The problem with the 49ers offense...

[ellisonz]

...has very little to do with which quarterback is starting. The problem is Greg Roman's play calling which never establishes a rhythm for the offense and seems to have changed dramatically in its conception at least 3 or 4 times this season. The 49ers have won despite this impediment, Alex Smith has a very high football IQ and Colin Kaepernick has escapes the pocket very well. I think that if Roman stopped trying to reinvent the wheel every week that the 49ers would have a better record. There really was no sense in calling that option today with their back to their own end zone, move the ball out toward midfield and then run the option. Use the short passing game to open running lanes and then go for the down field pass, it doesn't take a "Mad Scientist."

[Upton]

1. That play call cost them the game..

along with Akers, Kaep, Walker, and the refs who made the wrong call on the safety. The 49ers defense only gave up 8 points. The offense gave the Rams their other 8. It was one of the more frustrating regular season games I've ever watched.

[ellisonz]

2. Well that and not running the clock down once they were back upfield...

...after Kaep's run. Which adds to my conclusion that the problem all season long as been inconsistent play calling. There was no reason to leave them with anything other than less than a minute on the clock rather than 1:30 or so. The problem isn't the players, it's Greg Roman.

[Upton]

5. You mean after Kaep's 50 yard run?

Remember, the first play after that he threw a perfect pass to Walker in the end zone which was dropped. It's caught like it should have been, the 49ers go up 17-10, win the game, and the aggressive play call is praised. Then, on third down Kaep ran out of bounds allowing the Rams to save their final TO....

My big problem in this particular game was the attempted pitch play to Ginn...which might have been one of the worst calls in history..and going conservative in OT, to put the game on the foot of a struggling Akers for a 50 yarder. Wasn't much of a surprise when he missed.

[ellisonz]

6. Maybe he does it catch it...

...but that still would have left enough time on the clock for St. Louis to drive down the field and score. In that situation you run *as much time as possible* off the clock before scoring by running the football in bounds. You forget, after that play they ran another option play and Kaep went out of bounds. You run time off the clock to prevent the other team from having a chance to score!

Throwing in the red zone with that little time left showed a lack of confidence in the run game and gave St. Louis enough time to move the ball up-field for a score.

The option play was just a stupid call that close to your own end zone. Kaep made a mistake, but he should not have been in a position where that mistake could tie the game.

[Auggie]

3. Totally agree about the play calling -- and on both sides of the ball too

49er defense hammers the line of scrimmage until the final minutes, then Fangio loosens coverage and rushes fewer linemen. Bradford nickle and dimes the Rams into field goal range.

That option was a terrible call that deep in S.F. territory.

49ers had success running Gore on the left side in the first half, but in the second half, after the Rams adjusted, why didn't the 49ers counter by running to the right? Maybe, too, we're seeing weaknesses exposed with the absence of Kendall Hunter.

Frustrating performance. And ugly.

[ellisonz]

4. Agree on missing Kendall Hunter.

Gore ran 23 times. Brandon Jacobs doesn't appear to be in playing shape. Perhaps it was time for LaMichael James to make a debut. Hunter is effective because he's faster through the holes than Gore, but he doesn't quite have Gore's tackle breaking ability.

I also noticed the lack of a blitz late in the game.

They could have won ugly, but they tried to win it pretty and lost.

[Auggie]

7. Maybe James will make his debut against the Dolphins ...

in the friendly confines of Candlestick.