San Francisco 49ers: The Season in the Stone

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The 49ers had to deal with a very tough loss last Sunday versus the Titans. This was a tough loss for many reasons, but I think what is most important, is what was lurking just beneath the surface of this last tidal wave.

Mike Singletary deserves a lot of credit. He has taken a lot of criticism for trying to run a conservative, ball-control offensive scheme, but he did more than deal with that criticism; he demonstrated that he is willing to change.

As the weeks have progressed through the 2009 season and the wins started to turn into losses, it was clear that the strategy the 49ers were using was no longer tenable. Something had to change, and change fast.

The first major change came at the start of the second half of the road game versus the Houston Texans. Alex Smith came in to replace the struggling and physically limited Shaun Hill. It was the right move, and it remains the right move.

Alex Smith has certain advantages over Hill that are obvious. Smith can make certain NFL throws that Hill can't make. Deep outs, ins and hitch routes opened up a whole new dimension for an offense that needed to expand its horizons.

It worked to a degree. Smith was able to move the offense along, at times. The offense certainly looked better against the Colts, although the three n' outs and losses continued to pile up.

In the last few games, Smith has had several opportunities to lead comebacks, only to stall and falter at the end. But this was understandable right? It was Jimmy Raye's offense that leads the league in three n' outs, and this is the weight holding Smith back, right?

Move the chains

Something moved against the Tennessee Titans. The weight was lifted.

For the first time all-season, the 49ers offense could actually move the chains.

Against the Titans, the 49ers certainly did not go 3 n' out on 40+ percent of their possessions. In fact, they started off throwing the ball like there was no tomorrow, and it worked.

Frank Gore actually picked up some consistent yardage on his runs. The 49ers were controlling more of the clock. The offensive line was providing time to throw. The WR's were getting open.

Jimmy Raye was calling a game that attacked with the opposite of what the defense was prepared to stop. Raye was doing his job.

This was the coming out party for the 49ers offense.

I like that kind of party

Coach Singletary agrees.

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