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Posts: 6693
12/23/12 12:41 PM
Grand Poobah
Posts: 10284
12/23/12 03:07 PM
Niners, 'Bama & Biscuits
12/23/12 03:26 PM
12/23/12 03:41 PM
12/23/12 03:43 PM
12/23/12 03:57 PM
12/23/12 03:59 PM
12/23/12 04:16 PM
When asked how he feels about Jean Francois' ability to step into the lineup in place of an All-Pro player, 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said, "I feel good. I think we all felt good about Ricky Jean and Ray (McDonald), anybody who goes in there. Next guy up." McDonald and Jean Francois provided big plays for the 49ers a week ago after the Patriots rallied to score four consecutive touchdowns to pull into a 31-31 tie in the fourth quarter. McDonald and Jean Francois produced back-to-back sacks of quarterback Tom Brady as the 49ers held onto the momentum and a 41-34 victory. Jean Francois is expected to make his fourth career start. And the 49ers' most versatile defensive lineman will be going against the Seahawks' most versatile offensive lineman. Seattle's Paul McQuistan moved from right guard to left guard when James Carpenter went on injured reserve. McQuistan also played left tackle last year when Russell Okung was injured. Jean Francois' effectiveness can also be measured in how outside linebacker Aldon Smith fares against Okung, who is having an outstanding season at left tackle. According to Pro Football Focus, Okung has yet to surrender a quarterback sack and has been beaten for only two quarterback hits in 13 games. Aldon Smith has 19.5 sacks through 14 games, just three behind Michael Strahan's NFL record of 22.5 sacks, which he set for the New York Giants in 2001. Justin Smith, who has made 185 consecutive regular-season starts since his rookie season in 2001 with the Cincinnati Bengals, generally attracts a lot of double teams. He ties up blockers, which benefits Aldon Smith, as well as inside linebackers Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman. Jean Francois must do a good job in his one-on-one matchups against McQuistan. After all, Jean Francois said he figures the Seahawks will try to test him with a steady diet of running back Marshawn Lynch coming his way. Lynch has rushed for 1,379 yards and 10 touchdowns this season. He gained 103 yards on 19 carries in the 49ers' 13-6 victory at Candlestick Park on Oct. 18. "I usually get that every game, from the first time I started against Tampa Bay, I know they're going to come at me," Jean Francois said. "Everybody knows Justin Smith is one of the best D-linemen, so they're dealing with a guy who has played or hasn't started. That's the best part about it. They get to come at me." Jean Francois is scheduled for unrestricted free agency in the offseason, so a strong showing could increase his stock on the open market. But as he prepared this week to start and play every down in place of one of the 49ers' most influential players. "It would help me, but it's going to help my teammates, too," Jean Francois said. "It's another step closer to having a bye week, winning the division and so on and so on. Free agency? I'm not worried about that. I'm just worried about the season and what I can control right now."
12/23/12 04:19 PM
12/23/12 04:22 PM
Sherman likes to get his hands on receivers and throw off the timing of routes. Crabtree, who enjoyed a breakout season in 2011, has taken his game to a higher level with an ability to pick up yards after the catch. Crabtree had just four catches for 31 yards against Seattle when the teams met Oct. 18 at Candlestick Park with Alex Smith at quarterback. "I think Crab matches up well against everybody," 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman said. "Crab's a player who's ascending. He gets better and that's what this league is all about. It's improvement. He's a young player in this league and he's a guy that's showing up big time for us, regardless of the style of coverage." Crabtree has a career-high 73 receptions for 868 yards and seven touchdowns, also the most of his career. The last time the 49ers had a 1,000-yard receiver was nine years ago. In 2003, Terrell Owens caught 80 passes for 1,102 yards and nine touchdowns during his final season with the club.
12/23/12 04:29 PM
12/23/12 04:36 PM
12/23/12 04:40 PM
12/23/12 04:41 PM
12/23/12 04:52 PM
As good as it gets. That's not just a statement on the quality of Seattle's grudge match against San Francisco on Sunday night at CenturyLink Field. It's a summary of how the Seahawks are playing, having won three games in a row and convincing coach Pete Carroll his team is playing its best at any point since he became Seattle's coach. "Without question," he said. "In most of the critical areas we're just cleaning things up." Now comes the division's reigning kingpin in a prime-time matchup whose importance transcends its playoff implications. Seattle can still make the postseason if it loses. San Francisco can still win the division if it is defeated. But this game is a test to see whether Seattle has turned the corner. Seattle has shown it can rout lesser opponents like Arizona and Buffalo. Can it man up against a team like 49ers, who are 23-6-1 since Jim Harbaugh became coach and just last week beat New England in what some have called the best NFL game of the season. "Being the competitors we are here in Seattle, we definitely want to be the best, especially in this division," safety Earl Thomas said. "I feel like they're kind of in the way. So I feel this is definitely a great matchup for us so we can show what we can do, and show the whole world what we can do." Or at least the country after the game was moved to 5:20 to be broadcast by NBC. A victory would give Seattle its longest winning streak (four) since 2007. "You can see that our young guys are growing," Carroll said.
Posts: 2641
12/23/12 04:57 PM
the Dude abides
12/23/12 05:03 PM
12/23/12 05:10 PM
An out-of-towner strolling in New York spotted a sign in a window, "Hans Schmidt's Chinese Laundry." He entered the store and asked, "How come you have this name?" The Oriental explained, as he struggled with his English, that when he landed in America, he was standing in the immigration line right behind a German. When asked his name, the German answered, "Hans Schmidt." Then the immigration official asked the Chinese for his name and he replied, "Sam Ting."
12/23/12 05:22 PM
12/23/12 05:23 PM
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