FanNation - The Republic of Sport

Did anyone else just see what I just saw? Was that the Niners going 85 yards on a game winning drive? Was that Alex Smith leading that Drive? Did the offense actually win a game without Frank Gore gaining a single yard on the last drive? Wow that last drive was Sexay...

...BUT lets not forget the rest of that game. Let's grade Dem Niners

Passing Offense: D-

I'm Being nice because they got in together on that last drive but 66 yards in 3 quarters, Are you serious? No imagination threw the passing game at all. It seem the plan was to watch Frank Gore run for 6-8 yards and throw a short pass for the 1st down..But what end up happening was Frank Gore would run for 1-2 yards and they still ran the same short passes and then have to punt. Once again, I want the Diapers to be taken off. Takes some shots downfield, Get Vernon Davis one on one, Hit Arnaz Battle near the sideline, Do something besides drop back look around for 5 seconds and dish it off to Frank Gore for 2 yards.

With that said that comeback was fantastic. He was taking chances and making throws that a number 1 pick should be making; and that run may have been the best play of his career up to this point. But not every team is the Arizona Cardinals so they need to see alot more improvement for I can Crown them for the NFC West like I did in my Predictions.

Running Offense: C-

Frank Gore had never really succeeded against the Cards so I didn't expect him to dominate but I was expecting more than an average game which is exactly what he had. He didn't get a lot of help threw the passing game but he didn't really help himself. A combination of poor called plays and average execution leads to this grade. Also, What was up with all the drops Frank? That's going to have to stop.

Passing Defense: A

They may be the Arizona Cardinals but last time I check they had at lease 270 yards threw air the last 4 times they played the Niners and also they still had that talent in the passing game. Maybe they had a bad game, but from what I saw no one was really open out thier. They had some nice coverage on everyone. 7 catches and 42 yards for Boldin and Fitzy combined and 2 picks is a pretty good day. Only reason they don't get the plus is because of the TD allowed but all around nice day. Also big up to getting pressue on Mr. Leinart. The Cards line is a work in progress but they were pressuring him all game long. It's hard to react because it was the Cards tho.

Running Defense: C

161 yards seems like alot but considering they needed 2 reverses, and a goofy quarterback run to get 38 of them takes a little off the hurt. Still the Niners did not look solid on the running D. Their were times they stopped EJ in the backfield but a lot of other he would not get touched for 3-4 yards. The Niners Run D has to improve dramatically if they want to make a serious playoff run. I do think it is better than the team last season that allowed 3 different running back to run for 4 TD's BUT I still think they have a while to go. They look inconsistant all night in stopping the run and Let EJ get 92 yards and a TD with a shaky offensive line and no passing game. With Stephen Jackson and Shaun Alexander in the division they need to step it up. Okay game tonight tho.

Special Teams: B

Nothing got blocked, Nedney made all his field goals, Hicks averaged over 20, Williams averaged over 10.. What more could you ask for.

Coaching: B-

The last drive went well, but once again where was the offense imagination in the first half. I just kept seeing a 10-year-old Madden offense of run-run-pass or run-short pass-shorter pass. On Defense they did a nice job of keeping pressure on Matt Leinart all game long but I wish they stuff more men in the box to help stop the run. The timeouts were used a little early for my taste but I didn't know if that was Nolan or just some Miscommunication or just Alex Smith. Also at the end of the half, when I just called a timeout to get the ball back, I think I tell Alex Smith to hurl it down field and let my Mr. Click Clack do his thing. With all that said he called the game okay and plus he look fantanstic while doing it which bumps him a full letter grade up. Try to get a little more creative with the offense please..

Cardinals Grade: D+

Either 2 things are going to happen. A) the Cardinals are really bad or B) the Niners actually stepped up and played solid D. Being the optomist that I am, I think the Niners looked good on D. Matt Lienart was being chased around all night and couldn't find anybody. Also that defense got carved by Alex smith down the stretch...But at the end of the day it was still the Arizona Cardinals. They looked a lil better on D but I couldn't tell if that was the Cards being good or the Niners playing badly. They had 10 penalties and at one point 5 in a 7 play span. They looked really bad. But like I said, Its hard to tell if it was The Cardinals being the Cardinals or the Niners D coming out to play. I think it was Partly the Cards.

Offensive Game Ball: Alex Smith

Hey when you lead a fourth quarter drive and have the longest play of the game by running the football, Your 15-31 goes away. Arnaz Battle would have gotten the game ball if he did almost kill my hopes by fumbling into the Endzone. I don't know if this would have been written if the Cards recovered

Defensive Game Ball: Patrick Willis

He has DROY written all over him. He was all over the place today. 11 tackles, 9 solo, from what i saw about 3 hurries. I can see the Singletary-Willis Relationship being like a Hans Solo-Annikin Skywalker relationship with the Pupil becoming better than the teacher. Plus P-willie just rolls off the toungue.

One optimistic note going into St. Louis: Alex Smith looked like a Number 1 pick when the Niners needed him the most

One Pessimistic note going into St. Louis: Alex Smith looked like a undrafted free agent the first 3 quarters.

FINAL GRADE FOR WEEK ONE: C-

Lots of kinks to work out. That Defense isn't the type to rely on to win games. That offense is going to have to find some answers

PREDICTIONS FOR WEEK 2: 24-17 Win

Losing Orlando Pace will be huge for that team. I think the stuggle a little bit in the passing game while Frank Gore gets his sexy back against a team that still stuggles against the run. P-willie records his first NFL sack.

Final thoughts: 11 is going to have to look more like 16 a lot more than the final drive. With that said, I'm glad he got a game like that under his belt. I loved the poise and the decision making, and it those kind of intangibles that make QB's successful in the NFL...And with all that said, It was still only the Arizona Cardinals.