RW passing to the short middle

[hawk45]

We don't throw over the middle because that is a great area for turnovers. Just look at what happened in the NFCCG: Wilson over the middle to Kearse cost us dearly. This is part of Petes philosophy and not something to get frustrated with, just something to accept as part of the package with Pete.

Yet Alex Smith uses the middle very effectively and his entire career is built on not turning the ball over.

In the NFCCG those were turnovers because Russ threw late and high as he often does. It's not about the middle of the field, it's about Russ and the middle of the field IMO.

 

[Laloosh]

We don't throw over the middle because that is a great area for turnovers. Just look at what happened in the NFCCG: Wilson over the middle to Kearse cost us dearly. This is part of Petes philosophy and not something to get frustrated with, just something to accept as part of the package with Pete.

Yet Alex Smith uses the middle very effectively and his entire career is built on not turning the ball over.

In the NFCCG those were turnovers because Russ threw late and high as he often does. It's not about the middle of the field, it's about Russ and the middle of the field IMO.

Alex Smith's numbers (with regard to what I provided) are more inline with Wilson than most of the other guys on that list.

What's more, it would appear that the short middle and deep middle have proven to yield a much higher Int % league wide over the same time period:

Location	Comp	Att	Comp%	Int (Int %)
Short Left	10826	15945	67.9%	263 (01.6)
Short Middle	7076	10291	68.8%	249 (02.4)
Short Right	11899	17743	67.1%	289 (01.6)
Deep Left	1361	3699	36.8%	191 (05.1)
Deep Middle	1152	2380	48.4%	196 (08.2)
Deep Right	1548	4051	38.2%	217 (05.3)

Will add this to the OP for the sake of discussion.

 

[keasley45]

We don't throw over the middle because that is a great area for turnovers. Just look at what happened in the NFCCG: Wilson over the middle to Kearse cost us dearly. This is part of Petes philosophy and not something to get frustrated with, just something to accept as part of the package with Pete.

Yet Alex Smith uses the middle very effectively and his entire career is built on not turning the ball over.

In the NFCCG those were turnovers because Russ threw late and high as he often does. It's not about the middle of the field, it's about Russ and the middle of the field IMO.

Agree with this 100%. I dont think RW is very comfortable hitting the middle crossing routes, or any crossing routes for that matter. I remember the INT he threw in preseason against the Pack last year. A deep cross to ADB that was overthrown. Dont think he threw the route again until the NFCCG, and the result was the same. He's good at hitting the curls and stops in rhythm. Not as good hitting a receiver on the move in rhythm. rarely happens.
I'd be interested to see how our passing game ranks in YAC if you take out the throws deep down the sidelines when the WR is running a go or post. Seems as though 90% of our passing game consists of routes where our WR sit down in the zone, and turn to present to RW. Well, at least 90% of RW's completions seem to be these type of routes or quick slants. Wish he could take a page from Rodgers and Romo and how they step up into the pocket. Granted, you have to have a line that will allow you to do some of that...