latopian

 ‏@KyleBonagura #49ers employ the buddy system with Pro Bowl selections. Wait, what?

Justin Smith (#94), Aldon Smith (#99), Dashon Goldson (#38), Donte Whitner (#31), Patrick Willis (#52) and NaVorro Bowman (#53), Joe Staley (#74), Mike Iupati (#77) and RB Frank Gore were all selected to the Pro Bowl Wednesday, headlined by six players on defense.

Sandy Hook - Elegy

(Amazing Grace/Rhema Marvanne, at age 7)

* Final tribute. All children found, including Allison Wyatt.

Rest in peace.

Sandy Hook - A Remembrance

They are not just 'names.'

Sandy Hook - A Remembrance

They are not just 'names.'

(Sing for Absolution/Muse)

Hundreds gathered at New Haven Green for a candlelight vigil to mourn victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown.

Upon conclusion, attendees extinguished their candles with many exchanging the (common liturgical) refrain of “peace be with you.” 

Luv the guy. How can you not? Born in Miami, Hurricane forever, but never a Fin fan.

@TheHawk38 may be a "tackling evangelist," but @DonteWhitner is a takedown poet. Bush beat Bowman & Goldson for a 1st down. Whitner made him pay. 

Photo credits: USAToday, AP, AP.

@Eric_Branch :

“It seemed like everything they called was the best call they could have as a defense.” - Staley

“It seems like they were in the right defense for the things we tried to do.” - Kaepernick

And if they were? So what? Only fools expect to surprise opponents all, most or even half the time. Else, when the numbers are even, there comes a point when it's just about you and him. You beating (outexecuting) the other guy, or letting him beat you. 

Worse? It's a trend, even & perhaps an addiction, like gameplan smack to needy druggies prone to shakes if their coordinator-dealer can't produce the goods, as Staley basically confessed after smashing the Bills: 

"They say it all starts with the guys up front, but it all starts with the play-calling. The coordinator sets up everything. I've been here for a lot of predictable offenses, and no matter how you're executing, those plays look like s-. When you're executing well with plays that are very creative, it creates doubt in defenses' minds"

Oh yeah? If that's the case, send the coaches on your next trip to Hawaii. Paychecks too.

You dump the Volvo for a Ferrari. Everyone oohs & aahs. They say, "What took you so long?" You wonder, "Why did I wait?" On a bright sunny day, you take it for a spin. It purrs. It prowls. It howls & it growls. You're fly and high on sighs as you drive by. But you go too far. Drove right out of the sun and into a storm. You're eye-level with constant splash from the cars ahead.  You hit a puddle ...  then another ... suddenly you're hydroplaning ... spinning ... and realizing kittenish on dry asphalt is skittish on slick pavement. Last thoughts: you live in an area where square/boxy makes more sense than sleek/sexy. And now you're dead.

What a difference a year makes. Well,  not quite. Not quite a year, but yeah, very big difference(s). But first, game ball to 9er D, who scored 2 TDs, collected 5 sacks + 7 hits & literally stuffed New Orleans' plan for balanced O (only 59 yds rushing, 2.8 avg). Meanwhile.

What I know.

I know Smith led the 9er offense on 7 x scoring drives for 36 points (could've been more) against the hottest team (9-win streak) in the league last year featuring a 1st-ranked offense and 13th-ranked defense.

I know Kap just led the 9er offense on 3 x scoring drives for 17 points (could've been more) against a .500 team (3-win streak) featuring a 6th-ranked offense and LAST-ranked defense.

I know Jim Trotter says Harbaugh told Smith that Kap’s promotion was not based on Smith’s health.

I now know Harbaugh just said Smith’s health was a factor in Kap’s promotion.

What I saw.

I saw, again, the high-reward higher-risk potential of a QB in his 10th 11th game, 2nd start.

I also saw, again, picks, near-picks, fumbles, near-fumbles from a 2-start 10th11th-game QB who’s still too open/loose/wide when he sets, doesn’t always tuck when he runs, is willing to throw blindly into coverage without completing reads or progressions when he feels pressure.

(below: Rookie RT Bryce Harris saw his first game reps last week; this week, he may get his first start; photo Saints)

Rookie Bryce Harris replaced Charles Brown (right knee) last week, who replaced Zach Strief (left groin) 3 weeks ago. Strief is practicing and reportedly "ahead of schedule," but the Saints are gobble-jiving whether Strief is good to go. If he isn't, Harris will start. The rookie, meanwhile, initially struggled against Oakland but seems to know what's coming. 

Harris said he doubts the 49ers would change to their already successful defensive scheme just to challenge him, but he expects San Francisco to try to test him early, one way or another.

"I'm sure the first play Brooks is going to come off full blast and try to knock me out and just try to put that intimidation into me. I'm expecting it and I'm just going to handle it accordingly."

Coaches have also noted that there are ways to help inexperience tackles by having running backs and tight ends deliver more "chip" blocks.

"Last week let me get all the nerves out so I don't feel nervous," Harris said. "This week I got all the reps with the first-team. So I got what (the 49ers are) going to do defensively."

Though the Times-Pic says:

Because on paper, the Saints are one of the worst defensive teams in the league, run or pass, including: 2nd worst in QBR allowed, 2nd worst in passing yds allowed, absolute worst in passing yds allowed per attempt, absolute worst in rushing yds allowed, 2nd worst in rushing yds allowed per attempt.

So, with Crabs, Davis, Moss, Manningham and Frank, any QB will do, right?

Maybe. For as much yardage as New Orleans concedes, they're a respectable: 13th in total PDs + picks, only a tick (13th) behind San Francisco (12th) in red-zone scoring percentage allowed, a smudge (21st) less than St. Louis in points per play allowed, tied with San Francisco in forced-fumbles recovered, 12th in turnover margin per game. 

As the gobble gobble turkey jive continues over who or what will start against the Saints, I keep coming back to Harbaugh soliciting feedback from players. Because, truth is, most players prefer any option that a) makes their jobs easier b) raises the odds of success despite increased risk of error. 

Example.  The most memorable aspect of Kap's performance against the Bears (for me) was his willingness to gamble. Not blind, reckless roulette but calculated blackjack based on reads and arm confidence to reach 2nd and even 3rd windows reflected in almost 100% success whenever Kap audibled. Where Smith will often check off for runs, Kap took pass. When Smith eschews covered targets for safer routes, Kap lets it fly. While Smith will readily eat sacks to avoid picks or fumbles in the act of throwing, Kap rarely brings it down. Against the Bears, it was all good. Uncannily good. Was Kap also a bit lucky? Hell yeah. Plus, there was no book & little video on Kap to prepare. The 9ers also, I thought, opened the playbook a little wider at the start to take advantage of Kap's arm -- which immediately flummoxed Chicago's d.

(Below: Mark Ingram doing work; Ingram scored 1 TD, averaged 5.5 in a 38-17 romp over the Raiders last week; photo US Presswire)

San Francisco's run/pass ratio last year was 52%/48%. This season, 53%/47%. The Saints -- riding a 3-win streak -- credit more balance for their success, which Vitt would like to maintain. The 9ers, meanwhile, are allowing 98 rushing yds per game (6th) vs last season's 77 (1st). New Orleans last lost to Denver, who currently rank 5th in rushing yds allowed. The 9ers recently gifted St. Louis with 160 on the ground. Is Vitt blowing smoke? Is Harbaugh (with Smith's demotion)? Something's gotta give. Just hope it isn't our run D. Again. (Or T/Os from our new starting QB).

@NOLANews:

Vitt would like to see the Saints use the winning formula they've displayed during the past three weeks when the Saints have run on 48.5 percent of their downs and passed 51.5 percent of the time.

Todd Bouman, Charlie Frye & Colin Kaepernick. What do they have in common?

The distinction of 130+QBR games (min 12 attempts) in their very first starts. Along with 22 other QBs who logged 130+QBR games over their 1st x 5 starts or 1st x 5 x games.

Bouman & Frye also number among 63 other QBs (66 total, including Kap) who put up 130+QBR games (min 12 attempts) over their first 2 x seasons. 

Point? Exhale. There's no real QB controversy until Smith recovers and Kap proves 1 x fast start won't be the cherry on his cake. Hence, Kap is the starter pending Smith's clearance by doctors and coaches.

Yes, guys like Brady, Brees, Elway, Favre, Kurt Warner, Dan Marino are in the sick' 66. Guess who isn't?

That's right. Joe Montana, GOAT, who didn't log a single 12+attempt 130+QBR game until 1983 (Montana did log an 11-attempt 146-QBR to end 1981, his first full season as a starter).