Roman: “I really can’t concern myself with the flak that might fly around, good or bad.”

SANTA CLARA — This is the full transcript of Greg Roman’s Thursday press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ P.R. department.

Opening comments:

“Afternoon. A tough game put behind us. Bounce back and get right into the New Orleans defense. A very stout, solid front. [Saints OLB Junior] Galette kind of their pass rush specialist. [Saints DE Cameron] Jordan, [Saints NT Brodrick] Bunkley and [Saints DE Akiem] Hicks and then we know [Saints OLB] Parys Haralson well, still playing at a high level. [Saints ILB Curtis] Lofton’s kind of their sideline to sideline guy. [Saints ILB Ramon] Humber a good young player and then they’ve got some length at the corner, [Saints CB Keenan] Lewis and [Saints CB Corey] White. [Saints S Rafael] Bush and [Saints S Kenny] Vaccaro. Vaccaro is a very aggressive, good safety and obviously Bush is experienced guy, but Vaccaro is a guy that you’ve got to be acutely aware of. So, looking forward to the challenge and looking forward to having another great day today. Any questions?”

 

I think I counted three snaps between C Marcus Martin and QB Colin Kaepernick that weren’t perfect on Sunday. Was that what you would expect from a new center? Was there a common theme on Sunday with that?

“A couple of them were just off. There was nothing really that caused them. Just got to work to improve those. But, I thought Marcus played a pretty darn good game, first start. I was really proud of how he battled.”

 

He said he’s never played in a dome stadium before. Can you do anything to kind of give him extra prep for this game that’s coming up?

“Really just try to create the environment with the noise. And then, with what you’re doing during the game you can maybe create some leverage advantages. You can work silent count if that’s what you do. Non-verbal communication, that is one way to do it as well.”

 

With some of the inconsistencies on offense, you guys haven’t scored an offensive touchdown in the fourth quarter, do you second guess, critique the job that you’re doing to try to get this offense in a rhythm?

“Yeah, I think second guessing and critiquing are two different things. But, always critique and when we fall short it starts squarely with me. I’ve got to do a better job getting us prepared, getting us to execute better. So, it really starts on me. I think we’re constantly evaluating and critiquing. Second guessing gets you nowhere. That’s pretty much worthless. But, as far as critiquing, evaluating, constantly.”

 

You’ve come under some fire from fans and I’m sure the media as well. Does that weigh on you? How do you feel about where you are?

“That’s news to me. I really don’t pay attention to that. All the fans I come across are very gracious and very classy. I really can’t concern myself with the flak that might fly around, good or bad. I don’t think any of us do. Everything that we concern ourselves with is with each other inside the building because regardless of what happened the prior week, good bad, irregardless. You’re just trying to get better and get prepared for the next week to win the next game

 

Yesterday we talked to RB Frank Gore and he really downplayed the notion that it’s all about him and giving him the ball. When you devise your game plan or make your play calls, do you make sure that the players have a pretty good idea or they know exactly what you’re thinking so that they can see the big picture?

“Yeah, I think you try to do that. But, at the same time, pretty much what we run in games that’s what we practice that week. And then you’ve got to be willing to adjust accordingly based on what you’re getting. It really starts with preparation, communicating that game plan, being on the same page, being as one and then going out and executing it. But, yeah I think the big picture is definitely part of what we try to communicate every week. But, we all understand that every play is important, a run, a pass, comes down to the execution of it. We’ve got great veteran leadership. Guys like [WR Anquan] Boldin, Gore, [T Joe] Staley, there’s some more too, guys that every single day come into work and provide a great example and great leadership. That’s what has allowed them and us to be successful.”

 

By my count in the Rams game the offense gained 26 yards on three counter runs, nine yards on two power runs and 14 yards on one wham. The wham got called back because of a hold, but it was a good play. Why not come back more frequently to those particular plays in that particular game?

“Yeah, that’s something you can always look back at and ask. That’s a, generally speaking, down and distance situations may have taken us out of exactly what we wanted to do. But, the point is well taken. I thought the execution on those plays were really, really well.”

 

By my count in the Rams game, the offense gained 26 yards on three counter runs, nine yards on two power runs and 14 yards on one wham. The wham got called back because of a hold, but it was a good play. Why not come back more frequently to particular plays in that particular game?

“Yeah, that’s something you can always look back at and ask and I’d say generally speaking, down and distance situations may have taken us out of exactly what we wanted to do. But, the point is well taken. I thought the execution on those plays was really, really well.”

 

I think CSNBayArea.com reporter Matt Maiocco mentioned people being, fans being dissatisfied and I think they look at we’ve got all these weapons and I think, this may not be exact, but I think you are 19th in yards, 23rd in points, last in red zone touchdown percentage, allowed the 3rd most sacks, and they say why isn’t this all working, why isn’t this offense clicking? How would you respond to people who are generally saying, what’s going on here?

“Well, I’d say, kind of in a nutshell, we’ve got to improve. We come in every day, we’ve got professional athletes, professional coaches working very hard to get that done. We feel like we’ve let some things slip in games where a little mistake here or there, a circumstance here or there. But, guys are working extremely hard to get it right and that’s what we aim to do.”

 

Some of your most balanced performances offensively have come where FB Bruce Miller gets a lot of snaps and if you look at his snap numbers in correlation to wins and losses, he’s generally not playing much in the losses and playing a lot in wins. How would you characterize that correlation?

“I think it’s game-to-game. I think Bruce is a very valuable player, but it’s definitely game-to-game. I wouldn’t run too far with that statistic.”

 

There were eight sacks that seemed like at least five, maybe six were just the Rams winning one-on-one matchups. Is that a fair assessment and is just a matter of guys having to block better?

“Yeah, each sack was pretty much a world onto itself. You go back, you look at them and why did this happen? It wasn’t solely on a particular, single player. Maybe a combination could have been worked out a little bit better, etcetera. But, just things that we’ve got to get fixed and correct and we will. That’s what we do. Got all the faith in the world in our offensive line. Wouldn’t want to go play a game with anybody else.”

 

Two of those guys, T Anthony Davis and G/T Alex Boone, didn’t play at all in the offseason, Marcus Martin is brand new. Do you have to expect hiccups when you have that scenario going into the midpoint of a season? Guys haven’t played together until the beginning of September.

“Yeah, I don’t think we look at that as an excuse. We understand the circumstances, but those guys are good football players and have all the faith in the world in them. With Marcus, he’s a young guy and really pleased with his approach and the player that he can become. We understand it’s a process with a young center, but I thought he played pretty darn well in that first game and we were pretty darn pleased with him. But, yeah, guys in and out of the lineup, not ideal, certainly for the O-line. But, we’ll overcome it.”

 

Seems like something good happens every time you call WR Stevie Johnson’s number.

“He’s doing a good job.”

 

Would you like to make him more of a focal point in the offense?

“Yeah, I think Stevie’s doing a great job. Really the entire offense on that last drive last week really sucked it up and did a really good job against a good defense. Pass protection was excellent. Stevie made some big plays. Kap was real sharp. Anquan made some big plays. [WR Michael Crabtree] Crab got that big P.I. And, Stevie’s doing a heck of a job. But, yeah, really pleased with Stevie.”

 

Speaking of going to Crabtree, is Colin too reliant on him in the red zone?

“I don’t think, I wouldn’t look at it that way. The way you’ve got to look at it is there’s a primary, a secondary and most of the time a third option. So, if the primary’s open, you need to throw it. We want to throw the ball to the open guy.”

 

Is he usually the primary?

“It depends. Sometimes, yes. Sometimes, no. But, no, we’ve got all the faith in the world in Crab.”

This article has 93 Comments

  1. Mike Tanier’s perspective is interesting — Frank Gore will agree with him
    http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2257128-excess-of-talent-has-spoiled-49ers-offense

    “The 49ers are loaded with good players and good ideas; at times, they look like they are cramming everything and everyone into each game plan. For Harbaugh and Roman, the problem may not be game-planning but editing.
    ….
    But the 49ers have displayed some of the same over-engineered schizophrenia at the goal line that they demonstrate when they suddenly empty the backfield for a series then change their minds again. Instead of sticking with what they know works, the 49ers move on to the next concept, next package, next wrinkle. Sometimes they appear to be more surprised by what they are doing than their opponents are.
    …..
    There is no such thing as too much talent or too many great ideas. But it is possible to try to do too much. The 49ers must learn to simplify. Striving to be the most talented, most creative guys in the room has started making them look dumb.”

    1. Mood, Tks for the article on BR. I’d already read it — but this Seahawk fan posted it and it describes Seattle’s identity issues also.

      The problem is Seattle has even been trying to evolve away from the run during the first part of the season. They did run it more the past couple weeks, but it is beyond comprehension why they went to pass heavy in the 2nd half against a Raiders team that was losing by 21. The Seahawks should never throw it 35 times when working from that kind of lead and defensive effort. The Seahawks passed the ball by a 2 to 1 ratio in the 2nd half and failed miserably in almost letting Oakland catch them. It’s a similar issue for the 49ers. They’re trying to evolve into something they’re not and getting away from what led them to deep playoff runs.

      1. Seahawks offense has less talent overall but better QB play than the Niners’ offense. But both look weary, uncomfortable, frustrated, and a even a little disgruntled at times.

        1. I dont know if I completely agree with that…
          Wilson > Kap
          Lynch > Gore
          Seattle OL > SF OL = the way the niners are playing, only one SF olinemen would play in Seattle. This could change but that’s the way it stands at the half.
          SF WR > Seattle WR (note Crabtree is playing terrible so this isnt as big a difference when the niners are in their base formation)
          TE – its a wash at this point, our best TE has been Carrier at this point in the season.
          This could all change but right now maybe we need to recognize that our offense is below average.

    2. The Tanier article is not nearly as disheartening as Fahey’s Football Outsiders article. The problems identified by Tanier are easily correctable while the problems identified by Fahey are not.

      The good news is that correcting the problems identified by Tanier will help to minimize the problems identified by Fahey

      1. Tanier is a far more insightful and experienced analyst than Fahey, whose film studies often miss the forest for the trees.

          1. It’s dispiriting to observe this continuing QB blame game like it used to be with Alex before Harbaugh arrived. Even if Kap had thrown the pass correctly to Crab and won the game (as he should have), it would still mean the Niners offense struggled to score 17 points against the sad sack Rams’ D.

            If one is interested in the trees, then it would be Kap’s fault on one play, and Staley’s on another, and Crab’s on the third, and Davis (pick your choice of Davis) on the fourth, and so on.

            But looking at the forest, one sees an offense that has not put together a complete game this entire season. They have routinely done better in the first half of games and pretty much awful in the fourth quarter. Too many vets are making too many mistakes, and looking confused on the sidelines. There is no apparent leadership on offense.

            To me, the signs point to a situation where the confusion among the offense if causing mistakes and poor execution, which is turn is causing even for frustration and even more mistakes. I think that Rombaugh have fed too many complex plays, especially on the passing game, over the off-season, and the team has not been able to digest them, particularly the O line with hold-out, injuries and now a rookie at center.

            Rombaugh have a thick playbook which only Andrew Luck was able to master, based on reports I have read. In 2011, Luck was using a larger part of a similar playbook of Shaw than the part used with Alex’s offense. Kap is no Luck, and not even as good as Alex, IMO, in mastering a playbook in a specified time.

            Niners need to abandon this failed approach of trying to get every offensive player involved and the schizo play calling style. Get back to 2011 basics and pound the ball on first and second downs, now that they have Hyde to help Gore. All 3 TEs are available, have them run block — no more 5 receiver sets, or even 4-receiver ones. Miller needs to be on the field on the majority of the plays. The rookie center is not going to be asked to call out pass protection in the Dome (he didn’t against the Rams, adding to more pressure on Kap).

            This is a do-or-die game. Run, run, run — trap, counter, wham, straight up power, QB option, whatever. Roman needs to restrict all this tinkering to run plays. Forget evaluating Kap’s progress as a pocket passer. Get D’s buying into play action again. Have Kap roll out, maybe more to his left since for whatever reason, he appears to be accurate running to his left than right.

            I’m done with my rant for the day. Need more coffee.

            1. “This is a do-or-die game. Run, run, run — trap, counter, wham, straight up power, QB option, whatever.”

              How did “run, run, run” work for the 49ers last year in the dome?

      2. Claude: Am posting this response above you.

        I checked the Fehey article expecting to see damaging information about Kaeps taking those sacks by not taking options open to him in the last game. What I saw was a joke. It is obvious to an objective observer that he was just using still pictures to spin his perspective.

        It is relatively easy to find isolated freeze frames to refect what you want to refect if you look hard enough. Why didn’t he use gifs for the Kaep examples like he did for some of the other examples he gave below? Simply because actual time would not have supported his perspective and article.

        The one example he use to contrast Kaep with Bridgewater was a joke as well. In this his example for Bridgewaters nifty footwork was also not a gif. and showed him take one step up in a huge tent like pocket to a passing lane that was a good 18 ft wide.

        In respect to Kaep he makes statements about what Kaep could have done but only provides a still ( not a gif ) to cherry pick his point. If you get to freeze a frame it is easy to give the appearance of options that might not exist. And also the QB can not just freeze a frame to consider his options. Nice if he could.

        One one play, where Quin beats Staley around the edge, he accuses Kaep of getting happy feet but the second still shows very little movement on his part. Just slightly too the right. He also says he should have thrown a quicker pass but Kaep had his back to the Staley/Quin match up and couldn’t have seen Staley go down so why would he have thought he needed a quick release?. Total BS rationalization like this through out his analysis. This was interesting because there was a recent article on the BR that totally contradicted his opinions. It also used film analysis.

        I could take a lot of time picking apart more of his analysis but whats the point most people who have already made up their minds see and believe what they need to believe. I did always assumed that if you do film analysis you should use film to make your point not just a few cherry picked pictures. But I suppose if using gifs it wont help your cause you shouldn’t do it. As much time as some people spend on football analysis it always amazes me the p!ss poor things they come up with.

          1. IMO, Kap could have probably avoided a couple at most. The availability of all-22 film has enables one to cherry pick specific plays to “prove” their points.

            1. Mood:

              If the points are about responsibility for the 8 sacks, then there are only 8 specific plays to cherry pick.

        1. Okay so can you explain to me why a Kaepernick led offense has been unable to score a TD in the 4th quarter ALL SEASON??

          Break all all the sketches and doodling you can muster!

          If you put the effort into this, I swear I will believe you.

        2. Willtalk:

          It is obvious to an objective observer that he was just using still pictures to spin his perspective.

          With all due respect, I don’t think you know what is obvious to an objective observer.

    1. Jack,

      You’ve had a chance to look at the all-22, are they just singling out a few plays to prove a point?

      I’m subscribing later this week, but mainly to see what the cheerleaders look like.

    2. I agree with the article. I don’t know what type of offense Kaep played in, in high school but he’s still learning this sit in the pocket thing. Having watch Bridgewater in person, he’s a pocket passer who can run. He’s not a running QB and was taught long ago how to keep his eyes downfield. Bridgewater is good, I’m surprised he dropped that far.

      1. KY49er:

        Heres his combine which I’m sure many have already seen and what I could find on high school.

        Kaepernick is an excellent blend of height, build and speed for a quarterback. Possesses toughness and leadership qualities. Flashes good accuracy on intermediate routes. Shows enough arm strength to make most NFL throws. Won’t have many passes batted down. Can escape the pocket and pickup first downs with his legs.

        WEAKNESSES
        Plays out of the pistol, lacks experience under center. Has not been asked to make NFL progressions and reads. Not quick to check down or hit hot read against the blitz. Misses too many short passes. Doesn’t have consistent touch on the deep ball. Release is somewhat elongated and can dip down to sidearm at times.
        6.88

        At Pitman High in Turlock, Calif., he ran the wing-T offense. Though he was 6-foot-6, he only weighed around 170 pounds and was described as “paper thin.” Pitman did not want him to get hurt, so he just threw the ball and handed it off. Recruiters came to watch teammate Anthony Harding, who eventually went to Fresno State. But Kaepernick barely got a sniff. He joked that his rushing numbers at Pitman totaled around “minus-50 yards.”

        His head coach, Larry Nigro, sent out tape. His brother Kyle sent out tape, but Kaepernick got no scholarship offers. Nevada assistant Barry Sacks, who recruits the Central California Valley, heard about Kaepernick. Nigro told him Kaepernick was “can’t-miss.”

        Sacks had gotten that line before, but Nevada kept him on its radar, evaluating him in the spring and watching game tape in the fall of his senior year. Nevada was still in need of a quarterback late in the recruiting period, but it was December.

        Football season had ended. Kaepernick was playing basketball, so Sacks decided to go watch him play.

        “A basketball guy who I knew from the Central Valley told me, ‘This guy tore up one of the top ranked basketball teams,'” Sacks said. “We’re not recruiting basketball players, but it’s one of the tools you can use to evaluate an athlete. You can see not only his athleticism, but his competitiveness and his toughness.”

        The night Sacks showed up, Kaepernick had a 102 degree fever. But he played the entire game and dominated. It was all right there in front of Sacks, the intangibles Nevada wanted from its players. Sacks called Nevada coach Chris Ault after the game and raved.

        “Coach, this guy is unbelievable,” Sacks recalled telling Ault.

        “Let’s go on him,” Ault replied.

        There’s a lot more:
        http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=5644658

        1. That’s a great story! But the NFL game is chess times 100. Intangibles are great, but intelligence and game management take you to championship levels. Look at Tom Brady. Anyone ever see his combine picture before being drafted? Class A nerdorama!
          Look CK is a great talent but that doesnt mean anything or result in anything if he can’t lead and manage the game. When I say manage I mean doing things that give your team a chance. The burned timeouts, the turnovers, the head down, nodding head, poor body language after a three and out. Folks, MATURITY! He needs to commit and make this all world talent real. Play the part. Ditch the head phones, hoodie. Shirt tie, film study, steady, cool calm. Be a professional 24/7!
          It’s not about the plays that got you there or the plays that kept you close. It’s the plays you make to get you over the top.The game winning plays. That defines greatness. The rest is just whip cream. So many people on here were padding CK’s back for keeping them in the game against Seattle in the NFCCG last year. What? That’s his job and his job is to finish the job by getting a W. Anything less is losing! It’s a cruel and unrewarding profession being a NFL QB especially in SF. The legacy you have to live up to starts with Joe and ends in Montana. Win a SB and your legacy is set. Until that time it’s scrunity every snap. It’s the 49er way. No one said life is fair!

      1. Then there are the Niner fans. For this Niner fan there’s no eagerness to switch to the options: Josh and Blaine. Check out that Bullpen. Uh-huh. So I’m no Kaepologist, but I am a Kaepernicker for now.

        1. Brotha:

          I don’t understand your comment. I wasn’t calling for Kaepernick to be replaced.
          I was just expressing my surprise that no one, including the-it’s-everyone’s-fault-but-Kaepernick’s crowd, was objecting to the article’s observations and conclusions.

          1. I got that, and I didn’t mean to be calling you out. The eyeball test tells me plenty, but he’s The Dude in the near and middle future around here. Given that, I’m probably reacting to the cumulative effect of all the negativity. Not just at CK, and some of it deserved. I knew better than to even check-in on Monday, LOL.

              1. Who do you think is in a better position, the Raiders for Niners? Derek Carr or Kaep? Wouldn’t it be crazy if Harbaugh goes to the Raiders?

              2. “awkward!” Mrs. H. wouldn’t need to sell her house and relocate — she want’s to stay in the Bay area. Only in California does all this high drama take place.

      2. Nothing new. It’s what everyone knows. He’s young and new at this still. For his career at least. I’ve been saying for two years now they are abandoning the run to develop his pocket skills now. I also got flack for calling it my make or break season for him. The key quote I read in the article was.
        You can’t coach keeping your eyes downfield while under pressure. I was actually called a ck hater, now that I refuse to blame him for this game, I guess I’m a “kaepologist” I’m confused. Lol which Rob Lowe am I?

    3. Good articles. Love Taniers writing and the film room is always informative.

      While I disagree that Kap could’ve avoided more than a couple of the sacks, there is no question he had options for checkdowns that he didn’t take advantage of.

      He instinctively tries to make a big play even when there isn’t one to be made. He’s still not comfortable being the distributor instead of the playmaker at times.

      Part of the learning process that he has to figure out or he’ll never be able to play from the pocket consistently.

      1. Rocket wrote:

        “He instinctively tries to make a big play even when there isn’t one to be made. He’s still not comfortable being the distributor instead of the playmaker at times.

        Part of the learning process that he has to figure out or he’ll never be able to play from the pocket consistently.”

        Very nicely put, Rocket. I agree completely. I am also mindful that Steve Young and Randall Cunningham had the same problems. Young took years of coaching to change; Cunningham took a knee injury to change. I do not expect Kap to change unless someone or something makes him do so. Right now, it is who he is.

        1. JPN
          But if we have to wait until either an injury or age slow CK down and forces him to accept that its better to let others make plays than be a playmaker himself wont we loose the very quality that makes him special and separates him from other QBs?

          1. My point was that for Young and Cunningham, the change took outside motivation. In Young’s case, it was his coaches forcing him to suppress his instincts. However, as he was still quite physically gifted, he was also able to make the plays that separated him from other QBs when he needed to do so, but he became more disciplined otherwise.

            In Cunningham’s case, he had a psycho for a head coach when he was with the Eagles, and he was encouraged to improvise and use his talents but not encouraged to develop into a well-rounded QB. It took an injury to make him change.

            I would rather see Kap be able to change now, rather than when he is older or after injury, but part of the issue is that guys like Young, Cunningham, Kap, Newton, Vick, Elway, etc. learn to rely on their athleticism from a young age, and it often takes something more than mistakes to make them focus on their craft in the same way a Tom Brady or a Peyton Manning does. The players like Kap need a coaching staff to make them work outside of their physical gifts. And while I support Harbaugh generally, I really think he wants to have his cake and eat it too with Kap – he wants him to be the playmaker except when he does not want him to be. And I am not sure it is clear to anyone, Kap especially, when the coaching staff wants him to be Kaptain Kaos and when they want him to be Mr. Pocket Passer.

        2. Yep, there are other examples too JPN, like Roethlisberger.

          Not every QB comes into the league understanding the more subtle aspects of playing QB from the pocket. Some will never be able to master it, but then some do over time. Will Kaepernick?

          1. What do you think Scooter? Do you think CK has the ability to transform his game? He has the coaches, he has the athleticism, but does he have the ability to understand this is what he needs to do?

            1. Uncertain. If he does get there, I think it will take another year or two. As JPN has been saying, its hard to break habits, and learn to do things different ways, unless forced to.

  2. Based on the pictures from the article, it looks like Roman called a pretty good game. He got people open, and doesn’t look like Gregg Williams out coached him.

    So was he wrong to stay with the pass for that long anyway?

    I think they’re going to approach the Saints game with what they think will work and hope the offense execute.

    I’d like to see Colin so fired up and ready to bring it!

    1. I refused to agree Fan lol. You make adjustments to keep your QB from making mistakes. Ex: We all knew Alex smith could not throw the ball down field. I held my breath everytime he threw a bomb to VD. They adjusted. Dink and dunks with the occasional playaction pass. Why not go back to that offense.

      1. They have to do something different. They can’t just lean on Gore either. Teams are figuring out the Niner run offense.

        I actually think the best thing for Kaep is that he gets traded to Philly and I bet Chip Kelly would find a way to minimize all the things he can’t do and maximize what he can do. Chip would truly turn Kaep into the ultimate weapon: running, passing, maybe even receiving!

        1. In further research I don’t think most high schools teach complex pro style offenses. That comes later. I do think if you’re serious about a future in the NFL the university you choose is of utmost importance. Kaep was very good at basket ball and baseball and was probably undecided. Grades were not the issue — he could have gone to any school . . . water under the bridge. There’s very few things in life you can’t fix. He’s playing catch up, that’s all. Will it be fast enough for 49er fans, that’s the burning question . . . there’s your next article, Jack.

          1. Your incorrect. There are some very sophisticated offensive systems being utilized at the high school level right now.

            1. IMHO,
              I think Kaep has an uphill climb because he’s fighting his natural instincts, which is to evade and escape. It’s hard for him to hang in the pocket. It’s unnatural for him. It would take a few years to break that habit. He may need to go up to the mountains and work with that kung fu master from Kill Bill 2.

              1. IMHO
                ————–
                Should we assume if you don’t say otherwise that your other opinions are lies?

              2. We don’t have a few years! It’s been three years now Fan. When is he gonna learn the pro style NFL way to be a quarterback?

              3. Prime,

                Well that sucks. Now I feel bad for being pissed at Roman. It looks like there’s people open all over the place.

                What to do? Start Blaine!

              4. I’m disappointed in the Baytroll. He should be here to defend his one true love. Tell us that these pictures were doctored or something.

                Not a peep from that guy.

                Crickets.

              5. Besides his instincts, Kap also has to overcome a mindset that was reinforced at Nevada – that he is main weapon of the offense. Sure, he will make some plays that are truly outstanding, but he will make mistakes when he is trying to do too much or is forcing/overthinking the play. He needs to worry less about being the offense and worry more about being part of the offense. But, being the playmaker is who he was at Reno, and while he has improved tremendously in many areas, in many others he is still the same player.

      2. KY,

        As the article points out, the QB is missing the dinks and dunks.

        Fan,

        Rombaugh called plays that had players open, but it’s easier for the general fan and blogmeister to just blame the coaches.

        1. Jack some of it is the camera work during the game too. For the casual fan who doesn’t have access to this game tapes all you see sometimes is Kap getting sacked and you don’t see the guys open on the short routes because of where the camera’s are focuses. Sure its easy to blame the coach or be selective. These views in the article were not what we got during the game. To have all the facts is important.

          1. wilson,

            For the casual fan you are correct, but from a journalist that has access to the information and ability to create a narrative we should expect more.

            The anti-Roman narrative isn’t anything new around here.

            1. Sure on the journalists and for the broadcasters who are calling the game should be pointing out the open routes do create narratives. Even Harbaugh’s interview at half was quoting as Kap needing more time to throw. So the info we were given lead many of us to believe it primarily was a o line issue or play calling issue against the pass rush.

              We’ve heard how great Kap’s numbers are against the blitz too and there are some who’d pointed out his slow improvement. He has improved but those photos are undeniable that he missed quick throws that should have been made.

        2. Jack
          Hold on a second here. While calling plays that get the players open is a + for GRo surely he is to blame when the O looses its identity. To go empty formation on a 2nd and 1 is a coaching problem as is throwing 3 times from inside the 5 yard line. And overall the “identity crisis” is squarely on his shoulders because its up to him to decide what offense this team will run.

          1. Bos what if Roman has lost all confidence in his starting QB? There have been many conspiracy theories out there this past week but none of them are unreasonable at this stage of the season. One of them is to think Roman cant figure out what to do with Kaepernick from an identity perspective. They have tried to give him the reins and it’s not worked. They have pulled the reins in and have won some games but it’s not enough when they are down by a few possessions.
            Are Roman and CK not on the same page? That’s a yes. Now the next question is, who goes? Does Roman leave with Harbaugh, or does CK leave with Harbaugh. In any case one of those two scenarios at years end is a for sure.

            1. Prime
              If Gro lost confidence in CK you can bet that he would not go 5 wide and put the whole onus for the offense on kaep. he would run the neanderthal jimmy raye playbook (up the middle 3 times then punt) rather than throw 40+ times a game. As to who goes? ask yourself this: how many coaching changes are there every year in the league (6-8 or roughly 1/4 of all teams) and how many “franchise QB”( as defined by huuuuuge contracts not necesarily championships) get sacked? very few just look at andy dalton. he signed a monster contract and has been sucking but he wil;l undoubtebly be back next year

              1. Good points Bos but from the outside looking in the Niners organization has too many chiefs and not enough Indians. The reason I say that because more and more details on CK’s contract coming out. If he truly was their guy and everyone was all in, why has it been so incentive laden? To me those type of clauses show the organization wants to see more.
                As for Roman, is his hand being forced to be more of a passing offense from management or Harbaugh? He seems equally uncomfortable as his play calling is so inconsistent. One time thet are all about the pass, the other the run and sometimes something in between, why? It’s like a very awkward marriage.

              2. Prime
                The contract is all about good buisness. In the NFL QB play is a bit like relief pitching only a few are able to be consistently good year in and year out. So to prevent from going ga ga (a la Cassel in KC or Fitzpatric in BUF) and giving a hot streak player guaranteed cash they went with the year to year approach and CK chose to gamble on himself. Why pay more if you don’t have to. its the Romo rule Dal didnt have to extend romo with years on his deal but they did and by virtue of that are married to him for better or worse

              3. I firmly think they thought they could beat the Rams passing to give him more experience. He did have a good game against the Rams 2 weeks earlier.

                Even if they had won the game with the sneak, it’s troubling to see Kaep not grasping the nuances.

              4. Fan that’s the maturity aspect I talked about. Consistency is something he can’t string together and I think it’s a factor in his psyche.

          2. BOS:

            … overall the “identity crisis” is squarely on his shoulders because its up to him to decide what offense this team will run.

            Coach Harbaugh respectfully disagrees with you.

            1. CB
              I thought it was an understanding that Gro is harbaugh and vise versa a Rombaugh if you will

              1. Besides the shembeckler in him ( FB and a TE in on every play) would probably prefer the power run game

            1. Jack.
              So Crabtree scores and we win 17-13. Do you feel good about the 9ers offense overall? Are you happy with how our O is performing on the season in general and in the red zone in particular? I understand that poor execution on that particular MC play doomed it to fail but what about the “identity crisis”?

              1. Bos,

                1st question: Yes

                There’s no identity crisis. It’s been pretty much the same thing for 8 weeks.

    2. Romanbaugh’s play call this season is lacking in rhythm — it’s a staccato of plays, some really smart, some predictable, but they are all over the map. To me sometimes it looks like they are trying to outsmart themselves. At other times the coaches seem like kids in a candy shop, lumping from one weapon to another. The players in offensive seem to be puzzled and uninspired. I hope they can pull it together starting Sunday but I’m not feeling that positive.

      1. If Baalke had allowed Harbaugh to dump Suckernick Fales would be the QB right now and your dream would come true.

  3. Kevin Lynch: “On the last drive, whether it was Stevie Johnson or Michael Crabtree, the 49ers picked on cornerback Trumaine Johnson. Where was that in the first 56 minutes of the game? The 49ers don’t seem to be as match-up oriented as they once were.”
    Wonder why.

  4. I’ll say it one lastvyime. I don’t care who you are. YOU DONT Fumble THE Football On The 1 yard Line on a QB sneak With The Game Hanging In The balance!!!!!!! You just cant!!!! Damn!!!

  5. Barrows: ” Ominous sign: Marcus Martin has never played in a dome, and the 49ers play in the Louisiana Superdome on Sunday.”

  6. In terms of self scouting…you guys think the coaching staff is aware that they never run pitches/HB tosses? I just re-watched that last play where Kap fumbled and the Rams sold out incredibly hard (Guys jumping over the pile soon as the ball was snapped) on that play as if they knew it was coming. It just seems like a HB toss in that situation would’ve been the perfect play call based on the defensive alignment and against our tendencies.

  7. For anyone interested, the horse in my new gravatar is my little 3 year old filly who had her first start on Wednesday, and won by a long neck. Very green, did a lot wrong in the race, but managed to hold on in the end. :-)

      1. Thanks Mary, though I’m hardly a tycoon! I have a share of ownership in two horses, this one being the youngest. She’s a little filly compared to other horses, but she sure can run. The older one is 5 now and has done pretty well for me too – 9 starts, 1 win, 4 seconds, all in metro races. She had a grade 2 tear of a tendon in her leg end of last year which was pretty scary for us, wasn’t sure she’d be able to race again. But she’s back in training now and looking stronger than ever. :-)

        1. Ahhh I’m glad she’s okay. Thanks for sharing and I like this pic better than the other one.

  8. I would like to see Kaepernick in an offensive scheme created by a good passing mind, which Roman isn’t. If Hairball and crew are on their way out, it will be interesting to see the Niners hopefully working with an OC that has a 21st century grasp of the passing game. Then we will truly be able to see if Kaepernick is the real deal. I just am not sure how much of the offensive problems are Kaepernick’s, and how much of it is Hairball/Roman. FIRE GREG ROMAN!!!

    1. Exactly Milleneum! I wanna see Kap under better offensive guidance and teaching before I can write him off.Sometimes the system doesn’t fit the player..So help your Qb help you..

  9. Kaep, Gore, Hyde, Ellington, Davis, Carrier, Johnson, Crabtree, Boldin, Lloyd, Patton.

    Andy Lee should never play.

    Roman’s a bum.

Comments are closed.