Because of the various levels of intrigue and confusion that took place late in the game, we have not given a lot of thought and analysis to the other 59 minutes, 15 seconds of game action Monday night against the Cardinals. Here are some thoughts about the offense from the rest of the game:
1, Almost all season I've thought the offensive line has gotten a bad rap. I don't think the line has played as poorly as most seem to think. I certainly do not believe the line is as bad as the 34 sacks allowed through eight games would suggest. A lot of the blame for all those sacks falls onto J.T. O'Sullivan and Mike Martz. O'Sullivan often held the ball too long, and Martz continued to put a lot of strain on the line with a steady diet of seven-step drops and deep passes - using receivers who are not true vertical threats. Shaun Hill does not have the arm strength to chuck the ball down the field on seven-step drops, so Martz isn't going to call as many of those plays. And Hill seems to do a better job of getting the ball out quickly to avoid unnecessary sacks. The 49ers did not allow a sack Monday. Expect the sack numbers to take a significant dip with Hill behind center.
2, Michael Robinson made a heck of a contribution in this game. He picked off two would-be tacklers to create a seal on the left sideline that enabled Allen Rossum to return the opening kickoff 104 yards for a touchdown. Robinson also picked up two first downs on two third-and-1 carries - his only rushing attempts of the game before the final play. He looked really good running the ball in those situations.
3, Yes, Isaac Bruce is a professional and he's respected and, perhaps, he still has something to offer. But youngsters Josh Morgan and Jason Hill are the best two receivers on this team. If Morgan and Hill continue to show improvement, GM Scot McCloughan's track record will look a whole lot better. (It's just too bad that Morgan is expected to be out for a while with a groin injury.)
4, Rookie Chilo Rachal was on the field for just three plays at right guard when the 49ers scored a touchdown. Rachal rotated into the game at right guard, in place of Tony Wragge, for several possessions in the game. Rachal did not take over full time after the touchdown drive. In fact, Wragge was back for the next series. On Rachal's very first play, he wiped out linebacker Karlos Dansby on Frank Gore's 20-yard run. Two plays later, Morgan caught a 31-yard TD pass from Shaun Hill.
5, It doesn't look as if Jonas Jennings is getting his starting job back from Adam Snyder.
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Such an exciting game for us excitment hungry 49er fans. Matt, do you think Chilo will earn a starting spot this year, and why hasn't Martz used Deshaun Foster much yet? Is he not as skilled as he was last year, or is he injured or something? Just wondering why he isn't getting on the field. Thanks.
The line may not be the worst ever but it also isn't very good. With Sims at RT it was in the bottom 5 of the league. With Snyder there its more likely around 20-25.
It will get better as Staley gets more time at LT and when Rachal takes over the RG position. Heitman is a good technician at center. If you play with an offensive style like the WCO that will maximize that, he will look reasonably good. If you run a power running offense that requires him to pancake people, yikes... he ain't going to get it done. Baas may be sort of the opposite, far better physical brawler than technician, but time may cure that.
We have been soft in the middle in run blocking all year - actually maybe more of a problem than the more easily quantified sacks. Thats why Baas is in there now, and why Rachal's time is coming soon.
By next season, without changes, we could be middle of the pack, and better still the year after, but top 10 in the league may be out of reach without an upgrade at RT. Jennings obviously is one of McNolan's greatest blunders. He practices like Tarzan, plays like Jane, at the very least in terms of constantly getting dinged up. Snyder is a very good sixth man whose main asset is versatility, but he is physically limited and will likely top out at mediocre as a starter.
Our best bet is to grab one of the 3 "Franchise" OTs available in the top ten picks in the 2009 draft, if they are there. Oher is the surest thing (not quite the same as a 'sure thing mind you - theres no such thing in the draft ;) With a stud LT, our line could easily develop into one of the best in the league in two years.
*IF* Morgan, J-Hill and Rachal come up big, it will help McCloughan's argument for one more year. Contributions from Balmer and Reggie Smith would help even more. He'd still have the Alex Smith and VD crosses to bear, but the rest of his record would be in a better light. I still think there needs to be an overarching plan on both offense and defense, and a commitment to get players for those systems and successfully coach and develop them.
matt-
great job covering the team. i live in WI and really appreciate the information you provide.
1. I agree the line has not been as bad as most think, but it has not been good either. Staley has not played well this year. His run blocking has been horrible. I like the move to insert Bass at guards. People continue to talk highly of Heitmann's play but i dont see. I think he is weak inside and gets pushed around all the time.
2. I would hope we use MRob as the QB in our version of the wildcat. That would be a real tough package to defend around the goal line.
3. I dont understand what has kept Hill of the field this long. Maybe you do being around the team and such. I would like to see what Hill, Battle, Morgan, and Zieglar can do the rest of the year.
4. Chilo Rachal should start the remainder of the year. He looked like he got a push every time inside. He appeared very aggressive and powerful.
5. The Jennings move had the best intentions but his body just quit on him. When healthy, he was at least a solid tackle but you never know what a player's body is at its end.
I'm hoping we wash out so we can select Oher.
LT Oher
LG Bass
C Wragge
RG Rachal
RT Staley
that would be one powerful line inside with excellent tackles
justafan: I know I'm not Matt, but concerning Foster's lack of action, I would say Gore is the offense and Robinson is extremely versatile. That leaves few opportunities for Foster. I think he's still a good one-year pickup though.
Also, I want to see Robinson throw the ball a little. Break out the trickery!
grumpy guy-
well said. i cannot believe Mark Roman is the best player we have at S. We are extremely weak at that position and it needs to be upgraded big time. Safeties and some pass rush can make CB's look a lot better.
Some trickery would be a good change of pace. Sounds reasonable about Foster. Thanks.
Interesting stuff Matt. I generally agree about the WRs, although I think Jason Hill's recent production is largely Shaun Hill having worked with him and having the timing down. Still, can you see a scenario where Bruce finds the bench once Morgan is back, or would that be the WR that broke the Martz' back? Bruce is good at double move routes, not at Shaun Hill style routes.
Next, even though his game was up and down, you might have noted how much more Hill uses VD in the red zone. This is a pattern carried over from last year, and I think Davis will look like a much better player with Hill running things.
Its really interesting that Jennings doesn't have his job back. I was under the impression that they were easing him back in, but if he's healthy enough to fully practice and still the backup ...
"5. The Jennings move had the best intentions but his body just quit on him. When healthy, he was at least a solid tackle but you never know what a player's body is at its end." -- Completely agree. When healthy, he was easily the best offensive lineman on the team. I feel very bad for him, as he clearly WANTS to be on the field helping the team. McCloughan is getting a bad rap for that signing... no way he could have known JJ's body would fail that rapidly.
I would seriously consider Mike from MD's earlier thread about using Reggie Smith (FS) and Goldson (SS) at the safety positions a lot during our two-month 'Exhibition Season'. They *might* actually make a few plays, and we would get to see what they can do. The current starters are very mediocre and known quantities who just can't get picks and big plays.
Actually, I remember 'anonymous sources' from the Bills talking that first year how they had let him go because they didn't believe he'd ever play a full season. FWIW.
I agree with your o-line assessment,Matt. These are mostly young and relatively inexperienced guys that have only been together in their current positions since training camp. They've been put in a really difficult role in pass protection with Martz's offense and an inexprienced QB, I just wish their short yardage blocking was a lot better.
no doubt.... when is the last time our safeties have intercepted a pass or caused a fumble or did anything? S DT and OT should be are biggest concerns in the draft
It bears repeating and focus that the QB has a real effect on the sack rate. A guy like Shaun Hill will bring the number down, just by moving around effectively in the pocket and feeling the pressure. JTO was the opposite, he was mobile, but not instinctive. He was often sacked or stripped because he didn't step up and move. Part of that too is play calling: he was looking downfield for the big play a lot. Shaun is more aware and also focused on a shorter field. Not all the problems, esp. with Sims, were attributable to that, but it had an effect.
The run blocking is both power and technique. We have some guys who are maximized for power - Baas, Rachal - and some guys who are more agile, WCO-style lineman - Staley, Heitman. We need to settle on a system and get people who fit it.
Another observation from Monday. Shaun Hill has now started 3 games for the 9ers. This Az game was by far his worst performance. He was 19/40 for 217 yards, 2 TDs & 2 Ints. By anyone's standards thats not very good. However, he did keep his cool under pressure and made good throws with the game on the line. I'm encouraged that he will get better. He's definitely not the long term answer but with improvement he can be a qb that won't lose a game for you. He might not win on his own but as he improves hopefully his mistakes won't give games away.
I agree with that. Looking at his career, he's never played a full season, but with Buffalo it was never more than a few games a year. His worst season there was 11 games started. A far cry from what we've see here.
Good points, Matt. I'm beginning to think that McCloughan might not be quite as bad as I thought and that Nolan really may have been the vast majority of the problem. Nolan just would never play the kids, no matter how bad the veterans may be (see Smith, Derek and Roman, Mark). Of course, his undying devotion to the greatness of Nolan means McCloughan can't really be that good.
Matt,
I heard McCloughan on KNBR this morning, this guy is sounds like he doesn't have a CLUE! He, like Nolan seems to have a LOSER's Personality and has no idea what accountability is. If Jed York is going to show that he has some kind of clue and has credibility he will remove McCloughan at the end of the season and throw a lot of money at Holmgren to come in as the GM and let Holmgren decide Singletary's fate and make the roster decisions. I think Holmgren/Singletary could be a very nice combination.
Hey Matt. If Jonas Jennings is released after this season, what type of cap hits would we be taking for the last 2 yrs of his contract? Thanks again for everything!
Matt,
With respect to Rachal you seem to focus on his first play which sprung Gore. My understanding is that he made a lot of mistakes and that's why he wasn't back in. Kwame Harris had a good play every couple of games too. Not saying Rachal is a Harris, just that one play doesn't give him the job.
I figure that Rachal will get more time not necessarily because he has earned the job, but because they have money in him and have to see if he can play. I think Wragge will get squeezed even though I've seen in places that the internal people have him graded out higher than any other lineman.
If Jed York is smart, he'll give McCloughan a few years as GM to establish himself. After all, this is only his first official year as GM. Plus, it looks like some of our young talent that he brought in may soon payoff...
Matt- I like your OL comments. Do you think the LG Baas, RT Snyder change has helped as well?
I'm going to throw a log on this fire and suggest another option for our offseason whoas.
In keeping with the Offensive Minded Holmgren scenario and using Alex and Matt Cassel as examples.
If Charlie Weis and Cassel hit the market, could you see chemistry developing for possibly uniting Holmgren with the likes of Weis/Mularky/McDaniel and 2 not so young and inexperienced QBs?
Assuming of course Alex restructures, Cassel is worth a look, and any of these 3 coaches are viable candidates for HC considerations?
I can't see Singletary working with Martz for any extended period, and if you have to break up the pair and restructure the staff for Singletary, why not start the whole staff over while waiting for Holmgren to complete his hiatus?
Lots of variables of course, but I like the idea of keeping an offensive minded guy as our first option.
Holmgren we know, we trust, Mularkey is certainly there too.
I think Weis has to be considered too, although he's got a pretty sizeable contract for ND to consume?
Just throwing it out there.
Houston 9er, he's a lot more relaxed and composed then Martz's boy JTO.
I'd like to see us migrate more to Singletary's method of run to set up the pass, it kept the pressure off a step, and once we can improve our Safety and press coverage schemes, we can certainly turn the corner.
I'm happy to tinker with the personnel now and hold a Top 10 pick at this point.
Mike & Mike (or S&M)?, have a lot of chemistry to develop.
1 more year together? Not so sure.
I like the proposal of looking for the offensive minded HC option more and more, and Martz probably isn't our best candidate.