Cardinals coordinator calls 49ers' shifts ‘cute'

Share

SANTA CLARA -- The rest of the league is certainly watching the 49ers' offensive shifts. And the Arizona Cardinals will come to Candlestick Park on Sunday prepared . . . or so their defensive coordinator believes.
The 49ers have caused a bit of a stir with the way they have executed shifts from their tight ends in recent weeks.Tight end Justin Peelle was penalized for simulating a snap on a fourth-down play against the Washington Redskins. Last week, Delanie Walker shifted off the line of scrimmage, drawing New York Giants defensive end Dave Tollefson into the neutral zone. That penalty went against the Giants and gave the 49ers on a key third-down conversion.Arizona defensive coordinator Ray Horton on Friday reacted to the 49ers' shifting."It's a cute play," Horton said via the Arizona Republic, "and the league has said it's a cute play also, a legal cute play. So kudos to them for having cute plays in."Horton told the paper that the Cardinals are coached to watch the snap of the ball. "So if they do what we say, it's not a big deal," Horton said. "I understand it's third and 1, fourth and 1, crunch game and all of a sudden a big man moves . . . cute."When Horton's comments were relayed to 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh, he had responded: "I don't have a reaction to that. . . He's watching the film, at least."

Contact Us