Originally posted by WestCoastNut:
For myself, Alex needs to consistently get first downs. Crabtree can be huge with this.
Alex has been offbeat with the rhythm of the game. Shaun does this naturally.
If Offense 5.0 does what we hope it will, providing more options in the shorter game, giving the QB authority to call audibles, more consistency in the running game, I think Alex can set the rhythm and keep the beat.
Finally, an intelligent response. I think you're right about Alex being out of sync. But I attribute that to a few different factors, likely out of his control. Reason number one would be his injury, which needs no explanation. The last time that we saw Alex play in a game was in 2007. And that whole season can be thrown out due to one man...Jim Hostler. Worst play-calling I've ever witnessed. With our porous offensive line, he kept calling 7 step drops. By the time the QB's got set, sometimes even in the middle of their dropbacks, there would get sacked. Draw plays on 3rd and long. 4 receiver sets on 3rd and short.
So 2006 is really the best gauge of his progress, because he played the entire season with a good offensive coordinator. And obviously, he's changed since 2006. Grown as a person and as a player. And Nolan is gone, which seems to have given him a new life.
Alex never had a dependable receiver like Isaac Bruce who could catch the ball without flipping out on him like Antonio Bryant. And I don't think this has been stressed enough. Michael Crabtree was THE BEST receiver in college football the last two years. There's a lot of hype, but there's a lot of talent there too. He will definitely help move the chains, but more importantly, he can make big plays down the field.
