Titans coach Jeff Fisher had many sugary-sweet compliments for Alex Smith and the 49ers' passing game this morning on a conference call. But he also sounded a lot like Mike Singletary in saying that it would be foolish to suddenly turn what had been a run-oriented team into one that primarily throws the ball. He said he wouldn't advise Smith to suddenly operate mainly out of the shotgun while throwing to three wide receivers.
"I can't speak for their decisions and their plans, but I can say this," Fisher said. "When you have a team that's built the way their offense is built and the way their defense is playing - the formula is working. ... what you don't want to do, what no one necessarily wants to do with a young quarterback, or a veteran quarterback for that matter, is get behind and have to hurry up and catch up."
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Fisher also was complimentary of one of his former players, saying that Brandon Jones was a multidimensional threat for Tennessee. Jones played four years for the Titans. His best season was last year when he caught 41 passes and averaged 11 yards per catch. He also ran the ball twice last year on reverses, picking up 35 yards.
"He was a guy that could do it all," Fisher said. "He could uncover in the slot. He could win the one-on-one outside. Brandon had some skills, and I imagine he still does, as far as running after the catch. He was a reverse guy who could pick up a first down for us. And if we need him to return, he'd field the ball and do those kinds of things. You know, he just struggled off and on with an injury here and there. But he made a lot of big plays for us."
So far this season, Jones has played only a handful of snaps all season for the 49ers and has not been targeted once.
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The 49ers signed tackle Kirk Barton, who had a cup of coffee with them last year, to the practice squad. Barton replaces TE Carson Butler, who was released yesterday.
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This Vince Young story slipped through the cracks -- at least for me -- but I thought it was worth reading.
-- Matt Barrows
