/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/390843/20120930_pjc_se8_107.jpg)
On Sunday, the San Francisco 49ers rebounded from what we can now refer to as a "stupid game" in Week 3 with their first road shutout since 2001, when they beat the New Orleans Saints 38-0. This time 'round, it was an equally helpless team in the New York Jets, but that's mostly because their quarterback tandem of Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow might actually go down in history as the least-intimidating quarterbacks of all time. OF ALL TIME.
Aside from our recap, our postgame notes, some quotes and our Q&A about the wildcat read option, there's still plenty of notes and questions to be answered. I can't be bothered to form each of these into their own posts for you lot, so here it goes.
TED GINN JR. OR KYLE WILLIAMS? - The really simple answer here is "both." Ginn didn't look quite as explosive or elusive as he has been in the past, but that could be due to the fact that he's just now returning from injury. Williams, on the other hand, has looked like greased lightning when he's got the ball in his hands. Still, this doesn't change that Ginn has been one of the very best in the league as a return man in the past. For kick returns, San Francisco should keep a running rotation until somebody makes that big play and earns the job.
ROSTER REDUNDANCY - Misleading headlines, much? There's no redundancy here, as the 49ers seem to be getting use out of everybody they can. Not only are they working in defensive players on some wacky personnel packages that apparently aren't just a passing fad, those defensive players are actually making plays. If you have a spot on the 53-man roster and you have the privilege of being active, Jim Harbaugh is going to find a way to use you.
AHMAD BROOKS THE MODEL OF HARD WORK - Brooks is a player who was released for his work ethic in the past. He was regarded as a physical specimen with a bad attitude and an inability to really try. In his first season with the 49ers, this actually seemed like the case, as well. But he's proven to be as hard working as anybody on the team. He was essentially the only player to hustle and show something in the Week 3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, and he rolled right along against the Jets on Sunday.
STILL MAKING PLAYS, JUST SMARTER, MORE CALCULATED PLAYS - Dashon Goldson has earned the ire of many a 49ers fan due to his style of play in recent years. His play has always been plagued with big mistake after big mistake, permeated with an excellent turnover or big hit to keep him on the field. Last year, he made enough big plays to earn some National attention, but 49ers fans still knew that he was hurting the team an awful lot. That's not really the case this year though, as he's been spending less time trying to maul his own teammates for an interception and more time trying to make a calculated decision.
MEASURED BALL SECURITY, OR OVERTHROWN PASSES? - There was a lot of buzz about quarterback Alex Smith missing some deep throws when corner Kyle Wilson was beat, and the prevailing theory is that Smith simply isn't accurate. I think there's a bit more to it than that, given his style of play. He's risk-averse and I think all of those throws are "my receiver, or nobody" kind of throws. They're overthrown by design, so only a 49er can catch it and it won't result in an interception. It's hard to argue that it happened three times on Sunday, but I do believe it plays a part.
Loading comments...