04/20/24
November 11, 2008
49ers Let Cardinals Off the Hook: Tony Kornheiser was right -- the 49ers snatching defeat out of the jaws of victory must have been scripted -- or that's just what bad teams always do. The 49ers coaching staff and players totally mismanaged the end of the game. With no timeouts and less than 20 seconds, you keeping throwing -- or spiking -- the ball until the last play ... then maybe you run.
First, the receiver Hill choked and stumbled. Then with first down and about twenty seconds AND NO TIME OUTS, YOU MUST throw the ball into the end zone until fourth down comes up, THEN maybe you run or throw it. Then, on the last play when the referee started the game clock with 4 seconds remaining, you MUST spike it so as to not rush (no pun intended) the play. Then you set up and either run or throw on your last play.
That was the worst two-minute drill I have ever seen. First down on the two yard line with 40 seconds left, and the 49ers QB took 20 full seconds to spike the ball! Then they call a running play up the middle with more than two yards to gain and two seconds left.
Singletary's head coaching career is not going to be a long one, I think.
posted by rcade at 03:38 PM on November 11, 2008
Ditka better retract his earlier comments while he still has some time.
posted by brainofdtrain at 04:45 PM on November 11, 2008
If Gore did not slip the game would have gone to the 49ers. They waisted too much time just to spike the ball, and what is with running and not giving it to Gore on the last play? Bad, bad, bad, which all equals a loss. Take away all the mistakes, and penalties, the 49ers defense played dam good against Warner in AZ. Too bad that the offensive line did not give Hill more time to read the field, because of that Hill made some costly mistakes which cost them the game.
posted by gb70 at 05:17 PM on November 11, 2008
Gore was in the game? Now there's an inconvenient truth.
posted by Shotput at 07:31 PM on November 11, 2008
Here's Martz's response to his last second play calling: sports.espn.go.com
Anybody buying?
posted by brainofdtrain at 11:53 PM on November 11, 2008
They waisted too much time just to spike the ball, and what is with running and not giving it to Gore on the last play?
Wasn't Frank Gore hurt the play before where he had to be helped off the field? Sure looked like it was Gore since it said GORE on the back of his damn jersey.
posted by BornIcon at 09:51 AM on November 12, 2008
"...Finally, it was only third down, theoretically allowing for the 49ers to again spike the ball and call a different play on fourth down." - from the ESPN story posted by brainoftrain.
Of course I'm not buying it! However, that is admittedly a tough spot for a new head coach and his talented-but-underperforming offensive coordinator.
posted by habitz at 09:52 AM on November 12, 2008
habitz,
I agree with you that it is inexcusable, but i think that this helps them save a little face.
posted by brainofdtrain at 04:55 PM on November 12, 2008
Wait wait.. don't tell me.. the Cardinals caught the 49ers with their pants down?
posted by apoch at 05:12 PM on November 12, 2008
I'm completely buying it.
That was an awful job by the officiating crew, who should have gone over and told the San Fran sideline what the hell was going on.
According to Martz, he didn't know the ball was moved until he talked with former head coach Mike Nolan the next morning. If that's true, he didn't have a reason to spike the ball -- he was going to try and punch the ball in from the one, and that's right in line with the smashmouth football Singletary wants.
Unfortunately, it's a hell of a lot tougher to bash your way in from damned near the three than it is the one. Martz called an excellent game all the way through this one -- I give him a pass here, and so should Samurai Mike.
posted by wfrazerjr at 07:37 PM on November 12, 2008
Samurai Mike was a great player, but he's got a long way to go to becoming a great coach. The last minute of last night's game was abysmal.