After Further Review: 49ers' passing game just doesn't scare, despite efforts to improve

The New York Jets will play the San Francisco 49ers this week without star corner Darrelle Revis, who will miss his first game after tearing an ACL last week.

If there is any opponent in the league where not having Revis can be handled best, it might be the 49ers.

They just don't scare down the field.

What's worse, they rarely try to do so.

After studying their tape from their loss to the Minnesota Vikings last week, it was obvious that all the talk about improving the passing game, getting deep balls down the field, challenging vertically, from this offseason was just a bunch of talk.

49ers quarterback Alex Smith threw 34 passes against the Vikings and his longest completion was 22 yards -- and that came on the final drive when the Niners were scrambling to get back into the game.

Starting receivers Michael Crabtree and Randy Moss combined to catch nine passes for 67 yards, which is 7.4 per catch. That won't challenge any team down the field.

The 49ers offense is designed with a lot of action off the running game. At times, it can be so creative, getting receivers running across the formation to free Smith up for easy throws -- even short ones.

But against Minnesota, there seemed to be little imagination, and little action in terms of trying to make the Vikings respect any sort of deep ball.

There were three pass plays all day where I could count a deep receiver being able to challenge the Minnesota secondary.

Too often, the 49ers ran short routes that seemed to play right into the coverage for the Vikings. Minnesota used a lot of man-under, two-deep concepts, although at times the Vikings showed that and rotated to a three-deep look.

It's not like the Vikings have this top-level secondary or anything. It's just that the 49ers made it so easy to defend.

Here's a look at one of the 49ers pass plays. As you can see, the Vikings are playing two-deep and there is no real challenge down the field. All the receivers are covered and tight end Vernon Davis, who is in the red circle, becomes the target. Too often, that seems to be the case with Smith. But in fairness to him, his receivers don't win or get deep.

Here's another example of the 49ers not challenging down the field. Yes, the Vikings are in two-deep coverage. But at some point, you have to run deeper routes. As you can see in this picture, the four yellow-circled 49ers are not getting depth on their routes, making for an easy cover.

For the season, Smith is averaging 6.97 yards per attempt. That is the lowest of any of the top 11 rated passers -- he is seventh. The top player in that category from the top 20 passes is Cincinnati's Andy Dalton at 9.13. Some other top ones are Eli Manning at 8.57 and Joe Flacco at 8.30.

Crabtree is tied for ninth in the league in receptions with 19, but he's the only player in the top-10 under 10 yards per catch at 9.6. Manningham is at 9.7 and Moss is at 11, but he has just eight catches. Those three combined have three catches of 20 yards or more -- and Manningham's came on that last drive against the Vikings.

At some point, the 49ers have to challenge down the field. If not, there is no way they can win a Super Bowl.

1. Sometimes, it's great players making plays. But sometimes it's scheme that makes the plays, and an inability to adjust to it. Take the big play at the end of the half in the Eagles-Cardinals game. That wasn't a great play. It was a scheme getting the best of Michael Vick. The result was a sack and a fumble return for a touchdown that made it 24-0, Arizona. Rather than at least three points to make it 17-3, the Cardinals walked off the field feeling good about themselves when James Sanders returned the fumble 93 yards for a touchdown. It's clear from the screen shots below that the Eagles were in a wrong play for the defense the Cardinals played.

Take a look at the first screen shot here. What you will see is the Eagles with two receivers to the left and one to the right, with tight end Brent Celek lined up in-line on the right side. The Cardinals are showing a blitz from both sides with Kerry Rhodes highlighted in the blue circle and Sanders on the other side. The Eagles have running back LeSean McCoy go to the right side to block Sanders, but he isn't coming. Rhodes is, and he is unblocked. As you can see the Eagles receivers are covered. But the middle of the field is wide open.

In the second screen shot below, you can see that McCoy realizes what is going on, but it's too late. Vick has nowhere to go with the football since his receivers to his right, which is where he is looking, are covered as you can see by the yellow circle. That's happening as Rhodes crashes into him to cause the fumble, which Sanders scooped up to score. Look at the blue area in the middle of the field. If Vick recognized the blitz, he could have called for a slant from his slot receiver on the left, which was Jason Avant, and it would have been an easy score.

2. There may not be a more improved position in the league than the Atlanta Falcons safeties. In William Moore and Thomas DeCoud, the Falcons have two safeties who can run and cover. In Mike Nolan's aggressive defense, Moore and DeCoud sometimes line up near the line of scrimmage and bail before the snap, confusing quarterbacks. They did it to Peyton Manning and they were a big reason why the Falcons shut down San Diego's offense last week. There was a play early in the game where the Chargers faced a third-and-3. San Diego ran Eddie Royal across the formation in man coverage with the corner. It appeared to be an easy throw for a first down, with the corner trailing. But DeCoud read it perfectly, broke on the play, and tackled Royal short of the first down. Little plays like that impact games. DeCoud later forced a Ryan Mathews fumble inside the 5 with a hard hit. Atlanta recovered. Moore and DeCoud are keys to the new-look defense. Both seem to be gaining confidence as the season moves along.

3. There are certain times during a game when it appears a corner is beat bad for a touchdown. But the All-22 tape shows a different story. Such was the case with Andre Johnson's 60-yard touchdown catch last week against the Broncos. It appeared that Tracy Porter, the corner on that side, was beaten badly by Johnson. But the reality is the safety should have been over to help. You can clearly see that as Porter (yellow circle) trails Johnson (red circle) in the screen shot below. Mike Adams (blue circle) takes a false step to the side and Johnson runs right by him to gather in the score. Adams took a peek inside at tight end Owen Daniels as Johnson ran by for the touchdown. It appears that Porter was expecting Moore to give him help and he clearly looks back at him after the play in frustration.

4. I've been saying for a while that the best way to attack the 49ers defense is in the short zones to the left or the right. The Vikings did a great job with that last week, using Percy Harvin as the main guy. The 49ers are vulnerable there with their style of defense, and the Vikings used that against them with both Harvin and Adrian Peterson and tight end Kyle Rudolph. On one play early, the Vikings lined up Harvin wide right, but he went in motion to the left at the snap. Christian Ponder faked inside to Adrian Peterson and Harvin circled out of the backfield to the left. By then, receiver Michael Jenkins had cleared out the zone and 49ers were rushing outside linebacker Aldon Smith. The area was wide open and Harvin turned it into a 12-yard gain. If teams want to beat the 49ers defense, they have to be patient and take those short passes to help open up things down the field.

6. How does a quarterback who has done nothing for nearly the entire game throw an 80-yard touchdown pass to win it? He makes a dart of a throw to a streaking receiver who runs through the defense. Of course, he needs some help from a mistake by the defense. When Jacksonville quarterback Blaine Gabbert hit Cecil Shorts for an 80-yard score to beat the Colts last week, he got big help from a bad play by safety Sergio Brown. The Colts were in a zone underneath with two deep safeties. Brown was lined up inside on the right slot receiver (Mike Thomas), with corner Vontae Davis lined up wide on Shorts. At the snap, the slot receiver ran an out and Shorts ran a skinny post. Brown released Thomas to the corner and turned to cover Shorts. But he didn't get enough depth, as he turned to run. That allowed Shorts a small window of separation and Gabbert fired a rifle shot over Brown's earhole. Shorts caught it and ran through the split safeties for the score. With one pass play, Gabbert more than doubled his passing total for the day, but also helped get his team a victory. During the play, you can see Brown banging his helmet in frustration as he chased after Shorts.

7. What has happened to Packers right tackle Bryan Bulaga? He played well in 2011, but so far this season he has really struggled. Bruce Irvin abused him Monday night several different ways. He went over him, around him, and under him. Bulaga just didn't seem as if he was getting good sets in pass protection. He's a better player than that. He has to start showing it this week.

8. What's wrong with the Cowboys' offense? The inside of the line isn't very good. The Bucs abused the three inside players last week. Gerald McCoy dominated the game for Tampa Bay. The Cowboys spent on Mackenzy Bernadeau and Nate Livings as their guards in free agency. That caused some personnel people around the league to snicker. Now we know why. They are really struggling. If the Cowboys are to get that offense cranked up, they'll need to get better play inside.

9. When the Houston Texans didn't sign Nnamdi Asomugha in free agency, and supposedly settled for Johnathan Joseph last year, some speculated they overpaid for Joseph. Not anymore. Joseph has been the better corner. Last week against the Broncos, he spent most of the day on Demaryius Thomas and essentially took him out of the game. He went to both sides to face Thomas and did a good job on both sides. Thomas is a physical receiver, but Joseph showed he is more than willing to accept that kind of challenge. Watching him on tape showed a confident corner who seemed to frustrate Thomas at times.

10. The Bears have to love what they are getting from corner Tim Jennings. He is playing some outstanding football so far in the first three games. He was impressive last week against the Rams. Jennings, who was let go by the Colts two years ago, has quietly become a nice corner opposite Charles Tillman. He did get beat inside on a 15-yard catch to Steve Smith last week, but he really seems like a good fit for the Bears Cover-2 scheme. He had a big pass breakup on Brandon Gibson on a fourth-and-10 play in the third quarter with blanket coverage in man. Then later, he blanketed Danny Amendola in man, tipping the ball into the air, and Major Wright picked it up and returned it for the game-clinching touchdown. It helps that the Bears have a fierce pass rush, but Jennings has made big improvements.

1. Texans DE J.J. Watt: I might just keep him here every week. He's such a force.

2. Chiefs OLB Justin Houston: He was all over the field against the Saints.

3. Giants WR Ramses Barden: He is big and faster than most think. Was that the start of something special last week in Carolina?

4. Redskins outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan: With Brian Orakpo gone for the year, he is stepping up in a big way.

5. Cowboys corner Brandon Carr: Was he worth the money or what?

1. The Redskins tackles: Tyler Polumbus and Jordan Black, subbing for the injured Trent Williams, were horrible last week against the Bengals.

2. 49ers tackle Joe Staley: He had a rough go of it last week against Jared Allen.

3. Broncos RG Manny Ramirez: Denver can't wait to get Chris Kuper back. This kid is struggling.

4. Ravens CB Cary Williams: He was picked on a bunch by the Patriots last Sunday night.

5. Saints T Zach Streif: He has had a rough go of it early in the season, which is why Drew Brees is getting hit a lot.

Three things I will miss about replacement officials:

1. The constant digging into their backgrounds as if they were criminals.

2. Media members who forgot games were being played to focus on non-stop bashing of these men.

3. Protect the shield. Is that cool lingo or what from ex-players?

Things to remember when regular refs return:

1. You still will complain.

2. You still will think games will be decided on their calls.

3. Some will be.

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Roger Goodell doesn't think bounties will 'be an issue going forward'

Posted: 08:30 PM ET May 31, 2012

By Ryan Wilson | NFL Blogger

While Goodell thinks bounties are a thing of the past, Vilma has sued the commissioner for defamation. (AP/Getty Images)
Here's to hoping this isn't Roger Goodell's "Mission Accomplished" moment. The NFL Commissioner made an example of the Saints for the organization's involvement in the bounty scandal. From the front office to the locker room, no one was spared.

During a Thursday news conference, Goodell said that he is confident bounties will no longer be an issue, presumably because of the swift, severe sanctions levied against the Saints.

The actions taken by the league "speak very loudly," he said via the Associated Press. "I heard that from our clubs, from our personnel. They recognize it's not part of the game. It doesn't need to be part of the game. And I don't think it's going to be an issue going forward."

That's a nice sentiment, but hunches, in general, aren't reliable predictors of future events. We've criticized Goodell in the past because of the random nature with which he hands down punishments.

For a quick refresher, here's what we wrote on the subject last September, shortly after the commissioner suspended Raiders quarterback Terrelle Pryorfive games for transgressions that took place before Pryor was even in the NFL.

Goodell has shown in the past that he's willing to make unpopular decisions. Steelers backup quarterback and longtime Pryor mentor, Charlie Batch, recently told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that Goodell has too much power.

"He took it to another level when he said he was going to suspend Terrelle Pryor for five games and he wasn't even in the NFL last year," he said. "How can you do that? It's not right. It's not right at all."

Players have also taken issue with Goodell arbitrarily meting out punishments, perhaps none more vocal in recent years than Batch's teammate, linebacker James Harrison. (More proof that there appears to be no method to Goodell's perceived madness: he didn't suspend Kenny Britt or Aqib Talib for serious and persistent offseason incidents.)

Looking ahead, it's worth pointing out that while the Saints general manager and several members of the coaching staff have had their appeals denied and will serve suspensions ranging from indefinitely (Gregg Williams) to six games (Joe Vitt), the four players facing suspension -- Jonathan Vilma, Will Smith, Anthony Hargrove and Scott Fujita -- could still have them reduced. On Wednesday, special master Stephen Burbank heard a grievance filed by the NFLPA on behalf of the four players claiming that Goodell didn't have the authority to issue punishments.

Additionally, a similar grievance was heard by an arbitrator two weeks ago, and Vilma, suspended for the 2012 season by Goodell, has sued the commissioner for defamation. Which brings us to this tweet from Vilma on Thursday night:

Roger goodell has asked for a delay to respond to my defamation suit. He was granted until july 5th to respond. Interesting.

— Jonathan Vilma (@JonVilma51) May 31, 2012

ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas recaps the particulars nicely: "Although the grievances and the lawsuit are separate matters, they have a common thread. The players are attempting to get the authority out of Goodell's hands and, in the case of Vilma's lawsuit, trying to force the league to show evidence of the bounty program."

We're not sure how Goodell's proclamation about bounties being a thing of the past holds up should an arbitrator ultimately rule in favor of the Saints players.

For more NFL news, rumors and analysis, follow @EyeOnNFL on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and subscribe to our Pick-6 Podcast and NFL newsletter. You can follow Ryan Wilson on Twitter here: @ryanwilson_07.

Tags: Anthony Hargrove, Aqib Talib, Charlie Batch, James Harrison, Jonathan Vilma, Kenny Britt, Scott Fujita, Terrelle Pryor, Will Smith, Ryan Wilson, New Orleans Saints, NFL

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Pryor apologizes to Buckeyes, Tressel, doesn't say why

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. -- Terrelle Pryor ended his silence Tuesday -- for exactly 97 seconds.

Speaking out, albeit briefly, for the first time since his college career at Ohio State ended embroiled in scandal, Pryor appeared with agent Drew Rosenhaus and gave a brief statement. He apologized to the Buckeyes, to his former teammates and to now-departed coach Jim Tressel for his role in the mess that may take down one of America's proudest programs.

"I say sorry to all the Buckeye nation and all the Buckeye fans across the country," Pryor said. "I never meant to hurt anybody directly or indirectly with my conduct off the field and I am truly sorry."

Pryor had already been suspended by Ohio State and the NCAA for the first five games of what would have been his senior season this fall for accepting improper benefits, such as cash and discounted tattoos. The scandal led to Tressel's forced resignation. Tressel acknowledged knowing his players were taking improper benefits but covered it up for more than nine months before Ohio State officials discovered his knowledge.

Pryor is Ohio State's all-time leading rusher among quarterbacks, with 2,164 yards. He also threw 57 touchdown passes, tying a school record, and is now aiming to be selected in the NFL's supplemental draft this summer.

"In terms of coach Jim Tressel, a special shoutout," Pryor said. "I'm sorry for what all went down and I apologize with all my heart. I love you just like a father. You taught me a lot and I apologize for putting you in a situation and taking you out of a job and place that you loved to be. I regret the fact that you're not there any more and I regret the fact that I'm not there any more."

The NCAA continues investigating all aspects of Ohio State's athletic program, particularly the football team, including whether athletes received cars, money or other extra benefits that would be against collegiate rules. Last week, when Pryor revealed that he was leaving school, ESPN reported that a former friend of his, speaking to the network under the condition of anonymity, claimed the quarterback made up to $40,000 annually signing autographs.

Pryor might still be asked to cooperate with that NCAA investigation. However, his attorney Larry James said last week the quarterback feels no obligation to speak with NCAA investigators now that he is no longer enrolled at Ohio State.

"He is very sad about what has happened to his college career and Ohio State," Rosenhaus said. "I can tell you that he is extremely, he is responsible for the mistakes that he has made. He has owned up to that. There are no excuses here, guys. No excuses at all. But the past is now the past for him and we have to move ahead. There is no point in him looking back."

Terrelle Pryor makes his brief statement before agent Drew Rosenhaus takes over. (AP) Rosenhaus, who famously once kept repeating "Next question" at a news conference he hosted about client Terrell Owens -- the agent even got the pronunciations of their first names mixed up at one point -- took the tact of "No questions" on Tuesday.

"I think I've said it all," Rosenhaus said after he spoke for about six minutes in which, among other things, he insisted he believes Pryor will be a first-round pick in this summer's supplemental draft. "So I'd like to thank everybody for coming. Guys, we're going to shut it down right now and I appreciate your time. Thank you."

Reporters shouted questions and followed Rosenhaus, Pryor, other members of the entourage and some security up a hotel corridor, to no avail.

"Terrelle Pryor will be a great -- not a good quarterback -- a great quarterback in the National Football League," Rosenhaus said. "He is going to be a star. This experience that he has gone through will galvanize him and make him a better person, a stronger person."

Rosenhaus said he spoke with Tressel before signing Pryor as a client, and that the former Buckeyes coach will remain involved with Pryor's future. "He's going to champion this young man," Rosenhaus said.

The agent, who represents many NFL stars, also compared Pryor to Cam Newton, the No. 1 pick in this year's draft. Some prognosticators have suggested Pryor might not be worth more than a fourth- or fifth-round pick in the supplemental draft, in which teams would have to forfeit a parallel-round choice in the 2012 draft by making a selection. Others have speculated that Pryor may be better served changing positions.

"This league needs quarterbacks. Are you kidding me? Middle round for this guy?" Rosenhaus said.

As Rosenhaus was speaking during the event, Pryor mainly stared straight ahead, arms folded and resting on the table. He worked out Tuesday morning with a group including receiver Chad Ochocinco, who offered praise on Twitter.

"With the right coaching after what I saw today with my own eyes he can be a great QB," Ochocinco wrote.

Pryor also said he wants to graduate from Ohio State, noting he's nine credits short of his degree.

"I'm working hard every single day on the field and off the field to be a better quarterback," Pryor said. "Also, one of my goals is to be the best person I can possibly be off the field."

When Pryor finished, Rosenhaus looked at him and said, "Terrific. Thank you, Terrelle."

Pryor didn't speak again.

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De Smith doesn't charm Maryland grads with speech

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- DeMaurice Smith had barely settled behind the podium when University of Maryland students started chanting: "We want football."

Smith's response: "I want football, too."

The executive director of the NFL Players Association then gave a graduation speech that compared the players' lockout fight against the owners to the detractors the students will face in their future lives. For his final bit of advice, he turned on his own recording of Gary Glitter's Rock and Roll (Part 2) and encouraged everyone to clap while shouting the mild profanity that Maryland fans insert into the song at basketball games.

"To anybody who thinks for one minute that passion is something is that is cheap and futile, I have two words for them: 'You suck,"' Smith said. "And for anybody who would ever think that it is the wrong thing to do to care so much that you're willing to risk everything because it is right, reserve those two words for them."

It was an awkward moment, in part because Smith's recording of the song wasn't very loud. Many of the thousands who packed the Comcast Center -- especially the families and friends -- didn't play along.

After the speech, Smith was asked how those two words might work around a negotiating table.

"All I can do is tell you what I told my 6-year-old daughter when she heard it for the first time," he said diplomatically. "It's all about love."

Smith said no one should be "reading anything into anything" about his use of the song, other than the passion it evokes at Maryland basketball games. Passion was the theme of his speech, and he invoked it when he said the lockout shouldn't be reduced to a catch phrase like "Shut up and play."

"Do we care enough about who we are and who we want to be?" Smith said. "The decision to pursue and if necessary fight for what is fair was a decision those players made two years ago. And I've got to tell you, it's vastly different from something as simple as 'shut up and play.' That's not the decision that we made. We made the decision to fight for who we were going to be and who we are."

Smith, who attended classes at Maryland in 1985 and 1986, declined to comment on any specifics of the NFL's labor situation, including the recent court ruling in St. Louis that set back the players' hopes for an early end to the lockout.

"We believe as a group that it is important to fight for fairness," he said. "And I'm proud of the players who have stepped up to be leaders."

Later Thursday, New York Giants co-owner John Mara had an essay posted on nfl.com and giants.com in which he warned that any victory in the courts by the players could cause chaos throughout the sport.

"The likely changes would be great for NFLPA lawyers, but not for players, teams, or, most importantly, fans," Mara wrote. "For example, there could be no league-wide minimum player salaries, with many players making less than they do today, or no minimum team player costs, with many clubs cutting payrolls the way some teams do in other sports. Other bedrock components of the NFL's competitiveness, such as the draft, would be called into question and assailed as antitrust violations. ...

"There could be varying player benefit plans from team to team, and limits on the ability to enforce other league-wide rules that benefit players, especially rank-and-file players that do not go to the Pro Bowl."

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