Vin+ 3,121 Posted September 10, 2016 STATS LLC Associated Press Sep 07, 2016 When the Los Angeles Rams visit the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, there will be so many major narratives surrounding this game that the key one is often lost in translation. The Rams are back in Southern California after a 21-year stay in St. Louis. One of the most storied rivalries in football has come full circle to renew a once torrid intra-state rivalry between teams that were once the strength of the NFC West. Ultimately, the Rams would have loved to open at home, but due to a scheduling conflict with the University of Southern California, the game is in the Bay Area as the second half of a Monday Night Football doubleheader. Kickoff is 10:20 p.m. ET. A few months ago, this game looked like it would feature 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick and Rams No. 1 draft pick Jared Goff. But both will be on the sidelines as controversial backups. Kaepernick received significant publicity the last two weeks for his action of sitting during the national anthem. However, lost in all the hyperbole is the play of starting quarterback Blaine Gabbert. Even before all the national media attention, which had nothing to do with on-the-field play, Gabbert won over the San Francisco locker room and head coach Chip Kelly. "The whole body of work from April until today," Kelly said when asked what impressed him about Gabbert. "He's a good fit for what we want to get accomplished, and I have a lot of confidence in what he can do for us offensively." Kelly said Gabbert was "very matter of fact to him," about getting the news that he was named the opening-day starter, "and let's go to work." Gabbert's best game of his NFL career came against many of the same defensive players he will face Monday night. In the 2015 season finale, the 49ers signal-caller threw for 354 yards and helped beat the Rams, 19-16. The defensive backfield of cornerback Trumaine Johnson, cornerback E.J. Gaines, safety T.J. McDonald and safety Maurice Alexander will need to play sound techniques and limit the deep-ball opportunities of Gabbert to wideout Torrey Smith. Smith is a true deep threat and has the speed to get behind a nicked-up Gaines. Look for cornerback Lamarcus Joyner to play a significant role if Gaines struggles in coverage. The Rams' front defensive seven is as good as there is in the NFL. The 49ers' offensive line is a middle-of-the-road unit. The Rams defense should be looking to control the 49ers rushing attack of Carlos Hyde and force Gabbert to make throws outside the pocket. Rams defensive tackles Aaron Donald and Michael Brockers need to be able to control the interior of the offensive line. If this duo can get Hyde, who likes to run with vertical power, to play laterally, this will allow new middle linebacker Alec Olgetree to use his speed to stop the run game. A key matchup in this game for the 49ers offense and the Rams defense is left tackle Joe Staley going against defensive end Robert Quinn. Five and half of Quinn's 50 career sacks have come against San Francisco. Most of those sacks have been against Staley, who is one of the most technically-sound players in the NFL and will need to play his best against the Rams. The Rams' quarterback situation is another key to the game, but that narrative is a long way from being written. The Rams gave up six draft choices to select quarterback Jared Goff, who begins the season as a third stringer. Goff, the rookie from California, will spend the first game of his NFL career in street clothes. "He's not ready, but he's really, really made significant progress," Rams head coach Jeff Fisher said of Goff. While Goff seems upbeat and willing to learn, the Rams made the move to mortgage the franchise because they believed the signal-caller could start from Day 1. Instead that honor goes to veteran quarterback Case Keenum. No matter who the Rams start at quarterback for the opener, or for the rest of the season, the offense begins and ends with running back Todd Gurley. The second-year man out of Georgia tore up NFL defenses in 2015 and will be looking to add to his career totals after being healthy all offseason. The Rams will look to pound the football off-tackle behind right tackle Rob Havenstein and left tackle Greg Robinson. The 49ers' defensive front comes into the season with major question marks. The unit already lost starting nose tackle Ian Williams for the season with an ankle injury. Starting defensive end Arik Armstead and key backup at nose tackle Glenn Dorsey are currently nursing injuries. The Rams' offensive line needs to attack rookie defensive end DeForest Buckner and see if the young player can hold his own in the NFL. Get to watch lead to the 49ers to a 1-0 start. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cherry 1,302 Posted September 10, 2016 28 17 Fuck Jeff Fisher. I hope gives him some serious dick. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RazorStar 4,025 Posted September 10, 2016 Worst Case Keenario. 3 7 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ATL_Predator+ 1,196 Posted September 10, 2016 2 3 This game is just ugly...ugly all around. I really have no words or analysis other than the 49ers win in a shit show of a game because of Gabbert. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vin+ 3,121 Posted September 12, 2016 The 49ers don't have a special package of plays for No. 2 QB Colin Kaepernick. "Well, I think both of our quarterbacks have the same skills, so I think maybe if you had one quarterback that ran the 40 in 5.4 and then you have another quarterback that runs the 40 in 4.5, there's a distinct difference between the two of them," coach Chip Kelly said in a patently absurd statement. Not that anyone can begrudge Kelly for keeping Kap on the bench. "Special packages" have a ridiculously-low success rate in the pros. If Kap is going to play this season, it will be after Blaine Gabbert is injured or ineffective. Source: ESPN.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bay 2,003 Posted September 12, 2016 lmao, it's football so I'll be watching Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cherry 1,302 Posted September 12, 2016 Bay please have Chip fuck up Fisher. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theMileHighGuy 656 Posted September 12, 2016 Rams are gonna dominate this game. There's no way the scores are gonna be as low as the predictions in this this thread lol. 11 25 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bay 2,003 Posted September 13, 2016 Lol Jeff Fisher Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vin+ 3,121 Posted September 13, 2016 49ers declared OG Josh Garnett, NT Glenn Dorsey, QB Christian Ponder, CB Keith Reaser, CB Chris Davis, OT John Theus, and DE Taylor Hart inactive for Week 1 against the Rams. Garnett was the 28th overall pick in April's draft. He was beat out for the starting jobs by LG Zane Beadles and RG Andrew Tiller. Dorsey is still working back from last year's torn ACL. Ponder is the No. 3 quarterback. Rams declared WR Pharoh Cooper, QB Jared Goff, WR Nelson Spruce, CB E.J. Gaines, CB Steve Williams, OT Pace Murphy, and DE Matt Longacre inactive for Week 1 against the 49ers. Cooper is week to week with a shoulder injury, and Spruce is recovering from a knee problem. Goff, the No. 1 overall pick, is a healthy scratch as the No. 3 quarterback behind Case Keenum and Sean Mannion. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BwareDWare94 723 Posted September 13, 2016 Not 7-9 Not 8-8 Not 9-7 5-11 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BigBen07 285 Posted September 13, 2016 Not 7-9 Not 8-8 Not 9-7 5-11 More like 1-15 to 3-13. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DonovanMcnabb for H.O.F 2,241 Posted September 13, 2016 These offenses are so bad... Wow. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sarge+ 3,436 Posted September 13, 2016 The Rams are so fucking bad, man. WOW. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BwareDWare94 723 Posted September 13, 2016 Goff cannot be worse than Keenum. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DonovanMcnabb for H.O.F 2,241 Posted September 13, 2016 Lmao, the announcer just called the Rams' offense a "horizontal offense"... I can't think of a more depressing thing to be called then that. Haha 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RazorStar 4,025 Posted September 13, 2016 Lmao, the announcer just called the Rams' offense a "horizontal offense"... I can't think of a more depressing thing to be called then that. Haha They'd probably get more yards laying down... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BwareDWare94 723 Posted September 13, 2016 They keep talking about the "exotic looks" from the Rams offense. Exotic looks breed from general inadequacy. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bay 2,003 Posted September 13, 2016 Lmao, the announcer just called the Rams' offense a "horizontal offense"... I can't think of a more depressing thing to be called then that. Haha Steve Young Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sarge+ 3,436 Posted September 13, 2016 Goff cannot be worse than Keenum. I think it says a lot about him that they didn't even suit him up for this game... Churry's boy is a colossal BUST. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cherry 1,302 Posted September 13, 2016 (edited) 17/35 for 130 yards and 2 INTs. FIRE FISHER PUT IN GOFF All in all this was better than anything I anticipated. Not only did Jeff Fisher get fucked by Chip, he got blanked and Keenum sucked ass. Edited September 13, 2016 by 2-14 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BigBen07 285 Posted September 13, 2016 Well, at least my eyes won't bleed anymore. That was such a God awful display of offense. Even CLEVELAND was better than this. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vin+ 3,121 Posted September 13, 2016 (edited) https://twitter.com/ESPNStatsInfo/status/775566055120994304 Edited September 13, 2016 by Vin Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theMileHighGuy 656 Posted September 13, 2016 That was one of the worst games I've ever watched. I'm still not sure why I watched the whole thing. I don't even think it was a fair measuring stick for the 49ers because the Rams are bad everywhere. That o-line is dreadful, the quarterbacks are bad, Gurley was bad, 'the best front 4 in the league'... those guys were bad. There wasn't a phase of their game that wasn't bad. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites