Paybacks a *!#@%

By Martin Garabedian

Forgive and forget is that classic cliché that gets thrown around from time to time to help people get over bad blood situations. But in the case of Terrell Owens forgiving and forgetting is the last on his mind whenever he plays his former team.

On Sunday, Nov. 23 the San Francisco 49ers (3-7) traveled to Dallas to face the Cowboys (6-4) in what turned out to be another dose of payback for his former team as the 49ers came up empty handed on numerous red zone attempts in a 22-35 loss.

In a post-game press conference (http://www.truveo.com/49ers-postgame-press-conference/id/2377767811) Coach Mike Singletary touched on their inability to punch it in to the end zone on two red zone attempts.

The 49ers through the offensive play calling of coordinator Mike Martz decided to pass the ball four times while running the ball only two times during those red zone trips. Eventually leading them to getting six points instead of 14 in the loss.

Instead of throwing the ball down while on the four-yard line the 49ers need to give the ball to their running back that holds an average of 4.5 yards a carry. Do the math give it to the man three times and with that average you got a good chance of getting him into pay dirt with a half a yard to spare.

In total running back Frank Gore only got the ball 14 times throughout whole game, relying on the arm of Shawn Hill. In Hill’s defense he did record a decent game as he threw for 303 yards and two touchdowns on 21 of 33 passes. But those missed opportunities early in the first quarter might have been the motivation Dallas needed.

For Dallas wide receiver Owens playing against the 49ers was all the motivation he needed. T.O. finished the game with seven receptions for 213 yards and a touchdown. His touchdown came when quarterback Tony Romo threw up a 75-yard bomb in the second quarter. Owens managed to slip behind safety Michael Lewis and cornerback Nate Clements for the score.

In Owens’ last meeting in 2005 against the 49ers he torched them to the tune of 143-yards and two touchdowns. That brings his running total in two games against the 49ers to 356 yards and three touchdowns. You think he is still bitter towards his falling out or what?

Both teams did a good job at containing the run but that doesn’t mean just give up, especially in the red zone. Most teams are built around establishing the run and for an inexperienced quarterback like Hill it is essential to his success in getting his team a victory. 

That’s why Martz is a horrible fit for a rebuilding 49ers franchise. His gun slinging offense is better suited for Bret Favre than a former third stringer Hill and until the 49ers realize that they will continually compete for a high draft pick.