Move the chains: Niners converting under new OC

Jimmy Raye was the 49ers offensive coordinator during this season’s first three games. The Niners converted 10 of 41 third downs under Raye. That is 24 percent. Not too good.

Mike Johnson has been the 49ers offensive coordinator the past three games. The Niners have converted 21 of 42 first downs under Johnson. That is 50 percent. Very good.

Raye, presumably, was fired because he wasn’t doing too hot at his primary job — calling plays. With that in mind, Mike Singletary was asked this week if the dramatic rise in third-down conversion percentage had anything to do with, you know, better play-calling.


“I think our offense overall is just continuing to get better,”
Singletary said. “I think the inexperience that we had at the very
beginning at the offensive line, the two rookies, David Baas playing center for the first time in six years, Michael Crabtree
not getting really a chance to go through training camp, Vernon Davis
not really having a chance to go through training camp for the most
part. There are a lot of pieces to put together and I think our guys are
just continuing to grow and mature, and gain some experience. And I
think that’s a big factor.”

OK. There is some truth there. And it’s no surprise that Singletary
remains protective of Raye, an assistant he staunchly supported publicly
right up until the moment he fired him.

But the staff here at Inside 49ers had this odd feeling that, perhaps,
the third-down improvement might also be a reflection on the change in
offensive leadership. After all, the Niners converted at least 50
percent of their third downs in three of 19 games under Raye. They
converted at least 50 percent of their third downs in their first two
games under Johnson.

We asked Alex Smith for his thoughts on the improvement and, unlike Singletary, he mentioned that Johnson guy.

Smith said both Raye and Johnson had specific plays set aside for third-down situations. The difference?

“We did the same thing under Jimmy, designate that type of deal,” Smith
said. “I just think that the thing that coach Johnson’s brought is that
there’s a few more wrinkles each week that he’s brought in, new
additions, I guess I would say that maybe add to our existing plan, our
existing playbook.”

Putting words in Smith’s mouth, we think he said Johnson’s plays are better.

Here’s a look inside the 49ers on third down in 2010:

• With Raye, Smith had an overall quarterback rating of 66.2. His rating
on third down was 31.6 (15 of 33, 154 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT).

• With Johnson, Smith has an overall rating of 82.7. His rating on third down is 72.7 (18 of 32, 202 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT).

• With Raye, nine of Smith’s 15 third-down completions (60 percent) did
not result in a first down. With Johnson, four of Smith’s 18 third-down
completions (22 percent) haven’t resulted in a first down. It’s very
annoying when quarterbacks complete third-down passes short of a first
down. Don’t you think?

• It’s been said that the Niners have done a better job of putting
themselves in “more manageable” third-down situations under Johnson.
Kind of. Under Johnson, 17 of their 42 third downs (40 percent) have
been in third-and-short (less than five yards). Under Raye, 14 of their
41 third downs (34 percent) were in third-and-short.

• Average yards needed for first down under Raye: 7.66. Average yards needed for first down under Johnson: 6.95.

• The Niners have made their biggest third-down improvement under
Johnson when they have needed between 5 and 10 yards. In those
situations, they have converted 8 of 17 third downs (47 percent). In
those situations under Raye, they converted 2 of 19 third downs (11
percent).

• With Raye … Third-and-short: 7 of 14. Third-and-long (11 yards or more): 1 of 8.

• With Johnson … Third-and-short: 11 of 19. Third-and-long: 2 of 6.

• With Raye, the Niners handed the ball to Moran Norris on third-and-2.
That did not result in a first down. Norris has not touched the ball on
third down under Johnson’s watch.

• Frank Gore has converted 6 of 8 third-down runs under Johnson. Gore
has rushed for first downs twice on third-and-5 and once on
third-and-11. Gore converted one of three third-down carries under Raye.

• The Niners have converted 7 of 8 third downs when needing two yards or fewer under Johnson. Play selection: 4 runs, 4 passes.

• The Niners converted 4 of 8 third downs when needing two yards or fewer under Raye: Play selection: 5 runs, 3 passes.

• Both Johnson and Raye have dialed up long passes to a tight end on
third-and-1 situations this season and both resulted in long pass
interference calls. Vernon Davis drew a 29-yard flag against the Saints
and Delanie Walker drew a 44-yard penalty against the Falcons.

• When teams get a first down via pass interference it doesn’t count as a
successful third-down conversion. What kind of country are we living
in?

• The Niners’ longest third-down conversion this season came on
third-and-21 at their own 7 against the Eagles. Smith sprinted right on a
designed rollout and fired a 31-yard strike to Davis on the run. Do you
remember this? It might have been the best looking play of the season.

• With Johnson, Crabtree has been Smith’s favorite target on third down.
Smith has completed 6 of 10 third-down passes to Crabtree for 59 yards,
with each completion gaining a first down. In the first three games,
three of his six third-down passes to Crabtree were intercepted.

• Smith targeted Davis on third down seven times under Raye. He’s
targeted him four times under Johnson. He’s 7 of 11 for 91 yards (five
first downs) throwing to Davis on third down this season.

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