Originally posted by NinerGM:
I have to say I disagree with Leatherface and some others here and I'll try to lay things out best I can.
Yes, it is a QB-driven league as we move more toward the pass and the game has rewarded passers more than pure running teams. I do believe you can mask the deficiencies of a QB and this is done every season, all the time. As the quality of team gets better, overall, quality of each player is better. So a team that plays in the conference championship game is a better overall team than a team that exits in the first round of the play-offs.
This was clearly the case regardless of QB play - or even more important, QB talents. I don't believe that a "quick release" or any of that stuff matters if you're trying to pass behind a OL that can't play when discussing performance of play-off teams. Regardless of how quick the release, a WR still needs to be open, the hot read needs to be uncovered and if coverage isn't beaten at the LOS, it's usually going to be incomplete.
I encourage anyone to read other posters breakdown of offensive drives last season or OL play. No matter how great the QB, if the OL is so poorly coached, so incapable of sustaining offense, not even capable of making 1st downs on 3rd and 1 against the lowest of statistically ranked defenses, regardless of who the QB is, the offense won't be consistent. Add to this new receiving targets, new system (mid-season change), less talented receiving targets than projected (Jones didn't get on the field for whatever reason), etc. All affect the passing game.
I've said this before and I'll say it again - show me a top statistically performing QB and I'll show you a pretty good OL. I know a lot of people immediately point out Green Bay last year to counter this argument, but again, that line despite the number of sacks it gave up was light years ahead of the 49er OL play last season.
I think Mike looks at how far the Jets went and again was absolutely sold on what Ryan did in NY - and that was with a rookie.
I'm glad u actually pointed that one out as well. I completely agree, and the thing was, about that game, for the entire day, all i kept on hearing from the commentators was and i quote, "I dont know what it is about today, but this line is looking like a Pro-Bowl line today."
There were soo many teams that I remembered hearing about on a weekly basis after we played them, that had career days against us offensively. And that was whether or not we sustained a drive and scored, or stalled.
I like the philosophy that we carried in the Walsh, Seifert days, and that was when someone said, we were so good, because we knew that if individually everyone did their job at the end of the day we would win. And that when we lost we knew it had to be on a certain person because once again if everyone did their job, we'd win.
I love that philosophy, wonder if we can ever get that back. Where if a ball was thrown and the receiver could get it, jump on him if it was catchable. That if the Qb was sacked the team got on the player who didnt pick it up. Say sumthin to the QB if the throw was WAAAYYY OFF. I mean i loved this accountability measure we played with in the past.
No more spread O like last year where Alex can't function ! another 8-8 season.