Gannon spent four seasons in
--He said the fact that Smith has had five offensive coordinators in five years is "dysfunction." He likened it to his own career. He had been in the league for 17 years and when he opened the season in 2004 against the Steelers with a new Raiders offensive system, he said he was "scared to death."
"It's underestimated what he's gone through," Gannon said of Smith. "Honestly, it's hard. I'm really pulling for him. I know what he's been through."
--For Jimmy Raye, it's a difficult challenge because his focus is not only on what he can do as a coordinator but figuring out what the players can handle. After all, the 49ers have changed quarterbacks, gotten a new wide receiver and lost a stating left tackle in the span of two games.
Gannon says an offensive coordinator looks at the game through the quarterback's eyes. That quarterback has changed in recent weeks. And while subtle changes must be made, he also does not want to "overload" Smith, who hasn't played much since 2006 and new receiver Michael Crabtree.
--Gannon said he believes it takes two offseasons for an offensive coordinator to get things the way he wants, and to figure out who they are as a team.
--Smith's future with the 49ers probably hinges on the remainder of this season. "The next eight weeks are critical for them to find out who he is and what he's capable of," Gannon said.
--Gannon said he looks at Alex Smith and Aaron Rodgers and thinks about how similar their paths would've been if their situations had been reversed. Rodgers has maintained some continuity with Mike McCarthy as coach. He also had an opportunity to learn behind Brett Favre before he was given his opportunity.
--Gannon was a roommate of 49ers defensive coordinator Greg Manusky during their time together with the Chiefs. Gannon said Manusky, primarily a special-teams player, was always well-prepared. There was a game in which a starter came into the locker room two hours before kickoff and said he couldn't play. Manusky played middle linebacker and ended up with 18 tackles.
* * *
Coach Mike Singletary said safety Reggie Smith will be a game-time decision on Sunday. He has not played since Sept. 27 when he sustained a severe groin strain.
Linebacker Takeo Spikes (shoulder) returned to practice and will play.
* * *
Shaun Hill was the scout team quarterback. His scrambling skills left a lot to be desired, but Singletary said the defense was made aware throughout the week of Vince Young's ability to hurt the 49ers outside the pocket.
Speaking of the scout team, Singletary singled out the efforts of Diyral Briggs (defense), Cody Wallace (offense) and Jason Hill (special teams) for the looks they gave the 49ers' starters during the week.
He mentions scout team players every week when the team convenes on the field at the end of the Friday practice. He said he does that to show the scout-team players how much he appreciates the effort with which they practice.
* * *
Offensive tackle Alex Boone is still on the practice squad. The 49ers have not made a move to call him up to the 53-man roster. Singletary said he is pleased with Boone's progress, and he talks to offensive line coach Chris Foerster regularly about Boone's progress. "He's doing a good job." Singletary said.
Boone was signed as an undrafted free agent. During the exhibition season, Boone looked to be doing well in the run game, but had difficulty at right tackle against NFL pass rushers.
* * *
INJURY REPORT
49ERS - CB Nate Clements (shoulder), DE Demetric Evans (shoulder), T Joe Staley (knee) are out; S Reggie Smith (groin) and LB Takeo Spikes (shoulder) are probable.
TITANS - RB Javon Ringer (back) is out; S Vincent Fuller (groin), CB Nicholas Harper (forearm), DE Jevon Kearse (knee), T Mike Otto (knee), T David Stewart (hamstring) and LB David Thornton (hip) are questionable.
* * *
Dang, I forgot about that Kearse guy. Gonna be another interesting Sunday for the Niners O-Line.
Gannon has got to be the goto guy for this kind of situation and I wonder why his name doesn't come up more. I remember Gannon was tabbed a career backup from his days in Minn. and then he puts up All Pro numbers with the Raiders in his 13th year in the league. A lot of NFL talent gets pushed into situations that are pretty near impossible to succeed in and then get labeled a bust when things don't work out. Sometimes they get so messed up mentally from those situations that never really recover to be able to accomplish anything, but you got to look to a guy like Gannon and his career for hope. Hope Alex keeps handling what Raye trusts him with and turns things around for his career.
I know he was raw coming out of college, but it's gotta be put up or shut up time for Cody Wallace. Good to hear him getting singled out for good play.
It's even more underestimated what pain the Niners fans have gone through watching Alex Smith play so poorly for so long !!!
But we are all in alex's corner now if we are true fans,so we all hope he becomes the best he can become and will lead us to the playoffsd and beyond ! We want a new Alex,and it looks like that may actually be a possibility . He does look quite different in the last 6 quarters. I hope it is not an illusion and there really is a new Alex !
Go get em alex,finally .
I want to see Jason Hill suited up on Sunday. I'll be at this must win game. If we want to get to the playoffs this year, Sunday is a must. I want to see their run game stuffed and Vince Young intercepted and sacked multiple times. We have the playmakers to do this. Look what we did to Manning and the Colts! I also think Crabtree will get his first career TD this Sunday.
Kearse? Kearse is done. He was a healthy scratch a few weeks ago. Van Den Bosch is the guy you have to worry about. He's a relentless and talented pass-rusher.
Van Den Bosch's presence is a foregone conclusion. Kearse, for the reasons you stated ("done," and "healthy scratch") are the reasons why he's easy to forget. That old dog still got some fight, the Niners O-Line better not sleep on him.
If Crabtree averages 6 catches for 81 yards per game (his totals from last week) for the remaining 9 games , He would finish the season with 65 catches and 866 yards. not bad for a kid who skipped camp and missed the first 5 games.
For Comparison: Jerry Rice's first season: 16 games, 4 starts, 49 catches 927 yards, 3 TD's
I think he will end up better than that. I also think he will add 7 TD's
anyone want to take an over/under?
I've read a number of comments recently trying to blame Raye's ineptitude on a learning curve. If it takes two seasons for an OC to get a system installed and to figure out who they are as a team, that is an indictment of Singletary. First of all he didn't give Martz that two years before he fired him, and then he started all over again with an OC in his mid 60's. By the time Raye figures things out he'll likely be ready to hang it up. Even if the QB coach is expected to be the heir apparent it is not fair to him to expect that he will pick up seamlessly from Raye. He's going to want to put his own stamp on things.The offense could be in a state of development for years to come.
"First of all he didn't give Martz that two years before he fired him"
He also didn't hire Martz and didn't like his 7 step drop system and the J.T. O'Sullivan experiment. Also, Teams had caught on to Martz's system. The system that Raye runs isn't the problem... The play calling is in question.
They didn't fit philosophically. You have to remember, he was doing mop up work last year with someone else's team. This is his first year as head coach.
I hope your right about Crabtree. There's no better time to get his 1st NFL TD this Sunday against a pretty weak secondary.
Factoid of the day: In the 1985 Draft(the year Jerry Rice was drafted)
Nobody at the time could question the 2 receivers taken ahead of Rice (with the possible exception of Bill Walsh who moved up in the draft to get him). Al Toon from Wisconsin was a fine receiver until concussions ended his career early. He still had 503 catches and 3 pro bowls. Eddie Brown was a very good player for Cincinnati- he made the Pro Bowl too...
Minnesota, with the first pick in the 4th round (85th pick) took Oklahoma receiver (I am not making this up) Buster Rhymes, who's glorious career consisted of 8 catches for 127 yards.
With the next pick at #86, Buffalo took a WR from the mighty football powerhouse of Kutztown St. in Pennsylvania. His name was Andre Reed. 951 catches 13,191 yards, 87 TD's, 7 pro bowls...
O.K.
Two years, Is that 2010 or is it 2011 ? Oh my Oh my...
Rosco,
Sing didn't give Martz another year because Martz's offensive style is not at all what sing wanted to run. Raye's style is exactly what Sing wanted to run,that is why Sing called Raye the day after Sing was hired. Raye's system is somewhat like Norv Turners system,so maybe it won't take a full 2 camps to get it going. And IF the QB's coach does take over next year or the one after that,then there will be a smooth transition ,because the system will be the same.
Hack,
That would be the 2009 camp and season and the 2010 camp and preseason. So it should be up to pretty much full speed starting with the 1st game of the 2010 season,if Gannon is correct.
That would of course only be IF the other factors become somewhat stable and are consistent,like the QB and the O line and the RB's and the WR's etc.
If for example we draft a couple of new O linemen next year and they wind up starting,or if Alex stinks and Davis is the new starter,then of course those things would put a few hurdles in the way of continuity. But in general,according to Gannon,Raye should get until the 2010 season starts to get up to full speed. I just hope full speed for Raye is good enough !
What short memories people have. No sir, Singletary did not call Raye the day after he was hired. He wanted Scott Linehan, only Linehan turned him down to take the Detroit job.
Singletary then interviewed a bunch of other candidates who either were not offered the job or turned him down. Finally, in desperation he reached the bottom of the barrel to scrape up Raye.
Going to the game Sunday and I sure hope my son and I get to see a victory! The Niners are better than the Titans right now. VY is a run first qb that is bound to throw a coupla picks on Sunday. Alex Smith just needs to take what the defense gives him and let Gore do his thing. I dont think the Titans have a very good pass defense so there might be some big plays in the passing game for the Niners. Maybe time for Crabtree to get his first TD !!
Interesting comment from a yahoo sports article from belichick: "Belichick: I think it’s a question of how you want to use your personnel and where you think your players are … good offensive teams in this league are teams that are more balanced, can throw the ball and have playmakers out on the field. To get in there and run the power 20 times … yeah, it’s OK. It shortens the game and it controls things if that’s what you want to be and if you have a good defense and that’s the way you want to play. But I think we’re capable of doing more than that and it takes our quarterback out of the game. It takes a slot receiver like Wes Welker out of the game and that’s not what we want to do. If you’re trying to not put as much on our quarterback like we were in ’01 and a little bit in ’02, at that point, that was the way to go. And some of that is a function of who your running back is. Some guys are better running behind a fullback, some are better in a 1-back system, just like your passing game is a little bit of a function of who your quarterback is."
Buster Rhymes. . .great name, but not on par with Buster Thighs.
You guys! It's time for a dose of why!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRwL1X73fr0
Why we are so spoiled!
+Bump for awesome highlight reel.
Thanks, John! It's real noticeable how often Joe rolls right or left, or moves the pocket by design. It's a stark contrast to Peyton Manning, who always throws from the same spot or directly in line behind his Center. Moving, deceptive target vs. stationary target for pass rushers.
Wow. Sure brings back some great memories. Thanks John.
The most amazing thing about Joe was his ability to throw on the run. Nobody else comes even close.
I other thing I hope people notice is that there are no shot-gun formations. Every snap was from under center.
The guy who did that has 3 parts I chose the #2 vid to post. The first vid in that mini series has "The Catch", and a lot of highlights of that game. Joe's was under duress that whole game. And whey you watch some of his ankle breaking moves in his early day it was very very impressive.
Go to Youtube.com cut and paste the one I put here in the the address bar and you will locate the others.
Nobody even compares to him. You look at what that guy did compared to even today's QB's...it just ridiculous. The guy was just amazing!!!
Here's Joe on shot-gun formations:
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/092409dnspogosselincol.37a0841.html
" "We tried the shotgun once at San Francisco," Montana recalled. "The first snap went over my head, so Bill [Walsh] said, 'OK, that's it. No more shotgun.' "
Walsh didn't embrace the shotgun 30 years ago. And Montana doesn't think the NFL is ready to embrace the spread offense now. "
Dood! I didn't say dookie about a shotgun formation. I just linked a clip of some skinny Italian American Kid from western Penn who is without a doubt head and toes better than anything I have ever seen play QB. Nobody even comes close in my opinion! Rolling to his left "MONEY" Rolling to his right "MONEY" deep curls "MONEY" deep out's "MONEY" Long ball's MONEY! You wanna talk about touch and never leaving his receivers out to dry! The Man was MONEY!! Mind boggling football presence. He invented the words "It Factor".
Man... this clip almost made me get weepy. I had the privilege of seeing Joe in person in all 4 of his Superbowls. My Grandfather made seatbelts for GM. His best friend was president of Buick. They allocated my Grandfather's company 6 seats at the 40 yard line every year for the Super Bowl.
I was 10 years old in 1982 when my Grandfather called and asked if I would be interested in flying out to Detroit to see that "Montana fellow" play at the Silverdome. I was jumping up and down for joy for the next 2 days.
It was only 3 hours after "The Catch", and me and my friend literally destroyed 2 lamps in my house trying to re-create it over and over. God.. it was about -53 degrees with wind chill that night, and because of the president's motorcade in Pontiac, we decided to just get out and walk over a mile in the cold. Although it was toasty 74 degrees inside the dome
The next Superbowl I went to was much more pleasant. Palo Alto. The limo driver pulled a hibachi grill out of the trunk and made us steak sandwiches. I remember the looks on the Dolphin's player's faces. It was like they had been hit by a truck. I slept in my own bed that night.
There are a few things in my life that I consider an honor to have seen. Joe Montana playing quarterback was one of them. I will tell my children and grandchildren about it.