Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
I spent the afternoon watching the Cardinals 21-19 win over the 49ers---what a game that was! Here are some thoughts:
Kevin Kolb---
What seemed very weird was after he got kneed in the back of the head, he seemed fine when he walked off the field. Obviously, he wasn't. Then, the trainer took him to the locker room, and for a player who was suffering a severe concussion, it was even more odd that when Kolb returned to the field, no one was escorting him.
John Skelton---
Just an uncanny performance---there were moments of sheer brilliance, like the the on the money laser he threw to Early Doucet for a 60 yard TD---to make the score 7-6 Cardinals. If you watch that throw it was gunned, I mean absolutely gunned in between the two safeties---on about as tight a spiral as a QB can throw. And it was on a dime---teed up right where Doucet could catch it and split the defense and score.
Of course this was following one of the most bizarre developments of the season. Just previously, Skelton had scrambled beautifully for a 1st down, but was adeptly stripped of the ball from behind as he went into his slide...not knowing that Aldon Smith was chasing him down from behind. Smith made an outstanding play, but paid the price as Rashon Goldson fired over Skelton and nailed Smith right in the chops.
The 49ers moments later, lined up for a 50 yard FG---and executed a perfect fake for a 43 yard TD---only---the play was ruled dead because, unbeknownst to practically everyone Coach Whisenhunt had thrown the red flag right before the snap. When the flag was upheld and after all the confusion was cleared up, Akers misses the 50 yarder.
As for Skelton---his second half was brilliant save the one mistake of scrambling and then throwing back across the field to Fitz, who was held from behind which prevented him from getting high enough to catch the ball, and unbelievably the ball was tipped to a defender behind the play for an interception.
Skelton went some thing like 14/20 for 200 yards 2 TDs and the 1 interception in the 2nd half. Meanwhile, Alex Smith went something like 4/12 for 30 yards in the 2nd half---the game ending on a scramble where he put the ball on the money to RB Hunter, only it came at Hunter so fast he dropped it.
The Cardinals' Defense---
They gave up one TD (a 28 yard TD run by Frank Gore---made off of a perfect trap block on Calais Campbell by, you guessed it, RG Adam Snyder, to make the score 19-7 early in the 3rd quarter.
They held the 49ers out of the end zone on numerous other chances.
The pass rush was fierce---and now that I am reminded of how well the Cardinals' LBers and DBs were playing down the stretch, I must concede that watching this tape made me realize all the more the importance of CB/Nickel CB/S Richard Marshall, who put more hards on people in this game than Goldson.
Larry Fitzgerald---
Another unreal performance---something like 8 catches for 168 yards and a scintillating 38 yard TD where he went up for a pass over Goldson, snatched the ball out of mid-air and bolted into the end zone. The to set up the game winning TD pass to Andre Roberts, Fitz had a beautiful skinny post catch like the one he caught for the long 4th quarter TD in the Super Bowl---and Fitz spun off the hit of the safety and RACed the ball down to the 49ers' 20 yard line. Moments later the Cardinals converted a huge third down in the red zone of a swing pass to early Doucet out of the backfield, and on the next play, Skelton hit Roberts on a delay hitch for the game winner.
Adam Snyder---
If you watch this tape you will be tremendously excited by what you see. He made all the key blocks on the 49ers longest runs---he influenced Dockett and sealed him off on the first play of the game which resulted in a 9 yard Frank Gore run---then he drove the inside tackle 5 feet down the los on Gore's 19 yard run late in the first quarter. And as I said, he made the key block on Gore's 28 yard TD run, as he pulled and took CC out of the play.
Better yet, he was virtually flawless in pass protection---he sets up with a perfect base and he has long arms---and only once in the whole game did anyone get past him, as he locked his defender down practically right at the los. The one play was in the 4th quarter---and I am not sure if this was Snyder's fault or not, as the 49ers run a zone pass pro scheme. On the snap, Snyder hand punched DD, and then moved to his right to protect his outside gap, and the coverage was so good that Alex Smith hitched three times and then DD got to his legs, while Smith threw the ball away, only the refs called in the grasp.
In all other pass plays, the player Snyder blocked (and many times it was DD) did not get anywhere close to Smith.
Snyder is athletic and strong on his pulls---he tips them off a little, because he lines up a fraction or two back from the normal los, but it didn't matter. He has a little trouble finding or finishing a block downfield---which most o-linemen do, but the one screen the 49ers ran to his side, Snyder executed it perfectly, timed his release from DD perfectly, and then stonewalled and pancaked Richard Marshall about 4 yards downfield.
This guy was a wall in pass protection all day---it was very impressive.
I watched RG Rex Hadnot every play as well---he played a solid game but, he's not the athlete Snyder is nor does he form a pass pro wall at the los.
Levi Brown---
One of the best moments---Levi Brown making a statement to Justin Smith---he gave Smith a few good shots before the whistle and it peed Smith off---ha ha!
Levi was excellent in this game from start to finish. He did a great job on Aldon Smith, as he was able to ride Smith wide of Skelton, who as I say sets the back of the pocket arc perfectly well for Levi.
So like Big Tony said, "Don't worry, be happy!"
After watching this game---I know Early Doucet struggled big-time in the last three games but, this was his best game as a Cardinal and it warrants a new contract at a reasonable rate.
Patrick Peterson was contained very well by the 49ers on his punt returns---but, he was a MAN in this game at CB as he hounded Crabtree like crazy all day.
The big thing about John Skelton is that from the back of the pocket which he defines perfectly, is that everything moves forward from there. His scrambling in this game was very impressive---which puts such added pressure on a defense, especially a great defense like the 49ers. The Cardinals played so hard and determined in this game---and so tough. treat yourself with this SF treat if you saved it. It's filled with ups and downs---but with a fantastic finish for sure!
Kevin Kolb---
What seemed very weird was after he got kneed in the back of the head, he seemed fine when he walked off the field. Obviously, he wasn't. Then, the trainer took him to the locker room, and for a player who was suffering a severe concussion, it was even more odd that when Kolb returned to the field, no one was escorting him.
John Skelton---
Just an uncanny performance---there were moments of sheer brilliance, like the the on the money laser he threw to Early Doucet for a 60 yard TD---to make the score 7-6 Cardinals. If you watch that throw it was gunned, I mean absolutely gunned in between the two safeties---on about as tight a spiral as a QB can throw. And it was on a dime---teed up right where Doucet could catch it and split the defense and score.
Of course this was following one of the most bizarre developments of the season. Just previously, Skelton had scrambled beautifully for a 1st down, but was adeptly stripped of the ball from behind as he went into his slide...not knowing that Aldon Smith was chasing him down from behind. Smith made an outstanding play, but paid the price as Rashon Goldson fired over Skelton and nailed Smith right in the chops.
The 49ers moments later, lined up for a 50 yard FG---and executed a perfect fake for a 43 yard TD---only---the play was ruled dead because, unbeknownst to practically everyone Coach Whisenhunt had thrown the red flag right before the snap. When the flag was upheld and after all the confusion was cleared up, Akers misses the 50 yarder.
As for Skelton---his second half was brilliant save the one mistake of scrambling and then throwing back across the field to Fitz, who was held from behind which prevented him from getting high enough to catch the ball, and unbelievably the ball was tipped to a defender behind the play for an interception.
Skelton went some thing like 14/20 for 200 yards 2 TDs and the 1 interception in the 2nd half. Meanwhile, Alex Smith went something like 4/12 for 30 yards in the 2nd half---the game ending on a scramble where he put the ball on the money to RB Hunter, only it came at Hunter so fast he dropped it.
The Cardinals' Defense---
They gave up one TD (a 28 yard TD run by Frank Gore---made off of a perfect trap block on Calais Campbell by, you guessed it, RG Adam Snyder, to make the score 19-7 early in the 3rd quarter.
They held the 49ers out of the end zone on numerous other chances.
The pass rush was fierce---and now that I am reminded of how well the Cardinals' LBers and DBs were playing down the stretch, I must concede that watching this tape made me realize all the more the importance of CB/Nickel CB/S Richard Marshall, who put more hards on people in this game than Goldson.
Larry Fitzgerald---
Another unreal performance---something like 8 catches for 168 yards and a scintillating 38 yard TD where he went up for a pass over Goldson, snatched the ball out of mid-air and bolted into the end zone. The to set up the game winning TD pass to Andre Roberts, Fitz had a beautiful skinny post catch like the one he caught for the long 4th quarter TD in the Super Bowl---and Fitz spun off the hit of the safety and RACed the ball down to the 49ers' 20 yard line. Moments later the Cardinals converted a huge third down in the red zone of a swing pass to early Doucet out of the backfield, and on the next play, Skelton hit Roberts on a delay hitch for the game winner.
Adam Snyder---
If you watch this tape you will be tremendously excited by what you see. He made all the key blocks on the 49ers longest runs---he influenced Dockett and sealed him off on the first play of the game which resulted in a 9 yard Frank Gore run---then he drove the inside tackle 5 feet down the los on Gore's 19 yard run late in the first quarter. And as I said, he made the key block on Gore's 28 yard TD run, as he pulled and took CC out of the play.
Better yet, he was virtually flawless in pass protection---he sets up with a perfect base and he has long arms---and only once in the whole game did anyone get past him, as he locked his defender down practically right at the los. The one play was in the 4th quarter---and I am not sure if this was Snyder's fault or not, as the 49ers run a zone pass pro scheme. On the snap, Snyder hand punched DD, and then moved to his right to protect his outside gap, and the coverage was so good that Alex Smith hitched three times and then DD got to his legs, while Smith threw the ball away, only the refs called in the grasp.
In all other pass plays, the player Snyder blocked (and many times it was DD) did not get anywhere close to Smith.
Snyder is athletic and strong on his pulls---he tips them off a little, because he lines up a fraction or two back from the normal los, but it didn't matter. He has a little trouble finding or finishing a block downfield---which most o-linemen do, but the one screen the 49ers ran to his side, Snyder executed it perfectly, timed his release from DD perfectly, and then stonewalled and pancaked Richard Marshall about 4 yards downfield.
This guy was a wall in pass protection all day---it was very impressive.
I watched RG Rex Hadnot every play as well---he played a solid game but, he's not the athlete Snyder is nor does he form a pass pro wall at the los.
Levi Brown---
One of the best moments---Levi Brown making a statement to Justin Smith---he gave Smith a few good shots before the whistle and it peed Smith off---ha ha!
Levi was excellent in this game from start to finish. He did a great job on Aldon Smith, as he was able to ride Smith wide of Skelton, who as I say sets the back of the pocket arc perfectly well for Levi.
So like Big Tony said, "Don't worry, be happy!"
After watching this game---I know Early Doucet struggled big-time in the last three games but, this was his best game as a Cardinal and it warrants a new contract at a reasonable rate.
Patrick Peterson was contained very well by the 49ers on his punt returns---but, he was a MAN in this game at CB as he hounded Crabtree like crazy all day.
The big thing about John Skelton is that from the back of the pocket which he defines perfectly, is that everything moves forward from there. His scrambling in this game was very impressive---which puts such added pressure on a defense, especially a great defense like the 49ers. The Cardinals played so hard and determined in this game---and so tough. treat yourself with this SF treat if you saved it. It's filled with ups and downs---but with a fantastic finish for sure!
