Sara won't like this report: Timid 49ers heading toward an 8-8 season
Skip Bayless
Mercury News Staff Columnist
The 49ers are looking suspiciously like the 8-and-8ers. The components are there for a 10-6 season, maybe even 11-5. But too many key pieces are being underutilized or overestimated, from rookies to coaches to the general manager.
Too bad G.M. Terry Donahue can't coach this team. His strength is dynamic, disciplined leadership, which carried him for 20 years as head coach at UCLA. Donahue's strength has been the lone weakness for new Coach Dennis Erickson, whose underrated strength has always been judging talent and attacking weaknesses as a game-planner and play-caller.
Erickson running the offense would be the perfect complement for a head coach Donahue. Yet before Erickson was hired, Donahue retained coordinator Greg Knapp, who was as responsible as the fired Steve Mariucci for last season's failures and Terrell Owens' complaints dating to 2001. "Knapper" is a great guy and front-office favorite, but Donahue too often favors pleasure-to-be-around personality over moody talent.
The 8-and-8ers are starting to feel like a frat-house intramural team. You won't last long in this league without a few brooding warriors. One -- Terrell Owens -- isn't enough.
But Erickson, jumping at the chance to coach the 49ers and more than double his Oregon State salary, accepted an awkward arrangement. The price of getting a second NFL shot after getting fired in Seattle was having to work with Mariucci's coordinator, who will call plays. This weakens Erickson's strength.
He also inherited defensive coordinator Jim Mora Jr. "Jimmy" has proved to be a much better guy than defense-caller. Regardless of injuries, when a unit finishes last in the NFL in allowing third-down conversions, its coach has often been outwitted. On charisma and leadership, Mora could prove to be a better head coach than X's-and-O's schemer.
Erickson also had little opportunity to help Donahue identify free-agent talent. While the 49ers had cap room, owner John York didn't or couldn't free up much cash to spend on signing bonuses. So while St. Louis got better and Seattle got much better in the NFC West, the 8-and-8ers got Jed Weaver and Travis Kirschke. Look out below.
Yet Donahue did make one draft pick that could help make the difference between 8-8 and 10-6. Fourth-round receiver Brandon Lloyd impressed no one with his combine speed (4.6 40) or size (6 feet, 184 unrippled pounds). But on the exhibition stage, he immediately and consistently showed he can rise and shine -- smiling all the while. Here is a fearless playmaker.
Here is just what this team needs to take some double-team pressure off Owens. Here is the magnetic personality that Owens could feed off and compete with. Especially without injured tight end Eric Johnson, this team needs this kid on the field, at least on passing downs.
But no, it will be Tai Streets and Cedrick Wilson, because Lloyd doesn't block well enough or run sharp enough routes. Baloney. Management and coaches act as if they're Super Bowl favorites. The 8-and-8ers should be far more concerned about what Lloyd can do.
Same with three other difference-makers: Kevan Barlow, Jamie Winborn and Jimmy Williams.
Barlow will again split running-back snaps with Garrison Hearst. Barlow still hasn't convinced coaches he has the desire or instincts to block blitzers. Hogwash. So Gilbert Arenas doesn't play great defense? When Barlow touches the ball, bigger and better things happen than when Hearst carries or catches it. Start him!
Winborn can be as disruptive as any outside linebacker in the league. But the 8-and-8ers are shying away from playing him on running downs because he's coming off reconstructive knee surgery and isn't as stout as his listed 242 pounds. Lunacy.
Play him every down. Let him roam and blitz and ignite. Against a decimated Chicago line Sunday, constantly unleash Winborn and Julian Peterson on Bears quarterback Kordell Stewart.
But Mora won't, because he doesn't want his cornerbacks exposed any worse than they were last season. Faulty logic. The corners wouldn't have to cover as long if the 49ers had a better pass rush, and we're still waiting for defensive end Andre Carter to announce his arrival.
Williams, also returning from serious knee surgery, flashes signs of being the team's second best cover corner behind Ahmed Plummer, who still struggles to stick with deep routes. Williams should at least be in the nickel, if not the lineup. But because the staff has fallen head over scout-leader handkerchiefs for Arland Bruce, another "great kid," Williams might not even return punts.
All he did last year was lead the NFL in punt-return average. He appears to have his burst back. Play him, for 10-6 sake. Play Barlow! Play Lloyd! Play Winborn!
Even then 10-6 would hinge on quarterback Jeff Garcia's herniated disk, or disks. He should have had the fairly minor bulge-shrinking surgery before camp. Now, the condition could flare while he's tying his shoes.
Forget the hype about "going downfield" more. Garcia too often missed Owens deep when he was healthy. Remember the Green Bay playoff game two years ago? Philadelphia on Monday night last year? No, this team should be thankful if Garcia survives the entire season flinging mid-range darts.
With non-division games at Minnesota, Green Bay, Baltimore and Minnesota and at home against Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh, this team is closing in on 8-8 much quicker than anyone running it seems to think.
