G B U - Just 1 bounce short of the Super Bowl edition

[whatever_gong82]

For the record - and I know froot wants me to keep a record of these things - the only coaching decision I disagreed with was how the last 2 minutes were handled. The rest I had no problem with.

Good: It was a good playoff run and great season.

Bad: That 4th down drop by Reynolds was the turning point. Not saying everything was his fault, but that started the slide. Then the damn broke with the Gibb's fumble.

Ugly: Just not enough athleticism on defense. The long Aiyuk reception told the tale: off our guy's hands and facemask while Debo tracks it down to make an amazing catch. Also telling the tale is their consistent inability to take the QB down even when the pressure gets home.

We need more speed and talent on defense, that's for sure.

So we pick 29th in this year's NFL Draft to be held in Detroit??

[Fraquar]

No matter what they did in the last 2 minutes it was all going to come down to something the Lions defense hadn't done the entire 2nd half - get off the field without the 49ers moving the ball and scoring.

Probably better off just kicking the FG with 1:39 left when they reached the 24 with 3 TO in your pocket - and make a burnt offering.....

Falling down 2 scores was the death blow. Once that happened it was game over.

[froot loops]

I thought there was the same chance they get the ball back as I thought when they came back against the Bears. But they had to have three timeouts. Shanahan is notoriously conservative in those situations with safe run plays. They would have a lot less time, but only needed a field goal

[Fraquar]

With the way the Lions were tackling, even notoriously "safe" running plays were likely going to get them a 1st down.
That was the risk of not kicking the FG when it was 24-27 - it was going to be 24-34 when you got the ball back. Defense wasn't stopping jack.
If they do that, the Lions are down 7 and have the ball last. Then I'd be 100% behind him going for 2 for the win - make it or not.

[LightninBoy]

Probably better off just kicking the FG with 1:39 left when they reached the 24 with 3 TO in your pocket - and make a burnt offering.....

This. The only thing less likely than the Lions defense getting a stop is converting an onside kick. Since the rule changes, onsides kicks are basically never successful.

[froot loops]

With the way the Lions were tackling, even notoriously "safe" running plays were likely going to get them a 1st down.
That was the risk of not kicking the FG when it was 24-27 - it was going to be 24-34 when you got the ball back. Defense wasn't stopping jack.
If they do that, the Lions are down 7 and have the ball last. Then I'd be 100% behind him going for 2 for the win - make it or not.

You might be right on that. But I thought the worst tackling was out by the numbers on those damn Deebo screens or when Purdy scrambled. On basic gives in true running situations, they were tackling McCaffrey OK. He didn't bust a couple and that might have been it, but we saw two of those safe runs and he didn't get anything.

[ghandi]

No matter what they did in the last 2 minutes it was all going to come down to something the Lions defense hadn't done the entire 2nd half - get off the field without the 49ers moving the ball and scoring.

Probably better off just kicking the FG with 1:39 left when they reached the 24 with 3 TO in your pocket - and make a burnt offering.....

Falling down 2 scores was the death blow. Once that happened it was game over.

49ers only punted once the entire game

[Sanders Fan]

[froot loops]

The secondary needs a huge upgrade and that is hard to do.

[BlueBlazer05]

McCaffrey's head hit the ground pretty hard late in the game, so I wonder if he would've even been in had the Lions had all 3 timeouts. Elijah Mitchell handled the last few carries, including the final Niners score.

[froot loops]

This is nonsense. It certainly wasn't that egregious.

[dpatnod]

Many decisions led to a loss. Reynolds sucked, Gibbs fumbled, sure. But Dan Campbell decisions cost that game. Or at least an overtime opportunity.

[froot loops]

If he takes a field goal the second time, best case scenario is it's a tie ball game and the Niners have the ball with at least a minute to go in a game they only punted once.

[dpatnod]

Which is a chance. Which is better than what they ended up with.

[dpatnod]

I know Bob's your uncle.... but is Dan Campbell your son or something?