Hawks vs Niners discussion

[SeaTown81]

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.

Can't disagree with any of that. Well said.

 

[mretrade]

Every game comes down to execution. A lot of things impact a players ability to execute. The crowd noise is always a factor.

 

[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.

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.

I completely understand that his one and only game at the clink was his worst game of the season. That said, assuming he's incapable of (or unlikely to show) improvement is ridiculous.

 

[5280Hawk]

Man, Kap had so much time in the pocket in the GB game, Of course he threw 400 yds. I really REALLY hope we get after him better than the Packers did, and i think we will if Avril and Clem are back(HOPE!)

 

[enamel]

Kaep has an incredible arm and accuracy, but I still haven't seen him throw passes with touch. In terms of game plan, I expect to see the Hawks playing a lot of zone underneath to try to get into the throwing lanes. He doesn't seem to throw over anyone. Every pass is a laser to an exact location down field.

If our corners play under, we'll have to keep 2 safeties high to limit deep throws, which gives Gore room to run underneath. A lot will depend on our LB crew and their ability to identify pass vs. run. And a lot will depend on our front four's ability to limit Gore getting to the 2nd level. Play action should be very effective for SF in this game. I expect to see them drive the field on us often. I'm hopeful once we're in the red zone the shorter field will enable us to stop the run and take Boldin & Davis out with man coverage. It will be up to Kaep to score on his 3rd or 4th read. I'm betting he won't get that deep in his progressions very often.

 

[Comeinpeace]

Niners need 150 yards rushing and a great game from Vernon to win this week on offense and contain Russ to win this game. 3rd down success rate is extremely important as well. If Russell runs free and they can't keep him in the pocket, then it's over. I understand that he's a solid pocket passer, but when he's running outside the pocket and making plays with his legs, it's demoralizing for the defense and tires them out.

For Seahawks to win, I believe establishing the running game is key. Russell is going to get his, but if Lynch can get going (which he has done against the Niners in the past), then it will be all over. If the Seahawks stay balanced and show success in both passing and rushing, then it's over.

I'm expecting a loss and hoping for a win. I just hope both sides come out injury free.

 

[Sarlacc83]

I'm expecting a loss and hoping for a win. I just hope both sides come out injury free.

It's unlikely Harbaugh comes out of this one without pulling a hammy.

 

[Laloosh]

Niners need 150 yards rushing and a great game from Vernon to win this week on offense and contain Russ to win this game. 3rd down success rate is extremely important as well. If Russell runs free and they can't keep him in the pocket, then it's over. I understand that he's a solid pocket passer, but when he's running outside the pocket and making plays with his legs, it's demoralizing for the defense and tires them out.

For Seahawks to win, I believe establishing the running game is key. Russell is going to get his, but if Lynch can get going (which he has done against the Niners in the past), then it will be all over. If the Seahawks stay balanced and show success in both passing and rushing, then it's over.

I'm expecting a loss and hoping for a win. I just hope both sides come out injury free.

Yeah, it'll be interesting to see how the SEA run game fares with Justin Smith back in the lineup. I hope he develops the flu, sorry.

Aside from final score, I'll be interested to see how things work out with regard to 3rd down conversion and turnovers in this game. I like SEA for the turnovers and think SF will have more success on 3rd down (pass blocking + Boldin).

 

[CANHawk]

Man, Kap had so much time in the pocket in the GB game, Of course he threw 400 yds. I really REALLY hope we get after him better than the Packers did, and i think we will if Avril and Clem are back(HOPE!)

Man, from what I saw (which admittedly wasn't everything because I dislike both GB and SF so much and can only stomach the sight of them for so long) and what I hear, GB was playing in such an insane amount of FEAR of being run on that they didn't send any pass rush OR really drop anyone into coverage. They played with like 4 spies on Kap all game. Everyone just kind of hovered in the box and waited for him to take off running. Well, he didn't have to run because there was no pressure and all his recievers were wide open.

derp... Silly Dom Capers.

I fully expect Seattle to have a significantly better game plan than that and if Kap is going to have a good game, he's going to have to earn in because we're not going to deliver it to him on a silver platter like GB did... I wouldn't be expecting Bolden to have a game anything even remotely like yesterday because the LoB is going to ruin his day. BB's going to keep his pimp hand strong against Bolden for damn sure.

 

[paramedic586]

Man, Kap had so much time in the pocket in the GB game, Of course he threw 400 yds. I really REALLY hope we get after him better than the Packers did, and i think we will if Avril and Clem are back(HOPE!)

Man, from what I saw (which admittedly wasn't everything because I dislike both GB and SF so much and can only stomach the sight of them for so long) and what I hear, GB was playing in such an insane amount of FEAR of being run on that they didn't send any pass rush OR really drop anyone into coverage. They played with like 4 spies on Kap all game. Everyone just kind of hovered in the box and waited for him to take off running. Well, he didn't have to run because there was no pressure and all his recievers were wide open.

derp... Silly Dom Capers.

I fully expect Seattle to have a significantly better game plan than that and if Kap is going to have a good game, he's going to have to earn in because we're not going to deliver it to him on a silver platter like GB did... I wouldn't be expecting Bolden to have a game anything even remotely like yesterday because the LoB is going to ruin his day. BB's going to keep his pimp hand strong against Bolden for damn sure.

You hit the nail completely on the head. The pocket that was created for Kaep to throw from was unreal. When he didn't like his options he rolled either to the left or right faked the run come back and throw the ball to mostly wide open WRs. Greenbay was successful in containing Kaepernick from running. They were successful in containing the run. The only way we were going to beat GB was with Kaeps arm and he proved it is possible. This will not be the case with seattle.

 

[SalishHawkFan]

Man, Kap had so much time in the pocket in the GB game, Of course he threw 400 yds. I really REALLY hope we get after him better than the Packers did, and i think we will if Avril and Clem are back(HOPE!)

Man, from what I saw (which admittedly wasn't everything because I dislike both GB and SF so much and can only stomach the sight of them for so long) and what I hear, GB was playing in such an insane amount of FEAR of being run on that they didn't send any pass rush OR really drop anyone into coverage. They played with like 4 spies on Kap all game. Everyone just kind of hovered in the box and waited for him to take off running. Well, he didn't have to run because there was no pressure and all his recievers were wide open.

derp... Silly Dom Capers.

I fully expect Seattle to have a significantly better game plan than that and if Kap is going to have a good game, he's going to have to earn in because we're not going to deliver it to him on a silver platter like GB did... I wouldn't be expecting Bolden to have a game anything even remotely like yesterday because the LoB is going to ruin his day. BB's going to keep his pimp hand strong against Bolden for damn sure.

You hit the nail completely on the head. The pocket that was created for Kaep to throw from was unreal. When he didn't like his options he rolled either to the left or right faked the run come back and throw the ball to mostly wide open WRs. Greenbay was successful in containing Kaepernick from running. They were successful in containing the run. The only way we were going to beat GB was with Kaeps arm and he proved it is possible. This will not be the case with seattle.

My feelings as well. Our secondary won't let him pass. Our defense is used to practicing against a mobile QB. We contained Newton both games. We contained Kap last game. That's why I think they'll go to Gore to try to win this one. Then feed off play action if that works.

But let's not forget that if Turbin doesn't drop that ball last year, we sweep the Niners. They barely beat us at home after we'd played 5 games in 25 days and were on a short week. Then we dismantled them at home. We were the better team last year and if not for a stupid 10AM eastern start vs Atlanta, we'd have beaten them again and been the team in the Super Bowl. We're going to win this one going away.

 

[plyka]

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.

I think you're about to see the difference of home game versus away game. The 12th man is not valuable due to false starts, although that has some importance. The value of the 12th man is how they pump up our team. Against the Panthers I saw players that thought they were going to a business meeting. Before the Panther's first possession, our defense was huddled together and talking, as if they were prognosticating over Obama's health care plan, although even that conversation may cause more enthusiasm with our players than was dispalyed on Sunday.

This Sunday this team will be running on all systems go, and you will see the difference between a home and an away game for the Hawks. If the talent levels between teams was further apart, the Hawks may get away with their lack of emotion last Sunday, but the NFL is very equal in quality between the best and the worst. That's why you saw a close game between the Hawks, despite the Hawks being one of the best and the Panthers being one of the worst. After next week expect this entire board to be over the top crazy with superbowl dreams, but the reality is that this team needs to learn to up their passion on the road.

Edit: for those of you who say this game is more important for Hawks than it is for the 49ers, get real. This game is just as important for each team, and will likely be completely forgotten by the end of the season.

 

[TwistedHusky]

Well the truth of the matter is it matters but it hardly matters enough vs the perception.

SF isn't that hurt by a loss here, and if we lose (though it will stem the delusions about matching the 1972 Dolphins or 85 Bears) it just means we have to take one in SF.

Even so, home field is a much bigger deal for us than it is for them. SF has a home field advantage but it isn't as significant as ours, and it isn't the same kind of issue we might face playing a GB in GB. Playing in SF the travel and the weather are not as big an issue. Honestly if I could pick a place to play a road game, considering the impact of travel or the elements, if we cannot play at home SF would be a close second choice.

On the other hand, SF wants no part of playing us in the playoffs at home.

There are a lot of games in between that will affect the race, and a stumble here just means we have to focus more on one of the other games we might expect to win but potentially let slip. Those 10am games are going to be an issue, though the fact we have easier teams in our home schedule means it is likely we don't have letdown games against those teams because the crowd will not allow it.

The door won't be closed on either team, it is more of a bragging rights game than anything.

SF later in the year will be much more dangerous, with Crabtree back and a more experienced secondary. Then again, with Irvin, Clemons and Avril back as well as the additional threat of Harvin - we will be much more dangerous too. So it is the game in SF that will really be much more important on every level.

All this game is a chance to get a slight lead at the beginning of a long race.

 

[Kakaww]

Watching Kaep and Davis establish such a great connection is what worries me the most. He is a difficult matchup problem and could make some game changing plays next week. Boldin was a beast against Green Bay. He posted up, found holes and also got separation. The Niners great pass protection and an ordinary GB secondary didn't hurt with that. Seattle will be better in coverage, but we'll have to see if they can generate more pressure than Mathews and Co.

I'm mostly curious about whether the Hawks can get Marshawn going against the (likely) best front seven in football. If the running game is working the odds of a Hawks win go up dramatically.

 

[HawkAroundTheClock]

Whichever X's are Aldon and Justin Smith, we need to glue like 3 or 4 of our biggest O's to them.

Then, our really fast O's should run past their deep X's and catch long touchdown bombs from our little franchise O.

And when our beasty-est O runs the ball, we should have a couple tough O's bang into the 9ers' Bowman and Willis X's, that way our beasty-est O can get lots of yards and touchdowns.

Football analysis is easy. John Gruden and his white board can suck it.

 

[paramedic586]

You hit the nail completely on the head. The pocket that was created for Kaep to throw from was unreal. When he didn't like his options he rolled either to the left or right faked the run come back and throw the ball to mostly wide open WRs. Greenbay was successful in containing Kaepernick from running. They were successful in containing the run. The only way we were going to beat GB was with Kaeps arm and he proved it is possible. This will not be the case with seattle.[/quote]
My feelings as well. Our secondary won't let him pass. Our defense is used to practicing against a mobile QB. We contained Newton both games. We contained Kap last game. That's why I think they'll go to Gore to try to win this one. Then feed off play action if that works.

But let's not forget that if Turbin doesn't drop that ball last year, we sweep the Niners. They barely beat us at home after we'd played 5 games in 25 days and were on a short week. Then we dismantled them at home. We were the better team last year and if not for a stupid 10AM eastern start vs Atlanta, we'd have beaten them again and been the team in the Super Bowl. We're going to win this one going away.[/quote]

Well you can "what if" anything. IF the seahawks beat the Falcons then they would of played at Candlestick. There is absolutely no way you can come here and look at the facts of the games and say the Seahawks without a doubt would of beat the 49ers. Two totally different circumstances.

 

[General Manager]

This Suday will be completely different than the Carolina game . SF is about to run into a buzzsaw.

 

[Laloosh]

This Suday will be completely different than the Carolina game . SF is about to run into a buzzsaw.

:th2thumbs:

 

[SalishHawkFan]

yeah, I CAN say we would have undoubtedly beaten SF in SF. Because we would have.

 

[FriscosFinest]

I would ususally post something intelligent that makes the hawks look good, but secretly insinuating that the niners should win but..

its just wayyy too early in the season and too many variables..

will russell continue where he left off from the carolina game? towards the end he was on fire.

will kaepernick have all day to throw again?

will we actually run more read option plays now?

i think as good as our teams looked on sunday, we still dont know their true identity yet. but theres only one thing i can say for certain. seattle is the home team, so its 65/35 in seattles favor.

hopefully nothing stupid happens this week, and no clay matthewing on either teams QBs.