Week 11 Rams at 49ers: the quest for 2 in row. Open Thread

by Ryan Van Bibber on Nov 18, 2007 11:41 AM CST in Events

Each team has a streak on the line today, and only one, a Rams two game winning run or the 49ers' eighth loss in a row, will continue at the end of play.

A similar game plan to what we saw against New Orleans should be in order today. Hopefully, the line has had enough time together and enough individual experience in games now to build on the progress they showed against the Saints last week. Fortunately for Barron et al, the San Fran pass rush went from a wrecking ball in the week two match up to a minor nuisance thanks largely to injuries and a thoroughly disappointing Tully Banta-Cain. San Francisco's rookie sensation LB Patrick Willis is playing with a cast on his hand. Steven Jackson should be primed for a big day. And Nate Clements and Walt Harris should be pretty well tied up defending Torry Holt to open Bruce downfield for a big day as well as make SJ and McMichael a threat in the middle. More passes to Bennett in the flat, a play that worked well against the Saints, would be nice too.

For the playerson the other side of the ball, practice this week should have had a deja vu feel to it, as rushes to keep replacement QB Tret Dilfer off balance will figure prominently in the game plan. Containing Frank Gore who'll be looking to finally have a big game against the team he scored his last TD of the season against, will be more of an issue if the Rams offense can't get an early lead.

It's another winnable game, something fans can appreciate as much as Scott Linehan can in the battle to save his hide. Be sure to visit Niners Nation for some more game preview info and in game excitement. Be kind though, as we all know, losing your eighth game in a row can be tough.

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Comments

Streaks

I sorta got lost in that first sentence but I'm not sure I'm buying it. I think your saying that one of the two streaks WILL still be in tact at the end of this game.

Not true. Either they will both still be in tact or they will both end. Can't be either/or.

See, and I don't really like to talk about it, but if the Rams lose and the 'Niners win...that would end both streaks.

But, let's just act as if I never mentioned anything and go beat down the Gold Diggers!

by Big Red on Nov 18, 2007 1:07 PM CST reply actions

yeah

that's a little confusing. hadn't had my coffee yet.

by Ryan Van Bibber on Nov 18, 2007 1:54 PM CST up reply actions

A win is a win,

but man, that was ugly. I'm sorry to say I think that the play calling has regressed somewhat. Linehan is just too vanilla and predictable.

As a sidenote, has anyone ever taught Bulger how to throw the ball out of bounds to avoid a sack?

by ViperLjs on Nov 19, 2007 3:24 AM CST reply actions

There is a rule against that.

Sure, it can be done under the right circumstances, but too often he's in the pocket and all of a sudden there's two guys all over him. Unless he's out of the pocket, or has a guy standing on the sideline he can zip the ball over, he's gonna get flagged with intentional grounding.

This line is really bad. Sure a couple of sacks were "coverage" sacks and Bulger could have gotten out of the pocket and tossed it away. Then again, a lot of the 'Niners blitzes were on 3rd down, so throwing it away accomplishes nothing.

Ultimately, I'm glad they won and am actually looking forward to the next game. Plus, the Jets just beat the Steelers so that's got to give us a little confidence going forward, right?

by Big Red on Nov 19, 2007 7:33 AM CST up reply actions

Obviously I didn't mean

that Bulger should thorw it away when he's in the pocket. I'm pretty sure I remember a few sacks where he was either out of the pocket or he could have gotten out quickly enough to toss the ball away.

by ViperLjs on Nov 19, 2007 1:45 PM CST reply actions