49ers-Cardinals: Why San Francisco Lost

Anyone who has watched the 49ers since Mike Nolan took over has noticed one immutable fact. Almost every single time they have had short-yardage situations, they have failed to get it with power running. With 40-some seconds remaining in the game, it was a perfect time to call a quick corner fade rout rather than wasting a down, and 20 seconds, to spike the football. Then, you bring in a power-running formation that has failed time and again in goal-line situations in the past few years. Gore, unable to pound it up the middle, nearly goes in after bouncing it outside on second and goal. Which led to an obvious point: You don't run conventionally again. Last year, in a woeful game against the Cards, the 49ers trailed late. It had not been a pretty game, but the 'Niners made their way to the goal line with 26 seconds on the clock. The play: end around. The result: touchdown. This year, against the Eagles, we had 3rd-and-1 in the second and ran it up the gut. Result: No gain. 3rd-and-, ... (link)