He does’nt want to turn the ball over it crucial situations, but still trusts Hill to open up the passing game. And if they focus on the run we won’t mindlessly pound it in there. (Except when there is 2 mins left vs Min.)

Like I said last week, we need to try some short pass plays, screens and such. We did try and my hats off to Ray. You can teach an old dog new tricks. Hopefully we will execute these plays this week.

Yes the offense is vanilla, but it really seems to be that Raye is handicapped by what our offensive line is capable of in terms of pass blocking. I’d much rather have Raye accept reality and work with it while we’re trying to improve it than Martz insisting one 9 consecutive 7-step drops behind a line that simply isn’t built for it.

Granted the offense didn’t make the calls look great because of the lack of execution. But the calls I wanted to see, the screens, the sweeps, the small stuff was there a lot more. I would like to see more draws but with way we were throwing the ball, those plays would obviously have been for no gain. Overall, I thought the play calling was an improvement which is all we can hope for.

exactly, last week I would have voted No. But after that in the last game I saw some improvement like the types of runs and passing calls in passing situations. Although not enough impovement to warrant a Yes this week. Like at the end of the 1st half with over 1 minute remaining and multiple time outs remaining, and a unsatisfied 7-0 lead, it was a run. I didnt like that.
But after Atlanta game I’m sure I’ll make up my mind if its a Yes or No if there isnt a Maybe option.

you can always say this or that about play calling but the truth is we are winning. ball control little turnovers and finding to get vernon in the mix is a great plus. we do need to improve but that will always be true and other than a fluke pass by farve we’d be 4-0 so what really is there to complain about.

It’s not that his playbook is the problem, he just needs to open up the offense a little more and call plays that WIN the game. Right now it seems as if he’s calling plays not to lose. I’ll admit I’m still a little salty with him over the Vikings game, but overall I think he has the right plays in place to make us a decent offense. He just needs to be more aggressive and trust Hill.

…and it’s not b/c of what we did v the rams.
I have been “watching” the game as a play by play ticker- so i haven’t really been able to assess the X and O’s, but what I have noticed is that we have been in control of the field position battle by the end of 1 or middle of 2. It’s the overall strategy of the team to play a conservative, clock eating game. JR’s been without his top guy (Gore) for half the season, and the offense didn’t (gulp) miss a beat.
Yes, our offense is not high powered by any means, but it’s a unit as part of an overall team. Seems to me like the coaching staff have masterminded more than just each individ. game, but have a “season plan”. Play slow, field position football. Bring the O Line along slowly with plenty of room to correct problems progressively, and don’t lose early season games. They’re on top of their division, this Defense is elite, and the Offense is getting better with each week.

So JR gets a ‘Yes’ based on the future value of present play calls.

I voted no because they are using poor pass blocking as an excuse to run more. The reason we have poor pass blocking is because of our vanilla playcalling. Obviously the middle of the line isn’t all world, but when every team knows you’re run-run-pass you better believe the end rushers are prepared to rush the passer as well as the DT’s. I don’t mind the plays that are called, I just wish there were more regular first down and second down passes called to move the extra man out of the box.

The thing that bothers me the most is that Shaun Hill is successful when given the ability to get into a groove i.e. not just throwing on 3rd and long (think of the drive against AZ where 8/9 plays were passes or against the Vikes in the 4th where he went 5/5 passing on the drive that gave us the lead). I feel like the team goes three and out (which happens a lot) mainly due to the fact that no rhythm is allowed to be established in the passing game and then passing on must pass situations with long gains necessary for first downs.

As Fooch pointed out, there was a lot more diversity in the play calling against the Rams, so I gave Jimmy an attaboy on that game and the fact that this offense won’t lose a game very often. But it sure won’t win any, either, and it all boils down to the OL play. If that doesn’t improve, neither will the offense. It’s that simple.

The Atlanta game presents an opportunity for offensive success, however. They’re weak against both the run and pass, but in order to keep the Falcon’s powerful offense off the field, the 9ers should run and use up the clock, hopefully turning the game into defensive struggle that favors SF. Even this OL should be able to open holes in Atlanta’s depleted D-line. I’m hoping for a Coffee breakout game and more of the VD magic in the end zone. I don’t think he 9er defense will have much trouble handling Turner, but Norwood might be another matter because the smaller, quicker backs appear to give the team some trouble, as in Seattle. If Ryan can be put in 3rd & long situations, our outstanding Dime package can handle any combination of receivers they care to put on the field and J. Smith and Parys will bring the pressure.

Hey Coach, Need for more creative but conservative play package -calling is needed for ball control, on third and short and inside the two yard line. They have too predictable and too conversative to be successful against eight in the box stagged defenses. They were stoped in Phx and Minnesota this year and at goal line in phx last year! Lost two of there.

For example, play action strategy with roll outs, belly series with toss or fakes and pass to blocking crossing tight ends or a POWER PACKAGE by placing a guard (Refrig in Chicago) at full back position and two more guards in place of wideouts! Use a package with Nate Davis / or QBs Battle/ M. Robinson as an option roll out runner/ passer on quick safe set pass routes.
Please note that one BIG difference would be that even if they did not make the gain --more clock time would be used to assist the defense. In Minnesota, that “may” have saved a victory! Hey Coach Raye, I am semi retired and a 49er fan since 1955, I will volunteer to assist you for a cup of coffee, lunch and be gone by dinner!

i want to see better blocking schemes. I enjoyed the 3 wide outs where Morgan cought it at the scrimage than ran with the blockers. I wana see trick blocking too where the TE cuts in the back field and the runner goes where the TE was. Im not an expert but have seen some teams do some impressive things.

looks to me like the yes votes are a lot more thoughtful than the no’s…
to think that the defense will get tired of holding up the offense is a childish notion. that doesn’t happen in pro football. to call us predictable is a compliment when you look at our record.
If you want our team to air it out and leave our backs to protect the ball on stretch plays…so be it. you’re bound to see 50+ points on the board…but we’ll be on the losing end.

Even if the defense did get tired of holding up the offense, Singletary wouldn’t let that poison into the locker room. As long as they are winning, I’m sure they’re thankful and don’t have much to complain about.

I think the play calling was better for this game, however, I didn’t see any of the first half and from the sounds of it, I’m glad I didn’t. In order for me to give a “yes” approval, I’m going to have to see a very solid offense from Raye and I have yet to see that. I’m hoping he can get a “yes” vote out of me after the Atlanta game. I would like to see more passing out of Hill from him and it bothers me that all Hill has been through, the coaching staff STILL isn’t confident enough in him to make plays for this team. I will say it was nice to see run plays that weren’t straight up the middle though. That was an improvement.

 I got some Rocky Road instead of plain old Vanilla ! Good ! Lets keep it up and open up the Offense. This weekend will say a lot about Raye. People tend to fall back to old habits, I hope not !