Daily Madden: Panthers Defense Trumps 49ers Offense
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) - The 49ers were held to three field goals and 151 yards total offense in a 10-9 loss to the Carolina Panthers Sunday.
"We knew the real strength of that Carolina defense was their defense generally and specifically their front seven," John Madden told the KCBS Radio morning crew. "You have to be able to handle that. And one of the ways you handle it is you have to be able to control the ball to get first downs and do those types of things. And the 49ers couldn't do it... If you're Colin Kaepernick, a running quarterback, your quarterback is going to have to run the ball and make some plays with his legs to open up the passing. None of those things happened with the 49ers yesterday."
Kaepernick ran for 16 yards on four carries.
"I don't know if there's physically something wrong with him or not," Madden said. "What the good teams and good defenses do is they get that push on the pocket and then they also take away his escape route."
Kaepernick also had trouble throwing the ball, gaining only 41 net yards in the air.
"You hope as they get Manningham back and Crabtree back and then some of these other (receivers), and Boldin can be that second guy, that that changes for them."
Madden said the ineffectiveness of the offense wore down the defense.
"You have to be able to convert third downs into first downs to keep the ball, and when you don't, that just puts your defense right back on the field again." (6:50)
Daily Madden
Listen to the John Madden segment live weekday mornings at 8:15 on KCBS All News 740 AM/106.9 FM. And catch John's extra report at 9:15 am Mondays and Fridays on KCBS during the NFL season.
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