A big reason for not using Johnson as a receiver in this game is that the 49ers needed him to help protect for Jeff Garcia who was getting hammered all night long. Johnson, who is not known for his pass blocking did not make any real mistakes blocking in Monday nights game. The improvement was great to see.

Another reason for Johnson not seeing the ball come his way was that when the 49ers passed, it was more to their receivers than in games passed. Garcia completed 16 passes, 12 of them were to receivers - that’s 75% of the completions. The previous week, in which Johnson received only two passes, Garcia found his receivers on 61% of his passes. These percentages were season highs for Garcia, who coincidentally had his first and second games with a passer rating of 100 or greater. In the previous three weeks, the receivers only received 60% (with Garcia out for half of the game), 37% and 44% of the completions. So the balls are certainly headed more towards the receivers in recent games than they were at the beginning of the season.

The 49ers should not forget to use Johnson in the passing game, he is a great outlet for Garcia, but he certainly shouldn’t be the team’s leader in receiving considering the talent the 49ers have at the receiver positions.