Criticisms of game plan vastly overstated

Agree. Alex has to take more chances in the redzone.

Originally posted by LieutKaffee:
We have one glaring problem; and only one: Red Zone efficiency.

In the first half we began drives at the 4 following a punt return and the 16 following an interception. That's where those drives STARTED.

Say what you want about whether Gore should have run more, but if those are touchdowns, nothing else matters. The refs screwing us out of the fake punt doesn't matter. Other stalled drives don't matter. With TDs on those two drives, we put the game away.

It has to be automatic.

this.

Originally posted by SportsFan:
Agree. Alex has to take more chances in the redzone.

I think we need to spread it out more. One-WR formations with an obvious fade pattern apparently work for some teams--Jimmy Graham comes to mind--but maybe we simply don't have the right weapon for it. Every time we try Braylon, it doesn't work. I don't know if I blame those missed connections more on Alex, Braylon, or both--but the simple fact is the success rate is too low.

Remember the Delanie GW TD in Detroit? We need more of that. Spread them out and give Alex multiple reads. When I watch the Packers in the Red Zone, that seems to be their MO as well. Sometimes the TD goes to a slot guy; sometimes it goes to a TE; sometimes to the back corner; sometimes to the back shoulder; sometimes to an RB; sometimes Rodgers runs it himself.

Originally posted by LieutKaffee:
We have one glaring problem; and only one: Red Zone efficiency.

In the first half we began drives at the 4 following a punt return and the 16 following an interception. That's where those drives STARTED.

Say what you want about whether Gore should have run more, but if those are touchdowns, nothing else matters. The refs screwing us out of the fake punt doesn't matter. Other stalled drives don't matter. With TDs on those two drives, we put the game away.

It has to be automatic.

Couldn't agree more dude! Damn it I hate losing to divisional teams! GO NINERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Originally posted by LieutKaffee:

Originally posted by SportsFan:
Agree. Alex has to take more chances in the redzone.

I think we need to spread it out more. One-WR formations with an obvious fade pattern apparently work for some teams--Jimmy Graham comes to mind--but maybe we simply don't have the right weapon for it. Every time we try Braylon, it doesn't work. I don't know if I blame those missed connections more on Alex, Braylon, or both--but the simple fact is the success rate is too low.

Remember the Delanie GW TD in Detroit? We need more of that. Spread them out and give Alex multiple reads. When I watch the Packers in the Red Zone, that seems to be their MO as well. Sometimes the TD goes to a slot guy; sometimes it goes to a TE; sometimes to the back corner; sometimes to the back shoulder; sometimes to an RB; sometimes Rodgers runs it himself.

To add, another RZ play we did that seemed unstoppable: bunch formation to the right; Alex rolled right; Crabtree ran straight out to the right and was wide open.

Originally posted by LieutKaffee:
I think we need to spread it out more. One-WR formations with an obvious fade pattern apparently work for some teams--Jimmy Graham comes to mind--but maybe we simply don't have the right weapon for it. Every time we try Braylon, it doesn't work. I don't know if I blame those missed connections more on Alex, Braylon, or both--but the simple fact is the success rate is too low.

Remember the Delanie GW TD in Detroit? We need more of that. Spread them out and give Alex multiple reads. When I watch the Packers in the Red Zone, that seems to be their MO as well. Sometimes the TD goes to a slot guy; sometimes it goes to a TE; sometimes to the back corner; sometimes to the back shoulder; sometimes to an RB; sometimes Rodgers runs it himself.

This kind of occurrence reminds me of the time the 49ers were rolling without Owens in the lineup because Garcia had to spread the ball around, instead of forcing the issue to T.O. I think something similar is going on when Braylon's back in the lineup. At least when they tried targeting Crabtree, he's responded well enough for Alex to feel comfortable in throwing his way more often. Now, I don't know who's fault it was, but I commend Crabtree for batting down that would be interception on the part of either Adrian Wilson or another Arizona DB in the area.

Our playcalling in the RZ seems to be underestimating the importance of "hands." Gin, Vernon, and Braylon are all matchup nightmares in certain respects and should definitely be utilized as part of the game plan between the 20s.

But Crabtree and Williams would be my top two options in tight.

Originally posted by LieutKaffee:
Our playcalling in the RZ seems to be underestimating the importance of "hands." Gin, Vernon, and Braylon are all matchup nightmares in certain respects and should definitely be utilized as part of the game plan between the 20s.

But Crabtree and Williams would be my top two options in tight.

Isn't sad, the smaller guys are making the bigger plays, and the bigger guys are playing small in the bigger moments (Red Zone).

lack of redzone touchdowns are what will doom this team if they don't fix it asap....so frustrating

HOnestly, what has happened to Walker and Davis as well? I dont hear their numbers called at all anymore

Originally posted by LieutKaffee:
Our playcalling in the RZ seems to be underestimating the importance of "hands." Gin, Vernon, and Braylon are all matchup nightmares in certain respects and should definitely be utilized as part of the game plan between the 20s.

But Crabtree and Williams would be my top two options in tight.

You are right. Davis especially. He should scare defenses in the redzone but my goodness, the guy's hands cant be trusted.

Originally posted by LieutKaffee:
I think we need to spread it out more. One-WR formations with an obvious fade pattern apparently work for some teams--Jimmy Graham comes to mind--but maybe we simply don't have the right weapon for it. Every time we try Braylon, it doesn't work. I don't know if I blame those missed connections more on Alex, Braylon, or both--but the simple fact is the success rate is too low.

Remember the Delanie GW TD in Detroit? We need more of that. Spread them out and give Alex multiple reads. When I watch the Packers in the Red Zone, that seems to be their MO as well. Sometimes the TD goes to a slot guy; sometimes it goes to a TE; sometimes to the back corner; sometimes to the back shoulder; sometimes to an RB; sometimes Rodgers runs it himself.

Good post, although the Detroit TD was a pre-snap one read throw I believe. But your larger point is right on I think. It's sort of a cascading process:
First, Alex seems to do a lot of his decision-making in the red zone before the snap.
Second, our best targets (Crabtree and Davis usually) are getting doubled constantly in the red zone, with the defense not being shy about showing it pre-snap.
Result: Alex is deciding pre-snap against throwing to his best targets.

The best QBs/gameplans in the league would never let the defense dictate the playcall this way.

Originally posted by LieutKaffee:
Our playcalling in the RZ seems to be underestimating the importance of "hands." Gin, Vernon, and Braylon are all matchup nightmares in certain respects and should definitely be utilized as part of the game plan between the 20s.

Ginn and Edwards aren't matchup nightmares anywhere on the field, unless you mean nightmares for 49ers fans. I still have no idea why Edwards sees the field at all. The WR depth chart should be 1) Crabtree 2) Williams 3) Delanie Walker 4) Ginn 5) Edwards. I swear, I haven't seen Braylon Edwards actually beat his man all season. Seriously.

I don't know about you guys but even more important than red zone efficiency is being able to block.

The o-line regressed to the form of years past and was atrocious. Couldn't do anything against the blitz.

If that issue doesn't get rectified, we won't have to worry about red zone efficiency because this offense won't even sniff it.

Originally posted by SportsFan:
Agree. Alex has to take more chances in the redzone.

Easy to say given the problem, but if Alex took more chances and threw a couple redzone INTs I think most folks would be singing a different tune. Our problem in the redzone is that our run game isn't effective going straight ahead (i.e. not pulling, etc.). It's been like this for awhile. The room for cuteness in the RZ greatly diminishes.