| Subject: TIM, Offensive Strategy |
Author:
TANK
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Date Posted: 16:33:29 01/08/03 Wed
TIM: It apprears that you and I were listening to KNBR when Ted was interviewing Tony. He mentioned the Monster Truck even. Was that you who called in to discuss the receivers' two hands on Plummer's face mask, or are you just repeating what you heard a caller say?
There seems to be a lot of discussion by Niners fans and sports radio talk show hosts about the Niners abandoning their conservative, balanced gameplan and opting to open things up with the no-huddle offense, letting Garcia roll out or even run like he did against the Giants and Raiders.
I just have to ask, are you the same fans that wanted to see Mariucci run a more "Walsh-like offense," and argued that Mariucci version of the WCO was screwed up? Because I see a huge inconsistancy between wanting Mariucci to run the Walsh WCO and now clamoring for the no-huddle, scramble happy offense.
Refer to Ira Miller's column on Chad Pennington being compared to Joe Montana today. It really opened my eyes and gave me a greater understanding about the WCO. Here is the pertinent stuff:
"This may surprise some of you. But if you want to know what's behind the West Coast offense, think feet, not arm. Bill Walsh has said it, and Pennington understands it: The basic concept behind this offense begins with the quarterback's footwork, which is why Walsh always used to spend so much time coaching that. The feet lead. The arm follows.
The West Coast offense, in its purest form, is a timing offense...the quarterback must take the right number of steps and end up in the right spot to throw the ball where it is supposed to go on time.
Steve Young used to say that he could tell how he was throwing the ball just by watching tape from the waist down.
When the quarterback's footwork is right, the offense is a thing of beauty. When its not, WHEN THE QUARTERBACK BEGINS RUNNING AROUND, WHEN HE DOESN'T SET HIS FEET, WHEN HE DOESN'T THROW ON TIME, WELL, ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE..."
As I read this, I began to understand why the 49ers offense has been so inconsistant this year. When Garcia steps around in the pocket looking for a passing lane, it disrupts the timing. When he rolls out, it thwarts the timing and he is forced to improvise. It explains why Mariucci and Knapp are so reluctant to take the reins off Garcia and let him play "Garcia Ball"...because Garcia Ball ins't the WCO. They are incompatible.
My conclusion? Mooch and Knapp are not the right fit for Garcia. Maybe the time is right for Mariucci and Knapp to move on...not because they mutilated the WCO...but because the 49ers' franchise quarterback needs a coach that will create a gameplan around Garcia strengths...not footwork and pocket passing.
For those of you whose only memory of Joe Montana is him rolling out to hit Dwight Clark on The Catch, you need to be reminded that Montana succeeded in the pocket. He drilled the timing crucial out routes. His comfort in the pocket was sweet serenity. Yes, he rolled out, but not as a rule...only to give pause to a pass rush that was teeing off on his line. The roll out was relied on more later in Montana's career when he was trying to protect his sore ribs.
Are all you "no-huddle, Garcia Ball" fans suggesting it is time for the organization to move on from the WCO and adopt a less structured offense?
An interesting thought raised by a columnist...at the end of the first half, he thought that, based on Garcia's entire season, Cade McNown would be allowed to battle Garcia for the starting QB spot next summer. BUT, because of the dramatic comeback in this ONE game, Garcia's starting job is safe and McNown will only be competing with Tim Rattay for the backup spot. He noted that Mariucci won't be so lucky.
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