the radio in his helmet went down, so Alex called every single play on the 2 minute drive to close the 1st half!!!

and look what happened.

but then you throw in boring Jimmy Raye, who calls a run on 1st down, crap on 2nd, and on 3rd and 5, he calls a pass for 2 yards.

we finally have a competent offense with several game breakers, VD has finally started to show his potential, we've got 3 very good WRs, and Jimmy Raye turns around and calls a Jeff Hostler type offense from 2007.

the Defense doesn't help with a lack of pass rush or a terrible secondary, but the 49ers offense has finally come around and sadly, with Raye, we'll be another 7-9 squad.

he needs to let the playbook go, or get canned before it's too late for this season.

by the way, here is my source on the Alex Smith story.

http://www.mercurynews.com/49e...2052?source=rss

Stokes83 wrote:

 

but then you throw in boring Jimmy Raye, who calls a run on 1st down,

Lifted from Maiocco's blog: "By the way . . . the 49ers ran the ball eight times on first downs today and gained 23 yards. Smith completed 7 of 15 passes for 76 yards on first downs, including one interception. He was also sacked twice on first downs."

17 passing plays versus 8 running plays on first down - almost exactly the same percentage of passes as the rest of the downs. So I'm not quite sure why you keep insisting Raye calls run every 1st down. They've opened it up quite a bit in the last couple weeks, as they should have when it became obvious we can't run the ball.

stokes... it took them having to go with Addai (i think) to pass for the TD... i normally agree with you but the D is not the weakest link... they didnt make any turnovers this game for sure... but they have been much more solid than the offense... 3 & OUTs against a team like the Colts will wear down any teams D

If that's true it's impressive.  However, Smith has to do a better job at throwing the ball away, not holding the ball too long or forcing plays; obviously the OL has issues, though it's better than in recent years -  That being said, I expect Smith to overcome and adapt to his conditions, as a starter and veteran NFL QB.

I concur, this was one of his best games as a starter. 

Alex's radio going down actually helped.  It let the coaching staff see that Alex can call his own plays and be successful.  It may allow them to let him call his own plays again in a two minute offense sometime down the road.  I think we should go to the two minute offense and spread things out more often, not just within the last two minutes of the half and the game.

There were several times during the game the Colts went no huddle and one time they ran a play for a first down and we weren't even ready.  We have to start taking advantge of even the smallest opportunity that comes our way.  Other teams are expoiting those opportunities and we are not.  That can be the difference in field position and possibly the game.

We're getting there.  We proved we can now play with the good teams.  We just have to refine our play, stop the penalties and play to win.  Coach Sing has shown he is willing to change his philosphy.  We must remember he is a rookie coach and he's learning on the job as well. 

The next few games hopefully we'll see the offense spread out.  I would think Coach Sing goes to Raye and tells him to dust off the shotgun plays and lets go downfield.  The division is still winnable, but we can't sit back and wait for the Cards to lose.  This was a get even game that slipped away.  There will be another but we have to get aggressive and take control of things.

So Smith can be like Peyton Manning. And maybe he should be.

And on the plays he took too long?? He had less than 3 seconds to throw. Mathis and Freeney each beat our lineman on critical plays. We might have won with Joe Staley in there against Freeney on that last sack.

Just to let you know just because the stats say that Raye called more pass plays than run doesnt mean it was effecftive pass plays.  I hardly consider those 2yd dump off passes opening anything up.  When did we actually go downfield in that colts game?  I cant even remember.  Smith is good at throwing intermediate passes as we all saw with that 27yd strike to Crabtree.  Yet what I saw after we were up 14-12 yesterday was a conservative offense that looked likt it was being run by shaun hill.  Very frustrating honestly.. sure we want to eat up clock but when during this season has running the ball been effective? 2.3yds avg running?  That's Gore's avg if you take out his long runs of 79, 80, and 64 this season.  Despiet being up we should go with our strengths, and that is passing. Obviously that has worked out for us as in the past 2 weeks.

Also, I believe 3 or 4 of those passes were quick outs, parallel to the line. I don't consider that a pass.

Stokes83 wrote: The 49ers got pass happy in the 4th quarter after they fell behind 18-14.

12 pass, 3 runs.

by then, the Colts made the adjustments necessary.

that's not "opening" up the playbook.

and if you read the piece again, Alex Smith, the Bust as many people labled him, called each and every single play on that drive, not Jimmy Raye.

if Raye had called those plays, the 49ers would have:

run on 1st
thrown on 2nd

and on 3rd and 6, call a 3 yard pass play, punt.

Just curious here, but what do you call a pass that is passed on a quick out then if you don't call it a pass? 

dea49 wrote:

Also, I believe 3 or 4 of those passes were quick outs, parallel to the line. I don't consider that a pass.

Stokes83 wrote: The 49ers got pass happy in the 4th quarter after they fell behind 18-14.

12 pass, 3 runs.

by then, the Colts made the adjustments necessary.

that's not "opening" up the playbook.

and if you read the piece again, Alex Smith, the Bust as many people labled him, called each and every single play on that drive, not Jimmy Raye.

if Raye had called those plays, the 49ers would have:

run on 1st
thrown on 2nd

and on 3rd and 6, call a 3 yard pass play, punt.

 

Technically a pass but I call it a waste!

It's ok to try it once or twice a game when the DB's are playing off and your WR is good at breaking the first tackle but we seem to do it five or six times and more than not, end up losing yardage.

I would rather dump a quick slant two or three yards on the defensive side of the ball and let the WR run from there. We sure don't do that enough anymore and for the most part a very safe and much quicker route that the DB's can't come up and cover as easily.

plannb23 wrote:

Just curious here, but what do you call a pass that is passed on a quick out then if you don't call it a pass?

dea49 wrote:

Also, I believe 3 or 4 of those passes were quick outs, parallel to the line. I don't consider that a pass.

Stokes83 wrote: The 49ers got pass happy in the 4th quarter after they fell behind 18-14.

12 pass, 3 runs.

by then, the Colts made the adjustments necessary.

that's not "opening" up the playbook.

and if you read the piece again, Alex Smith, the Bust as many people labled him, called each and every single play on that drive, not Jimmy Raye.

if Raye had called those plays, the 49ers would have:

run on 1st
thrown on 2nd

and on 3rd and 6, call a 3 yard pass play, punt.

 

 

Thank you!! I've been saying, if Raye is to be faulted for anything, it's NOT for running the ball too much. Overall, the ratio was a little over 2:1 pass in our playcalling. Most of the passes were vertical. Granted, no bomb plays, but with Dwight Freeney, would that have been wise? Could that have been how they got their sacks?

beermeplease wrote:

 

Stokes83 wrote:

 

but then you throw in boring Jimmy Raye, who calls a run on 1st down,

Lifted from Maiocco's blog: "By the way . . . the 49ers ran the ball eight times on first downs today and gained 23 yards. Smith completed 7 of 15 passes for 76 yards on first downs, including one interception. He was also sacked twice on first downs."

 

17 passing plays versus 8 running plays on first down - almost exactly the same percentage of passes as the rest of the downs. So I'm not quite sure why you keep insisting Raye calls run every 1st down. They've opened it up quite a bit in the last couple weeks, as they should have when it became obvious we can't run the ball.

dea49 wrote:

Technically a pass but I call it a waste!

 

It's ok to try it once or twice a game when the DB's are playing off and your WR is good at breaking the first tackle but we seem to do it five or six times and more than not, end up losing yardage.

 

I would rather dump a quick slant two or three yards on the defensive side of the ball and let the WR run from there. We sure don't do that enough anymore and for the most part a very safe and much quicker route that the DB's can't come up and cover as easily.

 

plannb23 wrote:

Just curious here, but what do you call a pass that is passed on a quick out then if you don't call it a pass?

dea49 wrote:

Also, I believe 3 or 4 of those passes were quick outs, parallel to the line. I don't consider that a pass.

Stokes83 wrote: The 49ers got pass happy in the 4th quarter after they fell behind 18-14.

12 pass, 3 runs.

by then, the Colts made the adjustments necessary.

that's not "opening" up the playbook.

and if you read the piece again, Alex Smith, the Bust as many people labled him, called each and every single play on that drive, not Jimmy Raye.

if Raye had called those plays, the 49ers would have:

run on 1st
thrown on 2nd

and on 3rd and 6, call a 3 yard pass play, punt.

 

 

 

Until recently teams were stacking 8 guys in the box so it makes it hard to hit the quick slant route when you're throwing right at the linebackers.  The area has to clear first.  Spreading the defense out does that.

I agree a spread offense is the way to go for Alex but you can't discount what the defense makes you do.  We made the Colts a one dimensional team yesterday because of what we did defensively against the run.

I do believe Jimmy Raye or Coach Sing (whichever) needs to open things up more.  Play to Alex's strengths, which is the shotgun.  Run it until somebody stops it.  If they can't stop it, run the score up.

We're a good team that plays about .5 seconds behind the action.  If our guys were .5 second faster this season there would be about 10-12 plays we didn't make that we could have.  Interceptions, sacks, forced fumbles, knocking Favre's miracle pass down, etc.  Woulda, coulda, shoulda I know, but we're getting there...just .5 seconds too late.

First of all, Im sure Raye didn't call a "2 yard pass play". I didnt see the game, but it was probably either a dump off because the receivers downfield were covered, or they were anticipating some yards after the catch. Either way, Raye didnt say to himself "lets go with a pass play for 2 yards" ...

However, I do think that we need a new OC as well. Last year, Mike Martz did not match the personnel, and this year Jimmy Raye doesnt match it either. We actually have some pro-bowl caliber receiving targets this year in Crabtree and the newly revived Davis, and as good as Gore is, he is not going to carry this team with the poor quality of blockers in front of him. We need someone who can utilize all of our players the best that they can, and balance it all out. I feel like the philosophy that was declared in the offseason, the "smashmouth ground game", is still holding us back as an offense. I did not think I would be saying this 2 weeks ago, but we need to let Alex Smith throw the ball more (that sounds weird  lol). If he fails, so what? The other strategy wasn't working either, so we dont have anything to lose. It will let us see what he can do now, and it will let us know if we need to address the QB situation in the offseason.

If Alex Smith continues to make the consistent strides as a quarterback that he has shown thus far, I think that we need to base our offseason around him. We should bring in a new OC, draft/acquire some offensive linemen who excel in pass protection, and let Smith do his thing. We have way too much young receiving talent to do anything else, IMO.

I'm sure it wasn't intended to be for just two yards but when the WR, at the snap, steps back and the QB quickly dumps it out to him, then that is a designed play. No look downfield at all.

I'm sure Raye, along with Sing's blessing called the play thinking it was safe and we might get lucky and break off a good RAC.

To call that play more than a couple of times a game, unless the "D" can't stop it, is playing it TOO safe.

easypeasy52 wrote:

First of all, Im sure Raye didn't call a "2 yard pass play". I didnt see the game, but it was probably either a dump off because the receivers downfield were covered, or they were anticipating some yards after the catch. Either way, Raye didnt say to himself "lets go with a pass play for 2 yards" ...

Could be that if I were Smith, I just might occasionally have a bit more radio trouble with my helmet...happens frequently in some professions.

gldnwht wrote:

Could be that if I were Smith, I just might occasionally have a bit more radio trouble with my helmet...happens frequently in some professions.

hahaha

ROFL, I actually wondered when I read this if that were the case to begin with.

gldnwht wrote:

Could be that if I were Smith, I just might occasionally have a bit more radio trouble with my helmet...happens frequently in some professions.

gldnwht wrote:

Could be that if I were Smith, I just might occasionally have a bit more radio trouble with my helmet...happens frequently in some professions.

Smith plays better when he tunes Raye out, huh?  That's funny.  Maybe he should give it a try. 

I know Alex is not a real vocal guy, but I wonder if he's earned enough respect to go to Sing and Raye and tell them what plays he likes, not just run the plays the coaching staff likes.  He should go to them and be firm about what plays he likes and what he wants to run.  That would show leadership to a strong coach.  For a weak coach it would show dissent but Sing is a strong coach.  I think he'd love for Alex to do that, take ownership if you will.

They won't bench him so what does he have to lose?