Knapp was clearly the most successful of those coordinators. (Of course, he also had the best talent with which to work). The 49ers ranked fourth, eighth and fifth in his three seasons as coordinator.
The 49ers' offense has been bad ever since.
In 2004, under Tollner, the 49ers ranked 26th, and they were shut out in a game for the first time since 1977.
McCarthy fared even worse. The club ranked last in the NFL in total offense. McCarthy parlayed the forgettable season into a head-coaching job with the Packers. As it turns out, the Packers made a good hire.
Turner did a fine job in 2006, as the 49ers made the transition to the digit system. The 49ers ranked 26th in total offense. But it's what the 49ers' offense did with Turner in charge that Singletary considers the model for this year's team. The 49ers ranked sixth in the league in rushing, averaging 135.8 yards per game.
Hostler was promoted from QBs coach after Turner's late departure to coach the San Diego Chargers. When things started going downhill, Hostler was unable to provide the answers for his unit. The 49ers ranked 32nd in the league.
Mike Nolan fired Hostler and replaced him with Mike Martz, in hopes of making a quick turnaround on offense. Martz improved the offense to No. 23 in the league. But the high-risk, high-reward offense also yielded 35 turnovers and 55 sacks.
And, now, Raye enters the picture.
Question: You have had a chance to observe different OC's install their offenses in the offseason. Please compare and contrast what you've observed about Raye's work vis a vis the others? (Drew)
Answer: The transition through this stage of the offseason has probably gone more smoothly than with any of the other coordinators . . . with the possible exception of Hostler.
Hostler had a background in the West Coast and digit systems (we'll quiz you later on what routes match which numbers). So Hostler's idea was to mesh the two philosophies. It sounded like a heck of an idea. And the offseason was very smooth because he tried to weave some of McCarthy's teachings of 2005 into what the team had learned under Turner in 2006.
Raye has already installed all of his offense. Because he uses the same digit terminology that Turner, Hostler and Martz used, it has not been difficult for the players to pick up. It showed toward the end of OTAs when Shaun Hill and Alex Smith looked better on the practice field than I have ever seen them.
Contrast that to last year.
Although the terminology was the same, Martz's system is generally regarded as the most complex in the NFL. In the offseason camps and well into training camp, the 49ers' offense looked absolutely dreadful. The only quarterback who entered camp feeling somewhat at ease with the system was J.T. O'Sullivan. That is why the offense ran so much better with him during training camp when he entered - and won -- the quarterback competition.
Raye certainly has a meat-and-potatoes approach. He's a straight-forward coach with a straight-forward approach. His offense will likely take on his personality. So far, the players seem to like his approach.
The success of the offense will rely on how well his line protects, his quarterback performs and how well he performs as a play-caller.
* * *
* * *
CONTEST TIME
Match the number with the route in the digit system that Norv Turner introduced to the 49ers as coordinator in 2006. Place the routes in the correct order, 1 through 9:
Curl
Go-fade
Slant
Deep in
Post
Hitch (flat)
Out
Comeback
Corner
I'll send a signed copy of one of my books to the first person to answer correctly in the comment section below.
* * *
Matt, how about you give me your book and I give you mine and I just admit here I don't have a clue?
1 - Hitch (flat)
2 - Slant
3 - Comeback
4 - Curl
5 - Out
6 - Deep In
7 - Corner
8 - Post
9 - Go-fade
Matt, Here's my guess:
4 Curl
9 Go-fade
5 Slant
7 Deep in
8 Post
1 Hitch (flat)
3 Out
2 Comeback
6 Corner
1 hitch
2 slant
3 out
4 deep in
5 comeback
6 curl
7 corner reoute
8 post
9 go or fade route
there are many different corner routes, and 4 different types of a post pattern
1 hitch (flat)
2 slant
3 out
4 deep in
5 comeback
6 curl
7 corner
8 post
9 go-fade
1. slant
2. quick out
3. hitch
4. deep in
5. curl
6. comeback
7. post
8. corner
9. go-fade
1 - Out
2 - Slant
3 - Hitch
4 - Deep In
6 - Curl
7 - Corner
8 - Post
9 - Go/Fade
1 hitch (any coverage) or quick out (not into cover 2)
2 slant
3 out
4 curl/hook
5 comeback
6 deep in
7 post-corner
8 post
9 go/fade
Sorry, forgot number 5 -comeback
1 Hitch (flat)
2 Slant
3 Out
4 Comeback
5 Curl
6 Deep in
7 Post
8 Corner
9 Go-fade
5-Curl
2-Go-fade
3-Slant
1-Deep in
7-Post
8-Hitch (flat)
6-Out
4-Comeback
9-Corner
dj0514 said: 1 hitch 2 slant 3 out 4 deep in 5 comeback 6 curl 7 corner reoute 8 post 9 go or fade route there are many different corner routes, and 4 different types of a post pattern
My response: And you're the winner! I'll be in touch to get your address. --Matt M.
First post! Indiana Jim is correct. Anything for second place? Keep up the good work. You and Barrows do a great job! P.S. Condelences with respect to your father.
Matt Thats crazy!!! almost two years ago you said there would be a Test later and indeed there was LOL
http://49ers.pressdemocrat.com/default.asp?item=702366
I just wish I had seen the post as soon as it was put up.
A day late and a dollar short I guess
dj0514 good snag
Matt, thanks for responding to the question.
Almost the exact same digit system I used...except 4 and 6 were flip-flopped. This one is probably better, because the deep in is better next to the speed out. I think my OC changed it because he liked the sound of everything ending in "4" better (curls from the Z receiver are VERY frequent in this offense).
I really cannot fathom why an offense wouldn't use a digit system for the route tree. It's so much easier on the receivers, especially when you want them all to be able to play multiple positions. Plus you can invent new plays on the fly whenever you want, and not have to worry about guys knowing where to go.
DJ...when you say many different posts and curls, I'm guessing you're referring to them being option routes? The way we ran the system, the corner could be run as a comeback, out, corner, or in some cases a fade. The post could be run as a hitch, dig, post/skinny post, or a seam.
That was my favorite part about the offense...option routes can be deadly with smart receivers. An inside post is virtually uncoverable, you just take whatever the defense gives you.
The system I came up in went like this 0-Block (Y/TE), 1-Slant, 2-Quick Out, 3-Curl, 4-Out, 5-Square In, 6-Comeback, 7-Post, 8-Flag/Corner, 9-Go/Fade. I had a feeling from the very beginning that the perception of Jimmy Raye as Fred Flintstone running a dive, dive, sack, punt offense was very much out of proportion, and of course snagging a talent like Crab-15 doesn't hurt. I have high hopes for this season.
Matt, in what world does a Deep In come before a Curl route?!?!?! I object, your honor! :D
I enjoyed this article but this reference, "The transition through this stage of the offseason has probably gone more smoothly than with any of the other coordinators . . . with the possible exception of Hostler." Makes me nervous! You should strip Jim Hostler from any further reference to the 49ers! He was obviously the worst OC ever! The thought of him makes me ill. Somewhere there is a pee-wee team being coached by him and he's telling the parents, "I don't know why we can't move the ball"!
Don't worry about the reference to the Hostler transition going smoothly. He was already on the staff and was using the same system that his immediate predesessor Norv used,so there really was almost no transition to speak of. It is impressive that Jimmy Raye's transition has gone more smoothly than any other OC (except Hostler's) and impressive that his transition is being compared to the ease of Hostler's. Good job Jimmy Raye !!! Let's remember that Raye's offense and play calling style is NOT being compared to Hostler. I just hope that Raye's game time play calling and game management is as smooth and impressive as his transition and installation of his offense has been.
From Kevin Lynch ..
....."What impressed me and what has always impressed me about Smith is his ability to soldier on. I don't know if he'll become a good quarterback, but the day after hearing of Edwards's death, he went out to practice. Through five different coordinators, Smith has never failed to give it his all. Even through his misunderstandings and difficulties with former head coach Mike Nolan, Smith continued to put in his time. In fact, before he was fired, Nolan said he was impressed that Smith continued to work out and cram on his playbook last year even after being placed on injured reserve.
That's what will make Smith a success, whether in football or outside of it. Smith is unusually grounded for someone who experienced so much monetary success and so much publicity good and bad at such a young age.
Many on this site and on others, revile him as a quarterback. But as a person, you can't help but admire him.".......
We're impressed by Jimmy Raye before they've actually even played a preseason game? That's laughable. Why don't we see what happens on the field before we start patting the guy on the back.
.... Smith does seem like a good person. And he married an ex-Raiders cheerleader. Now thats what I call impressive!