Answers to Questions

A few of you have asked questions and put forth some interesting theories.

One post asked about Kwame Harris' presence on goal line offense. Harris is part of the team's three-tight end short-yardage offense.

Another post brought up a point about passing out of their three-receiver offense and running out of their two-tight end scheme. To use an old West Coast offense term, their three-receiver, one-back, one-tight end "zebra" package is their 3rd-and-long and two-minute set. Most teams don't run out of it. The 49ers were finding success running from zebra; they did it three times for 21 yards out of 18 zebra sets in Arizona. Their average in a the two games before that was one draw a game out of that formation.

As far as the passing out of the two tight-end set "tiger" formation meaning two tight ends with two receivers and one back, the 49ers passed eight times in their 13 tiger formations last Sunday. For those who really want to know Trent Dilfer was 4-for-8 for 30 yards.

In the two previous games, the 49ers passed 13 times out of 20 tiger sets, with Dilfer and Smith completing 6-of-13 passes for 38 yards.

So the percentages are not that different in running out of three receiver sets or throwing out of a two tight-end formation in the pre- and post-Ted Tollner eras. The percentages for last game, however, are only through three quarters. Another point, there are serious doubts Tollner was able to get to that level of detail with offensive coordinator Jim Hostler in preparing the game plan.

The final questions concerned Alex Smith. Would he have been able to guide the 49ers to a win against Arizona?

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Posted By: Kevin Lynch (Email) | November 28 2007 at 01:32 PM

Go Public

Many of you have written well-reasoned posts about what the 49ers should do. Now is your chance to go public. I'll be hosting the Fitz and Brooks Show from noon to 3 on KNBR and the focus will be the 49ers and what they should do next. Fitz will join us from the road where he's with the Warriors. Santa Rosa Press Democrat beat writer and friend Matt Maiocco will also be on. Check it out and call in at 808-KNBR.

Posted By: Kevin Lynch (Email) | November 23 2007 at 07:56 AM