NFL Week 12 Recap: Breaking Down the 9 Sacks Allowed by the San Francisco 49ers

This may be painful to read, but it is important to look at all of the miscues in the Thanksgiving night game against the Baltimore Ravens to see where there is need for improvement.  For those of us who watch the preseason, Thursday’s game was reminiscent of the August 12th game against the New Orleans Saints, where the 49ers surrendered six sacks.  The good news is that the sacks on Thanksgiving may have been due to the same reason: lack of preparation. 

After a 1 p.m. Pacific start time on November 20th, the 49ers had two practice days before they had to travel cross-country to face one of the best blitzing teams in the NFL.  This put the offensive line behind the eight-ball before the game even started.

However, if we are going to have playoff and possible championship expectations out of this franchise again, we cannot accept excuses.  The sacks are not the only reason that the 49ers lost (a bad turnover and untimely penalties come to mind), but let’s take a look at where the protection needs to improve.

Sack No. 1: First Quarter, 9:04

Down and Distance: 3rd-and-3 on the San Francisco 36-yard line

Who Got to Smith: Tom Zbikowski

Who’s to Blame: Alex Smith

On the 49ers' first possession, they were facing a third down in their own territory.  Terrell Suggs beat Joe Staley around the corner, and Smith managed to step up in the pocket and scramble outside the tackle box.  For a moment it looked as though Smith might be able to scramble for the first down, but Zbikowski came flying up from his safety position. 

Seeing Zbikowski, Smith needed to throw the ball away.  In a defensive slug-fest like this game, every yard a quarterback can save is critical, and Smith didn’t get the job done.

Sack No. 2: First Quarter, 2:38

Down and Distance: 3rd-and-4 on the Baltimore 22-yard line

Who Got to Smith: Haloti Ngata

Who’s to Blame: Jonathan Goodwin, Mike Iupati and Adam Snyder

With the 49ers driving in response to a Baltimore field goal, they had a third and manageable to keep the drive alive.  The Ravens ran a twist with their interior linemen, and Ngata got right in the face of Alex Smith, eliminating the possibility of a check down as he got hit. 

This is the first sack on the night where a little more preparation could have helped, but the guard-center-guard combo was beaten badly.  This is a costly sack because it turned a 39-yard field goal into a 45-yard field goal.  David Akers has been good this year, but it is not a smart idea to push it.   

Sack No. 3: Second Quarter, 12:47

Down and Distance: 3rd-and-13 on the San Francisco 17-yard line

Who Got to Smith: Cory Redding

Who’s to Blame: Chilo Rachal and Frank Gore

Beginning to notice a pattern?  On another third down play, the Ravens got to Smith.  The 49ers were pinned deep in their own territory, and the Ravens brought a very creative blitz from the outside.  The O-line recognized an overload of rushers on the left and slid the line accordingly (although Anthony Davis may have had inside responsibility). 

However, Rachal did not get a push on Redding to slow him down and Gore just missed him, freeing up Redding and all his 298 pounds to squish Alex Smith.  This one was an ugly sack because it looked like it was a matter of poor execution rather than lack of preparation.

Sack No. 4: Second Quarter, 8:42

Down and Distance: 1st-and-10 on the San Francisco 24-yard line

Who Got to Smith: Jameel McClain

Who’s to Blame: Receiving Corps

After getting the ball back following a Baltimore punt, the 49ers were looking to gain some momentum.  However, nobody got open on this play.  In fairness, Frank Gore had to stay in to block, so there was no check down to go to.  McClain took Joe Staley up the field and then came back for the sack when Smith stepped up in the pocket. 

This sack may have happened because the Ravens were just in a good defense for the play that was called, and Smith didn’t recognize the scheme in time to change it.  However, with four receivers in the pattern, one would hope that somebody would be open. 

Sack No. 5: Third Quarter, 13:15

Down and Distance: 2nd-and-11 on the San Francisco 31-yard line

Who Got to Smith: Haloti Ngata

Who’s to Blame: Anthony Davis

On the first possession of the second half, the 49ers were trying to put some offense together after a shaky second quarter that ended with an Alex Smith interception in the end zone.  On an obvious passing down, the Ravens had their ears pinned back and, once again, the Ravens ran a twist, only this time with Ngata and Cory Redding.  Anthony Davis did not recognize the stunt quickly enough and Ngata got inside of him. 

This was another sack at a bad time, because it put them in a really long third down on a very important drive. 

Sack No. 6: Third Quarter, 8:56

Down and Distance: 2nd-and-8 on the Baltimore 25-yard line

Who Got to Smith: Terrell Suggs

Who’s to Blame: Everyone but Joe Staley

The 49ers recovered from the first sack on this drive with a third-and-17 completion to Michael Crabtree.  Nearing the red zone, Alex Smith dropped back to pass and three Ravens beat their opponent.  Terrell Suggs won the race to the quarterback, but Smith could have been gang-tackled by several others.  Baltimore did bring a safety on a "jailbreak" blitz, but nobody blocked their man on this play.  Smith, with a title wave of black jerseys coming his way, had no choice but to plop down on his keister.   

Sack No. 7: Fourth Quarter, 13:35

Down and Distance: 3rd-and-7 on the San Francisco 31-yard line

Who Got to Smith: Cory Redding and Lardarius Webb

Who’s to blame: Alex Smith

After Baltimore’s only touchdown of the game, the 49ers offense needed to get some first downs to give the defense a breather and at least change field position.  However, they did not get it done on this drive.  On third down, the Ravens brought a corner off the edge and pressure up the middle, leading to the sack. 

I give this one to Alex Smith for not throwing the ball away, but I do admire him for trying to make a play in a big spot.  With most of the wideouts to Smith’s right, he didn’t have anywhere to go once he was forced to his left—this drive was the beginning of the end for the 49ers' eight-game winning streak.

Sack No. 8: Fourth Quarter, 8:12

Down and Distance: 3rd-and-8 on the San Francisco 12-yard line

Who Got to Smith: Terrell Suggs

Who’s to Blame: Anthony Davis

The 49ers had a great stop against Baltimore to give the offense the ball back and a chance to tie the score.  However, this drive sputtered from the start with Smith nearly throwing an interception on second down.  On third down, Suggs just drove Davis back into Smith, flushing the quarterback to his left.  Suggs chased Smith down from behind, knocking the ball loose and out of bounds.  The 49ers were forced to punt, and Baltimore managed a field goal on their next possession to ice the game.

Sack No. 9: Fourth Quarter, 3:05

Down and Distance: 1st-and-10 on the San Francisco 31-yard line

Who Got to Smith: Terrell Suggs (again)

Who’s to Blame: Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker

With less than five minutes to go in the game and the 49ers down by 10, the Ravens could stop worrying about the run and go all-out toward the quarterback.  Terrell Suggs is a difficult assignment for a tight end (even two of them), and he slanted inside of both Davis and Walker at the snap of the ball, so when Smith stepped up in the pocket he was warmly greeted by Mr. Suggs.  This really put the gravy on the drumstick and ended any hope that the 49ers had of winning. 

Conclusion

It is difficult enough to prepare to beat the Ravens defense on a full week of practice, but it is a real uphill battle to beat them in Baltimore on a short week.  The 49ers were bound to lose at least one of their six East Coast games in 2011, so it might as well be against the best team they will face on the road.

Niners fans should not be too worried about this performance, because it will be the exception rather than the rule for the offensive line.  After all, there is nothing like the 2-9 St. Louis Rams at home after a 10-day layoff to right the ship.  The Rams have a good defense, but the 49ers will be better prepared to handle it than they were on Thanksgiving night.