Oh so close: Kaepernick stopped short of the goal line, and the 49ers lose for a record-setting 10th straight game

kap-short

By Morris Phillips

Ten-game losing streaks don’t always come with a crescendo, but the 49ers’ first-ever such skid came with a big finish, right there on the floor of Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, two plays to end months of frustration—or not.

With the 49ers’ rallying—narrowing a 31-14, fourth quarter deficit to just a touchdown—and driving, they earned themselves two shots from the Dolphins’ 6-yard line to tie the game, and potentially end a losing streak dating back to the second week of the season.

On the first play, Colin Kaepernick’s attempt to connect with Torrey Smith on a slant sailed slightly behind the receiver, where Miami’s Byron Maxwell was lurking to possibly make a game-ending tackle short of the goal line.  But had Kaepernick made an incrementally better throw—and Smith come up with the catch—the fleet receiver may have scored in this instance.  Tantalizing because the normally-challenged Kaepernick had already belied his reputation for poor red-zone play by connecting with Smith on a perfectly-placed fade pass that started the 49ers’ fourth-quarter rally.

On their second shot—with two seconds remaining—Kaepernick dropped back to pass, then ran when no receivers came open near the goal line.  Running free momentarily, that moment ended fast when the quarterback was greeted by linebacker Kiko Alonso and trailing, menacing lineman Ndomukong Suh short of the goal line.

With the game decided, Kaepernick picked himself up off the turf and unbuckled his chinstrap, while Alonso jumped up and sprinted toward the Dolphins’ bench after flinging his helmet to the sky.  While the Dolphins exalted in their first six-game win-streak since 2005, the 49ers’ were forced to deal with a franchise first-ever, 10-game losing streak.  Ironically, after Week 5, both the Dolphins and Niners had identical 1-4 records.

“You have to get in the end zone,” Kaepernick said afterwards.  “Ultimately, that’s what it comes down to.  We had a pass play called, stepped up, thought we had a seam to get in there, and didn’t make it in.”

On Sunday, once again, the 49ers started fast only to see things unravel.  On their first drive of the day—after the Dolphins punted—the 49ers marched 62 yards, culminating in Carlos Hyde’s catch-and-run for an 11-yard touchdown.  In seven of the 49ers’ 10 consecutive losses, they’ve led in the first half, and did so again in Miami.

The Dolphins were missing three of their five starting offensive linemn on Sunday, and their absence showed on Miami’s initial possessions.  But after some adjustments, the Dolphins came up with a pair of second quarter touchdowns to lead at the break.  Ryan Tannehill’s 16-yard pass play to Dion Sims with 2:17 remaining put the Dolphins up 14-7 at the break.

According to Coach Chip Kelly, turnovers were the real reason the 49ers fell short, 31-24 on Sunday as opposed to any last gasp shortcomings.   Smith agreed, citing a ball that glanced off his hands and was picked off by Alonso in the third quarter.

In the second quarter, tight end Garrett Celek’s fumble led directly to a Dolphins’ touchdown drive that broke a 7-7 tie and gave Miami the lead for good.

San Francisco 49ers podcast with Joe Lami: 49ers and Santa Clara city council at a stalemate; dispute most likely headed for court

sfgate.com photo: San Francisco 49ers president of business operations Al Guido heads back to his seat after addressing the members of the Santa Clara City Council last week as Santa Clara residents hold up signs encouraging the Niners to hand over documents on how the 49ers are spending city monies

Joe covers the following subject that concern the 49ers on the podcast this week:

#1 Will the conflict between the City of Santa Clara and the 49ers get settled on some level as both sides are far apart. The 49ers have out and out refused to provide documents on their spending of city funds and to show how the money was spent. They cannot use that money for any stadium improvements because the city owns the stadium and that would be a city responsibility to maintain the stadium.

#2 The 49ers call the city coucil’s vote to demand documents on itemized expenditures the 49ers have called the city council’s vote “frivolous” Santa Clara residents at last week’s city council meeting have demanded that the 49ers show follow their contract agreement and provide the budget documents to the city council and the mayor’s office demonstrating how they really spent the city funds. The 49ers retorted back that the city can keep asking over and over but they 49ers will not provide documents about how they spent city money according 49ers business representative Al Guido.

Joe Lami has more 49ers news on the 49ers podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

 

 

Second-Half Woes Need to Stop for 49ers to Win

By: Joe Lami

The San Francisco 49ers kick-off their two-game road trip on Sunday with a contest against the Miami Dolphins. They have elected to stay in Florida, instead of flying back to the Bay Area before next week’s game in Chicago. The benefit might not be immediate for the contest against Miami, but the adaption to the time zone might pay off in Chicago.

Once again, to no one’s surprise, the 49ers are underdogs heading into the contest against Miami. They are coming off a decent game against the Patriots, in which they surprisingly kept it close, losing 30-17. Once again, it was the second half that was the downfall of the loss, as they were outscored 17-7 in the final frame.

According to ESPN Stats, Colin Kaepernick just can’t perform for a full 60-minutes. In the first half, he is the most accurate quarterback in the NFL, but once the third quarter rolls around, he is ranked dead last in completion percentage, off-target percentage, and yards per attempt.

Chip Kelly has a theory about not being able to move the ball in the second half in the fact, that the team gets behind and is forced to throw the ball on nearly every down to catch up. This is correct to some extent, but the problem doesn’t stem from there.

The problem stems on the defensive side of the football. The 49ers are a decent first half team, but because of Kelly’s high-tempo offense and the lack of time of possession, the defense eventually gets worn out and gets torn up in the second half. When you combine this with not being able to move the ball, it leads to a 1-9 record.

San Francisco once again has the lowest chance of winning according to ESPN’s FPI and is beginning to become a common occurrence.

The 6-4 Dolphins have run off a five-game winning streak and have become a contender in the AFC Wild Card race. Much of this is thanks to Jay Ajayi. The fifth-leading rusher in the NFL has rushed for 802 yards on the year and six touchdowns in his breakout sophomore season. He’s geared up for a field day against the worst rushing defense in the league. If San Francisco has any chance of snapping their nine-game losing streak, it begins with stopping Ajayi.

San Francisco 49ers podcast with David Zizmor: 49ers to Santa Clara on stadium tax docs “we won’t hand them over”

photo by scott strazantte San Francisco Chronicle: Santa Clara residents hold up a sign reminding San Francisco 49ers Business Operations President Al Guido to follow the law and hand over documents regarding what the Niners did with tax payer money on stadium operations or not

The San Francisco 49ers and the City of Santa Clara are headed for a show down over documents that the city wants to see that itemize the team’s expenditures from tax payer money. The city wants to see what the 49ers have done with the money and that the money was not used for stadium operations. The 49ers have said to the city that they won’t hand over the documents no matter how many times the city asks for it.

Santa Clara mayor Lisa Gilmore said that this is not personal, political, grandstanding, but it’s something that the citizens have asked the city to do. Santa Clara has more than likely something to say about this otherwise they wouldn’t want to go to court on this. It’s highly probable it will end up in the court system and that at some point the 49ers could end up being ordered to produce documents as to how tax payer money was spent by the team.

David Zizmor does the 49ers podcast each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Brady throws four touchdowns in return to the Bay, Niners lose for the ninth-consecutive time

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By Morris Phillips

As sure as grass and pigskin, Tom Brady’s return to the Bay Area as a football player—decades in the making—had the 39-year old superstar’s competitive juices flowing, yet it wasn’t always pretty—credit the 49ers’ defense—but was briefly spectacular.

With the 49ers trailing just 13-10 early in the fourth quarter, and attempting to build on five consecutive Patriots’ offensive possessions without allowing any points, time was still running out on the home team, facing Brady with second-and-goal from the five-yard line.  Pressure was the call on the play as Brady dropped back purposively looking to re-establish the Pats’ 10-point lead.

With two 49ers’ crashing through the middle, including top pick DeForrest Buckner lunging, then grabbing at Brady’s feet, the veteran quarterback spun away only to see defensive lineman Ronald Blair rushing free towards him with bad intentions.

So what did Brady do?  What could he do?

While falling backwards as not to have Blair send him to concussion protocol, Brady simply lofted a touchdown pass to Danny Amendola in the back of the end zone while the quarterback celebrated laying on his back.  Unique, ridiculous and—believe it or not–rehearsed, Brady delivered when little seemed possible.

“It depends on what coverage they are playing and we work on that drill every week.  He started scrambling and we all find a zone and try to get open,” Amendola said.

“Brady Vick,” Julian Edelman said, playfully describing his nimble quarterback.

Amendola’s touchdown allowed the Patriots to escape a tight ballgame late, and they went on to beat the 49ers, 30-17, sending the home team to their team record-tying ninth, consecutive loss, but even in the persistent rain, the 49ers—and Brady—at least provided something to watch.

The 49ers’ defense found effectiveness from a couple of sources: the nasty weather, and Brady being a little off in junctures of the game.  Brady targeted his Bay Area buddy, Edelman, 17 times, but only connected eight times with the shifty receiver, illustrating the number of passes he overthrew or missed.

But according to New England coach Bill Belichick, the 49ers also found effectiveness in crashing safeties Eric Reid and Antoine Bethea at the snap, and outnumbering the Patriots in the run game repeatedly.  Did it show in the final numbers?  Not so much, as LeGarrette Blount became the latest opposing runner to surpass 100 yards rushing (124) against the Niners’ run defense.  But during the second half stretch where the Patriots struggled to mount drives, the strategy worked, and Belichick took note, even mentioning that along with the safeties, the 49ers also brought corner Tramaine Brock right behind one of the safeties on several snaps.

Veteran problem solvers like Brady and Belichick can only be fooled for so long, and that was the case on Sunday.  After those five, fruitless possessions, the Patriots closed the game with 17 points, scoring on three of their next four possessions.  But the 49ers’ offense may have been just as much to blame as the defense.

“He’s going to make the plays he’s going to make, and that’s what he did today.  He’s Tom Brady,” 49ers’ linebacker Ahmad Brooks said.

Colin Kaepernick started well on Sunday, completing 8 of 9 passes for 117 yards a touchdown in the first half.  But again, after halftime, Kap struggled with accuracy, missing on 13 of his final 21 throws.  Whether fatigue, or shifting defensive principles after halftime, Kaepernick has struggled after halftime in all of his starts, especially with pass accuracy.

Consequently, the 49ers did little to take advantage of how close the score was heading into the fourth quarter, punting on six, straight possessions after they climbed within three points before halftime, and only changing that pattern with a late, meaningless touchdown.

While both teams entered Sunday’s contest with issues pressuring opposing quarterbacks, only the 49ers’ issues continued.  Kaepernick was sacked five times—by five different Patriots—while Brady was dumped just once.  Experience, shifting schemes, or happenstance, the Patriots helped themselves in this regard, while the 49ers did not.

Afterwards, Brady lauded the experience of playing professionally in the Bay Area for the first time, and mentioned his pre-game conversation with 49ers’ assistant Tom Rathman, one of Brady’s favorite players as a youth growing up in San Mateo.

“They have a great organization, they always have,” Brady said of the 49ers and the experience of being back home.  “They inspired a lot of kids here in the Bay Area in my time growing up, and I was one of them.”

Edelman, the Woodside High graduate, second Brady’s thoughts, saying “I was a huge fan.  I still like to see them do well, just not when they play us.  It was a great experience.”

The 49ers travel to Miami next week to take on the suddenly-hot Dolphins who have won four straight.  When you’ve won just one ballgame all season, all challenges seem daunting, and this one no less.  In fact, the Dolphins have more in California (twice, at the Chargers and Rams) then the 49ers (once).

 

San Francisco 49ers podcast with Joe Lami: Patriots expected to win by a blow out against 49ers on Sunday

On the 49ers podcast with Joe:

#1 Colin Kaepernick the 49ers starting quarterback talked about his plans in donating a million dollars to charities. The Charities he chose must be for causes he believes in like fighting racial injustice and social injustice. Kaepernick who is taking a knee during the national anthem until fairness and equality is demonstrated by law enforcement and the government.

#2 As far as the game goes the 49ers still are looking for win number two they played a close game last week against the Arizona Cardinals last Sunday at the University of Phoenix Stadium.

#3 The New England Patriots are in Santa Clara for Sunday’s game with the 49ers. Pat’s quarterback Tom Brady who went to school in San Mateo had a lot of family and friends make ticket requests at Levis Stadium so they can see Brady under center. Sunday will be the highest ticket request by Brady in his career.

#4 The 49ers will rely heavily on their defense on Sunday if they even have a chance against one of football’s best teams. If by miracle’s chance they can hold Brady and the Pats it could be interesting but odds are that’s a long shot

Joe Lami does the 49ers podcasts each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Brady Returns in Swing Game for San Francisco

By: Joe Lami

AP photo: New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady shown in game against the Seattle Seahawks last Sun Nov 13th at Gillette Stadium

SANTA CLARA–The San Francisco 49ers are coming off their best performance since the week one shutout of the Rams. Still, it wasn’t enough for San Francisco, as the Arizona Cardinals were able to kick a field goal at the buzzer to win the game.

Even with the loss, the 49ers have stopped the bleeding, at least for now. Thus making Sunday’s contest against the New England Patriots an important game for San Francisco.

Now it’s expected that the 49ers will still lose on Sunday, but the question remains by how much. If they can keep it close, this team has a chance to be on the up-swing.

Now the big story of the week isn’t so much the 49ers having a chance against the class of the NFL, but rather the highly anticipated return of Tom Brady to the Bay Area. The one-time 49ers fan finally gets to go up against his childhood team after being injured the entire 2008 season, the last time the Patriots were in town.

Unfortunately for Brady, he won’t get to perform his magic at Candlestick Park, the stadium he nearly grew up in, but instead the new and very bland Levi’s Stadium will have to do. Brady also reported earlier this week that the game on Sunday is the most ticket request he’s ever received.

Brady will be without his number one target, Rob Gronkowski, after the star tight end sustained a chest injury against Seattle last Sunday night. It won’t matter for the Pats, as they’ll be able to roll San Francisco easy.

Expect another Bay Area product, Julian Edelman to be Brady’s number one target on Sunday with Gronk being sidelined.

The Patriots will be the 49ers ultimate test. If San Francisco can keep it close, there is still hope in Santa Clara for the red and gold to win at least a couple more games this season. However, if they are blown out, it will drain any confidence and momentum built from last week’s loss.

San Francisco 49ers podcast with David Zizmor: If the Pats have a fire in their belly after losing two straight the 49ers must have an inferno going in theirs

AP photo: New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick (right) talking with quarterback Tom Brady (12) last Sunday in the game versus the Seattle Seahawks prepares the Pats for their visit to Levis Stadium and their match against the San Francisco 49ers this Sunday

On the 49ers podcast with David Zizmor:

After a narrow loss to the Arizona Cardinals last Sunday 23-20 the 49ers (1-8) have some preparing to do as they will take on the 7-2 New England Patriots at Levis Stadium this Sunday. The Pats are coming off a two game losing streak including a loss to the Seattle Seahawks 31-24 at Gillette  Stadium. As they lost this one at home.

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was wondering the same thing but it could be after getting two straight loses out of the way after winning seven straight that could put a fire in the Pats bellies. If losing puts a fire in the Pats bellies than there must be an inferno in the bellies of the 49ers after losing eight straight going into this game. They got to be fired up to play one of football’s greatest organizations and second they came so close to winning their second game of the season if it wasn’t for a field goal that beat them against the Cardinals.

David Zizmor does the 49ers podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.ocm

 

Kaepernick: ‘It would be hypocritical of me to vote’

By DANIEL DULLUM
Sports Radio Service
Sunday, November 13, 2016

snopes.com photo: Donning a Malcom X-Fidel Castro T-shirt showing pictures of Castro and X photographed together San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick addresses the media following the game with the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on Sunday

GLENDALE, Ariz. – As per normal, 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick took a knee prior to the start of Sunday’s NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals.

He’s also accustomed to answering related questions. While wearing a black t-shirt with the Malcolm X quotation, “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything,” Kaepernick was allowed time for two questions before the team bus left following the 49ers’ eighth loss of the season.

On why he didn’t vote in the recent election, he said, “It would be hypocritical of me to vote. I said from the beginning that I was against oppression, against the system of oppression.

“I’m not going to show support for that system. To me, the oppressor isn’t going to allow you to vote your way out of your oppression.”

Asked if he feels any more urgency for his cause following the election, Kaepernick said, “I think everybody should feel urgency to make sure we’re doing the right thing, building things the right way in order to protect ourselves from what may come from this.”

TAGS: Colin Kaepernick,49ers,Sports Radio Service

Cardinals’ Catanzaro sinks Niners with field goal at the horn 23-20

AP photo: Arizona Cardinals kicker Chandler Catanzaro gets mobbed after booting a 34 yarder for the win by teammates Ryan Quigley (9) DJ Humphries middle and rear Earl Watford (78) against the San Francisco 49ers at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale AZ on Sunday

By DANIEL DULLUM
Sports Radio Service
Sunday, November 13, 2016

GLENDALE, Ariz. – For a guy who’s had trouble with pressure kicks this season, Arizona’s Chandler Catanzaro finally pulled one out of the fire Sunday at University of Phoenix Stadium.

Catanzaro’s 34-yard field goal as time expired in the fourth quarter gave the Cardinals 23-20 NFC West win over San Francisco.

Colin Kaepernick’s 4-yard touchdown run and Phil Dawson’s PAT kick tied the game for the 49ers at 20-20 with 1:55 to play. The Cardinals responded with a drive that chewed up the clock and allowed them to call a time out with :03 left, setting up the game-winning kick from the right hash on the San Francisco 24-yard line.

“It was for all the guys who play their hearts out every game,” Catanzaro said. “The guys up front got it done, it was a good hold by Ryan (Quigley).”

Catanzaro missed a nationally-televised 23-yard attempt in overtime against Seattle on Oct. 23 and didn’t want a repeat of that experience.

“I could visualize the game winner, hitting the ball well,” Catanzaro said. “I’m glad that one went in, the hard work is paying off.”

Cardinals Coach Bruce Arians said, “I had no questions that Cat (Catanzaro) would make the kick. It was never a doubt in my mind.” Asked if David Johnson ran to the right hashmark because that’s the location Catanzaro likes to kick from, Ariens said, “Yes.”

Catanzaro explained, “It’s maybe just something with my eyes, I don’t know. It’s my money ball, I guess. I’m just appreciative of the offense getting the ball down there for me.”

Arizona (4-4-1) was leading 20-13 when 49ers linebacker Gerald Hodges picked off a Carson Palmer pass with 3:13 to play, giving San Francisco (1-8) the ball at their own 43.
On a third down play at the Arizona 31, Kaepernick looked like his old self, scrambling for 19 yards to the Cardinal 12. Following a San Francisco time out, Kaepernick threw an incompletion on first down before a pass to Vance McDonald moved the 49ers to the 4 at the 2-minute warning.

From there, Kaepernick sprinted out to his right, outrunning Cardinals defensive back Deone Buchanan to the edge for the game-tying score.

“It was a play we drew up that we thought could put the defense in a bind,” Kaepernick said. “They allowed us to get around the edge, got in the end zone. … Great feeling to be back in the end zone.

“It was a great opportunity for us,” Kaepernick continued. “Once again, there was a great play by Gerald (Hodges) to get us that pick and give us the opportunity. … We also have to be able to take advantage of opportunities we had earlier in the game and put more points on the board for our defense.”

Arizona had all three of its time outs in hand when it regained possession. A key play on the game-winning drive was on second-and-10 from their own 15, when Palmer moved up in the pocket to avoid a sack and connected with Michael Floyd for a 26-yard gain to the 41.

Five plays later, Palmer completed a 12-yard pass to Johnson, moving the Cardinals to the San Francisco 23. After a 1-yard gain, Johnson ran 11 yards to the 13. A 2-yard loss by Johnson moving the ball to the right hashmark with :03 remaining preceded Catanzaro’s game-winning kick.

“I’m really proud of Cat. It was a huge, huge hit for him,” Palmer said. “He’s had a great last month or so, just watching him at practice – very consistent. There was never a doubt from anybody on our sideline when we sent the field goal team out there.”

San Francisco Coach Chip Kelly said, “It hurts. As tough as they just played, it’s tough to give them words to make them feel better.

“The outcome of the game is the outcome of the game,” Kelly continued. “We competed, we did some good things, and ultimately we continue to get better.”

One of the things the 49ers didn’t do so well was avoiding penalties. In particular, a sequence late in the third quarter, when back-to-back offensive holding calls took San Francisco out of field goal range and forced them to punt.

San Francisco was flagged nine times for 100 yards, while the Cardinals incurred two 5-yard penalties.

“We were the least penalized team in the league coming into this game,” Kelly said. “That drive in the third quarter was the one specifically, the one that I think knocked us out of field goal range. You come away with three there, it’s a totally different ballgame.”

Cardinals’ WR Larry Fitzgerald moved into sixth place on the NFL’s all-time reception chart with catch No.1,079, passing Terrell Owens. Fitzgerald caught 12 passes for 133 yards, while Floyd caught five passes for 101 yards.

Palmer completed 30 of 49 passes for 376 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions – to Hodges and Eric Reid.
Kaepernick threw for 210 yards, completing 17 of 30 passes for a touchdown and no interceptions. He was also the 49ers’ leading rusher with 55 yards on 10 carries.

Arizona opened the scoring on a scoring pass from Palmer to a wide open David Johnson, who easily reached the lower left corner of the end zone.

As time ran out in the first quarter, San Francisco punt returner Jeremy Kerley fumbled at the end of a 25-yard return, and Gabe Martin made the recovery for the Cardinals at the Arizona 45-yard line. A penalty against 49ers was declined, and after a video review, the play stood as called.

On the next play, Johnson ran around left end and got to the goal line, just inside the left pylon. A video review upheld the touchdown, and the Cardinals led 14-0 at 14:42 of the second quarter.

San Francisco responded with a 17-yard touchdown pass from Kaepernick to Jeremy Kerley, cutting the Arizona lead to 14-7 and capping a six-play, 75-yard drive. Kerley led the 49ers with seven receptions for 71 yards.

At 8:28 of the second quarter, Catanzaro’s 39-yard field goal extended the Cardinals lead to 17-7.

Phil Dawson, the 49ers’ 41-year-old placekicker, cleared a 49-yard field goal attempt by nearly two feet, bringing San Francisco to within 17-10 with 1:32 left in the first half.

With time winding down in the second quarter, a pass interference call against David Reed gave Arizona the ball at the 49ers 1. After a Palmer incompletion, Catanzaro booted a 19-yard field goal, giving Arizona a 20-10 halftime lead.

San Francisco pulled to within 20-13 at 8:46 of the third quarter when Dawson made a 53-yard field goal. Dawson needs one more field goal to become the 10th kicker in NFL history to reach the 400 mark.

Despite being 1-8, 49ers safety Antoine Bethea said the team is still battling, “and invested.”

“Yeah, for sure we’re still playing together,” Bethea said. “The only people that’s going to get us out of this hole is the people in this locker room. We gonna keep fighting. We’ll come back to work on Tuesday prepared and just keep improving, just try to get a win.”

Next week, the 49ers return home to host New England. Kickoff is 1:25 p.m.

49ER NUGGETS: Pregame inactives for the 49ers included QB Christian Ponder, RB Mike Davis, CB Rashared Robinson, LB Aaron Lynch, OL John Theus, TE Je’Ron Ham, DT Chris Jones. … Jeremy Kerley’s TD reception in the second quarter was the first surrendered by the Cardinals defense in 16 consecutive quarters. … Dawson is third on the active NFL list for field goals with 399, trailing Adam Vinatieri of Indianapolis (522) and Sebastian Janikowski of Oakland (401). … Despite a game-time temperature of 80 degrees and sunshine, the roof was closed at University of Phoenix Stadium.

TAGS: San Francisco 49ers,Arizona Cardinals,Chandler Catanzaro,Colin Kaepernick,NFL,Sports Radio Service,Daniel Dullum