Herm Edwards on the best QB of NFC West

[SRPnVA]

LMAO!!!!...Your comment brings to my memory visions of Morgan going in motion and then setting up horizontal to the line of scrimmage.

God, no team in the NFL telegraphed offensive plays like we did. But, really, when you think about it, it was okay because we had a formula; we were going to go out hit people in the mouff. It didn't work very well, but at least we had a formula.

Lol the playcalling was so terrible last year. I forget which game it was but we tried throwing a screen to I think it was Josh Morgan or Delanie Walker like 5 or 6 times and it never worked! Defense read it every time!

 

[MW49ers5]

Lol the playcalling was so terrible last year. I forget which game it was but we tried throwing a screen to I think it was Josh Morgan or Delanie Walker like 5 or 6 times and it never worked! Defense read it every time!

Man those were some painful days...

 

[spacedoodoopistol]

It's also about being predictable. Opposing defenses won't know what's coming as easily as they did when Jimmy Raye was sending in plays. That also depends on whether or not we can move the ball. So, we'll see.

On being unpredictable......on KNBR today Kevin Lynch predicted that two or three times this year the Niners would do something so innovative and unique with their pre-snap motion that the REFS THEMSELVES would have to meet or even check the rulebook to confirm whether or not its OK. I'm guessing he's seen a crazy move or two in practice.

 

[clyde_carbon]

It's also about being predictable. Opposing defenses won't know what's coming as easily as they did when Jimmy Raye was sending in plays. That also depends on whether or not we can move the ball. So, we'll see.

What does that have to do with Alex Smith's poor pocket presence, inaccuracy, and extremely sub-par improvisational ability? I remember people calling for the spread offense because it's Alex Smith's "strength".

Well, which one is it?

 

[spacedoodoopistol]

Thing is, clyde, its a widely-held misconception that Smith needs the spread to succeed. While so many people say he works so much better out of the gun, numbers say otherwise. Besides, most of the fans that say those things don't even know what the spread is.....they think it means gun + 3 WRs or whatever.

 

[clyde_carbon]

Thing is, clyde, its a widely-held misconception that Smith needs the spread to succeed. While so many people say he works so much better out of the gun, numbers say otherwise. Besides, most of the fans that say those things don't even know what the spread is.....they think it means gun + 3 WRs or whatever.

That's fine. So what about Alex Smith's skill-set leads us to believe he'll thrive, or at least improve in Harbaugh's system?

 

[spacedoodoopistol]

I won't bother trying to convince you......but many people believe that in a functional offense, where the coaches know how to scheme and give the offense plays that will exploit the opposition, Smith will be better than before. He hasn't had an opportunity like this in a while......since Turner, since he really didn't take any snaps under Martz.

 

[clyde_carbon]

I won't bother trying to convince you......but many people believe that in a functional offense, where the coaches know how to scheme and give the offense plays that will exploit the opposition, Smith will be better than before. He hasn't had an opportunity like this in a while......since Turner, since he really didn't take any snaps under Martz.

Why is it so unfathomable to believe that Alex Smith, along with these sub-par OCs, is also part of the problem? Would these OCs look as incompetent with a better QB? I remember people calling Mike McCarthy a complete tool and look at what he's done with Green Bay's offense.

Harbaugh's offense hinges on playaction, something Smith has always struggled with because he can't read a defense after he turns his back to them. It also hinges on a quick, accurate short passing game, also something Smith consistently struggles with. Harbaugh also likes his QBs to be accurate on the run, and that's the complete opposite of Smith.

You can try and convince yourself that Alex Smith will be better all day long if you want, but leave me out of that suspended reality.

 

[spacedoodoopistol]

Its not unfathomable to think he'll be bad, nor suspended reality to think he'll be better. Somewhere in between. Might want to ease up on the stark terms, most people see this in pretty uncertain light I think.

 

[Crimsoncrew]

I don't see how anyone can justify going with any player other than Bradford. Sure, it's projecting improvement, but based on how he played last year, that's not exactly a stretch. I am reluctant to say he'll be the best QB in the division in week one, but he's got as good a chance of that as anyone else, and I think he'll clearly be the best guy by mid-season. Any of the other three could feasibly threaten, but none of them has done much with the opportunities they've had.

 

[Dodub]

I think one has to be crazy not to have Bradford in the conversation, even though I like Edwards alot.

 

[clyde_carbon]

Its not unfathomable to think he'll be bad, nor suspended reality to think he'll be better. Somewhere in between. Might want to ease up on the stark terms, most people see this in pretty uncertain light I think.

I don't understand the logic in assuming he'll be better. Not only does his skill-set not fit Harbaugh's offense, it was an extremely short offseason learning a new offense - and we all know how well Smith does with new offenses.

It just doesn't make any sense to me. Let's try and curb the enthusiasm a little bit.

In fact, I'd like to see Kap start ASAP.

 

[Crimsoncrew]

Why is it so unfathomable to believe that Alex Smith, along with these sub-par OCs, is also part of the problem? Would these OCs look as incompetent with a better QB? I remember people calling Mike McCarthy a complete tool and look at what he's done with Green Bay's offense.

Harbaugh's offense hinges on playaction, something Smith has always struggled with because he can't read a defense after he turns his back to them. It also hinges on a quick, accurate short passing game, also something Smith consistently struggles with. Harbaugh also likes his QBs to be accurate on the run, and that's the complete opposite of Smith.

You can try and convince yourself that Alex Smith will be better all day long if you want, but leave me out of that suspended reality.

There's no doubt Smith has been part of the problem. But it's tough to say to what extent that's true given the Hostler/Raye period. McCarthy might have made good calls, but he gave Smith the full playbook before he was ready for it, and that was disastrous. I don't know if that was McCarthy's call or Nolan's call, but if ever there was a guy who should have been eased in with a condensed playbook initially, it's Smith.

The odds of Smith improving are pretty good. The odds of him improving dramatically are pretty slim. I would expect the offense as a whole to be better, but I'm not at all confident that that improvement will come primarily from Smith.

 

[Mozart'sGhost]

I won't bother trying to convince you......but many people believe that in a functional offense, where the coaches know how to scheme and give the offense plays that will exploit the opposition, Smith will be better than before. He hasn't had an opportunity like this in a while......since Turner, since he really didn't take any snaps under Martz.

I'm a believer. Maybe naive but I think he is going to do better in a well-designed offense.

 

[Mozart'sGhost]

I don't understand the logic in assuming he'll be better. Not only does his skill-set not fit Harbaugh's offense, it was an extremely short offseason learning a new offense - and we all know how well Smith does with new offenses.

It just doesn't make any sense to me. Let's try and curb the enthusiasm a little bit.

In fact, I'd like to see Kap start ASAP.

I think that, rather than not being a good fit for Harbaugh's offense, is what will cause Smith trouble. Harbaugh must think that Smith does fit his offense or he wouldn't have convinced him to stay; don't you think?

 

[clyde_carbon]

I think that, rather than not being a good fit for Harbaugh's offense, is what will cause Smith trouble. Harbaugh must think that Smith does fit his offense or he wouldn't have convinced him to stay; don't you think?

Not necessarily. If it wasn't such an odd offseason I don't think Harbaugh would've pursued after Smith as hard.

 

[Mozart'sGhost]

Not necessarily. If it wasn't such an odd offseason I don't think Harbaugh would've pursued after Smith as hard.

That's true, he could have felt he was his best option of a bunch of crappy options but I still think he thinks he can do something with Smith. Maybe that is Harbaugh's ego talking, maybe bnot. But I was encouraged to hear Chris carter and Herm Edwards say that they thought Smith could be successful under Harbaugh. We'll see soon enough I guess.

 

[clyde_carbon]

Meh. I just think he saw him as a decent stopgap to Kap. I don't think it was ever about trying to resurrect his career.

 

[Mozart'sGhost]

Meh. I just think he saw him as a decent stopgap to Kap. I don't think it was ever about trying to resurrect his career.

Any idea why he took Kaepernick over Mallette?

 

[threelittleturds]

Any idea why he took Kaepernick over Mallette?

I'd guess it is because Kaepernick is a little bit more dynamic as a player, since he can also run the ball very well.

One thing is for sure though, Mallett had a better debut. He played the entire second half, completing 12 of 19 passes for 164 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions. The Patriots scored touchdowns on each of the first four drives Mallett led, and ran out the clock on his fifth and final drive.