Things to watch for against Denver

1) Check out how often Eric Johnson and Vernon Davis play together...Johnson is an unrestricted free agent after this game. If Johnson and Davis work well together, the Niners might make him an offer. If not, expect the Yale graduate (who killed the Crimson my freshman year with 21 receptions in The Game as a skinny receiver) to move elsewhere. Johnson is a typical West Coast offense TE...a guy who bulked up so that he could block and catch (he has outstanding hands). Unfortunately, the 49ers will have no use for him if the team decides he doesn't fit well with Davis.

2) Watch for the lack of pass rush...I hope this is the last time I will ever have to write about our glaring lack of pressure on the QB. If ANYTHING needs to change for next year, it's that we need way more pressure on the QB from our ends and linebackers.

3) Who wins the battle of promising QBs: Smith or Cutler? Or, will they both look lousy?

Where to go now?

I will soon be posting with in depth draft-pick coverage, but for now...the main dilemma is whether or not to root against Denver...I'm mixed on this one. We could really use the higher draft pick...

Bryant Suspended Four Games

This is not the ideal time for this, Antonio... If Eric Johnson is healthy, I wouldn't be surprised to see a lot of Davis/Johnson sets this week and next. Assuming the Niners don't make the playoffs (and it's now even more likely that they won't), Bryant will also have to sit out the first two games of the season next year. I bet the Niners will sign a free agent WR to complement Bryant/Battle...and to take Bryant's place during games 1 and 2 next season. My guess is Drew Bennett. He's a Bay Area guy and a huge target...remember, he had a few mind-boggling games last season. Bennett was under-utilized (or maybe he just sucked) this year, but he may be able to provide the Niners with a better third option than anyone they have on their team this year or could draft... Question: Will Brandon Williams get some WR playing time now that Bryant is out? Or, will the Niners go to Taylor Jacobs?

Guide to this week's games

OK Niners fans...here's who to root for this week:

Vikings at Packers:

Both teams share the same record as the Niners: 6-8. Root for the Vikings, as the Niners hold the head-to-head tiebreaker against Minnesota but do not against Green Bay. Plus, it's always fun to root against the Pack. This game will be like the good ol' days (kind of), when it was actually important to root against Green Bay (it was usually for the No. 1 seed then...now, it's for a terribly flawed team to squeak into a wild card spot). A Vikings win would be an upset, given Minnesota will play a rookie QB in his first NFL on the Frozen Tundra. Go Vikes Go.

Panthers at Falcons:

Root for 6-8 Carolina against 7-7 Atlanta. A Falcons win would put Atlanta in the driver's seat for the last wild card spot. A division loss hurts them when it comes down to tie-breakers (neither the Falcons or the Panthers played the Niners this year)...and, of course, we'd rather have two teams at 7-8 than one at 8-7 and one at 6-9. A Panthers win would be an upset, given Carolina's QB woes; playing at Atlanta is never easy.

Saints at Giants:

Root for New Orleans. NO has the division locked up so a Saints win means nothing for the Niners playoff hopes. The Giants, however, might be the biggest threat to the Niners taking a wild card spot...they are 7-7 right now but have two loseable games remaining on their schedule...New Orleans should be mad after a horrific loss at home to the Redskins last week. I hope Brees and Bush show up to send NYC into a tizzy. The Giants might explode with another loss and totally tank the last week of the season...here's hoping for a Giant Explosion.

Eagles at Cowboys:

This game doesn't really matter, as I think Cowboys will win the division and the Eagles will take one of the wild cards...remember, the Eagles beat the Niners earlier this season, so they have that head-to-head tiebreaker advantage. Since the Eagles are 8-6, they are going to beat out SF even if they lose their last two and the Niners win both. Root for many injuries...just kidding.

Chargers at Seahawks:

If the Chargers beat Seattle, we can throw all of our attention to Tampa next week (assuming a SF win), as the division will be at stake. More than any other game this week, tune into Seattle and root hard for LT to go nuts.

Arizona at San Francisco:

If SF can't beat the Cards, there's no sense rooting against anyone.

Playoffs?!?!

Thanks Jim Mora...both, actually...dad for the title of this blog post and son for having his team tank, opening up a possible spot for the Niners as a wild card...

There are still too many teams jumbled up at 7-7 or 6-8 to make a strong case for the wild card at this time. It's much easier to think about the division, where the scenario is clear: two wins and two Seattle losses, and we're in...it's amazing to be in this situation at this point, given all of our clunkers this year. But...

You have to admit, it's likely that San Diego beats Seattle next week. It's less likely that we beat Arizona, but we're favored...

We have yet to win a blowout game this year. Even the Raiders game was back and forth for a while. I'd love to finally come charging out of the gates and buy the Cardinals. It would give the team so much confidence for Denver. Fortunately, Spencer will have had another week to rest his ankle and Ulbrich should be healthier. Derek Smith and Adam Snyder may both be back as well.

I'm stunned that the Saints lost at home to the Redskins. If we are fortunate enough to make the playoffs and somehow, some way advance into the second round to play New Orleans (who will likely get a first round bye), I'd love to emulate the 'Skins strategy...ball control and lots of Frank Gore. Start off with Smith throwing and then just plug away with Gore.

Of course, we'd also have to take away some pointers as how to neutralize Reggie Bush (7 carries for 14 yards and a non-factor in the passing game), but I'm getting ahead of myself.

For now, the defense will have its hands full with Arizona this week. I hope we can put some pressure on Leinart (even though I'm sure we won't, since we didn't even pressure Hasselback last week)...but, maybe Mr. Nolan will surpise me...

I'm cheered up!

Wow, I forgot the 49ers could actually play well...

Of course, they didn't for nearly three quarters (offensively, at least). But then...

Smith's flat-footed 60-yard pass to Battle was the first big play not called back from a penalty or from a toe out-of-bounds in three months. It seemed as though the play opened up the Niner offense for the remainder of the game--almost an ice-breaker at a middle school dance. Finally, everyone took a sigh of relief and had fun.

The defense was very good. Although Seattle moved the ball and the Niners still had a virtually non-existant four-man rush, the defense stopped the Seahawks from converting on the big play. This was much different than Sunday's laugher (cryer?) vs. Green Bay, where Favre had the deep ball working for much of the game.

Keith Lewis is really good...this was a breakout game for him. He was outstanding. He might be the team's best defensive player.

Nice to see Spencer back at corner...and even nicer that Davis and Strickland are on IR. I don't mean to be callous, but it's somewhat comforting to know that Davis won't be out there. He wears a huge bulls-eye and doesn't have the confidence to compete against good QBs.

What a silly penalty on Vernon Davis after his touchdown....jesus, NFL...this game is played for entertainment. Let the players celebrate a little bit...it's so ridiculous he was penalized for that. They need to be a little more lenient with celebrations...

It's 1:36 AM on the East Coast, but I'm still too excited to go to sleep...that was such a needed victory. Most importantly, the Niners season continues...

At Denver...ouch. Struggling Broncos or not, playing at Denver is one of the top five most difficult places to play each year. It's loud, it's cold, it's often snowing...good luck Alex Smith. This confidence boost should help...

Readers, I need some cheering up

What's the point?

I have been in the blogosphere doldrums the past two days. If we can't beat Green Bay at home...

I mean, come on. The Packers got spanked by the Jets last week...and we make Favre look like the same QB he was ten years ago. Unbelievable. We've sunk right back to square one.

We need a stud cornerback. I'm not totally sold on Spencer, even when he's healthy. I'd take a stud corner in the first round of next year's draft if pass rush wasn't such an obvious need.

Of course, we got no pressure on Favre, and I'm not sure we'll get any pressure on another QB all season. Other than Brandon Moore, we don't have a single player who can rush the QB from the D-line or linebacker position. That is ridiculous and sad. Manny Lawson, where are you? The only time I see you is making a tackle after a running back or wide-out has gained nine yards...for a first round pick, you have to be more valuable than a drop-back-in-coverage linebacker...

Watching the Ravens this week made me remember how important a defense can be...and watching us put no pressure on Favre cemented the notion.

I don't want to talk about Smith (look, he's 22...he's gonna make mistakes) or Gore (disappeared after the first quarter) or Bryant (dude's gotta contribute more than 39 yards) or Davis (Hallelujiah! He finally got in the action...thank you, Eric Johnson, for getting injured)...

I just want a brand new spankin' defense. And unfortunately, that's all that gives me hope at this point, as the 2006 season will likely officially end on Thursday.

Readers, I need some cheering up.

6-7?

This week's game against the Packers is very winnable. The Niners will be back at home...and while Mr. Favre has a history of playing well at Candlestick, these are not your older brother's Packers.

Alex Smith has to have a good game on Sunday. The pressure's on, lil' buddy. Smith has to throw deep and connect with Bryant, Battle and Davis. We know Gore will do his thing, if healthy.

The Niners are the most banged up they've been all year (hence why they cut Tony Parrish). Derek Smith will be out, Adam Snyder may be gone for the year, Shawntae Spencer will probably rest one more week, Eric Johnson will not play...but even these injuries are not crippling like recent season's past. The Niners not only can but should win on Sunday. If not, the season is over.

With four games remaining, it's too early to figure out who to root for and against in the NFC, as many of the Niners' competitors play each other in the coming weeks. Personally, I think the Falcons may be the best of the wild card contenders...so I'd certainly root against them. I'm not concerned with the Rams or Vikings--just don't think they are good enough to pose a real threat. The Eagles play three road games in a row, so I'm not too concerned there either...but the Giants have a talented team if Eli plays like he did last week. And, of course, the Panthers defense makes Carolina a threat.

So, I'd root against Atlanta, New York and Carolina, as far as the playoff picture goes. If two of those three teams win a couple games, the Niners may be history, even with a win this week and an upset over Seattle next Thursday.

Back to Reality

OK, so the 49ers aren't that good...

I suppose that's simply reality. The defense isn't quick enough to stay with Reggie Bush...and some are (Chicago, Baltimore, Denver...), so it's not like Bush is invincible.

Alex Smith is still a work in progress. Those who think he will never make the leap to "elite" quarterback should realize, however, that he is only 22 years old. If he develops every year, the Niners will have made a super No. 1 pick...a quarterback to lead a team for 10-15 years. Even Montana and Young had shorter careers with the Niners than 15 years.

Frank Gore can't do it himself. This was the first game in recent memory where Gore was stopped. Vernon Davis, we need you. You can be a game-breaker...let's see some flash.

Joe Nedney's kickoffs aren't strong enough. He rarely, if ever, booms the ball into the end zone. I miss Wade Richey's gargantuan kickoffs...

The Niners are just getting robbed on ball spots and replay...this was another game where iffy calls continuosly were reviewed in favor of the opponent. Last week's game would have been a Niners victory by 10 if close calls weren't SF's way...this one still would have been a loss, but a closer defeat...

The Niners used to have a stacked class of linebackers. Peterson, Moore, Ulbrich, D. Smith, Winborn...

Now, the Niners linebackers need improvement. Derek Smith is a nice player, but he is not a monster like the best MLBs in the game. Peterson is a loss, but even he wasn't a tackling machine like Urlacher, Ray Lewis, Vilma, Joey Porter, etc...the game-breaking linebackers. Getting another hard-hitting linebacker should be a priority for the team next year.

If I were to draft today and had one pick in each round (the Niners have many more than that in the '07 draft), I'd draft the following positions, in this order:

1st round: Defensive tackle who can provide pass pressure
2nd round: Linebacker
3rd round: Cornerback
4th round: Defensive end
5th round: Defensive tackle
6th round: Linebacker
7th round: Cornerback

I'd go all defense...a more dominating defense that can rush the passer will help the offenseby putting Smith in better field position. The Niners had miserable starting position against the Saints.

Then, I'd sign a veteran free agent wide receiver...Battle and Bryant are legitimate starters, but the team could use a reliable third receiver who gets open a lot and who can catch pivotal third down passes. If there's one available, I might sign a No. 2 wideout and move Arnaz to the third spot.

And I'm OK with letting Eric Johnson go...as much as like the Ivy League thing, I went to Harvard, so...