Well, if I may interject ..... and it's just my perspective because I just can't seem to stay out of a good football conversation ..... turnovers are the most important stat in football, and that's not to point fingers at the offense either. SFran scored, what?, 14pts on the turnovers? It made all the difference.

These two quotes stuck out the most in the article to me: "First and foremost, the 49ers simply made more big plays than the Saints." ... "Forget all the talk about the running game and defense winning championships. In today's NFL, games are won and lost by big plays." Both ring true.

Today's game is light years away (and I feel a blog coming on) from what it used to be, and you win by thinking 'outside the box'. Greg Williams was thinking 'outside the box', he had 'em on the ropes and he was gonna' finish 'em. He just blitzed 'em on the previous play and figured no way they would expect it again. It's the killer instinct you want to see in a defensive coordinator. Personally, I think it was a bonehead move in that type situation, but as it has been so eloquently pointed out, "hindsight is 20/20". Who's to say what I woulda' done in that situation, go for the glory or err on the side of caution? Be the hero, be the goat ..... that's what was going through GW's mind. He took a shot. IDK, maybe he knew he was on the way out?

Not sticking up for Williams, I'd rather have Spagnualo anyway, just think the turnovers were more a factor then your defense. I keep going back to the four lead changes in the last four minutes ..... SFran didn't beat you guys, they just outlasted you.

Turnovers were a direct result of San Fran's defense. People keep pointing out that turnovers were something we had control over as if we were somehow able to control when they happened. That's a load of a croc.

San Fran's defense did little in the last 4 minutes as our offense got exponentially better. They didn't really outlast us what happened was that our defense completely fell apart in the end. Don't you think it's strange that we were able to contain the niners all game and then somehow just fold like a wet noodle in the end? GW's blitzing is a double edged sword of which we came out on the wrong side in the last 4 minutes.

Folks rightly blame GW because you have to put this game in context of his three year tenure. Our defense really has struggled to get pressure and turnovers. You can see how much lesser we have performed without Sharper. GW's scheme frankly didn't work for us and it epically failed in probably one of of not the the worst loss we have ever suffered in the playoffs.

That game really did showcase the ineptitude of GW's system.

I don't really disagree with anything Duncan wrote. The GW defense that let us down at the end of the game kept us in the game earlier. I'm not a fan of scapegoats either. That being said, since hindsight is 20-20 it would indicate that some changes would need to be considered.

Williams needed to adjust his defense to the fact that Davis was the only real receiving threat on the 49ers. Ginn wasn't doing much and Crabtree was dropping balls and playing inconsistently. Blitzing your strong safety 17 games in a game where their TE is the only weapon is kind of insane. We should've treated Davis like he was Megatron and doubled and triple-teamed him and let Greer play Crabtree solo.

I agree with most of what you're saying WDC, expect the part you're glad GW is gone. Our D is what kept us in the game. Our D let us down with a minute left to go... but our turnovers is what cost us the game. You lose the turnover battle by our margain, 90% chance plus you lose the game.

Fact.

Well, I agree with you that turnovers are generally something you can't control (unless your QB is Tony Romo) and are a result of the defense stepping up, which is why I didn't point fingers at the offense.

I can't really comment on GW's entire tenure because I haven't been around that long, but I do see the point that his scheme didn't work for you guys. What I saw in that game with the defense was you guys were playing on the edge and really making the most of the talent that you had. Getting down early by 17 and then playing from behind most the game didn't really make me think the D necessarily 'contained' the 49ers the entire game and then folded in the end, but they did keep you guys in the game and allow you to come back, which is basically what teams with high-powered offenses are designed to do, ie NE, GB, Det (hehe).

You're right, it's a double edged sword, you live by the blitz - you die by the blitz ..... GW was either going to get that one right or go down in flames. Unfortunately, he crashed and burned at agruably one of the most critical moments of a defensive coordinator's career ..... the bright side being, now he's gone and you guys got Spag's.

I'm just making conversation, it snowed here last night and my choices are:

a) shovel the walk
b) logon onto Black & Gold

..... the future will tell if I have chosen poorly.

Williams needed to adjust his defense to the fact that Davis was the only real receiving threat on the 49ers...We should've treated Davis like he was Megatron and doubled and triple-teamed him and let Greer play Crabtree solo.

This statement has officially ended this thread.

End of story.