To me this illustrates a two simple facts: 1) the difference between mediocre and great teams can be deceivingly small, especially in the salary cap era, and 2) great coaches are those who see the nuances, get rid of players before it’s too late and approach their job in an aggressive, innovative fashion. This has been repeatedly demonstrated in the last 5-10 years, where various team’s fortunes have changed overnight by seemingly small changes. In the case of the 49ers, Nolan’s style of incremental progress and focus on structure, etc. seems to have its limits. There is no “sharp end” to our spear; we’ve built a team of “good” and “solid” players without any real dynamism (other than Gore). Nothing scares our opponents; nothing excites the fans. And while I really hope I’m wrong, I think Alex Smith fits squarely in the middle of the 49ers current lackluster bell curve. I think he has a 50/50 chance of being a good player and very little chance of being a great one. Can anyone honestly say they’ve seen a consistent or even semi-consistent string of good plays or games? I’ve seen a couple of good halves and quarters and a meager sprinkling of great plays. And if you look across the league at the better QBs, ALL of them showed some real sparks in their first year. And by years 2-3 they were REALLY starting to come on. (With the way the league is currently structured, 3-years is pretty much the outside allowable limit for growth, both for a team and for a player.) So it’s not hopeless for Smith (and the team), but the odds are getting longer.

Lastly, with regards to wanting Smith to get in players’ faces, our emotions as fans pull in both directions. We probably all overreact when the team does poorly, just as we’re overly hopeful and optimistic before the game/season. The problem in the current situation, though, is that this team has been rebuilding for 5 years now. I’ve been a fan since the mid 70s and have been with them through thick and thin, but this is a really, really low period. I’d take losing if there was some excitement; unfortunately, they’re crappy and really, really boring.

Regardless of how fans look at it, Alex Smith is the leader of the team. He doesn’t have to get in people’s faces. You look at Donovan McNabb, and he’s not an in-your-face kind of guy, but his team would follow him to Hell and back. Fans are by nature emotional, and when our team loses we get mad and we want everone else to be mad with us. Just because you don’t see what you want to see doesn’t mean Alex doesn’t lead.

There was no reason to “can” Jennings and Smiley after last season, because they paved the way for Frank Gore’s 1600 yards! Admittedly, they struggled early, but from the Baltimore game on, Smiley and Heitmann stepped up their play rather well. Larry Allen, though, has lost a step in his legs quite a bit, and Jonas Jennings is just a head case. You had to think that he was a pro and would get back to the way he played last season, that’s why you stick with guys. At this point, though, time to see if someone wants to trade for him.

More broadly, I think the problems on offense (and defense for that matter) stem partially from a complete lack of leadership. Losing Turner meant losing the only senior voice on that side of the building. Hostler’s new and still learning his craft. Alex Smith, nice as he is, doesn’t get in anyone’s face, doesn’t fire up the troops, and certainly doesn’t lead. If you want to look at a team that has recently undergone the same level of overhaul, check out the Packers. And, I think, their success is in large part due to having a leader on offense: Favre.

Lastly, I think the O-line problems are a case of everyone getting a little older and slower all at the same time (plus some bad coaching). I’m glad Jennings and Smiley are out; they should take Allen out, too, as he’s clearly lost a step. As much as Nolan professes his willingness to get rid of players who aren’t performing, these are a few who he should’ve canned at the end of last season.

I believe Frank is a very good running back. He has a great first cut, good speed, and he’s always pushing forward. At the point of contact his upper body is in front of his feet, which is what you want a back to do if he’s going to fall forward. I really think the issue with the running game has been not only making the blocks, but holding the blocks as well. I think if we put Wragge in place of Allen our running game would improve, because Larry’s legs are just gone.

Where this started? Larry Allen got fired from Dallas and he came in pissed last year, and he carried Jonas Jennings who is finished. This year Allen came into camp late and heavy. Now Allen can’t carry Jennings and the line sucks so no running game. 8 in the box and no time to throw. Now the line producing a little but the QB is naturally freaked.

Darrel Jackson is a good #2 Receiver but he needs a #1 to be useful.
Battle is a good #3.
Gore may or may not be a good running back. Allen may have been carrying him as well.
Willis Rocks.
Lawson Rocks
Clements Rocks
I like Keith Lewis because he’s the only guy who hurts anybody.
Harris is near the end.
Spencer is OK.

Bottom Line, not ALL of these guys decided to turn to crap in a single year. Darrel Jackson has been a VERY consistent 1000+ yard receiver aside from injury years.

If the line sucks, the offense sucks and now Alex has to get used to the fact that the washed up old men are gone and the young guys will actually get him a chance to trow from time to time.

After Monday night we will all be able to relax and see if this team can improve without any pressure, or any coverage, or anybody caring, because that’s the worst place to be in my opinion.

When they don’t even mention your team on football shows or just breeze over them. That’s the worst fate because nobody cares, then you can’t sell tickets and NO STADIUM.

At least they had the brains to bring back Roderick Green for a try. Should have happened 4 weeks ago.

Frankly I believe that from the New York game on, if the team had executed the plays as called on the field, we would not be looking at 2-6, we’d be looking at 4 or 5 wins at this point. I really don’t think Jim Hostler is the problem, and I think he’s getting a lot better. Certainly if we were 6-2 Hostler would not be taking the grief he has been.

The trouble with Norv’s return, number one, is that it is extremely rare for a coordinator to leave after one season, then return after the season absent. Number two, Norv did a very underhanded and insulting thing to Mike Nolan and this franchise when he left, so I don’t know how easy that would be to overcome. I think Nolan would take Jim Hostler as being loyal, and Norv having left his former Defensive Coordinator high and dry.