Super Bowl XLVII Recap – NFL Football

Thoughts on Super Bowl XLVII

Super Bowl XLVII Rearview Mirror

After seriously debating not watching Super Bowl XLVII, my usual excitement set in day of and I watched, keeping my streak alive. I am glad I did so–for a game I considered avoiding, I greatly enjoyed it.

Some thoughts:

• John Harbaugh completely out-coached Jim Harbaugh throughout the game, although it was most evident in the last couple minutes. Jim’s play-calling with goal to go was insipid. Albeit unsuccessful, I loved John running the fake punt, and the Baltimore Ravens completely caught the San Francisco 49ers napping by taking the safety (a good play call even if the 49ers had been ready for it, a great one because they were not)…and in doing so wiped out so much valuable clock.
• Jim Harbaugh was exactly the Harbitch I always thought him to be–perhaps even more so. However, I have a newfound respect for John Harbaugh, not just in hi aforementioned coaching, but in how he maintained his demeanor and respected the game.
• The 49ers consistently lacked a short-route passing game except for some sideline outs–and that killed them. The mid and deep routes for them worked in the open field both in completions for significant yardage or in opening up holes through for Colin Kaepernick to exploit with his legs. But the compressed field of the red zone coupled with no one executing effective Wes Welker-type slants and crosses (even tight end Vernon Davis mostly worked downfield) allowed the Ravens defense to key in on Frank Gore and Kaepernick as a runner. There simply was nothing to keep the Baltimore D honest in the red zone.
• Whether or not holding should have been called on 4th & Goal or not, the 49ers cannot blame the loss on that play, no matter how much Jim Harbaugh tries. Jim’s uninspired play calling on that and the previous three downs along with the 49ers’ red zone inefficiency all day were the real culprits.
• I agree with the non-call on 4th & Goal. Defensive holding (it certainly wasn’t pass interference) of that sort was being allowed on both sides by the referees all day. One can argue that is where the problem lies, but for consistency’s sake, they should not–and did not–start suddenly calling the penalty at the end of the game, and both sides should have had a strong sense of what was permissible. The magnitude of the situation augmented the appearance of the contact, but such happens in every game without being called. I like the allowing the players to play as much as possible.
• Although I was rooting for the Ravens (in as much as it was a game that I really did not care who won), I would have loved to see the 49ers bring in Alex Smith and see him win the game as retribution.