49ers-Colts: Offensive Position Battles To Watch On Sunday

is by far the most interesting person to watch.
sadly vann is already gone (why so early?) so the preseason battle at punt returner is essentially concluded.
however, between kick returns, slot action, and ginn on the outside, not to mention our 2 new lineman i am so stoked for this game.

of coffee’s interview discussing his retirement with barrows. worth a read.

Guess we’ll see more FB runs Sunday. Anyone know what RB is available out there? Buffalo’s Cal guy turned his ankle, if it’s not too bad maybe they’d trade him.

Is there any chance Michael Robinson will look better when there are holes in the line to run through? If so, we are in good shape with the current roster while Dixon learns how to pass protect and hang on to the ball.

No matter how realistic they try to make training camp, nothing can substitute for game situations. The speed and intensity of the game really can not be simulated in practice against teammates that are being careful not to hurt each other. In pre season, you have players on both sides of the ball that are desperate to show their talent and skills, and will be going at 110% trying to make a name for themselves. This often leads to spectacular plays (as well as spectacular blunders.) But it should be a good first measuring stick to see where our players are in relation to other teams.

1) Anthony Dixon: Dixon has been thrust into the spotlight with the announcement of Coffee’s surprise retirement. Dixon will have to use these 4 pre season games to get up to speed and prove he can handle the backup running back position on a regular basis. I am sure Coach Raye will be putting Dixon in all kinds of situations to see where he is and what he needs to work on. You can bet that Raye will put Dixon on the spot on passing plays, closely watching how Dixon does pass blocking and picking up his assignments. This will be the MOST important area for Dixon to improve on. If he can not pass block, other teams will be able to key on Dixon and know it is a running play when ever he comes in. So Dixon MUST be able to prove by the 4th Pre Season game that he is adequate at pass blocking or his role in the offense will be very limited. Second, Raye will put the ball in Dixon’s hands in a variety of ways to see if he is able to move the ball and the sticks. Sweeps, traps, pitches, inside, outside, you name it, Dixon will run it. Another very big area where Dixon will have to prove himself is catching the ball out of the backfield. I am sure Dixon will get at least a few screen passes and short check down passes to see if he can catch the ball and make things happen. He might even shift into a slot position and run routes from there on occasion. It is important for Dixon to prove he can catch the ball and be part of the passing game so teams are not able to key on him when he enters the game. If Dixon can prove he is proficient at receiving, teams wont be able to key on just the run when he is in the game. I am excited to see the raw talent of Dixon on display, and I hope he does well both running and catching the ball. Even though as 2nd string his touches will be limited (unless there is a blowout or Gore is (knock on wood) injured), he needs to prove he is up to the task of filling in.

2) Michael Crabtree: Crabtree needs to show that he has learned the entire playbook and that he can execute all the plays in the passing game. It was a very impressive start to his career last year coming in with no training camp after a long holdout to put up great numbers like he did. Now, Crabs needs to show that he is ready to be a real force in the passing game and become a weapon that Smith can go to for big gains and important first downs. I want to see Crabtree build on his strong rookie performance and force opposing defenses to double team him. I also want to see Crabtree make opposing defenses PAY if they try to cover him one on one. Crabtree isn’t a typical speed burner receiver. He is a fast receiver who has great hands and could become the Niners go to possession receiver on 3rd down. He needs to show that he can catch the ball in traffic, and catch balls that are not perfectly thrown. Because we all know that Smith doesn’t make many “PERFECT” passes, Crabtree needs to show that he can make the adjustments necessary to haul in even bad passes and make something out of nothing. I am excited to see how Crabtree does in his sophomore effort with a whole training camp and OTA’s under his belt. He sure was impressive with the limited playbook he had last season. I look forward to seeing Crabtree with a full arsenal of moves and routes.

Kyle Williams: I look forward to seeing not only Williams the punt returner succeed, but Williams the receiver succeed as well. Can he get open in press coverage? Can he catch the not so perfect ball that Smith throws? Can he catch balls over the middle knowing he is going to get hit hard? Can he beat one on one coverage and make defenses pay for not bringing a safety over to help? Williams has a chance to really make an impact on the offense this season.

Dom Ziegler: Is this Ziggy’s year to shine? He has put in his dues the past 3 years going through all the OTA’s and Training Camps, and practice squads, and I think it is now or never for Ziggy. I think Ziegler is the one receiver who knows the offense best and has the most rapport with Smith because of how long they have been teammates. I hope Ziegler really shines in these 4 Pre Season games and finally makes the 53 man roster. The stars are perfectly aligned for Ziggy to make it this year.

The Offensive Line: Other than the performance of Alex Smith this season, the most important and critical area that the Niners need to see improvement in is the OL. There has been more camp drama on this unit than any other area of the team. Will the rookies be able to handle the pressure of starting? Will the line stay healthy enough to compete ? Smith, more than any other QB, needs time to make the decisions necessary to succeed in the passing game. The OL will be the area most fans will be focusing on, because it is critical to the success of the team. I think the most we can hope for is a young hungry line that has growing pains for the first 5 games or so and then starts to come together and improve from that point till the end of the season. But that scenario will only happen if the players now penciled in stay healthy and the coaching staff of Solari and Brown are able to mold this unit in a “Trial by Fire” method. I think that with the youth that the coaches have to work with that the OL will become a strength of the team before the end of the season.

The Defensive Backfield: This is the only area of the defense that worries me. Our starting corners are getting a little long in the tooth. Success against the pass is part coverage of receivers and part pressure on the QB from the Defensive line. If one unit is strong it helps the other unit to succeed. Our Defensive Line has a chance to be very good this year,and that will help the DB’s a lot. It is impossible to cover a WR for more that a 5 second count, so the DL is really going to have to get to the QB or pressure the QB to make bad throws. The DB’s job is to give the DL a chance to do their job by not allowing WR’s to get wide open. We have good starting Corners, but the 2nd string is questionable. Hopefully the young defensive backs are able to step up their game and really press opposing wide receivers and maintain coverage as long as is necessary for the DL to do their job. The Passing game is how opposing teams attack the Niners defense because of how strong the Niners are against the run. I hope the DB’s stay healthy and step their games up this season.

The PR/KR/Special teams: Niners were terrible on special teams last season, with the exception of the Field Goal unit and the Punter. The Addition of Kyle Williams and Ted Ginn should be a major improvement over the returners we had last season. Singletary and the front office made a concerted effort to improve this area of the team, and I hope that we are not at the bottom of the league statistically for Kick/Punt returns like we were last season. With a top 5 defense like the Niners are likely to be this season, field position is critical! If we can improve our return yardage by 10-12 extra yards per return, it would be HUGE for the offense and the team as a whole! Punt and Kick coverage teams need to continue to improve as well. But the return game should be better this season because there is talent returning the ball now.

As you can see, most of the exciting camp battles are on the offensive side of the ball because there has been a lot of change on offense, a lot of new talent brought in to improve the offense, and therefore more mystery as to whether or not the Niners can improve in this area. The Niners Defense will keep the team in games, but the Niners need the Offense to be much more productive than what they were last year. Longer drives, higher conversion rate on 3rd down, less 2nd and long and 3rd and long situations, better starting position after kickoffs, more big gainers in the passing game, and better overall play calling are what the Niners offense is striving for. All these are possible with the improvements and additions made in the off season. Improvement on Offense will help our Defense! If the Offense has the ball, that means the defense is on the sideline catching their breath and saving energy for the all important 4th quarter. Far too often last year, the offense went 3 and out and the defense had to pick the offensive up and make big defensive stands. We lost several games we should have won last year because our defense ran out of gas in the 4th quarter because the defense was exhausted earlier in the game trying to make up for the mistakes of the offensive unit. If the offense is making first downs, forcing opposing defenses out of having 8 and 9 men in the box to stop Gore with a successful passing game, and moving the ball and the chains will help the our Defense too! If the Offense is churning up yards and clock in the first 3 quarters, the Defense will still have gas left in the tank at the end of the game. Far too often last year, the offense turned the ball over on the Niner side of the 50. There were way too many 3 and outs that resulted in punts from deep in Niners territory and the defense had to come back onto the field without even getting a breather. I hope that the improvements on Offense succeed because if they do the Niners are going to be a team that is hard to beat!! If the Niners Offense can find a way to protect Smith and he can successfully pass the ball, Frank Gore is going to have a MONSTER YEAR! The Rookie Offensive Linemen that the Niners drafted are EARTH MOVERS!! Gore will have HOLES to run through, which should make Frank even more successful and help Dixon to succeed as well. If the running game is successful, then play action passes will be far more effective! So the Passing game and the Running game go hand in hand. And as the Offense succeeds, the Defense will be able to conserve more energy and be ready make those all important defensive stands in the 4th quarter!! I hope that the young offensive linemen are able to plow gaping holes for our running backs to go through and eventually dominate the line of scrimmage. I hope that the Niners are eventually able to salt away games with a dominating running attack that can churn out the yards and eat up the clock. There is nothing offensive linemen like better than firing off the ball and knocking the heck out of the defensive linemen in the running game! I can envision Gore having a career year this season !! If Gore has a career year and the passing game comes together as they are planning, that will make the Niners the team to beat in the NFC Worst….ahh I mean West. Now that is if all goes according to plan, and there are no more Unwanted Injuries (KNOCK ON WOOD ). I am SO looking forward to a productive Pre Season and an Exciting year!! GO NINERS !!!