It's been a while since I posted right after a game, but I needed to get this all out. The biggest takeaway from that game is that we simply don't have enough talent right now to compete for a championship. I don't want to discount what Harbaugh and his staff have done so far. I won't allow myself to think about whether we will or won't make the playoffs. We sure as shit need to beat the Falcons.
I truly thought we needed to use Gus Edwards more but clearly JK Dobbins coming out of the game completely derailed the run game. He jogged back and forth on the sideline before going into the locker room. Obviously, the first drive showed what the Chargers could be. As Troy Aikman pointed out, there were no huge plays, but the offense looked very balanced. It was nice that we had a 10-point lead, but last week proved that it would be the second half that truly mattered.
Jackson's touchdown was their first response. It looked like there may have been a hold but it didn't matter. Certainly you have to credit John Harbaugh for going on 4th on his own 16, especially after they spent a time out after trying to draw us offsides. The defense was pumping up the crowd and it looked like we had some momentum.
The next few plays suggested that the defense was shook by the conversion. Flowers' long gain came way too easily. Fulton's penalty was I guess the result of his man blowing right past him. The touchdown was right out of the JC Jackson playbook. Fulton appeared to be right on him but couldn't track the ball. He committed a penalty AND gave up a touchdown.
The Chargers did respond by setting up a field goal after getting the ball back with only 28 seconds to go.
Jesse Minter has been amazing. As Aikman also pointed out, he's done wonders with a lot of the same guys Staley had. Yes, Perryman and Cam Hart were missed. But Baltimore was without Smith. The Ravens were giving up tons of long plays before last night. Mack came back, but was on a snap count. Bosa was getting his fingers taped up. The defense, like the team itself, has been a nice story. But are we good enough to beat the the top tier teams? Do we have the talent?
Last night suggested that we do not. I am now fully comfortable with the Alt pick over a receiver. Herbert needs protection and McConkey has been the only reliable receiver. Pipkins is horrible and I get why Popper keeps prodding Harbaugh about using Sayler. Pipkins did get screwed on that holding call that negated a pass interference. The picking up the flag in the fourth was also awful. The same thing happened in Arizona and could have helped us. The refs gave us a few make up calls on Palmer but it was too little too late.
Quentin Johnson taking his eyes off the ball is a moment I don't see him coming back from. We talk about him not using his hands or being able to grab contested passes, but that drop is the end of his redemption arc. The fact that he dropped another one after that proves his mental state is too fragile. They can't cut him or redraft for Flowers or Addison. He's a second year player, so I don't know what they do with him now. To say he can't be trusted would be a massive understatement.
I get why Greg Roman wondered aloud how Justin Herbert would be with a running game. He can't be forced to play hero ball and get knocked around. However, we don't have anyone on the roster who can get separation or win those 50-50 balls. The 4th quarter was a perfect example of that. He's dropping back and no one is really open. I know he overthrew Palmer or McConkey may have been open on another play, but that wasn't the reason they didn't score a touchdown until it was too late. We don't know what the asking price was for Mike Williams, who is rotting away on Pittsburgh's bench. But the only guy they signed was DJ Chark, who is yet to do anything. He at least has speed. I know the coaches talk about riding the hot hand, but how has he not played? Clearly Rice has been a bust. I guess you can also question Vidal not being active. I guess they trust Haskins.
The point is, I get the need for balance. Baltimore might have the best offense in football and they have balance. We ran for a lot of yards early on, but we are playing better teams now. The defense got gashed by Henry and we were behind the entire half. Every quarterback needs to be able to pass his team to victory at some point. We undoubtedly have the right guy, but there isn't enough around him. Yes, if you can run effectively (which it seemed like we might be able to do with Dobbins rolling and Smith out) these complementary receivers don't seem like such a problem.
McConkey is great, and if you compare him AND Alt to picking Nabers, it seems like a good decision. But there just isn't enough around Herbert to truly put a defense on its heels. Baltimore was giving up 20 plus yard plays in bunches before last night and we didn't have one.
No one is saying we need to have All-Pro receivers. We've had that and bad coaching which led nowhere. But even a healthy Fehoko isn't enough. When we had Keenan and Mike (with Lombardi, who is now thriving with Nix) we still didn't have speed. We complained about Herbert not throwing long but guys weren't fast enough to get open.
I feel like we are truly at a crossroads. If we see this as Year One and with the plan to add more talent and contracts coming next, then we are headed in the right direction. I just want that one ring, so I'm impatient. We're not the A's of Moneyball where we have enough to get to postseason but not win it all. Herbert is amazing as ever, but he needs help. He needs IOL improvement, and guys who can get open and score.
Atlanta is a must win, especially with KC next. I know we aren't going to improve the roster now, even if guys come back from injury. But we don't have enough. That was painfully obvious last night.
Happy Turkey Day and its on to Hot Lanta
JIC, RLW
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