Well, there you go. An offense that struggled against some bad teams was completely overmatched by Seattle. This season is pretty much lost , so I guess the Harbaugh watch starts tomorrow. Frankly, I’m pissed this offense has been pretty much a failure. I’m at the point where I don’t know if the coaching staff has fucked Kaepernick to the point of his indecision and not trusting himself, or if he just isn’t getting past his 1st read and just chucking away.
Beyond this game, Roman has been a failure throughout this season. Kaepernick hasn’t grown as a QB, and the new weapons we have were basically ignored after week 8. VD has been a disaster, Crabs has been fair to middling, and the run game has disappeared. Boldin has been the only consistent WR on the team, and the parade of backup TEs have done nothing. I heard Collinsworth say t0night that he saw Harbaugh start to take over the play calling in the middle of the 3rd quarter. How he knew that I don’t know, but if it took Jimbo this long to figure the play calling needs help, then I don;t know what he has been watching these past 10 weeks.
Where are we as a team? Well, the defense is beyond awesome. Despite killer injuries. The offense? I don;t know. Harbaugh may have resurrected Alex Smith’s career, but I think he’s breaking Colin Kaepernick.
Forty Niners Forever 
“Why wouldn’t Jed/Baalke keep Jed?” I mean “Keep Vic”
I knew what you were going after there Phil.
Going back to our game vs AZ.
We showed a wrinkle by utilizing the No Huddle approach.
Haven’t seen it since?
Just another in a long stretch of head scratching moves I can’t figure out.
I just don’t get this Staff anymore.
Read a good piece from McShay regarding Urban Meyer –
Kinda long but it’s part of an ESPN Insider piece that requires subscription so, I’ll copy it over for those that care to read it –
The operative tone here is – Creating Mismatches.
Unlike we did vs Sherman the other night.
We simply ran several WRs to his side and proceeded to throw the ball to Sherman.
Advantage – Seattle.
Ohio State Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer is obsessed with being multiple. “If I hear about a [recruit] with a multiple skill set,” he told me recently, “I get on a plane.”
When you study the Buckeyes’ offense this season, it’s easy to see why. Meyer and Buckeyes offensive coordinator Tom Herman are doing a great job of utilizing their versatile offensive personnel in order to create mismatches, and it’s fueling the success of a team that has rebounded very well since a bad Week 2 loss to Virginia Tech. In a joint article with Mel Kiper earlier this week, I wrote that the Buckeyes have a high ceiling and still have a shot at making the College Football Playoff if they win out and a few things break the right way for them.
Let’s take a look at the philosophy behind Ohio State’s offensive approach, and the talented skill-position players that are making it work (it’s one of the better groups in the country). Many of them are underclassmen but will be on the radar of NFL scouts before too long.
The philosophy
The Buckeyes don’t always go up-tempo, but they’re almost always in the no-huddle and they’ll purposely go several plays in a row — sometimes a full series — without substituting personnel.
There are two reasons for this:
1. The offensive line loves when it can lean on a tired defensive line that hasn’t been able to rotate in substitutes.
2. It allows OSU to exploit personnel mismatches.
Remember, the defense is given time to substitute only if the offense substitutes first — so often the Buckeyes will keep their same 11 players on the field in order to attack one or two favorable individual matchups. Or the Buckeyes will exploit the defense if it’s stuck in an unfavorable personnel package.
For example, if the defense brings in nickel or dime personnel (five or six defensive backs) on a third-and-long, and the Buckeyes convert with “11 personnel” (1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WRs), they can move TE Jeff Heuerman to an in-line TE spot (if he was flexed out in the slot in the “11” personnel look, which essentially gives you a four-receiver look because your tight end runs a 4.65 40) and move Dontre Wilson from slot WR to RB, giving them “21 personnel” (2 RBs in Wilson and Ezekiel Elliott, and 1 TE in Heuerman, plus two receivers) — and now they can attack the undersized defense with a heavy dose of the zone-read option.
The Buckeyes’ preference to keep the same personnel on the field was on display during their 56-17 win over Rutgers on Saturday. The Scarlet Knights have an undersized defense, and they do as much stunting, twisting and blitzing as I’ve seen from a team on tape. In order to counter all that blitzing, the Buckeyes made the running backs and tight ends a big part of the passing game (11 receptions total). This forced Rutgers to change from a lot of six-man pressures to five-man pressures in order to account for pass-catchers out of the backfield. So OSU can dictate the terms more than most opponents can because of how capable their RBs and TEs are in the passing game.
One last thing before I get into the skill-position talent: Redshirt freshman QB J.T. Barrett is doing a great job of distributing the football. I wrote this on Monday, but even though he doesn’t have the same dynamic running ability or high-level arm strength as injured starter Braxton Miller (who is out for the season), the offense has been more complete with Barrett at QB these last few games. He is more effective reading defenses, is more consistently accurate, and is mobile enough to make plays with his legs.
The talent
Ezekiel Elliott, RB, sophomore
Elliott isn’t as powerful an inside runner as last year’s star RB, Carlos Hyde, but is still very strong in that department and has a bit more juice as an outside runner, and is a more natural pass-catcher. Elliott has a good stiff-arm and an excellent center of gravity and balance (he’s 6-foot-0, 225 pounds), almost always falling forward. His workload is up significantly in recent games (74 touches for 474 yards in OSU’s last three games, compared to 31 for 193 in its first three).
Dontre Wilson, RB/WR, sophomore
Wilson is a versatile, Percy Harvin-type of player who lines up all over (slot, perimeter wide receiver, in the backfield and as a Wildcat triggerman). He’s a notch below Harvin in terms of explosiveness; Wilson has great speed and is quick, but isn’t quite as sudden in his movements as Harvin. The Buckeyes have been working to manufacture touches for Wilson, and it’d be even easier for them to get him the ball if he improved as a route-runner.
Jalin Marshall, RB/WR, freshman
Like Wilson, Marshall is used in multiple positions, including slot receiver, running back and Wildcat QB. He is a silky-smooth athlete with good top-end speed who isn’t quite as sudden as Wilson but seems to have better body control and is more explosive in the return game. He flashes the ability to make tough catches away from his frame, but needs to do a better job with ball security.
Michael Thomas, WR, sophomore
Thomas is making big strides this season, and he has a chance to be an elite player. He has strong hands and great body control and transition quickness after the catch, and he’s been getting better at the little things (backside route-running, working back to the QB after the initial play breaks down, blocking in the running and screen games). He is clearly the Buckeyes’ go-to perimeter receiver, and he can serve as a possession guy but can also rip off the big play (18.0 yards per catch and five TDs). He is Keyshawn Johnson’s nephew.
Devin Smith, WR, senior
Smith has deep speed and is a big-play threat as a vertical receiver; he is able to exploit man-to-man coverage outside. He’s still working to become a more well-rounded receiver, notably his route-running and ability to catch passes in traffic, but he’s a home run hitter (29.6 YPC on just 12 catches).
Jeff Heuerman, TE, senior
He was battling through injuries early in the season but is close to 100 percent now. He reminds me a lot of former Stanford standout Zach Ertz, a second-round pick of the Eagles two years ago (nearly identical size and production). Heuerman has an excellent blend of height and weight (6-5, 250) and top-end speed. He has work to do as a route-runner, but he can stretch the seam and come down with 50-50 balls. He does a good job as a blocker.
Nick Vannett, TE, junior
He’s been coming into his own recently; he had a two-TD game against Rutgers. He and Heuerman have similar athleticism, and while Heuerman is faster on a straight line, Vannett is bigger and stronger (6-6, 260). I’m interested to see how Meyer and Herman use these guys going forward, especially if they try to get both TEs on the field at the same time.
Bottom line
The Buckeyes’ personnel are not just versatile, but skilled and talented enough to win the one-on-one matchups that coaches scheme for them — on so many plays, the coaches are saying with their play calling, “Our guys are better than your guys.”
With such versatile personnel, the Buckeyes can make minor adjustments to their offensive game plans to exploit the mismatches they’ve identified in their opponent that week. By not having to swap out personnel or stay stuck in one set offensive approach, the Buckeyes can attack defenses in different ways with the added benefit of not giving away tendencies for future opponents.
This has always been Meyer’s philosophy in terms of how he recruits and develops his players, and you can see on the field this season how it’s working for the Buckeyes. They have a really talented group that is starting to come together to play at a very high level.
NJ- Urban Meyer could easily run that offense in the pros. He gets as much out of his players as anybody. His play calling has been great since he was at Utah with Alex Smith. If we could get him here in 49er land I would be happy. But, he probably gets paid more at Ohio St!
Jed has some decisions to make. I like his heart. It’s time to see what he has learned so far.
In conclusion: BLEEP REDUX
From Adam Shefter:
http://m.espn.go.com/nfl/story?storyId=11958347&src=desktop&rand=ref~%7B%22ref%22%3A%22http%3A%2F%2F49ers.pressdemocrat.com%2Freport-raiders-favorites-trade-harbaugh-season%2F%22%7D
He says Harbaugh finishes this year, which I expected. He also says Harbaugh can still get an extension if they win out and do well in the playoffs. Highly doubtful on all counts but if it happens then I hope the new contract includes changing OC.
yeah, the stubborn idea of not going with what works (no=huddle, drag routes, etc) is infuriating to me. It is the reason why I turned Singletary. He basically told teams his game plan before every game. Harbaugh does the same thing by formation.
Maybe I’m wrong but this O scheme is out thinking itself.
I thought Harbaugh had to make a change of OC after the bye week. 2 weeks to “evaluate” the scheme and they came out even worse.
Feels like all they ever do is evaluate.
Jason LaCanfora’s take on it:
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/writer/jason-la-canfora/24851130/state-of-the-49ers-tomsula-fagio-gase-seen-as-top-harbaugh-replacements
It is obvious that when it comes to our offense nobody is in control. To expect the QB to show the coaches how to do it is not how it’s done but that is what the hanging posse is calling for. Jim has spent a lot of the owners money and has no control of the offense. How about more than 50 yards rushing from the RBs when the starting NT is out. Maybe Kap should run the offense, maybe we would finally have one person in control so we could all be on the same page for a few plays in a row.
Eric Davis said what many of us have been complaining about for a while.
4 years in a row this O has statistically declined.
Without any coaching changes this week-end, at this point in time I think losing to the Raiders might be the best thing that can happen to us for the long run. That could be exactly what we need to make sure we get the changes some of us are looking for.
LOSING to the RAIDERS? Please NO!
12th- Please explain how we have 3 first round picks and a 2nd round pick on the O-line and can’t run the ball? That is the most ignored question of all. So some say the QB needs to be replaced, what about the O-line and RBs. What does it take to get a running game? I say a new coach. Hopefully that means only the OC but it is probably deeper than that.
It’s wierd Bergs, Roman is recognized as a good run coordinator, they have one of the best run coaches in Rathman, as you say a line full of talent yet little production.
I hope I’m wrong but losing co O line coach Tim Drevno, leaving Solari in sole charge is in sync with the fall off in production.
Injuries and a hold out only go so far as an explanation. Roman abandons the run game just as it gets going.
Makes little sense to me.
Judging from what they are selling at the Alex Smith blog you would think it is because Kap is not properly handing the ball off.
Berger, so you’re saying you got your ass banned over there?
Well, if you think groupthink is intelligent conversation I can understand that this is what you like. When teams start losing the ex-spurts come out of the woodwork. It’s always been a part of the NFL but now with so many trying to make it on the inter webs every swinging richard and split tail has an opinion on what’s wrong and what the fix is. And the coaching is always the first to feel the heat. What is it that makes everyone in the peanut gallery right? If agreeing with you is all it takes no wonder you don’t welcome different ideas.
Coaching is the easy way out as far as the blame game. It doesn’t take any thought or knowledge. If the coaching changes and the team still sucks, just say the coaching is still no good. If the team gets better you can say you were right. Isn’t that what you and Chuck and so many of others did with Singletary? and then Harbaugh?
Fence-riders and flip-floppers unite. It’s the coaching! It’s always the coaching!
I banned myself because all the repeating posts from me and the hanging posse. I almost decided to stick around when I saw the plug in Gabbert post. That was so reactionary I had to laugh. But no, in the end it would have just been more of the broken record.
And don’t worry, I have never accused you of being intelligent. Glad to see you are finally coming around about the coaching.
Why can’t we run the ball?
NF, are you are saying the players suck? Most experts, the kind you would agree as being experts, not the media ones, agree that the talent on this team is top notch. If we agree the team is talented, and I presume we do, then there are only so many variables left. I agree it is a combo of coaching, scheme, player mistakes that in each individual play cause a breakdown, but the base cause is coaching scheme.
I pay attention to what you have to say and am not dismissive. My opinion of your various analysis points are that you examine a given play with the 22 tape, see where the play broke down, and conclude it is player failure without giving much weight to why they were playing that play, at that time, down and distance and other variables.
In short I think you can’t see the wood for the trees and I don’t mean that as an insult.
For the team to be so far away from average, let alone good, in all the O categories that matter to have a successful O, and to be that way from the inception of this O scheme and coaching philosophy for almost 4 years, and worse yet to be declining year after year can only be because of the fundamental premise on which they install plays.
It is archaic, limited, a jumble of concepts thrown at the wall in the hope something sticks and has been fully exposed by any strong defensive team. It is based on a power run game that has been less and less effective as the seasons roll by and Gore gets older.
Something has to change right? I mean the status quo has been a disaster this year. They took the bye week to analyse their problems and right the ship and it got worse. I don’t know what more you need to see to agree the OC is sub par. He has always been sub par but lucky for the team other areas have been elite.
The O scheme they employ has been adjusted to long ago and it has been a mixed bag of shit in their attempts to counter. It started last season with trying to force Kap to stay in the pocket with mixed results, the finally freed him in the play offs and the results were obvious. This year they have tied his shoes together ala Bill Walsh and the results are equally obvious. Kap is playing with low confidence because of the scenario in which he is having to operate from.
Why the need to force the issue? Yes over time he needs to learn more of his craft and play more from the pocket but it was clear from last years experiment he is not ready and yet they doubled down on it this year.
Even if I allow that they have done this with the best intentions and i do, surely after half the season has gone by and it is clearly not working there would be a change. Why the heck did they come out and do the same old same old with him? It is not as though the team has a lead in the NFC west and can afford to drop a game or 2 is it?
Football and in particular O football has to be played with confidence that they will succeed and the scheme will help them do just that, think the players believe it? I don’t.
12th man, I appreciate your civil tone but your mind has been made up on this for weeks. Every conclusion you draw is incorrect in my opinion. Especially the one that has me forming my opinions on such slight evidence. At least you allow that Kaepernick is not playing very well in many games.
In my experience the first thing necessary to fixing a problem is correctly identifying the problem. Not by sticking your finger in the air to see which way the wind is blowing. Believe it or not my interest is in finding a cause, not in pushing a popular agenda. I try to use all the tools I can access. That pisses people off somehow when the facts of the numbers or the slo-mos or the all-22 don’t synch with their pet views. Sorry about that shit.
As I wrote earlier, why do you prefer to blame coaching when you know our o-line’s been banged up and the key guy now is a rookie? Are we the only team whose run game suffers when their starting center goes down?
When I see a replay and see Martin (J or M) whiff on a rusher and Boone get beat with an inside move and Kaepernick oblivious takes a sack holding the ball and ignoring two guys in front of him wide open it’s pretty hard to say it’s the fault of coaching or play design or play called, even when those possibilities are given due consideration.
With all the problems perceived and real, do you think a QB better at reading his progressions and defenses, ability to throw timing plays and making better decisions about where and when to go with the ball would improve the offense to the point of making all the rest of the defects seem insignificant? I do. That doesn’t mean I’m for replacing Kaepernick, just that he needs to develop his skills as a pro passer and the sooner the better.
I accept my mind is made up as far as Roman is concerned and has been since last season.
The O line is banged up and in flux so of course I lend weight to that NF. It only goes so far however. The O production, by and large has been less than the sum of its parts from the get go which I attribute to coaching scheme in large part.
The O metrics have been consistantly in the cellar, year by year, not just this injured O line year. The evidence is plain. The O line woes just exacerbated a chronic issue.
I fully agree if Kap was able to determine the correct coverage at game speed the O would be more successful, however he has not learned that skill and the team is on the verge of elimination because the scheme is forcing him to have to.
It’s not always coaching, check out Smith, Alex. However the notion that many voices saying the same thing negates the validity is absurd NF.
It certainly doesn’t prove its validity either.
Perhaps so but your premise is to dismiss based on popularity?
Berger, where are all these first rounders on the line? The rookie mid-season replacement at center? The reclamation case flopping at right o-tackle or the UDFA at guard? Your center goes down and you replace him with a rookie and your o-tackle goes down and you replace him with someone no other team wants to take a chance on and has quit football and you think if the running game suffers it’s coaching or offensive scheme? Our runs to the left side are doing pretty good, btw.
Interesting, I read they ran left 3 times for 13 yds against the Squawks NF. If as you say running left is good why not do more of it?
Are we talking about a particular game or systemic problems? I suppose your question is rhetorical, or do you expect me to know the decision making process used to call certain plays? Sadly, I’m left out of the loop on that.
I was addressing both. Last game and in general.
Why would you say that? Because I said popular doesn’t make it right? I don’t dismiss a premise because it’s popular but I don’t automatically buy it either.
(Reply above meant for previous exchange)
On the running left, I’d guess we run right more because we like to pull Iupati on our power runs. And running to the weak side means no safety down in the box usually and the Will backer is more fast than a stout thumper and might account somewhat for better success but when it becomes the norm the advantages are countered.
Popular or not doesn’t matter to you, I will agree. To you facts do matter, the ones that sell your case, the others are conveniently omitted. It’s called biased reporting.
The reason I say it is my experience of your posts based on reactions to events of various nature. I have noticed your scorn in general of a popular viewpoint. I also saw your comment about the peanut gallery etc.
Not an attack, just an observation.
LT/Staley, 1st rd: LG Iupati, 1st rd: C Martin, 2nd rd: RG Boone, just got a raise: RT Davis 1st rd. Davis’s replacement, 2nd rd. More excuses for the coach I see. You did not answer the question, why can’t we run the ball? Is your answer that our players are no good and the coaches are. That is what you just insinuated.
NF- Go read the article from Matt Barrows and you can agree or not agree but he is in the locker room as a beat reporter and does not shoot from the hip. It makes sense to me.