NFL FanHouse

Pocket Presence: Teams Putting Quarterbacks in Position to Fail

Bruce Ciskie — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: 49ers, Browns, Buccaneers, Panthers, Raiders, Titans, NFL Quarterbacks

It's often said that a team with two quarterbacks really doesn't have any. With that spirit in mind, FanHouse will keep you updated weekly on NFL teams facing potential quarterback controversies.

Some teams are entirely too stubborn. Not only will they leave bad quarterbacks in to take mental and physical beatings, but they'll insist on running offensive plays that don't seem to take the team's strengths into account, oftentimes leaning way too much on a struggling quarterback to make plays. As the Carolina Panthers and Cleveland Browns (among others) have now learned, this is a recipe for disaster.

More: Carolina Sticking With Delhomme | Freeman in for Tampa

Carolina Panthers: Jake Delhomme and Matt Moore

Delhomme has done a lot for the Carolina franchise, and loyalty is rarely a bad thing, even in a cutthroat industry like the NFL.

However, can anyone explain why Moore hasn't gotten a shot at saving the Panthers' season yet?

If Moore is so terrible that he can't be trusted to start, why is he serving as the primary backup to an aging veteran who melted down severely in the playoffs last year and has shown little life so far this season? It just doesn't make sense.

In Delhomme's defense, neither did Sunday's play-calling.

The Panthers ran for over 200 yards in a win over Tampa Bay. The response Sunday? Delhomme put the ball in the air 44 times, while star running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart combined for 23 carries. That makes sense, right?

Didn't think so.

Status update: White hot

Cleveland Browns: Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn

Anderson was simply awful again Sunday, this time in a 31-3 home loss to Green Bay. While he failed to hit half his passes, throw for 100 yards, or lead his team into the end zone, it wasn't all his fault. For some reason, the Browns decided to use the wildcat with Josh Cribbs exactly once against Green Bay.

Maybe the Packers showed a wonderful ability to stop the wildcat on that one play. Perhaps there is something about the Dom Capers' 3-4 defense that lends itself to stopping that gimmick, because the Vikings didn't use it in their matchup with the Packers on Oct. 5. However, Cribbs is the Browns' best offensive player right now. It's not even close.

Why isn't the ball in his hands more often?

As long as the team continues this failing strategy, it probably doesn't matter who the quarterback is, though it would likely behoove Cleveland to go back to Quinn. Anderson threw 11 passes at either Mohamed Massaquoi or Brian Robiskie on Sunday. They combined for one catch.

Status update: Very warm

San Francisco 49ers: Alex Smith and Shaun Hill

While head coach Mike Singletary might have made up his mind quickly, the smart money is on this not being the last change he has to make.

Yes, Smith played well in a second-half stint Sunday at Houston. However, it's typically harder on guys like him when they have to actually start the game. Smith was the backup to Hill for a reason, and now he has to prove that he can do things he failed to do in training camp or preseason games, or in any of his other starts for the 49ers.

Smith is getting thrown right into the fire, as San Francisco has a Sunday date with unbeaten Indianapolis.

Status update: Very warm

Oakland Raiders: JaMarcus Russell and Bruce Gradkowski

Russell has flat-out stunk all season. He's been terrible. Finally, head coach Tom Cable had enough. While replacing Russell with Gradkowski didn't do the Raiders any good on the scoreboard, it may be a message to Russell that he has to put in the time and make the commitment to get better now, or he will run out of chances.

No, Oakland isn't a playoff contender. But they have to do something to put a jolt into Russell. Otherwise, they'll never know for sure what they have in him.

Status update: Very warm

Tennessee Titans: Kerry Collins and Vince Young

Titans owner Bud Adams has come out and said he wants Young to be the starter. Meanwhile, it appears that Collins is going to keep the job for at least another week (though head coach Jeff Fisher hasn't really said).

While it's hard to blame everything that has gone wrong on Collins, he hasn't played well. Not only that, but the Titans owe it to themselves to give Young a shot at some point. It's not much different than Russell, really. They have to find out what they have.

Plus, the owner wants it to happen, and he's the owner. It's likely that Young starts sooner rather than later.

Status update: Very warm

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Josh Freeman and Josh Johnson

It was made official Wednesday that Freeman will get the nod out of Tampa's bye week. The Johnson experiment was an unmitigated disaster, as Tampa Bay did virtually nothing with him leading the way.

Now, it's up to Freeman, the rookie first-rounder out of Kansas State. While it's hard to predict what the result of this experiment will be, it probably doesn't matter in the end. Once you put the rookie out there, you typically don't switch back unless he gets hurt.

Status update: Lukewarm

Pocket Presence: Teams Putting Quarterbacks in Position to Fail originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pashos' Injury Is Bad News for 49ers QBs

JJ Cooper — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:49:00 EST

Filed under: 49ers, NFC West, NFL Injuries

When San Francisco right tackle Adam Snyder gave up five sacks in the first two weeks of the season, the 49ers were glad they had a Plan B.

Former Jaguars tackle Tony Pashos stepped in to replace Snyder and provided mediocre pass blocking. He wasn't good, but he wasn't nearly as bad as Snyder either--giving up three sacks in five games. For a team with a very leaky right side of the offensive line, that was actually an improvement.

But Pashos is now done for the season with a broken shoulder blade, which means that Snyder is back at right tackle. And what that means is new starting quarterback Alex Smith better be mobile.

The 49ers kept starting Snyder until this past week, but they would quickly replace him with Pashos for the majority of the game. This past week they slid Snyder inside to guard to share time with Chilo Rachal while Pashos played right tackle. After the injury, Barry Sims replaced Pashos, and he didn't play that bad, but for now at least the 49ers plan to slide Snyder back outside.

You could argue that part of the 49ers problems (Shaun Hill has been sacked 18 times) is the constant shuffling on the offensive line. If that's the case, than there could be a bright side if Pashos' injury means the team will settle on a stable starting five for the rest of the season. But for now, whether Smith or Hill is quarterbacking, San Francisco still has pass protection problems.

Pashos' Injury Is Bad News for 49ers QBs originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:49:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Alex Smith Shines in Relief of Shaun Hill

Nancy Gay — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 19:20:00 EST

Filed under: 49ers, NFL Quarterbacks

Alex Smith's return as the 49ers' starting quarterback in the second half of Sunday's 24-21 loss to the Texans at Houston's Reliant Stadium produced career numbers for the former No. 1 overall draft pick. And it may force a philosophical change for a 29th-ranked San Francisco offense that had been sputtering under quarterback Shaun Hill's direction.

Trailing Houston 21-0 at halftime and going nowhere under an increasingly sack-prone and inaccurate Hill (6-of-11 passes, 45 yards, two sacks), 49ers coach Mike Singletary made the switch to the more mobile Smith in the second half and saw immediate dividends.

More: Crabtree Strong in Debut | Check Box Score

The deliberate West Coast-style short-yardage passing approach with Hill was benched along with the quarterback who beat out Smith for the starting job during training camp. Smith used his quick feet to elude the Texans' pass rush, and he directed the ball three times to tight end Vernon Davis for touchdowns of 29, 14 and 23 yards, all coming on the same skinny post route.

While Smith was unsuccessful in leading a 49ers' potential game-winning comeback in the games' final minute -- his fourth-and-10 pass to Isaac Bruce from the SF 38-yard line was intercepted by Texans safety Eugene Wilson -- the one-time San Francisco franchise quarterback provided a badly needed spark.

Does this mean the 49ers, who averaged only 6.2 yards per pass attempt under Hill, have created a quarterback controversy at the midpoint of the season? If so, they did nothing to quell the speculation on Sunday.

Despite Smith's superlatives, Singletary would not commit to him for next week's home game against the Colts.

The 49ers went to a spread-style attack with Smith, who completed 15-of-27 passes for 206 yards, three touchdowns and the one interception. Smith threw the ball to six receivers. The three-touchdown performance tied a career-best for Smith, who tossed three scoring passes in an Oct. 8, 2006 game against Oakland. Also significant: Smith wasn't sacked.

The 29-yard scoring strike to Davis was Smith's first touchdown pass since Oct. 28, 2007, against the Saints. And Davis' performance marked the first time a 49ers' player had three touchdown receptions in a game since Terrell Owens did it in an Oct. 14, 2001 game at Atlanta. Owens had nine catches for 183 yards and three TDs in that contest.

Alex Smith Shines in Relief of Shaun Hill originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 25 Oct 2009 19:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What Rust? Michael Crabtree Sees Plenty Of Action in NFL Debut

Nancy Gay — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 18:10:00 EST

Filed under: 49ers, Texans

The San Francisco 49ers waited through training camp and the first seven weeks of the regular season for their first-round draft choice, wide receiver Michael Crabtree, to make headlines for something other than his contract demands.

The 10th overall pick did just that Sunday, supplanting starter Josh Morgan and sending two other key 49ers receivers -- Brandon Jones and Jason Hill -- to the inactive list at Houston's Reliant Stadium. That gave Crabtree a starting assignment in his NFL debut, and the former Texas Tech star showed he was worth the wait.

Lined up wide, often opposite veteran Isaac Bruce, Crabtree caught five passes for 56 yards, many of them coming against the Texans' press coverage. Three of his catches resulted in 49ers' first downs.

More: SF-Houston Box Score | San Diego Dismantles K.C.

But while Crabtree's presence didn't snap a two-game 49ers' losing streak -- the Texans won 24-21 after taking a 21-0 halftime lead -- he displayed impressive chemistry with both starting quarterback Shaun Hill and, later, backup Alex Smith, who replaced Hill at halftime.

Crabtree -- who spent the entire 49ers' Week 6 bye at the team's Santa Clara training facility working and studying the playbook -- was in on the first 38 of the team's offensive snaps and 48 of 54 total, after not playing a down of football since last January.

No one was sure how the two-week crash course would make up for the valuable time Crabtree squandered while embroiled in a 71-day contract impasse with the 49ers that finally resulted in him signing a six-year, $32 million deal on Oct. 7.

Coach Mike Singletary made Crabtree inactive for the 49ers' 45-10 Week 5 loss to the Falcons at Candlestick Park. But the no-nonsense Singletary promised his controversial rookie would be hitting the playbook, the film room and the practice field during San Francisco's Week 6 bye.

Clearly, Crabtree is not only a fast study, but he's showing those sure hands that saw him catch 97 passes for 1,165 passes for 19 touchdowns last season in Texas Tech's spread offense will be just as effective at the NFL level. In two seasons in Lubbock, Crabtree was a two-time consensus All-America selection, catching 231 passes for 3,127 yards and 41 touchdowns.

"He did a heck of a job," Singletary said of Crabtree's first NFL appearance.

What Rust? Michael Crabtree Sees Plenty Of Action in NFL Debut originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 25 Oct 2009 18:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Michael Crabtree to Begin NFL Career With Starting Role

Knox Bardeen — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:17:00 EST

Filed under: 49ers, NFC West

It no longer matters that Michael Crabtree skipped training camp after being selected tenth in the 2009 draft, feeling he deserved the pay scale of a much higher selection. It also no longer matters that Crabtree missed San Francisco's first five games, watching from home as the 49ers compiled a 3-2 record without him. What's important now is that Crabtree finally signed his rookie contract, has worked hard over the last two weeks, and will see his first NFL action this Sunday in Houston.

It's likely he'll even be in the starting lineup instead of current No. 2 wideout Josh Morgan.

"I'm helping him learn my position and take my position," Morgan told reporters in the locker room Monday, as he said that coaches informed him Crabtree and Isaac Bruce would start on Sunday.

While the rest of his teammates were spending time with family members and relaxing during the 49ers bye week, Crabtree stayed at team headquarters, learning the playbook and catching passes from backup quarterback Alex Smith and trainers who were still present.

Head coach Mike Singletary praised Crabtree this week calling his progress, "excellent" and commenting on his hard work and time spent with coaches to catch up. Singletary went so far as to warn Crabtree that he didn't have to prove anything on Sunday, even if he later told reporters, "How much he plays depends on how much success he has [in the game]."

Making it onto the field just two weeks after signing is impressive enough for the 22-year-old receiver from Texas Tech. It shows how valuable the coaching staff feels that Crabtree can be. Adding him to the starting lineup this soon also shows that the 49ers offense needs a big boost.

San Francisco ranks 30th in the league in passing offense, having only thrown for just 804 yards in five games. The receiving corps ranks 20th in yards per reception at 11.1 yards, while only five teams have fewer receiving touchdowns.

How much Crabtree helps will not only depend on how effectively he eases into the game plan but also how long the 6-foot-1, 214-pound rookie can remain on the field. You can be sure that Morgan will be ready to spell Crabtree if he tires easily from the new experience of blocking and route-running at the NFL level.

Michael Crabtree to Begin NFL Career With Starting Role originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:17:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Between the Lines: Keeping the Line Together Pays Off

JJ Cooper — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: 49ers, Chicago Bears, Bills, Buccaneers, Jets, Giants, NFL Analysis

As we have done since the FanHouse began, I'll be taking a look every week at some aspect of line play. You can read more features in the series here. Check back every Thursday for a new Between The Lines.

It probably wouldn't surprise you to know that offensive line continuity is a good thing , but you may not realize just how important it is.

After looking at the first month of the season, it seems pretty clear that if you can keep your offensive line together, there's a pretty good chance you'll be a winner.

Five weeks into the NFL season, only 10 teams have started the same five offensive linemen every week. Of those 10 teams, seven have winning records including the surprising Bears. 49ers and Jets and the undefeated Giants. Combined those 10 teams are 28-18 this year.Of the six teams who have had five or more games missed or played out of position by members of their original starting five, none have a winning record--including the disappointing Packers, Chargers and Seahawks. Together those six teams are 10-18.

Admittedly offensive line shakeups can partly be explained by a team's failure--teams with trouble are much more likely to bench an offensive lineman than a team that keeps on winning. But it's fair to say that the Packers' problems really began the minute that starting left tackle Chad Clifton went down with an ankle injury. What had been an adequate line quickly turned into a disaster when guard Daryn Colledge was moved to tackle, center Jake Spitz was moved to guard and backup Sean Wells came in at center.

Five of the 10 teams who have started the same offensive line all year have allowed less than 10 sacks, including the Falcons (two sacks allowed) and Giants (three sacks allowed). None of the six teams with the most offensive line shakeups have allowed less than 10 sacks, including the league's worst Packers (20 sacks), Lions (17) and Raiders (15).

If you want one more example when a team with its original starting five has faced a team with a shakeup on the offensive line, the team with the original starting five is 16-9 this season.

Here's some other notes from looking at line play around the league.

o. He has some work to do which you would expect for a second-year quarterback but Bucs quarterback Josh Johnson is already one of the best scramblers in the league. Tampa Bay even ran the option with him on Sunday. With 4.4 speed, Johnson also has the ability to dance around in the pocket dodging pass rushers, just like Fran Tarkenton did in the 1960s and early 1970s. It also means that he sometimes holds onto the ball way longer than any quarterback should. Johnson held the ball for 12 seconds on a sack last week (the average sack happens only 2.7 seconds after the snap) and this week he had a sack where he ran around for nine seconds, although this one was nullified by an unnecessary roughness penalty on the Eagles.

o. There have been a lot of questions about Julius Peppers' effort this season, as we noted in a Between The Lines breakdown two weeks ago. But before this week's Redskins game, Panthers linebacker Jon Beason called out Peppers' lack of effort. Peppers seemed to listen as he picked up two sacks and a safety. In rewatching that game Peppers still isn't playing with the all-out fire of a Jared Allen, but he did show significantly better effort against the Redskins than he did against the Panthers.

o. The Bills have to rank as one of the most disappointing teams in the league this year, and if you're looking for a reason you need to look no further than the offensive line. Buffalo traded away Jason Peters and drafted three rookies who were immediately inserted into the offensive line.

The three rookies have been OK, but the Bills have been a complete disaster at offensive tackle. Left tackle Demetrius Bell has allowed four sacks. Right tackle (and fill-in left tackle) Jonathan Scott has allowed 3.5 sacks while fill-in right tackle Kirk Chambers allowed 2.5. Those 10 sacks allowed are as many as half the league have allowed as teams.

Between the Lines: Keeping the Line Together Pays Off originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 20:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dre' Bly Apologizes for Showboating; Michael Crabtree Finally Activated

Nancy Gay — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 21:25:00 EST

Filed under: 49ers, NFL Injuries

SAN FRANCISCO -- In the midst of a pride-swallowing performance that ended with the 49ers on the wrong end of a 45-10 blowout loss to Atlanta, veteran cornerback Dre' Bly became emblematic of a self-important San Francisco team that wasn't nearly as good as its 3-1 record.

After fumbling on a showboating interception return and offering little contrition for his carelessness Sunday night -- "I have fun. Dre' is going to be Dre'" was his explanation -- Bly apologized profusely on Monday for an on-field celebration he admitted was "a poor choice."

Bly, who first approached coach Mike Singletary as well as his teammates, used Singletary's news conference as a stage to announce his public apology.

"I wanted to come to you all and publicly apologize for yesterday. My comments were totally inappropriate. I apologize to coach. I'm not a selfish guy. I didn't mean to embarrass him, my team, ownership, or the fans," said Bly, who joined the 49ers as a free agent hoping to compete for a starting right cornerback job, but instead has been relegated to nickel duty. "I'm a prideful guy. I like to have fun and it was totally inappropriate. I got caught up in the moment and it was wrong."

With just under 10 minutes remaining in the third quarter and the 49ers trailing 35-10, Bly intercepted a Matt Ryan pass intended for wide receiver Roddy White -- who was, incidentally, on his way toward a franchise-record 210-yard receiving game.

Rather than tuck the intercepted ball tight and run with it, Bly put one hand up to his helmet and cocked his arm like a showman, shortened his steps and performed a Deion Sanders-style celebration during his return.

That left the football vulnerable, and White punched the ball loose from Bly's one-handed grasp. Falcons center Todd McClure recovered the fumble at the 49ers 44-yard line. Seven plays later, Atlanta padded its lead to 38-10 on a 40-yard Jason Elam field goal.

The takeaway was Bly's 41st career interception. But his fumble ruined what could have been a momentum-changing play for his team.

"After I had a chance to look at it last night and look things over, it was wrong." Bly said Monday. "I've played this game for 11 years. I played it well and have been a prideful guy. I like to have fun. If you know anything about me, I'm a happy guy. I like to interact with my teammates and guys I'm playing against. I just got caught up in the moment, but it was totally inappropriate, for what coach is looking for in a player, being a veteran guy, I should have been smarter and it was a bad choice of mine and I'm sorry."

Singletary said he didn't believe Bly should be made a scapegoat for a horrendous overall 49ers' effort that saw the team tumble, both in the NFL standings and in the view of fans.

"I'll put it this way: I don't think that's fun, OK? It was not fun. It was not fun," Singletary said of Bly's Sunday night assessment of his celebration-turned-fumble. "It's not fun at 35-10. Fun is when you're ahead and you may get an interception, and hey, that's great. That's fun.

"But, you're not having fun when you're behind 35-10, and that's a little something that he and I have to clean up, because that's not fun."

The Falcons racked up 477 yards of total offense (329 passing) against San Francisco, dropping the previously-impressive 49ers' defense from sixth overall in the NFL to 16th. The pass defense slid from 10th in the league to 23rd, while the already sputtering offense fell from 28th to 29th overall.

The 49ers are entering their bye week, but Singletary - who assured everyone that the Falcons' loss was an aberration -- already is making moves to shake up the roster.

Late-signing wide receiver Michael Crabtree was added to the 53-man roster Monday, and the 49ers cut veteran return man Allen Rossum to clear room for their first-round draft pick. Singletary said injured running back Frank Gore, who has missed two consecutive games with an ankle injury, may return to practice this week as well.

The 49ers, meanwhile, are monitoring the health of safety Michael Lewis, who sustained a concussion in Sunday's game -- his third this season. The 49ers already were without veteran linebacker Jeff Ulbrich, who is recovering from post-concussion symptoms. Both players are being examined by neurologists and could be done for the season.

While most 49ers players will get some off days during the bye weekend, Crabtree will not. He'll be reporting for work every day at the 49ers' practice facility in Santa Clara.

"Yes, he's already had his bye week," Singletary said. "He's had a long bye week."

Dre' Bly Apologizes for Showboating; Michael Crabtree Finally Activated originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 21:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Falcons for Real: Roddy White, Defense Pace Convincing Atlanta Win

Nancy Gay — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:10:00 EST

Filed under: 49ers, Atlanta Falcons, NFC South, NFL Quarterbacks

SAN FRANCISCO -- Anyone who doubted the authenticity of the Atlanta Falcons following their 2-1 start has to take notice after Sunday's 45-10 blowout of the San Francisco 49ers, a game that could have easily exposed the visitors as the pretenders their skeptics thought they might be.

Would they perform a cross-country face plant, coming off the dreaded bye-week hangover? Would they come out like the humbled, outmatched team that resembled the post-Bobby Petrino wreckage in that Week 3 26-10 loss to the Patriots in Foxborough?

Not a chance.

More: Check Box Score | Singletary Apologizes for Heated Exchange

It's time to acknowledge that the Falcons -- now 14-6 since coach Mike Smith took over for Petrino in 2008 -- are among the NFC's elite teams, and it's a good idea to dial down those lofty expectations for the 49ers (3-2), who remain an interesting work in progress under the disciplined, emotional hand of coach Mike Singletary.

This was no contest Sunday, not with the 49ers giving up 477 total yards to quarterback Matt Ryan and an Atlanta offense that came in ranked 23rd in the NFL. On a day when wide receiver Roddy White set a Falcons' franchise record for most receiving yards in a single game (eight catches, 210 yards, two touchdowns), Atlanta's offense felt it could score at will.

"Well, we all had fun today," a giddy Smith said.

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It was so easy for Atlanta, even maligned running back Michael Turner scored three rushing touchdowns and churned out 97 yards against the 49ers' fourth-ranked run defense.

"You just feel like any play that [offensive coordinator Mike] Mularkey called would be successful," said Falcons center Todd McClure, who recovered a third-quarter Dre' Bly showboating fumble and helped his offense turn three 49ers' turnovers into 17 points.

And so the 49ers' soaring five-game home winning streak that dated back to '08 fell from the seagull-laden, foggy San Fran skies with a splat, and was greeted by a refrain of boos from the disgusted Candlestick Park contingent. The affection for gritty quarterback Shaun Hill -- who took a 7-0 home record into this game and endeared himself to fans for not being Alex Smith -- seemed to end early in the first quarter, when Brian Williams picked off a pass intended for Vernon Davis on San Francisco's opening drive.

One Turner 7-yard touchdown later and Atlanta's scoring spree was shifted into first gear. Sensing the game was getting out of hand, Singletary tried to rally his guys by calling timeout and bringing everyone together for a group huddle at the sideline.

So much for that speech: Ryan then found White on a 31-yard scoring pass, leaving the 49ers' sixth-ranked defense completely stunned. Hill was manhandled, completing only four of his first 15 passes, and 15 of 38 for the day for 198 yards. He was sacked three times.

Defensively, the 49ers really stunk. And that was a surprise.

"I didn't even [have] an idea ... never saw it coming. Whatever could have gone wrong, it did times two," said 49ers linebacker Takeo Spikes, who stared into space and tried to make sense of it all. "One bad thing happened, and then it started compounding on top of each other and before you knew it, you blink and you look up and and we were behind by two touchdowns."

This was a statement game by the Falcons, even if they were reluctant to call it that.

"The team had been thinking about this for almost two weeks now, coming off the New England loss," said Atlanta's talented young general manager Thomas Dimitroff, the Bill Belichick disciple who wanted urgency from his players in that Pats' game and saw nothing resembling it. "And I think it was one of those things where it was such a ramped-up sense of focus.

"This team knows they're better than what they showed in New England, and I think coming into this game, we were operating on all cylinders. This is a heck of a defense in here. The fact they were able to generate opportunities for our offense is a feather in this team's cap."

Ryan is maturing into a true franchise quarterback, converting Atlanta's three takeaways into two touchdowns and a Jason Elam field goal, spreading the ball among eight receivers and completing 22 of 32 passes for 329 yards, two touchdowns and a harmless pick. He also ran for a 1-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.

"We were just trying to put one together," said White, who overcame his slow early season start in a huge way.

White's 90-yard catch-and-run scoring reception was the first of three second-quarter Atlanta touchdowns, and suddenly Ryan was leading a team that may be a legit threat to division-leading Saints (4-0) -- that's why Sunday's win was so important for the Falcons.

"Obviously New Orleans has been playing very, very well this year so far," Ryan said. "We're not trying to keep pace with them, but at the same time we're focusing on what we do."

Falcons for Real: Roddy White, Defense Pace Convincing Atlanta Win originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'Fiery' Mike Singletary Shouts at Falcons' Harvey Dahl, Apologizes Afterward

Nancy Gay — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 21:40:00 EST

Filed under: 49ers, Atlanta Falcons, FanHouse Exclusive

SAN FRANCISCO -- The Atlanta Falcons weren't even finished piling up takeaways, yards and points in Sunday's 45-10 rout of the 49ers at Candlestick Park when San Francisco coach Mike Singletary lost his sideline poise.

Rather than take out his frustrations on one of his underachieving players, Singletary instead engaged in a third-quarter shouting match with Falcons right guard Harvey Dahl.

During an early third-quarter drive that was dominated by running back Michael Turner (22 total carries for 97 yards) chewing up the 49ers' 3-4 defensive front, Singletary and Dahl argued back and forth, with both of them very animated and obviously irate. Neither was penalized for the jawing match.

More: Check Box Score | Complete NFL Coverage

But Singletary, whose 3-2 team surrendered 477 total yards and handed the surging Falcons (3-1) 17 points off two lost fumbles and an interception, was contrite after the game, saying his sideline behavior was unacceptable.

"I'll put it this way: I wish I had more coaching etiquette. I don't," said Singletary, an emotional coach who was remarkably composed after watching his much-improved team stumble so badly at home. "I love my players and when someone responds about my players in a particular way, I may do some things I shouldn't do. I have to get better at those things as time goes on. I don't even want to talk about it anymore."

In 2008 during his debut contest as interim coach after Mike Nolan was sacked, Singletary gained infamy for ordering tight end Vernon Davis off the field and into the locker room. He also dropped his pants and pointed to his backside during a halftime speech excoriating his players, and benched quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan along with Davis in that memorable Oct. 26 contest.

This year, Singletary is more careful about showing that "Iron Mike" demeanor that got him into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. "I don't know the player," he said of Dahl. "It was something I shouldn't have done and you move on."

Dahl, who has been identified as one of the NFL's dirtiest players in annual player polls, grinned and clammed up when asked what he may have said to rile up Singletary.

"He's just a fiery guy," Dahl said repeatedly.

His offensive line teammates laughed at Dahl's response. "C'mon! Tell the truth!" center Todd McClure shouted.

"He's a fiery guy and that's all I'll say about it," Dahl said, bursting out in laughter.

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San Francisco 49ers Photos

San Francisco 49ers running back Glen Coffee (29) drives past Atlanta Falcons players in the second quarter of an NFL football game, in San Francisco, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

San Francisco 49ers Photos

San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis (85) is tackled by Atlanta Falcons safety Thomas DeCoud (28) in the second quarter of their NFL football game in San Francisco, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

Atlanta Falcons running back Michael Turner (33) scores against the San Francisco 49ers in the first quarter of an NFL football game in San Francisco, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Shaun Hill (13) leaps as he passes against the Atlanta Falcons in the first quarter of an NFL football game in San Francisco, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

San Francisco 49ers head coach Mike Singletary appears before their NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons in San Francisco, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree, left, and running back Frank Gore, right, talk on the sidelines in the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons in San Francisco, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009. AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

SAN FRANCISCO - OCTOBER 11: Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons passes the ball during their game against the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park on October 11, 2009 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Matt Ryan

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SAN FRANCISCO - OCTOBER 11: Michael Turner #33 of the Atlanta Falcons runs with the ball during their game against the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park on October 11, 2009 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Michael Turner

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SAN FRANCISCO - OCTOBER 11: Michael Crabtree, the San Francisco 49ers first round draft pick, watches the 49ers game against the Atlanta Falcons on the sidelines at Candlestick Park on October 11, 2009 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Michael Crabtree

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SAN FRANCISCO - OCTOBER 11: Shaun Hill #13 ofthe San Francisco 49ers passes the ball during their game against the Atlanta Falcons at Candlestick Park on October 11, 2009 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Shaun Hill

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'Fiery' Mike Singletary Shouts at Falcons' Harvey Dahl, Apologizes Afterward originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 11 Oct 2009 21:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Between the Lines Notes: Seneca Wallace Needs to Throw It Away

JJ Cooper — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:47:00 EST

Filed under: 49ers, Broncos, Dolphins, Seahawks, NFL Analysis

Every week we're taking a look at sacks around the league. We looked at Aaron Rodgers and the Packers' sack problem in our main Between the Lines feature this week, but here are some other notes from Week Four.

o. If a Dan Marino-style quick release is an offensive lineman's best friend, Seneca Wallace is becoming a lineman's worst nightmare. Wallace stepped out of bounds for a sack on a play where he could have easily thrown the ball away for an incompletion for the second time in two games. In this case, Wallace rolled out of the pocket and had plenty of time to throw. Eventually linebacker Freddy Keiaho, who wasn't a rusher on the play, came up to force Wallace to make up his mind. Instead of simply tossing the ball out of bounds (he was out of the pocket so any pass beyond the line of scrimmage would have not drawn an intentional grounding penalty), Wallace stepped out of bounds five yards behind the line of scrimmage. It goes into the books as the easiest sack of Keiaho's career, and clearly angered the Seahawks' offensive line--center Chris Spencer is seen throwing up his arms in disbelief at the end of the play.
There are only two logical explanations I can think of for Wallace's ill-advised stepouts. There's the possibility that he has not been properly coached to throw the ball away, or there's the option that he's avoiding adding an incomplete pass to his stat line, even if it costs the Seahawks some yardage. Neither one is good for the Seahawks.

o. Joey Porter is 32 years old and Jason Taylor is 35 so the Dolphins need to start planning for their replacements. If Cameron Wake's first start is any indication, Miami should have one of those outside linebacker spots filled.

The former CFL star picked up three sacks in his first-ever start last Sunday. He had a favorable matchup, as he abused Bills fill-in tackle Kirk Chambers. Wake showed the speed to beat Chambers to the corner, but he also showed the power to drive Chambers back into quarterback Trent Edwards on one of his three sacks. It didn't hurt that Wake got to face Chambers in his first start of the season, but his speed and power gives Miami a third edge rusher to worry about.

o. Patrick Willis' 2 1/2 sack day was one of the more impressive pass-rushing performances of the season. On two of Willis' sacks, he timed the snap count perfectly to give Kyle Boller no chance to flee. On his first sack tailback Steven Jackson (who was supposed to pick up the blitz) had barely gotten out of his stance before Willis had wrapped up Boller only 1.4 seconds after the snap (that's the fourth quickest sack of the season).

The Broncos' improved defense is one of the stories of the first month of the season, and Elvis Dumervill's eight sacks are a big part of that newfound success. But the way Dumervill has gotten those sacks also explains why the Broncos' defense has improved.

In the past, the Broncos have shifted philosophies and schemes as frequently as Brett Favre changes his mind. But this year, new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan has installed the 3-4 and has worked to get Denver's best players into favorable matchups.

Dumervill is clearly one of the Broncos best players, and Nolan has done a very good job of scheming to get him shots at the quarterback. Dumervill has two sacks when lined up against left tackles (Pro Bowler Joe Thomas and Flozell Adams), four against right tackles (three against John St. Clair and one against Cornell Green) and two against running backs (Deon Anderson and Michael Bush). By moving him around, Nolan has found tackles who can't handle Dumervill's speed (like St. Clair) and he's also managed to get him matched up against running backs.

Between the Lines Notes: Seneca Wallace Needs to Throw It Away originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:47:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Michael Crabtree Still a Question Mark

David Whitley — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: 49ers

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Michael Crabtree was introduced wearing a 49ers jersey, not Hammer Pants. Consider that a glimmer of hope, 49ers fans.

Maybe his holdout taught him the lesson he says it did.

"It was a humbling experience," Crabtree said.

If ever a kid needed one, it's San Francisco's first-round pick. After missing training camp and the first four games, Crabtree essentially got the same deal the 49ers offered months ago.

They didn't blink. Crabtree and his coterie of agents, advisers and perhaps a washed-up rap star did.

Fantasy Football Spin: Crabtree Not Quite Valuable Yet

Everybody kissed and made up for the cameras on Wednesday. But did the 49ers just get hitched to a Jerry Rice, a Mike Williams or a starter-kit Terrell Owens?

"I know this kid is a kid of character," Mike Singletary said.

Didn't they say the same thing about Isaac Chroner, the child preacher in Children of the Corn? Then everybody in Nebraska over 18 started showing up in varying states of dismemberment.

Let me be clear, I'm not saying Crabtree is a psychopathic killer with a Messiah complex. At least he's not a psychopathic killer. If you took him at his word Wednesday, he just wants to work hard and help the 49ers' resurrection any way he can.

"I'm not a numbers guy," he said. "I'm a football player."

You could've fooled the 49ers. The number $40 million seemed paramount to Crabtree and agent Eugene Parker. They wanted top-five cash for a No. 9 pick because, well, because he's Michael Crabtree and you're not.

"My approach was to let my agent handle all my business," Crabtree said.

That statement is bull malarkey, of course. Parker works for Crabtree, not vice versa. If the player wanted to sign what everybody in the NFL considered a fair-market offer, he could have.

Crabtree also played innocent bystander on the threat of sitting out the season and re-entering next year's draft. Never mind what his cousin/adviser told the media.

'I'm Michael Crabtree," Crabtree said. "Whatever I say, I say."

He also said he wasn't aware of the fan resentment his holdout had stoked. In all, Crabtree said enough to make you question the sincerity of everything he said.

Speaking of questions, he left without answering the one inquiring minds really wanted to know.

Hammertime?

M.C. Hammer was spotted at Monday's negotiation session. He's a pal of Deion Sanders, who's one of Crabtree's mentors. All I know is I wouldn't lean on Hammer for career or investment advice.

He went bankrupt after earning $33 million. That can happen when you spend $12 million on a mansion that had a 17-car garage, $75,000 worth of mirrors and a massive gold-and-black marble Jacuzzi in the master bedroom.

Maybe I'm selling Hammer short. He might have learned from his mistakes and been the one who told Crabtree to stop acting the No. 1 pick in the NFL Diva Draft.

What is it about wide receivers that make them want to install $75,000 worth of mirrors in their lockers?

Some, like Randy Moss, at least pretend to get older and wiser. Then there are Children of the Corn like Chad Ochocinco, T.O., Brandon Marshall, Plaxico Burress and Braylon Edwards who slash and burn their way through the league.

None of them started their careers on such a self-absorbed note.

"All the diva stuff like that, we don't have time for it," Singletary said. "We're working hard and going in a different direction. Anything else that enters into the picture does not fit."

At least you can believe Singletary's zero-tolerance stance. He's the coach who banished a seemingly disinterested Vernon Davis to the locker room during a game last year.

Now that was a humbling experience, and it helped turn the No. 1 pick into a team leader. There's no reason to want Crabtree to fail, but wouldn't it be fun to see him get the Davis treatment?

"All I can do," he said, "is just come in here and be the best that I can be."

On that note, Crabtree left to begin his first day on the job. Hopefully he didn't stop along the way to order a gold Jacuzzi.

Michael Crabtree Still a Question Mark originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 21:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: 49ers Sign Michael Crabtree

Michael David Smith — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 06:47:00 EST

Filed under: 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers reportedly signed their first-round draft pick Michael Crabtree Wednesday morning, bringing to an end a long contract negotiation that saw Crabtree sit out all of training camp, the preseason and the first four games of the regular season.

Jay Glazer of FOX Sports is reporting that the team and Crabtree have agreed to a six-year contract that can void to five years if Crabtree, a wide receiver out of Texas Tech, meets certain performance incentives.

But the big question, which has not yet been answered, is which side caved in on the financial terms. Crabtree believed he deserved as much money as the $23.5 million guaranteed that No. 7 overall pick Darrius Heyward-Bey got from the Raiders. The 49ers had offered Crabtree a guarantee of about $16 million.

The negotiations between Crabtree and the 49ers had been so difficult that there was talk that Crabtree could sit out the entire 2009 season and re-enter the NFL draft in 2010. But now Crabtree is signed, and he could be on the field for the 49ers as soon as Sunday's game against the Falcons

For updates, follow me on Twitter @MichaelDavSmith.

Report: 49ers Sign Michael Crabtree originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 06:47:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Suicide Pool Solution: Week 4

Brett Pollakoff — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: 49ers, Chicago Bears, Colts, NFL Gambling

Each week, FanHouse takes a deeper look at the obvious -- and not so obvious -- options for your NFL suicide pool. Standard rules apply: pick one team to win straight up (no point spreads), and each team may only be used once.

If you were alive in your pool heading into Week 3, then it's pretty much a given that you're alive as we get ready for Week 4. With no major surprises, and with the obvious pick in the Ravens cruising to an easy blowout victory, even the most inexperienced of players couldn't help but advance.

While there might not be one team that sticks out as the clear-cut, obvious choice this week, a few games should provide the opportunity to make it safely to Week 5. Let's take a look.

The Colts are hosting the Seahawks, and this would appear as good a place as any to go with your pick this week. Seattle comes into this one with Seneca Wallace at quarterback, who has virtually no chance of matching the production from his counterpart on the other team, Peyton Manning.

Manning has thrown for over 300 yards in each of his team's first three games, and has seven touchdowns to just two interceptions on the year. The only shot that Seattle has is to try to play keep away from the Colts, like the Dolphins did somewhat successfully two weeks ago. But even then, Manning got hot when he finally did get his chances, and Indy still came away with the win.

Yes, the Colts appear to be a solid choice this week. But while they're unlikely to face a weaker team at home all season, a quick look at the weeks ahead shows that you may want to save them -- possibly for Week 7.

Not to get too far ahead of ourselves, but the Colts will face the Rams in St. Louis that week. And while I usually advise against taking road teams unless absolutely necessary, the Week 7 schedule doesn't feature a single game with a dominant team playing a weak one at home. Most of the teams you'd look at that week are on the road, and with the Rams being among the worst teams in the league, along with the Colts coming off their bye week, I'd rather try to keep Indy in my back pocket, just in case.

Of course, you would have to make it that far to do that. Which means you'd have to find someone else to go with this week. No problem: we have options. One of which is the 49ers hosting the aforementioned Rams.

San Francisco really outplayed the Vikings -- on the road -- for most of the game last week. They lost on a last-second touchdown pass, which surely must have stung. But the Niners have looked solid so far, and even with Frank Gore out of this one with an ankle injury, fantasy football players know from the preseason that Glen Coffee should be a more-than-capable backup.

If you're leery of the 49ers without Gore, how about the Texans hosting the Raiders? Houston has been really up and down, and to be honest, an embarrassment on defense against the run. But despite Jamarcus Russell having his career game against the Texans last season, he's looked absolutely abysmal this year. When you add in the fact that the Raiders have just the 20th ranked rushing offense, I'm not really worried about taking the Texans to bounce back here.

Speaking of bad teams on the road, Tampa Bay is in Washington to face the Redskins. You might, might be able to skate by with the 'Skins this week, but have fun sweating out four quarters of atrocious football in order to get there. Just ask anyone who rode Washington to a Week 2 win, as they barely beat the Rams, 9-7.

Our final option is the Bears hosting the Lions. Detroit did break their 19-game losing streak with a home victory over the Redskins last week, but making it two in a row on the road in Chicago is asking a lot. Sure, the Bears struggled in Seattle last week, and as one astute observer pointed out, they "beat Pittsburgh and Seattle ONLY because of missed field goals of 43, 38, 34 and 43 yards." But they should certainly be able get it done against Detroit at home this week ... shouldn't they?

So to recap, the Colts look like the best option. But if you can talk yourself into liking any of the other games enough, Indy might be worth saving for a tougher week down the road, and one that has certainly appears to have fewer available options.

Good luck this week.

Suicide Pool Solution: Week 4 originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 04 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Brett Favre Tosses Game-Winning Touchdown for Vikings

Shane Bacon — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 16:53:00 EST

Filed under: 49ers, Vikings

This is why they got him.

Not for his name or the blocks he can throw downfield during a random pass play. It wasn't for his grit or his scruff or his record number of starts. The Vikings picked up Brett Favre because, unlike anyone they've had in five years, he can make plays with arms.

On a Sunday in the Metrodome, Favre did just that, scrambling around as the clock ticked away, down by four to a scrappy 49ers team that was looking to go 3-0 for the first time since 1998, and tossed one of those cannon throws towards the end zone, where Greg Lewis made the catch of the year so far in the NFL -- a snag that moved the Vikings to 3-0, and commenced the gushing over No. 4.

More: Harvin's TD Return | Jags Edge Texans | Ravens Rout Browns

"It's hard to even recall all of 'em. This one was pretty special," Favre said.

Without that pass, it would have been a mediocre effort by the Vikings, at best. Adrian Peterson couldn't get anything going on the ground, rushing for just 85 yards and failing to find the end zone. The tough Minnesota defense let 49ers quarterback Shaun Hill pick them apart most of the afternoon, even after star running back Frank Gore went down following just one rush.

"I've had some hard losses. This is just another one for the list," 49ers cornerback Nate Clements said. "We just have to keep chopping away."

The player of the game before the Favre pass was probably Vernon Davis, who had two touchdowns and 96 yards receiving for the 49ers. All that was erased when the Vikings got the ball back with 89 seconds left in the game, down 24-20. On that drive alone, Favre had six of his 24 completions, including the 32-yard game winner to Lewis, who had zero catches up to that point.

Now, the praise will start for Favre and the Vikings. No matter your take on Brett, you have to believe that those type of plays wouldn't have happened if Minnesota didn't pick him up in the offseason. He directed the offense down the field, and placed that ball in a position that only Lewis could have caught it.

If you didn't see the catch, video is below. There are probably a lot of words that you couldn't use to describe Mr. Favre (stable being one of them), but the man is exciting, and Sunday at the Metrodome was a perfect example.

Brett Favre Tosses Game-Winning Touchdown for Vikings originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 27 Sep 2009 16:53:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Frank Gore Solidifying His Spot as One Of NFL's Top Running Backs

Nancy Gay — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 15:15:00 EST

Filed under: 49ers, Vikings, NFL Interviews, FanHouse Exclusive

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Two weeks into the 2009 NFL season, 49ers' running back Frank Gore already has experienced his nightmare and dream scenarios. And both keep him up at night.

There was the horror of rushing for only 30 yards in the season-opening victory against the Arizona Cardinals. And then there was the validation of dominating the Seahawks' defense and producing 207 yards, a career-high 246 scrimmage yards and two of the longest scoring runs of his career, 79 and 80 yards, in a Week 2 victory at Candlestick Park.

More Coverage: Niners-Vikings Preview | Full Week 3 Schedule

"He calls after the game, which is the only time I have to sleep. He calls and I have to talk to him. Win or lose, he calls,'' said a laughing 49ers offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye, who is in his first year working with Gore, but already has experienced the intense passion with which the fifth-year power rusher approaches the game.

Gore will square off against the NFL's leading rusher Sunday, Minnesota Vikings star Adrian Peterson, at the Metrodome, in a showdown between unbeaten teams and the conference's top-two running backs. Peterson, who is listed as probable despite a sore back, has 272 rushing yards. Gore, who is probable with a sore ankle, has 237.

For the 49ers, it's a chance to start the season 3-0 for the first time since 1998. And while 49ers' coach Mike Singletary is adamant he doesn't want this to be a Peterson vs. Gore showdown, it will be impossible to completely prevent his emotionally charged running back from focusing on the matchup.

"I'm not gonna make this me against Adrian Peterson -- I just want us to win," says Gore, who earned his fourth NFC Player of the Week award last week and his first since Week 12 of 2007. "But I'll be watching him, and hopefully I'll keep this going. I'm just a guy who cares so much about the game and cares about what he does on the field."

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San Francisco 49ers Photos

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Nate Burleson, right, is tackled on a punt-return in the third quarter during an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in San Francisco, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009. 49ers' Delanie Walker (46) pursues.

Ben Margot, AP

San Francisco 49ers Photos

In this Nov. 10, 2008, photo, San Francisco 49ers coach MIke Singletary shouts instructions to his players in an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Glendale, Ariz. Twenty-eight years after Singletary and Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier met as rookies teammates with the Chicago Bears, they remain the closest of friends. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Ben Margot, AP

SAN FRANCISCO - SEPTEMBER 20: Jed York, team president and owner of the San Francisco 49ers waits to go out for a half time presentation during home opener as the San Francisco 49ers host the Seattle Seahawks at Candlestick Park September 20, 2009 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by David Paul Morris/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jed York

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SAN FRANCISCO - SEPTEMBER 20: (L-R) Former San Francisco 49ers Joe Montana, Roger Craig and Dwight Clark walk onto the field for a half time presentation during home opener as the San Francisco 49ers host the Seattle Seahawks at Candlestick Park September 20, 2009 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by David Paul Morris/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Joe Montana;Roger Craig;Dwight Clark

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SAN FRANCISCO - SEPTEMBER 20: Former San Francisco 49er Dwight Clark walks onto the field for a presentation during half time during home opener as the San Francisco 49ers host the Seattle Seahawks at Candlestick Park September 20, 2009 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by David Paul Morris/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Dwight Clark

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SAN FRANCISCO - SEPTEMBER 20: Former 49ers Steve Young (L), Roger Craig (C) and Joe Montana (R) wait to go onto the field for a half time presentation during home opener as the San Francisco 49ers host the Seattle Seahawks at Candlestick Park September 20, 2009 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by David Paul Morris/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Steve Young;Roger Craig;Joe Montana

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SAN FRANCISCO - SEPTEMBER 20: Former 49ers Roger Craig (L) and Joe Montana wait to go out onto the field for a half time presentation during home opener as the San Francisco 49ers host the Seattle Seahawks at Candlestick Park September 20, 2009 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by David Paul Morris/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Roger Craig;Joe Montana

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SAN FRANCISCO - SEPTEMBER 20: Eddie DeBartolo Jr, (R) former owner of the San Francisco 49ers, looks up at the stands as fans greet him just before half time during home opener as the San Francisco 49ers host the Seattle Seahawks at Candlestick Park September 20, 2009 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by David Paul Morris/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Eddie DeBartolo Jr

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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Seneca Wallace (15) fumbles the ball under pressure by the San Francisco 49ers in the third quarter at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California, on Sunday, September 20, 2009. (Ray Chavez/Contra Costa Times/MCT)

MCT

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Shaun Hill is pushed out of bounds by Seattle Seahawks' Aaron Curry in the third quarter at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California, on Sunday, September 20, 2009. (Ray Chavez/Contra Costa Times/MCT)

MCT

Last week was a Gore masterpiece. The touchdown bursts of 79 and 80 yards, both breakaway charges through the gap, followed by afterburner sprints away from the Seahawks' secondary, put him in rare company -- he and Barry Sanders are the only two players in NFL history to have a pair of touchdown runs of at least 75 yards in one game.

"Everything just went perfect," says Gore, who posted his 16th career 100-yard performance in the win over Seattle. "Great blocking from the line, my fullback, the receivers. That's how it all comes together.

"Then for me, I feel even better when I get those yards, but I'm also blocking for my quarterback or doing something positive in the passing game."

In a league filled with me-first running backs, Gore, 26, is a refreshing, delightful throwback. He has few interests outside his job. But that dedication and focus comes at a price, Raye concedes.

"He just loves football. And it's important to him to be successful and to have his team be successful, and that's been a plus," says Raye, who finds himself tending to a player so obsessed with perfection, he can hardly tolerate anything less.

This is a running back so singularly focused on football and hitting the hole, he'll break down if he doesn't fulfill his own high expectations. The pain is palpable. "You try to learn how to handle that emotion better, but it always will hurt you inside if you're not performing," Gore admits.

Rewind to 2007, Gore's third season, following a 37-16 loss at Pittsburgh. After struggling to pound out 39 yards on 14 carries, Gore was so disconsolate afterward, he put his head on a reporter's shoulder and fought off tears of despair as he poured out his soul, talking about every yard fought for but lost.

Says Raye, "My approach is to have him understand that his performance is dependent on the coordination of 10 other people. As long as he's doing his part, his reads are correct and he's playing aggressive, he'll have ups and downs. But they'll be more goods than bads.

"Don't let your lows be so low and your highs be so high, which is a problem for Frank emotionally. It's not so much of a problem, but it's a part of who he is."

Gore says he's learning to better manage his often-fragile mental state after games.

"When I was younger, everything in my mind was tied to me getting big yards," he says. "Now, when things aren't there, if the other team is playing great defense and playing the run really well -- nah, I can't do that anymore."

As a standout back at the University of Miami, Gore experienced plenty of raw elation and anguish. In 2001, he rushed for 575 yards and five touchdowns on 62 carries as a true freshman. Then he shredded the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during spring practice in 2002, which cost him a year devoted to rehabilitation.

"Those things made me who I am; I don't take anything for granted out there," Gore says of his rise, stumble and return to greatness at Miami.

Today, he's learned that even the NFL's elite backs have bad days.

"Just watching other guys who are great, when they don't have big [rushing] days, but they'll do other things like blocking or catching the ball, you know? I had to realize that a lot of people game plan to stop the run," Gore says.

The Vikings no doubt will do that -- Minnesota's defense has allowed only two 100-yard individual rushers in the past 50 games (Steven Jackson in 2006; Ryan Grant in '07).

This is where the 49ers' improved run blocking comes in.

"I just try to get him just a little crease, and he gets the rest on his own," says fullback Moran Norris, who does a lot of heavy lifting behind the scenes that Gore and the 49ers notice but casual fans may not. "When the line is blocking, I just get him that little crease."

Says Gore, "I just need something to work with. I see a crease, I hit it. Last week I looked back and I told myself, 'Just run straight ahead. They're just gonna have to catch me.' "

In 2006, Gore's breakout season as a full-time starter, he set a franchise record with 2,180 combined yards (1,695 rushing, 485 receiving), making him the NFC rushing champion and earning him All-Pro honors.

He's truly special, says Raye, who has worked with some of the league's most outstanding running backs in his 32 years as an NFL coach.

"Frank is deceptive. He's short, but he's not small. He has power and great initial quickness and change. And so you have to wrap him up, and he's quick in the hole. He has great second-level vision," Raye says. "He's very similar, competitive-wise, to Marcus Allen. He has a combination of Curtis Martin's shiftiness, but he has more speed than Curtis -- he has a second gear. He's like Eric Dickerson, but he's not that fast; when he breaks, he can go all the way like Eric could. He doesn't have Earl Campbell's brute strength, but he has vision like Earl did.

"So he's a combination of all of those guys that I've had. You take that and you couple it with his passion to be successful, and you've got a pretty good player."

Frank Gore Solidifying His Spot as One Of NFL's Top Running Backs originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sat, 26 Sep 2009 15:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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O-Line Notes: 49ers Can Run, But Struggle to Pass Block

JJ Cooper — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 09:15:00 EST

Filed under: 49ers, Jaguars, Vikings, NFL Analysis

Every week we're logging each and every sack to determine who was to blame, how long it took for the sack to happen and how the sack happened. Here are the notes pulled from watching Week Two's sacks.

It's worth throwing in a disclaimer. It's not always easy to determine who was responsible for a sack, especially if there is a line twist or blitz pickup involved. But these are logged as best as can be done without knowing the line protection calls.

o. The 49ers' offensive line did manage to block well enough to free up Frank Gore for 207 yards rushing, but they haven't solved their pass blocking problems at right tackle. San Francisco signed ex-Jaguars tackle Tony Pashos to give Adam Snyder some competition. Snyder started against the Seahawks but they split time at right tackle, and both gave up sacks.

MOST SACKS ALLOWED
Sacks allowed by offensive linemen making no account for time the quarterback held the ball
Player	Sacks Allowed
Adam Snyder, San Fran.	5
Anthony Collins, Cincinnati	4
Daryn Colledge, Green Bay	3
Demetrius Bell, Buffalo	3
John St. Clair, Cleveland	3
Floyd Womack, Cleveland	2.5
Max Starks, Pittsburgh	2.5
ADJUSTED SACKS ALLOWED
Sacks allowed by offensive linemen after subtracting sacks that can be blamed on a quarterback holding the ball
Player	Sacks Allowed
Adam Snyder, San Fran.	4
Anthony Collins, Cincinnati	3
John St. Clair, Cleveland	3
Floyd Womack, Cleveland	2.5
Many tied with	2

Pashos gave up one sack when he was beaten by Lawrence Jackson on a speed rush. But that's still better than Snyder. Snyder gave up two more sacks and now has given up an NFL worst five sacks in two games. Four of those sacks came on plays where the quarterback was hit in less than 2.7 seconds.

Expect to see Pashos take more and more of the playing time as he learns the 49ers playbook, Snyder's not that bad in run blocking, but his pass blocking woes are simply too much to take.

o. Packers fill-in left tackle Daryn Colledge is a little more famous than he would like to be this week after Antwan Odom picked up five sacks against Green Bay, but Browns right tackle John St. Clair struggled just as much in Cleveland's loss to the Broncos.

St. Clair was beaten for three of Elvis Dumervill's four sacks. On two of them Dumervill ran past St. Clair on the outside. On the third, Dumervill had spooked St. Clair enough with his speed to get leverage for a power rush, even though St. Clair outweighs Dumervill by nearly 60 pounds. Dumervill's fourth sack came on a play where safety Brian Dawkins flushed Brady Quinn and Dumervill picked up the sack that Dawkins forced.

o. The Jaguars gave up four sacks against the Cardinals last week, but don't blame their young offensive line too much. Rookie tackles Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton were each beaten for one sack. On the Jaguars' third sack, quarterback David Garrard had four seconds to throw the ball despite a seven-man rush. But because of the Jaguars' inept group of receivers, Garrard couldn't find anyone open and was pulled down for a sack 4.2 seconds after the snap.

Giving a quarterback four seconds to throw against a seven-man blitz is outstanding protection, but it didn't matter. The Jaguars' fourth sack allowed was similar as Garrard couldn't find anyone to throw to so he tucked and took the sack from a six-man blitz 3.2 seconds after the snap.

There was a comment over on the Jaguars.com Ask Vic column questioning whether Garrard holds the ball too long. To give a little more detail to answer that question Garrard has held the ball for 3.2 seconds or longer on three of his six sacks. On one of the other three he was hit just 1.8 seconds after taking the snap, which is barely enough time to get set in the pocket. And the other two sacks came 2.6 and 2.8 seconds after the snap. Considering how rarely Jaguars receivers get open, that seems like a decent performance on Garrard's part.

Monroe has now given up two sacks in two games and Britton has given up one which isn't bad for a team that is starting a pair of rookie tackles.

o. Vikings rookie right tackle Phil Loadholt had a very solid NFL debut against the Browns. He struggled a little more in week two to give up a pair of sacks. One of them was clearly his fault when defensive end Jason Hunter ran right past him for a sack. Loadholt's other sack is more accurately charged to Brett Favre. The Vikings quarterback held the ball for more than 3.5 seconds while trying to make something happen on a third down play.

O-Line Notes: 49ers Can Run, But Struggle to Pass Block originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 09:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Former Jets Assistant: Favre's Late Arrival Hampered Offense

Nancy Gay — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: 49ers, Jets, Vikings, FanHouse Exclusive

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Quarterback Brett Favre was never fully incorporated into the New York Jets offense last season until mid to late-October, says one-time Jets offensive assistant Jimmy Raye, who is now the San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator -- and will face his former QB Sunday at the Metrodome.

Raye also revealed Thursday that Favre's torn biceps tendon forced the Jets to severely limit his throws during practices late in the 2008 season.

"As best I can remember, that was very difficult for us," said Raye, who was running backs coach with the Jets from 2006-08. He said Favre's late arrival during the exhibition season -- he was traded from the Packers to the Jets on Aug. 7, 2008 for a conditional fourth-round pick -- proved disruptive for an offense that had grown accustomed to Chad Pennington.

As a result, Favre and the Jets got off to a 3-3 start, losing a particularly difficult 16-13 game at Oakland on Oct. 19 that seemed to sap a lot of the veteran quarterback's enthusiasm.

"We were on the road the second or third preseason game [when Favre arrived], and it was somewhere late-October, mid-October, before ... it took us most of the month of September just to get accustomed to his cadence," Raye recalled.

"I haven't thought about it in awhile, but it was very difficult for Laveranues [Coles] and Jerricho [Cotchery], because it was a totally different style. They didn't have the time to work together in the game plan situations."

The 49ers (2-0) take on the Vikings (2-0) in Minnesota, and Raye concedes he has no idea why Favre's transition there appears to be smoother than it was with the Jets. Favre also joined the Vikings late in training camp, signing on Aug. 18.

"I'm not sure about the situation he's in now, but it took us a long time going from Pennington, who had been there forever, to [Favre]," Raye said of the '08 Jets. "The adjustment was monumental.

"I don't know anything about the Vikings' situation, but all I can tell you is, for us [the Jets], it was a big adjustment."

Raye also said that the Jets didn't game plan around Favre's torn biceps injury -- the one that former coach Eric Mangini failed to reveal on the weekly NFL injury reports and eventually cost the Jets franchise and Mangini a combined $125,000 in fines from the league.

But Raye said the Jets, who had won five in a row following the Oakland loss, lost momentum in part because Favre's injury hampered their production. The Jets lost four of their last five games in '08, finishing 9-7 and out of playoff contention.

"We kept doing what we were doing," Raye said of the game planning, "and we kept slipping further and further into the muck. The way the injury affected us was in preparation because during the week, we didn't throw the ball very much. He needed a lot of time to receive treatment to get to the point that on Sunday, he felt that he could play and throw.

"What hurt us was the lack of continuity during the week, because he was on a throw-limit during the week and of those were basically route review and the ball wasn't coming out. So it hurt us more in the physical application of what we were doing in preparation, as we got into the week."

Former Jets Assistant: Favre's Late Arrival Hampered Offense originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: 49ers Accuse Jets of Tampering With Michael Crabtree

Michael David Smith — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 08:35:00 EST

Filed under: 49ers, Jets

The San Francisco 49ers have reportedly complained to the league office that the New York Jets tampered with their first-round draft pick, Michael Crabtree, an accusation that -- if true -- would constitute a serious violation of NFL rules.

The New York Daily News is reporting that the 49ers have asked the league office to investigate. It's not clear what, exactly, the 49ers think the Jets did, but the Daily News suggests that the 49ers believe the Jets contacted Crabtree's agent to express their interest in him, either in a trade with the 49ers this year or in the draft next year, if Crabtree refuses to sign with San Francisco and re-enters the draft.

Knowing another team is interested in his services would give Crabtree more leverage as he continues his contract negotiations, which are still going on, two weeks into the season. Crabtree is the only draft pick who did not sign a contract before the regular season.

The Jets have been accused -- and exonerated -- of tampering in the past. The Patriots filed tampering charges related to wide receiver Deion Branch in 2006, but the league cleared New York. There were also reports this year that the Broncos thought the Jets had tampered with wide receiver Brandon Marshall, but no formal tampering charges were filed.

"It's not accurate, it's not true, but we'll let the league figure this out," Jets coach Rex Ryan said at a press conference at Jets headquarters Monday.

Ryan added that he found out this morning that San Francisco had filed the charge, but was not aware of the specifics: "I don't care what the specifics are. It's just not true."

Report: 49ers Accuse Jets of Tampering With Michael Crabtree originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 21 Sep 2009 08:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith Lead 2010 Hall Of Fame Nominees

Calvin Watkins — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: 49ers, Cowboys, Ravens, Steelers, Titans, Vikings, NFL Hall of Fame

The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced the nominees for induction into its Class of 2010 on Saturday.

Wide receiver Jerry Rice and running back Emmitt Smith headline a group of 131 players, coaches and contributors that make up the list of modern-era nominees for election. Former Lions cornerback and current Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau and former Broncos running back Floyd Little are the two senior nominees that were picked in August by the Hall of Fame's Senior Selection Committee.

The semifinalists will be announced on Nov. 27, and the modern-era finalists will be chosen on Jan. 7. The entire 2010 class will be revealed the day before the Super Bowl on Feb. 6 in Miami.

Several key, recognizable contributors to the game were also nominated -- including former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue, and owners Bud Adams (Oilers and Titans) and Art Modell (Browns and Ravens). First-year-eligible nominees outside of Rice and Smith include kicker Gary Anderson, wide receiver Tim Brown and running back Eddie George.

Running back Herschel Walker, wide receivers Cris Carter, Sterling Sharp and Andre Reed also were nominated. The complete list of 131 can be found on the NFL Hall of Fame's website.

Smith, the league's all-time leading rusher, and Rice, its all-time leading receiver, are heavy favorites to be voted in. LeBeau is also a popular pick to earn a spot.

Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith Lead 2010 Hall Of Fame Nominees originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sat, 19 Sep 2009 18:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sorting the Sunday Pile, Week 1: Must-Win Games

Ryan Wilson — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: 49ers, Arizona Cardinals, Chiefs, Giants, Ravens, Redskins

Sorting the Sunday Pile looks back at the NFL weekend that was. It's also an unofficial Brady Quinn blog.

A year ago, Matt Cassel got his chance to be an NFL starting quarterback when then-Chiefs safety Bernard Pollard blew up Tom Brady's knee. Cassel led the Patriots to 11 wins, and played well enough for the Chiefs to trade for him in the offseason.

Smash cut to Cassel tweaking his knee during Kansas City's third preseason game (God's sense of humor is underrated), which forced him to miss the first Sunday of the 2009 season. Any chances the Chiefs -- an outfit that won six times in their last 32 games -- had against the Ravens were out the window with Cassel on the bench.

Except that Brodie Croyle, who got his first start since October 19, 2008, actually looked like he knew what he was doing. It was refreshing, frankly. He finished 16 of 24 for 177 yards, 2 TDs and no interceptions. And that was against one of the league's most menacing defense.

Yes, the Chiefs lost 38-24, but it was tied 24-24 with just over five minutes to go. Not sure if that says more about Todd Haley's R. Lee Ermey coaching style, or that the Ravens might not be quite ready to challenge the Steelers in the AFC North, but if there's ever a reason to be pumped about a moral victory I think this is it.

More than that, though, does Croyle, the Chiefs' 2006 third-round pick, deserve more playing time? Maybe. But here's the thing: Croyle's a Carl Peterson-Herm Edwards guy. Cassel's a Scott-Pioli-Haley guy. And even though he struggled in preseason, there's no way Cassel doesn't get on the field as soon as he's healthy. That's one of the benefits to playing for a team with absolutely no short-term expectations: you can make all the mistakes you want. At least until the guys who brought you in get canned.

Redskins-Giants Play First Must-Win Game of '09

I suspect we'll start hearing about "must-win games" by the end of the month, which is akin to putting up your Christmas tree on July 5th. With that in mind, let me be the first to declare the first must-win game of the 2009 season: the Week 1 Redskins-Giants get-together. I don't really believe that, but I can envision Washington fans, heads in hands, lamenting their plight after watching Sunday's debaclement.

Last year, then-first-year head coach Jim Zorn was accused of conservative play-calling -- something Joe Gibbs had to deal with early in his second stint with the team (that was before Al Saunders and his 700-page playbook showed up in Ashburn and everything magically got better*) -- and he promised that things would be different this time around. Maybe the changes were subtle because the '09 Jason Campbell looked a lot like the '06-'08 version.

But just like last season, it's not completely Campbell's fault. The offensive line deserves some blame, as does the defense. But Campbell's an easy target, except that now, with Colt Brennan on injured reserve and Chase Daniel on the Saints' practice squad, it's not clear who the anti-Campbell contingent would want to take over the job.

Todd Collins briefly enjoyed the Colt Brennan treatment following the 2007 season, when he led the 'Skins into the playoffs after Campbell was injured. As it turned out, that had more to do with Collins' familiarity with Saunders' scheme than his quarterbacking skills. He looked just as lost as everybody else last preseason in Zorn's version of the West Coast Offense.

So now what? Washington appears as unremarkable as ever, and Zorn's future is tied to Campbell, who is in the last year of his rookie contract. Obviously, the 'Skins need to find a way to get Hunter Smith more involved in the offense. In the meantime, here's your silver lining, 'Skins fans, courtesy of Jim Zorn: "The positive thing is we played hard the whole game. We just didn't have the poise in situations that we needed to."

So there's that.

Michael Crabtree, Somehow Less Relevant

There were plenty of reasons to think that the Cardinals might not repeat as NFC West champs: Kurt Warner is 38 years old and routinely takes a beating during games; Matt Leinart was no closer to winning the starting gig, and he was apparently battling Brian St. Pierre for the backup job early in the preseason; the Seahawks are improved -- and more importantly -- healthy. Plus, before the final month of the 2008 season, when the Cards caught fire and made their Super Bowl run, they were wildly inconsistent.

So despite the expectations, it's not completely surprising that the 49ers came into Glendale and won. But Arizona is a veteran team and, truth be told, this game probably meant more to San Francisco.

Mike Singletary is in his first full year as head coach, and Shaun Hill is the quarterback, beating out the eminently beatable Alex Smith. Hill played the part of game manager (usually considered a pejorative, in this case, it's a compliment), throwing a touchdown and avoiding interceptions, and somehow managed to do it without first-round pick Michael Crabtree.

Part of me hopes Crabtree does decide to re-enter the draft next April and he gets drafted by the Raiders. In the fourth round.

* better = worse, more complicated

Sorting the Sunday Pile, Week 1: Must-Win Games originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 14 Sep 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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