After weeks of futility the 49ers have finally made a switch at quarterback while the Falcons are slowly unraveling after a hot start.
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Gabbert ended a 10-game losing streak as a starter since beating Indianapolis on September 23, 2012, improving to 6-22. “It was wonderful, I’m so appreciative of this opportunity”.
“I told you guys it was going to be a process, it wasn’t just going to happen overnight”. You play well when you’re having fun. He has been targeted 28 times, and has 16 catches for 210 yards and a score.
On Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers, though, we finally saw him come back down to earth. He listened to the play calls on an earbud, conferring with Gabbert after every series and joining him in scanning the defensive formations on an electronic device. It’s kind of surprising really to hear the news that Gabbert will be starting this crucial game because the 10th overall pick of the 2011 NFL Draft hasn’t started a game in two years.
The 49ers (2-6) are way under.500, and first-year coach Jim Tomsula is obviously in way over his head.
“Gabbert was our starter today”, he said after Sunday’s win, per Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. He completed 60 percent of his 25 attempts for 185 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
On fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line with the game on the line, Dan Quinn put more faith in his defense than an offense featuring Julio Jones and Devonta Freeman. And when a quarterback is not-so-great, he’s not as bad as the media makes out to be. Kendall Gaskins rushed for 20 yards on seven carries, and former New Orleans Saint Pierre Thomas gained 12 yards on four carries in his 49ers debut. That’s just one yard per carry for those not fluent in math. He did break his touchdown drought but was smothered by a Frisco defense that should have had all sorts of trouble containing the league’s leading rusher.
Jones said the turnovers are the only thing holding back Atlanta’s offense. “It was a bit of an adjustment”. With a rash of injuries, it sure seemed the reeling 49ers were at a bigger disadvantage than the 4 1/2-point underdogs they were to begin the week, when tight end Vernon Davis got traded to Denver.
Gabbert was missing his top running back and wide receiver, Carlos Hyde and Anquan Boldin. In fact, through three quarters, Freeman only had 4 rushing yards.
On defense, the 49ers held the Falcons to just 302 total net yards. He missed the entire 2014 season while recovering from knee surgery but said he feels close to being back to normal. “Bo was out there flying around being NaVorro Bowman“, Jerod-Eddie said. I am pleased with the progress that I have made so far, but there is still more out there for me to do.
Perhaps the most interesting nod to Kaepernick came from a Falcons player.
The San Francisco 49ers will begin Week 9 hostilities for NFL football with a home game against the Atlanta Falcons.
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Colin Kaepernick may have been relegated to the bench on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium, but he never once actually sat on it as the 49ers took a 17-13 first-half lead over the Atlanta Falcons. Defensive end J.J. Watt is the face of the team, so Kaepernick could play his role without the pressure he had to start the 2015 season with the 49ers.
