Heading into Week 4 of the 2014 NFL Season, the San Francisco 49ers are 1-2. After examining numerous stats, listening to press conferences, and reading a lot about what is going on with the 49ers, I have come to one very important conclusion – the games are too long. Really, they are. San Francisco has been dominating the first half, scoring 59 points in the three combined first halves they’ve played. They’ve scored three points in the subsequent second halves. They are the only team in the NFL who has not scored in the 4th quarter – a dubious honor. Clearly, these games need to end at halftime.
This is a very talented, very good, very strong football team. There are weaknesses for sure. The run game is lacking and the team is missing three key defensive players in Navorro Bowman, Aldon Smith, and Glen Dorsey. But as far as I’m concerned, the biggest story is the penalties. In the last two games, there have been over 100 yards in penalties. You can’t win with numbers like that. You can’t win when you have 1st and goal at the six yard line and get called for unsportsmanlike conduct – and then get a subsequent penalty which now sets up a 46 yard field goal and not a touchdown. In case you missed it (lucky you!), the field goal was blocked.
The 49ers lead the league with 36 penalties – a second dubious honor. The main concern for this team is a lack of discipline. Some of the penalties do seem unfair. It seems the Niners are called for everything and the other teams are not – granted I may be slightly biased. Either way, the penalties are being committed and many of them are careless. So those are my thoughts on this, my first-ever blog. Penalties tell the story – well, that, and, the games are just too long.