Podcast: The Ultimate 49ers History Lesson →

At 5-5, things are looking up for San Francisco

Nov 20, 2006 at 4:08 PM0


On Sunday, the San Francisco 49ers did something that they have not done in four years. The team won three games in a row. It was the first time that the 49ers have done this since beating the Cardinals, Raiders and Chiefs in consecutive weeks during the 2002 season.

Three weeks ago, the 49ers had lost two straight to fall to 2-5. It was the second week in a row that the team had given up over 40 points. The season seemed lost and the team looked to be headed nowhere. After Sunday’s stunning win against the defending NFC Champion Seattle Seahawks, the team has evened its record to 5-5 and is one game behind first place Seattle in the NFC West.

At the beginning of the season, if you had asked anyone where they felt the team would be after 11 weeks, no one would have said 5-5. A .500 season seemed a bit optimistic before the start of the season. Now it looks very doable. Two of their next six games are at home against the Packers and the Cardinals. The rest are on the road against the Rams (who they have beaten once this year), Saints, Seahawks (who they beat on Sunday) and Broncos. If they pull off a win against just one of those teams and take care of business at home, that will put the 49ers at 8-8. Anything more than that and the team may not only be able to compete for a playoff spot, but may be able to compete for the NFC West. Seattle still has to face the Broncos on the road, the Chargers and a rematch at home against the 49ers.

What is even more surprising is how the 49ers have won their last three games. After giving up an average of over 33 points to their opponents during the first 7 games, the team has only given up 10 per game in their last three. So their defense has been much improved.

A lot of that improvement has to do with the contributions of linebacker Brandon Moore and safety Keith Lewis. Once considered backups on the team, both have emerged as strong starters after replacing players that saw their productivity diminish.

But before you start calling for playoff tickets, let’s step back and be a bit realistic here. Yes, the team is improving. Yes, the team is just one game out of first in the NFC West. But the remaining schedule is no walk through the park. As previously mentioned, four of their next six games are on the road. The team's inability to play well away from Monster Park has been a big weakness.

The offense started the season very well and showed that they could be dangerous through the air and on the ground. The passing game has dropped significantly since the injury to Vernon Davis. While Davis' production has not been great in the games he has played, his return adds another dimension to the way opposing defenses plan for the 49ers. Davis' raw potential makes him a threat and that opens the field up for receivers Antonio Bryant and Arnaz Battle.

One guy that is turning into one of the team's few superstars is running back Frank Gore. If you throw out that fumble late in the fourth quarter, he was nearly perfect against the Seahawks. He had 212 rushing yards on Sunday breaking the team's single game record. Gore is certainly gaining some attention around the NFL and among the media. He may be the best 49ers running back since Roger Craig...and that's coming from a huge Garrison Hearst fan. As many Niner fans know, that is a huge compliment to Gore. His ability to find the open hole, his burst through that hole and his ability to run through tacklers have helped Gore run his way to 1,043 yards, which leads the NFC. Gore leads the NFL in yards per carry with 5.5. It is the first time that a 49ers running back has gone over 1,000 yards in a season since 2003 when Kevan Barlow had 1,024. Gore still has six games to play.

Another key element in the 49ers recent success is their ability to hold on to close games. The 49ers have won each of their last three games by six points. They practically gift wrapped a comeback win for Seattle on Sunday after a Gore fumble and a Joe Nedney missed field goal. Still, the defense was able to hold on as Marcus Hudson recovered a Mack Strong fumble to end the game. A year ago, this young and inexperienced team would have lost a game like this. While the team is not where it needs to be yet, they are learning how to hold on to leads and close out games.

A better record does more for the 49ers this season than a high draft pick would. Sure the team has plenty of money next season to sign high draft picks, but would that be the best thing for the 49ers? Probably not. Solid players can still be found in the middle to lower halves of each round. Look at Steven Jackson, Larry Johnson and Troy Polamalu just to name a few. For all of you that wanted the team to trade up right after the end of last season in order to pick Reggie Bush, where would the team be now if they had done that? The 49ers would not have a great prospect like Vernon Davis. They probably would not have Manny Lawson either. And in his second year as a pro, Frank Gore is performing well beyond expectations. Gore likely would have had to share his role with Reggie Bush which would have limited his production.

Winning now also helps the team lure in potential free agents. If you are a free agent and look at the 49ers versus a team like the Cardinals, Lions or Raiders, which would you rather go to? They will see the 49ers as a team headed in the right direction. Even if another team has a lot more talent at key positions like the Cardinals, they can’t find a way to win. That right there tells you something about the organization. The 49ers are doing more now with a lot less talent than some teams with more talent and worse records. This only increases the team’s chances to bring in key players. And if the 49ers make any type of push for the playoffs, players will see that this is a team that is only missing a few components and will likely see San Francisco as a good opportunity.

San Francisco is definitely headed in the right direction and is finding its own identity. They are ahead of schedule in their rebuilding process and no one really wants to face them at this point. They are too unpredictable. This is a team that can be beat by good teams if they play well. However, if you come in with your guard down and expect to walk all over San Francisco, they may shock you.
The opinions within this article are those of the writer and, while just as important, are not necessarily those of the site as a whole.


0 Comments

  • No Comments

Facebook Comments



More San Francisco 49ers News



Isaiah Oliver discusses strengths, looking to help 49ers in any way

By David Bonilla
Mar 16

It should be comforting to San Francisco 49ers fans to learn that Falcons fans on social media were unhappy with the news that cornerback Isaiah Oliver wasn't returning to Atlanta. Oliver signed a two-year deal with the Niners and will likely compete for the nickel cornerback spot made vacant by the departure of Jimmie Ward to the Houston Texans. Oliver has played 77 percent of his 510 defensive snaps in the slot over the last two seasons, per Pro Football Focus. "I definitely felt much more comfortable in there," Oliver said on Thursday, speaking to 49ers reporters for the first time. "I felt like I was able to kind of play to my strengths a little more. Just being around the ball,



5 things to know about new 49ers DT Javon Hargrave

By Kirk Larrabee
Mar 13

The San Francisco 49ers made a major free agency splash on Monday, agreeing to terms on a reported four-year, $84 million contract with Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Javon Hargrave. The 30-year-old Hargrave is coming off one of his finest NFL seasons, having posted 60 tackles and a career-high 11 sacks for the Eagles in 2022. Hargrave posted a career-high 63 tackles and 7.5 sacks for the Eagles in 2021, an effort that earned him his first selection to the Pro Bowl. On his NFL career, Hargrave (6-2, 305) has 329 total tackles, 37.5 sacks, 64 quarterback hits, and 46 tackles for loss. Hargrave has also proven to be durable throughout his time in the NFL,



5 things to know about new 49ers QB Sam Darnold

By Kirk Larrabee
Mar 13

The San Francisco 49ers added veteran depth at the quarterback position on Monday after agreeing to terms on a one-year deal with former New York Jets and Carolina Panthers signal caller Sam Darnold. The 25-year-old Darnold joins a quarterback room that currently consists of Trey Lance and Brock Purdy, both of whom are making their way back from significant injuries. What will the 49ers be getting in Darnold? Here's a quick look at some things for fans to know as Darnold makes his way back to his home state of California after five seasons on the East Coast. He gives the 49ers what they need, but... The 49ers were in the market for an experienced backup given the



5 things to know about new 49ers DL Clelin Ferrell

By Kirk Larrabee
Mar 15

Clelin Ferrell became the latest addition to the San Francisco 49ers on Wednesday, agreeing to terms to a one-year contract shortly before the official start of NFL free agency at 4 p.m. ET. Ferrell (6-4, 265) comes to the 49ers after four seasons with the Raiders, who selected him with the fourth overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Ferrell's time with the Raiders was disappointing based on what was expected from him coming into the NFL, but he'll now have a chance to become the latest in a line of defensive linemen who were able to jumpstart their career with a stint in San Francisco. Here are some things to know about Ferrell as he makes his way to the Bay Area. The Raiders drafted him too high Do a quick dive into Ferrell's time


Featured

More by David Bonilla

More Articles

Share 49ersWebzone