So how do we fix the O-line?

Many of us are impressed how much progress and improvement Alex has made compared to 2006. Since then, he spent most of his time recuperating from shoulder surgeries and from standing on the sidelines.

Some posters point to his current shortcomings as if he will never improve upon them in the future. That makes no sense. The greater likelihood is that he will continue to develop and improve with additional playing time. He needs more game experience with players like Crabtree, Morgan and Hill. As he develops more confidence in how they run their routes, it is logical that he will become more decisive.

Kick these bums to the curb:

Baas
Snyder
Sims

*Whispers* Get better players.

Originally posted by excelsior:
Many of us are impressed how much progress and improvement Alex has made compared to 2006. Since then, he spent most of his time recuperating from shoulder surgeries and from standing on the sidelines.

Some posters point to his current shortcomings as if he will never improve upon them in the future. That makes no sense. The greater likelihood is that he will continue to develop and improve with additional playing time. He needs more game experience with players like Crabtree, Morgan and Hill. As he develops more confidence in how they run their routes, it is logical that he will become more decisive.

This.

Originally posted by mayo63:

Originally posted by excelsior:
Many of us are impressed how much progress and improvement Alex has made compared to 2006. Since then, he spent most of his time recuperating from shoulder surgeries and from standing on the sidelines.

Some posters point to his current shortcomings as if he will never improve upon them in the future. That makes no sense. The greater likelihood is that he will continue to develop and improve with additional playing time. He needs more game experience with players like Crabtree, Morgan and Hill. As he develops more confidence in how they run their routes, it is logical that he will become more decisive.

This.

He may be getting better--now, he plays just well enough to lose.

Originally posted by WheresWaldo:
Kick these bums to the curb:

Baas
Snyder
Sims

Sims has done ok. He wasn't an expensive acquisition, if memory serves

Originally posted by Bobbi9698:

Originally posted by mayo63:

Originally posted by excelsior:
Many of us are impressed how much progress and improvement Alex has made compared to 2006. Since then, he spent most of his time recuperating from shoulder surgeries and from standing on the sidelines.

Some posters point to his current shortcomings as if he will never improve upon them in the future. That makes no sense. The greater likelihood is that he will continue to develop and improve with additional playing time. He needs more game experience with players like Crabtree, Morgan and Hill. As he develops more confidence in how they run their routes, it is logical that he will become more decisive.

This.

He may be getting better--now, he plays just well enough to lose.

It's up to him - if he keeps throwing picks it doesn't matter what he does.

Originally posted by TheRatMan13:
Until the playcalling changes you cant put it all on the line. They are facing 8 and 9 man fronts every single first and second down.

I really think the playcalling makes the line look worse than they really are. While I would not suggest that they are any good, I believe they are at least average. I feel like defenses read us like a book, and it is soooo obvious when we are running up the gut and what not.

Morgan has gained big yards on the end around, and we have seen it twice. When you know your line sucks and doesn't give your QB time, where are the quick passes? I feel like our QBs are always taking 5-7 step drops. Put more 3-step, or very quick release passing patterns to catch the D offguard, then throw in the longer developing routes.

I expect to see the same BS playcalling this weekend, not playing at all to the personnel we have on the field. Extremely frustrating...

1. Draft a fast OT in the 1st round (except this is a weak class for good OTs)
2. Move Clements to SS, & draft a real pass rusher with our other 1st round pick
3. 2nd round, get the fastest, best RB that's available (we can't run outside for sh!t)
4. 3rd round, another OL, guard?? or pass rusher, whoever is left.
5. 4th round - pick up another O lineman, pass rusher, DB Best player available

How about hiring a real GM that actually has a plan. A GM that picks players and coaches that fit his plan. A GM that can make trades with other GM's without getting fleeced. In other words, a GM that knows what the hell he is doing.

Originally posted by jta854:
Cut Alex Smith.

So Alex is blocking ????

Originally posted by contrarios:
1) Sign free agent Logan Mankins
2) Draft Russell Okung with the first of our first rounders
3) Resign Baas to a reasonable deal
4) Sign a free agent center to replace Heitmann

Where do I begin? Someone send me a cyber-Tylenol.

I thought smashmounth made some good suggestions, one of which was getting a fast RB who can turn the corner and run outside. We have him: Kory Sheets!

Oh, yeah, I forgot, we cut him. Damn!

In fact, in preseason I remember him vaulting over our OL for a short yardage gain. That ability would have come in handy last Sunday.

Originally posted by mayo63:
*Whispers* Get better players.

Fire McClueless!

I don't think we need to change schemes personally. I think it all comes down to coaching and talent.

Dallas has one of the best o-lines year and year out running a power blocking scheme. Both New York team I'm pretty sure run one, Carolina runs one, Minesota runs one, Tennesee runs one, Atlanta runs one and New Orleans may run one (though I'm really not sure), . All have some of the best run offenses in the nfl and are at least adequate at pass blocking. The size of the line doesn't really matter imo.


What matters is first of all coaching and secondly talent. Most of these above mentioned teams have at least 2 first or second rounders on the line Dallas- Marc Colombo, Leonard Davis, Flozell Adams, Andre Gurode-having the most and New Orleans and NYG having the least with 1 apiece.

Talent to a certain extent has a role but it all comes down to coaching imo. Kevin Kosier stinks with us yet is playing very well for Dallas. The Atlanta Falcons are able to put together a very strong line in one measley year turning what used to be a disheveled unit into a team strength (adding insult to injury is the fact that former Niner reject Harvey dahl is among them and a beast of a run blocker). The Giants have a pretty good one with a second day pick stating at LT. The New Orleans Saints loose their pro bowl left tackle and hardly skip a beat. It's all coaching.

Yes we need to add some more talent (at RT and LG) but what we really need more is a superb offensive line coach. And now for the cliche part: think about our lines under McKittrick and how we didn't need first day picks at every position to be successful.

Stop picking up other teams retreads and pick up someone ho can actually teach.