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...