Oct 13th 2008 2:30PM by Adam Gretz (author feed)
Filed under: 49ers
Last week, Ryan Wilson pointed out how 49ers tight end Vernon Davis has been less productive under innovative offensive coordinator Mike Martz than he was under the boring and vanilla Jim Hostler. After all, heading into Week 6 action, the third-year tight end had only registered five catches, and was growing frustrated by being used in pass-protection more often than he was being used as a pass-catcher.
That said, it’s only fair to point out that yesterday the 49ers used him a little more often, as he hauled in more passes than he did in the previous five games … combined. Whether it was intentional or not, Davis was clearly a bigger part of the team’s offense. Especially since he was targeted on seven passes on Sunday, while only being thrown to 11 times in the previous five games.
Davis finished with six catches for 75 yards, including a 57-yard catch in the third quarter. The final numbers were so good that it almost makes you forget he had three catches go for negative yardage, and another go for only six yards. Oops. Still, 57- and 24-yard plays are the types of things 49ers fans were expecting when the freakish athlete was taken with the sixth overall pick in the 2006 draft.
Of course, in the end, Davis’ big plays were wasted when quarterback J.T. O’Sullivan forgot which team he was playing for, and handed the ball back over to the Eagles three times in the final six minutes.
