The Days After Review: 49ers lose to the Panthers, but there is hope
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
The San Francisco 49ers wrap up their week two matchup against the Carolina Panthers with a defeat with a score of 46-27. It was expect by many that the 49ers were going to walking away from that game with a loss, which did happen and it’s not a surprise. What did catch my attention in the game were a few things that I didn’t catch in the game against the Los Angeles Rams.
First let’s state the obvious and what’s easy to point out, because every Niners fan is doing it as well, Blaine Gabbert is very inconsistent. Like in the second drive of the first quarter after the fumble from Carlos Hyde, he was able to throw to Jeremy Kerley on a dig route, which is a good 12-14 yard play. Then right after that, throw a deep pass to Torrey Smith for 20 yards. This is all good, it keeps the ball moving as well as the momentum for the 49ers offense. With all that being said, when Gabbert started to miss throws that should have lead to big plays is where the criticism beings. Still on that same drive in the first quarter, he missed Garrett Celek where he was able to free himself open and Gabbert threw the ball high. On the next two plays it was a loss of yards on a run from Shaun Draughn and an incomplete pass where it looked like he just wanted to throw it away from the intented target Aaron Burbridge. The guy has an issue with being consistent and I know damn well Chip Kelly is shaking his head and saying to himself “C’mon now” when Gabbert is missing throws.
I put the word ‘hope’ in the headline, because there is actually hope coming off this week two game as oppose to last years week two matchup against the Pittsburg Steelers. The offense as a whole is going in the right direction, though two games the offense moves in a much more stead pace compared to when Jim Tomsula and especially Jim Harbaugh were head coaches. Plays are being snapped before the play clock reaches the ten seconds, the quarterback knows what the next play is and not needing to take almost all of the forty seconds to get the eleven players on offense in their positions to snap the ball. I could go on with how impressed I am in two games with the look of the offense, but you all get the picture.
The defense has been the constant throughout the years. The Monday night game versus Los Angeles, Niners defense held the Rams offense to a total of 185 yards and kept Todd Gurley to 47 rushing yards. These are all good things. Against the Carolina’s Panthers, this was a different story. NaVorro Bowman was making plays in the first half, but look exhausted in the mid 3rd quarter. Jimmy Ward was getting picked on the entire game. Every time WR Kelvin Benjamin was lined up against him, it was an easy throw for Cam to make. The real issue in the game was the pass rush. They struggled the entire game to generate any type of pressure to get to Cam, but you must tip your cap to the Panthers offensive line in that game, he had a clean jersey in the entire game.
Remember there is hope for the 49ers under Chip Kelly, they just need to draft the right players and develop them correctly under Chip. If that happens, I honestly believe that they are two drafts away from being a playoff team, but that is going to be a long time from now. So be patience Niners fans because it is going to pay off.
Other Thoughts and Takeaways
- Run defense was bad in this game, they gave up so many big chunk runs to Jonathan Stewart
- Jimmy Ward got picked up a lot in this game
- Antoine Bethea was getting get early and at the snap
- I really hope the 49ers draft a wide receiver in the next draft. Torrey Smith is not a number one option, Quinton Patton hasn’t shown he has made strides in his now fourth year in the league and on the team
