Jim Hostler was the reason we were so shit last year, no doubt about it. He had a good thing in Gore, but then decided to stack the line every play and only pass on 3rd and long. He was the worst coordinator in the league last year. By weak 3 against Pittsburgh, teams realized that they had 0 confidence in Alex Smith and would put 9 in the box literally every play. It didn't only effect the passing game but the running game because Gore got a bunch of touches but the offense wasn't spread out enough and teams knew what they were doing everytime. It was the most predictable offense in the league, Gore, Gore, Gore. And it was rush, rush, rush. At least this year he will be involved in the pass game like 06.

I am an Alex Smith apologist, I thought he was a good quarterback and showed that in the back half of the 07 season, a guy who was elusive and could make stuff happen outside of the pocket. But he was obviously shaken and doesn't fit into the Martz offense where timing patterns are everything and I think he's lost all his confidence where O'Sullivan has moxy and he doesn't get flustered very easily, I think he'll be good for the team. I think Smith should go to San Diego and hook up again with Norv Turner as Rivers' backup as Rivers has a different injury every other day.