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Is Alex Smith the answer at quarterback?
(AP Photo/Jim Prisching)
At the beginning of the season, the 49ers were a smashmouth football team. Even Mike Singletary said he wasn't going to be a heavily run-oriented team, he knew that getting the ball in the hands of RB Frank Gore was the team's best option to win.
Six weeks later, the carries for Gore start to diminish after the running attack struggles. Alex Smith is the new quarterback and the team starts to run spread formations to compensate for Smith's early struggles. And on Sunday, the team went back to the drawing board.
Smith's 5 yards of passing in the first half is a prime example of the team's inconsistent progress on offense. Watching the game yesterday, I had never been so frustrated with the offense. The team couldn't run the ball and the passing attack was not there. The offensive line broke down and Smith under center wasn't working. With under eight minutes of possession time in the first half, the 49ers offensive approach simply failed the team.
It was frustrating and hopeless after the first half. I actually through the team might seriously consider bringing in Shaun Hill to save the second half. Obviously that wasn't going to solve anything, but Smith to me wasn't going to do much with what I had just witnessed.
A change had to be made and the 49ers ran 28 passing plays in the spread formationin the second half. The result? The 49ers moved the ball quickly and scored three touchdowns. They ran one pass play from under center (down at their own 1 yard line) and that resulted in an interception.
So what kind of offense do the 49ers run right now? Sticking with the conventional formation clearly does not suit Smith. Opening it under shotgun might be the best choice for the team.
Rookie WR Michael Crabtree, who caught his first NFL touchdown Sunday, feels the team should go to a spread option full-time.
"It enabled everybody to get open and make plays," said Crabtree. "I was getting open the whole game."
Despite comfort in the spread offense, a midseason change isn't something Smith wants to see happen with the offense.
"No. To say at midseason we're all of a sudden going to go to the spread offense, I think, is impossible," Smith said. "I don't think it's about that. I think it's about us executing."
Apparently, it's been several games where executing under center isn't working and using the spread does work. Logic tells the team to stick with what works. But that's not going to happen. And if the offense continues to struggle, then the 49ers have to go back to the spread.
I don't think falling behind early is the best remedy to bring the spread formation into the mix. The team has to stick with what works and continue using that throuhgout the whole game. If it takes a large deficit like the game in Houston or this past Sunday's game to go spread, then there is no way the 49ers will be able to get anything going for the remainder of the season.
The 49ers have six games to salvage their season with a very slim playoff hope. I don't know what the offense is about right now. It's looking to be a very long finish to the season.
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WR Arnaz Battle got injured on Sunday and had to be relieved of his kick returning duties. CB Reggie Smith took the punt return duties for Battle and nearly fumbled away his first attempt. WR Josh Morgan returned kickoffs and had a very impressive 76-yard return that would set up a touchdown pass to TE Vernon Davis.
Have the 49ers solved their special team issues since the departure of Allen Rossum? I'm not sure.
Follow me on Twitter for updates. Check me out here @SLam49ers
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