GameDay: Are 49ers Coaches Getting Out-Coached?
SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX 5) -- What adjustments have the 49ers opponents made to be outscored 56-3 in the second half of the first three games this season?
I ran into a buddy at the Elks Lodge Thursday and his first comment was about the 49ers coaches getting outcoached at halftime by other coaches making better adjustments.
Are halftime adjustments like a NASCAR pit stop? Does the equipment guy tighten the chin straps? Does the catering woman bring the offensive linemen some of that fabulous cobbler from the press box? Did the Cowboys, Bears and Cardinals inject the 49ers water bottles with Sleep-Eze at halftime?
'Halftime adjustments' must be the most overused term in the Monday-morning armchair quarterback radio shows. The term is usually just thrown out there without specific examples of adjustments: "You know, the 49ers were clearly outcoached yesterday. The Cardinals made the right adjustments and the 49ers got their asses kicked."
So what's really happening?
Quarterback Colin Kaepernick prefers to give less credit to the opposition's adjustments, but rather deflect the blame onto his own team. "Execution," Kaepernick says when referring to the 49ers problem. As in "not executing." It's hard to tell if he's serious because you can't see his eyes through those cool-looking sunglasses. But doesn't he have a valid point? Is Kaepernick's lack of execution a result of his performance or that of a blitz package, or both?
In the bitter loss to Chicago, the Bears made an obvious decision to stop running the football and find seams in the 49ers pass defense with Jay Cuter hitting pinpoint timing patterns to perfection. They found an obvious size advantage in Brandon Marshall being covered by rookie Jimmie Ward. That was an offensive adjustment, but also perfect execution.
The lack of execution Kaepernick is probably referring to are his two interceptions, although it's difficult to blame the second on him since Bears rookie Kyle Fuller made a brilliant play. As Jim Harbaugh said after this game, "The made some really nice plays." In this case, a combination of adjustments and simply a case of playmaking by the Bears.
In last week's loss to Arizona, Bruce Arians said the Cardinals solved the 49ers run-and-shoot offense by placing a "spy" to protect against Kaepernick running free. That's a coach mentioning a specific adjustment that prevented Kaepernick from wreaking havoc with his legs. After further review on the game film, it clearly showed a Cardinals defender "staying home" to watch Kaepernick.
So what can we draw from all this? The 49ers aren't 1-2 solely because they're getting outcoached. Both the Bears and Cardinals made great plays, and Kapernick is right. Execution, or lack thereof, plays a significant part in the two losses.
So I suggest all you Monday morning quarterbacks make an adjustment of your own. Figure out what the adjustment is before you chime in.
See you on TV. No adjustment to your TV is necessary.
