Originally posted by Giedi:
Originally posted by NCommand:
Truth. But Rivers had zero experience in Mike McCoy's offense compared to 3 years of stability with CK. I'm not trying to get into a comparision between the two QB's but used that as a reference point for how a HC/OC didn't use personnel or an inexperienced QB (new to the system) as an excuse for not expanding the offense and growing throughout the year, becoming more and more dynamic; working with the personnel you had with an entire off season to prepare (the injury to Crabtree was very early).
I'm less concerned about Roman as I am about the offensive philosophy. To me, it still feels like a piece-meal offense and doesn't have a strong foundation of anything...bits and parts of WCO designs (but not concepts), some spread, Q-formations, Coryell routes, Pistol, power run, jumbo formations/personnel, shifts and motions, smoke screens, etc. and players such as Johnson said it's like learning Chinese and McDonald noted it was so complicated his rookie season was a blur.
How hard is it to utilize supreme talent in the short passing game? Shouldn't that be the first part of installation in your passing game for a younger QB? Then intermediate and deeper and then trickier formations such as the option, roll-rights, QB designed runs, etc.? I just think with all the personnel we had, there was plenty HaRoman could have done to expand the offense and use the 53, not just the 37 (as Baalke noted). We could have made life for CK way easier esp. constantly putting him behind the 8-ball on 2nd and 3rd and longs d/t predictable play calling on 1st downs. That has nothing to do with CK himself or his experience (i.e. handing off to Gore against a stacked run blitzing defense). Calling passing desitgns that truly don't have outs/outlets for him or realistic secondary receicers other than in a scramble drill.
At the end of the day, I just feel like too much blame has been placed on CK's feet (inexperience) and not an equal share to the offensive philosophy (and an inexperienced OC/Pro system) while we conveniently ignore how successful other teams were offensively with far less talent than we had. The two work hand-in-hand IMHO.
This year, with the emphasis by the FO to expand the offense and current talks of utilizing a 3rd WR more (and 2nd TE), we shall see how this evolution goes esp. with the added beef in the backfield and OL. I'm excited to see what happens but currently, I'm still curbing my enthusiasm until the proof is on the field and the results are in. Until then, I'll continue to see CK as the good soldier with room to grow personally (like I do equally for our offensive philosophy and HaRoman themselves).
I don't agree or disagree with what you said above. Clearly G-ro isn't thee most experienced OC in the nfl. And Colin isn't a really experienced QB in the NFL either. The Tight End position is probably the most important position in this offense since it is involved in both the run and the pass. I actually see a new offense emerging from the Mangiani/Roman cooperation. Mangiani has experience as a DC and that will help Roman in his role as OC. I wouldn't be surprised if both of them combined come up with an offense that goes beyond Al's vertical stretch offense, the WCO, and the Coryell.
Like you said, you think this is a hodge podge of various offenses glued together in Frankenstein fashion. I don't disagree. But I also think it's moving in a more unique direction. A direction that maybe only two so called *geniuses* on offense and defense can come up with.
I agree that there is a lot of inexperience when it comes to the offensive coaches and the QB. There's simply no denying that as Kap only has a bit over a year of starting experience while HaRo is entering their fourth year in their NFL roles, while having to 'reset' when making the change to a young QB.
Many posters have alluded to this offense as a "multiple offense", "jack of all trades", "chameleon", and now "hodge podge offense". I agree with these takes. At one point I said it was Air Coryell as Gibbs ran it, but it is more than that. My assumption is that Harbaugh wants this to be an offense that can do it all, and depending on the opponent, the correct attack will be used for that specific day, or drive.
This offense goes Jumbo to empty backfield, and everything in between. Power run, play action vertical attack, WCO short game, read option, designed QB runs, it's all in the playbook. It's a high risk high reward offense. The risk is whether or not the players can handle all these different styles of attack, practice them, and be able to switch gears at a moment's notice. The reward is that if they can, the opposing defense has no idea what to game plan for, not only entering gameday, but from drive to drive. It's a steep learning curve for all the players.
There has been some discussion about the desire to become more balanced when it comes to trying to achieve a 50/50 ratio in run/pass. I am not so worried about a 50/50 split in that ratio. If the 49ers are playing a team that is defensively weak against the run, then run the ball 35 times. If the 49ers are playing a team that is weak against the pass, then throw it 35 times. I feel the emphasis should be about being equally effective at both the pass and the run, not so much calling 50% runs and 50% passes in any given game.
