Although I have been less than impressed overall, in the end we are in the top 10 in points per game, we’re protecting the ball, and its still probably the best the niner offense has looked in a while. It’s really results that matter isn’t it?

Does anybody else think we should maybe give Johnson or Rathman a chance to make calls? I know that’s abnormal in the NFL for a coordinator to let someone else make calls, but from what I understand Jimmy was brought in because he has a great way of teaching football and creating the right run-first power mentality. That doesn’t mean he has the best on-the-fly play calling ability. In fact, given his history it sounds like that might be his weakest point. Maybe we should start a movement…

He hasnt been an OC, and therefore hasnt been calling plays for some 6-8 years (the exact number slips me and I dont feel like looking it up. What does this mean? Means he still needs to get the hang of it, the feel of it, and it also means theres nowhere to go but up, and theres room to improve, and it will. I believe the playcalling in weeks 9-17 will be much different than what were seeing now.

Stability. JR is not going to be looked up for any Head Coaching assignments, no matter how well the offense does, which means we can keep him around for a few years should we want to. I would like some stability.

Lets just be honest, if this is him sucking, and were 2-1, and were in a position to be 3-0, and his gameplaning and calling can only get better from here…..is there really a problem? I reserve the right to change my mind, but as far as right now, Im behind him

I love how he’s utilizing Davis but that’s really it, no one else is being used vary well, even Gore.

Our struggles on 1st and 2nd down and average distance to go on 3rd down alone dictate a disapproval.

I just want him to adapt to situations which was something Martz was terrible at. Know that we might need to throw a little bit more to set up the run, and run more play action later in the game

I have never been a fan of the run first offense ever since we had so much success with the West Coast Offense. You have to keep the defense honest, when they are putting 8 or 9 men in the box, there are a few plays besides the run that should work. All I am saying is mix it up. A short pass is almost like a run anyways.

Raye’s play calling has left something to be desired at times, but we have only played 3 games and have won 2 of those and almost a 3rd.

Even though we lost the game and the last two drives for the offense were hard to take, his play calling put us in the lead late in the game and we are scoring points. It is true that the recent years of offensive ineptitude allow me to not get too down on Raye. I think our next few games will be more telling in that Raye, after coming off a lose and having his formula fail for the first time this season, will have to make adjustments.

Here’s to hoping that he does.

As everyone is stating this issue is far from a yes/no thing. There is a lot of things to be optimistic about. On the other hand there is a certain lack of creativity and surprise in the calls I have seen thus far. I have yet to say….. WOW that was brilliant!

Im ambivalent on one hand we are successful on the other we are not. They need more options with that side tackle Morgn run. I like the play but I know we are gana run but I would like Raye to mix it up with a slant or slant and go with morgan

I would love to see some quick reads on pass plays to help move opposing linebackers back a little to help open up the run.

It’s only the third game and Raye hasn’t had a lot of experience with this personnel group. I’m hoping he will open things up a bit as he gains confidence in Hill and the receivers. But if he’s still stubbornly running Coffee into 8-9 man fronts for zero gains in the Atlanta game, I’ll be warming up the hotseat.

I would love to see some quick reads on pass plays to back the opposing linebackers off a bit and open up the run a little more.

If Raye opens up the playbook a little more and starts using the receiver more, Crabtree will sign his contract……I kid I kid.

I don’t like his play calling when he decides to run. All he does is run up the middle against the blitz(VERY FRUSTRATING). It is soooo predictable!!! On 99% of our run plays, Josh Morgan motions and stops right behind the tackles. I think Frank Gore and Glen Coffee are fast enough to run outside, away from the blitz. We coud’ve easily beat minnesota if he woul’ve ran outside a few times on 2nd and 3rd and short. Running up the gut against the blitz gets us very few yards and puts our passing game in 2nd and 3rd and long all day long. At that point the defense know that we have to pass and blitz the house. Never fails on 3rd downs.

By a small margin of weighing. We could do worse (and we have), but I know we could do better. I like the confidence there is on the defense, but a little more confidence in the offense would help. I like Raye, but 0-11 on 3rd downs don’t get you yes votes.

ive gotta say that his play calling hasnt been DY-NO-MITE!!!

Without our tough defense, we would probably be 0 and 3 and people would look at his play calling a lot different. I think that he keeps our defense on the field too much with his run run mentality and like i mentioned before. He always runs against the middle blitz. If he were to run outside of the tackles more often. It would keep the opposing defenses more honest.

We run a lot. That is good, and with this defense, that’s what we should do.
A slow, ball control game is what we should play each and every week, regardless of our opponents. We’ll have a nice test when we take on Indy and Hou, to see if we stick to that formula….and not play to another team’s style.
So, I say NO, because we could have actually run more at this point, and we could still have gore ready to go this week. Running up the gut is tough on a brother’s ankles. If we continue to take it to the teeth of the D, we might cut Coffee short on juice too. I like what I saw in the preseason…a lot of offensive linemen getting out in space and stretching the D laterally. Let Gore/Cof hit the safeties and line backers rather than the 300 pounder’s up front.
I like our guys in space, and we have a heck of a good blocking set of WR’s.
That being said, I also think we could throw more screens. I consider that to be part of the running game too.
he’s been a little too predictable thus far.
this week should present new opportunities for his game plan though.

BESIDES Frank Gore, how many OFFENSIVE players on the 49ers have been touted, by most fans, as being GREAT players?

Answer? Not many (LOL). (Actually, most others, from the QB on down, are almost consistently derided by ‘most’ fans).

Your OC, however, is part of the coaching staff that has the 49ers at 2-1, over ‘better heralded’ OC’s such as Ken Whisenhunt and Gregg Knapp.

Too funny.

I mean, the 49ers BEAT the Arizona Cardinals, opening day. The Arizona Cardinals of Ken Whisenhunt (he being the OC when the Steelers won it all in 2005 and the HC when Arizona came within 2:37 minutes of shocking the world with an upset win in last season’s SB).

The Cardinals of Kurt Warner, who has been BOTH the league MVP and the SB MVP.

The Cradinals of Larry Fitzgerald, commonly considered one of, if not THE best WR in the NFL..

YOUR 49ers, with your ‘sad sack’ OC Jimmy Raye, has the 49ers at 2-1 and ONE play away from being 3-0.

Keep Bit++ing and Moaning.

It’s HYSTERICAL.

(BTW: Ask Dan Snyder, if he’d trade places RIGHT NOW)!

Mike Singletary & Jimmy Raye for Jim Zorn & the ‘premier FA in the offseason,’ Albert Haynesworth.

I’m guessing old Danny boy would make that trade in a NEw York minute!

I think it’s a great question to ask, but a little too soon, don’t you think? I’m anxious to see what the fans will think should you bring this poll up again after week 9.

Personally, I think it’ll take a while for Jimmy Raye to understand what he truly has in Shaun Hill, and that is: a quarterback who knows how NOT to make mistakes at crucial times and, thus, is a great game manager; a quarterback whose primary strength is in making those short, intermediate passes and is taking what the defense gives him; and lastly, a quarterback who is mentally tough and has the ability to rise to the occasion and make plays when needed (Raye should look at the plays he made in wk 1 and 3).

I admit that I too have been frustrated by Coach Rayes play-calling. Headscratchers, I call them. But I think in the coming weeks, we’ll see Raye and Coach Sing open up the playbook for Hill, and give him the opportunity to make some plays. I could be really wrong, but I hope I’m right.

Hey Fooch, I love the work you put out on Ninersnation. I think you do a wonderful job. Think maybe you can start a similar poll, only instead of Jimmy Raye, put Shaun Hill? I’ve been one of his most staunchest supporters, and I’d love to see what fans think. Even with the loss this past weekend, I don’t think any fan out there can deny that this guy is pretty good. His numbers aren’t great, but man! He comes up big when you need him to doesn’t he?

I struggle with my opinion on Raye. I think they are playing correctly by running the ball more than 50% of the time. This should be the strength of the 49ers.

My issue is the lack of creativity in the run game. Every week, we get blitzed up the middle because there is no threat of an outside run game. If they would mix up the run plays and call something other than runs between the tackles, I believe they would do much better in the run game.

I think they should focus on inside the tackles, that is Gore’s strength. But if they never rush against the edge, the 8 in the box will always be between the tackles with Gore.

My concern isn’t with the pass/run ratio. Also, I think the passing game has done well so far.

My only concern is the running plays they are calling. I didn’t keep track, but I only remember a couple of the run plays called that were designed to be runs outside of the tackles. That is where my issue is.

No matter what run/pass plays the 49ers call, I would expect 8-9 guys in the box every week. What jumps out at me is how the 8 guys in the box react. When they 49ers snap the ball, the defense is consistantly crashing between the tackles. My opinion is if the 49ers take 15-20% of those run plays and stretch them outside the tackles, it would keep the defense honest on the run game. I think this would slow down some of the blitzes and keep the defense on its heels.

Other than that, I think the offense is showing good promise and will continue to improve efvery week. Besides, with the defense the 49ers have, they will be competing every week!!!

However,

I am really happy about what is going, but I want a little more panache! Just a little though.