49ers Packers part I 

Takeo Spikes won't play with his sore hamstring, and 49ers defensive coordinator Greg Manusky told KNBR's Rod Brooks that they will fake pressure against Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and then back off to a 4-man rush.

Packers drive: The 49ers give up a score on the opponent's first drive for the first time all year. The Packers gashed them with the run, going with either two tights or a pro set formation for all but two plays. The Packers don't look ready. On a 20-yard completion to tight end Finley, safety Michael Lewis was caught flat-footed on a crossing route. Packers 3-0. 8 plays, 69 yards.

49ers drive: The 49ers go with only pass but get a big run by Frank Gore got them in scoring territory. On third-and-short from the 28, fullback Moran Norris lost yardage. They were able to get yards with the use of Norris as a blocker and should have done that on the short yardage play, without a lead blocker the linebacker was able to come free and stop Norris. Joe Nedney did boot a 47-yarder to tie the game however. 3-3. First time the 49ers have scored on their first drive. Six plays, 51 yards.

Packers drive: The 49ers are playing very conservatively. They've only blitzed once, and they are playing their both safeties back with the corners playing off. It's not working. The 49ers seemed to have prepared for the Packers to throw short, but instead they are going down the field. Shawntae Spencer is following the Packers most explosive receiver, Greg Jennings, all over the field and Spencer is struggling. He gave up a 37-yard reception to him. The 49ers do stiffin in the red zone hold the Pack to a field goal. The 49ers got lucky, Jennings was open in the end zone third down from the 8-yard line, but Rodgers didn't seem him. 6-3 Packers

49ers Drive: Michael Robinson is down after being a lead blocker on a Frank Gore 3-yard run up the middle. Players signaled to the sidelines right away. Robinson was squirming on the ground. Robinson got his head jammed when he hit linebacker Nick Barnett Robinson is now coming off the field gingerly. Gary Plummer on KNBR thinks its a stinger.

49ers Drive Cont: David Baas hurt his right ankle or foot. The 49ers go 3-and-out. On third down, Frank Gore got out late on the check down and Alex Smith didn't have time to go to him. The other three receivers ran deep routes and no one was open. Baas has had ankle problems all year. Smith had a chance to run it on second down and get yardage, instead he threw to incomplete to Morgan on the sidelines. The 49ers are going primarily with run formations that puts Smith under center. They might want to open it up. When Smith came off the field, Mike Singletary told him, "Play the game."

SECOND QUARTER

Packers drive: The 49ers are no longer matching Spencer against Jennings. Tarell Brown and Shawntae Spencer are staying in left and right corner. The 49ers should be beating the Packers on the edges with the Pack's injury problems. Great pressure by Sopoaga to force an intentional grounding. How about Sopoaga, at 330 pounds, running down Rodgers. Looked like Sopoaga was shot out of cannon. Key stop here for the 49ers and momentum killer.

49ers drive: Another 3-and-out, the 49ers have to do something different. They have played with a fullback more in this game than any other. Their strategy seems to be tough running and throwing deep. Not working. Better spread them out and let Smith do his thing.

Packers drive: Touchdown Greg Jennings on a slant and a long run. Bad angle by Dashon Goldson, bad coverage by Tarell Brown who got beat off the jam and not enough speed by Mark Roman in trying to run him down, a 64-yard touchdown. The 49ers secondary is really getting exposed in this game. You get the feeling the Packers are on the verge of a blow out here. The 49ers are going with a dime defense on passing downs because Takeo Spikes isn't playing with his sore hamstring. That formation is getting beat. Anytime Mark Roman is on the field, bad things seem to happen. Rodgers is now 13 of 18 for 188 yards. 13-3 Green Bay. 49ers drive: Sack, incompletion, and a short gain to Crabtree on a slip screen. It's the first completion of the day for San Francisco. One completion, and one first down for in a 22 minutes of football. Meanwhile, the Packers have over 200 yards of offense. It's amazing it's only a 10-point lead for the Packers.

Packers drive: Great coverage by Tarell Brown down the field on Donald Driver on the first play. Curtis Taylor in the game for the first time I've seeen as a safety. The 49ers give up a screen for a first down on 3rd-and-11. On that play, the 49ers bring in Kentwan Balmer as an inside rusher. Really, Kentwan Balmer? When was the last time he even got within 10 feet of the quarterback? The 49ers tried to blitz on that drive and they go scorched. The Packers are doing anything they want. The 49ers defensive line continues to complain about being held. They should worry about stopping the Packers. Rodgers has some speed! Wow, Brown is really getting beat. He missed a tackle Jordy Nelson on a smoke pass for a 6-yard TD. It's 20-3 and the onslaught is on. Over the 300 yards of offense for the Packers.

49ers Drive: Surprise a 3 and out. Packers couldn't have scripted this any better. They are doing anything they want.

Packers Drive: Green Bay gets a field goal and it's amazing they are only up 23-3. Green Bay has 367 yards of offense in the first half. Wow, imagine if they doubled that in the second half.

FIRST HALF ASSESSMENT: This was the most conservative game plan of the season for the 49ers. Little blitzing on defense, safeties back, cornerbacks off. On offense, lots of pro set formations with two backs a tight end and two receivers. Even though the 49ers known they have a spread quarterback, they are refusing to let him function out of that formation. What are they doing? If they aren't going to open up, then they will not know if Alex Smith can run that type of offense at the pro level. This really makes me question whether Jimmy Raye is the coordinator for Smith. The 49ers aren't making the playoffs, they should adjust their offense to suit what Smith and Crabtree do. Otherwise, the 49ers are just stagnating.

Posted By: Kevin Lynch (Email) | November 22 2009 at 09:54 AM