I've read and heard alot of criticism that the league is moving to a passing league and having a free safety who can cover like a corner is essential.
I've read that the Niners building up front to crush people is too "old-school" and won't work in todays NFL.
I think thats all bunk. ;-)
The NFL is cyclical. People act as tho the NFL moves in one direction and it never comes back around again. That just isn't the case. Just look at the 3-4 defense....it comes and goes...just like everything else.
Follow me here. The league goes after smaller, quicker guys to counter pass happy offenses (West Coast O, Run and Shoot, No Huddle?). Now, everyone on the field is small and fast and you have neutralized the faster pass-happy O.
Along comes a team with an O-Line that everages over 320 lbs and simply MAULS you. It is a run first team that can pass to keep you honest. The D just crushes those streaking WRs and the safeties make those smaller faster guys pay every time they make a catch.
Do you know what I just described? The Dallas Cowboys of the early 90's. Most of the league was moving to the pass-happy west coast offense or K-Gun or any number of other pass offenses. The Cowboys came along with a MASSIVE line and some speed and size on D and won 3 SB's.
I'm not saying that the Niners are the Cowboys. I'm saying that sometimes bucking the trend makes you unique in a league of parity and being the only team in the Division that will hit you in the mouth has some advantages.
[ Edited by Marvin49 on Apr 26, 2010 at 13:38:12 ]
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Smashmouth 49ers...I like it. (Bucking the NFL trend has its advantages)
Apr 26, 2010 at 1:31 PM
- Marvin49
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Apr 26, 2010 at 2:39 PM
- LAFortyNinerfan
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I've been one of those people greatly concerned about us not building a team that can throw the ball all over the place and run up the score with the best of them, but I do have to say that I like this spin on things.
Apr 26, 2010 at 2:46 PM
- NCommand
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Speaking of old school...
Things that make you go, "Hmmmm."
Things that make you go, "Hmmmm."
Apr 26, 2010 at 2:55 PM
- m_brockalexander
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Good points, Marv. The Niners are being remade in their coaches image and that may not be a bad thing. They are going to try and punish people on both sides of the ball. The offense appears designed around a smash mouth running attack, but should open things up for the play action passing game. Bottom line, the Niners should be better than before just because the brass has made it a point to fix the offensive line.
Apr 26, 2010 at 3:18 PM
- dlance
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I hoping ths offense can go to a 3WR and still run the ball and 2WR and still pass the ball. Play action pass would be great as long as the other team doesn't know it's coming.
Apr 26, 2010 at 3:38 PM
- tohara3
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Originally posted by m_brockalexander:
Good points, Marv. The Niners are being remade in their coaches image and that may not be a bad thing. They are going to try and punish people on both sides of the ball. The offense appears designed around a smash mouth running attack, but should open things up for the play action passing game. Bottom line, the Niners should be better than before just because the brass has made it a point to fix the offensive line.
Nice post & I agree.
Apr 26, 2010 at 4:53 PM
- nvninerfan1
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Well if those 5 man can become cohesive, maybe it will free up Vernon to run routes.
Apr 26, 2010 at 4:57 PM
- Yetiman
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Great post. Totally agree. Play action with this group will work because of the run-style blocking that the line should now be able to provide...blowing the DL off the line of scrimmage rather than retreating into pass-block mode.
This should be particularly effective since few other teams (any?) are running this style offense. This really could result in something special.
This should be particularly effective since few other teams (any?) are running this style offense. This really could result in something special.
Apr 26, 2010 at 5:07 PM
- 9erred
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Nolan tried to make the niners the Baltimore Ravens, sending the franchise to sub 200 yard qb offensive performances week in and week out.
Last year McCloughan tried to draft to make Sing happy. Drafting Coffee, a big SEC runner, Bear Pascoe a blocking TE, etc. He declared we will run, run, run. Well that did not work, so they went to the spread offense and voila it worked.
Now the niners once again are drafting a SEC power running back and another blocking TE. Soundls llike ground hog day to me.
They need a change of pace back, not 3 rb's who can only run up the middle.
Last year McCloughan tried to draft to make Sing happy. Drafting Coffee, a big SEC runner, Bear Pascoe a blocking TE, etc. He declared we will run, run, run. Well that did not work, so they went to the spread offense and voila it worked.
Now the niners once again are drafting a SEC power running back and another blocking TE. Soundls llike ground hog day to me.
They need a change of pace back, not 3 rb's who can only run up the middle.
Apr 26, 2010 at 5:11 PM
- Lifer
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Part of the reason why Bill Walsh's teams were so effective early on is exactly what you've stated here: They went contrary to the prevailing trend. In the late 70's everybody built their teams to stop the power running attack. Along comes Walsh with his precision short passing game. Everyone called it "dink and dunk" and said it wouldn't work. Well, you know what happened.
The important thing, of course, is that it's not enough simply to go contrary to the trend. You have to be GOOD. Walsh had Montana and Rice and Lott, after all. But, yeah, if you build a good team AND you're playing a style that other teams aren't really prepared to contend with, then you've got a real advantage.
The important thing, of course, is that it's not enough simply to go contrary to the trend. You have to be GOOD. Walsh had Montana and Rice and Lott, after all. But, yeah, if you build a good team AND you're playing a style that other teams aren't really prepared to contend with, then you've got a real advantage.
Apr 26, 2010 at 5:22 PM
- niner_empire
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Originally posted by 9erred:
Nolan tried to make the niners the Baltimore Ravens, sending the franchise to sub 200 yard qb offensive performances week in and week out.
Last year McCloughan tried to draft to make Sing happy. Drafting Coffee, a big SEC runner, Bear Pascoe a blocking TE, etc. He declared we will run, run, run. Well that did not work, so they went to the spread offense and voila it worked.
Now the niners once again are drafting a SEC power running back and another blocking TE. Soundls llike ground hog day to me.
They need a change of pace back, not 3 rb's who can only run up the middle.
word. the truth is. we shouldnt confine our selves to being a power running team or a spread pass happy team. we need BALANCE and the flexibility to adjust our gameplan according to the oppositions strenghts and weaknesses. this isnt the 80's you cant simply IMPOSE your will on someone.cant run up the gut against a 9 man front, we need the flexibility where alex can audible to a pass if they stack the box. this is a thinking mans game.
Apr 26, 2010 at 5:31 PM
- Shifty
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I dont think we are bucking the trend. Just building a good team. OL needed big time help, we got it. Just so happens our needs were big physical guys.
Apr 26, 2010 at 5:31 PM
- DarthNiner
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It's called having an Identity.
When Nolan took the reigns we have a lot of players who didn't fit. But with Singletary's vision, you can see exactly how this team will operate: big, huge maulers that will control the line of scrimmage. Possession receivers. Game manager QBs. In between the tackles RBs. Huge, active Dline. Fast, aggressive LBs. Hard hitting FS/SS. (Not sure about CBs yet, but you get my point).
The new Niners now personify their head coach, which is to punish the opposition on both sides of the ball and practice ball control.
When Nolan took the reigns we have a lot of players who didn't fit. But with Singletary's vision, you can see exactly how this team will operate: big, huge maulers that will control the line of scrimmage. Possession receivers. Game manager QBs. In between the tackles RBs. Huge, active Dline. Fast, aggressive LBs. Hard hitting FS/SS. (Not sure about CBs yet, but you get my point).
The new Niners now personify their head coach, which is to punish the opposition on both sides of the ball and practice ball control.
Apr 26, 2010 at 5:32 PM
- matt49er
- Veteran
- Posts: 7,456
Originally posted by Marvin49:
I've read and heard alot of criticism that the league is moving to a passing league and having a free safety who can cover like a corner is essential.
I've read that the Niners building up front to crush people is too "old-school" and won't work in todays NFL.
I think thats all bunk. ;-)
The NFL is cyclical. People act as tho the NFL moves in one direction and it never comes back around again. That just isn't the case. Just look at the 3-4 defense....it comes and goes...just like everything else.
Follow me here. The league goes after smaller, quicker guys to counter pass happy offenses (West Coast O, Run and Shoot, No Huddle?). Now, everyone on the field is small and fast and you have neutralized the faster pass-happy O.
Along comes a team with an O-Line that everages over 320 lbs and simply MAULS you. It is a run first team that can pass to keep you honest. The D just crushes those streaking WRs and the safeties make those smaller faster guys pay every time they make a catch.
Do you know what I just described? The Dallas Cowboys of the early 90's. Most of the league was moving to the pass-happy west coast offense or K-Gun or any number of other pass offenses. The Cowboys came along with a MASSIVE line and some speed and size on D and won 3 SB's.
I'm not saying that the Niners are the Cowboys. I'm saying that sometimes bucking the trend makes you unique in a league of parity and being the only team in the Division that will hit you in the mouth has some advantages.
very good post man I like your insight, there are many ways to win football games and I also like the fact that we're not a copy-cat team in a copy-cate league.
with that said we have some real weapsons in the passing game in VD/Crabtree and alot of other guys with potential in Walker/Hill/Morgan/Williams/Jones etc.
Apr 26, 2010 at 5:44 PM
- SnakePlissken
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- Posts: 15,028
I don't get why everybody thinks we're playing stoic football, we're just playing out of the type of balanced offensive system the Giants, Jets, Dolphins, and Steelers have ran the past couple of years (with a strong emphasis placed on RB tandems).
Our case might slightly be different though considering what Baalke said last week regarding Ginn & Williams being on the roster (switching up defenses in the spread with speed options/matchup changes with Crabtree).
Our case might slightly be different though considering what Baalke said last week regarding Ginn & Williams being on the roster (switching up defenses in the spread with speed options/matchup changes with Crabtree).