O-line The Real Problem

[BrudLee]

Originally Posted by Daseal

Portis averaged 3/4th of a yard less per carry than the 49ers normally give up. The 49ers aren't exacty a defensive powerhouse, their run defense is decent, but certainly not great. It was up the middle, it was the first play of the season, and we haven't seen a run up the middle like that since.

Yeah, newsflash. We don't have the hogs anymore, so that's something that needs to be worked around. How many teams now-days are predictable but still good? The Colts? Who mix it up very well and use play action tremendously? Most offenses try not to be predictable because defenses will lock them up. Sorry, but for the most part if a defense has your offense figured out then you're in trouble.

I think the problem has been less about predictability, and more about the absence of a "home run" threat outside of Portis. Coles isn't healthy - he didn't start out healthy, and he's gotten worse. He's still the best receiver we have. The first eight games consisted of Brunell showing an inability to throw the ball downfield effectively, which made our playcalling more conservative, which made Portis more of a target.

Portis isn't without blame for his "poor" stats, either. He had a run where he wasn't finding his stride - marked by the Pittsburgh game where he could barely stay on his feet. The fact that he still has a realistic shot at 1500 yards is a testament to the organizational dedication to ball control and his own hard work.

Bottom line - if we can force teams to respect the other skill players on the field, we can expect Portis to have better opportunities for long runs.