No groundbreaking changes

If you're looking for the 49ers to turn into Air Singletary because their passing game came to life in the second half in Green Bay, you're going to be disappointed. That's not to say the 49ers won't go to the shotgun offense a little earlier in a game, maybe Sunday against Jacksonville, coach Mike Singletary said Monday. But he reminded fans and reporters that the shotgun/spread was not the offense that the team worked on in training camp. Nor is it the offense that running back Frank Gore and his offensive linemen probably are best suited to, he said. On the other hand, quarterback Alex Smith may be more comfortable in it, and the receivers love it. Using it as a base offense might not be the answer over the long haul, Singletary said, although he's open to the possibility of using it more often. Within reason. "I think one of the worst things that we could do right now is to put Alex Smith in shotgun and say, 'OK, let's go get it, guys.' ... And just let him throw 40, 50 times a game, and let's see where you end up." After a miserable first half Sunday against the Packers in which Smith was sacked three times and threw for 5 yards, the 49ers pulled the shotgun off the rack at halftime. Smith threw for 222 yards and three touchdowns in the second half, but the 49ers couldn't quite dig their way out of a 20-point chasm and lost 30-24. Many fans are calling for the shotgun to stay loaded, especially now that the club is 4-6 and running out of time to get back in contention for a spot in the playoffs. "I can understand that, absolutely," Smith said. "I think the real answer is to find a mix, to find a balance there between the run and the pass. It's easy to say, 'Let's just go live in that world.' But I don't think that's realistic. I don't. That's something you evolve to down the road." In Gore, he said, "we've got one of the top running backs in the NFL and need to find a way to continue to get him the ball, put him in situations to succeed." Gore insisted Monday there was "no difference" for him in running out of the shotgun rather than as the tailback with Smith under center. "It's not tough." The subject, however, was clearly one Gore didn't enjoy addressing, after a game in which he had a 42-yard run but just six other carries. He walked away from reporters before they could probe deeper. Singletary said there is a big difference for Gore. When Smith is under center, Gore is getting the ball while he's accelerating. In the shotgun, he's not. Gore is a "hit-the-hole, downhill guy," Singletary said. "He's not a fidget-to-the-right-and-then-give-him-the-ball." Giving a brief demonstration, he pointed out that handoffs in the shotgun require a different kind of footwork than the standard exchange. Tight end Vernon Davis and rookie wide receiver Michael Crabtree both said Sunday they'd like to see more of the spread. "If I were them, I would get excited, too," Singletary said, although he joked that late signee Crabtree is "just trying to figure out what day it is." Some successful teams like the Colts and Patriots pile up passing yardage, but Singletary said that as the playoffs approach, even passing teams have to mix in plenty of running plays because the defenses get tougher down the stretch. Although Singletary has steadfastly expressed his love of a hard-nosed ground game, he said Monday he didn't care if the 49ers threw 100 passes or ran 100 times in a game. He quickly qualified that remark: "If I'm throwing it 100 times a game, chances are there are going to be some picks in there." Time lapse: The 49ers had extra time to prepare for Green Bay because they played previously on a Thursday. They were down 23-3 at halftime. A month ago they played Houston after a bye week and trailed 21-0 at halftime. Each time a big second-half rally wasn't enough to rescue a road game they might have won. "My first emotion is anger," Singletary said. "Anger because it doesn't have to be like this." Cornerback Tarell Brown was beaten on both of Green Bay's touchdown passes, although his teammates also missed tackles on both plays, especially on Greg Jennings' 64-yard score on a short pass over the middle. Safety Dashon Goldson summed up the lapses on that play as "bad pursuit to the ball. "We could have made better angles and found a way to live again." Charge dropped: The 49ers are dropping a tampering charge against the Jets over first-round draft pick Michael Crabtree, ESPN.com reported, citing a league source. The 49ers filed the charge after ex-player Deion Sanders said during Crabtree's holdout that he knew of two teams willing to pay the receiver what he wanted. SFGate poll Start running the spread now, and stick with it.Revamp the line, and rely on Gore and the run.Whatever you do, get rid of Alex Smith.Whatever you do, get rid of Jimmy Raye.To vote in this poll go to or .