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June 1, 2008

49ers-Cardinals redux. Holy smokes!

Just finished watching the NFL Network replay of the 49ers-Cardinals game from Nov. 25. Now I know why the league has these non-playoff teams playing a Monday nighter this season. That was a great game. With everything that happened - Patrick Willis' tackle, TBC's fumble recovery -- I had forgotten that Neil Rackers actually nailed a 27-yard field goal in overtime but that the play clock had expired before the attempt. Wow. Anyway, a couple of observations ... and please feel free to add yours.

* You have to believe that Mike Martz has this game in his private collection. Frank Gore had his best outing of the season, rushing for 116 yards and two TDs, but perhaps more importantly, catching a game-high 11 passes for 98 yards. It was a Faulkin' awesome performance.The Cardinals knew the 49ers were going to give Gore the ball on the ground. They seemed ill prepared, however, for his role in the passing game. There's a notion out there that Gore has small hands. I can confirm that indeed he does. But they've never seemed to be much of a factor in the passing game (when he's been healthy). In fact, only one of Trent Dilfer's passes to Gore fell incomplete in the game.

* Anyone who saw the game probably noticed Gore split out at receiver at times. The 49ers also did this with Vernon Davis, Delanie Walker and even Billy Bajema. Martz said he intends to use Davis all over the field, and there is even talk of moving Walker back to receiver, the position he played in college. The 49ers showed the offensive creativity in this game that was painfully absent for much of the 2007 season.

* Ashley Lelie did not catch a pass in the game. But if Antrel Rolle hadn't interfered with him in the overtime, he probably would have scored the game-winning touchdown. He was all alone after selling Rolle on a double move. Lelie was the team's only deep threat last season and he might be the only one this year, too.

* Here's an argument for not playing your rookies. First, rookie punter Mike Barr, who doubles as the Cardinals holder, lets the play clock expire on Rackers' overtime attempt. Later in the overtime, rookie return man Steve Breaston decides to return Andy Lee's punt at the five yard line. He gets away, but rookie tight end Ben Patrick commits a block-in-the-back penalty that brings the ball to the Arizona 3 yard line. On the next play, Ronald Fields hits Kurt Warner, the ball is jarred loose and TBC pounces on it for a win that may have saved Mike Nolan's job ...

-- Matt Barrows

Posted by Matthew Barrows at 6:00 PM | Comments |