[Rando]

I really don't want to see Wayne Lyons play CB next year unless he shows a lot of improvement. Watching him get picked on this season has been really hard. I think he'd do much better at safety or some other position. His cover skills just are not where they need to be for a starting corner, IMO.

I hate to single a guy out.

[Rando]

I really don't want to see Wayne Lyons play CB next year unless he shows a lot of improvement. Watching him get picked on this season has been really hard. I think he'd do much better at safety or some other position. His cover skills just are not where they need to be for a starting corner, IMO.

I hate to single a guy out.

[washingtonismoney]

Getting back to passing game, hogan went 7.9 YPA -- which is solid in most contexts but excellent considering MSU's 5.6 YPA surrendered in conference play. But that reflected superior Stanford explosiveness -- it's genuinely impressive that Stanford was able to get so many explosive plays against a strong defense. However Hogan throwing was effectively a coin flip in terms of completion percentage at 10/18.

Think of the passing game as overall stronger but with exact opposite weaknesses as last year. Last year it was efficient but not explosive. This year, explosive but not efficient. With an experienced returning receiving corps and redshirt junior Hogan returning, the pressure is on the passing game to be explosive, efficient and effective.

[washingtonismoney]

Getting back to passing game, hogan went 7.9 YPA -- which is solid in most contexts but excellent considering MSU's 5.6 YPA surrendered in conference play. But that reflected superior Stanford explosiveness -- it's genuinely impressive that Stanford was able to get so many explosive plays against a strong defense. However Hogan throwing was effectively a coin flip in terms of completion percentage at 10/18.

Think of the passing game as overall stronger but with exact opposite weaknesses as last year. Last year it was efficient but not explosive. This year, explosive but not efficient. With an experienced returning receiving corps and redshirt junior Hogan returning, the pressure is on the passing game to be explosive, efficient and effective.

[stupac2]

Here's an idea: change to a spread attack next year.  We have an abundance of talent at receiver.  Barry Sanders is more of a scat back.  I get the feeling this is a bad idea, but am not sure why.

I had this same idea. I get that "our identity" is power run, but that was brought here by Harbaugh, and if he can manage to blend power running and pistol-spread ideas with Kaepernick, why can't we with Hogan?

Though I guess the 49ers did have a lot of trouble this year while Crabtree was out...

[stupac2]

Here's an idea: change to a spread attack next year.  We have an abundance of talent at receiver.  Barry Sanders is more of a scat back.  I get the feeling this is a bad idea, but am not sure why.

I had this same idea. I get that "our identity" is power run, but that was brought here by Harbaugh, and if he can manage to blend power running and pistol-spread ideas with Kaepernick, why can't we with Hogan?

Though I guess the 49ers did have a lot of trouble this year while Crabtree was out...

[81alum]

I really don't want to see Wayne Lyons play CB next year unless he shows a lot of improvement. Watching him get picked on this season has been really hard. I think he'd do much better at safety or some other position. His cover skills just are not where they need to be for a starting corner, IMO.

I hate to single a guy out.

I said nearly exactly the same thing about Richard Sherman the first year after he was converted to corner.  Fortunately, players do improve.

[81alum]

I really don't want to see Wayne Lyons play CB next year unless he shows a lot of improvement. Watching him get picked on this season has been really hard. I think he'd do much better at safety or some other position. His cover skills just are not where they need to be for a starting corner, IMO.

I hate to single a guy out.

I said nearly exactly the same thing about Richard Sherman the first year after he was converted to corner.  Fortunately, players do improve.

[washingtonismoney]

Yeah, and Terrence Brown's 2011 was pretty weak as well. (By the way, the Terrence Brown draft decision looks like a lose-lose. Brown didn't get in the NFL at all and two of Stanford's losses featured wide receivers running amok. I don't know if Brown singlehandedly turns the SC and MSU losses into wins but he would've been really helpful )

[washingtonismoney]

Yeah, and Terrence Brown's 2011 was pretty weak as well. (By the way, the Terrence Brown draft decision looks like a lose-lose. Brown didn't get in the NFL at all and two of Stanford's losses featured wide receivers running amok. I don't know if Brown singlehandedly turns the SC and MSU losses into wins but he would've been really helpful )

[Hank 91]

[quote author=Rando90 link=topic=9201.msg80366#msg80366 date=1388641922]
I really don't want to see Wayne Lyons play CB next year unless he shows a lot of improvement. Watching him get picked on this season has been really hard. I think he'd do much better at safety or some other position. His cover skills just are not where they need to be for a starting corner, IMO.

I hate to single a guy out.

I said nearly exactly the same thing about Richard Sherman the first year after he was converted to corner.  Fortunately, players do improve.
[/quote]

Funny, I was thinking this also as I watched the game last night. Lyons will always be targeted, because Carter will also continue to improve, but sometimes players who are constantly under fire show the most improvement.

[Hank 91]

[quote author=Rando90 link=topic=9201.msg80366#msg80366 date=1388641922]
I really don't want to see Wayne Lyons play CB next year unless he shows a lot of improvement. Watching him get picked on this season has been really hard. I think he'd do much better at safety or some other position. His cover skills just are not where they need to be for a starting corner, IMO.

I hate to single a guy out.

I said nearly exactly the same thing about Richard Sherman the first year after he was converted to corner.  Fortunately, players do improve.
[/quote]

Funny, I was thinking this also as I watched the game last night. Lyons will always be targeted, because Carter will also continue to improve, but sometimes players who are constantly under fire show the most improvement.

[Mick]

Can we really say that Hogan had a bad game today?  He only threw 18 passes and completed 10 for 143 yards.  The one INT was not his fault.  He put that ball right into Rector's hands.  There were at least 2 dropped passes that should have been caught.  When he ran, he averaged over 5 ypc.  I don't think we can blame Hogan for this loss.

....what Hogan could have done with forty passes and runs...

[Mick]

Can we really say that Hogan had a bad game today?  He only threw 18 passes and completed 10 for 143 yards.  The one INT was not his fault.  He put that ball right into Rector's hands.  There were at least 2 dropped passes that should have been caught.  When he ran, he averaged over 5 ypc.  I don't think we can blame Hogan for this loss.

....what Hogan could have done with forty passes and runs...

[Mick]

[quote author=Publius link=topic=9201.msg80322#msg80322 date=1388631963]
Here's an idea: change to a spread attack next year.  We have an abundance of talent at receiver.  Barry Sanders is more of a scat back.  I get the feeling this is a bad idea, but am not sure why.

...our program is oriented to power running...
[/quote]

I get that the program is geared to power running, but who is our power runner next year?

[Mick]

[quote author=Publius link=topic=9201.msg80322#msg80322 date=1388631963]
Here's an idea: change to a spread attack next year.  We have an abundance of talent at receiver.  Barry Sanders is more of a scat back.  I get the feeling this is a bad idea, but am not sure why.

...our program is oriented to power running...
[/quote]

I get that the program is geared to power running, but who is our power runner next year?

[fullmetal]

That INT was into double coverage and a unwise decision imho.  Doesn't matter if Rector almost had it--you're taking chances if you put your receiver on the losing end of a 1 vs. 2 battle for the ball.  I don't think Rector even had a chance to secure the ball.

If we have an abundance of receiving talent, why is our passing game so inconsistent?  (I think we all have some idea.)  The passing game/spread is not the answer.  But we will need to develop a good short/intermediate air game.

[fullmetal]

That INT was into double coverage and a unwise decision imho.  Doesn't matter if Rector almost had it--you're taking chances if you put your receiver on the losing end of a 1 vs. 2 battle for the ball.  I don't think Rector even had a chance to secure the ball.

If we have an abundance of receiving talent, why is our passing game so inconsistent?  (I think we all have some idea.)  The passing game/spread is not the answer.  But we will need to develop a good short/intermediate air game.