My "Glowing Review" of The 2011 San Francisco 49ers

Yesterday was the first glimpse of the 2011 49ers for much of the nation.

As I've mentioned here before, my roommate Colin is a 49er fan, so yesterday's game was a big one in our household.  Because I came out on the losing end of a bet with him, I now have to write a "glowing review" of his favorite team.  Frankly, that's not that hard, because the 49ers showed yesterday, once again, that they are a force to be reckoned with.

Here is what I wrote about San Francisco in my Preseason Preview of the NFC West: 

Every August, I predict that the 49ers' core of Frank Gore, Vernon Davis, Patrick Willis and Justin Smith will capitalize on a weak division.  And every October, they’re inevitably doomed by poor quarterback and offensive line play.  I like Jim Harbaugh, but the lockout-delayed transition from college to the pros will give him a long adjustment period.

Boy was I wrong.  Harbaugh is clearly not in over his head.  He's had some learning experiences, like Handshake-gate in Detroit, but yesterday's surprise onside kick* and other innovative plays show that the rest of the league better start adjusting to him.  The Giants held the heralded 49er run game to a mere 77 yards yesterday, but Harbaugh's offense still moved the ball because they exploited one-on-one matchups between their fast tight ends and the slower Giant linebackers that were in there to stop the run.

*The 49ers decided to run the onside kick when they saw that the Giants' frontmen leave early to get back and block.  This mistake by New York is inexcusable for two reasons: 1) touchbacks have skyrocketed this season, making blockers obsolete on the majority of kickoffs, and 2) David Akers did the same thing to the Giants in the Eagles' fateful comeback last year.  Giants fans who enjoy calling for Coughlin's head should file this away for future use.

Harbaugh has been great, but his coaching would not translate to the field if not for the improved play of Alex Smith.  I thought that Smith was merely a patchwork bridge to the Colin Kaepernick era, and early on that looked to be the case.  His 48.1 passer rating in the preseason gave the 49ers the second-worst offense in the league (another reason why you should never trust what you see in August).  But Harbaugh was one of the few who believed that he could win with Smith.  He simplified his offense and tailored it to the former No. 1 draft pick's strengths, as strategy-guru Chris Brown explains here. Smith isn't going to wow you with a passing masterpiece. His only deep throw yesterday was intercepted by Corey Webster, but it was on a free play where Smith drew the Giants offsides.  He made smart decisions and never put the 49ers in jeopardy.  As I wrote last month, Smith is a great game manager, and I don't mean that as a backhanded compliment.  Whoever doesn't think he can win a Super Bowl is ignoring history.

On defense, San Francisco has allowed fewer points than any other team in the league.  Patrick Willis has long been regarded as one of the best linebackers in the league, but folks are finally starting to recognize the greatness of defensive end Justin Smith.  My one concern is that they have some weaknesses on the outside that Mario Manningham and Hakeem Nicks were both able to exploit yesterday.  Their cornerbacks will have to step up if they eventually face the Packers or Saints in the playoffs.

San Francisco is 8-1.  If not for a comeback by the Cowboys in Week 2, they could be 9-0.  They will clinch their division and a bye.  No one is in better playoff position than they are.  The dominant headline today is that the 49ers yesterday proved that they are contenders, but that's been true for a few weeks now.  It's about time the rest of the country realized it.

How's that for a glowing review, Colin?

Image found here.