From: marshall@nebula.ssd.lmsc.lockheed.com (Bob Marshall)
Subject: Re: Niners escape Foxboro
Reply-To: marshall@nebula.ssd.lmsc.lockheed.com
Organization: LMSC, Sunnyvale, California
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 92 02:37:18 GMT

In article <1992Oct12.233001.11439@morrow.stanford.edu>, GC.SUL@forsythe.stanford.edu (Sullivan) writes:
>Whew!
>
>The Niners were everything I expected them to be - FLAT to put it
>mildly.  The Patriots did some good things and were in a position
>to win the game, but thank goodness Watters made the plays on
>offense, the O line did the job, and the D took advantage of an
>inexperienced desperate QB (I admire Millen's ability to stand in
>the pocket after the beating he's taken this year.)

And thank goodness Hurst dropped the duck that Young threw in the
flat. As soon as he let it go, even though neither the receiver nor
the defender were in the picture yet, my heart just about stopped.

Apparently Millen had a separate left shoulder, but stayed in the
game. That's gritty.

>These are the kind of games the Niners have to win.  If they had one
>one out of six of these last year, (forget it, nevermind,ifififififif)

Thanks for that parenthetical comment...we 49er fans got collectively 
blistered enough last year for the whining after missing the playoffs.

>Pats fans:  who was player that was taken out on stretcher? what is
>his current condition?

You know, I can't remember his name; but he was back on the sidelines
in uniform in the second half, talking animatedly with teammates, so
I guess he was OK. I think they said it was something like a bruised
spine?

>I was trying to remember why I had such a bad feeling about this
>game (beyond the possibility of a big upset) and it occurred to me
>when the Patriot player went down that it was against the Pats in
>'89 that Jeff Fuller's career ended.  Didn't he run into Stevens?

Yep, it was Stephens, early in the game. What a shame, he had a lot
of Ronnie Lott's talents. And don't forget Darryl Stingley, another
player who suffered a career-ending injury during a Pats game.

>More on D line play:
>
>They weren't any better than last week.  What I noticed is that
>Fagan was in the game only on half the plays at best. I don't think
>it's a situation substitution, but trying to keep his fragile knees
>from fatiguing.  He draws double every time.

Remember Harris was hobbled by a knee injury. And the DL did have
three sacks, which is not shabby. Plus they had a big sack overturned
by a chintzy face mask call.

>Some positives:
>Besides winning the game which was no easy feat, it was good to see
>sure tackling by the secondary and 'backers.

I also liked the blitzing by the backs. They only got one sack (by
Jackson), but they hurried Millen numerous times. I hope they keep
that up.

>Dana Hall picked one, that'll help his confidence.  Whitmore is
>making mistakes, but they are physical mistakes - too much contact
>on the pass defense...  I can live with those penalties.  He hits
>hard. Corners did good job.

Especially on Irving Fryar, who only had two catches. Merton Hanks made
a terrific play on the long sideline pass to Fryar.

>On refs:
>yes, they missed one when Ron Lewis was interfered with on punt -
>that's a judgement call- there was a Niner blocker right there.
>they made some great but tough calls around the end zone with the
>Pats possession.  One was the apparent TD that they spotted on the
>1.  The other was the apparent out of bounds that was called a TD.
>Both were the right call.

Yes, they were. The play that was spotted on the 1 was an incredible
play by the 49ers defender. McMurtry was sliding into the end zone for
what would have been a TD, but the 49ers defender (don't remember who
it was; Whitmore?) made a diving slide to "tag" him just before he
slid into the end zone. Personally I thought it was a shame that he
didn't get the TD, since he made such a super catch.

>I was screaming at my TV about the Young run 'out of bounds' at the
>end of the first half but replay showed refs were right again.

Yes, that was an interesting play. Good call by the 49ers, good tackle
by the Pats, good call by the officials.

Personally I'm not all that comfortable with the 49ers' play so far. We
could very easily be 2-4 at this point, just like last year. We had to
struggle from behind to beat the pathetic Rams and Pats, and only beat
the Saints due to a boneheaded pass by Hebert. But we did end up doing
what it takes to win, which is more than we did in the same type of games
last year, which is a sign of a good team. I think that losing Taylor is
hurting the team more than I had anticipated; Sherrard is not coming close
to filling his shoes. Hopefully when Taylor returns for the stretch drive
the 49ers will be clicking on all cylinders again.

=============================================================================
Bob Marshall                     \\     "It ain't age
Lockheed Missiles & Space Co.     \\     That makes me look this way
Sunnyvale, CA                      \\    It ain't the years, boys,
marshall@force.ssd.lmsc.lockheed.com\\   It's the miles"
"I tell the truth 'cept when I lie"  \\     - Chris LeDoux
=============================================================================