Edwards in the End Zone

by Pat Willie on Nov 16, 2011 2:07 PM PST

I could swear we had another reciever on the roster besides Ted Ginn and Michael Crabtree. I'm expecting Braylon Edwards to break out against the NFC West. He had some pretty good receptions against the Giants. He also had a twenty yarder against the Redskins. This will be his fourth game back from injury, and he has to be at full strength by now. I'd be surprised if he doen't find the end zone this Sunday. Braylon is a veteren reciever that knows how to get the ball if it comes his way. Things could get really interesting if my man gets going.

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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Running funny

I haven’t watched him that closely but it still doesn’t seem like he is running completely normally in my opinion.

But my hope is that the entire offense will get more and more efficient as the season progresses.

I would hope that Williams can contribute.

I don’t think that VD has really been utilized completely.

Crabs and Alex seem to be getting better and better together.

DW is looking good and I think getting better.

If Ginn could learn to focus more fully he would be awesome.

Braylon has a ton of upside as does this entire offense. I can’t wait to see it all come together.

Joe, Jerry, Steve, and....Who is next?

by 16to80fan on Nov 16, 2011 3:09 PM PST reply actions

I noticed the same thing

On that first out pattern that Alex through him it looked almost like he was jogging rather than running. I don’t think he’s 100% yet.

by Nohandle on Nov 16, 2011 8:56 PM PST up reply actions

This offense has so many playmakers...

It will be tough to keep everyone happy, only so many plays in a game, only so many touches to go around. Tough to distribute to Gore, Kendall, VD, Delanie, Crabs, Braylon and even Ginn (though I hate his lack of courage at times) enough to keep ’em all content.

Good we keep winning, good that it seems like a pretty unselfish bunch, good that Harbaugh’s I guy who’s probably KEENLY aware of the potential for guys to get unhappy because of their lack or perceived lack of touches/targets.

I have many leather-bound books.

by I'm Friends With Merlin Olsen on Nov 17, 2011 10:05 PM PST up reply actions

I expect a big game either Sunday or Thursday

I think he’s still a little off, but I agree that it feels like it’s time for the targets to come his way. Alex threw the slant in the end zone against the Giants a little too straight down the field (I’m pretty sure he wanted to keep the ball away from traffic and put it in a place where only Edwards could get it) and Edwards’ slant was a little too straight down the field, so the ball and the man were going parallel to one another. In any case, like you, I think we’ll see him come back strong in the next couple of games.

by Nohandle on Nov 16, 2011 9:05 PM PST reply actions

Even before his injury

He wasn’t a huge impact to our offense. I’m wanting to see more against our West opponents.

by Ougadas on Nov 17, 2011 1:26 AM PST reply actions

He was injured before we got going on offense

It was early in the season and with a short offseason it wasn’t time to open the playbook. We’ve heard from a couple players, including Edwards, how the playbook wasn’t even being used all the way.

I think now is about the time we start doing all those things we can do in the passing game to take some heat off the running backs. I get the feeling we are going to show it to the NFC West before we share it with the rest of the league as way of showing loyalty to our closest neighbors.

"It's tough. Everyone's geared up for the run and they hit you with that."
--Linebacker D'Qwell Jackson on 49ers throwing a pass to Isaac Sopoaga late in the game to pick up a crucial first down.

The Dallas Cowboys are the NFL's greatest underachievers.

by Pat Willie on Nov 17, 2011 8:59 AM PST up reply actions

This is true

He’s just got to show it now if he wants a renewal on a decent contract. No way we are going to play contract poker with him on what he is providing us now.

by Ougadas on Nov 17, 2011 9:20 AM PST up reply actions

I'm thinking it's a matter of getting to full strength and developing timing.

He should be running the routes Morgan was doing so well at. Joshua Morgan and Alex were becoming an item until that last play against Tampa Bay. That was a huge loss, but I think Edwards can do the same things.

Alex and Joshua had been playing together for a while. It probably takes some time to get perfect on the timing. Alex seems to take a long time to get truely comfortable.

"It's tough. Everyone's geared up for the run and they hit you with that."
--Linebacker D'Qwell Jackson on 49ers throwing a pass to Isaac Sopoaga late in the game to pick up a crucial first down.

The Dallas Cowboys are the NFL's greatest underachievers.

by Pat Willie on Nov 17, 2011 9:41 AM PST up reply actions

That is the perfect spot for him

Those quick slants and just fading across the field and finding a hole in the coverage.

by Ougadas on Nov 17, 2011 12:39 PM PST up reply actions

I don't care who it is

Alex needs to start hitting the red zone targets. Seems like he’s rushing the slants or something. I dunno, just inaccuracy I guess. Looks like he can make easy tosses to the back of the end zone instead of gunning it into the ground at times.

by mrg80 on Nov 17, 2011 4:01 AM PST reply actions

The fade to Crabtree was catchable.
Edwards was held on the slant route.

by HighFive on Nov 17, 2011 9:55 AM PST up reply actions

You do realize that most Qb's in The National Football League miss about 35 % of their passes ...!!

I'm your " Huckelberry "...it's just my game ..( .AleX ) was asked , what do you think about all the game manager talk ... AleX i guess i just managed myself a VIctory ... Extend the Man ...!!

by Edggy on Nov 17, 2011 11:47 AM PST up reply actions

You do realize

Alex is converting about 5% in the end zone? Not saying it’s all his fault, but it ain’t working.

by mrg80 on Nov 17, 2011 5:01 PM PST up reply actions

Ya he knows it can get better

He even said so. Too bad he doesn’t have that passers touch that gets the ball to the exact right spot every time. Some of the amazing throws I see other guys make, I don’t see so much in Alex’s game. He has other things he does well, but if he did those throws he would seem more accurate.

I don’t think Harbaugh is about putting the ball at risk of turnovers. I think part of the game we’re playing is not turning over the ball and giving our defense alot of chances at getting turnovers by making the other offense march the whole field.

"It's tough. Everyone's geared up for the run and they hit you with that."
--Linebacker D'Qwell Jackson on 49ers throwing a pass to Isaac Sopoaga late in the game to pick up a crucial first down.

The Dallas Cowboys are the NFL's greatest underachievers.

by Pat Willie on Nov 17, 2011 6:31 PM PST up reply actions

Hopefully he gets it before the playoffs

If Alex was converting 50% of his open end zone passes, he’d have at least 5 more TDs and people wouldn’t be calling him a manager.

by mrg80 on Nov 17, 2011 6:49 PM PST up reply actions

Open

Open in the end zone is a gift. He has to be able to get it to the open guy.

"It's tough. Everyone's geared up for the run and they hit you with that."
--Linebacker D'Qwell Jackson on 49ers throwing a pass to Isaac Sopoaga late in the game to pick up a crucial first down.

The Dallas Cowboys are the NFL's greatest underachievers.

by Pat Willie on Nov 18, 2011 12:23 AM PST up reply actions

I'd like him to hit 100% of his Red Zone throws

Hell, I’d like him to hit 100% of his throws, period.

(If he does, I will MAYBE stop criticizing him… ;D)

We are 8-1, though… I’m thinking those Red Zone Stats are not quite as indicative of QB-play as some might think.

I have many leather-bound books.

by I'm Friends With Merlin Olsen on Nov 17, 2011 10:10 PM PST up reply actions

Wait, Why?

"It's tough. Everyone's geared up for the run and they hit you with that."
--Linebacker D'Qwell Jackson on 49ers throwing a pass to Isaac Sopoaga late in the game to pick up a crucial first down.

The Dallas Cowboys are the NFL's greatest underachievers.

by Pat Willie on Nov 18, 2011 12:22 AM PST up reply actions

Lot of reasons...

Off the top of my head:

-Small sample size… Like BA early in the season in baseball, the numbers can fluctuate WILDLY game-to-game and week-to-week.

-Red Zone QBR does NOT take into account that QBs w/good running games might give the ball to their RB for the goalline plunge rather than rack up a bunch of short TD throws that drive the QBR up.

-Red Zone QBR does NOT take into account that YPA will be different because the throws may be shorter. This could drop QBR.

-Red Zone QBR doesn’t REWARD the QB for throwing the ball away and NOT RISKING the turnover. Completion % might drop, total TD passes might drop because of this. Red Zone QBR would then drop…

You get the idea… Look, Alex Smith is HAVING THE BEST SEASON OF HIS CAREER BY FAR. Anyone actually think he’s playing WORSE in the Red Zone this year?

:-D

It’s not just another example of stats not painting a very accurrate picture, it’s simply common sense.

I have many leather-bound books.

by I'm Friends With Merlin Olsen on Nov 18, 2011 9:07 AM PST up reply actions

Yes to...

Anyone actually think he’s playing WORSE in the Red Zone this year?

Stats inside the 20
2011: 13/28 =46.4% w/ 5 TD
2010: 30/42 = 71.4% w/ 9 TD
2009: 23/43 = 53.5% w/ 10 TD

It’s not a small sample size at 9 games in with projected much higher number of red zone trips, even though they didn’t throw it a lot in the red zone early. Wish I had stats from 10 and in, since that’s where he seems to be missing the slants.

by mrg80 on Nov 18, 2011 9:57 AM PST up reply actions

I started him on my fantasy team since Schaub went down

I figure Alex has no where to go but up. Too many good players on this team to have Alex keep coming up short.

"It's tough. Everyone's geared up for the run and they hit you with that."
--Linebacker D'Qwell Jackson on 49ers throwing a pass to Isaac Sopoaga late in the game to pick up a crucial first down.

The Dallas Cowboys are the NFL's greatest underachievers.

by Pat Willie on Nov 18, 2011 11:10 AM PST up reply actions

They have to be working on this

I trust they’ll work it out. Games against the NFC west will help.

by mrg80 on Nov 18, 2011 11:42 AM PST up reply actions

So...

If he goes 5 for 5 w/3 TDs this week, what will that do to his Red Zone QBR?

How many of those incompletions in each of those seasons was a GOOD THROW AWAY to avoid a sack or an INT? Did you WATCH THE PROVERBIAL FILM and break down EVERY ONE OF THOSE THROWS?

How many Red Zone running TDs do we have this year as oppossed to past years?

Are we SCORING MORE POINTS overall as oppossed to years past?

How many of those passes were dropped?

You get the idea… We could do this all day. Red Zone QBR, pretty meaningless in my opinion and you didn’t even cite that. You just lobbed up Comp% and TDs. With a sample sized no greater than 43!!!

He completes 7 balls in a row in the Red Zone and, BAM, now he’s 20 for 35. And what if 4 of those happen to be 1 to 2 yd TD passes? What if they aren’t clutch throws, but just great playfakes and lobs to uncovered Justin Peele or even Joe Staley? Do the STATS then tell you that Alex is ON FIRE IN THE RED ZONE?

C’mon….. ;D

I have many leather-bound books.

by I'm Friends With Merlin Olsen on Nov 18, 2011 1:31 PM PST up reply actions

You Don't Need Stats To Tell You.....

……what you can see with your ol’ eyeballs.

Alex is a BETTER QB THIS YEAR. In all areas.

Yeah… We need to get better at turning 3’s into 7’s. But that’s not all on Alex.

Maybe ROMAN IS STRUGGLING W/PLAYCALLING IN THE RED ZONE…

Maybe Defenses are playing the 49ers very tough and not giving them much…

Maybe, maybe, maybe on a lot of things. I DON’T KNOW THE ANSWER. I don’t get to break down 49ers gamefilm for a living… That’s the only way to know for sure. BUT ALEX IS PLAYING GREAT FOOTBALL. Why do any of you think it’s LOGICAL that a sample size of 28 passess and the corresponding Red Zone Stats combined w/ZERO gamefilm study is enough to say “Alex Smith is struggling in the Red Zone”.

Did I miss something…? Did Harbaugh or Roman say that Alex was struggling in the Red Zone? Is this what it feels like to be an Alex Smith apologist? Weird…

I have many leather-bound books.

by I'm Friends With Merlin Olsen on Nov 18, 2011 1:39 PM PST up reply actions

chill out =p

Alex IS having a great year, but the red zone conversions are poor. I think it’s quite obvious that the Niners are struggling and it’s also obvious that Alex is missing a lot of throws down there. They need to improve. What’s the big deal here?

by mrg80 on Nov 18, 2011 2:43 PM PST up reply actions

=P yourself...!

lol…

I’m not seeing all the missed throws… I’m seeing Alex understand that 3’s are better than an INT, an incompletion can be a lot better than a sack, a sack can be better than a pick, etc, etc, etc.

A see no discernible difference between him in the Red Zone between this year and year’s past. If anything, I just think he’s playing better EVERYWHERE ON THE FIELD.

If anything, I think the Red Zone playcalling has been less than dynamic.

But again, no one knows outside of that building in Santa Clara and those who DO KNOW, they don’t say anything anyway. ;D

I have many leather-bound books.

by I'm Friends With Merlin Olsen on Nov 18, 2011 3:00 PM PST up reply actions

I've been watching the games and the passing in the red zone is a bit bland

I don’t mind it because we’re winning. The stats are deceptive, especially the % and yards and such. I think a part of our success is the utter lack of respect for the elements of those stats and the coaches completely ignoring the popular demand for flashy plays. These guys are winning it blue collar style.

I’m blue collar, so I know what it is that defines blue collar success. One of the things blue collar culture embraces is that when the job needs to get done we find a way to get it done. If we have to get dirty and we don’t look pretty doing it, that makes it all the more rewarding. A blue collar guy will get it done, especially when it has to be done right now, and it’s going to take extra effort to get it done.

Notice the % are low and the passing touchdowns are down, and the yardage is less than everyone else. But we are winning. We score a lot of points. Here is why, we don’t flash our passing game like a piece of plastic so everyone knows our buying power. When we need a pass play, we can pull one out and make it work. We can get it to our Nose Tackle if we want to. Part of our success is the way we don’t care how it looks to the children. We’re playing grown up football.

"It's tough. Everyone's geared up for the run and they hit you with that."
--Linebacker D'Qwell Jackson on 49ers throwing a pass to Isaac Sopoaga late in the game to pick up a crucial first down.

The Dallas Cowboys are the NFL's greatest underachievers.

by Pat Willie on Nov 18, 2011 4:46 PM PST up reply actions