Ready to Regroup
http://49ers.com/pressbox/news_detail.php?PRKey=2378
It’s not easy picking yourself up and dusting off the disappointment and embarrassment of a shutout if you’re a football player, or any athlete for that matter.
But the immediate response and growth in bouncing back from a colossal loss separates the true competitor from the weak at heart. In the 49ers case, persistence and hard work have been the current team’s underlying philosophies when it comes to achieving success, and they plan on continuing their fight.
The 49ers have no intentions of being anything but strong this week after putting up a doughnut on the scoreboard against the Chiefs a few days ago in Kansas City. The 1-3 49ers have 12 crucial games left on the 2006 slate, including Sunday’s pivotal home match up against Bay Area foe, Oakland. The group is ready to learn from their mistakes, and take preparations to a new level in the days leading up to their third home contest.
“It’s tough, it’s tough,” running back Frank Gore said after Sunday’s 41-0 loss to AFC opponent Kansas City. “We just have to keep working as a team and try to find out what the problems are, try to correct them and just keep working. We’ll have to try and get back on the page we were on for the first couple of games.”
Heading into last Sunday’s road trip to the Midwest, the 49ers offense ranked fourth in the NFL in total offense. But the unit had trouble sustaining their success, and was only able to muster 10 first downs for 165 yards while giving up five sacks, the most yet in 2006.
Offensively, regaining that momentum against the Raiders defense will be at the top of the team’s “To Do” list. Quarterback Alex Smith will look to a plethora of weapons in receivers Antonio Bryant and Arnaz Battle, as well as big target tight end Eric Johnson, to get his troops into the red zone, an unchartered territory in Kansas City.
Smith completed 13 passes against the Chiefs for 92 yards, while the ground game yielded just another 92 more. It’s not time to panic by any means, but each individual player will look to film, and practice repetition to correct weaknesses on the line, in the pocket, in ball protection and in the air – essentially every facet on offense.
“We have shown a lot of strides up to this point, and yesterday it was disappointing to play like that and to perform like that, but not to overreact is important,” quarterback Alex Smith said on Monday. “You don’t want to under react either. There’s a fine line there. We need to learn from this and use it as a positive, but it’s not something we need to overreact to and create mass changes.”
The work doesn’t end on offense. San Francisco’s defense gave up some big plays versus the Chiefs including a 28-yard Larry Johnson run and a 34-yard Eddie Kennison receiving touchdown. The unit will look to gain control in the secondary as well as increase the pass rush intensity.
And on special teams, field position will be the name of the game. Against the Chiefs, the 49ers didn’t begin one drive past their own 35-yard line.
Though the team will continue with game planning as usual, head coach Mike Nolan will add a new twist to the Raiders preparation – padded practices on both Wednesday and Thursday. The live action will give the 49ers one more day of real-life pounding and tackling.
The winless Raiders almost pulled off their first victory of the season last week against Cleveland. But the team relinquished a 21-6 lead, dropping their third loss of the season 24-21.
This week, the Raiders also look to earn a significant win, ending a nine-game losing streak that stems from 2005, and ranks as the longest streak in Raiders annals since 1961-62 (19 losses).
The face of Sunday’s game is somewhat different than the two team’s first meeting of 2006 during the second week of the preseason. Behind the mobility of quarterback Aaron Brooks, the Raiders were able to score 23 points and limit San Francisco to just one touchdown at the McAfee Coliseum.
The second time around, the complexity of the Raiders offense will change for the 49ers defense. Quarterback Andrew Walter has taken over starting duties in the absence of Brooks, who has been sidelined with a strained pectoral muscle. To this point, the Raiders offense has struggled in the ground game, and even more surprisingly, in the passing game, where they rank last in the league in passing yards, even with super target Randy Moss on their side.
Moss has just 84 receiving yards and a touchdown to his credit over three games, and will look to have a breakout day on the opposite side of the Bay. 49ers cornerbacks Shawntae Spencer and Walt Harris have another plan though. After giving up a few big plays against the Chiefs, they will look to have Moss covered, contained and quarantined throughout the entire game.
On the ground, the 49ers linebackers will match up with Raiders running backs LaMont Jordan and Justin Fargas. Jordan has also been held to few yards by the Raiders first three opponents in San Diego, Baltimore and Cleveland, averaging just 3.7 yards per carry. Fargas has nine rushes for 90 yards, including a long scamper of 48 yards. But the 49ers defensive front will look to give the struggling Raiders offensive linemen a tiring day in the trenches, infiltrating both the pocket, and running lanes.
Defensively, the Raiders have big names like Warren Sapp and Michael Huff to contend with.49ers veteran guard Larry Allen will make a return to practice this week after missing two games with an injured knee. If Allen can make a recovery and play on Sunday, a matchup between him and Sapp, both former Pro Bowlers, will make for a physical and smash-mouth afternoon. Though Sapp accounts for two of the Raiders four cumulative sacks, the 49ers offensive line is bound and determined to keep Smith off of the ground this week as their cry for redemption.
Patrolling the back for the Raiders is strong safety Michael Huff, who will look to keep the 49ers receivers and tight ends from attaining too many yards after the catch. Huff picked off Smith in the August preseason bout, and returned the theft 44 yards. But Smith has only thrown two picks during the regular season and will make a conscious effort to keep the ball in the hands of his fellow garnet and gold jerseys after a few risky throws into double and triple coverage cost him an interception in Kansas City.
But what may be turn out to be key in the outcome of Sunday’s game is the play on special teams. The 49ers normally consistent unit had a rough mental day last week. The unit missed a field goal, established poor starting field position, muffed a kickoff return and gave up a punt return for a touchdown. Playing mistake-free and pinning Raiders kickoff returning Chris Carr, who ranks fifth in league in returns, deep into Raiders territory will help swing the game in San Francisco’s favor.
But good starting field position will give the 49ers immediate confidence, and opportunity to score early. Giving Smith and the 49ers offense a solid starting point to execute from will be the challenge for return men Maurice Hicks and Brandon Williams, along with their wedge of blockers.
In the end, Sunday’s matchup will be a test for both teams. Playing perfect has never been so important to either side. And while Bay Area bragging rights are the talk of the town, so much more is on the line.
http://49ers.com/pressbox/news_detail.php?PRKey=2378
It’s not easy picking yourself up and dusting off the disappointment and embarrassment of a shutout if you’re a football player, or any athlete for that matter.
But the immediate response and growth in bouncing back from a colossal loss separates the true competitor from the weak at heart. In the 49ers case, persistence and hard work have been the current team’s underlying philosophies when it comes to achieving success, and they plan on continuing their fight.
The 49ers have no intentions of being anything but strong this week after putting up a doughnut on the scoreboard against the Chiefs a few days ago in Kansas City. The 1-3 49ers have 12 crucial games left on the 2006 slate, including Sunday’s pivotal home match up against Bay Area foe, Oakland. The group is ready to learn from their mistakes, and take preparations to a new level in the days leading up to their third home contest.
“It’s tough, it’s tough,” running back Frank Gore said after Sunday’s 41-0 loss to AFC opponent Kansas City. “We just have to keep working as a team and try to find out what the problems are, try to correct them and just keep working. We’ll have to try and get back on the page we were on for the first couple of games.”
Heading into last Sunday’s road trip to the Midwest, the 49ers offense ranked fourth in the NFL in total offense. But the unit had trouble sustaining their success, and was only able to muster 10 first downs for 165 yards while giving up five sacks, the most yet in 2006.
Offensively, regaining that momentum against the Raiders defense will be at the top of the team’s “To Do” list. Quarterback Alex Smith will look to a plethora of weapons in receivers Antonio Bryant and Arnaz Battle, as well as big target tight end Eric Johnson, to get his troops into the red zone, an unchartered territory in Kansas City.
Smith completed 13 passes against the Chiefs for 92 yards, while the ground game yielded just another 92 more. It’s not time to panic by any means, but each individual player will look to film, and practice repetition to correct weaknesses on the line, in the pocket, in ball protection and in the air – essentially every facet on offense.
“We have shown a lot of strides up to this point, and yesterday it was disappointing to play like that and to perform like that, but not to overreact is important,” quarterback Alex Smith said on Monday. “You don’t want to under react either. There’s a fine line there. We need to learn from this and use it as a positive, but it’s not something we need to overreact to and create mass changes.”
The work doesn’t end on offense. San Francisco’s defense gave up some big plays versus the Chiefs including a 28-yard Larry Johnson run and a 34-yard Eddie Kennison receiving touchdown. The unit will look to gain control in the secondary as well as increase the pass rush intensity.
And on special teams, field position will be the name of the game. Against the Chiefs, the 49ers didn’t begin one drive past their own 35-yard line.
Though the team will continue with game planning as usual, head coach Mike Nolan will add a new twist to the Raiders preparation – padded practices on both Wednesday and Thursday. The live action will give the 49ers one more day of real-life pounding and tackling.
The winless Raiders almost pulled off their first victory of the season last week against Cleveland. But the team relinquished a 21-6 lead, dropping their third loss of the season 24-21.
This week, the Raiders also look to earn a significant win, ending a nine-game losing streak that stems from 2005, and ranks as the longest streak in Raiders annals since 1961-62 (19 losses).
The face of Sunday’s game is somewhat different than the two team’s first meeting of 2006 during the second week of the preseason. Behind the mobility of quarterback Aaron Brooks, the Raiders were able to score 23 points and limit San Francisco to just one touchdown at the McAfee Coliseum.
The second time around, the complexity of the Raiders offense will change for the 49ers defense. Quarterback Andrew Walter has taken over starting duties in the absence of Brooks, who has been sidelined with a strained pectoral muscle. To this point, the Raiders offense has struggled in the ground game, and even more surprisingly, in the passing game, where they rank last in the league in passing yards, even with super target Randy Moss on their side.
Moss has just 84 receiving yards and a touchdown to his credit over three games, and will look to have a breakout day on the opposite side of the Bay. 49ers cornerbacks Shawntae Spencer and Walt Harris have another plan though. After giving up a few big plays against the Chiefs, they will look to have Moss covered, contained and quarantined throughout the entire game.
On the ground, the 49ers linebackers will match up with Raiders running backs LaMont Jordan and Justin Fargas. Jordan has also been held to few yards by the Raiders first three opponents in San Diego, Baltimore and Cleveland, averaging just 3.7 yards per carry. Fargas has nine rushes for 90 yards, including a long scamper of 48 yards. But the 49ers defensive front will look to give the struggling Raiders offensive linemen a tiring day in the trenches, infiltrating both the pocket, and running lanes.
Defensively, the Raiders have big names like Warren Sapp and Michael Huff to contend with.49ers veteran guard Larry Allen will make a return to practice this week after missing two games with an injured knee. If Allen can make a recovery and play on Sunday, a matchup between him and Sapp, both former Pro Bowlers, will make for a physical and smash-mouth afternoon. Though Sapp accounts for two of the Raiders four cumulative sacks, the 49ers offensive line is bound and determined to keep Smith off of the ground this week as their cry for redemption.
Patrolling the back for the Raiders is strong safety Michael Huff, who will look to keep the 49ers receivers and tight ends from attaining too many yards after the catch. Huff picked off Smith in the August preseason bout, and returned the theft 44 yards. But Smith has only thrown two picks during the regular season and will make a conscious effort to keep the ball in the hands of his fellow garnet and gold jerseys after a few risky throws into double and triple coverage cost him an interception in Kansas City.
But what may be turn out to be key in the outcome of Sunday’s game is the play on special teams. The 49ers normally consistent unit had a rough mental day last week. The unit missed a field goal, established poor starting field position, muffed a kickoff return and gave up a punt return for a touchdown. Playing mistake-free and pinning Raiders kickoff returning Chris Carr, who ranks fifth in league in returns, deep into Raiders territory will help swing the game in San Francisco’s favor.
But good starting field position will give the 49ers immediate confidence, and opportunity to score early. Giving Smith and the 49ers offense a solid starting point to execute from will be the challenge for return men Maurice Hicks and Brandon Williams, along with their wedge of blockers.
In the end, Sunday’s matchup will be a test for both teams. Playing perfect has never been so important to either side. And while Bay Area bragging rights are the talk of the town, so much more is on the line.
