I just have one question. Where's our run game?

[monstercat]

The game plan was to stop the run and make our WR beat them. When our WR can consistently make teams pay then the running game will improve. Gettis and LaFell took huge steps in doing just that. Making teams pay. Even when Smitty went out our young WR made plays.

I give 2 more weeks. If they make consistent plays teams will have to figure out what other ways to beat us. Right now we have had ONE good game against a below average team. While it only takes one game to start building confidence. I wouldn't get too excited just yet.

Though I loved it...

Go Panthers

Yep, the QB and the WR's not named Steve Smith have to do what they did yesterday on a consistent basis, and the running game will eventually open up big time.

At the very least, yesterday put some good stuff on film for our future opponents to worry about. Before, they just stacked the run and doubled Steve Smith, and that was the sure fire formula for success.

[scpanther22]

lots of complaining about stewart but how did williams do yesterday? was it significantly better than stewart? williams got 2.3 ypc while stewart got 2.0. both had miserable performances.

the reason they both did so poorly is that the 49ers used the same strategy against our offense as the other teams have done. only thing is that the passing game finally made the defense pay for focusing so much of it's attention on the run game. hopefully now the passing game will start to get a little respect in the game planning of opposing defenses. they now know that we have two rookies that can get the job done and david gettis may very well be the real deal. also, it may be that moore pulled his head out of his arse finally.

once defenses start to divert attention from stopping the run to stopping the pass then both guys will take off.

there is still some huge problem with play calling and design, though. it's still predictable and still tries to force too much up the middle and congests everything. the oline still needs to gel and find it's groove but that always takes a few games anyway. if teams start to respect and hold more safeties back to handle smith, gettis, and lafell and if we keep running 3 WR sets, the run game will improve. teams won't be able to allocate so much to getting behind the LoS to stuff the run before 34&28 can build up momentum. both guys need to build up a little steam before they can do their damage. they haven't had the time or space to do it. it doesn't take much but it does take more than defenses have been giving them.

Making the defense pay should have taken people out of the box and when it did we still could not run the ball.

[monstercat]

Making the defense pay should have taken people out of the box and when it did we still could not run the ball.

Give the 49ers a little credit. Regardless of their record, they still have a pretty darn good defense, and Patrick Willis single handedly blew up some of those runs. That guy went to the pro bowl for a reason.

[DaveThePanther2008]

Making the defense pay should have taken people out of the box and when it did we still could not run the ball.

They still didn't take ppl out of the box. Double SS and make #2 beat you. The whole game was like that. They were still more worried about Double Trouble beating them then a Rookie WR with a dozen or so catches to his name.

While I agree we will be much better when Otah gets back, our young guns will be the ones that open the BIG GUNS up.

2 more weeks. I give it 2 more weeks of Gettis and LaFell making plays.

Go Panthers

[rayzor]

Making the defense pay should have taken people out of the box and when it did we still could not run the ball.

it also requires a competent defense, DC, and HC being able to make necessary adjustments. you think the 49ers have that?

[monstercat]

I'm pretty sure Mike Singletary knows a thing or two about how to play defense. He was a pretty darn good DC before he was a HC.