AP

The 49ers passing attack was largely ineffective for 14 quarters of play this season before exploding in the second half against the Eagles.

The one area that they consistently have excelled at: Beating the blitz.

Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle notes via Stats Inc. that only Tom Brady has a higher QB rating against the blitz this season. Smith has completed 18 of 24 passes for 229 yards with two touchdowns for a 132 rating.

That’s a marked change from last year, when Smith was at 78.7 against the blitz. It’s also much better than Smith is against a four-man (or less) rush this year, where he is at 87.7.

Smith says he’s “excited” when he sees a blitz coming. Wideout Josh Morgan credits simplification of the team’s system. Instead of relying on receivers to cut off their routes (and recognize the blitz), coach Jim Harbaugh inserted “blitz beating” routes into each play.

That is a different approach from the NFL norm, which relies on wideouts having more options on their routes. Perhaps this is a case where simplifying things back to a college level actually works out better.