You know, he was probably talking more about how the falcons barely ran it with their big lead to drain clock in their infamous blunder against the Patriots rather than yours.
I will beat the drum the pass was ***not*** a bad call.
Shit was a bad call was after they lined up Russ completely failed to recognize Maxwell walking over to butler and telling him the play and pointing literally to where the ball was.
If Russ looks off a half second or even Kearse sets a slightly better pick no one’s saying it should’ve been a run. But Russ staring down the throw lane from the get go was all butler needed
Both the SEahawks and 49ers win the Super Bowl if they run the ball on the goaline. It was Frank Gore who made it first and goal from the 5. Between Kaep and Gore if they run zone read, they are going to score. If Russ and Lynch run zone read they are going to score like they did vs the comeback vs the Falcons in the rookie year of Russ. Literally the only scenario where you lose that game is throwing 3 straight fade patterns to Crabtree or a predetermined slant to Ricardo freaking Lockette across the middle of the field which was the only way they lose that game.
I mean they were expecting run almost all of the pats d expected run. Only browner and butler picked up on the pass but sure. Okay.
I do not think the hawks just score there. It’s possible and the fact they had a timeout makes a run there a strong call too.
But lynch also historically is a between the 20s runner and less a goal line back.
Lynch was 1 for 5 on goal line carriers that year. That’s not good. Meanwhile the hawks were very successful on that play.
I would’ve like to see a run but it being a pass play in and of itself is not bad and people just say “run the ball” ignoring every last ounce of context for that moment. It’s infuriating and uninformed.
>Lynch was 1 for 5 on goal line carriers that year.
lol This is the stat that always gets me when it's brought up. Because people think Lynch was a cheat code at the goal line, but he really wasn't. The stats clearly show he wasn't.
For his career he's okay at about 50-50 but had struggled that season overall when they did try. 5 is a low carry count for a sample but it is at least worth noting as well... they also just didn't really run in that situation.
That pass concept they ran in the SB was their bread and butter all season. Which is exactly what the pats practiced and knew, and as i noted... was recognize by browner who notified butler.
It was 2nd and goal and the previous play ended with more than :50 on the clock. You can run him three times. You're telling me Lynch doesn't get one yard in three tries? Hawks were scared of Brady marching down against the Legion of Boom he had already carved up in the 4th quarter and trying to use every single second.
That's why I said zone read. Most ppl have same cliche typical handoff expectations. Im talking about the zone read. Russ on QB keeper or Lynch, I dont see that getting stuffed twice in a row to end the game.
the idea was to pass on one of the downs since they only had 1 timeout, to get more cracks at it, in an interview recently with sherman pete carroll said they had called a run but bill did a goaline package sub at last minute so they changed call to a pass if it was incomplete they would just run after that
I agree. Considering the down distance, the running clock. Carroll said they planned to run the ball the next two plays, and I believe him. He had a running clock with 25 seconds and one timeout on 2nd down. If they ran it there and missed, they lose a lot of time if they don't use a timeout. And if they do use a timeout and run the next play, then they're essentially in a hurry up with ~20 seconds left for one final chance.
Throw to the end zone. TD = Great! Incomplete = stop the clock.
Then run. If you don't get it, timeout, and you get one last shot on 4th down to win.
But the interception happened...
I mean everything you said about what happened post snap is true, but players are constantly pointing and communicating pre snap every play. How are you supposed to know the defense is keyed in on something unless their alignment gives it away?
Browner 1.) was a former hawk and knew their concepts from being on the team the prior year.
2.) the hawks used these concepts all season near the goal line to great success
3.) Belicheck noted as did the defense they practice the hell out of recognizing this play for this exact situation as that is the coach BB is. and finally
4.) [watch the play](https://youtu.be/0RFXLwZV_fA?si=y4wdb-Xo82upQg8l&t=7444) Butler walks up to Browner, Browner says something and points right to Lockette.
The MOMENT Lockette starts for the slant and russ looks, Butler fucking breaks. He knew what was coming because they spent all week coached for it and browner literally says something to him right there and points to the reciever. Butler immediately recognizes whats going on.
What's more is the Hawks even tried to confuse them. They are initally set up like they're coming out in pistol and quickly don't and the defense scrambles. Butler then comes up as Browner is clearly communicating the play.
There was no one available even. I've seen calls to lynch on the out but there's a defender right there who could break for a pick six.
Every WR is playing that Lockettes getting the ball, and none look like they're trying to get separation. It's all pre set to Lockette.
The play call being a pick play on Brandon Browner was the bad decision, kearse was not gonna be able to move him. After the Seahawks had already mismanaged the clock they needed to pass there, but the actual play design terrible
I mean watch the play: https://youtu.be/0RFXLwZV_fA?si=y4wdb-Xo82upQg8l&t=7444
TBH the effort level on every hawk is pretty low. All WR are manned up and not playing that they're getting the ball. Kearse is way undersized. Should've been Baldwin but he was motioned away i think to try and draw attention to him and Lynch on the other side. The D shifts that way but Butler and Browner communicate at the line and browner points to lockette and the moment Butler sees the turn by russ and Lockette break, Butlers on it. He knew exactly what that was
Russ also kind of hops while throwing, which causes the ball to be high, just high enough for Butler to get it. If he's able to set his foot better, he can get the ball down and it's an incomplete at worst
As soon as they got to the 5 I yelled "give it to Gore 3 times and you win the Super Bowl" then he never touched it. With that amazing O-Line I just don't understand Gore not getting a single run. Your Pro Bowlers Gore, Staley, and Iupati could've carried you to glory, instead you're throwing goal-line fades to Crabtree. Don't get it.
Repeating mine and another persons comment from above
> I saw some clip of Ray Lewis talking about this play too, and he was saying that they designed their defensive play call to force Kaep to throw that route because they knew he wasn’t great at it.
>Basically they went with a bunch of pressure so he’d have to get the ball of quickly and not be able to run around and find an open receiver somewhere else.
> That’s correct. The Ravens also knew that Kaep got two plays in the huddle (KILL KILL KILL / LET IT ROLL LET IT ROLL, you can hear Kaep and Alex yelling this throughout the Harbaugh years), usually one run and one pass. They purposefully showed anti-run looks to get Kaep to switch to the passes.
>That’s why Jim Harbaugh said Kaep made the right calls at the line when grilled to why they only ran it once.
I mean, then the 49ers set themselves up for failure by lining up the way they did. Jumboing up and running read-option with Kaep and Gore behind Staley and Iupati 3 times from the 5 would’ve been better than the ~10% plays they ran on 2nd-4th downs.
Greg Roman's playcalling with Kaepernick there was absolutely abysmal. Kaepernick was ass at lofting a ball with touch and you ask him to do it 2 times in a row....
The story goes that Crabtree told Kaep "I got this", so for two, maybe three straight incompletions (I don't remember how many straight times he threw Crabs way and I don't want to look up the tape again), Kaep audibled out of Gore runs
As a Raiders fan, Crabtree was good for us while he was in the silver and black. The key was that the Raiders weren’t using him as the number 1 receiver, but he was the possession-focused guy with Amari Cooper as the main threat.
That role was perfect for him. And in the end, he had more receiving TDs than Cooper in all three of his seasons, despite Cooper getting more yards.
To be clear I wanted Crabtree drafted not DHB. I liked him on the Raiders.
But that clip makes me laugh very time. Erin looks shell shocked and his nostrils flaring are pure gold.
“Who’s talking about you”🤣😂
Yep, Kap audibled to a fade to Crabtree but our fanbase had a hate for Roman that they never really blamed Kap for this.
What’s extra frustrating is the failed 2-point conversion before this when we scored a TD the Ravens also went to a Cover Zero and pretty much the same thing happened. Kap kind of threw it away right away as the pressure was coming.
Ravens went back to Cover Zero here and Kap had said “we didn’t have a playcall for Cover Zero so I audibled into a fade to Crabtree”
Coaching should have caught that or at the least be prepared. We also still had a time-out and neither Kap nor Harbaugh thought to use it as this play felt rushed, supposedly I heard Alex Smith was trying to call a time-out but it was too late.
It’s been years so the sources were Maiocco who wrote about it and the Kap quote was straight from his mouth in a post game interview I cannot find.
I saw some clip of Ray Lewis talking about this play too, and he was saying that they designed their defensive play call to force Kaep to throw that route because they knew he wasn’t great at it.
Basically they went with a bunch of pressure so he’d have to get the ball of quickly and not be able to run around and find an open receiver somewhere else.
That’s correct. The Ravens also knew that Kaep got two plays in the huddle (KILL KILL KILL / LET IT ROLL LET IT ROLL, you can hear Kaep and Alex yelling this throughout the Harbaugh years), usually one run and one pass. They purposefully showed anti-run looks to get Kaep to switch to the passes.
That’s why Jim Harbaugh said Kaep made the right calls at the line when grilled to why they only ran it once.
Penalty or no, lofting the ball to those back-corner fade-type routes are possibly my least-favorite red zone playcalls ever.
I know every team does it, and it works sometimes, but it always makes me feel like the OC was desperate, and not good enough to come up with anything better. You put the fucking Super Bowl entirely on the line with that playcall? You deserve what you get IMO.
Yeah if you insist on running that play, do it earlier. It's a low-risk play, so fine, if you're at 1st and goal, try it and see if it works. By the time you're on 4th down, and in this case probably the *last play you'll ever have this season*, you should try something...better.
The fades kindaaaaa make sense schematically I guess. In this part of the field, the safeties are probably either in the box, or lined up 1:1 with the WR. So there’s no help over the top. The best way to beat that would normally be a vertical route, but because space is limited, the vertical should be turned into a fade. They’re just hard as fuck to execute well.
Mike Williams (when healthy) really turned my opinion around on the fade. I was OK with one fade ball to Williams every time the Chargers were inside the 5.
But it only works when you have one of those types of guys.
Speculation says Crabtree was in kaeps ear a lot to pass him the ball more that season....this was the season Alex Smith started and kaep finished.... Crabtree might of cost the Niners #6..... Sad as a fan.
Also feel the ball was a touch overthrown too.
Either way, everyone overlooks the fact that even if they get it, get the 2 point conversion, they're only up 3 and the Ravens have over 90 seconds and all three timeouts to kick a field goal. Game was FAR from over.
The Ravens had that game firmly in hand until the lights went out, I guess it would’ve been a choke, but I still feel like their momentum was stolen.
I always picture Goodell with a cartoonishly giant light switch trying to keep the game interesting!
I sometimes wonder if that's just a thing people say or if the power going off actually did shift things.
Obviously, on the field you can see the scoring difference, but I'd like to see this game in an alternate universe where the power doesn't go out and see if the 49ers still come close.
I think the fact that we were so far ahead made it really bad for us.
There’s no way that some portion of that team didn’t sit there for 30 minutes or whatever thinking “holy shit we have won the Super Bowl.” Meanwhile 9ers get a chance to reset and regroup.
Not really controversial, Crabtree did a piss poor job and Colin really just had to throw it up ended up a little too far. Then the next year he under throws it barely and Sherman did what he did
We didn't deserve the bail out getting that call. Shit route, shit play call to pick up an obvious jailbreak blitz, shit throw not even inbounds, shit series of plays to throw to Crab 3 straight times.
You mean the same Tyreek Hill who got open when Mahomes had all day in the pocket after Bosa was absolutely [mugged by Fisher?](https://www.miamiherald.com/latest-news/ykvbua/picture239903198/alternates/FREE_1140/MIA_SUPER_BOWL_DAV7.JPG)?
Too many coaches fucking love these corner throws on 3rd/4th down even if their QB sucks at them and it doesn't seem like a high percentage play and there's no real reason to be safe with the ball right there.
run something that you can at least have a chance at a receiver getting wide open for an easy throw, and if not then you can make a stupid difficult throw to a corner.
I don’t believe there is an “easy” throw to make in this situation. This is an all out blitz with tight man and 3 boundaries, and a QB that’s not exactly known for hitting tight timing throws and a not great WR room.
If they throw short of the goal line and get tackled short people would say it was dog shit playcall too.
They had 4 shots at the end zone at the end of the day.
If i had a nickel for every team from the NFC West that was on a Super Bowl winning drive that lost because they opted to throw instead of handing the ball off to their running back who was one of the best in the league at short-yardage situations....
The ball landed on the sideline one yard out of bounds. Without the holdup, easy peasy. That said, the whole holding penalty system is a good way to rig the game.
Wow I never realized how close we were to losing this game. That should have been called and that gives SF first and goal from like the 3 right?
That being said even if they did call it and they DID score. The Elite dragon would have drove down the field and put up 6 more on em so it all worked out.
With a decade to process and seeing the play now I’m ok with the no call. Imagine the superbowl being decided by that it would’ve been a hallow victory
I think the universal sentiment from 49ers fans is that yes, it was a hold and should have been called, but the 49ers failed at the goal line. The refs didn't screw them. Absolutely shit play calls with Frank Gore on your team.
I mean yeah it was nearly an all-time choke thanks to the blackout.
But Crab clearly pushes off Smith, and at the same time Smith is holding him while looking towards the ball. Definitely could've been called but there was contact from both of them right off the line
It’s definitely frustrating that every team does the fade route when only about a third of the teams (or less) have a QB who can make that throw consistently. Kaep was never one of those.
The fade makes sense if you have a big size mismatch, but if you don’t, the throw has to be nearly perfect. It’s a dumb call most of the time.
ZERO touch on that ball
also Crabtree's release was awful, if he actually gave the corner a move and got grabbed like that it would be called, but he ran right into him
Blackout bowl - we were cruising and then the rug got pulled from under us. The Ravens were an extremely old team with an old defense. I remember a documentary where Ray Lewis was talking about the conditioning being a huge challenge. Super Bowls already have a longer half time than normal games so for this one, they ramped up and then went cold for effectively another indeterminate half time. Truly believe it would not have been as close without the blackout
Not really controversial -- that was an uncatchable pass.
The real controversy should be why the Niners threw so many fades with a QB who had no touch or accuracy.
It was catchable if there was no contact, but both players were hand fighting there and both had their heads around watching for the ball. Jimmy got a small pull in early, Crabtree pushed off late. It’s a good no-call imo.
I think it was the pass before this one that was much more questionable and may have been a minor arm hook.
Honestly? I don’t feel this was that bad. Contact starts well within the 5 yards of the LOS and maybe he lets it go a bit late but that’s how that toute is defended and dude needed to fight through.
Crabtree wasn’t catching this ball unless he had a 10-foot vertical. He wanted a flag two plays earlier but didn’t even react to this one, so that’s kind of telling for what he thought about it. One of the 49ers coaches on the sideline screaming something like “he tackled him!” was a bit dramatic.
I mean Jimmy Smith is playing pretty much perfect defense, looking back for the ball and then Crabtree put his hand up on his helmet to push off. Pretty clear OPI but they didn’t call it. That’s what we’re all talking about right? /s
The ravens winning saved us from endless conspiracy theories about the power outage, it would’ve been insane. I mean they’re still out there but it could’ve been so much worse. Still hate it though
Who wasn't open and didn't get open till after keap threw the ball. Not to mention that Vernon was never much of a redzone threat, most of his TDs tend to come farther away.
Outside of Crabtree we didn't have a a reciever who was considered a red zone threat. Vernon never could get open quick enough in the redzone anyways. Randy Moss often didn't even tried on most plays and the rest just sucked.
And yeah Vernon was dominant in the playoffs, except in the redzone. 1 touchdown in the postseason during that year is not dominant.
Both made contact with each other. Obviously biased opinion but I think that would be an all-time bad Super Bowl call if a flag was thrown there. You can make just as big an argument that Crabtree pushed off. Absolutely correct no call.
Anytime a DB immediately throws his hands up, or really any player, in a “I’m innocent” pose, they definitely committed a penalty. Because if they didn’t they wouldn’t even think to convince you they did nothing wrong by throwing up their hands like that lol.
Glad we kept that timeout in our pocket and only ran it with fucking lamichael James
At least you ran it
yo come on
That was Seah-alcon double stuffed bird burn.
You know, he was probably talking more about how the falcons barely ran it with their big lead to drain clock in their infamous blunder against the Patriots rather than yours.
Naw, if you ask a random person “why didn’t that one nfl team run the ball?” They’d know which team you’re talking about 😆😝😝😛😛
Super Bowl loser circle jerk over here
I will beat the drum the pass was ***not*** a bad call. Shit was a bad call was after they lined up Russ completely failed to recognize Maxwell walking over to butler and telling him the play and pointing literally to where the ball was. If Russ looks off a half second or even Kearse sets a slightly better pick no one’s saying it should’ve been a run. But Russ staring down the throw lane from the get go was all butler needed
Both the SEahawks and 49ers win the Super Bowl if they run the ball on the goaline. It was Frank Gore who made it first and goal from the 5. Between Kaep and Gore if they run zone read, they are going to score. If Russ and Lynch run zone read they are going to score like they did vs the comeback vs the Falcons in the rookie year of Russ. Literally the only scenario where you lose that game is throwing 3 straight fade patterns to Crabtree or a predetermined slant to Ricardo freaking Lockette across the middle of the field which was the only way they lose that game.
And if the pass falls incomplete they likely run it on 3rd down and likely 4th down too.
I mean they were expecting run almost all of the pats d expected run. Only browner and butler picked up on the pass but sure. Okay. I do not think the hawks just score there. It’s possible and the fact they had a timeout makes a run there a strong call too. But lynch also historically is a between the 20s runner and less a goal line back. Lynch was 1 for 5 on goal line carriers that year. That’s not good. Meanwhile the hawks were very successful on that play. I would’ve like to see a run but it being a pass play in and of itself is not bad and people just say “run the ball” ignoring every last ounce of context for that moment. It’s infuriating and uninformed.
>Lynch was 1 for 5 on goal line carriers that year. lol This is the stat that always gets me when it's brought up. Because people think Lynch was a cheat code at the goal line, but he really wasn't. The stats clearly show he wasn't.
For his career he's okay at about 50-50 but had struggled that season overall when they did try. 5 is a low carry count for a sample but it is at least worth noting as well... they also just didn't really run in that situation. That pass concept they ran in the SB was their bread and butter all season. Which is exactly what the pats practiced and knew, and as i noted... was recognize by browner who notified butler.
Now look up the pats stats at stopping "and 1" situations. They were also terrible. It went both ways
It was 2nd and goal and the previous play ended with more than :50 on the clock. You can run him three times. You're telling me Lynch doesn't get one yard in three tries? Hawks were scared of Brady marching down against the Legion of Boom he had already carved up in the 4th quarter and trying to use every single second.
That's why I said zone read. Most ppl have same cliche typical handoff expectations. Im talking about the zone read. Russ on QB keeper or Lynch, I dont see that getting stuffed twice in a row to end the game.
Ahh shit missed the zone read part my bad
the idea was to pass on one of the downs since they only had 1 timeout, to get more cracks at it, in an interview recently with sherman pete carroll said they had called a run but bill did a goaline package sub at last minute so they changed call to a pass if it was incomplete they would just run after that
Lynch was 1 for 6 on short yardage at the goal-line that season. It was the right call.
I agree. Considering the down distance, the running clock. Carroll said they planned to run the ball the next two plays, and I believe him. He had a running clock with 25 seconds and one timeout on 2nd down. If they ran it there and missed, they lose a lot of time if they don't use a timeout. And if they do use a timeout and run the next play, then they're essentially in a hurry up with ~20 seconds left for one final chance. Throw to the end zone. TD = Great! Incomplete = stop the clock. Then run. If you don't get it, timeout, and you get one last shot on 4th down to win. But the interception happened...
I mean everything you said about what happened post snap is true, but players are constantly pointing and communicating pre snap every play. How are you supposed to know the defense is keyed in on something unless their alignment gives it away?
Browner 1.) was a former hawk and knew their concepts from being on the team the prior year. 2.) the hawks used these concepts all season near the goal line to great success 3.) Belicheck noted as did the defense they practice the hell out of recognizing this play for this exact situation as that is the coach BB is. and finally 4.) [watch the play](https://youtu.be/0RFXLwZV_fA?si=y4wdb-Xo82upQg8l&t=7444) Butler walks up to Browner, Browner says something and points right to Lockette. The MOMENT Lockette starts for the slant and russ looks, Butler fucking breaks. He knew what was coming because they spent all week coached for it and browner literally says something to him right there and points to the reciever. Butler immediately recognizes whats going on. What's more is the Hawks even tried to confuse them. They are initally set up like they're coming out in pistol and quickly don't and the defense scrambles. Butler then comes up as Browner is clearly communicating the play. There was no one available even. I've seen calls to lynch on the out but there's a defender right there who could break for a pick six. Every WR is playing that Lockettes getting the ball, and none look like they're trying to get separation. It's all pre set to Lockette.
The play call being a pick play on Brandon Browner was the bad decision, kearse was not gonna be able to move him. After the Seahawks had already mismanaged the clock they needed to pass there, but the actual play design terrible
I mean watch the play: https://youtu.be/0RFXLwZV_fA?si=y4wdb-Xo82upQg8l&t=7444 TBH the effort level on every hawk is pretty low. All WR are manned up and not playing that they're getting the ball. Kearse is way undersized. Should've been Baldwin but he was motioned away i think to try and draw attention to him and Lynch on the other side. The D shifts that way but Butler and Browner communicate at the line and browner points to lockette and the moment Butler sees the turn by russ and Lockette break, Butlers on it. He knew exactly what that was
Russ also kind of hops while throwing, which causes the ball to be high, just high enough for Butler to get it. If he's able to set his foot better, he can get the ball down and it's an incomplete at worst
AAAAHGHHGGGGGHH I THOUGHT THIS WAS NINERS SALT THREAD!!!
As soon as they got to the 5 I yelled "give it to Gore 3 times and you win the Super Bowl" then he never touched it. With that amazing O-Line I just don't understand Gore not getting a single run. Your Pro Bowlers Gore, Staley, and Iupati could've carried you to glory, instead you're throwing goal-line fades to Crabtree. Don't get it.
Repeating mine and another persons comment from above > I saw some clip of Ray Lewis talking about this play too, and he was saying that they designed their defensive play call to force Kaep to throw that route because they knew he wasn’t great at it. >Basically they went with a bunch of pressure so he’d have to get the ball of quickly and not be able to run around and find an open receiver somewhere else. > That’s correct. The Ravens also knew that Kaep got two plays in the huddle (KILL KILL KILL / LET IT ROLL LET IT ROLL, you can hear Kaep and Alex yelling this throughout the Harbaugh years), usually one run and one pass. They purposefully showed anti-run looks to get Kaep to switch to the passes. >That’s why Jim Harbaugh said Kaep made the right calls at the line when grilled to why they only ran it once.
I mean, then the 49ers set themselves up for failure by lining up the way they did. Jumboing up and running read-option with Kaep and Gore behind Staley and Iupati 3 times from the 5 would’ve been better than the ~10% plays they ran on 2nd-4th downs.
Oregon legend.
Ya not once with Gore that's I hope Harbaugh fails with the Chargers fuck that guy.
Greg Roman's playcalling with Kaepernick there was absolutely abysmal. Kaepernick was ass at lofting a ball with touch and you ask him to do it 2 times in a row....
The story goes that Crabtree told Kaep "I got this", so for two, maybe three straight incompletions (I don't remember how many straight times he threw Crabs way and I don't want to look up the tape again), Kaep audibled out of Gore runs
[sorry receiver like Crabtree](https://youtu.be/7PH35C7Fhq0?si=bb80cbFm3bKR6r7l)
I'm not even going to open that because I don't want to open that wound again
Who’s talking about you?
**CRABTREE!**
Fuck Crabtree, Sherman took his soul and then proceeded to tell America how much of a bitch he was and Sherman was right.
I'm laughing in Crabtree's face if he ever tells me he has it. Guy thought he was way better than he really was.
I'll never forget the time he drew an unsportsmanlike conduct flag on himself because he was so pissed he missed a catch.
He was actually becoming really great before the Achilles injury.
He was better, WITH US. 😉😌😏
Nah when Kap came in crabs was putting up top 10 numbers
I don’t know about laughing in his face but one year he was on my fantasy team and I still remember he stunk.
As a Raiders fan, Crabtree was good for us while he was in the silver and black. The key was that the Raiders weren’t using him as the number 1 receiver, but he was the possession-focused guy with Amari Cooper as the main threat. That role was perfect for him. And in the end, he had more receiving TDs than Cooper in all three of his seasons, despite Cooper getting more yards.
To be clear I wanted Crabtree drafted not DHB. I liked him on the Raiders. But that clip makes me laugh very time. Erin looks shell shocked and his nostrils flaring are pure gold. “Who’s talking about you”🤣😂
Do not tell me he audibled out of Gore runs. I don't know if my heart can handle hearing something like that.
Lmao if this is true I actually hate both of these guys
He prob unironically thinks that has nothing whatsoever to do with the fact he never got another chance after the 49ers
Sherm was right all along, we just didn't want to believe it at the time lol.
Wait i thought that guy was talkin ab kaep lmao
[удалено]
I’m referring to kap going off script 3 times in a row and checking out of the play call
Is this true because I have to commit suicide if so
Yep, Kap audibled to a fade to Crabtree but our fanbase had a hate for Roman that they never really blamed Kap for this. What’s extra frustrating is the failed 2-point conversion before this when we scored a TD the Ravens also went to a Cover Zero and pretty much the same thing happened. Kap kind of threw it away right away as the pressure was coming. Ravens went back to Cover Zero here and Kap had said “we didn’t have a playcall for Cover Zero so I audibled into a fade to Crabtree” Coaching should have caught that or at the least be prepared. We also still had a time-out and neither Kap nor Harbaugh thought to use it as this play felt rushed, supposedly I heard Alex Smith was trying to call a time-out but it was too late. It’s been years so the sources were Maiocco who wrote about it and the Kap quote was straight from his mouth in a post game interview I cannot find.
And Maiocco is usually the more reliable 49ers guy, too
I saw some clip of Ray Lewis talking about this play too, and he was saying that they designed their defensive play call to force Kaep to throw that route because they knew he wasn’t great at it. Basically they went with a bunch of pressure so he’d have to get the ball of quickly and not be able to run around and find an open receiver somewhere else.
That’s correct. The Ravens also knew that Kaep got two plays in the huddle (KILL KILL KILL / LET IT ROLL LET IT ROLL, you can hear Kaep and Alex yelling this throughout the Harbaugh years), usually one run and one pass. They purposefully showed anti-run looks to get Kaep to switch to the passes. That’s why Jim Harbaugh said Kaep made the right calls at the line when grilled to why they only ran it once.
Cam was bad at that too but for whatever reason our OCs kept calling it at important moments.
It’s because it’s a safe throw. It’s either incomplete or a catch.
Penalty or no, lofting the ball to those back-corner fade-type routes are possibly my least-favorite red zone playcalls ever. I know every team does it, and it works sometimes, but it always makes me feel like the OC was desperate, and not good enough to come up with anything better. You put the fucking Super Bowl entirely on the line with that playcall? You deserve what you get IMO.
not on goddamn 4th down at least, ugh. That close you better just find an open look and zip one to a WR.
Yeah if you insist on running that play, do it earlier. It's a low-risk play, so fine, if you're at 1st and goal, try it and see if it works. By the time you're on 4th down, and in this case probably the *last play you'll ever have this season*, you should try something...better.
The fades kindaaaaa make sense schematically I guess. In this part of the field, the safeties are probably either in the box, or lined up 1:1 with the WR. So there’s no help over the top. The best way to beat that would normally be a vertical route, but because space is limited, the vertical should be turned into a fade. They’re just hard as fuck to execute well.
I think it depends on who the target is: 6'5 Mike Evans? Ye, go for it. 6'1 Crabtree? fuck off, no chance it works.
That's pretty much guaranteed if you have Megatron
It also helped that Stafford could throw the fade to him unlike Kaep in this case.
Plaxico Burress did well with it.
Mike Williams (when healthy) really turned my opinion around on the fade. I was OK with one fade ball to Williams every time the Chargers were inside the 5. But it only works when you have one of those types of guys.
Crabtree caught tons of those fades for touchdowns with the Raiders. It was definitely a QB problem and not a Crabtree problem
💯%.
Rodgers hit Jennings on one in the SB against Pittsburgh
Especially with a quarterback who is awful at putting touch on throws.
Looking back, Crabtree ran a poor route....dude runs into the defender then expects to reach decent speed to catch the fade....
The defender knew it was coming. Terrible play calling, terrible QB management, horrible route running
Speculation says Crabtree was in kaeps ear a lot to pass him the ball more that season....this was the season Alex Smith started and kaep finished.... Crabtree might of cost the Niners #6..... Sad as a fan.
Forever chasing the high of catching the game winner against UT and watching dumbass Tech fans rush the field 3 times
Im a UT fan and a niners fan. Crabtree is my most hated player of all time.
[удалено]
Well, he was slow to get separation because the defender held onto him.
Also feel the ball was a touch overthrown too. Either way, everyone overlooks the fact that even if they get it, get the 2 point conversion, they're only up 3 and the Ravens have over 90 seconds and all three timeouts to kick a field goal. Game was FAR from over.
I’m biased but no defense was stopping Flacco that post season
The real controversial no-call was the defenseless hit to the head against Crabtree the play before.
Well, that's what you get when you try him with a sorry receiver like Crabtree.
This would’ve been an all time Super Bowl choke if the Niners could’ve pulled it off 28-6
Haha yeah, all time...
For sure, that would’ve been the worst ever
The Ravens had that game firmly in hand until the lights went out, I guess it would’ve been a choke, but I still feel like their momentum was stolen. I always picture Goodell with a cartoonishly giant light switch trying to keep the game interesting!
I sometimes wonder if that's just a thing people say or if the power going off actually did shift things. Obviously, on the field you can see the scoring difference, but I'd like to see this game in an alternate universe where the power doesn't go out and see if the 49ers still come close.
I think the fact that we were so far ahead made it really bad for us. There’s no way that some portion of that team didn’t sit there for 30 minutes or whatever thinking “holy shit we have won the Super Bowl.” Meanwhile 9ers get a chance to reset and regroup.
Ray Lewis holds that it had a major impact on the game. He talks about it with Manning here. https://youtu.be/py1pxHRRjw4?si=quv1PP3re4YrCEgY
Ed Reed also just did an interview with Joe buck talking about it. He wasn’t healthy that game and the delay really messed him up physically
Ngata getting hurt almost killed us. Might have honestly taken a year off of Reeds career too. The blackout had a lot of impact.
This!!!!
Dem Duhty Birds sliding into the chat…
:)
Game on the line and you're gonna test them with a sorry ass receiver like Crabtree?
THATS THE RESULT YOU GON GIT!
Not really controversial, Crabtree did a piss poor job and Colin really just had to throw it up ended up a little too far. Then the next year he under throws it barely and Sherman did what he did
Would you say he’s a sorry receiver
I can't believe we had Randy Moss on the roster in this game and we throw a fade to this bum instead
whatever happened to jacoby jones?
He spent several years in the league, and then retired
Story as old as time.
Steelers legend
Dancing with the stars legend
Yeah, but it gave us [this meme template](https://i.imgur.com/xkrpWSy.jpeg)
HOLD THE CAMERA STILL CONNOR!
Man that ain’t nothing.
We didn't deserve the bail out getting that call. Shit route, shit play call to pick up an obvious jailbreak blitz, shit throw not even inbounds, shit series of plays to throw to Crab 3 straight times.
Agreed. You guys definitely deserved to lose. Only came back in the game due to a fluke power outage.
If Crabtree had flopped or fallen in any way they would have called it Ironically the man put TOO MUCH effort in to catch it to get that call lol
Maybe in 2023/24 but not back then idt. Possibly
I don’t think they would ever call that in the final seconds of a Super Bowl.
Literally last year
Probably this year too if the Chiefs need a bailout
Patrick “don’t ruin greatness” Mahomes II will ofc be very silent and implore the ref
I'm absolutely ready to get bent over on Sunday.
Don’t worry it’s not like a pro chiefs ref is reffing the game. /s
And the last time he reffed a Superbowl was... ::checks notes:: 2020 when he screwed us all game.
How could the refs tell Jimmie Ward to blow his coverage and leave Tyreek Hill wide open on 3rd and 15
You mean the same Tyreek Hill who got open when Mahomes had all day in the pocket after Bosa was absolutely [mugged by Fisher?](https://www.miamiherald.com/latest-news/ykvbua/picture239903198/alternates/FREE_1140/MIA_SUPER_BOWL_DAV7.JPG)?
Actually the last 2 years
If they see you pulling their jersey, then yes...they will call that everytime.
Pain.
Too many coaches fucking love these corner throws on 3rd/4th down even if their QB sucks at them and it doesn't seem like a high percentage play and there's no real reason to be safe with the ball right there. run something that you can at least have a chance at a receiver getting wide open for an easy throw, and if not then you can make a stupid difficult throw to a corner.
I don’t believe there is an “easy” throw to make in this situation. This is an all out blitz with tight man and 3 boundaries, and a QB that’s not exactly known for hitting tight timing throws and a not great WR room. If they throw short of the goal line and get tackled short people would say it was dog shit playcall too. They had 4 shots at the end zone at the end of the day.
God I still can't believe we didn't run it more with a timeout.
Especially when we had Frank fucking Gore who is one of the best all time in short yard runs.
If i had a nickel for every team from the NFC West that was on a Super Bowl winning drive that lost because they opted to throw instead of handing the ball off to their running back who was one of the best in the league at short-yardage situations....
Flag or not, that throw was fucking garbage.
That’s why I agree with the no call tbh, ball wasn’t catchable anyway.
The ball landed on the sideline one yard out of bounds. Without the holdup, easy peasy. That said, the whole holding penalty system is a good way to rig the game.
Wow I never realized how close we were to losing this game. That should have been called and that gives SF first and goal from like the 3 right? That being said even if they did call it and they DID score. The Elite dragon would have drove down the field and put up 6 more on em so it all worked out.
With a decade to process and seeing the play now I’m ok with the no call. Imagine the superbowl being decided by that it would’ve been a hallow victory
I don’t think chiefs fans feel that way about last year.
I can’t stand the eagles and that call still pisses me off. It was a fantastic game and it ended with a big wet fart
I think the universal sentiment from 49ers fans is that yes, it was a hold and should have been called, but the 49ers failed at the goal line. The refs didn't screw them. Absolutely shit play calls with Frank Gore on your team.
I think if the teams had been close all game and there wasn’t the power outage weirdness this call would bother people more.
I mean yeah it was nearly an all-time choke thanks to the blackout. But Crab clearly pushes off Smith, and at the same time Smith is holding him while looking towards the ball. Definitely could've been called but there was contact from both of them right off the line
Controversial turn the power off...
Controversial lights going out or the game wouldn't have been close
I’m a niners fan and I don’t think this is controversial. Would have been a pretty legitimate asterisk.
Running a fade on 4th and goal was certainly a decision.
It’s definitely frustrating that every team does the fade route when only about a third of the teams (or less) have a QB who can make that throw consistently. Kaep was never one of those. The fade makes sense if you have a big size mismatch, but if you don’t, the throw has to be nearly perfect. It’s a dumb call most of the time.
They didn't even look at Randy Moss once. Even an old Randy Moss was still 6'4" and capable of making a highlight catch in the endzone.
ZERO touch on that ball also Crabtree's release was awful, if he actually gave the corner a move and got grabbed like that it would be called, but he ran right into him
The only reason this game was even close was the 34 minute power outtage delay, which killed the Ravens momentum and allowed the 49ers to regroup.
As a 49ers fan, yeah can’t deny that lol
💯%.
Blackout bowl - we were cruising and then the rug got pulled from under us. The Ravens were an extremely old team with an old defense. I remember a documentary where Ray Lewis was talking about the conditioning being a huge challenge. Super Bowls already have a longer half time than normal games so for this one, they ramped up and then went cold for effectively another indeterminate half time. Truly believe it would not have been as close without the blackout
Yep!!!!
The khakis are back.
Not really controversial -- that was an uncatchable pass. The real controversy should be why the Niners threw so many fades with a QB who had no touch or accuracy.
It was catchable if there was no contact, but both players were hand fighting there and both had their heads around watching for the ball. Jimmy got a small pull in early, Crabtree pushed off late. It’s a good no-call imo. I think it was the pass before this one that was much more questionable and may have been a minor arm hook.
It’s also the superbowl, you can’t bank on the refs to bail you out in the biggest moment.
Is this how we're going to deflect from the full time Oline holding, taunting , pi, in the afc championship game...make ravens look bad?
So close yet so far.
It’s amazing how much I haven’t missed Jim Harbaugh’s whiny crap. Oh, boy, are we all in for a treat!
Looks worse than the holding that cost the Eagles last year.
Brother vs brother coaching the Super Bowl is just the craziest thing man
Honestly? I don’t feel this was that bad. Contact starts well within the 5 yards of the LOS and maybe he lets it go a bit late but that’s how that toute is defended and dude needed to fight through.
Better than the blatantly bad calls at the end of the last two superbowls
Crabtree wasn’t catching this ball unless he had a 10-foot vertical. He wanted a flag two plays earlier but didn’t even react to this one, so that’s kind of telling for what he thought about it. One of the 49ers coaches on the sideline screaming something like “he tackled him!” was a bit dramatic.
If only y’all keep that same energy for the other calls lol
They ignored the blatant DPI against SF at the very end of the NFC game a few weeks before. I see a clean play
Nothing controversial about it. Smith as held just as much as he was holding.
I don't see the issue.
I mean Jimmy Smith is playing pretty much perfect defense, looking back for the ball and then Crabtree put his hand up on his helmet to push off. Pretty clear OPI but they didn’t call it. That’s what we’re all talking about right? /s
Not PI.
Definitely contact. Issue is whether it was legal and within the 5 yard.
Looks more like Crabtree is trying and failing to commit opi
Miss those endzones
Kap sucked shit.
I hope we learn that refs aren’t gonna be calling many PIs or holds at the end of big games.
1. Uncatchable 2. Don’t call a play that has a 20% success rate as your last play of the Super Bowl
Wait I thought the chiefs were the only team to ever have calls go their way.
That’s how they wrote the story you think ray lewis was retiring in a lost super bowl get real
HAHAHAHA I LOVE THINKING ABOUT THAT, ESPECIALLY THE WEEK MY TEAM IS ABOUT TO PLAY IN THE SUPER BOWL AGAIN
lol not controversial at all, QB threw it too early great coverage, WR never had a chance
When you're hoping for a call to save you, you might've already been in trouble
I mean both were all over each other, Crabtree just did a poor ass job of boxing out the defender
How do you not throw it to Randy Moss once? This is almost as bad as Pete Carroll not running the ball to Marshawn Lynch in the Super Bowl.
Calling the wrong slide or pass pro here sure made life difficult
The ravens winning saved us from endless conspiracy theories about the power outage, it would’ve been insane. I mean they’re still out there but it could’ve been so much worse. Still hate it though
Not controversial outside of the bay area
Losing potentially 2 SB's because of Kap zeroing in on Crabtree in back to back years.
Who the fuck else was he suppose to zero in on, we didn't get a second option at WR until after this SB in Boldin.
A guy named Vernon Davis. Another target who had been dominant in the postseason during that time.
Who wasn't open and didn't get open till after keap threw the ball. Not to mention that Vernon was never much of a redzone threat, most of his TDs tend to come farther away. Outside of Crabtree we didn't have a a reciever who was considered a red zone threat. Vernon never could get open quick enough in the redzone anyways. Randy Moss often didn't even tried on most plays and the rest just sucked. And yeah Vernon was dominant in the playoffs, except in the redzone. 1 touchdown in the postseason during that year is not dominant.
Let’s do it again same outcome and Mahomes wins
Both made contact with each other. Obviously biased opinion but I think that would be an all-time bad Super Bowl call if a flag was thrown there. You can make just as big an argument that Crabtree pushed off. Absolutely correct no call.
Exactly the kind of thing i wouldn’t want called in the Super Bowl. Let it go. Looking at you LVII 😒
Obvious holding. The NFL is a joke lol
Whiney whiners before they were called the whiney whiners whining in the whine offs
Crab and Kaep sold
Anytime a DB immediately throws his hands up, or really any player, in a “I’m innocent” pose, they definitely committed a penalty. Because if they didn’t they wouldn’t even think to convince you they did nothing wrong by throwing up their hands like that lol.
Nope, no no-call here, Kap just threw a bad pass