I've read or heard some of the quotes given by the 49ers, from head coach to players, after yesterday's loss, and they have the right attitude: they'll just have to come back stronger and better.
As expected, yesterday's game was a smash-mouth, in-the-trenches affair, and if that's what you're into, then it didn't disappoint. Me, I prefer more offensive fireworks by the 49ers, but it was not to be. Still, I'm glad it was a regular season game and not an elimination game in the playoffs. It will give the 49ers a chance to remedy what needs to be worked on before they play their remaining games.
For all the disappointment in the loss, fans have to remember where the 49ers are coming from: a 6 - 10 record last season and no playoff appearances for many, many years. Now, they have a coaching staff that is actually taking the team places and instilling a winning culture! They're 9 - 2 for gosh sakes. And it would be wise to recall that even during the Super Bowl championship years, there were regular season losses, games in which the team didn't look like they had to take to win it all. But win it all they did.
Time will tell with this team.
Friday, November 25, 2011
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
fancy chef-speak
I enjoy watching cooking competition shows, especially 'Top Chef' and 'The Next Food Network Star.'
One thing I find amusing is the haughty vocabulary that chefs often use.
For example, here is a phrase as a chef might say it:
"Are you done with the mise en place on the hericot verts for the amuse-bouche?"
Translation: "Are you done cutting the green beans for the appetizers?"
And another thing: what's with all the tattoos? Geeez.
One thing I find amusing is the haughty vocabulary that chefs often use.
For example, here is a phrase as a chef might say it:
"Are you done with the mise en place on the hericot verts for the amuse-bouche?"
Translation: "Are you done cutting the green beans for the appetizers?"
And another thing: what's with all the tattoos? Geeez.
Monday, November 21, 2011
game 10 - Cardinals vs. 49ers
Prior to yesterday's game, I had read that field-goal kicker David Akers was on pace to break Jerry Rice's 49er single season record for points scored, to which my immediate reaction was: "I hope not!!!" It's not because I have anything against David Akers, nor is it because I never want to see one of Jerry Rice's records broken by another 49er. It's because the 49ers shouldn't be settling for so many field goals. Ideally, he should be kicking PATs instead of field goals every time. Which would amount to a single point attributed to the field-goal kicker, not three. I'd say four or five (at least) PATs per game would be just about right. I'm all for comfortable three score victories.
This past game might be a poor example to use to bring that up being that Akers was only 3 for 6 in field goal attempts; however it is as much the entire field goal kicking unit that should be held accountable for the bad showing as it is the kicker. Akers missed one wide-right, but that was on a 49-yard attempt, pretty long and not exactly a chip shot, and the other two were blocked. Although special teams play has been exemplary in previous games, yesterday let the team know that there are still many things to be ironed out if they want to be the best in the league. Fortunately, they won the game in spite of the missed field goals and lack of touchdown drives that would have been much better than field goal attempts in the first place.
Another thing that came to light was the productivity of wide receiver Kyle Williams. He's about the same size as New England Patriots slot receiver Wesley Welker, and many people were comparing Williams to Welker when the Niners drafted Williams last year. I certainly was envisioning Williams becoming the 49ers version of Welker: quick, fast, elusive, great hands, tough. And before yesterday's game, I was wondering what the Niners needed to do to make that part of their arsenal. Was it the game-planning? Did Alex Smith and Williams need to develop more chemistry together? Was it just a matter of getting the opportunity, such as more three receiver sets? Before the terrible loss of Joshua Morgan for the rest of the season in the game against Tampa Bay, I wondered if Williams would even have much opportunity to show what he can do. But he's the next man up now, so let's start developing our own Brady-to-Welker connection! The more weapons the 49ers have for opponents to account for, the better off we'll be!
Oh yeah... yesterday's best play? In my opinion, it was when Vernon Davis scored his touchdown and afterwards hurdled a photographer so as not to hurt anybody. Excellent athleticism and great move! I've seen other players before hit an innocent bystander and immediately pass it off and forget about it as they played to the crowd. What Vernon did was much appreciated not just by the photographer, but by fans like me.
This past game might be a poor example to use to bring that up being that Akers was only 3 for 6 in field goal attempts; however it is as much the entire field goal kicking unit that should be held accountable for the bad showing as it is the kicker. Akers missed one wide-right, but that was on a 49-yard attempt, pretty long and not exactly a chip shot, and the other two were blocked. Although special teams play has been exemplary in previous games, yesterday let the team know that there are still many things to be ironed out if they want to be the best in the league. Fortunately, they won the game in spite of the missed field goals and lack of touchdown drives that would have been much better than field goal attempts in the first place.
Another thing that came to light was the productivity of wide receiver Kyle Williams. He's about the same size as New England Patriots slot receiver Wesley Welker, and many people were comparing Williams to Welker when the Niners drafted Williams last year. I certainly was envisioning Williams becoming the 49ers version of Welker: quick, fast, elusive, great hands, tough. And before yesterday's game, I was wondering what the Niners needed to do to make that part of their arsenal. Was it the game-planning? Did Alex Smith and Williams need to develop more chemistry together? Was it just a matter of getting the opportunity, such as more three receiver sets? Before the terrible loss of Joshua Morgan for the rest of the season in the game against Tampa Bay, I wondered if Williams would even have much opportunity to show what he can do. But he's the next man up now, so let's start developing our own Brady-to-Welker connection! The more weapons the 49ers have for opponents to account for, the better off we'll be!
Oh yeah... yesterday's best play? In my opinion, it was when Vernon Davis scored his touchdown and afterwards hurdled a photographer so as not to hurt anybody. Excellent athleticism and great move! I've seen other players before hit an innocent bystander and immediately pass it off and forget about it as they played to the crowd. What Vernon did was much appreciated not just by the photographer, but by fans like me.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Marian the librarian
I was watching a Music Choice channel not long ago and enjoyed a song by one of my favorite bands, Heart. Besides playing songs, Music Choice also offers little tidbits and factoids about the artists, their songs, albums, and various other trivia to add to the interest of whatever they're playing.
In this case, one of the bits of trivia they showed is that when lead singer Ann Wilson joined the band, Heart was 'an all-male band from British Columbia' or something like that. How I sometimes like to keep myself entertained is I alter information. In this case, instead of 'all-male band,' I substituted 'all-male barbershop quartet.' (!) Then beyond that, I imagined something like: 'At the time, Heart was known mostly for performing in local Vancouver and Seattle-area productions of 'The Music Man' as the Barbershop Quartet (the school board).' If you're familiar with Steve Fossen and Roger Fisher from early Heart, as well as the musical 'The Music Man,' maybe you can picture this in your mind too, although Steve and Roger aren't known for their singing.
Then with this idea still on my mind a few days later, I completed my revisionist history: 'Ann met the other band members when she was cast as Marian the Librarian in one of these productions.' And so I've been imagining young Ann Wilson acting and singing the role made famous by Shirley Jones ever since. Cute and quite good!
In this case, one of the bits of trivia they showed is that when lead singer Ann Wilson joined the band, Heart was 'an all-male band from British Columbia' or something like that. How I sometimes like to keep myself entertained is I alter information. In this case, instead of 'all-male band,' I substituted 'all-male barbershop quartet.' (!) Then beyond that, I imagined something like: 'At the time, Heart was known mostly for performing in local Vancouver and Seattle-area productions of 'The Music Man' as the Barbershop Quartet (the school board).' If you're familiar with Steve Fossen and Roger Fisher from early Heart, as well as the musical 'The Music Man,' maybe you can picture this in your mind too, although Steve and Roger aren't known for their singing.
Then with this idea still on my mind a few days later, I completed my revisionist history: 'Ann met the other band members when she was cast as Marian the Librarian in one of these productions.' And so I've been imagining young Ann Wilson acting and singing the role made famous by Shirley Jones ever since. Cute and quite good!
Monday, November 14, 2011
game 9 - Giants vs. 49ers
Remember folks, it's a process.
I feel like I need to constantly remind you that it's going to take time for this 49er team to fully realize its potential: new coach, changes to the staff, new game plan, new plays, new direction... and to cite an old and worn cliche - Rome wasn't built in a day.
There are so very many wrinkles yet to install into the game calling and so much practicing yet to do. These players haven't had all that much time together and with the shortened off-season, well, it's a lot to ask for a team to come together and play like a cohesive unit in so relatively short a time.
Now, with all that being said... the Niners are 8 - 1!!!
Point being, if they are this good now and they haven't even begun to tap into what they can ultimately become, then what are we going to do with ourselves? As fans, that is. As for the team, keep pushing to get better. The season is barely half over, and the playoffs are a whole other mountain to climb. But us fans will just have to grin, dance, and bear it!
I feel like I need to constantly remind you that it's going to take time for this 49er team to fully realize its potential: new coach, changes to the staff, new game plan, new plays, new direction... and to cite an old and worn cliche - Rome wasn't built in a day.
There are so very many wrinkles yet to install into the game calling and so much practicing yet to do. These players haven't had all that much time together and with the shortened off-season, well, it's a lot to ask for a team to come together and play like a cohesive unit in so relatively short a time.
Now, with all that being said... the Niners are 8 - 1!!!
Point being, if they are this good now and they haven't even begun to tap into what they can ultimately become, then what are we going to do with ourselves? As fans, that is. As for the team, keep pushing to get better. The season is barely half over, and the playoffs are a whole other mountain to climb. But us fans will just have to grin, dance, and bear it!
Monday, November 7, 2011
game 8 - 49ers vs. Redskins
It's all a matter of exceeding expectations, isn't it? Going into this season, the 49ers had no expectations, just anticipation. So simply winning at all was such a thrill. And the post-game celebrations were full of joy. But after yesterday's victory over the Redskins, I heard the 49ers locker room was rather subdued... because now they expect to win and are approaching the rest of this season in a workman-like manner.
I think I wrote this somewhere in this blog in the past, the idea of simply exceeding expectations being almost better than the end result. The example I may have used at the time involved how a figure skater not expected to medal at all and getting the bronze can actually be congratulated and lauded more than the skater whom got the silver, but was expected to get the gold. For the Niners, after almost 10 years of missing the playoffs and pretty much stinking up the gridiron, they are now virtually assumed to be going to the post-season, and with their record of success so far this season, are pretty much expected to go deep into the playoffs. Anything less then playing in the NFC Championship Game will probably be looked at as a disappointment.
No matter how the rest of this season progresses, I hope that I am able to enjoy their raised level of play. Am I thinking lofty thoughts? Sure! Do I have dreams of a sixth Lombardi trophy? Yes, I certainly do! But what's important is how the team is being put together for the long run. If Jim Harbaugh remains the head coach for the next 10 years or more, I'm thinking that obtaining several more Lombardi trophies is awfully realistic. Just as Bill Walsh brought a style of football that the rest of the league had to adjust to, Jim Harbaugh is doing the same now. It's an exciting time to be a 49ers fan and I hope I remember to enjoy it for all that it is, regardless of how far they go this season (Super Bowl victory).
I think I wrote this somewhere in this blog in the past, the idea of simply exceeding expectations being almost better than the end result. The example I may have used at the time involved how a figure skater not expected to medal at all and getting the bronze can actually be congratulated and lauded more than the skater whom got the silver, but was expected to get the gold. For the Niners, after almost 10 years of missing the playoffs and pretty much stinking up the gridiron, they are now virtually assumed to be going to the post-season, and with their record of success so far this season, are pretty much expected to go deep into the playoffs. Anything less then playing in the NFC Championship Game will probably be looked at as a disappointment.
No matter how the rest of this season progresses, I hope that I am able to enjoy their raised level of play. Am I thinking lofty thoughts? Sure! Do I have dreams of a sixth Lombardi trophy? Yes, I certainly do! But what's important is how the team is being put together for the long run. If Jim Harbaugh remains the head coach for the next 10 years or more, I'm thinking that obtaining several more Lombardi trophies is awfully realistic. Just as Bill Walsh brought a style of football that the rest of the league had to adjust to, Jim Harbaugh is doing the same now. It's an exciting time to be a 49ers fan and I hope I remember to enjoy it for all that it is, regardless of how far they go this season (Super Bowl victory).
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