The 49ers are centered on the wrong player.

The offense should be centered around the QB. The problem is that Singletary has already gone on record saying that the QB is not the most important position. His philosophy is already flawed. Our 6 year plan of becoming the Ravens-West has been a total faillure. Until we get a good GM and HC who understands the importance of a QB (it's so sad i actually have to say that) we arent gonna be a great attacking offense.

Originally posted by WestCoast:
The offense should be centered around the QB. The problem is that Singletary has already gone on record saying that the QB is not the most important position. His philosophy is already flawed. Our 6 year plan of becoming the Ravens-West has been a total faillure. Until we get a good GM and HC who understands the importance of a QB (it's so sad i actually have to say that) we arent gonna be a great attacking offense.

Cant agree more. this team has historically been a team with an offensive idenity, we've had great defenses yes, but when people thought 49ers they thought offense. I just hope Jed has realized that you don't mess with history. Time to go and get us an aggressive offensive mind and put this team back where it belongs.

Quote:
One of the biggest mistakes the 49ers have made in regards to Alex Smith is that they have not worked to build the team around him.

NOT just because of his bad play. But rather it's because we've all seen what he CAN DO, and it is absolutely infuriating that he won't produce like that with any sort of consistency.

Anyway back to my main point, I think team should be built around Alex and not Frank. Again this is NOT because I think Alex is great but because frank is.

I cut it down here, but you are right. Gore is a great back that WILL be a great back regardless of the set-up. Last offseason, I wanted to see A LOT of 2-RB shotgun with Gore and Jahvid Best. We would have been potent on offense.

This has been obvious to most people who know football for quite a while now. It's a QB driven league, if you don't build your Offense around your QB's strengths, you fail.

Originally posted by binary2nd:
This has been obvious to most people who know football for quite a while now. It's a QB driven league, if you don't build your Offense around your QB's strengths, you fail.

exactly

What are Alex's strengths?? He can't move in the pocket very well, his passer rating on the rollout is like -34.3. He's not that accurate. We've given him plenty of plays with shotgun 4 wr. He averages over 35 pass attempts a game. How are the Niners not playing to his strengths?? What do you want them to do, run the entire offense from the spread?? Let him throw the ball 50 times a game??

What are Alex's strengths??

No idea why we've centered so much around Gore.

The RB touches the ball 15-30 times a game.
The QB touches the ball EVERY offensive snap. Not only that, he decides who gets the ball on passing plays, calls plays during 2-minute offenses, and is most often the LEADER of the offense.

GOOD runningbacks rush the ball for 4.5+ per carrry.
MEDICORE quarterbacks pass the ball 4.5 yards per ATTEMPT (not necessarily completion, but ATTEMPT).

A starting-caliber's runningback's career normally lasts anywhere from 5-8 years if they're lucky.
A starting-caliber quarterback's career normally lasts 8-13 years.

Originally posted by PlasmaHero:
What are Alex's strengths?? He can't move in the pocket very well, his passer rating on the rollout is like -34.3. He's not that accurate. We've given him plenty of plays with shotgun 4 wr. He averages over 35 pass attempts a game. How are the Niners not playing to his strengths?? What do you want them to do, run the entire offense from the spread?? Let him throw the ball 50 times a game??

What are Alex's strengths??

Alex's QB rating in shotgun formations and 3/4 WR sets since last year has been above 90. I'm pretty sure his rating in hurry-up situations is above 90 as well.

just what we need...another college coach.

can we please just hire a proven NFL caliber coach for once? someone who has succeeded as a head coach in the NFL before.

Originally posted by PlasmaHero:
What are Alex's strengths?? He can't move in the pocket very well, his passer rating on the rollout is like -34.3. He's not that accurate. We've given him plenty of plays with shotgun 4 wr. He averages over 35 pass attempts a game. How are the Niners not playing to his strengths?? What do you want them to do, run the entire offense from the spread?? Let him throw the ball 50 times a game??

What are Alex's strengths??

Alex hasn't really shown to EXCEL in anything, but I think he's above-average AT BEST in most areas.

It's hard to gauge his movement in the pocket because our o-line is terrible. The rollout isn't really a DESIGNED play for us, but rather, a breakdown of protection causing Smith to scramble. True, he's not that accurate. Haven't seen the stats for Mike Johnson, but Jimmy Raye RARELY went to the 3+ WR sets. He averages 30+ passes a game because we fail miserably to run the ball in the first half and then have to pass EVERY play in the second.

Not disagreeing with you, but I think the general thought is that the defensive mentality of Nolan and Singletary really hurt Alex Smith's development. Not saying he would've been a great quarterback or something, but he would've been better than what he is now if we had done things differently.

We tried to be like the Dallas Cowboys of the early 1990s. To do that, we should've gotten some speedy, but physical receivers... a better run-blocking offensive line... and a more accurate QB.

I agree that teams need to build for the QB but why don't all teams do this? Teams that feel as if their starting QB is not on the current roster build to strengthen the run in order to protect heir QBs limitations. Why do teams who start rookie QBs or have emergency or backup QBs run a lot more? Because they are trying to minimize the offensive mistakes and help the QB in keeping it simple.

The saying, it takes two applies here. A QB also needs to show he should be built around and the offense should get more complex because he can handle the role.

They mismanaged the situation badly. Alex has always been much better in the spread. Frank runs good down hill or out of the spread in the limited opportunities he has had. Frank can adapt. Alex is better in the spread. For 6 years our team can't understand this... Too late now. We will have a new QB in 2011. But it could have been better along the way IMO if managed better.

I agree on offense you must tailor your team around the QB. I am an Alex Smith advocate and don't try to hide it but this season has opened my eyes to some items. I think the Niners have tried to put pieces in place to make Alex more successful (drafting of Crabtree and the 2 1st round lineman). Not saying they haven't made mistakes (not drafting more speed on Offense like Desean Jackson) but they have tried. Alex does not have great pocket awareness and has become gun shy making inaccurate throws because of a bad line. And yes, we are not playing to his strength combined with bad coaching and game plans. I think the Niners should resign Smith but not as a starter but as a back up. We will need to either draft or obtain a new starter in free agency this upcoming off season because the QB is the most important person on offense.

Originally posted by sincalniner:

Originally posted by WestCoast:
The offense should be centered around the QB. The problem is that Singletary has already gone on record saying that the QB is not the most important position. His philosophy is already flawed. Our 6 year plan of becoming the Ravens-West has been a total faillure. Until we get a good GM and HC who understands the importance of a QB (it's so sad i actually have to say that) we arent gonna be a great attacking offense.

Cant agree more. this team has historically been a team with an offensive idenity, we've had great defenses yes, but when people thought 49ers they thought offense. I just hope Jed has realized that you don't mess with history. Time to go and get us an aggressive offensive mind and put this team back where it belongs.

Can't agree more! I hate being an offense that only attacks after we are down by many TD's!