Originally posted by HearstFan:
Originally posted by NinerGM:
I don't know if I completely buy into this philosophy. Patriots come to mind, so do the Steelers. Anytime those players go somewhere else, they're not as "good" as they were previously. I would say rather that you need a good game planner - a WR coach who understand routes and can co-design the passing game with the OC - someone who knows the strengths of his players and can help design gameplans to accentuate their strengths. My problem is that regardless of who I see out there - they all run basically the same boring predictable routes with little variation in the passing game plan. I honestly feel separation is achieved both through talent but more consistently through SCHEME and that's where we're lacking. I agree wholeheartedly as it's been said previously .....
We need a WR coach on the same level that Jim Leavitt is the LB coach - who at one time was considered NFL HC candidate. If the development and play of our LBs were anywhere near what it could be for our WRs, the passing game would be incredible.
THIS ABOVE -
1. Watch our passing scheme closely, all the routes are curved - very few hard breaks, almost ZERO - yes ZERO - double moves. It is confounding that this is a passing attack being played at the NFL level.
2. When your scheme is this basic and predictable it is almost IMPOSSIBLE to get separation because the DBs can scheme to anticipate routes - playing man and playing zone the DBs are in position. There are only two hopes for separation A.) speed - a la VD, of B.) Defensive mistake. This is why VD is the only real threat and when he get's the ball he is often wide open - either there was a Def mistake and he get's free or he is running away from a guy.
3. This basic scheme makes it nearly impossible also for the QB to throw the ball early to "a spot" - the DBs can anticipate the route and spot - a la CK's early interceptions - DBs were camping on routes.
This is why the 9ers pass offense looks so horrid - it is amateur. Last week, PManning stepped back to throw a bubble screen to the receiver on the outside; but instead of the receivers in front of the screen blocking, one of them ran right by the CB and caught a long pass. The bubble screen was a complete fake out of the defense - it was genius. Have you EVER seen such cleverness by the 9ers passing game??
The 9ers offense is 3 notches above Singletary's smash mouth football - it's smash mouth with a highly developed running scheme. But the pass offense is just plain poor. West Coast offense my b***.
Agree! Painful to watch passing schemes are painful to watch! Not sure Williams or Moore would excel on another team...but I would bet they would on the NEPatriots or in Denver. More because of the systems than just a better QB...or both.
A couple of years ago I complained that Crabtree seemed to always run behind the defenders instead of cutting in front of them. Then when Harbaugh took over he seemed to change and the routes over the middle began to open for him as they had in college. I see this as an example of coaching...can't believe MC would just forget this for two years.
So it would seem to be likely the route problems are system or coaching based. Without being on the field during practice we can't know for sure but it sure seems like a persistent problem.
