@The Crusher posted:Did anyone see the analysis of that blocked punt and how it was a weak spot in the last few weeks of the season and therefore easy for the Niners ST to focus on and exploit? The tape showed we had been close to allowing a block from pressure up the middle and it was just a matter of time.
The frustrating thing is that the Niners didn't even need to risk getting no punt return by doing it. It was zero risk on their part. They rushed 6 guys. Even if it wasn't blocked, they still have a shot at a good return (as opposed to selling out and rushing 8 since you need the punt returner back and a guy on each Packer gunner).
Just like the tape earlier in the year showed they were in danger of giving up a block from the edge on FG attempts and it was only a matter of time (Crosby just barely got the game winning attempt off at SF) and the Bengals exploited it to start the whole STs fiasco in that game. Drayton's explanation back then was that the speed of the snap should prevent the edge guy from getting there. But they had moved on from an excellent holder (Scott) who seemed to always get the laces down correctly to a guy that struggled with it (Bojorquez) and probably took a little longer because of it.
That's probably why they moved on to have Wirtel - because he had the fastest snap times ever recorded, which then set them up for the playoff punt block (because the reason Wirtel wasn't signed by other teams even though he was a great snapper was that he was undersized and susceptible to bull rushes).
The also moved on from JK Scott to Bojorquez because he was clearly a better punter. But the reason other teams let go of Bojorquez even though he was a top 5 punter was that he had a reputation for being a poor holder.
If they would have just stuck with JK Scott, they still have Bradley as a snapper, and Crosby doesn't have to get used to new guys, and none of this happens. They probably give up 3-4 yards per punt, but in retrospect, it wasn't worth it. Other teams made the calculation that it wasn't worth it either (ironically, the Rams).
Of course, if JK Scott was consistent as a punter none of this happens either.
With Bradley and Scott as the snapper and holder, Crosby converted 203 of 217 XPs and FGs from 2018-20.
When they switched to Bojorquez, Crosby was 65 for 76.
It looks like MLF is sticking with Drayton, so he'll have a whole offseason to "clean it up."
Cousins is more afraid to throw anything risky than is Rodgers, but at least Rodgers will throw down the field -- something Cousins avoids. When he beat GB earlier this year by making some throws he normally wouldn't, he openly criticized himself saying that he didn't want to make those types of throws every game. Cousins has the arm but definitely lacks the guts.
