better acting and football

I enjoy spending time reading articles and discussion boards about the 49ers, and not surprisingly there are many opinions about what they can do to improve their chances of winning. In recent entries of this blog, I've mentioned the need for more creativity; in fact, if I were a Chiefs fan, I would have absolutely loved watching not only their success against the Niners, but in how it was achieved, particularly the offensive game plan. There was so much variety and speed - it was a fun game... for them. As opposed to the stodginess and predictability of the 49ers offense. If a swing pass to Gore gains 30+ yards, why not run more plays like that?

One point I'd like to make is how a new weapon such as running back Brian Westbrook has been (under)utilized so far this season. Okay, I've listened to how he's new to the team and plays have to be designed and practiced with him in mind. But he's a veteran with a background of success, so it can't be that difficult to incorporate him into some more plays. And what really drives me crazy is putting him into the huddle only when he's going to be used. In other words, when he runs onto the field, the 49ers are practically telling the defense to key in on him because the play call is for him and him only. Not much to figure out there then; how conveeenient. Sometimes, why not set up the defense... put him out there for plays that don't involve him every now and then. Let him be a decoy. Like I've mentioned before, in order for an offense to be most effective, it has to keep defenses guessing and back on their heels. Force some uncertainty on them and for those times they guess and guess wrong... excellent!

Which brings me to another point: acting. It can be as simple as the quarterback looking safeties away with a turn of the head or the direction his eyes are pointing. Okay, I've never played the game and for the most part only watch it on TV, but I love good fakes... I love watching college games where I am so faked out that I'm looking the wrong way. Camera operators are fooled much more often during college games too. Why is that skill not as developed at the professional game? Play-action fakes are much better acted out at the college level. Effectively selling fakes doesn't appear to take any more time than those that are performed half-a$$ (pardon my language). Draw plays, screens, reverses, lots of plays would benefit by the subtleties of good acting, by the lineman and blockers as much as the players handling the ball.

Another point: It must be possible to be a so-called 'finesse-team' that is still capable of 'hitting people in the mouth.' It doesn't have to be one or the other. Use creative play-calling, keep the other team off balance but still play a physical brand of football.

And here's even more (again from a guy that's never played organized football) - I know that a style of play is to be a North and South running team, but it's frustrating in those instances when there aren't any holes opened up at all in between the tackles when there are wide open spaces off to the outside; it's all well and good if the best play is to hit a hole quickly with one cut, but it would also be good to have the flexibility to do something else if there is running room elsewhere on a given play. It's awful watching a running back trying to force his way into 'where they are' instead of 'where they aren't.' Offensive plays may have been designed a certain way, but defenses are unpredictable and if they flood one area, then by all means, go somewhere else! Maybe some dancing is appropriate. I think the best players know when to hit the hole and when to juke and jive, and the Niners have the players. Am I making it sound easier said than done?

new coach for Bay Area team!

Keith Smart is named new head coach of the Golden State Warriors...

If not for those pesky 49ers and their new offensive coordinator being all over the news yesterday, the Warriors and the formal announcement of their new head coach would have taken the headlines. But let's face it: the 49ers are in the midst of their regular season schedule and the Warriors are still in their off-season.

I've read people's critical opinions of the Don Nelson regime, but who else has so much as led the Warriors to the playoffs aside from his two tenures as coach? After the team's lone championship season in 1975, I can't even recall any team success until Nelson signed on, and in between his two stints, the fortunes of the team were quite abysmal. So let's keep in mind that finding winning coaches hasn't been an easy task for the Warriors.

Speaking of which, how wonderful would it be to be Don Nelson right now? He's getting paid 6.2 million dollars for the last year of his contract, and he gets to spend that last year retired to the shores of Maui! And he holds the record as the NBA's all-time winningest coach. Used to be that the six-million dollar man was someone who was almost killed in a horrific aircraft accident and built up again by an exorbitant amount of money as some sort of 'bionic man,' and now the six-dollar man is someone who is paid that much money to do nothing but sip mai-tai's on the beach... how times have changed.

Back to Keith Smart. I've seen him standing near and sitting on the Warriors bench for years now, as an assistant coach for the team. Similar to how I mentioned in a previous blog entry that Mike Johnson was being groomed as a successor to the position of offensive coordinator (or so I've read, and if so, for a much, much shorter time when the change was made), Keith Smart has been more pointedly groomed to be the next head coach for the Warriors. It's kind of neat to see that it has actually come to fruition. It makes sense too, considering that the Warriors have new ownership (pending league approval, which is almost certain) this year. New ownership, an overhauled roster, and now a new leader... lots of excitement and anticipation for Warriors fans!

Isn't it fun to have sports around to take our minds off of the real problems of our times? Go Warriors!

from trench warfare to modern warfare

Wow, that was sudden... Jimmy Raye was fired as 49ers offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Mike Johnson was promoted to take over the job.

Though made just a day after a game, the decision had to be made right away if it was to be made at all - the new coordinator has to be given as much time as possible to settle into his new position and somehow game-plan for next week's opponents, the Atlanta Falcons. Not only that, but the Niners are playing an away game, which takes yet more time away from preparations. It's a long flight all the way across the country, and the team has to adjust to Eastern Standard Time.

Although Coach Singletary has been stalwart in his desire to impose his offensive philosophy on opposing teams (heavy on smashmouth, light on deception), I am excited to see what new wrinkles the new coach brings to the team. Last season, even Raye was flexible enough to utilize a spread-type offense to move the ball. Now with the team 0-3, and the bottom-line to win still being the ultimate goal, let's see what happens with Coach Johnson. I've read that he was supposedly even being groomed to be the successor (but not this soon).

Though Alex Smith is in effect playing under yet another offensive coordinator, maybe the adjustments will be seamless and hopefully all positive. I'm hoping that Coach Johnson will have the freedom to implement whatever means necessary to gain lots of yards and score plenty of points, even if it goes against Coach Singletary's vision of old-fashioned smash-mouth football. If the goal is to win, then let's make full use of a very talented 49ers roster and all of it's weapons: Crabtree, Morgan, Ziegler, Gore, Westbrook, Dixon, V. Davis, Walker, Byham, et al. Let's keep defenses guessing.

I remember when Bill Walsh first began coaching the 49ers. It was a rough first couple of years, but I recall really enjoying how well the offense moved the ball. It was fun to watch. I think the current team has the talent now to adjust the play-calling to whatever defenses are doing. If they're plugging up the holes North and South, then run East and West; if they're taking away the middle, then run or pass laterally. Let's make the game fun again.

Wouldn't it be a blast to score tons of points while defenses are running around in circles not knowing what hit them (admittedly, what the Chiefs did to the Niners yesterday)? I like reading the word 'creativity.' Okay, guys, let's turn this season around!

Week Three - 49ers vs. Chiefs

I can't believe I watched the whooole thing...
(said while clutching my stomach)

It was like watching the Seattle game all over again - but even then, there were key plays in that game that needed addressing and could have made a difference; against the Chiefs, the Niners simply looked overmatched in all phases of the game.

One thing that has been on my mind is the notion that even if you (or they) know what's coming, you still have to make the play. It could pertain to any sport - the thing is, it's the not-knowing, the misdirections and the guessing games that give the edge in the first place. For example, in baseball, sure, it can be said that even if the batter knows the kind of pitch and its location, he still has to hit the ball. But isn't it the not-knowing what's coming that's the real challenge at that level? And in football, it's all well and good to say that a team should be able to run the ball even if the other team knows it's coming, so even if the defense 'stacks the box' with eight players, the offense should still be able to make the blocks and gain the yards. So does that mean the defense can put all eleven players in between the tackles and the offense should still be able to run up the middle? Or if the defense knows a play-action is coming and doesn't bite on the fakes, the offense should still be able to complete a long pass?

In my opinion, the more you can keep the other team off-balance and guessing, the better chance you have at success. In the 49ers case, they have a very talented roster of players now, more so than in many years. They have legitimate threats at all positions of the offense: the running game and the passing game. They need to keep opposing defenses guarding against the threat that anything could happen, and not just runs up the middle. That's way too predictable a game plan. In a perfect world with perfectly executed blocking and everything going perfectly, I suppose a good offense should be able to make that work all the time, but defenses are too sophisticated nowadays. The possibility that an offense could direct itself to any part of the field (and again, I believe the Niners now have players that are just that talented) would spread opposing defenses thinner. I'd rather that the 49ers mix up their play calling more (they've done it occasionally, but not enough); I miss seeing medium and long range passes to the wide receivers. I remember seeing lots of quick slants once upon a time... lots of different plays.

Now I've read that the 49ers do call long pass plays and that's when the protection from the offensive line happens to break down. Still, something is amiss with the play calling - the Niners have the talent to break down defenses and gain some major yards. To use an analogy, it's like the 49ers are fighting 21st century battles using trench warfare. Trench warfare was the way battles were fought in their time, but not now. It's outdated.

I wouldn't want to be Jed York right now. It's a tough decision, but it's true: the Niners have to make the playoffs this season or else it's back to square one. Can it be done with the current coaching regime? i don't know. I've been a big supporter of Mike Singletary - I like his straightforward management style. I like him as a leader. But he is the one that chose to hire Jimmy Raye, whose offensive game plans don't appear to be current with the times, yet apparently reflect exactly what Coach Singletary wants. And although Alex Smith has been given a bad series of breaks ever since he came to the team, I'm afraid he lacks the intangibles that are necessary to find a way to make things work when they aren't going perfectly. As the 49ers quarterback, I've been a supporter of his but there's a sixth sense that other quarterbacks have that he lacks. There's a pluck and mettle to pull rabbits out of hats, that some how, some way, is missing with him. Yes, he has good games every now and then, but I wonder if it might be time to consider other options.

As for the 49er defense, they're proving themselves susceptible to fast, elusive barn-burning runners, and the screen pass. They may have matched up poorly to the Chiefs in particular, but there is reason to worry for future games. I wish I could be more positive right now - after a massacre like today's, it surely looks like it's going to be a long season. We'll see...

it's the ecology, stupid!

should carry as much weight as that other famous saying.

Week Two - Saints vs. 49ers

d-oh!

Notice I didn't capitalize that. The 49ers did play some competitive football last night, against the defending Super Bowl champs no less. Things are looking up for the 2010 season again, which is quite a relief. After last week's game, well, things could only get better, and they did. Then again, a loss is still a loss.

I'm not calling it a moral victory (because neither Coach Singletary nor I are 'moral victory' type of guys), but there were positives to be taken from the game. Is it okay to look for silver-linings? That the game had to be won on a last-second field goal shows how close the game was: the offense moved the ball really smoothly and effectively; Alex Smith played with poise; the offensive line play looked excellent giving Frank Gore a chance to shine, both running and receiving; the defense played pretty tight... if the team could only have eliminated the turnovers, they would have won quite handily. But there's the rub, isn't it? The 49ers turned the ball over multiple times, the Saints didn't, and that was the difference. The difference between a team that wins and a team that doesn't (last night, anyway).

At least after last week's debacle, the team showed how competitive they can be. Now they have to play consistently at yesterday's high level of play, while eliminating the tumultuous mistakes such as turnovers. There's an old saying that goes something like: "The more I practice, the luckier I get." I don't know if that explains why when the Saints muff a punt, they recover it, whereas if the 49ers muff a punt, the other team recovers it. Or when the 49ers tip a pass, it goes straight back to the guy who threw it, but when the Saints tip a pass, it goes for an interception. In any case, last night the Saints had the winning edge.

Next up are the Kansas City Chiefs, on the road. I trust that the Niners will have a better handle on how to play in a loud environment as they played in when they played Seattle. I liked how they adjusted their method of conveying the play calls to Alex for last night's game, utilizing a different system of using numbers that corresponded to the plays that were printed on something he could wear on his wrist. I don't know if it was as simple as that, but Alex sure seemed to have more time to work with! He played excellent.

Although the 49ers are only 1 game off of the division lead, they had better win this Sunday, lest they go 0-3 which would be unacceptable. Go Niners!

Heart-less at the Kennedy Center

I recently read that one of this year's honorees for the Kennedy Center Honors is Paul McCartney. He was scheduled to be celebrated back in 2002, but was unable to attend because of a prior commitment; as I recall, that was why Paul Simon was honored that year instead.

Now I'm not all that familiar with John Mellencamp, knowing only those songs of his that were hits on the radio, but not the rest of his catalogue. I never knew him necessarily to be a big fan of Paul Simon nor of Simon & Garfunkel. But he was one of the performers for Paul Simon's big night at the Kennedy Center Honors that year. He was okay I suppose, but in my mind, I'd much rather imagine that the sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart had performed instead. Among their many influences was definitely Paul Simon (the acoustic guitar intro to Heart's 'Crazy On You' is reminiscent of Simon & Garfunkel's instrumental 'Anji'; the lyrics 'Time, time, time, time, never ask what's become of us' on Heart's 'Soul of the Sea' are similar to 'Time, time, time, see what's become of me' on Simon & Garfunkel's 'A Hazy Shade of Winter'; and on Nancy's solo release 'Live at McCabes Guitar Shop' she performs a cover of S&G's 'Kathy's Song'). Yup, in my altered and preferred memory of that night, Ann and Nancy performed their moving tribute to Paul Simon.

In any case, I've always enjoyed watching the Kennedy Center Honors each year, usually broadcast between the Christmas and New Year's holidays, several weeks after they occur. I am greatly anticipating how they choose to honor Sir Paul, whom they select to perform, etc. Perhaps Cirque De Soleil (performing a number from their Vegas act 'LOVE') will be one of the acts? I'm looking forward to the festivities!

pop-up video

Today, I watched part of a show called 'Pop-Up Video' on VH-1. It's one I've watched before where music videos are shown, along with information bubbles of trivia that correspond to the particular video. One of the videos shown was one for one of my favorite songs, a song by Crowded House called Don't Dream It's Over. It also happens to be one of my all-time favorite videos. So I thought I'd share a brief list of my favorite music videos, which were more of a staple of the music business many years ago.


• South Central Rain (I'm Sorry) - R.E.M.

• Wild Horses - The Sundays (yes, it's a cover of the Rolling Stones song)

• Turn My Head (John Register version) - Live

• Don't Dream It's Over - Crowded House (as I mentioned above)

• The Unforgettable Fire - U2

• In Your Eyes - The Reivers


It's been quite awhile since I've been able to while away hours looking for things on YouTube, including songs by my favorite bands, but these are the ones that come to mind first. Check them out and see what you think!

Week One - 49ers vs. Seahawks

That was an awful game to watch. With all of the optimism for this season's team finally making the playoffs... just awful. I was even thinking it was possible for the Niners to go deep into the playoffs this year. Not after yesterday's game. And the next opponent? The Super Bowl defending champion New Orleans Saints. Well guys, show us some competitive football this time around. Play at a championship level. These rose-colored glasses of mine are starting to feel tight around the temples. Turn our collective "D-Oh!'s" into "Woo-Hoos!" a week from today.

a good eye

Sure, I'm like any guy that thinks they know a pretty girl when they see one. Even though beauty is in fact in the eye of the beholder, I pride myself in spotting a girl, let's say, while watching a television movie or show, watching for her name in the credits (or now, finding out who she is on the Internet), and then seeing if she later becomes famous.

Case in point: many years ago, I was watching a television movie and noticed how pretty a particular woman was at the very beginning. She was a blonde lass standing outside a car that was parked outside a house on a curb (I'm not clear on the details, but that's the picture I have in my mind); unfortunately, she was soon victimized by a crime and I didn't finish watching the movie. Now that I think about it, if I didn't finish watching the movie, how did I manage to find out the name of the actress? Well, in any case, I did find out her name and it was Cheryl Stoppelmoor.

Flash forward to sometime in the future after seeing that movie: one day, a relative newcomer named Cheryl Ladd became the newest of Charlie's Angels, playing the role of Jill Munroe's younger sister Kris. I was quite thrilled when I eventually found out that Cheryl Ladd's maiden name was... Cheryl Stoppelmoor! Have I got good taste or what?

Another example is when a spin-off of the Cosby Show, A Different World, came on the air. I couldn't help but notice that one of Denise Huxtable's roommates was awfully cute. Turned out that she was played by Marisa Tomei!

The next instance that comes to mind is an actress that appeared in one episode of Just Shoot Me. She was a cute (but clumsy) young woman that was being pulled in opposite directions regarding her career; should she pursue modeling or academia? Checking out the credits, I saw her name and it was unique and easy to remember: Ali Larter!

I just find it that much more fun when I can spot a girl before she really hits the big time of fame and accolades. Yeah, I seem to be at my best when I'm sitting at home, parked in front of the television. So, so sad... pathetic, really.

a boy named Sue

I don't really cook... I'm not a cook... but I sure like watching television. Among the shows I regularly watch are the reality TV cooking competitions, such as 'The Next Food Network Star' and 'Top Chef.' Some of you may remember an old song by Johnny Cash called 'A Boy Named Sue.' Personally, I have no idea what it sounded like but the title has stuck in my mind.

Putting the two things together [the song and the cooking shows], I came up with:

'A chef named Sue.' Get it?

Sue Chef.


Still don't get it? Sous chef, right? ha ha... ha...

********

Didn't like that one, did you? Okay, here's something else along those lines you might like better. Years ago (as in high school age), my brother and his friends would go to a diner and if the name of the waitress was Patty, one of them would order like this: "I'll have a melt... Patty." I wish I could have been there!

three #1's

Some people have noted that the 49ers now have 2 #1 (overall) picks and a Heisman trophy award recipient playing quarterback on their roster. I can't help but think how unprecedented it would have been had the Niners signed former starting Raider quarterback JaMarcus Russell instead of Troy Smith; imagine how unique that would have been: THREE #1 OVERALL picks playing quarterback for the same team. I emphasize overall because they're not simply first-round picks but they were each taken numero uno in their respective draft classes. That is amazing to contemplate... not a good decision (Russell is most definitely not a Singletary kind of guy), but pretty cool nonetheless!

Can't wait for the season to start this Sunday...

TOSU

If instead of Ohio State University, they are supposed to be THE Ohio State University (said with attitude by students and alumni of the school), then shouldn't their sweatshirts also say 'TOSU' instead of 'OSU'?

spontaneous caravan

Here's a memory that just popped into my head:

This goes way back to when I was going to college in San Luis Obispo, California. I was traveling down there from the Bay Area, a drive of about 4 hours or so. At the time, the car I had was a 4-door Mercury Comet (our family car, a Comet is similar to the Ford Maverick, if you are familiar with those); on the way, maybe starting about half-way down, there was another 4-door Comet just like the one I was driving only it was white and had Texas license plates. It was being driven by a student-aged woman - I can still sort of picture her having just beyond shoulder-length brown hair.

Without so much as gesturing or really acknowledging each other, we started taking turns pulling ahead and letting the other follow and alternating like that. We didn't follow that closely either, just a nice comfortable pace and distance, something we subtly agreed to do. Every fifteen miles or so (I really have no idea how often) we'd pass each other in the left lane and take the next turn at leading. It was really neat, especially being that we were pretty much the only two cars on the road for that while. As I recall, it was nearing dusk as we arrived in San Luis Obispo.

I don't remember who pulled off one of the exits first - the picture I have is she drove off the first exit towards the dorms (I had the feeling while we were driving all that while that she was also a student and was driving towards the university) and I went ahead and drove to my exit further down.

Who knows how much she even noticed or paid attention to this spontaneous caravan we formed... but I've occasionally wondered about who she was; I wonder how she is now.

a very English band

One way I keep myself amused is thinking up names for bands - there are so many bands, how do they come up with original names? Some are so unique, I don't think there is any worry that another group will come along and use it: Hootie and the Blowfish, Toad the Wet Sprocket, My Chemical Romance, for example. Anyway, one of my ideas is for a nerdy, pop-oriented, decidedly English band:

The Bumbershoots

the lovely lads

I'm a Giants fan, not the Dodgers. Kind of besides the point though. Another name I have for the Dodgers is 'the lovely lads.' Why, you ask? Well, it started ever since the Anaheim Angels (formerly the California Angels, of course) became the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (the The Angels Angels of Anaheim?).

Whereas the Los Angeles Dodgers were previously abbreviated as 'LA' and the Anaheim Angels as 'ANA' (as I recall) whenever scores were shown and the like, now they're abbreviated as 'LAD' and 'LAA,' respectively.

Okay. So now I have to mention the great movie/mock rock documentary 'This Is Spinal Tap.' If you're familiar with it, you might remember that the name of one of the band member's earlier bands was 'The Lovely Lads.'

And so that's it. To me, the Dodgers are The Lovely Lads. And the Angels are the The Angels Angels.

preseason game - Chargers vs. 49ers

Yes, being undefeated in the preseason is a good thing (the 49ers won) - as long as it leads to success during the regular season. The most important things to accomplish during the preseason are fine-tuning the play-calling and execution of the plays in actual game situations (without giving any 'secrets' away!), minimizing injuries, and finally, formulating the best possible roster from the choices available. Already this morning, I've seen the names of a few players that have been cut from the team. It's a tough deal for them - it's like being laid-off. And in the competitive world of professional sports, these athletes just may latch on to other teams and come back and 'bite' the team that let them go. Some may land on the practice squad, requiring yet more patience and hard work from them... it may be brutal, yet it's endlessly fascinating for us fans.

Best wishes to all the players, and Go Niners!