More photos » by Paul Sakuma - AP

Browse more photos »

So with all this Craptree stuff going on, I thought it would be nice to remember, "Oh, we dominated this weekend. We are one of the best teams in the NFL... Kick ass!" What better way to celebrate a victory than a good ol-fashioned Caption This? No better way, that's right.

I apologize for missing last week's Caption This; I was too disheartened by that Vikings loss, and with my computer heading to the great hard-drive in the sky, it was tough to get my way to NN. But now the world is right again, Bamm Bamm and the Niners D dominated, the Rams are back at the bottom of the NFC West, and the Niners have a winning record. Nice.

This week, Fearless Leader Samurai Mike Singletary finds something quite funny. I leave the rest to you Nation. Remember, I'm keeping record of wins during the regular season. Howtheyscored won the week 1 contest, and SeBaz49 won the closest Caption This EVER in week 2, squeaking out a victory by 2% with his shout out to Cast Away. Kudos SeBaz, kudos. Who will step up for Week 4?

Remember the rules, post your best caption for the photo above in the comments, then go back and Rec your favorite comments. Those with the most Rec's will make the final voting round. Cut-off for final voting will be tomorrow at midnight (pacific). Winner, as always, gets supreme internet kudos, but these kudos actually count, since it's the regular season.

Caption This NN!

Well, this has been a rough week. I still feel like I'm catching [site decorum] from my friends thanks to Brett [site decorum], that piece of [site decorum]. Add onto that a Mac laptop with a shattered screen, two tests, two papers and a dead pet gecko, and this has ranked among the worst single-weeks of all time for me. But that won't stop me from reaching you Nation (for better or worse).

I must pass along thanks though to the NFL schedule makers for putting the Rams right after the Vikings. I don't want to assume a win, but needless to say I feel pretty confident about the Niners chances here. I'm in kind of a rush to get to my alma mater's homecoming weekend, but here is a list of things you, as a Niners fan, should focus on during this weekends (hopefully) spirit-lifting match up.

Key Matchup: 49ers D-Line vs. Steven Jackson

It's not hiding that Steven Jackosn is the main (if not only) weapon the Rams have, so stopping him from getting out of control is the biggest key to victory, in my eyes. While Jackson hasn't been too much of a beast lately (just ask my fantasy team), he always is a threat for a Frank Gore-like 80 yard TD run. Of course, to pull something like that off, he'll have to get past Ray McDonald and the 49ers front four. If the big men up front can push the somewhat weak St. Louis O-line a yard or two back off the line of scrimmage, Jackson's maneuverability will be severely limited. If they can get him to dance in the backfield, be sure the Niners will be tackling him for a loss; he isn't that elusive.

After the jump, Player to Watch, Player to Loath, Fantasy Surprise/Sleeper, and more info on the third divisional matchup in 4 weeks...

Continue reading this post »

More photos » by Marcio Sanchez - AP

Browse more photos »

Here you go! Vote Away!

More photos » by Marcio Sanchez - AP

(AP Photo/Marcio Sanchez)

Browse more photos »

Well... Let's see if I can follow THAT up...

Describe to me a mid-September day that could get better. Exclusive interview with NN from Steve Young, after our second division win in a row, and I go 3-0 in pay fantasy leagues? Very nice! Thank you 49ers, now I can be less facetious when I celebrate the fact that we are UNDEFEATED! I hope you are all still pleased with the performance this Sunday, and while there are still some obvious areas that need improvement, we finally look like a team out there. Now that is something I haven't seen since the Wild-Card victory over the Giants during the Mooch era.

I do have one small thing to get to before the captioning. In my most recent Focus On article, I dropped the following line:

Now, I'm not saying I want to see Matt Hasselbeck injured, but IF Patrick Willis were to break his jaw, I wouldn't be disappointed in the lack of new Hasselbeck commercials.

Of course, I'm not arrogant enough to believe that my comment caused Willis to injure Hass's back, but I was not-at-all pleased to see the Seattle QB unable to finish the game. It doesn't show as much to have a victory against a team at 80% capacity vs completely healthy. I feel your pain (so to speak) Seattle fans, and I truly hope Matty-Boy gets back on the field ASAP - a healthy Hasslebeck makes your team, and thereby the NFC West as a whole, a-lot tougher.

Aaaaand moving on to happier news, the best way to put a nice little bow on top of this back-to-back-victory-celebration is a CaptionThis, right? The photo above is of the split second prior to Dashon Goldson's interception, with "Slippery" Nate Burleson reaching out in agony, and "Lock-down" Nate Clements doing the coverage on Burleson (BTW - How good was Clements this weekend? It seemed like he was in on every other play the defense made). See the replay here to get a good idea of how bang-bang the play was, and how dirty this picture really is.

I've decided this thing needs a competitive element installed, so I'm keeping tally of the regular season Caption This winners. Winner gets the title of most creative mother [site decorum]er at Niners Nation. howtheyscored is in the regular-season lead with last weeks victory, being as is last week was the first regular season Caption This. Let's see if he makes another witty caption for the picture above, or if someone else steps up... Remember the rules, post your best caption for the photo above in the comments, then go back and Rec your favorite comments. Those with the most Rec's will make the final voting round. Cut-off for final voting will be tomorrow at midnight (pacific). Winner, as always, gets supreme internet kudos, but these kudos actually count, since it's the regular season.

So, Nation, for the second, victorious time this regular season... CAPTION THIS!

More photos » by Paul Connors - AP

Recognizing his own awesomeness, San Francisco 49ers’ running back Frank Gore tries to hug himself in a mirror. (AP Photo/Paul Connors, Caption/howtheyscored)

Browse more photos »

Another big division match-up is upon us Nation. This week the Seahawks come to the 'Stick, and we plan to stick it to them (get it???). First of all business... Congrats to howtheyscored for winning the CaptionThis contest with the gem above. Amusing, and true; Frank Gore oozes awesomeness. Also, for the Niners Nation 3 fantasy league, yours truly and my team, The Ed Hochuli Gun Show, is in first place in Division 1, while Shulkdog's landsharks leads division two, after dominating victories by each team. 49erLou is in deaaaaad last, only scoring 55 points. Ouch...

OK now time to focus. One bird down, one to go. This is a very exciting match up that I pray plays out the way we are all hoping. Now, I'm a bit disappointed in the lack of trash talking between Field Gulls and NN - wayy too much dwelling on the Rams victory for FG, and a bit too much focus on Crabtree for NN. We have an amazing matchup here people!! Just look below at these amazing match-ups and players to Focus On:

Key Match-up: 49ers O-Line vs Seahawks D-Line

Last week we witnessed the 49ers struggle to get a real running game started with Frank Gore. Glen Coffee was thrown in there to mix it up once or twice, but a lack-of-run-O was not from a fault in the RB's, it was the O-Line not doing their job. Chilo Rachal and Adam Snyder looked lost at time, especially once the AZ DE's got past them and to Gore. Joe Staley and David Bass weren't impressive either, and it will take a dramatic improvement from all four to get this "Run-First"/"Gore-centric"/60-40 running-passing style team to a victory.

Their challenge will not be simple as they will be going face to face with the Seattle D-Line, including good strength and talent from Patrick Kerny, and Cory Redding from the DE positions. It also won't just be their front four - expect to see Lofa Tatupu and their first-round pick Aaron Curry attempting to cause chaos on one side of the line so that someone slips-through unnoticed, a common event in last weeks Niners game.

In the end, I'm confident in the ability the Niners have on their O-Line, and feel like they SHOULD be able to slow down the Seattle D enough to let Frank the Tank do his magic work. However, the Niners never stop surprising me (for better or worse) and we could be walking into a sack-lunch (num-num-num-num). Unlikely as I see it, but possible given the Seattle talent.

After the jump: Player to Watch, Player to Loath, Fantasy Superstar/Sleeper, and some more SF/Seattle Prep..

Continue reading this post »

More photos » by Paul Connors - AP

(AP Photo/Paul Connors)

Browse more photos »

Alright ladies and gents - Voting Time! Vote for your favorite caption for the picture above. The winner will be declared Saturday Night/Sunday morning. Massive Kudos at stake here. Game on!!

More photos » by Paul Connors - AP

Caption This! returns with a BANG. Put your best stuff right here! (AP Photo/Paul Connors)

Browse more photos »

You know what feels great? Mondays after a win. Instead of sulking around, getting [site decorum] from all my "friends" such as "Ahh, Niners lost again? At least you're used to it!" and "Wow those Niners are bad, why do you still root for them?" I get to strut around, wearing my brand-new Frank Gore jersey, happy as hell that my team (along with 1/2 of the NFL) is UNDEFEATED! Who cares about money-grubbing WRs and depressing stuff like that? 1-0 Baby!!

Let's continue this celebration juuuuust a little bit longer, because it's about time to focus completely on the Seattle Sea[site decorum]s. And to, more or less, close out this weekend of celebration, why not put a nice visual bow on top of this present with a brand new Caption This!

I know I put an old Caption This up with no voting round, but it wasn't that good of a picture anyways. THIS one, now this is a gem... To give everyone a little bit of background, that is Frank Gore and Chilo Rachal celebrating the go-ahead touchdown in the 4th quarter. A bit of different rules for the regular season, post your best caption for the photo above in the comments, then go back and Rec your favorite comments. Those with the most Rec's will make the final voting round. Cut-off for final voting will be tomorrow at midnight (pacific). Winner, as always, gets supreme internet kudos, but these kudos actually count, since it's the regular season (sorry all you old Caption This! winners)

So, Nation, for the first time this regular season... CAPTION THIS!

More photos » by Chris Park - AP

Coach SIngletary knows what to look out for on Sunday, do you? (AP Photo/Chris Park)

Browse more photos »

Hey Nation! Long time no talk! I've kind of gone into hiding lately because of the beginning of grad school at Villa-no-fun. But FINALLY things have slowed down enough for me to begin writing here at NN on a regular basis, and just in time too. In juuuuust about 50 hours from the time this post goes up, the Niners will be taking the field vs the hated Cards.

So in this, the longest Friday EVER, I'm here to give all of you the easy reference for this weekend's match-up. I'll be analyzing key matchups, meaningful historical encounters, players to watch, yada yada yada. So lets do this:

Key Match-up: 49ers CBs vs Cardinals WRs

If you are playing fantasy football, you should know that this is the first time in a while that there has been a WR that is not only dangerous enough, but consistent enough, to be drafted early in the first round, and thats Larry Fitzgerald. No need to describe his accolades and accomplishments further here. Combine him with a seemingly-less-disgruntled-with-his-contract Anquan Boldin, and you have one of, if the most, potent WR tandems in the NFL today. Why are they so good? Simple; Y-A-C (or yards after catch). Fitz and Bolden can shake tackles, or break-away from the other 21 players on the field by emptying the NOS tanks and serving CB's a plate full of dust for them to dine on. Steve Breaston is another WR the Niners can not afford to overlook because of great wheels and better hands.

That being said, we shift to the Niners back D: Nate Clements has yet to live up to that contract but has seen this offensive tandem before. Dre Bly is also extremely familiar with the Card's WR's as well as the man throwing them the rock, Kurt Warner (The two won a Super Bowl together in 1999, and went to another one two years later). The big "Receding Hair-Line Accelerator" is Shawntae Spencer at right CB. The plus - his size (6'1" - 190 lbs) will help him keep up with the pretty tall Fitz (6'3" - 217 lbs) and Boldin (6'1" - 217 lbs), compared to the slightly smaller Bly (5'10" - 188 lbs) and Clements (6'0" - 205lbs).

Injury wise, Boldin is coming off of a hamstring "tweak" from the preseason and hasn't practiced in a few weeks, but according to him he should be good to go Sunday. The edge definately lies with the Cards here. I mean, their WR corps (core? ha) is the main reason why they did so well last season, and why they are predicted to do so well this season. Needless to say, if nothing else this will be trial-by-fire for Shawntae, and if you want to see whether Manusky and Singletary made a good decision starting this man, we will learn Sunday.

After the jump: Player to Watch, Player to Loath, Fantasy Superstar/Sleeper, and some more SF/AZ Prep...

Continue reading this post »

More photos » by Jeff Chiu - AP

Come on... This caption is almost too easy.... (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Browse more photos »

Hello ladies and gents, long time no see. I've spent the past week on vacation in So Cal, doing as little as possible, but it is nice to get back to the grind that is following what is the best football franchise on the planet. Since it has been a bit, I'm going to ease myself back into writing with something I owe you guys; a Caption This.

The picture to my left is your candidate for the first Caption This of training camp, and boy is it a good one. Summing up the whole QB battle in a nutshell - the struggle for the ball between Shaun Hill and Alex Smith. This is almost too easy, which means I expect some pretty fan-[site decorum]ing-tastic captions for this photo. You know the rules by now, suggest the best caption you have in the comments section of this article. Then, Rec your favorites by clicking action, then Rec. The captions with the most Rec's make the voting round.

The most recent voting round wasn't even close, and here is the winning caption and picture:

"God! I’m so happy you’re not JT!!!!!"

Internet Kudos to foosball4949, for dominating the Caption This voting round. And with that, I officially exorcise the ghosts of the 2008 49ers. No More JTO talk - he's a Bungle now, and not our concern. This is not the same team that missed out on the playoffs last year. This team is prepared to shock the world. This team, gray facemasks and all, will show the NFL that the NFC West is a force to be reckoned with... (OK, that's just my excitement taking it a bit too foar, but nevertheless, I'm just ready for football to start NOW).

Who else can't WAIT for Friday?? CAPTION THIS!!!