In related news, Crabtree scored his first TD this past weekend - a beautifully thrown pass from Smith, followed by a legitimate, "I've been in the league a while" play by Crabtree. My thoughts on this, and more, after the jump.
First, more on Crabtree's TD catch. I believe the announcer says it all in the quick recap after the play. On full display were Crab's excellent hands and strength. What we don't hear, though, is how brilliantly subtle his push off was on Harris prior to the catch. Watching the replay, you'll notice that Harris is step-for-step with Crabtree into the end zone. However, right as the ball approaches, Crabs gives that little shove in the back to create separation. I didn't catch it at first, so I'm assuming that's a hard thing for the officials to catch as well. Sure made Crabtree look like the veteran receiver he's not.
Now, onto the game. There's been much debate (Crabs is partially to blame) after our comeback in the 2nd half that we should be working the spread into our offense earlier and more often. This weekend's game was eerily similar to the Texans game - Smith's "first" this year - in that both saw us move to the spread in the 2nd half to get back into the game. I haven't watched enough football to know how effective this strategy would be over the course of the full game (e.g. how different is the D playing with a 20 point lead?), so I'll leave that for the "experts" to decide. As for now, coach says "slow your roll":
I will, however, agree with Matt Maiocco - the Niners need to figure this out sooner rather than later; preferably over the course of the final 6 games of 2009.
"I think one of the worst things that we could do right now is to put Alex Smith in shotgun and say, 'OK, let's go get it, guys.' ... And just let him throw 40, 50 times a game, and let's see where you end up."
When watching analysts breakdown the Colts-Ravens game, I learned something new. In the key play of the game, two Colts linebackers feigned blitz then dropped back and out at the snap. Flacco got his throw ahead of the linebacker trailing the running back, but did not see the other linebacker come from the other side to step in front and intercept the pass.
ReplyDeleteI learned that Bill Walsh did not like a shotgun snap because it forced the QB to take his eyes off the defense for half a second to see the ball into his own hands.
It is very rare for any NFL team to succeed only doing one thing. As I have mentioned many times in this blog and in real life, balance makes an NFL team dangerous.
ReplyDeletePart of the reason the spread works so well in college is that it provides more opportunity and advantage for the team with the better athletes. In the NFL, they are all better athletes.
I would say the best way to take advantage of the 49ers weapons is the remember that Vernon Davis is a good enough athlete that he can split out wide and run routes as well as a WR. Never put more than 3 WR's in the huddle with Vernon Davis and Frank Gore in the huddle also. Sometimes you go a standard formation, motion your WR in, then have him run block. OR take Vernon Davis and line him up out wide in a 4 WR formation, then run a draw with Gore. Then line up the same, play action, and Smith can choose from Crabtree and Davis.
You can't settle on just the spread, you need balance.