Offensive Analysis thread (Preseason Week 1)

Originally posted by A-R-S:
huard for starter

That was a little disturbing to see our #3 QB have a better outing than Smith and Hill. I know Huard was playing against 2nd and 3rd string defenses but he looked he knew what he was doing out there.

Originally posted by NJNiner:

Originally posted by A-R-S:
huard for starter

That was a little disturbing to see our #3 QB have a better outing than Smith and Hill. I know Huard was playing against 2nd and 3rd string defenses but he looked he knew what he was doing out there.

Hill had a pretty solid outing considering he had very few reps. Smith didn't look so well. He looks as if he's confused back there.

Originally posted by KezarLivin:

Originally posted by SybErkRimInAL:
keasey is only a special teams player. He offers no other purpose.

I will stick to my prediction from the previous 2 years: If Zak Keasey makes your team, your team is not very good.

Originally posted by NinerGM:
Saturday will be more telling of where we are on offense. The Raiders have a much better defense than Denver - not to mention to obvious rivalry between the two teams.

I agree the Raiders game will be a bit tougher gauge.

QB's:

Shuan Hill: Looked good in limited PT, made two nice throws to Vernon Davis and picked up some yaradge with his feet. He is a gamer.

Alex Smith: Still holds on to the ball to long and struggles when there is a defender in his face but he played okay, made two nice throws and showed he has regained his arm strength and if anything his arm looks stronger than ever. By the 3rd pre-season game though he has to start making plays when he is being chased and under pressure.

Damon Huard: Just a solid, solid vetran QB who we are lucky to have as our 3rd string QB IMO as he can be a backup on some teams.

Nate Davis: Handed the ball off, clearly the coaches do not feel he is ready to throw the football in the games. Whats up with the big long sleeves?


Running Backs/Fullbacks:

Glenn Coffee: Got a lot of carries and picked up some decent yardage but to be honest with you I was not to impressed. He just doesen't look very explposive, runs a little upright and doesen't have a lot of power to his runs. Now I think he can be a solid backup but I don't know, at least from this first game he doesen't look like he has #1 RB ability but it's early yet.

Thomas Clayton: Countinued to be a solid pre-season player before going down with what looked like a major knee injury. I really feel bad for him.

Kory Sheets: Now this kid showed me something, he is small and won't break many tackles but he is quick, sudden and explosive with his runs. I think this kid has a future, reminds me a little of Ahmad Bradshaw from the Giants.

Zack Keasey: He stinks

Brit Miller: He will at least make the PS and has an outside chance to make the team.

Note- We really need Moran Norris to get his act together and get in there at FB

Wide Receivers:

Josh Morgan: Looked pretty good

Arnaz Battle: Were in trouble if Battle is our 2nd, 3rd or even 4th WR this year, I really was hoping he would not make the team but with all the stuff and injuries that have been happening he just may make the team. He gets no seperation what so ever.

Michael Spurlock: Made two nice plays, he has a spark to him and I think he is a keeper.

Jason Hill: He is alive!

Dominique Ziegler: Is he alive?

Note: This WR core ain't going to cut it, I know we got Bruce who will play but these guys just couldn't get open, how many times did Shuan and Alex have great protection and no one could get open. Im sorry but we are going to need Michael Crabtree to make plays and his presence and hopefully Brandon Jones will be back and healthy by week 3 or 4.

Tight Ends:

Vernon Davis: We kept reading how great Vernon Davis has looked in TC and how much better and more natural he looks catching the football well he certainly showed it on TV last night. I really look for VD to have his breakout year this season and become a pro bowl tight end.

Bear Pascoe: Dropped a ball and made a nice catch on the 2pt conversion. He has a ways to go.


O-Line: The first unit played pretty well, the pass protection was good and the run blocking was okay. The 2nd Unit wasn't very good, Joe Toledo was a disaster.

Summary: Again I hate to sound like a broken record but we drafted Michael Crabtree because we are going to need that extra field goal or touchdown to be a 9-7 or 10-6 team and with this offense I think we will always be that field goal or touchdown short. I think we have a solid offense but we really need a guy like Crabtree (and Brandon Jones) in there. I know Gore, Walker and Baas didn't play but I just don't think these WR's are going to cut it. I like Morgan but im not totally sold on him as a #1, Bruce is solid but we need a better guy in there at #3 and maybe even #2 to move Bruce in the slot. At this point I like what I see from Spurlock but Jason Hill and Ziegeler im not sure and I do not want Battle making the team


Defense:

Manusky kept it pretty vanilla and did bring much pressure but we did get 3 turnovers. Just some quick thoughts on a few guys;

Ahmad Brooks: Had two nice hurries and was all around the field.

Curtis Taylor: This kid runs like a deer, man does he close in a hurry. He looks like Sean Taylor out there with his size, long arms and speed. Im not saying he is as good as Sean Taylor but this kid has some potential if his instincts and awarness can ever improve.

Reggie Smith: Really had a nice game, a kid I am high on and rooting for and I hope he keeps this up.

Marques Harris: Had a nice game.

Kentwan Balmer: Got some push and looked pretty active.

Scott McKillop: All around the football, a tackling machine. Poor man's Zach Thomas in the making,

Our 2nd-3rd string CB's: I've been saying for weeks that im worried that the WR's are making plays in practice because our depth at cornerback is so bad. These kid Jahi-Daniels, Lambert and Carlos Thomas were not drafted and were not even priority FA's and man did they look awful last night. Daniels needs to be cut ASAP

Marcus Hudson: My boy, had a solid game as usual at cornerback, and special teams. Still think his best pos is safety...

Manny Lawson: Didn't show much pass rush but was going up against a stud LT in Ryan Clady.


Overall I think it was a good showing the most important thing was no ..... I don't want to say it. This team is headed in the right direction and it's nice to see guys like Reggie Smith, Ahmad Brooks and Adam Snyder stepping up. Vernon Davis looks like a monster and I feel good about our QB's, Shuan Hill looks like he did late last season and I can already see some imporvement in Alex Smith and I think he will only get better. We have to get Crabtree signed though, im hoping he signs early next week and he will make his debut in his hometown AT Dallas in the 3rd pre-season game.

Agreed, great post. We gotta get Crabtree signed. Also, let's not forget that arguably the three best players on the team didn't even suit up last night. We're still headed in the right direction, I won't take much out of any of the preseason games, save week 3 when our starters will get more time.

same thought for the last 5 years. We blew the number 1 pick and set the team back half a decade.

I am glad the starting QB decision will be made by qualified, professional coaches and not the armchair, know-it-all's around here.

Originally posted by JohnnyMo49:
Agreed, great post. We gotta get Crabtree signed. Also, let's not forget that arguably the three best players on the team didn't even suit up last night. We're still headed in the right direction, I won't take much out of any of the preseason games, save week 3 when our starters will get more time.

Thanks, yeah I know a lot of keys guys didn't even play and Manusky was very vanilla, I think Parys Haralson dropped back in just about every play and yet the team still looked pretty good, considering it was the 1st pre-season game (we were playing a Denver team that will be lucky to win 6 games though, IMO).

I just think at some point this season, we will need Crabtree's presence and ability to make plays. We got Morgan who is a #1 or #2 WR and Bruce who is still maybe a #2 but other than that we have a bunch #4 or 5 WR's. Not including Brandon Jones but I doubt how much he will be able to help this team coming back from a cracked shoulder. You have to wonder where his confidence will be.

Great post. I just wanna see our team getting better each game.

Originally posted by danimal:
same thought for the last 5 years. We blew the number 1 pick and set the team back half a decade.

Wow, you may want to find a new team or get some antidepressants.

VERNON!!

Originally posted by WillisWillKilYou:
VERNON!!

Very excited about VERNON FREAKIN DAVIS!!!! Doesen't he look so much more smooth and natural catching the football?

I kept on thinking about this stat from last season as I watched the game.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/sortableStatsTeam?div=NFL&stype=offense&stable=turnovers&stat=turnDif&dir=descending

Our playoff chances start with that and although its just the 1st preseason game its a good start.

Hard to say, we looked VERY conservative, it looked like we played a lot of base and ran iso all night, other than a couple of 4 receiver sets we showed very little of our offense, an old school approach to preseason, I like it. I will have to wait and see how we play in the opener.