Posted By: Travis (Los Angeles) (19/06/2008 9:08:15 PM)
Comment: Way to demonstrate your knowledge Rob in Sac. It's not Hot ROUTES... it's Hot READS. MUCH, MUCH different. However, it's disgusting to think that we never planned out hot reads in the past. Even with Norm? Disgusting. At least we are demonstrating a steady increase in talent and skills.

Posted By: Rob in Sac (18/06/2008 10:29:40 AM)
Comment: Wow, they now have Hot Routes! What is next the swing pass or pass blocking.

Posted By: oneniner (18/06/2008 6:15:38 AM)
Comment: "Please share the report on the two signings. I haven't heard anything, yet. Rachal was working at RT today, and the signing of the one practice squad player today will have no impact on that. --Matt M."................................The two OT signed since Chilo was reported moving to RT(May 29) - T Joe Toledo(Jun. 10) and T Alan Reuber(Jun. 02) ...with T Ramiro Pruneda(Jun. 17) makes 3.....

Posted By: ninermaniac (17/06/2008 11:23:25 PM)
Comment: The hot thing is the hot read. The only thing that scares me is the D will tend to squat for the pick. Which means that accurate ball placement is key, away from the D and once you pass that 1-2 sec window you have to have a counter. The good thing is that it can open up alot of trick plays, or deep pass, maybe try a delayed run. If you can get V-Dave on a LB he'll win that battle any day. Also Mo-No can do you good especially against Seattle.

Posted By: Rich, DE (17/06/2008 9:16:16 PM)
Comment: Bet Martz didn't need to conduct a team meeting and have a bunch of guys write suggestions down on pieces of paper to come up with practicing hot reads. Kidding aside, anything helping the Niners QB get rid of the ball quickly has to be a good thing for this offense.

Posted By: Jon in SoCal (17/06/2008 8:31:29 PM)
Comment: I wonder if Ryan gets the gig. He reported the TBC/Rachal steel cage match on his Sirius show during a closed session. I don't think any of the FA's we've signed are eligible for the PS. What kind of money are we obligated to pay these guys? Are they signed to minimum deals? Just wondering because we seem to be bringing in a lot of 3rd or 4th string OL and DL

Posted By: Scott (17/06/2008 7:46:02 PM)
Comment: Hey Matt, Think you can let us know if Tim Ryan gets that coaching intern gig? I'm an old, old, old teammate of his and would love to find out if he lands it. Not sure where else I'd find out. Thanks for the great blog.

Posted By: petaluman (17/06/2008 7:08:33 PM)
Comment: LaJuan Ramsey is listed at 6'3 and 300 pounds. My guess is that he'll be trying to get in the mix as a back-up 3-4 DE who has experience playing 4-3 DT. His big claim to fame is holding the Eagle team record for shortest interception return (-12 yards).

Posted By: mt (17/06/2008 7:00:33 PM)
Comment: It's jaw-droppingly stunning that, after the past 3 years of watching the 49ers have a terrible time dealing with the blitz, they hadn't practiced hot-read plays to defeat it. If I can figure out in my living room that's what they need, can't professional coaches who see the team daily? Reminds me of when Ditka left New Orleans and the younger players commented that they hadn't received any technique coaching since being in the NFL (on Ditka's team). On a different topic, Matt, in light of Mark Roman's and Chad Johnson's recent surgeries - why do teams/players wait until OTAs or training camp to have surgery performed? Wouldn't it be better for all to have the surgery done the minute the season ends, to allow maximum healing/rehab time?

Posted By: Rikimaru03 (17/06/2008 6:40:32 PM)
Comment: Hey Matt, we at 49erswebzone.com are having a few questions about the hot read. is it possible that the niners havent had hot reads in the 4 years that alex has been playing? does that mean that coaches like Turner or McCarthy didnt use them either?how is it that something so simple can go unused in a pro level?

Posted By: B Young (17/06/2008 6:21:10 PM)
Comment: Usually people laugh and say mocking things about athletes and celebrities and such. Such as, "even I could have made that throw" etc. But after reading this article, I am floored. I always assumed that EVER single team in the league used hot reads when a blitzer was coming. Flabbergasted might be the best word. I honestly think I would have done a better job than Hostler. No HOT READS??? Hot reads are something you do when you play PICKUP football. Its one of the most basic fundamental concepts in football. I am in AWE of anybody who can make an argument against the use of hot reads. If they blitz you MUST, try to exploit this on the fly, because if you simply stick with the play (regardless of whether the blitz is picked up) you might not be taking advantage of the open space the blitz created. I can't think of any framework or concept in which one would not use hot reads. Unbelievable.

Posted By: sddave (17/06/2008 5:54:56 PM)
Comment: Matt, Like the others below, great job of reporting. I am completely stunned about the lack of "hot reads" in the offense. This was Bill Walsh's bread and butter. For Nolan to admit this just shows how little the man knows about offense. It is frightening to see the money he is getting paid when the average fan knows about dumping the ball off. No wonder the offensive line looked so pathetic. For Vernon to admit that he never looked for the "hot read" is just astounding. No wonder the Niners were the laughing stock of the league on offense. Bill W. must be R.I.P with the arrival of Martz. The only question would be is why we need Nolan at all. The Niner fans really were seeing a horror show last year. Like others, I used hot reads in high school. Did anyone notice how much better the Colts looked after Manning started dumping the ball off to Adai. All I can say about Nolan's knowledge of offense is My God! I just hope Alex can recover from the Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome he has endured playing for these clowns. Thanks againd for the heads-up. Keep up the good work.

Posted By: carl (17/06/2008 5:32:48 PM)
Comment: Hey Matt, any news about TV Game Show winners trying out for the 49ers this offseason? ;) That great work you do, keep it up.

Posted By: hudaman (17/06/2008 4:33:33 PM)
Comment: hey matt great work as usual just thought i mention you said "the niners are one of 16 games" and i think you meant teams.

Response: Good eye. Thanks. --Matt M.

Posted By: JBG (17/06/2008 4:24:56 PM)
Comment: Jon in SoCal: It wouldn't surprise me a bit if last year Hostler told the offense, "If there's a blitz, Kwame, you let your man go and run across to the left and see if you can catch up with the blitzer. Alex, I don't want you calling any audibles...just stand in there like a man and wait until DJack comes free 40 yards downfield."

Posted By: oneniner (17/06/2008 4:04:20 PM)
Comment: Matt...with the reports of us signing 2 OT....is Chilo Rachal still playing right tackle?.....Barrows has him officially listed as a RT.....

Response: Please share the report on the two signings. I haven't heard anything, yet. Rachal was working at RT today, and the signing of the one practice squad player today will have no impact on that. --Matt M.

Posted By: Jon in SoCal (17/06/2008 3:55:53 PM)
Comment: Wow, thank goodness we sucked last year. Any idea if he is going to be a DE or a DT? Seems like we have lots of DL running around, interesting signing and I wonder who he'll be fighting for a roster spot.

Response: He's not a nose tackle, so he's either a DT in a 4-3 or an end in a 3-4. --Matt M.

Posted By: oneniner (17/06/2008 3:46:05 PM)
Comment: Demian - you left out he was caught with mary jane last yr and he his currently over weight...

Posted By: Andrew from Rishikesh (17/06/2008 3:44:09 PM)
Comment: Hi Matt, this delay on the stadium vote in Santa Clara does not seem to bode well. Team spokesperson Lisa Lang says it will have no impact. If the vote isn't held until November 2009 and say it doesn't go the 49ers way Frankie Albert would have a tough time scarambling out of that hole. Matt do you think LA could become a reality?

Response: I think it would be more difficult to move the team to L.A. than it would be to get a new stadium built here. --Matt M.

Posted By: Randy in Santa Rosa (17/06/2008 3:12:46 PM)
Comment: Thanks Matt. Curious though... Does Alex seem to have the respect of his teammates? Last year it was said that he was looked at as 'weak' by some players. I know Hill commanded the offense well and was pretty vocal last year... Just wondering if Alex has improved in that regard?

Response: The only problem I detected last year was that some receivers felt they didn't have as good of a chance to be productive when Smith was on the field. I don't think the "respect" thing was ever a factor. Last year, players were put in the awkward position of taking sides between the head coach and the QB. Nobody wanted to take on the head coach, so some interpreted that as lining up against Smith. I don't think that was the case at all. --Matt M.

Posted By: Samra (17/06/2008 3:00:08 PM)
Comment: The San Francisco 49ers announced Tuesday that they claimed and were awarded third-year DT LaJuan Ramsey off waivers from the Philadelphia Eagles. Ramsey was waived by Philadelphia on June 12. Ramsey (6-3, 300) was originally drafted in the sixth-round of the 2006 draft by Philadelphia out of USC. He played in six games as a rookie in 2006 and nine games last season. Ramsey was part of two national championships during his college career at USC.

Posted By: Demian (17/06/2008 2:54:09 PM)
Comment: Jimmy Williams was released today. He is a big physical corner. Matt are chances slim to none ?

Response: The odds you asked about seem reasonable. --Matt M.

Posted By: DMC (17/06/2008 2:37:33 PM)
Comment: Thanks Matt. Great read.

Posted By: XL (17/06/2008 2:30:24 PM)
Comment: NOTICE TO 49ERS...I used to run hot reads in flag football in 7th grade, about time that we target some big/fast/beastly receiver (VD) on blitzes. No wonder we suck on offense. Thats gotta be the reason why our quarterbacks dont do audibles? 49ers offense is a joke! thank god for Martz

Posted By: Jon in SoCal (17/06/2008 2:17:18 PM)
Comment: JBG: you are my new comic hero!!! No wonder Alex and the QB's got killed. No hot reads?! WTF! No wonder they wouldn't get rid of the ball. Smith was jsut following instructions. I thought he would go for a chuck and duck mentality, but he was told to keep the ball and hope that the RB can pick up the blitzing LB's. Man he's a better soldier than I would be.

Posted By: Pat B (17/06/2008 1:53:51 PM)
Comment: I've won the superbowl with the 49ers the past 10 years in Madden using hot reads (sarcasm but duh)...why couldn't Nolan figure that out. Good news though.

Posted By: JBG (17/06/2008 1:45:40 PM)
Comment: About time someone thought about saving the QB's life if there's a blitz. Now all they need to work on is detecting disguised blitzes, as well as learning enough hot read scenarios where they don't play the same tendency over and over again. Oh, and oneniner: "i am so excited just reading about this, more excited than spending $15,000 on Don Parione..." If you spent $15K on "Don Parione", I've got a nice Furrouri I'll sell you for $200K...

Posted By: oneniner (17/06/2008 1:29:55 PM)
Comment: Wilson - first of all Alex Smith is a STAR......"Shaun Hill had a natural feel for when to get rid of the ball, Alex did not"....what part of "In the recent past, whenever the 49ers saw a blitz coming, they'd try to adjust the blocking assignments to pick it up so they could stick with the same play."...don't you understand.

Posted By: oneniner (17/06/2008 1:25:13 PM)
Comment: mexico has a football league?....are the plays called in spanish? ...i.e Opción de Derecho de Esprín

Posted By: Robert (17/06/2008 1:25:08 PM)
Comment: The 49ers are the last team in NFL history to understand and develop the idea of hot reads (having a plan B if someone from the defense comes through the line too fast)... Yay Martz! Boo old OCs!

Posted By: ev9er (17/06/2008 1:23:09 PM)
Comment: Matt, it sounds to me like Alex is the front runner on getting the starting job. It seems like not to many people are talking about hill or Sullivan? Matt is this the same impression you are getting? I really hope that Alex Smith can truly be the first pick QB we choose. thanks matt

Posted By: Wilson (17/06/2008 1:22:08 PM)
Comment: One of the most frustrating things about the 49er offense the past few years - even with Norv Turner - was how helpless the 49ers were against the pass rush. I guess that Norv had such a dominant offensive line at Dallas that he never saw the need for hot reads and dump off passes, and the guys that followed him didn't had a feel for that either, although it seems such an obvious component of a passing game, as it was when Bill Walsh was in town. Well, we now have an offensive coordinator who is smart as a whip and has it all figured out in detail, so it's going to be fascinating to see the new look 49er offense. Shaun Hill had a natural feel for when to get rid of the ball, Alex did not, but with enough practice there is real hope that Alex can learn how to handle the pressure better. If so, he could turn into a star, given his natural ability.

Posted By: oneniner (17/06/2008 1:20:27 PM)
Comment: My main man Alex Smith has arrived...this is great news....."Coach Mike Nolan said he sees quarterback Alex Smith working on some things during practices that he's never seen before"....Coach you can't say things like this....i mean cmon, how can you be an NFL coach and never saw your QB do everything a QB can do?......I was so on point last yr when i said you have to let Alex Smith loose, you need to stop babysitting him and just let him play.....that should be the niner slogan this yr...."Let Alex Loose", get off his back and let him play......i am so excited just reading about this, more excited than spending $15,000 on Don Parione...

Posted By: Razoreater (17/06/2008 12:55:55 PM)
Comment: Alex Smith becoming a gunslinger is HOT! Yes & V.D. needs to be your date to the hot party on sunday. I hope these two can become as tight as Joe&Jerry. Thanks Matt for all you do!