Nice win, but I'm still not happy about the play calling!

Originally posted by LambdaChi49:

Originally posted by Kolohe:

Originally posted by blizzuntz:

Originally posted by Kolohe:
I agree the play calling was a bit conservative. But IMO, I think Harbaugh will gamble more when Smith is much more comfortable with this offense. Smith did some good things today but he checked down a lot.

Exactly.

Harbaugh didn't have to gamble to win. This guy has a bunch of plays saved up when necessary. These plays were nothing in similarity to what he called in preseason

I also liked how Harbaugh allowed Smith to check out of a play when he didn't see what he liked, Harbaugh has given Smith much more freedom in this offense.

Agreed. And it showed today. I don't think we saw Smith do the roll out-throw out of bounds the entire game. Am I correct?

Nope, he actually completed that pass today.

I dont think the whole play book was available to Smith, play calling would open up if the 9ers were 20pts up in the 3rd qrt. Blue collar football as coach mentioned.

Originally posted by SnakePlissken:
Harbaugh just told Murph & Davis on the post-game radio show that the reason offense played so conservative was simply because they just learned the playbook/system with such little time, and that he hasn't been able to grasp a real 'feel' for the guys on the offense (specially Alex), to allow Jim to put trust within opening the playbook up more.

-Brutally honest answer, and the most obvious one if anybody watched the game tonight.

At least he's honest.

Originally posted by niner4life21:

Originally posted by 49ersalldaway126:

Originally posted by 49ersalldaway126:

Originally posted by jreff22:
Jim fell on the sword for this today, its nice to have a coach that admits when he makes mistakes

did he?

what did he say?

bump

this

Originally posted by SnakePlissken:

Harbaugh just told Murph & Davis on the post-game radio show that the reason offense played so conservative was simply because they just learned the playbook/system with such little time, and that he hasn't been able to grasp a real 'feel' for the guys on the offense (specially Alex), to allow Jim to put trust within opening the playbook up more.

-Brutally honest answer, and the most obvious one if anybody watched the game tonight.

Originally posted by communist:

Originally posted by obx49:
What the hell is your problem? Listen, you might not think Alex is a franchise QB, but based on their comments on other threads throughout Alex's 7 year career, some believe that Alex is the next Joe Montana (see Alex Smith thread.) Hey, you might like being patient, but I'm not. This is just getting really ridiculous, if we all know by now that Alex is not the answer and the coaches do as well then why not make a change already. Its obvious by the play calling today that Harbaugh just doesn't trust Alex. Do you think if Harbaugh had Aaron Rogers at QB rather that Alex Smith then Harbaugh would call the same plays? I think not.

And how should we make a change NOW? Bring in Tolzien? Or even Kaep? Alex never player in a Westcoast offense, iirc. And we had a shortened off-season.
If Harbaugh had the rookie Rodgers, Rodgers wouldnt even had played in this game.

He wanted to see what Alex can do on competitional level and what he cannot do. Now he knows it and it's possible that he will open up the playbook against the gayboys.

Yes, its too late now, but they had an opportunity during the offseason to make something happen like trading for Kolb or Orton or even getting a veteran like a Billy Volek or a Matt Hassleback but the FO sat on their hands rather than taking action. Btw, I am very happy that we won today, but we play the game to win the superbowl and most of us know very well that it will never happen with Alex at the helm.

Originally posted by 49ersalldaway126:

Originally posted by jreff22:
Jim fell on the sword for this today, its nice to have a coach that admits when he makes mistakes

did he?

what did he say?

Harbaugh just told Murph & Davis on the post-game radio show that the reason offense played so conservative was simply because they just learned the playbook/system with such little time, and that he hasn't been able to grasp a real 'feel' for the guys on the offense (specially Alex), to allow Jim to put trust within opening the playbook up more.

This was his choice to play conservative

Originally posted by leakyfausett:
I understand the running plays in certain points and places during the game but Alex has been lights out in the red zone and was never really given a chance when they got down there.

This

Originally posted by jreff22:
Harbaugh just told Murph & Davis on the post-game radio show that the reason offense played so conservative was simply because they just learned the playbook/system with such little time, and that he hasn't been able to grasp a real 'feel' for the guys on the offense (specially Alex), to allow Jim to put trust within opening the playbook up more.

This was his choice to play conservative

Makes sense...BUT....with the Cowboys coming to town, I think he's going to have to open the playbook up a little more if they want a chance to win. Alex will probably have to throw the ball more. We're going to need an "A" grade from all aspects of the team.

Originally posted by unst4bl3:

lol.

I think he trusts smith, but this was good for the larger picture. Give smith some confidence, let the teamates get confidence in him.. and he will come out of his shell.

I thought Alex did a good job when given the chance. Combine that with the fact that the running game was failing the entire time and it's clear they should have let Alex do more.

It's possible, though very unlikely, that Harbaugh felt he could beat a weak Seahawks team by playing a stubborn, vanilla game in an attempt to surprise a better team, like Dallas, with a real game plan. Dallas will play us thinking we'll be predictable and stubborn. This is what I'm trying to convince myself of, anyway.

In all likelihood, it was just a crappy game plan and bad play calling. I'm not buying the lockout excuse for this because we saw more in preseason than we saw today! They clearly have more aggressive plays ready to go, they just refused to call them for some reason. I am one of the people who knows full well how the lockout should affect us, but the Singletary-like game plan was ridiculously bad and they could have come up with something better than THAT. Without Ginn's returns, we would have been fielding a predictable offense with around 4 minutes to go. Seeing as how they were moving the ball up and down the field and had been shutting down our offense toward the end, it's not far-fetched to assume they would have stopped us and possibly taken the lead at the end of the game.

Bottom line: we got away with one. A better team would have probably destroyed us with that play calling. I'm hoping Harbaugh is trying to surprise Dallas.

Originally posted by niner4life21:
Who the f**k is that?

Mah bad...I meant Demarcus

Originally posted by obx49:
Yes, its too late now, but they had an opportunity during the offseason to make something happen like trading for Kolb or Orton or even getting a veteran like a Billy Volek or a Matt Hassleback but the FO sat on their hands rather than taking action.

Orton played so-so with the Bears and improved in McDaniels-offense. Perhaps the same goes for Alex with Harbaugh. Kolb is overrated, Hasselbeck is not better than Alex and he is injury-prone. Volek??? He is a career-backup...Where is the improvement?
Sorry but imo you try to find something against Alex but I dont see any argument right now. Neither of the suggested QBs would be an upgrade. Additionally, we would have paid sth for Orton and I dont want to pay anything for him b/c he is not a franchise QB.

Originally posted by Baldie:

Originally posted by jreff22:
Harbaugh just told Murph & Davis on the post-game radio show that the reason offense played so conservative was simply because they just learned the playbook/system with such little time, and that he hasn't been able to grasp a real 'feel' for the guys on the offense (specially Alex), to allow Jim to put trust within opening the playbook up more.

This was his choice to play conservative

Makes sense...BUT....with the Cowboys coming to town, I think he's going to have to open the playbook up a little more if they want a chance to win. Alex will probably have to throw the ball more. We're going to need an "A" grade from all aspects of the team.

I'm not one to reach but...I'm choosing to reach right now. :

Maybe...Harbaugh KNEW he could squeak out a win with conservaball play calling against the Seahawks so that way the Cowgirls don't have much game film on them...? Then next week Harbaugh opens the playbook up more...?

Originally posted by jreff22:

Originally posted by 49ersalldaway126:

Originally posted by jreff22:

Jim fell on the sword for this today, its nice to have a coach that admits when he makes mistakes

did he?

what did he say?

Harbaugh just told Murph & Davis on the post-game radio show that the reason offense played so conservative was simply because they just learned the playbook/system with such little time, and that he hasn't been able to grasp a real 'feel' for the guys on the offense (specially Alex), to allow Jim to put trust within opening the playbook up more.

This was his choice to play conservative

They did well on the few plays that allowed Alex to do more. They failed on the runs. This means they should have tried something different, even if they didn't trust the team yet. Harbaugh explains why he did what he did, but it was a mistake. If the run was working, then fine, but it wasn't. Fail (run) vs. Possible Fail (more aggressive passing)? I'll take the possible failure over what was already proven to fail.

Luckily, Ginn bailed everyone out.

I disagree....with no off season and a coach still getting to know his players...I don't think you could ask for anything more from coaching...the D was solid so there was no need to open up the offence...for the first game it was enough to get by...I know it was not the Packers Saints in therms of play calling...but we have to realistic in our expectations from the first game of the year...I happy we started on the right foot and we are heading in the right direction...remeber last year opener

Originally posted by 49erRider:
They did well on the few plays that allowed Alex to do more. They failed on the runs. This means they should have tried something different, even if they didn't trust the team yet. Harbaugh explains why he did what he did, but it was a mistake. If the run was working, then fine, but it wasn't. Fail (run) vs. Possible Fail (more aggressive passing)? I'll take the possible failure over what was already proven to fail.

Luckily, Ginn bailed everyone out.

Contrary to that, failed run usually results in a 3 and out. A failed pass can bring the same result or an interception and a td-return with the same play.
Of course, Gore can fumble the ball but I think that the risk for a fumble is way smaller than that for a interception. Furthermore, a fumble at the LOS doesnt have a big chance for a direct return.

One has to think about that especially when it's 4th and inches right in front the opp's endzone and you are leading. An interception in that situation is as good as returned for a TD.