Originally posted by 4evrfan:
I haven't seen this topic addressed directly pertaining to yesterday's game, so......
Eevn though Smith was running for his life much of the game, there were many times he had plenty of time to find a receiver because of his scrambling ability and other times, just because he would for once, have time in the pocket (rare, I admit). However, he never seemed to find an open guy. Is itr because our receivers just don't get open much (running wrong routes or unable to get seperation), or was he just not seeing the field real well? Or both? Frankly, I'm concerned it was more the former and our receivers just aren't that good (and I'm including the overrated crabtree in this discussion).
I posted this in another thread but I'll repeat it here because this is a better place for it.
There are three things that must ALL happen for a receiver to be EFFECTIVELY open.
1. Receivers must run the route ON TIME and get open at the SAME TIME as the QB sets up to throw to that specific receiver.
2. The OL must create a clear passing lane for the QB at the SAME TIME as the receiver is open.
3. The QB must be looking at the specific receiver and be able throw to him at the SAME TIME as #1 & #2 above.
If all three of these do not happen ON TIME, the receiver is not open. Just because we may look down on the field and see a receiver that does not have a DB next to them at the moment we see them does NOT mean they are open.
In my observations, I do not see 49er receivers getting open on time with any real consistency. Another observation is that none of them draw double coverage with the exception of Vernon Davis and what he draws is a LB and a safety, and that does not help WRs get open. None of the wideouts draw double coverage. Typically Crabtree draws the opponents best DB, who usually does a good job of covering him. The second best CB takes Morgan and covers him very well - Morgan is rarely open on timing routes. He just doesn't have the moves. Ginn draws a nickel back or safety and the story it the same - not open on time.
Another problem is that the pass patterns do not seem to build on one another. They rarely seem to use rub or pick patterns to help each other get open.
Those are just my observations on the receivers and I find they are generally true. Some of the issues are talent-level driven while others are coaching and play design. None appear to be solvable this season, IMO, although I would hope that Johnson can link some patterns together to help the situation.
I welcome comments from others who have seen games in person and watch receivers run their patterns and not just the ball all the time.
