What are they Thinking?
by kezarvet on Sep 29, 2009 8:59 PM PDT
20 comments
That has been the theme on several 49er forums when it was pointed out that Mike Singletary will stick with just two RBs and keep Kory Sheets on the practice squad. Many pointed out his speed and ability to get to the corner as something that is needed to balance the power running that this team likes to feature. Some even say that Sheets should be #2 ahead of Michael Robinson.
Unfortunately, many of these fans are thinking with their hearts and not their heads. Sheets is an excellent pure runner, no question. But, he is a liability as a blocker and that puts Shaun Hill in danger. That is not worth the risk.
Michael Robinson, however, is known as a punishing blocker and is very good in close in one-on-one situations. Just ask Patrick Willis, who found out the hard way when he faced Robinson one on one in Singletary's famous Nutcracker drill. Robinson can also play #2 FB, and is a great receiver out of the backfield. Lest we forget, the second half of last season, Hill and Robinson connected on 17 passes for 201 yards and an average per catch of 11.9 yards. Here is a 36 yard completion against the Rams: CLICK HERE.
That was good enough to be #3 in the NFL among all RBs with ten (10) or more catches. This doesn't even take Robinson's proven leadership qualities as a team captain and star on special teams. Sheets is not ready to take on those responsibilities.
People also underestimate Robinson's ability as a runner. This season he has worked closely with Tom Rathman, and at 225, he is more like the old-time fullback. CLICK HERE to see him gain 97 yards in just 14 carries vs. the Raiders in preseason.
One more important factor is that Michael Robinson has great hands. Not only is he an outstanding receiver out of the backfield, but he has lost only one fumble in his career, and is very dependable in the clutch. He proved he could do it last season. I'm just waiting for Singletary to pull the trigger and utilize this guy's various talents. We need him now.
One more consideration. In order to activate Sheets, Singletary would have to cut one player. Forums are screaming for Mark Roman's head, but let's not make him the fall guy. He has played extremely well in these three games and is an outstanding man for the dime package. Lewis made a great catch. Had we been a bit more creative, we may have run the clock out with under 2:00 and the pass would never have been attempted.
Let's accept the loss and move on. The Rams are waiting...
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Niners Nation's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Niners Nation's writers or editors.
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I agree with your assessment of Robinson
For the most part. Though I do think there would be some opportunities for Sheets to excel against the Rams.
by niners84 on Sep 29, 2009 9:06 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
anybody can against the rams
Go 49ers
by iaalexeeff on Sep 29, 2009 9:24 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I wouldn't keep sheets back to pick up blitzers
I’d send him in the flats and dare other teams to tackle him with D-Baccks in the open field.
BKA optimist prime- Got the Semi runnin' on 49er koolaid!!
Blasphemous beings, the NINERS will never forget!!
Eric Berry anyone?
by rlott#42 on Sep 29, 2009 10:01 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
That's a great idea...
Who’s going to pick up the blitz, then? You can’t have 12 men on. There are many situations in the passing game where if a RB can’t get a block made, the play blows up like the Hindenburg. Really, if you can’t block, you can’t play running back for an NFL team.
by asleepinSF on Sep 30, 2009 9:21 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
You've never seen a RB be the hot route out of the backfield?
Marshall Faulk did it plenty. You can occasionally keep VD back for Pass protect since he’s not really doing that anymore. I am talking about sheets coming in on 3rd downs not every down, mainly pass situations. He can learn to chip, but if it’s a weakness the team should adjust playcalling. We can’t go in with Coffee hurt and Robinaon the only backup. Maybe Morris will handle the bulk of the carries.
BKA optimist prime- Got the Semi runnin' on 49er koolaid!!
Blasphemous beings, the NINERS will never forget!!
Eric Berry anyone?
by rlott#42 on Sep 30, 2009 10:11 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
There is a lot more
to playing RB than just being able to run. Gore is an excellent blocker, but Coffee has shown to be only mediocre right now. It may well be that they HAVE to put Robinson at RB to protect Hill. Hopefully not. I’d like to see Coffee step up but they still need Robinson’s versatility. Harry Sydney who also wore #24, had that type of versatility and backed up Rathman, so Tom knows all about it.
Kezarvet
by kezarvet on Sep 30, 2009 9:58 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
And, if the QB sees the blitz package and has to change the play...
Sheets is the tailback, well, oh, well. Burn a timeout, I guess. You really, really have to block. The difference between using Sheets as a receiver out of the backfield, and using Faulk, is that Faulk could block if he had to. If I’m lined up on D calling the signals, and I see Sheets in the game, we’re bringing everything but the kitchen sink most of the time
by asleepinSF on Sep 30, 2009 10:57 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
The liability of Sheets ?
If the Ol cann’t stop the pass rush or run defense, then wouldn’t it make sense to run away from the DL with outside runs or swing passes ? Coffeee is a straight ahead runner. You cann’t or will not use Coffee in that Fashion. That is where Sheets can make a differences.
Okay, now we have only 2 RB lef plus the FB. The Niners could be left short handed if one of them gets hurt. What then with Atlanta looming up next week ?
by LASVEGASNINER on Sep 30, 2009 10:11 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Robinson
Robinson may be a good blocker in practice, but go back through your game film and and you’ll see him whiff on more blocks than he makes. It;s hard to believe that Rathman is his coach !!! His lead blocking looks more like he’s running with the ball, trying to avoid the defenders. His blitz pick-ups and reads are inconsistant too. I am not impressed.
Nine mile skid, on a ten mile ride ... Hot as a pistol but cool inside
by Shad929 on Sep 30, 2009 10:18 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Both of Sheet's long runs
in the preseason were as a direct result of great blocks by Robinson who sprung him. When I read a post like yours that is so inaccurate I can only assume that you are a Robinson-hater and there are many, although it is undeserved. To say Robinson can’t block is pretty ridiculous. Ask Patrick Willis.
Rossum’s kickoff return for a TD last season was as a result of two blocks by Robinson on the same play. I have watched the game in detail and it is clear that Robinson is our best blocking RB by far. I am not counting Norris who is a fullback. Beyond blocking, you didn’t mention his effectiveness as a receiver out of the backfield during the second half of last season, a talent we need to include in our offense.
Kezarvet
by kezarvet on Sep 30, 2009 10:32 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hater ??!! Go back & review the Vikes game ...
I’m not a HATER just because I disagree with you !!! I’m not a hater period. Maybe I overstated my comment, BUT… check out the first play after Coffee goes out in 1st quarter. Robinson comes in to block on a passing play to the left side and ends up face down on ground without touching anybody. OK, it happens sometimes. Early in 4th quarter, I think it was our scoring drive, 1st & 10, he comes in to block for Coffe on run off right side, Robinson whiffs. Next play, passing play, he runs into crowd in middle to block, misses blitzing LB, who was picked up by Coffee. As far as being our “best blocking RB by far”, I’d put both Gore & Coffee above him. He is OK as a receiver, but when we did throw to him on 3rd down in the 4th quarter, he made the catch, stopped, tried a juke, and got snuffed, no YAC. I’m not saying he would have gotten a 1st, but I would have prefered him not hesitating, putting his head down & pushing up field immediatly, and making the tackler work and maybe feel a little pain. Maybe he could have broken it, or not, … but at least he would have gotten a couple more yards. The bottom line is I’m not a hater because I would like to see Sheets activated and disagree with you.. Ive been a 9er fan since John Brodie days and stuck with them through all the tough times and NEVER booed my team. I’m an involded fan and 49er faithful, not a HATER !!!!
Nine mile skid, on a ten mile ride ... Hot as a pistol but cool inside
by Shad929 on Sep 30, 2009 10:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm proud of you since you are a loyal fan and not a hater.
When Brodie was playing QB for the Niners I had been a fan for 25 years and had stuck with them to that point and had to wait another 10 before we got our first championship. You would have loved Frankie Albert.
As to Sheets being activated, it makes absolutely no sense. He is a LIABILITY as a blocker. He is terrible in pass protection. When you say Robinson is only OK as a receiver, you are disregarding the fact that he was #3 among ALL NFL RBs in yards per reception last season with 11.9.
The fact is that Robinson has never been given an opportunity to develop as an RB. He has started one game, and averaged less than 2 carries per game since he got here. What we have to go by is Singletary who calls him an excellent pass protector and his best Taser QB. Singletary also said that Sheets is in no way ready to play because he hasn’t been able to learn his blocking assignments. Sorry about that.
Kezarvet
by kezarvet on Oct 1, 2009 6:04 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Last year.
After Zak Keasey went down. I recall that we tried out MR at the fullback spot, and he just couldn’t cut it as a blocker, in that situation. That’s how we ended up bringing Moran Norris back. compared to Sheets, and Coffee though, yeah he’s a better blocker.
He does seem to have some proven ability when it comes to catching the ball. so I think he will best be used as a 3rd down back for the next couple weeks.
I wan’t to like MR, he must have something going for him, since he’s the team captain. Every time I close my eyes and think of him though, I just see him as our short yardage bruising back. that always gets stuffed.
Barry Zito: Mike Hampton with a guitar
by JakeS on Sep 30, 2009 10:58 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
You are stuck on two plays.
The first is the bonehead move by Nolan vs. the Rams. The second is the bonehead call for a 1-yard plunge from the 2 yard line by Martz. Ask Brian Dawkins if Robinson gets stuffed or not:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ttf4EmNm5k
The Keasey scenario never happened. Robinson played backup FB the second half of the season thanks to Singletary and was used primarily as a receiver. He has always blocked very well. In a Martz offense, the fullback is for blocking only. Walsh used the fullback like Rathman and Craig — as a weapon.
Kezarvet
by kezarvet on Sep 30, 2009 1:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
You have to bring Sheets up for depth at the position since we are a smash mouth team.
It would be silly t not bring him up. Hill is not playing and is on the roster, Spurlock can go as well. Someone can go I just think that Sheets adds that gamebreaking dimension that only Gore has. We need a gamechanger to fill in the void from Gore’s absence!
BKA optimist prime- Got the Semi runnin' on 49er koolaid!!
Blasphemous beings, the NINERS will never forget!!
Eric Berry anyone?
by rlott#42 on Sep 30, 2009 7:58 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Singletary disagrees with you.
I think the answer is no right now. He is still learning. There are a lot of protection issues and things like that he is still learning. We do not want to put him in a situation where he is not ready to go. So that is the situation there."
On why he isn’t putting Sheets on the 53-man roster:
"At this point, the worst thing we could do is put him in a situation where he can’t win. Then we have a confidence issue and I don’t want to do that. He is a young man who is striving to come on and learn the game and get himself prepared to go at some point in time. But now is not the time."
You also must remember that ball security is vital to Singletary and Sheets lost his starting job for a time last season due to excessive fumbling.
Kezarvet
by kezarvet on Sep 30, 2009 8:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
One thing I've not seen
is how are Sheets hands? Maybe I missed it but I didn’t see it and I don’t know. Sheets can maybe not be a Marshall Faulk (or Chris Johnson) but he may be a Kevin Faulk.
by ChesapeakeBay9er on Oct 7, 2009 5:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Remeber the ARZ and SEA games
How many carries did the 3rd RB get?
The offensive system is built around ONE RB, with the 2nd RB coming in to freshen up the No.1 guy.
Coffee is going to get the same workload that Gore had.
Robinson will probably get >5 carries.
Where does Sheets fit in?
What we've got here is a failure to communicate.
by chikmagnet_565 on Oct 1, 2009 9:05 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
You're absolutely right.
Coffee will get the majority of the carries and Robinson will probably be on the receiving end of a few passes. Both of them are capable of pass protection, something Sheets has not learned.
Kezarvet
by kezarvet on Oct 1, 2009 12:00 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Good Read
I pretty much agree with everything in that article, I’m not a fan of Mark Roman the starter, but I like him as a backup and Dime guy. Please don’t blame Roman for the last play of the Vikings game, he had good coverage on that play it was an amazing throw and catch. Overall that was just a well played game by two evenly matched teams, the negative is obviously that we lost. The positive is that in week four the 49ers looked like they were in a playoff game as far as quality of football.
by Johnnysixnut on Oct 7, 2009 5:32 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
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