When Norv Turner brought the "digit system" to the 49ers in 2006, it signaled a change in offensive terminology for the organization after more than a quarter-century with the Bill Walsh's fabled "West Coast Offense.'
In Walsh's old system, it might have been impossible for a wide receiver, such as Michael Crabtree, to show up after four games and then be expected to play at least half of his team's snaps less than three weeks later.
But the idea behind the digit system is pretty straight forward. For instance, offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye this week made reference to Crabtree knowing what he's supposed to do on a play called "525 F-Post." Heck, even I know that Crabtree runs a "comeback" route on that play. I have no idea on which side he lines up, if anybody goes in motion, the depth of his route or any of that. But I know the X runs a 5 (comeback), the Y runs a 2 (slant), the Z runs a 5 (comeback) and the F runs a post pattern.
The numbers represent the pass routes, 1 through 9. In order, the numbers tell XYZ which routes to run. The X is split end; Y is tight end; and Z is flanker. The F -- the position Delanie Walker and Moran Norris play -- is told what to do.
In August 2006, I wrote "New Approach Comes Into Play" to give an overview of the system Turner brought to the 49ers. Turner learned the digit system from Don Coryell. When Coryell was at
Said Turner, "That's the beauty of the system. That's why I think the teams you see using it do get off to fast starts and are able to get young players playing faster."
Crabtree did not have to make up for 71 days missed before playing in Sunday's game. He does not have to learn the entire playbook. All Crabtree has to know are the plays Raye has included in the 49ers' offensive game plan against the Texans.
I asked Raye on Thursday how many pass plays are typically in a game plan.
"You've got run-down situation passes, first and second down (plays that are practiced on Wednesdays)," Raye said. "Then (Thursday) you get third-down passes - third and 2 to 4, 5 to 7, 8 to 12. Then, (Friday) he'll get red zone passes. I would think if you took all of those categories, and there are probably three or four passes or pass concepts in each one, you take that and multiply it by whatever it is. I guess it would close to 45 or 50."
Crabtree surprised Raye with how much of the offense the rookie already knew.
"At least (he) had a starting point that was better than what I had anticipated in terms of him understanding the formations and understanding the route tree and the plays and how they fit together," Raye said. "He conceptualizes football extremely well. He's a quick study that way."
Crabtree is responsible for knowing what the X position (split end) does in the entire game plan, but his concept of the offense is understandably narrow at this point.
"He knows what he does and how it fits in the continuity of what you're trying to do," Raye said. "He doesn't know what
The game plan, designed specifically for that week's opponent, is essentially a review of what the players saw and practiced at some point in training camp. But for Crabtree, this is all new to him. Eventually, he will learn the 49ers' entire offense one game plan at a time.
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There is a lot of pressure on this kid to produce going into this game. IF the line can give Hill time to get it to him he will need to take full advantage of his every opportunity. I would love for this to be a statement game offensively to show the league we have indeed viable threats to put points on the board. Mr. Crabs, VD, Gore all with TD's would put a smile on my face. Lets Roll!
Good stuff - thanks
Matt, when you went on record with the 9ers winning the Super Bowl after knocking off the Panthers in the title game, you should have stuck your neck out a little and predicted Crabs to win MVP. Risky, I know, but what the hay.
might be better to screen the defenders, so it clears out the short slant... crabtree's sig move.
I'm hoping for a monster running game from the 49ers...somehow.
Crabtree surprised Raye with how much of the offense the rookie already knew........................... Wow. It's not that hard to learn this offense. Heck all the defenses we face know all the calls by halftime. Come on raye. Throw some creative wrinkles, thoughts, ideas, something in this offense. Way to easy to read.
In case anyone missed it, click on the youtube link below to see the "Crank that Crabtree" video. You gotta see this! It's only 3 minutes long. There's also a website crankthatcrabtree.com that talks about how popular this song is/was. I hope someone does a Crabtree 49er tribute, after he SHOWS the NFL he was the best player in the 2009 draft.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwyEdC7a4y0
So would a running play be somethign like "24" with the 2-back (assuming 2 is the tailback - Gore) running between the right guard and right tackle (the 4-hole)?
Interesting. Raye's pass patterns seemed to be 12 yards or less. No downfield passes (at least, he indicated that the downfield passes were not practiced!). And you wonder why teams can crowd the line-of-scrimmage.
Seth Wickersham just wrote an excellent piece for ESPN Magazine about this very issue. It's available to read on ESPN insider- If you have access, I really suggest you read it.
THE digit system does make it easier to pick up... but I was shocked at how chaotic it actually is. there can be a variation of up to 64 different variations of the route tree a receiver might take on a given play.. And the most shocking thing was how the receiver decides on the fly where he goes to... which is hopefully to the the soft spot in the defense. The QB has to know all the potential places the WR might end up.. I always assumed routes were much more predetermined. Zone defenses kind of changed it all. Now the receiver reads the defense and basically changes the route to try and find the open space... and somehow, the QB has to find him... amazing stuff.
As someone said before.... Its called reading COMPREHENSION for a reason.
He said practice is based on downs. ie 3rd and 12. So no he didnt mention anything 20+, doesn't mean they are not there.
If you are 3rd and 20+ the play that is called is a:
"Bend around backside farewell kiss"
Rich an up the gut run in our lingo is called
"Ditto"
Crabtree will make an immediate impact because he is a superb talent. His biggest contribution will come in YAC, but his greatest attribute (as we will see) is his fierce and fearless approach on the field.
OK, so much for my analysis on Crabtree, my main concern is the O/L. With the exception of a couple of linemen who could secure jobs for next year, I think we seriously need to use our high draft picks in 2010 on O/Linemen. A great O/L can propel the team to winning seasons for the next 6-8 seasons, IMO its a no-brainer.
"As someone said before.... Its called reading COMPREHENSION for a reason."
"Rich an up the gut run in our lingo is called "Ditto""
Brekkon....LOL
and Brekkon wins today's blog!!
Nice one Brekkon.
I agree, nice job Brekkon!
Did any of you checkout the youtube Crabtree video I posted earlier? I know Realfan49 liked it. I'm curious if you guys liked it or if it sucked. Damn, I can't get the "crank that crabtree" song out of my head now! Seriously! Thanks guys
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwyEdC7a4y0
its funny because of how bad it is
Pretty dumb.
I really hope crabtree does well. I don't have any expectations for him, but I think it would be great if he starts fast. I expect he'll provide a decoy for the offense during the first posession while Frank goes nuts. I ultimately only care about "W's"!
Just a fan-I'll admit I was not happy with his extended holdout but now that he is part of the family and seems to be comporting himself so well I hope he excels.(This game will be tough but win or lose I hope we rebound and show the depth of character and grit that will make this team special).If Crabtree is as dynamic in a pro setting as he was in college it surely will widen the parameters of Coach Raye's offense...also curious to see our reconfigured Ol in action on Sunday.Go Niners!
The Coryel system may be easy to learn, but how many super bowls have coaches from the Coryel tree won. I really can't think of any other than Mike Martz (as a coordinator, not as the HC).
On the other hand, Walsh, Shanahan, Siefert, and Holmgren between them have have won 8 Super Bowls running the west coast system.
Case closed. The west coast system is the best.
What we don't know because most TV coverage won't let us see the whole field is how well the pass patterns are getting guys into the open.
Does the offense disguise play first? Then are the patterns properly called based on what the defense is doing? And then do the receivers run the routes correctly?
The problem I see is even when receivers catch passes they're well covered. But when you watch other teams guys are often catches passes with no one around. They're seeing how the def zone is working, find ways to split them so the receivers are in space.
Now unfortunately this usually takes a little time to develop, and if you don't have time you have to go to the short route (so maybe it's not that Hill can't throw down field, or they don't call it, but they don't have time to execute those pattersn).
Crab15....Nice link I enjoyed that video
Rick, Whether it was a head coach or the OC doesnt matter. If the team ran a Coryell offense and won a SB is what it seems your asking....
Suberbowl Coryell System Coaches:
John Madden HC 1 SB
Joe Gibbs HC 3 SB's,
Ernie Zampese OC 1 SB,
Norv Turner OC 2 SB's
Each system has earned its place and personally I prefer the WC offense but thats because I love my 49ers.
My problem was never with the Coryell offense but with us changing to a system our team was not drafted for. We did not have the personel for a coryell offense when we first went to it. We still are lacking to have a true coryell offense. I went nuts when I heard we were going away from the WCO several years back.
thats because old noodle arm cant throw past the OL
Thanks Brekkon. I forgot about Gibbs, and of course Turner was the OC when Dallas won in 92 and 93. I am sure you will understand that as a Niner fan, I try not to dwell on the Dallas SB's. Particularly the 92,93, 95 ones because it was a trade by the Niners (the infamous Haley trade, Carmen Policy what were you thinking?) which gave the Pokes the final missing piece of the puzzle.
You are right on with your analysis on WCO vs Air Coryel. each system has indeed earned its place, but as a Niner fan I admit I am partial to the WCO. I had the same sinking feeling as you when Nolan decided to go away from the WCO by hiring Turner.
Funny thing is Nolan's first OC was a WCO guy (Mccarthy), I wonder how things would have worked out if McCarthy had not taken the Green Bay Job. We would have never abandoned the WCO and I have to believe the last few years would have been more successful.
GORE CAN SCORE!
I dont blame you about the cowboys I feel the same way. Cant stand em but what true 49er fan could.
Also, dont know what you might remember from the 1st redskins SB under Gibbs but it should have been ours. In the NFC championship we were down 21-0 in the 4th and came back to tie it 21-21 then the refs gave the redskins the position to make the game winning field goal after a very bad Pass Interference call where the throw was, totally, undeniably uncatchable. Under rules of the time that should never have been called. Also they called Lott for holding when he did nothing to give the skins a first down and run the clock down even lower before kicking the field goal.
If not for those two things it probably would've been one of the best comebacks of all time and we would've been the first to 6 SB's.
The game tomorrow is very much so a GPS type of game for our team. If we cant beat an inconsistent team like the texans, then we go 3-3, and fall into a bigger hole. its one those games where you might be looking back saying dang, shoulda had that one. well anyhow, JUST WIN THIS ONE. they had a bye week so there are no excuses this time. go niners!!!!! ill be yelling at the tv all morning, haha. AMPED.
i agree wit yu...we need this dame badly.....
My thoughts exactly, when encountering for the first time the woman who would eventually become my wife.
Da Gum! DaaaGum!! Win It!
I'm sure everybody's seen previews for "Blind Side" which is the story of Michael Oher starring Sandra Bullock.
Oher is picking up where Orlando Brown left off. Yeah, it's easy to use hindsight and say had the Niners known what would've transpired w/Crabs they snatch Oher instantly because Crabs will really only be as good as our line plays anyway.
I really want Crabtree to succeed and excel because success will nullify everything: passing on Oher, the holdout, etc. The Texans are banged up (including Super Mario) so we're primed for a victory. Go Niners!
Uh...unfortunately yes. but more importantly I read the book having been a big fan of "Moneyball"
I wanted Oher too, but because I loved his story and he's going to be a very good OT. But the player I liked most in this draft was a guy named Michael Crabtree.
As far as the digit system, what do Pittsburgh, Indy, NE, NYG run, because it sure isn't the WCO. I know from reading Wickersham's Article that Indy is maybe the only team that runs set routes that Manning calls at the line. He talks to Brandon Stokely. It's just they practice them them to death. and "Run them really, really well" as he says
I love the WCO too, but as was pointed out in MM's article, they have borrowed from each other so much, that I'm not sure anyone runs a true WCO , or Air Coryell offense anymore. they are all pretty much the same routes. it's just how you refer to them... besides, the original difference besides the terminology was that coryell wanted the receivers to round off their routes so as not to lose speed... but Bill Walsh wanted the very sharp precisely timed cuts (slant, post, out, and comeback), but there are guys like cam cameron who use digit, but prefer sharp timing cuts... so it's all really just terminology at this point. and I'm for whatever gets MC and VD the ball
At Skeebers: your post was full of win.
someone shouldn't be posting at 5:18 am...
Another thing, Faith 71...
The book while it followed Oher's life, was really about how Bill Walsh devised a scheme to counteract Parcells and specifically Lawrence Taylor, and in doing so effectively made the Left Tackle the second most important player (and second highest paid often) on the offense, or team... protecting the "blindside".
I doubt that will be in the movie, however.
Man, i have been waiting for this day after watching the Atlanta game! This is a huge game for us, i would like to see a few screen passes to VD/Crabtree and some short passes to Gore in order to keep the defense honest from harrassing S.Hill all game and to set up the long pass! GO NINERS
Is this the day where the O-line finally earns their paycheck? I hope so because the 49ers offense needs to control time of posssession & keep the Texan's lethal offense on the bench more often than not. That's how the 49ers win today along with a couple of turn overs by the 49er D.
Oh yes. I think it was Jerry Markbreit who was the ref in that game.
Markbreit also was a party to another penalty which I think was the all time bogus call in the NFL history. You may remember it. It was in the 1992 NFC championship at the stick. It was 3rd and Goal for the Cow-pokes and Aikman faked to Smith and threw incomplete. Pierce Holt had crashed through the line and as he saw the (fake) hand-off he tackled Smith thinking he had the ball. The rule is that you cannot tackle a runner after a fake hand-off as long as it is clear that the runner is going out in the pass pattern. In this case Holt was so far in the backfield that he tackled Smith immediately. No way was that a penalty. Markbreit handed the Cow-Pokes an extra 4 points.
Now in all honesty, Dallas probably would have won the game any way. They pretty much controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides that day.
Running the offense using the digit system lately has been about as much fun as a digital exam.
Pash rush is what we need today. Lawson and Harrelson need to turn into a couple of Charles Haleys. Even if it means exposing themselves to female reporters or urinating on Manusky's car.
Not to nitpick, but the 2 route wouldn't be a slant. A comeback requires at least a 5-step drop, while slants are only run out of 3-step drops, because they could never be delivered on time from a deeper drop. In this case, I'm guessing that the 2 route is a short cross underneath the F-post, or possibly a dig.
Ronnie alluded to this when he talked about "variations" of routes. There are indeed only 10 digits, but each digit corresponds to a different route depending on the type of drop (3-step, 5-step, 7-step, rollout, etc.) and the formation. Not only is 3-step (or "quick") 2 unique, a 5-step 2 from the outside would also be different than a 2 from the slot (they might refer to it as a "20", not a 2). To make things even more complicated, a "20" when flanked off a lineman or TE might be different than a 20 while flexed out in the slot.
So what I'm getting at is even though a digit system does make learning an offense MUCH easier, every pro offense is still unbelievably complex. Which makes what Crabtree is doing that much more impressive. So excited to see what this kid can do!