Start Spreading the...

Ball all over the field. It's pretty evident that that is what the Niners need to start doing to be productive on offense. Their first half effort against Green Bay was horrible. Then, like someone flipped a switch, they came out in the second half pitching the ball all over and scoring at will.

I swear we've seen this before... Oh, that's right. Just a few weeks ago in Houston. Sure the Texans and Packers D probably let up a little in the second half with huge leads. I'm sure that pressure returned once the Niners cut it a two score game. Yet, in both cases the Niners were able to make it a one score game.

One of the biggest gripes fans had about Mike Nolan was his unwillingness to change. He was going to do it his way and everyone else be darned. I am starting to get the same feeling from Singletary and Jimmy Raye. The Niners have gone to a spread look in both games and scored 21 points in a half. So, explain to me why you would not want to run this more often.

Two of the biggest draft picks in your recent history, Smith and Crabtree, came from the spread system. Vernon Davis has caught most, if not all, his touchdowns from the formation. Frank Gore is great receiver out of the backfield and I would argue one of the best pass blocking RBs in the game. You have Morgan, Hill and Walker chomping at the bit to get on the field. Your O-Line has shown it cannot maintain blocks or move the line of scrimmage. With all those factors telling them otherwise, Raye and Singletary spent an entire half yesterday running into a brick wall. I am starting to see a definition of insanity reference coming on here.

I am not saying that the spread offense is a panacea. This team has issues. The entire team looked like it forgot to get on the plane in the first half. The D could not stop the run game nor get pressure through the supposedly porous Packers O-Line. The Niners line continues to struggle and now is dealing with further injuries. These three things all need to be addressed. But most of them will have to wait til the off-season. The Niners can change their offensive philosophy now. The coaches would have us believe otherwise and that it makes the team one dimensional. The play on the field doesn't support that. The scoring numbers are higher and Gore's rushing numbers are just as good out of the spread and single-back as they are from the I-formation.

This is about a philosophical change. One that if not made soon, could result in some other changes...