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Here's a couple of football thoughts for the big game.

Pete said that KJ has a 'chance to return' -- I would rather have KJ right now at 80% than Bruce at 100%.
Bruce is not playing at a top level and Malcolm Smith is outplaying him. Against the 49er's, KJ can make a big difference.

I watched a rerun of the NO game and I was impressed with Bowie. First time ever at Left Guard. No sacks that I saw, no penalties that I heard and Marshawn didn't get all those yards running away from him. Bravo to Pete for playing the best players, regardless of 'seniority' or draft status.

Imagine, in two years we have a Sweezy, who never player offense and a Bowie, our last of 4, 7th round picks and the only drafted player from 2013 that is starting as 2/5th of the OLIne. This are the players that give us a future to sign all the Sherman's and Wilson's of the world.

js

Bowie played very well. He was not mistake free(his early release allowing Jordan to stop RW at the goal line, but then Jordan is hella fast and Bowie is learning).

What I liked the most about Bowie: No penalties.

Okung had his perfunctory penalty, but played well for the most part.
And the penalty by Giacominni damned near KILLED us negating a 35 run drive by Turbin. WOW.

But I really like Bowie. He is a beast and has a huge upside. I can see why they benched Carpenter for him.

I miss KJ. Irwin was getting thrown around in the Saints game like a rag doll.
If not for Wagner and Chancellor and Avril, we win with difficulty. Chancellor's missed int in his bread basket notwithstanding.

I agree that an 80% KJ is probably the best we can do, but considering the injury you really don't want him going out there 80%. Irvin did have a tough game, but let's be fair Grubbs is a two time pro bowler. He was getting Irvin pretty good.

Bowie did have a great day, especially in the run game. It's important to remember that NO was running several back ups at LB though as well. Interestingly PFF has Bowie ranked as our top performing lineman this year.

Bowie dropped to the 7th round because he was from a small school going there supposedly after some issues at a bigger school (OK State?).
He was considered to be a possible mid to high round pick if he had stayed and played against tougher competition. It might mean we got a steal talent wise and if he is willing to work hard he might be a fixture on the OL. I hope so because we need solid, steady play from the guys up front.

"And the penalty by Giacominni damned near KILLED us negating a 35 run drive by Turbin. WOW"

I said in another thread but I'll say it again, I just don't see the 'Giacomini hold' on that play. I think it was a crap call.

jshawaii22 wrote:Here's a couple of football thoughts for the big game.

Pete said that KJ has a 'chance to return' -- I would rather have KJ right now at 80% than Bruce at 100%.
Bruce is not playing at a top level and Malcolm Smith is outplaying him. Against the 49er's, KJ can make a big difference.

I watched a rerun of the NO game and I was impressed with Bowie. First time ever at Left Guard. No sacks that I saw, no penalties that I heard and Marshawn didn't get all those yards running away from him. Bravo to Pete for playing the best players, regardless of 'seniority' or draft status.

Imagine, in two years we have a Sweezy, who never player offense and a Bowie, our last of 4, 7th round picks and the only drafted player from 2013 that is starting as 2/5th of the OLIne. This are the players that give us a future to sign all the Sherman's and Wilson's of the world.

js

I've been accused of using Irvin as my favorite whipping boy, but I can't help it. I try to look at his play anew and take off my rose colored glasses but I keep saying the same thing. He seems to be doing OK in pass coverage but he's not getting much pressure on the QB when asked to, which doesn't seem to be as often as we were led to believe when we were told he was going to assume the "spinner" role. On running plays, he's seldom the last one to get up from a pile and tends to get washed out a lot. He has a hard time getting off blocks and doesn't have a good nose for the football like KJ, Wagner, and our other linebackers do.

I want to cut the guy some slack as he is learning a new position and this is just his second year, but if Pete's true to his "always compete" motto, Irvin has to start surrendering some playing time to Malcom Smith. At the very least, they need to start identifying a different role for him or bring in someone during the offseason to compete for his job. He's the weak link in this defense.

Put simply, Irvin has not earned his pay, at least not yet.

It is his first year at LB so he will get lost upon occasion.
Perhaps it's their way to get him some experience as well as fully evaluate his progress.
Now might not be the time to experiment, but PC has said that he doesn't fear throwing someone into the fray early in their career.

Was watching the home game against SF replay on NFL Network. Saw KJ's number quite a bit in that game. He's a gamer. Hope he plays.

KJ's back in practice. Two weeks early, so it's not known if he can actually play.. but it's nice to know that he's on the field.

js