30 minutes ago, Waiting4Someday said:

SF wasn’t able to run BAL out of their light box plus C2/C6 - and Purdy struggled passing with that many defenders covering in the short/immediate area. It’s a balance that are defense couldn’t maintain because we wanted to play soft on the outside but couldn’t tackle following the pitch/catch.

That’s the defensive game plan for sure.  Let them force feed the RB until he wears down or gets injured.  Minimize Deebo, Kittle, and Aiyuk as much as possible 

36 minutes ago, Waiting4Someday said:

SF wasn’t able to run BAL out of their light box plus C2/C6 - and Purdy struggled passing with that many defenders covering in the short/immediate area. It’s a balance that are defense couldn’t maintain because we wanted to play soft on the outside but couldn’t tackle following the pitch/catch.

Hmm, I didn't see any struggles at all when it came running the ball. If anything, they should've stuck with it more given how efficient they were on the ground. Most of their struggles were because their OL couldn't maintain a clean pocket for Purdy when they started chasing pts from behind. He had a historically bad game, and possibly punted himself out of the MVP discussion, meanwhile CMC's 100yds and another TD on 14 carries helped his case, rather than hurt it.

The Ravens actually swarmed the football and tackled the ball carrier to the ground.  A much different approach than the Eagles took.

3 minutes ago, Mike31mt said:

The Ravens actually swarmed the football and tackled the ball carrier to the ground.  A much different approach than the Eagles took.

Completely two different defensive philosophies, Ravens value physicality and aggressive backfield, where Eagles speed and winning in the trenches.

Watching Kyle Hamilton dominate last night solidified that Howie's defensive draft priorities are all wrong. Jordan Davis is going to be a good player, but we could have had Hamilton. 

30 minutes ago, Birdman said:

Completely two different defensive philosophies, Ravens value physicality and aggressive backfield, where Eagles speed and winning in the trenches.

Watching Kyle Hamilton dominate last night solidified that Howie's defensive draft priorities are all wrong. Jordan Davis is going to be a good player, but we could have had Hamilton. 

I think we traded up ahead of BAL to preempt them from selecting JD (as they drafted Travis Jones in the 3rd to fill their NT need).

3 minutes ago, Waiting4Someday said:

I think we traded up ahead of BAL to preempt them from selecting JD (as they drafted Travis Jones in the 3rd to fill their NT need).

Traded 15, 124, 162, and 166 just to move up two spots 15 to 13.  Hamilton was an excellent prospect; that was the best illustration possible how little Howie values safeties.

2 minutes ago, Alphagrand said:

Traded 15, 124, 162, and 166 just to move up two spots 15 to 13.  Hamilton was an excellent prospect; that was the best illustration possible how little Howie values safeties.

JD was also an excellent prospect. Taking a premier position in virtually everyone’s opinion (including Baltimore, allegedly) is not the best illustration of Howie devaluing safeties

45 minutes ago, Birdman said:

Completely two different defensive philosophies, Ravens value physicality and aggressive backfield, where Eagles speed and winning in the trenches.

Watching Kyle Hamilton dominate last night solidified that Howie's defensive draft priorities are all wrong. Jordan Davis is going to be a good player, but we could have had Hamilton. 

Davis is a long term DL run stopper. That is more valuable than a very good safety. Last night Hamilton had a ball thrown to him and a deflection that fell into his hands. How does this make him the second coming of Ed Reid? 

48 minutes ago, Birdman said:

Completely two different defensive philosophies, Ravens value physicality and aggressive backfield, where Eagles speed and winning in the trenches.

Watching Kyle Hamilton dominate last night solidified that Howie's defensive draft priorities are all wrong. Jordan Davis is going to be a good player, but we could have had Hamilton. 

And Hamilton would be playing 20 yards from the LoS and backpedaling instantly every play and everyone would hate him

9 minutes ago, Alphagrand said:

Traded 15, 124, 162, and 166 just to move up two spots 15 to 13.  Hamilton was an excellent prospect; that was the best illustration possible how little Howie values safeties.

I’m more than fine with the JD selection  , and agree that Hamilton was never in the cards… if we had to stay put with JD off the board and the FS available I suspect that Howie goes with Trent McDuffie.

1 hour ago, HazletonEagle said:

I think you must be nuts. His athleticism jumps out in every game.

If he can get 25% better in tackling he will be a weapon for us. Always around the ball.  I like him for that.

I also agree with you that Patricia is putting the faster guys out there and it is helping.  Because we are slow AF on D (so, so slow).  We may very well see dividends from the timing of moving him into the lead role on the defensive coaching side, because they will have had 4 games before the playoffs to get better.  

Keep the young guns out there and get Cunningham and Morrow out there again and we may have something decent. 

 

3 hours ago, Mike31mt said:

If they knew the team didn't have it, they wouldn't be talking like they do have it.

Also, where did Jalen Hurts go to school?

Hurts left Alabama to go to Oklahoma

2 hours ago, Mike31mt said:

The Ravens actually swarmed the football and tackled the ball carrier to the ground.  A much different approach than the Eagles took.

Except when they were bouncing off a Deebo. Defenders just refuse to wrap up these days for whatever reason.

2 hours ago, we_gotta_believe said:

Hmm, I didn't see any struggles at all when it came running the ball. If anything, they should've stuck with it more given how efficient they were on the ground. Most of their struggles were because their OL couldn't maintain a clean pocket for Purdy when they started chasing pts from behind. He had a historically bad game, and possibly punted himself out of the MVP discussion, meanwhile CMC's 100yds and another TD on 14 carries helped his case, rather than hurt it.

That game could have gone in a much better direction if Hurts didn't take that stupid sack and they scored a TD on at least one drive. I'm not sure the defense had the endurance to keep up the pace but the 49ers didnt have to abandon the run at all only down 6 the way they did last night.

 

7 minutes ago, Diehardfan said:

That game could have gone in a much better direction if Hurts didn't take that stupid sack and they scored a TD on at least one drive. I'm not sure the defense had the endurance to keep up the pace but the 49ers didnt have to abandon the run at all only down 6 the way they did last night.

 

Yup. The offense screwed that game away by not scoring points early, like they've done in basically every other game. Luckily enough there were games where the defense kept it close long enough that they became shootout wins instead of blowout losses.

The defense hasn't been great by any standard but some games they have played well enough only for the offense to F it all away drive after drive for 2.5 quarters of football.  By the time the offense gets their heads out of their asses the defense is gassed and start giving up long drives, and then since they start breaking down they get all the blame despite the team being in those positions because the offense can't do jack ish (see the Seattle game for the most recent example).

5 hours ago, judunno said:

Except when they were bouncing off a Deebo. Defenders just refuse to wrap up these days for whatever reason.

I think that was more to send a message. Or reinforce the message.

I will say that despite some hiccups...

Carter, Brown, Smith, Ringo, Ricks and VanS all seem to have a lot of potential. Seems Smith gets a big play each week now. Ringo has been good these two week. Carter is Carter. Brown is all over the field, but needs to improve tackling. Ricks has been up and down. VanS was good in his first start.

Some encouraging signs.

11 hours ago, BDawk_ASamuel said:

Christmas game probably helped with the ratings since everyone was at home around the television. But until an alternative comes around, football will always be king in this country. NBA, MLB, NHL, etc will never touch it. And the legalized gambling aspect of it and it being fantasy football playoffs helps. 

Not to mention that they are talking about people watching not percentage.  Population growth is helping too.  There are more people now.

9 hours ago, Alphagrand said:

That’s the defensive game plan for sure.  Let them force feed the RB until he wears down or gets injured.  Minimize Deebo, Kittle, and Aiyuk as much as possible 

It's a good game plan for San Fran as so many of their patterns and throws are close to the LOS.  Eagles are just so skittish about plays over the top they don't have the kahunas to play the type of D Baltimore did.  It would be juicy if a Baltimore defender claimed publicly they figured out Purdy and hope the rest of the league pays attention.   But they have too much class as an organization and people unlike San Fran, to say it out loud. Maybe Bosa and Deebo learn a lesson about humility, but I doubt it.

10 hours ago, pisceschica said:

Probably not bc they were terrible even before they traded away two of their best players oct 31.

But if Williams and Banks are out that may make it easier. Maybe they start Brissett and his mobility causes problems for their defense like Jackson did.

 

 

Brissett is not mobile.  Never has been.

Wednesday Morning Predictions Update

13 predictions recorded thus far.  10 for an Eagles win and 3 for a Cardinals win.  The Average Predicted Score is Eagles 30 Cardinals 20.

As always, please tag your prediction post with @mattwill that way I will be sure to see/record it.  Score predictions can also have an optional "Bonus Pick" tiebreaker prediction.  So far over the course of the season 138 different EMB posters have made at least one prediction. 

A list of the predictions is presented below, sorted alphabetically by the name of the predictor.  If you don't see your name there, then I either missed yours or you haven't submitted one yet.

13 hours ago, Waiting4Someday said:

Groin issue, yes. If we lost Lane for a WAS game, I’d be very concerned as they play their best against us… but for SF, a disinterested tankie effort?

I was more looking towards the Rams game. They have a shot. 

5 minutes ago, Khani1 said:

I was more looking towards the Rams game. They have a shot. 

Yup - definitely.

8 minutes ago, Waiting4Someday said:

Yup - definitely.

Punchers chance I think but sure