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00:00Richie in Palo Alto.
00:02Hi, Richie.
00:02Thank you for calling us.
00:05Hey, guys.
00:06Thanks for taking my call.
00:07Yeah, the agony of defeat.
00:09So I have a couple points that I just want to make of my observations of the season
00:14because I have mixed feelings about the year, of course,
00:16given how the way the season ended.
00:18So I respectfully disagree with that first caller.
00:22Yes, I give the Niners major love for what they did,
00:26but the problem is I don't think our roster is what she says,
00:32that if it wasn't for the injuries, we would have competed.
00:33I think that notion is actually flawed.
00:36If it's not, the manner in which we lost 41-6 creates a lot of questions
00:42because from the beginning of the season, when we saw the schedule,
00:48most people agreed that a successful season would have been reaching the playoffs.
00:53We made the playoffs, and then given what happened with the injuries,
00:56then it was like, I was like, can we, okay, if we made the playoffs,
00:59that would be great, but if we couldn't even win one playoff game
01:01and not just get destroyed, because then that would have been a successful season.
01:05So, look, we had accomplished those two things.
01:07The problem is this year was really about, considering how last offseason went,
01:12this year was about roster reconstruction.
01:14And so the problem that I, the last thing I want to say is that the problem
01:18that I feel, the fact that we didn't, our biggest positions of need,
01:21really, that, you know, you could see in the final games,
01:23is, you know, why didn't Nick Martin, Jordan, Jordan James, Jordan Watkins play?
01:27And the other issue is Mike McDonald owning Kyle Shanahan.
01:30There's enough, there's enough, just the way the last, the last loss was,
01:33it would leave a really bitter taste and show that we're really far away
01:36from the Seahawks right now, and we need to do some major things,
01:39because even if we, all we were missing was George Kittle.
01:41Our offense would not, we would, we would maybe have scored
01:43maybe one more touchdown if Kittle played.
01:44I mean, we don't know, Mike McDonald owns Kyle Shanahan right now,
01:48and it's a big problem for us.
01:50Richie, what you're saying there at the end to me is the whole deal right now.
01:54That's the whole deal.
01:56The Seattle Seahawks saw how good the Niners were.
01:59They watched Mike McDonald's defense with the Ravens on Christmas Day,
02:04pull the Niners apart when many people thought the Niners were the best team
02:07in the league, and the Niners went to the Super Bowl.
02:10The Seahawks went into the offseason, they hired that guy.
02:12And since then, here we are two years later,
02:16the Niners played him three times and scored 26 points in three games.
02:22Two touchdowns, and the two touchdowns came months ago,
02:25back when it was a completely different football team.
02:28Eight quarters, no touchdowns.
02:30So your move, Kyle, Mike McDonald has his number,
02:34he needs to go into this offseason and get the personnel and the plan
02:37to now attack Mike McDonald's defense.
02:39I totally agree with that.
02:41There's one piece of what he said that I don't understand,
02:44which is when things get frustrating,
02:47people always point to rookies and young players and go,
02:51why didn't that guy play?
02:52Like, nowhere on my tote board is Niners would have been better
02:56if Jordan James and Watkins and Jacob Cowling had played.
03:02Like, I don't know why we twist our head into thinking people
03:05we've never even watched play football are the key to a season.
03:08Usually in professional sports,
03:12brand new guys don't have that kind of an effect.
03:15So I get it.
03:16There's a little bit of like a backup quarterback complex there.
03:19When you don't see them, you're like, hey, maybe that guy will do better.
03:24But I tend to believe that these guys are in practice every day,
03:27and if somebody can't make the field,
03:29there's a freaking reason why he can't make the field.
03:31His point about McDonald, I completely think, is the key, though.
03:34Yeah, and he has owned Kyle Shanahan, and they've built that team
03:38to be the kind of team that can stop a good offense.
03:41And not only Kyle Shanahan, we'll see what they can do against the Rams on Sunday,
03:44but that's a defense that is nasty.
03:47They don't have to do anything tricky.
03:49They line up with their front four, and they come after you,
03:52and they cover with seven.
03:53And the guys who they have who cover are very good.
03:56So you don't have time to throw because their pass rushers are better than your blockers.
04:00And then the guys they have covering are covering your receivers
04:03because you don't have time to wait for them to get open.
04:05So it's not a very complicated thing when you watch the game.
04:08Seattle's defense is just flat better than most teams they play,
04:11which is why this Ram game is interesting because, you know, Stafford,
04:15he can get it out quick, boom, and Puka Nakua and Devontae Adams,
04:18and, you know, they got a couple of good running backs,
04:20and the Rams have an offense, I think, that's more built to solve the Seattle defense
04:26than the 49ers offense.
04:27No question.
04:28I mean, that's evident based on the data of when these two teams played this year.
04:34On a Thursday night or not that many weeks ago, the final score was 38-37.
04:39The Rams were able to move the ball great in that game.
04:41Earlier in the year, they played Seattle much more close to the best.
04:45The Rams win it 21-19.
04:46That game was in L.A.
04:48I expect a little bit more of a game that looks and feels like that this weekend.
04:53But, yeah, you're absolutely right.
04:55This will be another high-level offensive play caller against a high-level defensive play caller.
05:00I don't know that the Rams are as kind of rocking and rolling and in the right frame right now
05:10as they were earlier in the year.
05:12They look like they're starting to leak oil a little bit on defense.
05:15But this will be the first game in the playoffs where Sam Darnold is asked to really have an effect on the game.
05:24And so we'll see how he reacts to that.
05:27When he played the Rams on Thursday night a few weeks ago, he threw a huge pick six.
05:33But then he was given a big deficit in the second half, and he erased it.
05:36And so, yeah, like, we'll see.
05:40But I do think the NFC has its two best teams in the final game.
05:44No doubt.
05:44And the Rams have become just the 14th team since 2000 to win two straight games on the road.
05:51This doesn't happen very often.
05:53And teams that win three straight games on the road, they win the Super Bowl.
05:56So if they go up to Seattle and they win this and they come to Levi's, the trends would tell you that the Rams are going to win the Super Bowl.
06:03And I honestly think that whoever wins this game in Seattle is going to win the Super Bowl regardless.
06:08That's what it feels like.
06:10I mean, New England, certainly they can do it.
06:13Denver with a backup quarterback, I think you're asking a lot out of Jared Stidham.
06:17But it feels to me like the NFC championship game is the game that's going to decide the Lombardi.
06:21No doubt.
06:22I mean, we've already looked at the look ahead, you know, kind of the favorites and whatnot based on all of the matchups that are out there.
06:28And the Rams and Seahawks would both be at minimum a field goal favorite against anyone.
06:35Against the Patriots, they would be almost a touchdown favorite against the Denver Broncos.
06:41Try this on for size, though.
06:44And on a day like today, what does this do for you?
06:48Go back to, let me get the date.
06:50You'll all remember it.
06:52I mean, it was a famous game this year.
06:54December 18th.
06:55Not that long ago, okay?
06:57Almost exactly a month ago.
06:59December 18th on a Thursday night.
07:01Rams and Seahawks in Seattle.
07:03Lots on the line.
07:06Matt Stafford threw for 457 yards.
07:10457, huh?
07:12Three touchdown throws, no picks.
07:14Puka Nakua himself, 12 catches, 225 yards and two touchdowns on 16 targets against this Seattle defense.
07:27Yeah.
07:28A month ago.
07:29What the hell is that?
07:31That is an offensive line and an offense that can absolutely get it out.
07:35And Matthew Stafford is not a guy who holds the ball very often and he doesn't hold it very long.
07:40And Puka Nakua, if I'm remembering that game, he was just unguardable.
07:45He was unbelievable.
07:45Yeah.
07:46And he's a phenomenal receiver and he's able to get open quickly.
07:49And, you know, Stafford, so accurate.
07:51And it's just one, two, boom.
07:53The ball's out.
07:53And Nakua catches everything within a country mile of him.
07:57Devontae Adams didn't even play.
07:58Right.
07:59Right.
07:59Didn't even play.
08:01Second receiver in the game.
08:03A bunch of other people had either two or three catches.
08:07That's it.
08:07And Puka had 12.
08:0812 of the 29 completed balls in the game went to Puka.
08:13225 yards.
08:14Stafford threw for 457.
08:17It would take the Niners three games to put up that kind of yards against this team.
08:21Pretty much, right?
08:22The way it looks right now.
08:23Yeah.
08:23And that's where, you know, you can talk about is the offensive line.
08:27Yes, they need an upgrade.
08:28But really it's wide receiver.
08:30Not that you're just going to walk out and find the next Puka.
08:32But I've been looking at percentage of catches by wide receiver and looking at some of the other teams.
08:39The 49ers this year, only 40% of the catches that they made were by wide receivers.
08:46And to contrast it, the Rams are at 62%.
08:49Seattle's at 62%.
08:51And that's because they've got JSN and Puka and they got Devontae.
08:55Okay, so the 49ers, only Arizona so far of the teams that I've been tracking, only Arizona has fewer receptions by percentage by wide receivers.
09:06Okay.
09:07I mean, that's the thing.
09:09It doesn't mean you have to have a wide receiver because the Niners are still good.
09:12I think you're on to something.
09:13But I got one more number out of that game that's going to floor you.
09:17Okay.
09:17And I think it's the key.
09:19I know everybody wants a fancy receiver.
09:22But are you ready for this?
09:23After watching as much as we have with the Seahawks the last three weeks, I think this will floor you.
09:31Do you know how many times Matt Stafford got sacked in that game?
09:35He dropped back 49 times.
09:40Do you know how many times he got sacked?
09:42Five?
09:45None!
09:45Zero, yeah.
09:47Zero!
09:48That defensive line that we've been watching that's been living in Brock Purdy's pants for the last three weeks.
09:55Stafford went to Seattle in a primetime game and dropped back 49 times and never got touched.
10:05And here's Kyle Shanahan.
10:07No, no, no.
10:07I can find offensive linemen on the street.
10:10I got it.
10:11Yeah, you don't got it.
10:14You don't got it.
10:14Part of that, though, is what Stafford does.
10:16And that's partly the way the Rams run their offense, which is, you know, get it out and just boop.
10:22Quick throws and, you know, throwing it away.
10:24And he dropped back 49 times.
10:26And he was only hit four times.
10:28Right.
10:29Yeah, there you have it.
10:30That's it.
10:31And I mean, I don't know.
10:32Was he?
10:33Like, I don't think it was dink, dunk, boop, boop.
10:37457 yards.
10:38That's a lot of yards.
10:38I mean, they're throwing the ball downfield.
10:41He had time.
10:44He had time.
10:45He had a clean jersey.
10:47That's crazy.
10:49After watching the Seattle defense the last few weeks, can you even imagine a game like that from anyone?
10:55Right.
10:55I mean, that's that's what good offensive line play gets you, even if it's given you an extra one second for a guy to break open.
11:03And, you know, as we mentioned, the wide receivers that they have, they're guys who can get open.
11:09They're guys who actually play.
11:10Even Devontae, who had to fight back from his injury, was able to get out there and play in the playoff game against Chicago.
11:16So, yeah, they're a team that uses its receivers.
11:20They've got an accurate quarterback and they've got an O-line who protects.
11:23Isn't that what we all want out of an offense?
11:25Outside of Puka Nakua, I wonder if you can name another wide receiver who caught a ball in that game.
11:33A wide receiver?
11:34Yeah.
11:34Because I know that they use a boatload of tight ends.
11:38Fire away.
11:40Fire away.
11:41Let's see.
11:41One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight other players caught balls in that game for the Rams.
11:48Let's see how many of you.
11:49I'm sure Kyron Williams had a catch in there.
11:52Kyron Williams had three.
11:53I'm sure Blake Colum had one or two.
11:55He had one.
11:56Then there's that Parkinson guy.
11:58He had two.
11:59And then.
12:00Colby Parkinson.
12:01Right.
12:01All right.
12:02Fire away.
12:02I think I called him a tight end before.
12:04But yeah, no, he is.
12:05Right.
12:05Parkinson.
12:06There was the other guy who I thought.
12:07This is where it's going to get really fun.
12:08Yeah.
12:09It's where.
12:10It's not a Hutchinson, but there's another guy with a long name.
12:13I want to say Hutchinson, but it's not Hutchinson.
12:16There's Parkinson.
12:18There is.
12:19Yeah.
12:20Oh, I know who you're thinking of.
12:22You're you're onto it in terms of the syllables.
12:25Right.
12:25But it's not.
12:26Are you thinking of Jordan Whittington?
12:28That might be who I'm thinking of.
12:29Yeah.
12:30But I wouldn't have come up with Whittington.
12:32Jordan Whittington had one.
12:34Yeah, I got it.
12:35One catch in the game.
12:36Yeah.
12:36You can play along to a Grandy.
12:37Are you looking at the box score?
12:39No.
12:39Yeah.
12:39Fire away.
12:40Terrence Ferguson.
12:42He had three.
12:43Yeah.
12:43Dibs is like, who?
12:45I'm like, who?
12:45Ferguson.
12:46Ferguson.
12:47Wichinson.
12:48Hutchinson.
12:49Whittington.
12:50All these guys.
12:51Higby, too.
12:51Third tight end.
12:52Higby.
12:53Nope.
12:53He's been hurt, though, right?
12:54No catches for Higby in this game.
12:57Nope.
12:58No, no, no, no, no, no.
13:00Yeah, I'm tapped out.
13:01I can't think of any of the Rams.
13:03Here's the beauty of this.
13:04All those guys that you named were all at the very bottom of the list in yardage for the night.
13:11Puka Nakua, your leading receiver.
13:13Your number two receiver that night was Xavier Smith.
13:16Oh, ah, yeah, of course.
13:17Household name.
13:17Your number three receiver, Konata Mumfield.
13:21Ooh.
13:22Your number four receiver, Davis Allen.
13:26And your number five receiver, Terrence Ferguson.
13:29Ah.
13:30Yeah.
13:30Then Colby Parkinson, Whittington, Kyron Williams, and Blake Cora.
13:34A real who's who of pass catchers.
13:35Yeah, so he threw for 457 yards with Puka and a rock band.
13:42Like, we got Xavier Smith on keyboard.
13:46Konata Mumfield is on drums.
13:48He's on vongos for sure.
13:49Davis Allen's on rhythm guitar.
13:51Who are you?
13:51Like, and he threw for damn near five bills in that building against that defense without getting sacked.
13:59So, there's two messages there, I think, for the 49ers.
14:04And it really goes to both of your lines.
14:07Your offensive line, you're about to pay $53 million for your quarterback.
14:11Freaking protect him.
14:14You got to give him time.
14:16And on the other end, Matt Stafford can pick apart any defense if you give him time.
14:23They didn't rush the quarterback that night.
14:26They're very good at it, but they weren't that night.
14:28And the 49ers never are.
14:31The 49ers don't rush the quarterback.
14:34It's a terrible way to do business.
14:36I think if you want to ask me, the most confusing thing about the NFL season is how the 49ers stopped anyone on defense without rushing the quarterback.
14:47They literally don't go back there almost ever.
14:50And somehow, teams did not repeatedly bust 30 on them.
14:53Happened a few times, but largely it didn't happen.
14:56I don't know why.
14:58I'd hire Robert Sala, too.
15:00He's a freaking magician.
15:01I'm not going to totally schedule Sam you, but when you look at the teams, they were able to hold down.
15:07They held down Carolina at home, even though you threw three picks.
15:10They only gave up nine points to the Panthers.
15:13Tennessee, terrible.
15:14Grandpa Rivers in Indy.
15:16You were able to hold the Rattler in week two, and he even had the ball and had a chance to go ahead and put up more than the 21 that they did.
15:25No, you're not wrong, and they weren't a great defense, but even with that, there were games.
15:30And I kind of draw a line after the Tampa game because that's when Fred Warner left.
15:35And after that, you know, you held Atlanta to 10 points the next week.
15:42How?
15:43I have no idea.
15:45Right.
15:46They're not great, but what?
15:47Yeah.
15:47How the hell did you hold them to 10 points?
15:50They're not great.
15:51And that was the end of Michael Penix, right?
15:53It wasn't the end of him, but he had a bad night.
15:56Close to it, yeah.
15:57You know what I mean?
15:58Like, New York Giants a couple weeks later scored 24, but you win by double digits.
16:04You know, you held Carolina to nine.
16:07Again, they're not great, but nine?
16:09Yeah, nine.
16:10Okay.
16:12Okay.
16:13I mean, you held Seattle to 13.
16:16Right.
16:17I mean.
16:18I don't know how.
16:20I know they missed some field goals.
16:21Exactly.
16:22You were very good at having teams miss field goals against you.
16:25You held Philadelphia to 19.
16:27Yep.
16:27The Super Bowl champs.
16:29I don't know how.
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