49ers Offense (1 Viewer)

[PhantomJB]

In theory it would seem that:

1) the 49ers got thumped in the playoffs

2) learned they couldn't rely entirely on their DEF and running game

3) saw that the NFC teams to model themselves after were the Saints, Packers and Giants

4) went out and got high-quality offensive weapons (Moss, Manningham, LaMichael James) that would make their offensive potentially much more explosive

Harbaugh seems far too smart and innovative to have acquired all these new guys only to continue a strictly ground and pound philosophy. Yet here we are after the third preseason game and seems like none of the new toys have been taken out of the garage (Manningham and L.James DNP against Broncos but still really didn't do much to this point).

The easy answer is that no one trusts Alex Smith. He's obviously got his issues but I'm just not buying it. Smith is no Peyton Manning but Harbaugh did trust him enough to let him loose in the divisional playoff game against the Saints.

Moss and Manningham going in the WR40+ range. Seems absurd for their talent level.

Is Harbaugh just sucking everyone in playing preseason close to vest or are the 49ers who we thought they were?

 

[duaneok66]

preseason.

 

[Koya]

In theory it would seem that:1) the 49ers got thumped in the playoffs

Huh?

 

[PhantomJB]

In theory it would seem that:1) the 49ers got thumped in the playoffs

Huh?

Got beaten. Whatever.

 

[drummer]

preseason.

 

[biju]

Moss and Manningham going in the WR40+ range. Seems absurd for their talent level.

Mark me down for thinking those guys aren't nearly as good (now in the case of Moss) as you think they are. Manningham in particular seems to be more of a guy who benefited from the system and good talent around him. I just don't have any faith in Alex Smith.

 

[Koya]

In theory it would seem that:1) the 49ers got thumped in the playoffs

Huh?

Got beaten. Whatever.

I don't think it is just semantics here. You said thumped. They lost, in overtime, on a field goal. Now, the Giants certainly looked to be the better team. You had the feeling that once the Giants realized they should pay attention to Davis that there was no way the 49ers offense would move.But the reality is still the same: The Giants won in overtime after getting a huge break on a costly 49er turnover. Thats not thumped, its essentially playing evenly with the opponent with a couple bad breaks.And I'm a huge Giants fan.

 

[PhantomJB]

In theory it would seem that:1) the 49ers got thumped in the playoffs

Huh?

Got beaten. Whatever.

I don't think it is just semantics here. You said thumped. They lost, in overtime, on a field goal. Now, the Giants certainly looked to be the better team. You had the feeling that once the Giants realized they should pay attention to Davis that there was no way the 49ers offense would move.But the reality is still the same: The Giants won in overtime after getting a huge break on a costly 49er turnover. Thats not thumped, its essentially playing evenly with the opponent with a couple bad breaks.And I'm a huge Giants fan.

That's fair. Maybe a poor word choice.Wasn't suggesting that the 49ers should have completely revamped their offense due to a drubbing. It just seems that what they've shown during the preseason hasn't matched their personnel acquisitions nor the direction the successful teams are heading.Watching Peyton and the Broncos today you would think their regular season offense would resemble reasonably closely what they showed us in the first quarter. Power running with McGahee setting up an aerial attack not as heavy as Indy but still a heavily featured component of their offense. Maybe not as many deep balls since Manning is not yet 100% but utilizing their personnel strengths (e.g. Decker, Thomas and the TEs.Harbaugh can be very cagey sometimes and just trying to figure out where they're headed as an offense.

 

[Biabreakable]

This is year 2 of Harbaugh's influence on the team. He did a great job with what Singletary started but they also had an easier schedule than they face this year.

I think the offseason shows that the intent is for the offense to be more balanced. Randy Moss can really help the running game by keeping safeties from cheating up to the line.

I would still expect a run first/play good defense as the primary goal. But having some balance of big play threat added to chain movers such as Crabtree and Vernon Davis looks like a good mix. Manningham has been a decent WR 3 and could be the deep threat also.

In execution it is up to Alex Smith. Smith came into the league as one of the youngest QBs. I think he was 20 entering the league IIRC. And he came from a shotgun spread offense in college. He was behind the curve compared to other QBs coming into the league in this regard, he had to learn how to play from under center. He went to a bad team that is just now starting to have some diverse weapons available. He got killed much like David Carr did and it is a wonder that Smith is still in the league. I think Harbaugh did a good job of restoring some of Smiths confidence last year. Harbaugh knows how hard it is to play QB in this league and had to deal with Mike Ditka when he played. I think Harbaugh learned a lot from that and may be a better coach because of it. He will put Smith in situations that he can be successful in. Maybe Smith's deep ball isn't good enough. I have heard some issues with right side pass protection that might keep VD in blocking more than they would like. But overall I do think their offense will be more balanced and there should be some improvement in total passing yards.

 

[drummer]

This is year 2 of Harbaugh's influence on the team. He did a great job with what Singletary started but they also had an easier schedule than they face this year.I think the offseason shows that the intent is for the offense to be more balanced. Randy Moss can really help the running game by keeping safeties from cheating up to the line.I would still expect a run first/play good defense as the primary goal. But having some balance of big play threat added to chain movers such as Crabtree and Vernon Davis looks like a good mix. Manningham has been a decent WR 3 and could be the deep threat also.In execution it is up to Alex Smith. Smith came into the league as one of the youngest QBs. I think he was 20 entering the league IIRC. And he came from a shotgun spread offense in college. He was behind the curve compared to other QBs coming into the league in this regard, he had to learn how to play from under center. He went to a bad team that is just now starting to have some diverse weapons available. He got killed much like David Carr did and it is a wonder that Smith is still in the league. I think Harbaugh did a good job of restoring some of Smiths confidence last year. Harbaugh knows how hard it is to play QB in this league and had to deal with Mike Ditka when he played. I think Harbaugh learned a lot from that and may be a better coach because of it. He will put Smith in situations that he can be successful in. Maybe Smith's deep ball isn't good enough. I have heard some issues with right side pass protection that might keep VD in blocking more than they would like. But overall I do think their offense will be more balanced and there should be some improvement in total passing yards.

Pretty much this.