Denver Broncos vs San Francisco 49ers in London-England
SAN FRANCISCO (1-6) vs. DENVER (2-5)
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS, at London
OPENING LINE—Pick-em
RECORD VS. SPREAD—Denver 2-5; San Francisco 3-4
SERIES RECORD—Tied 6-6
LAST MEETING—49ers beat Broncos 26-23 OT, Dec. 31, 2006
LAST WEEK—Raiders beat Broncos 59-14; Panthers beat 49ers 23-20
49ERS OFFENSE—OVERALL (21), RUSH (27), PASS (16)
49ERS DEFENSE—OVERALL (13), RUSH (14), PASS (15)
BRONCOS OFFENSE—OVERALL (10), RUSH (32), PASS (3)
BRONCOS DEFENSE—OVERALL (25), RUSH (30), PASS (10)
STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES —
With QB Alex Smith out (separated left shoulder), 49ers will go with 2006 Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith, who hasn’t started a game in three seasons.
RB Frank Gore faces Broncos defense that gave up whopping 328 yards on ground to Raiders.
PK Joe Nedney connected on 8 of 10 field goals for Denver during a three-game stretch in 2000 as fill-in for injured Jason Elam.
Broncos surrendered 59 points against Raiders, tying the club record. They gave up that many points to Kansas City in 1963.
Broncos QB Kyle Orton ranks second in NFL with 2,140 yards passing. WR Brandon Lloyd is second in league in yards receiving (709). … Broncos coach Josh McDaniels said S Darcel McBath (ankle), LB Robert Ayers (foot) and LB Wesley Woodyard (hamstring) are out for game.
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You just have to wonder about the Troy Smith move at this point. Speaking in London, offensive coordinator Mike Johnson said the team would have to pare down the playbook for Smith, particularly in the crucial areas of the red zone and on third down. Johnson was asked if he was part of the decision to start Smith over David Carr. He said, "I don't know if I had much decision, but we talked about it. So I was part of the process and it was something we decided to go with and we have to make it work."
That hardly sounds as if Johnson is fully behind this move. He also said, "I'm still trying to learn the things he does well."
The 49ers are in a desperate situation and the offensive coordinator is so unfamiliar with his starter, he doesn't even know what he does well. Johnson was there when Smith got two mop-up appearances in Baltimore, but Johnson was coaching receivers at the time. Here's what he said about Smith's play in those games.
"Well, I mean he had to clean up some footwork things, he had to get better in fundamental areas, such as drops and reads and things like that, but I think from that point to now, I think he has gotten better, a lot better."
So what Johnson is basically saying is he doesn't really know what this quarterback can do and that he still has to work on basic things like drops, reads and footwork. Wow.
Maybe this will work. But it's a lot to ask to get a quarterback the coaching staff doesn't know well prepared in week shortened by traveling halfway around the world. It also should be noted when Smith was released from the Ravens, no teams claimed. The 49ers picked him up AFTER he cleared waivers.
What might have convinced Singletary to start Smith is his demeanor. He's a confident, almost cocky kid, and he certainly said the right things. Nevertheless, he has a lot of things working against him.
If he plays well, it's a tremendous tribute to him and the coaching staff. In fact, they should be knighted. Hopefully, for the 49ers sake, it's not a disaster.
Smith does have the benefit of knowing the terminology, which was the same in Baltimore. However, Johnson said the offense is much different from what Cam Cameron used. Johnson also said he's not necessarily going to game plan to Smith's running ability. Smith said he was definitely going to pass.
Johnson said a key to Smith's success will be a strong enough run game where Smith can bootleg and play action. Johnson did say that Smith turned it up a little in practice as the starter.
All the streaks, stats and notes are on Broncos side, but a trip to England is something else. I will place my $ on the 49ers. Why? Take a look back to 4-5 last oversea trips in England and you will see something. To me 49ers just simply roll to 2-6.
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS, at London
OPENING LINE—Pick-em
RECORD VS. SPREAD—Denver 2-5; San Francisco 3-4
SERIES RECORD—Tied 6-6
LAST MEETING—49ers beat Broncos 26-23 OT, Dec. 31, 2006
LAST WEEK—Raiders beat Broncos 59-14; Panthers beat 49ers 23-20
49ERS OFFENSE—OVERALL (21), RUSH (27), PASS (16)
49ERS DEFENSE—OVERALL (13), RUSH (14), PASS (15)
BRONCOS OFFENSE—OVERALL (10), RUSH (32), PASS (3)
BRONCOS DEFENSE—OVERALL (25), RUSH (30), PASS (10)
STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES —
With QB Alex Smith out (separated left shoulder), 49ers will go with 2006 Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith, who hasn’t started a game in three seasons.
RB Frank Gore faces Broncos defense that gave up whopping 328 yards on ground to Raiders.
PK Joe Nedney connected on 8 of 10 field goals for Denver during a three-game stretch in 2000 as fill-in for injured Jason Elam.
Broncos surrendered 59 points against Raiders, tying the club record. They gave up that many points to Kansas City in 1963.
Broncos QB Kyle Orton ranks second in NFL with 2,140 yards passing. WR Brandon Lloyd is second in league in yards receiving (709). … Broncos coach Josh McDaniels said S Darcel McBath (ankle), LB Robert Ayers (foot) and LB Wesley Woodyard (hamstring) are out for game.
- - - - - - -
You just have to wonder about the Troy Smith move at this point. Speaking in London, offensive coordinator Mike Johnson said the team would have to pare down the playbook for Smith, particularly in the crucial areas of the red zone and on third down. Johnson was asked if he was part of the decision to start Smith over David Carr. He said, "I don't know if I had much decision, but we talked about it. So I was part of the process and it was something we decided to go with and we have to make it work."
That hardly sounds as if Johnson is fully behind this move. He also said, "I'm still trying to learn the things he does well."
The 49ers are in a desperate situation and the offensive coordinator is so unfamiliar with his starter, he doesn't even know what he does well. Johnson was there when Smith got two mop-up appearances in Baltimore, but Johnson was coaching receivers at the time. Here's what he said about Smith's play in those games.
"Well, I mean he had to clean up some footwork things, he had to get better in fundamental areas, such as drops and reads and things like that, but I think from that point to now, I think he has gotten better, a lot better."
So what Johnson is basically saying is he doesn't really know what this quarterback can do and that he still has to work on basic things like drops, reads and footwork. Wow.
Maybe this will work. But it's a lot to ask to get a quarterback the coaching staff doesn't know well prepared in week shortened by traveling halfway around the world. It also should be noted when Smith was released from the Ravens, no teams claimed. The 49ers picked him up AFTER he cleared waivers.
What might have convinced Singletary to start Smith is his demeanor. He's a confident, almost cocky kid, and he certainly said the right things. Nevertheless, he has a lot of things working against him.
If he plays well, it's a tremendous tribute to him and the coaching staff. In fact, they should be knighted. Hopefully, for the 49ers sake, it's not a disaster.
Smith does have the benefit of knowing the terminology, which was the same in Baltimore. However, Johnson said the offense is much different from what Cam Cameron used. Johnson also said he's not necessarily going to game plan to Smith's running ability. Smith said he was definitely going to pass.
Johnson said a key to Smith's success will be a strong enough run game where Smith can bootleg and play action. Johnson did say that Smith turned it up a little in practice as the starter.
All the streaks, stats and notes are on Broncos side, but a trip to England is something else. I will place my $ on the 49ers. Why? Take a look back to 4-5 last oversea trips in England and you will see something. To me 49ers just simply roll to 2-6.
