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49ers surprise Arizona in season opener
By Morris Phillips September 13, 2009 |
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In a season opener built on familiarity, physicality and patience, the 49ers got the biggest win of the brief Mike Singletary era, 20-16 over the NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals. Not impressed with the close to the vest, smash mouth style of ball the 49ers have adopted under Singletary? Then, you need to check the numbers and the trends. After losing three of his first four games as 49ers head coach when he replaced the fired Mike Nolan, Singletary has won five of six. Despite not impressing many observers, including his 49ers’ teammates and coaches, Shaun Hill has won 8 of his 11 NFL starts, including five of the last six. When Singletary decided to replace offensive coordinator Mike Martz with a more like-minded Jimmy Raye, the 49ers figured to be more conservative and physical than they ever had in their heyday under Bill Walsh and George Seifert. Singletary backed his physical approach with a draining and demanding training camp and pre-season. In the opener, the 49ers harassed and wore down Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner and won the game with the lengthiest drive of the day in the fourth quarter, despite trailing 16-13 at the time. In fact, so many things went well in the season-opening victory, it’s not far-fetched to say the 49ers will compete for a division crown in 2009, even with only a week of evidence. In a watered-down division, the 49ers figured to be in the top two, but now they’ve got a road victory over the division favorite. “Our formula first of all is going to have to be in our work ethic and our character,” said Singletary following the game. “And what comes out of that… we just have to continue to be physical, and we have to continue to protect the football, and we have to continue to play smart football, disciplined football… all those little things. We’re a team that has to emphasize the little things until we get the confidence to do big things.” Coming in, everyone, including opposing coaches, knew the 49ers wanted to run the football. So it wasn’t surprising that Arizona did a good job of stopping Frank Gore. But with Gore managing just 30 yards rushing on 22 attempts, and the 49ers picking up just one first down rushing, they should have been cooked. But Gore made his yards count. On his longest run of the day, a six-yarder, Gore got a great seal block from Chilo Rachal and he won his collision with Antrel Rolle at the goal line, giving the 49ers a 13-3 lead two minutes before halftime. The touchdown run was set up by a 50-yard catch and run by Isaac Bruce on the previous play. On defense, the 49ers knew from personal experience that receivers Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin would put pressure on the 49ers in picking up first downs as well as trying to hurt them on deep balls. But the 49ers shut the duo down in the first half, as each managed just one catch. And in the second half, Boldin and Fitzgerald made plays, but sparingly, finishing with just 90 yards combined on the day. Throughout the 49ers rushed Warner with stunts and delayed blitzes, and he really slowed after halftime as his accuracy and release suffered due to an injury to his hand. In the first half, the 49ers pressure was effective enough to force Warner to throw an uncharacteristic interception. On that play, three 49ers got hands on Warner before he hurriedly threw into a crowd, where Nate Clements came down with the ball. As the game progressed, and Warner grew more frustrated and less effective, the 49ers defense showed its resolve, sitting in deep zones and tackling underneath when Warner dumped the ball off. Still the Cardinals made their move with consecutive scores, giving them a 16-13 lead at the beginning of the fourth quarter. But the 49ers answered with a 15-play drive with several, critical completed passes by Hill that culminated with Gore’s three-yard catch and run to give San Francisco the lead with seven minutes remaining. In the remaining minutes, the 49ers corners stood out, providing blanket coverage and denying Warner passing lanes. Nickel corner Dre’ Bly came up with a key deflection and Shawntae Spencer, making his first start, was staunch throughout. While Warner completed 7 of 12 in the waning minutes, three Cardinals’ drives stalled out, two on Warner incompletions and a third on Justin Smith’s sack on the last play of the game. Now the 49ers come home for the Seahawks on Sunday, and three of their remaining four games before their early bye week. If the 49ers can take advantage of their favorable schedule, they’re likely to lead the division heading into the October 18 bye week. |
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