Monday, October 28, 2002
JUNIOR BRO'S RETURN
If you were one of the thousands (or maybe hundreds...or tens) of people reading these postings, wondering what happend to the Junior Bro, here's your answer: I've been to the East Bay, to the South Bay, to the East Bay, to the Sierra, back to the South Bay, to the San Mateo Coast, to the East Bay, to the South Bay, to the East Bay, to Tahoe, back to the East Bay, and back to the South Bay. NOW I BET YOU'RE SORRY YOU ASKED!!!
Unfortunately, I missed the all too brief opportunity to gloat over my lead over the Senior Bro. That all evaportated on Sunday. No matter how many splits we get, we seem to only move one game per week or not at all. In fact, I don't think the bros have had a two game swing at all this season. Well, I knew four-peating wouldn't be easy.
The 49ers have won three of four since the bye week, but that only masks a glaring weakness: third down defense. The 49ers are alarmingly and consistently surrendering large chunks of yardage on third and long, allowing teams to convert their third downs this season a whopping 50% of the time. Injuries can be blamed for some of this, but it has been a problem which has been increasing during the entire season. Opposing quarterbacks on 3rd and 15 are instantly transformed into Joe Montana, slicing through the 49ers defense like a knife through hot butter. Scheme must at least be partly to blame. The 49ers sit back in these deep zone coverages, letting the receivers run unincumbered through the middle. There are reasons an opponent gets in a third and long situation, and I don't think it's because the 49ers were sitting in deep zones on first and second downs. Attention Jim Mora: GO WITH WHAT WORKS, TRY A LITTLE BUMP AND RUN!
The Raiders are floundering, but I can forgive them for their loss to Kansas City. The Raiders are playing in the toughest division in football, with even cellar-dweller Kansas City being capable of making the playoffs. The Raiders offense has suddenly vanished, but I'm betting they'll find it next Sunday against the 49ers. The Niner's defense has a habit of letting that happen.
Silver and Blackout question: If the Raiders didn't get a sellout for this week's game, would it be blacked out on local TV? After all, this is the 49ers local market too, and they're the visitors.
Emmit Smith got the rushing record, but for my money, the best running back in the modern era was Barry Sanders. He gained all his yards with a mediocre offensive line and, for that matter, with DETROIT! If Sanders hadn't retired, Emmit wouldn't have been able to catch him for ten years.
Thank you Cincinnati for being consistent.
Thank you Arizona for continuing to be the Cardinals - making just enough mistakes to lose.
I think maybe I need to START changing my picks at the last minute.
Junior Bro 8:55:00 AM
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