Quote:
Originally Posted by Schneed10
Agree with the run defense piece. I'd happily take Vea at 13 but I'm not married to it.
But I'm not sure a good LG will solve the run game problem though. With Scherff and Trent on the line there has to be a way to run the ball better, even with Lauvao in the lineup. I can't reconcile in my mind why we're not already better on the ground.
I think it's a combination of:
- We don't play with a fullback, so tight ends need to block well, and Reed doesn't
- Kelley and Perine aren't a serious breakaway threat
- When DeSean Jackson left there was no threat whatsoever to keep the safeties from creeping forward. Richardson should help here.
- I think Jay's formations tend to broadcast whether we're running or passing. When we line up to throw, the tackles are quite often lined up a half step back from the center. When they line up on the ball with hand in the dirt, it's a run almost all the time. This is just my perception of it, I haven't chopped up tape and I haven't counted how often this is true. So there's my disclaimer. But I think there's some broadcasting of run vs pass.
- Little individual line issues. Trent and Scherff are big enough and athletic enough to run either zone (emphasizes mobility) or power (emphasizes brute force). But Spencer Long was a power guy and failed to reach on stretch zones. And Moses, as much as I love him, is more of a pass blocker than a run blocker, which makes matters real tough when he's got Reed lined up next to him. Lauvao was too inconsistent.
So there's a lot more at play here than drafting a LG will fix. You hope Roullier will be better than Long, I feel optimistic there. And I think Richardson reintroduces the speed aspect vs the safeties. And I think Alex Smith's athleticism and abilities with the RPO and read option will threaten defenses in different ways. But tight end is going to remain a problem, Moses needs to flat out improve as a run blocker, and we need a RB that scares defenses. There are a lot of reasons.
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Agree with most of what you said.
I'd say Vernon Davis could be a better blocker than Reed, but last year it often seemed he didn't even try...
Our lack of running game sure is the consequence of several things, but I'd still draft a G pretty high, I'd rather have a young promising guy than resign 30 years old disappointing Lauvao...