started against the Texans. The Niners offensive line has been anything but the perceived strength that most of us thought it would be coming into 2009. Right tackle has been a revolving door of Snyder, Pathos and Sims. Chilo Rachal has regressed at right guard and seems to be just trying to maul his opponent, instead of using technique and smarts. The result has been too many bad plays by #62. Eric Heitmann seems to be having a solid season at center so far. On the left side, guard David Baas seems slow coming off the ball to me? Maybe that very nasty pectoral injury from last year is still nagging him? The Niners best offensive lineman, Joe Staley, continues to grow at his position and has been pretty effective all year long, especially in pass protection.  The aforementioned line’s lack of execution against Houston really exposed Shaun Hill’s deficiencies when he gets pressured to make plays. He just isn’t a quick or mobile guy and that fact, plus being down 21 points at half time,  led to the grand re-entrance of Mr. Smith.  The aforementioned Mr. Smith fared much better because he’s just quicker on this feet and much better able to throw on the run than Mr. Hill. After that beautiful Smith pass to V. Davis for the first Niner TD, the line kinda perked up and played a much better game in the second half. Let’s sure hope that carries over to the battle in Indy where line play on both sides of the ball will determine if the Niners are competitive in this game, or fall abruptly to 3 and 4.

MN

Now that wasn’t pretty was it?

The formerly anointed way new and improved Niners looked anything but against the Falcons. That game was ugly with a capital UGH! What is really surprising me about this team is the play of, or more correctly lack of such, from the offensive line. This was gonna be a real strength for the Niners coming into 2009 wasn’t it, even with some questions at RT? Joe Staley poised for the Pro Bowl. Two young, big and tough offensive guards in Baas and Rachal. A very solid and under recognized center in Eric Heitmann, now fully recovered from his major 2007 injury.

The O-Line in general has not played well with the exception of some nice run blocking for Frank Gore in the Seattle game.  What in the heck has happened? Staley continues to perform well at left tackle, seldom allowing his man to have an intimate visit with Shaun Hill. Heitmann also seems to be handling the middle of the field well. The other three or four………….seem to be the issue? David Baas looks slow coming off the line, one who gets consistently clogged up in line traffic to this amateur observer. Chilo Rachal came on very strong in ‘08 when Coach “hit them in the mouth” made him a starter. This year he has gotten out quicked and beaten on the line of scrimmage a number of times, including against Atlanta on the interception that Shaun Hill threw in the opening stages of the game. Right tackle is a revolving door. Adam Snyder is on and off the field due to bad play, or getting banged up again.  Tony Pashos is showing why Jacksonville wasn’t interested in meeting his contract demands. Running to the right just doesn’t seem to be much of an option.

Every great team has a very effective offensive line. The Niners thought they had finally build one, or at least 4/5th’s of one. So far, that’s certainly not what has been seen on Sunday.  Hopefully the bye week will allow the Niners to get their offensive line back in some semblance of order. With the next fives games against Houston, Indy, Tennessee, Chicago and Green Bay, they had better.

MN

Bay Area Sports Announcers

The new voice of the Niners, Ted Robinson, was a recent a guest on our Hooked on the Niners  television show (check it out in the video section of www.hookedontheniners.com if you want to see the “Ted” show). This guy is sooooooooooo smooth, and soooooooooooooooo professional. Incredibly articulate, and down right charming. Ted continues the extraordinary lineage of  Bay Area sports announcing talent.  Think of it, the Bay Area had, or has, such individuals behind the glass as Lon Simmons, Russ Hodges, Bill King, Jon Miller, Hank Greenwald, Greg Pappa, Bob Murphy and Joe Starkey. Then’s there’s the “newer” talent like Mike Krukow, Duane Kiper, Dave Fleming, Tim Roy, Bob Fitzgerald and Dan Rusanowsky, all really good…………..The Bay Area has certainly been blessed with truly amazing sports announcers, and Mr.Robinson will take his place amongst the very best of them when he hangs up his microphone.

MN

See, I told you Crabtree would sign!

Yep, missed that one, sure did. I thought that “knucklehead” would actually sit out the whole year. Hmmmm, think that Braylon Edwards to the Jets thing  might have doused a deal with the guys in green and white, and made Crabtree’s agent look quickly for that signing pen?  It will be interesting to see how the “Jets thing” all plays out. Back to the ‘tree. OK, he’s a roster player now, so he can be relieved of his former knucklehead moniker. Who knows, we all may be calling him “the man” in a couple of weeks.

A couple of things came to my small mind after the announced signing.  One,  it’s very fortuitous that Crabtree will be able to be around, and learn from, Isaac Bruce, who is almost certainly in his last year as an active player. Bruce is one of the very, very best who’s ever lined up at the WR position, and hopefully can make a big impact on Crabtree’s techical skills and mental approach to the NFL game.

Secondly, we should not expect too much of the young man this year. Aside from showing up after four real games, rarely does a wide receiver come into the NFL have a huge season in year one. Look at the year one stats of players like Larry Fitzgerald, Andre Johnson, and Calvin Johnson for example, and you’ll see what I mean. NFL DB’s tend to welcome new WR’s to the league in a very rude manner.

Hopefully Crabtree will get a solid footing in the NFL this year and grow into a true force for the Niners at the WR position.  The Niners have really not had a real, true, number one receiver, since the that Owens guy left town. Josh Morgan and Michael Crabtree just might turn out to be a very formidable duo in the years to come.  As the Church Lady used to say on Saturday Night Live…………………..”isn’t that special.”  Yeah……………it sure would be!

MN