As 49er fans I'm sure most of you would agree that there are many times during the game that our stomachs turn upside down because of some bone-headed move.  Whether it be an Arnaz Battle fumble, a tipped pass, a blown coverage, or Josh Morgan in motion until he sits behind the tackle, I'm sure we can all come up with instances we regularly would like to have control over.

           Being that this game is essentially a must win if we want a chance at a playoff spot, I'd like to make a list.  This will be a list of items that absolutely must NOT happen if we expect to win here, and win enough to make the playoffs. 

1.  Raye continues to be Raye.

2.  M Rob is on the bench more than Moran Norris.

3  Moran Norris gets a lot of PT.

4.  Sims plays like Adam Snyder.

5.  Adam Snyder plays like Barry Sims(did last year).

6.  Use Battle on punt returns.  I can barely watch.

7.  Run 5 yard plays on 3rd and long, and hope to get YAC.

8.  Chilo is asked to do too much.

9.  We go with a QB sneak on 4th and short.

10.  Beat ourselves; Penalties, clock management, turnovers, that damn play when Morgan motions to block behind the line!!!!!

So the list is meant to be a bit funny, but in a truthfully ironic sort of way.  What about it Nation, What should we not do this Sunday?

Has anyone seen anything written on Alex going up against Nolan in the Niners first preseason game at Home??

I mean, not only is this whole "Can Smith do so well he should start" thing supposedly resting on real game experience, but its going to be against Mike Nolan's scrapped together first year defense!!  We couldn't ask for any better drama for a 1st preseason game.  I hope Bly's return doesn't overshadow this event (Not to say that won't be fun to watch, or that I hope he doesn't pick one or two).

Will Sing intervene in any way?

What will Nolan's response be? Will he play it cool and mundane and risk the same result as his stint in SF?

Since the QB's have the opportunity to audible in Raye's system, might Smith call a few "shots" himself?

If Smith has any opportunist in him then this is his chance to show what and if he's capable of. 

Do you think this will be as interesting as me?

What else are you all looking forward to the most in this game, besides the fact that its the beginning of the season?

How will the 49ers fair against defensive pressure in 09' season?  It was a struggle in 08'.

Will we be confined to slant passes?  It was like a .90 correlation between Blitzes and Slants.  I clenched my teeth every time.

1) against the blitz?

2) against a stacked box?

Factors; old and new

O-line: Hard to argue these positions will not improve.

WR corps:  We have a bigger and more talented bunch, some suggest the best depth in 49er history.  The slant will be more effective, and it will be easier to stretch the field.  Crabtree will be a weapon on the WR screen, it may be very effective at spreading the D.  Oh and slants should be more effective.

RB's:  We now have a few more options on screen and swing passes, including better lead blocking with the return of Norris and the open field skills of Rachal(thats right, a detail).  We'll see if Bear plays and cleans up the "whiffs" the scoutes have him committing.  Between the tackles running should help as well.

TE's: VD should be more effective, more consistent blocking and more realistic receiving.  He's a great screen option on the blitz, as we saw some examples of throughout his career.

QB: if Hill is our guy, he will have much added experience.  If Alex takes over the answer here is clearly, and always has been, the roll-out. 

1st down:  This may be a problem in that a forced hand early in the running game may put us in a lot of 3rd and long situations.  Hopefully this is not the case.

3rd and long:  Hill has been as good as anyone since Garcia at picking this up.  His decision making and the addition of speed and talent at the WR should help.  Lets not forget VD in this situation either.  Will Bear be Usefull?

Note: PLEASE ADDRESS by Defensive set, Offensive Postion, or Down and Yardage situiation.  This is to entice SITUATIONAL matchups, not as much GENERAL.

So do we know what Rayes offense will look like?  Well, if it is true that it closely resembles Turner's offense, which in turn is based on the Coryell offense, then it may have some consequences at QB position.

Notice the strange paradoxical continuity; We get back to the Turner style and at the same time keep a bit of last years philosophy via Martz?!

Check out this link.

http://www.geocities.com/epark/raiders/football-101-coryell-offense.html

Also Notice:

The Coryell offense has the following characteristics:

• It is a "stretch-the-field vertically" offense, predicated on the complementary effects of throwing deep and running the football
• The receivers often run intermediate-to-long routes
• The QB takes more 5- and 7-step drops
• It emphasizes maximum pass protection, to protect the QB until the receivers get open downfield
• It is committed to the power running game. The running game opens up opportunities for big downfield completions, and vice versa. Mike Martz, in an interview with Dr. Z of CNN/SI said:

  That's another thing that's critical to the system. Power running. You've got to be able to run the ball when you go to a three-wide receiver set, and you've got to run with power. By that I mean behind zone blocking, which is a big departure from the San Francisco system. Theirs was man-blocking, with a lot of cut-blocks and misdirection. Ours is straight power. Not many people realize this, but if we hadn't have gotten Marshall we were prepared to go with another excellent zone-blocking runner, Robert Holcombe. It takes a certain type, a guy who can run with power, who's good at picking his way through. Stephen Davis is doing that in Washington now, and that's a big reason why their offense is so good...The good thing about zone-block running is that you can keep pounding away. You don't have the negative yardage plays.

What might this mean for our QB situation?

Who best fits this job desription?

We have all heard recently about the new attitude this year noticed by reporters, coaches and players alike. 

So in thinking about the question, "Will the Momentum carry over into next year?" I am thinking several things.

  This is undoubtedly the way the question will be posed in the media, particularly the mainstream.  But is it the correct question?

  I recall a season in the not so distant past when an even younger Alex Smith and the rest of this rag tag group was poised to build on the positives of the previous season (the amazing last drive in Seattle...a bit of condescension) and be in contention for the playoffs.  We all know what actually happened.

  I would like to make a list with everyones help of the differences between NOW and THEN on TWO fronts.

1st  On the difference with Singletary in particular, and the new Organizational structure (including Jed) in general.

2nd  On the difference in talent bettween now and then.  How much better at each position are we?  This would include a possible subsection, but so as not to take away from the other more substinent things, on Alex Smith.