The short answer to why newly promoted offensive coordinator Mike Johnson will succeed is because the 49ers have no other choice but to get better.

The 49ers offense is ranked 31st in points scored (12.7 per game) and ranked 27th in rushing yards per game (78.0), the teams’ supposed strong suit. The 49ers are ranked 13th in passing yards per game (232.3) but that goes along with a 66.2 QB passer rating.

Offensive efficiency has not been the 49ers forte, at least on the road. The 49ers have scored one touchdown on the road this season, which came late in garbage time against the Chiefs. Simply put the 49ers need to be better on the road and I think Johnson is the man who can accomplish that.

Johnson has been the 49ers QBs coach since 2009 and spent the 2008 season studying the spread offense. Other than Johnson’s youth -- he's 43 and Jimmy Raye was 64 -- he brings to the 49ers his proven experience working with QBs and WRs. In 2007, as Baltimore’s receivers coach he helped Derrick Mason set a career high with 103 receptions, for 1,087 receiving yards along with five TDs. As QBs coach with Atlanta, Johnson tutored Michael Vick for three seasons. In 2005, Johnson’s last season with the Falcons, Vick passed for 2,412 yards and 15 TDs, and rushed for 597 yards and 6 scores.

Johnson does not have previous play-calling experience other than the final two games of the 2003 season with the Falcons, but this should not be a concern. This will not turn out like the Jim Hostler fiasco in 2007.

Going back to Johnson, taking the 2008 season off to study the spread offense, I think this is an indication of what type of offense he will employ. This is where Johnson will inject his youth and energy into the offense, taking the team back to the success it had last season with the spread formation. I am not calling for an all out pass offense, but when the best thing you do on offense is run and that is not working out and your team falls to 0-3 something is needed to create a balance. With the spread formation it will make the defense look for the pass more often, which in turn will open up the running lanes for Frank Gore.

Head coach Mike Singletary wanted a run offense, and Raye gave it to him. With the 49ers off to an 0-3 start Singletary knows his seat is starting to get hot. Raye was the scapegoat, but he was giving Singletary the offense he wanted. Clearly the smash-mouth run style of offense Singletary had Raye implement did not work.

It would behoove Singletary and his prospects of keeping his job to let Johnson loose and install his own vision of the offense.

For more on the San Francisco 49ers check out FanSided's NinerNoise blog.

-- ERIC MELENDEZ
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