Originally posted by socalniner:
Originally posted by BrianGO:
Every time we tried a designed quarterback run it didn't work. The sooner we get rid of this play, the better. Players like Matthews are going to try and injure Kap. I don't blame them. I would gladly trade a 15 yard penalty for a chance to take down the main obstacle for any NFC team. It's disgusting, but the NFL is not doing anything to discourage it.
It looks like it didn't work, but you factor in how much teams need to gameplan and time put in practice to stop, it really is something we need to keep. We only need to show it a few times a game to keep teams honest, but it opens up so much more
Good point. If the 49ers stop running some of those designed QB runs, other teams will no longer fear it. Because they do fear it, those DEs/OLBs have to be so disciplined and show restrain on getting too far upfield trying to rush the QB. This makes the Staley's and ADavis' job a bit easier knowing that that the DE/OLB has a lane in which to rush the passer.
I was very impressed by Kap on one particular play that resulted in a failed 3rd down attempt. I forget the time in which it happened, but it was a 3rd and 8(?) and Kap dropped back to pass, finding no one, he proceeded to scramble looking for the 1st down. We know Kap has shown good decision making in running out of bounds and sliding to avoid hits, but one scenario I worry about is when he needs a first down and is a few yards short, with a defender closing in. Would his ultra-competitive nature instinctively tell him to take on a LB/DB and try his hardest to get the first down? Or would he show restraint and slide, even though it results in punting? He slid a couple yards short of the first down and they punted. Excellent maturity and restraint imo.