New Team: Better Results

With the look of determination in the eyes of the 49ers, the 2009 NFL season begins. The players that make up this firm team are finally ready to embark on their 16 regular season game journey, in hopes of making the playoffs. However, the 49ers are aware of the fact that Mike Singletary stresses the importance of taking each game on, with full intensity, one a time.

This past Sunday the 49ers faced off against the Arizona Cardinals, where they were guests in the Cardinals home stadium. Being a division game, as well as a season opener for both teams, the 49ers needed to set the level of concentration and focus that they can carry out for the remainder of the season. Although he 49ers looked strong in various aspect of the game, some areas still need to be finely tuned.

The 49ers offense had many positive features to offer the team. The offense took care of the ball, throughout the game, and made it extremely hard for the Arizona defense to knock it loose. The offense, as a whole, cut their penalties to 1, which is a great turn around when compared with last season. The offense made plays when they were needed, like a 50 yard completion to Isaac Bruce in the second quarter. This play was made possible due to the numerous amounts of reps. that Shaun Hill and Isaac Bruce had taken during the preseason practices. This valuable time spent, between the quarterback and receiver, allowed Hill to have the ability to read Bruce’s routes and patterns correctly, knowing where Bruce would end up on the field, at any given time. Although the 49ers looked decent in their air attack, their running game was a different story. They gained only 21 yards on 25 carries. But, despite their lack of yards gained off the run, coach Singletary stresses that he is not concerned about their running game, when asked about next week’s division game verses the Seattle Seahawks. As well as struggling with the run verses the Cardinals, the offensive line didn’t help much either. How can a team expect to run the football if the defensive lineman are penetrating the offensive line, ready to swallow the ball whole, almost every play? Practice and changes are in need, if running the ball successfully is desired.

On defense, our defensive backs were outstanding. Their timing was on, while guarding the Cardinals receivers, making it possible for the 49ers defensive line to attack Kurt Warner and the Cardinals offense. Justin Smith played great, adding more and more pressure to the Cardinals offensive line, throughout the game.

So far, the 49ers hard work and determination has paid off, as they start the season 1-0. The 49ers face the Seattle Seahawks, in San Francisco, this Sunday at 1:05 pm, which will be broadcasted on KTVU Fox-2. If the 49ers can match their intensity that they displayed during the Cardinal game, I personally think that the 49ers have a great chance in receiving a victory over the Seattle Seahawks.