Time to rant: Brian Price at nose tackle, Frank Okam at 3-technique, Scripting Plays, Dezmon Briscoe and Arrelious Benn

by Sander on Oct 10, 2011 8:00 PM EDT

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - OCTOBER 09: Frank Gore #21 of the San Francisco 49ers carries the ball against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third quarter during an NFL football game at Candlestick Park on October 9, 2011 in San Francisco, California. The 49ers won the game 48-3. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

I have a number of quick thoughts which I couldn't really fit into separate articles, so I'm just going to throw them here.

With Gerald McCoy likely out for Sunday, and maybe for longer, the Bucs are going to keep Brian Price at nose tackle. This is a terrible idea. Gerald McCoy was very important to this defensive front because he was the only one who consistently got penetration and disrupted plays in the backfield. The only defensive tackle on the roster capable of replicating that kind of explosion is Brian Price. But he can't do that at nose tackle, where he's going to be double teamed on every play. If the Bucs keep Brian Price at nose tackle with Gerald McCoy, they will have no one capable of penetrating the line of scrimmage quickly. And that will lead to poor run defenses and a lackluster pass rush.
For that matter, the Bucs have said they want to now give Frank Okam the keys to the 3-technique position. I'm baffled by this. Mind you, I like Frank Okam. He's a big player who can be pretty stout in the run game, though he's largely useless as a pass rusher. But he is wasted at 3-technique, where he has shown nothing whatsoever this season. Rotate him with Roy Miller at nose tackle, and you have a pretty good nose tackle rotation. Keep him at 3-technique, and you're not just wasting his talents, you're also wasting Brian Price's at nose tackle, when the Bucs can play Roy Miller there as well.The one positive to come out of this: Da'Quan Bowers will get more playing time as they want to use him as a pass rusher at defensive tackle in the absence of McCoy. Bowers has been coming on strong
Greg Olson's opening scripts are getting stale. Every first quarter we see three plays: a quick screen to Arrelious Benn, a deep shot to Arrelious Benn off play-action and a Josh Johnson option play which goes nowhere. The quick screen to Benn is generally somewhat productive, but the other two haven't worked in ages. In general the scripting has been pretty bad, as the Bucs haven't gotten off to a fast start under Olson's tenure, ever.
For that matter, why is Dezmon Briscoe on the field on passing downs? I know Briscoe got some awesome offseason hype, but he's caught a grand total of 8 passes for 74 yards this season. That's worse than anyone except Stroughter or Spurlock, who have suffered from injuries and causing-an-interception-on-his-one-target respectively.
Meanwhile, Arrelious Benn is the most explosive offensive weapon the Bucs have. He averages 13.3 yards per catch right now, and with 12 catches that makes for 160 yards. And that doesn't even include his spectacular catch-and-run against the Colts, which was annulled by a stupid penalty he himself caused. For comparison's sake, Mike Williams has 23 more yards than that, but it took him 19 catches to get there making for an abysmal 9.6 yards per catch. So can someone explain to me why Dezmon Briscoe is getting all the snaps on passing downs over Benn?
One player who the stats say is more explosive than Benn? Preston Parker, with 13.9 yards per catch, mostly attributable to his excellent skills with the ball in his hands and some well-designed plays involving rub routes and downfield blocking. He's been a real revelation, and has likely played Sammie Stroughter out of a job.

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Have the niners finished scoring yet?

by Bucs on Oct 10, 2011 8:18 PM EDT reply actions

Preston Parker has been a bright spot at the WR position. Thats it..

Everyone else has been very dissapointing, especialy Williams. Talk about your sophmore slump. Williams couldnt catch a cold if you coughed in his face. thats sad. Benn has shown potential for why they put briscoe on the field instead of Benn is stupid. Is that Olsen’s call or is that Rah’s? In the three wideout sets it should be Williams (catch the freaking ball), Benn and Parker.
The play calling has been horendous and predictable. I am tired of Olsen and his playcalling. He is absolutely terrible and he seems to have regressed much like Freeman has this year. Maybe Free has regressed due to Olsen?
As far as putting Okam at McCoys spot. Why? Okam is not a 3-technique guy. He is strictly a run stuffer, although a good one but he does not have the speed to penetrate the backfield and disrupt the running game in the backfield or disrupt the passer. I would much rather see Price there at the 3 and rotate Miller and Okam at Nose. I dont understand the reasoning behind that. Raheem is starting to make stupid decisions and he should be careful. His support is shakey already. It has been with me since they hired him. I hope he improves because I would like to see him succeed. However, Bill Cowher is out there and I would love to see that guy coaching our team and standing on our sidelines.
Nonetheless, I still hope for the best and these guys can still pull it together, it all starts again this weekend against the saints, at home. Lets beat these guys convincinly guys. But I will still take any win too.

East Coast Fan

by Bucfan on Oct 10, 2011 8:28 PM EDT reply actions

Another thing to think about

Is Josh Freeman living up to his draft issues of not being able to read defenses?

When he had success last year (and this year) it was largely off play action or in against a prevent type defense late in games. When he’s asked to go from under center with no threat of run, he seems to struggle.

As you can always expect come from behind victory is when you least expect it.

by Buc Wild on Oct 10, 2011 9:05 PM EDT reply actions

I don't think so

He didn’t really have problems with that against some really good and confusing defenses last year, like the Ravens. And he hasn’t really been fooled by defenses here either. He’s reading the defenses right, the problem is that he’s either throwing off balance, or defenders are falling off their own players to make plays. The 49ers did this by design, though, and that’s a problem.

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by Sander on Oct 10, 2011 9:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Sander, no monday night game thread?

East Coast Fan

by Bucfan on Oct 10, 2011 9:17 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Forgot

A bit late now

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by Sander on Oct 10, 2011 9:27 PM EDT up reply actions

HE threw into double coverage at least 4-5 times yesterday and was late doing so.

He’s not confident in his reads, he stares down receivers as of late and has been very late in throwing the ball. It sounds like he cant figure out where to go with the ball

As you can always expect come from behind victory is when you least expect it.

by Buc Wild on Oct 10, 2011 9:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Receivers struggling to get open combined with a QB trying to get them the ball in tight coverage is a problem

But that’s more an issue of reading when someone is open than being fooled by coverage.

I didn’t see him throw into double coverage yesterday. I did see a number of plays where once the ball got there, there were two defenders near the ball.

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by Sander on Oct 10, 2011 9:27 PM EDT up reply actions

I think you hit on something there

I don’t think Josh really trusts the receivers to be where they’re supposed to be when they’re supposed to be there. To compensate he stares them down. There’s no rhythm between Josh and the receivers and one of the ways it shows is late passes, forced throws and staring down receivers. Is Josh responsible for his poor play? Of course. But truthfully, the receivers (i.e. Mike Williams) need to step up there game as well.

by GradSchoolNole on Oct 11, 2011 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions

I definitely saw a lot of corners falling off of the receivers they were covering to jump certain routes

Especially on the tight ends. Learning to pump fake and/or look off the safeties more consistently would pretty much solve that.

by GradSchoolNole on Oct 11, 2011 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions

And for what its worth,

There’s a lot more noise in the “Olson sucks” area. People saying we dont commit to the run, that Blount needs to be fed the ball, and we’re putting Freeman in bad spots.

Welcome to the band wagon I championed last year. Plenty of room and I brought punch and pie.

As you can always expect come from behind victory is when you least expect it.

by Buc Wild on Oct 10, 2011 9:10 PM EDT reply actions

Good, cause i'm hungry and thirsty

East Coast Fan

by Bucfan on Oct 10, 2011 9:12 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I definately said in the off season that

I think Olson sucks and our players overachieved and made him look much better than he is. It just sucks that Freeman’s young and changing coordinators would put us back to square one with our offense.

by freeman05 on Oct 10, 2011 10:47 PM EDT up reply actions

You weren't the only one on that train last year

BIUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUN!!!!!!

by bucfanlostiniowa on Oct 10, 2011 10:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Toot Toot.... chugga chugga chugga chugga

We need 2 coordinators – 1 on each side of the ball. If this crushing defeat puts us in a funk and we spiral downward during our difficult stretch in the schedule, the coordinators may be a moot point.

by Cracker Ball on Oct 11, 2011 7:04 AM EDT up reply actions

I agree with all your points which makes you wonder what the hell the coaching staff is thinking

Btw bowers looks to be getting stronger every week and ummm…..anybody seen tanard?

by Carlitin1988 on Oct 10, 2011 9:34 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

I think I saw him off of nebraska rd on the corner

East Coast Fan

by Bucfan on Oct 10, 2011 9:51 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Go Bears!!!

by buc'd up on Oct 10, 2011 10:32 PM EDT reply actions

I hope they call up Black

Lynch and Asante aren’t impressing anybody. Let’s see what the kid can do!

by flash_kiley on Oct 10, 2011 10:55 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

I thought...

Brian Price is doing a bang up job at nose. If so, then let him develope his techniques. And Roy is no let down there either. Okam for a big man has enough quickness to disrupt the backfield. Let’s see how he does. He stepped in for GMC last year and seemed to do a good job of it. If both GMC and Blount don’t play Sunday, then next man up will have to be seen as “Opportunity” for Okam and the likes of Lumpkin and Bradford.
Here’s hoping we see a good run game.

by Chengdu Buc on Oct 10, 2011 11:27 PM EDT reply actions

I have a feeling...

Price will be just fine at Nose Tackle without GMC as well. Will be interested to see how Bowers responds in his new role.

by Luckydabney7 on Oct 10, 2011 11:43 PM EDT up reply actions

With Okams size and Prices quickness...

I would expect better results by putting Price in GMCs position and Okam at NT.

by Cracker Ball on Oct 11, 2011 7:05 AM EDT up reply actions

'Tis

"Well, if you guessin' it's me, you guessed correctly
I just stay with a stallion, you would swear I was an equestrian
I hit her with that pipe, call that Nancy Kerrigan
Stay on the greenest greens, call us vegetarians
You be on that minor league, but we smoke professionally"

by 4QB on Oct 11, 2011 9:29 AM EDT up reply actions

Maybe it has something to do with his condition?

They could feel he lacks mobility at GMC’s spot.

by NewLogic on Oct 11, 2011 9:58 AM EDT up reply actions

Sander,

Thank the Lord someone else noticed! Why has Briscoe been stealing reps from Benn on 3rd and longs/obvious pass plays?? He’s BENN our most productive 2nd WR with Williams drawing more attention. I personally feel alot of these little things that Olsen does just destroys our productivity and rhythm on offense. The BEST players should be on the field. Same problem I have with Blount being takin out on passing plays. It just telegraphs the obvious fact that we are passing….and then he attempts to run PA like thats fooling anyone? Garruntee if Blount is in on those PA passes they work 10xs more often. Everything is too telegraphed by the packages. And I understand the concern is with Blount and pass protection but the BEST experience is GAME experience. Once again….BEST PLAYERS ON THE FIELD give you the BEST OPPORTUNITY TO WIN.

by Luckydabney7 on Oct 10, 2011 11:49 PM EDT reply actions

The little things...

will help us turn the corner from being “up and coming” to “we are here, and we are ready.”

by Luckydabney7 on Oct 10, 2011 11:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Any word on Tanard?

by Brooklyn Buc on Oct 11, 2011 12:06 AM EDT reply actions

If there's any word on Tanard at any point, I will have a story up

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by Sander on Oct 11, 2011 9:09 AM EDT up reply actions

I believe we can just chalk it up as he's never coming back.

All this time and no word on anything about him. Something aint right.

by dcbucsfan on Oct 11, 2011 10:14 AM EDT up reply actions

Can I open my eyes yet????

OMG……I had a bad feeling about the SF trip but DANG…….had to close my eys…..shut my ears… (is that right??)…and run outside and do yard work to keep from cutting my wrists.

OKAY,,, I had a feeling we would have at least three games like that one this year just because we are so yound etc. BUT not this week.

Personally I am going to start bailing my Pirate Ship and putting patches on the cannon ball holes punched in the deck by the GRAPE shot used by the 49ers. Not sure if they got us to drink it the night before or just shot us with it in the first quarter.

And I guess some of the sails need major mending as well. Time to get to work and right the shipfor the Saints.

GO BUCS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Steven Graves on Oct 11, 2011 9:37 AM EDT reply actions