SANTA CLARA — Jim Harbaugh held a press conference Tuesday afternoon. Here’s what he said about Vernon Davis.
HARBAUGH: “There’s some things that some defenses are doing, there’s no question about it. Just look at the tape, look at the action. They’re focusing a lot of attention on Vernon Davis. Even before he gets into a route, defensive ends are disengaging on their pass rush and making sure that they chip Vernon on the way out, stay with him for three, four, five yards, which doesn’t allow them to get into their pass rush lanes. So that’s something that’s affecting him getting the ball, but it’s also opening up some other options. It’s pretty plain to see.”
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From MB – The first play of the fourth quarter is under review.
According to the official game book from Monday, the play is an eight-yard run by Michael Crabtree to the right side. Jim Harbaugh, however, today said that it was a pass to Crabtree.
Why is it significant? Because if it indeed was a pass, it would mean that Alex Smith would have 19 completions in 20 attempts instead of the 18-19 for which he currently is credited. The NFL only would recognize his achievement in passing efficiency as a league record if Smith had 20 attempts.
The bad news: It appears as if the play in question is indeed a run. It looks as if Crabtree takes a step backward before gathering in the pass, which, of course, means it was thrown behind the line of scrimmage.
Sando – The official play-by-play shows a penalty for defensive pass interference wiping out an apparent completed pass to 49ers receiver Mario Manningham during the 49ers’ opening drive. It is unclear, however, whether the 49ers accepted the penalty. The flag was thrown on a second-and-4 play, so the 49ers would have gained nothing by accepting the penalty.
If the 49ers did not accept the penalty, the league could conceivably change the play from 7-yard penalty to 7-yard completed pass.
Screen passes are thrown behind the line of scrimmage and they count as passes because they are thrown from the QB forward to a RB or other receiver who, although behind the line of scrimmage, is in front of the QB in terms of depth. The issue for it to be a run when the ball was thrown to Crabtree is that if Crabtree was deeper than the QB at the time the ball was released by AS, it, indeed, is construed to be a backward pass, otherwise known as a lateral; therefore, it counts as a run.
“but it’s also opening up some other options. It’s pretty plain to see.”
and they won big. What else is it going to take?
Can you imaging the great Bill Walsh not getting the ball the Jerry Rice. And then making excuses about it?
There is a breakdown somewhere. Either with the QB or the OC and the HC collectively because it’s a poor game plan. You don’t have a physical specimen like VD and decide we are not getting him the ball today.
He’s a mismatch for linebackers and for a CB if you line him up wide. Seriously is Jimmy Raye running things again?
Bay, even a better thought, could you imagine what BW could/would have done with a TE of VDs skillset in his offense?
@ bay:
I love how you dismiss context and rational explanation as mere excuse-making. And after last night, are you seriously comparing Harbaugh’s/Roman’s offense to Jimmy Raye’s? It’s ludicrous.
As for Bill Walsh, he was a strong proponent of taking what the defense gives you, not forcing the ball to players who aren’t open.
Actually we do know how Bill Walsh reacted. His teams were one and out three years in a row with home field advantage. In those three years Rice, Montana, and Craig failed to produce a single touchdown among them.
Walsh stewed until he got back to the playoffs the fourth year. What else would you expect him to do?
My vote on cutting the blog into sound bites: NAY.