Both quarterbacks received a copy of the "fundamental" section of the new playbook, Raye said. It includes information about the huddle, including how the play is called. It also contains details about the cadence system, the shifts, motions and formation.
Raye said he has spoken with Smith in person and on the telephone. He has spoken to Hill only on the phone.
"And we'll be in communication with them, (quarterbacks coach) Mike (Johnson) and myself, as they hit some stumbling blocks or have questions about the fundamentals section," Raye said.
The quarterbacks are not scheduled to meet for actual classroom work until March 16. The offense will be together for a week, concluding with a three-day minicamp.
* * *
Raye said he has looked at every pass Smith threw in 2006. He also watched the first three games of 2008 (just to get a feel for some of the early season personnel when J.T. O'Sullivan was at quarterback). Then, he watched the final six games with Hill at quarterback.
"You never really know until you get the guy in the classroom and see if he retains (information) and puts it on the field," Raye said. "But there wasn't anything that made me say, 'Oh, my God, why did I do this?'"
Why did you do this? Like take the job?
"Yeah," Raye said laughing. "I wasn't alarmed by anything I saw."
* * *
Raye said he liked what he saw from the offensive line, saying he liked the way things looked when Chilo Rachal became the starter late in the season. I asked Raye about the team's blocking scheme in the run game.
"We use all phases of football," Raye said. "Eventually, it becomes man (blocking). But we have an inside-zone scheme and an outside-zone scheme, and a pull-and-kick, either weak or strong."
I asked if Frank Gore's running style fits what he wants to do with the run game.
"He has all the ingredients, I think," Raye said. "He is one of the top-echelon backs in the league, and I've had some good guys. I've been blessed with some good guys like Marcus Allen, Curtis Martin, Thomas Jones and (Eric Dickerson). He if he plays the way he's capable of playing, he can be that kind of productive guy."
* * *
Raye also mentioned tight ends Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker. I asked if it's a challenge to find a balance with
"I think it's a plus that he can block a defensive end and pass protect because in the course of a game there will be situations where we'll need him to do both, so that's a bonus," Raye said. "My initial thought going in, just like with (Tony) Gonzalez at
"Now, I have to see him practice and play and see how he retains and his ability to bend his knees and drop his weight. He has looks like he has the ingredients to be a focal point in what we do."
And what about
"He's very athletic guy who can come in and play the second tight end position," Raye said. "Those two guys can flip-flop and be inside on the line or outside on the line. I like what I've seen from them."
* * *
I'm at the airport at this moment, ready to head back home. I think I've seen just about every QBs and WRs coach in the NFL here in the past hour. They are all leaving for some place much warmer. Not sure the temperature rose about 20 degrees at any time during the four days I was here.
Cherie, who works the front desk at the Residence Inn, thought I was completely nuts for heading out (wearing shorts) on 3-mile runs on the canal path loop around 7 p.m. the past two nights. But it was about the only times - other than my near-fatal walk to the stadium on Thursday - that I made it outside during this trip.
* * *
Happy birthday to Lucy!
Sorry, I wasn't there today on your fourth birthday. Thank you for allowing us to postpone your party for a week . . . and for being too young to know how to properly hold a grudge.
* * *
Happy Birthday Lucy!! Hope you have many more!!
HI Matt, I understand the Niners have 2 compensatory picks this year. Do you know when the NFL will be annouceing what rounds they will be and where they will be slotted?
Hm...Raye could have waited until Smith had his contract restructured before giving him the new playbook (even if it only includes the fundamentals of the offense). Either way, it looks like Smith will return in 2009 with a (major) pay-cut. I don't know how Vernon Davis will play. Knowing him, he may drop a lot of passes. Raye said VD will be a big part of the offense...yikes...hope he can handle it. Well, I hope Raye can also handle VD's attitude. As for Walker, he's a solid pass-catching TE. They also need another TE mainly to block though (I suggest re-signing Bajema). I think our new offense will be just fine so long as the Forty Niners keep errors to a minimum and control the football. Hill will be a great fit for the offense. I also wonder which RB we'll take through the draft. Any ideas, Matt? Or do you think we'll give Thomas Clayton a shot?
Question: the Niners have 2 compensatory picks this year. Do you know when the NFL will be annouceing what rounds they will be and where they will be slotted?
My response: Those comp picks are usually announced at the owners' meetings. This year, those meetings will take place in Dana Point from March 22-25. The 49ers expect to have two picks (probably a fifth/sixth rounds or fifth/seventh rounds). --Matt M.
Matt-Any big surprises at the Combine in your opinion? As a Ohio citizen how did Brian Robiske look among the pass catchers? And finally Happy Birhday to Lucy.....enjoy it now. What a wonderful age. May you have 100 more Lucy!!!!!
Awesome, thanks Matt.
Matt, quick question.
Who staffs the Combine. Are they NFL officials or a mix of coaches from various NFL teams. thanks
Lucy,
Happy Birthday. From the father of a 4 year old too, thanks for allowing us to borrow your daddy. Daddy, thank you for all you do, and next weekend you belong to Lucy - exclusively.
watching the combine on nfl network robiskie is really impressive. he made a sweet one handed catch on route tree drills and i'm surprised he's not higher up on peoples lists. someones gonna get great value picking him.
Lucy,
Happy Birthday. From the father of a 4 year old too, thanks for allowing us to borrow your daddy. Daddy, thank you for all you do, and next weekend you belong to Lucy - exclusively.
Just finished watching rbs, sure like Andre Brown from NC State. 224 lbs runs 4.45. Would be great compliment to Gore. He was impressive in Senior bowl. It would be great to get o tackle with first pick and I see Andre Smith is dropping a bit.
I can guarantee you if Andre Smith is there at 10 Coach Singletary is taking him.
Yeah, thats what Im thinking too. It will definitely be interesting beacause of all the holes we need to fill.
Wow Matt! Thank you for your dedication. Happy Birthday to Lucy!
Hi Matt, So the NFL will hold its' meetings at Dana Point. Isn't there a recesion going on? I'm sure they could have saved thousands at some other venue. Matt can you please comment on the PSL tax the NFL is imposing on fans. My view is that you'll have to live at Dana Point to afford a seat.
I hope we get one to the top OTs at #10, but I very much doubt Sing wants Andre Smith at this point. All the warning signs are there he will be a disaster. An unreliable Bubba Paris?
OT that have weight problems are not a great thing. His ideal weight is 310-315. He was reportedly at 350+ and he weighed in at 332 at the combine. Hopefully someone will snatch him up early and it won't be a problem. If he's there McCloughin will probably draft him. Balmer was a top 10 pick that dropped and we grabbed him as a "value" pick.
I never saw Balmer on any mock drafts or network projections as a top-10 pick. He was often mentioned as somewhere between #17-#22, so when he was available at #29, he was considered a relative bargain, but not outrageously so.
balmer was never a top 10 pick at any point. He had a great senior year and was considered somewhat a one year wonder.
Lucy – Professional football is fun and provides a living for those few directly involved, including your father. But family is far more important!! Take it from the father of 4 and the grandfather of 6.
Way to keep getting the miles in Matt. A runner has to do what a runner has to do.
Hopefully the word will get out that the Niners already have two vet QB's and won't draft Sanchez. Based on what we saw/heard at the combine, Jason Smith and Eugene Monroe emerged as the top OT's, with both Oher and Andre Smith likely falling. Of those two, I'd take Oher. But, we may not take an OT in the 1st rd...I'd say the odds are more against it now that Andre Smith showed his arse. We can get a good OT in FA, or wait 'til 3rd rd or so. I like Troy Kropog...he should be there in 3rd, and use the first two picks for impact pass rusher, RB/WR.
I agree with Frank. I think we will pick up Barnes from the Jags in free agency. He is pretty solid. That will give us an opportunity to focus on a pass rush in the first round. I would love to pick up Curry but I dont see him falling to us. I like Brian Cushing he can drop into coverage and rush the passer. That might be a little high for him. It would be nice to trade down and have to second round picks. In the second round I see us drafting a running pack. donald Brown will be great in the NFL I hope he is available. Third round Rashad Jennings a great safety.
Hey Matt! First off, this being my first post on this site, I just wanted to say that us local Niner Fans are very lucky to have you covering the team for us. You do a great job!!!
My question is, now that Raye has given out at least some part of his playbook, do we know yet exactly what type of offensive scheme he is going to run? Listening to Steve Young on KNBR a couple weeks ago, he stated that because Raye has been in the league so long and consequently around so many different OC's and offenses, that he also was very curious as to what type of offense he would be running. If it would be one of the many he's been around, Norv Turner,etc., or his own scheme which could be a mixture of all the schemes he's been exposed to in his career??? What do you know Matt???