Posted By: WeSuck (20/06/2008 10:48:44 AM)
Comment: No surprise really. Everyone could see the Niners weren't running an NFL-caliber offense last year. Now that we have someone who is actually qualified running the offense, hopefully that will all change this year.

Posted By: http:// (19/06/2008 7:01:41 PM)
Comment: Why we're even having this conversation is a disgrace to of all teams the 49ERS. Nolan has his good points but C'MON hot reads are a must in every offense esp one where the only real weapon we had was Gore & the running game. VD still unproven. Unbelievable & totally ridiculous. How can a HC even though his specialty is defense overlook this?? He has to have SOME general common sense about offense. Nolan & Hostler, the blind leading the blind. Thank god the nightmare is over, it's a wonder Alex has made it back together in 1 piece again. Hopefully this dynamic duo hasn't screwed him up too much in the head.

Posted By: Jon in SoCal (19/06/2008 3:02:18 PM)
Comment: One of the problems the Lions had was that they were behind a lot, so they had to throw and defenses pinned back their ears to rush. It is the same explanation as why Martz had a run/pass play calling imbalance. Remember when everyone thought Gore would get the ball when Martz was hired?

Posted By: Jon in SoCal (19/06/2008 3:00:27 PM)
Comment: Jonas: Hot Read is a quick throw to the "hot" receiver. Normally you want to throw to the side where the blitz is coming from to take advantage of the personnel imbalance, either a guy is uncovered because his man is blitzing, or the defense is rotating another defender to that man. The receiver also will alter his route. If a "go" route is called, and the QB and the WR read blitz, the WR will cut short his route (hook, slant, whatever) so the QB can throw it quickly. A RB may pick up the blitz, but the idea is to beat the blitz by getting the ball out quickly. A check down is different. What the 9ers were doing was shifting the protection towards the side of the blitz, meaning all the blockers would shift to pick up the blitzers and normal rushers, but there is a big chance of missing assignments and not having enough blockers. All routes are run as designed, but the QB must go through his progression faster and "check down" to the shorter yardage routes quicker. So if the WR is designed to run a "go" and there is a blitz, he still runs a "go", but the QB will "check down" to another route, like a RB out of the backfield.

Posted By: Samra (19/06/2008 2:56:39 PM)
Comment: the re introduction of hot reads is another example of why martz is gonna turn this offense around...he knows what our weaknesses are and will address them as well as trying to capitolize on our strengths ie frank Gore, V.D..mike robinson at FB, and delanie walker

Posted By: SantaClara9er (19/06/2008 12:19:12 PM)
Comment: If Hot Reads are the answer for reducing 9er sacks from 55 last year, how does that explain that the Lions had 54 sacks last year. Didn't they use Hot Reads or couldn't Kitna get the ball out fast enough, or something...???

Posted By: Jonas (19/06/2008 12:10:21 PM)
Comment: Can anyone help me out? Whats the difference between a "Hot read" and a "Check down"? Thx.

Posted By: Berger (19/06/2008 11:42:05 AM)
Comment: oneniner- I'm not going to get in a conversation with you because I don't understand many of the things you say. But I will say that hot reads do take pressure off of the QB. I will never say that is wrong. It is the main reason to use the play. But the reason it does that is when a team gets burned by a big play, because they got caught by a hot read, they tend to do less blitzing. The reason the big plays happen is because it gets a player open in space for a long play. For example, many of Rice and Taylor's long TD runs on slants, as Matt correctly pointed out. Give it a rest my friend. You can have the last word, I won't respond.

Posted By: Cleveland Mike (19/06/2008 10:58:31 AM)
Comment: Hey Berger and Oneniner...Nolan wouldn't know a hot read from a hot chick. He is a tool. Just read Staley's Diary on the Niner website....he's going jet skiing?????Ah, please say it ain't so Joe. Cleveland Mike fell off a jet ski 10 years and broke his elbow (surgery required). Say it ain't so Joe. One goofy wave could sideline you more than you think. Just sit on the beach and think of hot reads....er hot chicks.

Posted By: oneniner (19/06/2008 10:57:57 AM)
Comment: Berger we know how you hate to admit you being wrong when you are, ....we will all appreciate it if you do make comments which are not true, at least be a man and admit you were wrong............ Matt proved my point .."The idea of the hot reads is to take the pressure off the offensive line and placing the control on the quarterback.".......your opinion that it is to get the player open in space was wrong,..............2. from Matt -"I definitely recognized something looked different when I saw a handful of quick passes to a slot receiver or tight end during practice."....FYI-he didn't mention RB...

Posted By: Berger (19/06/2008 10:07:50 AM)
Comment: Houston- That play would've been a perfect situation for a hot read. The left side was wide open and we had a receiver alone. The part of the play that was Dilfer's fault was he was supposed to take 3 steps and get rid of the ball, even if he threw it into the grass. That way, in theory, an unblocked DE doesn't have time to get to him. Unfortunately, he took three steps and a hop. Basically 3 1/2 steps. It threw off the timing and gave Usi time to sack him. For one, Dilfer took too long, and for two, he was too deep. If we had hot reads in the play book, Dilfer could've looked left, seen a wide open receiver and delivered the ball. Probably a 14 point switch and possibly, a 49er victory that day if we have hot reads.

Posted By: Berger (19/06/2008 9:59:29 AM)
Comment: petaluman- Hot reads can be tricky. If only on blitzer is comming, a defense will usually cover the hot route with another player. Or if an offense uses it too often, a defense will start jumping the route to get an interception. It is a tool that should be in the playbook but should not be overused. If a team sends only one blitzer a good offense should usually be able to pick that up and run their play. When multible blitzers are comming it is difficult to cover all of the hot routes, just as it is hard to pick up every blitzer. That is usually the best time to burn them with a hot route. Or if a team is playing the corners 10 yards deep with no inside help. A quick drop and slant is a wonderful hot read. It doesn't have to be from a blitz, it could be because of an alignment. I'm not sure if what I am about to say is true since I didn't follow the Rams, but it seems that when Warner was with the Rams Martz wasn't using as many hot reads as it seems he is concentrating on now. Teams adjusted for his play book and maybe he is now adjusting to their adjustments. At least, I'm hoping that is the case.

Posted By: Houston 9er (19/06/2008 9:34:25 AM)
Comment: I remember a situation last year against the Giants where the DE was left unblocked and he sacked Dilfer causing a fumble which was returned for a TD. After the game everyone agreed that the sack was Dilfer's fault because he didn't recognize the blitz and hit the hot route. Isn't that a hot read? That's the exact type of play I remember from Martz's offense. The qb completes a pass while getting absolutely crushed. I hope Alex is ready for a pounding!

Posted By: petaluman (19/06/2008 8:33:30 AM)
Comment: In the prior offensive system, the blocking assignments were supposed to be changed at the line of scrimmage. In the new one, the blitzer is allowed to come unblocked. Even if the ball is gone, the QB is vulnerable to both legal and illegal late hits. Remember what happened to Kurt Warner? Every offensive system has its good and bad points. Defenses change to exploit those weaknesses. Execution is what determines success. I also prefer a quick-response offense, and commented last year on how long it took for us to get the ball out. Nevertheless, I don't think it's as black-and-white as some here think.

Posted By: Jason (19/06/2008 7:40:52 AM)
Comment: Ryan and Dean - While I agree for the most part with the both of you, it's still the Head Coaches responsibility to coach and look after the ENTIRE team. When something is wrong he should do something about it. I see a really bad pattern with Nolan, his defense leaves the HOT READ receive wide open at times. They send a blitz but don't cover the hot receive and then on offence they don't use hot reads???? hmmmm......Nolan, has COMPLETE responsibility over the ENTIRE team, he is the HEAD COACH.

Posted By: Ryan (19/06/2008 6:32:29 AM)
Comment: I agree with Dean. The lack of a hot read last year was in no way Nolan's fault.

Posted By: Dean (19/06/2008 5:17:09 AM)
Comment: Papa- With all due respect, I fail to see the connection. Nolan hires an OC who is lured away for the HC job in Green Bay. Nolan hires an OC who is lured away for a HC job in San Diego (late in the start of a new season I might add)and in an attempt to keep some continuity with young Alex Smith, promotes Hoss. This proved to be bad all around. Now we have Martz, whom most in the NFL will agree, knows offense. Maybe Nolan's not as bad as you make him out to be, maybe he's worse, or maybe he is the victim of some incredibly bad luck when it comes to the OC position. Still Rollin...

Posted By: Jerseysteve (18/06/2008 11:30:12 PM)
Comment: wow... they're acting like hot reads are a new breakthrough in football technology. get real... No doubt they'll improve by doing such but come on, this is elementary stuff. What has happened to my poor niners.

Posted By: Matt, Santa Rosa, CA (18/06/2008 11:20:50 PM)
Comment: Matt, I remember in 2006 you wrote an article with Alex Smith breaking down a play from Turner's system. Any plans to write this again but using a play from Martz's system.

Posted By: MikeB (18/06/2008 10:39:43 PM)
Comment: Puleeease!!! Throwing at the area vacated by a blitz is nothing new, and it is not a panacea for slowing blitzes . . I am sure 49ers had some form of an "outlet" even last year. . .Maybe, just maybe the defense can plan for this and run a safety into the "hot read" zone to break this blitz stopper - and what? The QB still has to find the open receiver . . .

Posted By: Papa (18/06/2008 9:48:15 PM)
Comment: Hi Matt: Just more evidence Nolan is not a very good head coach.

Posted By: Rich, DE (18/06/2008 9:16:04 PM)
Comment: On the offense being different this year...thank goodness.

Posted By: KK (18/06/2008 6:18:22 PM)
Comment: Matt Do you find it surprising that experienced coordinators like Norv Turner and Mike McCarthy did not use hot reads? I am not surprised about Jim Hostler but very surprised that this is Alex Smith's first exposure to this. Your thoughts?

Posted By: Henry (18/06/2008 6:16:00 PM)
Comment: hey matt, great work as always. i'm really feeling larry grant. aside from home roots and all, he seems to be just the type of underrated/bottom of the draft/undrafted gems the 9ers seem to find every few years (kozier, deese, johnson...). with al everest gushing about grant, among other things, do you think grant could replace ulbrich within the next couple years (or even this year) as the go-to mr. versatile player? his knack for blocking punts/kicks is pretty impressive as is. but if he can learn how to be a true gamer...like whoa.

Posted By: Berger (18/06/2008 5:56:15 PM)
Comment: I'm with you Matt. It blows me away we didn't use hot reads last year. I complained that we didn't use them last year but I did not know we never used them. Hot reads are the moist used play when you play sand lot football. It is just amazing any pro team would disdain them. This is big news and relly explains a lot from last year. Great info. Keep up the good work.

Posted By: Wilson (18/06/2008 5:53:10 PM)
Comment: Petalumaman, I fail to see why having a hot read available for unloading as a rush is coming exposes the QB to more hits than holding the ball until the planned routes get run. I question whether the offensive line - desperately occupied with controlling their man - can change blocking assignments on the fly quickly enough to protect the QB.

Posted By: Cyrus (18/06/2008 5:48:08 PM)
Comment: Matt, did Ulbrich train MMA again this offseason to get in shape?

Posted By: petaluman (18/06/2008 5:41:38 PM)
Comment: Just a reminder that there is a negative side to Hot Reads. It is more of a gambling style of offense, as the QB is more exposed to being hit by unblocked blitzers and interceptions are more likely. As some of you will no doubt point out, the QB is also vulnerable if the blitz is not recognized (in either scheme), or if the change in the blocking scheme is not properly executed. However, as good as Marz has been at developing young QBs, so far most have had relatively short stays "at the top" before getting too beat up to play their best.

Posted By: The Other Rich (Columbus, OH) (18/06/2008 5:37:39 PM)
Comment: Being a Buckeye, I have high hopes of Larry Grant securing the most VITAL POSITION on the team, the TED spot (note: heavy sarcasm). But seriously, I am pulling for him to just sell out and become a pupil of Singletary. I feel like he's the type of guy that wouldn't mind getting beat up by lineman and fullbacks all day to let Willis zip around and make plays. Right now, as this blog has said, Ulbrich is the front-runner for that, which I'm also fine with. Matt, quick question: any observations on how Larry Grant looks in person as far as physique? The stats you gave before makes him one of the smaller linebackers; I was wondering if he plays that way, or if he plays stronger than his weight would lead you to believe.

Posted By: Duppy (18/06/2008 5:01:46 PM)
Comment: I'm beginning to see that "hot reads" are this weeks "Ted" catch phrase. What's the hot topic for next week?

Posted By: kem99 (18/06/2008 5:00:14 PM)
Comment: Matt -- I'm still trying to digest your recent blogs on the "hot reads" or lack thereof last season. Two related questions, do you know if the 49ers used "hot reads" under Turner or McCarthy and, if so, to what extent as opposed to what they did last year?

Posted By: boridge (18/06/2008 4:54:33 PM)
Comment: Listen, I know a fair amount about football but I'm certainly no offensive coordinator. That said, before last seaon even I could have told you that that blitz strategy was a pile of c#!*. Are you kidding me Hostler? Martz will prove to be the best off season acquisition we made. Love that hire already.

Posted By: Jim in Walnut Creek (18/06/2008 4:49:50 PM)
Comment: Matt, can you track down Dilfer and interview him about this hot read business? Why didn't he speak-up to someone about the lack of hot reads? I seem to remember Dilfer saying that the Hostler offensive scheme was "sound". I guess Dilfer's veteran tutelage of Smith must have consisted of yelling "duck and cover". Unbelievable!

Posted By: Ed in Irvine (18/06/2008 4:42:31 PM)
Comment: Well I am glad that we have a competent Offensive Coordinator now with a PLAN. If the Offense gets going, then the Defense should be able to hold ground and leave opponents punting or kicking for 3's.

Posted By: Jon in SoCal (18/06/2008 4:27:11 PM)
Comment: Thanks Matt: I still am stunned that they tried to do what they did. No wonder the OL played so poorly. I am betting we will se a tremendous improvement in OL play this year as well as an improved Smith. I cannot believe what a good soldier the QB's are/were last year. I would be screaming about how I was coached if I was in their position. I can see now why Warhop kept his job. It wasn't his fault.