FanPost

The Quiet Effect of Eric Mangini

With all of the latest trade news and Jim Harbaugh vs. 49er beat reporter drama...one thing that hasn't been discussed much is Eric Mangini, a defensive minded ex-head coach hired to be an offensive consultant. I bring Eric Mangini up because one of the biggest storylines for the 2013-14 NFL season is how are teams going to counter the read-option. We've heard rumblings how defensive ends and/or outside linebackers are going straight for the QB hit regardless if they have the ball or not. NFL rules dictate that (please correct me if I'm wrong) if the QB is acting like a runner, then he is a runner until he thoroughly shows he doesn't have the ball.

Naturally, my worry is the health of Kaepernick. Our backup QBs look terrible and the success of our season hinges on Kaepernick's success. Of course most NFL teams need their starting QB healthy to be successful but the teams with QBs who run the read-option, are exposed to more risk. They aren't as protected as your prototypical pocket-passing only QBs.

All of which leads me back to Eric Mangini. Does he help the Niners stay one step ahead of opposing defenses such as Green Bay come Week 1? We all know Green Bay has been waiting all offseason for this rematch after being singlehandedly spanked by Kaepernick on national TV during the playoffs. The 49ers don't run the read-option exclusively nor do they run the pistol formation as much as teams like Washington...but it is apart of the offense and a very affective part at that.

I don't know much about X's and O's so if anyone can describe how defenses may try to counter the read-option that would be great. Also, if you can also describe how the Niners *may* counter what the defenses try to do this year, that would be even better because that is where we will see the genius in Mangenius.

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.