Week Two Preview: San Francisco Travels to Seattle
The 49ers’ season is only one week old and already the feel is depressingly familiar. We’ve seen this before, the inconsistent quarterback play, the mediocre receiving corps and a defense not stout enough to bale out such below average offensive production. San Francisco has switched offensive coordinators, brought in new receivers and a new quarterback, but the same sense of failure persists. The recipe has changed, but this batch of 49ers tastes the same.
Maybe the triumvirate of owner John York, general manager Scot McCloughan and head coach Mike Nolan doesn’t work. But, no team in the NFL can win with suspect quarterback and wide receiver play. The 49ers are one of the least talented teams in those important skill positions. Unfortunately, much of the same will continue until the offensive roster is altered dramatically.
Sure, having a seasoned coordinator such as Mike Martz direct the 49ers’ offense helps, but he’s clearly handcuffed. To Martz’s credit, he figured out that running back Frank Gore represents his lone threat. Gore busted loose for a 41-yard touchdown run in the 49ers’ loss to the Cardinals and touched the ball 18 times on Sunday. Martz would probably prefer a few more touches for Gore, which may happen in ensuing games. Instead of reverting to his mad scientist ways, Martz called a fairly conservative game, which makes sense for a pedestrian 49ers’ offense.
San Francisco travels to Seattle for a game against the Seahawks, who fell to the Bills in their season-opener. A loss would hand San Francisco its second division defeat, which isn’t insurmountable in the weak NFC West. If Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselback is still rusty, the 49ers might have a shot at victory, but the offense will need to spark the team.
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Smith Story Complete:
The 49ers placed quarterback Alex Smith on the IR this week with a fractured throwing shoulder, which means the NFL’s top pick in 2005 is done for 2008 and in San Francisco. McCloughan has already stated Smith is too expensive to keep as a backup and would have to regain the starting quarterback position for the 49ers to consider bringing him back for another season. With J.T. O’Sullivan firmly entrenched, at least for now, as the team’s quarterback and Smith out for the season, that scenario appears unlikely. Smith had his chances, but ultimately couldn’t prove himself enough for San Francisco to believe he’d turn into anything down the road. In the preseason, Smith went 28-of-55, which is a higher passer rating (57.2) than he had in 2007. If released after the season, $5.3 million of Smith’s salary will count against the salary cap. But, if kept, the 49ers will take a $12 million hit.
At this point, it makes sense for both parties to part ways. Nolan probably views Smith as a bad reminder of his first major decision as 49ers’ head coach and Smith probably feels as though he didn’t receive a fair shot in San Francisco.
> Also check out our Seahawks Correspondent's preview of this game!
By Jim Bucci
ProFootball-fans.com San Francisco 49ers Correspondent