Bucs Are In 49ers’ Heads
December 14th, 2013
On paper, Sunday looks like a dreadful match-up. As Greg Schiano quipped earlier this week, there are Pro Bowlers and first round draft picks all over the roster of the 49ers.
San Francisco has a brute, physical defense with one of the greatest linebacker units Joe has ever seen. The front line and the secondary of the 49ers are nearly that good.
Offensively, Frank Gore is a modern-day version of Earl Campbell. The dude just loves to run up the middle of defenses and run people over. Their offensive line is loaded. The Bucs are not the greatest team against the run, and on offense, when they don’t go into hibernation in the second half, struggle against physical defenses.
No, tomorrow’s game is not looking good for the Bucs. At all.
It seems Justin Smith doesn’t exactly agree with all of this. The bruising 49ers defensive tackle believes this is a trap game for the 49ers, coming off a nasty one-point win over their arch rivals, the Seahawks. Smith advised his teammates this is not the time to look ahead, per Ron Kroichick of the San Francisco Chronicle.
Put another way: This has all the makings of a trap game. Fullback Bruce Miller said Smith’s words resonated, as they usually do.
“It’s not often, but everyone listens when he does speak,” Miller said. “To us, the most important thing is making it to the postseason, which makes this game even more important than last week’s. I think everyone understands the importance of going down there and keeping focused.
“We need to win this game if we want to reach our goals.”
Joe is not trying to be a glass is half-empty kinda guy, but does anyone really believe Mike Glennon can turn around his recent struggles against physical teams against perhaps the most bone-rattling defense in the NFL?
Yes, the cliche, “Stranger things have happened,” certainly applies. Joe just can’t do the math where the Bucs can pull off a win, short of a flurry of 49ers turnovers, and even then, as we all witnessed last week, when the Bucs do get turnovers, they couldn’t capitalize consistently on the bungling Bills.
December 14th, 2013 at 3:14 pm
Joe is not trying to be a glass is half-empty kinda guy, but does anyone really believe Mike Glennon can turnaround his recent struggles against physical teams against perhaps the most bone-rattling defense in the NFL?
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All by himself? Absolutely not.
If the offensive line comes to play and the receivers do there job…. I have no doubts Glennon is capable of winning this game. But not all by himself. Please lets stop acting like this guy is a 10 yr vet. Sheesh.
December 14th, 2013 at 3:19 pm
Again, why don’t we just call the Niners and forfeit the game?
Might as well right whichever the pessimistic Joe is lol.
As if Glennon has to beat the Niners on his own.
Something tells me our defense will have a say on how many point they put up.
The niners aren’t the only ones with a bone crushing D.
December 14th, 2013 at 4:16 pm
There is no one on this board that wants us to beat the 49ers more than me. Literally half my friends are 49er fans, and I’m so sick and tired of watching them pound their chest as to how good they are. Outside of our division rivals, there is no team I hate more than SF. That being said, I can’t think of a worse matchup for us, aside from maybe Carolina. They are actually built very similar to Carolina, but more talented in the secondary, and with arguably more offensive weapons. I’m not overly worried about our defense, but at some point and time we aren’t going to be able to keep forcing turnovers at this rate. The 49ers don’t turn it over very much anyway. As for our offense, I just don’t see how we are going to generate TD’s, aside from Jackson catching a couple jump balls. Their defense is humming right now, and our offense isn’t exactly lighting it up. And oh yeah, the 49ers desperately need to win games. I hope Schiano opens up his bag of tricks and leaves it all out there. We’re going to need every one of them.
December 14th, 2013 at 4:18 pm
And this is one team you can’t stunt against. Crappertrick is going to take off as soon as he sees that end loop around. You can bank on that. It would be better to keep him in the pocket and make him become a pocket passer, because that’s not what he wants to do.
December 14th, 2013 at 4:19 pm
I agree with your take on this game Joe. I just read many of the 9er sites and their analysis of the game. Most were complimentary on the Bucs team. I am optimistic the Bucs will compete at a high level. Anything can happen, yet this will be a tremendous challenge for our young QB. The upset at home would be spectacular.
December 14th, 2013 at 4:27 pm
I find myself starting to read other blogs more and more. Joe is just losing his touch. To pessimistic just meh comments.
Joe’s got plenty of upbeat posts. Check the last 20, you’ll find plenty for the optimist crowd. –Joe
December 14th, 2013 at 4:41 pm
Niners D is shaking in their cleats of the thought of Garo Glennon rolling to his left with Smith, Willis et. al bearing down on him. Over/under passing yards 125, Glennon turnovers 3.
December 14th, 2013 at 5:05 pm
Niners Offense is shaking in their cleats with the thought of McCoy blowing up the middle of their line, Lavonte stalking Kap and Gore, and Revis sticking to their wideouts like glue. Not to mention the thought of getting crushed down the middle by our hard-hitting safeties.
December 14th, 2013 at 5:11 pm
@PRBucFan,
Maybe, but just so you know, they have probably the best offensive line in football. They can double, and even triple McCoy all game long. Doubt they are scared of Nesheim and Clayborn. Gore is excellent in pass protection as well. I’m sure Lavonte and Revis will be great, but they can only do so much. Who’s going to cover Vernon Davis? I love your enthusiasm, but unfortunately our weaknesses are their strengths. Certain teams are just a bad matchup. I’d really really really love to be wrong on this one.
December 14th, 2013 at 5:48 pm
Joe, we are playing as a team and according to you, we are not as good anywhere, but one stat and I know that stats don’t mean much, it is the scoring. The 49ers are the worst passing team in the NFL, so we barely beat them in at least one category, we might even be better in interceptions and we did take Seattle into the last plays of the game in their house which I believe the 49ers did not do as well there. So depending on which Bucs show up, the orange or the pewter, we may surprise a lot of people and in case you didn’t notice GMC is not the only one on the DL getting sacks.
Just my thoughts
December 14th, 2013 at 5:53 pm
What does Macabee/JBF, Jason La canfora/CBS, Mike Florio/PFT, Peter Schrager/Fox, and Brian Baldinger/NFLN have in common? We all picked the Bucs to win Sunday. Forgive me for a little namedropping! Kinda figured if I look a little silly at about 4pm tomorrow, I wanted to be in good company! lol
December 14th, 2013 at 5:53 pm
I don’t agree.
But I’m not surprised about that either.
We have much more up and coming talent on our D as well.
If it were that easy to neutralize McCoy he would have had many more games besides the panthers game that he would have been taken out of the picture and every team would have done it since the day 1.
People want to rave about the niners D and how we will lose because of it but discount our D as if they will make no impact.
We’ll ultimately see, but that’s my belief.
Again, according to some why don’t we just forfeit the match? I mean we are just a bunch of scrubs playing against a bunch is superstars.
Let’s just quit.
December 14th, 2013 at 5:54 pm
Macabee don’t forget myself 😉
December 14th, 2013 at 6:15 pm
@PRBucFan,
I’m not arguing we don’t have an up and coming defense. Our defense is pretty good now, and should only get better. By next year, we should be one of the top defenses in the league. No excuses. However, offensively is where our problem lies. For whatever reason, we have a difficult time scoring.
I’m not saying we can’t win and we should forfeit, but this one is going to be tough. And I sure haven’t called us a bunch of scrubs, nor have I read anyone else saying that. Not exactly sure where you are getting that from.I’m unfortunately subjected to a lot of 49er football, and I just don’t like the matchup. That doesn’t make me any less of a fan than you. I’ll be cheering for the Bucs every bit as hard as you, or anyone else.
December 14th, 2013 at 6:28 pm
Well they are last in the NFL in passing, so we have them there depending on which QB shows up on each team and we intercept better.
December 14th, 2013 at 6:39 pm
First, I never said you were any less of a fan.
Second, my statement at end also did not place any one person behind it.
But it is definitely how some people are acting, including one of the Joes in his little radio segment with Señor D.
I’m not asking you if you have heard whether that’s the case or not.
I’m telling you that’s the impression that’s being given.
Defeat before the damn game has even been played.
Agree or not, that’s fine.
To me it’s just unfortunate.
December 14th, 2013 at 6:49 pm
@ Tampa fan , Joe will never lose his touch
@ Joe, I got your back !
#bestbucssite.
December 14th, 2013 at 6:54 pm
as much as joe has been talking up the fortywhiners all day he should change his website name too joeninersfan. cmon joe. have some faith. lets be positive. G
December 14th, 2013 at 8:17 pm
Hey Hawaiian, This Happens “They can double, and even triple McCoy all game long.” I am expecting Spence to Work his way to the table and EAT! Not that I would want Only Spence to Get go there, Let every D lineman grab a seat. A dinner Bill I would gladly pay.
I have my hopes up on our O line play this week, If we can pound the rock successfully then we will win. Want to see some early set rb Screens and shots to the flat, some swing passes. I Want to see these types of plays be more prevalent in our game plan. You can’t always get the running game going but these should (fingers crossed) offset that. Give Glennon a good Play action game and I like our chances.
December 14th, 2013 at 9:16 pm
Joe wants to “be positive.” He also doesn’t want to live in fantasyland.
December 14th, 2013 at 9:58 pm
No way the Bucs win and I think there are 30 other teams I would say that about against the 9ers right now. If the Bucs do win, then we definitely got something brewing for next year.
December 14th, 2013 at 10:20 pm
only if that fantasy land involves Rachel Watson bringing us a victory brew after we slaughter the whiners! haha! GO BUCS! BTW joe I love your site, keep up the good work:)
December 14th, 2013 at 10:21 pm
Joe,
When Glennon comes out tomorrow and whoops that niner @ss, you need hit us with some optimist vs. pessimist articles, possibly a QB blast as well?
Let’s see how the line and receivers play. I agree with Couch Fan, we can beat these guys tomorrow. Can Sullivan take the safety off for the home finale?
December 14th, 2013 at 10:32 pm
I was at the last 49er-Buccs game in SF. $50 parking, $14 draft beers, and a complete beat down. The Buccs were punished on both sides of the ball and looked like they had to be pistol whipped to come out of the locker room for the second half. . . I don’t think we will quit like under Ra, but the 49ers are the Panthers with a more punishing running game. I look forward to seeing if “this” team can respond to getting punched in the mouth.
December 14th, 2013 at 11:10 pm
San Fran are susceptible to the play-action pass. That alone is a key to use against them and the play calling must be creative and effective.
December 14th, 2013 at 11:24 pm
@MarkG,
i was at that game too, and you are 100% right.