Greg Roman and the 49ers offense

By the way, where are the slant routes, and drags over the middle. Why do we keep throwing to the flats for a gain of 1 yard?. Why isn’t Frank Gore being utilized out of the backfield?

I actually spent a few minutes last night pining for the old RB middle post, that the Niners used to run so well (under Mariucci was it?).

The play calling was horrid, no excuse for not having a ton of blitz killer type plays worked in since we had the same exact thing happen against the ravens, to me the OLINE wasnt doing that bad, the blitzes were serious blitzes with more than 5 usually coming, and they timed them well. Alex could have worked the count a bit better but it is hard to do on the road and the cards were getting off super quick on the snap. What we didn’t see enough of is outside pitches, reverses, screens, slants, drags, and play actions. Need to see more single back 2 TE 2 WR formations. Less shotgun, pound the rock hard. Gore had 7 yards a carry, POUND the damn rock then play action. Way to complicated in the red zone, how about some simple damn slants and have ur RB run out to the flats, how about running the damn ball!!!!!!!!

Who do you think you are, Rocky332? I agree that playcalling has been an issue over the past few games, but I do know a few things:
1. To all of our armchair coaches: I’m willing to bet that if you were calling plays, we’d be 0-13. Under Roman, we’re 10-3.\
2. Roman and Harbaugh can do better. This is what is so confusing to me, but I know that Roman is a good OC because I watched him work wonders at Stanford (and before you say that calling a college offense is different, Stanford ran a pro-style offense for the duration of Roman’s tenure). Not only that, but he was doing fine earlier in the season, as well. I think that the problem is either a lack of execution or Roman and Harbaugh being conservative because I have really no idea what’s going on otherwise. Especially with the tight ends – they had great ones in college, as in the NFL, and their quarterback is most effective at throwing between the hashes – so why on earth don’t they get targets? It’s mystifying to me.

I am starting to wonder about play calling. However, I’ll never say Greg Roman doesn’t know a lot about football. I’m just curious what he’s seeing and thinking I really don’t like the play calling in short yardage scenarios and red zone scenarios.

However, let’s put the brakes on for a moment. This team clinched the division (and in all reality they had it won several weeks ago). This team is trying to see what they can do when they focus on the pass. I love the aggressiveness. However, in the search for the answer, none of us are liking the answer we’ve gotten. But there’s still time.

Everyone knows this team can pound it and have a controlled, short passing game with some play action (anyone remember when this team scored touchdowns in the redzone? Yes, it happened in the first half of the season). But Harbaugh & Roman are trying to see how much they can develop Smith & Co. to get as ready for playing the Saints and Packers as they can. Its essentially an accelerated training camp where the games happen to matter.

Unlike a lot of people, I’m not worried about a first round bye. I’m not sure this team beats whatever team comes to Candlestick in the Divisional round anyway. High chance that is the Saints. I don’t like that match up. but if this team can take a step or two as becoming a more explosive offense, ti gives opponents another thing to think about and defend. I anticipate seeing more of the balanced attack in the playoffs, but with more aggression.

I sort of got sidetracked here. I also question play calling lately, but I’m trying to look at the bigger picture. I’m not sure the coaches aren’t thinking the same thing.

The fade pass is a good pass if the pass itself is good but Alex Smith can not throw a good fade pass so I agree.. that should not have happened.
The pass to Edwards in the end zone was off line as were many of the short passes.
The run game has not really been that good consistently. One out of ten gets you some yards like Gore’s touchdown, but most get 1 or 2 or minus yards.

It is all frustrating. Is it Roman? is it Alex Smith? is it the offensive line? Is it the WRs? is it all the above? Yes to the last one.

Or did 10+ games of film give defensive coordinators the data they needed to scheme it?

The OL is mediocre. We know that. However – lots of teams have bad or mediocre OL and manage to move the ball and score in the red zone. Pittsburgh, Carolina, even Green Bay is not that great at pass protection.

The fact is – the offense – even when it was successful was based on misdirection and trickery. Essentially, run often (but ineffectively – except against some un-adjusting wide-9 defenses) but set up the pass from the big sets. The announcers all day on Sunday talked about how running the ball is a strength of the Niners offense. C’mon – this is a team that CANNOT power rush in short yardage, and has not been able to for years. Their running game is bad…. but they stick to it, why?

Because they can’t pass either. The receivers are unimpressive and Smith … well, he has flashes of competence.

Well, maybe this was just a let down game – they were bound to have one.

He has us playing better than ever this season. Plus I would hate the idea of changing the system yet again!.
Next year we will have it mastered. And maybe we see Alex or Colin Kap call some plays from the line of scrimage like Manning

It’s complicated as hell.

Don’t be naive.

I meant play calling, not the game as a whole. My bad, should hav elaborated. All these delay of games, and 3rd and 2 shot guns you would think it’s Chines arithmatic or something. Line up, and execute. Trust in your practice habbits. We act scared out there.

a big bodied TE 6’5" 6’6"
Walker is good as a situational player but he’s not dependable or consistent enough and he’s not that huge of a mismatch as people make it out to seem
and Vernon’s play has regressed the last 2 years instead of improving
just doesn’t seem to do a good job of getting open

I don’t think Greg Roman knows a whole lot about football

really?

Josh Morgan would still be in the line up had we rested him and took our foot of the peddle in the 4th qt. 41-3. in the TB game. I feel we must earn rest. By blowing teams out. Then experiment. Put Scott, or Colin in. Let Dixon get some plAY, along with Kilgore, Tremaine Brock, etc….We must win. PERIOD. A bye not only allows us an extra rest period to get Gore, and co. healthy, it gives us one less game to have to win, and allows us to get more practice time in. In life there are no guarantees, but I think our chances of a Super Bowl run increase with the bye