What is needed to make our offense elite?

If Ginn could catch we would be scary

Its hard to say what our offense is really capable when we are so run oriented. We play by controlling the game.

Alex has few yards for 3 reasons, Pass attempts, Field Position, and Defense

Pass Attempts - When you have Frank Gore and Kendall Hunter at RB, an Oline that is better at Run blocking than pass blocking and a 330lb DT that is a very capable run blocker, why pass at all if you can average almost 5 yards a carry? The ball is more secure on the ground than in the air and now you can control the clock.

Field Position - Thanks in part to a terrific Defense, a terrific Punter, and a terrific KR the 49ers are winning the field position battle. instead of working with 80 or 90 yard fields, the 49ers are working with 65 or 50 yard fields giving alex few opportunities to gain yards

Defense - Our defense has finally reached a point where Alex on rare occasions has to play from behind. Games with big passing totals typically mean the team is playing from behind and has become 1 dimensional.

Yes, there are better QB's out there... but its not as simple as playing madden, you cant just plug and play different players and expect improvement. You need chemistry, leadership and playbook understanding and we are finally getting that with Alex.

People are falsely led to believe that you need a top notch QB to win a superbowl and that isnt the case. I firmly believe this team is capable of winning a championship in its current shape.

Originally posted by mayo49:
#1 wide reciever. We're pretty much set every where else. Maybe a shut down corner.

I agree. We need an explosive reciever and another solid corner and we will be good. Although I worry about Alex's ability to get the ball to his Wr's on a consistant basis. Hopefully he will develop in that department, maybe the lockout has kept the offense from gelling in that part of the game. Again, hopefully Alex can overcome this,otherwise we will have to hope that CK will develop.

Originally posted by modninerfan:
Its hard to say what our offense is really capable when we are so run oriented. We play by controlling the game.

Alex has few yards for 3 reasons, Pass attempts, Field Position, and Defense

Pass Attempts - When you have Frank Gore and Kendall Hunter at RB, an Oline that is better at Run blocking than pass blocking and a 330lb DT that is a very capable run blocker, why pass at all if you can average almost 5 yards a carry? The ball is more secure on the ground than in the air and now you can control the clock.

Field Position - Thanks in part to a terrific Defense, a terrific Punter, and a terrific KR the 49ers are winning the field position battle. instead of working with 80 or 90 yard fields, the 49ers are working with 65 or 50 yard fields giving alex few opportunities to gain yards

Defense - Our defense has finally reached a point where Alex on rare occasions has to play from behind. Games with big passing totals typically mean the team is playing from behind and has become 1 dimensional.

Yes, there are better QB's out there... but its not as simple as playing madden, you cant just plug and play different players and expect improvement. You need chemistry, leadership and playbook understanding and we are finally getting that with Alex.

People are falsely led to believe that you need a top notch QB to win a superbowl and that isnt the case. I firmly believe this team is capable of winning a championship in its current shape.

I really agree with the statements here, although I would add that part of the reason our pass yards are low is because we have been getting the lead early. When you have the game in hand you don't need to pass as much as you would if you were behind.

Originally posted by SanDiego49er:
2 years in the same system for Alex Smith. If he can be this much improved after NO OFFSEASON, new sytem, new OC again why can't he be better next year?

Wow, are you feeling OK?

Give him another threat at WR too and this offense could be scary. Wouldn't mind having another threat at TE like Fleener either.

Its really tough to call this offense complete right now, despite our record. I know you all are raging on people who dont have faith in Smith yet, but can you honestly say you are so completely certain yourselves. To be fair he is doing a very good job, but there is still a part of me wondering if the wheels will fall off. I dont think we replace anybody outright for the record...we are after all winning and if its isnt broke...dont fix it, but at the same time the offense just does not feel shoot out ready at this point in the season.


That being said any team should always be looking to get better...nobody here should doubt that a team like we have this year, with a guy like Peyton under center would be beyond scary. Or that a guy like Megatron at wide out is an obvious upgrade over the talent we have there now....it isnt a knock on our guys...everyone is good, some even great, but there are guys out there who are better, and some of them will be in the draft.

I would personally like to see us Keep Alex and Kaep and Tolzien...and Draft one more. Worst case scenario is that more than one pans out and you have trade bait like the Eagles.

I would also like to see one more outstanding wide reciever. Braylon and Crabs are high two's with low one potential that has never quite panned out...we should persue a true number one that can be relied upon to catch the ball in those clutch situations...no matter the coverage. Brady has Welker, Montana had Rice - who does Smith have?

After that depth ....depth...depth...

A couple of o-line, a couple of d-line, a corner..maybe an extra OLB...

I'm impressed by the loyalty you people have got in Alex Smith in 8 games. I'm also happy to be 7-1 and winning....All I'm saying is 1 change that would make our offense instantly better. I don't believe Calvin Johnson, Andre Johnson, or any other Johnson would make us that much better when we don't have someone that can get our current recievers the ball. They are open consistantly, they catch catchable balls consistantly, they are missed when wide open consistantly. I am impressed that Alex no longer forces passes into coverage. His decision making has increased by leeps and bounds. But his ability hasn't. If we had an elite QB, any of the top WR's would make an impact, but without one they would be open and missed just like the guys we got.

this writer understands my point....
http://49ers.pressdemocrat.com/2011/11/inside-the-49ers/what-if-alex-smith-and-eli-manning-switched-teams/

A). A WR who other teams have to double team.

B). Alex w/a full season under the same system

C). Maybe a RG like De Castro

D). TIME TO LEARN AND GROW! We haven't had it in 7 years.

WR and Runing back

Gore has had problems staying healthy. I respect Frank but this is just a question.

If as to play GM theses would be positions I would be looking at.