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| Establishing The Run October 30 2002 By Bryan Hersh of 49ers Paradise THIS CONTENT IS COPYWRITED, REDISTRIBUTION OF IT (including copy/pasting it to a message board, forum or bbs) IS PROHIBITED AND COULD RESULT IN LEGAL ACTIONS - feel free to quote up to 1 paragraph providing a source link to http://www.49ersparadise.cjb.net is included The 49ers failed to establish the run against the Cardinals, choosing instead to pass all game, and while it was an effective way to jump to a 31-7 lead, when it came down to trying to protect their lead, not being able to run hurt their chances. It’s not that the team wasn’t able to run, Garrison Hearst averaged seven yards a carry, but the team failed to remain committed to running the ball. Unable to run the 49ers lost the time of possession battle for the third consecutive week - this time by the largest margin, of about five minutes. Losing the time of possession battle meant that the defense was again on the field for most of the game. It also meant that the Cardinals were able to get the ball back from the 49ers offense fairly quickly - thus giving them more time to try and get back into the game. This week against the Raiders the 49ers must get back to establishing the run. It’s important that they jump out to a lead, but they can’t afford to become one dimensional against a versatile Raider team. Despite a hurt defensive backfield, the 49ers can’t sit back and throw all day. They need to get their running backs going.
In all likelihood the 49ers recognize that they got away with one last week when they didn’t establish the run. Two of the teams best offensive threats are in the offensive backfield, and the 49ers won’t be able to win this weeks game if they don’t use them. The Raiders are simply too good a team to do that against, even after losing three consecutive games.
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