Really?
It's not hilarious, sometimes we showed signs that we could make a run in the playoffs (the viks and colts game). But then again, there'stimes where we look like we don't belong (lost to ATL). They need to reevaluate the play calling and restack the Oline. Neither one of our QBs lookcomfortable in the pocket.
super bowl? super bowl? we're sitting here talking about the super bowl?
[h2]Breakdown of the 49ers' four back-breaking turnovers[/h2]
This game was all about turnovers. Quarterback Alex Smith threw three interceptions and lost one fumble. The Titans did not turn it over. Not surprisingly, the 49ers lost 34-27.
"It's very obvious what happened," coach Mike Singletary said. "I'm sure there are a lot of other things you could come up with as to why we lost. The bottom line is turnovers for us."
When Singletary was asked about Smith's performance, he said, "I saw a quarterback throwing the ball pretty effectively."
Can those two things be true? Yes, the turnovers were costly. And, yes, Smith threw the ball well. But the problem wasn't Smith's arm. His problem was his eyes.
Here's what happened on those four turnovers, which led to 24 points for the Titans.
Turnover #1 First quarter interception. Smith was in the shotgun, flanked by running backs Frank Gore and Glen Coffee. When the Titans come with four-man rush, both backs exit the backfield. Smith has good time to throw but there's a little pressure up the middle at the end from David Baas' man. Smith tries to hit Crabtree at the left sideline 15 yards down field. Smith's pass is over the corner, Rod Hood, but the safety, Michael Griffin, jumps the route and breaks up the pass. Smith telegraphed the pass, giving Griffin a good read. The ball was well-thrown, but Griffin got a good break on it and the ball was deflected to Hood, who intercepted it and returned it 43 yards to set up a Titans touchdown to make the score Titans 10-3. Bottom line: Griffinmade a really good play, but Smith eyeballed Crabtree all the way and probably threw the ball too late. Although there was a bit of bad luck involved with the deflected pass, this one is on Smith.
Turnover #2 Third quarter fumble. Defensive end Jacob Ford lines up one-on-one against right tackle Adam Snyder. Smith's in the shotgun. Snyder does not stay square to Ford, who beats him with an inside move. Smith tries to slide to his left to create enough too to make the pass. But as Smith takes the ball back to throw, it hits Ford's helmet and pops loose. It's recovered by Keith Bullock at the 49ers' 36. Seven plays later, the Titans score a touchdown to tie the game 17-17 in the third quarter. Bottom line: Mostly Snyder's fault for using poor technique to allow the pressure, but Smith could've had a better feel on whether he had the room to deliver the pass.
Turnover #3 Fourth quarter interception. Smith is under center. He takes a five-step drop. The Titans come with a four-man rush. Protection is pretty good. Smith locks onto Morgan early and remains looking that way. Hood is playing behind Morgan, and that's what Smith sees. He doesn't notice safety Chris Hope, who jumps the route to make the interception at the SF 39. Seven plays later, the Titans add a field goal for a 27-20 lead. Bottom line: Hope made a heck of a diving interception. But he made the play because that's where Smith's eyes took him.
Turnover #4 Fourth quarter interception. Smith is in shotgun. Again, the protection is good. Smith does a good job of looking left and then comes back to the right. He throws to Morgan, who is well-covered by safety Vince Fuller. The pass is about eye high. Fuller goes over Morgan's back (I don't think he got there too soon for pass interference) to get a hand on the ball. It pops up in the air and into the hands of Cortland Finnegan, who returns it 39 yards for a touchdown with 2:51 remaining, giving the Titans a 34-20 lead. Morgan probably could've caught the ball out in front to make it impossible for Fuller to break up the pass. Bottom line [color= rgb(255, 255, 255)]With the defender behind Morgan, it was a reasonable to decision to throw that pass. But Morgan did not reach out to get the pass, and Fuller made a great play to break up the pass while avoiding pass interference. Let's chalk this one up to good defense and a little luck that comes with a deflected pass.[/color]
7-9
