Hawks vs Niners discussion

[SalishHawkFan]

I don't claim to be an x's and o's guru - and god help me if I did on this place lol - but I love the discussions and thought we should have a thread dedicated to the Big Game. Cuz this is the biggest game of the year (until next week). Here's what I've gleaned from watching both teams and reading what others have had to say:

Niners: Knowing the Packers would try to stop Gore and Kap from running, they went to the skies and Kap proved he can throw the ball. 400 yds. Also, those saying Boldin is getting old. Maybe, but yesterday was not that day. The new TE, what'shisname, has allowed Vernon Davis to be more aggressive running routes. In short, the loss of Crabtree didn't set them back noticably. So their passing game needs to be respected. Kap is the real deal even without using his legs.

As for their running game, they still have it. And they've added a twist to their read option, going for a read option into play action.

Despite all that I expect Kap to look like a deer in the headlights once again this Sunday because his one flaw he hasn't corrected yet plays into our biggest strength: he barely gets the plays off on time. The 12th man is going to make things very difficult on him once again and it's going to cause their offense to sputter. Our defense plays lights out at home so I don't expect the Niners to put up the points or Kap to put up the passing yardage that they did vs Green Bay. The way I think Harbaugh will combat this is by trying to run it down our throats, which Carolina made look easy. That'll work only so long as they can keep the game close.

Which brings us to the other side of the ball.

Seahawks: Once again we face a dominant front seven. This time at home. Wilson proved that he too can carry the team in the air. He also proved he can pass while being contained in the pocket. Having Baldwin healthy is a big reason for this. I expect the Niners to try to keep Baldwin from repeating his week 1 performance, but that will help open up Rice and Tate. I was psyched that the Niners lost their safety during the offseason, but Reid looks like he's the real deal, so he's their best chance of keeping the Niners in this game. There won't be much film on him so let's hope Wilson is preparated. With ET to practice against, however, that shouldn't be a problem. If the Niners want to keep this one close, however, I expect them to do what Carolina did and shut down the running game, keep Wilson in the pocket and force him to carry the team while under constant pressure. If the game stays close, this strategy can work. If we jump out to another big lead like we did last year, however, I don't see the Niners being able to come back against us.

I don't think we'll batter them 42 - 13 again, but I don't see them breaking 20 either. I think we win this one going away, but this is not a prediction thread, this is an x's and o's thread I started because I would like to hear the x's and o's guys take on this.

So fire away.

Go Hawks!

 

[AROS]

I just think that there's some real voodoo we do at home. There's quite frankly no other outdoor stadium in the NFL that can claim the kind of disruptive noise we can. Regardless of whether the false starts are down or not, the 12th Man is a real force that opponents have to deal with. I think it would be a coin flip each time these two teams faced each other on a neutral field. At home? I just can't help but believe there's 95% chance they lose. Our players use the 12th Man energy like a drug which seems to elevate their collective play and desire, which combined is a virtually unbeatable formula.

I too don't see another blowout. I do see this one closer, but in the end, we win. Again.

 

[TwistedHusky]

The Niners are good at all the things that beat us. If we struggled with the Panthers because of their front 7, SF is just as good.

They have a solid OL, a great DL, and, unlike last year, a damn good QB. While we have the best secondary, they have the best LBs.

People want to point to the big game Rodgers had against them, but Rodgers is the most dangerous QB in the NFL. Their secondary might be better this year.

What weakness they had in receivers was fixed by the acquisition of Boldin, since Davis almost has to be covered like a WR.

They are better than last year and last year they went to the SuperBowl.

This is a 50/50 game we have a shot to win because we are home. Maybe with Clemons, Avril and Browner at full strength I would be more confident but regardless win or lose I bet less than a TD decides it. I actually think a FG decides this, somehow a SF miss saves us.

Last year we had clear advantages at some key positions, it looks like SF closed some of those gaps. Certainly our secondary is still better but other than that I am hard pressed to see an area we have clear advantages other than WR and honestly Boldin + Davis are probably an equal value vs a Rice/Tate/Baldwin. (since they occasionally use Davis like a WR this makes sense).

The crowd is going to keep this close, and we might pull this out but this is probably going to be one of the most difficult regular season games all year.

 

[CANHawk]

Niner's thread..?

I HATE THEM SO MUCH!!! HULK SMASH!!!

Sorry... what were we talking about again?

 

[lukerguy]

The Niners are good at all the things that beat us. If we struggled with the Panthers because of their front 7, SF is just as good.

They have a solid OL, a great DL, and, unlike last year, a damn good QB.

Kaepernick was the QB for the 42-13 game...He played that game a month prior to kick the GB Packer's arses in the divisional game, so I would say it's the same QB as last year.

The problem the 49ers struggle with at CLINK is the audible. The 49ers call multiple plays during the huddle and depending on the the look, he can audible multiple times. At CLINK he couldn't even think. They had at least 4 delay of game calls, and the team wasn't on the same page or couldn't get off the ball because they couldn't hear properly.

If we can get a good start to the game as we did last time, we will be in for another win. If somehow the 49ers start strong and quiet the crowd, there could be an upset.

 

[FlyingGreg]

The advantage we have at C Link is impossibly to quantify. It truly is not only the great equalizer, but it's an inherent advantage.

It's not just the fans and the sound -- this team just plays so much better at home.

 

[samwize77]

This is what I think of Kap. Even though the guy has got obvious talent, I'm thinking he's gonna be a hot and cold type QB like Mudbone was. When he's on, he's almost unstoppable. But when he's off...well, he's defiantly human again, and beatable. He also appears to be the type that can be rattled out of his game. So bottom line for me, for this game, is get to him. Get in his head with pressure, crowd noise, whatever it takes. Do that and our chances of winning go up more than anything else we can do. Next most important thing we can do is stop Gore and impose our own running game to keep Kap, Gore and the rest of their ilk off the field.

Oh, and we have to keep a spy on Kap. He didn't try to run to much against GB and we don't want him starting now.

 

[Seahwkgal]

The Niners will be out for serious revenge from the butt kicking we gave them last time. If we play like this past weekend(ESPECIALLY the OLine) we could get our butt kicked at home. Pete, Darrell and Tom better get their poop into group or it will be a long night next week.

 

[hawker84]

We need our injured back, I hope Clem can come back, but only if he's ready to go, Avril needs to put on his big boy britches and man up, Kudo's to Mebane, Mcdaniel and Bennett for playing through injuries yesterday. Hopefully browner can be back as well, maxwell did very well, but he did miss a crucial tackle where i do not think browner would have missed it. Against this team you've got to make tackles in the open field...

 

[PlinytheCenter]

Agreed. The OLine HAS to play better. We need our run game badly in this one. Craperdink had the usual confusion in the Green Bay game with 2 timeouts called early or mid-quarter in both halves last week so the 12th needs to show up big time! I say we win this one 31 - 17.

 

[paramedic586]

Hey guys new to the forum. Yes I am 49ers fan. No Im not here to troll. I like to talking with other fans about strengths and weaknesses of other teams.

That being said a lot of what you guys are saying is spot on. Kaepernick can throw the ball and he has proven that yesterday. His weakness is not calling the plays quick enough. He will struggle on away games in loud stadiums. I do not see us making the same mistake as last year trying to be a throw first team. I would expect the 49ers to come out trying to run with heavy formations. (I think some of your font line is not playing due to injury or suspension) That is why I would expect a lot of running from the 49ers.

The only way we can beat you on defense is if we can get to RW and actually sack him (witch wont be easy) or with four rushers. IF we have to rush with 5 defenders on a consistent bases RW will eat us alive. It pains me to say it because you guys are rivals but RW looks like a Drew Brees who can also run effectively and throw on the run. Running the ball im looking at Lynch performance against the panthers as an anomaly. That will not happen on regular basis. Lynch is a beast and has always given the 49ers a problem.

Im predicting a game more like our first meeting last year. Our defense is more healthy so that gives us an advantage. IF (and that is a big IF) the 49ers run away with this game it is going to because you don't have all starters 100%.

 

[mretrade]

This is a game I fully expect the 49ers to lose and I have no problem with them doing so. Its the hardest place to play in the NFL. They have a really hard first five games this year. I am hoping for 3-2.

I feel like the 49ers are playing with house money on this game. No one expects them to win. No non-homer 49er fan does, at least. The significance of this game is probably over rated. At least its more important to Sea, than it is to SF.

 

[5_Golden_Rings]

I just think that there's some real voodoo we do at home. There's quite frankly no other outdoor stadium in the NFL that can claim the kind of disruptive noise we can. Regardless of whether the false starts are down or not, the 12th Man is a real force that opponents have to deal with. I think it would be a coin flip each time these two teams faced each other on a neutral field. At home? I just can't help but believe there's 95% chance they lose. Our players use the 12th Man energy like a drug which seems to elevate their collective play and desire, which combined is a virtually unbeatable formula.

I too don't see another blowout. I do see this one closer, but in the end, we win. Again.

This is the key. If the 49ers don't get a quick early lead, I don't think they have much of a chance. The 12th Man is legitimate.

 

[loafoftatupu]

Who the hell knows? Both teams straight up? no turnovers? Hawks by 4 because it is here. We are all quite aware of the chaos that is certain to ensue. The media will have the Hate-Train rolling and getting it all jacked up and it will be the highest rated game for viewing in the regular season for a long time. Of course I want the Hawks to win by a bunch, but it is week 2 of a long season. The Niners are great and the Hawks can ball with them, but best of all they KNOW they can ball with them.

 

[paramedic586]

This is a game I fully expect the 49ers to lose and I have no problem with them doing so. Its the hardest place to play in the NFL. They have a really hard first five games this year. I am hoping for 3-2.

I feel like the 49ers are playing with house money on this game. No one expects them to win. No non-homer 49er fan does, at least. The significance of this game is probably over rated. At least its more important to Sea, than it is to SF.

I disagree with you on the importance of this game. Any division game is an important game. Also I would say that a knowledgable football fan (that does not have a bias towards any of these teams) would say that this game could go either way. Division games are always that way. You can not just look at last years game as an indicator as what this year results should be. Way too many factors to consider.

 

[FrankTheTank21]

Niner fan here (in case the username didn't give it away).

These teams know each other well. I think it will come down to execution. Which side makes more plays? I know that's not very comprehensive, but I don't think there are really a ton of wildly exploitable matchups.

Seattle has the best home field advantage in the NFL, so I certainly wouldn't be surprised if they executed better.

Regardless of outcome, I think these are the two best teams in the NFL.

 

[Sharkahawkolic]

I think we are all guilty of speculating on our teams future performance based on our prior performance. And it's not just the fans, but NFL "analyst" are guilty as well. But Kaep's performance has zero to do with this game. There are just too many variables to say because he did x,y and z to Green Bay, he will do x,y and z to us. It's faulty logic. With this logic Kaep would have tore us a new one after the New England game last year.
Kaep is a hell of quarterback, but we've faced elite quarterbacks before, in fact four of them last year...and we beat them all.
This will be a great game and it will come down to the wire. I like our odds.

 

[mretrade]

Who the hell knows? Both teams straight up? no turnovers? Hawks by 4 because it is here. We are all quite aware of the chaos that is certain to ensue. The media will have the Hate-Train rolling and getting it all jacked up and it will be the highest rated game for viewing in the regular season for a long time. Of course I want the Hawks to win by a bunch, but it is week 2 of a long season. The Niners are great and the Hawks can ball with them, but best of all they KNOW they can ball with them.

Yes any division game is important but the hype for this game is out of control.

This game is not an either way type of game. Seattle lost zero games at home last year. The 49ers beating Seattle in Seattle would be way more of a statement than Seattle blasting SF.

 

[Laloosh]

So tired of reading threads and posts about how Kaepernick (despite impressive play thus far), will completely fail to perform simply because he's playing at the clink.

Just glad our team doesn't prepare like our fan base. If they come out and score on their first drive, 90% of this fan base will be soiling their pantaloons and that confidence will be gone. Fortunately, the Seattle Seahawks will be just fine.

 

[Sarlacc83]

So tired of reading threads and posts about how Kaepernick (despite impressive play thus far), will completely fail to perform simply because he's playing at the clink.

Just glad our team doesn't prepare like our fan base. If they come out and score on their first drive, 90% of this fan base will be soiling their pantaloons and that confidence will be gone. Fortunately, the Seattle Seahawks will be just fine.

Most of the threads about Kaepernick failing at Century Link are backed in noticeable fact. He got noticeably lost in our stadium, and there's no reason to think an angry, frenzied crowd can't pull the same on him.