Usually, I record the games and during the offseason, I will watch them to take the edge off of my football withdrawal.  I didn't record it today, but if I did, I could think of several better uses for it, including as a coaster or a cure for insomnia.  Good gravy what an ugly game.  I almost wish I had done yard work.


My thoughts:

1.  The 49ers return guy fumbled the opening kickoff and was tackled around their own ten.  I was thinking okay maybe we could get an early stop and get some field position.  TWENTY (20) plays later, the 49ers are kicking a FG.  The thing is, as strange as it sounds, the defense played relatively well on that drive.  They didn't gash us in the run and we got decent pass rush  But big play negating, drive extending penalties by Jenkins and Smoot enabled the 49ers offense to stay on the field much longer than they should have.  When the Jaguars finally get the ball, they promptly go 3 and out.  The 49ers score a TD on the following drive.  As if that wasn't bad enough, on the very next Jaguars drive-on first down no less-TL completes a pass to Shenault, only to have him fumble it back to the 49ers. On a later drive, Jenkins had another drive extending penalty where he threw a punch at a 49ers WR.  Jenkins got ejected.  On an unbelievable defensive 3 and out in the second half, Tayvon Auston, in for the injured Jamal Agnew, muffs the punt and gives it back to the 49ers.  This is Bizarro world complementary  football-NOT what anyone had in mind.  The penalties, the drips, the turnovers, the poor playcalling the poor execution...all if it has to stop!

2.  The refs did not cost us this game by any stretch, but I think it's telling that the one enforceable penalty called against the 49ers didn't come until 3:54 left IN THE GAME.  Between this game, the Cleveland and AFC CG in 2017, the Packers game of 2016 (?), there are way too many games of gross officiating imbalance against the Jaguars.  Part of that is the Jaguars doing...I get it.  But when Bosa clearly jumps offsides, call the freaking penalty.  

3.  One of the things about this game that gave me trepidation when the schedule was first announced and every time I thought of the game since was the matchup of Bosa against Jawaan Taylor.  Today we saw why I was so afraid of this matchup, especially in the second half.  Bosa embarrassed Taylor.

4.  Today was an ugly game for injuries.  Hope the hurt guys are okay, but that Agnew injury did not look good.

5.  What the hell was that last drive before halftime?!?  I don't know who was at fault on that 49ers screen pass to the right that went for so many yards, but between Jack and Chaisson, SOMEBODY should have had that RB.  The 49ers had no timeouts left and they still managed to get into FG range.

6.  Given the history of this board, I know this will not be a popular take.  But the WR group needs a complete overhaul.  There's no separation.  There's no hands consistency.  There's no playmaking.  There won't be any guys worth the top 3-5 pick we will likely have in April's draft, but we absolutely need more explosiveness and talent at that position.  I saw John Brown get one snap-a deep pass attempt to him early, and that was it.

7.  Rookie Watch:

     A.    Trevor Lawrence-More pedestrian numbers today for him, but he did not have the ball for way too much of the game.  He needs help in the receiving corps.  He needs help along the OL.  He needs help in the offensive play calling.

     B.     Travis Etienne-DNP

     C.     Tyson Campbell-Was okay today.  Got hurt breaking up a pass.  Not sure how long he will be out.

     D.     Walker Little-was active today and got some PT when Cam Robinson went out with a knee.  Little gave up a pressure.  While I do not want Cam Robinson to be hurt, we need to find a way to get him playing time down the stretch.

     E.     Andre Cisco-speaking of playing time, this game was infuriating from that standpoint.  When Jenkins and his selfish penalties hurt the team and ultimately got him thrown out the game, that didn't translate into too many more snaps for Andre Cisco.  When Jenkins was ejected, Daniel Thomas came in and got more snaps. Cisco?  Not so much.  How do UM and Baalke expect to develop the rookies into a young nucleus for next year if they won't give them any playing time now?  If these guys aren't good enough to warrant playing time on a languishing 2-8 team going nowhere, then it is either a drafting failure, a coaching failure, or both.  Cisco epitomizes this.

     F.     Jay Tufele-despite the 49ers having the ball for over 38 minutes, I did not see Tufele get any playing time.  I wonder if he is still injured.

     G.     Jordan Smith-continue to be inactive.  Has contributed nothing to this team ten weeks into the season.

     H.     Luke Farrell-Did not see him at all.

8.   Bottom line-I expect the remainder of the season to look like this or worse.  I was hoping we'd see Trevor Lawrence making obvious signs of progress by this time of the year, but we don't have the tools around for him to show it.  That's the most demoralizing thing.  He represents this team's hope for the future, but at this moment, I am fearful this team is in danger of stunting if not ruining his development.  The defense is making strides, but with stupid penalties and no help from the offense, they can't fully show how much progress they may be making.

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